Over the last few months I’ve been privy to what many people believe about the “Mormons”. I’ve noticed that when someone ends up going off on the Church, they always preface their disgust by saying, “Everyone in the LDS Church is generally really nice and they are good people…but”…and then the laundry list of claims against the Church comes rolling out. I’d like to address 4 of the biggest misconceptions of the Mormon Church in order to chip away at that laundry list. While we can address these misconceptions and set the record straight, the most important thing a person can do is recall Christ’s advice as he delivered the sermon on the mount. He told His hearers that “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16) but for some reason, when it comes to a Mormon, fruit doesn’t seem to matter. What Jesus is saying in modern English is “You can know if someone is a Christian by the things that they do.”
By being good people and clearing up some big misconceptions, maybe we can make a few more friends…
1. Mormons Think They Can “Work Their Way To Heaven”
It cracks me up every time someone challenges me about why I think my works are going to save me. I don’t think that at all and most members of the LDS Church don’t believe that either. Nowhere in our doctrine does it tell me that I can save myself through my works. What’s even more interesting is that even the Bible is more explicit about performing “works” than the Book of Mormon or any of the other LDS teachings. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before God” Paul tells the Philippians (Phil 2:12). The entire book of James is really obvious about it (Faith without works is dead)…and honestly, almost every single page in the Bible places us in the role of an active participant as a disciple of Christ. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” said the Savior in (John 5:17). So does that mean we should also work if Christ tells us to “come follow Him”? Of course!
Mormons believe that it is only in and through the Atonement of Christ that all will be saved. Everyone will be resurrected (1 Cor 15:22) and then be “judged according to our works”(Revelation 20:12) Unless you’re a son of perdition…which will be very rare…you will reach heaven. But right then is where your works start to factor into the equation. We’re saved from death and hell by the grace and mercy of Christ. He in effect brings us to the gate of heaven and says, “now is where I reward people based on their works.(Revelation 22:12) You got to heaven because of Me (Acts 4:12) and only Me… but now you get to live in this mansion because of you. (John 14:2) Lets see how you did!” Then the books are opened and our bodies are glorified to one degree or another. (1 Cor 15:40-42). If we’re really awesome, we’ll reach the third heaven that Paul saw in (2 Cor 12:2-4).
- Do we need to “confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus’? (Romans 10:9) Yep. Is that a verb…a work…or an action… to open your mouth and make that confession? Yep.
- Do we need to repent when we do wrong? For sure. Will we get a good reward in heaven if we don’t repent? No way.
- Do we need to be baptized? Christ said we do in (John3:3-5) So…do we? Is that a work?
In no way do Mormons think they “work themselves to heaven”…but in accordance with the teachings of the Bible…they certainly believe they are “rewarded” according to their works. There are more examples, but at the end of the day, Mormons and other Christian denominations actually agree on the need to work. Unfortunately, some people prefer to hold on to this misconception in order to keep “the Mormons” at arms length and not share a common belief. Lets just agree and be friends!
2. Mormons Are Disqualified From Being Christian Because They Don’t Reverence The Cross
I won’t draw this one out more than I have to but Mormons don’t particularly like to focus on the cross because it reminds them of the cruel, unfair, and inhumane things that bad men did to the Savior. LDS members know what happened on the cross but rather than focusing on an instrument of death, they prefer to point their minds to the sepulcher of life or the empty tomb. Mormons choose to direct their attention toward the living resurrected Christ. It is in no way meant to take away from His sacrifice…rather it is meant to glorify His triumph over that cruel cross.
This misconception is one of many that cause people to accuse the LDS members of not being “true Christians”. Mormons are constantly accused of not believing in the “correct Jesus”…but honestly, Mormons believe in the Jesus Christ found within the New Testament. They believe that He died for our sins and was resurrected, and that He lives today and loves all of us. Literally all of us! Everywhere.
3. Mormons Think They Can Supplant God and Become God Themselves
I wrote a more lengthy explanation in a blog called Do Mormons Really Think They Can Become Like God? and provided a link to a bunch of Biblical passages to support the article but I figured I’d quote a few of the Early Christian Fathers here…known as ECF’s going forward. If you’re not familiar with the ECF’s, they are the close companions and successors of the apostles. Some of them were church leaders when the original 12 apostles walked the earth and some studied directly under the likes of Peter, James, John, and Paul. Some studied under great men who had intimate association with the apostles but nonetheless, they were a lot closer to the action than any other men on earth at that time. They we’re most likely exposed to what happened during the 40 day ministry spoken of in Acts 1 and their teachers were in some cases key officials in Christ’s church during it’s initial expansion in the first century and second century.
Mormons never have and never will believe that they can “grow up and someday supplant God by becoming a God”. No way. Paul said that “there are gods many and lords many…but to us there is but one God, The Father…and one Lord…Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 8:5-6) We will always love and revere Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They will always be supreme and have dominion over us. Just becoming “a god” or “like god” doesn’t supplant them in the least. Us living to our full potential actually glorifies them further. Look at what the ECF’s say about becoming like God…
Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John the Revelator said that “we were not made gods at our beginning, but first we were made men, then, in the end, gods.” Henry Bettenson, The Early Christian Fathers: A Selection from the Writings of the Fathers from St. Clement of Rome to St. Athanasius (London: Oxford University Press, 1956), 94. ISBN 0192830090.
Clement of Alexandria said “yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god.” Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks, 1.
Clement also stated that “…if one knows himself, he will know God, and knowing God will become like God…His is beauty, true beauty, for it is God, and that man becomes god, since God wills it. So Heraclitus was right when he said, “Men are gods, and gods are men.” Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, 3.1 see also Clement, Stromateis, 23
Even the great Augustine said that “He himself that justifies also deifies, for by justifying He makes sons of God. For He has given them power to become the sons of God. If then we have been made sons of God, we have also been made gods.” Augustine, On the Psalms, 50:2.
…and many more from the men closest to the Church that Christ originally established. Joseph Smith didn’t even have access to the Early Christian Fathers and yet he’s teaching the exact same thing they were while no one else was.
4. Mormons Don’t Believe In The Bible
Couldn’t be farther from the truth. Mormons love the Bible and teach it equally in their Church services and in Seminary and Institutes. Some may believe that Mormons don’t believe in the Bible because they don’t believe that the Bible is infallible. There are undeniable errors in the Bible not because of the apostles or because of Christ, but because all we have is copies of copies of the original manuscript and men’s fallibility and bias to deal with during the various translations.
For instance, Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9 have Paul describing the exact same event. His accounts completely contradict each other. Do we consider Paul an unworthy apostle or an impostor altogether or do we blame the translators? I would blame the translators. There are many other examples of this sort of thing in the Bible which begs the question of infallibility. If the Bible is fallible in one place…then it can certainly be fallible in another place. What if the translator got it wrong on a really important doctrine? We’d be in trouble right? Hence the need for a prophet to clear up confusion. Mormons definitely believe and love the Bible…but they also understand that it needs to be translated correctly.
I’m really hoping that by clearing up some of these common misconceptions about Mormons, that we can all find common ground and have more tolerance one toward another. I have no doubt that God smiles in heaven when two people from different faiths and backgrounds become friends and respect each others beliefs for what they are and then work together to establish truth.
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You are right that translation is part of the problem.The example you cite appears to be a conflict only because you quoted from the King James Version (1611). The modern translations show the subtle distinction being made in the two accounts. “The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.” (New International Version) “My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.” (NIV) The view of the Bible you expressed is precisely the same as an unbeliever.
So what you’re saying is that you trust the men that gave you the NIV but not the men that gave you the KJV?
Many unbelievers deride and ridicule the bible claiming it is a work of fantasy and a collection of myths. How does his view of honoring the bible even come close to that?
I just love your posts..keep them coming
Thanks Lynn!
Here’s the problem with your explanation for number one. And this is coming from a fellow Mormon. The idea that Christ gets us to the gate of heaven through His grace and that then it’s up to our works as to what degree of heaven we enjoy is unsupported by any biblical or LDS scriptural source. The implication is that the atonement is no more in force at that point and that it’s entirely up to us and our works where we will reside within that heaven. I’m sorry, but that directly supports the very criticism you are trying to deflect and gives further fuel to the critics. No matter how good I have been in my life, Our Father requires perfection. Even the best of us does not qualify for the “3rd Heaven” you reference (which was never specified as the Celestial, BTW) if taken only on our own merits. Christ’s atonement is active and beneficial for all men at all times. At no point are we left to ourselves. Will be be judged on our works? Yes. Will they have a bearing on where we end up? Yes. But Christ is not only a perfect man, he is a perfect judge and he sees every effort we make towards perfection even when falling short. He sees our trials and circumstances and struggles to improve. He also sees our failings and stubbornness and rebellion. He is the only one who can determine where we belong at that judgment day. And when he decides, trust me, His grace will be in full force. Because we all fall short of exaltation. You are implying in your explanation that Christ’s grace is sufficient to get us to the “easy” part. Heaven, after all, will be available to all men who do not deny the Holy Ghost. Godless sinners who never repented a day in their lives will still attain a degree of glory. But in order to attain the highest we must be perfect all on our own? This thinking is wrong and it’s the reason many people leave the church because they feel unable to attain that degree. This thinking diminishes the Atonement and needs to be corrected.
I’m open to learn. Where do you suggest our works come into play then? Revelation 20:12 and Revelation 22:12 seem really clear to me. If you have additional insight please go ahead and share. Are we not supposed to “lay up treasures in heaven”? If so…then for what purpose?
So we need to read the defination of Grace in the bible dictionary. Elder Bednar has been talking about this a lot lately. The defination reads “A divine means of help and strength……..it is likewise through the Grace of the Lord that individuals through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This Grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on Eternal life”. To me this means we are saved by grace, not like a magic eraser that just cleans up behind us, but by increasing our ability to be and do good until eventually we become like the Father and the Son. How much we accept this Grace into our lives is a matter of Agency. It is empowering to me to know that Grace was meant to be part of the entire process.
Thanks Sarah!
Greg, I recently read an article from Renew America where the author hit upon several of the points that you explain in your article. She hammered Glen Beck and his religion. I absolutely love your explanation of these common arguments. People in the main stream Christianity wonder why we hold to our beliefs as Latter day Saints when these differences (or perceived differences) are pointed out over and over again. The truthful enlightened answers to many critic’s points are so clear, simple, and logical if received in the right spirit. My other default reaction when I hear or read things like the renew article is to ask myself “does that match my experience”? i.e. cult, bigoted etc. I remind myself that I felt the spirit at church, or when I listened to a conference talk, or while reading the scriptures. I am quickly protected from the influence of people that have their own opinions and experiences and for some reason want to pull mine down. I guess that is why ‘holding to the rod of iron’ is so important. I really appreciated this article. Thanks.
Thanks Drew! Great thoughts!
This is such a wonderful and educating blog. I am preparing to serve my mission in a couple of months and having resources like these will help my studying the gospel doctrine easier and allow me to have the “word” before teaching it. thank you so very much for your testimony, service and love for the world and all who view your blogs.
A lot of people don’t realize that the Coorporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the actual name of the Mormon church. Common misconception.
https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/details?entity=555534-0145
Your post was very interesting. I just wanted to share a quote that a friend of mine (not Mormon) said. “There will always be contradiction for those seeking the truth”. 🙂
Re: Typos and inaccuracies in the Bible. Way back in the Dark Ages (1970s) my college History professor was a Greek scholar and serious problems with religion and scripture. He explained that before the advent of the printing press in the mid-1400s Bibles were copied by hand. In that handwriting, mistakes were made. He cited the statement that when Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he had horns on his head! Now, I had never heard that before, actually. He continued, the original Greek said that Moses was glowing, or he had light coming from his head. I don’t remember the actual words, but it was something like the difference between “honorus” and “honoros.” One of them means “with light” and one of them means “with horns.” Somebody didn’t finish the vowel correctly, and the complete meaning of the passage was changed. Not to mention the entire chapters, passages and even books that were removed from the scriptures for political reasons.
Sam, my doctrinal views come from the 66 books of the Bible. I appreciate that you seek substance in definitions and doctrine alike; I do, too. So, in our joint pursuit of substance, could you respond to my three initial objections to Mormon doctrine?
1. Denial of the Trinity
2. Denial of Christ’s eternal existence
3. Affirmation of pre-existence
Any substantive response as to why these doctrinal differences are acceptable? From my vantage point, Sam, you’re accepting the words of contemporary witnesses who claim to have seen visions of Christ, while I’m accepting the words of apostles who actually saw Christ both before and after the Resurrection.
1: The Great intercessory Prayer; Jesus Christ prays and asks Heavenly Father if the Apostles may be one as He and the Father are one. Does that mean that Jesus Christ wanted the Twelve Apostles to merge together and form some sort of super Apostle? Or rather that He wanted them to work together in Perfect Unity as the Father and the Son do? It’s like the Army of One slogan for the United States Army. It’s not one Super Soldier; but rather a whole army of Soldiers working together with perfect unity.
2. We do not deny Christ’s Eternal Existence.
3: Jeremiah 1:5 would point to a pre-existence with the Lord and with Heavenly Father; along with Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:4, and Hebrews 12:9. All verses are read from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
As Latter-Day saints, we accept the Words of the Prophets of the Old Testament , the New Testament, Another Testament known as the Book Of Mormon, and along with Modern-Day Prophets. Truly, the original Twelve Apostles did see and work alongside the Lord, both before and after His Resurrection; just as truly did He visit His People in the America’s and minister among them. If you have further questions and would like another Missionary for the Church to talk to, go to Mormon.org where you can chat with a missionary and he or she can go over with you in greater detail what I did.
Elder B,
Thanks for the response.
1. Unity is a commendable goal, but unity IN CHRIST necessitates a common view of the person and work Christ.
2. Glad you affirm Christ’s eternal existence. Do you also affirm His co-equality with the Father?
3. Just because God foreknew us doesn’t necessitate that we knew Him.
Hey Ed!;
Thank you for the response to my response to your original post. 🙂
1) Yes? Okay.. I don’t see how that applies to the belief of the Trinity in which that scripture was applied to. I would also like to point as far as trinity (Three in one) versus Godhead (Three separate) the verse in Acts when Stephen sees Jesus Christ on the right Hand of God; how could He be on the His Own right hand if they were one in the same?
2) Hmmmm as far as I am aware; we do affirm his Co-Equality with the Father BUT only on the condition that the Father has given it unto Him. If that makes sense!
3) I would find it hard to believe that God Foreknew us with us being able to have a relationship with him. To me, it’s a much more beautiful relationship when we understand that we lived in a pre-mortal existence as His Spirit Children.
Also, please keep in mind that I only joined the Church a little under three years ago (It will be three years this July) and that I’ve only been on my mission for nearly a year (it’ll be a year in August); I want to clarify that aspect because I’m not always a hundred percent clear on the Church’s official stance; so quite often I word something that may not sound right. However, what I am a hundred percent clear on is the divinity of the Book of Mormon and that Joseph Smith Jr. was indeed the Prophet of God that the Church affirms him to be. If you would like to you can search for me on Facebook under Elder Michael Barcala and we can have a continued conversation there and engage in a delightful exchange of thoughts and opinions.
Missionaries such as yourself are a lot better prepared to teach the gospel than I was when I went out. I know the Savior is pleased with how you handle others viewpoints and how you clarify doctrine. Keep up the good work Elder!
Hi Elder B, I have chatted with the missionaries and have found that they are not all on the same page. For example, some will say Jesus has a wife and children and continues to beget children. Others will say we don’t talk about that. Others wil say we don’t know. Does Jesus have a wife and children and does he continue to beget children? What is your answer to that question?
Ed,
You state that your doctrinal views come from the 66 books of the Bible. However, your first point of contention with Mormon beliefs is based on definition of the Trinity.
You are aware that the accepted definition of the Trinity by most of Christianity was formed in the Ecumenical councils hundreds of years after Christ. An appeal strictly to the 66 books in the Bible does not firmly resolve this issue. For every verse you can cite that declares that The Father and Son are ‘one’ we can cite other instances where they appear as separate and distinct. Your “accepted” definition of the Trinity is not in the Bible any more that Mormons belief in the Godhead.
On the third point – what specifically do you find in the 66 books of the Bible to categorically deny the Mormon doctrine of the pre-existence?
On #2, I’ve never heard that we’re “not Christian” because we don’t use the cross, but rather because we don’t believe in the Trinity. Frankly, haven read the New Testament, I don’t understand how ANYONE can believe in the trinity! 🙂
Carson I see what you are saying, but what you are not understanding is that if you can recognize false prophets by their works, can you also recognize a Christian by what they do? That may be what that reference was talking about, but it is not the only way to use it in our lives today. At the same time what we believe, as members of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is that we need to have Faith in Jesus Christ and follow his example to the best of our ability. I am not saying we will be perfect and will make it on our own, we follow the BEST we can, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ will help us reach the exaltation he wants for all of us. Our woks do not Save us, they show the Savior that we follow him in Faith.
Greg, I appreciate your desire to clear
up misunderstandings; however, several of your points actually touch
on common myths that Mormons believe about evangelical or “biblical”
Christianity.
1. This “myth” is in response to
many Mormons’ belief that biblical Christians have no regard for
works. Because we believe that salvation is by grace, it is
automatically presumed that we think works are unimportant. The
going idea is “we pray a little prayer and then they can go sin all
they want because they’re saved by grace.” This idea is downright
offensive to someone who has truly been transformed by grace. Our
works do not save us; this is biblical. But as people saved by God,
works are expected. Works are a product—even a natural
outpouring—of the work that God does in us. They are not duties,
they become a natural component of who we are in Christ. We will
still stumble and fail, and it’s not that Jesus “makes up” for
the shortfall; he has already given us the totality of eternal life
when we embrace him. We grieve over our sinfulness, not because we
fear punishment, or the removal of blessings (this is, at its root,
selfishness) but rather because by it we hurt the One we love and who
gave Himself for us.
2. I’ve never heard anyone use this as
the core reason why Mormons aren’t Christians. Now, the rejection of
the cross as the means of Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection as
the means of purchasing our salvation, this is another matter. The
cross, in Mormonism, often seems to be treated as an ugly
afterthought. It just happened to be the torture instrument used by
the people to kill Jesus, in their thinking. Whereas in the Bible,
the cross already becomes the symbol and metaphor of not only Jesus’
death and resurrection, but also our call to follow Him. This is
inescapable. That is why the symbol is dear to Christians, because
it points to something so magnificent.
3. Anyone who understands Mormon
doctrine does not make this claim; however, it IS a proper
understanding of Mormon doctrine that we can become as God; not to
supplant him, but to be as He is, presumably on another world. This
idea is completely unbiblical, and therefore it is rejected by
biblical Christianity.
4. Ah, the Bible. Mormons’ mistrust
in the reliability of the Bible is based upon an erroneous
understanding of its history and the means by which we have the Bible
we have today. Space doesn’t allow to go into the idea of textual
criticism, but it bears investigation. As for the two verses in Acts
that you quote as evidence of the Bible’s fallibility, a quick look
at the Greek will reveal that these are not contradictions at all,
but artifacts of the ambiguity in Greek. “Hear” and “understand”
are the same word, just as “voice” and “sound” are the same
word. Therefore one could just as easily be translated “heard the
sound” and the other “understand the voice”. I believe there
are some translations that note this distinction, though not the King
James.
Mormons don’t study Ancient Greek to get a complete understanding of the gospel. Doing so would blow their “understanding” of the Bible clean out of the water.
I love whenever I hear people who claim to have read the ‘original’ Greek version of the Bible. Which ‘original’ Greek version? There’s hundreds of them.
I would like to add about the whole works thing. As brother brad Wilcox says we are learning to live heaven
Why would God tell Joseph Smith JR the Creeds were an
abomination and professors were corrupt and the then give Joseph Smith the Book
of Mormon which agreed with these Creeds and professors
Pearl of Great Price
, Joseph Smith History
19 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; that
those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of
men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
2 Nephi 31:
21 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.
Alma 11:
44 Now, this
restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both
male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so
much as a hair of their heads be lost; but everything shall be restored to its
perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, 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,
whether they be good or whether they be evil.
Mormon 7:
7 And he hath brought
to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before
him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God
in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the
Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a
state of happiness which hath no end.
The Testimony of
Three Witnesses
And the honor be to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris
Doctrine and
Covenants 20 :
28 Which Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
2 Nephi 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;
Moroni 7:22 For
behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting , behold,
he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest
concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good
thing.
Moroni 8:18 For I
know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is
unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
Mormon 9:9 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?
Hebrews 12: 8 Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
2 Nephi 19:9 And I do
this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and
forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And
because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak
another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of
man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
Mosiah 3:5 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, working mighty miracles,
such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind
to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of
diseases.
3 Nephi 19:
18 And behold, they
began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their
God.
Mosiah 5:15
Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding
in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you
may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal
life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created
all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
An abridgment taken
from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were
scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they
were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the
house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and
that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off
forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the
Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there
are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of
God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
Translated by Joseph
Smith, Jun.
Mosiah 4: 9 Believe
in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and
in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in
earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can
comprehend.
I’ll answer both of the questions you asked (rather thoroughly I must say), that of
1) how the “fulness of the everlasting gospel” is contained in the Book of Mormon without the entirety of the gospel of Christ being contained;
and that of
2) “how the Book of Mormon can teach principles also found in Christianity, while the statement that ‘Creeds were an abomination and professors were corrupt'”
1) Answer: Here is an excellent explanation for the same question asked and answered: http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/publications/the-book-of-mormon-and-the-fulness-of-the-gospel
Nowhere is it claimed that every principle, past, present and future, is contained within the Book of Mormon. Christ himself described his gospel in 3 Nephi 27:13-19 . “The Book of Mormon teaches these concepts with a plainness and clarity unequaled by any other book. It has therefore been declared by the Lord to contain “the fulness of the gospel.” (quoted from the link above)
Thus the your perceived requirement that the Book of Mormon must contain all principles of the gospel to be correct is unfounded.
As you quoted above:
“34 He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold
plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the
source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the
everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the
ancient inhabitants;” (JSH 1:34)
Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “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.”
2) Answer: The answer to this question is actually rather simple and is easily found in the passage you started to quote: “19 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; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (JSH 1:19)
These professors and Creeds, while perhaps similar but they were “lip service” only and “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” maybe they had similar doctrine but “they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof”. So we see that a restoration was needed to restore the gospel in it true form with the power of heaven behind it. It had to be as Isaiah prophesied:
“13 ¶Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isaiah 29:13-14)
Pearl Of Great Price
34 He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold
plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the
source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the
everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the
ancient inhabitants;
Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “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.”
Introduction of Book of Mormon
So if that’s the
case why can’t we find these teachings
in the Book of Mormon ?
1. The plurality of Gods (Mormon Doctrine pp. 576, 577)
2. The baptism for
the dead done in holy temples (Mormon Doctrine pp. 72,73)
3. Celestial marriage
which no unworthy member or outsider can attend (Mormon Doctrine pp. 117, 118)
4. Polygamy needed to
become a God (Journal of Discourse, Vol. II p. 269)
5. Blacks were cursed
with a dark skin (Mormon Doctrine p. 109)
6. You can become a
God if you are worthy; celestial marriage required (Mormon Doctrine p. 118)
7. We were all
pre-existent spirits (Mormon Doctrine p. 589)
8. God has a body of
flesh and bones (Mormon Doctrine p. 289)
9. We have a Heavenly
Mother as well as a Heavenly Father (Mormon Doctrine p. 516)
10. There are three
levels of heaven. To go to the highest kingdom, you must be a Mormon. Honorable
persons go to the Terrestrial kingdom. The dishonest, liars, sorcerers,
adulterers and whoremongers go to the Telestial kingdom. (Mormon Doctrine pp.
420, 421)
11. God and his wife
achieved a celestial marriage (Celestial Marriage Manual p. 1)
12. Heavenly Father
died just like Jesus (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 346)
13. God was once just
like us and progressed to godhood (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p.
345)
14. God has a father
and His Father has a Father, etc. (Mormon Doctrine p. 322)
15. Jesus and Lucifer
are spirit brothers (Mormon Doctrine p. 192)
16. Jesus and Lucifer
each had a plan to people the earth. Jesus’ plan was chosen and caused Lucifer
to rebel and he and the angels that followed him were cast out of heaven.
(Mormon Doctrine p. 193)
17. God lives near a
star called Kolob (Mormon Doctrine p. 428)
18. Temple endowments
are so sacred that you must be worthy to enter (Mormon Doctrine pp. 619, 620)
19. Jesus was not
able to keep his church together (History of the Church Vol. 6 pp. 408, 409)
20. In the future,
you will need Joseph Smith’s consent in order to enter the celestial kingdom
(Journal of Discourse Vol. 7 p.289)
21. Not everything
you’ll need to know concerning salvation will be recorded in the Bible but
there will be additional scriptures (Mormon Doctrine p. 83)”
22. Jesus was Married
and Practiced polygamy (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.210).
(Journal of Discourses,
vol.2, p.82).
(Journal of
Discourses, vol.4, p.259).
23. No eternal hell
LDS Apostle John
Widtsoe declared, “In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
there is no hell. All will find a measure of salvation” (E. & R., p.
216). Yet, the B. of M. says, “The devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth
them away carefully down to hell and behold others he flattereth away, and
telleth them there is no hell” (II Nephi 28:21-22). Thus, the B. of M.
explains where Mormonism got its doctrine of no hell!
The B. of M. also
says, “If ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until
death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth
seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you and
hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the
final state of the wicked” (Alma 34:35).
24. Animal sacrifice
after Jesus’ blood was shed
RESTORATION OF BLOOD
SACRIFICES. We are living in the dispensation of the fulness of times into
which all things are to be gathered, and all things are to be restored since
the beginning. Even this earth is to be restored to the condition which
prevailed before Adam’s transgression. 44 Now in the nature of things, the law
of sacrifice will have to be restored, or all things which were decreed by the
Lord would not be restored. It will be necessary, therefore, for the sons of
Levi, who offered the blood sacrifices anciently in Israel, to offer such a
sacrifice again to round out and complete this ordinance in this dispensation.
Sacrifice by the shedding of blood was instituted in the days of Adam and of
necessity will have to be restored. 45
The sacrifice of
animals will be done to complete the restoration when the temple spoken of is
built; at the beginning of the millennium, or in the restoration, blood
sacrifices will be performed long enough to complete the fulness of the
restoration in this dispensation. Afterwards sacrifice will be of some other
character.
3 Nephi 9:19 Jesus
was supposed to have said: “And ye shall offer up unto me no more the
shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done
away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.”
25. Atonement
happened in Garden of Gethsemane
The Church of Jesus
Christ of latter-day Saints does not view the atonement of Christ in the
biblical and historical Christian manner. Instead of the atonement occurring on
the cross, Mormonism teaches that the atonement occurred primarily in the
Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus shed His blood. Please consider the following
quotes from a BYU professor and the Mormon apostle Bruce McConkie.
•BYU professor Robert J. Matthews, who on page 282 of his
book, A Bible! A Bible!, wrote, “It was in Gethsemane, on the slopes of
the Mount of Olives, that Jesus made his perfect atonement by the shedding of
his blood-more so than on the cross.”
•Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie, stated, “Where and
under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was
it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross
of Christ that most Christians look when centering their attention upon the
infinite and eternal atonement. And certainly the sacrifice of our Lord was
completed when he was lifted up by men; also, that part of his life and
suffering is more dramatic and, perhaps, more soul stirring. But in reality the
pain and suffering, the triumph and grandeur, of the atonement took place
primarily in Gethsemane,” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 1, p.
774, emphasis mine).
26. Eternal Progression
27. Maintaining
genealogical records
28. Mormons hold keys to the kingdom
29. creation from matter and Ex Nihilo wrong
Jacob 4:9 For behold, by the power of his a 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 dearth, or the workmanship of
his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?
2 points:
1) This “clears up” misconceptions about as well as the leaders of the LDS church represent LDS history. There’s not enough time and space taken and given to fully flesh out these issues so you end up with a one-sided, positive-only view of these issues, much like what the “men on the watchtower” give their members.
2) While this post is supposed to be dealing with misconceptions about what the LDS of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe, it constantly does it with the implicit point that (this particular) LDS Church and its members are Christian. Actually, I am fine with Mormons claiming the term “Christian” for themselves, but I prefer a
specification like “only true” or “real” to clarify what is really taught and
believed. The fact is that as long as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members deny the term “Mormon” to polygamous Mormons, then members of said church have nothing to stand on to complain about Christians not accepting their church as “Christian” or their members de facto “Christians”. Their very arguments for why they are Christian, like this post, are belied by their own institutional hypocrisy.
To inform those who need it: The mainline LDS church denies that polygamous groups of Mormons are “Mormon” even though the two share their modern origin in Joseph Smith and most of his successors, the same set of scriptures, and almost all of the same beliefs either today or for a majority of their history. The very fact that the LDS church has copyrighted the word “Mormon” in the U.S. is contradictory to the inclusiveness that the LDS Church and its members are trying to convince the public and traditional Christians to embrace.
As long as mainline Mormons deny the term “Mormon” to polygamous Latter-day Saints, then all talk about really being “Christian” goes up in noxious hypocritical smoke.
Quotes from LDS leaders to consider for
each point respectively:
1) “There is no such thing as an accurate, objective history of the Church without consideration of the spiritual powers that attend this work… There is a temptation… to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith-promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful… In an effort to be objective, impartial, and scholarly, a
writer or a teacher may unwittingly be giving equal time to the adversary… In the Church we are not neutral. We are one-sided. There is a war going on, and we are engaged in it… The fact that something is already in print or available from another source is no excuse for using potentially damaging materials in writing, speaking, or teaching: ‘Do not spread disease germs!’”
– Apostle of the LDS Church Boyd K. Packer, “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect,” speech delivered at the 1981 Church Educational System Religious Educators’ Symposium
2) “They have no connection with us. They don’t belong to the church. There are actually no Mormon fundamentalists.” – President and Prophet of the LDS Church Gordon B. Hinckley on Larry King Live
Actually you’re confusing two terms in your description of supposed hypocrisy, that of Mormon, and that of Christian. The term “Mormon” refers to a specific religion, while the term “Christian” is faith based rather than church based. Those with that follow and have faith in Christ are deemed Christian be they Baptist, Protestant, Episcopalian, etc. Thus the LDS church not deeming splinter groups as part of the LDS church (also called Mormons) would be akin to the Catholic church not calling Protestants members of the Catholic church. Regardless of what history splinter groups have with Joseph Smith or his teachings when they break off from the teachings of the gospel restored by Joseph Smith they are no longer affiliated with the LDS church and therefore have no claim on the term (which is not preferred) “Mormon”. If they call themselves Christian, so much the better.
Hope you can understand the difference.
Really. These are the 4 TOP misconceptions about the church? REALLY?
You don’t get out much.
Hi Greg, I don’t think you have been honest and transparent about what LDS doctrine teaches about God or the other misconceptions. I think you have here a defense of LDS doctrine without being honest and transparent about what LDS actually believe and teach. That is precisely what causes misconceptions. For example, why not address openly what LDS Doctrine really teaches about Christianity and God, including eternal progression and exaltation, the need for marriage and sealing in the Temple, the Endowment Ceremony, the complete apostasy of Christianity, what your early fathers have taught about Christians being antichrist ( Brigham Young, JD vol 9 p. 312) without obfuscating your church doctrine? This is what causes Christians to have concerns. You are not honest about what your church teaches. You cloud the LDS teaching about God by saying ‘we don’t teach that God will be supplanted’ instead of stating clearly the cornerstone doctrine that God was once a man and that man can progress to becoming a god. Christians believe that God is outside the boundaries of time and eternity,self existent, perfect, immutable, omnipotent, omnisient, holy, rightous, no mother, no father and no wife, the Creator not a creator, who did not just reorganize matter but created it and is in no way inferior to anything. LDS believe in a God that continues to progress and thus is inferior to time and experience and is doing what Gods before have done and after him will do.
Maybe I forget some or was too immature or brain injured but I have never heard so much and learned so much about the bible as I have in the years working on a spiritual renewal than I have with the lds church. I cant say it was not in other churches I visited and the church i was born into but I believe the lds church has so much too offer anyone serious about scripture. Each Sunday we study, in depth the scripture and many Sundays all we focus on is the New or Old testament. Yes, the Book of Mormon is a huge supplement to the faith, but we are Christians.
Dear sir or madam, the tone of your comment is one that makes me feel that there is hope and a chance for great dialogue. I have been an lds baptized Christian for less than a year. In that time I have heard all teachings in our Sunday hour gospel study speak to God the Father, Jesus, his only begotten son and the Holy Spirit. The focus is that we are saved by grace and forgiven only through the atonement. I do not pretend to be an expert on all doctrine yet but I have heard no denial of the trinity. As for the leaders I believe they speak truths that I need to hear that are directly inspired by God. I chose to be baptized because I witnessed God at work and wanted to turn from sinful behavior. The church helps me do this and I love the church. I also love all churches that believe in grace and baptism and trying to love rightiously according to gospel principles!