Lds "scripture" -- Doctrines & Covenants 1:30: “…the foundation of this [Mormon] church…the ONLY true and living church on the face of the whole earth”
IF ONLY ONE church is "the ONLY true and living church on the face of the whole earth" -- then by pure language logic, no other church likewise qualifies...it clearly implies ALL other churches -- including Catholicism -- is false & dead!
So that no one accuses me of false representing how Mormonism's top leadership interprets D&C 1:30...I will cite OFFICIAL LDS Church Publication, The Ensign: The Only True and Living Church from 1971, as written by LDS apostle Boyd Packer:
"The position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth is fundamental..." [Packer then cites D&C 1:30]..."the churches...teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (JS—H 1:19.)"..."The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of this earth..."
This LDS "apostle" says the above official doctrine is fundamental, no matter WHAT Lds FR apologists try to do to confuse this reality!
Furthermore, this LDS "apostle" accuses Catholicism (& other Christian churches) of "teach[ing] for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (JS—H 1:19.)" Packer, too, cites JS - H 1:19 ... which is Mormon "scripture"...
See this chart:
Charting Mormon Foundational Intolerance: Smithesque Slander of the Christian Church
After the heading row, Row #1 -- OFFICIAL Mormon "scripture" teaches that..."ALL sects...ALL wrong" (Joseph Smith - History, v. 18-19, Pearl of Great Price)
This doesn't make ANY exception for Catholicism.
Next row (same source): "ALL the sects...ALL their CREEDS were an ABOMINATION in his sight…they teach for doctrines the commandments of MEN…”
This doesn't make ANY exception for Catholicism.
Per Joseph Smith himself, revealed as a REVELATION in November, 1831, and listed in the Mormon "scriptures" (or are you going to now claim that D&C 68:2-4 isn't Mormon "scripture" or isn't "authoritative"?)
...this is an ensample unto ALL who were ordained unto this priesthood...
and this is the ensample unto them,
that they shall speak as they are 'moved upon' by the Holy Ghost...
[v. 4]: And WHATSOEVER they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost SHALL BE SCRIPTURE,
shall be the will of the Lord,
shall be the mind of the Lord,
shall be the word of the Lord,
shall be the voice of the Lord...
D&C 68:2-4
Do YOU catch the "shall be scripture" part? In fact, Smith wasn't speaking to just the upper-etchelon "priesthood" parties...no, v. 2 clearly say "ALL" ordained unto the Mormon priesthood! Any plain, non-esoteric reading of D&C 68:2-4 makes it quite clear that Smith was saying all Lds ordained priests have "scripture-factory" producing power and authority.
If this was "so" of Lds "grassroots" "elders"...how much MORE so its LONE "prophet" of the earth that the Mormon god invested his "authority" in?
Now just click on post #33 link...you'll find Lds "prophet's" statement related to ...
Lds 3rd "prophet" John Taylor wrote in an official Mormon church document:
"The present Christian world exists and continues by division. The MYSTERY of Babylon the great, is mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, and it needs no prophetic vision, to unravel such mysteries. The old church is the mother, and the protestants are the lewd daughters. Alas! alas! what DOCTRINE, what principle, or what scheme, in all, what prayers, what devotion, or what faith, `since the fathers have fallen asleep,' has opened the heavens; has brought men into the presence of God; and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to an innumerable company of angels? The answer is, not any: `There is none in all christendom that doeth good; no, not one.'
- Then Lds "apostle" (later a "prophet") John Taylor, Times and Seasons, Vol.6, No.1, p.811
Mormon leadership has NEVER rejected this statement; and note that Taylor uses the very word "Doctrine" in this statement!
""Babylon, literally understood, is the gay world; spiritual wickedness, the golden city, and the glory of the world, The priests of Egypt, who received a portion gratis from Pharaoh; the priests of Baal, and the Pharisees, and Sadducees, with their "long robes," among the Jews, are equally included in their mother's family, with the Roman Catholics, Protestants, and all that have not had the keys of the kingdom and power thereof, according to the ordinances of God."
- Lds "apostle" to be "Prophet" John Taylor, Times and Seasons, Vol.6, No.1, p.939
Secondary source: The Church has a history of identifying the Catholic Church as the great and abominable church
Looking for other evidences of the Lds church officially sanctioning the statements of its so-called "apostles":
Now exactly why is this particular official Lds "apostle" commentary -- sanctioned by the Mormon church in an official publication in 1974 -- of interest?
Well, in volume 3 -- the exact volume so sanctioned -- this Lds "apostle" wrote:
"The church of the devil is the world; it is all the carnality and evil to which fallen man is heir; it is every unholy and wicked practice; it is every false religion, every supposed system of salvation which does not actually save and exalt man in the highest heaven of the celestial world. It is EVERY CHURCH except the true church, whether parading under a Christian or a pagan banner." (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:551)
For similar quotes, see several sections of this article I wrote for FR: If Mormonism is 'anti-Christian,' then how can it be considered 'Christian?'... The fourth section is sub-headed:
“'Catholics and Mormons: A New Dialogue'” is sponsored by..." -- and it lists three Catholic groups and two Mormon organizations -- one of which is the BYU Religious Education program.
Now when you click on the link provided for the BYU Religious Education program...it won't take but a few more clicks from that Web site until you come across this Religious Education book promo:
Exploring the First Vision
Now one of the many "First Vision" accounts is what Mormon leaders made into the "2" section I posted earlier (see post #39) -- referenced as Mormon "scripture" Joseph Smith - History:
After the heading row, Row #1 -- OFFICIAL Mormon "scripture" teaches that..."ALL sects...ALL wrong" (Joseph Smith - History, v. 18-19, Pearl of Great Price) This doesn't make ANY exception for Catholicism. Next row (same source): "ALL the sects...ALL their CREEDS were an ABOMINATION in his sight…they teach for doctrines the commandments of MEN…” This doesn't make ANY exception for Catholicism.
Ah, the irony...
On the one hand, you have the BYU Religious Education Program promoting so-called "civic dialogue" -- a mere show on the surface, mind you...
...yet behind the scenes, they promote a published book featuring/highlighting the very peculiar Mormon "scriptures" that label Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox as...
* "all...wrong"
* "all creeds were an abomination" in the Mormon gods' "sight"
* "they teach for doctrines the commandments of men"
* and "all" such "professors" (professing believers) are "corrupt"