Posted on 12/19/2009 7:10:18 PM PST by delacoert
The Rise of Mormonism
If anyone doubts that the Mormonism is a growing concern, just consider these facts. The Mormon church has grown from 2 million members in 1963 to 9.7 million members today with "stakes" (as they call their congregations) in 160 different countries. In the United States alone there are approximately 5 million people who claim to be Mormons!
As we express our deep concerns about the anti-Christian nature of Mormonism, it is important that we recognize that many Mormons are fine people, with high moral values and deep devotion to their family. The sincerity of the Mormon people is beyond question. But, they are sincerely wrong--very wrong--about the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Mormonism is an anti-Christian cult that uses many of the same terms as Christianity, but gives them entirely different meanings. Mormonism bases its religion on the Book of Mormon and the "inspired" revelations of its leaders, rather than on the Holy Bible, which alone is the Word of God.
The Beginnings of Mormonism
Joseph Smith Jr. founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. He claimed that he had received special revelations from God. He said that John the Baptist and angels visited him and led him to discover, in 1827, plates of gold upon which was engraved, in what he called "a reformed Egyptian language," the Book of Mormon. Smith gathered all his various documents together in 1833 into what Mormons today refer to as the Doctrine and Covenants (abbreviated D.C.). This is the source of their religion.
Unlike the Holy Scripture, there is not a single shred of verifiable, archeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon's fantastical claims of ancient civilizations and epic battles here in the Western Hemisphere. Even the claim of a "reformed Egyptian" language has been proven time and again to be a myth.
After Smith's death in 1844, the largest group of his followers accepted the leadership of Brigham Young and migrated to Salt Lake City, Utah, the present-day headquarters of the LDS.
Mormonism's Key Beliefs
"Restorationism" is the most important principle for the Mormon Church. It is their belief that the true church died with the first generation of apostles and was restored with Joseph Smith. The Mormons are experts at using terms familiar to Christians, but giving them different meanings. Let's take a moment now to examine a few key teachings of Mormonism.
The Holy Trinity
An official statement from the Mormon Church claims: "A paramount doctrine . . . is a belief in God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. The three make up the Godhead. They are one in purpose but separate in being." (LDS Internet site). This sounds very similar to Christianity, but a study of what Mormons mean when they use words like "godhead" is very revealing.
Mormonism rejects the Holy Trinity. The key to the Mormon doctrine of the Trinity is found in the words, "one in purpose but separate in being." Joseph Smith wrote, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit" (D.C., 130:22).
Mormonism explicitly denies the God revealed in the Holy Scripture and the God confessed by all true Christians through the ages. Matthew 28:19 reveals that the Triune God consists of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Triune God is three persons, equal in their divinity, yet one God. They are not separate, but of the same divine essence.
Brigham Young, Smith's successor, wrote, "When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. . . . He [Adam] is our Father and our god and the only God with whom we have to do" (Journal of Discourses, 1:50). Mormons explain that Young was describing Adam's elevation to a special, unique position of head of the human race, presumably its "only god" in distinction from the deified heads of other races in the universe.
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
Brigham Young wrote this about Jesus: "He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who was His Father--He was the first of the human family, Adam. . . . Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in heaven" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. I, pp. 50, 51). Mormons teach that God the Father had sex with the Mother Goddess and gave Jesus, the Son, a spirit body.
Obviously, since Mormons do not believe in the Son of God as He is revealed to us in the Bible, they also reject what He has done for us, namely, paid for all sins with His death on the cross. It is therefore no coincidence that you rarely, if ever, see a Mormon painting of the death of Christ. The crucifix is particularly offensive to Mormons. Why? Because they believe that the blood of Jesus Christ did not atone for all of our sins.
Brigham Young wrote in his Journal of Discourses, p. 247, "There is not a man or woman who violates covenants made with their God that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out. Your own blood must atone for it. Every man and woman will have to atone for breaking covenants." This is, of course, completely contrary to what Holy Scripture reveals, "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
Salvation
Holy Scripture teaches clearly that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from works (Rom. 3:28; Eph. 2:8-11). In contrast to Christianity, Mormonism teaches that salvation is not a free gift of God, but something to be earned. A person may earn this salvation by believing in God, by receiving baptism by immersion, and then by fulfilling required works. Mormonism expressly rejects the doctrine of justification by faith alone. One of their "apostles," James Talmage wrote, "The sectarian dogma of justification by faith alone has exercised an influence for evil since the early days of Christianity" (Articles of Faith, 1909, p. 120).
How does a Mormon believe a person is saved? A Mormon theologian puts it this way: "Without the Book of Mormon and other latter-day revelation, Christians are left without a full understanding of . . . Jesus Christ. This same Jesus Christ, God of the Old Testament and Redeemer of all, has once again benefited humankind by restoring the same teachings, principles, ordinances, and organization that he first brought to the world two thousand years ago" (Rex Lee, What Mormons Believe, p. 24-25).
Mormonism teaches its followers that they must do certain things to gain heaven. Since they reject the true Son of God, Jesus Christ, they can never have the assurance that they are saved by the love of God, revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Mormon church officially states: "The Purpose of Life" is the following: "All have the potential of eternal life, conditional upon individual worthiness and obedience to the Savior's ordinances and teachings." How tragic!
How Can We Reach Out to Mormons?
We need to approach this challenge with the attitude that it is God alone who converts a person to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. We are merely God's instruments and our calling is to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:14). We know from God's Word that we are to be prepared to "give an answer" to everyone who asks about the hope we have in Christ (1 Pet. 3:15).
Based on the observations of those who have spent many years living and working among Mormons, here are some practical suggestions for witnessing to Mormons. It is important not to get into arguments with Mormons. As we defend our faith, we must always do so lovingly and with compassion, never merely for the sake of scoring debating points.
When we witness to Mormons, we need to be careful that we base our understandings of Mormonism on reliable sources. An excellent resource is available from Concordia Publishing House. I highly recommend the helpful booklet, How to Respond to . . . The Latter-day Saints, by Pastor Edgar P. Kaiser. You may obtain a copy from CPH by calling 800-325-3040.
The best thing we can do is to share with Mormons God's love and grace in Jesus Christ. We need to emphasize the powerful comfort we have knowing that God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to provide, totally and completely, for our salvation. We do not have to look to our own efforts for our salvation. The Mormon Gospel is only a new law. The true Gospel is the good news of God's work in Jesus Christ, which atones for all sin. The bottom line in witnessing to Mormons is to be aware of the fact that our job is to witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who converts a Mormon through God's Word. Finally, pray that the Lord would bless your words as you present the hope that is within you.
Pray too for the Mormon with whom you are speaking, asking that the Lord would break through the fog of error that clouds his mind so that he may come to know who God really is and what His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, is really all about.
Well there little one post wonder bot boy. Are ya gonna stick around and try to defend the tripe you posted or run away?
And perhaps you are a mittbot in a 3-piece suit with a slick hairdoo.
I know!
I know!
I know!
Ask me!
Ask me!
Well let just say you are one of our best players...
Indeed you may well be the smoothest “anti-mormonism” guy around.
Perhaps we should make you an honorary “Flying Inman”...
For the record, and for the lurkers, bot has only posted 4 times and all for times has been the same post.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:bot/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change
And your point is?
He will run away as he always does. Willing to put money on the fact this is a second account.
You are kidding, right?
Pray too for the Mormon with whom you are speaking, asking that the Lord would break through the fog of error that clouds his mind ...
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Most important is that we pray to God for help in removing the beams in our own eyes so that we can see more clearly.
My point is, he fails to engage in dialogue, he ‘drive bys’ the same post, and he most likely has another FR account.
All signs of someone who cannot carry the debate.
http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=227134
http://www.religion-cults.com/Christianity/denominations.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_deno.htm
http://churchrelevance.com/qa-list-of-all-christian-denominations-and-their-beliefs/
http://www.worldchristiandatabase.org/wcd/bot/list.asp?list=denomination
These websites (and dozens more) are kidding, right?
Get over your HATRED of another denomination of Christianity; you’ll be a better person for it.
Ahhhhh, so this is all about Mitt Romney? I get it now.
Romney is a pseudo-con; I wasn’t aware that the Mormon religion was responsible for that.
Sounds like you had a close call. I also oppose nitpicky fights in the Body of Christ. I am non-denominational and infighting over minutiae bothers me greatly.
If we agree on the basics, (Trinity and Person, Nature and Work of Jesus Christ - including Salvation by grace) then I pretty much accept them as Brothers and Sisters in the Lord (that includes Calvinists and Wesleyans).
Where I draw the line are groups like the LDS and JWs and a few others based upon their teachings of the above “essentials”.
I didn’t even really have a problem with “meat” doctrines of the LDS. I accepted many things then that I now cringe at (Adam/God, theosis, Jesus and Satan being “spirit brothers”, atonement in the Garden rather than on the Cross).
For me the issue came when I was preparing to serve an LDS mission and was told I was only to tell “investigators” certain doctrines and to flat out deny others if they came up. I couldn’t reconcile believing the LDS had the WHOLE truth and being told to mislead people intentionally.
While I regret the years I spent in the LDS church in some ways, in other ways, I can see God used those experiences to break me, to show me that I NEEDED Him alone, and that I could NEVER do anything to contribute to my own Salvation, only Christ could.
Those experiences have also served to warn others and to witness to the LDS.
Please continue to pray for the LDS. Only God can open their eyes.
I heard the “milk and meat” mentioned and didn’t understand the context at the time. Once I left the LDS church and learned what it meant, that was an “I’m glad I got out of there” moment.
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I imagine it was. :)
Heck, maybe all of Christianity should just surrender and let ourselves be killed by people who do wish to kill us in the name of their faith.
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If someone wishes to kill me because of my faith and testimony of Jesus Christ, then go ahead. I will gladly die for my Lord if necessary.
Then you best set the people at Wikipedia.org straight: (Let em know that the Lutheran belief is the ONLY way to heaven!).
List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships. (See also: Christianity; Christian denominations; List of Christian denominations by number of members).
Know any folks who SELF-IDENTIFY as REPUBLICANS?
We know them as RINOs...
And some of us can multitask...
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And some better than others.
He(?) must think that his ‘facts’ have never been checked!
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