Posted on 12/11/2010 11:46:45 AM PST by delacoert
In our conversations with Mormons we are bound to test what they believe about key issues and how they stand on things we might have heard about Mormonism. It pays to know that it is easy for a Mormon, on the pretext of giving you milk before meat, or simply because they dont know their own faith very well, to be disingenuous in their answers. Here are a few typical answers on key subjects: We believe in the same God as you. We believe in God the eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost(Mormon First Article of Faith) Of course we trust and believe in the Bible This, again, is a disingenuous answer. The Eighth Article of faith of Mormonism declares: We are Christians and respect other Christian denominations. We would never attack other churches as some attack us. The Book of Mormon however declares: All their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: the draw near 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. (Joseph Smith History, 1:19) It seems Mormonism doesnt play well with others despite their protestations to the contrary. Of course Mormons arent polygamists. We renounced polygamy in the nineteenth century and those who practice it today have nothing to do with us. It seems that the polygamist groups currently denounced and disowned by SLC Mormons are just keeping the practice warm for the day when all Mormons return to the principle. Meanwhile it is not uncommon for a SLC Mormon male to be sealed to more than one wife in the next life while practicing monogamy in this. It does seem less than honest to deny liability when the very texts that teach polygamy still form an integral part of Mormon Scripture. There is a curious irony in the fact that the familiar SLC Mormons have much in common with breakaway polygamist groups and yet they deny any family connections, instead trying at every turn to associate with the Evangelical Christian Church, with which Mormons have nothing in common. GOD
Although it has the appearance of a Trinitarian confession this does not come close to what Mormons believe about God. Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of Mormonism, said:
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man
It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God
and that he was once a man like us
and you have got to learn to be Gods yourselves
the same as all Gods before you." (King Follett Discourse) THE BIBLE
"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"
The Bible is the only book of Scripture in Mormonism that is regarded as unreliable and its content is only respected so far as it appears to confirm the Mormon message. The message of Mormonism, such as their teaching on the nature of God, is brought to the Bible and if the Bible does not agree then it is the Bible that is considered wanting. While the Book of Mormon is considered the book of the restoration the Bible is regarded as the book of the apostasy. OTHER CHURCHES
"Behold, there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth" (1 Nephi 14:10)
There doesnt appear to be any room for other denominations here and it might be worthwhile asking a Mormon which church they think you belong to. Certainly, anyone who has studied Mormonism knows that it is founded on harsh and uncompromising attacks on other churches. In his official history Joseph Smith uncompromisingly declared that God said of other churches: POLYGAMY
Two things worthy of note:
1. Polygamy is still an integral part of Mormon Scripture. Mormons might argue that the practice of circumcision is part of Christian Scripture but is no longer practised. This is comparing apples and oranges because circumcision was a mark of the Old Covenant, which was superseded by baptism under the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. Polygamy, however, is taught as an eternal principle and regarded as the order of heaven. It is described as the new and everlasting covenant:
"And again, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant
they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation. Then shall they be gods." (D&C 132)
The reference to Mormons becoming gods by the new and everlasting covenant is instructive in light of what we have already seen of the teaching that men become gods. While the familiar Salt Lake City Mormons do not currently practise polygamy, it seems it will be reinstated, if not in this life then in glory.
I don't...
You should SEE all the 'pictures' that MORMON kids are EXPOSED to in THEIR 'growing up'!
That's what happens when people tell falsehoods about GOD.
I guess I should have been more careful how I said it. The 'point' wasn't that he had blonde hair and blue eyes. That was an 'exaggeration'. The point was that everyone has a different 'picture' of what Jesus looked like. Even though 'everyone' has different 'details', the 'concept' of JESUS is the same.
Even though we have different 'versions' of the Bible, the concepts are the same.
NOW. The ORIGINAL point I was defending was about the MORMONS and JESUS. I had always thought the Mormons had the same beliefs as Christians, and the difference was in the details.
According to DELACOERT, they do not. I understand and accept that.
As far as Joseph Smith and his various pictures, I would say there are as many 'different' concepts of Joseph Smith, as there are of Jesus of Nazareth.
WHY? Maybe because people like to see what they want to see.
Here is one of the more common pictures of Jesus. Doesn't look like a dark-skinned swarthy Middle Eastern Jew to me.
That's understandable for noobs. Not for long time posters.
It doesn't 'prove' anything, but it is something to consider when confronting an objectionable poster.
I think I have. Somebody posted a ton of them on this thread.
": )
lol... thanks Elsie...
yeah.... looks the same to me! (not)
favorite quote:
When asked ‘Will everybody be damned, but Mormons’? [Smith replied] ‘Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness.”
Yet we are told that they don’t teach works based salvation?
I think that’s what I said: once.
Nope.
Is that Jesus?
Coming from you, yes.
Ah...
But the DEVIL's in 'em!
Oh?
Then WHY are you even in a RELIGIOUS discussion?
|
|||||||
Version Number When Published Brief Description |
Age Year |
Pillar of light |
No. of Person- ages |
Father Present |
Son Present |
Question: Join What Sect? |
Remarks-References |
1. Official version, written 1838,
first Published 1842
(There are minor differences between the various source references,
Ensign Jan 1985, page 14)
|
14
1820 |
yes | 2 |
yes
Both spoke |
yes |
Join none |
Lucy, Hyrum, Samuel, Sophronia join the Presbyterian Church - JSH, pages 49-50, 1981 edition;
Times & Seasons, March, April 1842;
Ensign Jan. 1985, page 14;
Joseph Smith's First Vision by
Milton V. Backamn, Bookcraft, 1971, 1980, Appendix C, page 160f
|
2. Dictated by Smith to F.G. Williams, Summer to Nov. 1832 | 14 or 15 | yes |
1 | no |
yes Saw Lord, He "spoke" |
No question,
told "None doeth good",
sins forgiven
|
Joseph Smith's First Vision, Appendix A, page 155f |
3. Written by Smith,
his 1832 diary,
in his own hand
|
15 |
yes |
1 |
no |
yes Saw the Lord Jesus Christ |
No question,
told sins forgiven,
all do no good
|
Ensign, Dec. 1984, pages 24-26; ibid, Jan. 1985, page 11 |
4. Smith's diary of 1835,
recorded by
Warren Cowdery,
Nov. 9, 1835, conversation of Smith with Joshua
|
About 14 |
yes |
One, then another like unto first |
?
|
?
Second spoke, saw many angels
|
No questions,
told sins forgiven,
Jesus is Son
|
Joseph Smith's First Vision, Appen. B |
5. Letter form Smith to
John Wentworth,
editor of Chicago Democrat
|
none |
no |
2 |
? They spoke |
? |
No Question |
Joseph Smith's First Vision, Appendix D;
Ensign, Jan 1985, page 16;
Times & Seasons, Vol 3, pages 706-707, March 1, 1842
|
6. Early church leaders
Brigham Young, G.A.Smith,
John Taylor
|
15 |
no |
1 Saw an angel, and asked the angel |
no |
no |
Join none |
See Journal of Discourses,
2:17;
18:239;
13:77, 78;
20:167;
12:333, 334.
|
NOoooo!!!!!!
Say it isn't TRUE!!!
The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Rights and use information. Privacy policy. |
Ok; I will; but MORMONism will STILL get the LIGHT of day!
Oh; BTW - could you get the MORMONs to lay off CHRISTIANITY a while?
They've been BASHING it since the 1830's...
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