Understanding the Basics of Mormonism
I would like to thank Alma and Chris, members of the LDS church, for their assistance with many of these items. Although they do not agree with the spin with which this was written, their attention to detail and patience in review was invaluable to me.
2003 Update! Since the original publication of these pages in 2001, Chris has come to faith in Christ and he and his family have, this year, left the Mormon church.
Amazing to me is the seemingly parallel origins of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) and Islam. Both faiths began with a claim of divine revelation to a prophet via an angel, who was instructed to record additional writings believed to be the 'fullness of the gospel'. Additionally, both faiths maintain that they are God's true remnant church on earth.
Where the similarities end is over doctrinal interpretation and general mentality. Mormons believe in the deity of Christ, progressive divinely inspired prophets and are polytheistic, Muslims deny the deity of Christ, revere Mohammed as the final prophet and are monotheistic. Where Muslims believe in conquering for Allah by force, Mormons believe in leading to God by charity.
On the surface, much of what members of the LDS do seems similar to Bible-based Christian denominations.
Mormons are known to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and premarital sex while fostering strong family relationships. Historically, they have a low cancer rate and score higher than the general population when it comes to physical fitness.
Who wouldn't admire a religious group that promotes the boy scouts and receives fast offerings to care for widows and the poor? The history and beliefs of Mormonism are often overlooked on the base assumption that sound morals make for a good religion.
Although Mormons believe in the divinity of Jesus as the saviour and refer to themselves as the only complete and true church on the earth, many of their doctrines as outlined above do not agree with Orthodox Christian teachings.
Most important to note is the fluidity of their teachings. With the belief that a prophet is never wrong, yet a sitting prophet can over rule a dead prophet, Mormon doctrine is an ever changing phenomenon that trying to document it is about as challenging as trying to nail jello to the wall.
Mormons believe in open canon and the living prophets words are considered more reliable in a sense than either the words of a dead prophet or the 4 standard works. Prophets are not considered infallible and Joseph Smith himself was noted for being the author of what turned out to be many false prophesies.
The difference between the writings of the former prophets and the teachings of the living prophets is that the living prophet can address changing circumstances which allows for doctrinal clarification. This is based on the belief that the Lord reveals things to the prophets on a divinely set time table when He feels that it is time for them to know. This allows for a fluid (open canon) doctrinal position. Recorded in 1980 by Elder Ezra Taft Benson is The 14 Fundamentals on Following the Prophet.
The 4 standard works of Mormonism are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. All four are considered scripture but not infallible as they were all touched by man.
Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations from Joseph Smith and his successors. The last canonized revelation was a vision given in 1918 and there are also two official declarations - the abolishment of polygamy in 1890 and the extension of priesthood to all races in 1978.
The Pearl of Great Price was penned by Joseph Smith, is deemed inspired, and consists of several books and 13 articles of faith. These books include the book of Moses (a revision of parts of Genesis), The book of Abraham, The book of Joseph Smith - Matthew (a revision of Matthew 24) and the book of Joseph Smith - History (his testimony).
Most people know little about Mormonism. They may be familiar with the names Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, the practices of polygamy and proxy baptism, but that only scratches the surface of Mormon beliefs and teachings.
The LDS church can trace its roots back to Palmyra, NY in 1820. This is where Joseph Smith, the founding prophet, claimed to have received a vision while praying in the woods. This vision was reportedly of God the Father and Jesus Christ and revealed to him that all churches and creeds were an abomination unto the Lord. According to the vision, he was to be a prophet to proclaim a restored message of the true gospel and to establish the one true remnant church.
In 1823, an angel named Moroni appeared to him at his bedside. Moroni claimed to be the son of Mormon, the departed leader of a race known as the nephites. Moroni told Smith about a set of golden plates that contained the fullness of the gospel. (I do not question this event itself - I do believe it to be a supernatural revelation, but based upon Galatians 1:8-9, I do question the claim to the source of it.)
Some four years after that visit, Smith reportedly found the plates buried in a hill called cumorah. With them were the urim and thummim which were used to translate the plates from a language called 'reformed Egyptian'.
Claiming a visit from John the Baptist and divine revelation, Smith translated the plates and used them to write the Book of Mormon, subtitled Another Testimony of Jesus Christ. This book was published in 1830 and the plates were returned to Moroni. Later that year Smith founded his church.
Joseph Smith was considered a great seer and prophet by his followers. Mormons believe that Smith was the prophet spoken of by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18:18 and in fulfillment of John 1:21 and 25. (Ensign, Jan. 1989 p.20). This is the same claim that Mohammed made for himself with the establishment of Islam.
After Smith's murder in the religion's headquarter town of Nauvoo, Illinois in 1844, Mormons found themselves unwelcome in Illinois and were virtually forced out of the state. There was a division in the church as to who their new leader should be. The majority of the followers at that time embraced Brigham Young as their leader and followed him to Salt Lake City, Utah, which remains the headquarters of the LDS church to this day.
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
This is the teaching that Mormons are typically identified with. The early polygamous believers claimed that Jesus himself was a polygamist. This has not been officially disavowed, it is just considered moot and a non-issue.
The LDS teaches that man cannot reach the highest level of heaven (exaltation) without having a wife and exaltation can only come to a man and his wife. Marriage ceremonies held outside of the temple are considered 'until death do you part'. Marriage ceremonies held in the temple performed by the appropriate authority are deemed eternal.
What is baffling about the doctrine of polygamy is the church's official stance on it.
On the one hand, the practice of Polygamy was banned from LDS doctrine in 1890 by the prophet Wilford Woodruff. The official church stance since that time is that polygamists are excommunicated.
Yet LDS apologists will tell you that, again, this is just a misunderstood directive from the prophet Woodruff.
The bottom line is that Polygamy is a doctrine included in the doctrine of eternal marriage. It was presented to the Church in conference in 1852 and canonized as scripture. It still is a viable doctrine and part of scripture but not a current practice among living spouses.
LDS teachings say that there is no salvation outside of the Mormon church but all people will/can be saved. How do they explain this plurality? With proxy baptism. This practice is accomplished in their temple. They have someone stand in for another person and they baptize the stand in (proxy) in that person's name. This is typically done on the behalf of deceased people and a leading motivator in completing a genealogical tree.
This belief maintains that salvation is possible after death and that one person can make a salvation decision for another.
This belief is based on a misinterpretation of Paul's reference to a pagan water ritual in 1 Corinthians 15:29. In this passage, Paul is telling people that baptizing dead people is of no consequence because of the resurrection.
Proxy Baptism, A Scriptural Look takes a much deeper look into this practice.
As is found in all of the churches of the 1800s, the LDS maintains an "only true remnant church" belief - that there is no salvation outside of their organization, doctrinal beliefs and rituals.
The premise of Replacement Theology is the doctrine that says that some church, denomination or religion has replaced Israel as the Chosen People of God. Joseph Smith believed via his vision that he was to be the prophet designated from God to bring about the one true church, the remnant church of the Lord.
Smith maintained that through divine revelation, he was told that the garden of Eden was not in the Tigris and Euphrates river basin but was actually in the United States in a place he called the Valley of Adam (Adam-ondi-Ahman or the 'place of God where Adam dwelt') which today represents the area known as Independence, Missouri.
LDS prophesy calls for a final gathering at this place in Missouri where all who have held leadership in the church will return. These will include "Moroni, Elias of the restoration, who is also identified as being Gabriel or Noah; John the Baptist, Elijah, Joseph who was sold into Egypt, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Michael who is Adam, and Peter, James, and John." Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol. 4, pp. 65-66. It will also include "Every prophet, apostle, president, bishop, elder, or church officer of whatever degree -- all who have held keys shall stand before him who holds all of the keys." Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p. 582.
Mormons do not believe in a physical zionism, they define it as a spiritual purification of the heart, not as a restoration of the tribes of Israel. They maintain that the promises and blessings said to be bestowed on Israel at the end of days is no longer the inheritance of Israel but is now bestowed on the LDS church.
This is a two year witnessing program where the missionaries are sent around the world going door to door sharing the Mormon faith and doing volunteer and charity work.
This is not a requirement for salvation but there is much pressure from the church in many cases as this service is believed to best prepare young men and women for the life they face ahead as good stewards, husbands and wives. Men are eligible for service at age 19 and women at 21.
This is a requirement for godhood status in the afterlife.
While on their mission, the witnesses are only allowed to call home twice a year, on Mother's Day and Christmas. They are allowed (and encouraged) to write home weekly, however. Email is not permitted - the letters must be mailed. My aunt's son just completed his 2 year mission trip.
For an organization that claims to espouse superior family values, one can only wonder what the church is afraid of that they cut off communication in this manner for two years at a time.
Mormonism has a very dark history of racism. Although not official doctrine, it was taught that people of African descent have dark skin because they were cursed by God and are therefore an inferior race.
This was clarified in 1968 by the prophet, David O. McKay, who wrote, "There is not now, and there never has been a doctrine in this church that the Negroes are under a divine curse. We believe that we have scriptural precedent for withholding the priesthood from the Negro. It is a practice, not a doctrine and the practice will some day be changed".
Until 1978, the status on people of African descent was "forbidden" for marriage and entry into the temple. That year, based on a revelation given to the prophet Spencer W. Kimball, they changed their policy banning people of African descent from becoming priests.
The church never admitted they were wrong to discriminate, as they believe that God reveals things to the prophets on a timetable for a reason.
On this link from the RealMormonHistory.com site, there is a daunting collection of the history of racism in the Mormon church.
The Mormon church teaches that it is only through the atoning blood of Jesus and the act of baptism (personal or proxy) that a person can even begin the process of salvation.
This is defined in terms of 'salvation' and 'exaltation'. Salvation (or resurrection) is granted to all through the atonement of Jesus, Exaltation is given through obedience to the gospel principles. Children are are deemed saved without the requirement of any works.
Salvation therefore is contingent first upon the grace of Christ and then maintained by works. These works include acceptance of the prophet Joseph Smith, serving a mission, marriage in the temple, inclusion in the priesthood, completing a genealogical tree, abstinence from alcohol and hot drinks, tithing, attending sacrament meetings and obedience to the church.
Mormons teach that all who lived on this earth (save the sons of perdition) will go to one of three heavens: the celestial, the terrestrial or the telestial. The celestial level (exhultation) is what they consider 'eternal life' and where they believe that you get your godhood.
The official term for this doctrine in the LDS church is Theosis. The term theophoros refers to resurrected, glorified man and translates as the forever God-Man.
Mormonism is a polytheistic religion. The most famous of all Mormon aphorisms is "As man is now God once was: as God is now, man may become".
The LDS teaches that God was once himself procreated in another world and that we as humans may aspire to the status as creator that He has now. As potential father and mother gods, Mormons will ultimately be responsible for the population of other planets by participating in the creation of spirit children.
They do believe Jesus is the son of God and that he was elevated because of his sinless state. They reject the doctrines of trinity and triune nature of God.
In Mormonism, a distinction is drawn between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit. As LDS Apostle Marion G. Romney stated, "The Holy Ghost is a person, a spirit, the third member of the Godhead" (Ensign May 1977, 43-44). The sixth LDS prophet, Joseph F. Smith explains that the Holy Spirit is not a person but rather an impersonal force. (Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, pp. 752-753).
Mormons worship the Father in the name of the Son but do not refer to either as 'God'. They refer to Jesus Christ as Jehovah, a separate and distinct being than the Father who is referred to as Elohim. These names are used to differentiate between the two.
The LDS doctrine on blood atonement was originated by Joseph Smith and later affirmed by Brigham Young. As summarized below, it appears from the writings of the prophets that some sins are so serious that Jesus' sacrifice is not enough to cleanse them, that the sinner's own blood is required in a ritualistic ceremony.
Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.135)
Brigham Young said: "It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit...there are sins that can be atoned for by an offering on the altar...and there are sins that the blood of a lamb...cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man" (Journal of Discourses, vol.4, p.53-54, also published in Deseret News, p.235, 1856).
Brigham Young also said: "There is not a man or a woman, who violates the covenants [fidelity in marriage] made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it" (Journal of Discourses,vol.3, p.247)
Bruce McConkie explains: "But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins" (Mormon Doctrine, p.92)
While not all Mormons accept this doctrine, it is notable that in 1977, Gary Gillmore, a convicted murderer, requested that his death sentence be carried out via firing squad because of his belief in the blood atonement doctrine. His story was immortalized in the 1982 NBC Miniseries, The Executioner's Song.
According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus was the spirit brother of Lucifer and they were procreated as spirit children of the Heavenly Father and Mother. Jesus later was conceived physically through Mary. Mormons believe that all beings were first spirit children of God prior to their time as human beings. Mormon teaching also holds that Mary remained a virgin after birth. (Ensign, Jan. 1989, pp.28-29; Come Unto Christ by Ezra Taft Benson, p.4).
Brigham Young taught, "Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost." (Journal of Discourses 1:51) LDS Church leaders have taught God the Father and Mary engaged in a physical relationship in order to produce the body of Jesus. For example, Bruce R. McConkie wrote of Christ: "There is nothing figurative about his paternity, he was begotten, conceived, and born in the normal and natural course of events, for he is the son of God, and that designation means what it says." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 742; see also Family Home Evening Manual, 1972, p. 125-126)
LDS doctrine holds that Jesus and Lucifer both presented plans for the salvation of mankind to God. Lucifer's plan was based on forced worship and Jesus' plan on man's choice based on God's will. (Moses 4:1) Some say that Jesus' plan was chosen over Lucifer's but the LDS explanation is that Jesus' plan was actually what God had already decided on and changing that to another path was never an option.
In September of 1842, 12 years after the Book of Mormon was published, Joseph Smith added the doctrine of proxy baptism to the Mormon faith. This is recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C), 128:17-18. Ironically, the D&C states that the Book of Mormon (BoM) is the "fullness of the gospel" (20:9), yet not only does the BoM not teach this practice, but it leaves no room for even the possibility (Alma 34:34-35, Mosiah 2:38).
Smith based this doctrine on his interpretation of Paul's counsel to the people of Corinth, as recorded in 1Corinthians 15:29. His interpretation maintains that those people who died without knowing Smith's 'truth' could be 'saved' by a process called proxy baptism - a ceremony held in the Mormon temple where a live person stands in and is baptized in proxy for someone who has already died.
The intent of this article is to take a look at the doctrine of proxy baptism, contextually within Paul's letter, to see if it stands up to scriptural scrutiny.
1Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead
rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
An immediate reading of this passage seems rather confusing - it almost appears that Paul is condoning this practice!
The problem is that an "immediate reading" does not allow the reader to examine what is being discussed in this passage in the context that it was written.
The 15th chapter of 1Corinthians is the recorded history of Paul's teachings to the people of Corinth about the resurrection. The purpose of this passage was Paul's refutation of the false doctrine that had crept into their midst -- that the resurrection did not exist. Had this been true, Paul counsels, then our faith is in vain.
Lets take a look at this passage:
Verses 1-11: Here, Paul lays the groundwork for his teachings by showing the historical record of Christ's resurrection from the dead and notes those who witnessed this event. Paul relates that this event was the sole purpose for his teachings and the spread of the gospel!
Verses 12-19: Here Paul is impressing the importance of Christ's resurrection. Consider the following:
Verse 13 - If the resurrection doesn't exist, then Christ was not risen
Verse 14 - If Christ has not risen, then their faith (and his teachings) are in vain
Verse 15 - If there is no resurrection, then Paul is lying to them about everything
Verse 16 - If believers won't be raised, then Christ wasn't raised
Verse 17 - If Christ is not risen, their faith is dead and they are lost in their sins
Verse 18 - If there is no resurrection, then those who died trusting Christ have perished
Verses 20-28: These verses lay out the order of resurrection. Paul is noting that in Adam, all men taste death but in Christ, men can have eternal life. Christ is the "first fruits" of the resurrection of all believers, conquering not only His enemies, but death itself.
Verses 29-34: Here, the apostle is driving home the point of this passage, that the resurrection is indeed fact and not fiction as the people of Corinth had been taught.
1Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Now, while the Mormons claim that this passage shows that Paul taught baptism for the dead, there is one key thing that they are overlooking here, and that is the choice of pronouns that Paul used in his lesson on this topic.
All throughout this chapter, Paul uses we, you, our, your, and ye - referring to himself, the apostles and the Christians in Corinth that he was addressing. In verse 29, Paul changes his speech to 'they', then he reverts back to we again in verse 30.
Clearly, the intended audience of the day could distinguish between something that was addressed to them and something referring to another group distinct from them?
This example was a reference to the pagans in their midst and the fact that these pagans were practicing baptismal rituals for the dead. Just north of Corinth was a city named Eleusis. This was the location of a pagan religion where baptism in the sea was practiced to guarantee a good afterlife. This religion was mentioned by Homer in Hymn to Demeter 478-79. 1
The Corinthians were known to be heavily influenced by other customs. After all, they were in a large economic area where a great many different people frequented. It is highly probable that the Corinthians were being influenced by the religious practices found at Eleusis where baptism for the dead was practiced.
The point that Paul was making here is not that he approves of this, nor is he counseling people that this is to be done - he is merely saying that the fact of the resurrection is not a farce nor a secret, else the custom would not be practiced in the first place!
No where in scripture is there any reference to salvation after death. On the contrary, Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is appointed a man once to die and at that time is his judgment.
No where in scripture is there any reference to someone being able to make a salvation decision for another person, after that persons death! On the contrary, Luke 16:26 tells us that there is a great gulf fixed between the living and the dead.
Now - not only is this Mormon practice unscriptural, but it is so stringently encouraged that tracing genealogies for the purpose of proxy baptizing deceased relatives is actually listed as the greatest responsibility that a Mormon has.
"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead...Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at peril of their own salvation" (Joseph Smith, in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.356, 196).
Scripture not only does not validate the teaching of proxy baptism, but it specifically speaks out against the tracing of genealogical records for religious purposes!
1Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: [so do].
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Any teaching that portends a second chance for salvation after death, particularly at the hands of another, is another gospel (Galatians 1:7-9).
If the Lord had intended for this 'other gospel' to be presented, and for that gospel to include an "out clause" for salvation for all those who predeceased it, then why would He not have mentioned it at the time of the apostles so that they too could baptize their deceased? Why did John the Baptist not practice this himself? Why was this "truth" of salvation not "revealed" until 1842 - that leaves millennia of people to be identified, accounted for and ceremonies to be held in their honor!
The doctrine of proxy baptism cuts the Lord's role out of salvation and grants it to the individuals within the organization to make the decision for the deceased (and the Lord). It additionally denies the gospel of salvation by grace, denies the gospel of salvation by belief, it turns salvation into a work of man and negates repentance all together.
The bottom line is that this practice renders Christ's sacrifice meaningless and turns the Lord's plan of salvation into a pointless game of hunt and dunk.
1 CARM (Bible Knowledge Commentary on 1 Cor. 15:29. Dallas Seminary Faculty.)
This is the ground breaking teaching of Joseph Smith - announcing to the Mormon faithful the doctrine of polytheism - the fact that men can become god upon their death if they live a good enough life.
"As man is now, God once was ... As God is now, man can become"
On April 7th, 1844, Joseph Smith addressed his church with a ground breaking doctrine, some 22 years after he was visited by the angel Moroni, 14 years after the Book of Mormon was published.
This information can be found, not in the Book of Mormon that Moroni brought to Smith, but in the Journal of Discourses 6:1-11.
The Doctrine and Covenants (one of 4 Mormon scriptures) maintains that the BoM is the fullness of the gospel:
D&C 20:9 (The Book of Mormon) Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
Thus begging the question - if the Book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel, then why the need for further gospel proclamations?
Here are excerpts from that infamous speech1:
"...it is necessary that we should understand the character and being of God, and how he came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity, I will refute that idea, and will take away and do away the vail, so that you may see."
Here Smith is going to enlighten people as to the error of Psalms 90:2 which says that God is everlasting to everlasting.
Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.
"These are incomprehensible ideas to some; but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God...he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did..."
And he continues in his explanation that God was a man before He became a God.
He states that this doctrine is "the first principal of the gospel", in direct conflict with the Word of God:
Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
"Here then is eternal life--to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you,--namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one..."
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:
Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
"In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it. When we begin to learn in this way, we begin to learn the only true God and what kind of being we have got to worship."
This is in direct conflict with the word of God which says that there is but one God, not a council of Gods:
Isaiah 43:10 Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
This is the core of LDS teachings. LDS doctrine teaches that Jesus and Lucifer were spirit brothers. Each reportedly presented a plan of salvation to God and He chose Jesus' plan of choice of worship over Lucifer's plan of forced worship.
Lucifer tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by telling them that they can eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree and they will be gods, too.
LDS doctrine holds that the "fall" of Adam was a blessing in that it allowed each of us to have physical bodies, the right to choose between good and evil, and the opportunity to gain eternal life and earn our way into godhood ourselves.
None of these privileges would have been ours had Adam and Eve remained in the garden
1The King Follett Discourse can be read online in its entirety at this direct link at Brigham Young University
The Mormon faith maintains that there are 4 sacred scriptures, each on equal authority with the other. These are the Kung James Version of the Bible (KJV), the Book of Mormon (BoM), the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) and the Pearl of Great Price (PGP).
The D&C maintains that the Book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel:
D&C 20:9 (The Book of Mormon) ...which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
And this begs the question - if the Book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel, then why the need for further gospel proclamations?
Given that, there are a few glaring errors in the reportedly inspired Book of Mormon.
1. The BoM dates the book of Jacob to have been penned between 544 and 421bc. The French language didn't even exist until around the year 700ad. The French word "Adieu" closes the book of Jacob (Jacob 7:27). This calls into question the reliability of the claim.
2. The BoM dates the book of Helaman to the year 6bc. The Bible dates the book of John to have been written well after the death of Christ - approx. 90ad. In Helaman, 12:25-25 the text reads, "we read..." and quotes the 1611ad KJV version of John 5:29.
3. The BoM stated in Helaman 14:20 and 27 says that darkness covered the whole earth for 3 days at Jesus' death. The bible records in Matt. 27:45, Mark 15:33, and Luke 23:44 that it was 3 hours.
4. The BoM claims that the books of Nephi were written several hundred years before the birth of Christ. There is a slight problem with this claim - the books of Nephi as recorded in the BoM are copied word for word from the 1611ad King James Version of the bible - right down to the italicized references! For example:
1Nephi 20-21 are copied from Isaiah 48-49
2Nephi, chapters 12-24 are copied from Isaiah 2-14
3Nephi 24 & 25 are copied from Malachi 3 & 4
5. The BoM records in 1Nephi 2:5-8, that the River Laman emptied into the Red Sea. The problem here is that there are no rivers in Arabia and no river empties into the Red Sea.
6. The BoM speaks of steel (Ether 7:8-9) and breakable windows (Ether 2:23) as being in existence during the time of Abraham. Neither had been invented at that time in history.
7. The BoM, in Ether 6:7, states that the Jaredites knew about Noah. Since Moses wrote about Noah long after the date Jared supposedly left the Tower of Babel for America, how would they have known about Noah?
8. The BoM records the birth of Jesus to be 'at Jerusalem' in Alma 7:10. The bible prophesies that he will be born in Bethlehem in Micah 5:2 and records the fulfillment of the Bethlehem prophesy in Luke 2:4.
9. The BoM states in Alma 13:1, "And again my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments." If the BoM was written merely hundreds of years before the birth of Christ - how could they have looked forward to the giving of the commandments, thousands of years prior?
10. The BoM dates in Alma 46:15, that in 73bc, believers were first referred to as 'Christians'. However, in the bible, Acts 11:26 says that they were first called Christians at Antioch (about 42ad). Besides, Christ hadn't even been born in 73bc.
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Mormonism (LDS) - Inconsistencies in Mormon Scriptures
The Mormon faith maintains that there are 4 sacred scriptures, each on equal authority with the other. These are the King James Version of the Bible (KJV), the Book of Mormon (BoM), the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) and the Pearl of Great Price (PGP).
The D&C maintains that the Book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel:
D&C 20:9 [The Book of Mormon] which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
And this begs the question - if the Book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel, then why the need for further gospel proclamations?
The purpose of this article is to outline the conflicting doctrinal teachings between these 4 scriptures.
Topic Yes No Bible Answer
One God? BoM:
Alma 11:27-29
PGP:
Moses 2 and 3 D&C:
121:32, 132:18-27
PGP:
Abraham 4 and 5 Yes:
Deut 6:4
Other Gods? D&C:
121:32, 132:18-27
PGP:
Abraham 4 and 5 BoM:
Alma 11:27-39, 2Nephi 31:21, 3Nephi 11:27, Mormon 7:7
PGP:
Moses 2 and 3 No:
Isaiah 43:10
God was once a man? D&C:
132:15-27, 129:1-3 No:
Matthew 22:30
Salvation after death? D&C:
88:99, 103-106, 128, 137:7-9 BoM:
Mosiah 2:38 No:
Hebrews 9:27
Proxy Baptism? D&C:
124:37-44, 127:5-12, 128 BoM:
Alma 34:34-35 No:
Luke 16:26
Polygamy allowed? D&C:
132:1, 60-65 BoM:
Jacob 1:15, 2:24, 3:5, Mosiah 11:2 No:
1Corinthians 7:2
Adultery allowed? D&C:
132:41-45, 60-65 BoM:
Mosiah 13:22, Alma 16:18, Jacob 3:5
D&C:
42:22-24, 80-81 No:
Matthew 5:27-28
Commandment keeping? D&C:
52:15-16, 64:5, 132:28-39 BoM:
2Nephi2:7, 25:30 No:
Galatians 2:21, 5:4
Jesus fulfilled the law? BoM:
2Nephi 2:7 D&C:
88:21-39 Yes:
Matthew 5:17
Justification by faith? BoM:
2Nephi2:5 D&C:
88:36-39, 130:20-21 Yes:
Galatians 3:8, Romans 3:30
Forgiveness of Murder? BoM:
3Nephi 30:2 D&C:
42:18 Yes:
James 2:10, 1John 1:9
Can God lie? PGP:
Abraham 2:22-25 BoM:
Ether 3:12 No:
Numbers 23:19
Does God change? D&C:
20:17,56:4-5 BoM:
Alma 41:8 No:
Malachi 3:6
DoesGod have a body? D&C:
130:22 BoM:
Alma 18:26-27, 22:8-11
D&C:
93:23 No:
John 4:24
Does God dwell in a man'sheart? BoM:
Alma 34:36 D&C:
130:3 Yes:
1Corinthians 3:16
Creation by God? D&C:
93:23,29 BoM:
Alma 18:28-29, Jacob 4:9, 2Nephi 2:13-14 Yes:
Genesis 1:1
Man's Preexistence? D&C:
93:23,29 BoM:
Jacob4:9 No:
Genesis 2:7
Fullness of Gospel? D&C (re: BoM):
20:9 No:
Galatians 1:8-9
Tempted by satan? D&C (Adam was)
Adam 29:36-41 BoM (Eve was)
2Nephi 2:18 Eve Was:
Genesis 3:4
By: Kenny and Janice
Dear Loved One,
In a meeting we had with Mormon Missionaries we were asked to put in writing some of the problems we have with the LDS religion. So we decided to write a letter. This letter is not intended to hurt or bash, for we have many, including yourself, who are beloved relatives and friends that are LDS. It is intended in love and to enlighten you on some of the truths we have discovered about this religion. Please remember this is not intended to hurt!
As Born-again Christians it is our obligation to share Christ with everyone. Because of our upbringing in the LDS church we feel it is God's calling that we share the True Jesus of the Bible with especially our loved ones. We know that the LDS feel they have Christ but the Christ taught in Mormon doctrine is very different from the Christ of the Bible.
It is our prayer that you will look at these things we are about to share with you with an open heart and mind. Pray about it, and study it. We would be happy to talk with you about any points or questions you may have about the material or sources of information contained in this letter. We have discovered this knowledge primarily from LDS publications, LDS Standard Works, and LDS books written by prophets and apostles.
VISION VERSIONS
David O. McKay, John Woodstoe and many more LDS leaders have stated that the first vision is the foundation of the church. Let's look at several versions of this vision and the differing points that are brought up in each of them.
The official version was adopted by the LDS leaders in 1880, some 60 years after it supposedly occurred. This version states that the vision occurred in 1820. Smith was 14 years old. This vision occurred in a grove of trees and the Father and Son appeared to Joseph Smith. In this version it states that a total apostasy has occurred "all the churches are wrong. . . you should join none of them." The Bible says there will be apostasy but not a total apostasy. (See Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 16:18) Luke 21:33 says "Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my words will not pass away."
Another version was published by Joseph Smith Jr., and Oliver Cowdery in The Messenger and Advocate (Sept. 1834, Vol. 1, pp. 78-79). In this version the first vision happened in 1823, Smith was 17 years old, it occurred in Smiths bedroom, and it was angels, not God and Jesus Christ, who visited him.
In another recorded account of the first vision documented in the Desert News, (May 29, 1852) Smith is quoted that angels visited him first. You must find the original article because this was changed in the book History of the Church by LDS leaders to read differently. The officials removed the word "angels" from the text.
And in yet another case of differing versions, in 1969, Paul R. Chessman, while researching his Masters' thesis on the first vision of Joseph Smith, found a diary handwritten by Smith. This diary was authenticated by Dean C. Jesse of the Church Historian Office and James B. Allen, also of the Church Historian Office. A photocopy is available from BYU Studies (Spring 1969, pp. 277-281). A copy of the diary is also printed in the Ensign (Dec. 1974, pp. 24-26 and Jan. 1985, pg. 11).
In Joseph's own handwriting he writes that he already knows that all churches are wrong before the vision took place. He was 16 years old. That Jesus Christ was the only being that visited him and Jesus was angry and coming soon.
There are other accounts by Smith we would be happy to discuss with you. Brigham Young also stated that in the first vision Joseph was visited by angels not God and his Son Jesus Christ. See Journal of Discourses (J of D), Vol. 2, pg. 171, 1855. Wilford Woodruff, Orson Hyde, John Taylor, and George A. Smith all said that in Joseph Smith's first vision he was visited by angels. Heber C. Kimball said the first vision was St. Peter (J. of D. Vol. 6, pg. 29, 1857)
Joseph Smith also stated that the angel that visited him in later visions was Nephi, not Moroni. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, pg. 753, 1842). This was also stated in The Millennial Star (Vol. 3, pg. 53, 71, 1842). In the first edition of The Pearl of Great Price (1851), the angel Nephi is the visiting angel to Joseph. Again the story has changed as time goes by.
In the Bible we are warned in Galatians 1:8, "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him by accursed." II Corinthians 11:15 says "and no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." There are other scriptures containing the same warning from God that we would be happy to discuss with you further if you desire.
JOSEPH'S PROPHECIES
God set the standard for prophets in the Old Testament. That standard was 100% accuracy or you need not fear them as prophets from God. Specifically, Deuteronomy 18:22 says "when a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him." (Also see Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Isaiah 9:13-16, Jeremiah 14:13-16, Ezekiel 13:1-9).
Now that we know what God's standard is, let's look at some of the prophecies that Joseph Smith gave that never did come to pass. In D & C 84:1-5, a temple as to be built in Zion, Missouri in this generation (Smith's generation). This has not happened. We've heard the argument "What is a generation?" The Book of Mormon says that a generation is 100 years. See 4 Nephi, chapters 18 and 22. This revelation was given in 1832. It is no 1996, well over 100 years later. It is documented that Brigham Young and other LDS leaders fully expected and believed that the temple would be built in their living generation, not some generation in the future. This falls in the category of false prophecy. Yet another false prophecy in the same Sec. 84:112-115 states that Newel K. Whitney will go to New York, Boston, etc. and if these areas reject the teachings of Mr. Whitney they will be utterly destroyed. This also did not occur as predicted.
D & C 97:19--Zion in Jackson County cannot fall or be moved. It did fall and was moved to Salt Lake City.
D & C 124:56-60--Nauvoo house will stay in the Smith family forever. It is now owned by the Reorganized Church.
D & C 111:1-11--Salem, Massachusetts would be given to Smith. All the gold and silver he was hunting for, in Salem, would be given to him. This did not happen!
There are more in the D & C but let's look at a couple of other sources. In a letter written to U.S. Judge Douglas, Joseph Smith wrote, "I prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the saints in the State of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted; and there will not be so much as a potsherd left . . . " (The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith, pg. 302)
"President Smith then stated . . . it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh, even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." (History of the Church, Vol. 2, pg. 182). We now know the Lord has not yet returned and it has been longer than fifty-six years since this statement was made by Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith even taught that there were men on the moon. He states that they are very tall, about six feet, dress in Quaker-style clothing and live to be about 1000 years old. (Journal of Oliver B. Huntington Vol. 2, pg. 166).
There are more false prophesies by Smith and we could also show you some given by Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow and others. The Bible also warns of false prophets in the last days --see Matthew 24:11 "and many false prophets shall rise and deceive many." Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect." Also see II Peter 2:1, Luke 2:8, I Corinthians 11:4 & 13, Colossians 2:18, I Timothy 6:3, II Timothy 4:3 & 4, and more we can look up together.
Joseph Smith was convicted of money digging and treasure hunting, using a Seer Stone and defrauding people. The trial was in 1826 and we have a copy of the trial record if you would like to see it for yourself.
A FEW CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN BOOK OF MORMON AND CHURCH DOCTRINE
Mormon doctrine teaches that God is a progressive God. "As man is God once was, as God is many may become." Let's look at what the Book of Mormon says about a progressive God. In Mormon 9:9,10 the scriptures read, "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles."
Moroni 8:18--"For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." Also see Mormon 9:19, II Nephi 29:9, III Nephi 24:6, Mosiah 3:5, D & C 20:12,17. We strongly encourage you to look up these scriptures because they clearly show God is not an exalted man and He is not progressive. The doctrine of a progressive God has been taught since Joseph Smith. This is a serious problem when doctrine does not follow what scripture clearly teaches. A progressive god is a different god than that which is taught in the Bible. The God of Christianity is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Next we would like to look at the doctrine of plural Gods, and the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost). LDS doctrine teaches that there are "three Gods with one purpose" and that our Father in Heaven is the God of this planet and there are many gods in charge of many planets. That our God has a father and he has a father and so on and so on. Let's see what the Book of Mormon says about this teaching. III Nephi 11:27 says "And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father and the Son, and Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one." Alma 11:26-29 "And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No." Other LDS scripture that shows this concept of Trinity see II Nephi 31:21, Mosiah 15:1-5, Mosiah 16:15, D & C 20:28, Alma 11:38-39, Alma 11:44. The Book of Mormon clearly teaches One God. Not "one in purpose" not "of this world", but one God period. In the Bible we are taught that God is the God of the entire universe, not just this planet. A god of just this planet is a different god than the God of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Some of these verses we just looked at also show the deity of Christ. LDS doctrine takes away the true nature of who Christ really is. LDS doctrine teaches that Christ is a created spirit child of our 'Heavenly Parents,' that he is the first-born of God in the 'pre-existence."The LDS doctrine says that Christ is the spirit brother of Satan and also the spirit brother of all of us, and that he progressed to becoming God. This is a direct contradiction not only of the Bible but also the Book of Mormon. Let's look at Mosiah 15:1-5 "And now Abinadi said unto them; I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son. The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son. And they are one god, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the tempation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people."
These verses clearly show that Christ is God. Not the spirit child of God, not the spirit brother of Satan, Christ is truly God Himself. Mosiah 16:15 reads "Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father. Amen." This is also clearly stated in II Nephi 11:7--"For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fullness of his own time." And again in Alma 11:38,39 we read, "Now Zeezrom saith again unto him; Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? and Amulek said unto him; Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end and the last." Also see Mosiah 5:15, 7:27, and 13:34. We can show you other scriptures in your standard works that are teaching that Christ and God are the same. We were unable to find where the scripture said one in purpose. This is a clear example of LDS doctrine adding meaning to what the scriptures are teaching. These scriptures also show that the Jesus of the Book of Mormon is different than the Jesus that is taught at your church meetings and in your church writings.
In the Bible the name Immanuel means "God with us." In John 1:1 "The Word was God . . . " and man, many other verses show Christ and the Father are one. We fear the Jesus that the LDS people are putting their trust in is different than the Jesus of the Bible and we4 feel this is a serious problem and could very well affect your salvation. The Bible has many warnings about being fooled; see Mark 13:22, II Corinthians 11:13-14, I Timothy 1:1-3.
LDS Doctrine teaches that God the Father has a physical body. Yet in the Book of Mormon we read in Alma 18:26-28 and 22:8-10 that God is spirit. The Bible clearly teaches us that our Father in Heaven is a Spirit. There is a distinct warning in Romans 1:22,23 &25, about changing who God is. It says "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man . . . Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the3 creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
The few contradictions (and there are more) that we have shown you leaves us confused about the ever changing doctrine of this church, yet I Corinthians 14:33 says that "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
STRANGE UNBIBLICAL TEACHINGS
The LDS teach that Jesus was begotten by a physical act of a physical God to Mary. (See Brigham Young, J of D Vol. 1, pg. 50 and Vol. 8, pg. 115. Orson Pratt, The Seer, pg. 158, and Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pg. 546 and 547, Promised Messiah, pg. 467 and 468.) We feel this is heresy. Thus would make God and Mary guilty of adultery because Mary was espoused to Joseph. It would make Jesus illegitimate. It would make the Bible prophesies of a virgin birth false. The Jesus of Mormonism is not the same as the Jesus in the Bible. II Peter 1;1-2 says, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."
Brigham Young's taught the Adam-God Doctrine (Adam is our Father in Heaven). (See J of D Vol. 1, pg. 50-51; Vol. 2, pg. 6, 143; Vol. 3, pg. 319; Vol. 4, pg. 271; Vol. 5, pg. 331; vol. 6, pg. 275,285; vol. 8, pg. 53, 208; vol. 12, pg. 97.) This doctrine was also taught and believed by Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Hosea Stout, William Clayton and others. Spencer Kimball pronounced this a false doctrine in October 1976.
LDS leaders have taught that Jesus is a polygamist. "Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives and that he begat children." (Apostle Orson Hyde, J of D vol. 2, pg. 80 and 84. Apostle Orson Pratt, The Seer, pg. 172 and the Second Counselor to Brigham Young, Jedadiah Grant, J. of D., Vol. 1, pg. 346.) There are many other strange and unbiblical teachings within LDS doctrine. We have just mentioned a few.
Another problem we have is the censorship and suppression that goes on within the church leadership and the historical documents. There are over 4,000 changes in the Book of Mormon from the first edition to the present edition. Some of the changes are grammatical but many are doctrinal changes that are actually changing the meaning of the original writing. The original Book of Commandments is very different from the present day Doctrine & Covenants. Yet, the LDS believe that the Standard Works are more accurate than the Bible. In church vaults there are many letters and journals not available to the public or even to BYU scholars. The leadership suppresses this material because they feel it might damage the image of the Church. We find this to be very disturbing indeed.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR THE BOOK OF MORMON
There is yet to be discovered one piece of evidence here in the Americas to prove the accuracy of the Book of Mormon. In fact archaeologists have discovered evidence that disputes the accuracy of this record. There is NO evidence that the metals mentioned in the Book of Mormon or the animals like horses, elephants, camels, pigs, domestic cattle etc., were here in America until after Columbus arrived. We have a letter written by the Smithsonian Institute that clears up these issues and any rumors about the Book of Mormon being used by modern day archaeologists working in the Americas.
The American Indian has been genetically linked to Asian descent because of the blue Mongoloid spot found at the base of the spine. Hebrew descendants do not have this genetically-occurring phenomenon.
There is yet to be discovered one city described in the Book of Mormon. Yet, even non-believing archaeologists use the Bible to work with, over in Israel and the surrounding countries. Literally thousands of discoveries have been made using the Bible. Don't you have to ask yourself if God wrote both the Bible and the Book of Mormon would he not provide proof of the truth in both areas of the world. The scientific evidence clearly puts into question the historical account that Joseph Smith wrote about here in America.
The original papyrus scrolls that Joseph Smith translated the book of Abraham from have been discovered and they are actually a writing describing the way the Egyptians mummified people after their death. It is called the "Book of Breathings." The Book of Abraham is located in the Pearl of Great Price.
Another big concern we have are the changes in practices and beliefs because of pressure put on by government officials or society. The EVERLASTING COVENANT of plural marriage being dropped, the black men being denied the priesthood and all of a sudden it is given to them. . . It sounds like God changes his mind, yet, we read in Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I CHANGE NOT." Our God does not change his mind and take back revelations He has given, because the directions and ways he has taught us stand forever. We encourage you to think this over.
USE OF THE BIBLE FOR PROOF OF MORMONISM
Mormons use Ezekiel 37:16-17 to prove the Book of Mormon is written about in the Bible. They say the stick for Joseph is the Book of Mormon; however, they ignore the next 5 verses, which is an explanation of 16 & 17. Ezekiel 37:16-22 reads. "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand."
"And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: . . . " When the 12 tribes left Egypt each had its own territory. After Solomon's death they split into two nations. The southern portion consisted of Judah and Benjamin, the northern was the sons of Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh). The stick for Joseph represented the northern kingdom. The stick for Judah represented the southern kingdom. God had Ezekiel join the two sticks together to visually demonstrate his promise to make them one nation.
Another scripture used is Rev. 14:6 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." If we continue reading the next verses the angel says to fear God for his hour of judgment has come. Which is then followed by another angel which says Babylon has fallen and by the third angel that talks about worshipping the beast (anti-christ). This verse is not only taken out of context within the chapter but is taken out of context of what is written in the entire book of Revelation. At this point in the book, over half the population of the world has been killed. There has been mass devastation of the earth. The temple in Jerusalem has been rebuilt and the anti-christ has entered the temple declaring himself as God. This is a prophecy yet to happen, not the occurrence of the angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith.
John 10:16--"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." Mormons claim the other sheep are the Nephites in America. Traditional Christian interpretation of this verse is that the other sheep are the Gentiles. This view is backed up by Matthew 12:18 & 21, Acts 9:15, 28:28. We understand the Mormon view on this verse, because this verse is copied word for word in III Nephi 15:17, 21 and is discussed in chapters 15 and 16 of III Nephi. We find it interesting that Greek and Reformed Egyptian would translate out word for word into 16th Century English. It would be interesting to know the odds of that happening. There are many other Bible scriptures taken out of context or strange interpretations added which the Mormons use as proof text. We would be happy to look at any of these with you.
The LDS use Isaiah 2:2 and say this is a prophecy of the Salt Lake Temple. However, in Isaiah 2:1 we read "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem." This prophecy about a temple in the mountains is clearly about the Jews in Jerusalem, not the Mormons in Salt Lake. (Note this Chapter and following chapters of Isaiah are copied in the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 12 and following.)
SALVATION
We feel the most serious problem with Mormonism is the concept of salvation. The 3rd Article of Faith states, "We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." The Biblical teaching of salvation is so stated: Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and all short of the glory of God." This means that we have all come short of God's standard of perfection. In thoughts, words, and deeds, we have not been perfect. Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death." The Bible says we have earned death by sinning. That means we deserve to die and be separated from God forever, But Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The Bible clearly teaches that you cannot earn your way to heaven and be in the presence of God himself. We ask you to look up more scriptures we are listing in order to understand this teaching more fully. Romans 3:20, 28, 5:1, 11:6; Galatians 2:21, and when the Lord was asked about what good works must we do he answered in John 6:28-29 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." In Galatians 2:16 we again read, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." We fear that the LDS people rely on their good works to earn their way to heaven. The Bible clearly shows that the only way to heaven is the finished work Christ did on the cross! There are many other scriptures in the Bible that show God's plan for salvation. We would be happy to share them with you.
PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY?
There is an interesting problem with the LDS priesthood authority. All Mormons from Joseph Smith to the present claim to be from the tribe of Ephraim. But according to Mormon scriptures, that tribe descended from Ham and is under a curse that states that tribe cannot hold the priesthood. This curse is found in the Pearl of Great Price in the Book of Abraham, 1:20-27:
"Behold, Potiphar's Hill was in the land of Ur, of Chaldea. And the Lord broke down the altar of Eikenah, and of the gods of the land, and utterly destroyed them, and smote the priest that he died; and there was great mourning in Chaldea, and also in the court of Pharaoh; which Pharaoh signifies king by royal blood.
"Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth. From this descent sprang all Egyptians, and thus the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the land. . .
"Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first generation, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even in the reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the Priesthood.
"Now, Pharaoh being of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood, notwithstanding the Pharaohs would fain claim it from Noah, through Ham; therefore my father was led away by their idolatry;. . . "
If we read from the Bible Genesis 41:45-52 we see that Ephraim and Manasseh were born to Joseph and Asenath an Egyptian woman, and therefore it would appear that the tribes of Epohraim and Manasseh would be cursed as to holding the priesthood because the sons were half Egyptian. Therefore, Lehi and the nations established here in America through the line of Manasseh would be unable to hold the priesthood and Joseph Smith and all Mormons claiming to be from the tribe of Ephraim would be unable to hold the priesthood.
The LDS claim that Peter, James and John visited Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and passed on the Melchizedek Priesthood and this included the authority to restore the Church of Jesus Christ here on earth. The LDS church uses 2 scripture references to prove this, John 15:16 and Hebrews 5:4. Yet, nowhere can it be found in these scriptures or any place in the Bible where Jesus passed the Melchizedek priesthood on to anyone. In fact Hebrews 7:1-3, and 26 list the qualifications for this priesthood. Verse 3 "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. . . For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Do you fulfill these requirements? Did Joseph Smith fulfill them? Of course not. No one but Jesus himself could fulfill these requirements. Hebrews 7:24 tells us that Jesus," . . .because he continueth ever, has an unchangeable priesthood." Jesus is still holding this priesthood because He is still alive!
Hebrews 7:11-18 shows us that the Aaronic priesthood was changed, or abolished, when Christ came and died on the Cross and rose again to pay the complete penalty for our sins. During the Old Testament times (before Christ died on the Cross) there was only one High Priest at a time and that High Priest had to be a direct descendant of Aaron. The LDS have many High Priests and again Mormons claim to be from the tribe of Ephraim. How can this be? This is not a restoration of the church because it has been changed by the LDS church. So where does a Christian's authority come from? John 1:12 tells us that He gave us power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. The entire Book of Acts gives example after example of all the apostles teaching, preaching and healing in the name of Jesus. We find in I Peter 2:5,9 that those who have by faith trusted in Christ are a Holy Priesthood and verse 9 reads: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." This is the power and authority for those who believe in Christ.
We have found more problems than those we have presented here. We would be happy to share them with you if you are interested.
Kenny and Janice also have their testimonies on line, for those who would like more information on their journey from Mormonism into faith in Christ.
Email Author: jb4given@darnfastnet.com
http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/contents
http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/contents
http://scriptures.lds.org/pgp/contents
http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm
http://www.concernedchristians.org/teachings_lds.html
http://www.realmormonhistory.com/
based on http://www.bereanfaith.com/faiths.php?action=one&id=3