Posted on 10/15/2010 5:39:02 PM PDT by delacoert
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Most of us have had a Mormon Missionary knock at our door. If you have ever invited them in and listened to a presentation of their beliefs, you probably found most but not all of what they said very similar to those beliefs held by Christians. However, while trying to convince you that your Church is wrong and the Mormon Church is right, there are several points they intentionally leave out. Below is a list of Mormon beliefs the missionaries will be reluctant to tell you about: |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that the God they worship was not always God. |
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"We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 345) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that they believe Jesus Christ is the spirit brother of Satan: |
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"The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind." (Milton R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, pg.15) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that, according to Mormonism, Jesus Christ was a polygamist. |
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"I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said, in my lecture on Marriage, at our last Conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children." (Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 2:210) |
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The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based upon polygamy, according to the testimony of the philosophers who rose in that age. A belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus and his followers. We might almost think they were 'Mormons'" (Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses, 1:346) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that for at least half a century church leaders were teaching that Adam was really God and the only God with whom we have to do. |
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"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! 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 helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken--He is our Father, and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:50) |
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"I have learned by experience that there is but one God that pertains to this people and he is the god that pertains to this earth--The first man. That first man sent his own son to redeem the world..."(Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 4:1) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that Brigham Young, who held the office of President of the Mormon church longer than any other man, taught that men must practice polygamy in order to become Gods. |
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"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." (Journal of Discourses 11:269) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that the book of Mormon fails to contain any Mormon doctrine |
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Many portions of this Mormon Scripture even contradicts Mormon theology. |
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They will be reluctant to tell you about their secret temple ceremonies which, until April 1990, portrayed Christian ministers as hirelings of Satan. Nor will they tell you about the sacred underwear they are wearing which, they believe, actually protects them. |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus was conceived by way of a sexual relationship between God and Mary. |
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"..how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. The difference between Jesus Christ and other men is this: Our fathers in the flesh are mortal men, who are subject unto death: but the Father of Jesus Christ in the flesh is the god of Heaven" (Joseph F. Smith, Family Home Evening Manual, 1972, pg. 125) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that they believe the bible has been corrupted throughout the centuries and cannot be trusted fully by itself. |
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"I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph smith, pg.327) |
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"But the Bible has been robbed of its plainness; many sacred books having been lost, others rejected by the Romish Church, and what few we have left, were copied and recopied so many times, that it is admitted that almost every verse has been corrupted and mutilated to that degree that any two of them read alike." (Orson Pratt, The Seer, pg.213) |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, which they claim to be both sacred and without error, contradict each other many times. |
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For example, in the Book of Mormon, God called David and Solomon's act of polygamy an abomination, whereas in the Doctrine and Covenants He claims to justify it. Jacob 2:24 in the Book of Mormon says, "Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord." Section 132:1 in the Doctrine and Covenants, however, states: "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines." |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that they use Christian terms with Mormon meanings. |
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For example, a Mormon would probably agree with you that a person must be born again. To the Mormon, however, "born again" is a process which begins with water baptism. Another example are the words "salvation" and exaltation," which are synonymous in the Christian's mind. However, general salvation to the Mormon merely means the resurrection which everyone in the world will receive at death. Exaltation, or individual salvation, is the reward earned by the Mormon by following the laws of the Moron church. "Eternal Life" to the Mormon means Godhood. Regarding the word "scriptures," the Christian thinks of the Holy Bible while the Mormon could be thinking of not only the Bible but the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price as well. |
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They won't want to tell you that in order to gain entrance into the highest form of Mormon heaven, the Celestial kingdom, you must accept Joseph Smith, Jr. as a prophet of god. Faith in Jesus alone, Mormonism teaches, will force you to spend eternity in a lower form of heaven. |
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Tenth LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith stated in his book, doctrines of Salvation, that there is "No salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. The word "salvation," used in this context, must really mean "exaltation" because former Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie stated in his book Mormon Doctrine that general salvation is given to everyone regardless of belief. Personal salvation or exaltation to the highest form of Mormon heaven comes only by accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of god and by following the laws of the LDS church. |
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They will be reluctant to tell you that their founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., made many false prophecies which, according to the Bible, would classify him as a false prophet rather than a true prophet of God. |
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For instance, in 1835 Smith claimed that the Lord would again come in just 56 years. We would gather from this "prophecy" that Jesus Christ would again come to earth on or before 1891; no doubt Joseph Smith was incorrect (History of the church 2:182). In 1832 Joseph Smith claimed he had a revelation concerning the building of a temple in Independence, Missouri. According to section 84, verses 4 and 5, of the Doctrine and Covenants, he stated this "temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily this generation shall not pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it..." to this day the spot consecrated by Smith fails to be the sight of a great temple, but instead is covered with a well-kept lawn. In fact, the Mormon church does not even own the land. |
They wouldn't tell me.
Maybe they left them at home to recharge.
Oh, the irony! Trapped.
And tea. I had a Mormon engineer working for me that drank a half dozen or more Jolt colas or Mountain Dews each day.
Yeah, well, unlike you, I don’t sit on Mormon threads bashing other’s beliefs or judge them in every post.
Years ago a fellow worker on a job in Utah befriended me, but I found he was only friendly because he wanted to convert me. I’ve kept my distance from LDS guys on the job ever since.
Mormons and Muslims got their “religion” by the same means: A crazy man looking to re-write religion so they can have sex with children and multiple women. Why is it that sex is a common theme with nutty people?
“A Rabbit will also confirm that.”
I MEANT a Rabbi will also confirm this. Hope this lightens up my questioning of this "error". I agree with the other things you say about Mormonism. They are typically nice, decent people. I don't understand how they can be conned like this. Like Mitt or not, he is a bright guy and it boggles my mind that he would buy into this.
As for Glen Beck being a Mormon, I can more easily understand that. He had a drinking problem and a former Catholic. Mormons do NOT drink. This could have been part of the attraction to Mormonism. Catholicism is rather empty ... Mary and other dead sinners that they pray TO, keep a barrier in place to Jesus Christ.
Yes, Catholic do pray to Christ now and then but they want to believe Mary is their intercessor to Christ. That is totally unBiblical and her elevated status is "inferred" by Catholics. It's really a shame how passages are taken out of context to support this "sinnless" Mary. The Bible is clear, ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The robotic Catholic prayers don't help foster a personal relationship with Christ either.
Still Catholics are usually decent people just as Mormons I have met are decent people. All you can do is try to get through to them. The truth is in Scripture. I just didn't want you to confuse me, as a Catholic. I know better ... .
Who knows what the point of this is?
Mormon bashing is part of the general bashing of groups on FR that is becoming more and more common and more and more disgusting.
I smell troll, I smell people sowing ill feelings. Or nutcases. Not sure which. But tolerance is in short supply lately. ANd I don’t know that the kind of info spouted of here by some people converts anyone or does anything other than spread a kind of insular paranoid reality.
I suggest we let the Mormons be.
WOW!
That is quite a chart.
Mind if I save that?
That’s pretty wild and yet it is very clear and to the point.
Oh ... you're right. <Rolleyes> Words of criticism are such an irrecoverable injury, and Mormons are so impotent to mount a defense without an ill‑advised and misguided knight‑in‑shining‑armor to substitute fight.
WOW!
That is quite a chart.
Mind if I save that?
That’s pretty wild and yet it is very clear and to the point.
WOW!
That is quite a chart.
Mind if I save that?
That’s pretty wild and yet it is very clear and to the point.
Lucifer is a Latin name. It is possibly the error placed in Jerome's translation of Isaiah 14. But the chapter refers to a man, a king who probably dressed in such a way as to reflect the sunlight, a man who was tormenting the people around Israel and in the tribes. Ask yourself, why would Jesus compare Himself to this figure you believe is satan in Isaiah?
And loving thy neighbor also means respecting thy neighbor and thus not trying to convert him.
Mormons have a perfect right to believe what they believe in a free country, to state it however they wish and to be as different from you as they wish.
Who is next in your big plan? The Jews? THe Orthodox Catholics? The Baptists? THe Amish?
Freepers are sometimes Mormons and seem perfectly fine to me.
“Mormon missionaries would DEFINITELY be wearing Garments (Holy Underwear).”
I couldn’t beleieve this but it is really true!
When Mitt ran, I learned more about Mormonism and some of their odd ways.
Concern yourself with your own soul.
Back in college I rented a basement room in a house. The owner was a Mormon gal (40’s?) that lived upstairs. We would have interesting conversations about faith, God, etc. (me being a Christian). She was a real nice gal, and looking back I can see why she may not have felt like she fit in - being single at 40+. (And not bad looking either.) We were always very respectful to each other’s point of view.
I thought it was funny when the Jehovah’s Witnesses came to the door. I invited them in thinking I could convert them. We had several “Bible Studies” in the basement rec room - but I finally called it off when I realized I wasn’t getting anywhere!
And then there was the time when the other downstairs roomer (an odd, older gal) told me “I visited you in a dream last night with my astral guide, and...” In all seriousness (half-way believing it) I loudly told her “STAY OUT of my dreams!!”
Boy - those were the days!
We don’t behead people if they refuse to join our church.
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True, you don’t today. Brigham young, OTOH, sent Bill Hickman & Porter Rockwell to expedite apostates’ journeys to their destination in Outer Darkness. Those 1850’s were howling good times.
The ill will traces to Mitt Romney's failed Presidential run in 2008. Some saw potential resistance due to religion and sought to make Mormonism into just another Christian denomination. Founders and leaders of the Mormon Church up to very recent years refuted this themselves. Former Mormons, now Christian, chimed in. Mormon FReepers took offense. It's still ongoing.
I've known Mormons, even befriended a few. Fine people in the community, very conservative, responsible and as self-sufficient as possible. The benefits of clean living are there for all to see, and we'd do well to emulate them in this regard, as well as in the area of emergency preparation. But, they're not Christian.
I'd say the best way to explain it is that Mormons are about as Christian, as Christians are Jewish. The one is based upon the other, older belief, but beyond that, the similarity ends.
Like so much acrimony in conservative circles, Mitt's right in the middle of it. Redefining his own religion to enhance his electability did absolutely nothing but harm as far as his chances with southern evangelicals. We respect sincerely held religious convictions. He'd have been far better off just telling the truth. Isn't that always the case?
But, in a nutshell, this is what caused the ongoing acrimony on FR and elsewhere.
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