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.
Christians, real ones, should know better.
Fortunately some of us do.
And “hatred” has nothing to do with it, unless it is in reference to the Evil One himself.
If he won't bite on HATRED; try rubbing it in a little bit of BIGOTRY.
I’ll meet you under the altar!
(The number is not complete yet...)
www.history.com - Right a real authority on Christianity, a cable TV channel, even include JWs, no theological support there
www.religion-cults.com = list mormons as “Christians without Christ” - that is so oxymoronic of a defense it is pitiful. surely your google skills are weak - but then you tried to cite wiki as authoritative.
www.religioustolerance.org - “We are a multi-faith group. As of 2009-NOV, we consist of one Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Wiccan and Zen Buddhist. Thus, the OCRT staff lack agreement on almost all theological matters, such as belief in a supreme being, the nature of God, interpretation of the Bible and other holy texts, whether life after death exists, what form the afterlife may take, etc” Wow, really authortative bunch - couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag with a gps and a sherpa guide.
churchrelevance.com - wow a blogger trying to drum up business. Cites wiki a not so great start for him, the hartford institute for religious research - just an alphetabetical listing of EVERYTHING, including wicca and other pagans. Gordon Chromwell link is dead. Wow sleepless, your additional ‘proof’ are really deep so far.
www.worldchristiandatabase.org - well at least this link isn’t dead. Unfortunately one cannot more accurately query the database to specifically see how they are listed.
Yawn, get over your ignorance of mormonism
just one of the many things you seem to be unaware of
If things continue on the path we’re taking, Christians will be secretly meeting in someone’s basement with a lookout standing at the window giving the pastor the “high- sign” when it’s ok to preach the gospel.
By the way, the lookout isn’t watching for the Mormons.
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First of all, how do you know this is how it will be?
Second, Many of those who leave the LDS church become Atheists (almost 50%), something that saddens me greatly. In the internet age, more and more LDS are finding out what their church history and teachings really are. They will either become atheists, move into New Age/Wicca, or become Christians. My goal is to mentor as many as possible into a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
Third, I am no so sure that your so-called “lookout” won’t be watching for the Mormons. More and more Christians, thanks again to the internet, are becoming educated about the LDS church and are no longer recognizing them as “just another Christian denomination”. Most of the pastors I know (and that is a pretty good number) would be leery of “wolves in sheeps clothing”.
Finally, I cannot imagine my pastor (nor many others) waiting for an “ok” to preach the Gospel, he is more the type (as am I) to tell the Good News of salvation by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ out in the open, regardless of the cost.
Thank you, ‘zilla.
LOL
I love it!!!
If Mormons deemed Christians just a different brand of Mormonism, they wouldn't bother to have the bulk of their 60,000 missionaries knock on Christian doors half or more of the time. (They would target more non-Christian communities & households).
I always find it hilarious when a poster gets riled up over a few thousand electronic posts over a chunk period of time, but then ignore the literal million+ Lds missionaries who have proselytized Christian households for 170 years.
BTW...Lds claim their church is the "only true church" (no comment about that from you, eh?). Secondly, they believe that when the Book of Mormon describes "the church of the Lamb" that it's talking about their church. And, oh, BTW, that same passage (1 Nephi 14:9-10) says there's only two churches -- the church of the Lamb (which they say is Lds) -- and "the church of Satan" (which they say is the rest of non-Lds churches).
(No comment from you about Lds intolerance, eh?)
You don't think that when the Lds church lumps all Christian sects as being...
...the church of Satan...
...apostates
...100% creedally abominable
...100% corrupt
...among Christian sects not worth joining per Joseph Smith's vision...
...that Christians should just ignore these claims?
But you've got Google. Type in 1 Nephi 14:9-10. Then type in Joseph Smith - History -- and look at verses 18-20. All of the above is mentioned there. They publish those claims in over 100 languages & spread it around the world. Whatever is done on FR can't compare to the monster Lds missionary force going door-to-door always talking about the "universal apostasy" and restoration...backed by the monster publishing/curricula arm of the Lds church.
I’ve forgotten Godzilla, which Lutheran church do you belong to? Is it the one that ordains people that have deviant sex with members of the same sex, and march in “pride parades” with members of the North American Man Boy Love Association? Is it the one that identifies with a movement that wants BADLY to infiltrate a Christian youth mentor program so that they can go “camping” with 11 year old boys that wear uniforms?
When I see the word “Lutheran”, that automatically comes to mind. Hmmmm...I don’t get that vision when I see the world “Mormon”.
By the way; isn’t it rather unchristianly to use His name in your screen name? (Is that considered blasphemy?).
As much as Lutherans now repulse me, I realize the true enemy is the religion of atheism. Get over your ego and join me in the fight.
Get your nose out of the bible for two seconds and get informed on world events. There’s this new thing out there (new since 1917) it’s called “communism”; not a big friend of Christianity.
Word has it that radical Islam doesn’t much care for Christianity either.
http://prayerfoundation.org/worldwide_persecution_of_christians.htm
One can live in the Communist Chinese hellhole of a country and Christianity will STILL save your soul.
MORMONism, OTOH, will NOT!
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Amen, Elsie.
Don’t preach to me about the evils of Communism. My father and stepfather both escaped communist countries. My mother and stepfather fought behind the iron curtian against the communists. I even lived in a communist country for a year as a child. I saw the evils FIRST HAND.
Have you? Have you ever been FORCED to live under Communism? Have you ever had to hide “pro western literature”? Have you ever been told to take off your cross necklace? I have, so you have NO RIGHT to lecture me.
And during times like this, the Bible is exactly where our noses ought to be.
I HATE what is happening to this country, but we as a nation deserve this for turning our backs on God, supporting the wholesale murder of children, and making the almighty dollar our “god”.
Do you really not understand the what went on with J.S. and B.Y. with their "women"?
Have you learned nothing about Lutherans just from this thread? You have just lumped us all together again in your post to Godzilla!
Does it offend you it I write that every time I see “Mormon” I think of polygamist families with church elders that encourage marriage of old men to young teens?
Oh, that’s not the kind of Mormon you are? I shouldn’t lump you in with those other Mormons?
I am proudly Christian. I am Lutheran. I am not a member of an ELCA church and believe many of their teachings are not Biblical. Please open you mind and understand that all Lutheran church bodies are not equal!
Fellow Christians are NOT our enemy!
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The point of the thread article is to point out what should be fairly obvious to anyone with a halfway decent grasp on Christian theology...
Mormons ARE NOT REALLY CHRISTIANS!
Your HATRED of the Mormons is blinding you greyfoxx39
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Mind reading? That is against forum rules.
And none of us, grey especially hate mormons, we do however have a strong dislike for mormonISM.
And Many of us still have loved ones in the LDS church.
“FARMS said it, I believe it, that settles it”. LOL
(Ah, don't worry such Boy Scout campers have been "equal-opportunity victims" -- they have been filing recent lawsuits vs. the Mormons, too...Nov. 17, 2009 article...and since these cases involve those more in your neighborhood -- Washington state & Oregon -- why aren't you keeping up with this? Selective reading, perhaps? Here -- here's the link so you can catch up on your reading + balance your accusations... Men file abuse suits against Mormons, Boy Scouts )
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