[chesley]

Are any of these statements wrong? If so, educate me. Not one is an othodox Christian view.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/februaryweb-only/32.0.html

The Mormon-Evangelical Divide
Beliefs that set Mormons apart, and evangelicals’ response.
By James A. Beverley | posted 2/01/2000 12:00AM

Distinctive LDS Beliefs

1. God the Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820, calling him to restore the Church of Christ.

2. The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price constitute sacred scripture, along with the Bible.

3. The Father (Elohim) is a distinct God from Jesus (the Jehovah of the Old Testament) and the Holy Ghost.

4. God the Father has a body and has a wife (the Heavenly Mother).

5. Jesus is the literal son of the Father (Elohim) and Mary. Some Mormon leaders contend that there was a sexual union between God and Mary.

6. All humans pre-existed as spirits in heaven. Mormon prophets have taught that those who were unfaithful in the spirit world were cursed to be born on earth with black skin.

7. Sacred temple ceremonies were revealed to Joseph Smith, including baptism for the dead and eternal marriage. Mormons can progress to godhood in the next world through following temple endowment rituals.

Evangelical Christian Response

1. Smith’s false prophecies, occult involvement, anti-biblical theology, and polygamy ruin his credibility as apostle-prophet.

2. The Bible alone is the written Word of God. Mormon scriptures contradict clear biblical teaching and cannot be new revelation from God.

3. The triune affirmation of the unity of God in three persons remains Christian orthodoxy.

4. Jesus said in John 4 that the Father is a Spirit. The Mormon notion that God has one or more wives is absolute speculation and reflects an anthropomorphic understanding of God.

5. Matthew and Luke teach that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and Christian tradition has never interpreted this as a sexual act.

6. The Bible nowhere implies that humans pre-exist. Mormon speculations about the curse on black people are rooted in nineteenth-century racist theories believed by early Mormon leaders.

7. Mormon temple ceremonies are not biblical in nature and easily lead to works righteousness.

James A. Beverley, professor of theology and ethics at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto.

[DelphiUser]

Are any of these statements wrong? If so, educate me. Not one is an othodox Christian view.

Do you mind if *I* take a stab at responding to your post?

The Mormon-Evangelical Divide
Beliefs that set Mormons apart, and evangelicals’ response.
By James A. Beverley | posted 2/01/2000 12:00AM

Distinctive LDS Beliefs

1. God the Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820, calling him to restore the Church of Christ.
2. The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price constitute sacred scripture, along with the Bible.
3. The Father (Elohim) is a distinct God from Jesus (the Jehovah of the Old Testament) and the Holy Ghost.
   The Godhead is Biblical, and the Trinity is not, see this, and this.
4. God the Father has a body and has a wife (the Heavenly Mother).
   God having a wife is a logical construct. there is no scripture or published doctrine of the church that teaches this, however, it is a common belief.
5. Jesus is the literal son of the Father (Elohim) and Mary. Some Mormon leaders contend that there was a sexual union between God and Mary.
   This has never been taught by Mormon leaders. Mormon doctrine specifically states that Jesus was born of a Virgin, which precludes sex or other similar relations with God or anyone else.
6. All humans pre-existed as spirits in heaven. Mormon prophets have taught that those who were unfaithful in the spirit world were cursed to be born on earth with black skin.
   Mormon prophets have never taught that, it was however a theory from a book called "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R McConkie. Later, Bruce R McConkie became a general authority of the Church, but by then that statement had been stricken from his book as inaccurate.
7. Sacred temple ceremonies were revealed to Joseph Smith, including baptism for the dead and eternal marriage. Mormons can progress to godhood in the next world through following temple endowment rituals. Mormons believe that All men can progress to God hood through the atonement of Jesus Christ, People will be exalted who have never set foot in a temple in mortality.

Evangelical Christian Response

1. Smith’s false prophecies, occult involvement, anti-biblical theology, and polygamy ruin his credibility as apostle-prophet.
   And Jesus' "false prophecies, false miracles, occult involvement, anti-Moses theology, blasphemy, and disrespect for the Law of Moses ruined his credibility as a prophet and savior to many of the phrases in his day.
   It is easy to throw out unfounded accusations, but they just don't pan out once investigated, or prayed about.
2. The Bible alone is the written Word of God. Mormon scriptures contradict clear biblical teaching and cannot be new revelation from God.
   Is the Bible complete?
   What about Books like The Book of Enoch Which was Quoted in all the Gospels and frequently by the savior himself. The Book of Enoch is also found as part of the Torah in the Dead Sea Scrolls, shouldn't it be part of the Bible? Do you know how something becomes Cannon?
   
3. The triune affirmation of the unity of God in three persons remains Christian orthodoxy.
   Orthodox means Generally approved, traditional, established.
   Mormons do not claim to be orthodox.
4. Jesus said in John 4 that the Father is a Spirit. The Mormon notion that God has one or more wives is absolute speculation and reflects an anthropomorphic understanding of God.
   I have a Body and a spirit. I can be referred to as either, or both, also sometimes as a soul. One does not preclude the other. No where does it say, only a spirit.
   The Bible is replete with examples of God having a Body, Jesus for example was the Express Image of God's "Person"
   Steven when he was about to be marytered saw "the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
   "The Son of Man" is a direct quote from the Book of Enoch about a messianic prophecy identifying the savior, standing on the right hand of God.
5. Matthew and Luke teach that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and Christian tradition has never interpreted this as a sexual act.
   Neither do we.
6. The Bible nowhere implies that humans pre-exist. Mormon speculations about the curse on black people are rooted in nineteenth-century racist theories believed by early Mormon leaders.
   Just a couple of examples, shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? and Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
   God is the father of our spirits, God knew us and all we could become before we were even born, Sanctifying some of us, and ordaining some of us, and knowing us. We existed even then as his creations which we will always be.
7. Mormon temple ceremonies are not biblical in nature and easily lead to works righteousness.
   "works righteousness", somebody needs to read James 2:14-26 Mormons see faith and works thusly: Faith leads naturally to works, works (performed righteously) increase faith, which increases Works, etc.
   It is a positive reinforcement cycle that increases faith in Jesus Christ, Faith in Jesus, brings us closer to him and allows him to save us with his grace (for no matter what we do, we will never earn heaven, it is a gift form Jesus for those who believe on his name.)

James A. Beverley, professor of theology and ethics at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto.
Now I ask you a question, why doe it matter what James A Beverly thinks of me and my religion, the only judgment that matters is God's, when I stand before the Judgment bar of Christ, he will call some to go to the right and some to the left. No religion guarantees a trip right or left for that is determined by the heart, and that quite frankly no man can judge.

As for if Mormonism can help with that "Heart" thing, there is a quick and easy way to know that exceeds our poor ability to discussant here, and that is to Put our religion to "The Test" By Getting a Book of Mormon (for free) and Getting a Bible for Free Praying about both, and Try the Spirits to see if they are of God. God has Told us toAsk this is not a suggestion, but a command, straight from the Bible to find out direct from him if things are part of his gospel, besides, would you rather trust someone with a degree, or God?