WHAT IS MORMONISM?

Mormons bypass the need for salvation by faith and grace claiming man is born without sin and destined for heaven. This causes a problem because the Bible says man is born in sin and destined for hell. They attempt to make sinful man sinless by 1) being born innocent (without sin), 2) eliminating Adam's sinful fall and curse, and 3) elevating man to god.

 

HOW IS MAN BORN SINLESS?

Mormons believe children are born innocent (without sin) as part of Gods redemption[1]. This opposes the Bible that man is conceived in sin before birth Psalm 51:5 Behold... in sin did my mother conceive me.

 

HOW DO YOU ELIMINATE ADAM'S SIN AND CURSE FOR MANKIND?

They believe the fall of mankind by Adam eating the forbidden fruit was an honorable choice by him (he took the fall for us) because this gave us the knowledge of good and evil[2]. In turn, we received free choice (free will) allowing us the joy[3] in doing righteous acts on earth. Sin was necessary so man could grow and be exalted making sin something to be thankful for. Since sin is nothing more than a healthy challenge at best and a bad decision at worst, man will be punished for his own sin, not for Adam's transgression[4].

 

Everyone will be entitled to one of three places in the kingdoms of heaven. The first level of heaven is achieved by Mormons being married (eternally) in the Temple and doing good works[5]. The other two levels are guaranteed unless you commit “murder”, (apostasy is included in some doctrine) which is punishable by hell.

 

HOW DO MORMONS ELEVATE MAN TO GOD?

If a Mormon man marries in the temple they have a new and everlasting covenant and “then shall they be gods” “because they have all power”. They “shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions”[6].  The problem here is the Bible states man as God is blaspheme. God as man is redemption. Any sovereignty to man in the bible is referred to or symbolic of Christ.

 

HOW IS THIS DOCTRINE DANGEROUS?

Combining all these beliefs gives man a false sense of security and immortality. Mormons cannot be saved because they don't even believe they were born in sin. THE SALVATION MESSAGE IS LOST in this doctrine. Our righteousness is in Christ who knew no sin 2 Cor. 5:21. Confession of sin is an essential part of salvation 1 Jn 1:9.

 

BUT THE MORMONS CLAIM “REDEMPTION” AND “SALVATION”

Mormons claim redemption (book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:23) by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. They OMIT SALVATION (no sin, no need for salvation) and repalce it with works after all we can do. The Bible says in Rom 11:6 KJV And if by grace, then is it no more of works... But if it be of works, then is it no more grace...

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

 

Statements such as: We are saved, Jesus died for our sins, we believe everything in the Bible are Mormon half-truths taken from the good reputation of the Bible, rooted in self works then changed to suite their own doctrine. There is no Mormon doctrine for redemption of sin by the blood of Christ.

 

WHO ARE SPIRIT CHILDREN?

All human beings (including God and the angels) come from spirit children before coming to earth[7][8]. You forget your spirit child memories when you are physically born. Your sinless status is initially kept but tested on earth as good works.

 

WHO IS GOD THE FATHER?

Mormons believe God the Father has not always been God because he had to “progress” to his current status of godhood just like we do[9]. Even God the Father was a spirit child who became flesh[10]. Original doctrine said God the Father was an exalted man, had wives, has flesh and bones, and had natural/physical relation with Mary to conceive Jesus. Adam was considered to be God the Father and Michael the archangel[11][12]. This concept was so controversial they made most of this doctrine unofficial after 1963[13]. Officially now: Adam is just Michael the archangel[14] and God the Father still has flesh and bones[15].

 

WHO IS JESUS?

Mormons believe God the Father creates all spirit children and Jesus is the first and mightiest of them[7][8]. Jesus was tested just like we were. They maintain Jesus is the son of God (since we are all God's spirit children)[16]. Jesus' resurrection allowed us to have resurrection also but only physically. We have to achieve spiritually by doing all we can do[17].

 

HOW CAN ANGELS BECOME SPIRIT CHILDREN?

Angels and man are the same beings in different stages and at times interchangeable. They also become humans after being spirit children. Angels can be pre- mortal (waiting to come to earth as man), post- mortal (having gone through mortal life) or transformed into other beings[18]. For example, Michael the archangel became Adam[14] and Gabriel became Noah[19].

 

WHO IS LUCIFER?

He was one of the spirit children God fathered. This makes him a brother of Jesus since he, Jesus, was also a spirit child. Because God knew man would require a savior from sin, at the heavenly council, Jesus and Lucifer proposed their plans. Lucifer offered to be savior of the world for by force and for his own glory. On the other hand, Jesus' plan as savior was to give all the glory to the Father.

 

The Father chose Jesus’ plan and Lucifer got angry. He persuaded one-third of the spirit children to rebel and started a war in heaven between Jesus and his own forces. Lucifer lost the war and was cast out never to return (only exulted men can enter heaven). Thus he became known as Satan and his followers became demons now on earth opposing God’s work[20].

 

HOW DID JESUS COME INTO EXISTENCE?

Original doctrine clearly states that God the Father had a physical relationship with Mary producing Jesus. Shocking doctrine made evident by the words of Brigham Young on July 6, 1860 when he accused God the Father of sinning in the flesh through physically impregnating Mary as Jesus’ mother. “The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood. (Jesus) was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers”[11].

 

Conveniently, Mormons still believe God the Father has flesh and bones, but now simply claim they don't know how Jesus was conceived[15].

 

WAS THERE ANY ATONING WORK DONE BY CHRIST?

Jesus’ death atoned for only Adam’s sin, leaving us responsible for our sins[21]. We have to earn our own place in heaven by doing all we can do[17]. However Jesus became savior by doing his part to help us return to our heavenly home but it is up to each of us to become worthy of exaltation[22].

 

MORMON BOOKS

Are claimed to be divinely inspired and equal or greater than the Bible: All four books elevate man and angels to God’s status and/or bring God down to being a mere man or an angel.

 

OFFICIAL MORMON SCRIPTURE

 

1. Book of Mormon is filled with visions, laws and doctrine revealed to founder Joseph Smith by an intercessor prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni from 401-421 AD. Moroni became a glorified, resurrected being on September 21, 1823 and appeared to Joseph Smith[23]. Smith received golden plates of instruction in an ancient language interpreted with the use of a seer stone[24].

 

The plates explained the arrival of Jewish tribes to the Americas from 2000 BC to 600 BC. They even record the arrival of Jesus to the Americas in 33AD for the future establishment of the New Jerusalem in Jackson County Missouri[23].

 

Even though there are numerous errors regarding history, science and technology, Smith wrote, “...the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth (referring to the Bible), and the keystone of our religion...” History of the Church[25].

 

2. Pearl of Great Price. Joseph Smith said that one chapter, “Book of Abraham”, was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition[26].

 

3. Doctrine and Covenants. “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s[15].

 

UNOFFICIAL MORMON DOCTRINE

 

4. Journal of Discourses (now unofficial doctrine) was official Mormon doctrine from 1854 until about 1963 [13]. Includes 1,438 sermons by 55 church leaders (with founders Joseph Smith and Brigham Young).

 

These doctrines were made unofficial around 1963 but not fully disapproved today.

• Jesus was married to at least three women and had a family. Consistent with Mormon doctrine since marriage is required for the highest level of heaven[27].

• On March 18, 1855, a sermon by President Orson Hyde, given in Great Salt Lake City, appears to justify polygamy, illegal throughout Mormon history[27].

• On July 6, 1860 Brigham Young accused God the Father of sinning in the flesh through physically impregnating Mary as Jesus’ mother. “The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood. (Jesus) was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers”[11].

• Claiming that Adam is God the Father[12].

• Claiming Jesus was not concieved by the power of the Holy Spirit[12]

 

Salvation is always my first concern as a witness so I strive to show with Gods goodness and respect Jesus as God and Savior. It never returns void! Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

God Bless you in sharing the Bible!

Your friend,

Bob

 

*note - underlined references can be linked to their original source

References:

1) Doctrine and Covenants 93:38 ...men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.

2) Probe.org Mormon Doctrine... Sect 4 “The Atoning Work of Christ” section 4 para 1 sentence 4

3) Book of Mormon, The Second Book of Nephi 2:25-26 Adam fell that men...might have joy...

4) Articles of Faith #2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression

5) Probe.org Mormon Doctrine... Sect 4 “The Atoning Work of Christ” paragraph 4

6) Doctrine and Covenants 132:18-20 if any man marry a wife for all eternity... shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers... Then shall they be gods, because they have no end...

7) Journal of Discourses, vol 4 p. 218 par 1-2 Things were first created spiritually; the Father actually begat the spirits, and they were brought forth and lived with Him. Then He commenced the work of creating earthly tabernacles, precisely as He had been created in this flesh himself...

8) Probe.org Mormon Doctrine...Sect 1 “Jesus a Procreated Being?

9) Journal of Discourses, vol 1 p. 123 para 6 sentence 1 Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step... until He has arrived at the point where He now is.

10) Journal of Discourses vol 1 p. 50 para 2 sentence 4 Our God and Father in heaven... He has a body, with parts the same as you and I have...

11) Jounal of Discourses vol 8 p 115 par 5 sentence 1-3 The birth of the Savior 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.

12) Jounal of Discourses vol 1 p. 50 and 51, When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him... He is Michael, the Archangel... When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.

13) Journal of Discourses, official doctrine until at least 1963

14) Doctrine and Covenants 107:54 ...Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.

15) Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s...

16) Doctrine and Covenants 93:23 ...Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth

17) 2 Nephi 25:23 ...by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

18) evidencesofmormon.org, fact #4 ...angels are spiritual beings who are waiting to come to earth and be mortal"

19) Official Mormon website par 1 sentence 3 ...Prophet Joseph Smith taught that Noah is the angel Gabriel and stands next to Adam

20) Moses 4:1-4, Probe.org Mormon Doctrine... Section 2 “Lucifer and Jesus”

21)  Probe.org Mormon Doctrine... Sect 4 “The Atoning Work of Christ" paragraph 2 sentence 1

22) Probe.org Mormon Doctrine... Sect 4 “The Atoning Work of Christ” section 4 para 4 sentence 6-7

23) Official Mormon website Introduction (into the Book of Mormon)

24) Official Mormon website Topic 3 Instruments Used to Translate the Book of Mormon par 1 Seer stones also appear in historical accounts describing Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon translation.

25) Official Mormon website par 1 sentence 1 ...the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth

26) Wikipedia “Book of Abraham” par 1 sentence 1 was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition

27) Journal of Discourses, vol 2 p 210 para 3 sentence 1 Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children.