Is God, "One God, manifested in three persons," or is He, "Three Gods?"
The Book of Mormon:
""And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, WHICH IS ONE GOD. Amen" [Introduction: Testimony of three witnesses] Namely--Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer & Martin Harris
... every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, WHICH IS ONE ETERNAL GOD" (Alma 1:44b).(4)
"Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I AM JESUS CHRIST. I AM THE FATHER AND THE SON" (Ether 3:14).
And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs he that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God (2 Nephi 26:12).
"Teach them that redemption cometh through CHRIST THE LORD, WHO IS THE VERY ETERNAL FATHER. Amen" (Mosiah 16:15; see also 2Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 15:1-5; Alma 11:38,39; 3Nephi 11:27,36; Mormon 7:7).
Joseph Smith:
"I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, JESUS CHRIST A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT PERSONAGE FROM GOD THE FATHER, and the Holy Spirit was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute THREE DISTINCT PERSONAGES AND THREE GODS." [ Documentary History of the Church 6:474, June 16, 1844; quoted in Daniel Ludlow, ed. Latter-day Prophets Speak. Logan, UT: Bookcraft, 1988, p.273.]
"Peter and Stephen testify that they saw the son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Any person that had seen the heavens opened knows that there are THREE PERSONAGES in the heavens who hold the keys of power, and one presides over all." [Documentary History of the Church 5:426, June 11, 1843 (quoted in Ludlow, p.273).]
"When the light rested upon me I saw TWO PERSONAGES, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" [Joseph Smith - History 1:17b. Pearl of Great Price, p.49.]
Has He always been God , or was He "an exalted man" first?
Book of Mormon:
"For do we not read that GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?" (Mormon 9:9).
"For behold, GOD knowing all things, BEING FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men" (Moroni 7:22).
"For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but HE IS UNCHANGEABLE FROM ALL ETERNITY TO ALL ETERNITY" (Moroni 8:18).
Joseph Smith:
"GOD HIMSELF WAS ONCE AS WE ARE NOW AND IS AN EXALTED MAN and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!... [Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 1976, pp. 345-346]
"It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know that HE WAS ONCE A MAN LIKE US; yea, that God Himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the Bible." [ Times and Seasons August 15, 1844 (quoted in Ludlow, p.277).]
Do the saved praise God in eternity or become gods?
Book of Mormon:
"... that I might go down in peace, and my immortal spirit may join the choirs above in SINGING THE PRAISES OF A JUST GOD" (Mosiah 2:28b).
"And he [Jesus Christ] hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to SING CEASELESS PRAISES with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end" (Mormon 7:7).
Joseph Smith:
"Gods have an ascendency over the angels, who are ministering spirits. In the resurrection, some are raised to be angels; others are RAISED TO BECOME GODS." [Documentary History of the Church 5:426-427, June 11, 1843 (quoted in Ludlow, p.77).]
"... they [a righteous, resurrected husband and wife] will pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and continuation of the seeds forever and ever. THEN THEY SHALL BE GODS, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then they shall be above all, because all things are subject to them. THEN SHALL THEY BE GODS, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them."[ Doctrine and Covenants 132:19b-20, July 12, 1843, pp.268-269]
"... because they [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob] did none other things than that which was commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but ARE GODS."[ Doctrine and Covenants 132:37b, July 12, 1843, p.270.]
Is there one God, or are there many Gods?
Book of Mormon:
"And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. Now Zeezrom said: IS THERE MORE THAN ONE GOD? And he answered, NO" (Alma 11:26-29).
Joseph Smith:
"And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and THEY, THAT IS THE GODS, organized and formed the heavens and the earth."
"And THEY (THE GODS) said: Let there be light; and there was light."
"And THE GODS TOOK COUNSEL AMONG THEMSELVES and said: Let us go down and form man in our image, after our likeness."
"And THE GODS SAID AMONG THEMSELVES: On the seventh time we will end our work, which we have counseled; and we will rest on the seventh time from all our work which we have counseled."
You will find the above verses here Matt------ [ Abraham 4:1,3,26; 5:2. Contained in Joseph Smith. The Pearl of Great Price. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1986, pp. 38, 40.]
Is God Spirit, or is God Flesh?
The Book Of Mormon
"And the king said: IS GOD THAT GREAT SPIRIT that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? And Aaron said unto him: YEA, HE IS THAT GREAT SPIRIT, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth" (Alma 22:9,10a).
"And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a GREAT SPIRIT? And he said, Yea. And Ammon said: THIS IS GOD" (Alma 18:26-28a).
Joseph Smith:
"If the veil were rent today and the great God who holds this world on its orbit and who upholds all worlds and things by His power was to make Himself visible, - I say, if you were to see Him today, you would see Him LIKE A MAN IN FORM - like yourselves in all the person, image, and VERY FORM AS A MAN...." [Times and Seasons August 15, 1844 (quoted in Ludlow, p.277).]
"THE FATHER HAS A BODY OF FLESH AND BONES as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit." [Doctrine and Covenants 130:22. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1986, p.265]
For more Comparisons, read my topic called Contradictions
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Being Bold and Blunt
Hello Everyone, Well I promised this next topic to someone who post's under Anonymous. Anyway, I suspect this person is an LDS member by the way they seem to defend mormonism.
They along with many others feel I am to Bold, Blunt, and simply Brutaly honest in my thoughts. It appers they would rather have me water down my thoughts. I think it is really sad, Mormons go out and share their Gospel with millions of people all over the world, they will not deny the convictions they have, because they feel God spoke to them. Sadly some are honest enough to tell me, they believe I am doing what I believe the Lord has told me to do, but yet they still try and tell me not to do it.
Then as I have told them before, if they are wrong, not are they only going to spend an eterinty in hell, but they are also bringing millions of people to hell with them. I see many times in the Bible, where Jesus, John the Baptist, the Apostles, Peter, Paul, Mark, Jude, Etc, are very Bold and or blunt in what they have to say to others, They don't mince words, And I am not speaking about these guys simply rebuking people in "Love" either. Here we read in 2 Timothy chapter 4:1-5
These questions need to be asked. Who is being Rebuked? What is Sound Doctrine verse unsound Doctrine? What are the Fables that people are turning to? I believe if you read your bible, you will find
That the people that are being rebuked are people who are teaching another Gospel, as Gal 1:8-9 teach. I believe the fables and unsound Doctrine being taught, can and is in this day and age, Mormonism. Their is much evidence to show Mormonism is a false Gospel. I have pointed out to LDS before, According to Paul in Gal 1:8-9 it talks about ANOTHER GOSPEL, THAN WHAT (I) PAUL PREACHED. I have asked mormons, from the Bible only, show me the Gospel Paul taught, then show me how this lines up with the LDS Gospel. It simply cannot be done.
Then to add to the fact that Timothy speaks about rebuking people, we read in Titus:
Here, Titus is very Bold and Blunt, Speaking about people using SOUND DOCTRINE, to EXORT, CONVICT those who contrdict. He talks about people whose mouths must be stopped. He also talks about Commandements of men who turn from the truth. Mormonism is full of Mens Commandements that are not of God and put you under the law. Titus Does not mince words or water down his thoughts when he says "They profess to know God, but in works
they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Mormons Claim they Know God, But as I have said before, Does God know you?
Remember, the scariest verses in the Bible are where God says to the people who say, "LORD, LORD, Did we not perform Mircales in your name, and do these various good works, and HE SAYS, DEPART FROM ME INTO EVERLASTING FIRE." That is scary.
Here is something Else Jesus said
I would rather Be Bold and Blut (HOT not Cold) and pray you come to Christ, then Hide in a closet crying, BOO HOO, They don't like me and called me names. Lets look at more Bold and Blut statments from Jesus and his Apostles.
Now that we have read things from the Bible, And I could add more, Lets look at what the Prophets of Mormonism have said, Like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. And My point in these statements are not, Do LDS believe these to be Scripture, like Adam God or Blood Atonment Etc. The Point is, regardless of it being Doctrine or mere Opinion, they said it and they were Bold and Blunt in the statments they said.
Joseph Smith In a fight? Wow, The prophet is in a fight, brags about it, and Even Try's to Choke the Guy. I play Judo where Choke's are allowed, but boy is that deadly if done wrong. And to think, I get grief from people for just sharing my faith.
Here Brigham Young even talks about how Harsh Joseph Smith was.
The point about the Blood Atonment was not/is not, is it Doctrine. The Point is, it was said, it was taught, it was spoken, This is a very Bold and Blunt statement to make.
Here are some more very Bold and Blunt statements made by the Prophets.
Let me End with something The Prophet J.F.S. Said:
The reason I ended with this is two fold.
1. J.F.S. Stated if JS is a false Prophet he needs to be Expoused. For the Prophet of the LDS church to say this about His own Prophet is a bold statement to make. And 2. As I keep saying, I am doing exactly what the Prophet says, and you guys get mad at me. It appers it is a case of Damned if I do, Damned if I don't.
If I follow your prophet, you get mad and tell me not to. If I dont listen to your prophet, you claim I really need to. Rick b
They along with many others feel I am to Bold, Blunt, and simply Brutaly honest in my thoughts. It appers they would rather have me water down my thoughts. I think it is really sad, Mormons go out and share their Gospel with millions of people all over the world, they will not deny the convictions they have, because they feel God spoke to them. Sadly some are honest enough to tell me, they believe I am doing what I believe the Lord has told me to do, but yet they still try and tell me not to do it.
Then as I have told them before, if they are wrong, not are they only going to spend an eterinty in hell, but they are also bringing millions of people to hell with them. I see many times in the Bible, where Jesus, John the Baptist, the Apostles, Peter, Paul, Mark, Jude, Etc, are very Bold and or blunt in what they have to say to others, They don't mince words, And I am not speaking about these guys simply rebuking people in "Love" either. Here we read in 2 Timothy chapter 4:1-5
4: I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge
the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all 3
longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have 4
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn
their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be
watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
These questions need to be asked. Who is being Rebuked? What is Sound Doctrine verse unsound Doctrine? What are the Fables that people are turning to? I believe if you read your bible, you will find
That the people that are being rebuked are people who are teaching another Gospel, as Gal 1:8-9 teach. I believe the fables and unsound Doctrine being taught, can and is in this day and age, Mormonism. Their is much evidence to show Mormonism is a false Gospel. I have pointed out to LDS before, According to Paul in Gal 1:8-9 it talks about ANOTHER GOSPEL, THAN WHAT (I) PAUL PREACHED. I have asked mormons, from the Bible only, show me the Gospel Paul taught, then show me how this lines up with the LDS Gospel. It simply cannot be done.
Then to add to the fact that Timothy speaks about rebuking people, we read in Titus:
TITUS 1:9-16
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and
deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This
testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works
they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Here, Titus is very Bold and Blunt, Speaking about people using SOUND DOCTRINE, to EXORT, CONVICT those who contrdict. He talks about people whose mouths must be stopped. He also talks about Commandements of men who turn from the truth. Mormonism is full of Mens Commandements that are not of God and put you under the law. Titus Does not mince words or water down his thoughts when he says "They profess to know God, but in works
they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Mormons Claim they Know God, But as I have said before, Does God know you?
Remember, the scariest verses in the Bible are where God says to the people who say, "LORD, LORD, Did we not perform Mircales in your name, and do these various good works, and HE SAYS, DEPART FROM ME INTO EVERLASTING FIRE." That is scary.
Here is something Else Jesus said
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
I would rather Be Bold and Blut (HOT not Cold) and pray you come to Christ, then Hide in a closet crying, BOO HOO, They don't like me and called me names. Lets look at more Bold and Blut statments from Jesus and his Apostles.
Jhn 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables.
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mat 23:33 [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Luke 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1Cr 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Now that we have read things from the Bible, And I could add more, Lets look at what the Prophets of Mormonism have said, Like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. And My point in these statements are not, Do LDS believe these to be Scripture, like Adam God or Blood Atonment Etc. The Point is, regardless of it being Doctrine or mere Opinion, they said it and they were Bold and Blunt in the statments they said.
"Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet...When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go." (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408, 409)
In Joseph Smith's history for the year 1843, we read of two fights which he had in Nauvoo: "Josiah Butterfield came to my house and insulted me so outrageously that I kicked him out of the house, across the yard, and into the street" (History of the Church, vol. 5, p.316).
"Bagby called me a liar, and picked up a stone to throw at me, which so enraged me that I followed him a few steps, and struck him two or three times. Esquire Daniel H. Wells stepped between us ... I told the Esquire to assess the fine for the assault, and I was willing to pay it. He not doing it, I rode down to Alderman Whitney, stated the circumstances, and he imposed a fine which I paid ..." (Ibid., p.524).
According to the History of the Church, Joseph Smith admitted that he had tried to choke Walter Bagby: "I met him, and he gave me some abusive language, taking up a stone to throw at me: I seized him by the throat to choke him off" (Ibid., p.531).
Joseph Smith In a fight? Wow, The prophet is in a fight, brags about it, and Even Try's to Choke the Guy. I play Judo where Choke's are allowed, but boy is that deadly if done wrong. And to think, I get grief from people for just sharing my faith.
Brigham Young once made this evaluation of Joseph Smith: "Some may think that I am rather too severe; but if you had the Prophet Joseph to deal with, you would think that I am quite mild.... He would not bear the usage I have borne, and would appear as though he would tear down all the houses in the city, and tear up trees by the roots, if men conducted to him in the way they have to me" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, pp.317-18).
Here Brigham Young even talks about how Harsh Joseph Smith was.
You are aware that when brother Cummings came to the point of loving our neighbours as ourselves, he could say yes or no as the case might be, that is true. But I want to connect it with the doctrine you read in the Bible. When will we love our neighbour as ourselves? In the first place, Jesus said that no man hateth his own flesh. It is admitted by all that every person loves himself. Now if we do rightly love ourselves, we want to be saved and continue to exist, we want to go into the kingdom where we can enjoy eternity and see no more sorrow nor death. This is the desire of every person who believes in God. Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom of our God and our Father, and being exalted, one who knows and understands the principles of eternal life, and sees the beauty and excellency of the eternities before him compared with the vain and foolish things of the world, and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, "shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?"
All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? That is what Jesus Christ meant. He never told a man or woman to love their enemies in their wickedness, never. He never intended any such thing; his language is left as it is for those to read who have the Spirit to discern between truth and error; it was so left for those who can discern the things of God. Jesus Christ never meant that we should love a wicked man in his wickedness.
Now take the wicked, and I can refer to where the Lord had to slay every soul of the Israelites that went out of Egypt, except Caleb and Joshua. He slew them by the hands of their enemies, by the plague, and by the sword, why? Because He loved them, and promised Abraham that He would save them. And He loved Abraham because he was a friend to his God, and would stick to Him in the hour of darkness, hence He promised Abraham that He would save his seed. And He could save them upon no other principle, for they had forfeited their right to the land of Canaan by transgressing the law of God, and they could not have atoned for the sin if they had lived. But if they were slain, the Lord could bring them up in the resurrection, and give them the land of Canaan, and He could not do it on any other principle.
I could refer you to plenty of instances where men, have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels to the devil, until our elder brother Jesus Christ raises them up—conquers death, hell, and the grave. I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle's being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force.
This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind.(Brigham Young Blood Atonement Sermon:
Journal of Discourses
Vol. 4, p. 215-221)
The point about the Blood Atonment was not/is not, is it Doctrine. The Point is, it was said, it was taught, it was spoken, This is a very Bold and Blunt statement to make.
Here are some more very Bold and Blunt statements made by the Prophets.
B Young: "with a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199). I quote 3rd president John Taylor (Brigham Young quotes Mr Taylor) "Brother Taylor has just said that the religions of the day were hatched in hell, the eggs were laid in hell, hatched on its borders, and kicked onto the earth" (J.O.D 6:176). I quote Heber C. Kimball "Christians - those poor, miserable priests brother Brigham was speaking about - some of them are the biggest whoremasters there are on the earth" (J.O.D 5:89).
Let me End with something The Prophet J.F.S. Said:
Doctrines of Salvation vol. 1, I quote Joseph F Smith. "CHURCH STANDS OR FALLS WITH JOSEPH SMITH. MORMONISM, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground. If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed: his claims should be rufuted, and his doctrines shown to be false".
The reason I ended with this is two fold.
1. J.F.S. Stated if JS is a false Prophet he needs to be Expoused. For the Prophet of the LDS church to say this about His own Prophet is a bold statement to make. And 2. As I keep saying, I am doing exactly what the Prophet says, and you guys get mad at me. It appers it is a case of Damned if I do, Damned if I don't.
If I follow your prophet, you get mad and tell me not to. If I dont listen to your prophet, you claim I really need to. Rick b
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
A different Gospel
Mormons say, they are Christians, I do not agree, they have a different Gospel and serve a different jesus, which is no god at all.
LDS Doctrines
Mormonism is at odds doctrinally with orthodox Christian faith in a multitude of ways. Here, however, we have included only a few core doctrines. These are not addressed in depth; they are instead presented very briefly as a list. For comparison and clarity the biblical position is also stated for each point of doctrine.
God
Mormonism teaches:
* There are many true Gods throughout the universe, but in this world we worship but one. (Book of Abraham 4:3ff)
* God the Father was once a man on another planet who achieved Godhood by obedience to laws and ordinances. (Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual, 132)
* God is now an exalted Man of flesh and bones. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22)
The Bible says:
* There is and ever will be only one God. (Isaiah 43:10, 11)
* God has eternally existed as God -- He is not a man. (Psalm 90:2; Psalm 50:21; Hosea 11:9)
* God is Spirit. (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:15, 16)
Trinity
Mormonism teaches:
* The doctrine of the Trinity is an invention of corrupted Christianity. (Evidences and Reconciliations 1:58)
* The Trinity is incomprehensible and therefore untrue. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 370, 372)
* The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three Gods, one in purpose only. (Church News 4 July 1998)
The Bible says:
* There is one God manifest in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8; Romans 1:7; John 1:1; Acts 5:1-4; Matthew 28:19)
* We are unable to comprehend God completely. (Job 11:7-9; Psalm 145:3)
* Father, Son and Holy Ghost--one God in essence or nature--are also one in purpose. (Ephesians 1:4-10)
Christ
Mormonism teaches:
* Jesus is the first-born spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, and therefore the eldest spirit-brother of all mankind (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 9)
* Jesus is also the spirit-brother of Lucifer -- the devil (The Gospel Through the Ages, 15)
* Jesus was not always "a God," but reached perfection and a fullness of godhood after His resurrection (The Gospel Through the Ages, 51, 200; Ensign, November 1995, 87)
The Bible says:
* Jesus is eternally God, having existed as God forever (John 1:1-2, 14)
* Jesus created all things (including Lucifer) and therefore Satan's Creator, not his brother (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 6:12)
* Jesus presented Himself to men as God during His earthly ministry (John 5:18, 10:30-33)
Humanity
Mormonism teaches:
* Humans are co-eternal with God, uncreated, having pre-existed in a spiritual world in the presence of Heavenly Father (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 9; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 353)
* Humans are of the same species as God -- "gods in embryo" (We Believe, 537; Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual, 130)
* Adam's Fall was "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us" (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 33)
The Bible says:
* Humans are created by God, having their beginning on earth, not in a spiritual realm (Zechariah 12:1; 1 Corinthians 15:46)
* God foreknew all humans before their birth (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:15-16)
* Humans, through faith, become children of God by virtue of adoption; they do not share a divine nature with God (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:16-17, 23; Galatians 3:26; Isaiah 46:9)
* Through Adam's Fall sin entered the world, bringing all humanity under condemnation and death; humans are now born with sinful natures and will be judged for the sins each commits individually (Ezekiel 18:1-20; Romans 5:12-21)
Temples
Mormonism teaches:
* Only worthy Mormons with temple recommends (special passes) are permitted inside dedicated LDS temples (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 235-236)
* The endowment ceremony provides temple patrons handshakes and passwords necessary for entrance into God's presence -- Heaven (Discourses of Brigham Young, 416)
* Marriages "sealed" in LDS temples bind the couple as husband and wife beyond the grave and are necessary for attainment of the best spiritual reward (We Believe, 548)
* Ordinances (baptisms, endowments, sealings) are performed for deceased people who had no opportunity to receive these ordinances while they were on earth, giving them opportunity to be "set free" in eternity (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 366-367)
The Bible says:
* The temple was a place for blood sacrifices and burnt offerings to be offered for the sins of God's people (Leviticus 1:1-3)
* Temple sacrifices foreshadowed the future sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:1-9)
* Christ made the final and sufficient sacrifice for sin; there is no longer a need for an earthly temple (Hebrews 10:12-14)
* There is no chance for repentance after death (Hebrews 9:27; Psalm 49:7)
Salvation
Mormonism teaches:
* There are two kinds of salvation: General and Individual (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:160)
* General salvation (resurrection from the dead to judgment) is a free gift from God given to all as a result of Christ's atonement (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 68)
* Individual salvation (spending eternity in the presence of God) is attained by a combination of God's grace plus the individual's works (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 68-69)
* Christ's sacrificial atonement is not sufficient to cleanse the penitent from all sin -- there are some sins beyond the reach of the work of Christ and must be atoned for by the individual (Journal of Discourses 3:247)
* There are six levels of "glory" to which people are assigned after death (Doctrine and Covenants section 76; 131:1 )
* Those obtaining the highest level become Gods, create worlds and accept worship from their children (Doctrines of Salvation 2:48; The Seer, 37)
The Bible says:
* All people will be resurrected to face God's judgment and will be consigned to either Heaven or Hell for all eternity (Matthew 25:31-46)
* Salvation (i.e., redemption from sin and reconciliation to God) is a gift of God by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26)
* Christ's sacrificial atonement is sufficient to cleanse believers from all sin (Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 1:7)
* Christ will be of no benefit to those who seek to gain salvation on their own merits (Galatians 5:1-6; Romans 3:10-20)
* There is but one true God and there never will be any others (Isaiah 43:10-11)
* Men will not receive worship in the eternal world, but instead will give worship to the only One who is worthy to receive it (Revelation 5:12-13)
Truth
Mormonism teaches:
* The only way to know spiritual truth is to ask God in prayer to reveal it through personal revelation (Moroni 10:4-5; The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 63)
* This revelation comes in the form of a good feeling, sometimes described as a "burning in the bosom" (Uniform System for Teaching the Gospel, Instructions for the Discussions, 8)
* God gives truth a little at a time; therefore, the investigator need not learn the "deeper doctrines" before joining the LDS Church (Gospel Truth 2:8)
The Bible says:
* Feelings are deceptive and should not be trusted (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 28:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)
* All spirits should not be believed, but must be tried and tested to see whether they are of God (1 John 4:1)
* Any proclamation of spiritual truth is to be measured against God's Word -- the Bible (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; Isaiah 8:20)
* The way to discern between true and false prophets is by applying God's tests give in the Bible (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:20-22)
* Believers are not to withhold information, but instead are to always be ready to answer all questions about their faith and preach the full message of new life in Christ (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 5:20; 2 Corinthians 4:2)
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commonly use words and phrases also employed by Evangelical Christians. While the terminology may sound the same, the intended meanings are often quite different. Misunderstandings arise when words are not clearly understood, thus communication is severely hindered. In order that your discussions with a Latter-day Saint may be more productive, a short comparative list of terms is supplied below. While this list should help you better understand LDS vocabulary, it is always a good idea for all participants in a conversation to define their terms.
GODHEAD:
LDS--The unified "committee" of a Father god, his Son Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Father god is a resurrected man with a physical body. Christ is a separate resurrected god with a physical body. The Holy Ghost is a separate god with only a spiritual body. These are three totally separate and distinct Gods.
BIBLE--A reference to the Trinity: One God eternally existent in three Persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In addition, the Bible teaches God is not a man (Numbers 23:19); There is only one God (Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:21-22); The Father is Spirit and invisible (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17).
JESUS CHRIST:
LDS--A created being, the first spirit child of Elohim and one of his wives, the spirit brother of Lucifer the devil.
BIBLE--The eternal God manifested in the flesh; the One that created all things (John 1:1-3, 14).
HOLY GHOST:
LDS--A separate God from the Father and the Son; different from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is a person whereas the Holy Spirit is an influence from Father, not personal.
BIBLE--The same Greek word is used for Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). He is the third Person of the one triune God.
VIRGIN BIRTH:
LDS--God, as a resurrected physical man, became the literal father of Jesus in the flesh. Christ was conceived in the same physical manner in which all mortals are conceived. (LDS contend that Matthew 1:18 is in error.)
BIBLE-- The Holy Ghost, without the participation of a human (or physically embodied) father, conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary (Matthew 1:18).
SCRIPTURE:
LDS--The Bible (with reservation) plus additional revelation from God found in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Words of latter-day Prophets are also recognized as scripture.
BIBLE--The Bible alone, which is infallible and without error, and the sole authority for all matters of Christian belief and practice (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:3).
GOSPEL:
LDS--The Mormon church system and doctrines.
BIBLE--The message of Christ's death and resurrection as atonement for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Colossians 1:22-23).
FALL:
LDS--Adam's transgression which brought mortality and physical death to humanity, but not a fallen nature. Adam was given two conflicting commandments and chose the correct one to obey.
BIBLE--The event in which Adam and Eve disobeyed the explicit command of God, bringing sin and death onto the human race. As a consequence of the Fall, humans are alienated from God and in need of a Savior. In addition, the Bible teaches God tempts no one (James 1:13-14); Man is sinful in his very nature (Romans 8:5-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
SIN:
LDS--Specific acts, not man's basic nature.
BIBLE--The fundamental unbelief, distrust and rejection of God as God. The Bible presents sin as both fallen humanity's state of separation and alienation from God and as an individual's purposeful disobedience to God's will. In addition, the Bible teaches we are in spiritual rebellion until conversion (Ephesians 2:3-5; Romans 5:21); We do not just commit sins, we are by nature sinful (Matthew 1:21).
REPENTANCE:
LDS--Repentance of individual acts, not of sinful nature. To repent, one must feel sincere sorrow for his sins, stop sinning and keep the commandments of God. Some serious sins also require confession to LDS priesthood authority. True repentance is evidenced by the person never committing the same sin again; if he does, it is evidence that he did not truly repent and so his former sin returns to him.
BIBLE--A deep sense that the worst thing about one's sin is that it has offended a holy God. Repentance involves turning from sin to Christ, with a sincere desire to live in obedience to His leading. It is an attitude of the heart. In addition, the Bible teaches one must repent of basic rebellion toward God (Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 5:32).
ATONEMENT--SALVATION BY GRACE:
LDS--Universal resurrection, also known as salvation by grace, brought about by Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and death on the Cross. Beyond resurrection, man must earn his own place in heaven.
BIBLE--Refers to God's act of dealing with the primary human problem of sin, which has broken the relationship between God and humankind. God accomplished the way of restoration through Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross. Salvation is not universal, but based on each individual's relationship with Jesus, being given as a free gift of grace to those who trust in Christ alone (Romans 1:16: Hebrews 9:28: Ephesians 2:8-9).
BORN AGAIN:
LDS---Baptism into the LDS church.
BIBLE--Refers to our spiritual rebirth through faith, having previously been dead in our sins (1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
REDEEMED:
LDS---Redemption from mortal death only, not sinful rebellion or spiritual death. See Atonement-Salvation By Grace.
BIBLE--Redemption through Christ from more than mortal death. He redeems us from spiritual death (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1).
ETERNAL LIFE:
LDS--Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom with the ability to eternally bear children in heaven. Requires an LDS temple marriage.
BIBLE--Dwelling forever in the presence of God, a free gift given to all who believe. No mention of parenthood or marriage (John 14:2; Matthew 22:30).
HEAVEN:
LDS--The eternal dwelling place of deceased humans, divided into three kingdoms: Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial with a place for almost everyone (misuse of 1 Corinthians 15:40-41).
BIBLE--The eternal dwelling place of the redeemed. The Bible does not mention various levels of heaven. Rather, there are only two post-mortal conditions: everlasting punishment or life eternal (Matthew 25:31-46).
HELL:
LDS--An eternal institution where deceased people pay for their mortal sins; inmates come and go as in jail, they do not spend eternity there. They stay until their debt to God has been paid in full.
BIBLE--A place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked. There is no indication that people will ever be released from Hell (Revelation 21:8; Matthew 13:24-43; 47-50; Luke 16:26).
TRUE CHURCH:
LDS--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All other churches are corrupt to greater or lesser degrees.
BIBLE--The community of all true believers for all time. The Bible does not recognize an institution or denomination as God's church, but defines it as being comprised of people -- those who have been redeemed by Christ's blood (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Matthew 16:18; 18:19-20).
PRE-EXISTENCE:
LDS--The premortal period of time between the birth of spirit children to God and their birth into mortal life. Everyone pre-existed before life on earth. All have existed eternally.
BIBLE--Refers to Christ as the only pre-existent One (John 8:58; Colossians 1:17). For humans there is no spiritual existence prior to mortality (1 Corinthians 15:46).
AUTHORITY/PRIESTHOOD:
LDS--The power and authority of God given to men to act in things pertaining to the LDS Church and salvation. Only LDS have authority to baptize, ordain, and so forth. In the LDS Church there is a two-part system of priesthood: Melchizedek and Aaronic.
BIBLE--Refers to the priesthood of believers which is the privilege and freedom of all believing Christians to stand before God in personal communion through Christ, directly receiving forgiveness without the need for human intermediaries. In addition, the Bible teaches Christ brought an end to the Aaronic priesthood and He is the ONLY High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10; 1 Peter 2:5).
Adapted from "Terminology Differences" by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
LDS Doctrines
Mormonism is at odds doctrinally with orthodox Christian faith in a multitude of ways. Here, however, we have included only a few core doctrines. These are not addressed in depth; they are instead presented very briefly as a list. For comparison and clarity the biblical position is also stated for each point of doctrine.
God
Mormonism teaches:
* There are many true Gods throughout the universe, but in this world we worship but one. (Book of Abraham 4:3ff)
* God the Father was once a man on another planet who achieved Godhood by obedience to laws and ordinances. (Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual, 132)
* God is now an exalted Man of flesh and bones. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22)
The Bible says:
* There is and ever will be only one God. (Isaiah 43:10, 11)
* God has eternally existed as God -- He is not a man. (Psalm 90:2; Psalm 50:21; Hosea 11:9)
* God is Spirit. (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:15, 16)
Trinity
Mormonism teaches:
* The doctrine of the Trinity is an invention of corrupted Christianity. (Evidences and Reconciliations 1:58)
* The Trinity is incomprehensible and therefore untrue. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 370, 372)
* The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three Gods, one in purpose only. (Church News 4 July 1998)
The Bible says:
* There is one God manifest in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8; Romans 1:7; John 1:1; Acts 5:1-4; Matthew 28:19)
* We are unable to comprehend God completely. (Job 11:7-9; Psalm 145:3)
* Father, Son and Holy Ghost--one God in essence or nature--are also one in purpose. (Ephesians 1:4-10)
Christ
Mormonism teaches:
* Jesus is the first-born spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, and therefore the eldest spirit-brother of all mankind (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 9)
* Jesus is also the spirit-brother of Lucifer -- the devil (The Gospel Through the Ages, 15)
* Jesus was not always "a God," but reached perfection and a fullness of godhood after His resurrection (The Gospel Through the Ages, 51, 200; Ensign, November 1995, 87)
The Bible says:
* Jesus is eternally God, having existed as God forever (John 1:1-2, 14)
* Jesus created all things (including Lucifer) and therefore Satan's Creator, not his brother (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 6:12)
* Jesus presented Himself to men as God during His earthly ministry (John 5:18, 10:30-33)
Humanity
Mormonism teaches:
* Humans are co-eternal with God, uncreated, having pre-existed in a spiritual world in the presence of Heavenly Father (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 9; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 353)
* Humans are of the same species as God -- "gods in embryo" (We Believe, 537; Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual, 130)
* Adam's Fall was "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us" (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 33)
The Bible says:
* Humans are created by God, having their beginning on earth, not in a spiritual realm (Zechariah 12:1; 1 Corinthians 15:46)
* God foreknew all humans before their birth (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:15-16)
* Humans, through faith, become children of God by virtue of adoption; they do not share a divine nature with God (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:16-17, 23; Galatians 3:26; Isaiah 46:9)
* Through Adam's Fall sin entered the world, bringing all humanity under condemnation and death; humans are now born with sinful natures and will be judged for the sins each commits individually (Ezekiel 18:1-20; Romans 5:12-21)
Temples
Mormonism teaches:
* Only worthy Mormons with temple recommends (special passes) are permitted inside dedicated LDS temples (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 235-236)
* The endowment ceremony provides temple patrons handshakes and passwords necessary for entrance into God's presence -- Heaven (Discourses of Brigham Young, 416)
* Marriages "sealed" in LDS temples bind the couple as husband and wife beyond the grave and are necessary for attainment of the best spiritual reward (We Believe, 548)
* Ordinances (baptisms, endowments, sealings) are performed for deceased people who had no opportunity to receive these ordinances while they were on earth, giving them opportunity to be "set free" in eternity (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 366-367)
The Bible says:
* The temple was a place for blood sacrifices and burnt offerings to be offered for the sins of God's people (Leviticus 1:1-3)
* Temple sacrifices foreshadowed the future sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:1-9)
* Christ made the final and sufficient sacrifice for sin; there is no longer a need for an earthly temple (Hebrews 10:12-14)
* There is no chance for repentance after death (Hebrews 9:27; Psalm 49:7)
Salvation
Mormonism teaches:
* There are two kinds of salvation: General and Individual (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:160)
* General salvation (resurrection from the dead to judgment) is a free gift from God given to all as a result of Christ's atonement (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 68)
* Individual salvation (spending eternity in the presence of God) is attained by a combination of God's grace plus the individual's works (Gospel Principles, 1988 edition, 68-69)
* Christ's sacrificial atonement is not sufficient to cleanse the penitent from all sin -- there are some sins beyond the reach of the work of Christ and must be atoned for by the individual (Journal of Discourses 3:247)
* There are six levels of "glory" to which people are assigned after death (Doctrine and Covenants section 76; 131:1 )
* Those obtaining the highest level become Gods, create worlds and accept worship from their children (Doctrines of Salvation 2:48; The Seer, 37)
The Bible says:
* All people will be resurrected to face God's judgment and will be consigned to either Heaven or Hell for all eternity (Matthew 25:31-46)
* Salvation (i.e., redemption from sin and reconciliation to God) is a gift of God by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26)
* Christ's sacrificial atonement is sufficient to cleanse believers from all sin (Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 1:7)
* Christ will be of no benefit to those who seek to gain salvation on their own merits (Galatians 5:1-6; Romans 3:10-20)
* There is but one true God and there never will be any others (Isaiah 43:10-11)
* Men will not receive worship in the eternal world, but instead will give worship to the only One who is worthy to receive it (Revelation 5:12-13)
Truth
Mormonism teaches:
* The only way to know spiritual truth is to ask God in prayer to reveal it through personal revelation (Moroni 10:4-5; The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 63)
* This revelation comes in the form of a good feeling, sometimes described as a "burning in the bosom" (Uniform System for Teaching the Gospel, Instructions for the Discussions, 8)
* God gives truth a little at a time; therefore, the investigator need not learn the "deeper doctrines" before joining the LDS Church (Gospel Truth 2:8)
The Bible says:
* Feelings are deceptive and should not be trusted (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 28:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)
* All spirits should not be believed, but must be tried and tested to see whether they are of God (1 John 4:1)
* Any proclamation of spiritual truth is to be measured against God's Word -- the Bible (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; Isaiah 8:20)
* The way to discern between true and false prophets is by applying God's tests give in the Bible (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:20-22)
* Believers are not to withhold information, but instead are to always be ready to answer all questions about their faith and preach the full message of new life in Christ (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 5:20; 2 Corinthians 4:2)
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commonly use words and phrases also employed by Evangelical Christians. While the terminology may sound the same, the intended meanings are often quite different. Misunderstandings arise when words are not clearly understood, thus communication is severely hindered. In order that your discussions with a Latter-day Saint may be more productive, a short comparative list of terms is supplied below. While this list should help you better understand LDS vocabulary, it is always a good idea for all participants in a conversation to define their terms.
GODHEAD:
LDS--The unified "committee" of a Father god, his Son Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Father god is a resurrected man with a physical body. Christ is a separate resurrected god with a physical body. The Holy Ghost is a separate god with only a spiritual body. These are three totally separate and distinct Gods.
BIBLE--A reference to the Trinity: One God eternally existent in three Persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In addition, the Bible teaches God is not a man (Numbers 23:19); There is only one God (Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:21-22); The Father is Spirit and invisible (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17).
JESUS CHRIST:
LDS--A created being, the first spirit child of Elohim and one of his wives, the spirit brother of Lucifer the devil.
BIBLE--The eternal God manifested in the flesh; the One that created all things (John 1:1-3, 14).
HOLY GHOST:
LDS--A separate God from the Father and the Son; different from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is a person whereas the Holy Spirit is an influence from Father, not personal.
BIBLE--The same Greek word is used for Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). He is the third Person of the one triune God.
VIRGIN BIRTH:
LDS--God, as a resurrected physical man, became the literal father of Jesus in the flesh. Christ was conceived in the same physical manner in which all mortals are conceived. (LDS contend that Matthew 1:18 is in error.)
BIBLE-- The Holy Ghost, without the participation of a human (or physically embodied) father, conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary (Matthew 1:18).
SCRIPTURE:
LDS--The Bible (with reservation) plus additional revelation from God found in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Words of latter-day Prophets are also recognized as scripture.
BIBLE--The Bible alone, which is infallible and without error, and the sole authority for all matters of Christian belief and practice (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:3).
GOSPEL:
LDS--The Mormon church system and doctrines.
BIBLE--The message of Christ's death and resurrection as atonement for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Colossians 1:22-23).
FALL:
LDS--Adam's transgression which brought mortality and physical death to humanity, but not a fallen nature. Adam was given two conflicting commandments and chose the correct one to obey.
BIBLE--The event in which Adam and Eve disobeyed the explicit command of God, bringing sin and death onto the human race. As a consequence of the Fall, humans are alienated from God and in need of a Savior. In addition, the Bible teaches God tempts no one (James 1:13-14); Man is sinful in his very nature (Romans 8:5-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
SIN:
LDS--Specific acts, not man's basic nature.
BIBLE--The fundamental unbelief, distrust and rejection of God as God. The Bible presents sin as both fallen humanity's state of separation and alienation from God and as an individual's purposeful disobedience to God's will. In addition, the Bible teaches we are in spiritual rebellion until conversion (Ephesians 2:3-5; Romans 5:21); We do not just commit sins, we are by nature sinful (Matthew 1:21).
REPENTANCE:
LDS--Repentance of individual acts, not of sinful nature. To repent, one must feel sincere sorrow for his sins, stop sinning and keep the commandments of God. Some serious sins also require confession to LDS priesthood authority. True repentance is evidenced by the person never committing the same sin again; if he does, it is evidence that he did not truly repent and so his former sin returns to him.
BIBLE--A deep sense that the worst thing about one's sin is that it has offended a holy God. Repentance involves turning from sin to Christ, with a sincere desire to live in obedience to His leading. It is an attitude of the heart. In addition, the Bible teaches one must repent of basic rebellion toward God (Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 5:32).
ATONEMENT--SALVATION BY GRACE:
LDS--Universal resurrection, also known as salvation by grace, brought about by Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and death on the Cross. Beyond resurrection, man must earn his own place in heaven.
BIBLE--Refers to God's act of dealing with the primary human problem of sin, which has broken the relationship between God and humankind. God accomplished the way of restoration through Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross. Salvation is not universal, but based on each individual's relationship with Jesus, being given as a free gift of grace to those who trust in Christ alone (Romans 1:16: Hebrews 9:28: Ephesians 2:8-9).
BORN AGAIN:
LDS---Baptism into the LDS church.
BIBLE--Refers to our spiritual rebirth through faith, having previously been dead in our sins (1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
REDEEMED:
LDS---Redemption from mortal death only, not sinful rebellion or spiritual death. See Atonement-Salvation By Grace.
BIBLE--Redemption through Christ from more than mortal death. He redeems us from spiritual death (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1).
ETERNAL LIFE:
LDS--Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom with the ability to eternally bear children in heaven. Requires an LDS temple marriage.
BIBLE--Dwelling forever in the presence of God, a free gift given to all who believe. No mention of parenthood or marriage (John 14:2; Matthew 22:30).
HEAVEN:
LDS--The eternal dwelling place of deceased humans, divided into three kingdoms: Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial with a place for almost everyone (misuse of 1 Corinthians 15:40-41).
BIBLE--The eternal dwelling place of the redeemed. The Bible does not mention various levels of heaven. Rather, there are only two post-mortal conditions: everlasting punishment or life eternal (Matthew 25:31-46).
HELL:
LDS--An eternal institution where deceased people pay for their mortal sins; inmates come and go as in jail, they do not spend eternity there. They stay until their debt to God has been paid in full.
BIBLE--A place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked. There is no indication that people will ever be released from Hell (Revelation 21:8; Matthew 13:24-43; 47-50; Luke 16:26).
TRUE CHURCH:
LDS--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All other churches are corrupt to greater or lesser degrees.
BIBLE--The community of all true believers for all time. The Bible does not recognize an institution or denomination as God's church, but defines it as being comprised of people -- those who have been redeemed by Christ's blood (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Matthew 16:18; 18:19-20).
PRE-EXISTENCE:
LDS--The premortal period of time between the birth of spirit children to God and their birth into mortal life. Everyone pre-existed before life on earth. All have existed eternally.
BIBLE--Refers to Christ as the only pre-existent One (John 8:58; Colossians 1:17). For humans there is no spiritual existence prior to mortality (1 Corinthians 15:46).
AUTHORITY/PRIESTHOOD:
LDS--The power and authority of God given to men to act in things pertaining to the LDS Church and salvation. Only LDS have authority to baptize, ordain, and so forth. In the LDS Church there is a two-part system of priesthood: Melchizedek and Aaronic.
BIBLE--Refers to the priesthood of believers which is the privilege and freedom of all believing Christians to stand before God in personal communion through Christ, directly receiving forgiveness without the need for human intermediaries. In addition, the Bible teaches Christ brought an end to the Aaronic priesthood and He is the ONLY High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10; 1 Peter 2:5).
Adapted from "Terminology Differences" by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Saturday, August 12, 2006
The missing parts of the Bible?
We read in the verse's below from the Book Of Nephi, which is found in the Book of Mormon. It says many plain and precious things have been removed from the bible.
Can the LDS tell me what exactly is missing, or what are the plain and precious things that are missing. I would add also, if you cannot tell me what is missing, then how exactly do you know that what claims to be missing is plain and precious?
Lets add also, why would God allow something to turn up missing or to be removed or lost, or why would he allow His Word to be corrputed in light of Psalms 138:2 God puts His Word avobe His Name
Also I would ask, If you know what is missing, How come the Prophet has not restored it, and If the BoM is the restored Gospel, how come that the missing things are not also restored in the Gospel? Just some questions to think about. Rick b
1 Ne. 13: 28-29, 35, 40
28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.
29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.
• • •
35 For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.
• • •
40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.
Can the LDS tell me what exactly is missing, or what are the plain and precious things that are missing. I would add also, if you cannot tell me what is missing, then how exactly do you know that what claims to be missing is plain and precious?
Lets add also, why would God allow something to turn up missing or to be removed or lost, or why would he allow His Word to be corrputed in light of Psalms 138:2 God puts His Word avobe His Name
Also I would ask, If you know what is missing, How come the Prophet has not restored it, and If the BoM is the restored Gospel, how come that the missing things are not also restored in the Gospel? Just some questions to think about. Rick b
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