Mormonism

*Mormonism is the most deceptive branch of Christianity I have ever observed. They look right. They sound right…but they’re very wrong

Joseph Smith Background
1. Palmyra, NY 1819…series of revivals. Afterwords doctrinal debates between Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists left young Joseph looking for answers
2. After reading James 1:5 he decided to ask God for wisdom
3. In a vision, Smith ‘was answered that he should join none of them, for they were all wrong’
4. This first vision is the foundation for Mormonism, if Smith didn’t really meet with God that day…Mormons have no true beginning
5. Smith received various other visions in the years that followed. He was visited by Moroni. Moroni told Joseph about golden plates of new Scripture that were buried in New York.
6. Eventually Moroni deemed Smith worthy to dig them up, he gave Smith the location of the plates and he did so in 1827
7. There were only three witnesses to this expedition. All three eventually left the Mormon Church (although one did return). Doesn’t say much for the authenticity of this account.
8. Smith and a friend were later visited by John the Baptist (who granted them the Aaronic Priesthood) and Peter, James & John (who granted them the Priesthood in the order of Melchizedek).
9. On April 6, 1830 the ‘one true church’ was organized near Cayuga Lake, NY
10. During the meeting God revealed to Smith that he was to be the Prophet and Apostle of the new restored church. He would soon thereafter publish the other Mormon Scriptures (Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price).

Some Problems with Joseph Smith
1. His father was a treasure hunter and Joseph followed suit
2. He used seer stone divination regularly and even used them to translate the golden plates.
3. Was a polygamist
4. A book published in 1861, endorsed by former neighbors of Joseph Smith had this to say about him, “Joseph Smith was known for exaggeration and untruthfulness, his word was received w/the least confidence by those who knew him best.”
5. Another statement signed by 62 residents from Palmyra included this statement, “destitute of moral character and addicted to vicious habits.”

The Journey of early Mormonism
1. Early Mormons were forced to move regularly due to the unpopularity of their beliefs. They moved from Upstate NY to Kirtland Ohio to Independence Missouri to Nauvoo Illinois to Salt Lake City Utah.
2. Joseph Smith was murdered in Nauvoo by a mob in prison
3. Brigham Young took over leadership of the group and moved them to Salt Lake

Current Statistics
1. Number of Mormons 11,985,254
2. Converts per year 300,000
3. Converts with Protestant Background 75%
4. Church Assets $25-30 Billion
5. Missionaries 50-75 Thousand
6. Americans visited 40%
7. Inactive or disillusioned 35%

What do Mormons believe about God?
“Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in God the Father, in his Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. The three make up the Godhead -- one in purpose but separate in being.”

Sounds pretty decent, BUT when they say ‘God the Father’ they mean something completely different than you and I. Same thing with Jesus. Same thing with the Holy Ghost.

Mormons believe God is
Flesh and Bones
Mortal
Changeable
Localized
Tri-theistic (three Gods)

Mormons believe Christ
Was created, brother of Lucifer
Is one of many Gods
Was conceived by physical union of God the Father and Mary

Quotes from Mormon leaders:
“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man” ~Joseph Smith
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones” ~D&C (130:22)
“Gods exist, we had better be prepared to be one of them” ~Brigham Young
“As man is, God once was: as God is, man may become” ~Prophet Snow
“Remember that God was perhaps once a child” ~Apostle Hyde

Mormon Scripture
1. The Bible (an altered KJV or Smith’s own translation)
2. The Book of Mormon (translated from golden plates, contains historical information about two ancient civilizations on American continent, has surprisingly little to do with Mormon theology)
3. Doctrine and Covenants (contains most of their theology)
4. The Pearl of Great Price (contains Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith- History, and Articles of Faith).
5. Mormon Presidents are basically Scripture since they speak directly from God

Problems with Mormon Scripture
1. Bad archeology- there is no evidence at all of the 2 civilizations mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
2. Bad anthropology- Mormons believe native Americans came from Israel, genetics tells us otherwise
3. Bad anachronism- Items that hadn’t been invented in the supposed time frame of the events mentioned in the Book of Mormon are included (steel, glass windows)
4. The Book of Mormon is likely plagiarized from writings of Smith’s day

Contradictions between Mormon teaching and Scriptural teaching

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
“The kingdoms of this world made war against the kingdom of God…and they prevailed against it” (Pratt)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18)

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
“Abraham received concubines…and it was accounted unto him for righteousness” (D&C, 132:37)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3)

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
“Man is justified by works” (McConkie)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
“Man is justified by faith” (Romans 3:28)

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
“In Missouri we were taught to ‘pray for our enemies, that God would damn them, and give us power to kill them”
(B.F. Johnson)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
“There is no salvation outside the LDS church” (McConkie)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
“To those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
“There really was no beginning because God and matter are eternal” (Wallace)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)

MORMON ‘TRUTH’
Cornelius…could not receive the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized” (Joseph Smith)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Cornelius received the gift of the Holy Spirit before he was baptized (Acts 10:43-48)

You’ll need a new dictionary if you try to talk with Mormons
GOD- (Elohim) An exalted man, ruler of earth
JESUS- (Jehovah) First Child of Elohim
TRINITY- Three Gods with one purpose, only Gods of this earth
HOLY GHOST- An exalted man with a spiritual body
SALVATION- Achieved by merit, goal of godhood
DEATH- Salvation is possible after death…a waiting area
HELL- More like purgatory, few will stay there
HEAVEN- Your own planet to rule as God