This is something I have thought about a few times. In church I have always just heard, it was a one time thing that happened with the Nephites.
Now, I may be being presumptuous, but I don't know if I believe that explanation (sorry!)
Since the Father and Son are one, does it really matter? Is it a moot point?
I have often thought about this exact idea. This may be my stupid and flawed mortal standing, but let's think of it maybe in mortal terms. Let's say you have a child. And you child has a friend, who's having a birthday party. And you go out and pick a present, and wrap it, and your child gives it to the other child. When that other child opens the gift and says, "Thank you, thank you Johnny (Annie, whatever," are you going to be offended that little Jane or Jimmy thanked your child and not you? You bought the present, you did the work, etc. Would you care?
I try and relate all of the divine to mortal parenthood. The Bible Dictionary, of prayers says this:
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/prayer
As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11).
Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.
I know how I talked with my (mortal) father. I have tried to pattern that with Heavenly Father, maybe with a little more respect (maybe not when I'm upset).
If that's not some evidence, then allow me to reference Alma:
Alma 36:
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am bin the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Alma cried out to Jesus. I don't know if that constitutes "worshiping" Him, but I know what I've felt when crying out to Jesus. While I do not specifically "worship" or rather pray to Jesus, I try to recognize Him. Ultimately they really are One. I have had the privilege of working on things with others, like say volunteering with the Elderly. Sometimes they are so happy, and they say things like, "Thank you all for coming, bless you all" (etc.). I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that in that moment of unity and love, I didn't care who the old lady (gentleman, whichever), was looking at, or smiling at. All I cared about was them being happy.
Now God's ways and thoughts are higher than my ways and thoughts, but I honestly cannot comprehend a different reaction. To Two Beings that look the same, act the same, and believe the same, I really don't think that They care.
Frankly, I think that Jesus, in perfect humility, always defers to the Father. But, I believe exactly the same about the Father deferring to the Son. God, the Father, introduces His Son, and States, "Hear ye Him." But you know what, Jesus also gave us a parable:
Mark 12:
1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Notice, in the Parable, referring to a degree between God the Father and Jesus, the Father states, "They WILL
reverence my Son." I think that they have a mutual love, appreciation and respect, that transcends what we yet understand.
So, while I believe that the majority of our worship and devotion is to the Father, I find no harm in reverencing His Son. It's imperfect, but that's what I believe. I hope something here may be useful to anyone else. I've tried to understand as best I can, and what I come up with is full circle, "God IS love."
