Short History
Mormonism was started by Joseph Smith in Western New York State. The beginnings of Mormonism occurred during the period of history known as the Second Great Awakening. Joseph Smith was part of a family that participated in some of the revivals and camp meetings. Smith himself studied the Bible and attended some church classes. In addition to their participation in these meetings, Smith’s family also claimed to receive visions directly from God. Smith was himself under conviction concerning his soul, but noted he had a great deal of confusion over all the competing denominations.
Sometime in 1820, Smith claimed to receive a vision of God the Father and the Son that resolved the confusion. Within this call, Smith was told that all contemporary churches had “turned aside from the Gospel” confirming what his father and he suspected, that the world was spiritually dead. This “First Vision” is seen as the founding of Mormonism. Later, Smith was visited by an angel called Moroni who showed him where golden tablets and interpretive ‘magik spektacles’ were buried. He claimed that despite annual visits to their location, he was unable to remove them. Finally he was able to get them with the understanding that he would translate these plates into English. This translation is what became the book of Mormon.
Traditional translation of sacred and secular texts is involved with actual handling of the primary text. However, this translation was done via dictation from Smith to several different scribes. Purportedly, only Smith and ‘Eight Witnesses’ ever actually saw any part of these golden tablets. After the translation was done, Moroni took back these plates, never to be seen again. After the Book of Mormon was published, additional revelations and visitations were delivered to Smith, including Peter, James, and John who visited him to confer upon him a higher priesthood. Smith could not stay in New York because of the opposition of the folks that remembered him as a treasure hunter and a convicted con-man. In addition, Mormon beliefs, such as plurality of gods and the practice of polygamy, were so deviant that New Yorkers persecuted the followers harshly. It was this that forced Him and his followers to find ‘Zion’ in some other state.
According to the Book of Mormon, The Americas were visited by Jesus after his crucifixion. Ostensibly, Jesus visited the Jewish immigrants to the United States, who were split into two camps: The Lamanites and Nephites. The Lamanites remain as American Indians, the Nephites were represented by their leader, Mormon, and it was he that Jesus appeared to. The Book of Mormon is the account of their history, cultures, and traditions that modern Mormons are to emulate. However, the ‘word of god’ is continually changing as the mormon ‘god’ is always learning and advancing his learning to the modern Mormon prophets.
Summary of Beliefs
As stated earlier, the most important reality that sets Biblical Christianity apart from other religions is who these religions say Christ is. Though Mormons claim to be a Christian religion, a close examination of their teachings refute this claim. The Book of Mormon is the primary text, and:
“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 by its precepts, than by any other book.”
Therefore, the teachings of the Book of Mormon are the foundation of the religion called Mormonism, and are more correct than the Bible. The goals of the Mormon adherent is to follow the ways that are taught therein so that he can become god. Jesus, like us, is a created being, has bones and flesh like us and his Father (god) and is a spirit brother of Satan. Jesus is just like us, a created being who was not pre existent as God. Jesus came to earth much like we do:
“I was led to reflect that there is no act, no principle, no power belonging to the Deity that is not purely philosophical. The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood—was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers.”
Mormon Doctrine destroys the uniqueness and pre-existence of God the Father and God the Son, not to mention God the Holy Spirit. It should not be surprising that the Mormons who preach a different Jesus also preach a different Gospel. 12th LDS President Spencer W. Kimball in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness states:
"One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation"
According to Joseph Smith, Jesus and Satan had a plan of salvation for the people of earth that they set before the council of the gods:
“The contention in heaven was—Jesus said there would be certain souls that would not be saved; and the Devil said he could save them all, and laid his plans before the grand council, who gave their vote in favor of Jesus Christ. So the Devil rose up in rebellion against God, and was cast down, with all who put up their heads for him.”
Going even further, Smith contended that knowledge of the law and obedience to the law worked its way to salvation for mankind, and that good works were necessary for salvation. Indeed, the shed blood of Christ can only atone for some sins, the blood of the guilty is demanded for sins such as adultery. Brigham young claims that he would, in clear conscience, stick a javelin through the heart of any of his wives caught in adultery. He goes on to say:
“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; and the judgments of the Almighty will come, sooner or later, and every man and woman will have to atone for breaking their covenants.”
Mormon teaching also insists that there is no salvation without first believing that Joseph Smith is the prophet. They even go so far as to mention him in the same breath as Jesus Christ:
The day will come—and it is not far distant, either—when the name of the Prophet Joseph Smith will be coupled with the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, as his representative, as his agent whom he chose, ordained and set apart to lay anew the foundations of the Church of God in the world, which is indeed the Church of Jesus Christ, possessing all the powers of the gospel, all the rights and privileges, the authority of the Holy Priesthood, and every principle necessary to fit and qualify both the living and the dead to inherit eternal life, and to attain to exaltation in the kingdom of God.
"No man can accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, no man can accept this as His church, the Church of Jesus Christ, unless he can accept Joseph Smith as God's mouthpiece and the restorer of His work in these latter days."
The Biblical View
Mormons claim the Bible as only one of the inspired books, with the prophecies and the pronouncements of the presidents past and present as equal to biblical truth. As Biblical Christians, we see the Bible as the complete revelation of God. We are warned not to alter or to add to His revealed word.
2 Timothy 3: 16- 17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Mark 13: 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Since the Mormons play fast and loose with the Bible, they are able to justify their aberrant views of God. The Bible makes it clear that God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is eternal:
Psalm 90:2 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
John 1:1-3, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Colossians 1:16-17 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.
Since the view of the Bible and Christology is so distorted by the Mormons, we should not be surprised that the Gospel - the good news of the salvation found only in Jesus - is also distorted. The scripture is quite clear that Salvation is only found in Christ, and is totally completed in Him and through Him alone.
John 5:24 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Acts 4:10-12 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 2:16-17 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There are many other teachings in Mormonism that set it outside the walls of orthodox Christian belief. Entire books have been published on this subject, and as long as the LDS Church continues to make up various new prophecies serious readers of the scripture will be able to discern truth and expose them for who they are.
No comments:
Post a Comment