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Mormons

History

The Mormon church, or Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints, was founded by Joseph Smith jr. They are called Mormons because of the first of their extra biblical revelations, the Book of Mormon. Their other extra biblical revelations are, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the Inspired Version of the Bible. These along with the King James Version of the Bible are referred to as the standard works of the Mormon Church. The Mormon church claims to be the only true Christian church, in fact the restored church, saying that all Christian denominations are false. Joseph Smith declared to have several visions in his lifetime, some of these visions are recorded in what they call as part of their Scriptures, the Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrines and Covenants. Smith received several of these visions while gazing into a peep stone. Some of Smith's new revelations came through what the Mormons call the gift and power to translate, this gift and power was used for the extra biblical books which Smith wrote.

Visions

 In 1820 Joseph Smith allegedly received his first vision while only fourteen years old. This vision became the basis for the founding of the Mormon Church. According to Mormon history, the background of Smith's first vision was a revival that broke out in Palmyra, New York in 1820. Smith portrays this revival as a division among the people, some crying Lo, Here! and others Lo There! Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist ( Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History, 1:5). Smith said "What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right, or are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?" (ibid, 1:10) As Smith's story proceeds, he was reading the bible and came upon (James 1:5) which says ( If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him) He took this verse to mean that he should go to the woods and pray for an answer as to which church he should join. The actual context of this verse is speaking of the wisdom concerning why we go through trials, in fact verses 2-18 of (James 1) is speaking of Trials and Temptations. However Smith went to the woods and was overcome by a demonic attack " Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction" (ibid 1:15) Immediately afterwards he said a light appeared over his head with two persons descending in the light. The Father pointed to the Son and introduced him. Smith continued My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all these sects was right, that I might know which to join. I asked the persons who stood above me in the light which of all the sects was right for at this time it had never entered my heart that all were wrong and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the person who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that those professors were corrupt  (ibid 1:18&19)

 We find in Joseph Smith's vision a couple of errors regarding what the Bible teaches: Smith claimed that all the Christian churches are wrong, however the denominations of Christianity teach the same basic doctrines like The Trinity, the Deity of Christ, Person of the Holy Spirit, the Atonement, the Resurrection, and Salvation by Grace. The Bible allows latitude on peripheral issues ( Romans 14:1-5, Colossians 2:16&17, and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27) which is what denominations differ over usually. But big Christian events and Crusades show the unity of Christians from all denominations focusing on the work and worship of Christ.

 The test of a true prophet includes complete accuracy and following the one true God ( Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:20-22) and again in (Isaiah 8:20 "To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.) This is an important Scripture because it tells us that all of a prophets words must agree with what God has already said.

Also Smith's claims that he saw God the Father, which is contrary to what (John 1:18 says and John 6:46" No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known) 1 Timothy 6:16 says( "Who alone is immortal  and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. to him be honour and might forever Amen.) Smith claims that the Father has a body which is contrary to Colossians 1:15a ( He is the image of the invisible God.) Smith said that all the churches were wrong, which is again contrary to Matthew 16:18b ( And on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it) You could hardly believe that the same Jesus who illustrated the continuation of the church in the parables of (Matthew 13) would contradict himself to a vision to Joseph Smith and say that all the churches were wrong. Paul says in ( Ephesians 3:21) that the church would continue throughout all ages. ( To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.) So the first vision of Joseph Smith contains errors in what the bible says and teaches, as we go on we will expose more errors regarding  their teaching.

Another story of Joseph Smith in 1823 is when he was awakened from his sleep by an angel named Moroni, a supposed character in the Book of Mormon told Smith that a record of the people in America, was written on golden plates and buried near his home. Moroni showed Smith the plates that were buried in the hill of Cummorah, but forbid him to receive them for four years. The golden plates were said to be buried in a stone box, along with two stones set in silver bows, that were attached to a breastplate. Moroni told Smith that these stones were the Urim and Thummim, and these are used by seers for the purpose of translation. ( Pearl of Great Price, 1:27-54. He finally received the golden plates, the stones, and the breastplate after four years, and began translating the characters. The language on the plates was said to be reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics which no one had ever heard before  or after the time of Smith. What resulted from this translation is the Book of Mormon. Their church was first called The Church of Christ, then became known as, The Church of Latter-Day Saints, and then to, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We know them today as Mormons because of their first Scriptural book, The Book of Mormon. Acting on the notion that the Christian Church was wrong, Smith went about to restore all of its errors as he thought fit. He understood that there were things missing in the Christian Church so he began to restore those missing parts such as: prophet, seer, revelator, baptism, priesthood, apostles, quorum of seventy, temples, and additional scripture. This was their church structure.

The Mormon Church Structure

Priesthood Authority

Moroni had told Smith that possession and use of the stones constitutes a seer. Smith did not feel that he had enough authority for this office, so it was decided that the proper priesthood and authority to baptize, needed to be restored to the church. In 1829 Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, one of the scribes of the Book of Mormon, claimed that John the Baptist appeared to them near Harmony, Pennsylvania, and instructed them to baptize one another in the Sesquihanna River. With this baptism came the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood. A short time later, Peter, James, and John, appeared to them. The purpose of this visit was to restore the Melchizedek Priesthood, which gives them power to lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. These two Priesthoods were for male members only, and white males only, not until 1978 did this change through a revelation to their Prophet, allowing other people of different races to take this office. Woman however are forbidden to take the Priesthood.

Prophet, Seer, Revelator

 The top ranking official of the Mormon church is their Prophet. He is sometimes referred to as their Seer, or Revelator, and he has two companions, a first, and second counsellor, the three of them make up the first presidency of the Mormon church. A new prophet is chosen from the president of their twelve apostles upon the death of the prophet. Joseph Smith the first prophet of the Mormon church added a few new doctrines to his church. Some of these questionable doctrines drew criticism from neighbouring communities. Smith had a lot of controversy following him from state to state. In New York and Pennsylvania, he was known as a glass looker, which is an occultic practice of looking into a stone for lost or buried treasure. In 1826 he was tried and convicted of this in a court of law.

If we listen to the Mormon viewpoint regarding of history at Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah, about the persecution of the early Mormon church, one would think that the Mormon church was persecuted for no apparent reason. This argument is contrary to fact, missing from most latter-Day Saints books is the court conviction of Smith's glass looking, his failed banking scheme in Kirtland, Ohio, his polygamy, his organised armies in Missouri, and Illinois, and his ordered destruction of the printing presses that opposed him in nauvoo, Illinois. The proof of these is available in ( The Changing World of Mormonism, Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Chicago, Moody Press 1980)

In 1844 a mob of about 200 people stormed the jail and shot Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum, killing both men. According to the church's own account Smith shot three men of the mob, of which two died. ( History of the Church, 6:617, &618) After the death of Smith, Brigham Young, became the leader of the Mormon church. Young led the group westward in a journey which saw many hardships, including Indian attacks. In 1847 they arrived at Salt Lake Valley, Utah, which became the headquarters of the Mormon church. When Young died in 1877 the membership of the church had grown from 20,000 in Illinois, to 150,000 in Utah.

Living Prophets

There have been several prophets since the time of Joseph Smith. These prophets have a lot of control of the Mormon church. The living prophet is by all means the most important person in Mormonism. Ezra Taft Benson said in a speech at Brigham Young University, that the living prophet is more vital to us, than the standard works. This is not unusual for Mormons, for in 1945 the official magazine for the Mormon church said: When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done, when they propose a plan, it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe, when they give directions, it should mark the end of controversy. ( Improvement Era, June, 1945, page 354) It seems from this sort of statement that the leaders cannot be wrong, this is another sign of a cult, having complete control over one.

The Twelve Living Apostles

The Mormon church takes the position that a church must have apostolic succession by direct laying on of hands, or it is not the church of Jesus Christ. The way they get around the gap, between the first century and 1830 is by having the apostles of the first century, return to earth ( Harmony, Pennsylvania) and pass on the authority of the church, by laying hands upon Joseph Smith, and Oliver Cowdery. It is their view that if the a church does not have twelve living apostles, then it cannot be the true church.

The First Quorum of Seventy

Directly under the rank of the council of twelve apostles, is the first quorum of seventy. These seventy men are supposed to be the modern day counterpart, for the seventy that Jesus sent out in Luke Chapter 10. These men along with the apostles, and presidency of the Mormon church, constitute what is considered the General Authorities. When there is a need for a final answer on an issue, any General Authority may be consulted. Under their direction is a second quorum of seventy, the stake presidency at local church buildings, and the bishops, who are over the wards within the stake.

The Bible's Answer to the Mormon Church Structure

We understand that within Christian denominations there has been debate over ecclesiastical hierarchy, and the church service, but in Mormonism we are not speaking of the same thing. Since Smith claims to restore what was not restorable, he would first have to show that God intended the succession of prophets, apostles, and seventies, in the original before he can restore it. In examining Joseph Smith, we find that he was dabbling in the occult,( Peep Stone Gazing and Glass Looking) before his first vision, and the founding of his church. So who exactly was answering him in those visions, it was not God, so it had to be evil spirits.

The Question of the priesthood is answered in the bible, the Mormons cannot hold the Aaronic priesthood because it was limited to the descendants of Aaron. The purpose of the Aaronic priesthood was to do priestly services, and especially to offer sacrifices for the people of Israel. ( Hebrews 5:1-3)  The need for the Aaronic priesthood was done away with through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. (Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.) ( Hebrews 7:27) There was a change of the law and the priesthood concerning it. ( For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change in the law.) ( Hebrews 7:12)

Since the purpose of the Aaronic priesthood was fulfilled through the cross, Jesus was established as the High Priest of the Christian Church, after the order of Melchizedek ( Hebrews 7:11-18). He continues forever after the order of Melchizedek, ( For it is declared, You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek) ( Hebrews 7:17) And has an unchanging priesthood. ( But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood) ( Hebrews 7:24) So no Mormon can hold the Melchizedek priesthood, since Jesus will never vacate his position as our High Priest. The only priesthood mentioned in the bible for the Christian is found in (1 Peter 2:5-10)  Here we find the royal and holy priesthood for the believer. It is not limited to white males, but is for all believers male and female. Our authority comes from being children of the true and living God. ( Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.) ( John 1:12) Our right as children of God, is not a result of our priesthood, but from what Jesus Christ did for us.

We do not need a prophet to lead the Christian Church, our prophet is Jesus, who is our High priest, ( Hebrews 7:12)  Prophet, ( Acts 2:22) and King ( Revelation 7:14)  The Mormons have a false concept that we need an Old Testament type Prophet, such as Moses to lead Christianity. They often appeal to (Amos 3:7) ( Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing, without revealing his plan, to his servants the prophets) as proof of this, but they take this Scripture out of context. What the context is talking about, is that God will never allow a calamity to happen to Israel without first telling the prophet.

Also in Luke 16:16 ( The law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the Kingdom of God, is been preached and everyone is forcing his way into it) Jesus said that the last of the Old Testament prophets was John the Baptist, and that now we are in the new age of grace, and lots were responding to it.( Hebrews 1:1&2) states ( In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us, by his Son whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.) So therefore the prophets were for those before the time of Christ.

The Apostles Jesus chose were the foundation of the church. When Judas killed himself he was replaced by Matthias ( Acts 1:26) In ( Ephesians 2:20) it tells us about the foundation of the church, ( built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.) The church has been continuing in its building, since the days of the apostles. We do not tear out its foundation each time an apostle dies, and fill it with a new foundation. Jesus said I will build my church, and the gates of Hades, will not overcome it.( Matthew 16:18) And in( Ephesians 3:21) Paul says that that the church will continue through all generations.

Another of the Mormon church structure concerns the seventy, that Jesus sent out in (Luke 10:1) these people were to go and evangelise the different parts of that country  proclaiming the good news, that the Kingdom of God was near. They were given power from the Lord to cast out demons, and heal the sick. They were not part of an organisation of the church. In fact Jesus gave this command to all believers of the church. ( Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.) ( Matthew 28:19&20) Although this was spoken to the apostles, it is known as the great commission, it is for all believers, not just seventy. And we have Christ's word that he is with us till the end of the age.

The Mormon Scriptures

The Mormon Church has four books of which they say is Scripture. These are The Bible, the book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.

The Bible

The eight article of faith of the Mormon church states: We believe the Bible to be the Word of God in so far as it is translated correctly, ( Pearl of Great Price, page 60.) The Book of Mormon claims that the Catholic Church has taken away parts of the Word of God, including many covenants, (this they have done in order that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord.) (1 Nephi 13:26b&27) This distrust in the bible, has led Mormons to rely more on their other books of Scripture. The Mormon will claim that the bible has been changed beyond recovery, from its original text, and therefore they don't rely totally on it, for to them it is not complete. Smith began a work on translating the bible, however the Utah Mormon church, refused to adopt Smith's finished work until 1984, when parts of it were added to the footnotes, of their King James Bible. The Book of Revelation has been changed in 1;1,20. 2:1,22,26,27. 3:1,2. 4;4,5,6. 5:6 6:1,14. 9;14. 12:1 13:1. 19:15,18,21. 20:6 Rev. John D. Nutting wrote a comparison of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts with Smith's version. He discovered that the changes made by Smith, are not supported by any Old or New Testament manuscript. Smith was uneducated in the languages of the bible, and therefore not qualified to translate it. As regards adding or taking away from the bible. Lets see what it says in ( Revelation 22:18&19) ( I warn everyone who hears the words, of the prophecy of this book If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share, in the tree of life, and in the holy city which are described in this book.) And that's not the Joseph Smith Translation.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is also considered inspired: ( We also believe The Book of Mormon to be the Word of God) ( Articles of Faith, number 8) Joseph Smith called it the most correct of any book on earth. ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City, Deseret Press, 1949 page 194)

The Book of Mormon is supposedly about the early inhabitants of the Americas, and contains the fullness of the gospel, and the plain and precious things missing from the Bible. The American Indians, called Lamanites in the book of Mormon, were originally of Jewish descendant. Most of the book is centered around Lehi and his family, who supposedly left Jerusalem in 600B.C. Rebellion caused them to separate company, the unrighteous became dark skinned because of their sins, the righteous Nephites remained white and delightsome. The two factions began to war with one another, and the dark skinned Lamanites won. Before Moroni the last Nephite died, he took the records of his people, which were engraved in reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics, and buried them in the hill Cummorah. He enters the story again in 1823, and appears as an angel to Smith who is told to translate it. It is a compilation of fifteen books written in the same style as the King James Version of the Bible. What gives it a sound of authority, are the many verses and entire chapters of the Bible scattered throughout its text. Smith attempted to make it more acceptable by having, three men sign testimonies that God's voice told them the translation is true, and they saw the golden plates. The three witnesses were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. The translation of the Book of Mormon, appears to be through a process of divination, rather than knowing languages. By the aid of a Seer Stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet, and written by Harris. (Compressive History of the Church, vol. 1 Page 129). Besides the non biblical divination used to produce it, the contents of The Book of Mormon contradict the Bible. Every effort of Smith to copy the style of the Bible, could not keep it free from error that exposes its fraudulent nature.

There has been no archaeological evidence to support The Book of Mormon, even though the Mormon Church has spent a considerable amount of money, and time, searching for it. They have produced films and books, trying to show parallels between early Central American cultures, and the Book of Mormon, but to this day there has never been any such discovery. Thomas Stewart Ferguson, a professor at Brigham Young University, spent twenty five years of his life, researching archaeological evidence for The Book of Mormon. At the end of of his career he wrote a paper on the result, of a life long project,---it was a failure. He finally concluded that The Book of Mormon, was fictional, and gave parallel columns showing the text in question, and the lack of evidence. ( see Ferguson's Manuscript Unveiled, Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Box 1884, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110) We take it then that, The Book of Mormon is not inspired by God, and is the work of man, Smith got his ideas from an occult practice of Stone Looking, which is a spirit, totally opposed to God's Spirit.

Doctrine and Covenants

Doctrines and Covenants is a record of 140 revelations since the time of Joseph Smith. It contains the distinctive doctrines of Mormonism, including polygamy, the ceasing of polygamy, marriage in heaven, baptism for the dead, many gods, man can become a god, the father has a body of flesh and bones, and the Word of Wisdom, including abstinence of meat in summer, tobacco, hot drinks, and alcohol. Along with these writings are false prophecies, one example is the civil war prophecy, which Smith said  after the facts were known. Smith said a war would break out between the Northern and Southern States, beginning with a rebellion in South Carolina. This section was written on December 25, 1832. Congress passed a tariff act on July 14th five months before Smith got his revelation, South Carolina resisted the tariff, President Jackson expected trouble and alerted national troops. However a month before Smith's revelation, the governor of South Carolina addressed the legislature announcing a resistance by force if necessary. The governor's address was published December 10, 1932, in the Boston Daily Advertiser and Patriot, Smith gave his revelation on 25 December, containing the same information. A prophet of God, does not hear the news, and repeat it as a prophecy.

Pearl of Great Price

This book of Mormon scripture is usually bound together with the Doctrine and Covenants. It contains five sections: The Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith-Matthew, Joseph Smith-History, and Articles of Faith. The Book of Moses and Joseph Smith-Matthew are excerpts from Smith's retranslation of the Bible. The Joseph Smith-History is the account of Smiths first vision, and the visitation of Moroni, the Articles of Faith contain thirteen statements of faith. The Book of Abraham is supposed to be a translation of an Egyptian papyri that rewrites Genesis chapter 1 as the "gods" created, instead of God created.

Controversy has swirled around the Book of Abraham. Eleven Egyptian mummies, buried with rolls of papyrus, had been willed to a Mr. Michael Chandler of New York. He toured the countryside with them charging admission to observers. When he arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith purchased the mummies from Chandler. Smith began to translate the hieroglyphics of the papyri, and what do you expect, he found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham, another the writing of Joseph of Egypt. ( History of the Church, 2:236) The resulting translation of one papyri was accepted as scripture by the Mormons.

In 1967 the collection of papyrus that formed the Book of Abraham, had been rediscovered in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. This gave Egyptologists a fresh look at the work of Joseph Smith, but to the disappointment of the Mormon Church, no Egyptologist confirmed a single word in Smith's translation. Worse than that the papyri had nothing to do with Abraham, but only contained burial instructions for an Egyptian funeral. This shows the fraudulent nature of Joseph Smith's translation, he has placed false doctrine in the guise of scripture. The gods mentioned in the Book of Abraham, chapters 4 and 5, are just as false as the Egyptian gods in the papyri. He completely disregarded the warning about false prophets in( Deuteronomy 13:1-3a,) ( If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you, a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says: Let us follow other gods, gods you have not known, and let us worship them. You must not listen to the words of that prophet, or  dreamer.)  This fits the description Joseph Smith, false prophecies, and leading his people after other gods.

Mormon Theology

Nature of God in Mormonism

Joseph Smith outright denied the doctrine of the Trinity-one God in three persons. He said " Many men say there is one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are one God. I say this is a strange God anyhow-three in one, and one in three.....He would be a wonderfully big God, He would be a giant or a monster." ( History of the Church, 6:476) He stepped away from monotheism and embraced polytheism, he said " I will preach on the plurality of gods.....I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations, when I have preached on the subject of deity, it has been the plurality of gods ( ibid, 6:474) The Book of Abraham, is polytheistic also, ( And the Lord said, Let us go down.......that is the gods...... And the Spirit of the gods was brooding upon the face of the waters......And the gods called the light day......And the gods ordered the expanse.) ( Abraham 4:1-7)

However the true God we read in the Bible , is eternal from everlasting to everlasting. When one god follows another god in succession, as Mormons believe, you must give an account for where the gods come from. Joseph Smith's answer to this was: (That God is an exalted man, God himself, was once as we are now, and is an exalted man) ( History of the Church, 6:305) Mormon scripture adds to this, ( The Father has a body of flesh and bones, as tangible as man's) ( Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22) Elsewhere Smith elaborates upon this by teaching that the Father once lived on another planet, and worshipped a god before him. ( John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ, had a Father, you may suppose that he had a Father also.) ( History of the Church, 6:476) This teaching that God was once a man is heresy, God is eternal, and always was, ( Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God) ( Genesis 2:33) As regards to God the Father worshipping a god, its strange that speaking to Isaiah, God said there were no gods before him. ( Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no saviour. ( Isaiah 43:10b)

Jesus in Mormonism

The gods and goddesses in Mormon theology, have the power to procreate spirit -children in heaven. The Mormons refer to this as the pre-existence of spirits. The Father of this planet had children  with his goddess wife, of which Jesus was the first born. The second child born was according to their teaching, Lucifer. Mormons take no shock in calling Jesus a spirit brother to Lucifer. ( The appointment of Jesus to be the saviour of the world, was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was Lucifer, son of the morning, this spirit brother of Jesus, desperately tried to become the saviour of mankind) ( Milton Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, Salt Lake city, Stephens and Wallis, 1945, page 15) When the time came for Jesus to come to earth, the Mormons teach that the Heavenly Father came to earth, ( as an exalted man) and had sexual union with Mary, to produce a body for Jesus.  Brigham Young said ( When the virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Spirit) ( Journal of Discourses 1:50) These words make the conception, and birth of Jesus a farce and worldly act. The Bible teaches that Mary was conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. ( Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,  because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.) (Matthew 1:20b)

To the Mormons Jesus is one of many gods in the universe, for they say that the gods had wives in heaven. They say that Jesus was married to three women while here on earth, ( It will be borne in mind, that once on a time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and on a careful reading of that transaction, it will be discovered that no less a person than Jesus Christ was married on that occasion . If he was never married, his intimacy with Mary, Martha, and the other Mary, must have been highly unbecoming, and improper, to say the best of it) ( Journal of Discourses, 2:82) The Bible never says that Jesus married or was married, and especially three times, this is to cover up their belief in polygamy, and to justify it. It does say that the wife of Christ is the Church, which will be united to him, at his return to earth. Paul writing to the Corinthians , the people he is writing to are believers, and this can be said of different Christian Churches everywhere says: (I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him) ( 2 Corinthians 11:2b) This is speaking of the spiritual union of the church, and Christ, depicted as Husband and wife in marriage. The Church is depicted as the bride, and Christ, as the bridegroom, in the New Testament, ( Matthew 9:15, John 3:29, Romans 7:4, 1 Corinthians 6:15, Ephesians 5:23-32, Revelation 19:7-9& 21:2)

The Holy Spirit in Mormonism

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit according to Mormonism, is stated by Joseph Smith as the mind of God. Smith in one of his writings ( Lectures on Faith, published as Book of Commandments,)  asked a series of theological questions such as: Do the Father and Son, possess the same mind? They do! What is this mind? The Holy Spirit. Originally Smith thought that there was a difference between the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Spirit, he did not know that the words Holy Ghost, were an archaic Elizabethan English phraseology for the Holy Spirit.

However another change in the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, quoted by Heber C. Kimball says that the Holy Spirit was born in heaven as a man, ( The Holy Spirit is a man, he is one of the sons of our Father, and our God.) ( Journal of Discourses 5:179) It seems they are totally misunderstood about the person of the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is God, third person of the Trinity. and not a mind, or man.

Man evolves to a god.

According to Mormonism man is an evolving being, he began as as an eternal intelligence, and then was born as a spirit child. (Man is a spirit clothed with a tabernacle, the intelligence part of which was never created, or made, but existed eternally--man was also in the beginning with God) ( Joseph Fielding Smith, Progress of Man) Beginning with Joseph Smith, the Mormons have taught that man has the potential of becoming a god. Smith said as follows ( Here then is eternal life, to know the only wise and true God, and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, the same as all gods have done before you.) ( History of the Church, 6:306) He also wrote a revelation that promises godhood in the resurrection to the faithful Mormon: ( Then shall they be gods, because they shall have no end, therefore they shall be from everlasting to everlasting, then they shall be gods, because they have all power) ( Doctrine and Covenants 132:19&20) No where does the Bible teach that man will evolve to a god, there is one God, in Heaven and Earth, and we are his servants, and privileged at that, we are his saints.

Atonement and Salvation

The Atonement of Christ according to the Mormons, is only able to cover some sins. Brigham Young said ( There are sins that men commit, for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground.) ( Journal of Discourses, 4:53) The atonement of  Christ, provided a general salvation for everyone, this is the resurrection of the just, and unjust. Their third (Article of Faith) states: We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. Thus all people who have not committed unforgiving sins will go to heaven, the first level of heaven in Mormon theology, the telestial sphere. People who generally tried to do well, and did not obey Mormon ordinances go to the second level, the terrestrial sphere. Faithful Mormons who obeyed all the laws, and ordinances of the Gospel, will go to the celestial sphere, the third and highest level.

The Mormons have a doctrine of baptism of the living, on behalf of the dead ( by proxy) that allows the dead to be counted as a Mormon. Baptism for the dead is one of the functions of the Mormon temple. It is based upon the misreading of  1 Corinthians 15:29 where Paul spoke about the resurrection of the dead, ( What will those do who have been baptised for the dead,) Paul was speaking here about the resurrection of the dead, if there was no resurrection, then everything was in vain, if you read the context verses 29-34 Paul was saying about the hardships he went through in anticipation of the resurrection. To those baptised for the dead meant those who were still been baptised in public, knowing that some of their early brothers and sisters were killed in the persecution, by witnessing that they were Christians, and being baptised in public, and even if they were killed themselves, they believed in the resurrection of the dead. It is not a Christian practice, the dead are gone to another place, if they are saved they go to the Lord, if not saved, to eternal punishment.

Mormon works determine what level one gets in the hereafter. Even if that earthly work is baptism for the dead. It would do us well to remember to what Paul says about salvation by works, ( He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth, and renewal by the Holy Spirit.) ( Titus 3:5)

The Bible's answer to Mormon Theology

There are two areas in Mormon theology, that if dealt with properly, their whole system of theology falls. The Mormon view of gods hinges on two things: It is polytheistic, and it requires pre-existence of souls. However the Bible's teaching is monotheism, the establishment of monotheism is not difficult, because the Bible is based upon the existence of one God, all others who claim to be gods, are not gods in reality. ( Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods ( Galatians 4:8) The following verses are a few that state one God:

You were shown these things so that you might know, that the Lord is God, besides him there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:35)

Hear o' Israel, The lord our God, the Lord is one. ( Deuteronomy 6:4)

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. ( Isaiah 43:10b)

Was it not I the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a saviour, there is none but me. ( Isaiah 45:21b)

So then about food sacrificed to idols, We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and there is no God, but one. ( 1 Corinthians 8:4)

You believe that there is one God, good, even the demons believe that and shudder. ( James 2:19)

        The Mormons will typically say they believe in one God, there is a flaw in this though, their Trinity is three gods, who are three persons, born in different times and different places. The Biblical Trinity is, one God eternally, existing as three persons. The Father is Lord-- ( At that time Jesus said, I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth) ( Matthew 11:25a) The Son is Lord--( While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.) (Acts 7:59) The Holy Spirit is Lord--( Now the Lord , is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.) ( 2 Corinthians 3:17) Monotheism is therefore taught in the doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three persons.

The pre-existence of souls in Mormonism is another factor we will focus on, lets see what the bible has to say about it, the Bible rejects pre-existence, ( Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created, may praise the Lord.) ( Psalm 102:18) you see this verse shows us that each generation is created, not pre-existing. The Mormon may say, but his spirit pre-exists. This verse will refute that statement also, ( This is the word of the Lord concerning Israel, The Lord who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundations of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him declares) ( Zechariah 12:1) this states that the spirit is not formed before it is placed in man, which denies its pre-existence. Jesus said in ( John 3:13) ( No one has ever gone into heaven, except the one who came from heaven -the Son of Man) Here Jesus said that he came from heaven, not millions of souls or spirits before him, as the Mormons teach. Jesus also said in ( John 8:23) ( But he continued, You are from below, I am from above, You are of this world, I am not of this world) you see from this verse that Jesus is the only one from above, everybody else is from the world. We see that the pre-existence of souls is a false doctrine.

Salvation according to the Bible is a free gift, from Jesus Christ our Lord, ( For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.) ( Ephesians 2:8-10)

When the people asked Jesus,( What must we do to do the works that God requires? ) (John 6:28)  ( Jesus replied, the work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent) ( John 6:29) There is no way to earn salvation, One's good works are testimony to the accomplished fact of one's salvation, purchased not by works, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are saved through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, for our sins, not by anything we can do ourselves. ( He sacrificed for their sins, once for all, when he offered himself) ( Hebrews 7:27c) When Jesus sacrificed himself it was for all sins, and it was accomplished once for all, salvation is for all who come to him in repentance, and have a personal relationship with him, and by knowing him personally, you will know that he is God. The one true God. ( While we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God, and saviour Jesus Christ) ( Titus 2:13)

The Mormon gospel is a false gospel, and in (Galatians 1:8) ( But even if we or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned) They need to hear the gospel the good news that salvation is free, and has been purchased by Christ. If you meet them, just give them the gospel, the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Pray for them, I do hope this has helped you understand what the Mormons believe. But again its not what you know about them, its knowing the Gospel, that's what you give them.( I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God, for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith, from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.) ( Romans 1:16&17)

                                                                                       Yours in Christ!

                                                                                          David Victory.