Posted on 12/31/2011 8:49:24 AM PST by 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?
I do believe Jesus is the literal Son of God, but that Mary conceived through the power of the Holy Ghost, supernaturally, not through physical contact with a god of flesh and bones.
Mormon teachings on God, make it impossible to accept anything other than God had sex with Mary.
Read from a variety of sources.
One of the things the Expositor accused Smith of doing, of course, was engaging in polygamy. Which Smith and other LDS leaders were doing, but denied publicly until 1852.
However, the newspaper also claimed that Joseph Smith had led the Mormons away from the Book of Mormon by teaching Celestial Marriage and doctrines that were not in the Book of Mormon. There was a lot of angst in the early Mormon church (and people leaving the church and being excommunicated for complaining) because almost immediately after the Book of Mormon was published it became virtually irrelevant because Smith started creating doctrines that added to or superceded the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon prohibits polygamy; Doctrines & Covenants 132 requires it.
Mormon doctrine comes from Doctrines & Covenants and other sources, not the Book of Mormon.
Alma 7
10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
Nephi 2;114
14 Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign— Behold, a avirgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Emanuel.
Mormon teachings on God, make it impossible to accept anything other than God had sex with Mary.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Then post a link that plainly states that. It seems their own scriptures states otherwise.
Guess your folks didn't teach the birds and the bees to you. Unless you were conceived via some way other than sex.
Evidently, Mormons believe that God the Father did NOT have intercourse with Mary.
Not the mormons I cited -even their sunday school material. Ah the lying for the lord.
They believe that she was over shaddowed by the Holy Ghost and that the conception was by power of the Holy Ghost ( this is what my **Christian** denomination teaches, by the way),
Good thing mormonism isn't Christian then since this was taught -
"Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of man, and that man was God! They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten [conceived] of the Holy Ghost. I challenge that statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible." Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, pp. 18,19
Not surprising the bom citations are plagiarized from the bible. Perhaps something a little more modern
Bruce McConkie taught
"Some words scarcely need definition… Two such words are father and son. Their meaning is known to all, and to define them is but to repeat them. Thus: A son is a son is a son, and a father is a father is a father. I am the son of my father and the father of my sons. They are my sons because they were begotten by me, were conceived by their mother, and came forth from her womb to breathe the breath of mortal life, to dwell for a time and a season among other mortal men. And so it is with the Eternal Father and the mortal birth of the Eternal Son."
(The Promised Messiah, pg. 468).
Guess McConkie had all of sons via artificial conception too eh.
Their bom also forbad polygamy, but that didn't stop them from that now did it.
Background in one of the LDS splinter groups, if not LDS directly.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). ...
Uh? Notice the word “begotten”?
You guys ( gals) , I don't believe a word you say about Mormons.
Or background in Catholicism, moved to Mormonism and is not admitting it. We see that as well.
So you DO believe it was through sex?
And frankly, I don’t care if you don’t believe what we say. It doesn’t stop what we say from being the truth.
I have. You don’t get they don’t follow their own scriptures when it comes to doctrine.
You just don’t want to see the evidence in front of your face.
And their own scriptures also say to pray to Jesus (which the forbid) and speak against polygamy (which they practiced).
You are demanding us to accept a standard that they don’t accept. FAIL.
I have PLAINLY stated that it was by the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST that OVERSHADDOWED the VIRGIN Mary.
It seems on this one point Mormon scriputures agree with the beliefs of my church. Gee! In my church we believe that Jesus was the **begotten** son of the Father, too!
Gee! I thought all Christians did. Silly me. I guess not.
I mentioned earlier how Mormons try to play it both ways.
Not unusual at all for Mormonism.
For Mormonism, BOTH monogamy and polygamy "in" (they believe in eternal polygamy & a polygamy that will return to earth)
For Mormonism, BOTH monotheism and polytheism. (They mention "God" all the time as if there was one; they also mentions "gods" plural -- as if many true gods existed)
If you were to only "pounce" on Mormonism's "pro" statements re: monogamy or monotheism, you'd miss out on quite a few Mormon teachings re: polygamy and monotheism!
Yes, translated from the Greek word monogenes meaning "single of its kind, only". See Heb 11:17* By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Same word - monogenes. But Isaac wasn't Abramham's ONLY BEGOTTEN son now was he - Ishmael was also a son begotten by him. So IF you had STUDIED to show your interpretation to be approved you would have caught this - that monogenes in the context had nothing to do with sex - but "pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship" ( Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BAGD, 3rd Edition)).
Do you home work, then come talk about what we say regarding mormonism. That is unless you believe all mormons are conceived artificially.
I posted them upthread. Seriously, you need to get a grip. I posted quotes from the leaders, I posted a current blog by a devout LDS member (who was countering the antis) who believes it and stated others who believed it. I was taught it, others have been taught it. And it has been pointed out over and over and over again that the LDS do not follow their own scriptures in their doctrine and that the quotes you keep posting from the Book of Mormon are plagiarized from the Bible.
Do you deny the doctrine of the trinity because the word Trinity is not in the Bible?
Already addressed that several times and have posted them.
You are just making a fool out of yourself.
Then you really are blind. No hate and no imaginings. Simple reading comprehension.
What? Did you grow up in a home where opposition, confrontation and vigorous discussion was hostile or something?
Good thing you weren't present when the Lord Jesus Christ chewed into the Pharisees (Matthew 23)...or Apollos in the book of Acts: 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. (Acts 18:28)
(You might have accused them both of being "hateful")
Seriously, your inability to see the obvious is comical. Why are you so in love with Mormons?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.