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Mormon Information The information provided here, we pray, will help the Mormon to understand the differences between Mormonism and historic Christianity. Should you have any questions about the information provided here, please email us at info@fbcrichfield.org. Respectful emails will be answered as soon as possible. Any other type of correspondence will be ignored as unworthy of response. Check out our resources and links at the bottom of the page.
The various first visions of Joseph Smith.
Quotations from Mormon Leaders on the Christian Faith by James White We hear it over and over again. "We never put down other churches. That's not Christian." Or, a variant on this theme is, "You have strengthened my testimony, because you are persecuting the Church!" Often LDS people interpret any disagreement with their beliefs as "persecution" or "bashing," and claim that their Church would never do that! Yet, in reality, disagreement and refutation is not persecution. If it is, then Paul was "persecuting" the Judaizers in But there is another reason LDS people should not cry "Foul!" when encountering strong disagreement with LDS beliefs. It's a matter of simple consistency. As the following quotations show, Mormon leaders, and even Mormon scripture, denounce the Christian faith! Why is it fair for Joseph Smith to say all other churches are "corrupt," yet Christians cannot reply by saying Joseph Smith was in error? "Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the Church of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore whoso belongeth not to the church of the lamb of God belongeth to that great church; which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth." (The Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:10) "Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." (Documentary History of the Church, Introduction, xl) "I was answered that I must join none of them ( "...orthodox Christian views of God are Pagan rather than Christian." (Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B.H. Roberts, p.116) "...the God whom the 'Christians' worship is a being of their own creation..." (Apostle Charles W. Penrose, JD 23:243) "The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God." (Brigham Young, JD 8:171) "We may very properly say that the sectarian world do not know anything correctly, so far as pertains to salvation. Ask them where heaven is?- where they are going to when they die?-where "The Christian world, I discovered, was like the captain and crew of a vessel on the ocean without a compass, and tossed to and fro whithersoever the wind listed to blow them. When the light came to me, I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness." (Brigham Young, JD 5:73). "What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute best." (John Taylor, JD 13:225) "What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing...Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God." (John Taylor, JI) 13:225) "Believers in the doctrines of modern Christendom will reap damnation to their souls (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.177) "I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true." (Joseph Smith, DHC 1:6) "I spoke of the impropriety of turning away from the truth, and going after a people so destitute of righteousness as the Methodists." (Joseph Smith, DHC 2:319) "...brother Joseph B. Nobles once told a Methodist priest, after hearing him describe his god, that the god they worshiped was the "Mormon's" Devil-a being without a body, whereas our God has a body, parts and passions." (Brigham Young, JD 5:331) "...brother Heber C. Kimball was beset by a number of Baptist priests who had been attending a conference. He read them all down out of the New Testament....With regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world." (Brigham Young, JD 8:199). "The Roman Catholic, Greek, and Protestant church, is the great corrupt, ecclesiastical power, represented by great "...all the priests who adhere to the sectarian religions of the day with all their followers, without one exception, receive their portion with the devil and his angels." (The Elders Journal, Joseph Smith Jr., editor, vol.1, no.4, p.60) "And any person who shall be so wicked as to receive a holy ordinance of the gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent of the unholy and impious act." (Orson Pratt, OP-WA, "The Kingdom of God," no.2, p.6) "...all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who recieves baptism or the Lord's supper from their hands will highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt people." (Orson Pratt, The Seer, pg. 255) "...the great apostate church as the anti-christ...This great antichrist...is the church of the devil." (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine p.40) "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the "whore of "Brother Taylor has just said that the religions of the day were hatched in hell. The eggs were laid in hell, hatched on its borders, and then kicked on to the earth." (Brigham Young, JD 6:176) "Evil spirits control much of the so-called religious worship in the world; for instance, the great creeds of Christendom were formulated so as to conform to their whispered promptings." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.246) "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Finally, note the views of Mormon Prophet Brigham Young regarding the Christian view of Jesus Christ: "You may hear the divines of the day extol the character of the Saviour, undertake to exhibit his true character before the people, and give an account of his origin...I have frequently thought of mules, which you know are half horse and half ass, when reflecting upon the representations made by those divines. I have heard sectarian priests undertake to tell the character of the Son of God, and they make him half of one species and half of another, and I could not avoid thinking at once of the mule, which is the most hateful creature that ever was made, I believe. You will excuse me, but I have thus thought many a time" (Journal of Discourses 4:217).
Resources
Terminology Differences Between LDS and the Bible GODHEAD LDS: Father and Son are resurrected men with physical bodies. Holy Ghost is a separate man with a spiritual body. Three totally separate Gods. God is married. Other Gods for other worlds. (D&C 130:22; Teachings, pp.345-346, pp.370-373; Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I, p.10-12) BIBLE: God is not a man (Num. JESUS CHRIST LDS: Literally our elder brother, born to Heavenly Parents in the premortal life. Jesus, Lucifer and humans are all the same species and are brothers and sisters. (Gospel Principles, pp.11, 17, 18) BIBLE: Fully God, not a subordinate deity. Eternal. (lsa.9:6; John 8:58; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 13:8; John 1:1-4, 14; Colossians 1:16-17) PREMORTAL LIFE LDS: Teach that everyone existed in heaven before born on earth. We have existed eternally. (D&C 93:29; PGP: Bk of Abr. 3:21-22; Teachings, pp. 352-354) BIBLE: Only Christ existed before mortality, not man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) Our existence started on earth. (Zech. 12:1; 1 Cor. 15:46) THE FALL LDS: Fall was a blessing. It brought mortality, ability to have children and physical death. Adam was given conflicting commandments and was supposed to fall. (Doct. of Sal. Vol. 1, pp. 111-116; Gospel Princ., pp. 31-33; 2 Nephi BIBLE: God intended obedience. Gen. 1:28. God tempts no one. (James 1:13-14) Man is sinful. (Romans 5:12; 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 2:14) VIRGIN BIRTH LDS: Believe God, as a resurrected, physical man, is literal Father of Jesus - same manner in which men are conceived on earth. Believe Matthew SIN LDS: Specific acts, not man's basic nature. Must know act is wrong to be a sin. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 550, 735-736) BIBLE: We are in spiritual rebellion until conversion. (Eph. 2:3; Romans 5:6) We do not just commit sins; we are basically sinful. (Matthew 1:21; Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 5:32) FORGIVENESS LDS: Granted at end of process of repentance and reformed behavior (Mormon Doctrine, p.292-298; Gospel Principles, pp.75-77, p.123; Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 133-134) BIBLE: Complete forgiveness granted the moment we turn to Christ. (Mark 2:5; Col. 2:13-14; Eph. 1:6-7) SALVATION BY GRACE LDS: Believe Christ's death brought release from grave and universal resurrection. Salvation by grace is universal resurrection. Beyond this, man must earn his place in heaven. Saved by grace after all we can do. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23; Mormon Doctrine pp. 669-671) BIBLE: Salvation is not limited to universal resurrection but gift of God to those who believe. (Rom. REDEEMED LDS: From mortal death only. Not same as Eternal Life. (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, pp. 10-15) BIBLE: Redeemed from more than mortal death; redeemed from spiritual death & given Eternal Life. (Rom. LDS: Doctrines and commandments of the BIBLE: Good news of Christ's death and resurrection as atonement for our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 1:6-8) BORN AGAIN LDS: Baptism into the LDS: Only the Mormon Church. The true church was taken from the earth until Joseph Smith restored it. (D&C 1:30: 115:3, 4; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 133, 136) BIBLE: Not an organization; as born-again Christians we are part of God's Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Matthew LDS: Believe only LDS have authority to baptize, ordain, etc. Have two-part system of priesthood - Melchizedek and Aaronic. (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 80-81; D&C 107:1-21) BIBLE: Christ brought end to Aaronic priesthood and is the only High Priest after the manner of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:9-10; 7:11-17; BAPTISM LDS: Must be performed by LDS priesthood. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 69-72) BIBLE: Emphasis is on Believer - not on priesthood authority. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37-41; SONS OF GOD LDS: We were all born in heaven, prior to earth, as literal spirit children of God and his wife. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 589-590)) BIBLE: Spiritually adopted at conversion. (John 1:12; Gal. 3:26) ETERNAL LIFE LDS: Exaltation in BIBLE: Not limited to certain ones in the top part of heaven. No mention of parenthood or temple marriage but is given to all true believers. (1 John 5:12-13; Luke 20: 35-36) IMMORTALITY LDS: Universal gift. The ability to go to heaven and live forever but not same as Eternal Life. Lower level of heaven and unable to bear children. (D&C 14:7; Mormon Doctrine. pp. 237, 376-377, 670) BIBLE: Makes no distinction between immortality and eternal life. No second class citizens in heaven. (2 Tim. 1:10; John 3:15-16) HELL LDS: Hell as an institution is eternal - inmates come and go as in jail, but do not spend eternity there. Temporary. After debt is paid they will go to the HEAVEN LDS: Divided into three kingdoms - Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial. A place for almost everyone. (D&C 88:16-20; Misuse of 1 Corinthians 15:40-41) BIBLE: Only mentions two conditions - everlasting punishment or eternal life. (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) LDS: LDS References Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Sandra Tanner - Utah Lighthouse Ministry - P.O. Box 1884, Salt Lake City, UT 84110 www.utlm.org --------------------------------------------------- Contradictions in LDS Scriptures One God Book of Mormon - Testimony of the three witnesses God is a Spirit B. of M. - God Dwells in Heart B. of M. - Creation - One God B. of M. - 2 Nephi God Cannot Lie B. of M. - Ether God's Word Unchangeable B. of M. - No Pre-Existence of Man B. of M. - Jacob 4:9; Alma Death Seals Man's Fate B. of M. - Mosiah Heathen Saved Without Baptism B. of M. - 2 Nephi 9:25-26; Mosiah 15:24-27 Heaven or Hell B. of M. - 2 Nephi 28:22; 1 Nephi Murder Can Be Forgiven B. of M.- 3 Nephi 30:2 Polygamy Condemned B. of M - Jacob 1:15, Against Paid Ministry B. of M - 2 Nephi 26:31; Mosiah 27:5 Corrupt Churches Promise Forgiveness For Money B. of M. - Mormon Adam in D. & C. - Section 107:53; 116; 117:8 Plural Gods Doctrine and Covenants - Section 121:32; 132:18-20, 37 God Has a Body D. & C. - Section 130:22 God Does Not Dwell in Heart D. & C. - Section 130:3 Creation - Plural Gods Book of Abraham - Chapters 4 and 5 God Commands Lying P.G.P. - Book of Abraham 2:22-25 God's Word Can Change D. & C. - Section 56:4-5 Man Pre-Existed D. & C. - Section 93:23, 29-33 P.G.P. - Bk of Abraham 3:18, 21-23 Chance After Death D. & C. - Section 76:106-112; 88:99 Baptism for Dead D. & C. - Section 128:5. 17-18 Three Kingdoms in Heaven - Most Saved D. & C. - Section 7643. 70-112 No Forgiveness For Murder D. & C. - Section 42:18 Polygamy Commanded D. & C. - Section 132:1, 37-39, 61 For Paid Ministry E. & C. - Section 42:71-73; 43:12-13; 51:13-14 Church Members Who Tithe Will Not Burn D. & C. - Section 64:23 Adam in P.G.P. - Book of Moses 3:8, 10-15
---------------------------------------------------- LDS View of God Contradicts the Bible LDS Prophet Joseph Smith taught that God was once a mortal man: "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. ...I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, ...and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; ...you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another,... from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings. and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power" (History of the Church, Vol.6, Ch.14, p.305-6). LDS President Brigham Young declared that God was once a finite being: "It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God has once been a finite being" (Deseret News, Nov.16, 1859, p.290). LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith said that God had a father, a grandfather, etc.: "Our father in heaven, according to the Prophet, had a father, and since there has been a condition of this kind through all eternity, each Father had a Father" (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:47). LDS President Joseph F. Smith taught that God was born as a mortal on some other earth: "I know that God is a being with body, parts and passions...Man was born of woman; Christ, the Savior, was born of woman; and God, the Father was born of woman" (Deseret News, Church News, Sept.19, 1936, p.2). LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie taught: " The Father is a glorified, perfected, resurrected, exalted man who worked out his salvation by obedience to the same laws he has given to us so that we may do the same" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.64). LDS Apostle Melvin Ballard explained that God has a wife: "For as we have a Father in heaven, so also we have a Mother there, a glorified, exalted, ennobled Mother" ( As quoted in Achieving a Celestial Marriage, LDS Church manual, 1976, p.129). LDS President Brigham Young taught that faithful Mormons can achieve godhood: "Intelligent beings are organized to become Gods, even the Sons of God, to dwell in the presence of the Gods, and become associated with the highest intelligences that dwell in eternity. We are now in the school, and must practice upon what we receive" (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.245). LDS President Joseph F. Smith said: "We are precisely in the same condition and under the same circumstances that God our heavenly Father was when he was passing through this, or a similar ordeal" (Gospel Doctrine, p.64). LDS Apostle James E. Talmage taught that God progressed from a mortal to a god: "We believe in a God who is Himself progressive, whose majesty is intelligence: whose perfection consists in eternal advancement -- a Being who has attained His exalted state by a path which now His children are permitted to follow, whose glory it is their heritage to share. In spite of the opposition of the sects, in the face of direct charges of blasphemy, the Church proclaims the eternal truth: 'As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be" (Articles of Faith, Ch.24, p.430 - p.431). Utah Lighthouse Ministry Bookstore www.utlm.org What The Bible Tells Us About God 1. "Art thou not from ever-lasting, 0 Lord my God, mine Holy One?" Hab. 1:12 "For I am the Lord, I change not." Mal. 3:6 "...from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psa.90:2 "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent." Num. 23:19 "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man,...who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." Rom. 1:22-25 The LDS god started as a finite man and progressed to godhood. 2. ALWAYS HOLY-Both in the past and future. "...a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deut. 32:4 "I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee." Hos.11:9 "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works." Psa.145:17 "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." 1 John1:5 "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness." Psa.119:142 The LDS god achieved holiness. 3. ALL KNOWING- Both in the past and in the future. "Who bath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor bath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? ... There is no searching of his understanding." Isa. 40:13,14,28 "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." Psa.147:4 The LDS god had to learn everything
"The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Rev. 19:6 "...his eternal power and Godhead." Rom. 1:20 The LDS god attained his power. 5. OMNIPRESENT "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; where is the house that ye build unto me: and where is the place of my rest?" Isa. 66:1 "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." Jer. 23:23-24 The LDS god can be in only one place at a time. 6. ACTED ALONE IN CREATION "1 am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." Isa. 44:24 ""By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Psa.33:6 "Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all." Neh.9:6 The LDS god cooperated with the Council of Gods to create. 7. NO OTHER GODS "I am he; before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour." Isa. 43:10-11 "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God....is there a God beside me; yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isa. 44:6&8 "To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?...for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me." Isa. 46:5&9 "I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another." Isa.42:8
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Is Mormonism Christian?I saw a recent YouTube video presenting one of the LDS Apostles "testifying" that Mormonism is Christian. Here is my response (James White). |
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