580 Reasons (& counting) Why You Should Leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [II]

2 Nephi 9:38; “And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.”

Isaiah 64:6; “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.”

Mosiah 26:2; “They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. 4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.”

1 Timothy 6:3-5; “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

Cowley’s Talks on Doctrine, pg. 110; “Having shown that faith, repentance and baptism are essential to the remission of sins, let us now consider the reception of the Holy Spirit. That this should follow, and not precede, the birth of the water must be evident to every thoughtful person.”

Acts 2:41; “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Newsweek, "What Mormons Believe," September 1, 1980, p. 68; “Mormon doctrine means that ultimately we are not dependent upon God for our existence. And since we can make ourselves as godly as the Father, we don’t feel any jealousy toward him.” BYU Professor James E. Ford

2 Tim. 2:16; “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, pg. 15; “Of the four great standard works of the Church—the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—I would particularly urge you to read again and again the Book of Mormon and ponder and apply its teachings. The Book of Mormon was referred to by the Prophet Joseph Smith as "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man [and woman] would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."”

1 John 5:13; “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

2 Nephi 9:16; “And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away.”

Matthew 5:18; “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

“A Bible, A Bible!” pgs. 16-17; “Early in the Prophet's ministry the Lord instructed him to make a revision, or as he termed it, a "translation" of the Bible. This was not to be a translation in the usual sense, employing a knowledge of biblical languages, use of ancient manuscripts, and the usual procedure and paraphernalia of the scholar, but rather a translation in which Joseph Smith would discern the true intent of the Bible through revelation. It is now known as the Joseph Smith Translation, or JST…A major purpose of the new translation seems to have been the spiritual understanding that came to the Prophet as a result of his effort.”

Hebrews 8:10-11; “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

2 Timothy 3:13-15; “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

8th Article of Faith; “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”

2 Tim. 3:16; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

JD 2:75-76; “The words contained in this Bible are merely a history of what is gone by; it was never given to guide the servant of God in the course he should pursue, any more than the words and commandments of God, given to a generation under one set of circumstances, would serve for another generation under another set of circumstances…The Bible is not a sufficient guide; it is only the history of the people who lived 1800 years ago. The history of our Church in this day, presents the scenes and transactions of this people—the revelations and words of God to them…”

1 Peter 1:25; “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Morality, pg. 108; “For those of you inside the Church there is a way, not entirely painless, but certainly possible. You can stand clean and spotless before Him. Guilt will be gone, and you can be at peace. Go to your bishop. He holds the key to this cleansing power.”

1 John 1:7; “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

D&C 68:18-19; “No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant and the firstborn of Aaron. 19 But, as a high priest of the Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power, under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.”

Titus 1:7-9; “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

JD 5:217; “Elder Hyde inquired the situation of the negro. I replied, they came into the world slaves mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability. The slaves in Washington are more refined than many in high places, and the black boys will take the shine of many of those they brush and wait on.”

1 Cor. 12:13; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

2 Nephi 26:33; “…he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

Galatians 3:28; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Way to Perfection, pg. 102; “In the spirit of sympathy, mercy and faith, we will also hope that blessings may eventually be given to our negro brethren, for they are our brethren-children of God-notwithstanding their black covering emblematical of eternal darkness.”

James 2:1-4; “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

Gospel Kingdom, pgs. 103; “…And then the devil put on a long face and said, I imagined I had got rid of these fellows; but they are going to have a chance yet that I did not think of. And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God.”

2 Nephi 5:21; “And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.”

Genesis 4:11, 15; “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”

Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 353; “Under these conditions President Spencer W. Kimball began an exhaustive personal study of the scriptures as well as statements of Church leaders since Joseph Smith, and asked other General Authorities to share their personal feelings relative to the longstanding Church policy. Then he began to inquire of the Lord if the time was not right to extend the priesthood blessings to this restricted people. Recalling this period, President Kimball stated, "Day after day, and especially on Saturdays and Sundays when there were no organizations in the temple, I went there when I could be alone." The result was a revelation on 1 June 1978.”

Romans 12:2; “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Improvement Era, June 1945; “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 direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God.”

Ensign, August 1979, pg. 2; “Recently, at the Churchwide fireside meeting held for the women of the Church, Young Women President Elaine Cannon made the following statement: “When the Prophet speaks, … the debate is over” (Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 108). I was impressed by that simple statement, which carries such deep spiritual meaning for all of us.”

Matt. 15:8-9, 14-15: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Conference Report, Oct. 1960, Marion Romney, pg, 78; “My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it." Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, "But you don't need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray."”

2 Peter 1:10; “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

July 1972 Ensign, pg. 87, Joseph Fielding Smith; “Now, brethren, I think there is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.”

Prov. 27:17; “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Brigham Young, JD 4:220; “I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle's being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force. This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind.”

1 Thessalonians 4:6; “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”

TPJS, pg. 149; “…while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.”

Galatians 3:28-29; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

JD 13:95; “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture.”

2 Peter 1:20; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

HC 6:408-409; “Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”

Deut. 34:10; “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”

Deut. 28:66; “And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.”

Ensign, Nov. 1994, 8; “Look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership.”

Revelation 3:5; “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

Gal. 1:6-9; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

D&C 20:9; “Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.”

1 Cor. 15:1-4; “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Jan. 15, 1842, Times & Seasons 3:658; “…God inspired them to frame the American Constitution…This was also done to prepare the way for the coming forth of the Book of Mormon—the stick of Joseph—that he might lift it up (in connection with the Bible) as an ensign upan [sic] the moantains, [sic] and set it as a sign among the people for the purpose of gathering and uniting the whole house of Israel into one nation upon their own land, and also for the purpose of re-establishing the kingdom of God upon the earth with all its officers, gifts and blessings.”

Mark 13:22; “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 158; “According to a prophecy of Joseph in Egypt, preserved in the Book of Mormon (2 Ne. 3:4-21), two sets of records would be kept by two tribes of Israel-one (the Bible) written by the tribe of Judah and the other (Book of Mormon) kept by the tribe of Joseph (2 Ne. 3:12; cf. Ezek. 37:15-19).”

2 Peter 1:20-21; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Teachings of Harold B. Lee, pg. 155; “Don't be concerned over Book of Mormon geography. Some say the Hill Cumorah was in southern Mexico (and someone pushed it down still farther) and not in western New York. Well, if the Lord wanted us to know where it was or where Zarahemla was, He'd have given us latitude and longitude, don't you think? And why bother our heads trying to discover with archaeological certainty the geographical locations of the cities of the Book of Mormon like Zarahemla? (66-07) The witness of the Book of Mormon is not found in the ruins of Central and South America. They may be outward evidences of a people long since disappeared. The real witness is that which is found in the Book of Mormon itself. The Book of Mormon ought to be to you one of the most prized books you have. (73-21, p. 3) The Book of Mormon is its own best evidence. So far as we are concerned, the best evidence in the world of the truth of the Book of Mormon is the Book of Mormon itself. (72-19).”

Ezek. 13:3; “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

Studies of the Book of Mormon, by B.H. Roberts, p. 271; “There were other Anti-Christs among the Nephites, but they were more military leaders than religious innovators... they are all of one breed and brand; so nearly alike that one mind is the author of them, and that a young and underdeveloped, but piously inclined mind. The evidence I sorrowfully submit, points to Joseph Smith as their creator. It is difficult to believe that they are a product of history, that they came upon the scene separated by long periods of time, and among a race which was the ancestral race of the red man of America.”

2 Tim. 3:13-15; “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Especially for Missionaries, vol. 1; “The purpose of the Book of Mormon is fivefold. First, it stands as a second testament or witness for Jesus Christ. Second, it authenticates the Bible. Third, it shows the goodness of God to his children. Fourth, it makes people aware of the promises that God has made to his children. And fifth, it restores to earth many plain and precious truths that have been lost since the fulness of the gospel existed.”

1 Peter 1:25; “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

1 Nephi 17:47; “Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life…”

Jeremiah 42:9-11; “And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him; 10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.” (See vs. 7-22 for full story)

Mosiah 27:13; “Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.”

Colossians 2:16-18; “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” [Note: see all of passage Col. 2:16-23.]

Acts 9:2-5; “And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

TPJS, pg. 194; “Perfection of the Book of Mormon – Sunday, 28.—I spent the day in the council with the Twelve Apostles at the house of President Young, conversing with them upon a variety of subjects. Brother Joseph Fielding was present, having been absent four years on a mission to England. I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (November 28, 1841.) —DHC 4:461.”

Matthew 24:35; “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Roughing It 1872, pgs. 58-59; “All men have heard of the Mormon Bible, but few except the "elect" have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble to read it. I brought away a copy from Salt Lake. The book is a curiosity to me, it is such a pretentious affair, and yet so "slow," so sleepy; such an insipid mess of inspiration. It is chloroform in print. If Joseph Smith composed this book, the act was a miracle — keeping awake while he did it was, at any rate. If he, according to tradition, merely translated it from certain ancient and mysteriously-engraved plates of copper, which he declares he found under a stone in an out-of-the-way locality, the work of translating was equally a miracle, for the same reason.”

Alma 14:21; “And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned?”

John 7:17; “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Gal. 6:7; “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

2 Nephi 19:1; “Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations.”

Isaiah 9:1; “But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.”

Approach to the Book of Mormon, pg. 16; “The Book of Mormon can and should be tested. It invites criticism, and the best possible test for its authenticity is provided by its own oft-proclaimed provenance in the Old World.”

2 Peter 1:19-20; “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.”

Faith, pg. 2; “In the early days of the restoration of the Church, Sidney Rigdon did not retain his membership in the kingdom even though he had, with Joseph Smith, witnessed marvelous signs. Had he not participated in the great vision, and had he not been the recipient of many revelations? Yet despite all these manifestations from our Heavenly Father, he did not remain in the kingdom…Oliver Cowdery saw many signs. He handled the sacred plates; saw John the Baptist; received the higher priesthood from Peter, James, and John; and was the recipient of many great miracles; and yet they could not hold him to the faith.” – Also see EM, pg. 1565.

Galatians 5:1; “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Pamphlets, Latter-day Tracts, pg. 1; “This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God to man, affecting both the temporal and eternal interests of every people under heaven to the same extent and in the same degree that the message of Noah affected the inhabitants of the old world. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions who will sincerely receive it as the word of God, and will suppose themselves securely built upon the rock of truth until they are plunged with their families into hopeless despair. The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it. Therefore, every soul in all the world is equally interested in ascertaining its truth or falsity.”

Proverbs 30:5-6; “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings; “Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols. 3:392)”

John 3:1-16; “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews…For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

TPJS pg. 156; “O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important Key—that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether in Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to the brethren.”

Psalm 118:8; “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

JD 7:19-20; “What do you say, brethren and sisters? Do you not think it best for us to do right, each person individually being led by the dictations of the Holy Spirit, listening diligently to those who are appointed to lead, govern, and dictate this people? You know what I mean by this. President Young is our governor and our dictator. It is for me to walk with him, and for you to walk with those who go before you.”

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, November 17th, “My goal is God Himself … At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.”

D&C 9:8; “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”

Proverbs 28:26; “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

Doctrines of Salvation 2:280; “Satan wanted him because Cain had a body, He wanted more power. A man with a body of course will have greater power than just a spirit without a body. Cain sinned with his eyes open, so he became Perdition, the father of lies.”

Exodus 20:11; “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Doctrines of Salvation 2:279; “CAIN TO RULE OVER SATAN. Sons of perdition will have an ascendancy over Satan himself, because he has no body. But who is Perdition? The Lord said to Cain: "If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire. And thou shalt rule over him; For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world."”

2 Thessalonians 2:2-3; “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

Follow the Living Prophets, pg. 253; “Never say no to an opportunity to serve in the Church. If you are called to an assignment by one who has authority, there is but one answer. It is, of course, expected that you set forth clearly what your circumstances are, but any assignment that comes under call from your bishop or your stake president is a call that comes from the Lord…Once called to such positions, do not presume to set your own date of release. A release is in effect another call. Men do not call themselves to offices in the Church.”

Prov. 18:13; “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

Marion Romney said in Ensign, July 1973, pg. 89; “No one should seek to be appointed to any particular office in the Church. Such an aspiration is not a righteous desire; it is a self-serving ambition…We should demonstrate that desire by living the gospel and diligently performing whatever service we are called upon to render. Holding a particular office in the Church will never save a person. One’s salvation depends upon how well he discharges the duties of the service to which he is called.”

To be called or to receive a calling to serve in the Church simply means the bishop will call someone when a position needs to be filled, i.e. Sunday school teacher, Young Men’s group, etc. As you can see it is not that God has called that person to be a youth pastor for his life or a choir director; as a result the Church is filled with people ill-equipped in leadership roles.

2 Cor. 4:1-2; “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”

It always amazes me how people in their finite minds try to tell us what we beleive.

as one of our brethern so nicely explains it...

The most fundamental difference between the LDS Church and traditional Christianity is the principle of the Godhead: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost. In 1820, when Joseph Smith knelt and prayed in a grove of trees Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to him. Now known as the “first vision”, Joseph beheld that the Father and the Son were separate and distinct beings. This has been the official doctrine of the LDS Church ever since.

This belief directly contradicts the concept of the Trinity, which are three Gods without form or passion in one. The Trinity was not officially taught in the Christian church until 300 years after the Resurrection of The Savior. The idea of the 3 in 1 Trinity was the product of the Nicene Creed of 325 A.D.

Under the direction of Constantine, a council of theologians, scholars, and clergy were called together to organize the official doctrines and beliefs of the church. Confusion about official doctrine was rampant at the time. The council debated the nature of the Godhead until a compromise was reached.

That compromise was the Nicene Creed, which established the idea of Christ “being of one substance with the Father” . In the 5th century the Athanasian Creed reaffirmed and expounded further on The Trinity.

The Godhead conceived in the Nicene Trinity was not taught in the Church prior to the Council in 325 A.D. Edwin Hatch, an emeritus professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Oxford taught,

“And if the doctrine of God now espoused by the various sects is foreign to the thought of the primitive Church, what was the Godhead of the early Church like?

Indeed, we find in the early Church the true doctrine of a Godhead consisting of three distinct persons who are completely separate in substance, but one in will - the Father presiding over the Son and the Son over the Spirit.” [Hatch, E., The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church, (New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1957,) p. 124.]

Justin Martyr, a follower of Christ from 100-161 A.D. wrote that God abides “in places that are above the heavens:” the “first-begotten,” the Logos, is the “first force after the Father:” he is “a second God, second numerically but not in will,” doing only the Father’s pleasure.

He also maintained that the Son is “in the second place, and the prophetic Spirit in the third.” —[Justin Martyr, First Apology 13, in Davies, J.G., The Early Christian Church, (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1995,) p. 97.]

The LDS belief in The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost, being separate in person but one in will & purpose conflicts with the post-Biblical beliefs originated by the Nicene Trinity, however it does not conflict with the Bible.

Let me clarify this before reading on. I don’t have a problem with people believing in the Trinity. They just need to understand that...

...it is an extra-biblical theology, unsupported by direct scripture.

Genesis 1:26;

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Notice God referring to Himself in the plural, using words like “we” and “us”. This is because there were two beings there: God the Father, and Jesus. Jesus was known as Jehovah during this time and throughout the Old Testament.
Further, The Father is saying that He and Jehovah they will create man in their own likeness and image.

We are singular, individual human entities, not three entities in one body. This means that God the Father, and Jesus, are singular entities also since we were created in their likeness and image.

Genesis 3:22

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:”

Once again God is using the word “us” , referring to Himself and Jehovah. As a side note, after the experience in the Garden of Eden, Adam and his posterity (us) was cut off from the presence of The Father. Jesus, or Jehovah, became our intermediary to The Father. The God used in the singular through the rest of the Old Testament is Jehovah/Jesus Christ.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
I included this verse because it establishes the biblical nature of “oneness”. It reads that men and women shall be one flesh. Being one flesh is a metaphor, just as God the Father and Jesus Christ being one is a metaphor.

Exodus 24:10-11

“And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.”

These verses are subtle in teaching the separateness of Jesus and God the Father. In verse 10 they saw the God of Israel, who is Jesus. Then verse 11 reads “also they saw God”. This is not an errant redundancy.

The biblical writer records that they saw two Gods - first Jesus, then God the Father, two separate and distinct Beings. Also, notice that Jesus’ premortal spirit has feet. This contradicts the Greek philosophy influenced belief that God is a formless, shapeless, immovable mover entity without parts. Remember, we are in His likeness.

Matthew 3:16-17 (See Also Luke 3:22)

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

This, of course, is the baptism of the Savior. This is one of the most compelling manifestations of the Godhead in human history. Jesus is in the water with John the Baptist,

The Holy Ghost is above them in the form of the dove, and God the Eternal Father spoke from heaven. All three members of the Godhead present, all three in separate places. This story basically debunks the whole Nicene concept.

Matthew 20:23

“And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”

Jesus is differentiating himself from The Father, saying that to enter the Kingdom is not His to give but His Father. If They were the same person He wouldn’t deliberately set Himself apart.

Matthew 26:39

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane as the atonement begins. Who is He praying to? He’s not praying to Himself.

And if He is God the Father, who is in Heaven to even pray to? Is Heaven empty? No, it isn’t.

Jesus is praying to His Father, who is still in Heaven, because the two of them are separate.

Also notice that Jesus relinquishes His will to The Father, this demonstrates They are one in purpose.

John 1:1-2

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.”

This is a good verse to cover because it’s always cited by Trinitarians to defend the Nicene Trinity. The wording in verse 1 appears to confirm that The Father and Son are the same. However, in context with verse 2 clarifies that there were two beings, not one.

Moreover, verse 1 still doesn’t affirm a 3 in 1 Trinity. The Word, who is Jesus Christ, was with The Father in the beginning, as was discussed in Genesis, and He is also a God, He just is not his own Father and God.

Look at from this perspective: I am me, I’m standing with my dad, and I’m also dad. Does this mean that I am my dad? Apparently I am if you interpret that verse the way the Trinitarian Churches do, since I am both son and dad.

John 12:27-29

“Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.”
Once again, Jesus prays to Heavenly Father and He answers from Heaven, and the people around them heard it like thunder. I highly doubt Jesus was a ventriloquist.

John 14:28

“Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

Jesus, Himself, is teaching that He is second to the Father.

This supports the pre-Nicene Christian teachings cited by Justin Martyr that Jesus was in second position to The Father, and therefore not The Father.

John 17:11, 21-22

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

Okay, I know there are people reading this page that want to give me grief because I haven’t mentioned John 10:1, and John 10:38 where Jesus specifically says “We are one.” (There,

I didn’t ignore it, HA!) I waited to bring them up until now because this verse specifically explains what Jesus meant when He said He and the Father were and are one.

Jesus is offering the Great Intercessory Prayer. Once again, Christ is praying to God the Father (whom is still in Heaven). In verse 11 Jesus prays that the Apostles will be one, just as He and The Father are one.

Jesus specifically prayed for them to be in each other like He and the Father.

How is it possible for the Apostles to be 12 different people in one body, or for them to be in the Trinity? It’s not.

Jesus wants them to be one in will and purpose, just as He is with The Father. Jesus praying that they be in Him, as He is in The Father is obviously metaphorically, just like in Genesis. (Incidentally,

I’m almost through the four gospels and haven’t found anything about a 3 in1 trinity yet.)

John 17: 21-22

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

I’m repeating these verses again because these are the primary references cited to defend the concept of the 3 in 1 Trinity. The problem with Trinitarians using this statement is that they have to ignore must omit the first line, which reads,

“That they ALL may be one;” [emphasis added]. Then if you go on to verse 22, Jesus prays again that “they may be one, even as We are one.” I think we can safely assume that the Apostles could never be literally 12 people in the same person.

Yet, Christ is saying that they can be one in the same manner as He and the Father are one. This must mean that the Godhead cannot be literally and physically “one”.

John 20:17

“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

The Resurrected Christ has revealed himself to Mary Magdalene, before His ascension.

He is telling her that He hasn’t ascended to His Father.

How could He ascend to Himself? He is returning to His Father and Our Father, just like we will when we are resurrected thanks to Jesus breaking the bounds of death for us.

Acts 4:32

” And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

This is another verse defines what “being one” means. The New Testament Greek word “one” actually interprets as “unity” .

This is apparent with this verse that reads that the people were “one” in soul and in spirit.

NOT one person in many or vice versa.

“They had all things in common”, just like God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 7: 55-56

“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

While being martyred for his testimony, Stephen gives an eyewitness testimony about the Divinity of Christ and the true nature of the Godhead.

Stephen sees Jesus in a vision literally standing on the right hand of God - both of Them exalted both of Them Gods.

Once again, here is a scriptural account of someone seeing two distinct personages, not a Nicene Trinity.

Romans 12:5

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

In this verse, Paul is saying that even though the church has many members, they are still one body. Being one in Christ.

They are one because of belief and practice. Being one in the Gospel of Christ.

I think I see a trend when it comes to “oneness” in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many, and lords many,
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Paul doesn’t say that God the Father and Jesus are the same.

He distinguished and separated them by saying we have one God, the Father, AND one Lord, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:8

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Apparently Paul foresaw the Nicene and Athanasian Councils and Creeds.

It’s pretty much accepted by Protestant and Catholic Scholars (like the aforementioned Edwin Hatch), that the creeds were influenced by Greek philosophy. It’s too bad they were more influenced by revelation and the Bible.

1 John 5:7-8

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”

John teaches that there are Three members of the Godhead, now before you Trinitarians give me a big “I told you so” because the verse ends off saying they are “one” , read the next verse.

Is Spirit, water, and blood really one?

Nope.

Once again, “one” means unity, not physicality.

Endnote:
Like I said, if someone wants to believe in the Trinity, let them. That’s between them and God.

For me personally, I’d rather believe in a Godhead theology based on revelation and eye witnesses, rather than one that was debated and voted on. But that’s just me.

Never at anytime in scriptural history has there been a manifestation supporting the Trinity, and I challenge anyone to show me a verse where someone witnessed The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost resembling an incomprehensible being without parts or passions.

The only thing really incomprehensible are the creeds themselves.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.