Mormons: We're misunderstood

Ask Mark Briscoe, leader of the Howell ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the greatest misconception about the church, and he doesn't have to think very long or hard.

"Sometimes people would say that we're not Christians," he said. "We definitely are. We believe in Jesus Christ."

An Idaho native, Briscoe has been a Mormon his whole life, and said it is painful to have others think that his church is somehow outside the boundaries of Christianity. He said he was a high school student when he first heard the accusation.

"It was a little bit unsettling," he said. "From my earliest memories, we talked about Jesus Christ." In fact, members of the church believe that Jesus' teachings were changed and weakened soon after the apostles died, and that this "apostasy," or falling away from the truth, led to the withdrawal of the true church from the earth.

Mormons believe that was reversed when Joseph Smith, regarded as a prophet, was visited by God and Jesus in a vision in 1820. That's when Smith was chosen to restore the true church to the world, according to LDS doctrine. Smith translated the Book of Mormon, the sacred text of the Latter Day Saints, which is based on the Bible.

The religion has received increased attention as Mitt Romney's prominence as a presidential candidate has risen. As happened with John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president, some political observers have questioned whether Romney's Mormonism will hurt his electability, or his conduct as president if he's eventually elected.

Jan Shipps, an expert in the LDS church, a professor emeritus of history and religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and a Methodist, said that concern is overhyped.

She said that, unlike Catholicism, in which a politician can be denied communion for votes in support of abortion rights, for example, the Mormon church does not directly influence its members who happen to be politicians.

A local bishop can exclude a church member from the temple, but that's about it, Shipps said.

"They don't have any official way to control their members, except to say that they can go into or cannot go into the temple," Shipps said.

"I just don't think it's a big deal, but a lot of people think it is because the president of the church is also understood to be a prophet," she said. "But the likelihood that the president of the church would have a revelation that the president has to do this or has to do that is less than zero."

Briscoe agreed with Shipps' assessment that any influence the church would have over members would be at the local level. But even that would not include anything political.

"We never say we're for one candidate or the other," he said. "Our view is that's not proper."

There is some evidence, however, that Romney is getting a lot of support from Mormons — 13 percent of the money he's raised so far, or $2.37 million, has come from the state of Utah, home of the church's headquarters.

Local ties, global reach Briscoe's title is "Bishop," analogous to a pastor, but he doesn't receive a salary from the church. That goes for all other leaders as well. Briscoe works as a powertrain engineer for Ford Motor Co. in Livonia.

The LDS church on West Grand River Avenue in Howell has 400 members; holds services every Sunday; and has youth activities during the week.

One of the hallmarks of the church is the cooperation and support between members.

Members go in groups of two to visit each other on the weekends for "Home Teaching" sessions, in which they talk about spirituality and life in general, he said.

"Part of it is to see if people need help with anything," he said. "The goal is that nobody feels they don't have someone to call."

The visiting is separated by gender, with males visiting males and females visiting females.

Mormon services are not the raucous or musical affairs that other denominations celebrate.

A typical service starts with the sacrament, a hymn and a prayer. Then, church members who Briscoe has spoken with beforehand give talks of about 10 minutes long on a given subject.

Non-Mormons, however, don't often get the chance to witness these services. The church has a reputation for secrecy, but Shipps said it's not just for the sake of exclusion.

"A better way to say it is what goes on in the temple is sacred and therefore private, rather than secret," she said. "All temples are closed to anyone except those who the bishop recommends."

Outreach also is an important part of the Mormon philosophy. Most men do two years of missionary work when they're around 19 years old, and unmarried women do 18 months. One of Briscoe's own sons is in Brazil right now as a missionary.

College age is an ideal time to go abroad as a missionary because it exposes one to the world, yet still gives a person time to start a family. And family, Briscoe said, is a foundational piece of the Mormon church.

"We do believe in families," he said. "We believe a man and a woman should get married and raise a family, so we encourage that."

Briscoe himself was a missionary in Spain: "I learned probably as much from that experience as I did from college."

Mormons also are aware of opportunities to tell friends and other social acquaintances about Mormonism, Briscoe said, and how to approach people is a subject of conversation in the church.

"As life goes on, you get into discussions about your beliefs," he said. "We feel like what we have is so important ... we really feel deeply that what we believe is the truth."

The church has been fairly successful in bringing more people in. There are about 6 million members of the LDS church in United States, and more than that abroad, Shipps said.

Not universally embraced Many of the church's practices have prompted criticism from other religions. Polygamy, the practice of husbands having more than one wife, may be the most enduring stereotype of Mormons. But it hasn't been practiced since 1890 by the church, and is strictly prohibited.

The LDS past practice of baptizing Jewish Holocaust victims after their death drew fierce opposition from Jewish leaders as well.

Shipps said it was done to give non-Mormons the choice in the afterlife of becoming Mormon. That's also why there's such an emphasis in the church on genealogy — so that all one's relatives can be identified and baptized, she said.

Also, black people were denied membership until 1978, when the president of the church at the time had a revelation that they should be included.

Now, Shipps said, the LDS church has made strong inroads into nonwhite areas such as Japan, South Korea and Africa.

"There may be as many people worshipping on Sunday in Spanish-speaking areas than English-speaking," she said.

Theologically, Mormonism is viewed suspiciously by some as well. The Southern Baptist Convention, for example, puts the LDS church in the category of "Cults, Sects and New Religious Movements."

Shipps said the thing that sets Mormonism apart — and ironically draws the ire of both Christians and Jews — is the belief that the church is re-gathering the twelve tribes of Israel.

"It's a very complex and interesting and powerful theology, but for those looking at it from the outside, it seems somewhat strange because it has, in addition to Christian claims, claims to be the restoration of Israel," Shipps said.

Another notable Mormon belief is that the church president is a prophet, and receives the word of God.

"We believe God does talk to man," Briscoe said. "He chooses one prophet at a time."

Regardless of the negativity and criticism they may run into, he said, most Mormons aren't swayed.

"When people say things, we're still confident and confident in what we know to be right," he said.

Yep, and not only that but why would Robert Millet state frankly in his book, Getting at the Truth, (p.47)”Christian groups resent the way we “steal their sheep.”

What!! I thought Mormons were Christian. No wonder we are confused.....

Millet is a distinguished Latter-day Saint author and speaker with more than 60 published works on virtually all aspects of Mormonism. He appears frequently as a commentator on BYUTV and in other visible roles at assorted media outlets as Manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for Church Public Affairs.

Millet is considered one of the foremost scholars on the Joseph Smith Translation (also known as the Inspired Version) of the Bible.

What!! I thought Mormons were Christian. No wonder we are confused.....

It's their schizophrenic view of Christianity and the Church, i.e., neither of which have existed since the time of the apostles and were only “rediscovered” once Joseph Smith arrived one the scene. From the article:

“In fact, members of the church believe that Jesus' teachings were changed and weakened soon after the apostles died, and that this ‘apostasy,’ or falling away from the truth, led to the withdrawal of the true church from the earth.”.

Why do Mormons keep insisting on being identified with an apostate entity? I suspect it’s the difference between the internal face and external face. Internally it’s “us” against “them”. Externally, they say, “We’re just like you. Why can’t we all just get along?”

You don’t believe in polytheism but you believe you can become a God, implying multiple Gods which require adoration - i.e. polytheism. You can’t talk out of two sides of your mouth at the same time and expect people to believe you.

The becoming a God question is the entire reason I can’t support Romney, and also why I think Reid is unhinged (he thinks he got his planet early). I’ve run into this problem with other Mormon’s in positions of power - you can tell me all you want that that is a corruption of Mormon belief but once you see it a few times you know it isn’t uncommon. That’s not a small issue, it speaks to the motivation of a presidential candidate.

“Your Heavenly Father has promised forgiveness upon total repentance and meeting all the requirements, but that forgiveness is not granted merely for the asking. There must be works—many works—and an all-out, total surrender, with a great humility and ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit.’ “It depends upon you whether or not you are forgiven, and when. It could be weeks, it could be years, it could be centuries before that happy day when you have the positive assurance that the Lord has forgiven you. That depends on your humility your sincerity, your works, your attitudes.” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, 324-325)

The above statement is NOT Biblical in any sense or fashion. The New Testament is clear NOT by works.....

My apologies if I have misunderstood. But by “second person of the Godhead”, that usually implies 2 persons in 1 Divine Being. You seem to have no problem with the 2 persons, is the one God/Being that is the point of contention?

My apologies if I was unclear. We Mormons generally use the term "Godhead" rather than "Trinity" to refer collectively to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We avoid Trinity because the latter connotes the traditional Trinitarian doctrine of three Persons in one Being.

We regard the members of the Godhead as three separate Beings who are nevertheless perfectly united in love and purpose. Thus, the Book of Mormon refers to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as one God (2 Nephi 31:21). .

On the polytheism charge, perhaps my word choice was inexact..sorry about that. Could you explain whether there are multiple gods in Mormonism and whether or not they merit the same adoration that we reserve for God the Father? I’m sketchy on how all this shakes out.

I think the idea that Mormons are polytheists comes from two doctrines that are sometimes misunderstood. The first is the one I already mentioned, namely that we believe that the Godhead consists of three separate Beings.

The second is our belief that through the Atonement of Christ, men and women may be exalted, receiving all things from the Father and becoming like him. As the Doctrine and Covenants expresses it, such persons become "gods, even the sons of God." (D&C 76:58)

Some have supposed that we worship these exalted men or that we expect someday to become equal to God the Father. The same section of the Doctrine and Covenants says otherwise:

59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.

Mormon proselytizing is based upon the implied 'what is missing from your religious beliefs and their impact upon your daily living', or 'did your denomination tell you all the truth you need to walk with God', or even 'your church has not got the god-given authority to lead you'. Satan used the same technique with Eve, to first establish doubt, then drum upon that doubt seed, as if you haven't been given all of the truth or the higher truths, and upon that doubt to inveigle a new doctrine, a new image of god, a new way to make yourself acceptable to enter into God's presence.

Interesting, thanks for the clarification. Always good to hear what people actually believe instead of what other people say they believe.

I understand a little better now...but I’m a little confused as to how one can say there is one God but three different beings? We say that all the 3 persons share in the same Divine Nature...which is God.

On the people becoming gods bit...it may surprise you to hear that is, in SOME limited respect, consonant with the Catholic doctrine. In the Eastern Church, they even go so far as to use the Greek word “theosis” to describe the glorification of the elect = “God-becoming”. But we hold that as sharing in the one divine nature, and not us having a separate divine nature or anything like that. We participate in the supernatural life of the Trinity.

Also, you say that Mormons do not expect to be equal to God the Father. What about Christ?

Not quite. You don’t believe in polytheism but you believe you can become a God, implying multiple Gods which require adoration - i.e. polytheism. You can’t talk out of two sides of your mouth at the same time and expect people to believe you.

We believe that men can become "gods" (i.e., the sons of God) as I said in Post 27. That does not imply that we are to worship or adore these exalted men; in fact, the Doctrine and Covenants makes it clear that we are to worship only God the Father. So no there is no polytheism in Mormonism.

I have no idea what motivates Harry Reid. If he thinks he is somehow going to get a planet, it is probably thought some kind of shady land deal.

BTW, this idea that each or us will inherit his or her own planet is not something I find in Mormon scripture. If you refer to my Post 27, you will see that those who are exalted "shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever." (D&C 76:62)

An Idaho native, Briscoe has been a Mormon his whole life, and said it is painful to have others think that his church is somehow outside the boundaries of Christianity. He said he was a high school student when he first heard the accusation.

"It was a little bit unsettling," he said. "From my earliest memories, we talked about Jesus Christ."
So? The Arians and Gnostics heretics also talked about Jesus Christ. It's not using the name that makes one truly Christian, it's what you say and believe about Jesus Christ that differentiates from Biblical Christianity and imitations.

In fact, members of the church believe that Jesus' teachings were changed and weakened soon after the apostles died, and that this "apostasy," or falling away from the truth, led to the withdrawal of the true church from the earth.

Geee, he feels bad because Mormon doctrine is outside the pale of orthodox, Biblical Christianity, but has no problem with saying the Church since the death of the Apostles is apostate. Which by the way is contradictory to Christ Jesus's assurance that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ IS God. He is not a brother of satan, nor just a human prophet. He is God.

Read: John 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, adn the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. vs. 1-2. ...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. vs. 14. (notice that all titles of God are capitalized)

There are many who “believe” Jesus Christ was here on earth, but what they deny is his divinity. That is a huge difference. That is what sets Chrsitianity apart from all other religions. We state the fact and believe that Jesus is God in the flesh. He is equal with God and not just a man who “became” god. We also believe in the Holy Spirit as a person. That is the form of power the God uses to infuse himself INTO believers. The trinity is core to our faith. You must study not just the words, but the definition of the words.

Mormon’s use the same verbiage as christians, it is just clear they define those words differently.

Mormon’s believe they received the light. But when I ask my mormon friends when they personally had the truth of God revealed to them, they have no answer. Only that they have always believed because they were born and raised in the faith. But when I pose the same question to evangelical christian friends they can point to a time when they first beleived in Jesus. When the light was turned on in the darkness. So if you are mormon, I ask you, when did YOU believe and why? If you can’t answer that question, then I encourage you to discover the answers as to why you believe what you believe. Ask God to reveal himself to you through the bible.

God Bless you.

Mormonism is NOT misunderstood. It is understood very well. It is not a Christian denomination. It is not a Christian church. It uses the same terminology, but has re-defined the terms to mean contrary to Christianity.

Those who are thirsty for Living Water need to come to the Right Jesus. Truth can be known, and is revealed in Holy Scripture. The Real God can be known through His only Son, the Real Jesus Christ. He wants to deliver you out of darkness, into certainty of His salvation, into light and freedom from sin and death.

Mormonism deceives its followers. This is a known fact, not misunderstood. The Real Jesus calls its adherents to come to Him instead. Believe on the Real Jesus, and you will be saved eternally! This is a gift from God, contrary to the LDS doctrine of working to earn God’s favor. Salvation is solely because of God’s grace through Jesus Christ alone, and offered to all for free — only trust in, cling to, believe upon the One Who gives it to you, the Real and Only Jesus Christ, Who is not the one defined by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

If the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not action oriented, then please explain the words and counsel of the Lord Himself:

Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the cpoor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6

Isaiah clearly says that our works are not sufficient and it is only through our relying on the Lord that we are saved. "Good people" will not make it to heaven, because they are covered in sin. Trying to earn your way to heaven will not help you. It is only through confessing your sins and placing your salvation in the hands of Christ that you will be saved from damnation.

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