Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism.
Posted on 10/10/2013 3:15:56 PM PDT by matthewrobertolson
In defiance of Deuteronomy 17:17, Matthew 19:4-6, and other Biblical passages, the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, endorsed the practice of polygamy. However, the largest Mormon church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), later outlawed the practice. This presents a problem for LDS theology.
In verses 61-63 of Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith reveals a "revelation" about polygamy supposedly given to him by God. The verses teach that a man "cannot commit adultery" -- even if "he have ten virgins given unto him by this law" of polygamy -- as long as his women are "vowed to no other man".
So, polygamy was allowed in the first 47 years of Mormonism. But in 1890, due to Official Declaration 1 -- which is "authoritative and binding" -- polygamy was banned by the LDS church.
While the Declaration says that the church never "inculcate[d] or encourage[d]" the practice, it at least never claims that it did not allow or officiate it.
In the "Excerpts" section at the bottom of the online Declaration, it quotes LDS President Wilford Woodruff as saying that it would have been unwise "to continue to attempt to practice plural marriage," because "adherence to this principle" of polygamy resulted in "suffering" for the church's members, due to strong U.S. federal laws against it. Woodruff bluntly said that it was time to "cease the practice and submit to the law".
All of this, taken together, shows that the church did accept polygamy, and it only backed down on the issue so that it could continue to exist and thrive. Basically, it changed its religious teachings to suit the secular laws of the government, which would obviously go against Biblical teachings, because God's laws are not subject to the State. In the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), one verse reads: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
What makes this all even more interesting is that even the Book of Mormon seems to oppose polygamy. Jacob 2:27 reads: "Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.."
This all leads to the big question: Do you think that an organization could be so wishy-washy with its teachings if it were really "The Church of Jesus Christ"? I do not think so, and I must therefore conclude that this Mormon magisterium is invalid.
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Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism.
This thread is another serial attempt at RC proselytizing and an opportunity for more of his blog pimping. It is tiring to say the least. These incessant doctrinal disputes trying to pump up the errors of Rome deserve no place on FreeRepublic. Every day we see these Catholics posting theory as fact. They post their catechismal teachings as being the authority above Scripture. They brag about their riches, and ghoulish displays of dead people. Their buildings are full of idols, and they light candles thinking it helps them to pray and get to God's ear.
But, thank God we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit to keep our feet on the path. Thank God he sent the Holy Spirit so that we may know the riches of his glory.
2 Corinthians 6: 4 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”...
***
... Ephesians 2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
There can be no "vague sense" about it. Mormonism either is or isn't Christian. It isn't.
Heretic.....
They are Christian. Just not like you...
No. See post # 18. They can’t deny/change basic Christian doctrine, then make up their own (which blasphemes God, even) and be Christian.
Matthew 7:21 – 23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
A breath of fresh air, my FRiend.
I would add Eph. 1:3ff
Mormonism is it’s own religion created by Joe Smith, it isn’t Christian, that is something that all Christian denominations agree on.
For a guy promoting a blog here you sure don’t interested in explaining it.
“I wonder if you can separate agreeing with the text from evaluating how overdoing that post hurts the effectiveness of the text and hurts what could be an educating thread against the confusion of the thread poster and his naming of Mormonism as Christian.”
When I get finished detangling this sentence, I’ll have another look at the Mormon text post. LOL
Take a breath and use some punctuation, my friend.
They can be Christian. they cannot be a Christian
Subtle difference. Huge consequences.
Just because they put the name of Jesus Christ on their buildings, does not say that Mormons are Christians. If you have ever read their teachings, you'll see that they believe there is more than one God, and that if they follow the Mormon formula, that one day a Mormon man can be God of his own planet.
I'm one of those Protestant Christians that accepts the words from Scripture. In 2 Timothy 3:16, we are told to study to show ourselves approved. I studied quite a bit. With the Internet, most of the time my 17 different versions of the Bible are left on the shelf. With just a few clicks, I can read from even the Greek or Hebrew writings. I attended Bible school and know some of the Greek, and sat with a Rabbi to learn some Hebrew. I can't claim any scholarship to either.
But, with the all the modern translations, and the knowledge that I have of those ancient languages, with the help of the Holy Spirit, it is easy to find the truth. Mormonism is akin to Catholicism, in that they both claim to hold all the truth and the only path to God. In my educated opinion, they qualify as cults. They are based on tradition and false interpretation of Scripture. They have enough truth in them to look good on the outside, but rat poison looks pretty good to a rat. Rat poison is made from corn and grain usually, and 90% of it is food. But it's that 10% of chemicals that are deadly and do the job as intended.
Ignorance leads into error. Willful ignorance leads to death. In the spiritual world, death is eternal separation from God. Man cannot become a god, just as Lucifer could not either. There is only one God, that has revealed himself to us in every way. He took the form of a mortal man, and fulfilled, completely, the law he established as a schoolteacher for our forefathers. When Jesus walked the earth, he was fully blameless throughout those days, just as the prophets had foretold. When they crucified him, he rose again from the dead and went back so he could send us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us, just as the prophets had foretold.
You can try to be the best man or woman, but you will fail miserably over and over again. You can give a tithe to the church of 10% or give everything that you own. You can be baptized for the dead and pray to dead saints, but all of that will never reach God. The only way he will grant us the gift of salvation, is not through works, but only simple faith.
There is only one God, and the only mediator is through Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit dwells within the believers, and the aggregate is the church. It does not have temples of concrete and stone, and there are no ceremonies of righteousness. God is a Spirit and those that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth…
Colossians 1: ... 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Don’t call people friend that you go out of your way to insult.
***No problem and no extra charge for using larger font sizes and font faces. ***
With my old eyes I need large fonts. And to think, just a couple of years ago I could read fine print.
Must get new glasses.
Oh, for cryin’ out loud, ansel12...lighten up and get over yourself!
You should be a preacher, WV!!
I hope that you take you own advice and also just lay off the personal stuff.
Everyone, when I agreed that I think of Mormons as “Christians” in the vaguest sense of the word, I meant that they claim to follow Christ and they accept that the Bible has authority. Yes, it’s a generous use of the term. I understand that they do not accept the Trinity and many other doctrines that most Christians take for granted.
Now, instead of focusing on my use of a term, we should focus on the truth of my post. My post proves that Mormonism seems contradictory and wishy-washy, and its magisterium (teaching authority) — which it claims to have — is therefore invalid.
I have always thought that if the state did something like prohibit Baptists from baptizing or mandated that Catholics accept divorce and remarriage they would tell the state to go take a hike.
A similar situation exists with the LDS apologizing for baptizing the dead when groups complain about it. If they believe that it is helping the deceased somehow, why would they apologize or agree to quit doing it (it never seems to stop in any case) when the living complain about the practice?
In any case, nowadays it might be more likely that the state accepts polygamy and then outlaws actual marriage.
Freegards
I have always thought that if the state did something like prohibit Baptists from baptizing or mandated that Catholics accept divorce and remarriage they would tell the state to go take a hike.
A similar situation exists with the LDS apologizing for baptizing the dead when groups complain about it. If they believe that it is helping the deceased somehow, why would they apologize or agree to quit doing it (it never seems to stop in any case) when the living complain about the practice?
In any case, nowadays it might be more likely that the state accepts polygamy and then outlaws actual marriage.
Freegards
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