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Our Mormon Brothers?
Reformed Evangelist ^ | May 14th, 2007 | Jeff Fuller

Posted on 07/05/2007 3:00:33 AM PDT by Gamecock

Mormon Evangelists

The following draws from the book Is the Mormon My Brother by apologist James White. Earlier this year, Paul Kaiser reprinted a Worldview article titled 10 Mormonism Facts which generated a myriad of responses from visitors who stated that Mormons were being misrepresented and are simply our brothers & sisters in the Body of Christ. Let’s look at what Dr. White presents using LDS resources:

The First Vision

Without question the key revelation in Mormon Scripture regarding the nature of God is to be found in what is known as the First Vision of Joseph Smith. The vision itself is fundamental to all of LDS theology. Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie described the vision:

That glorious theophany which took place in the spring of 1820 and which marked the opening of the dispensation of the fullness of times is called the First Vision. It is rated as first both from the standpoint of time and of pre-eminent importance. In it Joseph Smith saw and conversed with the Father and the Son, both of which exalted personages were personally present before him as he lay enwrapped in the Spirit and overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.

This transcendent vision was the beginning of latter day revelation; it marked the opening of the heavens after the long night of apostate darkness; with it was ushered in the great era of restoration, the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21.) Through it the creeds of Christendom were shattered to smithereens, and because of it the truth about those Beings whom it is life eternal to know began again to be taught among men. (John 17:3.) With this vision came the call of that Prophet who, save Jesus only, was destined to do more for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. (D. & C. 135:3.) This vision was the most important event that had taken place in all world history from the day of Christ’s ministry to the glorious hour when it occurred.(1)

And Mormon Prophet Ezra Taft Benson said,

Joseph Smith, a prophet of God, restored the knowledge of God. Joseph’s first vision clearly revealed that the Father and Son are separate personages, having bodies as tangible as mans. Later it was also revealed that the Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, separate and distinct from the personalities of the Father and the Son. (See D&C 130:22.) This all-important truth shocked the world even though sustained by the Bible. (2)

How is it that the creeds of Christendom were shattered to smithereens and the knowledge of God was restored by this one vision? While the story is as familiar to Mormons as John 3:16 is to Christians, we present Joseph Smith’s own recounting of the story in full, taken from the LDS Scriptures (and hence carrying canonical authority). However, we note that the account that appears in the LDS Scriptures was written in 1838, eighteen years after the events described:

14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon bysome power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)–and which I should join.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong;(3) and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.

20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, Never mind, all is well I am well enough off. I then said to my mother, I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true. It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy? (Joseph Smith History 1:14-20).

What does this vision, recorded in LDS Scripture, teach concerning God? First and foremost, it presents to us the concept of a plurality of gods. This arises from the fact that God the Father is a separate and distinct physical entity from Jesus Christ, His Son. God the Father is possessed of a physical body, as is the Son. This is why McConkie can claim the creeds of Christendom were smashed to smithereens, for the vision has always been interpreted by the LDS leadership to teach that God the Father is a separate and distinct person and being from the Son. The unity of Being that is central to Christian theology is completely denied by Joseph Smith in the First Vision. Hence, you have one God, the Father, directing Smith to another God, the Son.

While it is not our intention to critique these teachings at this point, it should be noted that there are a number of problems with the First Vision, and with the entire development of the LDS concept of God as well. As we noted, this version of the First Vision was not written until 1838. Previous versions, however, differed in substantial details from this final and official account. Most significantly, the presence of both the Father and the Son as separate and distinct gods is not a part of the earlier accounts.(4)

————————————————-

(1) Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine,2nd ed., rev. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), pp. 284-285, LDSCL.

(2) Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988), p. 4, LDSCL. On page 101 of the same book, we read this strong statement:

The first vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith is bedrock theology to the Church. The adversary knows this and has attacked Joseph Smith’s credibility from the day he announced the visitation of the Father and the Son. You should always bear testimony to thetruth of the First Vision. Joseph Smith did see the Father and the Son. They conversed with him as he said they did. Any leader who, without reservation, cannot declare his testimony that God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith can never be a true leader, a true shepherd. If we do not accept this truth if we have not received a witness about this great revelationwe cannot inspire faith in those whom we lead.

(3) One of Mormonism’s leading scholars, James Talmage (and a General Authority), said the following in the General Conference of April, 1920:

This Church, therefore, from its beginning, has been unique, for the organization of the Church was forecasted in this declaration that at the time of Joseph Smiths first vision there was no Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth; and I do not see why people should take issue with us for making that statement (CR1920Apr:103).

(4) I noted a number of the historical problems with Mormonism in Letters to a Mormon Elder, pp. 88-106. For a fuller treatment of this issue, see H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters, Inventing Mormonism (Salt Lake: Smith Research Associates, 1994), pp.1-41, and Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1982), pp. 143-162.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Evangelical Christian; Theology
KEYWORDS: apologetics; boggsforgovernor; brothers; christianity; lds; mormon; mormonism; orthodoxy
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To: colorcountry

You remember a few years ago when them desperadoes shot up the watertruck, killed the cop and hid in the 4 corners area?

I was camping at Devil’s (something) just sound of Monticello the NIGHT before that happened!

We found out when stopping for gas in town!


881 posted on 07/12/2007 12:40:06 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Truth-Miner
To answer your questions:

1. If your beliefs are correct what will it cost you? What will you gain? What’s the emotional payoff?

1a - My life, as I strive to live Gods commands daily
1b - My Life eternally, with God, like God as a God.
1c - Emotional? My payoff is real if you insist on calling it a payoff.

2. If your beliefs are not correct what will you lose? Are you diminished by losing? What is the cost, not only to you but to others?

2a - My life, but I will have lead a happy one, full of meaning, at least to me.
2b - I will not be diminished by losing as I will either be an honest soul who did his best, or not exist anymore.
2c - I will not have Cost anyone anything for I did not drive anyone from the truth, I invited people to what truth I had, right or wrong, that is a good thing.

3. If both of your beliefs are incorrect what will it cost you and others? Will you regret the time you have spent arguing?

3a - If my beliefs are incorrect, there are many on this forum arguing against me who are now worse off than if my beliefs were correct.
3b - No, it was fun.

Thanks for the interesting and thought provoking question!
882 posted on 07/12/2007 12:40:33 PM PDT by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: greyfoxx39

Slow down, I said: If Anti-Mormon is correct then Anti-Orthodox Christian would be correct.
Notice the IF at the beginning of the sentence. I never said Anti-Mormon was correct.


883 posted on 07/12/2007 12:41:58 PM PDT by Truth-Miner (The Child in us desires Truth to bend to our perspective, may we all be Adults.)
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To: ComeUpHigher
Trying to be inflammatory by suggesting that members of the LDS Church could be referred to by the “nickname” of “anti-christ” is disgusting.

While...

Trying to be inflammatory by suggesting that EX-members of the LDS Church could be referred to by the “nickname” of “anti-mormon” is ... WHAT?

884 posted on 07/12/2007 12:42:07 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Edward Watson; Enosh; MHGinTN; colorcountry; Elsie
Consequently, 1) if Mormonism is true, the righteous non-Mormon Christian will receive eternal bliss in the Terrestial Kingdom (the conventional imagery of what heaven looks like) while the righteous Mormon becomes a God by Grace, in perfect union with the Godhead.

AHHhh, Edward, wasn't it you that made the distinction that those souls in the terrestial kingdom would not "associate with Christ"? And didn't someone dispute your interpretation of that being what Christians know as "Heaven"?

I have to leave now and don't have time to look up the posts...someone else will, I imagine.

885 posted on 07/12/2007 12:43:12 PM PDT by greyfoxx39 ("We don't want to open a box of Pandoras." - Bruce King former governor of NM, DEM)
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To: DelphiUser

God is. The great “I AM.” He was not born in time, then stepped out of time, then stepped back into time. First words of the Bible are “In the beginning God . . .” The multiverse concept makes nature the ultimate creator of God in the form of an uncreated universe, rather than reverse. Prior universes, extending back into infinities of other universes all creating Gods. Mormon theology has no first mover as I have been told by Edward, the chain of universes just extend back infinitely. Any created god is one the gods of wood and stone we are warned against in the Bible. Mormons do not worship God, but worship a god, a creation.


886 posted on 07/12/2007 12:44:07 PM PDT by Greg F (<><)
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To: ComeUpHigher
It wouldn’t be accurate, would it?

Can't answer the question, for I have no way to read the mind of the poster; who could be lying, or not.

887 posted on 07/12/2007 12:44:26 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Edward Watson
"... the vast majority of whom lived and died without ever hearing about Christ."

The Bible answers this, Revelation 20:12. Your additional voodoo in unnecessary.

888 posted on 07/12/2007 12:44:35 PM PDT by Enosh (†)
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To: DelphiUser

Did you hear about the haunted liquor store??

It had beer, wine and spirits!


889 posted on 07/12/2007 12:45:25 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: greyfoxx39
Didn’t he get zapped in the end?

OUCH!

I bet THAT would leave a mark!

890 posted on 07/12/2007 12:46:15 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: greyfoxx39

Well... they COULD be; as in when yer corn gets low in the container, and you shake it, it RATTLES!


891 posted on 07/12/2007 12:47:57 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Truth-Miner
Sushi? good for you? Mercury, lead and botulism
I take the seaweed for the minerals but tastes good? How? There are no saturated fats.(where real flavor comes from)


I'll take my fats in a nice T-Bone, make that a porterhouse. You can have all the hydrogenated stuff they put in things now days, I'll take stuff home cooked and fresh. Enjoy your chips, cookies and Buttered popcorn, I'll come to your funeral, just leave it in your will to post it here three days in advance.

Are you one of those that are cheered when movie theaters stopped using coconut and palm oils on the popcorn?

Yes, that was me you heard woohooing.

Maybe just maybe I was wrong about you.

Why? what conclusions am I obliterating now?

DU
892 posted on 07/12/2007 12:48:12 PM PDT by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: greyfoxx39
It must be one of those words with polarity: when used one way; it's offensive. When used another; it's a term of indearment.

You know; like the dreaded "N" word!

893 posted on 07/12/2007 12:49:58 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: colorcountry

CC said: You would rightly call me anti-mormonISM, without the shortening right?

Correct but what anti word would the Mormons use? Anti-EstablishChristianOrthodoxyISM?


894 posted on 07/12/2007 12:51:27 PM PDT by Truth-Miner (The Child in us desires Truth to bend to our perspective, may we all be Adults.)
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To: Enosh

A word of caution, brother. When you point to Rev 20:12 it is also important to note this Great Judgment has certain humans excluded from it, as in the Bride of Christ ... the Lambs Book of Life is not the book opened in Rev 20:12. The groupings that show up in Heaven is a deep study which will be used and has been used to sow confusion and carve out a niche for heresies.


895 posted on 07/12/2007 12:51:42 PM PDT by MHGinTN (You've had life support. Promote life support for those in the womb.)
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To: greyfoxx39
AHHhh, Edward, wasn't it you that made the distinction that those souls in the terrestial kingdom would not "associate with Christ"?

Yes!

And, he ALSO said...

... souls in the terrestial kingdom would "associate with Christ"?

896 posted on 07/12/2007 12:52:19 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Truth-Miner
... what anti word would the Mormons use?

"I have learned for myself that Presbytarianism is false."

897 posted on 07/12/2007 12:54:24 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

They just found the remains of one of them several weeks ago. I think that was the last of the three bodies to be recovered. They all died in the desert.

BTW, I’ve had Ghiardia and I would almost rather die.


898 posted on 07/12/2007 12:54:27 PM PDT by colorcountry (To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon -)
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To: MHGinTN
"A word of caution, brother. When you point to Rev 20:12 it is also important to note this Great Judgment has certain humans excluded from it, as in the Bride of Christ"

That is exactly correct, we'll already have been resurrected.

899 posted on 07/12/2007 12:55:50 PM PDT by Enosh (†)
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To: Truth-Miner

How about “anti-everything but us.”

LOL


900 posted on 07/12/2007 12:56:44 PM PDT by colorcountry (To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon -)
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