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.
Just arrived in Folsom
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(singing)
I’m stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keep draaaaggin oooonnn.
:)
Enjoy your Danish dinner. Sounds wonderful. Of course, I like Lutefisk. :)
We are having traditional American fare, Ham, mash potatoes, mixed veggies, and Pineapple upsidedown cake.
My Intel Corp kid is taking good care of us.
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Glad to hear it. He should. You are precious commodities.
;)
Nice.
Tell that to your children and their children’s children as they go through their lives in chains.
I originally thought that this thread was about a difference in theology between two Christian denominations. I’ve realized since that many of you posting on here aren’t even Christians, but God hating atheists that HATE the Mormon’s for not allowing the sodomites to destroy the institution of marriage in California.
May God have mercy on your souls.
“Some of us can multitask, I am one of them. I can fight socialism, communism, the evils of the world, AND still spend time witnessing of the love of Jesus and the errors of groups that spread heresy.”
Just make sure you have your priorities straight.
Ahem, you might want to be aware of that the word “bigot” is primarily used by a group that marches with drag queens, child molesters and such.
If you identifiy with that group “little Christian girl”, then I’m flattered that you see me as a bigot!
On the other hand, if you want to read some of my pings, you’ll see otherwise (I’m currently taking on dope-smoking atheist libertarians).
I think I recognize that foot. Bigfoot?
Really, many articles posted come straight from lds sources SD, and you cannot handle even those sources.
Ignorance is not bliss.
That is why we keep posting lds sources to the error of lds ways. Step out of the darkness SD and encounter the REAL Jesus.
Folsom! Your about a snowball’s throw from me (well, if we had snow that is) here in ‘sacatomatoes’. Hope you enjoy your time with the grandkinder!
Barely made it over Donner Summit last night before they started making folks put on the chains.
We had made that trek hundreds of times from 1967-2000 when we lived in the Bay Area.
Merry Christmas!
Yeh, had a little system pass through overnight. You can never count on Donner in the winter anyway but glad ya made it over. Forcast here is looking good for the week, but you may have to plan for another slow one over Donner when you leave.
I’ve been making the trek thata way in the summers back to the country of the Big Sky for way too many years now.
“Barely made it over Donner Summit last night before they started making folks put on the chains.
You’re DARN lucky they didn’t put YOU in chains and EAT
you! That Donner Party is canib’ls, ya know!
Ahem, you might want to be aware of that the word “bigot” is primarily used by a group that marches with drag queens, child molesters and such.
If you identifiy with that group “little Christian girl”, then I’m flattered that you see me as a bigot!
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I am aware, it is also used by other groups as well.
And no I do not identify with them, I grew up around them in Callifornia though and know far too much about those types.
But you can insult me all you wish, I do not bow to you.
Just make sure you have your priorities straight.
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My priorities are just fine, TYVM, although I think yours may be a bit out of order.
If you identifiy with that group “little Christian girl”, then I’m flattered that you see me as a bigot!
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Your words speak volumes, as does the fact you attack me and yet failed to ping others related to that same post.
. I’ve realized since that many of you posting on here aren’t even Christians, but God hating atheists that HATE the Mormon’s for not allowing the sodomites to destroy the institution of marriage in California.
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ROFLMAO!!!
The usual, we don’t agree with you so we must be “sodomite loving” Atheists. Wow. Especially since YOU are the ones attacking and insulting the Christians on this thread
You obviously have no idea of what authentic Christianity, or you wouldn’t be so self-righteously stupid.
We decided on the Little Binger party instead.
Menu:
Mørbrad Bøf med RødKål (Pork Tenderloin with Red Cabbage)
And all the rest of the great Danish Christmas goodies. The one really good thing I learned while doing my service in Denmark.One must also have a bottle of Aquavit in the freezer and several Carlsberg's on hand for a few proper toasts.
Oh my sleepless, you are projecting again.
Donner, party of five. . . .
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