TLEM
True Light Educational Ministry
Then
you will
know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ( John
8:32)
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What
About the Mormons or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
We've
all heard them sing, and, oh, those lovely TV commercials. But have you ever
stopped to consider what the Mormons believe? It's something we need to do.
This is the religion of Joseph Smith and Bringham Young. Smith a treasure
hunter who believed in using "peep" stones, founded the Mormons by
claiming to have found 'golden plates' in 1827, which were supposedly written
in a form of hieroglyphics. Smith claimed a commission to translate these
"books" on the plates from the angel Moroni. Now we ask what were
the Mormons to teach according to these revelations?
Mormonism
is a religion of many gods. Smith's original teaching was that our God has a
body of flesh and blood and was a child that went through training to become
god. In fact, having passed through his training successfully, that is
"through obedience to Mormon teaching, death, and resurrection, he proved
himself worthy and was elevated to godhood as his father before him" he
was allowed to come to earth with the council of gods. Here they awarded him
the planet earth. God brought with Him one of his wives Eve, and giving up His
celestial body became mortal as we are. They still hold tightly to the belief
that God is a resurrected, glorified man. In the book Mormon Doctrine, Bruce
R. McConkie says God has a father and that he had a father. The Mormons still
hold to the statement of Lorenzo Snow called the Law of Eternal Progression,
that is: As man is, God once was: and as God is, man may become. "No one
who claims to be a Christian can hold any of these beliefs. Paul writes in
Galatians 3:20, "mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one."
In Psalms 90:2 His unchanging nature is declared, From everlasting to
everlasting thou art God." The commandment states, "I am the Lord
your God, you shall have no other gods before me." Quoting from Isaiah
43:10,11, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I
have chosen, that ye may know there was no God before me, either shall there
be after me. I, even I, the Lord and beside me there is no Savior."
In the
Pearl of Great Price the Mormons contend that we are spirit children born in
the bonds of celestial marriage to God and His marriage partner. Yet, we know
from the Bible in Genesis that in fact God created Adam on the sixth day. In
Mormon doctrine they further state, "and you have got to learn to become
Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as call Gods
have done before you." It is illogical to believe that mortal, created
beings who receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus are or can become
gods. Again refer to Isaiah 43:10, 11 and than go to Isaiah 44:6 "thus
saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am
the first and I am the last, and beside me there is no God." We must also
include the following verse here for many Mormons will state that this refers
to God and this world and is not the same for he gods of the other worlds,
from Isaiah 45:12, "I have made the earth and created man upon it. I,
even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and all their host have I
commanded." The Idea that men may become gods originated with Satan who
preached this in the Garden of Eden so that Adam and Eve would eat the fruit
(see Genesis 3).
It
should be included here that Mormons teach of a celestial marriage that binds
human beings together for eternity so that when they become gods, they can
stay together and rule the same planet. This is not Biblical. This is not
true. In the Bible there are three priesthoods we need to turn our attention
to. The Melchizedek, Aaronic and Levitical. The Melchizedek, as established in
Hebrews chapter 17, is the highest order of the priesthoods. In verse 17
Jesus, by virtue of His Sacrifice on the cross, is forever and ever head of
His won priesthood of the Melchizedek order. Because of Jesus' atonement (1
John2:2) for all of our sins, it is no longer necessary for the priests to
enter into the temple on the day of atonement thus ending the role of the
Aaronic priest, and further establishing the superiority of the Melchizedek
priest. In the Mormon faith, all males over the age of 12 receive the
Melchizedek priesthood, and claim the continuance of the Aaronic order. It is
interesting to note that Black males did not receive priesthood until 1978 for
they were considered living under a curse. Hebrews 7:24 when literally
translated says: "But he continues forever, so his priesthood is
untransferable." The Aaronic priesthood is no more for Jesus' sacrifice
ended their role of atonement, and the Melchizedek is untransferable, so the
Mormons claim for their male members is untrue. Therefore no secret rites or
special temples as Mormons claim are needed for learning the Lord's will. As
Christians we are all commanded to witness, and this can be done anywhere, any
time. As Martin Luther put it, the New Testament teaches a "priesthood of
believers."
Jesus
according to the Mormons cannot be our way into heaven. They state the blood
of Christ cannot atone for all of our sins. One must also adhere to the
teachings and laws of the Mormon church. 1 John 1:7, "The blood of Jesus
Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin," and Romans 5:9, "Much
more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him," the Bible clearly and absolutely states that Jesus is
"the way, the truth, and the light, no man can come unto the father but
by Him." The Mormons also teach that Jesus is not God, but a spirit child
of God (as we are) and brother to Lucifer, who was chosen to come to earth to
give man a chance to chose between good and evil, to decide if they wanted to
become gods. Now in Revelations 1:8 Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the beginning and the end." John 1:1 declares, "In the
beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
We know biblically that Jesus is God and has always existed with God. He is
not a created spirit being. He is certainly not the brother spirit of Lucifer,
who as an angel is a created being of God.
The
Mormon doctrine also teaches falsely the birth of Jesus. They claim that there
was an actual physical relationship between Mary and God. Wrong. The Bible
teaches us that the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and through the power
"of the Most High" she conceived Jesus (Luke 1:35). God did not take
human form and have physical relations with Mary.
Mormonism
also teaches its adherents to baptize the dead. The rights of salvation and
godhood they teach to be retroactive. In Doctrine and Covenants, it says
"Baptism for the dead: the key to the holy priesthood ordained so you may
receive honor and glory; for their salvation (the dead) is necessary and
essential to our salvation." The Bible says "He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved" and, of course, John 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." Let's also include
John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved." First of all, salvation
is through Jesus alone, there is no other way; the baptism of the dead does
not forgive our sins and allow us to dwell forever with the Father in heaven.
Secondly, to be baptized, you must be a living person. In the Bible, the
baptism by water by John was on the people living at the time. The baptism by
the Holy Spirit when He descends upon us, is when we accept Jesus. The
acceptance of Jesus is a conscience decision of the living. Nowhere in the
Word of God are the dead baptized.
Mormon
teachings clearly do not follow Scripture. They distort the Word of God and
His teachings. We Christians need to know and be aware of them as 'false
prophets.'
When
studying the history of the Mormon Church the following information needs also
to be considered.
Joseph
Smith and six associates founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, more commonly known as the Mormons, on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New
York. In formulating his religion, Smith combined elements of Judaism and
Christianity with several distinctive features of his own creation. The
organization that grew out of Smith's teachings differs markedly from
Christianity. The basic Mormon scripture is the Book of Mormons, written by
Smith. The Book of Mormons is accepted as a supplement to the Bible, rather
than as a substitute for it. (Read in your Bible Revelations 22:18-19 "I
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds
anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And
if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from
him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in
this book.") Smith did not finish his inspired translation of the Bible,
which incorporates prophecies of his own coming and of the book of Mormons.
Other scriptures are his Pearl of Great Price, Book of Abraham, and the Book
of Moses. Facsimiles published by Smith as part of the Book of Abraham were
later declared by experts to be parts of common Egyptian funerary texts; an
opinion reinforced by examination of what were claimed to be the original
papyri, rediscovered in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, in
1966. Smith's translation referred to gods (in the plural , affirmed that the
stars were peopled with spirits, and held that persons with black skins were
cursed "as pertaining to the priesthood."
The Book
of Mormons was first published in Palmyra, NY in 1830. Mormons accept it as a
divinely inspired work revealed to Smith and translated by him. It tells the
story of a group of Hebrews who left Jerusalem in about 600 BC and came to
North America. They eventually split into two factions, the Lamanites and the
Nephites. The Lamanites forgot their ancient Jewish religion and became the
ancestors of the American Indians. The Nephites remained faithful and built a
great civilization. They were, however, destroyed by the Lamanites in about
400 AD.
Prior to
this time Jesus Christ had appeared on Earth and given his teachings to the
Nephites. A prophet named Mormon recorded these on gold plates. His son
Moroni, an angel or resurrected being, buried the plates. On September 21,
1823, Moroni appeared to Smith three times, to inform him that he had been
chosen to restore God's church on earth. Four years later on September 22,
1827, Smith received the plates from Moroni, who, as last of the ancient
prophets, had buried them in a hill called Cumorah (near Palmyra, NY) in 421
AD where they remained buried for 1,400 years, until Moroni returned in the
form of a resurrected personage and showed the plates to Joseph Smith. After
Smith translated them with a set of special stones (Seers) set in silver bowls
they were returned to Moroni on May 2, 1838 and never seen again.
Mormon
teaching states that God had originally evolved from mankind. Therefore
present humanity could become gods. Contrary to Christianity, Mormon belief
asserts that the three persons of the Godhead (The Trinity) are three separate
beings. Jesus Christ appeared on Earth to save mankind, but each person's
salvation nevertheless depends on the quality of his own life. A baptism by
immersion is practiced, and there is also a baptism on behalf of the dead.
Because Mormons believe it is possible for dead ancestors to participate in
salvation there is great interest in genealogy tracing one's ancestry among
them.
Smith
originally believed in a concept of heaven and hell for the afterlife.
In 1833
Smith had a revelation of three postresurrectional kingdoms:
The
celestial
The
terrestrial
And the
telestial kingdom on another earth for the unclean liars and adulterers.
Faithful members of the church would inherit eternal life as gods, and even
those who had rejected God's law would live in glory.
Mormons
call themselves Christian and share much of Christian culture, even though
Mormons consider other Christian churches as being in error.
The
Mormons have a well-defined doctrine and plan of church government. The local
unit is the ward, presided over by a bishop and two counselors. Wards are
grouped into stakes. A president and two counselors govern each stake. Lives
of individual Mormons are closely regulated by these two units.
The
church is financed through a mandatory system of tithing giving a percentage
of one's income as an annual contribution.
Mormons
believe that the return of Christ to earth will lead to the first resurrection
and the millennium, the main activity of which will be "temple
work," especially Baptism on behalf of the dead. After the millennium and
second resurrection, the earth will become a celestial sphere and men will be
assigned to the eternal kingdoms. Mormons regard the Christian churches as
apostate; lacking revelations, miracles, and Spirit gifts; and maintaining
corrupt rituals, priesthood's, and teachings. Smith came to restore the
institutions of the church in God's law in society. Adult Baptism, signifying
repentance and obedience, has acquired additional importance as a ritual that
may be undertaken by proxy for salvation of those who died without knowledge
of the truth. Mormons interest in genealogy proceeds from concern to save dead
ancestors. Baptism for the dead, endowment and sealing (which may also be
undertaken by proxy for the dead) are secret but essential ceremonies that
take place in the temple. At endowment, the person is ritually washed,
anointed with oil, and dressed in temple garments (underwear that Good Mormons
continue to wear as protection against evil and as a symbol of faithfulness).
Initiates witness a dramatic performance of the story of creation, learn
secret passwords and grips, and receive a secret name. The sealing ceremony,
which was of special importance in the period when Mormons practiced plural
marriage, seals men and women in marriage for time and eternity. Smith, who
became a Mason in 1842, borrowed Masonic ritual for Mormon ceremonies, (see
TLEM tract; What About Masons) eliminating what he regarded as corruptions of
the original Hebrew forms.
The
standard works of the Mormon Church are the Bible, Book of Mormons, Doctrine
and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. They say that these books amplify but do
not contradict each other.
The
Mormon Church is built upon the idea that the Christian church had fallen into
total, complete apostasy from the truth taught by Christ and His Apostles, and
the true church ceased to exist.
"Every
church on earth is wrong; all their creeds are an abomination in the right of
God and all their teachers are corrupt. (from the "Pearl of Great
Price" 2:19
This
teaching is refuted by our Lord Jesus Christ himself in his bold assertion;
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matt. 16:18).
The
average Mormon does not have the faintest idea as to what Biblical
Christianity is all about or how he come into a personnel relationship with
the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact Mormons are forbidden to have an intimate
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Is the
Jesus of Mormonism the Jesus of the Bible? The Mormon Jesus:
Is God
the Fathers firstborn spirit child in heaven
Is the
spirit brother of Lucifer (Satan)
Was
begotten here on earth by God the Father by natural means, just like any other
man, and not by the Holy Ghost.
"Sweat"
his blood for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His blood cannot
cleanse us from all sin
Is now
one amongst many millions of other gods.
Is not
to be worshipped
Was born
in Jerusalem
Sources
The
Bible: King James Version
Decker,
Ed. What You Need Know About Mormons, Harvest House Publishing, Oregon, 1990.
Martin,
Watler, The Kingdom of the Cults, Bethany House Publishers, Minnesota, 1985.
For
Additional Information Contact
True
Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box
310
Shirley,
NY 11967
Telephone
(631) 395-4646
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