Posted on 01/19/2010 2:41:50 PM PST by Colofornian
Definitions of biblical terms are presented with a Mormon and a Christian definition. For a downloadable copy of the Christian Mormon definitions, go to the Additional Resources area of this Web site.
Atonement - Mormon: (1) Used almost exclusively as a reference to Jesus' conquering physical death for all people. By conquering physical death, Jesus made it possible for all people to enter again into the presence of Heavenly Father - if for no other reason than to be judged by him. In other words, they are again 'at-one' with him (atoned). This will happen at Judgment Day. Those who have earned it will live in the Celestial Kingdom with Heavenly Father. Everyone else will live outside of the presence of Heavenly Father. (2) At times atonement includes the thought of Jesus' paying for people's sins. But underlying all such references is the thought that they have to pay him back. For a good example of the LDS view of Jesus' atoning work, see Gospel Principles chapter 12. Christian: Jesus' complete payment, made once, for all the sins of all the people of the entire world. Hebrews 7:27: 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. 1 Peter 3:18: For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. Through faith in Jesus' payment, we are given eternal life in heaven.
Bible - Mormon: One of four books Mormons consider scripture. They believe it to be the Word of God "as far as it is translated correctly" (Eighth Article of Faith). They believe many precious parts have been lost from it (1 Nephi 13:28). Consequently they consider it the least reliable of the scriptures. Many Mormons are not familiar with it. Christian: The inspired, complete and inerrant Word of God.
Damnation - Mormon: Mormon's Plan of Salvation outlines an intricate process of progression toward eternal life (exaltation). Anything that stops a person in their progression, such as dying without having a celestial marriage, is considered damnation as it blocks or dams their progression. Christian: The consequence of unbelief. Unbelief results in damnation, that is, suffering eternal punishment in hell.
Eternal Life (Exaltation) - Mormon: Living eternally as a god, synonymous with godhood and exaltation. "Exaltation means the same thing as eternal life" (Learn of Me, p. 72). Eternal life is reserved for those who attain the highest level of the celestial kingdom. Mormons must become perfect, have received their endowment, and been married in the temple (Celestial Marriage) before they can earn eternal life. This eternal life will be lived both with Heavenly Father in the celestial kingdom and as god over their own world which they will populate with their own children. Christian: By faith in Jesus' payment for our sins, we are given the gift of eternal life living with God in heaven as his children.
Faith - Mormon: (1) The belief that God exists and has given a good plan of salvation (Mormonism). (2) The power God gives Mormons whereby they can resist sin and become perfect. "But he must believe the truth, obey the truth, and practice the truth, to obtain the power of God called faith" (Past Living Prophet and President Brigham Young quoted in Teachings of Presidents of the Church Brigham Young p. 56). The more righteous a person is, the more power (faith) God will give him. "To those who have not begun the quest of comprehension, the word faith appears to be only a synonym for a kind of belief or conviction....It is a principle of power" (Sharing the Gospel Manual, p. 82). Christian: The sure hope of our deliverance from death to eternal life in heaven. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Forgiveness - Mormon: Must be earned through what may be "weeks, years, or centuries" of effort. To be forgiven of a sin, one must meet the demands of the LDS definition of repentance for that sin. God 'remembers' the original sin and you lose your forgiveness if you recommit the sin. Christian: The undeserved gift of having your sins separated from you "as far as the east is from the west". Because Jesus paid our penalty as our substitute, we are considered guiltless by God. God does not remember our sins.
Gift - Mormon: Mormonism has expanded the definition of the term 'gift'. The expanded definition includes as 'gifts' things which are rewarded to an individual only after first completing certain requirements or first demonstrating sufficient worthiness. The expanded definition also includes as 'gifts' things which once received, obligate the receiver to a set of conditions; which, if broken revoke the 'gift'. Most 'gifts' in Mormonism actually fall under the expanded part of the Mormon definition (eternal life, grace, forgiveness, the help of the Holy Ghost, most of God's many blessings). Mormon doctrine goes so far as to say that God is 'obligated' to give a particular 'gift' once the prescribed prerequisites have been achieved by the receiver of the gift. Most of the 'gifts' of Mormonism are not gifts but rewards, compensation, obligatory payments, and contracts. Christian: A gift is something we receive which is undeserved, unearned, offered freely by the bestower.
Gospel - Mormon: A term that refers to Mormonism in general. Or in particular, Mormonism's intricate plan of salvation. "Mormonism so-called - which actually is the gospel of Christ, restored anew this day" (Sharing the Gospel Manual, p. 176). Christian: The "Good News" of free and full salvation (eternal life with God in heaven) won for mankind by Jesus Christ.
Grace - Mormon: The power God gives people to save themselves, conditional on their earning it by doing all they can do on their own. "This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts" (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697). "We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23). This grace does not directly provide them with eternal life, but rather with the power to make up the difference between "all they can do" and perfection. Christian: The unconditional, free gift of eternal life given us through faith in Jesus' saving work. Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Heaven - Mormon: Any of the three kingdoms Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. Life even on the lowest kingdom will be much better than earth, and even the vilest of unbelievers will receive a life in heaven. "The book (Doctrine and Covenants) explains clearly that the lowest glory to which man is assigned is so glorious as to be beyond the understanding of man. It is a doctrine fundamental in Mormonism that the meanest sinner, in the final judgment, will receive a glory which is beyond human understanding, which is go great that we are unable to describe it adequately." (John A. Widtsoe, quoted in Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, p. 166). Yet, even in the highest kingdom all but those who have earned exaltation will have less than complete happiness. "How lonely and barren will be the so-called single blessedness throughout eternity!" (Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 19). Christian: God's glorious home, where all who believed in Jesus' saving work will live forever happy with him. Revelations 21:3-4: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.".
Hell - Mormon: (1) Not a place of eternal punishment but the temporary state of suffering wicked spirits experience in spirit prison before Judgment Day. "That part of the spirit world inhabited by wicked spirits who are awaiting the eventual day of resurrection is called hell....Hell will have an end" (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, p. 165). (2) The regret the inhabitants of the lower kingdoms will experience as they see the glories of the celestial kingdom is described in Mormon literature as a kind of hell. (3) Mormons call Satan's domain Outer Darkness. Only those who leave the LDS church are sent to Outer Darkness. Christian: Satan's domain of unending torment. Mark 9:47-48: And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ All unbelievers will be cast into hell. Matthew 25:41: "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Justification - Mormon: Unfamiliar term to most Mormons. Mormonism describes it as God's strict confirmation of the merits or demerits of man's own actions. In other words, LDS justification is God's act of rewarding people on their own actions, rewarding right and punishing wrong. Christian: God declares us (believers) not guilty on the basis of Christ's atoning work.
Paid - As in "Jesus paid for my sins". Mormon: Mormonism uses the word 'paid' as a synonym for 'refinanced'. When a Mormon says "Jesus paid for my sins", he does not mean that he no longer owes the debt of sin, merely that the creditor and the terms have changed. The entire debt still remains to be paid! Christian: When a Christian says "Jesus paid for my sins", he means that his entire payment for all his sins has been made, no more debt remains, no further payment is due or could even be made.
Plan of Salvation - Mormon: In general, Mormonism. Specifically, an intricate plan outlining a process of progression toward eternal life (exaltation). Steps in this process include becoming perfect, temple endowment, and celestial marriage. All the laws and ordinances of Mormonism embody the plan. Christian: God's plan of sacrificing his perfect son so that all who believe in him are saved (given eternal life). John 3:14-17: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Repentance - Mormon: "It is a long road spiked with thorns and briars and pitfalls and problems" Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness quoted in Gospel Principles, page 123.
The Mormon definition includes:
1) sorrow for your sins.
2) abandoning [never again committing] each and every sin.
3) confessing each sin.
4) restitution, as far as it is possible, for every sin ever committed.
5) freely forgive anyone who ever sinned against you.
6) obedience to all of God's other commands [in essence - perfection].
7) perform works to make up for the sin.
8) there can be no repentance without punishment.
9) you will not even desire to commit the sin again!
Points 1-7 referenced in Gospel Principles, pages 124-125. Point 8 referenced in Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, page 224. Point 9 referenced in Missionary Discussions, page 2-14 / Study Guide 2, page 3.
From Teachings of the Presidents of the Church Joseph F. Smith: True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them, a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light. Not only so, but to make restitution, so far as it is possible, for all the wrongs we have done, to pay our debts, and restore to God and man their rights - that which is due to them from us. Christian: Literally, a change of mind. A turning of one's heart from trust in yourself and your works to trust in Jesus and his work for you. Such a change of heart will result in sorrow for one's sins and a humble attitude of following God's will.
Redemption - Mormon: Synonymous with atonement. Christian: Christ bought all mankind back (redeemed) from the wages of our sin. See atonement.
Salvation - Mormon: (1) For most Mormons this is equivalent to physical resurrection, the reuniting of body and soul on Judgment Day. This is the only free gift in Mormonism. This is why many can say they believe they are saved by Jesus alone. They mean that they believe they don't have to do anything to be resurrected. However, this salvation does not grant eternal life (exaltation). That is based on their successful completion of their plan of salvation. Mormonism states that if one makes no effort and is an unbeliever he/she will still be resurrected and assigned a place in the lowest kingdom. Therefore, a Mormon can say that a person is granted heaven solely on Jesus' atoning work. And that person need not even believe in Jesus to attain it. (2) Sometimes 'salvation' is used as a synonym for exaltation, as in "Plan of Salvation" (actually the plan of exaltation). Christian: The free gift of eternal life in heaven with God given us through faith in Jesus' saving work.
Sanctification - Mormon: A term not commonly used in Mormonism. They use it to refer to a state of saintliness which is obtained as people purify themselves by overcoming sin. Christian: (1) Believers in Jesus' saving work are considered saints by God (sanctified). This refers to our status as citizens of heaven, while living on earth. (2) While on earth, the continuing work of the Holy Spirit resulting in the strengthening of our faith and becoming increasingly Christ-like (holy). (3) The final change that occurs on Judgment Day where believers are forever separated from their sinful nature and are thereby made holy.
Sin - Mormon: A word not commonly used by Mormons since Mormonism has a weak view of sin. "But all of us are guilty of sin to some degree" (Gospel Principles, p. 117). Instead of talking about sin, they use words such as bad habits, infractions, mistakes, and poor judgments. Christian: Any violation of God's commands, whether in thought, word, or deed. Includes any and all trespass, transgression, iniquity, wickedness, etc. Includes sins of omission (not doing what we are commanded) as well as commission (doing what we are commanded not to do).
For those who may want to know why there's some head-butting on threads of this nature, it's simple: Imagine a document and core beliefs arising out of that document being defined in similar ways for 1800 years or longer. Imagine a new group coming along & giving a whole new meaning to these same terms, sometimes turning them completely on their head.
Imagine, for example, that the "fall" of Adam & Eve becomes an "upward fall" -- sin that needs to be "celebrated" because of the belief that they weren't mortal & weren't able to have children or become a god until they sinned. (Well, that's Mormonism)
Imagine an Lds apostle (Boyd Packer) teaching that "Death is a mechanism of rescue. Our first parents left Eden lest they partake of the tree of life and live forever in their sins. The mortal death they brought upon themselves, and upon us, is our journey home."
Hence, when you unpack Packer, you see that Lds are teaching that:
(1) Packer says dying is our "rescue". (Is he talking about Jesus' dying as a "mechanism of rescue"? Nope; the context is Adam and Eve dying!)
(2) Packer NEXT says the "tree of life" in the Garden wasn't "life" at all to Adam & Eve.(Another Mormon general authority turning plain meanings on their head!!!)
(3) Packer NEXT says that instead of Jesus' death via the "tree of life" bringing us on our journey home to heaven...he decides to once again turn things on its ugly head & declare that Adam & Eve's death, prompted by their sin, "is our journey home." Say what?
So sin-based death (Adam's; Eve's; ours) is what brings us home -- and not Jesus' sinless-based death? There it is in one of the greatest nutshells possible: The Mormon "anti-gospel!"
Wow
Adam and Eve...
Lds apostle Dallin Oaks wrote: “Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her with wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall.” (”The Choice that Began Mortality” Liahona, 2002)
in 1873, the Deseret News noted Young saying “How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me—namely that Adam is our Father and God...).
He had been teaching Adam worship since the early 1850s: “Now, if it should happen that we have to pay TRIBUTE to Father Adam, what a humiliating circumstance it would be! Just wait till you pass Joseph Smith, and after Joseph lets you pass him, you will find Peter...” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 331, 1857)
Our Father Adam is the man who stands at the gate and holds the keys of everlasting life and salvation to all his children who have or who ever will come upon the earth. I have been found fault with by the ministers of religion because I have said that they were ignoratn. But I could not find any man on the earth who could tell me this, although it is one of the simplest things in the world, until I met and talked with Joseph Smith. (Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 8, 1873)
Now that was Brigham Young later in life...26 years AFTER he arrived in Utah. From the get-go of the mass-volumed “Journal of Discourses” — from vol. 1 in the early 1850s — Brigham Young was teaching that Adam “is our Father and our God, and the ONLY God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later.” (vol. 1, JoD, p. 50)
Adam was no gem here either.
Our Father Adam is the man who stands at the gate and holds the keys of everlasting life and salvation to all his children WTH?
Single issue poster strikes again.
Oh how cute. Of course God KNEW that Joseph Smith would speak English and would "get it". /SARCASM
This blasphemy really torques me off!
Plain indeed!
genesis 3
20 Adam [c] named his wife Eve, [d] because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side [e] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
I read about half of it so far and it completely corresponds with how I understand this. It is why I do not consider Mormonism to be a Christian faith.
Please note I did not say MORMONS. I believe many of them are Christians but haven’t been made aware of, nor bought into, the non-Christian beliefs taught in MormonISM.
REALLY? How sad for Mormons. What's the point then? As a Christian I know there is NO WAY I could ever pay back my sins. Thank you God for sending Jesus to make the payment for me!
They OBVIOUSLY can't READ!!
There will be NO ONE at the gate(s)!!
Well don't read the threads if they bother you. I want to know. I live and work with these people every day and I would like to be able to translate what they say.
LOL
Hey II, thanks for the thread bump. You da man.
Maybe if you actually read what's posted, you wouldn't be quite so, well, invincibly ignorant?
Once again you (II) post this exact same sentence (do you have it on “cut and paste”?) yet have YET TO RESPOND to another issue/topic that Colofornian posted on....
Here is the link:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2429880/posts
hmmmm....seems more like you want to harass rather than discuss, which makes YOU the “single issue” poster.
chuckle
Well, when someone can’t carry the debate they deflect or resort to AH attacks.
What ever happened to our intelligent LDS posters who at least ATTEMPTED to defend their faith? *sigh*
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