www.providentialbc.com
In Galations 1:8, the Apostle Paul said this; He said, "But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he
is to be accursed!" Paul obviously did not have any desire to tolerate those who would
alter the most basic of our Christian beliefs "the Gospel" and neither should we. Mormons
claim that an angel named "Moroni" appeared to Joseph Smith on September 21st, 1823
and gave him a book written on golden plates giving him an account of the former inhabitants
of this continent. Their founder Joseph Smith also claimed that the fullness of the gospel
was contained within it. It may present "a gospel", but it is "another gospel" "a gospel
contrary to what we have preached to you (the New Testament Apostles)." Therefore, I believe it
is very important for us to expose it as a cult and reveal why it is incompatible with Biblical Christianity.
THE USE OF RELIGIOUS MYTHS
Let me begin by mentioning that cults often thrive on the use of religious myths. In a technical
sense, myths are simply stories that have a religious meaning. Greek mythology, for example, consists of religious stories that supposedly had mysterious spiritual meaning. From the perspective of cults, they are useful in that they bring up "new revelations" or "new ideas that are impossible to prove or refute." These stimulate the intellect and give people a sense of pride, because they begin to believe that they now have new and superior insights to those who are around them. The Bible, for example, has nothing to say about the pre-existence of human beings. Jesus, being the son of God, is indeed pre-existent, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the rest of us pre-existed. Mormons claim that we are all the product of a heavenly father and a heavenly mother (never mentioned in the Bible) who produced millions of spirit babies on a planet near the great star "Kolab". So, now we have knowledge about life on other planets and knowledge of our pre-existence. Is this some great new insight that makes one much smarter and wiser than others who are around them? Or is it an example of one's spiritual gullibility? These same tactics were used in the ancient mystery religions in Biblical times and in other cults such as the Christian Science cult and even some world religions like Islam which has a lot of similiarities to modern day Mormonism. They too claim that an angel delivered
a book, the Koran, to their Prophet Muhammad.
Of course, there are some other bizarre ideas that emerge from the Mormon cult that they prefer
to keep secret until after a convert is sufficiently indoctrinated. The Mormon teaching that Jesus
and Lucifer (Satan) are brothers is something that causes most of us to recoil, as it should,
but it is indeed taught by the Mormons. (Bruce R. McConkie, in his work "The Mortal Messiah"
Vol 1. Ps 407-408; Joseph Fielding Smith Jr, Doctrine of Covenants Vol 2 Pg 218-219; Discourses of Brigham Young Pgs 53-54 Etcetera). Again, is this some great new insight that
makes one much smarter and wiser than others? Or is it an example of one's spiritual gullibility?
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE
One fact regarding their history that Mormons would prefer to erase is the fact that on September 11, 1857 the Mormons, under Brigham-Young's orders, killed over 120 emigrants
- men women and children - who were part of the Baker-Fancher wagon train, one of the wealthiest wagon trains that ever traveled across the old spanish trail. This massacre was
justified by an heretical teaching related to blood atonement. Brigham young and others
at the time taught that there were certain sins that the blood atonement of Christ is not sufficient
to cover such as adultery and murder. This, of course, is heretical, because the Bible teaches
that the blood atonement of Christ is sufficient to cover all sins. Brigham Young convinced
his Mormon followers that these emigrants had committed some terrible sins, and that the only
way they could be "saved" was by the shedding of their own blood. So, as bizarre as it may
sound, these Mormons thought that they were actually "saving" these immigrants when they
killed them. After these innocent people were massacred by the Mormons, their animals
and possessions were confiscated, and some say that Brigham Young even had the audacity
to send the United States Government a bill for their proper burial (I have not yet been able to
determine if this suggestion regarding their burial is factual). I found this information years ago
in a book entitled "Mormonism, Mama and Me" which was written by a converted
Mormon. Information on it is easy to find on the internet, much to the chagrin of Mormons,
and a Movie was even been made about it - embellished by Hollywood - but a movie none
the less entitled "September Dawn"(Black Diamond Pictures 2007).
Exposing Mormonism
WHERE DID THE BOOK OF MORMON REALLY COME FROM?
Wayne L. Cowdrey wrote a book entitled "Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon? The Spalding Enigma" In his book he said this, 'The Book of Momron is really a clever adaptation
of an obscure unpublished historical novel written during the War of 1812 in Conneaut, Ohio
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by a down-and-out ex-preacher named Solomon Spalding,
a Revolutionary War veteran and a bankrupt land speculator who died at Amity, Washington
county, Pennsylvania in 1816 and lies buried in a churchyard there. Prior to his death,
Spalding had complained to friends and relatives that a draft of his novel entitled, 'A Manuscript
Found,' had been stolen from the shelves of Pittsburgh publisher R & J Patterson, by one Sidney Rigdon. This same Rigdon later became one of the three principal founders of the
Mormon religious movement along with co-conspirators Joseph Smith Jr. and Smith's
cousin Oliver Cowdery, an itinerant book peddler and sometimes printer. It all began as an
elaborate get-rich-quick scheme which Joseph Smith himself referred to as 'The Gold-Bible
Business' in an 1829 letter." At the time of the conspiracy, Smith and Cowdery lived in western
New York. Rigdon resided in the Pittsburgh area until 1818, and then spent the next dozen
years in various locations around western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. According to
evidence presented by the authors, it was Oliver Cowdery who eventually brought Rigdon
and Smith together, and who later served as Smith's personal scribe during the process
of creating the Book of Mormon from Spalding's manuscript.
MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE BOOK OF MORMON
With the exception of studies that have been supported by the Mormons themselves (The LDS church), there is conclusive and overwhelming evidence
that the Book of Mormon cannot be accepted as historically or scientifically
accurate. The Book of Mormon claims, for example, that the native Americans
are part of the lost tribe of Israel, but modern DNA evidence has proven this
to be impossible. It has been determined that native Americans are of Asian
descent, and that another small fraction came from Europe. They are definitely
not of Hebrew origin. In addition to this, the book of Mormon makes claims
about early American civilizations having crops, and animals, and metals that
were not present on this continent until much later.
Book of Mormon Crops:
There are 4 crops mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
Barley (Moses 7:22, 9:9, Alma 11:7, 15)
Figs (3 Nephi 14:16)
Grapes (2 Nephi 15:2, 4, 3 Nephi 14:16)
Wheat (Moses 9:9, 3 Nephi 18:18)
There is no independent (non-Mormon) archeological evidence that Figs,
Grapes, or Wheat existed in the area and time frame of the above references.
Book of Mormon Animals:
There are 16 animals and animal products mentioned in the Book of Mormon
Ass
Bull
Calf
Cattle
Cow
Butter
Elephants
Milk
Flocks
Goat (The Nephites claimed to have found the domestic goat.)
Herds
Horse (The horse plays a major role in the Nephite and Lamanite societies.)
Ox
Sheep (This was a major animal in the Book of Mormon.)
Sow
Swine
There is no independent (non-Mormon) archeological evidence that any of these existed in the area and time frame of the Book of Mormon.
Book of Mormon Metals:
The following metals, metal products, or metal manufacturing are mentioned in the Book of Mormon record.
Bellows
Brass
Breast Plates
Chains
Copper
Iron
Ore (mining)
Plows
Silver
Swords (metal)
Steel
Independent (non-Mormon) archeological evidence shows that none of these were manufactured or used in the area and time frame of 2 Nephi 5. The Smithsonian Institution's Dept. Of Anthropology declares the Americas did not have steel or horses before 1492. The Book of Mormon (600 B.C. to 421 A.D.) claims both steel (1 Nephi 4:9) and horses (Alma 18:9). Gordon H. Fraser, anthropologist and ethnologist, agrees with the Smithsonian Institution and adds that copper (Mosiah 8:10) was unknown at that early date as referred to in the Book of Mormon.
The Smithsonian Institute and the National Geographic Society have both made
it clear that the claims made by the book of Mormon cannot be supported by any
credible archeological evidence.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
January 11, 1990
Dear Mr. Larson:
Thank you for writing to the National Geographic Society.
The Society has never used the Book of Mormon to locate archaeological sites, and we do not believe that any of the places named in the Book of Mormon can be placed geographically by the evidence of archaeology. So far as we know there is no archaeological evidence to verify the history of early peoples of the Western Hemisphere as presented in the Book of Mormon.
I hope you will find this information useful.
Yours truly,
Pamela Tucci
Research Correspondence
MORMONISM IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY
Mormons are polytheists. This is the most basic theological difference between their theology
and the theology of orthodox Christians. We believe in one God in three persons, which we
sometimes refer to as "the blessed trinity;" the Mormons believe that we can all become gods
ourselves and eventually rule over another planet and have spirit children of our own.
According to Milton R. Hunger, a general authority in the Mormon church,
"God the eternal Father was once a mortal man who passed through a school of earth life
similiar to that through which we are now passing. He became God - an exalted being -
through obedience to the same eternal Gospel truths that we are given an opportunity
to obey."
Spencer W. Kimball, a former President of the church, made the following remarks to a group
about how they can become gods,
"Brethren 225,000 of you are here tonight. I suppose 225,000 of you may become gods.
There seems to be plenty of space in the universe. And the Lord has proved that he
knows how to do it. I think he could make, or probably have us help make, worlds
for all of us, for every one of us 225,000"
Nowhere in the scriptures does it even suggest that any human being can ever become a god.
In fact, the scriptures make it very clear that this cannot be the case.
Our God spoke through His prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 43:10, and He said,
"...before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me"
In Isaiah 44:6, He added,
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me"
He makes a similar statement two verses later,
"...Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none" (Isaiah 44:8)
Let's move on to the next chapter and verse 5
"I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5)
And the chapter after that in verse 9
"For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me" (Isaiah 46:9)
While Mormons may not admit it, they deny the virgin birth of Jesus Christ which is one
of the fundamentals of orthodox Christian theology. The denial of the virgin birth comes, because they (the Mormons) teach that Jesus was not conceived by the Holy Spirit. They
teach instead that the birth of Christ was the result of a physical sexual union between the god
of this planet and our heavenly mother. The phrase "the power of the almighty will overshadow
you" which is found in Luke 1:35 is interpreted by the Mormons as referring to physical
intercourse.
In "The Journal of Discourses" Volume 1, Pages 50-51 Brigham Young said,
"When the virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the father had begotten him in his own
likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who was the father? He was the
first of the human family...Jesus our elder brother was begotten in the flesh by the same
character that was in the Garden of Eden and who is our father in heaven."
Strangely enough, Mormons still claim to believe in the virgin birth, but this presents them
with problems within their own theological system. The Apostle Orson Pratt, a Seer
in the Mormon church said this,
"The fleshly body of Jesus required a mother as well as a father; therefore, the father
and mother of Jesus according to the flesh, must have been associated with each
other in the capacity of husband and wife. Hence, the virgin Mary must have been
for the time being the lawful wife of God the Father. We use the term lawful wife,
because it would be blasphemous in the highest degree to say that he overshadowed
her or begot the savior unlawfully. It would be unlawful for any man to interfere with Mary
who was already espoused to Joseph"
This means that the Mormons themselves recognize this as a problem. For you see,
under the Old Covenant law, this would have been a sin and a crime punishable by death.
How do Mormons answer this? They say,
"But God having created all men and women had the perfect right to do with his own
creation according to his holy will and pleasure"
So apparently, he is a do as I say and not as I do god, and he violates his own standards
of holiness and morality.
Of course, I for one have a huge problem with this ...don't you?
What the Mormons teach at this point is directly contradicted in the Bible. In Matthew 1:18.
the Bible says,
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed
to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit"
Another interesting contradiction is this one. The Mormons teach that it is wrong for us
to worship Jesus Christ. Some may claim to worship Jesus as their Lord and Savior,
but this is an important difference. They do not worship Jesus Christ AS GOD! They may
worship him as the son of God since they claim he is our elder brother but not as OUR GOD!
An LDS Apostle by the name of Bruce McConkie had this to say abou this subject in a speech
at BYU on March 2nd, 1982; He Said,
"We worship the Father and him only and no one else. We do not worship the Son and we
do not worship the Holy Ghost. I know perfectly well about what the scriptures say about
worshipping Christ and Jehovah, but they are speaking in an entirely different sense - the
sense of standing in awe and being reverentially grateful to Him who has redeemed us.
Worship in the true and saving sense is reserved for God first, the Creator." (Ibid.)
I find this to be absolutely ridiculous. For you see, there are numerous examples of Jesus being worshiped as God, and Jesus never once objected to this. He did tell us in Matthew 4:10, however, that we are to worship God and serve Him only. This can obviously lead to no other conclusion than that of Jesus being God, the second person of the trinity, and Jesus Himself said "I and the Father are one" in John 10:30, thereby claiming equality with the Father. We are also told in Colossians 1:16 that "this entire universe was created by Jesus and for Jesus, and that He upholds it all with the word of His power." Only God, of course, the second person of the trinity, is capable of sustaining this entire universe.
Who worshiped Jesus? Here are some examples.
. The wise men worshiped Jesus in Matthew 2:11
. A leper worshiped Jesus in Matthew 8:2
. A ruler worshiped Jesus in Matthew 9:18
. Simon Peter and the rest of the disciples worshiped Jesus in Matthew 14:33
. Thomas worshiped Jesus in John 20:28
. All of the angels are told to worship Jesus in Hebrews 1:6
. In Philippians 2:9-11, we are told that ever knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
THE CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE ADDS CREDIBILITY TO MY POSITION
REGARDING MORMONS NOT WORSHIPING JESUS AS GOD
THIS IS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY HANK HANEGRAAFF
What is the difference between the Mormon Jesus and the Jesus of the Bible?
CP0303
THE MORMON JESUS- Introduction
Mormons openly profess to believe in Jesus Christ. But is their Jesus different from the Jesus of the Bible?
THE MORMON JESUS- The Real Jesus?
It’s not uncommon for Mormons to argue that they should be regarded as Christians because their faith is centered on Jesus Christ. And while this may appear to be the case from the perspective of the Mormon Church, there can be little doubt that the Jesus preached by Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible.
THE MORMON JESUS- A Different Jesus
Simply believing in someone named Jesus will not solve the issue for Mormons because — as the apostle Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 11:4 — there are some who preach a different Jesus. For example, while the Bible teaches that Jesus has always existed as God (John 1:1), Mormons see Jesus as someone who worked His way up to godhood. In fact, to Mormons, Jesus is merely one in purpose with God the Father; whereas the Bible declares that the Father and the Son are also one in essence (cf. Phil. 2:6) — that they are both equally God and members of the Holy Trinity.
THE MORMON JESUS- Doctrine Twisting
This leads me to what is perhaps the most problematic matter facing Mormons with regard to their view of Christ. You see, in their attempt to evade charges of polytheism — which, of course, is the belief in or worship of more than one god — Mormons end up prohibiting prayer to Jesus. Mormons confess that they believe in the existence of many gods but pray only to God the Father. Well, in light of the Bible’s explicit command to pray to Jehovah (cf. Deut. 4:7; 2 Chron. 7:14; Pss. 5:2; 32:6; Jer. 27:7, 12), it’s simply incredible that Mormons refuse to pray to Jesus while yet acknowledging Him to be Jehovah! In addition, let me point you to passages like John 14:14 and Romans 10:12 which demonstrate beyond the shadow of a doubt that believers ought to pray to Jesus.
THE MORMON JESUS- Not the Jesus of the Bible
Mormons can claim to believe in Jesus all they want, but it’s apparent from their teachings that the Jesus they profess is definitely not the Jesus of the Bible. The truth is they worship another Jesus, proclaim another gospel, and teach the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie. Ultimately, all cults and world religions, in one way or another, compromise the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On the Mormon Jesus, that’s the CRI Perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff.
It has been said that the Mormons have tried to ban this cartoon video even though many Mormons have denied this. While many object to it very few have offerred any
corrections. I did find this piece written as a response. What I want you to notice, however, is that many of these beliefs were held to be true at one time. This is because Mormons are constantly having "new revelations" to correct their bad theology.
At one time, the negroes were considered to be part of a cursed race by Mormons.
Of course, this kind of belief does not set well with most in the U.S. today; So, wallah
along comes a "new revelation" to correct it. These "new revelations" appear in books
like "The Doctrine of Covenants" and "The Pearl of Great Price." I have highlighted some areas in this response to make my point. I also want you to notice that there are
no objections to the major points in the video such as a planet near the star Kolab,
spirit children, or Jesus and Lucifer being brothers or, most important of all, that
we can all (according to the Mormons) become gods and rule over our own planet.
RESPONSE
I looked the video up on YouTube, and here is my take on it:
1) Technically, Satan and Jesus didn’t propose two plans. God proposed his plan (agency), and Satan proposed his alternative. Jesus sided with God (rather than actually presenting the agency plan). A minor technicality, but still an error
2) Fence-sitters in the premortal existence being cursed with black skin is no longer taught in the church (although it was at one point). It’s not considered official doctrine
at this point.
3) The Adam-God doctrine as taught by Brigham Young is also no longer considered doctrinal.
4) The God-actually-having-sex-with-Mary doctrine is not widely taught in the church (although it may have been considered doctrine at one point), and today is considered a theory espoused by a handful of nutjobs. The average Mormon has never even heard of this idea (as with most of the weirder doctrines).
5) The above is also true of the Jesus-polygamist doctrine.
6) Technically, the Lamanite-Nephite division was no longer defined by skin color by the time the Lamanites destroyed the people; at least that is what is taught in Mormonism today, and there is sufficient evidence in the Book of Mormon to argue that point of view. (The division was defined by skin color before the coming of Christ).
7) It is not taught in the Mormon church today that Joseph Smith will sit in judgment at the last day. Technically, Joseph Smith didn’t actually write that he did more than Jesus (at least to the best of my knowledge). That statement comes from John Taylor, who wrote after Smith’s death that Joseph had done more for the human race than any man EXCEPT Jesus. Joseph Smith DID say that he had been able to do more than Jesus in that he was able to keep his body of followers together, whereas Jesus’s had left him.
8) Joseph Smith “shed his blood for us so that we too may become Gods” is not doctrine; that is said of Jesus, not Joseph. Joseph IS regarded as a martyr, though.
That’s my take on it. A lot of the things discussed in this video have been long covered up or simply not discussed in the Mormon church for years (though most/all of them were doctrine at one point).
As far as leaving the church, this video was one of many things that I discovered online that eventually led me to conclude that the Mormon faith is not what it purports to be.
END OF RESPONSE
Utah Lighthouse Ministry -->
This is absolutely the best website for finding resources to refute Mormonism. Sandra
Tanner and her husband Jerald, who is now deceased, have been in the business
of refuting Mormonism for over 50 years.
DECEPTIVE TERMINOLOGY
When speaking with Mormons, we must understand that they will use the same terms that we use and have some entirely different meanings attached to them. This is one reason that they are so successful at deceiving people. The Utah Lighthouse Ministry has done an excellent job
of helping all of us make it through this maze of semantic confusion. After studying these terms,
I will invite you to seek further study at their link which is found at the bottom of this web page.
GODHEAD
LDS: Father & Son are resurrected men with physical bodies. Holy Ghost is a separate man with a spiritual body. Three totally separate Gods. God is married. Other Gods for other worlds. (D&C 130:22; Teachings, pp. 345-346, pp. 370-373; Doctrines of Salvation,v.1, p. 10-12)
BIBLE: God is not a man. (Num. 23:19) He has always been God. (Psa. 90:2; Mal. 3:6; Hab. 1:12; Rom. 1:22-25) Only one God. (Isa. 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:21-22) Father is Spirit and invisible. (John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17)
(GODHEAD: click here for complete quotes and references.)
JESUS CHRIST
LDS: Literally our elder brother, born to Heavenly Parents in the premortal life. Jesus, Lucifer and humans are all the same species and are brothers and sisters. (Gospel Principles pp. 11, 17, 18)
BIBLE: Fully God, not a subordinate deity. Eternal. (Isa. 9:6; John 8:58; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 13:8; John 1:1-4, 14; Col. 1:16-17)
(JESUS CHRIST: click here for complete quotes and references.)
PREMORTAL LIFE
LDS: Teach that everyone existed in heaven before born on earth. We have existed eternally. (D&C 93:29; PGP:Bk of Abr 3:21-22; Teachings, pp. 352-354)
BIBLE: Only Christ existed before mortality, not man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) Our existence started on earth. (Zec. 12:1; 1 Cor. 15:46)
(PREMORTAL LIFE: click here for complete quotes and references.)
THE FALL
LDS: Fall was a blessing. It brought mortality, ability to have children and physical death. Adam was given conflicting commandments and was supposed to fall. (Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 1, pp. 111-116; Gospel Principles, pp. 31-33; 2 Nephi 2:25; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 268-269)
BIBLE: God intended obedience. Gen. 1:28. God tempts no one. (James 1:13-14). Man is sinful. (Rom. 5:12; 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 2:14)
(THE FALL: click here for complete quotes and references.)
VIRGIN BIRTH
LDS: Believe God, as a resurrected physical man, is literal Father of Jesus—same manner in which men are conceived on earth. Believe Matt. 1:18 is in error. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 546-547, 742)
BIBLE: Mary was "with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:30-35)
(VIRGIN BIRTH: click here for complete quotes and references.)
SIN
LDS: Specific acts, not man's basic nature. Must know act is wrong to be a sin. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 550, 735-736)
BIBLE: We are in spiritual rebellion until conversion. (Eph. 2:3; Rom. 5:6) We do not just commit sins; we are basically sinful. (Matt. 1:21; Jer. 17:9; Luke 5:32)
(SIN: click here for complete quotes and references.)
FORGIVENESS
LDS: Granted at end of process of repentance and reformed behavior (Mormon Doctrine, p. 292-298; Gospel Principles, pp. 75-77, p. 123; Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 133-134)
BIBLE: Complete forgiveness granted the moment we turn to Christ. (Mark 2:5; Col. 2:13-14; Eph. 1:6-7)
(FORGIVENESS: click here for complete quotes and references.)
SALVATION BY GRACE
LDS: Believe Christ's death brought release from grave and universal resurrection. Salvation by grace is universal resurrection. Beyond this, man must earn his place in heaven. Saved by grace after all we can do. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23; Mormon Doctrine pp. 669-671)
BIBLE: Salvation is not limited to universal resurrection but gift of God to those who believe. (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 9:28; Eph. 2:8-9)
(SALVATION BY GRACE: click here for complete quotes and references.)
REDEEMED
LDS: From mortal death only. Not same as Eternal Life. (Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. 2, pp. 10-15)
BIBLE: Redeemed from more than mortal death; redeemed from spiritual death & given Eternal Life. (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; Gal. 4:4-5)
(REDEEMED: click here for complete quotes and references.)
GOSPEL
LDS: Doctrines and commandments of the LDS Church. True gospel restored by Joseph Smith. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 331; 334; Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. 1, pp. 156-159)
BIBLE: Good news of Christ’s death and resurrection as atonement for our sins. (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:6-8)
(GOSPEL: click here for complete quotes and references.)
BORN AGAIN
LDS: Baptism into the LDS Church. (Mormon Doctrine, p. 101)
BIBLE: We are spiritually dead until our spiritual birth. (1 Pet. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:7, 14, 15)
(BORN AGAIN: click here for complete quotes and references.)
TRUE CHURCH
LDS: Only the Mormon Church. The true church was taken from the earth until Joseph Smith restored it. (D&C 1:30; 115:3, 4; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 133, 136)
BIBLE: Not an organization; as born-again Christians we are part of God's Church. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 16:18; 18:19-20)
(TRUE CHURCH: click here for complete quotes and references.)
AUTHORITY - PRIESTHOOD
LDS: Believe only LDS have authority to baptize, ordain, etc. Have two-part system of priesthood—Melchizedek and Aaronic. (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 80-81; D&C 107:1-21)
BIBLE: Christ brought end to Aaronic priesthood and is the only High Priest after the manner of Melchizedek. (Heb. 5:9-10; 7:11-17; 7:24-27; 2 Tim. 2:2)
(AUTHORITY - PRIESTHOOD: click here for complete quotes and references.)
BAPTISM
LDS: Must be performed by LDS priesthood. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 69-72)
BIBLE: Emphasis is on Believer—not priesthood authority. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:37-41; 16:30-34)
(BAPTISM: click here for complete quotes and references.)
SONS OF GOD
LDS: We were all born in heaven, prior to earth, as literal spirit children of God and his wife. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 589-590)
BIBLE: Spiritually adopted at conversion. (John 1:12; Gal. 3:26)
(SONS OF GOD: click here for complete quotes and references.)
ETERNAL LIFE
LDS: Exaltation in Celestial Kingdom; godhood and ability to bear children in heaven. Must have a temple recommend and be sealed in Mormon temple. (D&C 131:1-4; 132:19-25, 30, 55)
BIBLE: Not limited to certain ones in the top part of heaven. No mention of parenthood or temple marriage but is given to all true believers. (1 John 5:12-13; Luke 20:35-36)
(ETERNAL LIFE: click here for complete quotes and references.)
IMMORTALITY
LDS: Universal gift. The ability to go to heaven and live forever but not same as Eternal Life. Lower level of heaven and unable to bear children. (D&C 14:7; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 237, 376-377, 670)
BIBLE: Makes no distinction between immortality and eternal life. No second class citizens in heaven. (2 Tim. 1:10; John 3:15-16)
(IMMORTALITY: click here for complete quotes and references.)
HELL
LDS: Hell as an institution is eternal—inmates come and go as in jail, but do not spend eternity there. Temporary. After debt is paid they will go to the Telestial Kingdom. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 349-351)
BIBLE: No mention of people getting out of Hell. (Rev. 21:8; Matt. 13:24-43, 47-50; Luke 16:26)
(HELL: click here for complete quotes and references.)
HEAVEN
LDS: Divided into three kingdoms—Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial. A place for almost everyone. (D&C 88:16-20; Misuse of 1 Cor. 15:40-41)
BIBLE: Only mentions two conditions—everlasting punishment or eternal life. (Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-10)
(HEAVEN: click here for complete quotes and references.)
KINGDOM OF GOD
LDS: Means Celestial Kingdom. Only those in the Celestial Kingdom are in God's presence. Those in the Terrestrial or Telestial Kingdoms are not in the presence of the Father. (D&C 76:50-88; 131:1-4; 132:16-17)
BIBLE: All redeemed will be in God's presence. (Rev. 21:1-3) All believers are part of Kingdom. (Matt. 13:41-43)
(KINGDOM OF GOD: click here for complete quotes and references.)
LDS References:
Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
Pearl of Great Price
Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie, 1979
Doctrines of Salvation by Joseph Fielding Smith
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith
Gospel Principles, published by LDS Church, 1995
Sermon - The Differences Between Christianity and Mormonism
Selected Scriptures -->
