Mormons--Latter Day Saints

Founder: Joseph Smith
Beginning: between 1829-1830 in Fayette, New York
Membership: 6,000,000

Seen by most people as just another christian denomination, the Mormons are probably the best counterfeit of true Christianity today. They even have Jesus' name within the name of their church;"Church of Jesus Christ". They even claim they beleive the Bible is the Word of God. They even claim that Jesus died for our sins and that He rose again, and that He is God. However, when one pulls back the outer layers of these teachings, they will no doubt find that these very things have been twisted to fit Mormon theology.

Mormonism is the creation of Joseph Smith(1805-1844), who in 1820 supposedly received a vision from God the Father and God the Son, after a prayer he prayed out of confusion, to be shown which church is the right church. He was supposedly told by Jesus that all the churches were wrong, and that he is to be the true prophet to restore the truth back to the world. In 1823 Smith received a vision from an angel Moroni, which told him about some lost golden plates that Smith would later find and put into the english language. From 1827-1829 he translated these plates, and produced the "Book of Mormon". And between 1829-1830 Smith supposedly received the Aaronic preisthood from John the Baptist in a vision, and founded the church.

Mormonism does not only see the Bible as the Word of God, but also the "Book of Mormon", "Pearl of Great Price" and "Doctrines and Covenants" are considered as Scripture. And if there is a conflict with Biblical teaching and one of the other writings, the Bible must be seen in light of the later revelation, for Mormonism teaches that God is not finished revealing His Word. The Bible is the Word of God "insofar as it correctly translated", in other words.

Mormonism has at least 6 factions: the Brighamites, the Josephites, the Hendrickites, the Bickertonites, the Cutlerites and the Strangites. The largest being the "Brighamites"(those that accept Brigham Young as the true successor to Joseph Smith) which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The second largest being the "Josephites"( those that beleive the true successor must be a descendant of Joseph Smith), headquartered out of Independence, Missouri. But what is it that the Mormon Church actually teaches?????

Mormonism	The Bible
1.)Mormonism teaches that man can become a God. "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man "(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 345) "As man is, God once was: as God is, man may become" (Prophet Lorenzo Snow, quoted in Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, 105–106) "Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point where He now is" (Apostle Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, 1:123).	1.)The Bible teaches that man cannot become God, and will never acheive Godhood. Psalm8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Mark12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
2.)Mormonism teaches that Jesus' blood cannot atone for some sins. "There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it;"(Journal of Discourses, 3:247; 4:219–220).	2.)The Bible teaches that Jesus' blood atones for all of man's sins. Col.2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
3.)Mormonism teaches that where the writings of the "Book of Mormon", "Pearl of Great Price", "Doctrines and Covenants" come in conflict with the Bible, the Bible is to be seen as less authoritative and is to be understood by the other writings.	3.)The Bible teaches that it itself is the final authority, and should not be added to by any other writing. Rev.22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
4.)Mormonism teaches that salvation can only be found within its church. "My object in going to inquire of the Lord which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight;" (Joseph Smith, "History" 1:18-20)	4.)The Bible teaches that salvation is free to all those who receive Jesus Christ by faith. Jn.3:16 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. Rev.22:17 And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.