Post by JEM on Nov 1, 2013 9:41:33 GMT
TRUE FACTS ABOUT THE MORMONS
THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
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The Authorized Version Bible is commonly known as the King James Bible. It's first edition was published in 1611
The edition still in use today in some church denominations is the 4th revision of 1789
Joseph Smith founder of Mormonism produced his own "Inspired Version" in which are numerous attempts to correct the Bible of 1611 and 1789
He wasn't just translating from the original languages of Hebrew, Chaldean, Aramaic and Greek in which the Bible manuscripts were written to set them into English
He was adding inventions of his own to improve the text which is deceitful to say the least.
It is this unfounded underlying suspicion of the Bible that permeates Mormon theology and has allowed many un-biblical Mormon doctrines to develop.
Mormonism, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, claims to be the restoration of the true gospel and a revelation of the
true God.
The Mormon claim that their Book of Mormon came from a tribe in North America that existed around 600BC linked to another tribe amongst the immediate descendants of Noah.
The contents of which they claim were inscribed on metal plates made known to their founder by a extra terrestrial being in the 19th century. No one else saw this extra-terrestrial being.
From 700BC until the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, there are no written Biblical books except the Apocrypha which used to be the section between the Old and New Testaments in all English Bibles before 1881 but are no longer published on the grounds that they are unnecessary and inaccurate.
They do contain some historical evidence for that 700 year period
So this Mormon religion started in the 19th century in America claims to come from people who lived in that 700 year period, but in North America So there is no archaeological evidence or records anywhere else to prove they ever existed except as fiction in the vivid imagination of Joseph Smith's brain.
Find out about its teachings of men becoming gods, temples, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith who claimed to have seen God the Father
We give here some of the important facts but there are many more such articles about the Mormons on the web site
www.carm.org
from which we copied these brief articles. The spelling in these articles are American English, not real British English.
What Does Mormonism Teach?
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The doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [ LDS Church ] (Mormons) are very interesting. Most of the 'odd' ones are not initially taught to potential converts. But they should be. Instead, "they are revealed later as one matures and gains the ability to accept them."
The LDS Church tries to make its official doctrines appear Christian but what underlies those Christian sounding terms is far from Christian in meaning.
Following are the teachings of its officials throughout the years. Please note that these teachings are documented from Mormon writers, not anti-Mormon writers.
Finally, many Mormons respond that most of the citations below are not from official Mormon writings, as if that disproves the doctrines they teach. If they are not official, fine. But, if not, then why have the Mormon apostles and high officials taught them, written them, and why are their books sold in Mormon book stores? The truth is, the following is what Mormons are taught.
Atonement
"Jesus paid for all our sins when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane," (Laurel Rohlfing, “Sharing Time: The Atonement,” Friend, Mar. 1989, p. 39.).
"We accept Christ's atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all of the commandments," (Gospel Principles, Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, p. 68.).
Baptism
Baptism for the dead, (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. II, p. 141). This is a practice of baptizing each other in place of non-Mormons who are now dead. Their belief is that in the afterlife, the "newly baptized" person will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven.
Bible
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. . ." (8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church).
"Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God," (1 Nephi 13:28).
Book of Mormon
The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (History of the Church, 4:461).
Devil, the
The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus "in the morning of pre-existence," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 192).
Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).
A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the father but Jesus' plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Savior of all Mankind and to "deny men their agency and to dethrone god," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193;Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8).
God
God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321; Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614; Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333).
"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s..." (D&C 130:22).
God is in the form of a man, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 3).
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
God the Father had a Father, (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 476; Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 19; Milton Hunter, First Council of the Seventy, Gospel through the Ages, p. 104-105).
God resides near a star called Kolob, (Pearl of Great Price, p. 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428).
God had sexual relations with Mary to make the body of Jesus, (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, 1857, p. 218; vol. 8, p. 115). - This one is disputed among many Mormons and not always 'officially' taught and believed. Nevertheless, Young, the 2nd prophet of the Mormon church taught it.
"Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
God, becoming a god
After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-347, 354.)
"Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them," (D&C 132:20).
God, many gods
There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).
"And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light," (Book of Abraham 4:3).
God, mother goddess
There is a mother god, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443).
God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 516).
God, Trinity
The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35).
Gospel, the
The true gospel was lost from the earth. Mormonism is its restoration, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 182-185.)
Consists of laws and ordinances: "As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,'" (Articles of Faith, p. 79)
Heaven
There are three levels of heaven: telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348).
Holy Ghost, the
The Holy Ghost is a male personage, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, (Le Grand Richards, Salt Lake City, 1956, p. 118; Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 179).
Jesus
The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129).
Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163;Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).
Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).
"Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
"The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood - was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115).
"Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers," (Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie, p. 547).
"Christ Not Begotten of Holy Ghost ...Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, by Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954, 1:18).
"Elohim is literally the Father of the spirit of Jesus Christ and also of the body in which Jesus Christ performed His mission in the flesh..." (First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, 1916, "God the Father," compiled by Gordon Allred, p. 150).
Joseph Smith
If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation [the context is the full gospel including exaltation to Godhood] outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670)
.
Pre-existence
We were first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born naturally on earth, (Journal of Discourse, vol. 4, p. 218).
The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129).
The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus "in the morning of pre-existence," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 192)
.
Prophets
We need prophets today, the same as in the Old Testament, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 444-445).
Salvation
"One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation," (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).
A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the Father but Jesus' plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Saviour of all Mankind and to "deny men their agency and to dethrone god," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193;Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8).
Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).
Good works are necessary for salvation (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 92).
There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188).
"The first effect [of the atonement] is to secure to all mankind alike, exemption from the penalty of the fall, thus providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure remission of personal sins (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 78-79).
"As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,'" (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 79).
"This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts," (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697).
"We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do," (2 Nephi 25:23).
Trinity, the
The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35.).
"Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God. I say that is a strange God [anyhow]--three in one and one in three. It is curious
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ARE YOU A MORMON?
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If you are Mormon please understand that this web page is not against you personally. I know that you may have "testimony" of the Spirit concerning the truth of the Book of Mormon and you believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. You are probably a very good person (or are trying to be) and want to serve God and honor Him. This is good and it is admirable. You probably have great faith in what you believe. But, your faith is only as good as who it is placed in.
Jesus said that the truth will set you free (John 8:32). If what is stated about Mormonism on this web site is true, then it should help a lot of people, including you. At the very least, you should examine the evidence presented here to see if it holds water. If you would like to discuss any issue raised on my site, then please feel free to contact me. But please, stick to the issues, give me documentation, and present your arguments. Too many Mormons simply hurl insults with little reasoning behind them.
But, you say you have a testimony and you know that Mormonism is true. You've read the Book of Mormon and received a confirmation of its truth by the power of the Spirit. But even what is perceived as truth, needs to be examined by the Word of God (Acts 17:11).
God has said to examine all things by the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). I suggest you compare what Mormonism teaches to the Bible. Maybe you don't think it is necessary because you 'know' the church is true. Maybe you've read the Book of Mormon and felt a burning in your bosom. Maybe you know for a fact you cannot be swayed because of your testimony to the truth of Mormonism, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith.
If you have answered "Yes!" to the preceding statement, then I have a question for you. What have you done with Jesus? Is it He that you testify of most? Is it He that you love the most and serve (Matt. 4:19; Romans 16:18)? Or is He only a member of your church, an older brother, and someone who is there to help you testify to Mormonism? If that is what you believe, you are deceived.
All things must be examined by God's Word. But Mormonism casts strong doubt upon the reliability of the Bible. It says that the Bible has been corrupted and that many plain and precious truths have been lost. The 8th Article of Faith states: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly..." In History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 461, Joseph Smith said, "I told them that the book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on Earth." In fact, Joseph Smith even 'corrected,' changed the Bible in a version he called, "An Inspired Version of the Authorized Version." The Authorized Version is commonly known as the King James Bible. In Smith's "Inspired Version" are numerous attempts to correct the Bible we now have.
It is this unfounded underlying suspicion of the Bible that permeates Mormon theology and has allowed many unbiblical Mormon doctrines to develop.
I think that this is very similar to what the serpent said to Eve when he said, ". . . Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" (Gen. 3:1). Satan, in order to get Eve and also Adam to be deceived, first had to cast doubt on God's Word. Then notice what the Serpent said, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:4-5). After Eve doubted God's word, she was told by Satan she would be like God, knowing good and evil.
At this point, I would like to point out in James Talmage's book, The Articles of Faith, on page 62 it says,
"The opportunity of winning the victor's reward by overcoming evil was explained to our parents, and they rejoiced. Adam said: 'Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.' Eve was glad and declared: 'Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."
It is interesting to note that in Mormon theology it was a blessing for Adam to have transgressed God's word so that his eyes could be opened. Both Adam and Eve specifically pointed to their transgression as a blessing. But the Mormon will say that it was the transgression that allowed the seed to come, the knowledge of good and evil, and the truth of redemption. My point is simple: the fall, the sin of rebellion is celebrated in Mormonism. I thought only the ungodly celebrate sin.
I honestly hope that you will seek God in the Bible, compare Mormonism to it, not rely on your subjective feelings, and test Mormonism against the facts. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.
In Jesus.
Matt Slick
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MORMONISM
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The word “Gospel” comes from the Greek eujaggevlion and means “good news." The good news is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4). By this gospel we can be saved from the righteous judgement of God the Father by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1).
This salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We can't add to what Christ has done, nor do we maintain our salvation by our good effort.
But what do we find when we look at the gospel according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How are the Mormons saved from their sins, and what must they do to be forgiven? Let’s take a look their scriptures, prophets, and teachers.
First of all, the Book of Mormons says,
“And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins” (The Book of Mormon, Alma 11:37). (All underlines in these quotes have been added for emphasis.)
This is reasonable, since God does not want us to sin against him and we cannot ignore God’s warnings against sin.
Second, the Book of Mormon says, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do,” (2 Nephi 25:23).
Now this is where we run into a problem. We have to ask what it means to be “saved after all we can do?” How much must we do in order to become saved? The representatives of the Mormon Church give us the answer.
“On the same basis men cannot be saved in their sins (Alma 11:37); the Lord has ordained the laws by which salvation and all good things come, and until obedience prepares the way, the promised blessings are withheld(D&C 88:21-24; 130:20-21; 132:5.). Men can no more be saved without obedience than they can be healed without faith. All things operate by law; blessings result from obedience to law and are withheld when there is no obedience” (BYU Professor Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the New Testament, p.222).
The 13th President of the Mormon Church, Ezra Taft Benson, said, “What is meant by ‘after all we can do’? ‘After all we can do’ includes extending our best effort. ‘After all we can do’ includes living His commandments. ‘After all we can do’ includes loving our fellowmen and praying for those who regard us as their adversary. ‘After all we can do’ means clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and giving ‘succor [to] those who stand in need of [our] succor’ (Mosiah 4:15)-remembering that what we do unto one of the least of God's children, we do unto Him (seeMatthew 25:34-40; D&C 42:38). ‘After all we can do’ means leading chaste, clean, pure lives, being scrupulously honest in all our dealings and treating others the way we would want to be treated” (The
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.354. Brackets in original).
“But all of these blessings are ours on one condition, and this is spoken of by Nephi, when he said: For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, [but mark you this condition,] after all we can do” (Harold B. Lee, Conference Reports, April 1956, p.111. Brackets and italics in original).
So, according to Mormonism to be “saved after all we can do” means to extend your best effort, live his commandments, love fellow men, pray for adversaries, cloth the naked, feed the hungry, visit the sick, lead chaste, clean lives, and be honest.
This is a tall order, but does it really mean that you have to do all these things and others to be saved in Mormonism? Sure it does. But, is it possible for Mormons to do all of this? According to the Book of Mormon it is.
“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (The Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7).
Okay, so the Mormon has to keep the commandments to be saved and has no excuse for not doing them. In other words, Mormonism teaches that the Mormon must keep all the commandments all the time to be saved. But that isn’t all. The Mormon must also deny himself of all ungodliness in order for God’s grace to be sufficient.
“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God” (The Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:32).
Notice that God’s grace is sufficient for you after you deny yourself of allungodliness. That is a tremendously tall order -- that is impossible. Who do you know, including yourself, who has denied himself of all ungodliness? Not most ungodliness, not some ungodliness, ALL! Remember, you must “deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you.” This is a hopelessly impossible command. No one can deny himself of all ungodliness. But, just in case you believe you can deny yourself of all ungodliness then that means you aren’t sinning any more. But, according to the Bible, if you say you aren’t sinning anymore, then you are self-deceived. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Obviously, this is a difficult teaching. But, there’s more. In Mormonism, repentance from sin must be complete and permanent. The Fourth President of the Mormon Church, Wilford Woodruff, said...
“And what is repentance? The forsaking of sin. The man who repents, if he be a swearer, swears no more; or a thief, steal no more; he turns away from all former sins and commits them no more. It is not repentance to say, I repent today, and then steal tomorrow; that is the repentance of the world, which is displeasing in the sight of God” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, pp.71-72).
Okay, so true repentance means that you don't commit any of the sins that you have repented of. What would happen if you did commit one of the sins from which you repented? What does Mormonism have to say about that?
“The miracle of forgiveness is available to all of those who turn from their evil doings and return no more, because the Lord has said in a revelation to us in our day: ‘Go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth [meaning again] shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God’ (D&C 82:7). Have that in mind, all of you who may be troubled with a burden of sin” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p.120. Harold B. Lee was the 11th President of the LDS Church. Brackets in original.)
“Those who receive forgiveness and then repeat the sin are held accountable for their former sins” (Gospel Principles, 1997, p.253).
“20. In order to remain forgiven we must never commit the sin again” (Mormon Missionary Discussion F, Uniform System for Teaching Families. 1981, p.36).
So in the Mormon view of repentance, once you have repented of the sin, if you commit it again, all of your former sins return to you. In other words, you have to be perfect. Is this a gospel of good news or of impossible expectations?
Synopsis of Mormon Salvation
1.You cannot be saved in your sins, (The Book of Mormon, Alma 11:37).
2.By grace you are saved, after all you can do, (2 Nephi 25:23).
3.You must give your best, (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.354.)
4.You must deny yourselves of all ungodliness, (Moroni 10:32).
5.Turn from all former sins and commit them no more, (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, pp.71-72).
6.If you commit any past sin again, the former sins return, (D&C 82:7).
7.Therefore, in order to remain forgiven you must never commit the sin again, (Mormon Missionary Discussion F, Uniform System for Teaching Families. 1981, p.36).
Response to the Mormon Gospel
Is this good news? Is this even doable? How can such a teaching you have to keep the law, repent of every sin, and never commit them again in order to be saved, be good news? It isn’t! What a heavy yoke the Mormon must carry in order to have his sins forgiven. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls,” (Matt. 11:28-29). If you come to Jesus, you’re supposed to have rest. Is "rest" trying to keep all the law in order to be forgiven? No, it isn’t. Again, this doesn’t mean it is okay to sin (Rom. 6:1-2), but it does mean that we rest, we trust completely in what Jesus did on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), how he fulfilled all the Law (1 Pet. 2:22), and we trust by faith in what he did (Rom. 5:1). That is the only way
to obey Christ’s command to rest in him.
Paul has a warning to those who think that they can combine works with grace.
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them,” (Gal. 3:10).
James tells us the same thing
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all,” (James 2:10).
Jesus condemns those who combine faith and works.
"Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness,’" (Matt. 7:22-23).
Why would Jesus condemn people who believed in him and did good works in his name? Jesus called them sinners and told them to get away from him. Why? Simple, because those people were appealing to their salvation based on their faith and their works. To do that is to say that Jesus didn’t finish everything that was necessary for our salvation. It means that we have to do something. It means we add our works to Christ’s work. This is an insult to God! Our works are filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). This is why salvation is by faith, not by faith and works.
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Rom. 3:28, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
Rom. 4:5, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,"
Rom. 9:30, "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith."
Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."
The Mormons have an impossible gospel that they cannot live up to, that will lead them to be accursed of Jesus, and which violates justification by faith. Can the Mormon be saved following the Mormon gospel? No, he cannot. He needs to find rest in Jesus by being justified by faith, not faith and works.
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by about 40 authors, in three different languages, on three different continents, over approximately 1600 years. The Bible claims to be inspired and inerrant. This means that the Bible claims to be from God and that it is without error in everything it addresses.
The Bible describes the origin of man in the Garden of Eden along with his fall into sin and out of fellowship with God. It then describes how God called out a special people to Himself, the Israelites. He promised the Israelites a future Messiah who would restore mankind's relationship with God. The Bible is the account of the work of God in history bringing to fruition His prophetic declarations concerning Jesus. Jesus was born of the Virgin, died on the cross, and paid for sins, just as the Bible prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New.
The Old Testament Books written by the prophets such as Moses, David, Isaiah, etc.
1.Pentateuch - 5 books:
1.Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
2.Historical Books - 12 books:
1.Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
3.Poetical - 5 books:
1.Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
4.Prophetical - 17 books:
1.Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel;
2.Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
3.The New Testament Books written by those who knew Jesus or were under the guidance of those who did
5.Historical Books - 5 books:
1.Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
6.Pauline Epistles - 13 books:
1.Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
7.Non-Pauline Epistles - 9 books:
1.Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation
Note: Some authors attribute Hebrews to Paul.
Introduction to the 1830 Book of Mormon
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An Account written by the Hand of Mormon Upon Plates Taken from the plates of Nephi
Wherefore, it is an abridgement of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites -- Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile -- Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation -- Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed -- To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof -- Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile -- The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgement taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven -- Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever -- And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations -- And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
Translated by Joseph Smith, jun.
The 1830 Book of Mormon Text:
The Contents of the Book of Mormon
Introduction to the 1830 Book of Mormon
The Testimony of Three Witnesses
The Testimony of Eight Witnesses
1 Nephi
2 Nephi
Jacob
Enos
Jarom
Omni
Words of Mormon
Mosiah
Alma
Helaman
3 Nephi
4 Nephi
Mormon
Ether
Moroni
A Quick Look at the Book of Mormon
According to Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461) and contains the truths ofMormonism. However, if that is true, then why does the Book of Mormon contradict Mormon theology?
This is because the theology of Joseph Smith didn't really start to go off the deep end until after the Book of Mormon was printed. To harmonize their changing theology with their written scripture, the Mormons gradually redefined common Christian words. That is why the definitions of Mormon words are different than those of Christianity. See Mormon words don't mean the same thing for more information on this.
Praying About the Book of Mormon
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One of the things Mormons ask potential converts to do is to read the Book of Mormon and then pray to God and ask Him if the Book of Mormon is true. It is said that you will then receive a testimony from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's restored church on earth today. It is difficult to counter this testimony because it is an emotional and, I believe, spiritual phenomena. I say spiritual but I am not saying it is of God; it is of the devil.
Mormons teach that if you are sincere and that if you ask God for wisdom as it says in James 1:5, that God will answer you and lead you into the truth. What could be more common sense than that?
There are several reasons why this approach to determining truth is dangerous. The most important is as follows:
The Bible says that to determine truth you must examine the scriptures. First we see 2 Timothy 3:16-17 say that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." Then when we look at Acts 17:11 which says, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." If the Bereans compared what Paul the apostle said to inspired scripture, should we do any less with Mormonism? Of course not. You don't pray about truth you look into the Bible for it. To begin with, the Mormons are going against scripture and trusting something unverifiable (except by their own subjective feelings, of which the Bible says not to trust, (Jer. 17:9).
If the Book of Mormon is the "most correct book of any on earth" (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461), then why does it not contain essential Mormon doctrines such as...
1.Plurality of Gods
2.Plurality of wives doctrine
3.Word of Wisdom
4.God is an exalted man
5.Celestial marriage
6.Men may become Gods
7.Three degrees of glory
8.Baptism for the dead
9. Eternal progression
10.The Aaronic Priesthood
11.Temple works of washings, anointing, endowments, sealing.
The founder of Mormonism said the Book of Mormon was the most correct book of any book, including the Bible (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461), and that a man could get closer to God by following it than any other book. Yet, essential Mormon doctrines aren't to be found in the actual Book of Mormon but in the teaching of their founding leaders.
Problems with the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the Middle-East to the Americas. It covers the period of about 600 B.C. to 400 A.D. It tells of the Jaredites, people from the Tower of Babel who came to central America but perished because of their own immorality. It also describes some Jews who fled persecution in Jerusalem and came to America led by a man called Nephi. The Jews divided into two groups known as the Nephites and Lamanites who fought each other. The Nephites were defeated in 428 A.D.The Lamanites continued and are known as the American Indians. The Book of Mormon is supposed to be the account of the Nephite leader who was called Mormon as he wrote concerning their culture, civilization, and appearance of Jesus to the Americas.
Joseph Smith said "that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461).
Joseph Smith (12/23/1805 - 6/27/1844) is the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons.
In 1805 Joseph was born in Sharon, Vermont. His family moved to Palmyra, New York in 1816.
In 1820 he claimed to have received a visit from God the Father and Jesus who told him that all churches were wrong.
Then in 1823 he received a visit from the angel Moroni and was told about golden plates.
He received them in 1827. Smith was given the supernatural ability to translate the plates (which were supposedly written in Reformed Egyptian) into what is now known as the Book of Mormon - which is supposed to be a history of the Nephites and Laminites who inhabited
the Americas about 2000 years ago.
Smith formed the Church of Christ in 1830, the same year the Book of Mormon was printed. and considered to be "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."
In 1834 the name was changed to "The Church of Latter-day Saints."
It was changed again in 1838 to "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
He and his followers were persecuted and moved from Kirtland, Ohio to Zion, Missouri and Navoo, Illinois. When bad publicity about him was printed, he destroyed the printing press, was arrested, and later was murdered in his jail by an angry mob in 1844.
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Verses to Know When Witnessing to Mormons
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The following are a list of some verses to know when witnessing to Mormons.
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Introduction
Use the King James Version: Since Mormons respect and use the King James Version of the Bible, I recommend that you use this version when witnessing to Mormons. You do not want Mormons to get distracted by the various Bible translations.
Know the Gist: It is not always necessary to have memorized the entire verse word for word. Generally it is okay if you can accurately summarize the verse or give the basic gist of what the passage says. However, I strongly recommend that you at least memorize a few key verses.
Know the Location: It is extremely helpful if you know the exact chapter and verse where a particular Scripture is located. Sometimes it is sufficient to just know the chapter, but it is helpful if you can also know the verse.
God
One God Only:
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."
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."
If there were only two Bible verses that you had to know when witnessing to Mormons, I would recommend that you know Isaiah 43:10 and 44:6, 8.
Book of Mormon
Surpisingly to some, the Book of Mormon likewise teaches that there is only oneGod in all of existence.
Alma 11:26-29: "26And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? 27And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. 28Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? 29And he answered, No."
Eternality of God:
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.
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."
God Never Sinned:
Revelation 4:8: "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
Also compare Moroni 8:18 above which affirms that God is unchangeable. Since God is holy now, and is unchangeable, he could not have ever been a sinner.
Jehovah is Elohim:
Deuteronomy 4:35: "Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD [Jehovah] he is God [Elohim]; there is none else beside him."
1 Kings 18:39: "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD [Jehovah], he is the God [Elohim]; the LORD [Jehovah], he is the God [Elohim]."
Jesus
Jesus always was God (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17). Since the Bible teaches that Jesus is God (John 10:30; 20:28; Heb. 1:8) and God is eternal (Psalm 90:2), then Jesus must have always been God.
John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Colossians 1 v 16 – 17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
It is important to note that Jesus created all things including Satan. In Mormonism, Jesus is the spirit brother of Satan who was begotten through literal sexual relations between heavenly Father and possibly a heavenly Mother. Therefore, in Mormonism, Jesus did not create Satan. Jesus' spirit body is the result of some sort of union between heavenly Father and one of the heavenly Mothers. Jesus' physical body is the result of some sort of physical union between Heavenly Father and Mary.
Salvation
Book of Mormon: Moroni 10:32; 2 Nephi 25:23; 1 Nephi 3:7; Alma 11:37; D&C 1:31-33; D&C 58:42-43; D&C 82:7; Alma 34
Bible: Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16-17; John 5:24; Romans 11:6; James 2:14-26
Priesthood Authority
Hebrews 7:11-12: "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
It is not necessary to actually memorize these passages, but you should at least be familiar with the gist of their teaching; namely that (1) the Levitical priesthood was done away with, and (2) the Levitical priesthood was reserved for Aaron and his descendants from the tribe of Levi, not Gentiles (Numbers 3:5-13; Exodus 28:1-3).
Testimony
Verses Dealing with Feelings in the Discovery of Truth: Jer. 17:9; Prov. 28:26; Acts 17
Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Proverbs 28:26: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."
Acts 17:11: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." It is important to note that Paul never told the Bereans to determine whether Jesus was the Messiah based on their own personal prayer experience. They were praised since they searched the scripture daily whether the things Paul taught were true. It is Scripture that is the authority of determining truth, not our own sinful emotional feelings.
1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
1 John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
1 John 5:9-13: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
Other Verses
The purpose of our existence is to bring glory to God, not to achieve exaltation or human happiness. Revelation 4:11 says, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Our ultimate fulfillment is actually found when we worship God.
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Jehovah is Elohim
In Mormon theology God is not a Trinity but a triad. The doctrine of Trinity is the teaching that there is a single God who exists in three persons: Father, son, and Holy Spirit. There are not three gods, only one. The Trinity doctrine states there is only one God in all the universe, in all dimensions, in all time, and without end. God is eternal and there was never a time when he was not God. He has always been completely and fully God.
A Triad is the teaching that there are three separate gods in one "office" or "position." Mormons often refer to God this way. When they say God, it can mean the Father, whom they call Heavenly Father, or the Godhead, which, to them, is three separate gods in one office. In other words, the Mormon defines the Trinity as a god called the Father (also known as Elohim and Heavenly Father), along with the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost. Mormonism teaches a Triad and not a Trinity.
The following quote substantiates the Mormon position:
"This reference, then, to the three as one God, must be interpreted to mean that they constitute one Godhead or Supreme Council, composed of three separate personages, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost... it is very strange that Christian people can be confused and believe that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one substance or entity."1
In addition to teaching that God, the Godhead, is really three personages or gods, Mormonism also teaches that there are many many gods in existence.
Mormon theology has erringly named God the Father as "Elohim."
" . . . God the Eternal Father, whom we designate the by the exalted name-title "Elohim," is the literal Parent of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race."2
Mormon theology also declares that in the old Testament, Jesus is known as "Jehovah."
"With this meaning, as the context shows in every case, Jehovah who is Jesus Christ the son of Elohim, is called "the Father," and even "the very Eternal Father of heaven and earth..."3
The belief that God the Father is called Elohim and Jesus is called Jehovah does not agree with what the Bible says. In actuality, in Hebrew the word for "God" is the word "elohim." Likewise, the word for the name of God (elohim) is "Jehovah." In the Bible, when the word "Jehovah" appears in the Hebrew text, it is rendered as LORD (all caps) in the English text. Also, the Hebrew word "elohim" is translated as "God."
Please consider the following verses:
"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" (Isaiah 43:10-11).
This verse is important because if you read what it is saying, it states that Jehovah (LORD also known to the Mormons as Jesus), is stating that there will be no God (elohim) formed after him. But this is a problem for the Mormons since it could not be saying that Jehovah is the only elohim. In other words, this verse is stating that the LORD (Jehovah), is elohim.
Let's look at two more verses.
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6).
In this verse, LORD is Jehovah in the Hebrew. Jehovah is saying there is no God (elohim)
besides him.
"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any" (Isaiah 44:8).
The context of this verse is that Jehovah (LORD) is a speaking. He states here that there is no God (elohim) besides him. He is stating that he does not even know of any other elohim (God) besides himself.
My point is that the name of God (elohim) is Jehovah (LORD) and that the LORD is stating that he alone is God. In other words, Jehovah is stating that he alone is elohim. Therefore, the Mormon idea that God the Father is called "elohim" and that the son is called "Jehovah" is erroneous.
In actuality, the name of God is Jehovah and the Mormons are incorrect.
Remember, in Hebrew text LORD equals Jehovah. God equals elohim.
"Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none
else beside him" (Deut. 4:35).
"That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else" (1 Kings 8:60).
"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;" (Psalm 100:3).
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God" (Zech. 13:9).
1.Selections from Answer to Gospel Questions, published by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1972, p. 10.
2.Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, Desert Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1985, p. 421.
3.Ibid.
Mormons and Mitochondrial DNA
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by Chad Ressler
In August 2004 Simon Southerton released a book entitled Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church.
1 Southerton concludes from studies of mitochondrial DNA of Native Americans that the Mormon claim of their descent from Israeli immigrants is unsupported by DNA evidence. Wading through the scientific claims can be a daunting task for anyone not having specialized knowledge of the field. The basic concept though is that the mitochondrial DNA taken from a group of surviving Native Americans demonstrates that they were descended from Asians and not the “ten lost tribes of Israel” as the Book of Mormon claims.2
So close is the connection that surviving Native American connection to Asiatic origin is close to 99%.3
Of course, these findings are devastating for the book of Mormon unless one decides to take a position of intellectual dishonesty which, oddly enough, is what the Mormon Church has done. While there have been some detailed technical articles written by Mormon apologists they can be very difficult to read unless one has a good understanding of various fields in biology. This is what Mormon apologists are counting on; that Mormon lay people will simply see there is a rebuttal, superficially skim through it, and be assured that their “feelings” are still correct. Though the majority of us may not be able to understand all the arguments, I think it is plausible to conclude that this book does some serious damage to the veracity of the Book of Mormon.
The research by Southerton screams for an answer to the question: “If the so-called "Lamanites" (Native Americans) were spawned from an escaped tribe of Israelites, why does their DNA show a 98.6% Asian connection and 0% Middle Eastern?”4 The answer according to Southerton is, “It's all mythology. Historical fiction.”5
A very telling response from LDS author John Butler says:
“A spiritual witness is the only way to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Although DNA studies have made links between Native Americans and Asians, these studies in no way invalidate the Book of Mormon despite the loud voices of detractors.”6
Notice what Butler said. Although the evidence appears to disprove what so called “prophet” Joseph Smith wrote, you should ignore the evidence and simply trust your feelings. Joseph Smith claimed that the Israelites found the New World uninhabited when they arrived, yet the evidence says otherwise. Mormons claim to be Christians, but Christianity is not rooted in blind faith apart from evidence. The Bible is clearly historical being grounded in real people who lived in real places which archaeology has time and again confirmed. The Christian need not refer to his or her “feelings” as their primary epistemic justification for faith even in the face of contrary evidence. The truth of God’s Word has stood the test of time, but Joseph Smith’s word, and his reputation as a prophet, seems to be discredited.
1.http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/october/8.20.html
2.The introduction to the Book of Mormon states, "The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel," (Introduction, Book of Mormon, 1982).
3.Ibid.
4.Gwynne Spencer, "Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church," Tribal College Journal, 10525505, Winter2005, Vol. 17, Issue 2.
5.Ibid.
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For futhrt information Check out Mormonism on www.carm.org
THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
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The Authorized Version Bible is commonly known as the King James Bible. It's first edition was published in 1611
The edition still in use today in some church denominations is the 4th revision of 1789
Joseph Smith founder of Mormonism produced his own "Inspired Version" in which are numerous attempts to correct the Bible of 1611 and 1789
He wasn't just translating from the original languages of Hebrew, Chaldean, Aramaic and Greek in which the Bible manuscripts were written to set them into English
He was adding inventions of his own to improve the text which is deceitful to say the least.
It is this unfounded underlying suspicion of the Bible that permeates Mormon theology and has allowed many un-biblical Mormon doctrines to develop.
Mormonism, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, claims to be the restoration of the true gospel and a revelation of the
true God.
The Mormon claim that their Book of Mormon came from a tribe in North America that existed around 600BC linked to another tribe amongst the immediate descendants of Noah.
The contents of which they claim were inscribed on metal plates made known to their founder by a extra terrestrial being in the 19th century. No one else saw this extra-terrestrial being.
From 700BC until the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, there are no written Biblical books except the Apocrypha which used to be the section between the Old and New Testaments in all English Bibles before 1881 but are no longer published on the grounds that they are unnecessary and inaccurate.
They do contain some historical evidence for that 700 year period
So this Mormon religion started in the 19th century in America claims to come from people who lived in that 700 year period, but in North America So there is no archaeological evidence or records anywhere else to prove they ever existed except as fiction in the vivid imagination of Joseph Smith's brain.
Find out about its teachings of men becoming gods, temples, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith who claimed to have seen God the Father
We give here some of the important facts but there are many more such articles about the Mormons on the web site
www.carm.org
from which we copied these brief articles. The spelling in these articles are American English, not real British English.
What Does Mormonism Teach?
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The doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [ LDS Church ] (Mormons) are very interesting. Most of the 'odd' ones are not initially taught to potential converts. But they should be. Instead, "they are revealed later as one matures and gains the ability to accept them."
The LDS Church tries to make its official doctrines appear Christian but what underlies those Christian sounding terms is far from Christian in meaning.
Following are the teachings of its officials throughout the years. Please note that these teachings are documented from Mormon writers, not anti-Mormon writers.
Finally, many Mormons respond that most of the citations below are not from official Mormon writings, as if that disproves the doctrines they teach. If they are not official, fine. But, if not, then why have the Mormon apostles and high officials taught them, written them, and why are their books sold in Mormon book stores? The truth is, the following is what Mormons are taught.
Atonement
"Jesus paid for all our sins when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane," (Laurel Rohlfing, “Sharing Time: The Atonement,” Friend, Mar. 1989, p. 39.).
"We accept Christ's atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all of the commandments," (Gospel Principles, Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, p. 68.).
Baptism
Baptism for the dead, (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. II, p. 141). This is a practice of baptizing each other in place of non-Mormons who are now dead. Their belief is that in the afterlife, the "newly baptized" person will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven.
Bible
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. . ." (8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church).
"Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God," (1 Nephi 13:28).
Book of Mormon
The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (History of the Church, 4:461).
Devil, the
The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus "in the morning of pre-existence," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 192).
Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).
A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the father but Jesus' plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Savior of all Mankind and to "deny men their agency and to dethrone god," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193;Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8).
God
God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321; Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614; Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333).
"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s..." (D&C 130:22).
God is in the form of a man, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 3).
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
God the Father had a Father, (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 476; Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 19; Milton Hunter, First Council of the Seventy, Gospel through the Ages, p. 104-105).
God resides near a star called Kolob, (Pearl of Great Price, p. 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428).
God had sexual relations with Mary to make the body of Jesus, (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, 1857, p. 218; vol. 8, p. 115). - This one is disputed among many Mormons and not always 'officially' taught and believed. Nevertheless, Young, the 2nd prophet of the Mormon church taught it.
"Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
God, becoming a god
After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-347, 354.)
"Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them," (D&C 132:20).
God, many gods
There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).
"And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light," (Book of Abraham 4:3).
God, mother goddess
There is a mother god, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443).
God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 516).
God, Trinity
The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35).
Gospel, the
The true gospel was lost from the earth. Mormonism is its restoration, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 182-185.)
Consists of laws and ordinances: "As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,'" (Articles of Faith, p. 79)
Heaven
There are three levels of heaven: telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348).
Holy Ghost, the
The Holy Ghost is a male personage, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, (Le Grand Richards, Salt Lake City, 1956, p. 118; Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 179).
Jesus
The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129).
Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163;Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).
Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).
"Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
"The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood - was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115).
"Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers," (Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie, p. 547).
"Christ Not Begotten of Holy Ghost ...Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, by Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954, 1:18).
"Elohim is literally the Father of the spirit of Jesus Christ and also of the body in which Jesus Christ performed His mission in the flesh..." (First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, 1916, "God the Father," compiled by Gordon Allred, p. 150).
Joseph Smith
If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation [the context is the full gospel including exaltation to Godhood] outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670)
.
Pre-existence
We were first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born naturally on earth, (Journal of Discourse, vol. 4, p. 218).
The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129).
The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus "in the morning of pre-existence," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 192)
.
Prophets
We need prophets today, the same as in the Old Testament, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 444-445).
Salvation
"One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation," (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).
A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the Father but Jesus' plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Saviour of all Mankind and to "deny men their agency and to dethrone god," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193;Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8).
Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).
Good works are necessary for salvation (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 92).
There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188).
"The first effect [of the atonement] is to secure to all mankind alike, exemption from the penalty of the fall, thus providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure remission of personal sins (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 78-79).
"As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,'" (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 79).
"This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts," (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697).
"We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do," (2 Nephi 25:23).
Trinity, the
The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35.).
"Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God. I say that is a strange God [anyhow]--three in one and one in three. It is curious
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ARE YOU A MORMON?
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If you are Mormon please understand that this web page is not against you personally. I know that you may have "testimony" of the Spirit concerning the truth of the Book of Mormon and you believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. You are probably a very good person (or are trying to be) and want to serve God and honor Him. This is good and it is admirable. You probably have great faith in what you believe. But, your faith is only as good as who it is placed in.
Jesus said that the truth will set you free (John 8:32). If what is stated about Mormonism on this web site is true, then it should help a lot of people, including you. At the very least, you should examine the evidence presented here to see if it holds water. If you would like to discuss any issue raised on my site, then please feel free to contact me. But please, stick to the issues, give me documentation, and present your arguments. Too many Mormons simply hurl insults with little reasoning behind them.
But, you say you have a testimony and you know that Mormonism is true. You've read the Book of Mormon and received a confirmation of its truth by the power of the Spirit. But even what is perceived as truth, needs to be examined by the Word of God (Acts 17:11).
God has said to examine all things by the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). I suggest you compare what Mormonism teaches to the Bible. Maybe you don't think it is necessary because you 'know' the church is true. Maybe you've read the Book of Mormon and felt a burning in your bosom. Maybe you know for a fact you cannot be swayed because of your testimony to the truth of Mormonism, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith.
If you have answered "Yes!" to the preceding statement, then I have a question for you. What have you done with Jesus? Is it He that you testify of most? Is it He that you love the most and serve (Matt. 4:19; Romans 16:18)? Or is He only a member of your church, an older brother, and someone who is there to help you testify to Mormonism? If that is what you believe, you are deceived.
All things must be examined by God's Word. But Mormonism casts strong doubt upon the reliability of the Bible. It says that the Bible has been corrupted and that many plain and precious truths have been lost. The 8th Article of Faith states: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly..." In History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 461, Joseph Smith said, "I told them that the book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on Earth." In fact, Joseph Smith even 'corrected,' changed the Bible in a version he called, "An Inspired Version of the Authorized Version." The Authorized Version is commonly known as the King James Bible. In Smith's "Inspired Version" are numerous attempts to correct the Bible we now have.
It is this unfounded underlying suspicion of the Bible that permeates Mormon theology and has allowed many unbiblical Mormon doctrines to develop.
I think that this is very similar to what the serpent said to Eve when he said, ". . . Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" (Gen. 3:1). Satan, in order to get Eve and also Adam to be deceived, first had to cast doubt on God's Word. Then notice what the Serpent said, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:4-5). After Eve doubted God's word, she was told by Satan she would be like God, knowing good and evil.
At this point, I would like to point out in James Talmage's book, The Articles of Faith, on page 62 it says,
"The opportunity of winning the victor's reward by overcoming evil was explained to our parents, and they rejoiced. Adam said: 'Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.' Eve was glad and declared: 'Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."
It is interesting to note that in Mormon theology it was a blessing for Adam to have transgressed God's word so that his eyes could be opened. Both Adam and Eve specifically pointed to their transgression as a blessing. But the Mormon will say that it was the transgression that allowed the seed to come, the knowledge of good and evil, and the truth of redemption. My point is simple: the fall, the sin of rebellion is celebrated in Mormonism. I thought only the ungodly celebrate sin.
I honestly hope that you will seek God in the Bible, compare Mormonism to it, not rely on your subjective feelings, and test Mormonism against the facts. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.
In Jesus.
Matt Slick
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MORMONISM
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The word “Gospel” comes from the Greek eujaggevlion and means “good news." The good news is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4). By this gospel we can be saved from the righteous judgement of God the Father by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1).
This salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We can't add to what Christ has done, nor do we maintain our salvation by our good effort.
But what do we find when we look at the gospel according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How are the Mormons saved from their sins, and what must they do to be forgiven? Let’s take a look their scriptures, prophets, and teachers.
First of all, the Book of Mormons says,
“And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins” (The Book of Mormon, Alma 11:37). (All underlines in these quotes have been added for emphasis.)
This is reasonable, since God does not want us to sin against him and we cannot ignore God’s warnings against sin.
Second, the Book of Mormon says, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do,” (2 Nephi 25:23).
Now this is where we run into a problem. We have to ask what it means to be “saved after all we can do?” How much must we do in order to become saved? The representatives of the Mormon Church give us the answer.
“On the same basis men cannot be saved in their sins (Alma 11:37); the Lord has ordained the laws by which salvation and all good things come, and until obedience prepares the way, the promised blessings are withheld(D&C 88:21-24; 130:20-21; 132:5.). Men can no more be saved without obedience than they can be healed without faith. All things operate by law; blessings result from obedience to law and are withheld when there is no obedience” (BYU Professor Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the New Testament, p.222).
The 13th President of the Mormon Church, Ezra Taft Benson, said, “What is meant by ‘after all we can do’? ‘After all we can do’ includes extending our best effort. ‘After all we can do’ includes living His commandments. ‘After all we can do’ includes loving our fellowmen and praying for those who regard us as their adversary. ‘After all we can do’ means clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and giving ‘succor [to] those who stand in need of [our] succor’ (Mosiah 4:15)-remembering that what we do unto one of the least of God's children, we do unto Him (seeMatthew 25:34-40; D&C 42:38). ‘After all we can do’ means leading chaste, clean, pure lives, being scrupulously honest in all our dealings and treating others the way we would want to be treated” (The
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.354. Brackets in original).
“But all of these blessings are ours on one condition, and this is spoken of by Nephi, when he said: For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, [but mark you this condition,] after all we can do” (Harold B. Lee, Conference Reports, April 1956, p.111. Brackets and italics in original).
So, according to Mormonism to be “saved after all we can do” means to extend your best effort, live his commandments, love fellow men, pray for adversaries, cloth the naked, feed the hungry, visit the sick, lead chaste, clean lives, and be honest.
This is a tall order, but does it really mean that you have to do all these things and others to be saved in Mormonism? Sure it does. But, is it possible for Mormons to do all of this? According to the Book of Mormon it is.
“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (The Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7).
Okay, so the Mormon has to keep the commandments to be saved and has no excuse for not doing them. In other words, Mormonism teaches that the Mormon must keep all the commandments all the time to be saved. But that isn’t all. The Mormon must also deny himself of all ungodliness in order for God’s grace to be sufficient.
“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God” (The Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:32).
Notice that God’s grace is sufficient for you after you deny yourself of allungodliness. That is a tremendously tall order -- that is impossible. Who do you know, including yourself, who has denied himself of all ungodliness? Not most ungodliness, not some ungodliness, ALL! Remember, you must “deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you.” This is a hopelessly impossible command. No one can deny himself of all ungodliness. But, just in case you believe you can deny yourself of all ungodliness then that means you aren’t sinning any more. But, according to the Bible, if you say you aren’t sinning anymore, then you are self-deceived. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Obviously, this is a difficult teaching. But, there’s more. In Mormonism, repentance from sin must be complete and permanent. The Fourth President of the Mormon Church, Wilford Woodruff, said...
“And what is repentance? The forsaking of sin. The man who repents, if he be a swearer, swears no more; or a thief, steal no more; he turns away from all former sins and commits them no more. It is not repentance to say, I repent today, and then steal tomorrow; that is the repentance of the world, which is displeasing in the sight of God” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, pp.71-72).
Okay, so true repentance means that you don't commit any of the sins that you have repented of. What would happen if you did commit one of the sins from which you repented? What does Mormonism have to say about that?
“The miracle of forgiveness is available to all of those who turn from their evil doings and return no more, because the Lord has said in a revelation to us in our day: ‘Go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth [meaning again] shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God’ (D&C 82:7). Have that in mind, all of you who may be troubled with a burden of sin” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p.120. Harold B. Lee was the 11th President of the LDS Church. Brackets in original.)
“Those who receive forgiveness and then repeat the sin are held accountable for their former sins” (Gospel Principles, 1997, p.253).
“20. In order to remain forgiven we must never commit the sin again” (Mormon Missionary Discussion F, Uniform System for Teaching Families. 1981, p.36).
So in the Mormon view of repentance, once you have repented of the sin, if you commit it again, all of your former sins return to you. In other words, you have to be perfect. Is this a gospel of good news or of impossible expectations?
Synopsis of Mormon Salvation
1.You cannot be saved in your sins, (The Book of Mormon, Alma 11:37).
2.By grace you are saved, after all you can do, (2 Nephi 25:23).
3.You must give your best, (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.354.)
4.You must deny yourselves of all ungodliness, (Moroni 10:32).
5.Turn from all former sins and commit them no more, (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, pp.71-72).
6.If you commit any past sin again, the former sins return, (D&C 82:7).
7.Therefore, in order to remain forgiven you must never commit the sin again, (Mormon Missionary Discussion F, Uniform System for Teaching Families. 1981, p.36).
Response to the Mormon Gospel
Is this good news? Is this even doable? How can such a teaching you have to keep the law, repent of every sin, and never commit them again in order to be saved, be good news? It isn’t! What a heavy yoke the Mormon must carry in order to have his sins forgiven. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls,” (Matt. 11:28-29). If you come to Jesus, you’re supposed to have rest. Is "rest" trying to keep all the law in order to be forgiven? No, it isn’t. Again, this doesn’t mean it is okay to sin (Rom. 6:1-2), but it does mean that we rest, we trust completely in what Jesus did on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), how he fulfilled all the Law (1 Pet. 2:22), and we trust by faith in what he did (Rom. 5:1). That is the only way
to obey Christ’s command to rest in him.
Paul has a warning to those who think that they can combine works with grace.
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them,” (Gal. 3:10).
James tells us the same thing
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all,” (James 2:10).
Jesus condemns those who combine faith and works.
"Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness,’" (Matt. 7:22-23).
Why would Jesus condemn people who believed in him and did good works in his name? Jesus called them sinners and told them to get away from him. Why? Simple, because those people were appealing to their salvation based on their faith and their works. To do that is to say that Jesus didn’t finish everything that was necessary for our salvation. It means that we have to do something. It means we add our works to Christ’s work. This is an insult to God! Our works are filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). This is why salvation is by faith, not by faith and works.
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Rom. 3:28, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
Rom. 4:5, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,"
Rom. 9:30, "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith."
Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."
The Mormons have an impossible gospel that they cannot live up to, that will lead them to be accursed of Jesus, and which violates justification by faith. Can the Mormon be saved following the Mormon gospel? No, he cannot. He needs to find rest in Jesus by being justified by faith, not faith and works.
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by about 40 authors, in three different languages, on three different continents, over approximately 1600 years. The Bible claims to be inspired and inerrant. This means that the Bible claims to be from God and that it is without error in everything it addresses.
The Bible describes the origin of man in the Garden of Eden along with his fall into sin and out of fellowship with God. It then describes how God called out a special people to Himself, the Israelites. He promised the Israelites a future Messiah who would restore mankind's relationship with God. The Bible is the account of the work of God in history bringing to fruition His prophetic declarations concerning Jesus. Jesus was born of the Virgin, died on the cross, and paid for sins, just as the Bible prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New.
The Old Testament Books written by the prophets such as Moses, David, Isaiah, etc.
1.Pentateuch - 5 books:
1.Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
2.Historical Books - 12 books:
1.Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
3.Poetical - 5 books:
1.Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
4.Prophetical - 17 books:
1.Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel;
2.Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
3.The New Testament Books written by those who knew Jesus or were under the guidance of those who did
5.Historical Books - 5 books:
1.Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
6.Pauline Epistles - 13 books:
1.Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
7.Non-Pauline Epistles - 9 books:
1.Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation
Note: Some authors attribute Hebrews to Paul.
Introduction to the 1830 Book of Mormon
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An Account written by the Hand of Mormon Upon Plates Taken from the plates of Nephi
Wherefore, it is an abridgement of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites -- Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile -- Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation -- Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed -- To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof -- Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile -- The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgement taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven -- Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever -- And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations -- And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
Translated by Joseph Smith, jun.
The 1830 Book of Mormon Text:
The Contents of the Book of Mormon
Introduction to the 1830 Book of Mormon
The Testimony of Three Witnesses
The Testimony of Eight Witnesses
1 Nephi
2 Nephi
Jacob
Enos
Jarom
Omni
Words of Mormon
Mosiah
Alma
Helaman
3 Nephi
4 Nephi
Mormon
Ether
Moroni
A Quick Look at the Book of Mormon
According to Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461) and contains the truths ofMormonism. However, if that is true, then why does the Book of Mormon contradict Mormon theology?
This is because the theology of Joseph Smith didn't really start to go off the deep end until after the Book of Mormon was printed. To harmonize their changing theology with their written scripture, the Mormons gradually redefined common Christian words. That is why the definitions of Mormon words are different than those of Christianity. See Mormon words don't mean the same thing for more information on this.
Praying About the Book of Mormon
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One of the things Mormons ask potential converts to do is to read the Book of Mormon and then pray to God and ask Him if the Book of Mormon is true. It is said that you will then receive a testimony from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's restored church on earth today. It is difficult to counter this testimony because it is an emotional and, I believe, spiritual phenomena. I say spiritual but I am not saying it is of God; it is of the devil.
Mormons teach that if you are sincere and that if you ask God for wisdom as it says in James 1:5, that God will answer you and lead you into the truth. What could be more common sense than that?
There are several reasons why this approach to determining truth is dangerous. The most important is as follows:
The Bible says that to determine truth you must examine the scriptures. First we see 2 Timothy 3:16-17 say that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." Then when we look at Acts 17:11 which says, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." If the Bereans compared what Paul the apostle said to inspired scripture, should we do any less with Mormonism? Of course not. You don't pray about truth you look into the Bible for it. To begin with, the Mormons are going against scripture and trusting something unverifiable (except by their own subjective feelings, of which the Bible says not to trust, (Jer. 17:9).
If the Book of Mormon is the "most correct book of any on earth" (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461), then why does it not contain essential Mormon doctrines such as...
1.Plurality of Gods
2.Plurality of wives doctrine
3.Word of Wisdom
4.God is an exalted man
5.Celestial marriage
6.Men may become Gods
7.Three degrees of glory
8.Baptism for the dead
9. Eternal progression
10.The Aaronic Priesthood
11.Temple works of washings, anointing, endowments, sealing.
The founder of Mormonism said the Book of Mormon was the most correct book of any book, including the Bible (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461), and that a man could get closer to God by following it than any other book. Yet, essential Mormon doctrines aren't to be found in the actual Book of Mormon but in the teaching of their founding leaders.
Problems with the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the Middle-East to the Americas. It covers the period of about 600 B.C. to 400 A.D. It tells of the Jaredites, people from the Tower of Babel who came to central America but perished because of their own immorality. It also describes some Jews who fled persecution in Jerusalem and came to America led by a man called Nephi. The Jews divided into two groups known as the Nephites and Lamanites who fought each other. The Nephites were defeated in 428 A.D.The Lamanites continued and are known as the American Indians. The Book of Mormon is supposed to be the account of the Nephite leader who was called Mormon as he wrote concerning their culture, civilization, and appearance of Jesus to the Americas.
Joseph Smith said "that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461).
Joseph Smith (12/23/1805 - 6/27/1844) is the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons.
In 1805 Joseph was born in Sharon, Vermont. His family moved to Palmyra, New York in 1816.
In 1820 he claimed to have received a visit from God the Father and Jesus who told him that all churches were wrong.
Then in 1823 he received a visit from the angel Moroni and was told about golden plates.
He received them in 1827. Smith was given the supernatural ability to translate the plates (which were supposedly written in Reformed Egyptian) into what is now known as the Book of Mormon - which is supposed to be a history of the Nephites and Laminites who inhabited
the Americas about 2000 years ago.
Smith formed the Church of Christ in 1830, the same year the Book of Mormon was printed. and considered to be "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."
In 1834 the name was changed to "The Church of Latter-day Saints."
It was changed again in 1838 to "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
He and his followers were persecuted and moved from Kirtland, Ohio to Zion, Missouri and Navoo, Illinois. When bad publicity about him was printed, he destroyed the printing press, was arrested, and later was murdered in his jail by an angry mob in 1844.
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Verses to Know When Witnessing to Mormons
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The following are a list of some verses to know when witnessing to Mormons.
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Introduction
Use the King James Version: Since Mormons respect and use the King James Version of the Bible, I recommend that you use this version when witnessing to Mormons. You do not want Mormons to get distracted by the various Bible translations.
Know the Gist: It is not always necessary to have memorized the entire verse word for word. Generally it is okay if you can accurately summarize the verse or give the basic gist of what the passage says. However, I strongly recommend that you at least memorize a few key verses.
Know the Location: It is extremely helpful if you know the exact chapter and verse where a particular Scripture is located. Sometimes it is sufficient to just know the chapter, but it is helpful if you can also know the verse.
God
One God Only:
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."
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."
If there were only two Bible verses that you had to know when witnessing to Mormons, I would recommend that you know Isaiah 43:10 and 44:6, 8.
Book of Mormon
Surpisingly to some, the Book of Mormon likewise teaches that there is only oneGod in all of existence.
Alma 11:26-29: "26And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? 27And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. 28Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? 29And he answered, No."
Eternality of God:
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.
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."
God Never Sinned:
Revelation 4:8: "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
Also compare Moroni 8:18 above which affirms that God is unchangeable. Since God is holy now, and is unchangeable, he could not have ever been a sinner.
Jehovah is Elohim:
Deuteronomy 4:35: "Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD [Jehovah] he is God [Elohim]; there is none else beside him."
1 Kings 18:39: "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD [Jehovah], he is the God [Elohim]; the LORD [Jehovah], he is the God [Elohim]."
Jesus
Jesus always was God (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17). Since the Bible teaches that Jesus is God (John 10:30; 20:28; Heb. 1:8) and God is eternal (Psalm 90:2), then Jesus must have always been God.
John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Colossians 1 v 16 – 17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
It is important to note that Jesus created all things including Satan. In Mormonism, Jesus is the spirit brother of Satan who was begotten through literal sexual relations between heavenly Father and possibly a heavenly Mother. Therefore, in Mormonism, Jesus did not create Satan. Jesus' spirit body is the result of some sort of union between heavenly Father and one of the heavenly Mothers. Jesus' physical body is the result of some sort of physical union between Heavenly Father and Mary.
Salvation
Book of Mormon: Moroni 10:32; 2 Nephi 25:23; 1 Nephi 3:7; Alma 11:37; D&C 1:31-33; D&C 58:42-43; D&C 82:7; Alma 34
Bible: Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16-17; John 5:24; Romans 11:6; James 2:14-26
Priesthood Authority
Hebrews 7:11-12: "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
It is not necessary to actually memorize these passages, but you should at least be familiar with the gist of their teaching; namely that (1) the Levitical priesthood was done away with, and (2) the Levitical priesthood was reserved for Aaron and his descendants from the tribe of Levi, not Gentiles (Numbers 3:5-13; Exodus 28:1-3).
Testimony
Verses Dealing with Feelings in the Discovery of Truth: Jer. 17:9; Prov. 28:26; Acts 17
Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Proverbs 28:26: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."
Acts 17:11: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." It is important to note that Paul never told the Bereans to determine whether Jesus was the Messiah based on their own personal prayer experience. They were praised since they searched the scripture daily whether the things Paul taught were true. It is Scripture that is the authority of determining truth, not our own sinful emotional feelings.
1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
1 John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
1 John 5:9-13: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
Other Verses
The purpose of our existence is to bring glory to God, not to achieve exaltation or human happiness. Revelation 4:11 says, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Our ultimate fulfillment is actually found when we worship God.
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Jehovah is Elohim
In Mormon theology God is not a Trinity but a triad. The doctrine of Trinity is the teaching that there is a single God who exists in three persons: Father, son, and Holy Spirit. There are not three gods, only one. The Trinity doctrine states there is only one God in all the universe, in all dimensions, in all time, and without end. God is eternal and there was never a time when he was not God. He has always been completely and fully God.
A Triad is the teaching that there are three separate gods in one "office" or "position." Mormons often refer to God this way. When they say God, it can mean the Father, whom they call Heavenly Father, or the Godhead, which, to them, is three separate gods in one office. In other words, the Mormon defines the Trinity as a god called the Father (also known as Elohim and Heavenly Father), along with the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost. Mormonism teaches a Triad and not a Trinity.
The following quote substantiates the Mormon position:
"This reference, then, to the three as one God, must be interpreted to mean that they constitute one Godhead or Supreme Council, composed of three separate personages, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost... it is very strange that Christian people can be confused and believe that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one substance or entity."1
In addition to teaching that God, the Godhead, is really three personages or gods, Mormonism also teaches that there are many many gods in existence.
Mormon theology has erringly named God the Father as "Elohim."
" . . . God the Eternal Father, whom we designate the by the exalted name-title "Elohim," is the literal Parent of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race."2
Mormon theology also declares that in the old Testament, Jesus is known as "Jehovah."
"With this meaning, as the context shows in every case, Jehovah who is Jesus Christ the son of Elohim, is called "the Father," and even "the very Eternal Father of heaven and earth..."3
The belief that God the Father is called Elohim and Jesus is called Jehovah does not agree with what the Bible says. In actuality, in Hebrew the word for "God" is the word "elohim." Likewise, the word for the name of God (elohim) is "Jehovah." In the Bible, when the word "Jehovah" appears in the Hebrew text, it is rendered as LORD (all caps) in the English text. Also, the Hebrew word "elohim" is translated as "God."
Please consider the following verses:
"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" (Isaiah 43:10-11).
This verse is important because if you read what it is saying, it states that Jehovah (LORD also known to the Mormons as Jesus), is stating that there will be no God (elohim) formed after him. But this is a problem for the Mormons since it could not be saying that Jehovah is the only elohim. In other words, this verse is stating that the LORD (Jehovah), is elohim.
Let's look at two more verses.
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6).
In this verse, LORD is Jehovah in the Hebrew. Jehovah is saying there is no God (elohim)
besides him.
"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any" (Isaiah 44:8).
The context of this verse is that Jehovah (LORD) is a speaking. He states here that there is no God (elohim) besides him. He is stating that he does not even know of any other elohim (God) besides himself.
My point is that the name of God (elohim) is Jehovah (LORD) and that the LORD is stating that he alone is God. In other words, Jehovah is stating that he alone is elohim. Therefore, the Mormon idea that God the Father is called "elohim" and that the son is called "Jehovah" is erroneous.
In actuality, the name of God is Jehovah and the Mormons are incorrect.
Remember, in Hebrew text LORD equals Jehovah. God equals elohim.
"Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none
else beside him" (Deut. 4:35).
"That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else" (1 Kings 8:60).
"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;" (Psalm 100:3).
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God" (Zech. 13:9).
1.Selections from Answer to Gospel Questions, published by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1972, p. 10.
2.Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, Desert Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1985, p. 421.
3.Ibid.
Mormons and Mitochondrial DNA
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by Chad Ressler
In August 2004 Simon Southerton released a book entitled Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church.
1 Southerton concludes from studies of mitochondrial DNA of Native Americans that the Mormon claim of their descent from Israeli immigrants is unsupported by DNA evidence. Wading through the scientific claims can be a daunting task for anyone not having specialized knowledge of the field. The basic concept though is that the mitochondrial DNA taken from a group of surviving Native Americans demonstrates that they were descended from Asians and not the “ten lost tribes of Israel” as the Book of Mormon claims.2
So close is the connection that surviving Native American connection to Asiatic origin is close to 99%.3
Of course, these findings are devastating for the book of Mormon unless one decides to take a position of intellectual dishonesty which, oddly enough, is what the Mormon Church has done. While there have been some detailed technical articles written by Mormon apologists they can be very difficult to read unless one has a good understanding of various fields in biology. This is what Mormon apologists are counting on; that Mormon lay people will simply see there is a rebuttal, superficially skim through it, and be assured that their “feelings” are still correct. Though the majority of us may not be able to understand all the arguments, I think it is plausible to conclude that this book does some serious damage to the veracity of the Book of Mormon.
The research by Southerton screams for an answer to the question: “If the so-called "Lamanites" (Native Americans) were spawned from an escaped tribe of Israelites, why does their DNA show a 98.6% Asian connection and 0% Middle Eastern?”4 The answer according to Southerton is, “It's all mythology. Historical fiction.”5
A very telling response from LDS author John Butler says:
“A spiritual witness is the only way to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Although DNA studies have made links between Native Americans and Asians, these studies in no way invalidate the Book of Mormon despite the loud voices of detractors.”6
Notice what Butler said. Although the evidence appears to disprove what so called “prophet” Joseph Smith wrote, you should ignore the evidence and simply trust your feelings. Joseph Smith claimed that the Israelites found the New World uninhabited when they arrived, yet the evidence says otherwise. Mormons claim to be Christians, but Christianity is not rooted in blind faith apart from evidence. The Bible is clearly historical being grounded in real people who lived in real places which archaeology has time and again confirmed. The Christian need not refer to his or her “feelings” as their primary epistemic justification for faith even in the face of contrary evidence. The truth of God’s Word has stood the test of time, but Joseph Smith’s word, and his reputation as a prophet, seems to be discredited.
1.http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/october/8.20.html
2.The introduction to the Book of Mormon states, "The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel," (Introduction, Book of Mormon, 1982).
3.Ibid.
4.Gwynne Spencer, "Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church," Tribal College Journal, 10525505, Winter2005, Vol. 17, Issue 2.
5.Ibid.
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For futhrt information Check out Mormonism on www.carm.org