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| 38.1 | INTRODUCTION TO REPORT | FIDDLE::LEZAS | | Wed Feb 10 1988 16:44 | 95 |
| INTRODUCTION
This note will reflect why I feel that Mormonism is not a Christian
religion based on the Bible. The topic will be set up in a similar
fashion as that of notes 241 & 242 in CHRISTIAN. Note 38 will contain the
results of my own personal study with a separate note being reserved for
replies. This should make for easier reading.
I would like to first establish the ground work for this topic:
1. you need to understand my bias for this report. It is recommended
you read Note 2.13 for this.
2. I am not going to try to outwit or outquote anyone. I will
just present the information I have uncovered.
3. No statement will be made without reference to evidence of
where it can be found. If I can't document it, I won't put
it into this report.
4. I earnestly pray that God will bless each reader with a full
comprehension of the information written, that through His Holy
Spirit the truth will be evidenced without doubt or turmoil.
5. That for point of reference, it will be my premise that the
Mormon and the Christian worship at different altars, with
doctrines and "gospels" that are separate from one another.
These will be explained fully in this report.
6. The sources of my information are from the following:
Book of Mormon (BOM in the report)
Doctrine and Covenants (DOC in the report)
Pearl of Great Price (POGP)
Gospel Principles (GP) Printed in 1979 by LDS Church
Introduction explains that the use of this manual
is for new converts to instruct them in the Mormon
beliefs. It is also to be used as a study guide
for home as well as Sunday school.
A Friendly Discussion written by Elder Ben E. Rich and
published by LDS Church (no date available)
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder by Le Grand Richards, 1950
Le Grand Richards was a Presiding Bishop for LDS
from April 1938 to April 1952. He is a sustained
member of Council of Twelve Apostles.
The cover page states the book is an aid to
help Mormon Missionaries proclaim the
Gospel but can help any Mormon by
providing them with a one-volume study
course of "truth".
The Bible (King James)
Are Mormon Scriptures Reliable by Harry L. Ropp
Mormonism by Anthony Hoekema
To Moroni With Love by J. Edward Decker
Ed is an ex-mormon who was 20 years in the Mormon
church. He was a member of the Melchizedek Priest-
hood and a Temple Mormon.
Notes taken from the testimonies of ex-Mormons.
The Adam God Doctrine:
Journal of Discource Vol 1 page 50-51 by Brigham Young
Journal of Discource Vol 3 page 319 by Brigham Young, 1856
Journal of Discource Vol 6 page 275 by Brigham Young, 1852
Speech by Brigham Young dated June 18th 1873
While there may be some who take offense to some of the sources that I have
listed, please keep in mind two things:
1. That, again, no statement will be made if there is no
supportable evidence to substantiate it.
2. None of the sources, except for the Bible and the Brigham
Young Discources, were used to influence me one way or the
other. Again, as I said in 2.13, the Holy Spirit was the
one who directed me away from the Mormon Church. These
materials were acquired and studied after my decision not
to join the Mormon church.
As I am still putting together the basic outline for my material, it may be
a few more days before I begin entering my report. Your patience is
appreciated. Also, there will end up being 5 sections to this report.
Each section will have a separate note to respond in. In this
way, we can stay on track and avoid the fragmentation that happened
in note 242.
Thanks. Leza
|
| 38.2 | DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MORMONS AND CHRISTIANS | FIDDLE::LEZAS | | Wed Feb 17 1988 15:45 | 177 |
| As I mentioned before, it will be my premise that Mormons and Christians
worship at different altars. Therefore, it is very important that I define
what these major differences are so that we have a base from which to work.
This section is to give an OVERVIEW ONLY of what the major differences are.
Then in subsequent sections, each difference will be fully explained. Keep
in mind these differences are from my "traditional" Christian viewpoint,
based on my belief that the Bible is the only true Word of God. However,
I feel it will help Mormons understand why Christians do not claim
Mormonism to be Biblically based.
1. JOSEPH'S FIRST VISION
In light of Joseph Smith's first vision (excerpts found below), we as
Christians should be re-evaluating our beliefs for he states that ALL
churches are wrong and are totally lost.
"I asked the personages [Jesus and God] who stood above me in the light,
which of all sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my
heart that all were wrong) - 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; ... they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form
of godliness but they deny the power thereof.... He again forbade me to
join with any of them" POGP Joseph Smith1:18-20
If we accept this vision then we must conclude that the Christian churches
of today are in trouble. First, God finds our creeds an abomination and
that we teach false doctrines. Second, we are considered lost, where
Mormonism is the "Restored Church".
In summary, all "Christian" churches, except the Mormon church, are in
error and are an abomination before God. This is why the Mormons have the
conviction to try and convert people to Mormonism. If Joseph's vision is
true - then the Mormons are doing what they should.
Of course, Christians take offense to this and I will explain this in more
detail in the next section.
2. THE SCRIPTURES
Joseph Smith stated in a speech given on November 28, 1841:
"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any
book on earth and the keystone of our religion and a man would get nearer
to God by abiding its precepts than by any other books."
We have to expect that this means the Bible as well. Let's be honest. The
Mormons do believe that the Bible is the Word of God - there is no argument
here. But only as far as it is translated correctly. Therefore, when a
Mormon doctrine does not agree with the Bible, then it is usually discerned
that the Bible was either not correctly translated there, or precious
things were left out.
Therefore, it is the basic premise by Mormons that the Bible is at best, a
weak source of truth. It is in error and God has sent more complete and
accurate Scripture in the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and the
Doctrines and Covenants.
Obviously, Christians do not agree with this and claim that Mormon
Scriptures are not divinely inspired. Again, this will be dealt with on a
more detailed basis in a future section.
3. SALVATION
Mormons have different kinds of salvation. According to the second and
third Articles of Faith:
II. We believe that men shall be punished for their own sins and not for
Adam's transgression.
III. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be
saved, by obedience to the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel.
What does this really mean? According to the manual, Gospel Principles
(starting at page 285), there are 4 levels of Salvation:
CELESTIAL
They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name
and were baptized... That by keeping the commandments they might be washed
and cleansed from all their sins and receive the Holy Spirit. ....Those
who inherit the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, who become gods,
must also have been married for eternity in the temple. Those who inherit
the celestial kingdom will live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
forever and ever.
TERRESTRIAL
These are they who rejected the gospel on earth but afterwards received it
in the spirit world. These are they who are honorable people on earth, but
who were blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ by the craftiness of men.
These are also they who did receive the gospel and a testimony of Jesus
but afterwards were not valiant. They will be visited by Jesus but not by
our Heavenly Father. They will not be part of an eternal family; they will
live separately and singly forever and ever.
TELESTIAL
These did not receive the gospel or the testimony of Jesus either on earth
or in the spirit world. These are they who suffer for their own sins in
hell until after the Millennium, when they will be resurrected. They will
be visited by the Holy Ghost but not the Father or the Son, Jesus.
OUTER DARKNESS
These are they who had testimonies of Jesus through the Holy Ghost and had
known the power of the Lord but allowed Satan to overcome them. It would
have been better if they had not been born. There is no forgiveness for
them. They will live in eternal darkness, torment and misery with Satan
and his angels forever and ever.
What is the Christian concept of Salvation:
The Christians understand that all mankind has sinned, and faces the
judgment of God.
In Rev. 20:11-15 we are taught that those who do not believe in Christ go
to Hell. There are no levels of glory.
The wicked shall be turned into hell and all nations that forget God.
(Psalm 9:17)
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
But the Bible also teaches that God has provided a way to forgiveness and
eternal life for man. That when we go to heaven we will see God the Father
and Jesus face to face. For as He said to the theif, "Today you will be
with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
For the wages of Sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord. (sorry, can't remember the text)
These are two different versions of salvation. Either one is right or one
is wrong. We will look at these in more detail in a later section.
4. WE CAN BECOME GODS
"Here then is eternal life - to know the only true God; and you have got to
learn to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same
as all Gods have done before you..." Joseph Smith; Journal of Discource
Vol. 6 page 4, dated 1844.
"I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have selected this text for
that express purpose. I wish to declare I have always and in all
congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been
the plurality of Gods. It has been preached by the Elders for fifteen
years. Joseph Smith; History of the Church 6:474.
Of course this is definitely not what the Christians believe. Christians
believe that they have eternal life but that they will worship only one
true God. They do not become Gods themselves. This topic will be dealt
with in much detail in a future section.
5. GOD WAS ONCE A MAN BUT PROGRESSED INTO GODHEAD
"I will prove that the world is wrong by showing what God is... I will go
back to the beginning before the world was...God himself was once as we are
now and is an exalted man and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is
the Great Secret. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all
eternity. I will refute that idea...:" Joseph Smith Journal of
Discources, Vol. 6 page 3, 1844.
Again, the Christians totally reject this theology.
As you can see, there are major differences between the Mormon church and
the traditional Christian beliefs. These are only overviews and each will
be dealt with in complete detail. But these differences: either the
Mormons are right or they are not. Either the Christians are right or they
are not. You can't have both.
In the next section I will deal specifically with difference #1:Joseph
Smith and the first vision. However, if you would like to respond to this
note, please reply in note 61.
|
| 38.3 | Joseph Smith and the First Vision | DISSRV::LEZAS | | Wed Mar 02 1988 10:10 | 332 |
| Difference #1 - Joseph Smith and the First Vision
INTRODUCTION: It seems I am having to repeat myself alot - but that's ok.
Better you understand where I am coming from each time. Keep in mind that
this is only a report. I am trying my personal best to leave out my
opinions. All I am presenting is the information that I uncovered in my
search for the truth about the Mormon religion. It is the accumulation of
information that gave me enough doubts about Mormonism to stay away.
I am not trying to "attack" in any way. I understand that some readers
feel that I am bashing their religion. That's not the case at all. If the
Mormon religion is correct - it will stand to any test.
But you must understand: when Joseph stated that God told him all
Christian churches were an abomination to him, that was a major slap to the
face to the churches of that day. I have not found a retraction to that
statement. Therefore, it must still hold true. Should I not, then, defend
my faith? If I am in error then I should turn around. Otherwise, I stand
secure in my faith.
This is a report, not a question and answer period. Therefore, my format
will be as a report just as Allens report is in note 4. I really pray that
you understand my heart - it is totally filled with love. I am only trying
to present my side of things. I am only setting forth a challenge that
first came from Brigham Young:
"Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-Day Saints with it
and see if it will stand the test." (J of D V16 P46, 1873)
Orson Pratt said it best:
"If we cannot convince you by reason nor by the Word of God, that your
religion is wrong, we will not persecute you...we ask you the same
generosity.....Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by
reason, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God and we will be ever
grateful for the information, and you will ever have the pleasing
reflections that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming
your fellow beings." (The Seer, pg 15)
----------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A PROPHET
I feel it very important to understand what Mormon documents say about
prophets, for it will set the foundation of everything that follows. But
before I do, you need to understand where I set my mind when I went through
this section. It has to do with the Nature of God.
God Does Not Change:
BOM Alma 41:8 "Now the decrees of God are unalterable."
BOM Mormon 9:9-10 "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? And now if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth
vary and in whom there is shadow of changing, then ye have imagined up unto
yourselfs a God who is not a God of miracles."
DOC 20:12 "Thereby showing that he is the same God, yesterday, today and
forever, Amen."
DOC 20:17 "By these things we know that there is a God in heaven who is
infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, the same
unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth and all things which are
in them."
DOC 76:4 "From eternity to eternity he is the same and his years never
fail."
God Does Not Lie:
BOM Enos 1:6 "And I Enos, knew that God could not lie."
BOM Ether 3:12 "And he answered, Yea Lord, I know that thou speakest the
truth, for thou art a God of truth and canst not lie."
DOC 50:17-18 "doth he preach it by the spirit of truth or some other way?
And if it be by some other way, it is not of God."
Now lets look at what the manual, Gospel Principles says about prophets
(starting at page 43)
WHAT IS A PROPHET?
A prophet is a man called by God to be his representative on earth. When a
prophet speaks for God, it is as if God were speaking (this is supported in
DOC 21:1-6).. He is a special witness for Christ, testifying of his
divinity and teaching his gospel. He teaches truth and interprets the word
of God. He calls the unrighteous to repentance. He receives revelations
and directions from the Lord for our benefit. He may see into the future
and foretell coming events so that the world may be warned....A true
prophet is always chosen by God and called through proper priesthood
authority...However, when we speak of "the prophet of the Church", we mean
the President of the Church who is President of the High Priesthood.
WE SHOULD SUSTAIN THE LORD'S PROPHET
....we should study his words... We should follow his teachings completely.
We should not choose to follow part of his counsel and discard that which
is unpleasant or difficult. The Lord commanded us to follow the teachings
of his prophet:
"Thou shalt give heed unto all his [the prophet's] words and commandments
which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness
before me; for his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in
all patience and faith" (DOC 21:4-5)
The Lord will never allow the president of the Church to teach us false
doctrine.
.....In order to stand, the true church must be built upon the foundation
of the prophets (Ephesians 2:20) We are blessed in this insecure world to
have at our head a prophet through whom the Lord reveals his will.
----------------------------------------
What does the BOM say about false prophets:
BOM 3 Nephi 14:15-16 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are revening wolves. Ye shall know them by
their fruits....
We are already familiar with what the Bible says about false prophets so I
will skip that section for now, but I must take a look at one prophet, who
has been claimed to be false (or at least in error): Jeremiah.
In an earlier memo it was shown - by Scripture - that a prophecy Jeremiah
made in regards to king Zedekiah did not come to pass. And looking at
chapter 34 with his death in chapter 39 that would seem true. For he did
not die in peace. (Or what may be considered peace. However, he did *not*
die "by the sword" since that term always refers to death by implements of
war, usually the literal sword, and usually during an act of war. Since
Zedekiah died in prison, of natural causes, it could be argued that he
indeed died in peace.)
However, if you go back and read all the passages in between you will see
that that prophecy was built on a stipulation: that King Zedekiah was to
let the slaves go free. If he would do that, then God would give him a
long and peaceful life and that he would die in peace. He did let the
slaves go free - but then he turned around and took them captive again!
This made God very angry, but in His mercy, He gave him another chance. He
told Zedekiah that he would live a long peaceful life if - when the armies
of king Nebuchanezzar came - he would surrender to king Nebuchanezzar and
allow him to take him to Babylon. However, as we read in chapter 39, when
king Nebuchanezzar attacked king Zedekiah and his people, king Zedekiah
fled. As a result he was captured by the Chaldeans and eventually died.
So there was no mistake made in this prophecy - king Zedekiah chose to
disobey the command of God and he paid dearly for it.
Let's look at another example of a possible false prophecy:
Jonah got mad at God in Nineva because when Jonah told them God was going
to destroy them the king chose to believe Jonah and he and all his people
repented before God. God said to Jonah - do I not have the right to change
my mind? They chose to repent. However, interestingly enough, after many
years, they [the people of Nineva] left God again and were eventually
destroyed.
The Bible clearly states in Ephesians 4:11, that some are appointed to be
prophets, some apostles, etc. None of the disciples EVER claimed to be
prophets, they were only apostles or disciples, with the possible exception
of John who gave us the Book of Revelations. Therefore, the disciples
actions and comments cannot be applied to the standards of a prophet and
are irrelevant.
The Bible says:
"....for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
Joseph Smith, however, DID claim to be a prophet. I cannot personally
accept him as a prophet of God. My reasons are found below:
Joseph Smith stated:
"I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has 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." (History of Church V6, pp 408-409, 1844) [This is not
my example of a humble man. No prophet of God, that I know of, ever set
himself above God as Joseph has done here.]
Lets look at the first vision:
Different Versions of First Vision
Joseph claimed that there was a revival (he called it "an unusual
excitement on the subject of religion") where he lived at the time of his
first vision in 1820. The records of the Presbyterian Church in Palmyra
reveal that there was indeed a revival, but in 1824, not in 1820.
According to Joseph his vision occurred after the revival. If the revival
did not take place until 1824, how then could Joseph have asked God in 1820
which church was right?
To further complicate matters in J of D 13:77-78, we see that an angel
appeared unto Joseph Smith not the Father and Son as printed in the 1842
Time and Seasons. (Almost 22 years after the vision allegedly occurred!)
In 1833 POGP there is also no mention of Father and Son, but that it is an
angel. Again, it wasn't until the 1842 account that Joseph saw the Father
and Son.
The question isn't was there a vision. The question is: why are there
discrepancies in the vision at all? Why are they different?
The Mormon Church the Only Church?
With one statement Joseph Smith pronounced everybody wrong, all Christian
theology an abomination, and all professing Christians corrupt. But how
can this be? Jesus stated in Matt. 16:18 "the gates of hell" would not
prevail against it [His church]. Also, Jesus said in Matt. 28:20: "Lo, I
am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
The Bible does not teach that the church has to be restored. In 2nd Thess.
2 (all of it) it mentions that for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; if you go on to read, Jesus will keep those to the end who
stand firm in his truth. The son of perdition has not been revealed, so
how can the church be gone?
Joseph the lying prophet?
In the second vision, the Angel Moroni told him he needed to prepare
himself to obtain the gold plates (1823). Yet in 1826 Joseph Smith was
arrested, tried and convicted for 'glass looking'. The actual word used in
the letter (of which I have a copy of the original) is "condemned" and that
he took Leg Bail - this means he "jumped bail" and returned about a year
later saying the Statute of Limitations had run out. (Never paying his
court fee of $2.68) However, it has been repeated over and over that
although Joseph was arrested many times, he was never convicted. The
letters I have say he was convicted.
In the 1835 edition of Doctrine and Covenants 101:4, the issue of polygamy
was concrete:
"Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of
fornication and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should
have one wife; and one woman should have one husband; except that in the
event of death when either is at liberty to marry again."
In the 1876 edition of DOC, the 1835 passage was removed and section 132
was added saying you had to be married to more than one wife to obtain the
everlasting covenant. (This revelation was given in 1843). Historical
records indicate that he had been considering the possibilities of
celestial or plural marriage as early as 1829. Interestingly enough, in a
bibliography by Fawn Brodie (No Man Knows My History), Joseph was said to
have married between 11 and 26 young women between 1835 and 1843 (before
the actual revelation was written.)
Let me summarize: In the New Testament the leader's of the church were to
be married to one wife (and since Joseph fell under the dispensation of the
New Testament this should have applied to him as well.) In 1835, God
reaffirmed that. But then in 1843, God changed his mind (I suppose to fit
the lusts of Joseph and Brigham Young). Then in 1890 (after Joseph and
Brigham have both died and under pressure from the U.S. Government) it was
changed back again. This seems a bit confusing and since God is NOT the
author of confusion, where is the truth in this? Some say, it fit for
those times - maybe, but you have 3 "NO's" to plural marriage and 1 "YES"
and only during the lifespan of the two people who wanted it the most -
Joseph and Brigham.
The Bible says: "The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the
prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people
cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed." Isaiah
9:15-16
"Then the Lord said unto me, the Prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent
them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they
prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught and
the deceit of their heart." Jeremiah 14:14
Joseph the false prophet?
"God made Aaron to be the mouth piece for the children of Israel and He
will make me be god to you in His stead and the Elders to be mouth for me;
and if you don't like it, you must lump it. (Joseph Smith, History of the
Church 6:319-20)
Grease Spot Prophecy:
On December 16, 1943 Joseph spoke of a petition he had filed with Congress
for protection of the Saints:
"While discussing the petition with Congress, I prophesied by virtue of the
Holy Priesthood and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress
will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up
as a government, and God shall damn them and there shall nothing be left of
them--not even a grease spot." (Millennial Star. Vol 22: p45)
Congress did not grant the petition and the government has not fallen away.
In a prophecy made in 1835:
"President Smith then stated: it was the will of God that those who went to
Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, would be
ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last
time, for the coming of the Lord which was nigh, even fifty-six years
should wind up the scene." (History of the Church Vol. 2 Pg. 182) That
means that the Lord should have come by 1891. Which he did not.
In the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Journal, Vol. 3 pg 263, 264 in 1837:
Joseph Smith said that there were people inhabiting the moon. That they
were about 6 feet in height and looked like Quakers. He said that they had
the life span of 1000 years of age. There was a printing of this in 1892
by the Mormon Church. (this information was provided to me by an ex-mormon
who spoke with a person that even in the 1960's believed this to be true!
Infact, they were bold enough to ask one of the astronauts who first walked
on the moon, if they saw any Quakers walking around - the astronaut
laughed.) Of course, there is no life on the moon.
These are but 3 of approximately 60 prophecies that did not come to pass.
Remember, it only takes one.
These are just a few of the issues that personally bothered me when I was
studying the Mormon religion. Knowing that there were lies, false
prophecies and doctrines made me question the credibility of Joseph Smith
and therefore, the Mormon church. It made me question - could Joseph have
made everything up?
In the next section, I will discuss the most important topic in this
report: the Divinity of the Mormon Scriptures.
Please post your replies to this section in Note 77
|
| 38.4 | ARE MORMON SCRIPTURES INSPIRED? | FIDDLE::LEZAS | | Wed Mar 23 1988 12:55 | 480 |
| Are the Mormon Scriptures Divinely Inspired?
A PERSONAL NOTE FIRST:
In all honestly, there was a moment or two last week when I began to have
some doubts about what I was doing. I began to question in my own mind
whether or not the Mormons were following sound doctrine based on the word
of God. That maybe the Mormon books were divinely inspired. That maybe I
did not need to concern myself whether or not Mormons were a Christian
religion.
Then a few things happened. First, I purchased a new study Bible that
helped me study the Scriptures more thoroughly. Second, a shipment of
Mormon documents finally arrived. After studying over the weekend I have
decided without a further shadow of doubt that the Mormon gospels are NOT
divinely inspired, that they are a fraud. The Bible stands on its own and
passes every test, while the Mormon gospels fail miserably. These are
necessesarily strong words, but, with confirmation from the Holy Spirit, I
stand by them.
This will probably be the longest (except for the chapter on God) section
of my note. You might want to print it out for study purposes.
Before I begin, let me describe the Mormon documents I received. It is a
two book set titled, "Joseph Smith Begins His Work". It is a compilation
of the original 1830 Book of Mormon, 1833 Book of Commandments, 1835
Doctrine and Covenants, the Lectures on Faith and the 14 Articles of Faith.
There are affidavits in the beginning of each book both from the man who
owns them, Wilford Wood (a devout Mormon) and the Deseret News Publishing
Company, claiming them to be authentic.
--------------------------------------------------------
THE BOOK OF MORMON
Translation of the Book of Mormon
It is very important to understand how the Book of Mormon (hereafter BOM)
was translated. Because this sets up the very foundation of the Mormon
church. The religion is almost completely based on the creation of this
book. Lets look at what the Mormons say about how the BOM was translated.
The manual, Gospel Principles (GP), starting on page 50 says:
"Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon into english through the gift
and power of God. He [Joseph Smith] said that it is "the most correct of
any book on earth, and the keystne of our religion, and a man would get
nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.""
(History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:461)
DOC 8:10-12 states: "Remember that without faith you can do nothing;
therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that
which you ought not. Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that
you may translate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records
which have been hid up, that are sacred; and according to your faith shall
it be done unto you."
DOC 9:8-9 states: "But behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out
in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I
will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel
that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings,
but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to foreget the
thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save
it be given you from me.
And from David Whitmers testimony: "I will now give you a description of
the manner in which the BOM was translated. Joseph would put the seer
stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around
his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light
would shine. A piece of something resemblin parchment would appear, and on
that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under
it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the
English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was
written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then
it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would
appear. Thus the BOM was translated by the gift and power of God, and not
by any power of man." (An Address to All Believers in Christ, page 12)
So we see that the claim is made that God gave Joseph the translation of
the BOM directly (Although the explainations of how disagree). If it was
not correct he would either 1) not have a burning in his bosom, but a
stupor and could not go on until it was right; or 2) the character would
not disappear off the parchment until it was correct. Based on this, it is
easy to see why the BOM must be the most correct book on earth. In fact,
it should be perfect! Why? If God gave the translation, and God is
perfect, then the BOM should also be perfect. In addition it is most
likely that God would have given him the translation in the English of the
1830's, so some of the changes made in the BOM can be accepted because they
have been put into today's grammer, although it could not begin to account
for the multitude of changes made since 1830.
This brings up an interesting point that I will cover more fully later: if
God would have given the translation in the English of the 1830's, why is
most of the BOM written in King James English? Also, Joseph Smith's
visions and revelations have God speaking in King James English too.
Again, I will bring this up later.
Changes made in the Book of Mormon
Interestingly enough, there have been over 3,000 changes made in the BOM
since it was first published in 1830. Again, we can allow for some
grammatical errors and maybe even allow a few errors in printing (although
when you compare the handwritten copies of the BOM to the first BOM
printed, they match) Therefore, I will focus mostly on the doctrinal
changes, since there is no excuse for them. In addition, I will discuss
some absurdities I discovered in the BOM for which there is definately no
excuse!
ORIGINAL (1830) EDITION MODERN VERSION
...king Benjamin had a gift from ...king Mosiah had a gift from
God... (page 200) [This also God... (Mosiah 21:28)
matches the hand written version]
...Behold, the virgin which thou ...Behold, the virgin whom thou
seest, is the mother of God... seest is the mother of the Son
(page 25) of God... (1 Nephi 11:18)
...that the Lamb of God is the ...that the Lamb of God is the
Eternal Father and the Saviour Son of the Eternal Father...
of the world... (page 32) (1 Nephi 13:40)
...And I looked and beheld the Lamb ...And I looked and beheld the
of God, that he was taken by the Lamb of God, that he was taken
people; yea, the Everlasting God, was by the people; yea, the Son of
judged of the world; the everlasting God was judged
(page 26) of the world (1 NEPH 11:32)
These are just a few of the changes (but how much proof do you need?) made
in the Book of Mormon over the years. Some Mormon apologists have stated
that these changes were typo errors in the original printing. But in
comparing the handwritten copies, there is no question that the words SON
OF were added AFTER the 1830 publication of the BOM.
These are major doctrinal changes. In 1830 Jesus WAS God. In 1982 Jesus
was the SON OF God. Since we have no golden plates to refer to, and since
the handwritten versions of the BOM bear this out, why was the BOM altered
in such an obvious way?
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT AND ABSURDITIES OF THE BOOK OF MORMON
How do you rationalize the following:
BOM BIBLE
And now I, Nephi, do not make a full For what man knoweth the things
account of the things which my fat- of a man, except the spirit of
ther hath written...Behold, I make of man which is in him?
an abridgement of the record of my
father...(1 Nephi 1:16,17) (1 Corin. 2:11-13)
Nevertheless, I do not write anything Knowing this first, that no
upon plates save it be that I think prophecy of the scripture is
they are sacred And now, if I do err, of any private interpretation.
even did they err of old;...I would For the scripture came not any
excuse myself (1 Nephi 19:6) time by the will of man, but
holy men of God spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit
(2 Peter 1:20,21)
Prophets of the Old Testament never made excuses for themselves, for they
did not speak their own words but God's. When God says something is
correct, it will come true. We must not make 'abridgements' of His Word.
* In 1 Nephi 10:11 (which was supposed to have been written about 600
B.C.) the term "Holy Ghost" is used. In reality it is Elizabethan English
and was unknow in Old Testament times. However, the translators of the
King James Version used it often as they translated the New Testament into
English.
* 2 Nephi 1:3 cites America as the "land of promise" for these Israelites.
But the Bible informs us that for the children of Israel the land of Canaan
was the promised land. (See Genesis 13:14-18)
* 2 Nephi 10:7 (verse 3 states this is speaking of the Jews) "...When the
day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ then have I
covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh,
upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance." THIS IS A FALSE
PROPHECY!! The Jews ARE back in their own land and they do NOT believe
that Jesus is the Christ. Someday they will believe when they see Him, but
that was not a condition for their restoration, which is clearly evident
since they DO occupy the land of their inheritance once again.
* 2 Nephi 25:19 says,..."and according to the words of the prophets and
also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son
of God." "Christ" was not His last name. It means the "Annointed One' or
"The Messiah". The name 'Jesus' was not foretold in Old Testament times by
an angel to anyone in reference to the "Son of God". The first time an
angel revealed what His name would be was when Gabriel appeared to the
Virgin Mary as recorded in Luke 1:31, "and thou shalt call His name Jesus."
* Mosiah 2:3 gives the instruction, "...offer sacrifice and burnt
offerings according to the law of Moses." In the BOM the 'Nephites' and
'Lamanites' were from the tribe of Manasseh (Alma 10:3). No descendent of
Manasseh could give attendance at the altar according to the law of Moses.
Numbers 3:7, Nehemiah 7:63,65 and Hebrews 7:12-14 tells us only the tribe
of Levi and particularly the sons of Aaron could give attendance at the
altar.
* Alma 7:10 tells us that Jesus was to be born at Jerusalem. The Bible
tells us in Micah 5:2 and in Luke 2:4 that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Jersualem is a city. Bethlehem is also a city. The Mormon argument is
that "Jerusalem" referred to the general vicinity, but in 1 Nephi 1:4
Jerusalem is called a city. If, as a Jew, you knew where Jerusalem was,
you would also know where Bethlehem was for the two cities are not far
apart. The Holy Spirit would not make an error like this, but maybe Joseph
Smith?
* Alma is supposed to be a prophet of God and of Jewish ancestry in the
BOM. In Hebrew Alma means a betrothed virgin maiden - hardly a fitting
name for a man.
* Alma 46:15 tells us there were people known as "Christians" in 73 B.C.
The Bible contradicts that in Acts 11:26, they "were called Christians
first in Antioch."
* The story in Ether 1:34-37 tells us there was a group of people at the
tower of Babel who did not want their language confounded and so, they
said, God decided not to confound it. This contradicts Genesis 11:9 where
it says the language of ALL the earth was confounded.
Lets look at a few of my favorite ABSURDITIES in the BOM:
In the BOM, the Jaredites left from a region around the Tower of Babel at
about 2,250 B.C. Jared's brother, a prophet, was told by the Lord to build
eight barges for the ocean trip. [Keep in mind this is the same God who
told Noah to build the ark] These barges were supposed to be as long as a
tree and to be made "exceeding tight, even that they would hold water like
unto a dish." (Ether 2:17) When Jared's brother informed the Lord that
there would not be sufficient air in the barges to allow the occupants to
breath, the Lord said to him:
"Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and
when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and recieve air.
And if it be that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the
hole, that ye may not perish in the flood." (BOM Ether 2:20)
It then goes on to say that Jared told the Lord they had no light from
which to see. God, however, told them they were to travel across the ocean
in total darkness.
God, who told Noah how to build the ark, would have known how to make
barges that could float and yet provide air and light as needed. We can
assume that God wants them to unstop the hole in the top for air. But why
would God tell them to put a hole in the bottom? Is God stupid?
The Jaredites did not get along well together and they had a battle where
over 2 million warriors were killed. Only two remained: Coriantumr and
Shiz. In the final battle Shiz was killed: the passage describing Shiz's
death says: And it came to pass that after he (Coriantumr) had smitten off
the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised upon his hands and fell; and after that
he had struggled for breath, he died. (Ether 15:31)
Now I know chickens with their heads cut off will sometimes run around
alittle bit before they "die". However, it is not because they are still
alive - it is due to muscle spasms. So, maybe Shiz could have raised upon
his hands due to muscle spasms. But he was already dead. And his head was
missing. How could he struggle for breath?
In Ether 9:26-29
...And there came forth poisonous serpents also upon the face of the land,
an did poison many people. And it came to pass that their flocks began to
flee before the poisonous serpents, towards the land southward, which was
called by the Nephites Zarahemila. And it came to pass that there were
many of them which did perish by the way; nevertheless, there were some
which fled into the land southward. And it came to pass that the Lord did
cause the serpents that they should pursue them no more, but that they
should hedge up the way that the people could not pass...And it came to
pass that the people did follow the course of the beasts, and did devour
the carcasses of them which fell by the way.
Where Zarahemla is no one knows. Some have supposed it was in the Isthmus
of Panama area. However, can you imagine snakes chasing their flocks? Or
snakes setting up guards to keep the people and flocks apart? And can you
imagine the people eating the possibly poisoned cattle?
Also, if you will notice in this particular section of Ether (also in the
rest of the BOM) the use of "And it came to pass".
This phrase is used many times in the King James version of the Bible.
This represents a very poor translation of the Hebrew verb hayah with its
variations. The BOM uses the phrase "and it came to pass.." over 1000
times. A "real" translation of the Hebrew would render very few of these
"and it came to pass" instances. Some claim that the BOM is full of King
James plagerizms. I won't go into it here but there are over 50 such
plagerizms.
THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
Changes Made in the Book of Covenants (now called Doctrine and Covenants):
1833 Book of Commandments 1982 Book of Covenants
------------------------- -----------------------
Church is called "Church of Christ" Church is called "the Church of the
Latter Day Saints
4:2 ... and he (Joseph Smith) has no ...and you have no power over them
power over them except I grant it unto except I grant it unto you. And
him; and he has a gift to translate the you have a gift to translate the
book (BOM) and I have commanded him plates; and this is the first gift
that he shall pretend to no other gift, that I bestowed upon you; and I
for I will grant him no other gift. commanded that you should pretend
to no other gift until my purpose
is fulfilled in this; for I will
grant unto you no other gift until
it (BOM) is finished. (DOC 5:3-4)
28:6-7...Behold this is wisdom in DOC 27:5:18 ...Behold, this is
me, wherefore marvel not, for the wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel
hour cometh that I will drink of not, for the hour cometh that I
the fruit of the vine with you, will drink of the fruit of the
on the earth, and with all those vine with you on the earth, and
whom my Father hath given me out with the Angel Moroni, whom I
of the world: sent unto you to reveal the BOM
...and also with Elias...and
John...and Elijah....etc. etc.
1835 Edition:
DOC 101:4 ...Inasmuch as this DOC 101:4 is missing totally. DOC
church of Christ has been re- 132 telling about plural
proached with the crime of marriage was added (in 1876)
fornication and polygamy; we then revoked in 1890.
declare that we believe that one
man should have one wife; and one
woman, but one husband, except in
the case of death, when either is
at liberty to marry again.
These are just a few example of MAJOR changes in their documents. I could
list about 20 more but for the sake of time, I won't. If you would like
more examples, I will personally send those to you.
THE 14 ARTICLES OF FAITH
Between 1830-35 there were 14 articles of faith. The ones of interest are:
#8 We believe in the Word of God recorded in the Bible; we also believe
the Word of God recorded in the Book of Mormon, and in all other good
books.
Today it reads: We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of
God.
In 1830-35:
#11 We believe in the literal resurrection of the body, and that the dead
in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the dead live not again
until the thousand years expired.
Today: it has been removed from the Articles of Faith. That is why there
are now only 13.
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
The Book of Abraham is a complete fraud.
The alleged translation by Smith known as the Book of Abraham, contained in
the POGP, was claimed to have been written in an Egyptian language by the
hand of Abraham when he was is Egypt. Smith was so certain that he had
uncovered a document of importance that he wrote a volume on Egyptian
grammer (History of the Church 2:238) and in 1842 published his
translation. He was deprived of the use of the Urim and Thummin but still
maintained that he was guided by the power of God.
For years the hand written copy has been available by photo reprint, but
the original Egyptian papyrus was lost. It was supposedly destroyed by the
great Chicago fire of 1871. But in 1967 the papyrus was found and
presented to the Mormons by the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York.
Thinking that Joseph Smith couldn't possibly have made a mistake, or lied,
the church allowed it to be photographed and published in Dialogue
Magazine. Three different Egyptologists each claimed that Joseph Smith
came nowhere close to the meaning. Their translation came to about 70
words, yet Joseph had used over four thousand words in his translation.
Lets read the testimony of one such Egyptologist (who happended to be a
devout Mormon at the time):
In the February 1968 Improvement Era (on page 40) it was stated that Dr.
Hugh Nibley:
"has been assigned by the Church to direct the investigation and research
being done on the material."
Dr. Nibley was and is not an Egyptologist and cannot read hieratic
Egyptian. In a letter to the Mormon Egyptologist, Professor Dee Jay
Nelson, he stated:
"I don't consider myself an Egyptologist at all..."
Dr. Nibley was unable to translate the papyri (labeled 22:309) and asked
Nelson to do it. Dr. Nibley told N. Eldon Tanner, (first counselor to the
president of the church) that "Nelson is best qualified to do the job."
Tanner agreed. However, when Dr. Nelson found the "cracks" in the
foundation, the Mormon Church tried to supress them. Tanner conveniently
forgot that he was to publish Nelsons findings.
Dr. Nelson and his entire family subsequently had their names removed from
the membership rolls of the Latter Day Saints Church because (in a letter
dated Dec. 8, 1975) "following my translation (the first to be published)
of the bulk of the hieratic and hieroglyphic Egyptian texts...these amply
prove the fraudulent nature of the Book of Abraham, in which lies the
unjust assertion that negros are unworthy of participation in the highest
privileges of the LDS church...We do not wish to be associated with a
religious organization which teaches lies and adheres to policies so
blatantly opposed to the civil and religious rights of some citizens of the
United States."
Should there remain any doubt as to Hugh Nibley's respect for Nelson's
scholastic capacities as an Egyptologist, the following quote will clarify
his esteem for Nelson:
"a conscientious piece of work for which the Latter-day Saints owe a debt
of gratitude to Mr. Dee Jay Nelson." (Brigham Young University Studies
3:245)
Dr. Nelson's (as well as others) translation showed to be a representation
of a funeral. It depicted the preparation of someone for burial. The name
of the man being prepared is Hor. Joseph Smith claimed the name of the man
to be Abraham.
BUT THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE MADE IT FIRM IN MY MIND THAT THE MORMON
SCRIPTURES ARE NOT DIVINELY INSPIRED:
In the Book of Abraham 2:6-8 the Lord is talking to Abraham:
"...My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning, therefore my
hand shall be over thee."
The name Jehovah was not known to Abraham, so its use in the BOA is
fraudulent. Second, there is no name "Jehovah" -- it is our improper
transliteration of the Hebrew consonants YHWH, the vowels being
interpolated from the Hebrew word "Adonai" (Lord). [Which I confirme with
a Hebrew speaking friend] In Exodus 6:3 God states to Moses that His name
"Jehovah" (YHWH) was NOT known to Abraham.
"And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God
Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not know to them."
Either God could not remember how he appeared to Abraham (which is
impossible) or the Book of Abraham is a complete fake (which is not only
possible but probable).
If anyone would like more examples, please feel free to let me know. But I
think any discerning person can see, that the Mormon documents just don't
stand up to the tests. I bear witness to you today, that the Bible is:
Given by inspiration of God 2 Tim 3:16
Given by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit Acts 1:16
Heb 3:7
2 Peter 1:21
Is the Word of God Luke 11:28
Heb 4:12
Is the Word of Truth James 1:18
Contain the promise of the Gospel Rom 1:2
Are full and sufficient Luke 16:29-31
Are an unerring guide Prov 6:23
2 Peter 1:19
RECEIVED NOT AS THE WORD
OF MEN BUT AS THE WORD OF GOD 1 Thess 2:13
For replies to this note, please refer to note 105 - thanks
|
| 38.5 | RE-READ 38.4: IT'S BEEN CHANGED | FIDDLE::LEZAS | | Wed Mar 23 1988 13:00 | 10 |
| I made an error in entering my latest entry. What should have been
38.5 is now 38.4.
PLEASE READ 38.4 FOR: Are the Mormon Scriptures Inspired? Replies
can be made to note 105.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Leza
|
| 38.6 | DOCTRINE OF SALVATION | FIDDLE::LEZAS | | Wed Mar 30 1988 17:10 | 385 |
| THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
Before I begin the discussion of Salvation, I feel it necessary to clarify
a few things.
First, why am I doing this? Well, salvation is an eternal matter. Where I
spend eternity is very important to me. Christians believe that salvation
is by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, but as I read through the
Mormon documents, there seems to be much more to it than that.
In Journal of Discourses 8:223 we find: "every intelligent person under the
heavens that does not, when informed, acknowledge that Joseph Smith, jun.,
is a Prophet of God, is in darkness and is opposed to us and to Jesus and
his kingdom on the earth."
The third president and prophet of the Mormon church, John Taylor stated:
"What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing...Why, so far as
things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither
God nor the things of God." (Journal of Discourse 13:225)
So, by these two statements, I am in BIG TROUBLE! I do not believe that
Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and I surely fall into the Christian world
category. Therefore, according to president Taylor, I am a fool and do not
know God.
Second, since I do disagree, where do I get my authority? I am not a
prophet, nor do I hold a priesthood. So why should anyone listen to me?
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matt. 28:18)
My authority comes from Jesus Christ, the only high priest. I need none
other. Read on for further support of this.
Let me clarify some differences in terms. This will give us a reference
point when we discuss the differences in doctrines.
SONS OF GOD: LDS literal "spirit children".
BIBLE But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become Sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name
(John 1:12)
ETERNAL LIFE: LDS obtaining the "celestial kingdom" and
having spirit children.
BIBLE He that hath the Son hath life; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath
not life. These things have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God; that ye may know that ye
have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God
(1 John 5:12-13)
HEAVEN: LDS 4 Different levels as mentioned in the
Introduction of this note.
BIBLE When the Son of man shall come in his
glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne
of his glory: and before him shall be
gathered all nations....And these shall
go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.
(Matt. 25:31-46)
KINGDOM OF GOD: LDS Only those who obtain the celestial
level can be in the kingdom of God.
BIBLE The Son of Man shall send forth his
angels, and they shall gather out
of his kingdom all things that offend
and them which do iniquity; and shall
cast them into a furnace of fire: there
shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then shall the righteous shine forth as
the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
(Matt. 13:41-43)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away; and there was no more
sea...And I heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God
is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, and be their
God. (Rev. 21:1-3)
IMMORTALITY: LDS Universal salvation and will live forever
but won't have eternal life (what is
the difference?)
BIBLE Read 1 Corin 15:35-58. Immortality
is the state of our resurrected body
ATONEMENT/SALVATION
BY GRACE LDS Christs death brought universal
release, but beyond that man must earn
salvation - and only through the LDS church
BIBLE Salvation must be done individually
"For I am no ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every ONE that believeth; to
the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
(Romans 1:16) Also read Heb. 9:28
GOSPEL LDS Mormon church system and doctrines
BIBLE Christs death, burial, resurrection and
atonement (see 1 Corin. 15:1-4 and
Galatians 1:8)
------------------------------------------
MORMON SALVATION
Two Types of Salvation
General Salvation: deliverance of ALL individuals from sin and everlasting
punishment.
Individual: through works, to progress to godhead.
There is no room for salvation by grace alone. Brigham Young stated:
"Some of our old traditions teach us that a man guilty of atrocious and
murderous acts may savingly repent when on the scaffold; and upon his
execution will hear the expression, "Bless God! he has gone to heaven, to
be crowned in glory, through the all-redeeming merits of Christ the Lord."
This is all nonsense. Such a character never will see heaven." (J of D
8:61)
"Lucifer would be the one that will say to the thief on the cross, to the
murderer on the gallows, and to him who has killed his father, mother,
brothers and sisters and little ones, 'Now if you will say, I repent and
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, or on the Saviour of the world, you shall
be saved'" (J of D 13:282)
This violates Luke 23:39-43.
"...the mere fact of resurrection is called salvation by grace
alone...Salvation in the celestial kingdom of God, however, is not
salvation by grace alone. Rather it is salvation by grace coupled with
obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gosepl." (Mormon Doctrine 1966
edition, page 671)
"Salvation is two-fold: General--that which comes to all men irrespective
of belief (in this life) in Christ--and, Individual--that which man merits
through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the gospel." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation
1:134)
"Full salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness
and all true principles. Many conditions must exist in order to make such
salvation available to men. Without the atonement, the gospel, the
priesthood, and the sealing power, there would be no salvation. Without
continuous revelation, the ministering of angels, the working of miracles,
the prevalence of gifts of the spirit, there would be no salvation...There
is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
(Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrin 1966 edition page 670)
The Bible states:
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5)
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his
sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets....Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without
the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:20-28)
What Are the Requirements (Gospel) for Salvation?
In the manual, Gospel Principles, starting at page 291:
"In order to obtain the exaltation we must accept the gospel and all its
covenants; and take upon us the obligations which the Lord has offered; and
walk in the light and understanding of the truth; an 'live by every word
that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God'" (Joseph Fielding Smith,
Doctrines of Salvation, 2:43)
There are specific ordinances we must receive to be exalted:
1. We must be baptized and confirmed member of the Church of Jesus
Christ.
2. We must receive the Holy Ghost.
3. We must receive the temple endowment (there will be a separate
note on this later--most Mormons fail here).
4. We must be married for time and eternity.
In addition to the required ordinances, there are also many laws we have to
obety to qualify for exaltation. We must--
1. Love God and worship Him.
2. Have faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Live the law of chastity (be sexually moral).
4. Repent of our wrong doings.
5. Pay honest tithes and offerings.
6. Be honest in our dealings with others and with the Lord.
7. Speak the truth always.
8. Obey the Word of Wisdom (no coffee, tea, smoking).
9. Search out our kindred dead and perform the saving
ordinances of the gospel for them. (there will be a separate
note on this later).
10. Keep the Sabbath day holy.
11. Attend church.
12. Love and strengthen our families.
13. Have family and indiviual prayers daily.
14. Honor our parents.
15. Teach the gospel to others by word and example.
16. Study the scriptures.
17. Listen to and obey the words of the prophets of the Lord.
18. Develop true charity in our lives.
Lets look, for a moment at the requirement for exaltation (celestial
kingdom--godhood) WE MUST BE MARRIED FOR TIME AND ETERNITY.
DOC 132:19-20 states: "Marriages not sealed to each other for eternity
become angels and not Gods in the life to come; only those sealed to each
other for eternity become Gods."
"There can be no exaltation to the fulness of the blessings of the
celestial kingdom outside of the marriage relation." (Doctrine of
Salvation II, page 65)
This got me to thinking--wouldn't this imply that if Jesus Christ was NOT
married during His earthly life, that he could NOT obtain celestial
kingdom, therefore, he could not rise higher than an angel in the next
life? The Mormons teach that he is a God, and has a resurrected body.
Does this mean that he was married?
Although Mormon scriptures and doctrines don't teach this, I found the
following comment by Orson Hyde (First Council of Twelve Apostles)
interesting:
"If at the marriage of Cana of Galilee, Jesus was the bridegroom and took
unto him Mary, Martha and the other Mary, it shocks not our nerves. If
there was not attachment and familiarity between our Saviour and these
women, highly proper only in the relation of husband and wife, then we have
no sense of propriety.
We say it was Jesus Christ who married, whereby He could see His seed
before He was crucified. I shall say here that before the Saviour died He
looked upon His own natural children as we look upon ours. When Mary came
to the sepulchre she saw two angels and she said unto them, "they have
taken away my Lord or husband."" (J of D II, 81-82 and J of D IV, 210
quoted in Fraser op cit page 62 and 63)
Was Blood Atonement Taught?
"If you want to know what to do with a theif that you may find stealing, I
say kill him on the spot, and never suffer him to commit another
inquity...if I caught a man stealing on my premises I should be very apt to
send him STRAIGHT HOME (emphasis theirs), and that is what I wish every man
to do, to put a stop to that abominable practice in the midst of this
people.
I know this appears hard and throws a cold chill over our revered
traditions received by early education....If you will cause all those whom
you know to be thieves, to be placed in a line before the mouth of one of
our largest cannon, well loaded with chain shot, I will prove by my works
whether I can mete out justice to such persons, or not. I would consider
it just as much my duty to do that, as to baptize a man for the remission
of his sins. That is a short discourse on thieves, I acknowledge, but I
tell you the truth as it is in my heart." (Brigham Young, J of D 1:108-109)
"Let me suppose a case. Suppose you found your brother in bed with your
wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and
they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of
circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a
javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands...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; (emphasis mine) and the
judgments of the Almighty will come, sooner or later, and every man and
woman will have to atone for breaking their covenants." (Brigham Young, J
of D 3:247)
"These are my views, and the Lord knows that I believe in the principles of
sanctification; and when I am guilty of seducing any man's wife, or any
woman in God's world, I say, sever my head from my body. These have ever
been my feelings from the days of my youth. This is my character, and the
character of President Brigham Young. It was the character of Joseph Smith
and of Jesus Christ; and that is the character of the Apostles of Jesus,
and that must be sustained by this people." (Pres. Herber Kimball, J of D
7:20)
"...Brethern and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your sins. And
you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven through baptism, let
your blood be shed, and let the smoke ascend, that the incense thereof may
come up before God as an atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in
Zion may be afraid." (Pres. J.M. Grant, J of D 4:49-51)
These teaching implies that the shed blood of Jesus DOES NOT atone for all
of our sins, that for certain sins, only the shed blood of the transgressor
can atone for their sins.
What Does the Bible Teach?
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which
is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for
there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God....Where is boasting then? It is
excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of
the law." (Romans 3:21-28)
(Ephes. 2:8-9)" For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of
yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should
boast."
"This is the WORK of God, that ye believe on him whom he [God] hath sent",
(John 6:29)
We are justified before God on the basis of faith (Romans 4:1-8) and
justified before men on the basis of our works (James 2:18).
The Scriptures teach that salvation, full and complete, is by grace only,
through faith, and that true salvation produces works which testify to the
world of the existence of the persons faith.
Phil. 2:12-13 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in
my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He sent His only Begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting
life."
Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men."
See also Romans 6:23, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 4:167-17, Hebrews 7:18-19, John
1:29, Eph. 1:7.
-----------------------
If I were to die tonight, I know for certain that I would go to heaven.
That I would see God face to face. Yet, I do not have a marriage for time
and eternity. I do not baptize for the dead. I do not follow the laws and
ordinances of the Mormon church. For God so loved ME that He sent His only
Begotten Son, that if I believed in Him I should not perish but have
everlasting life.
Do you know for certain, that if you were to die tonight you would go to
heaven? Have you an eternal marriage? Are you participating in ALL your
temple endowments? Are you up to date on your baptisms for the dead? Or
are you content to settle for a lessor heaven?
The Holy Spirit has showed me that the the Mormon church has taught false
doctrine in the area of salvation. That salvation is based on belief in
Jesus, through faith. That as an evidence ONLY to men do we do good works.
That the Jesus I serve paid the debt once and for all. That I will live
and reign with him forever and ever. AMEN!
For replies to this note, please refer to note 108
|
| 38.7 | THE CONCEPT OF GOD | IAMOK::LEZAS | | Wed Jun 08 1988 11:27 | 659 |
| I have decided to put the last two sections, We Can Become God and God was
Once a Man who Progressed to Godhood together since they are so closely
inter-related. As far as my belief goes, this is probably the biggest gulf
between what I would consider Christian and Mormonism. As others have told
me, I have a narrow, almost dogmatic view of things since I base my
concepts on the Bible and the fact that it is correct. But that is what I
believe and that is why this report is from my view.
If we keep in mind that God does NOT change, (which we touched on before
so we won't go into it here) then we can assume the God of
the Bible should be the same God in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrines and
Covenants and any other Mormon sacred writings. This is not the case,
however.
THE GODHEAD
-----------
If one sentence could be used to sum up the difference between Mormonism
and Christianity it could be said without fear of contradiction that
Mormonism is polytheistic and Christianity is monotheistic. Historic
Christianity has always affirmed that "within the nature of the one Eternal
God, there are 3 persons: the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit."
It is true that the nature of God, because He is infinite, is almost
impossible to comprehend - God is beyond our capacities to understand
fully. However, I will try and explain how I understand it: there are
three separate Persons in the Deity, known as the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. Each of these is affirmed to be the one Eternal God:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2)
"But Peter said, Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?... Thou hast
not lied unto men, but unto God." (Acts 5:3-4)
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 28:19)
[note: the word NAME is singular - note plural!]
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." (2 Corin. 13:14)
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit
of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is
none of his." (Romans 8:9-17)
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the spirit of
God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord
but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all." (1 Corin. 12:3-6)
"There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and IN you all." (Ephes. 4:4-6)
"Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words;
and my father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode
with him." (John 14:23)
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." (2nd Corin.
5:18-19)
"Then said Jesus to them again, peace be unto you: as my father hath sent
me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, He breathed on them,
and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost..." (John 20:21-22)
WHAT THE BOM [APPEARS] TO TEACH ABOUT THE GODHEAD
-------------------------------------------------
"...behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God,
without end. Amen." (2nd Nephi 31:21)
"And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand the God
himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his
people. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God
and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, BEING THE FATHER
AND THE SON [emphasis mine]-- The Father, because he was conceived by the
power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus BECOMING THE FATHER
AND THE SON-- And they are ONE GOD, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven
and of earth." (Mosiah 15:1-4)
"....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 11:44)
"Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the NAME OF
THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST [emphasis mine]...And
after this manner shall ye baptize in my NAME; for behold verily I say unto
you, that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are one, and I am in
the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one." (3 Nephi
11:25-27)
"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..."
[emphasis mine]. (Ether 3:14)
These Scriptures were easy to locate. They were found by looking in the
index of the Book of Mormon. So if I was a person seeking the Mormon God,
I would come to the conclusion that there was One God: The Father, Son and
Holy Ghost, based on the above Scriptures and several others that I chose
not to enter due to space.
WHAT IS TAUGHT TODAY?
_____________________
"I will preach on the plurality of Gods....when I have preached on the
subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. It has been
preached by the Elders for fifteen years. I have always declared God to be
a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from
God the Father and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a
Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three
Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo and behold! We
have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural: and who can contradict it?"
(Joseph Smith Jr. History of the Church 6:474)
"Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are
only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhow--three in one, and one in
three! It is a curious organization...all are crammed into one God,
according to sectarianism. It would make the biggest God in all the world.
He would a wonderfully big God--he would be a giant or a monster." (Joseph
Smith Jr. History of the Church 6:475-76)
Yes, my God is a wonderfully big God! But he is no monster! Lets look now
at God the Father and who He is:
GOD THE FATHER
--------------
IS INVISIBLE:
"No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son, which is in the
bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:18)
Jesus talking: "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne
witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his
shape." (John 5:37)
"Who is the image of the invisible God.." (Colossians 1:15)
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and
truth." (John 4:24)
"Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty." (2nd Corin. 3:17)
"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot
perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold
him; he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him;" (Job
23:8-9)
"A spirit does not have flesh and bones..." (Luke 24:39)
"All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son,
but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to
whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matt. 11:27)
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be
honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Tim. 1:17)
IS NOT A MAN:
"God is NOT a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he
should repent." (Numbers 23:19)
IS EVERYWHERE:
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of
heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"
(1 Kings 8:27)
"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the
Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:24)
WHAT BOM TEACHES
----------------
"...believest thou that there is a Great Spirit? and he said, Yea. And
Ammon said: this is God." (Alma 18:26-28)
"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..." (Alma 22:8-11)
WHAT IS TAUGHT TODAY?
_____________________
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits
enthroned in yonder heavens!" (Joseph Smith Jr History of the Church
6:305-6)
"Joseph says there are Gods above the God of this universe as far as he is
above us, and if he should transgress the laws given to Him by those above
Him, he would be hurled from His throne to Hell, as was Lucifer and all his
creations with Him." (From a letter dated June 16, 1844 from Sarah Scott in
Nauvoo)
"Resolved, 2nd, Inasmuch as .... Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and many other
official characters...have introduced false and damnable doctrines into the
church, such as plurality of Gods above the God of the Universe, and his
liability to FALL WITH ALL HIS CREATIONS..." (Article from the Nauvoo
Expositor dated June 7, 1844)
(Which contradicts Matt. 5:48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.)
I understand and know well the Scriptures that say God has hands, or that
they saw him face to face, etc. These Scriptures are found in the Old
Testament. If we use this as logic, then we have to take into
consideration the Scriptures that say:
God has wings: "He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings
shall thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." (Psalms 91:4)
Jesus was seen as the Lamb of God in Rev. 5:6, as the Lion of Judah in
Revelations 5:5, as the Bread of Life in John 6:35, as the Cornerstone (a
rock) in Eph 2:20 and he says, I am the TRUE VINE in John 15:1-6.
So, if we took these literally, God is a chicken and Jesus is a messed up
creature made of animal, vegetable and mineral. This may sound alittle
flippant, but I think that when the Bible states that someone spoke to God
face to face, or saw his backside, I believe this is figurative.
God has appeared to men from time to time throughout history by various
means; the still, small voice to Elijah, the burning bush to Moses, the
pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night to the Israelites in the
wilderness, etc. We can gather accounts of His appearances and try to make
a composite picture of Him, disregarding other statements describing God,
such as His invisibility, and that no man can see God (presumably in His
true appearance) and live. This is too wonderful for us, we cannot fully
comprehend it, yet by taking a few selected Scriptures one can easily
portray God as something other (less) than He is, while ignoring those that
make it plain that we CANNOT adequately picture Him, is attempting to fit
God into OUR plan, and not ourselves into His.
One question: the Mormons teach that Jehovah (Jesus Christ prior to the
incarnation) deals exclusively with Man after the fall. Therefore, how can
you use Old Testament symbolism that explains God (Jehovah-Jesus) as having
flesh and bones when he hasn't been born yet? Was he not still in His
spirit body?
GOD THE SON
-----------
Was and is God:
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I
am." (John 8:58)
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Savior Jesus Christ.." (Titus 2:13)
"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne O God, is for ever and ever..."
(Hebrews 1:8)
"For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily..." (Colos.
2:9)
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made your overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, even in his son Jesus
Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep
yourselves from idols. Amen." (1 John 5:20)
WHAT THE BOM TEACHES
--------------------
Mosiah 3:5-8: "For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that
with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was and is from all
eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of
men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst
men.... And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of
heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his
mother shall be called Mary."
[So, Jesus was already reigning in heaven as the Lord Omnipotent from all
eternity to all eternity. He came down and dwelt in a tabernacle of clay.
So what was he before? Also, he is here called the Father of heaven and
earth and the creator of ALL things. He was already GOD. How could he be?
According to the law of eternal progression, you have to be born out of the
spirit world into flesh, and then return. Jesus was not even born yet, yet
he is clearly already God!]
2nd Neph 26:12: "And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that
Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced
also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God."
[Notice that it does NOT say Jesus is the Christ, AN Eternal God. THE
Eternal God, denotes uniqueness.]
Ether 3:14: "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...."
MAJOR CHANGES IN BOOK OF MORMON
-------------------------------
In 1830 I Nephi 13:40 read: ...that the Lamb of God is the Eternal
Father...
Today it reads: ...that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father
In 1830 I Nephi 11:18 read: .... thou seest is the mother of God
Today it reads: .... thou seest is the mother of the Son of God
There are two additional locations where Jesus was called God or the
Eternal Father, that have now been changed to Son of....
None of these changes have been documented by the Mormon church as to why
they were altered, nor can they be explained away by saying it was typo
errors. They have been compared to the handwritten versions.
WHAT IS TAUGHT TODAY
-------------------
It is taught today, that Jesus is Jehovah, and is the first born of the
spirit children by Elohim. "Jesus Christ is not the Father of the spirits
who have taken or yet shall take bodies upon this earth, for He is one of
them." (Articles of Faith, page 472-73) Yet we just saw in Mosiah 3:5 that
Jesus IS the Father of heaven and earth and the Creator of everything from
THE BEGINNING. How can this be?
"Jesus is greater than the Holy Spirit, which is subject unto him, but his
Father is greater than he." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of
Salvation, I, 18) Yet Jesus has always been affirmed to be equal with the
Father. To further take away the Deity of Christ:
"The divinity of Jesus is the truth which now requires to be
reperceived...the divinity of Jesus and [the divinity] of all other noble
and saintly souls, insofar as they too, have been inflamed by a spark of
Deity - insofar as they too, can be recognized as manifestations of the
Divine." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 347)
Jesus has been brought down to being another "noble and saintly soul".
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
-------------------
Is Omnipresent: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I
flee from they presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I
make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there..." (Psalm 139:7-13)
Is Omniscient: "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even
so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." (1 Corin.
2:10)
Is Omnipotent: "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the
Spirit of God..." (Romans 15:19)
Is equal to God: "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matt. 28:19)
"Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,...When
your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years...So I
sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest..." (Hebrews 3:7-9)
WHAT BOM TEACHES
----------------
"...behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God,
without end. Amen." (2nd Nephi 31:21)
"....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 11:44)
"Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the NAME OF
THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST [emphasis mine]...And
after this manner shall ye baptize in my NAME; for behold verily I say unto
you, that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are one, and I am in
the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one." (3 Nephi
11:25-27)
WHAT IS TAUGHT TODAY
--------------------
Gospel Principles (Beginning on page 34)
The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. He has a body of spirit. His
body of spirit is in the form and likeness of a man. He can be ONLY IN ONE
PLACE AT A TIME, but his influence can be every place at the same time
(emphasis mine).
The Holy Ghost is our Heavenly Father's messenger and is a special gift to
us.
------------------------
Is there a contradiction?: "It is clear that the Father is a personal
being, possessing a definite form, with bodily parts and spiritual
passions... We affirm that to deny the materiality of God's person is to
deny God; for a thing without parts has no whole, an immaterial body cannot
exist." (Articles of Faith, page 41)
Therefore, how can the Holy Spirit be a God? He is immaterial -- according
to the above quote, then, the Holy Spirit cannot exist.
Another Question: according to the "law" of eternal progression: Gods are
men who have passed through an earth life, obeyed the "laws of the gospel"
and received their exaltation. How can the Holy Ghost be a God without a
body? How could Christ have been a God, since He too was without a body
until 2000 years ago? If God the Father was once a man, why isn't that
fact clearly spelled out in D & C? Since it is clear that only God the
Father had a body at the creation, why didn't He say, "let us make man in
My image" rather than "our" image?
"There is no greater blessing that can come then the blessing of birth.
One third of the hosts of heaven, because of rebellion, were denied that
privilege, and hence they have no bodies of flesh and bones, that great
gift of God. (Doctrine of Salvation, V1 page 16)
Would that include the Holy Spirit?
ONE GOD
-------
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS
God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him;
and without him was not anything made that was made...And the Word was made
flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1-3, 14)
"Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God;
there is none else beside him." (Deut. 4:35)
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen;
that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me
there was NO God formed, neither shall there be AFTER ME. I, even I, am
the Lord; and beside me there is no savior. I have declared, and have
saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you:
therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before
the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. I
will work, and who shall let it?" (Isaiah 43:10-13)
"Thus saith the Lord of 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. And who,
as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I
appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall
come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not
told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses.
Is there a God beside me? yea there is no God; I know not any." (Isaiah
44:6-8)
"Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one." (Gal. 3:20)
"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by
nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are
known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,
whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (Gal. 4:8)
Yes, the Bible does speak about other gods. For what is a god? It is only
an object of an individuals worship. It can be money, cars, wood, the
stars, etc. But it is not by nature God or Deity. Jeremiah 10:10-11 says:
"But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting
King. At His wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure His
indignation. Thus you shall say to them, 'the gods that did not make the
heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the
heavens.'"
The gods mentioned in the Bible do not represent anything that WE become.
They represent a substitute for the ONE TRUE GOD. His name is I AM. And
we baptize in the NAME OF: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. One
God.
WHAT BOM TEACHES
----------------
"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...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, to be judged according to their
works..." (Alma 11:26-44)
"And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way: and there is none
other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the
kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the
only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,
which is one God, without end. Amen" (2nd Neph 31:21)
Is there more than one God? And he answered, No!
WHAT IS TAUGHT TODAY
--------------------
"The head God organized the heavens and the earth. I defy all the world to
refute me. In the beginning the heads of the Gods organized the heavens
and the earth. The head of the Gods appointed one God for us; and when you
take (that) view of the subject, it sets one free to see all the beauty..."
(Joseph Smith, History of the Church 6:475-76)
(Mosiah 3:5 says Jesus created everything from the beginning. Who in the
world (s) is the head God?)
Now, if I may be so bold as to enter the following (which I just
discovered.) If you cannot see the seriousness of this, I will
have nothing to do but throw up my hands. Explain the following:
In the Pearl of Great Price: Moses Chapter 2, God telling Moses
how the heavens and earth were created:
"I am the beginning and the end, The Almighty God; by mine Only
Begotten I created these things, yea, in the beginning I CREATED
the heaven and the earth upon which thou standest."
Now go to Abraham Chapter 4: God is explaining to Abraham how the
earth was created:
"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."
Back to Moses Chapter 2 vs 3:
"And I, God, said: Let there be light; and there was light"
Abraham 4 vs 3:
"And they (the Gods) said; Let there be light; and there was light."
I can go on and on here. But compare Moses chapter 2 with Abraham
in Chapter 4. In Moses, it is I GOD that created, said let there
be, etc. But in Abraham it is now THE GODS organized, said let
there be, etc. Why is there such a discrepensy between two sections,
side by side, in the same book, supposedly written by the power
of the same God? Yet in one, it is God only, and the other it is a counsel
of Gods?
The Bible is very clear, In the Beginning, God created the heavens
and the earth.
This is very confusing to me. And since God is not the author of
confusion, I wonder who really is the author of the Pearl of Great
Price.
According to Mormon theology God came through progressions. God has a father,
and Gods father had a father, and Gods fathers father had a father and so
on. And, of course, they had a mother.
Now, if God is flesh and bones, how can he begat spirits? The Bible says
that "like begets alike". This has always puzzled me. That an exalted
MAN, makes spirit babies? It seems so foolish to me that you can believe
in fleshly gods making spirit babies, but you can't believe in worshipping
an almighty God forever and ever. (This from one of the notes saying that
someone couldn't understand what we would do in heaven if we weren't
raising spirit families and controlling worlds.)
Is God not worthy to be praised? Is the creation greater then the Creator?
Nay, for we are but clay in the potters hands. He raises one up and casts
down another. Can the clay say to the potter, 'why make me thus' when the
potter molds and makes the clay into the vessel of His design? You mock
God for He is the Almighty and He is worthy to be praised. You set
yourselves up to be gods, but He has said, there are no other gods before
Me. Thou shalt worship no other gods.
WE CAN BECOME GODS
------------------
"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural,
and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth,
earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." (1st Corin. 15:46-47)
We were first natural, then spirit. Not the other way around.
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear." (Hebrews 3:11)
"..even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not
as though they were." (Romans 4:17)
In other words, God created everything out of nothingness. We did not
exist before as spirit children.
Yes, some are predestined to become prophets, apostles, etc. God knew them
from the foundation of the world. But, lets look at it this way:
A woman becomes pregnant, and because of some tests, she learns that it is
a boy. She decides on a name, and she has her hopes for what he will
become when he grows up. By her influence she can mold him and shape him
towards that goal: but she cannot force him, because he has free will.
God, being more powerful then a mere human, knows who we are from the
beginning. As he did Adam and Eve. He had hopes for what they would
become. His influence helped to mold them and shape them into what he
originally intended for them. But He gave them free will, and they chose
to rebel. Those that chose not to rebel, become the men and women that God
had intended for them from the beginning.
WHAT BOM TEACHES
----------------
"The heavens is a place where God dwells and all his holy angels...and he
knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they
all created from the beginning...Now when Ammon had said these words, he
began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam..." (Alma
18:28-37)
Heaven, contains God and his holy angels. Why is there NO mention of his
spirit children? (or a wife for that matter). Also, by his hands ALL was
CREATED from the BEGINNING!
"For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth,
which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being
able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then,
why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the
face of it, according to his will and pleasure?" (Jacob 4:9)
God spoke the word and all the world came into order. He spoke the word
and man was created. How then did he have sex with a wife and make spirit
babies?
WHAT IS TAUGHT TODAY
-------------------
"The first principles of man are self-existent with God. God himself,
finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more
intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a
privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God
places us in a situation to advance in knowledge." (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, page 354)
There is no Biblical basis for men becoming Gods - nor a Book of Mormon
basis for that matter. God was always God. He did not progress from a
mere man. If this was so, who was the FIRST God? How was He created?
The Bible also does not teach that after men die they turn into angels.
Yet when Moroni died and was resurrected he came back as an angel? Why is
he not to be a god?
In my last section - the Conclusion - I will give some new evidence why I
cannot accept Mormonism as a Christian faith. In the meantime, please
respond to this memo in notes 134.
|
| 38.8 | THE LAST SECTION | IAMOK::LEZAS | | Fri Jun 17 1988 17:17 | 501 |
| IN CONCLUSION
-------------
I have tried to make it very clear, from the beginning, that this entire
report is from my viewpoint. I have also tried to be very careful about
injecting my personal feelings and comments, and I apologize for those
times when I deviated from this. In addition, I tried not to use any
blatant information from so called "Anti-Mormon" literature. Again,
approximately 90% of my report came from Mormon documents (both cannonized
and non-cannonized.)
I would like to clarify what I mean by "Anti-Mormon". I have tried to
avoid using material that was written by researchers only, since to me
they, just don't have a "personal" interest. Most of my information,
infact, came from Ex-mormons and not from Ex-mormons with a superficial
knowledge of the church. These were devout Mormons who spent their lives
in the church, grew up in the church, served the church faithfully,
(Almost each had 20 or more years involvement with the church.) Most
served in the temples. Eventually, however, they found themselves asking
questions that in most cases were never answered, routed to someone else,
or just generally passed around and around. Some were even told to "quit
asking these types of questions." These people did not start out to prove
the Mormon church wrong. In most every case, they were trying to prove the
Mormon church correct, but - they could not.
Their information proves to be the most valuable, for they have seen both
sides. They have had the veils removed from their eyes and were able to
see the truth for themselves. Many spent days crying when they uncovered
their findings. Many could not believe that they had been lied to all
these years. Yet, all were able to accept Jesus as their personal savior
and, as a matter of conscience, had their names removed from the Mormon
books.
Allen has made references to 'source material' to the effect that if the
material is not 'primary', (written by the person) you can almost throw it
out as being useful. I don't 100% agree with that, but just the same I
tried to avoid using secondary, or even heresay information as much as
possible. Recently, though, I have been able to get bits and pieces
(copies) of a source document that cannot be disproved. And that is the
diary of Joseph Smith himself. Based on new information that I have
uncovered, I would like to summarize my report as to why I cannot accept
the Mormon faith as being a true religion.
JOSEPH SMITH
------------
I cannot accept Joseph Smith as a man of God (prophet, seer, translator).
There are too many things against him:
1. He is of questionable character.
His changes to his first vision are too great. First, in the earliest
account (written by Joseph in the 1830's), Joseph writes that he only sees
the Son, "while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year
of my age a pillar of light from above rested upon me...and I saw the Lord
and he spake unto me saying, Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven
thee...behold I am the Lord of glory, I was crucified for the world...".
There is NO mention of the father.
According to his diary, Nov. 9, 1835, he writes: "that a personage
appeared, then another personage soon appeared like unto the first, and
said unto me, thy sins are forgiven thee, he testified unto me that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God, and I was about 14 years old.... When I was about
17 years old, I saw another vision of angels in the night..." There is
still no mention that the personages were Christ or God, and in his second
vision he did not mention the angel Moroni. But then, from a photocopy of
the May 29, 1852 issue of the Deseret News, quoting Joseph: [granted, this
was after Joseph had been killed. This issue was reprinting statements
made from his diary when Joseph was alive.]
"This afternoon, Erastus Holmes, of Newbury, Ohio, called on me to
inquire about the establishment of the church, and to be instructed
in doctrine more perfectly. I gave him a brief relation of my
experience while in my juvenile years, say from six years old up to
the time I received the first visitation of angels, which was when
I was about fourteen years old; also the revelations that I
received afterwards concerning the Book of Mormon and a short
account of the rise and progress of the church up to this date."
Joseph's diary supports this from his November 15, 1835 entry: "I gave him
[Erastus Holmes] a brief relation of my experience while in my juvenile
years, say from six years old up to the time I received my first vision,
which was when I was about fourteen years old..."
The fourth version is, of course, the one printed in the Mormon scriptures
today, in which he saw the Father and the Son, originally published in
1842. Based on Joseph's own writings, I cannot accept the account of last
vision as truthful.
His changing of his vision of the celestial kingdom:
In his diary entry of Jan. 21, 1836 Joseph writes: "The heavens were
opened upon us and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God...I saw Father
Adam and Abraham and Michael and my father and mother and my brother
Alvin."
Today it reads: "I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my
mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept...." (D & C Section
137:5)
Now it may not seem important that Michael has been removed from this
passage in the D & C, except for the fact that Mormon theology now teaches
that Adam is Michael. But in Joseph's diary, we see that he saw Adam,
Abraham, AND MICHAEL. This totally distroys the credibility of this
vision. Why was it changed? Joseph taught, shortly after this vision,
that Adam WAS Michael the Archeangel. Why did Joseph change his mind? I
believe the whole vision was a fabrication.
2. Joseph did not follow his own teachings. It is clear from entries made
in his diary, and in the History of the Church, Joseph DID NOT follow the
Word of Wisdom, which was supposedly given to him, by God, on Feb. 27,
1833:
(The word of wisdom forbids the use of hot drinks, strong drinks and
tobacco.)
May 2, 1843, Joseph records in his History of the Church: "Wednesday, 3.
-- called at the office and drank a glass of wine with Sister Jenetta
Richards, made by her mother in England.." (History of Church, Vol. 5 page
380)
"Before the jailor came in, his boy brought in some water, and said the
guard wanted some wine. Joseph gave Dr. Richards two dollars to give the
guard; but the guard said one was enough, and would take no more. The
guard immediately sent for a bottle of wine, pipes, and two small papers of
tobacco; and one of the guards brought them into the jail soon after the
jailor went out. Dr. Richards uncorked the bottle, and presented a glass
to Joseph, who tasted, as did brother Taylor and the Doctor, and the bottle
was then given to the guard, who turned to go out." (History of the
Church, Vol. 6 page 616 - concerning an incident in Carthage jail.)
Joseph Smith's statement in the Millennial Star: "Then went to John P.
Greenes and paid him and another brother $200. Drank a glass of beer at
Mosessers. Called at William Clayton's..." (Millennial Star, Vol. 23,
page 720)
In the History of the Church, this statement has had the words, DRANK A
GLASS OF BEER AT MOSESSERS, deleted, without any explanation.
Amasa Lyman, of the first presidency related:
"Joseph Smith tried the faith of the Saints many times by his
perculiarities. At one time, he had preached a powerful sermon on the Word
of Wisdom, and immediately thereafter, he rode through the streets of
Nauvoo smoking a cigar. Some of the brethren were tried as was Abraham of
old." (From Master's Thesis, Brigham Young University, May 1969, page 161)
Joseph also owned a bar in Nauvoo until his wife Emma complained and made
him remove it.
Today, if you do not follow the word of wisdom, you cannot get a temple
recommend. Based on the above, Joseph himself would not be allowed in the
temple today.
(There are many other examples both by Joseph and Brigham Young on how they
broke the word of wisdom, but I will move on).
3. Joseph committed adultery - and we are talking about out and out
adultery, never mind the polygamy issue.
"Q. - You (Lorenzo Snow) state now that Joseph Smith was sealed or married
to your sister in April 1843, and this so-called revelation was given in
July, 1843?
A. - Well at the time I said it, it was all right. According to my
understanding of this new covenant, the woman is sealed to the man and not
the man to the woman, and I stated THAT JOSEPH TOOK MY SISTER FOR A WIFE
WHEN HE HAD A WIFE LIVING, AND THAT WAS PRIOR TO THE GIVING OF THIS
REVELATION." (Temple Lot Case, page 320-322)
"Joseph Smith finally demanded the WIVES OF ALL THE TWELVE APOSTLES that
were at home then in Nauvoo...Vilate Kimball, the first wife of Heber C.
Kimball, ...loved her husband, and he...loved her, hence a reluctance to
comply with the Lord's demand that Vilate should be consecrated...They had
a young daughter only getting out of girlhood, and the father apologizing
to the prophet for his wifes reluctance to comply with his desires....asked
Joe if his daughter wouldn't do as well as his wife. Joe replied that she
would do just as well, and the Lord would accept her instead. The
half-ripe bud of womanhood was delivered over to the prophet." (Mormon
Portraits, 1886, page 70-72)
This was verified in the book "The Life of Heber C. Kimball" written by the
Mormon Apostle Orson F. Whitney.
John D. Lee tells that Joseph Smith took H.B. Jacob's wife while Mr. Jacobs
was absent. "It was now June, 1842. I then took a tour down through
Illinois. HB Jacobs accompanied me as a fellow companion of the way.
Jacobs was bragging about his wife and two children, what a true, virtuous,
lovely woman she was. He almost worshipped her. But little did he think
that, in his absence, she was sealed to the prophet Joseph and was his
wife." (Confessions of John D. Lee, page 132.) [Notice the date, June,
1842. A Full year BEFORE the revelation of plural marriage was given.]
There are many other examples that Joseph took and married other married
women. This is in direct violation to the word of God. "Thou shalt NOT
commit adultary."
3. Joseph was a false prophet. Some new information that was uncovered
from Joseph Smiths diary:
April 2, 1843, just before Joseph gives his second account of the prophecy
concerning South Carolina.
"Related the dream written on page 3 - Book B Interpretation by O. Hyde -
old man. --government of these United States, who will be invaded by a
foriegn foe, probably England. U.S. Government will call on Gen. [Joseph]
Smith to defend probably all this western territory and offer him any
amount of men he shall desire & put them under his command."
This interpretation of his dream should appear in the History of the
Church, Vol. 5 page 324, just before the words "I prophesy". But this
interpretation has been omitted. The reason that it was suppressed is
obvious: Joseph was already dead by the time the Civil War started, and
therefore the interpretation could NOT be fulfilled. Also, the war did not
spread to all nations, as prohecied, and the U.S. government certainly did
not call upon Joseph to protect it from England or any other country.
These are just a few of the new findings that have proven to me that Joseph
Smith was not directed of God. And that he actually violated the
principles set by God.
THE BOOK OF MORMON
------------------
I still attest that the Book of Mormon was not divinely inspired.
There are over 3900 changes (I have the documentation for every one of
them), in a Book supposedly written by God's divine guidance and therefore,
"the most correct book on the earth". I won't go into the changes here.
Any one who wants to can find out for themselves.
"In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, after sitting
by the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with
the stone in it, dictating hour after hour with nothing between us." (In
relating Emma Smiths translation of Book of Mormon to her son, The Saint's
Herald, May 19, 1888, page 310.)
Joseph's brother William referred to the seer stone as the Urim and
Thummim, "The manner in which this was done was by looking into the Urim
and Thummim, which was placed in a hat to exlude the light, (the plates
lying near by covered up), and reading off the translation, which appeared
in the stone by the power of God." (William Smith on Mormonism)
These two statements support the fact that, in the beginning, Joseph DID
claim to use the stone to translate the Book of Mormon. That it in fact
was SUPPOSED to be translated word for word by God, but some interesting
points have come up in regards to the authenticity of the Book of Mormon:
3rd Nephi 9:18 says: "I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end."
Revelations 21:6 says: "I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end."
The significance of this is: The words Alpha and Omega are the first and
last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Greek language was used throughout
the Roman Empire at the time of Christ; therefore, the New Testament was
written in Greek and the words "Alpha" and "Omega" were well understood.
The Nephites, however, were supposed to have left Jerusalem 600 years
before the time of Christ, and therefore they would not have been familiar
with these words. If Jesus had told the Nephites that he was "Alpha and
Omega" it would have had absolutely NO meaning to them. The Book of Mormon
also contains the name Timothy (3 Nephi 19:4) Timothy is a Greek name and
never appears in the Old Testament. In the same verse that we find the
name Timothy, we also find the name Jonas. Jonas is the New Testament name
for Jonah and is found in Matthew 12:39.
Also, the writers of the plates were supposed to be Jews. Why then did
they write the plates in Egyptian? The Nephites were born and raised Jews.
As most Jews, they probably despised the Eygptians. Why then would they
defile themselves and write in a language that they did not even speak
among themselves? Moses, raised as an Egyptian, educated by the best
teachers in Egypt (he was of the house of Pharoah) did not write anything
in Egyptian, he wrote in Hebrew. Why should they?
One more interesting note on the Book of Mormon: on the title page of the
1830 edition it reads: Joseph Smith, THE AUTHOR AND PROPRIETOR OF THIS
WORK..
Today, it has been changed to Joseph Smith, THE TRANSLATOR OF THIS WORK...
THE REVISED KING JAMES
----------------------
It has been claimed that the Mormons (unlike the Reorganized Latter-Day
Saints) do not follow the revision of the King James by Joseph Smith,
because he did not finish them. Therefore, they did not want to include
them in the standard works lest there be some error.
Some interesting notes:
In the History of the Church, dated Feb. 2, 1833, we find the following:
"I [Joseph Smith] completed the translation and review of the New
Testament, on the 2nd of February 1833, and sealed it up, no more to be
opened till it arrived in Zion."
Then in a letter dated July 2, 1833, signed by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon
and F.G. Williams the following statement is found: We this day, finished
the translation of the scriptures, for which we return gratitude to our
Heavenly Father." (History of the Church, Vol. 1 page 368)
The Mormon Church has totally ignored Gods command in D&C 124:89: "and
publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the
earth."
There is evidence, also, that Joseph Smith did not even follow those things
supposedly revealed to him, by God, in the new revision. But we will go on
for now.
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
----------------------
This work is not even worth discussing other than it, too, has been changed
hundreds of times. Whole works have been deleted, re-written, etc. to
reflect the changing ideas of Joseph and Brigham. According to the D & C,
God gave the commandments-- They are true. Yet they were changed. This is
in-excusable. If God said, Thus saith the Lord, who is Joseph to change
what God said. [KEEPING IN MIND THAT ALL CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE WITHOUT
DOCUMENTION AS TO WHY. ie. God gave new revelation, etc.]
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
--------------------
This too is not worth discussing here. It has been proven to be totally
fake. Egyptologists have all confirmed that the papryus Joseph claimed to
translate pertained to a burial ceremony and had nothing to do with Abraham
or the curse on blacks. This has been a source of major embarassment to
the Mormon Church.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
---------------------
This document has been proven to be 40% written by Joseph Smith (altered
many times from what he wrote in his diary) and 60% written AFTER HIS
DEATH. I won't go into much detail about it here. Those who may be
interested in this can begin another note, but the proof is there.
"Not until Willard Richards was appointed secretary to Joseph Smith in
December 1842 was any significant progress made on the History. At the
time he began writing, not more than 157 pages had been completed, covering
events up to November 1, 1831. By May 1843, he had written 114 pages
beyond W.W. Phelp's last entry. At the time of Joseph Smith's death, THE
NARRATIVE WAS WRITTEN TO AUGUST 5, 1838...The Joseph Smith history was
finished in August 1856, SEVENTEEN YEARS AFTER IT WAS BEGUN." (Brigham
Young University Studies, Summer 1971, pages 466, 469, 470 and 472)
On the title page to Vol. 1 of the "History of the Church", this statement
appears: History of Joseph Smith, Prophet by Joseph Smith, Prophet. [The
claim is that Joseph himself wrote his history. Yet it is evident,
even in 1971, that Joseph DID NOT write, at least 60%, of it himself!]
THE APOSTASY
------------
Mormonism claims that Apostle Paul prophesied a total apostasy when he
warned: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall
men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
(Acts 20:29,30)
True, false prophets and false teachers would pervert sound doctrine and
lead unstable Christians astray. But Paul knew the church would continue:
"Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in
the church by Christ Jesus THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, world without end. Amen"
(Ephesians 3:20, 21)
"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have
grace.." (Hebrews 12:28)
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE
SAINTS" (Jude 3)
Jesus said, "Lo I will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
(Matt. 28:20)
Also, how could there be a total apostasy when there was at least one
apostle, John (and possibly four, if one considers the 3 Nephite disciples
as holding the office of apostle, as some in the Church do), when the
current teaching is that as long as one Elder remains alive HE has the
power to reorganize the Church and all its structured systems?
And from Mormon theology, John and the 3 Nephites are still alive TODAY.
THE PRIESTHOOD
--------------
In light of the following scriptures, I cannot accept the Mormon theology
of the priesthood:
"If therefore, perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it
the people received the law) what further need was there that another
priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after
the order of Aaron? FOR THE PRIESTHOOD BEING CHANGED, there is made of
necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the alter.
FOR IT IS EVIDENT THAT OUR LORD SPRANG OUT OF JUDAH of which tribe Moses
spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it yet far more evident: for that
after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest. Who is
made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an
endless life. For he he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchizedek....BUT THIS MAN, BECAUSE HE CONTINUETH EVER, HATH AN
UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD." (Hebrews 7:11-28)
Read all of Hebrews chapter 8 for a further explanation of Jesus as our
high priest.
The Aaronic priesthood was changed from the tribe of Levi to the tribe of
Judah because of Jesus.
There can be only ONE Melchizedek, one high priest, and since Jesus
continueth forever, it cannot be transfered to another. JESUS IS OUR HIGH
PRIEST - there is no other! Examine the Greek word translated
'unchangeable', it is equally correct to translate it 'untransferrable'.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
In Christ, I am a priest; I can declare the praises of him. My authority
comes from Jesus himself.
A couple of questions though:
D & C Section 84:21-22 states that no man can see the face of the Father
and live UNLESS he has the Priesthood. Joseph didn't receive the
Priesthood until 1829, yet he said that he saw both the father and the son
in 1820. Which is the error, section 84 or Joseph's account of the vision?
MORMON CHURCH NOT DIRECTED BY REVELATION
----------------------------------------
Proof of this is the fraudulent documents sold to the Mormon leaders by
Mark Hoffman. Since the letters would have proved that Joseph Smith was
involved in some shady deals, the Mormon leaders paid Hoffman thousands of
dollars to buy the documents so they could cover-up the incident. It was
later proved that the letters were frauds and that Mark Hoffman had dupped
the Mormon leaders.
If these Mormon leaders live in the divine revelation of God, why wouldn't
have God told them that Mark Hoffman was a deceiver and to not go along
with the cover-up? I am reminded of a story of Ananias and Sapphira who
tried to lie to God.....
TEMPLE CEREMONIES
-----------------
I do not believe the Temple Ceremonies were given to Joseph Smith by divine
revelation. They are too closely related to the Masons and their rituals
[of which Joseph was was a member]. I won't get into detail due to the
fact that I was censored on this before. But the ceremonies are based on
Masonic rituals and blood oaths that were performed in the 1800's and
practiced until 1931. They have been changed to reflect the times. But
they are still rooted in darkness. Any one wanting more detail on this can
contact me personally.
-------------------------
I could go on and on with my findings. But I think I have said enough.
The Holy Spirit, that lives and dwells in me, has born witness
to my heart that Mormonism is not Biblically based and that I am
no longer to worry about it. I am to stand firm in the faith that
has been "once for all delivered to the saints" and solely follow
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Someone made the comment to me, "Leza, why don't you try to approach this
from the standpoint that maybe we are correct?" Well, I have. But I am
not a blind idiot. All the changes, the lies and the cover-ups tell me to
BEWARE. It doesn't take long to find the truth. My question is, "why
don't you try and see it from my perspective and the perspective of those
who left the Mormon church?"
But, as I said to that person: I'm safe either way. I am firmly confident
that if I were to die tonight I would go to heaven. And the reason I would
go to heaven is because of my belief in Jesus Christ and his death upon the
cross for my sins. And, the day after I die, if I am wrong and wake up in
a Mormon heaven (one of the many), I am at least still in heaven and can
work my way up.
If Mormonism is false and you continue to follow in it, you will go to
hell. Either way I am ok. But if you are wrong.....
Think about it.
Anyone wishing to know more, or get help finding books can contact me
personally.
(I apologize. I entered this before setting up the note for the
reply. Replies will be at the end, I think either note #137 or
#138)
p.s. this DOES end my report, (and everyone said - YEA!) however,
I do plan continue to participate in reading these notes, although, I
may not be as active in my responses as before. I have appreciated
the opportunity to share my views. Leza
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