Placemarker
Posted on 12/01/2010 1:09:40 PM PST by Colofornian
Mormons have written several articles in the Blanco News and many people have asked me to explain what Mormons believe. Understanding what our religious neighbors believe is enlightening and helps us to be better neighbors to them.
Mormons number eleven million plus and are one of the few religious groups that are increasing in America. Some of the apparent differences in what Orthodox Christianity and LDS believe have to do with God, Jesus, and our scriptures. The only authority for Orthodox Christians is the Bible, Old and New Testaments. The LDS church beliefs are found in the “Book of Mormon,” “The Pearl of Great Price,” and “Doctrine and Covenants.”
Joseph Smith was the founder of the LDS church. When Smith was 17, in 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to him and told him the location of two golden plates, on which was written the history of two ancient Native American Christian tribes. Joseph went to the site and found golden plates written by Ether, Mormon, Lehi and Nephi (ancient Native American authors), and a brass plate consisting of Hebrew scripture quotations and genealogies written by Laban.
LDS church believes that gods, angels and humans are all different forms of the same beings. These beings began their journey as spirit children created through celestial procreation. Not only do they teach about a heavenly father, but also a heavenly mother. The spirit children produced by the union of the heavenly father and mother are said to be angels. At some point the obedient children are given physical bodies and come to earth as human beings. Based on their obedient behavior on earth these human beings will inherit one of the three levels of exaltation. The humans who have followed the “gospel” of the LDS church will go to the celestial kingdom and themselves become gods and goddesses.
Therefore, one of the great differences between LDS church and Orthodox Christianity is the number of gods recognized. Christianity understands God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. LDS church recognizes many gods. Jesus said to a teacher of the Law in Mark 12:29, “The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one.’” The documents of the LDS church claim the heavens and earth were created by a council of gods. Another difference is found in the understanding of God being Spirit, as Christians believe, or as the LDS church believes that the gods have flesh and bone.
Who is Jesus the Christ? Christians believe Jesus is the one and only Son of God taking on flesh and bone to become a Savior to those who believe and live in Him. LDS teaches in their “Gospel Principles” that Jesus is merely the first of billions of created spirit children and is literally our “elder brother.” In the LDs “Doctrine and Covenants” every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in heaven. They also teach Jesus is the brother of Satan.
These very basic differences lead to a host of other differences in what is believed about God and the resulting doctrines. The major differences include the nature of God, the nature of Jesus Christ, the nature of humankind and the nature of physical creation.
Next week we will examine other religions to understand better what our neighbors believe in contra-distinction to Orthodox Christianity.
I agree with you, Godzilla, that it is not our works which save us — we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Our works reflect our faith, and if someone says he has faith, but his works are evil — that is not a reflection of true faith.
John teaches this principle when he says, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:20-21)
No one is qualified to say whose faith is sufficient, only Jesus Christ has that ability.
I agree with James
So I have to ask you norm - why are you still a mormon? I can find a slew of mormon sites and posts that state you re saved first through your works - even your AOF 3.
No one is qualified to say whose faith is sufficient, only Jesus Christ has that ability.
It is not the sufficency of the faith, but the object of that faith. Are you saved by faith through grace and not of works - or are you saved by works to qualify for the 'grace' or even works + faith?
I’m still a Mormon because I believe in Jesus Christ and I have a testimony that He leads the LDS Church.
My faith is in Christ, not in my works — which are nothing to boast about by any means.
“Speaking of Ronald Reagan, he called the Mormon Tabernacle Choir “America’s Choir” and even today, that’s what they are called: “America’s Choir” - Poor Reagan. He didn’t know that according to you all those wonderful Mormon singers were members of a cult.
“
Reagan was too nice to say anything unkind about the cult publicly. I miss Ronnie.
placemarker
With the following Norm shows he is still grounded in his works: “No one is qualified to say whose faith is sufficient, only Jesus Christ has that ability.” Faithing is an action , and not quantified. Why is it not quantified? ... Because when the object of one’s faith is Jesus The Christ, the sufficiency/quantification for salvation is by God’s integrity not Norms ability to show sufficient faith to earn Salvation. But Norm and the entire of Mormondom cannot allow that simple truth to impinge upon their prideful religion, so they are in extreme danger for they are not faithing in the Saving object but in their ability to exercise ‘sufficient faith’ so that God owes Grace to their efforts. THAT is the heresy at the heart of Mormonism. But sadly, folks like Norm cannot comprehend that in the darkness they have chosen.
Kerping
I can on one hand.....
I can count on one hand.....
(fixed)
Placemarker
At least you are consistant!
314 posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2010 12:33:28 AM by Saundra Duffy (For victory & freedom!!!)
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
of the
CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SALT LAKE
I, the undersigned, having been duly chosen and appointed President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in conformity with the rites, regulations and discipline of said Church, being desirous of forming a corporation for the purpose of acquiring, holding and disposing of Church or religious society property, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity and for public worship, under and pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3, Title 19, of the Compiled Laws of Utah, 1917, on "Churches and Religious Societies," and all acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, for that purpose do hereby make and subscribe, in duplicate, the following
First: The name of this corporation shall be the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
Second: The object of this corporation shall be to acquire, hold and dispose of such real and personal property as may be conveyed to or acquired by said corporation for the benefit of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religious society, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity and for public worship. Such real and personal property may be situated, either within the State of Utah, or elsewhere, and this corporation shall have power, without any authority or authorization from the members of said Church or religious society, to grant, sell, convey, rent, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any part or all of such property.
Third: The estimated value of the property of which I hold the legal title for the purpose aforesaid, at the time of making these Articles of Incorporation, is One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Fourth: The title of the person making these Articles of Incorporation is "PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS."
Fifth: The corporation seal shall contain the words, "Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and an impression thereof is hereto affixed.
[Seal] [Signed] Heber J. Grant
President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
STATE OF UTAH
SS:
COUNTY OF SALT LAKE
On this 26th day of November, 1923, before me, Arthur Winter, a Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared HEBER J. GRANT, who is known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same as such President.
[Seal] [Signed] Arthur Winter
Notary Public
Residing at Salt Lake City, Utah.
My commission expires Dec. 1, 1923.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STATE OF UTAH ss.
COUNTY OF SALT LAKE
HEBER J. GRANT, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
That he is now and for more than twenty years last past has been the duly chosen and appointed President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as such President has been since on or about the 26th day of November, 1923, and now is, the legally constituted Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter=day Saints, a corporation sole; that under and pursuant to Section 18-7-5 R.S.U. 1933 he hereby amends Article "Fourth" of said Articles of Incorporation as now of record in the proper offices of this and other states, said article as amended to read as follows:
Fourth: The title of the person making these articles of incorporation is "President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He and his successor in office shall be deemed and are hereby created a body politic and corporation sole with perpetual succession, having all the powers and rights and authority in these articles specified or provided for by law. But in the event of death or resignation from office of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or in the event of a vacancy in that office from any cause, the President or Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of said Church, or one of the members of said Quorum thereunto designated by that Quorum, shall, pending the installation of a successor President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be the corporation sole under these articles, and the laws pursuant to which they are made, and shall be and is authorized in his official capacity to execute in the name of the corporation all documents or other writings necessary to the carrying on of its purposes, business and objects, and to do all things in the name of the corporation which the original signer of the articles of incorporation might do; it being the purpose of these articles that there shall be no failure in succession in the office of such corporation sole.
[Signed] Heber J. Grant
President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
corporation sole.
[Seal]
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18 day of June, 1940.
[the name of Notary Public not shown on copy of amendment]
(Original in State of Utah Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah)
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 16-7-5 of the Utah Code Annotated 1953 (as amended) relating to amendments of articles of incorporation of corporations sole, the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, a Utah Corporation Sole, does hereby amend its Articles of Incorporation by adding an additional Paragraph V thereto as follows:
Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation, which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed this 19th day of November, 1973.
CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS, a Utah Corporation Sole
By: [signed] Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Corporation Sole
STATE OF UTAH ) ss:
County of Salt Lake )
HAROLD B. LEE, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is now and ever since July 7, 1972, has been the duly chosen and appointed President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and, as such president, is now and ever since said date has been the legally constituted CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, a Utah Corporation Sole; that the original Articles of Incorporation of said Corporation Sole were executed by Heber J. Grant, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; that he, Harold B. Lee, is the successor in office to the said Heber J. Grant; that he, Harold B. Lee, executed the foregoing Articles of Amendment as said Corporation Sole.
[signed] Harold B. Lee
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19th day of November, 1973.
[signed] Wilford W Kirton, Jr
NOTARY PUBLIC
Residing at Salt Lake City, Utah
My commission expires:
2-3-77
First: The name of this corporation shall be the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
Second: The object of this corporation shall be to acquire, hold and dispose of such real and personal property as may be conveyed to or acquired by said corporation for the benefit of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religious society, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity and for public worship. Such real and personal property may be situated, either within the State of Utah, or elsewhere, and this corporation shall have power, without any authority or authorization from the members of said Church or religious society, to grant, sell, convey, rent, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any part or all of such property.
Third: The estimated value of the property of which I hold the legal title for the purpose aforesaid, at the time of making these Articles of Incorporation, is One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Fourth: The title of the person making these articles of incorporation is "President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He and his successor in office shall be deemed and are hereby created a body politic and corporation sole with perpetual succession, having all the powers and rights and authority in these articles specified or provided for by law. But in the event of death or resignation from office of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or in the event of a vacancy in that office from any cause, the President or Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of said Church, or one of the members of said Quorum thereunto designated by that Quorum, shall, pending the installation of a successor President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be the corporation sole under these articles, and the laws pursuant to which they are made, and shall be and is authorized in his official capacity to execute in the name of the corporation all documents or other writings necessary to the carrying on of its purposes, business and objects, and to do all things in the name of the corporation which the original signer of the articles of incorporation might do; it being the purpose of these articles that there shall be no failure in succession in the office of such corporation sole.
Fifth: Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation, which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tex-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Sixth: The corporate seal shall contain the words, "Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and an impression thereof is hereto affixed.
Yet your church repudiates your views norm. You MAY have salvation if you follow all the laws and ordinances (aof 3). Where's the faith in that norm? You can have 'grace' AFTER ALL YOU CAN DO.
Do you accept those tennants of mormon doctrine norm?
Like this one-
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel
How goes earning your salvation SD? Or are you still trying to repent and failing every day?
Excellent post. Needs a border around the info and shipping it to me. ;0)
“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”
So salvation comes through the Atonement of Christ, but not automatically. Jesus Christ paid for our sins, but He is only “the author of salvation unto all them that obey him”.
(Hebrews 5:9)
Norm, read your own aof again. First there is nothing that refers to faith in Jesus - what ever that 'faith' may be. But EVERYTHING is dependent upon OBEDIENCE to LAWS and ORDINANCES norm - to put it simply works are what EARNS you your salvation.
I cited mormon scripture - you have to earn and prove you are worthy to receive that grace before it is given. That is expressed by aof 3.
Well faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of gospel — see Article of Faith 4
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost”
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