Top 5 faith & culture stories: Should Christians vote for a Mormon?

Denison Forum on Truth and Culture ^ | Dec. 28, 2011 | Jim Denison

[Colofornian]

Time magazine says the #1 religion story of the year is the rise of Mormonism. Two Mormons are running for president; Glenn Beck's commitment to the Mormon church made headlines; .

As we continue our series on my top 5 faith and culture stories of 2011, let's ask today: Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints a cult? Can Christians vote for a Mormon candidate? What does the mainstreaming of Mormonism say about our culture? The answers to these questions will take more space than my typical essay--I hope the following information is helpful.

If by "cult" we mean the popular caricature of a manipulative group that practices mind control and exploits its members, the Mormon church clearly does not qualify. However, scholars use the word differently. According to Walter Martin's definitive The Rise of the Cults, a "cult" by definition claims a founder other than Jesus, follows a book other than the Bible, accepts beliefs that are outside orthodox Christianity, and seeks salvation in ways other than by grace through faith.

How do Mormon beliefs stack up against this definition?

There is no question that Mormons claim to be Christians. But what do they believe about God? Their movement was founded 1800 years after Christ by Joseph Smith (1805-44). He taught that "God was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heaven" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). His physical intercourse with Mary resulted in the conception of the physical Christ (Journal of Discourses 1:51; 4:218).

Do Mormons follow a book other than the Bible? In addition to Scripture, they consider the Book of Mormon to be "another testament of Jesus Christ" revealed by Jesus to descendants of Israel living in early America. They also follow Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, compendiums of theology and prescribed practices.

Do they accept beliefs outside orthodox Christianity? Smith taught plural marriage as a "new and everlasting covenant" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1,4), though the church repudiated polygamy in 1890. They baptize for the dead, believing that this action can speed the progress of the deceased in the afterlife.

Do they seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith? Mormons believe that baptism purges their Gentile blood and replaces it with the blood of Abraham through the Holy Spirit. In this way they become the actual offspring of Abraham (History of the Church 3:380). They believe in three levels of glory: the telestial kingdom (for those who have no testimony of Christ); the terrestrial kingdom (for those who fail the requirements of exaltation); and the celestial kingdom (reserved for members of the Mormon church who will become "gods"; Doctrine and Covenants 132:20).

Are Mormons Christians? That depends on the degree to which they accept the non-biblical teachings of their faith regarding God and salvation. I have known Mormons who assured me that they have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive their sins and become their personal Savior and Lord. Many Mormons I have met do not know the doctrines of their church I have discussed today. However, I have also met Mormons who believe that their progress toward the celestial kingdom depends not on Jesus' sacrifice but on their missionary work and other church activities.

Should the Mormon beliefs of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman influence Christians as they decide which presidential candidate to support? Our decision should be informed by our answers to two questions. First, to what extent do Romney and Huntsman accept the non-Christian elements of their faith? Second, to what degree would decisions made by the president be impacted by uniquely Mormon beliefs?

What does the mainstreaming of Mormonism say about America? "Pluralism" is the belief that many religions lead to God. According to a recent survey, two-thirds of evangelicals under the age of 35 believe non-Christians can go to heaven, even though Jesus clearly said, "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

I predict that we'll see an escalation of pluralism in the new year as our culture's rejection of absolutes becomes even more pervasive. But just as all roads don't lead to Dallas, all roads don't lead to heaven. Are you on the right one? Are you praying for someone who isn't?

[wintertime]

I believe in miracles. The Holy Ghost overshaddowed Mary a virgin, and a **virgin** conceived. A virgin gave birth to the literal son of God the Father. Jesus is the “Word made flesh”. Jesus was not half-human and half-thin air. He was 100% human.

I thought all Christians ( real ones) believed this? I guess not.

Do you believe in miracles?

[MHGinTN]

You believe WHAT about the blood of Christ? ... You agree with the Mormon teaching? or You believe it is The Blood of Christ that cleanseth us? Are you Mormon/LDS? That is not a Christian denomination, mormonISM. he quoted teaching from the LDS Journal of Discourses shows the ISM is in the spirit of antiChrist, not a Christian sect. So, what do YOU believe regarding the Blood of Christ?

[OpusatFR]

I’d vote for a conservative ring-tailed lemur at this point if it ran against Obama.

I’d even vote for a conservtive Mormon.

Romney is the White Obama.

I won’t be voting for him.

[wintertime]

Seriously, your inability to see the obvious is comical. Why are you so in love with Mormons?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well....What I read was so shocking I immediately went to the link to see if it were true. One of the recommended links had nothing at all to do with Mary. The other seemed to me to suggest that God the Father was, indeed, the literal father of Jesus. ( Something my **Christian** church teaches.) I read NOTHING about God the Father having intercourse with Mary in the cited reference.

So...Next, by doing less than 30 seconds of Google research I found that the Mormon scriptures coincide what my church teaches.

Mary was a virgin when se conceived. Virgins don't conceive so intercourse didn't happen. And she conceived by the having that Holy Ghost over shadow her and by the power of the Holy Ghost.

The article was very misleading, so why should I bother to read the rest of it? It is obviously junk.

[cloudmountain]

No.

[wintertime]

Okay, apologist, you don't believe, so go to the cited Journal of Discourses a
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You’r the expert. I've asked for links ( anything) which **specifically** states that God the Father had intercourse by Mary. None have materialize. All that has been posted are supposed “implied” inferences.

[wintertime]

As I said, you have brought in a different topic.

This is what I believe. In my Christian church “the blood of Christ” refers to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. He died for our sins. We are saved by his grace.

[reaganaut]

Not when they redefine VIRGIN, which I also gave you a link for.

[reaganaut]

Only because you want to think it does. You do not take into account that Mormons redefine words Christians use.

I swear you are like talking to a brick wall. You are either filtering everything through Catholic goggles or you are really a Mormon and just lying about it.

[reaganaut]

Oh please, don’t play concern troll now, you have been defending the Morg for quite awhile now.

[Godzilla]

Oh, miracles, very good winter, bout time you showed some faith. However, the issue is that mormons don’t believe in the miracle as we believe the miracle to be.

Don’t make assumptions - you are a poor mind reader.

[svcw]

You do understand that when mormons talk about the blood of (lds)christ they are in fact talking about the garden NOT the cross.
You do understand that when mormons talk about salvation (lds) that they are talking about working for it, in their D&Cs it states “after all we can do”. They must WORK for salvation.
So either you are misleading about being a mormon or you know nothing about it.
lds distort Biblical words to fit their distorted view of God Almighty.

[MHGinTN]

You asserted that you don't believe anything written at FR about MormonISM. I responded and you dodged. In the interest of further exposing the spirit of anti-Christ that hallmarks MormonISM, here is more data for your calculation. THE Blood of Christ is the issue I offered for your consideration, and you dodged in a mormonic fashion, so let's get specific, shall we?

"We may talk of men being redeemed by the efficacy of his [Christ's] blood; but the truth is that that blood has no efficacy to wash away our sins. That must depend upon our own action." [ LDS Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 299, 1859]

Here are seven references from The Bible which show this mormonic teaching to be the anti-Christian/spirit of anti-christ:

Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Given this mormonic teaching that is the very essence of Antichrist, it is still amazing that LDS inc apologists want folks to believe LDS inc is Christianity restored! You are strenuously defending this blasphemous religion here at FR. Why? Are you Mormon/LDS?

MormonISM is the very essence of slick anti-Christ inveigling, and the promoters of this anti-Christian religion will continue to be exposed and opposed so long as Christians are not squelched by the political correctness approach inherent in the lie that exposing mormonISM is hate or hatred of the people trapped in this demonic cult.

If you are not LDS and have come to this forum as uninformed on this blasphemous religion as you appear to be, then count yourself fortunate indeed that God has brought you to where you may find the truth about this sect and reject their blasphemies insteads of defending them.

[RaceBannon]

I AGREE!

Prov 15:29 The Lord [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

[wintertime]

You are changing the subject. I did not come on this board to discuss this topic. I plainly laid out my beliefs regarding the blood of Christ. I will not respond and your pings will be annoying.

[wintertime]

You are changing the subject. I did not come on this board to discuss this topic. I plainly laid out my beliefs regarding the blood of Christ. I will not respond and your pings will be annoying.

[svcw]

So are you saying you will stop the constant defense of mormonISM which you know nothing?
So are you saying you will stop the constant Christian bashing by way of defense of mormonISM?
So are you saying you are leaving this thread?
Good.

[wintertime]

Well....I just found that statement that God the Father had intercourse with Mary soooooo shocking I just followed the cited references. I saw nothing of the sort. Then I took a half minute of time to do a Google search.

Personally....I would think that Mormons ( being Mormons) would hold the Book of **Mormon** to be their highest authority . It seems that their scripture state NOTHING of the sort about physical contact of God the Father with Mary.

Then I asked for a **definitive** statement by a leading LDS official that God the Father had physical intercourse with Mary and all I have gotten these many hours later is “Implied” junk!

What should I conclude? Huh?

[MHGinTN]

I plainly laid out my beliefs regarding the blood of Christ. Really? Where did you do that? You played dodge the issue after stating flatly that you believe nothing about MormonISM posted at Freerepublic. I posted the Mormonic teaching on the Blood of Christ and you again dodged answering what you believe. Now, you have no credibility because you're trying to pretend you made a clear answer regarding the Blood of Christ as THE Salvic solution for our sinful souls. So, Have Nice Day

[dragonblustar]

I interrupt this thread to wish you all a Happy New Year....!!!!

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