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Table of Contents

#1 Differing Accounts of First Vision

The Mormons have no real substantive explanations for the multiple accounts of the First Vision. In the Summer of ‘86, the ENSIGN magazine had an article which tried to draw analogies between the alleged "conflicts" of Paul’s two accounts of his vision on the road to Damascus in Acts 9 and 22—saying that Smith’s discrepancies amount to the same thing. Acts 9:7 says "the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." Acts 22:9 says they "saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me." They try to say that this is just as bad as the Smith problems.

Remember that only the Bible can interpret the Bible (2 Peter 1:20) What is meant here can be easily determined by cross-referencing it to other, similar passages . This is identical to what happens in John 12:28-29 where the Father speaks from heaven, but although those listening heard something which sounded like thunder, evidently only the apostles understood the actual words spoken. (See also John 10:14-15, 26-27 in which Jesus teaches that only those who believe can truly hear his voice) Thus, what is meant is that the other men didn’t understand the speech of the voice which spoke. For example, you could hear the voice of someone talking next to you in Chinese, but you probably would not understand it.

Similarly, the people with Paul in Damascus heard the sound of the voice, but understood not what was said.

On the other hand, with Joseph Smith, you are talking about multiple accounts with a) 1 being, b) angels, c) an angel, d) 2 beings—plus different words in the script, both from Smith and from the "heavenly visitor." Entirely different matter! But it‘s the best the Mormons can do to try and explain away what is a very damaging situation.

#3- Was there really a Great Apostasy?

The LDS Church teaches that soon after the death of the last apostle (other than John, whom they believe to still be alive) the true Church began to die off for lack of apostolic (priesthood) authority. Thus, sometime in the second century, the primitive apostolic church essentially vanished, and was gradually replaced with priestcraft and apostasy—culminating in the formulation of the Catholic church. The definitive LDS work on this is the book by James Talmage, THE GREAT APOSTASY, Deseret Books, 1968.

According to the Mormons, it was this general apostasy which necessitated the "Restoration" under Joseph Smith in 1830. Otherwise, Smith would be irrelevant—if it isn’t broken, it doesn't need to be fixed. Thus, it is absolutely essential to the Mormon position that this apostasy occur. This apostasy is why it is impossible for both the LDS Church to be true and the rest of Christianity to be true. One cancels the other out.

As essential as this argument is to Mormonism, it does not bear close scrutiny—either historical or scriptural. It contradicts the Bible; for Jesus said that He "would be with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Mt.28:19) and also that "upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."(Mt.16:18) The divinely inspired Paul also wrote, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen."(Eph.3:21)

Now if Jesus promised He would be with us always; and that the gates of hell could never prevail against His church; how could there have been such a universal apostasy as Joseph Smith taught? How could Jesus be glorified by His church "throughout all ages" if from 300-1830 AD it was drowning in apostasy? Certainly, there have been times when the church was not all it should be; but Jesus was still with it totally, and prevented hell from crushing it. I’d believe Jesus’ Word over Joseph’s.

#4— Book of Mormon Archaeology and Diane Wirth’s book

We are not well-acquainted with the book you mention, A CHALLENGE TO THE CRITICS by Diane Wirth, but it almost certainly could not have anything in it very startling. The official position of BYU archaeologists is and has been for years that there is not any real evidence of Book of Mormon civilizations in Pre-Colombian America. In fact, many LDS scholars like Ray T. Matheny and Leonard Arrington have actually gone on record as saying that it doesn’t even matter if the Book of Mormon is true or not, or if archaeology backs it up; because it’s "true, even if it isn’t literally true."

Now, if they can be comfortable statements like that, we really feel sorry for them. We constantly hear reports of some finding which "proves" the Book of Mormon, but upon investigation, they do not stand up under investigation, or else are just "faith-promoting stories."

One fellow called up when Ed and Bill were on the BOB LARSON TALK-BACK SHOW and said that he was on the archaeology faculty of a certain university in the Midwest and had just become a Mormon because he had found, on a dig down in Peru, proof which absolutely vindicated the Book of Mormon.

The funny thing is, we called up the university after the show was over and found out that 1) they HAD no archaeology department; 2) they never had any digs anywhere, much less Peru; and 3) they had no professors who recently became Mormons. You have to wonder how the Mormon who made that call justifies that kind of deception?

In a widely read article in the journal DIALOGUE, Michael Coe, a highly respected authority on New World archaeology, wrote in the Summer 1973 issue, pp.41-42, 46:

Mormon archaeologists over the years have almost unanimously accepted the Book of Mormon as an accurate, historical account of the New World peoples...Let me now state categorically that as far as I know, there is not one professionally trained archaeologist, who is not a Mormon, who sees any scientific justification for believing the foregoing to be true, and I would like to state that there are quite a few Mormon archaeologists who would join this group...The bare facts of the matter are that nothing, absolutely nothing, has even shown up in any New World excavation which would suggest to a dispassionate observer that the Book of Mormon, as claimed by Joseph Smith is an historical document relating to the history of early migrants to our hemisphere.

#5— Who in Mormonism is authoritative?

Many Mormons will make the common mistake of saying that the sources we quote are not authoritative, and are not used as teaching guides. The latter may or may not be true; but be-fore we go much further, the LDS person needs to understand something.

The LDS church tends to deceive its people, and the general populace, by not laying all its cards on the table. Usually new converts are not im-mediately told the more odd doctrines of the church. They are never mentioned to investigators of the church.

The fact is, that both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young regarded the sermons they preached as being utterly gospel truth! In fact, Brigham Young stated the following:

I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve. The people have the oracles of God continually.1

The Lord almighty leads this Church, and he will never suffer you to be led astray if you are found doing your duty. You may go home and sleep as sweetly as a babe in its mother’s arms as to any danger of your leaders leading you astray.2

Joseph Fielding Smith, another LDS "prophet," proclaimed:

What is Scripture? When one of the brethren stands before a congregation of the people today and the inspiration of the Lord is upon him, he speaks that which the Lord would have him speak. It is just as much scripture as anything you will find in any of these records and yet we call these the standard works of the Church. We depend, of course, upon the guidance of the brethren, who are enti-tled to inspiration.3

...therefore it behooves us, as Latter-day Saints, to put our trust in the presiding authorities of the Church...no man ever went astray by following the counsel of the authorities of the Church.4

Let's be clear on the point that if Ezra Taft Benson, Brigham Young or Joseph Smith or any other apostle like Bruce R. McConkie or Orson Pratt write something or preach something, it will be doctrinally correct and as authoritative for a Mormon as the Bible or the Book of Mormon, according to LDS theology.

Some of these things may not be taught in Sunday school classes often, but they were taught and are taught as staunch LDS doctrine. It’s just that they are doctrines the church is timid about letting anybody find out about. But they’re still there!

1 JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol.13, p.95 (1870). 2 ibid., vol.9, p.289. 3 Joseph Fielding Smith, DOCTRINES OF SALVATION, vol.1, p.186 (1954). 4 ibid., p.243.

#6— On Baptismal Regeneration

Do we need to be baptized in water to be saved, especially in the light of Acts 2:38? As far as the word, "remission" in Acts 2:38, all the reliable commentators agree that the key is the word eis "for." Both MATTHEW HENRY’S COMMENTARY and THE JAMIESON, FAUSSET AND BROWN COMMENTARY agree that the passage would be rendered in the Greek: "in reference to the remission of sins." J,F,B says that "this is the visible seal of that remission."1

Thus, it does not mean that the baptism is "for" the remission of sins in sense that it causes it. The sins are already gone, washed in the blood of the Lamb. This same word, eis, is also translated "upon," "with reference to," "because of," and "into." Peter here was simply saying that the new believer should be baptized UPON having their sins remitted through faith in Christ.

We have this same usage in the English. A man is arrested "for" stealing. That doesn’t mean he was arrested in order to steal, but rather that he was arrested as a consequence of his stealing. We are baptized as a consequence of our having our sins remitted.

1. Acts 8:39—you ask if the cleansing of the eunuch’s heart could have taken place first, before his baptism; and this is perfectly acceptable—especially in the light of the dozens of scripture that teach salvation by faith and faith alone.

2. Acts 22:16—Yes, calling upon the name of the Lord is how their sins were washed away, not baptism. As you say, Eph.5:26 supports this, as also does Rom.10:13—"Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.".

3. As far as the 8 people being saved by water, the Greek word there is di, which is better translated "through."2 This is the same Greek word and the same linguistic problem as women being saved in child-bearing in 1 Tim. 2.3 This doesn’t mean the women is saved BY bearing children but rather that she is preserved from harm during the ordeal of child-birth. Similarly, the sailors on the ark were not saved by water, but FROM water. Did water save Noah, or did the ark?

Important to note: they were saved because Noah BELIEVED! It was Noah’s faith in the promises of God that made the ark possible which preserved them from death. You are right, of course, that both the thief on the cross and the account of Cornelius in Acts 10, both of whom were obviously saved without being baptized.

4. Re: 1 Pet.3:20-22. He describes baptism as the answer of a "good conscience" toward God. The problem is, Heb.9:14 tells us that the only way a conscience can be purged of dead works is by the blood of Jesus. Similarly, Jesus asserts in Mt.19:17 that NO ONE is good but God. These two verses make clear that the "good conscience" spoken of in 1 Peter is, in fact, one which has already been cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus and had His righteousness imputed to it. Bottom line: the person is already saved!

All this is a bit confusing, but much of it comes from people trying to complicate the simple message of the gospel. Men always seem to want to try and add to what Jesus has done for us. The "great cloud" of scriptural witnesses is for salvation by grace alone, without any help from us (Eph.2:8-9, Acts 16:31, Rom.10:9, 13, Jn.3:16,1 Jn.5:13, Gal.5:4, Gal.3:2-3).

1 THE BETHANY PARALLEL COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, Bethany House, 1983, p.710. 2 George Ricker Berry, INTERLINEAR GREEK-ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT, Baker Books, 1984, p.599. 3 Berry, p.542.

#7 Is The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Christ?

The LDS Church advertises the Book of Mormon as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." This claim is even stamped in print on the cover of the book’s recent editions. But is it really true? Let’s just test it by one simple test. What happened when Jesus went to Calvary in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon. The "Testament" should be the same!

Matthew 27:50-54: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mark 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Luke 23:44-47: And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The word, earthquake, is used here to state that the earth shook. It must not have been severe. John doesn’t even mention it. Luke indicates that people stood by as the earth shook and the sun went into eclipse for three hours. There is one clear thing. No one died. At His resurrection on the third day, graves were opened and some Saints were resurrected to walk into the city.

MATTHEW 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Again, earthquake is not used in the destructive sense. The earth shook and the stone rolled away from the door. People were not killed.

Not quite the same story in the Book of Mormon:

In the Book Of Mormon, Jesus brought death and destruction with him to the Cross. In 3 Nephi, Chapters 8 and 9, it details the events testifying of Christ’s crucifixion.

It describes the desolation of the great city of Zarahemla by fire, and the city of Moroni "...did sink into the sea and the inhabitants thereof were drowned... the earth was carried up upon the city of Mornihah...there was great and terrible destruction in the land southward......terrible destruction in the land northward....the highways were broken up....many great and noble cities were sunk and many burned and many shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth.....all these great and terrible things were done in the space of three hours."

3 Nephi Chapter 9 tells of further wrath as the cities and inhabitants of Gigal, Onihah, Mocum, Jerusalem, Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Jacob, Gimgimmo, Jacobugath, Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen are anihilated. (a total of 16 major cities)

Who did all this killing to testify of our Lord’s atonement on Calvary? 3 Nephi 9:15 reveals the murderer of approximately 2 million innocent inhabitants of the Book of Mormon lands, "Behold, I am Jesus Christ the son of God. I created the heavens and the earth and all things that in them are." He adds, (in verse 21), "behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world to save the world from sin."

I guess the easiest way for the Book of Mormon Jesus to "bring redemption" was to kill almost every human being; at least the vast majority of that portion of his "other sheep have I." This Jesus was a god of wrath, exercising some form of Old Testament Judgment by the one who was supposed to be the end of the law

The Biblical Jesus cried out to His Father on behalf of those who nailed him to a cross with cruel spikes, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." The Book of Mormon Jesus wipes out millions of people who knew nothing of Calvary. Pretty simply, we see two different Jesus’ here.

"THE VAPOR OF DARKNESS"

Another comparison the Bible offers us is the astronomical occurrences at the death of Jesus. As noted above, Luke's gospel says that there was a darkness over all the earth (vs.44-45). Mt.27:45 says "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." and Mk.15:33 concurs almost exactly. Now the word used in the Greek for "earth" almost always means the earth as a whole, or the entire inhabited earth. (VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY, p.352-53). Therefore we can assume that the 3 evangelists meant that the darkness covered the entire earth. This would include the Book of Mormon lands.

However, again we have a substantial difference between the two accounts. It seems clear from the Bible that there is nothing unusual about the darkness. Jesus’ disciples and the Romans about the cross got about without difficulty and saw the Lord die. John, an eye-witness, even makes a special point of saying that he saw Jesus pierced. (Jn.19:34-35)

The Book of Mormon darkness seems to have started at the time the Biblical darkness ended (3 Nephi 8:19). "And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof...could feel the vapor of darkness; And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled...so that there could not be any light at all; And there was not any light seen.. neither the sun nor the moon nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness upon the face of the land. And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen."Ñ3 Nephi 8:20-23.

Now that’s quite a different type of darkness. It seems to be a tangible thing which allowed no light at all. Not only that, but it lasted for 3 days instead of 3 hours. This is utterly different from the Bible. When the Bible says gloom covered the entire earth during the crucifixion, the Book of Mormon teaches that a mysterious "vapor of darkness" started right after the crucifixion and lasted for 3 days.

How can both be true, especially when you consider how this darkness would violate the laws of physics? No "darkness" can stop light, because it is the absence of light. Since the LDS "God" cannot bypass natural law, he could not make such a darkness.

This is some way for the Book of Mormon Jesus to celebrate the first Easter, by wiping out a couple million people and then smothering the survivors in impossible darkness! The question must be asked again, why would Jesus inflict so horrifying a punishment upon his "other sheep" when the folks who nailed Him to the cross only got a tremor and a gloomy afternoon?

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER!

The LDS Jesus then does another rather un-Biblical thing. After descending to earth, he orders the surviving Nephites to "thrust your hands into my side...[and] feel the prints of the nails in my hands and my feet..."-3 Nephi 11:14.

Then, what most LDS experts estimate to be about a half-million people troop forward and stick their hands in his wounds! Figuring 30 seconds per person, it would have taken almost 3 days for the LDS Jesus to stand there and let people poke at him.

Now remember, these are the Nephite "true believers;" the ones who were counted worthy enough to escape having their cities fall on them. These are the cream of the crop!

Does the Biblical Jesus ever do anything like this? Well, of course there is Thomas. But Thomas is not presented as any kind of paragon! Jesus told him, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed. "John 20:29. The Biblical Jesus valued faith, and gave a special blessing to those who did not need such demonstrations. Thomas never did actually touch Him!

Earlier, in John 20:17, Jesus discouraged Mary Magdalene from touching Him at all. Yet we are asked to believe that this same Jesus allowed a "multitude" to spend days doing it. It seems like another odd way to celebrate the first Easter! Can this be the same Jesus of the Bible?

ANOTHER JESUS? The Christ of Mormonism is not the same Christ of the Bible. 2 Cor.11:3-5 tells us that there will be those who would teach a different Christ. Paul says of them, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ". So there is a Biblical warning about those who would bring the doctrine of another Jesus and a simple test. Do the Mormons and the Book of Mormon pass that test? No.

The Mormons have a difficult time understanding what actually happened at Calvary. In their pamphlet, WHAT THE MORMONS THINK OF CHRIST, we see the problem. In the section, The Blood of Christ (page 22 in the 1976 edition), we read:

"Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept him as our personal savior, we are thereby saved. They say that his blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean.

"What is the true doctrine of the blood of Christ? Salvation comes because of the atonement, and the atonement was wrought through the shedding of the blood of Christ. In Gethsemane Christ sweat great drops of blood from every pore when he conditionally took upon himself the sins of the world, and then the shedding of his blood was completed upon the cross."

This is not the Biblical account of the Atonement! Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray and prepare. The Atonement was the Cross! The garden was the sanctification of the sin offering (Leviticus 4:3-5) to be given ONCE - for all - at the cross.

The LDS Church teaches in its Articles of Faith, Article 3, "We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel (The laws and ordinance of the MORMON gospel) ."

These Mormon laws and ordinances have been placed there, in the way of the Cross, blocking the LDS people from it and its cleansing power!

The Bible clearly teaches another Christ; and another gospel...

In Col. 2:13-15 Paul writes: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

And in Ephesians 2:13ff: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

The Mormon Jesus has been stripped of his unique Deity and his sacrifice on the cross has been robbed of its power. Theirs is a tragically bloodless Christ, whose death only brought us immortality, NOT eternal life. Their Jesus forces us under laws, ordinances and an all-too-human priesthood. This is not the "Good News" of the Bible:

HEBREWS 9:11ff "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance...Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. "

HEBREWS 10:28ff "He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

In the early LDS church, there was a more orthodox Christ preached. But, when Joseph began to teach the strange doctrines of this different Christ, one without the redemptive powers, the church could no longer deal with the reality of the blood of Calvary and its full redemptive work, That was when the church removed the red wine from the communion table and went to water. This act literally washed away the reality of the blood from its basically Christen converts. The same holds true today. The cross and the blood have become strangers to the saints.

#8— Is the Bible true according to Mormonism?

Contrary to Mormon thought, the Bible cannot be changed or tampered with (Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17)

Is the Bible denied by LDS teaching? Yes it is, by THEIR official Articles of Faith: "#8, 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."

That is pretty plain. The Mormons don’t trust God to perfectly preserve His Word as He promised (Matt.5:18, Luke 16:17, 1 Peter 1:24-25). Apostle McConkie, the leading theologian in the Church for a generation, wrote:

"Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors—many plain and precious things were deleted, in consequence of which ERROR AND FALSEHOOD POURED INTO THE VARIOUS CHURCHES. One of the great heresies of modern Christendom is the unfounded as-sumption that the Bible contains all of the inspiring teachings now extant among men!"—MORMON DOCTRINE, pp.82-83.

That is even plainer! The Bible is not to be trusted! Consider this, if the Bible were to-tally trustworthy, why did Joseph Smith in his "Inspired Version" (Now featured in ev-ery LDS edition of the Bible) feel it necessary to rewrite thousands of words in it.

You see trusting the Bible is like trusting in Jesus, because Jesus IS THE WORD. It is all or nothing! You can’t just trust parts of the Bible and say you believe in the Bible. If parts of the Bible are wrong, then how do you know which parts? How can you judge, without something sure and certain to judge with?

God would not do that to His people. He loves us too much to give us His Word and then let it be corrupted. What real human father would write his son an important letter and then allow the letter to be changed in important ways? God, Who is much better and much more powerful than any earthly father, would not let His Bible be changed if He personally promised that it would not be changed. Or is God a liar?

#9— Towards a Witnessing Bibliography

"OFFICIAL" MORMON SOURCES

MORMON DOCTRINE by Bruce R.McConkie, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1966. A MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER by LeGrand Richards, Deseret Books, Salt Lake City, 1950. THE BOOK OF MORMON, Joseph Smith, Jr., The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City. DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, Joseph Smith, Jr., The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City. THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, Joseph Smith, Jr., The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City. THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH (6 vol) by Joseph Smith, Jr., et.al. Deseret Books, Salt Lake City TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, ed. by Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Books, Salt Lake City, 1976. THE GREAT APOSTASY by James E. Talmage, Deseret Books, Salt Lake City, 1968. THE JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, (26 vol.) Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, et. al.

BOOKS BY CHRISTIANS ABOUT MORMONISM:

THE GOD MAKERS by Ed Decker (former Mormon) and Dave Hunt, Harvest House, Eugene, OR. THE GODMAKERS II, Ed Decker and Caryl Matrisciana, Harvest House, Eugene, OR. DECKER'S COMPLETE HANDBOOK ON MORMONISM, Ed Decker Harvest House, Eugene, OR WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MORMONS, by Ed Decker, Harvest House, Eugene, OR. BEYOND MORMONISM by Jim Spencer (former Mormon) Chosen Books, Fleming Revell, Old Tappan, NJ. THE MAZE OF MORMONISM by Dr. Walter Martin, Bethany House, Minneapolis MORMONISM, MAMMA AND ME by Granny Geer (former Mormon), Moody Press, Chicago, IL. HOW TO ANSWER A MORMON by Robert A. Morey, Bethany House, Minneapolis. HAVE YOU WITNESSED TO A MORMON LATELY? by Jim Spencer, Chosen Books, Fleming Revell, Old Tappan, NJ. MORMONISM’S TEMPLE OF DOOM by Bill Schnoebelen and Jim Spencer (former Mormons) Triple J Publications, Boise, ID. WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE? by Chuck Sackett (former Mormon), Sword of the Shepherd Ministries, Thousand Oaks, CA.

#10—Mormons & the Blacks

Blacks weren’t allowed to hold the priesthood until 1978 because it is Mormon doctrine that black people have been born that way because they were "less valiant" in the pre-existence, and did not side with Jesus in the battle against Lucifer.

Mormons believe we all existed prior to birth in spirit world with the Father, and that 1/3rd of the spirits rebelled with Lucifer and became demons; 1/3rd of them fought valiantly with Jesus and are rewarded by being born into nice, white Mormon families. The final third are punished for their lack of zeal by being born with black skin. They believe that black skin is the mark of the curse of Cain, and therefore it was always taught that blacks were accursed and would never hold the priesthood or be allowed in the temple.

The curse was lifted in 1978 (even though Mormon prophets had taught it wouldn’t be lifted until every white person had the Mormon priesthood). It seems to have been lifted primarily because of political and social pressure; and the fact the LDS Church was in danger of losing its IRS status for being a racist church. Of course, the Mormons say it is a revelation—even though it contradicts earlier "revelations."

THE "REVELATION"— TEN YEARS LATER

From every LDS quarter, official or non-official, the tenth anniversary of the "Revelation" which opened the priest hood to black people, has been heralded with almost unparalleled gusto! Al though we applaud any move by the Mormons to ward Christianity; we also realize that the change has declared "open season" on blacks.

With magazines and news papers like the "Beehive Sentinel" doing pieces on the "wonderful ‘Darkies’" (LDS Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith’s words in 1963), we just felt that a closer look at the Church’s relations with black people was needed.

The LDS church is trying to rewrite history. Orwell wrote in the classic, 1984 that those who control the present control the past. That epigram could well be the motto for LDS leaders. 140 years of blatant racism has suddenly been for got ten.

To be fair, it must be noted that when the Church began, the view that black people were descended from Cain and therefore cursed to be slaves was extant. It is evident that the thoughts of Joseph Smith were shaped by his culture. How ever, we must remember that Smith, Brigham Young, etc. claimed special revelation. They claimed to be more than just clergy men. They were prophets of God!

Paul rose above his culture and dealt with racism in a way which was profoundly radical: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."—Gal. 3:28.

God is not bound by culture, nor by prejudice. If it was true in the New Testament times that race made no difference; then why wasn’t it true in the days of Joseph and Brigham? Certainly there were Christians who had racist ideas; but we must not forget that great men of God like William Wilberforce were at the forefront for the abolition of slavery, while the LDS prophets were mumbling in their beards about Ham and Egyptus. Their minds were still fogged by 19th century prejudice in the 1960’s and ‘70’s.

We need to hear what they were mumbling then, just to keep things in perspective amidst all the hype this summer. Brigham Young observed, "You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild and seemingly without the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind."—Journal of Discourses, v.7, p.290.

He also noted, with magisterial finality: "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who be longs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain [the black race], the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so."—ibid., v.10, p.110.

Young’s successor, John Taylor declared that, "after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham’s wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have representation on the earth..."—ibid., v.22, p. 30.

Late LDS apostle Bruce R. McConkie in his MORMON DOCTRINE has written: "Racial degeneration, resulting in differences in appearance and spiritual aptitude, has arisen since the Fall. We know the circumstances under which the posterity of Cain (and later of Ham) were cursed with what we call Negroid racial characteristics." p.616.

As if to cap off this dreary little litany of intolerance, we have this official letter from the First Presidency of the Church from July 17, 1947: "From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by the church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the gospel."—quoted in MORMONISM AND THE NEGRO, pp. 46-47 by Stewart and Berrett.

That this doctrine remained "on the books" of a supposedly Christian church until 1978 is inexcusable. Since 1978, the LDS "memory holes" have been running at full steam, sucking away all those nasty teachings and even changing wording of the "inspired" Book of Mormon from "white and delightsome" to "pure and de light some" so as not to offend any black converts.

Seeing the articles in the LDS publications, it is apparent that all is still not well in "Zion" when it comes to racism. In their attempt to show the Church’s new "multi-racial" image the requisite number of black ball-players and musicians who have be come LDS are being trotted out. It is as if the Church has moved to the "Gee those folks sure can play ball and dance good" attitude! In the 6/4/88 issue of the "Sentinel", for ex ample, are listed some "well-known black LDS."(p.13).

A large majority of those listed are either athletes, entertainers, or BYU staffers. This is not to say that they aren’t fine people; but only to show that the Church has not re ally moved that far along! Tokenism is rampant. In 10 years there are still no black general authorities.

Also, it may indicate that most of US blacks are simply too smart to join a church which has discriminated against them for 140 years long after the rest of us repented! It is important to note the vague figures cited. The "Sentinel" reports that there are c.75,000-100,000 blacks in the Church. Of these, 30,000 are in West Africa and 28,000 in other Third World countries. That only leaves 17,000-42,000 blacks in the US; where the Church’s racism is well-known.

The "testimonies" in these articles carefully skirt the issue of past doctrine and deal with the usual warm "feelings" about the Book of Mormon. We truly grieve over the precious black people world-wide who are being drawn into this deception. Sadly, as far as Mormonism is concerned, Satan is now an "equal opportunity employer."

#11— Blacks and the Pre-existence

Brigham Young said that blacks are "uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild and seemingly without the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind." (JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, 7:290).

About Blacks and the war in heaven, (Prophet) Joseph Fielding Smith wrote in DOCTRINES OF SALVATION, vol.1, p.66-67 (which most LDS have in their libraries): There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantages. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient, more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less...There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits.

That seems pretty clear. Mormons believe the blacks are being punished for something they did in the pre-existence. Now, if they weren’t neutral; then the only answer left is that they opposed Christ and His angels along with Satan—otherwise, why would they be cursed? They certainly wouldn’t be cursed for fighting FOR Christ. This is just common sense. This teaching is racist doctrine to the core, even though it was changed slightly in 1978 by Spencer W. Kimball! See also our tract, "The Mormon Church and the Black."

#12— On 1 John 5:13 and "Blessed Assurance!"

Every Christian knows ( should know) that when they die, they will instantly be with God the Father in heaven, without a tiny doubt. Why? Because the Bible tells us so: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may KNOW that you have eternal life."—1 Jn.5:13.

Now, consult the late LDS apostle and theologian, Bruce R. McConkie. He carefully defines "eternal life" in his MORMON DOCTRINE. (p. 670 ["Salvation"]):

Salvation in its true and full sense is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions, this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak. It is the salvation which the saints seek...This full salvation is obtained in and through the continuation of the family unit in eternity, and those who obtain it are gods.

That’s as plain as day "Eternal life = godhood and exaltation" and I KNOW I’ve got it because the Bible says so! That is being Born Again—when you know for certain where you are going when you die—NOT being dunked into a baptismal font. When you KNOW you are going to Glory because you are trusting in Jesus’ righteousness and His shed blood on the Cross and nothing that you have done. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

That is one of the cardinal differences between Mormonism and Christianity. I have yet to meet a Mormon who knows where they are going when they die. They lack the blessed assurance of 1 John 5:13! Thus, they cannot be saved, and are not real Christians, no matter how hard they try, or how much they do.

#13— Blood Atonement

Due to the sheer quantity of information on the blood atonement doctrine and polygamy, I won’t even attempt to go over all that’s available. What I will do is present a basis for the doctrines from LDS scripture and refer you to some sources for additional material. Although seemingly unrelated, the two doctrines are dealt with together for two reasons: 1) they have a common spiritual basis in D&C 132, and 2) they show that Mormonism is clearly anti-Christian. Plural marriage and blood atonement are doctrines that Mormons would replace historic Christian orthodoxy with!

Referring to D&C 132: vs.37-38 stress the right for Abraham to have concubines and explains how David erred in polygamy. V.40 gives Joseph Smith the appointment to restore all things. Although most Mormons don’t know or won’t accept it, Joseph did his best to restore concubinage and polygamy. V.52 admonishes Emma to receive all those who have been given to Joseph. Obviously, the topic of plural marriage was not a new item in the Smith family. Vs.61 & 62 give Mormon men the right to join in the "Principle." V64 says that if a wife does not believe in the doctrine, she shall be destroyed.

(Interestingly, Emma Smith was threatened with that very destruction—yet history shows that although she resisted the doctrine of plural marriage, she lived to a ripe old age. Her "prophet" husband who threatened her with destruction was dead within the year—shot by a mob after being imprisoned in Carthage jail for causing a riot in Nauvoo in which a printing press accusing Joseph of having more than one wife was destroyed. Historical irony, or the judgment of God?)

Blood atonement is presented in vs.26, 41. 26 says that if a man commits murder after being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, he shall be destroyed in the flesh. V.41 is a stern warning to women who commit adultery. Apparently what is good for the gander is not good for the goose! The rest of D&C 132 pertains to becoming a god in three "easy" lessons; but that’s an altogether different issue.

A small paperback written by Joseph Fielding Smith entitled BLOOD ATONEMENT AND THE ORIGIN OF PLURAL MARRIAGE deals with the topic from a Mormon point of view. He says the founders of Utah incorporated blood atonement into their laws so violators could atone for their own sins. (See also DOCTRINES OF SALVATION, v.1, p.136)

Historically, the LDS church practiced polygamy and blood atonement before the D&C 132 revelation was given. As early as 1835, a 17 year old girl named Fanny Alger was found pregnant with Joseph’s baby. Another early conquest was Malissa Willis, and of course Emily Partridge was on the scene just prior to the revelation. See EMMA by Keith and Ann Terry, pp.70, 73, and 138. They claim Joseph was with at least 40 women. Blood atonement was also practiced in the early days at Nauvoo also, see THE CONFESSIONS OF JOHN D. LEE.

It may be of interest to understand how Joseph and the boys could lie so easily when confronted with the truth about their plural wives. By viewing the church as a corporation and the priesthood as an office of God, they could feel that they were involved in two different organizations at the same time. When people asked, "Does the church practice polygamy?" they answered no. If anyone asked "Does the ‘holy Melchizedek priesthood’ hold the keys of plural marriage, and do you participate in that function?" they should have answered yes.

The doctrine of blood atonement also had some special coded meaning in it. To Mormons, murder was not killing. Killing was done to non-Mormons by Mormons. Murder was done to Mormons by non-Mormons. Killing was done out of love to prevent people from going to hell. As Mark Twain said, "Many a stranger has found himself down an alley happily awaiting a hearse, after making a few comments on polygamy." (See ROUGHING IT by Twain)

The theological basis (such as it is) for blood atonement can be found in DOCTRINES OF SALVATION by Joseph Fielding Smith, vol. II, p.94 and vol. I p.134. Joseph Smith taught that certain sins were so grievous that the blood of Christ was insufficient to cleanse them (contrary to 1 John 1:7). Murder, adultery, and covenant breaking should be personally atoned for in modern belief. Today Mormons defend and reject polygamy, saying they "don’t practice it." Yet they still believe it and it is still in their scriptures in D&C 132. They cling tenaciously to the doctrine of plural marriage and deny the atoning power of the blood of Jesus.

Do Mormons practice polygamy today? Many LDS husbands, if their wife dies first, is married to a second wife in the temple and believe that they will have both wives in heaven. Plus, in my experience, many Mormons (especially those of "old families") do still practice it on the sly. There are the "Fundamentalist Mormons," many of whom are officially kicked out of the LDS church just for being polygamists and practicing what Joseph and Brigham commanded. Blood atonement for official Mormondom is now in the hands of the state; Utah being the only state where a man can be executed by firing squad (to shed his blood). Unofficially, we wouldn’t put anything past them.

For a presentation of their present day attitudes on polygamy, see ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS by Taylor. The book, ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL, MAN OF GOD, SON OF THUNDER, is a well-documented book about a famous Mormon assassin from the LDS point of view. Two LDS assassins were tried and executed, John D. Lee and Bill Hickman. Also, look at the book called MORMONISM, MOMMA AND ME by Thelma Geer; Lee’s great-great granddaughter who is now a Christian!

Another element of blood atonement is found in the LDS temple rites, even AS RECENTLY AS APRIL OF 1990. In their rites, temple Mormons swear not to reveal the secrets of the temple on penalty of having their lives taken.

#14— The Body of Christ, Explained For an LDS

The only "true" Church of Jesus Christ is His Body. The Church of Jesus Christ is not an organization, it is a living Body of believers. Rom. 12:5 says, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Elsewhere, Paul writes,

1Cor. 12:12-17 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

See, the essence of a living body is diversity! Your body wouldn’t work too well if it was all one big spleen; or one big kidney. It is made up of hundreds of different and discrete parts which all function together in accord with the head (or brain). A hand looks radically different from a liver, yet both are part of the same body. Both have the same DNA code in their cells!

This is just like Christianity. A Baptist church might look different from a Methodist or Presbyterian church, but yet inside, they have the same "DNA code," the Holy Spirit! They all function under the head, Jesus Christ! There is no earthly head of the true Christian church! Only Jesus is its head.

The LDS church, on the other hand, is like the gigantic spleen mentioned above. All a spleen can do is lay there and drip all over your carpet! It cannot do anything without the rest of the body, to say nothing of the head!

The differences you see in churches are not signs of evil, but of strength. As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 4:12 "… a threefold cord is not quickly broken." For more on this, please see our tract, "The Only True Church."

#15— Book of Abraham

It is interesting that you should be so concerned about the Book of Abraham, since that was a major source of concern for my wife (also ex-LDS). She had studied the various forms of Egyptian for several years because of an interest in the Egyptian culture. However, I made the mistake of getting her a Christmas present which was Hugh Nibley’s book, THE MESSAGE OF THE JOSEPH SMITH PAPYRI: AN EGYPTIAN ENDOWMENT.

In studying the book and going back to the Book of Abraham, she was astonished to find little correspondence between the way Joseph Smith had translated the text and the actual meaning of the Egyptian characters. She looked at the reproductions you mention which are in the Triple Combo and said that Smith was totally off in his interpretations! Needless to say, from that time on, she became less and less enchanted with Mormonism.

Now here is the actual situation with the Book of Abraham which I picked up later after a year and a half of research and a lot of help from my wife. In November of 1967, the papyrus which Smith used for his translation was found in Chicago, after having thought to have been lost for years. Well-known LDS scholar Dr. Hugh Nibley admitted, upon examining it, that "The papyrus scripts given to the Church do not prove the Book of Abraham is true."1 That is the understatement of the year.

Even his book, mentioned above, does such a poor job in trying to defend Joseph Smith’s translation that the Church has been unwilling to endorse it, even though it is published by Deseret Publishing. In fact, Francis Gibbs, then secretary to the First Presidency, wrote Baptist minister to Mormons John L. Smith and stated "…the writings of Dr. Hugh Nibley concerning the papyri scrolls have been done entirely on his own responsibility, and do not have the official approval and sanction of the church."2

Although this is an involved story, the basics which you would need to know is that Nibley, in 1967, asked fellow LDS Dee Jay Nelson, who claimed to have a PhD., to help translate the scrolls. Nelson came to the conclusion that Joseph didn’t get one character right on the entire scroll; and that basically it had nothing to do with Abraham at all, but was a funeral text!

Although Mormon scholars originally stated that Nelson’s "competence in both Egyptian and Semitic languages is unquestioned,"3 it later developed that Nelson’s doctorate was from a diploma mill in Seattle. When this was discovered, the Mormons tried to make a lot of mileage out of the fact that Nelson was "discredited." LDS people may hear this from their leaders. However, what their leaders will not tell them is that although Nelson’s academic credentials were discredited, his translation of the papyrus was not! In fact, it was quite good!

The Ogden Standard Examiner investigated the controversy surrounding Nelson’s credentials and competence. They contacted the leading expert in the US on Egyptology, Dr. Klaus Baer of the University of Chicago Oriental Institute. Dr. Baer was quoted as saying that although Nelson had no formal training in Egyptology, "he had certainly learned Egyptian somewhere."4 He described Nelson as "having a good amateur knowledge of Egyptian. He can translate hieroglyphics, but not without error…As to the papyri in question, Nelson’s translation is ‘essentially’ correct."5

That means that Joseph Smith’s translation is essentially incorrect! Dr. Baer provided his own translation of the papyri which was published in the "liberal" Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.6 Although too lengthy to quote here, it bears no resemblance to Smith’s Book of Abraham! Another Egyptologist, Dr. Richard A. Parker of Brown University published his translation, which almost totally agrees with Dr. Baer’s and which bears absolutely no resemblance to the Book of Abraham!7

The bottom line is that both scholars’ translations are around 75 words! Look at the Book of Abraham, it has thousands of words! Joseph could somehow milk dozens of words out of one Egyptian character! For example, one character in the papyri which looks kind of like a backwards "E" is translated by Smith as Abraham 1:13-14! That is 76 words in those verses alone! The character actually is only part of a word and means something to do with water. The word "water" does not even appear in the two verses cited of Joseph’s translation!8

In the over 20 years since the papyri came to light, and not one LDS defender has been able to explain how Joseph Smith managed to derive the Book of Abraham from a 70+ word pagan funeral text! The bottom line is that Smith knew nothing of Egyptian and obviously had no "divine" help in translating the papyri.

1 From an article in the BYU newspaper, The Daily Universe, December 1, 1967. 2 Letter dated August 22, 1975, cited in Tanners’ MORMONISM: SHADOW OR REALITY, p.307. 3 Richley H. Crapo, Book of Abraham Symposium, April 30, 1970, p.27. 4 Ogden Standard Examiner (March 29, 1980) article by Charles F. Trentelman. 5 ibid. 6 Dialogue, Autumn, 1968, pp.119-120. 7 Dialogue, Summer 1968, p.98. 8 Jerald and Sandra Tanner, MORMONISM: SHADOW OR REALITY, p.324-25.

#16—The Book of Mormon and the Bible

1) Does the Book of Mormon contradict Mormon theology? The answer, of course, is yes it does. For a fairly comprehensive study on this, see our tract, Those Plain and Precious Things, which goes into this. For example, Mormons teach that God was once a man who evolved into godhood through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the "gospel."

However, in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 24:6 agrees exactly with the Bible (Malachi 3:6), which says: "I am the LORD, I change not..." Obviously, if God never changes, He cannot evolve. Mormon 9:9 says "God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Mormon 9:19 asks "Why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable being?" Moroni 8:18 says God "...is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." This is just a couple of quick examples. There are a couple of dozen others in the tract.

2) Can the Book of Mormon be proven by history or archaeology? Of course, the answer is no. But the Bible most certainly can! We recommend EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT by Josh McDowell, which has some really powerful statistics on how many things in the Bible have been proven by archaeological evidence. There a literally thousands of artifacts (coins, ruins of cities, inscriptions, etc.) which support the Bible’s truth. There is no such proof for the Book of Mormon.

The official position of BYU archaeologists is and has been for years that there is not any real evidence of Book of Mormon civilizations in Pre-Columbian America. In fact, many LDS scholars like Matheny and Arrington have actually gone on record as saying that it doesn’t even matter if the Book of Mormon is true or not, or if archaeology backs it up; because it’s "true, even if it isn’t literally true."

We have an excellent tape that goes into this area by Jim Witham (T05), plus some material in the important booklet, The Massive Mormon Scripture Mess. It can be a helpful area. In a related area, you could get the booklet, A Biologist Looks at the Book of Mormon, written by a scientist with several earned degrees who shows all the historical and scientific impossibilities in the Book of Mormon (such as the presence of cows, oxen, horses or goats "for the use of man" in 400 BC, about 1800 years before the European colonists brought them over).

3) Changes in the Book of Mormon. Although the book is scarcely 158 years old, there have been thousands of corrections in it already, even though it was supposedly translated by a "prophet" letter by letter. Point out that in 4000 years there is less than a half-percent error rate in the Old Testament, (and none of those errors are doctrinally significant) while there is a 5% error rate in the Book of Mormon in only a mere century and a half! That means the Book of Mormon has 1000% of the errors in the Bible, in only 3% of the passage of time. Not very good!

4) Is the Book of Mormon a testimony of ANOTHER Jesus? The answer is yes! See especially 3 Nephi 8-10 where their Jesus wipes out millions of people on Good Friday instead of forgiving them, as he forgave those who crucified Him in Jerusalem.

5) Does the Book of Mormon’s existence correspond to Bible-based truth? The answer is no. Although Mormons cite a few scriptures like Ezek.37:16-20 and Isaiah 29:4-5, none of which stand up to close examination (See our tract, Does the Bible Prophesy the Book of Mormon?). Also the very essence of the Book of Mormon’s existence is that the Bible somehow needs "help"—that it, alone, is inadequate or lacks some key teachings—indeed has been corrupted over the centuries. Many Bible verses, some from the very mouth of the Lord Jesus, deny this concept by proclaiming the eternal and inerrant nature of the Bible text (see Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17)

#17—Getting a Book of Mormon Reprint.

As far as getting a copy of a Deseret Books sesquicentennial publication of the Book of Mormon, they are now extremely scarce. The LDS church stopped publishing them in about 1986 when they realized that their market to the Mormons was nonexistent and their main buyers were the ex-Mormon groups and we were using them to lead Mormons to Jesus.

Jim Spencer, author of An Elders Story sells a photocopied reprint of one, I think for $20. You can reach him at Through the Maze Ministries, Box 8656, Boise, ID. 83707 or on the Internet at jspencer@micron.net

You can also get a copy of the Mormon-published book, JOSEPH SMITH BEGINS HIS WORK, vol.1, which contains a photomechanical reprint of the original edition.

#18— Can there be faults in the Book of Mormon?

Mormon missionaries are asking people to lay aside the Holy Bible, a book with a literal carload of archaeological proofs for a book which has no more historical validity than, say, Never-never-land or the land of Oz. If I were not an ex-Mormon, what could a Mormon tell me that would convince me to lay aside the Bible and trust the Book of Mormon and other LDS scriptures?

This is especially true when the Bible says of itself that it is perfect (Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17, etc.).

On the other hand, the Book of Mormon says of itself:

"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." (Title page, Book of Mormon, 1981 edition)

Thus, we know that the Bible is perfect from its own testimony, and we also know that the Book of Mormon may well be flawed, by its own testimony. To any fair and impartial observer, it would seem that the Bible was the more reliable text; just on the basis of this fact.

#19— Contradictions in Book of Mormon

If the Book of Mormon is such a perfect book theologically, why does it deny all the unique doctrines of the LDS church? Why does Mormonism teach that there are three gods in the Godhead, when the Book of Mormon (AND the Bible) teaches that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God? (2 Nephi 31:21, Mosiah 3:5 & 7:27, Alma 18:28 and 3 Nephi 11:27, 40)

Why does Doctrine & Covenants 130:3 teach that the indwelling of the Father and the Son in a believer’s heart is false, when the Book of Mormon (Alma 34:36) teaches that the Lord does dwell in our heart? Which is it?

If the Book of Mormon is the "most correct book ever written" as Joseph Smith taught, then why does it DENY the Mormon doctrine of "Eternal Progression?" If "Man is as God once was, and As God is, man may one day become" then God was once a man, right? But if God was once a man, then he must have changed, right? Yet the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 24:6 says, "I am the Lord, I change not" Mormon 9:9 says that "God is the same yesterday, today and forever." Mormon 9:19 and Moroni 8:18 also teach that God never changes. Now which is it? Did God once change into God, or did God never change? BOTH can’t be true!

If the Book of Mormon is the "most correct book ever written", then why does it so solidly condemn the taking of more than one wife; a cardinal doctrine that Joseph Smith taught? (Jacob 1:15, 2:22-27, 3:5; Mosiah 11:2, Ether 10:5). If God cannot change (3 Nephi 24:6 and Malachi 3:6) then if he hated polygamy in the days of Jacob, he hated it just as bad in 1840, and Joseph Smith was an adulterous sinner!

#20— Significant Changes in the Book of Mormon

For most of the LDS church’s 150 year history, it was staunchly maintained by the church leaders that there were no changes in the Book of Mormon of a doctrinal nature. Indeed, Joseph Fielding Smith warned in 1961 that:

...there was not one thing in the Book of Mormon or in the second edition or in any other edition since that in any way contradicts the first edition, and such changes as were made were made by the prophet Joseph Smith because under those adverse conditions the Book of Mormon was published. But there was no change of doctrine. Now, these sons of Belial who circulate these reports evidently know better. I will not use the word that is in my mind.—The Improvement Era, Dec.1961, pp.924-925.

Although there are 3,913+ changes in the Book of Mormon; not all of them are minor. Although the recent "line" on the changes in the Book of Mormon from the LDS church is that all the changes are unimportant; actual examination does not bear this out—especially when one considers the contention by Joseph Smith himself (see Saint’s Herald, November 15, 1962, p.16.) that the golden plates were supposedly translated letter-by-letter "by the power of God." (HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, vol 1, p.54-55)

Typos are one thing, profound changes in doctrine, major errors in consistency and common sense are quite another. (Changed parts are highlighted)

DOCTRINAL PROBLEMS:

1) Title page: (both versions) 1830: "...by Joseph Smith, jr., author and proprietor" Today: "translated by Joseph Smith, jr."

2) First Book of Nephi, p.25 (1830): "Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh." Today: 1 Nephi 11:18: "...is the mother of the Son of God."

3) First Book of Nephi, p.25 (1830):."...behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father!" Today: 1 Nephi 11:21: "yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!"

4) First Book of Nephi, p.26 (1830): "And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting God was judged of the world..." Today: 1 Nephi 11:32: "...yea, the Son of the Everlasting God was judged of the world..."

5) First Book of Nephi, p.32; (1830): "...that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Saviour of the world." Today: "..the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world."

6) Second Book of Nephi, p.37; (1830): "..and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself not..."(cf. Is.2:6-9) Today: 2 Nephi 12:9: "and the mean man boweth not down and the great man humbleth himself not..."

7) Second Book of Nephi, p.117; (1830): "and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people." Today: 2 Nephi 30:6: "and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and delightsome people."

8) Book of Alma, p.236; (1830): "I know that Jesus Christ shall come; yea the Son of the only begotten of the Father..." Today: Alma 5:48: "I know that Jesus Christ shall come; yea the Son,[?] the only begotten of the Father..."

9) Book of Alma, p.303; (1830): "yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable,. according to their wills.. " Book of Mormon (1950):Alma 29:4:"yea, I know that he allotteth unto men [?].according to their wills.. " Today: Alma 29:4: "yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills.. "

10) Book of Alma p.315; (1830): "But behold, as the seed swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow, and then ye must needs say, That seed is good; for behold, it swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow." Today: Alma 32:30: "But behold, as the seed swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow, and then ye must needs say, That seed is good; for behold, it swelleth and sprouteth and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say that I know that this is a good seed; for behold, it sprouteth and beginneth to grow."

11) Book of Alma p.328; (1830): "yea, and that ye preserve these directors." Today: Alma 37:21: "yea, and that ye preserve these interpreters."

12) Book of Alma p.328; (1830): "And now my son, these directors were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled..." Today: Alma 37:24: "And now my son, these interpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled..."

MAJOR ERRORS IN LOGIC, CONSISTENCY OR GRAMMAR:

1) Book of Mosiah, p.200; (1830): "...on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God..." Today: Mosiah 21:28: "...on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God..."

2) Book of Mosiah, p.214; (1830): "My soul was wrecked with eternal torment..." Today: Mosiah 27:29: "My soul was racked with eternal torment..."

3) Book of Alma, p.260; (1830): "Behold, the Scriptures are before you; if ye will arrest them, it shall be to your own destruction." (also p.336) Today: Alma 13:20: "Behold, the Scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them, it shall be to your own destruction."

4) Book of Alma, p.270; (1830): "And it came to pass, when they had arriven in the borders of the land..." (also p.443) Today: Alma: 17:13: "And it came to pass, when they had arrived in the borders of the land..."

5) Book of Alma, p.278; (1830): "the multitude beheld that the man had fell dead..." (also p.310) Today: Alma 19:24: "the multitude beheld that the man had fallen dead..."

6) Book of Alma, p.299; (1830): "Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those who they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them..." Today: Alma 27:4: "Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them..."

7) Book of Alma, p.351; (1830): "...he went forth among the people, waving the rent of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had wrote upon the rent..." Today: Alma 46:19: "...he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part..."

8) Book of Alma, p.353; (1830): "to remove the cause of diseases which was subsequent to men by the nature of the climate" Today: Alma 46:40: "to remove the cause of diseases to which men were subject by the nature of the climate"

9) Book of Alma, p.388; (1830): "For behold, Ammon had sent to their support..." Today: Alma 57:17: "For behold, Ammoron had sent to their support..."

Many other citations could be given, but "out of the mouths of two or three witnesses..." it is evident that although the Lord supposedly dictated the Book of Mormon letter by letter, he could not spell, keep doctrine or characters straight, and even had serious problems with grammar and logic. What is even more bizarre, is the fact that still in the Book of Mormon, after all of these changes, there are still many just plain strange things like:

1) Jacob 7:27: "and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu." What is a French word doing in a document supposedly written by a Hebrew in America around 421 BC?

2) Helaman 9:6: "...when the judge had been murdered—he being stabbed by his brother by a garb of secrecy..." How can one be stabbed by a garb (garment)?

3) Alma 13:1: "...my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children..." How can you "cite" someone’s mind "forward" to something that happened in the past?

4) Alma 24:19: "...they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war for peace." What is a weapon of peace, and can it be the same as a weapon of war?

5) Alma 43:38: "they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body,..." How does one shield oneself from the vital parts of one’s own body?

6) Ether 15:31: "And it came to pass that after he had smitten off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after that he struggled for breath, he died." And we are asked to believe that God wrote this?

This brief study does not even take into account the many scientific impossibilities, anachronisms, and logical contradictions which yet remain in the Book of Mormon. Please see our booklet, "A Biologist Looks at the Book of Mormon" for exceptional references on those items.

#21— Cain & His Sin-Offering

About Cain and whether or not the term used means sin or sin offering(as Ed and Dave Hunt say in THE GOD MAKERS), the word in question in Gen.4:7 is, in Hebrew, ChaTATh. This word can be translated either sin, or sin offering; according to the best Greek scholars.1 It is so-translated in the King James Bible at least four times (Ex..29:14, Lev.6:26, 9:15, and Ps.40:6).2 I would readily admit that this is not a common interpretation of the verse; but it is by no means an isolated one. Helen Spurrell’s translation of the Old Testament scriptures from the original Hebrew renders it "sin-offering."3 It could hardly be called incorrect.

1 Spiros Zodhiates, THE HEBREW-GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI., 1984, p.7, citing STRONG’S HEBREW AND CHALDEE DICTIONARY, p.38; and WILSON’S OLD TESTAMENT WORD STUDIES, MacDonald Publishing, MacLean, VA., p.395. 2 Wilson’s, p.292-293. 3 Curtis Vaughn (gen.ed.), 26 TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE, vol.1, p.9.

#22—How can Protestants be called of God?

Basically, people who feel a calling to ministry do indeed usually hear in some fashion directly from God. It is God who is our "boss" and He ought to be in charge of the "hiring."

Usually, this call manifests itself through some sort of denominational structure. What I mean by that is that the called person will feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit and go to his pastor and discuss it. God will usually, with something as important as this, confirm the call with another servant of His. By that, I mean that your pastor should feel some sort of concord with you in this.

Most denominations have committees of Godly men who pray and review candidates for the ministry; and to have their witness added to your own is often comforting and sustaining. However, denominations do not call you—God calls you. All the denomination can and should do is publicly acknowledge and confirm what God has already done in your heart.

Sadly, some denominations have stopped listening to God, and just allowed their review process to become a bureaucracy which just processes forms and judges people on their education or their references. This is not good. Just because you don’t have a piece of paper from a church doesn’t mean that you aren’t called of God. That is a spiritual matter, and there are probably thousands of Godly men and women who have simply gone out and started preaching and have ended up doing a mighty work and leading thousands of souls into the kingdom without ever having the papers from some institution.

As to the call itself, it can come in many ways. Most of us don’t have a thunderbolt come out of heaven. Sometimes, it is a burning, impossible-to-ignore zeal to just go out and do it! Sometimes the Lord will speak to you in a still, small voice. Others have actually had visions. These things do happen, and as long as what is conveyed measures up to the Bible (obviously, Joseph Smith’s vision didn’t); they can be perfectly valid.

I had a vision of sorts during (of all things) my testimony before my stake high council court upon leaving the LDS church in which the Lord both showed me some things and spoke to me and called me to be an evangelist to the lost in cults. Now, it wasn’t anything as intense as Paul’s. I didn’t fall out of my chair and lay transfixed on the floor of the stake center for five minutes. No, in just His own special, quiet way, the Lord spoke to me, even as I was speaking to them; and showed me what He had for me to do.

Another way you can tell is by fruits. If a man or woman is called of God, there will be fruits to their ministry. Souls will be brought into the kingdom; lives will be changed. Many people just go out on Friday or Saturday night and start preaching on street corners and end up building a huge church without ever meaning to. God has been gracious enough to bring some small fruit from my ministry, so I know that my experience was genuine.

This is a long way of saying, yes—ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ do receive a direct calling from God; although in some cases it is more subtle than others. We are all unique, and God speaks to us in different ways. Sometimes, even through other people. I know some cases where people (unsolicited) in the Body started coming up to a person and saying, "Gee, you’re really anointed; you ought to be a preacher." The person followed that, and made a dynamite preacher.

#23—Hebrews 1 and the Divine Nature of Jesus.

Hebrews 1:1-4 begins much like the gospel of John and the book of Genesis. All three begin with God. Genesis reveals that "in the beginning God created." John expands the revelation of Genesis by using the Word (logos) motif. Not only was the Word in the beginning, but it was with God, was God and was the agency by which all things were created.

The author of Hebrews expands the revelation further still, giving a clearer picture. It was God who spoke who spoke to our fathers by means of the prophets, and it is God who has spoken to us through His Son. There are several contrasts here worth noting. The first is the contrast between "time past" in vs.1 and "these last days" in vs.2.

Next is the contrast between "many portions and ways" (which is the literal Greek there) of vs.1 and the obvious lack of an explicit comparative. This would tell us that what God spoke to us through His Son is total, complete, all encompassing and final.

The last contrast here is between the plurality of the prophets and the utter singularity of the Son. This suggests the impossibility of communicating a comprehensive revelation of God through the prophets, no matter how many they were. Therefore, God has spoken to us who live in these latter-days through His Son.

The rest of the passage is a description of this Son. The first description has to do with primary verbal action in three ways: 1) We see the Son as the recipient of action in that God has appointed Him heir of all things(v.2). 2) He is the agency of action, since through Him God has "made the worlds." 3) He is the initiator of action in that He sat down and actively inherited a more excellent name than the angels and still inherits that name.

The second description has to do with the revealing nature of the Son. This is accomplished through the use of participles which not only reveal the nature of the Son, but also set the sequential time frame of His action. The use of these participles can be illustrated within the framework of a grammatical diagram:

"...Who sat down on the right hand of the greatness in high places 1) while He was being the radiance of the glory 2) while He was being the image/point of the reality of God 3) while He was bearing all things by the word of His ability 4) after He made (of his own free will) a cleansing for sin."

The action of the Son is seen in the words sat down. The participial phrases are introduced with the words "while" and "after." The first three are present tenses, indicating that the Son is CONTINUOUSLY being the radiance of the Father’s glory, is CONTINUOUSLY being the image/point of the reality of the Father, and is CONTINUOUSLY bearing all things by the Word of His ability.

Please notice that the Son sat down while He was being the radiance and the image/point and while bearing. His making a cleansing for sins is finished and will not be repeated. Please note that the Son sat down after He did this.

But let’s look a two words that appear in vs.3. They are (literally, from the Greek) "image/point" (caraktor) and "reality" (upostasews). The word "image" (charakter) was used to describe a tool for engraving. In this sense, it meant to "cut to a point, to sharpen, to scratch," giving us the concept of a die. It later came to mean "to inscribe." It finally came to denote the mark or image that was made by the engraving tool or die, with special references to any distinguishing characteristics. In this sense, it would refer to an exact representation or exact reproduction.

The word "reality" (hupostaseos) is a philosophical term with roots extending into other fields. In medicine, it was used to describe that which settles to the bottom of a specimen bottle. Scientists used it to refer to sediment which ultimately forms a solid foundation. Astrologers in those days used it to describe that which lies behind all natural phenomena. Greek philosophers used it to describe the substance of unformed being prior to any specific science.

We’ve got to understand that through all of the Bible we NEVER see God coming to man in the full panoply of His glory. Doing so would have been to blast us into atoms! He always came to man in a veiled Presence. And in these last days, He has come to us in His Son, in whom dwells the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form (Col.2:9). There are thus several ways that one can grasp the nature of Jesus Christ, none of which really grasp it.

From the author of Hebrews’ language, we could say that Jesus is the sharpened point of all reality or of all that God is, and that beyond this sharpened point lies all of the inexhaustible resources of God. And Jesus is the exact point of entry into them.

We could also say that Jesus is the essence of all that God is. Jesus said that to see Him is to see the Father; therefore in Jesus we see, in essence form, all that God is, for we could not comprehend the fullness of God in any other way. Being able to do that, would be to become God. All we can withstand is the exact representation, the essence, the sharpened point (or focus) of the full reality of God.

#24—What the Mormons think of Christ

Thank you for sending us a copy of the LDS pamphlet, "What the Mormons Think of Christ." To answer your question, no they have not changed their beliefs. In fact, the pamphlet is old. It was being handed out when I was a Mormon in the early 1980’s and had been around awhile then. The problem with the pamphlet is that it, like virtually everything the Mormons give out to the "gentiles," (non-LDS) is very subtle and deceptive. However, if you can wade through the pious-sounding rhetoric, you will find the same old Mormon heresies imbedded in the text. I’m underlining some of the key passages for you and returning a photocopy of it to you with my comments.

Right on page 1 we have a subtle allusion to the LDS doctrine that God the Father conceived Jesus the same "literal" way we were conceived by our parents—through physical intimacy with Mary. Like much in this pamphlet, it doesn’t come out and say that, but a Mormon (or an ex-Mormon) reading it would recognize the teaching.

On pp.2-3, we have a delicate but real attack on the inerrancy of the Bible; and bring up the common Mormon lie about "many translations and versions" of the Bible which vary from one another. The Mormon writer does not tell you that there is not a dime’s worth of difference between most true Bible translations or versions; any more than that there is any real difference between an English Book of Mormon and a German Book of Mormon.

Page 9 contains another subtle teaching of the blasphemous doctrine of God having sex with Mary to produce Jesus. Aside from numerous quotations from the LDS scriptures (which are fraudulent) the next 18 pages are relatively innocuous. The Mormon author knows that few people will have the patience to finish the entire pamphlet, and so puts his best foot forward first and saves the big heresies for the end.

Page 27 begins the assault upon the glorious Pauline doctrine of salvation by grace and grace alone (Eph.2:8-9; Rom.3:20-23; 6:23, 11:6). The LDS teaching is clearly promulgated here that it is by faith and obedience that we are saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Mormon gospel.

Page 28 teaches the damnable lie that salvation by grace is only salvation from death through resurrection, and that that is all that Jesus’ sacrifice bought us. Page 29 continues the conditional nature of the Mormons’ "grace" by teaching "IF ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness…THEN is his grace sufficient for you…" In other words, grace is free, but it must be earned through obedience (???)

Page 31 begins the assault in earnest, under the heading "The Blood of Christ." Here you will see that the Bible doctrine of salvation by trusting in the blood of Jesus is called "…such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation." No, the Mormons haven’t changed.

In the final paragraph, the Mormons even try to move the atonement away from the cross (which the devil hates to mention) to the Garden of Gethsemane. It says that there Jesus took on the sins of the world "conditionally" which is utterly false. There was nothing conditional about the atonement, nor did it take place anywhere but on Calvary’s hill. (John 19:30). When Jesus said, "It is finished," He meant it! He paid the bill in full at that moment! He did not say, "It is finished, but…" John 6:47 says that we who believe in Him "HAVE" eternal life—present tense—right now!

Pages 32-33 continue the heresy by reasserting that there are "conditions" attached to the atoning blood of Christ, and that those conditions are (beyond faith) baptism, and "enduring to the end."

Page 35 moves on, teaching the heretical LDS doctrine of "pre-existence" that we were all born spiritually to a heavenly Father and heavenly Mother before we can to earth to get our physical tabernacles (bodies). From here on, things get pretty tame again; although there is a nasty slam against "sectarian dogmatism" (ie. Biblical Christianity) on the bottom of page 43.

Page 44 contains another denial of the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Page 45 contains further blasphemy by linking faith in Christ with faith in His supposed Latter-day prophets. In simpler words, you can’t believe in Jesus without believing in Joseph Smith, which adds still another "condition" to salvation.

The pamphlets ends with a resounding lie, promising the potential Mormon a "…sure hope of eternal exaltation in the life to come." Translated out of "Mormonese," that means that Mormons have a sure hope of attained godhood in eternity; and nothing could be further from the truth. Aside from the fact that no man can become a god, since there is now and ever shall be only one God (Deut.6:4, Isaiah 43:10); I have yet to meet an actual Mormon who even has the "sure hope."

No Mormon, not even the saintliest old stake patriarch has a "sure hope" of attaining exaltation. Most Mormons I knew frankly admitted that they were reasonably certain they would never make it to exaltation; and the statistics from the Church’s own records bear that out. No Mormon knows when they are going when they die; because all they have to trust in is "conditional" salvation—conditional in their own righteousness, which the Bible says are as "filthy rags" in the sight of a holy and just God (Isaiah 64:6).

No, the Mormons haven’t changed.

# 25 —God Makers Producers

1) The producers of the video were from several different Christian backgrounds. The actual head of Jeremiah Films is Pat Matrisciana, who is a Conservative Baptist who has been making films for the Christian community for about 20 years.

The film was financed by donations through hundreds of supporters (from virtually every Christian denomination) of the ministries of two other men. Ed Decker, the first, is an ex-Mormon of nearly 20 years, who now attends the Assembly of God church. The other is Jim Spencer, also a former Mormon elder for about 10 years; recently resigned a pastorate with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel to become a full-time evangelist with the same fellowship.

2) The reference sources for the items mentioned by the "Mormon couple" in the video are all from recognized books by authoritative Mormon authors. The vast majority of the citations are contained within "Do They Really Believe That?" in the Resource section, which was actually compiled from the research done for the video. Efforts were made to insure that, whenever possible, quotes would be from contemporary LDS books readily accessible by most active, devout LDS members.

The books include the "Standard Works" of the LDS Church—ie. books regarded as divine scripture equal to, or better than, the Holy Bible: Book of Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. Also included are Mormon Doctrine by the late LDS "apostle" Bruce R. McConkie; a reference book highly regarded by Mormons for thirty years now; and the Achieving Celestial Marriage Manual which is the official textbook for the Mormon church’s temple preparation classes; and the "Melchizedek Priesthood Manual," which is the official textbook published by the LDS Church for the weekly training of their elders’ quorums.

3) THE GOD MAKERS film was produced by Jeremiah Films also (see above); with financial involvement by Ed Decker and also several prominent Christian businessmen who helped put up some of the considerable cost of the film. These men were from numerous denominations.

4) Jeremiah Films has some other excellent films on cult groups; including WITNESS AT YOUR DOOR, about the Jehovah’s Witnesses; GODS OF THE NEW AGE, about the New Age movement; and their "Pagan Invasion Series" which has several hour-long segments on Satanism, Halloween, and Wicca (so-called "white" witchcraft).

# 26—Doctrinal Essentials

Thank you very much for your letter. I am a former temple Mormon myself, and am delighted to answer your letter. There is a considerable difference between LDS (Mormon) doctrines and the doctrines in the Bible. To briefly deal with the ones you asked about: 1) The Trinity—Mormons deny it exists. They claim that the Godhead is a "three-god" committee of sorts. The Bible says that there is one God and one God alone, manifesting in three Persons: (Deut.6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11, 44:6-8, 45:5-6, 12; 46:5, 9; Hebrews 6:13; 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 5:7). 2) The Deity of Christ—Mormons only believe that Jesus is "our elder brother." There is no qualitative difference between us and Him, except He is older and smarter and more perfect. To the Mormon, Jesus is uniquely NOT Almighty God, but just A god. The Bible says that Jesus is Almighty God! (John 1:1-14, 8:58, 10:30, Colossians 1:15-19, 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 2:22, 4:1-3; Revelations 1:7-8, 22:13-16). 3) The Virgin Birth—Mormons deny that Jesus was born of a virgin, because they teach that God the Father had sex with Mary to conceive Him. Obviously that would destroy Mary’s virginity; and obviously, that is contrary to the Bible (See 1:18 and Luke 1:35 which clearly teach that the Holy Spirit is behind the conception of Jesus) 4) Salvation by grace through faith—Mormons deny it. They say you are saved by grace "…after all you can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) This is borne out by their 3rd article of faith, which says that we are saved "through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." Hopefully, you can see that this is utterly contrary to the Biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, and faith alone as a free gift! (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23, 3:20, 28, 10:9-13; Galatians 2:16, 21; Hebrews 10:38) 5) The Inspired Word of God—Mormons deny that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God (without mistakes)—see their 8th article of faith which only says the Bible is the Word of God insofar "…as it is translated correctly." Contrary to Mormon thought, the Bible cannot be changed or tampered with and is the inspired Word of God (Psalm 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; 119:89; 138:2; Isaiah 40:8, 51:6: Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:25). They also fail to understand the Biblical principle that any modern prophets must be judged by the Bible (Isaiah 8:20). #27- Damning your Enemies: LDS Oath of Vengeance

During the LDS Temple ritual, certain oaths and covenants are made before God that are said to be both solemn and eternal. All participants are required to verbally take every oath. One such oath, which was part of the ritual until it was removed in early 1927, was called The Oath of Vengeance. It was actually sworn against the United States of America in retribution for the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

"You and each of you do solemnly promise and vow that you will pray, and never cease to importune high heaven to avenge the blood of the prophets on this nation, and that you will teach this to your children and your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.

The oath was quietly removed from the ritual without ceremony or announcement. (Chuck Sackett, What's Going On In There, page 62. letter rescinding oath, Apostle George. F. Richards, 2/15/1927).

While this oath was removed and Mormonism moved further into general acceptance, the oath itself was an eternally binding one, given in the holiest of places, under the power of their eternal Melchizedek priesthood. Under those eternal circumstances, the vow once taken could not be undone.

# 28—Saving Faith

What do Mormons mean by "faith?" First of all, the Jesus in whom they ask you to believe is fake; which is a pretty big problem right there. Beyond that though, the Mormon concept of faith is scripturally defective.

James 2:19 says that the "devils believe" but obviously they are not saved.(See Mt.8:29 for further proof that the demons acknowledged Jesus’ divinity). There are several levels of faith in Jesus (assuming you’ve got the right One!) a) Belief in a historical Jesus as an historical person. This cannot save; anymore than believing George Washington lived can save you. b) Belief that Jesus is God Almighty and can be prayed to, and can heal or answer prayers. This is the way the devils in Jas.2:19 or Mt.8:29 believed. The Mormons do NOT believe Jesus is Almighty God, and they do not pray to Him.

Otherwise, though, this more or less describes their faith level. It cannot save them, because there is another: c) Belief that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead; and that only He can save you from hell.(Rom.10:9-13) Note that the 9th verse says "believe in thine heart." This is not head belief (b), but heart belief. This is saving faith—the acknowledgment that there is nothing I can do to get to heaven, but trust in Jesus and His righteousness.

If the Mormons had stopped with "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" and had the right Jesus, they would be fine, but they add to the gospel! They say, in effect, I believe Jesus can save me, but... They say that although He said "It is finished!" on Calvary(Jn.19:30), that there is more they have to do. They are not satisfied with His death on the cross and think that they can improve upon it! That is not saving faith!

It is like saying, "I know that chair exists across the room. I believe that if I sit in it that it will support my weight, but just to be certain, I’m going to not put my full weight in it." This is like receiving the FREE GIFT of eternal life. Saving faith, in the case of the chair, would mean that you would totally relax into it, utterly confident that it would not collapse. Mormons are not willing to do that with Jesus. They are saying, "I believe Jesus can save me, but I must also get the Holy Ghost, go to the temple, be sealed...etc."

That is failing to have total faith in Christ and His "finished" work on the cross! If Jesus finished it, then all we can do is muck it up, which is what the Mormons have done.

#29—Family and Marriage

Here there are not large differences, except in the eternal or eschatological (Last things) sense. Both LDS and Christians revere and respect the family as a God-ordained institution; and both believe in chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage. The notable exception to fidelity for LDS is the doctrine of plural marriage in Mormonism which is now not being "officially" practiced, although there are tens of thousands of polygamous marriages in Utah. Nevertheless, Joseph Smith violated both his marriage vows by consummating "celestial marriages" with many women (some of them in their early teens!) and by "marrying" other men’s wives himself. Mormons, of course, believe this was ordained of God; but God does not bless fornication or adultery.

Both Mormons and Christian regard children as blessings from God and stand firmly against abortion. Mormons also oppose all forms of artificial birth control, which is less commonly taught among evangelicals.

The big difference is that Mormons believe in eternal marriage, and that if they are worthy they will continue to be married and have children throughout eternity. This contrary to the clear teaching of Jesus: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."—Mt.22:30. Also, it indulges in a subtle form of idolatry; since it virtually replaces God as the centerpiece of heaven with the family!

The Bible, in the book of Revelation, gives a clear picture of life in the heavenly Kingdom. It consists of worshipping God and praising Him throughout eternity! (Rev.4:8-11, 5:6-14, 7:9-17, 11:15-18, 15:2-4, 19:1-9) You will search the Bible from cover to cover and not find anything which indicates that we will be married or raising families in heaven! That argument from silence, combined with Mt.22:30, is pretty compelling.

# 30—Fastest Growing Church?

Well, 250,000 people join it; but it seems that about the same number of people leave it—so we have, as we say in the states, a "revolving-door" situation. The Mormons’ growth in the USA amounts to only about 2-3% per year. That’s with the country blanketed by full time missionaries. The LDS church is growing but that growth now comes from overseas, that is undeniable, but I’m afraid that it is totally left behind in the dust by Christian churches. For example, the Assemblies of God, a Christian fellowship which is about 80 years younger in age than the LDS church is growing at speeds which just blow the LDS church out of the water.

The AOG, just one single Protestant denomination, with only about a dozen American missionaries......in just one country, Brazil, converted more than 400% of the entire world wide total of the LDS church conversions last year

250,000 LDS worldwide to 1,000,000 AOG Brazil.

In Fact, the AOG Church in just Brazil has over 10,000,000 members, 4 million more than the entire world wide LDS population

In Fact, The AOG/Brazil is building churches there at the rate of more than 50 per week, and the LDS Claim only 14 per week worldwide. The LDS church spends tens of millions per year in advertising, the AOG just a few thousand. Yet the AOG only claim to be members of the greater body of Christ, they claim no prophet or Seer at their head and only use The Bible as their canon of scripture. They profess the priesthood of the Believer.

LDS DOCTRINE: SOTERIOLOGY: # 31—FORGIVENESS (BRIEF)

I don’t know how long you’ve been in the Church, but if you read books like Spencer W. Kimball’s THE MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS, you realize that no Mormon can possibly make the grade! The LDS system of works and repentance makes eternal life all but impossible.

The Church gives thousands of commandments to keep (see Bernard P. Brockbank, COMMANDMENTS AND PROMISES OF GOD, Deseret Books, 1983); and former "prophet" Kimball has written, This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total forgiveness of sins and assures one of exaltation through the perfection which comes by complying with the formula the Lord gave us. (Kimball, MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS, p.208.) See that? Only by keeping ALL the commandments can you achieve exaltation! I don’t know if you have been through the temple yet, but I imagine you haven’t because of your age. In the endowment, which I experienced hundreds of times, the actor playing Lucifer turns to the audience of temple patrons and warns them: I have a word to say concerning these people. If they do not walk up to EVERY COVENANT they make at these altars in this temple today, they will be in my (Lucifer’s) power. Again, the same message: absolute perfection! Nothing less will do for a Mormon, especially a temple Mormon. And of course you cannot achieve your exaltation without the temple!

# 32— How Do I Become a Christian?

To become a member of the Body of Christ, to become a Christian, you only need to do these things: 1) Confess to God that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23) 2) Repent of those sins and be willing to turn away from them (Luke 13:5)

3) Believe that the REAL Lord Jesus Christ* died on the cross and shed His blood to pray the price for your sins, and that He rose again from the dead (Romans 10:9-10)

4) Ask the Lord to save you from your sins (Romans 10:13)

5) Ask Jesus Christ to take complete control over your life and be your Lord (Romans 12:1-2) Begin attending a Bible-believing church, and studying your Bible and talking with Jesus and His Father in prayer.

6) It is advisable to immediately (or as soon as possible) have your name removed from the LDS Church records by writing a letter to your bishop or stake president; and to pray to Jesus and renounce and confess all LDS priesthoods, blessings, covenants and temple sealings as sin. (2 Cor.6:14-18) For more on this important subject, see our booklet, "Exodus."

*Recall that the LDS Jesus is NOT the Jesus of the Bible. The true Jesus as taught in the Bible is Almighty God (John 1:1,14; Colossians 1:15-19) Himself, not just the Son of God; who atoned for your (and my) personal sins on the cross of Calvary, not in the Garden of Gethsemane (Ephesians 2:13-18, Colossians 1:20).

# 33—Why Do We have Free Will?

As to why God didn’t create an Adam and Eve who would have children who would totally serve and worship Him forever; I trust the answer is self evident. Two points: 1) Nothing in the Bible teaches that Adam and Eve could not have had children before the Fall. That is an assumption of Mormon theology which does not hold water. 2) God gave us free agency so that our love for Him and obedience to Him would be genuine. If you could somehow hypnotize a woman so that she would be forced to love you and be your absolute slave as your wife; what would her love mean to you? How quickly would you tire of such a companion!

Similarly, God made us with the ability to choose either good or evil so that our choice for Him would be meaningful, and, more important; that it would be an opportunity for us to grow spiritually. Now, obviously, man’s fall has caused all sorts of evils and problems; but the Bible shows that it is necessary for God to let the "drama" play itself out so that everyone, men and angels; will know that He loves us and wants the best for us—even at the terrible price of our free will.

Most parents come to realize this fact. They see that they cannot possibly keep their kids from ever making a mistake—to do that, they would have to keep them locked in a box all their lives; and they wouldn’t grow or learn. Thus most parents just teach their children by Word and example and then gradually help them to make their own, free-will decisions.

# 34— Mormon Fruits

Talking about the "fruits" of a church, we must read the entire context of the Bible verses! The passage is in Matthew 7, but lets look at the earlier verses:

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheeps’ clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.—Matt.7:15-20.

Please note the first sentence. The Lord says that false prophets will come as wolves in sheeps’ clothing. This means that the wolves are concealing their outward appearance, right? This means the wolves will look outwardly very good—very "sheep-like," or Christian. As Paul says elsewhere, they DISGUISE themselves as ministers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Therefore, the Mormons’ outward show cannot be trusted, but only their teachings, their doctrines—what is in their hearts! Deuteronomy 13:1-2 makes it clear that anyone who teaches a different god from the God of the Bible is a false prophet, it doesn’t matter how good he looks or how many prophecies of his are fulfilled. The prophet’s doctrine must be the test, and the Mormon doctrine is false!

# 35— Gamaliel‘s Advice?

Regarding Gamaliel’s (Acts 5:34) advice to the council, the Mormon’s point is, of course, that we should let Mormonism alone; and if it is not from God it would collapse in time, and if it is, then there is nothing we can do to stop it. This is not Biblical. First of all, the Bible commands us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3). It also tells us to make war against the principalities and powers of darkness and to cast down imaginations and every "high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God..."(Eph.6:12, 2 Cor.10:4-5) Dear friend, you are not our enemy; but the demonic forces which hold you in bondage and prevent you from seeing the REAL Jesus!

In the light of these scriptures, and others; we cannot let Mormonism alone, anymore than a doctor could let a cancerous tumor alone. Error must be responded to, and precious souls like yours must be saved by the blood and grace of Jesus Christ!

It should be obvious to you that Gamaliel’s advice in Acts 5 is not of God, simply from a look at history. Roman Catholicism, which I imagine you regard as a false church, has prospered for almost 2000 years, and today has 900 million members, to your church’s measly 7.5 million. By Gamaliel’s test, this would make the RC church a work of God. Similarly, Hinduism has been around for 6000 years and today has close to a billion adherents! Surely, if it was not of God, it would have failed millenia ago! Islam, which has been around for 1400 years and has more than a billion followers, nearly swallowed up Christianity alive in the early middle ages. Surely it must be a work of God!

You see how false this line of thinking can be? All of these religions have had success and longevity which makes Mormonism look puny by comparison. You see the sad fact is that error has always been more popular than truth. Mormonism is so successful because is plays the devil’s game in the devil’s home court; and because it panders to man’s spiritual "lust" to be like God which was taught him by the serpent (Gen.3:4-5). Mormonism knows how to scratch the itching ears of people who want to do anything but follow Jesus and receive Him as Lord!(2 Tim.4:3)

# 36— Doing Genealogy

About genealogy, you are correct, of course. The Bible clearly disregards genealogies as useless and vain in the New Covenant of Jesus. The Mormons ignore those verses and instead lean heavily upon the Old Testament genealogies for their justification. They need to understand that Jesus’ is the last genealogy that is important, or even relevant!

The genealogies were only needed in the Mosaic covenant for the determining of who was worthy for the Levitical (or Aaronic) priesthood. As is made clear, Jesus’ New Covenant priesthood has nothing to do with genealogy (Heb.7:16) Since Jesus is our only High Priest (Heb.7:17-28), we don’t need genealogy anymore. Mormons, of course, believe that the genealogies are needed to research the dead so ordinances can be performed for their beloved relatives now dead who need them. There is no justification possible after death (Heb.9:27) I hope this explains it.

# 37—Bible Verses Which Clearly Monotheism.

Deut.6:4— Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.

1 Kings 8:60—That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

Isaiah 42:8— I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isaiah 43:10-11— 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 saviour.

Isaiah 44:6-8— Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 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 show unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I 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 45:5-6, 12— I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else... I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

Isaiah 46:5, 9— To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? …Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Mark 12:32-34— And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself… And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

John 17:3—And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Cor. 8:6— But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Galatians 3:20— Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Eph. 4:6—One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Hebrews 6:13— For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

1 Timothy 2:5— For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 John 5:7—For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

# 38—Is The Film Biased?

Your letter was forwarded to us by JEREMIAH FILMS, as Ed Decker, the head of our ministry, was one of the principle creators behind the film, "The God-Makers."

Although the film does feature many interviews by former Mormons, such content should not be considered as an impeachment of its validity—any more than Paul’s testimony about the Jewish people in Romans 9-11 should be discarded simply because he was a former Pharisee. If you would allow a comparison, it is very similar to recovered alcoholics standing up in an AA meeting and testifying about the dangers of liquor. They certainly should know whereof they speak!

Moreover, a couple of the speakers in the film are not ex-Mormons but rather renowned authorities on the subject from the Christian body (ie. John L. Smith and Dr. Charles Crane).

Naturally, the Mormon church would like to have everyone believe that the film is simply the work of disgruntled apostates who hate the church. Should you have an opportunity to attend our gatherings or conventions (yes, ex-Mormons do have conventions for fellowship and edification), you would rather find continued expressions of love and concern for the Mormon people and hearts broken by the grace of Jesus Christ for their lost souls!

If you would consult with authorities on the subject of cults in the Body of Christ such as Dr. Walter Martin, Dr. Ronald Enroth, or Dr. Donald Bloesch; you would find them in unanimous consent that "The God-Makers" presents an essentially accurate (if emotional) picture of both the serious doctrinal heresies of Mormonism (it is essentially updated Gnosticism) and the tragic impact the Church has on the lives of its members.

Perhaps the most telling testimony concerning the validity of the film is the deafening silence from the hierarchy of the Mormon church. The film has been out for eight years, and none of its assertions have been gainsaid by any official Church spokesman. Many minor league Mormons have tilted against it and broken their lances, but the Church apostles have not dared to speak out against the film, because they know it is true.

#39 . God and the great council in heaven

As the story unfolds, when it was time for Elohim to prepare the earth for occupancy, the Head of the gods called a Council of the gods and there the gods concocted the plan for earth. Elohim asked his two eldest sons--brothers (probably from Elohim's #1 wife), to prepare plans for the Council to review. These brothers were Jesus and Lucifer!

Upon review of the plans, the Council chose the plan of Jesus and he was raised to the position of godhood. Apparently, the vote was a close one, for Lucifer became angry over the decision. He led one- third of the children of Elohim into an open rebellion over the decision. They battled against one-third of the children who were in agreement with the Council decision. The other third of Elohim's children were obedient to the Council, but didn't want to get involved in the battle. They were not valiant in defending the decision.

It is hard to imagine how we fought without physical bodies, or why Elohim was unable to control his own children, but at the end of the fighting, those who fought for Jesus won. Lucifer and one third of our brothers and sisters were cast out from Kolob, and arrived here on earth as Satan and the demons.

Those who fought valiantly with Jesus would come to earth as the white and delightsome people--the more valiant we were, the blonder our hair; the whiter our skin. The less valiant we were, the darker our complexion and hair. That third who did not want to get involved became the black race, born under the curse of Cain. There were no neutrals in Kolob!

# 40—The Logic of God changing.

Logic and the Bible both dictate that God cannot change. Since God is perfect, if He were to change, He would become either more perfect (logically impossible for an already perfect Being) or less perfect (morally impossible). Oddly enough, those crazy commercials for the cereal "Just Right" express this fallacy perfect. Something, even God, that is "Just Right" cannot be improved or changed in any way without ceasing to be "Just Right." If God got better, He wouldn’t have been God before; and if God got worse, He would cease to be God. This, plus the many passages which declare the Lord’s immutability pretty well makes hash out of God changing His mind.

# 41—Is God limited?

God is not limited, or finite in any way. If God were limited, how could He be everywhere? (Dt.4:29, Ps.139:7-9, Prov.15:3, Acts 17:27) How could His power be infinite? (Job 42:2, Ps.115:3, Is.43:13, Hab.3:6, Mt.19:26, Mk.14:36, Lk.1:37, Rev.19:6)

Even Jesus who is truly THE Almighty God made flesh (1 Jn.4:1-4) is not limited. Mt. 18:19-20 makes it clear that Jesus can be present in more than one place at one time, since He promises that anytime two or more are gathered in His name, He (not the Spirit) would be with them. Since it is evident that there are literally thousands of prayer-groups or church congregations of Christians meeting at any given moment; this means that Jesus Christ is in thousands of places at once—a good trick for a limited God.

John 3:13 even teaches that Jesus told Nicodemus that He was in heaven, at the same time as He was standing there talking to the Pharisee! Jesus therefore cannot be finite and limited. All power on heaven and earth is given unto Him (Mt.28:18); and if you are all powerful and present everywhere; you must be infinite!

Therefore, the Mormon doctrine which limits God, either physically or spiritually; must be received as false doctrine

# 42— Is God eternal?

The clear Bible teaching of the oneness, unchangeableness and eternality of God. Help the missionaries see that although they quote "We believe in God the Eternal Father...", their god is not eternal because he supposedly was once a man. WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY, 1964 edition, p.498 defines "eternal" thus: 1. without beginning or end; existing through all time, everlasting. 2. timeless. 3. forever the same, always true or valid; unchangeable.

Now obviously, if their god ever was not god, then he could not be eternal. The dictionary definition coincides with the Bible: "from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."—Ps.90:2(also Dt.33:27, Rom.1:20, 1 Tim.1:17, Heb.9:14). That’s pretty clear, and no amount of talk can change the fact that if their god has ever changed, he cannot be the God of the Bible.

# 43—IS GOD FINITE ?

God is not limited, or finite in any way. If God were limited, how could He be everywhere? (Dt.4:29, Ps.139:7-9, Prov.15:3, Acts 17:27) How could His power be infinite? (Job 42:2, Ps.115:3, Is.43:13, Hab.3:6, Mt.19:26, Mk.14:36, Lk.1:37, Rev.19:6)

Even Jesus who is truly THE Almighty God made flesh (1 Jn.4:1-4) is not limited. Mt. 18:19-20 makes it clear that Jesus can be present in more than one place at one time, since He promises that anytime two or more are gathered in His name, He (not the Spirit) would be with them. Since it is evident that there are literally thousands of prayer-groups or church congregations of Christians meeting at any given moment; this means that Jesus Christ is in thousands of places at once—a good trick for a limited God. John 3:13 even teaches that Jesus told Nicodemus that He was in heaven, at the same time as He was standing there talking to the Pharisee! Jesus therefore cannot be finite and limited. All power on heaven and earth is given unto Him (Mt.28:18); and if you are all powerful and present everywhere; you must be infinite!

Therefore, the Mormon doctrine which limits God, either physically or spiritually; must be received as false doctrine

# 44— Do Mormons teach that God is limited?

About Mormonism’s god being limited, this is implicit in the idea that he has a body. If he has a body, he can only be at one place at one time. Doctrine & Covenants 130:22 makes that much clear. James Talmage, the LDS theologian of the earlier generation and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve taught, in his definitive book, THE ARTI-CLES OF FAITH, that his god is thus limited. Now if a "apostle" of your church teaches something, you’d better not deny it, had you?

Again, let’s think this through. If your god has a "Heavenly Father" above him, then your god’s power cannot be infinite—otherwise, his father would have none. If your god is restricted to a physical body, however glorified, he cannot possibly know ev-erything or be everywhere at once. That is only common sense.

If he is here, say at an LDS sacrament meeting; he cannot be in Japan at the same in-stant, can he? If he is in the temple at Provo, UT., he cannot immediately know of someone being sealed in a temple in Tahiti, can he? Some angel will have to fly over and tell him about it. This is how Mormons are taught to view their god! I’m surprised you haven’t heard this kind of thing.

I personally have heard general authorities talk about how the "Holy Spirit" zips from ward to ward instantaneously because he can only be in one place at one time and has a lot of ward houses to cover. Haven’t you ever heard opening prayers in meetings say something like "Lord, send a portion of your spirit to be here with us..."? Mormons pray that way because their god can’t be all in one place and anywhere else at the same time. My God can! Praise His name!

#45—Is God omnipresent?

God is everywhere present at once, at the same time. "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."—Deuteronomy 4:39.

David wrote, "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me and they right hand shall hold me."—Psalm 139:7-10. (also Prov.15:3, Isaiah 66:1, and Jeremiah 23:24)

#46—One God, according to the Bible and the LDS scriptures

Mormon verses to support any of the distinctive doctrines of the church. Even the LDS version of God was contradicted by both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

The Bible clearly teaches that God is one: "Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord."—Deut.6:4.

"...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 not saviour."—Is.43:10-11

"...I am the first and the last; and besides me there is no God...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any!"—Is.44:6,8.

The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that there is one God: "..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." 2 Nephi 31:21

"And they are one God, yea the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth."—Mosiah 15:5

"...the bar of Christ the Son and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God..."—Alma 11:44

Even Joseph Smith revealed clearly in "latter-day scriptures" that there is only one God:

"Which Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal without end, Amen.—Doctrine and Covenants 20:28

Now out of the mouths of two or three witnesses all things must be established. Here were have seven scriptures from 2 LDS Standard Works and the Bible which say that God is one. Not "one in purpose" but ONE! That is plain English!! To say more would be to add to the scripture. Yet Mormon prophets teach today that we can all become gods (plural). This is what the serpent taught Eve in the Garden(Genesis 3:5)! If Mormons want to follow the serpent, they have a serious spiritual problem.

#47—Which God is the God of the Bible?

As far as the identity of the LDS god, it is obvious that their god is: 1) an exalted, resurrected man, in possession of a physical, but glorified body.1 2) evolved from a normal human male.2 3) limited in both power and knowledge.3 4) subject to gods above him.4 5) unable to create something out of nothing.5 Most Mormons will admit to these doctrines, but they can all be found in standard writings of LDS prophets.

On the other hand, the Biblical God: 1) is a Spirit (John 4:24) 2) is not a man, nor the son of a man (Numbers 23:19) 3) is all powerful (Habakkuk 3:6, Matthew 19:26) and all-knowing (Psalm 147:5, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20). 4) says there are no other gods before Himself (Isaiah 43:10, 44:6-8). 5) made the entire universe from nothing (Genesis 1:1-2, Hebrews 11:3).

It is evident that in these five KEY areas, the Mormon god and the God of the Bible are exact opposites, so they could not possibly be the same Being. If your God is the wrong one, what else matters?

1 Doctrine & Covenants 130:22 and ACHIEVING CELESTIAL MARRIAGE manual, CDFR 60/61, p.129. 2 TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, ed.Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Books, Salt Lake City, p.345. 3 James E. Talmage, ARTICLES OF FAITH, p.43 and Bruce R. McConkie, MORMON DOCTRINE, p.239, 545. 4 W. Cleon Skousen, THE FIRST 2,000 YEARS, p.355. 5 TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, p.350-352

#48— Do Mormons really believe they can become gods?

This is the central doctrine of Mormonism, that man can become god! LDS leaders often fail to tell the new convert that and often they wait until they feel you’ve been "mormonized" enough yet to handle this teaching. Yet it is true Mormonism, and has been since the day Joseph Smith preached the "King Follett Discourse" at a funeral service. He said,

It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God....Here then is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you...TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, pp.345-346.

As if that isn’t clear enough, modern key theologian and late apostle of the LDS Church Bruce R. McConkie wrote in MORMON DOCTRINE. He carefully defines "eternal life" on p. 670 ("Salvation"):

Salvation in its true and full sense is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions, this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak. It is the salvation which the saints seek...This full salvation is obtained in and through the continuation of the family unit in eternity, and those who obtain it are gods.

That’s as plain as day "Eternal life = godhood and exaltation." Mormons believe that they can become gods! Look at the LDS "standard works," as well, in Doctrine & Covenants 132:20; where it speaks of those who abide in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage: "Then they shall be gods, because they have no end."

#49—Do Mormons reject grace?

LDS doctrine rejects grace by saying "no" to Jesus’ free gift. Grace means a freely given gift. That is evident from the Greek. Rom.6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Now Mormons say that they are saved (not by grace) but by "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." (Article of Faith#3)

If you have to obey to earn your eternal life, then you have done something to earn it and it cannot be a gift, can it? If you earn something by doing something, it is wages, not a free gift! As if that isn’t bad enough, Mormons love to quote 2 Nephi 25:23 "that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do." You see, that isn’t grace! That is living under the law, and "by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin."—Rom.3:20.

The very thing the Mormons are trying earn with obedience to their thousands of commandments has already been bought and paid for by Jesus on Calvary. Can you imagine how sad the Lord Jesus must feel to be standing there with His nail-scarred hands outstretched to Mormons, offering them heaven for the asking; and they just turn around and "No, thanks. I’m working my way there." That is rejecting grace and replacing it with the deeds of the law.

#50—Theology of Sin (Hamartiology) according to the Bible vs. LDS doctrine

There are several differences between the Bible and Mormonism on this point. First of all, sin does not play as great a part in Mormonism as it does in Christianity; because there is no viable solution to the problem of sin in Mormonism. Jesus’ atonement paid for Adam’s transgression only, and we have to take care of our sins ourselves. Baptism for the Mormon removes all sin, but after that, a Mormon ends up with cycle of sin, repentance, another sin which brings the first sin back; which frequently repeats itself in a never ending spiral of sins.

In other words, say a Mormon shoplifts. He goes to his bishop, confesses and repents. That is okay. But suppose he goes back and shoplifts again. That "reactivates" the first incident because it proves his first repentance wasn’t true. If he shoplifts ten times, he ends up with ten sins of shoplifting piled up against him until he repents. Then if he stumbles again, he has eleven sins!

Since many "minor" sins are also sins to Mormons (cursing, telling white lies, thinking impure thoughts, thinking angry thoughts) the Mormon ends each day with a whole pile of sins, most of them forgotten and unrepented of. He is a walking proof of Romans 3:23; but without the blood of Jesus to remove them.

Temple Mormons are even worse off, since they have "more light." They make four solemn covenants (oaths) in the temple, to keep certain commandments. They are told that any infraction of the tiniest part of any of those covenants means that they are in Satan’s power. Believe it or not, one of the covenants includes never indulging in any "lightmindedness, [or] loud laughter"1 How does a Mormon know when he laughs too loud? When is he too light-minded? If he happens to laugh too loud, the entire covenant comes crashing down on him. This is why Mormons never, ever know if they are saved or not in the Christian sense.

The late LDS prophet, Spencer W. Kimball wrote a book called THE MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS. It teaches about 90% of what I’ve just said2 (the temple stuff isn’t mentioned because it is too "sacred". More than one former Mormon has observed that the "miracle" of Mormon forgiveness is that anyone ever gets forgiven of anything; it is such a twisted, legalistic and perfectionist system. It makes the Pharisees look like "slackers" by comparison. One tiny sin will destroy a Mormon’s salvation.3

Now the Bible says that’s nonsense. God promises He will not remember any of our sins once they have been put under the blood. (Ps.103:12, Is.1:18, 43:25, Jer.31:34, Ez.33:14-16, 1 Jn.1:7-9).

Another element of LDS theology of atonement is that it was not accomplished so much on the cross at Calvary, but rather in the Garden of Gethsemane! Jesus atoned for our sins by bleeding from every pore. Thus, like most cults, the Mormons avoid the cross. This is partially why they will not wear crosses or put them on their buildings. This is, of course, contrary to the Bible’s statement that Jesus said, "It is finished" not in the Garden, but at His death.

1 Verbatim quote from LDS temple ritual endowment, from Chuck Sackett, WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE?, p.39, 2 Spencer W. Kimball, THE MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS, p.200ff. 3 Joseph Fielding Smith, ANSWERS TO GOSPEL QUESTIONS, vol.3, pp.26-27.

#51— Is there a Mrs. God according to Mormonism?

Mrs. God—I’m afraid the church does teach this. Recently deceased LDS apos-tle and "top gun" theologian Bruce R. McConkie, in MORMON DOCTRINE says of heaven, "there are many Gods, each of whom has his own wife or wives." (p.516) What on earth could be plainer? Most Mormons know this and believe it.

There is even a celebrated hymn by Eliza Snow in the HYMNAL of the Church, # 138 called "Oh My Father." In are found the following lines:

"In the heavens are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason, truth eternal Tells me I’ve a mother there... Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high?"

This doctrine is repugnant to the Bible, and reduces a holy God to a lecherous harem keeper—and it is utterly orthodox Mormonism!

"Mrs. God" reduces God to finite terms. It implies that God can only create through reproductive plumbing, and with the help of a wife. Nowhere is this taught in the Bible! Although almost all pagan and witchcraft groups have a "Heavenly Mother" or goddess, because their understanding of God’s power is so limited; the only mention of such a concept which the Bible makes is to condemn the belief as something superstitious and abominable which caused Israel to fall (Jer.7:18-19, 44:16-22) Certainly, we cannot claim to know all the secrets heaven has for us; but we cannot contradict the clear teaching of scripture.

#52—The Law of Eternal Progression, Heirship and Romans 8:17

"Was God once a man?" Yes, Jesus Christ is a man; but He is not a man Who became God; He is a God Who became man! There is a world of difference between the two concepts! Read Phil.2:5-8 and see that Jesus did just the opposite of what Mormons hope to do. He "..being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men..." This, coupled with John 1:1-14 makes it clear that Jesus was God before He came to earth and was born of the virgin.

This is NOT the case with us! Rom. 8:17 does not teach that we will become gods, because godhood is not something one can inherit. Jesus always had it (John1:1) and God was ALWAYS God (Psalm 90:2). Therefore it cannot be something one can inherit. Such a teaching would be in violation of Is.43:10, Dt.6:4 and a dozen other scriptures which teach that God is one; and God cannot contradict Himself.

Heb.1:1-2 says, "God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things..." Yes, those who suffer with Christ will be joint-heirs with Christ and will inherit all things. But Godhood is not one of the things Christ inherits, because as has been shown, He is already God!

Suppose there is a man with a fortune who died. The man had one son, and one cat. He liked the cat as much as his son, and upon his death willed half his money to the son and the other half to the cat. That makes the cat a joint-heir with the son. The fact that the cat is a joint-heir with the son does not make the cat a human being! The fact that Christians who suffer with Christ are joint heirs with the Only-Begotten Son does not make them gods, either!

You ask if the revelation that the Father was once a son and gained his throne really contradict the Bible. I’m afraid it does, for it implies that God the Father was not always God. Again, Ps.90:2 says, "from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God!" That’s pretty clear! If He was God from everlasting (the Hebrew idiom here is implying superlative "everlastingness") then there cannot be a time that He was not God. If I’ve always had blue eyes, then there can never be a time when I ever had brown eyes, right?

Yes, Christ taught that there were truths He had yet to give His people, and most (if not all of them) came through the writings of the apostles, such as Paul. However, the important thing to remember again is that any further truth from God MUST NOT CONTRADICT the already revealed Word of God, the Bible! (ie. Is.8:19-20, Gal.1:8), since God doesn't change (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, 3 Nephi 24:6, etc.) Since Smith’s doctrines contradict many Bible teaching, they cannot be of God.

#53—TOWARDS A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LDS HISTORY

•OFFICIAL LDS CHURCH HISTORIES

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, (8 volumes), Deseret Books, Salt Lake City, UT. 1978.

Roberts, Brigham H., A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, (6 volumes), Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1977 (orig. edition, 1957).

•BOOKS BY OTHER AUTHORS, MORMON & NON-MORMON:

Ahmanson, John, SECRET HISTORY: AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE RISE OF MORMONISM (trans. by Gleason L.Archer), Moody Press, Chicago, 1984 (or.ed.1876).

Brodie, Fawn,* NO MAN KNOWS MY HISTORY,

Hill, Donna,* JOSEPH SMITH, THE FIRST MORMON, Doubleday, NY, 1977.

Hansen, Klaus J., QUEST FOR EMPIRE: The Political Kingdom of God and the Council of Ffity in Mormon History, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE., 1967.

Hickman, Bill,* BRIGHAM’S DESTROYING ANGEL, Shepherd Publishing Co., Salt Lake City, UT. 1904.

Hirshson, Stanley P., THE LION OF THE LORD, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1969.

Newell, Linda King & Valeen Tippetts Avery,* MORMON ENIGMA: EMMA HALE SMITH, Doubleday, NY, 1984.

Beadle, J.H., POLYGAMY, or the Mysteries and Crimes of Mormonism, 1882.

Schindler, Harold* ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL: Man of God, Son of Thunder, University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, 1966.

Shields, Steven L.† DIVERGENT PATHS OF THE RESTORATION, Restoration Research, Bountiful, UT., 1975, 1982.

Smith, Lucy Mack,* HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH by his Mother, (ed. by Preston Nibley), Steven & Wallis, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT. 1945. (N.B., this version, the only one in print, has been censored by the LDS church).

Stenhouse, T.B.H., THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS, Shepherd Book Co., Salt Lake City, UT., 1904.

Taylor, Samuel,† NIGHTFALL AT NAUVOO.

*denotes Mormon or ex-Mormon author. †denotes Restorationist author.

#54—LDS Historical Resources

A foundational work for any research on Mormon history would be NO MAN KNOWS MY HISTORY by Fawn Brodie (Alfred Knopf Publishers, New York, 1978) which is probably the definitive biographical work on Joseph Smith outside of "official" (which is to say censored) LDS church accounts. I am also enclosing a short bibliography of LDS history which may be of help to you.

I would suggest a couple of other alternatives on the history of Mormonism and Utah. One would be to contact the many historical groups involved in this sort of research, such as:

•The Utah State Historical Society, 300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT. 84101 (801) 533-6024 (not necessarily all Mormons) •Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, University Station, UMC 7805, Logan, UT. 84322-7805 (mostly "liberal" intellectual Mormons) •The Mormon History Association, Box 7010, University Station, Provo, UT. 84602. (Mormons of every type) •Sunstone (The Sunstone Foundation), 331 South Rio Grande St., Suite 30, Salt Lake City, UT. 84101. (mostly very "liberal" intellectual Mormons).

I believe there is also some sort of organization like "Utah Daughters of the Pioneers" in the state, but I can’t track it down.

#55—The Trinity & the Holy Spirit

The word Trinity (which is not, as our friends in the cults love to remind us) is not used in the Bible. However, there are two consistent and central themes which run through the very warp and woof of both the Old and New Testaments about the nature of God. The first theme is that God is one (Deut.6:4, Isaiah 43:10, etc.). The second theme is that Jesus Christ is fully, utterly and completely God, yet somehow distinct from God the Father. (John 1:1,14, Colossians 1:12-19).

This leaves us with two pieces of data which are apparently in contradiction: 1) There is only one God; and 2) The Father is God and Jesus is God. A corollary to this is the fact that the Bible also tells us that the Holy Ghost is God (Acts 5:3-4). Since you specifically asked about the nature of the Holy Ghost, I’m going to emphasize that element for a few moments; and then proceed to the broader question of the Trinity.

Let’s look at this text in Acts carefully. "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? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." In one verse, Peter states that he lied to the Holy Ghost, and in the next verse, he states that God was the one lied to. Peter evidently saw the Holy Ghost as being equal with God.

This brings up the second part of your question. Is the Holy Ghost a power or a force of God, or is He a Person? We obviously feel the Bible is clear that the Holy Ghost is a Person. In the above text, for example, He is being lied to. Now you can’t really lie to a force or a power or a vague, amorphous "spirit of Christ." Can you lie to your electrical outlet? Of course not. Only a person with a personality all his or her own can be lied to. Similarly, elsewhere in the New Testament, the Holy Ghost is shown to have other attributes of personality:

1) Acts 13:2 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." The Spirit here speaks, and refers to himself as "me" and says that "I have called them." Impersonal powers do not call themselves by first-person pronouns. These are characteristics of personalities.

2) Acts 13:4 "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost..." Again, sending requires a person to send. 3) Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things." Here the Spirit has an opinion. Something cannot "seem good" to nuclear energy.

4) Acts 16:6 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia" Something impersonal can hardly forbid.

5) Acts 20:23 "Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." I think that this is enough examples, as I don’t wish to belabor the point. The Bible seems to clearly teach that the Holy Ghost is a Person, and that He is God.

However, lest we just emphasize the New Testament; I want to take you to a couple of Old Testament passages which have the same kind of context; and which also clearly teach the Trinity, the Three-in-One God. In Isaiah 48:12, we find a rather lengthy passage which I need to quote in full to get the impact (Beware of those folks who only quote part of scriptures out of context.

I encourage you to go to the above cited verses and read them in their entire context. I just quoted parts of them to save time and space.) In any event, check this out: "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel my called; I am he; I am the first and I am also the last. [this is obviously God speaking—there can be no other "first and last"] "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD God, and his Spirit hath sent me."—Isaiah 48:12-16.

Now notice here, we have all three members of the Trinity in the space of a few short verses, and this from the supposedly "anti-Trinitarian" Old Testament of the Hebrews. Also, again note that both the LORD God [ie. the Father] and His Spirit have sent me [ie. the Son]. So again, we have the Spirit sending, doing something only a person can do.

Also, in Gen.6:3, we read: "And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man..." To strive is to fight or to contend, again something only a person can do. It implies consciousness and intent. There are other Old Testament passages as well. Thus, we can see that doctrine of the Trinity, and of the Godhood of the Holy Spirit is clearly taught in the Bible (see 1 John 5:7)!

#56—The LDS Doctrine of The Holy Ghost

The Mormons don’t quite know what to make of the Holy Spirit. That is because He poses contradictions for them. For example, late LDS apostle, Bruce R. McConkie wrote this:

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of Spirit, a Spirit Person, a Spirit Man, a Spirit Entity. He can only be in one place at one time, and he does not and cannot transform himself into any other form or image than that of the Man whom he is, though his power and influence can be manifest at the one and the same time through all immensity (D&C 130:22-23, TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, p.190, 275-76; GOSPEL DOCTRINE, 5th edition, pp.59-62).—from MORMON DOCTRINE, p.359.

However, Mormons also believe the Holy Ghost is different from the Holy Spirit! In the same book, McConkie writes of the Holy Spirit or Spirit of the Lord: Three separate and distinct meanings of the title, Spirit of the Lord, are found in the revelations: 1. It has reference to the spirit body of Christ...the body which he had from the time of his birth as the Firstborn of the Father until he was born of Mary in mortality; 2. It is used to mean the Spirit of Jesus Christ or light of truth, or light of Christ—the Spirit which is impersonal and fills the immensity of space, the Spirit which is the agency by means of which God governs and controls all things and 3. It is also a synonym for the Holy Ghost, that Spirit entity or personage of spirit who is a member of the godhead.—p.752.

Confusing? But you must remember that neither God the Father nor the Holy Ghost can be in more than one place at one time for Mormons; therefore they need to come up with this nebulous "Spirit of the Lord" as sort of a fudge factor to explain how a finite "God" can function in so many different ways at once.

Now, on top of that, since the time of Joseph Smith, Mormons have taught that in order to become a god, you had to be born, acquire a physical body, keep the commandments, go to the temple, and die and be resurrected into a glorified body. Satan and the fallen angels’ greatest punishment is that they are forever denied physical bodies. However, we have the Holy Ghost being "god" without having a physical body. How can that be? He breaks all the rules. Both the Father and Jesus have physical bodies, but the Holy Ghost doesn’t And NONE of them can be in more than one place at one time.

This is why Mormons pray in their sacrament meetings for "a portion of thy Spirit to be present here today, O Heavenly Father." They imagine that God is up there slicing off chunks of the Holy Ghost and giving this ward one chunk and that ward another. Of course, they never bother to think it out in quite that way; but how else can they explain that in the thousands of sacrament meetings going on, just in one time zone of the US, the poor Holy Ghost has to somehow be in all of them.

Some LDS leaders have that the Holy Ghost just zaps from one ward to another in billionths of a second at the speed of light, so that he can be in all those wards; but in each ward only for a "gigasecond" or so. Talk about a commuting problem! What a mess we get into when we try to limit God the way the Mormons do (Romans 1:23)!

#57—Interracial marriage, Mormonism and the Bible

We know that there are denominations which believe that inter-racial marriage is not of God. We disagree with that, but do not feel it is a matter over which to break fellowship. In fact, we are a multi-denominational ministry; with just about the entire spectrum of evangelical Christianity represented in our chapters. However, I would like to point out that there is little (if any) evidence that the Old Covenant restrictions on marriage between the races was carried over into the New Covenant.

Christ, in fact, COMMANDED the apostles to take the gospel "unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) which would certainly seem to include Asia. If we are indeed all part of one body, Jesus’ body, which is the fulness of Him that filleth all in all,(Eph.1:23, Rom.12:5, Col.2:19) then isn’t it odd that a black or yellow Believer could not marry a white Believer?

We are no longer under law; but under grace. If you wish to adhere to the Old Covenant, lots of luck! Paul discouraged us from it. Most Christians do not try to keep the dietary laws of the Old Covenant? They don’t avoid pork and shellfish. They may trim the corner of their beards or wear clothing of more than one fiber mixed? Most Christians would have no problem with growing hybrid plants or crops.

See all of these things were nailed to the cross with Christ (Col.2:14); and in the absence of any statement against inter-racial marriage in the New Testament, I see no reason to think that it is any different than all the other Old Covenant laws which were not re-instituted in the New Testament. The only "mixed marriage" Paul seems to forbid in 1 Cor.7 is between a Believer and a non-believer. It is upon the law of grace that we base our theology.

#58—James 1: 5 & Hearing from God?

Most Mormons will mention James 1:5, and suggest that we do as Joseph Smith did. The problem with that is that the verse promises us wisdom. Yet I don’t know a single Mormon (and I’ve known hundreds) who claim to have wisdom. They all say "I KNOW that the Church is true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet...etc." That’s knowledge, not wisdom.

I have prayed to God many times and received wisdom according to James 1:5. In fact, I prayed for over a year and fasted frequently for guidance about whether or not I could be a born-again believer in Jesus and stay in the Mormon church.

You know the wisdom God gave me? He told me to get out of the Mormon church because it was a lie from the pit of hell! Now I was a full-class Mormon. I paid a full tithe, attended the temple frequently, taught in Institute, did my home teaching, read the scriptures daily. I was doing all the right things, and yet as I earnestly sought God’s will, He told me to leave Mormonism!

Now here we have the problem. Joseph Smith prayed earnestly and got one answer. Most Mormons, evidently, have prayed earnestly and gotten a similar answer. But I, and tens of thousands of others who have followed Jesus out of the LDS church have prayed earnestly and gotten an OPPOSITE answer. Not only that—you have other people like the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Moonies who have gotten entirely OTHER answers than either of us, and they earnestly believe they are right.

How do we know who is right, in the midst of all these earnest feelings? Especially since the Bible tells us the "heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?’—Jeremiah 17:9 and that "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death."—Proverbs 14:12 (see also Prov. 28:26) It doesn’t seem that the human heart can be trusted, can it? Obviously, the Mormon and the Christian BOTH can’t be right. One of us has been deceived, and how can we tell which one?

Why can’t we go to an objective source that we both agree is authoritative—like the Bible? The Bible says of itself, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."—2 Tim.3:16, and "The word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you."—1 Peter 1:25.

Now Mormons believe in continuing revelation, but I also know from my own past that they regard the Book of Mormon as definitive. Now if the Bible and the Book of Mormon agree on something, it must be true, musn’t it? Alma 41:8 says "Now the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved." 3 Nephi 24:6 says "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Mormon 9:9 says "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and in him there is no variableness; neither shadow of turning."

The Bible concurs exactly, Malachi 3:6 says "I am the Lord, I change not..." (See also Hebrews 13:8 and James 1:17). Now if God cannot change His mind, then His commandments and revelations must all agree.(Alma 41:8) It also means that if God said something in the past, continuing revelation cannot say something different.

In other words, the New Testament cannot contradict the Old Testament, and the ongoing revelation (whatever it might be) cannot contradict either one! Otherwise it would be like you as a parent forbidding your child to play in the street one week—and then later commanding him to play in the street. The poor kid would be utterly confused! Now with that in mind, let’s stick to something basic and notice that the Bible says that most major LDS doctrines are false. For more on this, see, "A Few Simple Comparisons" and also "Mormonism: Christian or Cult?" in the resource section.

#59—James chapter 2 and works

As far as James’ remarks about faith without works being dead, we obviously concur 100%! Good works are the proof of your having received the gift of eternal life; but they do not GIVE you eternal life.

Nowhere does James say that faith saves you. He just says that if your faith produces no fruit in your life, it must be pretty sickly or perhaps even false. Other men can see our works and glorify the Father (Matt. 5:16); God does not need to see our works because He knows if our hearts have been regenerated or not.

If they haven’t, as is probably the case with most Mormons; then all the good deeds in the world cannot save them. Saving faith produces the works, but none of the works do anything to save!

Not only that, one needs to read the examples with which James provides us. James 2:21 gives the example of Abraham sacrificing Isaac; and James 2:25 gives us Rahab the harlot. Now read these scriptures in context please!

If indeed James were trying to teach us that "works" could somehow save us, look at the examples he gave. Abraham’s "good work" as cited by James would have been child sacrifice—something the Lord condemns! Similarly, Rahab’s good deed was that she lied and committed treason against her own people. God also condemns lying. Thus, it could not have been their works that saved them, since their works (in both cases) were potentially serious sins. Rather, it was the faith which preceded their works that saved them. Their works only showed the visible fruit of their already internalized salvation experience.

Thus, when you use the Bible (related Bible verses, read in full context) to interpret the Bible, instead of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20) by any man, these problems quickly become clear,

#60—Jesus & Lucifer

As far as the Jesus and Lucifer being brothers is concerned, some powerful verses to share with Mormons are from Colossians:

"He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist."—Col.1:15-17.

You can point out that Lucifer is an angel (see Ezek.28:12-19, esp.v.14) and that nowhere does the Bible say he was begotten or born of God. In fact, the Bible teaches to the contrary that Jesus is God’s ONLY BEGOTTEN SON (John 3:16)!

The passage in Colossians clearly states that Jesus created all things, obviously including angels, since angels are included among the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Far from being Lucifer’s older brother, Jesus is God Almighty come in the flesh (John 1:1-14, Col.2:9) and Lucifer is one of His creatures!

Thus, to say that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers would be like saying Leonardo da Vinci is a brother of his painting, the Mona Lisa. There is that large a qualitative difference between Jesus and ANY member of His creation, certainly Lucifer!

#61 Jesus conceived "in the flesh"?

THE MORMON CHURCH TEACHES THAT:

Our God is an exalted man of flesh and bone. He physically lives with His many wives near the star Kolob. Worthy Mormon men can also become Gods, like Him. Our God is one of many Gods and serves a God of His own!

God came down to earth in the flesh and was the physical father of Jesus. You should not trust the Bible in this matter. It is wrong. Trust their prophets. Read what just one of the Mormon leaders says about our Savior and the Virgin Mary.

GODS MUST HAVE WIVES

If none but gods will be permitted to multiply immortal children, it follows that each God must have one or more wives. God, the Father of our spirits, became the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. (Orson Pratt, The Seer, page 158)

MARY AND GOD WERE MARRIED

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 together 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 begat the Savior unlawfully. (Orson Pratt, The Seer, page 158)

#62—Bible Verses on the Unique Deity of Jesus

John 1:1-14, 8:58, 10:30, Colossians 1:15-19, 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 2:22, 4:1-3; Revelations 1:7-8, 22:13-16

#63—Did Jesus progress to godhood?

The LDS theological position is that Jesus had to progress to his Godhood just like everyone else. He seems to have lost his memories of his pre-existent state, just like the Mormons teach everyone else did. (See article by President Spencer W. Kimball in the Ensign magazine [official LDS church publication] of December, 1980, pp.3-5). According to LDS theology, you cannot be a god without having a physical body, and Jesus obviously didn’t have one until he was born of the Virgin Mary.

Thus, Jesus could not have been God, according to LDS doctrine, until after the Incarnation. This is far from what the Holy Bible teaches us.

Nowhere does the Bible teach that Jesus progressed to godhood. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning (in the Greek, En arche meaning literally "the very beginning of beginnings") was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Jesus was Almighty God from the very beginning. There was never a time when Jesus was not fully Almighty God! He did not have to grow up into the job!

1 Tim.3:16 backs that doctrine up by declaring that "…God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Jesus was God before He became flesh; and that shoots down the entire LDS theology in flames.

#64—Is Jesus really omnipresent?

God is everywhere present at once, at the same time. "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."—Deuteronomy 4:39.

David wrote, "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me and they right hand shall hold me."—Psalm 139:7-10. (also Prov.15:3, Isaiah 66:1, and Jeremiah 23:24)

Since God is everywhere, it is not really a problem for Him to both be on earth as Jesus Christ and in heaven at the same time. Two scriptures which might be of help: John 3:13: "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven." Now notice that! Jesus is talking with Nicodemus in Jerusalem, yet he tells Nicodemus that He "IS" (present tense—right now) in heaven! Jesus was in heaven and on earth at the same time, because Jesus is God Almighty! Matthew 18:20: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I (Jesus) in the midst of them." That means that if you are having a prayer meeting in Logan, Jesus is there; but if we are having a prayer meeting up here in Seattle, Jesus is here also, at the same time; because Jesus is God!

Understand this about Jesus’ incarnation. Though Jesus is God and always was God (John 1:1); when He took on human flesh He also became fully man. Obviously while Jesus was here on earth, he was physically separate from His Father for a time. That is why he stated in John 20:17 that he had to ascend to His Father. That doesn’t mean that the Trinity doctrine is false. It just means that Jesus’ human nature was distinct from God the Father. That is all it means.

You just have to make your Jesus big and powerful enough and these things should not be a problem. I was a Mormon for five years, and I understand how difficult some of these things can be; but believe me, the Bible, for all its awesome mysteriousness, makes much more sense than the contradictions in Mormonism.

#65—The LDS Jesus vs. the Jesus of the Bible

I hope that you would agree that if the Jesus in whom you are trusting for salvation is not the right one, then you are in spiritual trouble. This is precisely the problem Mormons have. I know, I used to be one! In fact, I used to be a professional teacher of Mormon doctrine in the Church Educational System, and I know LDS theology as well as most Mormons! The Mormon Jesus is a false Jesus, even as Paul warned! (2 Corinthians 11:4)

Now mind you, this false Jesus is not so much clearly seen in the Book of Mormon—other than the fact that he wipes out 70,000 people in a tantrum who had nothing to do with his crucifixion. No, you need to look to the teachings of Mormon prophets like Joseph Smith and his successors to see how false the LDS Jesus is.

For example: the LDS Jesus is not Almighty God, he is the spirit brother of Lucifer and different from Lucifer and all the rest of us only because he was born first (See Milton R. Hunter, THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES, p.15)

But the Bible teaches that Jesus is the ONLY begotten Son of God (John 1:1-14) Satan is a created angel—not a son of God (Isaiah 14:12, Ezek.28:12-19) Jesus created all things, including Lucifer (John 1:3) and in Him all the fullness of God dwells (Colossians1:15-20, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 1:1-13)

The LDS Jesus was begotten by an act of sexual relations between "God the Father" and Mary (See Bruce R. McConkie, MORMON DOCTRINE, p.547, 742)

The Bible teaches that Jesus was begotten by the Holy Ghost; and that Mary’s virginity was preserved! (Matt.1:18-23, Luke 1:35)

The LDS Jesus’ death on Calvary cannot wash away our sins—only Adam’s "transgression". Only obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Mormon church can save us—his blood cannot. (see "Articles of Faith" #3)

The Bible teaches that we cannot be saved through works of righteousness (Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9) and that the blood of its Jesus can cleanse us from ALL sin! (1 John 1:7) Only by saving faith in this Jesus can be we spared from hell! (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9-13)

I think you will agree that those are some substantial differences. When people start talking about Jesus, you must ask "WHICH Jesus?" The LDS Church’s Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible, and he cannot save anyone. He is an impotent lie! I know, because I have felt the touch of the REAL Jesus in my life, and He is so much more powerful and glorious than His Mormon counterfeit that it cannot be described.

#66—Is Jesus the only one who could save us?

Contrary to LDS doctrine, Jesus alone can save us. That much is clear from the following Bible verses:

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 1Cor. 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Tim. 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

#67—Why is Jesus called the Son of God?

The "easy" answer to your question is the Jesus is called the Son of God because that is how the Bible, which is the inerrant Word of God refers to Him. (See Psalm 2:7, 89:26-27; Prov.30:4; Matt.3:17; 11:27, 14:33, 16:15-17, 17:5, 26:63-64, Mark 1:1, 11, 14:61-62; 15:39; Luke 1:32, 9:35, John 1:1-14, 3:16, etc.) As you can see, there is a veritable avalanche of verses which teach clearly and plainly that Jesus is the Son of God; some of them coming from the Father’s own lips, some of them declarations by Jesus under solemn oath.

However, we must then try and determine what the Bible means by the term "Son of God." Sonship implies a relationship between Jesus and the Father. That relationship is one of subordination in time! In other words, the Bible teaches that Jesus is eternal (Prov.8:22-25, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, John 8:58, 17:24, Colossians 1:17, Heb.13:8). There was never a time that He was not. However, in His state before His birth through the Virgin Mary, He was the Word, not the Son! (John 1:1)

Jesus became the Son of God when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin (Matt.1:18) and took up an existence in time as well as in eternity. Since Jesus was a man at that point, He, of necessity, emptied Himself of His divine attributes and humbled Himself to become a man. (Philippians 2:5-11) In this Sonship relationship, Jesus was subordinate to God. However, as the eternal Word, He was equal to God (again John 1:1).

Now this Sonship does not mean, as the Mormons teach (for example) that Jesus was actually fathered by God the Father having sexual relations with Mary. Nor does it mean that Jesus is not fully God and fully eternal. The Bible is clear about that. Jesus humbled Himself to become one of us; just as if I wished to communicate with an ant, I would have to somehow become an ant so that they could accept me and understand me. We can never realize how much Jesus gave up to come here to earth and suffer with us. That is the "mystery" of the Incarnation. Jesus—Emmanuel—"God with Us."

Jesus is also the only-begotten Son of God. (John 1:14, 18, 3:16; 1 John 4:9). This means that His Sonship relationship with the Father is utterly unique. Jesus is the only "natural born" Son of God. All the rest of us can only be sons (or daughters) by adoption through saving faith in Jesus. (John 1:12, Romans 8:14-17) Thus, contrary to popular belief, the Bible does not teach that we are "all God’s children" nor does it teach the "Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man." Those who do not receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are children of the devil (John 8:44, Judges 19:22, 1 Samuel 2:12 1 Kings 21:13, 2 Cor.6:15)!

Believers in Jesus Christ are children of God by adoption, but only Jesus is God’s actual Son! This is essentially what is meant by Jesus being the Son of God. It is a unique term for the most unique Man Who ever lived.

#68—Was Jesus Married according to the Mormons?

Jesus was married—Orson Hyde, an apostle of the LDS church did teach this (JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol.2, p.82). Jedediah M. Grant, second counselor to Brigham Young said this: "The grand reason why the Gentiles and philosophers...persecuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives; there were Elizabeth and Mary and a host of others that followed him."—JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol.1 pp.345-46.

These are official publications of the Church, written by "apostles" of God! They’re telling you Jesus was a polygamist! These teachings have been around for more than a century and no Mormon prophet has ever said they were false. Mormon leaders have taught them for over 100 years! Of course they aren’t talked about much because frankly they’re embarrassing and offensive to any decent person—but they are Mor-mon doctrine! They have to be! Do you know why?

Consider the logic. Mormonism teaches that in order for anyone to become a god, they must be married for time and eternity. Jesus is our great exemplar, and he wasn’t a god (according to Mormonism) until after his death. Therefore, in order to attain godhood, Jesus would have had to be married at least once! He could not have been single and made it by Mormon standards.

#69—John 5: 29 & "Doing Good"

You reference your question with the scripture that says, "They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." The key thing here is "doing good." Is.64:6 says that "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Jesus rebuked the ruler who called Him good, saying, "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God."—Lk.18:19. Obviously, therefore, only God can do good works. The question would naturally be, How do we do the works of God?

Jesus gives us the answer under similar circumstances: "Then they said unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."—John 6:28-29. Therefore, the only way to do good is to have saving faith in Jesus—the REAL Jesus! Simple!

#70—What is Kolob?

"Kolob" is a word of no apparent origin which first showed up in the LDS fake scripture, the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. This is one of the "four standard works" of Mormonism. In chapter 3:2-3, it says:

And I [Abraham] saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near to it; and the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God...

You could read on, but it is mostly obscure drivel, like much of the Book of Abraham. Kolob, in a loose sense, is the star near where God dwells on a planet Thus, to the Mormon, Kolob in common parlance means something kind of like heaven, except that it is a physical place where the "Gods" dwell with their polygamous goddess wives. It is considered to be somewhere near the very center of the universe.

Bruce R. McConkie, in his classic doctrinal work, MORMON DOCTRINE, claims that the word means "the first creation" He teaches that

It is "first in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time…One day on Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth (Book of Abraham 3:3-9)1

1 Bruce R. McConkie, MORMON DOCTRINE, Bookcraft, 1979, p.428.

#71—Law of Eternal Progression & the "Adam-God" doctrine

The Mormon doctrine of celestial marriage and spirit children is not intrinsically related to the old "Adam-God doctrine." However, there are some connections. Of course, there are no clear Biblical scriptures which could even be interpreted to justify this heresy, which is called the Law of Eternal Progression.

The Mormons do use some isolated passages here and there, such as Hebrews 12:9, James 1:17, and Jeremiah 1:5 to try and build a lame case for pre-existence and God being the "Heavenly Father" of all of us "spirit kids." Most of the LDS case for these doctrines comes from the Doctrine and Covenants, esp. sections 49 and 138; and the Pearl of Great Price section, the Book of Moses, 3rd chapter.

The Adam-God doctrine is a logical extension of this (at least according to the twisted logic of LDS theology). If Adam is the father of all men and women, which he is; then he is, in Brigham Young’s words, "the only God with whom we have to do." Obviously, Adam had a heavenly "Father" also, but he would be off somewhere else; and the most immediate "god of this world," as the Mormons like to put it, would be "Father Adam." Of course, today the LDS leaders repudiate this doctrine as false; but Brigham did teach it as a "prophet of God."

Check the Resource section for, The Law of Eternal Progression, which may serve to explain some of this further. God bless you richly and thank you for your concern and support.

#72—Re: a family which has been torn apart by Mormons

We are truly sorry to hear of what has happened with your family, and we pray that you will be able to get back together with them in some fashion. Although it may not make you feel much better, you need to know that this kind of horrible behavior is commonly found where the Mormon church is concerned.

Quite often the Mormon leaders will see that a spouse (like yourself) is not likely to join the church and so they spirit away the family while they are at work. Some of these spouses have never found their families. Others of them have only had divorce papers served on them from distant states paid for by an army of lawyers from the Mormon church.

Please understand—although the name of the Mormon church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; they are a false cult. Those who serve it, serve Satan—without realizing it. This is why these evil things have been done to your family. Satan is a liar, and a murderer and a thief; and although the Mormons have spent a lot of money trying to convince people of their goodness, they are of their father, the devil.(see John 8:44) and much of what they do will end up involving stealing and lying.

These church leaders do this because they are controlled by the devil, even though they probably think they are doing good. We aren’t attorneys and can’t really give you advice about the legal part of what is happening and what you should do; but it is our advice to you to go to a Higher Authority—Jesus Christ! If you have not already done so, make Him your Lord and then begin agreeing with us in prayer for the restoration of your family and for their deliverance from the cult of Mormonism.

Please understand that this is, first and foremost, a spiritual war you are in for the souls of your loved ones. We will be praying for you and your family, but you—yourself—must begin to take steps in prayer and faith as well. Do these things, and then find (if possible) an attorney who is not a Mormon and also see what legal steps you can take.

#73—The new Mormon "Intellectual/Liberal"

Brigham Young University anthropologist Ray T. Matheny has found "king-sized problems...for so-called Book of Mormon archeology." Another BYU scholar, John L. Sorensen admits that the American Indians could not have descended from the Hebrews. Even former official Church Historian Leonard Arrington has backed off from saying the stories of Joseph Smith’s visions are true!

The premier Mormon scholar of the last generation, Brigham H. Roberts, found five questions about the Book of Mormon he could not find satisfactory answers to: 1. Why, if the Indians were all descendants of Lehi, was there such a diversity in their language and why is there no indications of Hebrew in any of their languages? 2. The Book of Mormon says that Lehi found horses in America. The horse as described in the Book of Mormon did not exist in America and had to be imported by the Spanish conquistadors. 3. Nephi wrote that he had a "bow of steel." The Jews had no steel then, and there was no iron smelted on this continent until the Spaniards arrived. 4. The Book of Mormon mentions "Cimeters." Cimeters are a type of sword used by Muslim warriors, and were unknown until after the time of Muhammed (c.500 AD) 5. The Book of Mormon says the Nephites possessed silk. Silk did not exist in American before Columbus.

Those are the problems Roberts admitted to! Believe me, there are many others. (See B. H. Roberts, STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF MORMON, also "The Massive Mormon Scripture Mess" and "Problems with the Book of Mormon." In the resource section).

Even the Smithsonian Institution has had to put out a letter disclaiming the existence of any archaeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon. But the LDS missionaries just keep showing their cute little slides of all those old Aztec and Mayan ruins (which are much newer than the times of the Book of Mormon) and claiming that these temples prove the Book of Mormon to be true. Talk about deception!

#74—Law of Eternal Progression; and the promise of Matthew 19:29

If the Law of Eternal Progression is so central to the gospel message, why did both Jesus, John and Paul teach of a valuable quality in being unmarried or celibate for some? (Mt.19:10-12, 1 Cor.7:8, 27; Rev.14:1-4)

If marriage and children are so important for our salvation, why would Jesus and these apostles make celibacy an important option? If eternal marriage is such an important principle, why is it not mentioned either in the Bible or in the Book of Mormon? I think that there are honestly better explanations for Mt.19:29 in the light of the above scriptures from the very same chapter! A common problem with Mormon theology is that it tends to over- "physicalize" such promises; although this is only natural, since you have a physical god and a theology which doesn’t allow for a radical discontinuity between spirit and matter.

Let’s just look at this sensibly. Assuming the above scripture was to be taken physically, how would the LDS idea of eternal marriage give you "a hundredfold" of brethren, sisters or fathers? (3 of the 8 items mentioned in the verse). As a Mormon, I was an only child. How could I and my wife being able to live together and reproduce into the eternities give me a hundred times more siblings? How can it give you more fathers? Surely, you can only have one father, no matter how many wives and offspring you have. This kind of philosophy tends to take ones eyes off of the glory of God.

I believe that the Bible makes clear that in heaven, our function will be to worship and praise God. He will be so beautiful, so glorious, so fascinating; that we aren’t going to be worried about counting how many wives and kids we have up there. As lovely as your wife or mine might be, we must remember that her loveliness is but a pallid shadow of the beauty of Him Who crafted her. God is more precious than silver, more beautiful than diamonds; and a moment in His Presence is like a thousand years of bliss. Might it not be an acceptable interpretation of Mt. 19:29 to say that the love, the fellowship, the fulfillment we now receive from our wives, children, etc. will be doubled a hundredfold in the fellowship and love we will know in God?

#75—Hebrews 7 & the Priesthood

To fully understand the error of the LDS theology of the priesthood, you have to take a close look at the book of Hebrews, especially the seventh chapter. In the first couple of verses, Melchizedek is mentioned and contrasted to Jesus, "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (vs.3) This is presented to contrast with the Levitical priesthood, which was dependent on whom your father was and what your genealogy was (you had to be a Levite, descended from Aaron).

The genealogies of the Levites were kept very carefully, because it would be a deadly curse for a non-Levite to try and hold the priesthood. This is why the Mormons cannot hold the Aaronic priesthood, because only a Jewish person from the House of Levi could hold it, and most Mormons claim to be of the House of Ephraim.(See Ex.28:1, 43; Ex.29:9, 44; Numbers 18:1-7, Lev. 6:19-23 and Nehemiah 7:61-65 for confirmation of the fact that only Levites could hold the priesthood)

In v.4-11, the writer of Hebrews basically is using the extraordinary nature of Abraham’s relationship to Melchizedek to teach that the Melchizedek priesthood is higher than the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood, since Abraham (and his great-grandson, Levi through him) paid tithes to Melchizedek.

He then shows that it is impossible for Jesus to be a Levite (vs.12-14) since He was descended from Judah, and no priesthood was given to the House of Judah. He then states that Jesus’ priesthood is clearer still because it is not on the basis of any physical condition, but on the basis of the "power of an endless life." (vs. 15-16)

Again, the writer is building a case for the vast superiority between Jesus’ priesthood and the Old Covenant priesthood of Aaron. Then he quotes the Psalmist: "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."—vs.17.

This is one of the keys to the entire teaching. He is saying that Jesus fulfills the Psalmist’s words like no other could. Who else could be a priest forever? The Levitical law provided for the high priest to continue until his death, and then it was passed on to another. But we are told that: "he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

In other words, no one was made perfect through trying to keep the Law, or through the ministrations of the Levitical priesthood. This is, of course, the lie behind the LDS efforts to save themselves through good deeds and priesthood ordinances.

However, the New Covenant of Jesus brings us a better hope—the gospel (GOOD NEWS) of grace! There is no "good news" in trying to be continually in harmony with hundreds of commandments. Jesus gives us a "better hope." (vs,.19)

The author of Hebrews then deals with the oath which the Aaronic priests had to take, and contrasts it with the oath with GOD HIMSELF took: "(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."—vs.21-22

Thus, instead of our having to depend on oaths taken by sinful, fallen men like Aaron, we have our intercession "underwritten" by Someone Who cannot lie or change His mind. So the covenant itself is better (grace instead of keeping commandments) and the Person who guarantees the covenant is more reliable (Jesus!).

Now we come to the heart of the chapter as far as the Mormon priesthood is concerned. "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."—vs.23-24 Again, comparing the "many priests" (of the Old Covenant), the writer says that there were so many of them because they died off and needed to be replaced. However, because Jesus is living forever, He holds His priesthood unchangeably. There will never be another Melchizedek priesthood holder! Why?

1) Because Jesus can never lose His priesthood through sinning or breaking of His oath of the priesthood, and 2) Because Jesus can never die, and thus pass on the priesthood to another.

Since the Bible makes it clear that there can be only one high priest at a time, that means that Jesus is it! For ever! This makes the LDS claim false and blasphemous. The writer of Hebrews then concludes the teaching with the wonderful thought that since Jesus lives forever, He can continually make intercession for our sins before the throne of His Father, even as the old Aaronic High Priest did before the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. (vs.25-27) Even here there is an infinite improvement!

Since Jesus is sinless, He need not first atone for His own sins before atoning for ours, as did the Aaronic High Priest. Thus He can uniquely intercede for our sins: "For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."—vs.28

This is the purpose of the priesthood. The Mormons have it backwards! They teach that the priesthood is the authority to act in the name of God. Actually, it is the right to stand before God and intercede for man—and only Jesus has that right from now on, praise His name!

#76—The Extent of LDS Wealth and Income:

Drawn from 6/30/91-7/03/91—Arizona Republic: Reporters on story (which took 8 months) were Andy Hall, Jerry Kammer, Mark Trahant, and editor Richard Robertson. —conservatively estimates Church collects about 4.3 billion a year from members, plus around 400 million from its many enterprises. (That comes out in tithing to $11,780,821.92 a day!)

The Church’s 4.7 billion income (compared with the sales of publicly traded companies) would place it 110th on the list of Fortune 500; ranking it among Warner-Lambert, Gillette, and Chiquita Brands, Intl. Its revenues are larger than Maytag, Hershey Foods, or Avon.

The Church’s business subsidiaries generate an additional $4 billion a year in sales which, if counted in the total, would make the LDS Church an 8.7 billion dollar corporation, comparable with Union Carbide and Borden’s; and larger than Honeywell, General Mills, or Campbell soup. It would be between 54-55th on the Fortune 500 list. Its income exceeds donations to the United Way, the nation’s largest charity, and easily surpasses the national incomes of the YMCA, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

The paper admits that it was not able to get a complete or up-to-date listing, but it concluded that the Mormon church: •controls at least 100 companies that generate about 400 million a year for the church through contributions, dividends, trusts or investment income. •never borrows money to finance its acquisitions. It pays cash, using a portions of its members’ tithing and its business income •has become one of the nation’s largest landowners, which holdings in all 50 states. •has an investment portfolio in excess of $1 billion. •appoints spiritual leaders who can do double duty as business leaders, to oversee real estates, communications, tourism, insurance, and educational operations.

The church’s broadcast subsidiary, Bonneville International, operates TV stations in Salt Lake City and Seattle, along with 16 radio stations in some of the nation’s biggest cities: New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle (just sold parts of this in 1/97), Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

Beneficial Life and four subsidiaries have more than $14.6 billion of insurance in force, mostly in the West and Midwest. The church has amassed farm, ranch and real estate holdings that today exceed $1 billion—an 18 million Security Pacific Bank Plaza in Tucson, AZ., a 10 million shopping mall in Orange County, CA, and 315,000 acres of land near Orlando, FL that includes some of Florida’s most prized undeveloped land.

It appears to spend about $2 billion a year to maintain its ward houses (16,000) and temples (44). Putting 44,000 missionaries in the field costs the church $550 million dollars a year. It put about $200 million into its colleges in Utah, Idaho and Hawaii. All of its assets are ultimately held by one of two holding companies, the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Corporation of the Presiding Bishopric. Best estimates are that about 30% of members give a full tithe.

Nationally, the church’s real estate empire easily exceeds $1 billion. Property records are recorded in 2,825 counties.

Salt Lake County—$137 million in real estate California—$67 million in commercial properties, 13,000 acres of agricultural land (worth $34.6 million) and vacant land worth $20.3 million. Florida—315,000 acre Deseret Ranches (may be the state’s largest privately owned piece of undeveloped real estate. Washington—state’s largest irrigated farm along the Columbia & Snake rivers; total church holdings in southeast Washington exceed 120,000 acres. Iowa—10,370 acres of prime farmland Illinois—at least 9,135 acres of prime farmland Missouri—at least 14,000 acres of prime farmland Indiana—total of at least 4,555 acres of prime farmland Oklahoma—1989 the church bought 70,000 acres of ranchland here and in Kansas. Nebraska—38,000 acre ranch bought in 1990 for $3.8 million. Alberta, Canada—88,000 acre ranch Jackson County, MO.—in 1990 church bought 3,265 acres of farmland for $10 million; before this, the church already owned 11,200 acres there. Over the past ten years, the church has bought 2,450 acres in Daviess Co., MO., where Mormons believe Christ will appear to receive the keys of the Kingdom from Mormon authorities before beginning his millennial reign. Polynesian Cultural Center (Hawaii)—as many as a million visitors a year, paying an average of $39, go through the 42 acre park Church owns 16 radio and 2 TV stations, programmed for profits, not prophets! These and other church media acquisitions bring in at least $300 million in annual sales. Deseret Books owns and operates a chain of retail stores which sell $97 million a year in books, recordings and videos. Only the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention sells more ($155 million) among religious publishers.

List of companies (all in Utah, unless otherwise noted): Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Deseret Mutual Insurance Corp. (inc. $98.9 million) Deseret Trust ($11 million in assets; inc. $570,000) Brown & Co. Descal & Co. (California subsidiary) Desco & Co. (Colorado subsidiary) Foreign Lands Corp. (holds title to real estate, worldwide) Brigham Young University ($699 million in assets, revenues $386 million) KBYU-TV & KBYU-FM (campus broadcasting facilities) BYU—Hawaii (assets, $101.6 million, revenues $32.7 million) LDS Business College (assets: $2.4 million, revenues, $2.4 million) Polynesian Cultural Center (Oahu, HI—assets $23.3 million, revenues $34 million) Islands Foundation (inc. $1.6 million) Cultural Center Properties, Inc. Ricks College (Rexburg, ID.) (assets: $103.9 million, revenue: $42.9 million) KRIC Radio LDS Social Services (counseling and adoptive services) LDS Social Services of Virginia LDS Social Services of Massachusetts LDS Social Services of New York Nauvoo Restoration (oversees restoration of Nauvoo) LDS Foundation (fund raising) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation (raises funds for schools) (inc.$31,000) Deseret International Charities (distributes funds for international church operations) Deseret Management (parent company for most profit-making subsidiaries): Bonneville International Corp. (assets $137.4 million; sales: $164 million) Bonneville Media Communications (advertising, sales $.6 million) Bonneville Entertainment BEC Realty Bonneville Broadcasting System (sales $1.1 million) Applied Technology Group KIRO, Inc. (Seattle, WA.) (sales, $32 million) KIRO-TV (sales, $114 million) KIRO-AM, KSEA-FM (sales $23.6 million) Third Ave. Productions KSL (Salt Lake City) KSL-TV KSL-AM Video West Network Keystone Communications (sales, $25 million) KOIT-AM/FM Radio (San Francisco) WNSR-FM (New York City) (sales, $1.1 million) KAAM-AM, KZPS-FM Radio (Dallas, TX.) KMEO-AM/FM Radio (Phoenix, AZ.) (sales, $2.3 million) KTMX-FM radio (Chicago) KMBZ-AM, KMBR-FM (Kansas City) (sales, $1.1 million) KBIG-FM (Los Angeles) Beneficial Life Insurance Co. ($8.6 billion insurance in force, assets, $1.1 billion, sales $294 million) Continental Western Life Insurance (W. Des Moines, IA) (assets, $215.9 million, sales, $68.2 million) Western American Life (Salt Lake City) (assets, $6.8 million, sales, $897,000) Pacific Heritage Life (Portland, OR) (assets, $39.4 million, sales $46.2 million) Utah Home Fire (assets, $61.7 million, sales $35.3 million) Office Management of Utah (sales. $600,000) BLIC Agency Beneficial Development Co. (property leasing subsidiary of Deseret Management) Hotel Temple Square Corp. (assets, $11.2 million, sales, $6 million) Hotel Utah Inn at Temple Square Carriage Court Restaurant Proprietary Holding, Inc. (parent company) (assets, $131.4 million) Farm Management Co. (farming and ranching) (assets, $10.1 million) Deseret Ranches of Wyoming Deseret Farms of California Sooner Land & Livestock (Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas—commercial farming) (assets, $18 million) Deseret Ranches of Florida (Orlando, FL.) (315,000 acres) Elberta Farms (Provo, UT) Eleven-Bar Ranch (Nephi, UT) Deseret Land & Livestock (Utah, Wyoming) (21,000 acre ranch) Agri-Northwest (120,000 acre ranch in Washington) Grain Handling, Inc. (grain elevator in Plymouth, WA.) Zion Securities Corp. (commercial real estate, property management) (Income, $1.5 million) Eagle Gate Apartments (luxury apartment building) Laie Resorts (Oahu, HI) (Laniloa Lodge, 45 room hotel) Deseret News Publishing (63,000 circulation) Newspaper Agency, Corp. (operation with Salt Lake Tribune, sales, $89 million) Deseret Book Co. (Publishing, wholesale—retail, 24 stores) (sales, $46 million) Shadow Mountain Press Mormon Handicraft Promised Valley Playhouse Mormon Temples (44 worldwide) Genealogical Society of Utah Magnolia Management Corp. (Orlando, FL) (oversees development of Florida ranches) Deseret Trust of California (Los Angeles) ($17.8 million in assets managed) ZCMI (national) (52% interest in 19 department stores, assets, $124 million, sales, $205 million) Property Reserve of Arizona (holds title to AZ. properties—assets, $117 million, income, $1.5 million) Deseret Farms K2H Farms, Inc. (holds title to land in southeastern Washington) Columbia Ridge Farms (Tri-Cities area of Washington—assets, $26.7 million, income, $937,000) Bonneville Holding Co. (real estate holding) (assets, $20.5 million, income $3.7 million)

Corporation of the Presiding Bishopric (holding company for "ecclesiastical" properties): Salt Lake Macaroni & Noodle Deseret Grain (nationwide) Garrison Welfare Farm Beehive Clothing Deseret Gymnasium Deseret Transportation Bluestem Co. (owns Oklahoma farms managed by Farm Management Co.) Mortgage Loan Services (collects payments on properties sold and financed by church) Deseret Industries (similar to Goodwill Industries; nationwide)

#77—"Mormons don’t believe they can become gods!"

Ask the Mormon to go to their own "Standard Works" (the actual canon of LDS scripture) and turn to Doctrine and Covenants 132, and read verses 1-21, especially v.20-21: It says:

Then shall they[those who are true to the new and everlasting covenant of temple marriage] be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things shall be subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject to them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.

Now please notice here: 1) This is infallible scripture for them; 2) It says that good temple Mormons "shall be gods" 3) It says that they shall be from "everlasting to everlasting" 4) It says that they shall be "above all" and have "all power" 5) It says that angels are "subject to them."

Now, if you are an all-powerful, everlasting being who is above all and who has angels subject to you, and you are called a god; then AREN’T YOU A GOD? If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and flies like a duck, etc.!

Sometimes, you have to put it to them that simply, and see what they say. Then ask them how they can hope to be a god, when the Bible says that there is only one God, and it isn’t them? (Deut.6:4, Isaiah 43:10, 44:6-8, etc.)

You can also take them to the day the "Prophet" Joseph Smith preached the "King Follett Discourse" at a funeral service in 1844. He said,

It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God....Here then is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you...TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, pp.345-346.

As if that isn’t clear enough, modern key theologian and late apostle of the LDS Church Bruce R. McConkie wrote in MORMON DOCTRINE. He carefully defines "eternal life" on p. 670 ("Salvation"):

Salvation in its true and full sense is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions, this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak. It is the salvation which the saints seek...This full salvation is obtained in and through the continuation of the family unit in eternity, and those who obtain it are gods.

That’s as plain as day "Eternal life = godhood and exaltation." Mormons believe that they can become gods! What more can be said?

#78—Is Saints Alive being too narrow minded in its approach?

This "narrow-mindedness" issue needs to be confronted lovingly, but Biblically. You might point out to the Mormon that Jesus, Who is evidently Love Incarnate, said "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."—John 14:6. That sounds rather narrow minded, doesn’t it?

Jesus also said, "for wide is the gate and broad the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow the way, which leadeth to life, and few there be that find it."—Mt.7:13-14. He followed that admonition with a warning about false prophets.

You might also point out to him that his own church teaches that all other creeds are an abomination in the sight of God and all their believers corrupt (Joseph Smith History—1:19). That sounds rather narrow-minded. It just depends on whose narrow mind you wish to believe: Joseph’s or Jesus’?

#79—NCCS

FREEMAN INSTITUTE’s (Now called the National Center for Constitutional Studies or NCCS) address is Box 31776, Salt Lake City, UT, 84131.

The NCCS is a secular expression of the LDS belief that they will eventually take over the United States to save the Constitution which will "hang by a thread" one day, according to Joseph Smith. Although its "public" mission is the education of citizens and leaders about the Constitution, its hidden agenda is to increase visibility and respectability for Mormons, to graft Mormons firmly into the power base of conservatism and the "Religious Right." This fusion, of course, gives conservative or Fundamentalist Christians the illusion that Mormons are "one of us;" which is exactly what they want Christians to believe. There has been relatively little heard from them in the last few years and I’d not be surprised if they have gone off to other things.

#80—HEARING FROM GOD?—"New Revelation?"

Allow me to clarify what Christians believe. We have no problem with God speaking to believers today. The New Testament is clear that there are prophets in the Body of Christ. (1 Cor.12-14) However, you will not find in the NT the idea of a single "Prophet" who makes decisions or revelations for the entire church. You will just find individual prophets (like Agabus, who seemed to be a relatively minor person) and even prophetesses(?) in the Body who bring words from the Lord; but none of these are called apostles.(Acts 11:27-28, 13:1, 15:32 and 21:9) How could the daughters of Philip hold the Melchizedek priesthood, necessary, according to LDS doctrine to be prophets?

Additionally, it is evident from the Bible that what a prophet says must be judged by what was written before (1 Cor.14:29-32) in God’s Word. Since God cannot change (Mal.3:6); then His Word cannot contradict itself. Thus, the Old Testament must judge the New; and the entire Bible must judge any subsequent revelation. Since many of the key doctrines of Mormonism contradict the Bible, they must be dismissed out of hand. (such as the nature of God being a man; Jesus not being Almighty Eternal God, etc.)

Certainly, God, in His sovereign will, can bring forth new revelation; but it can never contradict what He has already said! Implicit in the LDS argument is the idea that the church collapsed (or apostasized) soon after the death of the apostles. This contradicts the Bible also; for Jesus said that He "would be with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Mt.28:19) and also that "upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."(Mt.16:18) The divinely inspired Paul also wrote, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen."(Eph.3:21)

Now if Jesus promised He would be with us always; and that the gates of hell could never prevail against His church; how could there have been such a universal apostasy as Joseph Smith taught? How could Jesus be glorified by His church "throughout all ages" if from 300-1830 AD it was drowning in apostasy?

Certainly, there have been times when the church was not all it should be; but Jesus was still with it totally and in isolated places throughout the world, brave little pockets of Bible believing Christians existed, worshipped and won souls. Jesus was with them, as He promised, and prevented hell from crushing them. I’d believe Jesus’ Word over Joseph’s, wouldn’t you? Thus, prior revelation (the Bible) must judge later revelation!

Whether or not you have a "living prophet," everything he says must be judged by the Bible; since the Bible came long before Joseph Smith (Is.8:19-20)!

#81—Nicene Creed—what’s so abominable about it?

Recall the Nicene Creed, which most Christians know well. This is one of the earliest statements of the Christian faith outside of the Bible. (see, "Upon these Creeds We Stand," in the resource section of this web site, which you may wish to share with the Mormon).

Point out two key things to the Mormon: 1) One of the Mormon church’s official scriptures, the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, teaches that Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith and told him that all Christian creeds:

"were an abomination in his sight; that those professors (meaning Christian believers) 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.’" —Joseph Smith—History 1:19

You might want to ask the Mormon how he or she can be in a church which believes that the creed which they recited all their life, and which has been held to by professing Christians for 1700 years is an abomination in the sight of God—and still be a Christian.

2) Point out specifically that several key points of the Nicene Creed are specifically denied by the Mormon church, to wit: a) "God as Creator of all things"—the Mormon god does not create out of nothing, but simply organized matter already existent. b) "Jesus Christ, His ONLY Son our Lord"—the Mormon Jesus is not the only son of God, but simply the first born of all of us, who are all sons and daughters of God. (see John 1:12 for Bible proof that all are not sons of God, but only believers in Jesus, who are adopted children of God [also Rom.8:15-17]) c) "Jesus...Very God of Very God"—their Jesus is not God, but just A god, even as all Mormons believe they can become God. (see Is.44:6-8, John 1:1, Col.1:15-16) d) "being of one substance with the Father"—their Jesus is a separate and distinct being from the Father, as they deny the Trinity. (see 1 John 5:7, Is.48:12-16) e) "...was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary..."—their Jesus was conceived by a conjugal act between the Father and Mary, even as any man is; and thus they deny the virgin birth, since if Mary had sex with the Father, she obviously could not have been a virgin at Jesus’ birth (See Mt.1:18, Lk.1:35) f) "...the Holy Ghost...who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified..."—Mormons do not believe in praying to, worshipping or glorifying anyone but the Father, even though the Bible clearly shows that Jesus is worshipped (Mt.14:33, Heb.1:6, Rev.5:8-10). Point out these contradictions with the Creed, they are not minor; and it could have a powerful effect!

#82— What is the True Organization of church?

As far as the organization of Jesus Christ’s church is concerned, you need to understand a key point. It is not so much an organization as it is an ORGANISM—a living Body of Believers in Jesus Christ. Paul calls it the "Body of Christ" on numerous occasions. (1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:4, 12-16, 25; 5:30 Colossians 1:24 and elsewhere). Although this notion may be familiar to you, you need to really grasp it and take it seriously.

Jesus is the head of the Body. Nowhere in the New Testament do we find any indication of an earthly head (pope, prophet, president). Yes, the NT church had prophets (plural), pastors, apostles, evangelists and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-13). But none of these people had the kind of absolute authority over all Believers that the Mormons would like you to think.

Peter certainly wasn’t the first "president" of the church or its first "prophet." He never calls himself that in his two epistles, he is never called that by other members of the early church in Acts. In fact, Peter is reprimanded and corrected by Paul (Galatians 2:11-16) and in the first council of the church in Jerusalem, the apostle James is obviously running the show, and Peter’s voice is just one of many.(Acts 15:1-30)

So Jesus and He alone is the head of the true church! This means that this is an organic rather than an administrative or hierarchical unity. Thus, there are true Christians, members of Jesus’ Body, in Baptist churches, in Methodist churches, in Presbyterian churches, in Assemblies of God, in Foursquare churches, Lutheran churches, or whatever. It is not the church you belong to which makes you a Christian, but your relationship with Jesus, its head.

I know this is hard for folks like Mormons and Catholics to understand, since they are so used to thinking of church as being buildings and hierarchical lines of authority. But this is wrong. I get my authority to preach, to baptize, to evangelize direct from Jesus Christ. He is my head—He called me, just as he calls all true ministers of the gospel. This doesn’t mean that all ordained Christian ministers have that call. Some are just hirelings; but most have the call of God on their life; and you can tell by the gospel they preach and by the people who come into the Kingdom because of their ministry.

Let’s take this "Body/organism" idea further. It may help. Just as your body has many organs (lungs, heart, spleen, liver, etc.); so the Body of Christ has many denominations. None are exactly alike, but they all share the same essential beliefs and creeds. But the very variety of their approaches to worship, to ministry and to preaching is a sign of health in the Body! Your body wouldn’t work very well if it was one big liver, with no arms, legs or feet; would it? The same is true of the Body of Christ.

Although your lungs are vastly different from your heart, they are part of you! They both have your genetic make-up, your DNA code. This is how the church is as well. Though all of these churches are different in outward appearance, they are all made up of people who have been transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ into sons and daughters of God.

Therefore, although you should find a good church where the Bible and only the Bible is preached; it doesn’t matter very much beyond that what church you attend. What makes you part of Jesus’ church is that you have been born again through faith in His atoning sacrifice.

#83—Original sin

Mormons deny the universal sinful state of mankind. Listen to former apostle Bruce R. McConkie in MORMON DOCTRINE:

(p.550)In contrast to the doctrines of free agency and personal accountability for sin, modern Christendom has the false doctrine of original sin. Although the scriptures abundantly show "that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam’s transgression,"(Second Article of Faith; ARTICLES OF FAITH, pp.57-73)...the common view is that all men are tainted with sin because of Adam’s fall....One false doctrine begets another.

To say that "there is none righteous" is to teach false doctrine by Mormon standards. The second article of faith teaches the same denial of original sin. Is it wrong too?

Let’s look at this carefully, because this is a central point of difference between Christianity and Mormonism. Look at the verses Paul is quoting there in Romans 3.:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Ps.14:1-3, 53:1-3, Eccl.7:30)

That is absolutely contrary to LDS theology. Read Ps.51:5: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Rom.3:23 says "ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Mormons do not believe that! They do not believe that men and women are born sinners; even though the Bible clearly teaches this.

Because of this, Mormons have no sense of their own sinfulness; and no sense of the enormous depravity of man or—more importantly of the unimaginable holiness of God! They have tried to drag God down to their level and make Him a man; and then thought they could bridge the gap between man and God. How on earth can you say you Mormons are under grace when you have to earn your eternal life?

This is contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible, as well as human experience. Psalm 51:5 has David saying "I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Also Ps.53:3, Pro.20:9, Is.53:6, Is.64:6, Rom.3:23, and 1 John 1:8 all proclaim sin as the universal human experience! Obviously, David in his mother’s womb did not sin; nor was he conceived out of wedlock. Therefore what is taught here is that man emerges from the womb with the taint of Adam’s sin.

Now, is he punished for this? Obviously he is. Rom.6:23 says that "the wages of sin is death" and Ezek.18:4b says that the "soul that sinneth, it shall die." James 1:15 tells us that "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." What could be clearer? If man is not being punished for Adam’s transgression but only for their own sin, then no child would ever die before the age of accountability; because no child can sin until then! So if a baby dies, whose sin is it being punished for?

In some cases, you may wish to say the parents’ sin, but that is cruel and not often true. Many parents who are good Christians and who come from generations of good Christians have infants who die. It is clear from the Bible that babies come into the world with sin and death hanging over them, and there are no scriptures to the contrary!

#84—Are all other churches false (according to Mormonism?)

First of all, let me clear up one important thing! No real Christian church believes that it is the "one true church." That is because such a thing is not scriptural. The Catholics are almost as cultic as the Mormons, and they do say they are the true church—but they are wrong, just as the Mormons are wrong.

The true church is an organism, not an organization! It is the Body of Christ, made up of Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, etc.—all of whom worship the same God and believe the same essential truths. They may differ in minor things, but in the essentials, they are one! They are the Body!

Now, Mormonism denies all the central creeds of Historic Christianity. It says (and this is right out of canonized LDS scripture):

"...that all their [the Christian churches] creeds were an abomination in his [God’s] sight; that their professors [those who belong to the churches] were cor-rupt; that they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach the commandments of men..." Joseph Smith—History 1:19 from the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

Now that sounds pretty bad to me! My church is an abomination to God and I am cor-rupt! So are all other Christians. The word "abomination" means something that stinks in God’s nostrils—it’s about as bad a word as you can use in the Bible; and its what the LDS church officially teaches about our different denominations. It is Mormon doc-trine, however much they want to cover it up.

Even the Book of Mormon teaches it:

"Behold, there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God , and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth."—1 Nephi 14:10.

Now that’s about as authoritative as you can get! Only the Mormon church is true, so therefore all other churches are "great and abominable." Again, there’s no such thing as a "slightly false church." If Mormonism is true, then all other Christian bodies are false. If Christianity is true, then Mormonism is a lie from the pit of hell!

#85—Pascal’s Wager—LDS Style

Blaise Pascal was a Christian mathematician and philosopher who came up with an interesting evangelism tool: "Pascal’s Wager." Here is a version of it for a Mormon/Christian dialog:

Consider what the spiritual "stakes" are in this dialog. If the Christian is in error, and the Mormon right; (and the Christian is devout), then according to LDS theology, the Christian’s fate will be to live in the Terrestrial Kingdom. Late apostle of the LDS Church, Bruce R. McConkie, taught:

To the terrestrial kingdom will go: 1. Accountable persons [ie. over the age of consent] who die without law (and who, of course, do not accept the gospel in the spirit world under those particular circumstances which would make them heirs of the celestial kingdom); 2. Those who reject the gospel in this life and who reverse their course and accept it in the spirit world; 3. Honorable men of the earth who are blinded by the craftiness of men and who therefore do not accept and live the gospel law; and 4. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have testimonies of Christ and the divinity of the great latter-day work and who are not valiant, but who are instead lukewarm in their devotion to the Church and to righteousness.(MORMON DOCTRINE, Bookcraft, 1979, p.784).

Thus, any devout Protestant (or Catholic, Jew or Buddhist for that matter) would certainly come into the terrestrial kingdom under #3 or #1. Thus, their fate would be to live out eternity in a Garden of Eden-type existence with no death, pain or sorrow; but no possibility of eternal increase of seed (what the Mormons call "damnation" {McConkie, p.420.}). Not an unpleasant experience!

To consider the "stakes" on the other side of the fence; if Mormonism is wrong, and historic Christianity is right; then the Mormon who refuses to accept the free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9) through the simple gospel (Galatians 1:8) of the cross of Calvary (1 Corinthians 1:18, Galatians 6:14) and the shed blood of the REAL Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4) is going to hell (John 12:48, John 14:6, Mark 16:16), and will ultimately burn in the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15, 21:8) There are no second chances after death! (Hebrews 9:27, Luke 16:24-31)

Thus, worst case scenario for a Christian who fails to join the LDS Church is spending eternity in an Edenic existence without disease, death or pain. The worst case scenario for a Mormon who rejects the REAL Jesus Christ is to burn in hell for eternity. It is not a gamble I would be willing to take. The Bible says hell is real, and Jesus preached about it more than any other single subject. His warnings should not be ignored, especially when He made it so easy for anyone to escape the torment of hell (Romans 10:9-13)!

#86—What does Pay Lay Ale mean?

The meaning of "Pay Lay Ale" in the temple rites has been an item of considerable speculation and controversy. Of course, the phrase has now been deleted without explanation from the temple endowment (as of April of 1990), so it becomes a bit academic.

Temple Mormons are told that "Pay Lay Ale" is a phrase from the "ancient Adamic language" (ie. the language Adam spoke) which means "O God, hear the words of my mouth." However, when one considers that in the temple drama, the person who answers that cry is Lucifer, we have always felt a closer look was in order.

Understand that Joseph Smith did study some Hebrew during his career as head of the church; and he may have known just enough Hebrew to be dangerous. Former temple Mormons like Ed and Chuck Sackett have pointed out that in Hebrew, the phrase could be translated as "Wonderful (or Marvelous) Lucifer." (See Strong’s Concordance words #6382 and #1966).1 Paylay means wonderful and "El" can mean either a false god, or the true God. Since Lucifer answers the prayer, which is meant can be self-evident.

However, there is considerable evidence that the phrase "Pay Lay Ale" has been changed from an older version. The older version was "Pay Lay Hale Hale," which is perilously close to the Hebrew word for Lucifer "Hay-lale."2 Considering that Joseph Smith’s knowledge of Hebrew was sketchy, it is possible that this was a kind of fractured Hebrew he threw together without a full understanding of the syntax or pronunciation of the language (rather like "deformed" Egyptian characters in the Book of Mormon?).

Some Christian critics of the LDS Church reject this analysis (such as the Tanners). Others, like Ed, the Sacketts, Jim Spencer and yours truly think that since the word "El" can be either a true or a false god; and since temple Mormons believe that they are praying to an extraterrestrial being with a physical body who used to be mortal, it is evident that they are NOT praying to the true, Biblical God. Add to that the fact that even in the temple, Lucifer answers the prayer—what are we left to think? Can the Mormon Lucifer answer prayers addressed to God?

It is a difficult and tangled situation; but perhaps the best proof of the evil nature of the "Pay Lay Ale" cry is the fact that the church mysteriously deleted it, without explanation, after the many questions about it by LDS who read or listened to what I shared above. If it simply meant, "O God, hear the words of my mouth," why remove such a harmless or even noble exclamation? This is a question every thinking Mormon needs to confront.

1 Chuck Sackett, What’s Going on in There? Sword of the Shepherd Ministries, Thousand Oaks, CA., 1982, p.45. 2 Jerald & Sandra Tanner, Mormonism, Magic and Masonry, Utah Lighthouse Ministries, 1983, p.64.

#87—What about the Mormon doctrine of Pre-existence?

About the pre-existence; the quote from Proverbs 8:23-24 does not refer to any human being. Most scholars feel it is a poetic image of "Wisdom" personified. You will notice that the entire chapter deals with wisdom. Notice, that it v.12, it says: "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence..." and then continues in the 1st person all the way through to v.36; so it is highly unlikely that any person is meant. Some scholars feel it is a reference to Jesus in His pre-incarnate state as the Logos; but in any event, it is NOT any mere human being.

About your second question, concerning Romans 8:28-30, you need to understand that God knows all about the future. He knew, from the beginning of creation, which of us would be saved through His Son. This has nothing to do with pre-existence, but only with the sovereign will of an Almighty God.

It is just like me, in writing this sentence; I can have this sentence in my mind and be ready to write it. That doesn’t mean the sentence is already written. It is only a potential in my mind. Similarly, just because God knows in advance if we are going to reach out to Jesus Christ doesn’t mean we already existed way back then.

1 Peter 1:2 deals with much the same problem. Again, God’s foreknowledge about us does not mean we existed any more than an artist’s conception of a painting in his mind means that the painting is already hanging in a gallery. Please, remember that these little analogies don’t begin to touch the awesome majesty of God and His sovereignty, but they do put it in terms we can understand.

Jeremiah 1:5 is precisely the same principle. Half the problem with the Mormons is that they cannot conceive of a God big enough to be able to do what we have described. We just need to humble ourselves before Him and realize that His ways are as far above ours as are the stars of heaven above the earth.

Yes, 1 Corinthians 15:46 is an answer to pre-existence, and so is Genesis 2:7. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. It is a general principle of Bible interpretation that the first time something is done, it becomes the normal way things are done from then on. This is called the hermeneutical principle of the "Law of First Reference." This was how the first man was made, and therefore we can assume that the process is the same within the womb: 1) form the body; 2) bring in the "breath of life"; and 3) become a living soul.

Also, you can use Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Note again, the spirit is formed where...? In the spirit world? NO! Within man! As in, WITHIN THE WOMB! Zechariah just confirms Genesis and Corinthians, and out of the mouths of two or three witnesses shall all things be established! You are also right in that Psalm 139:13 further confirms. There is no human being until it is formed in the womb.

#88— What qualifications do we have to do this work?

First and most importantly, our qualifications is that the Lord God Almighty Who is King of the Universe has called us to do this work. He has set us apart for this ministry, and here I believe that I speak for all the various heads and personnel of our chapters world-wide.

Believe me; we would not be doing this if the hand of God weren’t on our hearts; because it is thankless work, with low pay and long hours. I’m not saying this to make myself look good, because many work much harder than I. It is just that when God calls you to do something, it becomes one of the most important elements in your life—especially when souls of people are at stake.

Beyond this (as if there needed to be more) most of us have spent years immersed in the Word of God, prayerfully "studying to show ourselves approved." that we might rightly divide the Word of truth.(2 Tim.2:15) Some of us have graduate degrees in theology, such as myself. Of course, neither Peter nor John had any education other than sitting at the feet of the Master, and yet, because they were called of God, they were able to bring thousands of precious souls into the Kingdom of God.

As far as whether our beliefs in terms of what the Bible teaches are more to be believed than those who disagree with us (by whom I presume you mean Mormons), all I can say is that we have 4,000 years of of orthodoxy on our side. Although Mormons do not understand this or have not been told this; there has been a consistent belief in the fundamental doctrines of Biblical Christianity in an unbroken line since the days of the apostles.

Certain beliefs, (the absolute oneness of God and His attributes of loving providence, omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence and the absolute truth of the Bible) have been held consistently by believers for 4000 years. Other beliefs, such as the deity of Christ, His unique Godhood, virgin birth, all-sufficient sacrifice on the cross and bodily resurrection have been held uniformly by Christians for almost 2000 years. Check the resource section for "Upon These Creeds We Stand," which deals with this.

The only thing that qualifies us as being "right" is that our "interpretation of the Bible" (if you wish to call it that) is the one that has been uniformly held by Christians of all faiths; as well as Orthodox Jews (in the case of the Hebrew Scriptures) for many centuries and it is that "interpretation" which has transformed the lives of untold millions down through the years. It is the interpretation held by Irenæus, Tertullian, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley and all the way up to the present.

The problem with cultic interpretations of the Bible is that they are based on flawed understandings of the scriptures and are, for the most part, warmed-over heresies from medieval or classical times.

2) We don’t believe that our knowledge of the Bible is "far superior" to those who disagree with us. However, we have two things going for us. First, we have the Holy Spirit, Who will guide and lead us unto all truth. (John 15:26 There is no private interpretation of the scriptures (2 Peter 1:20-21), so therefore we use the Bible to interpret itself. In studying my way out of Mormonism, for example; I consistently found that the proof texts Mormons would use to prove points (such as baptism for the dead or priesthood) would be taken totally out of context and would be unsupported by any other scriptures in the Bible.

I learned quickly that the Bible teaches that "out of the mouths of two or three witnesses all things must be established." (Dt.19:15) and that therefore any doctrine had to be supported by at least several verses which taught it clearly.

Also, God did not intend for the Bible to be understood only by geniuses or men of monumental learning. He intended it for quickening the spirits of all men and women, regardless of education. Therefore, whether or not our knowledge of it is "far superior," we can still read what it says in plain English:

"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."—Eph.2:8-9.

BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved, and your whole household.—Acts 16:31

That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy mouth the Lords Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.—Rom.10:9, 13.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—Jn.3:16

These things have I written unto you which BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God that you may KNOW that ye have eternal life.—1 Jn.5:13

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW, YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE.—Gal.5:4

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by THE HEARING OF FAITH? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT IN THE FLESH?—Gal.3:2-3.

That is one small example. In a year and a half of intense prayer and Bible study, I continually found the Bible (and oddly enough the Book of Mormon) supporting the position of historical Christianity and denying the doctrines of Mormonism—in plain English! English so clear a 10 year old child could understand it!

Sadly, it is not just a question of "superior knowledge," it is a question of spiritual blindness. As Paul warns, "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."—2 Cor.4:3-4. This is a hard teaching, but I have personally stood there and shown a Mormon Dt. 6:4: "Hear O Israel, the LORD Our God, the LORD is one." in plain English and have them deny that the words were written on the page! That is blindness!

We don’t twist and torque the scriptures way out of shape to make our doctrinal points. The Bible says simply and clearly what it means, and its message has changed the lives of untold millions centuries before Joseph Smith dreamed up his disordered fantasies. Thus, you do not have to be a scholar to be a Christian.

The second thing, however, that we have going for us; is that we can turn to the wisdom of the centuries. Great men of God down through the ages have continually been used by Him to keep the light of faith alive. Jesus promised that He would never leave His church (Mt.28:20) and that He himself, through His Holy Spirit, would preserve it from error (Mt.16:18) Since my Lord keeps His promises, we have seen these wise and godly men down through the years being raised up to keep our eyes on the Bible and on Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

To believe Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses is to believe that Jesus somehow dropped the ball and that the church was left in darkness for centuries. That isn’t the Jesus in my Bible! The fact is, the interpretations of the Bible which we hold and teach, have been taught by a succession of mighty men of God down through the centuries.

Certainly, there are minor differences between Christian fellowships over things like what kind of hymns to sing or whether to have wine or grape juice in communion; but on the fundamental creeds, we are all in agreement with the thousands of years of orthodoxy and with the Bible. It is not "What makes us so smart?" but rather that the Holy Spirit has been guiding and directing His church even as the Lord Jesus promised.

Naturally, we believe that God would confirm our beliefs, because all we are doing is following His Word, which is perfect, sure and eternal. He promised that the Bible would not be tampered with (Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17) and history bears out that it has not been tampered with.

I don’t want to have this get any longer, but I truly wanted to answer your questions. If you would like to get into this subject a bit deeper, I would highly recommend EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT by Josh McDowell, which is an entire book devoted to the subject of the validity of the Bible and Christian orthodoxy.

#89—Christian response re: The Ensign, January 1984 article "20 Reasons Why Mormons are Christians."

Up front, we felt that some simple, Biblical approaches to these issues should be made clear. First of all, regarding LDS doctrinal beliefs, we will only quote from books published by the LDS Church, and from established authorities in the Church (ie. prophets or apostles). That should be fair. In terms of the use of scripture, the Bible tells us in Deut. 19:15 that …at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. (see also Matt. 18:16)

We know that Mormons believe in these verses, because they assert that the Book of Mormon is a "second witness" of Jesus. However, what this verse also means is that sound Biblical interpretation (technically called hermeneutics) requires that a doctrine be established by two or more witnesses (separate verses).

This avoids people doing strange things like quoting an isolated verse such as 1Cor. 15:32 "Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die" or Eccl. 3:19 "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity." and making a doctrine out of it. With that in mind, let’s proceed:

Opening statement: "We believe that all men are at their best when they worship their God. We respect their right to believe in whatever is sacred to them, and we ask that they allow us the came courtesy."

The first sentence refers to men worshipping "their God." It must be asked, "Which God is that?" The very term implies that there is more than one God out there. This is what Joseph Smith taught, that there is a plurality of Gods.1 Is this, in fact, what the LDS Church believes?

The Bible clearly teaches that there is only ONE God. See Deut.6:4; 1 Kings 8:60; Isaiah 42:8, 43:10-11, 44:6-8, 45:5-6, 12; 46:5, 9; Mark 12:32; John 17:3; 1Cor. 8:6; Galatians 3:20; Eph. 4:6; Hebrews 6:13; 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 5:7—among other passages. Jesus, Himself, in John 17:3, said And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Now if Jesus is telling the truth here, and we should assume that he is—especially since Joseph Smith did not correct the passage2 in his translation of the Bible—then there is only one true God. This means that, logically, all other "gods" are false. This is borne out by 1Cor. 8:5-6.

This is especially true because even the Book of Mormon teaches that there is not more than one God (Alma 11:26-29) Alma there declares that there is only one God. Surely both Jesus and Alma could not be lying.

The "Testimony of Three Witnesses" also declares that there is only "one God." So does 2 Nephi 31:21, Mosiah 15:4, Alma 11:44 and 3 Nephi 11:27! That is 16 passages from the Bible and 6 passages from the Book of Mormon. Even Doctrine and Covenants 20:28 says that there is only one God! That is 23 total verses! Please find us one verse in the Bible or the Book of Mormon which teaches that there is more than one true God!

We are spending so much time on this point, because we see here the problem of the entire statement. If everyone is worshipping "their God," it stands to reason that all but one of those "Gods" must be false.

Is a witch are her "best" worshipping "her God?" Is a Satanist at his best worshipping his God? How about a Jehovah’s Witness? How about a Baptist? If this statement is true for an LDS person, then why do they send out missionaries? The very fact that the LDS Church sends out missionaries at great personal sacrifice certainly indicates that they believe that their God is better than the other options. Otherwise, it would be a wasted effort.

Can we therefore agree that there is only one, true, and living God? In the light of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, this would seem to be the only sensible alternative. The contrary belief, that there are many true Gods out there, would seem to come under the condemnation of 3 Nephi 11:40—the very same discourse as the teaching by Jesus that there is but one God in verse 27. Verse 40 warns: Whoso shall declare more or less than this [what Jesus has just taught], and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock. We should take that warning to heart, don’t you agree? Now, onto point 1:

Point 1: Jesus Christ is more than just "an important member of the Godhead," according the Bible. He is actually Almighty God Himself! 1Tim. 3:16 declares:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

John 1:1-14 also clearly declares that Jesus is God. (see also John 8:58, 10:30, Colossians 1:15-19, 2:9; 1 John 2:22, 4:1-3; Revelations 1:7-8, 22:13-16) Our understanding is that Mormons do not believe Jesus is Almighty God, but just the Son of God.

The statement that "we [Mormons] have no other gods before us" cannot possibly be true, since Mormons believe in a plurality of Gods. Plural means more than one! Joseph Smith taught that Mormons: …have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you.3

Note that plural. Joseph is teaching that there is more than one God, presumably meaning true Gods, since he says we are to become them. Now it looks to us like either the Ensign is wrong or Joseph Smith is wrong.

Now if the Jesus of Mormonism is NOT the Jesus of the Bible, who is Almighty God come in the flesh; then he is another Jesus.(see 2Cor. 11:4) Thus, the question is not do Mormons believe in Jesus, but do they believe in the correct Jesus?

Naturally, you believe that you do; but your Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer.4 The Bible says Jesus created Lucifer (and everything else)—see John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16. Jesus could not be the Almighty God and be Lucifer’s brother, could he?

The LDS Jesus was begotten by Heavenly Father through relations with Mary.5 The Bible says Jesus was begotten by the Holy Spirit—see Matt.1:18-23, Luke 1:35) These are three substantial differences between the two Jesuses. One must be true, the other false. Which one? This is an important question!

Point 2: Mormons DO seem have an almost idolatrous fascination with Moroni—his prominent place on Mormon temples and on numerous other books, personal jewelry, etc. Also, LDS temples do—as you know—have numerous idolatrous magical symbols, pentagrams, moons, suns, etc. on them. However, we would admit that Mormons do not seem to worship these things. However, if the God and Jesus of Mormonism are wrong, then the LDS Church is idolatrous anyway; because it is worshipping a false god!

As far as the identity of the LDS God, it is obvious that he is: 1) an exalted, resurrected man, in possession of a physical, but glorified body.6 2) evolved from a normal human male.7 3) limited in both power and knowledge.8 4) subject to gods above him.9 5) unable to create something out of nothing.10 On the other hand, the Biblical God: 1) is a Spirit (John 4:24) 2) is not a man, nor the son of a man (Numbers 23:19) 3) is all powerful (Habakkuk 3:6, Matthew 19:26) and all-knowing (Psalm 147:5, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20). 4) says there are no other gods before Himself (Isaiah 43:10, 44:6-8). 5) made the entire universe from nothing (Genesis 1:1-2, Hebrews 11:3). Thus we see that these are very different gods. Again, one must be true—the other false, but which one?

Point 3: No real problem here. Mormons do reverence the Lord’s name. Of course, so do Jehovah’s Witnesses. Does that make them the true church? Our understanding is, though, that Mormons, up until April of 1990 had to swear oaths in their temple endowment four times, contrary to the teachings of Jesus in Matt.5:34-37 and in James 5:12.

Point 4: Yes, Mormons keep Sunday holy. However, according to the Bible, the Sabbath is Saturday! (Exodus 31:15) This truth is reflected historically down through the age. Jews, to this very day, venerate the Sabbath on Saturday. The Spanish word for Saturday is Sabado, meaning "Sabbath." Nice idea, but you have the wrong day.

Additionally, nowhere in the Bible are Christians required to keep the Sabbath. The apostle Paul, in Colossians 2:16 makes it clear that no one is to be judged by whether or not they keep the Sabbath.

Point 5: Yes, Mormons are family-oriented; and that is good. However, please show us the Bible verse (or the Book of Mormon verse) where we are told to keep track of genealogies. On the contrary, the Bible tells Christians to avoid and not pay attention to genealogies (1Tim. 1:4; Titus 3:9). Also, Jesus, who ought to know, teaches that there is no marriage in heaven (Luke 20:34, Mark 12:25). How can "eternal marriage" be a Christian principle if Jesus said it didn’t exist?

Point 6: No real problem here, although the same statements could be made of many cult groups and non-Christian religions. The Bible teaches that we are not made Christians by what we do or abstain from doing, but rather by trusting solely in Jesus Christ and His shed blood on Calvary. (see John 6:29, Rom. 3:27, Rom. 4:2-6, Rom. 9:11,32, Rom. 11:6, Gal. 2:16, Gal. 3:2 Eph. 2:8-9, 2Tim. 1:9, Titus 3:5, Hebr. 6:1, Hebr. 9:14)

Otherwise, many Muslims, Unification church members, and even atheists, would be Christians, just because they led moral lives.

Point 7: See Point 6 above; same comments apply.

Point 8: See Point 6 above; same comments apply.

Point 9: See Point 6 above; same comments apply.

Point 10: See Point 6 above; same comments apply.

Point 11: From this, it is clear Mormons deny the doctrine of original sin. This is contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible (Ps. 51:5, Romans 3:10, Eccl.9:3). What the point fails to mention in its citation of Revelations 20:12 is that clear context of the passage reveals that the judgment spoken of there is the judgment of the damned. If Mormons wish to be among the damned that is certainly their free choice; however, it does not make them Christian!

Concerning the quote of Matt.7:21, it is vital to note that elsewhere Jesus explains that doing the will of His Father is to believe in Jesus—the REAL Jesus! (John 6:29).

Point 12: Clearly teaches salvation by works. The Bible teaches salvation by grace, NOT by works! (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:13, Acts 16:31, etc. See point 6 for more verses)

Point 13: Faith in the wrong Jesus cannot possibly save you. Thus, all this begs the questions. The LDS Church still has not scripturally demonstrated that it teaches the Jesus of the Bible. See Point 1 for more. You can have faith, be repentant, be baptized and even receive a "Holy Ghost," but if it is the wrong Jesus; you are still not a Christian.

Point 14: A lay ministry is good, but the Bible teaches that there is also a paid class of ministers (see 1 Cor.9:7-9, 13-14; 2 Tim.2:4-6, Mt.10:10, Luke 10:7, 1 Tim.5:18). Additionally, how do we know, objectively, that LDS priesthood is really "called of God." If their God is not Biblical, and their Jesus is not Biblical, then it would seem unlikely that that their priesthood is called of the REAL Biblical God. This entire point rests on proving whether or not Mormonism teaches the God of the Bible. As we have shown, it does not. (See Point 2)

Point 15: Begs the question, see Point 14. Additionally, we would like for you to show us any Biblical verse in the New Testament in which there is a Christian priest or high priest (other than Jesus, of course). Hebrew 7:24 clearly shows that Jesus’ priesthood will never be transferred to another. Also, please show us anywhere in the New Testament where there are 12-year-old deacons (on the contrary, read 1 Timothy 3:8), stake presidents, branch presidents, stake high counselors, patriarches or a "First Presidency." We could not find any of those; yet they are prominent features of your Church’s hierarchy.

Again, a church can have all the right terms and officers (even if yours did), but if it worshipping the wrong God or using another gospel (Galatians 1:8), it is still "accursed," according to Paul.

Point 16: Begs the question, see Point 14. Also, we have people who speak in tongues all the time in our church. Have you ever heard a Mormon speak in tongues? We have people healed quite frequently in our church. Have you ever seen a Mormon miraculously healed? If all these "gifts" were really operating, wouldn’t these things be happening more often?

Point 17: Contrary to Mormon thought, the Bible declares of itself that it cannot be changed or tampered with (Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17). Thus, it manifestedly IS translated correctly; or else Jesus Christ is a liar (see especially Matthew 5:18).

Also, concerning the Book of Mormon, we have studied it and found hundreds of errors in it, between the original edition and the current one; in addition to many scientific and historical errors not found in the Bible. We would be delighted to share some of this information with you if you would like. As we have seen, though little in the Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible; a LOT in the other "Standard Works" of the church does contradict the Bible. It is very confusing. Why not just stick to the Bible, since we have Jesus’ promise that it is perfect?

Point 18: No real problem here, except for the fact that the prophets of the LDS Church contradict the Bible and each other. We would be happy to show you the many places where this is the case. Additionally, Joseph Smith; the founding prophet of the Church made at least 54 false prophecies out of about 61 total prophecies in his life. That is about an 88% failure rate and makes him a seriously false prophet according to the Bible (Deuteronomy 13:1-3, 18:20-22)—one to whom we should pay no attention, according to the Lord.

We would be happy to share with you a list of these prophecies at any time.

Point 19: No problem, other than what if the Jesus whose coming you expect is the wrong Jesus? This question deserves an answer.

Point 20: See Point 6 above; same comments apply. Please understand. No one denies that Mormons are good people. They are wonderful, sincere people. But they can be sincere, and still be wrong. Jehovah’s Witnesses are also sincere. So are Buddhists, Muslims, etc. Yet they all cannot be right at the same time! If Mormonism is right, then historic Christianity is wrong; but if Mormonism is wrong, then you are in serious spiritual peril.

1 Bruce R. McConkie, MORMON DOCTRINE, p.576. 2 HOLY BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION, published by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p.1357, notes. 3 Joseph Fielding Smith, compiler, TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, p.346 4 Milton R. Hunter, THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES, p.15 5 Joseph Fielding Smith, DOCTRINES OF SALVATION, vol.1, p.18, McConkie, MORMON DOCTRINE, p.742-743, 546. 6 Doctrine & Covenants 130:22 and ACHIEVING CELESTIAL MARRIAGE manual, CDFR 60/61, p.129. 7 TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH,, p.345. 8 James E. Talmage, ARTICLES OF FAITH, p.43 and McConkie, MORMON DOCTRINE, p.239, 545. 9 W. Cleon Skousen, THE FIRST 2,000 YEARS, p.355. 10 TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, p.350-352

#90— B.H. Roberts’ Unanswered Questions

The premier Mormon scholar of the last generation, Brigham H. Roberts, found five questions about the Book of Mormon he could not find satisfactory answers to: 1. Why, if the Indians were all descendants of Lehi, was there such a diversity in their language and why is there no indications of Hebrew in any of their languages? 2. The Book of Mormon says that Lehi found horses in America. The horse as described in the Book of Mormon did not exist in America and had to be imported by the Spanish conquistadors. 3. Nephi wrote that he had a "BOW OF STEEL." The Jews had no steel then, and there was no iron smelted on this continent until the Spaniards arrived. 4. The Book of Mormon mentions "Cimeters." Cimeters are a type of sword used by Muslim warriors, and were unknown until after the time of Muhammed (c.500 AD) 5. The Book of Mormon says the Nephites possessed silk. Silk did not exist in American before Columbus.

Those are the problems Roberts admitted to! Believe me, there are many others. (See B. H. Roberts, STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF MORMON, also in the resource section of this website, "The Massive Mormon Scripture Mess.")

Even the Smithsonian Institution has had to put out a letter disclaiming the existence of any archaeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon. But the LDS missionaries just keep showing their cute little slides of all those old Aztec and Mayan ruins (which are much newer than the times of the Book of Mormon) and claiming that these temples prove the Book of Mormon to be true. Talk about deception!

#91—Are Mormons saved?

In the 1947 Mormon Sunday School manual, James Talmage wrote, "Salvation is graded. Thus, it is decreed and provided that every soul shall find his place and mingle with his kind in a state of lesser, advanced, or supreme salvation" (from THE GOSPEL MESSAGE by William Berrett, p. 18) In the Improvement Era, the official magazine of the LDS Church for many years, it is taught that "salvation, however, is based on merit..."(Nov.1965, p.962)

In the 1931 Gospel Doctrine Sunday School Lessons booklet, it says: "Quite different from most Christian denominations, Latter-day Saints cannot at any time during their lives boast that they have been saved. Salvation comes not from a mere compliance with Church rituals. A confession of Jesus will not bring it." (p.107) This is a far cry from today, when Mormons are instructed to tell evangelical Christians that they ARE saved. Deception?

ANSWERS TO "GOD MAKERS" OBJECTIONS #92— Gilbert Scharffs

As far as the book, THE TRUTH ABOUT "THE GOD MAKERS" by Gilbert Scharffs, I have read it; and it is kind of a SAD joke! It would only convince a Mormon "true-believer" or else someone utterly ignorant of orthodox theology. Many Mormons are both. Ed never felt the book even deserved a reply, but a brother from Watchman Fellowship, Tom Forehand, has written a short reply to it called "Who is Gilbert Scharffs?"

Finally, after a couple of years, Ed decided to write a brief response which can be found in the resource section of this web site. It is called "The Truth about ‘The Truth about the GOD MAKERS.’"

We find it interesting that the original edition of THE GOD MAKERS sold for $7.00. The "unofficial" Mormon response (there has never been an "official" response) to it costs around $17.00, the last time I looked. Now Ed’s response is free And they say we are in it for the money??

# 93—Reductio ad Absurdum

If I went to a Latter-day Saint and told him that I was a Mormon; but believed that Joseph Smith was a woman who lived in Los Angeles in the 1920’s and who got golden phonograph records from an angel who told him that all men and women started out as gods and are now devolving down into amoebas through the sacred process of celestial celibacy; the Mormon would have every right to be furious. He could say that I couldn’t possibly be a Mormon because Mormons don’t believe anything like that! He would be right!

The thing is, the beliefs Mormons do hold are just as bizarre in the light of the Bible. Historic Christianity believes almost nothing that the LDS church teaches, and yet the Mormons run around saying that they are Christians—in fact, that they are the "true" Christians. This is nonsense. I know, I used to be a Mormon!

If Mormons can determine was does or does not constitute a "true" Mormon; why can’t they let Christians determine what does or not constitute true Christianity? This is our problem with them. They are dear people, but they are lost because they are trusting in a false "Jesus." No other faith goes around pretending to be Christian. Jews or Muslims don’t go door to door saying they are a Christian—why do the Mormons?

# 94—Did Joseph Smith ever boast?

Here is one of the few prophecies Joseph Smith actually got right! In D&C 3 (1828), we find this in verse 4:

For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

Now bear that prophecy in mind, as we move ahead several years to 1844. In May of that year, Smith proclaimed this:1

I have more to boast of than any man ever had. I am the only man that has ever 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.

If that isn’t a boast, I don’t know the meaning of the term. Obviously, God agreed, for just 30 days from making that boast, on June 27, 1844; Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob in Carthage jail.2

1 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, Deseret Press, Salt Lake City, UT, 6:408-409. 2 ibid., p.618.

#95—Do Mormons teach that Joseph Smith was descended from Jesus?

If Joseph Smith isn’t descended from Christ, then what on earth does Doctrine & Covenants 113, vs.1-6 mean? (and that is part of the "standard works" of the church!) It says:

Who is the stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah? Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ. What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the stem of Jesse? Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom is laid much power. What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter? Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendent of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.

Now ask the missionaries unto which descendent of Joseph does the priesthood and the keys of the kingdom rightly belong. Of course they believe it is Joseph Smith. Since the language of Isaiah makes it clear that we are discussing descendants of Jesse and one (Joseph Smith) descended from Christ as a descendent of Jesse; we see that Joseph believed and taught that he was descended from Christ—and also blessed several of his close associates and told them that they were as well.

#96——Was Joseph Smith a Mason?

Right in the official HISTORY OF THE CHURCH vol.4, p.551-552, Joseph Smith writes that "In the evening I received the first degree in Free Masonry in the Nauvoo Lodge..."(March 15, 1842) and on the next page he writes that "Wednesday, March 16—I was in the Masonic lodge and rose to the sublime degree.[Master Mason]"

Now, Freemasonry is a religion. Why did Joseph Smith join a competing religion to the LDS church when he was the prophet of the church? Especially when Joseph claimed that

"I was commanded to join none of them [religions], for they were all wrong; and the Personage that 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."1

That means by joining the Masonic lodge, Smith broke God’s commandments! This is not even to address the issue of the many exact resemblances between the temple endowment rite (which came after his Masonic initiation2) and Masonic ritual.3

1 Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History 1:19. 2 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH vol.5, pp.1-2 3 William Schnoebelen & James R. Spencer, MORMONISM’S TEMPLE OF DOOM, Triple J, 1987, p.36-43.

#97— What is Glasslooking?

"Glass-looking" is an old-fashioned American term for the magical practice of scrying or crystal gazing. I’m certain you have seen pictures of witches or gypsies staring into crystal balls.1 Since actual crystal balls used to be rather expensive and hard to come by, often in rural 19th century America a substitute was found. Some folk used a mirror painted black (mirrors used to be called "glasses" or "looking glasses")

Others used small bowls or cups filled with water with a little ink to darken it; and still others put lampblack on the outside of watch glasses (crystals). Joseph Smith seems primarily to have used some sort of smooth, egg-shaped stone as a "seer-stone," but the concept is the same; and it is still generically referred to as glass-looking.

One of Joseph Smith’s "right-hand" people, David Whitmer, reported that he also allegedly translated the Book of Mormon using his rock or crystal ball, placing it in his hat and then putting his face in the hat and gazing into the hat. Supposedly the stone would glow and the words for translating the gold plates would appear therein and Joseph would then dictate them to a scribe.2 This was borne out also by Joseph’s wife, Emma, who was, of course, present during the entire process.3

As far as a copy of the record of Joseph Smith’s trial for glass-looking, I am enclosing a photocopy of the document from the Tanners’ book, MORMONISM: SHADOW OR REALITY? Unfortunately, it is difficult to decipher because of the way folks wrote in those days.

1 Stewart Farrar, WHAT WITCHES DO, Phoenix Pub., 1983, pp.94-96, 183. 2 David Whitmer, AN ADDRESS TO ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, p.12. 3 The Saints’ Herald, May 19, 1888, p. 310.

#98—Was Joseph Smith a Prophet?

The Mormons, of course, will tell you that you can tell that Joseph Smith is a true prophet by reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it. The Bible says no such thing. The Bible gives explicit instructions on how to tell a true prophet, and praying about it is not mentioned.

A response to prayer can be very subjective. Mormons talk about a "burning in the bosom." The trouble with subjective, inner feelings; is that they can be deceptive. The Bible tells us that "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it."—Jeremiah 17:9; and it also says "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof is death."—Proverbs 14:12. How can we trust our feelings, then?

This fact is proved today by the fact that there are many religions with millions of members—all of whom FEEL they are in the right religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses have assuredly prayed about it, and FEEL that their church is right. How can the Mormons argue with that, when all they are going on is a feeling? This is why the Bible gives CONCRETE, SOLID ways to tell which is the true prophet.

The Bible says that there are two tests of a prophet. One is in Deuteronomy 13:1-2. In reading the passage, it is clear that it says that even though a prophet’s predictions come to pass; that is not enough. If the prophet tells you to follow another god than the one of the Bible, that prophet is false!(vs.2-3)

Now, the question becomes: Did Joseph Smith teach men to follow a god other than the one in the Bible? As far as the identity of the Mormon god, it is obvious that their god is: 1) an exalted, resurrected man, in possession of a physical, but glorified body. 2) evolved from a normal human male. 3) limited in both power and knowledge. 4) subject to gods above him. 5) unable to create something out of nothing.

Most Mormon missionaries will admit to most of these doctrines, but they can all be found in standard writings of LDS prophets.

On the other hand, the Biblical God: 1) is a Spirit (John 4:24) 2) is not a man, nor the son of a man (Numbers 23:19) 3) is all powerful (Habakkuk 3:6, Matthew 19:26) and all-knowing (Psalm 147:5, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20). 4) says there are no other gods before Himself (Isaiah 43:10, 44:6-8). 5) made the entire universe from nothing (Genesis 1:1-2, Hebrews 11:3).

It is evident that in these five KEY areas, the Mormon god and the God of the Bible are exact opposites, so they could not possibly be the same Being.

This means that Joseph Smith preached a false god, and that makes him a false prophet! It is that simple. However, there is a second test; given in Deuteronomy 18:20-22. Here it reads in v.21-22:

...How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When the prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

In verse 20, it even says that such a prophet must die! Now we must ask, did Smith make any false prophecies?

Only one is necessary. We aren’t talking about psychics in the NATIONAL ENQUIRER here. This is a man who claims to be a spokesman for Almighty God. It only takes ONE false prophecy to make a false prophet, just as it only takes one murder to make a man a murderer. Fortunately for us, Joseph Smith made literally DOZENS of false prophecies!

We have recorded 54 false prophecies of Joseph Smith, but we only need to deal with one here.1 An easy one for Mormons to check out is in DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, 84:3, 5, 31. Here Smith prophesied in 1832 that temple (house of the Lord) would be built in Independence, Missouri during THAT generation. After 155 years, there is still no temple in Independence; and Bible scholars agree that a generation is never more than 70 years!

It is evident from Mormon speeches in the 19th century, that they believed this would happen; and were genuinely bewildered when the 20th century came and there was not even a SIGN of the temple being built. By the standards of Deuteronomy 13 and 18, that makes Joseph Smith a false prophet. 1 See "…And it Didn’t Come to Pass" from Saints Alive in Jesus.

# 99—Was Joseph Smith a Money Digger?

When the movie, THE GOD MAKERS, portrayed Joseph Smith as a treasure seeker or a "teller of tall tales"; was that an unfair or unhistorical characterization? Well, first and most important, we have the legal fact that Joseph Smith (the "glass looker") was convicted of being a "disorderly person and an imposter" on March 20, 1826. The complaint against Smith accused him of having a certain stone which he had occasionally looked at to determine where hidden treasures in the bowels of the earth were; that he professed to tell in this manner where gold mines were a distance underground, and had looked for Mr. Stowell several times and informed him where he could find these treasures, and Mr. Stowell had been engaged in digging for them...1

This report has been borne out in 1971 by the discovery by Wesley Walters of the actual bill for the trial of Smith.2

For more on this element, (and there is a great deal more) I would recommend getting Mormon D. Michael Quinn’s EARLY MORMONISM AND THE MAGIC WORLD VIEW3 reviewed extensively in our "We Thank Thee, O god for a Warlock" JOURNAL.4 This should appear under that name in the resource section of the web site soon.

As for his tall tales, Smith’s own mother, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote that he liked to tell tall tales in the now-censored (by the LDS church) account of her son’s life that she wrote.5 If you can’t believe his mother, whom can you believe? 1 FRASER’S MAGAZINE, 1873. 2 Sworn affidavit by Rev. Wesley P. Walters, October 28, 1971; see also Leonard Arrington & David Britton, THE MORMON EXPERIENCE, pp.10-11. 3 from the LDS publishers, Signature Books, 1987. 4 Available from Saints Alive in Jesus 5 HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH BY HIS MOTHER, Lucy Mack Smith, Salt Lake City, 1945,

# 100—Is Joseph Smith to be our judge?

This is clearly LDS doctrine. How many different authorities do we have to quote? Brigham Young taught that:

...no man or women in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the priesthood was taken from the earth to winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith as a passport to their entrance into the mansion above where God and Christ are—I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent.1

LDS "prophet" Joseph Fielding Smith taught:

[There is] no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith...No man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God.2

There you have it; the Mormons believe that Joseph will have the say-so on who makes it into the celestial kingdom and who does not. Right out of the mouths of church leaders! Even today, in the official Melchizedek Priesthood Manual, we are told:

If we get out salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter into our glory, it will be through the authority that he has received. We cannot get around him.3

1 Journal of Discourses, v.7, p.289. 2 Joseph Fielding Smith, DOCTRINES OF SALVATION, v.1, p.189-90. 3 1984 Melchizedek Priesthood Manual, pp.126-132,

# 101— Are we too hard on Joseph Smith?

We appreciate your interest and concern about various items in THE GOD MAKERS. Although you raise important questions, I think part of your inquiries can be answered from the standpoint of a better understanding of the LDS history.

For example, regarding Joseph Smith and Brigham Young’s statements being applied today. You need to understand that to a Mormon, these men are more than just spiritual leaders like Billy Graham. These men are "prophets of God." Therefore, what they said or did must be measured by the Biblical standard of prophets and divine revelation. Dr. Graham does not claim to actually speak for God, Joseph Smith did!

The premise that we feel we must follow in this kind of apologetic can be placed in syllogistic form quite easily: A. God does not change (Malachi 3:6) B. A prophet who claims to speak for God cannot change the divine message. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4) C. Joseph and Brigham changed their messages (or the church leaders who succeeded them did), therefore—they cannot be prophets of God.

Now, a second syllogism is this: A. God does not change. B. All revelation comes from God (2 Timothy 3:16) C. Therefore, all revelation must be judged by earlier revelation.

A third syllogism which is related to this apologetic is: A. God has set very high standards for his prophets. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3, 18:20-22) B. Neither Joseph nor Brigham came close to meeting those standards (lying, adultery, false prophecies, false doctrine, murder) C. Therefore, neither Joseph nor Brigham can be true prophets.

It is on the basis of these 3 syllogisms (simply put) that we pursue the line of reasoning we do. Now, you say that by the same standards, the curses and slaughters of the Old Testament could be applied to Christianity today. Dispensationalists, and they come in varying degrees; believe that the dispensation of law is somewhat different than the dispensation of grace under which we live today. However, people are nevertheless saved by the same divine plan in all dispensations—by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

However, there are ancillary elements of the divine plan which have been modified very slightly under the dispensation of grace. This modification is not as great as one might think. Thus, the curses of the Old Testament law are still in effect; unless one is under the blood of Jesus. This should be self-evident. Even Christians who are bought by the blood can come under the curses of the law through sin. (1 Cor.11:27-30)

Although Jesus commands us to pray for our enemies, rather than cursing them; in so doing, He simply gave us a higher standard of the law. Although the Psaltery does contain what are called "Imprecatory Psalms" or cursing psalms; these are expressions of divine anger and judgment. I do not feel that we have to apologize or be embarrassed by them. Nor do I see any resemblance between them and quotations by LDS leaders.

None of the Imprecatory Psalms are boastful or arrogant; they are heartfelt cries out of despair to a just God. They don’t "command" God to do anything; they plead with Him as a hurt child might plead with his parents for justice after he has been beaten by the neighborhood bully. They might not be pretty reading; but they are righteous expressions of Godly anger at evil.

Of course you are right, in that Jesus’ own words can often be used out of context to establish slightly off-center doctrines. Christianity does often bring a sword, rather than peace—but it is because of the encounter between the forces of Satan and of God which the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings about. Why else are we given "the Sword of the Spirit" (Eph.6:17) if not to do battle? Obviously, Christianity does divide families; especially when one member gets saved in an otherwise "religious" family. Jesus’ instructions to the rich young man cannot in context, be made to apply to all believers. The Lord just perceived that riches were that fellow’s particular stumbling block, in spite of all of his good deeds.

Yes, many denominations have had less than worthy beginnings; and yes, many evils were tolerated by them. However, note the above syllogisms. None of the leaders of the Reformation, not Henry VIII; nor Calvin, nor Roger Williams claimed to be prophets of God. None of them claimed to have divine fiat for everything they said. The LDS leaders did and do.

That was their unique "claim to fame." Joseph Smith stood up in the area of upper New York state in the midst of much religious enthusiasm and controversy and claimed to have a brand new Word from God which would settle all discussions.

All the great Protestant leaders acknowledged they were sinners saved by grace. They knew they were imperfect and that their churches were imperfect attempts to follow the New Testament. The LDS leaders claimed to have a direct pipeline to God which would set aside 1800 years of Christendom. That is a big difference.

Christians should not look to leaders for their perfection (as we have recently learned); we should look to Jesus alone; proclaiming Jesus alone. The Mormons, on the other hand, uphold their leaders and themselves (to a lesser extent) as their best advertisement. I was in the LDS church, I know how these people think! Christianity stands or falls on the character of Jesus—not on the strengths or flaws of Calvin or Luther. Mormonism, on the other hand, literally demands that we test and measure it, not on the basis of Jesus; but on the basis of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

Therefore, if Joseph fails the Biblical test of a prophet (either through morals or through one failed prophecy); then Mormonism fails. This is why not only Ed and Dave, but every author and minister to Mormons that I know all concentrate a considerable amount of their "fire" upon the demonstrably scandalous character of Smith. He is the lynchpin upon which Mormonism stands or falls.

"Questionable antecedents, wrong beliefs, and practices" don’t prevent a person from being transformed and used by God. Amen! However, if those beliefs and practices remain after the alleged regenerative experience (which most LDS believe to be the First Vision in Smith’s case) then we have to begin to question the fruits we are seeing.

When deep sin (like perjury, adultery, and murder) is being called "commandments of God" and practiced years after the supposed regeneration, one must question the genuineness of the conversion, Amen? I mean, if your pastor continued to break the commandments of God; then started telling the ladies in your church that God had told him by revelation that they were supposed to sleep with him even though they were married to their own husbands, wouldn’t you start looking for another church? That’s all we’re asking of the Mormons.

You see, these aren’t just little sins which Joseph et.al., committed in their wild and misspent youth; these are practices which were going on; and indeed getting worse, right up to the time Smith was jailed and murdered; and carried on after his death! Let me tell you from my personal experience: I had just gotten saved, as a Mormon; and was praying and seeking God as to whether or not I could remain in the LDS church.

God led me, eventually, to a bookstore where I found and bought THE GOD MAKERS. I stayed up all night reading it; and when I found the phrases you object to, like "wanton adulterer," I got mad! I got mad enough to go and check in my own library (I was a professional teacher in the church) and found out the authors had their facts right. Right then and there, I decided the church was a lie!

Now obviously, every Mormon will not react that way; but we get literally thousands of letters a year from Mormons who have read the book and are now in the Kingdom of God! There are "gentler" books out there as well for Mormons; but I, for one, think the book tells it like it is and is great! I’m sorry you disagree.

# 102— LDS Social Tragedy

A major selling point of Mormonism in this day and age is its "happy families." Unfortunately, this is a tragic lie. With its large families and heavy emphasis on utter perfection (law over grace), Mormonism has created a breeding ground for child abuse and also "legal" drug abuse among LDS women. Something like 70% of the women in Utah are on Valium, and many of the poor ladies are cracking under what psychologists are calling the "Mormon Mommie complex" and their children are suffering. (See UTAH HOLIDAY, July 1980, pp.32-44, July and August 1983, "Sexual Politics" series, and Sept. 1987, pp.28-32, 72-76; SUNSTONE REVIEW, vol.2, no.10, Oct. 1982, p. 5; DENVER POST, Sunday supplement reprint, Nov.21-28, 1982; and LA TIMES, June 26, 1983 part.1, p.25 for the tip of the iceberg! )

# 103— LDS Temples (in order of completion) as of 1990:

1. Kirtland, OH. —1836 (no longer owned by LDS Church) 2. Nauvoo, IL.—1846 (destroyed by mob) 3. St. George, UT.—1877 4. Logan, UT.—1884 5. Manti, UT.—1888 6. Salt Lake City, UT.—1893 7. Laie, HI.—1919 8. Cardston, Alberta, Canada—1923 9. Mesa, AZ.—1927 10. Idaho Falls, ID.—1945 11. Zollikofen (near Bern), Switzerland—1955 12. Los Angeles, CA.—1956 13. Hamilton, New Zealand—1958 14. Newchapel, Surrey, UK—1958 15. Oakland, CA.—1964 16. Ogden, UT.—1972 17. Provo, UT.—1972 18. Kensington, MD (near Washington DC)—1974 19. Sao Paolo, Brazil—1978 20. Tokyo, Japan—1980 21. Bellevue, WA.—1980 22. South Jordan, UT.—1981 23. Atlanta, GA.—1983 24. Apia, Samoa—1983 25. Nuku’alofa, Tonga—1983 26. Santiago, Chile,—1983 27. Papeete, Tahiti—1983 28. Mexico City, Mexico—1983 29. Boise, ID.—1984 30. Sydney, Australia—1984 31. Manila, Philippines—1984 32. Dallas, TX.—1984 33. Taipei, Taiwan—1984 34. Guatemala City, Guatemala—1984 35. Freiberg, DDR—1985 36. Stockholm, Sweden—1985 37. Glenview, IL.—1985 38. Johannesburg, South Africa—1985 39. Seoul, Korea—1985 40. Lima, Peru—1986 41. Buenos Aires, Argentina—1986 42. Denver, CO.—1986 43. Frankfurt, Germany—1987 44. Las Vegas, NV—1989 45. Portland, OR.—1989 46. Toronto, Ontario, Canada—1990

# 104— Terminology Differences

They say they are "born again," yet their recently deceased apostle Bruce R. McConkie told them just a few years ago in 1982 that to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus was a "dangerous gospel hobby."

They say they are "saved" but they don’t tell you that to them the word means that they will be raised from the dead. They don’t tell you that they are trusting in their own works and worthiness to attain eternal life, and that NONE of them know if they are going to have eternal life or not.

They say they believe in Jesus Christ, but they don’t tell you that their "Jesus" is the spirit-brother of Lucifer and that he was conceived in the flesh by their god having incestuous relations with his spirit daughter, Mary!

They say they believe in "God the eternal Father", but their eternal "god" was once a man, so therefore he could not be eternally god! WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY, 1964 edition, p.498 defines "eternal" thus: 1. without beginning or end; existing through all time, everlasting. 2. timeless. 3. forever the same, always true or valid; unchangeable.

Now obviously, if their god ever was not god, then he could not be eternal. The dictionary definition coincides with the Bible: "from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."—Ps.90:2(also Dt.33:27, Rom.1:20, 1 Tim.1:17, Heb.9:14). That’s pretty clear, and no amount of talk can change the fact that if their god has ever changed, he cannot be the God of the Bible.

# 105— Bill Schnoebelen’s Testimony

I was a on-fire Latter-day Saint! I was an elders’ quorum president and an Institute teacher and went to the temple often! I did my home teaching and bore my testimony every chance I got, because I honestly thought I was in the Lord’s true Church!

I dearly loved the LDS Church, but the more I followed my stake president’s advice and read the scriptures, the more I began to see that the men who wrote the Bible couldn’t possibly agree with Mormon doctrine! I just read the Bible, primarily because I’d been called upon to teach an Institute course in the New Testament. Then I compared it to the Book of Mormon and realized that the Book of Mormon denounced virtually every distinctive doctrine of Mormonism as false! That really bothered me, and I returned to the Bible.

When I read John’s gospel I was disturbed. When I read Romans and Galatians I was positively trembling. I realized that something was profoundly wrong with my life, in spite of all my attempts to be a good "saint." I realized that the God of the Bible couldn’t be the LDS "Heavenly Father." I realized that the Jesus of the Bible couldn’t be the Jesus of Mormonism. I was stunned to discover that Paul warns us of "another Jesus" than the one he preached.(2 Corinthians 11:4)

I was even more daunted to read Paul’s definition of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-10 and find that it said nothing about temples or priesthoods or genealogies or eternal marriage—and THEN to proceed and read Galatians 1:8

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.

I realized then that there were serious problems between the Bible and LDS doctrine. I began praying and fasting and talking with the priesthood leaders. They had no answers for my questions. Finally, I decided to trust in Jesus and stood on His promise in Romans 10:9-10,

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

As soon as I made that confession and cast aside all the other things I was trusting in, and just let Jesus do it, I felt a tremendous peace like I had never felt before. You can’t imagine how empty you are, until God fills you with His Spirit.

But it wasn’t just emotions, what I was experiencing made sense according to the Bible. I realized that if I just went on emotions, I could be deceived; and I also realized that my entire experience in the Mormon church had been based on emotions, not solid Biblical facts! Since that time in 1984, I’ve had opportunities to share Jesus with dozens of Mormons of all kinds, and with all of them, they fail to give scriptural answers for their beliefs, but depend on their "burning bosoms."

They "know" the Church is true! The trouble is, the Jehovah’s Witnesses know that their church is true also. So do the Hare Krishnas and the Moonies! I also know that my relationship with Jesus Christ is true. Obviously we cannot all be right. Why should I believe you instead of a Moonie?

More importantly, why shouldn’t YOU believe me? I’ve been where you are. I’ve held the priesthood, been through the temple, etc., etc. You’ve never tried the real Jesus! It’s not entirely your fault, because you’ve been spoon-fed what your leaders want you to know. Well, I’m telling you what Jesus Christ wants you to know!

# 106— What about the Third Heaven?

As to your question, the term "third heaven" in 2 Corinthians 12:2 needs to be read in the context of the Hebrew understanding of the heavens. Paul, being a learned Pharisee by training, was referring to the common idea of his day among the Jews (which is certainly not incorrect in its essentials) that there were three layers of the heavens. You must understand that the Greek word there, ouranos, (ouranos) can mean either astronomical heavens or heaven as the spiritual abode of God and the saints. (See VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, pp.548-49). Thus, the three heavens were, from lowest to highest: 1) the "dome" of the sky and clouds; 2) the larger "dome" of the stars; 3) God’s throne, beyond the "dome" of the stars.

Thus, the "third heaven" meant that Paul was caught up to the throne of God, far beyond the stars and clouds. Obviously, neither the clouds nor the stars can be "kingdoms" where souls dwell.

#107— Are Mormons tolerant?

Although Mormons claim to be among the most tolerant of religionists,1 some very bigoted remarks have been made by Mormon prophets and apostles against orthodox Christianity.

Official LDS scripture2 says that all Christian creeds are an "abomination" in the sight of God and that Christian "professors were all corrupt; that ‘they draw near to me (God) 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."

Not too nice. LDS Prophet John Taylor said that Christianity "is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the 19th century."3 Apostle Orson Pratt said that "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the whore of Babylon."4 Additionally, every day in the Mormon temples up until April of 1991, Protestant ministers were portrayed as lackeys of Lucifer, paid by him to preach "false doctrine" (which is actually orthodox Christianity).5 Is such hatemongering "allowing all men the same privilege" of worship?

1 Pearl of Great Price, "The Articles of Faith" §11. 2 ibid., Joseph Smith—History 1:19 3 Journal of Discourses, v.6, p.167 4 Orson Pratt, THE SEER, p.255. 5 Chuck Sackett, WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE? 1982, pp.33-38.

# 108— What are some gentle, mellow tracts for Mormons?

In terms of "mellow" "anti-Mormon" literature, we would recommend the tracts, "The Pearl of Great Price" and "The Only True Church." Also, our booklet, "To Moroni with Love" (see Bookstore) has led literally thousands of Mormons into the Kingdom of God, although it is a bit less "mellow" in some ways.

For more depth and a very good reception by LDS, try the video, The Mormon Dilemma and its written counterpart, What you need to Know about Mormons, by Ed Decker (See Bookstore)

Also, Ed And Jim Spencer did a TV program in 1996 called, "Is Mormonism Compatible with Orthoodox Christianity?" A great one to view with a Mormon. Check the bookstore.

# 109—The Trinity

The Trinity only becomes a difficult concept when you try to make God fit into too small a "box." It is obviously hard for us, as human beings, to conceive how God can be three, yet one. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that cultists like the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses try to "muddy" the water by claiming that orthodox Christian believe things in the Trinity doctrine that we do not actually believe. Let me try and explain.

I can recommend a couple of resources for you, in case you don’t find my explanations totally sufficient. One is an excellent book by E. Calvin Beisner called GOD IN THREE PERSONS. It is a Living Studies book, published by Tyndale House (1986). It should be available from any Christian bookstore. If you like tapes, Jim Spencer of Through the Maze Ministries has a very good teaching set of tapes on the Trinity. He is at: Box 8656, Boise, ID. 83707.

Now, down to business. The word Trinity (which is not, as our friends in the cults love to remind us) is not used in the Bible. However, there are two consistent and central themes which run through the very warp and woof of both the Old and New Testaments about the nature of God. The first theme is that God is one (Deut.6:4, Isaiah 43:10, etc.). The second theme is that Jesus Christ is fully, utterly and completely God, yet somehow distinct from God the Father. (John 1:1,14, Colossians 1:12-19, 1 Tim.3:16).

This leaves us with two pieces of data which are apparently in contradiction: 1) There is only one God; and 2) The Father is God and Jesus is God. A corollary to this is the fact that the Bible also tells us that the Holy Ghost is God (Acts 5:3-4). Since you specifically asked about the nature of the Holy Ghost, I’m going to emphasize that element for a few moments; and then proceed to the broader question of the Trinity.

Let’s look at this text in Acts carefully. "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? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." In one verse, Peter states that he lied to the Holy Ghost, and in the next verse, he states that God was the one lied to. Peter evidently saw the Holy Ghost as being equal with God.

This brings up the second part of your question. Is the Holy Ghost a power or a force of God, or is He a Person? We obviously feel the Bible is clear that the Holy Ghost is a Person. In the above text, for example, He is being lied to. Now you can’t really lie to a force or a power. Can you lie to your electrical outlet? Of course not. Only a person with a personality all his or her own can be lied to. Similarly, elsewhere in the New Testament, the Holy Ghost is shown to have other attributes of personality: 1) Acts 13:2 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." The Spirit here speaks, and refers to himself as "me" and says that "I have called them." Impersonal powers do not call themselves by first-person pronouns. These are characteristics of personalities. 2) Acts 13:4 "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost..." Again, sending requires a person to send. 3) Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things." Here the Spirit has an opinion. Something cannot "seem good" to nuclear energy. 4) Acts 16:6 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia" Something impersonal can hardly forbid. 5) Acts 20:23 "Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." I think that this is enough examples, as I don’t wish to belabor the point. The Bible seems to clearly teach that the Holy Ghost is a Person, and that He is God.

However, lest we just emphasize the New Testament; I want to take you to a couple of Old Testament passages which have the same kind of context; and which also clearly teach the Trinity, the Three-in-One God. In Isaiah 48:12, we find a rather lengthy passage which I need to quote in full to get the impact (Beware of those folks who only quote part of scriptures out of context. I encourage you to go to the above cited verses and read them in their entire context. I just quoted parts of them to save time and space.) In any event, check this out: "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel my called; I am he; I am the first and I am also the last. [this is obviously God speaking—there can be no other "first and last"] "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD God, and his Spirit hath sent me."—Isaiah 48:12-16.

Now notice here, we have all three members of the Trinity in the space of a few short verses, and this from the supposedly "anti-Trinitarian" Old Testament of the Hebrews. Also, again note that both the LORD God [ie. the Father] and His Spirit have sent me [ie. the Son]. So again, we have the Spirit sending, doing something only a person can do.

Also, in Gen.6:3, we read: "And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man..." To strive is to fight or to contend, again something only a person can do. It implies consciousness and intent. There are other Old Testament passages as well.

This clearly shows at least two persons in the Godhead is Proverbs 30:4: "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered up the wind in his fist? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? [Obviously we are talking about God here!] what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?"

Also in Psalm 2:7,12: "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my son; this day I have begotten thee....Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Now evidently this is not David being discussed, but rather the Messiah,.truly "begotten" Son of God. Certainly the Word of God would not teach that people are blessed for putting their trust in David.

I’m not going to emphasize verses that show Jesus’ divinity, since that does not seem to be a problem for you, and since I don’t want to have this letter be any longer than necessary. Let me just try to draw all this together with a few analogies. We can only understand the Trinity by analogy, because it is a divine love relationship too far removed from our minds to be fully comprehended. The Bible does warn us that God’s ways are far too profound to be fully understand by the human mind.(Isaiah55:8-9)

A couple of helpful images are first of all, the fact that the human being is a "trinitarian" being, made in God’s image. Thus, you and I are composed of three parts; body, soul, and spirit. Each of those parts are distinct and separate, and yet each part is absolutely essential to you being "you." You cannot have a human being if one of those three parts is missing; and yet that human being is one human being, not three.

Norman Geisler, a Bible scholar, makes another, simpler analogy. He says that God is three "Who’s" in one "What." In other words, Who God is is Father, Son and Spirit; but what God is is one God. God is one God who is Father, Son and Spirit.

The family is another metaphor. I am part of the Schnoebelen family. I have a father and a mother. Each parent and myself are distinct persons, yet we are ONE family, and if you remove one or the other person, the family ceases to be family. Or look at a room. A room is composed of three dimensions, height, width, and depth; yet it is one room. Take away the room’s height, and it ceases to be a room.

If our puny, human, finite minds can conceive of so many metaphors for the Trinity; if we grant God the right to be so much bigger and more glorious than we can possibly comprehend or imagine, then we should have no problem handling the Trinity. Fair enough? I really pray that this has been of help; and I would encourage you to check out these things in the Bible to see if they are so. Remember the testimony of John, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."—1 John 5:7.

# 110— Defending the Virgin Birth

Here is the problem. Again, you are over-physicalizing and thus limiting God. Obviously, if Mary conceived through natural human relations, she would no longer be a virgin. Jesus would not be virginally conceived, nor would He be virgin-born. Is.7:14, wherein the prophecy is given says that a divine sign would be that "a virgin shall conceive and bear a son..."

Now what kind of miraculous sign would it be for a non-virginal woman to conceive? It happens thousands of times a day! Many women are virgins until they conceive a child! But something extraordinary and miraculous happened with Mary. She conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost (Lk.1:35) and without losing her virginity, she conceived a son! THAT is the miraculous sign!

As recently as 1984, I sat in a stake conference and heard Elder Derek Cuthbert of the First Quorum of the Seventy tell us that "Heavenly Father" came down and had sexual relations with Mary so that Jesus could be conceived. That means quite simply that Mary was not a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus! You cannot be a virgin after experiencing a sexual act, if you’ll pardon my bluntness; and the church teaches that Mary had sex with God the Father!

Bruce R. McConkie in the above cited MORMON DOCTRINE, p.547 and 742, says the same thing. Many "prophets," like Joseph Fielding Smith and David O. McKay taught it also.

#111— The DC Temple

I am enclosing some literature on the subject of the LDS Church’s plans for America, plus some other material on their doctrinal errors. Unfortunately, we do not yet have in print some of the information Ed Decker shared in various radio presentations—especially about the Washington DC temple. There is some extensive material on Mormondom’s "Secret Kingdom" in the book THE GOD-MAKERS, ch.16, pp.231-43. See the Bookstore should you wish to order it.

I can tell you that the DC temple was my temple when I was a Mormon, and I know that we were told by our bishop that there was a room in the upper levels of the temple which was designed to be an exact replica of the Oval Office in the White House from which a future prophet could rule over the USA. I also know from actually being in the temple on many occasions, that there are whole floors of the temple which are locked away from even temple-recommend-holding Mormons; as well as parts of the floor upon which the sealing rooms were.

#112—Basic Thoughts on Witnessing to Mormons

We are really blessed by your desire to warn Mormons of their spiritual peril. I am enclosing some literature which may be of help to you. The spiritual warfare element in all of this cannot be overlooked either, and I refer you to the tract on prayer ("Let Us Pray!") for the lost cultist for information on that aspect.

Beyond this information, as you may have guessed, THE GOD MAKERS video is not often the best way to begin a doctrinal discussion with Mormons. However, to remedy that, we do have a video called THE MORMON DILEMMA, which deals with the differences between Mormonism and Christian orthodoxy in a very gentle and subtle way. You might consider getting it and sharing it with your LDS friends.

Also, rather than try and become an expert in Mormonism; it is better to major on Biblical truths and let the light of scripture cast the shadows of LDS theology in stark relief. With this in mind, we recommend ministering in real Christ-like love and compassion, and dealing with basic Biblical issues, like the nature of God, polytheism vs. monotheism or the nature/trustworthiness of the Bible and revelation.

These are areas not as sensitive to Mormons as are Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon. Attacks on these two issues or on the temples is a good way to alienate most LDS. Stick to neutral, but important areas of doctrine which can be dealt with simply out of the Bible, and above all, keep control of the discussion, both intellectually and spiritually! Be prayed up seriously before every encounter, whenever possible; and trust in the Holy Spirit to guide you. He will! He is the soul-winner, you are simple His messenger! Prayer helps make you more transparent to His will and leading!

For more information on this, see our witnessing materials in the resource section of this website, Saintsalive.com.

#113—LDS WITNESSING: Additional Witnessing Resources

There is a book out by Bob Witte; a fellow minister to the Mormons called WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT? This is an inexpensive (I think $5.00) book which contains dozens of photocopies pages out of official LDS books which cover most of the major areas of contention between Mormonism and Christianity.

This way you can show the elders the actual photocopy out of their own book; and if they say it is fake, you can challenge them to go to their own library and bring you the book and show you it’s fake! You can get the Witte book from EX-MORMONS FOR JESUS, Box 291, West Bridgewater, MA.02379.

If you want the original edition of the Doctrine & Covenants before it was censored, you can get that (I think for $20.00) from Utah Missions, Inc., Box 348, Marlow, OK. 73055 (800-654-3992 for phone orders). It is called JOSEPH SMITH BEGINS HIS WORK, vol.2 That way you can have the elders compare their D&C with the original one Smith published and ask them why literally thousands of words of "God’s revelations" were changed. JOSEPH SMITH BEGINS HIS WORK, vol.1 is a reprint of the original Book of Mormon; and can be had from the same source.

You can get a photocopy of an original 1830 Book of Mormon from Jim Spencer at Through the Maze Ministries, P.O. Box 8656, Boise, ID. 83707 (208) 377-0167.

Another additional witnessing aid is our new compilation of Joseph Smith’s false prophecies, …AND IT DIDN'T COME TO PASS! Is available from our in the resource section of this web site. It is easy-to-use, easy-to-read, and impossible for any thinking Mormon to ignore. See our latest catalog for details.

#114—Should I use copies of old documents in witnessing?

Usually, in the initial stages of the witnessing encounter, you don’t really need any "anti-Mormon" literature or old historical documents (many of which are in collections or difficult for the average person to even read).

Some Mormons may be convinced by being presented with photocopies of their old documents. Many will not be. Additionally, for a person not "on the inside" or well-familiar with the techniques of historical research, such an approach can be intimidating. However, if that is the approach you feel called to use, then go for it. Nevertheless, there may be a simpler way—one which does not really require a great amount of specialized knowledge of LDS history or even detailed doctrinal knowledge.

Deal with some central theological issues in Mormonism: 1) The nature of Divine Revelation. (ie. is the Bible the inerrant Word of God? does God speak to prophets today?) The central point here is that even if God does speak to prophets today, what He supposedly says must be measured on what God said earlier in the Bible since God never changes (Malachi 3:6). Bible verses which prove the Bible to be inerrant and unchangeable are: Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17. 2) The nature of God—are Mormons polytheists? (believers in many gods, yes they are!) Does the Bible teach that there is only one God? Yes, it does (see Deut.6:4; Is 43:10, 44:6-8, etc.) So, in fact, does the Book of Mormon. This leads us to… 3) Does the Book of Mormon contradict LDS doctrine? It most certainly does, see, "Those Plain and Precious Things." 2) Joseph Smith’s prophecies. Does he fit the Bible’s definition of a true prophet (Deut.13:1-3, Deut. 18:20-22)? See also our book, "…AND IT DIDN’T COME TO PASS" which is a compilation of over 50 of his false prophecies.

Again, none of these issues need a particularly great understanding of Mormonism nor any old documents; and all are central to the discussion. Sometimes, down the "soul-winning road" a bit, it may be necessary to share photocopies of primary source documents to your friend. But usually, that is only after softening the person up a bit with liberal applications of Bible verses and Biblical truth. Try these approaches and see if they work, and don’t neglect prayer for your LDS acquaintance! God bless you richly with the anointing of His Holy Spirit as you minister!

#115—Where to get a Joseph Smith Translation?

To answer your questions concerning the Joseph Smith Translation or "Inspired Version" of the Bible. It can be had with relative ease at any LDS bookstore. Just buy an LDS Bible. It is the Authorized 1611 version, alright—but in footnotes and in a final appendix, are the "corrections" Joseph made to the text.

If LDS bookstores are a bit scarce in your part of the county, you could also try calling Deseret Books in Salt Lake City, UT; a LDS-owned bookstore chain. Their number is (801) 534-1515. You could order it from them by credit card, I would think.

Another source a bit closer to the "horse’s mouth" would be the book, Joseph Smith’s ‘New Translation’ of the Bible, which is from Herald Publishing House, in Independence, MO. That is an RLDS publisher. It is a parallel Bible comparison between the Authorized 1611 version and Joseph Smith’s version. I don’t have a number for the latter outlet, but they are probably in the phone book.

#116—A new ex-Mormon dealing with anger

Getting out of Mormonism can be rough emotionally. All the symptoms associated with a bereavement, a divorce, or a serious illness can creep up on you—including depression. There may be a lot of hidden anger in there toward the institution that betrayed you. THAT you need to ask the Lord Jesus to help you with. I know that I did. When I read The God Makers, I was so upset that for about a week if my bishop had shown up at the door I would have decked him—even though I knew that he was just as much a victim as I had been. I had to give that anger to the Lord and ask Him to turn it into love for the Mormon people. He did, thank God.

Now that might not be the problem in your case, but you might pray and ask the Lord if there is any anger in there He would like you to give to Him. It’s okay to be angry! God is angry with the Mormons, for heavens’ sake! Notice what it says in Ephesians 4:26-27! "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." If you let the anger fester deep within you, it can both cause depression and give a "place" to the devil to trouble you.

Obviously, you know your own state of mind, but the Holy Spirit knows it still better. Pray, and ask Him to show you anything which may be causing some of this. You may have to forgive the Mormons for how they have deceived you. These are just suggestions, to be taken up between you and Jesus, okay?

#117—Is the Journal of Discourses authoritative?

Three citations on Brigham Young show that the validity of the JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES is authoritative:

1. JOD 13:95— "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve. The people have the oracles of God continually." (BY, 1870)

2. JOD 12:127— "What man or woman, what spirit in the spirit-world can say truthfully that I ever gave a wrong word of counsel, or a word of advice that could not be sanctioned by the heavens?" (BY, 1867)

3. JOD 8: Preface: "the JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church."

#118— The LeBaronites:

About the LeBaronite church, I’m not certain many have heard of it outside of what are called "Restorationist" circles. Restorationists are a broad group of cults which all believe in Joseph Smith as a true prophet. That is just about all that they share a belief in though. Some are into polygamy, blood atonement, godhood, and all the weird stuff of 19th century Mormonism. Some are pretty tame by comparison.

There are actually several LeBaronite churches, all of which stem from Joel LeBaron’s "The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times." which was incorporated legally in Salt Lake City in 1955. Ervil LeBaron was the patriarch of this church, and apparently ordered Joel’s assassination and went on to start his own "splinter off a splinter" called "The Church of the Lamb of God around 1974.

Ervil was convicted of the murder of Rulon Allred, another head of another LDS fundamentalist splinter sect and jailed in 1977. He died in prison, apparently of heart failure. Since that time, his followers still seem to be bent on killing in the name of God. I am enclosing some pages photocopied out of an excellent book on the various splinter sects of Mormonism called DIVERGENT PATHS OF THE RESTORATION by Stephen L. Shields. It should give you a pretty good idea of their history and doctrines. Two other books of interest in this area specifically on the various LeBaronite feuds and sects would be PROPHET OF BLOOD by Ben Bradlee, Jr. and Dale Van Atta (Putnam, 1981) and THE LEBARON STORY by Verlan M. LeBaron, (private publication,1981) which is written from a sympathetic, "insider" position obviously.

#119—To an investigator of the LDS Church

I am really glad that you took the time to write us. Hopefully, by now you have received, under separate cover, a complimentary packet of information on Mormonism. If you haven’t received this, please let me know at once.

The Mormon church, according to the Bible, is a non-Christian cult. This is not to say that Mormons are not, by and large, sincere, wonderful people. I know, I used to be a devout Mormon for over five years. However, it is important to remember that it is possible to be sincere and nice; and still be dead wrong!

Ultimately, Mormons base their belief on a "testimony," a burning bosom in which they feel an inner witness that the church is true. While that sounds spiritual, it is not very reliable! The Bible clearly teaches that the heart and emotions can be deceived; and even self-deceiving (Proverbs 14:12, Jeremiah 17:9). It is quite possible to WANT to join the LDS Church so bad that you can (without even knowing it) deceive yourself into feeling this emotion, this burning bosom.

Remember that such a feeling is subjective! It cannot be tested! I used to have a testimony. I used to tell everyone that I "knew" the church was true; even though I didn’t and don’t KNOW any such thing. I believed and hoped it was true, even though it wasn’t. But I had no objective evidence for its being true. Joseph Smith made dozens of false prophecies; he taught that God used to be a man who somehow "grew" into godhood. There is no proof for these things! The Bible denies them as false doctrines! See the resource section for, Mormonism: Christian or Cult?

Haven’t you ever "known" something to be true in your heart of hearts; only to find out you were wrong? I know I sure have.

If your heart can make mistakes about simple things; why trust it with something as important as your eternal life? Don’t trust the Mormons, don’t trust me; don’t even trust your own emotions. Trust God and His Word, which He promised would be unchangeable and without error (Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17)!

It took me five years to figure out Mormonism was a lie out of the pit of hell! I’m trying to save you that effort, that time. Believe me, it is much harder to escape from Mormonism once you have joined, than it is to just walk away from it. We get dozens of letters a month from heart-sick people trying to leave the LDS Church; and we walk them through.

You don’t need the Mormons, dear friend, you just need Jesus Christ! That was the place I came to. In reading the Bible, as a theology teacher for the LDS Church (in the Church Institute of Religion), I realized that I could no longer follow both Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ! Joseph taught a different "god," and different "Jesus" and a different "gospel," and according to the Word of God, that makes him accursed (Galatians 1:8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)!

The real gospel isn’t priesthood and temples, and genealogy and "Families are Forever!" The REAL Gospel is that Jesus died for you, beloved; he was broken and bruised on the cross for your sins; and that he took the punishment meant for you! (Isaiah 53:4-7) If you want to understand the prime error of Mormonism, read Romans 10:1-4! Then read Romans 10:9-13, and you will see how simple Jesus has made it for you to attain the Kingdom of Heaven!

Mormonism is a lie, but Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). You cannot have them both, no matter how hard you try. I know, because I tried really hard! I didn’t want to leave the LDS Church. I loved it, and I loved its people. However, the Lord showed me in His Word that if I loved Jesus Christ, I had to put it all behind. He practically had to drag me kicking and screaming out of the Mormon church; but now that I am out, and set free by the blood of Jesus Christ, I know it was the best decision I ever made.

Make that decision, beloved; leave behind Mormonism and come to Christ. We love you enough to tell you the truth; and we will be praying for you! God bless you richly as you seek Him!

#120—To a New Ex-Mormon

I am a former temple Mormon, and I truly rejoiced in the Lord Jesus when I saw your letter! At the same time, I know how difficult this time is for you. It is never easy leaving anything you loved, even if it is an organization rather than a person.

However, realize that the LDS church is truly a soul-destroying cult and you are much better off out of it. To help you with leaving the church, I am enclosing a copy of our Exodus booklet, which explains how to leave the church with ease and dignity. In this envelope, I am enclosing a small slip of paper with a sample prayer on it which consists of basically repenting of the false teachings of Mormonism and of any covenants you made in the LDS church (i.e., your baptismal covenants, priesthood blessings you may have had, or if you ever went through the temple).

We have found that taking these things before the altar of God and asking Jesus to forgive you for them goes a long way towards beginning the healing process. Naturally, we are delighted that you are attending a Christian church; but I need to bring one other important thing up with you.

From your brief note it was not clear whether or not you have received the gift of eternal life from the REAL Jesus Christ and become born again. Just going to a church doesn’t do it. If you have already gone through these steps toward becoming a true child of God, then you’ll understand why I need to share them with you. If you haven’t, then you need to enter into this special relationship with Jesus. Otherwise, you won’t be a Christian, no matter which church you happen to attend.

1) Simply tell the Lord that you admit you are a sinner, for all of us are sinners — "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."—Rom.3:23. Tell Him that you know that only He can save you (see above 1 Tim.2:5 and Acts 4:12—"...for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.")

2) Tell Him you repent of your sins, and are willing to turn away from them and submit to God’s will. Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."—Lk.13:5

3) Confess with your lips that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross and shed His blood to pay the price for your sins, and that He arose again. "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."—Rom.10:9-10

4) Simply ask God to save you from hell—ask Jesus to be your Savior. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."—Rom.10:13.

5) Finally, ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life and take control over it. "I beseech you...that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God."—Rom.12:1-2

Just kneel before the Lord in the privacy of your own room and take the above steps, and you will become a REAL child of God and know for certain that when you die, you will be in heaven with Him! Please write if you have any questions about these important things, and believe me—we’ll be praying for you. God bless you richly as you seek His will for your life!

#121— Hermeneutics

Remember the central principle of sound Hermeneutics (Bible interpretation). If there are many passages which clearly teach a doctrine (i.e. God does not change); then when you run across an isolated verse or passage which seems to contradict this doctrine; you can assume that you are not interpreting the isolated passage correctly.

Remember, "out of the mouths of two or three witnesses, all things must be established." That is more true of the Bible than we dare imagine. Simply put, the exceptional verse does not disprove the rule. If cultists followed sound hermeneutics, they wouldn’t get into these messes and our job would be a whole lot easier.

The second point is that there is no "private interpretation" of the Scripture (2 Peter 1:20), so therefore the only reliable interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself. This fits perfectly with the first point above. In practice, it means that if you find a passage which seems tough to interpret, either one of two things need to be done: 1) read the larger context of the verse. See what is discussed, to whom it the passage being written, is it Old Covenant (under the Law) or New Covenant, what is the age in which the passage is written, etc. 2) using a concordance or topical Bible dictionary, go and find other passages where the same words are being used, or where the same doctrines are being discussed. Then, let those passages aid you in interpreting the difficult passages. Believe me, the Holy Spirit will help you as well. We have found that, invariably, the Bible will not let you down in a doctrinal discussion with a cultist; as long as you keep these steps in mind; and become as familiar with the Bible itself as possible.

Every Christian should make Bible study a major priority in their life. It is because many have not that the Mormons and other false teachers have been able to make such headway!

#122—As an ex-Mormon, must I attend a church?

What does the Bible say?

About attending church: Hebrews 10:25 says that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. What does this mean? Well, all Believers should be regularly attending a good church, where Jesus is preached as Almighty God come in the flesh, and the Bible as the inerrant (mistake-free) Word of God, and where there is a vision for winning souls in the community. Especially, new Believers in Jesus need to hear good, Godly preaching and to have fellowship with more mature Saints. They need to be discipled. This is virtually impossible without regular church attendance.

However, that does not mean that if you miss a Sunday once in awhile you are damned or something. Missing church is not a sin or anything, unless it becomes part of your lifestyle, since then we would be breaking the command mentioned above.

#123—Removing the temple garment

The garments can be a problem, but you need to continue to not wear them. I had the same experience of anxiety when I first took them off also; but they are a great spiritual hindrance. Trusting in any physical object for safety or salvation is a kind of superstition or magic, like carrying a rabbit’s foot. On top of that, the garments DO symbolize covenants you made in the temple. You need to renounce those covenants in prayer before the Lord. Both Ed and I kept a set of our garments, just to show people; but I would never have them in the home. They are over in our office. In fact, I eventually tossed mine out.

If I were you, I would read, Exodus, in the resource section and pray through the prayers on the final page of it, if you haven’t already done so; renouncing Mormonism and all its priestcraft. I would then destroy the garments; or at least throw them into the trash. You don’t want them in the house! They are a symbolic link between you and the god of Mormonism, who is actually the Deceiver.

#124—Working on your Grief or Depression

If you been truly Born Again, you have nothing to fear! Jesus has you in His Almighty Hands forever (John 10:28-29). Nothing the LDS Church can do will change that. However, realize that many of the symptoms you report (fear, thoughts of suicide, confusion) are very common among people leaving the LDS Church. These are emotional issues that often clear up in time, once you have renounced Mormonism and gotten your name removed from the church records.

Realize that your comprehension that the Mormon church is a false religion is an emotionally tearing experience! It is like going through a divorce or a bereavement. Something you have loved and trusted is torn from you, and even perhaps there is a sense of betrayal in there too. This produces fear, anger, depression, and perhaps even suicidal thoughts.

This is true of someone who has lost a loved one or a child, or of a person just finishing up a nasty divorce. Patti, you do need to give yourself permission to "grieve" for your loss. Jesus can help you through it if you ask Him; but there will still be some pain and fear. You have trusted in the LDS doctrine for yours. You will feel uncertain. This all is normal! It takes some time! Lean on the "solid rock" of Jesus and His inerrant (without mistakes) Word, the Holy Bible!

We understand, and allow people going through deaths or divorces to grieve, but sometimes forget that people who have entrusted their lives to a false religious system and then get set free from it need time to grieve and heal emotionally just as much. The amount of grief depends on: a) how heavily invested you were in Mormonism; b) if you were born into it or joined later in life; c) what kind of Christian support system you now have around you (are you going to a Biblical Christian church?) d) do you have close friends or a pastor to talk to and even grieve with, and e) were you a temple Mormon?

If you are a Christian, talk it over with the Lord Jesus a lot. Give it to Him! He took all your pain, fear and grief on the cross (Is.53:4-5) God bless you richly, as you seek His love and peace; and we are definitely praying for you!

#125—Should I marry a Mormon?

Two things you need to consider. One is

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."—2 Cor.6:14-17.

Whether you realize it or not, Mormons worship a false god, in a pantheon of many gods. They worship a god who is an exalted, glorified man. That makes them pagans, no different than the pagans of ancient Rome. They are under the curse of Romans 1:24-32.

In marrying a person, you enter into a covenant with them and become one flesh with them. Paul counsels against Christian believers marrying pagans in several places. You are joining your body (which is of the Body of Christ) in marriage to a person who is (ignorantly, I am certain) an idolater. That is hard language, but read 1 Cor.6:15-17. Now although you will be marrying this Mormon, not simply indulging in illicit relations with them, it is still a spiritually dangerous thing, which is reason enough to stay away.

Now you may think that you can convert him or her to Christianity, and that is possible, but not likely. Marriage is a very serious covenant, and to risk your marriage on the hope that you can convert an unbeliever is not wise. Too many marriages have gone on shipwreck over religion. If the person is a "good Mormon," they probably won’t marry you without at least a promise from you that you will investigate seriously or join their church. That is an even bigger problem—the second thing to consider.

Without wanting to get into a discussion about whether or not a person who is a Christian can ever lose that salvation, let me just observe that for you to join the Mormon church, even just to please your spouse and keep peace in the family; is to do yourself a grave disservice. You would be joining a church which teaches that your current church (among others) is an abomination in the sight of God and that its pastor and members are corrupt (Joseph Smith—History 1:19 in the Pearl of Great Price)

You would be joining a church which used to mock Christian pastors in their "sacred" temple rites which are right out of the occult and Freemasonry! You would be joining a church that has already dragged hundreds of thousands of people screaming down into hell, and is doing its level best to drag millions more down there! Even if you, as a true Christian, can never lose your salvation (which many Christians believe); how happy do you think the one, true God is going to be with you for joining a church which is a stink in His holy nostrils just because of an attractive Mormon?

You are thinking of forsaking the true and living God for a church whose god is a over-sexed extraterrestrial with delusions of god-hood—who is little better than those idols on the walls of Hindu temples like Shiva which do things a mink breeder wouldn’t tolerate! Believe me, I’ve been in the Church, and in the temples; and there is NOTHING of Jesus Christ in there.

I’m sorry if this is a little hard, but it‘s because we love you and desperately don’t want you to make a mistake that you will regret the rest of your life. There can be no fellowship between Mormon theology and Christian theology, and there should be no fellowship in marriage between a Christian and a Mormon. That, to us, is the clear counsel of scripture. Believe me, we will be praying for you. Please write back if you have any questions.

#126—What is Dialogue?

DIALOGUE is a privately published journal of "Mormon thought" (its subtitle) by "liberal" and/or intellectual Mormons and is not endorsed by the Church, although it is certainly not regarded as "anti-Mormon."

It is just a little freer and more open to historical and theological inquiry than the LDS leadership would like. It has a lot of fascinating articles in it. You can inquire about back issues or copies of articles from The DIALOGUE Foundation, 202 West, 300 North, Salt Lake City, UT. 84103.

#127—What about a Bishop’s court, &c.

The normal procedure taken by the bishopric or stake presidency is to stall a bit and try to get a hold of the person who wants out; unless the person specifically requests no further contact with church officials. If they get another letter nudging them along, they will usually send you a letter requesting your appearance at a bishopric or stake presidency court. You can choose to go and testify on your (or Jesus’) behalf; or you can just ignore the letter. It is between you and the Lord.

If you don’t go, within a week or so of the date given you for the court, you should receive a registered letter advising you of your being removed from church records. If you don’t, it is time to go crank on them again; preferably by registered letter. Usually though, once it gets to the "court" stage, it is pretty well over with.

As far as who knows about these resignation proceedings; it used to be that such things would be announced in priesthood meetings (in my day, c.1980-84). "Brother so-and-so has been excommunicated from the church..." Recently, we are told, the church has stopped doing this, because the numbers of resignations were starting to demoralize the quorums. Now usually just the bishopric and/or relief society presidency know; although quite often word does get around through gossip, etc. Hope this helps! God bless you richly as you seek His Word and will!

#128—What is Saints Alive in Jesus?

Thank you very much for your letter. We naturally praise the Lord for wonderful people like you who have been given a burden for the souls of the precious LDS people!.

As to your question concerning our Christian background, and/or doctrinal position, I am enclosing an introductory pamphlet about us. Saints Alive is an inter-denominational ministry which is legally incorporated. We are essentially an evangelical or fundamentalist organization in that we believe in the full deity of Jesus, salvation by grace alone, and the inerrancy of the Holy Bible.

Although by 1997, the ministry has been downsized significantly we have had chapters and missionaries all over the world, with, of course, the majority of chapters being in the west in states of high Mormon population. Other than a loose-knit confederation of ministries that work with the LDS people, we don’t belong to any "religious association." We are a faith ministry which draws its support solely from the gifts of our friends, who belong to every Christian denomination and many of whom are ex-Mormons.

Our leadership people in our chapters belong to many different fellowships, including Baptist, Evangelical Free Church, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian, Foursquare Church, Lutheran and many others. Thus, we try to emphasize Jesus rather than denominational distinctives. Our main concern is to lift up the name of Jesus Christ before the LDS people; and to educate and inform the Body of Christ.

#129. Did Joseph Smith Triumph Over His Foes?

This section of D&C 121 is prefaced in the LDS church introduction by being identified as "Prayers and Prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in jail in Liberty…" Note what is said, in part, in verses 5-15, …My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes…And also that God hath set his hand and seal to change the times and seasons, and to blind their minds, that they might not understand his marvelous workings; and take them in their own craftiness…And not many years hence, that they and their posterity shall be swept from under heaven, saith God, that not one of them is left to stand by the wall…

This prophecy promises that Smith and his church would triumph over all their foes. This never happened. They had just been driven out of their "Zion" in Independence, MO. Smith was to die by the hands of his foes, about five years later. The entire church was run out of the state about eight years later and had to flee to Utah! Can this be triumphing over your enemies?

Even in Utah, the power of the church was ultimately broken by the federal government who forced the church leaders to submit to government authority and to do away with their cherished doctrine of plural marriage! More recently, the church was forced to succumb to outside pressure again and change its racist position on the blacks or else lose its tax-exempt status. Again, Is this triumph?

We need to ask: When did God change the times and seasons on us (vs.12)? When did he blind the minds of Smith’s enemies? When were every one of Smith’s enemies "swept from under heaven"? In fact, most of them long outlived him!

#130—Does "Mormon" mean "Gates of Hell" in Chinese?

Yes, the word "Mormon" does translate as gates of Hell in Chinese, a fact which has caused some embarrassment to LDS missionaries over there. With this sheet, we are enclosing copies of an article we did some years ago after Ed Decker had an opportunity to minister over in the Far East. It includes the Chinese characters in question, which Ed actually sought out from Asians who were fluent in the language.

We are also enclosing a copy of the original news article which put us onto this entire concept. It originated with a Mormon mission leader, as you can see.

#131—Joseph Smith’s "Inspired Version" of the Bible

Joseph Smith did claim to have translated and corrected all (or part—depending upon which version of this tale you wish to believe) of the Bible. This is rooted in the Mormon belief that many "plain and precious" doctrines were removed from the canon of scripture over the years.

In such a circumstance, and in the presence of a "Living Prophet" like Joseph Smith claimed to be, it would be only logical that he would produce a corrected text of the Bible. However, there is a great deal of controversy over whether or not he ever completed the job. The "official" LDS teaching today is that he did not complete it (Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials of Church History, p.139).

However, if he did not complete it, then he was out of the will of God, because the Lord supposedly commanded him to finish it before he began anything else (See Doctrine and Covenants 73:3-4) Joseph Smith himself claimed that he had finished at least the New Testament entirely (See History of the Church, 1:324, 368).

However, Emma Smith (Joseph’s widow) would not give the ms. of the translation to Willard Richards at the request of Brigham Young, so the LDS Church does not own the rights to it—the RLDS Church does. Another part of the problem, is that the "Inspired Version" (JST or Joseph Smith Translation) contradicts current LDS doctrine in many key areas, as does the Book of Mormon.

What is yet more confusing is that Joseph Smith himself ignored his own translation in his preaching and writing and used the King James Bible instead—even though there are large differences between the KJV and the JST. The bottom line is that it is a mixed-up mess, just like everything else in Mormonism.

It has only been in recent years that much has been seen of the JST, and it now can indeed be found in footnotes and an appendix in the back of LDS Bibles published since 1981. However, the LDS leaders have been reluctant to actually claim it as scripture since it contradicts so many of their key teachings.

#132—Proxy Baptism for the Dead in Mormonism

Mormons do believe that people can be "saved" (converted to Mormonism) after they are dead. (See Doctrine and Covenants 124:29-33, also sections 127 and 128). This can only be done in temples, by worthy living Mormons who hold temple recommends, although the baptisms themselves can also be done by LDS children over the age of eight.

Baptism is the first ceremony performed in behalf of the dead in the temple. This is performed in the beautiful baptismal font mounted on the statues of 12 full sized oxen, located in the temple basement. Some of the newer temples have 6 oxen backed up to a set of mirrors. The Officiator and the patron are in the font dressed in heavy white jump-suits. There are two or more witnesses observing the procedure.

Often a closed circuit TV. is used to project the names of the deceased persons on a large TV. screen. Typically 200-300 baptisms are performed per hour, with LDS teenagers serving as proxies to introduce them into the temple rituals and vicarious ordinance work at an impressionable age. The baptismal pronouncement is recited in full for each baptism, and the patron is completely immersed by the Officiator as observed and approved by the two witnesses

It is believed that people who died without hearing about Mormonism (up until recently, virtually all the world) are placed in "spirit prison," where they are actually visited by spirit LDS missionaries. These spirit missionaries teach them the gospel, and then the dead person has the right to either accept or reject the teaching. If they reject it, they go into the outer darkness or at least the lowest kingdom.

If they accept it, then they must await someone on earth who will do their "ordinances" for them by proxy. Some have waited centuries. This is why good Mormons are commanded to seek out their own ancestors to at least four generations back. They must get birth, marriage, and death records for all their ancestors. Once these records have been entered and approved by the LDS Genealogical department, the person can go to the temple and receive the proxy ordinances (including baptism, ordination, endowment and sealing for time and all eternity) for their ancestors of the same gender. Men must do male proxy ordinances, and women do female ones.

This is why the church has the largest genealogical library in the world, and why it spends millions of dollars collected records on people, world-wide. It is believed that once these proxy ordinances have been done, the person in spirit prison (if they believe the LDS gospel up there) is released and allowed to go to the celestial kingdom. Once their own ancestors have been done, then Mormons are obligated to continue faithful temple attendance and do proxy work for the names of dead people which the church has collected from all over the world. Eventually, the church believes it will have genealogy records and proxy ordinances done for every human being from Adam onward.

However, the church is not even keeping up with the current death rate; much less getting ahead. It is estimated that there are at least 16 billion dead souls in human history. It would take thousands of years for the church to simply DO those ordinances, to say nothing of collecting the data. Besides, it is foolishness according to the Bible. Hebrews 9:27 and Luke 16:19-31 make it quite clear that the state one is in at the moment of death determines their salvation or damnation. Nothing done for the dead can affect them in any way!

#133—Good Resources on Christian Apologetics

There are not many places which offer classes in this vital subject, unfortunately. We can only recommend that you listen to our tapes and read some of the resources that we offer on witnessing.

There is a school, Simon Greenleaf School of Law, down in the Los Angeles area, which does offer a degree in Christian apologetics. The late Dr. Walter Martin helped put it together. You can probably get their number from CRI (Christian Research Institute) down in California. Their number is 714-855-9926.

In terms of general books (not specifically related to Mormonism) on this vital topic, I would recommend first of all EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT, vols. 1 & 2 by Josh McDowell; also SCRIPTURE TWISTING by James Sire. There are also some good books on apologetics by Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. John Warrick Montgomery, but the titles are too numerous to go into here.

Dr. Montgomery also has a large set of teaching tapes for around $100 on the history and practice of apologetics down through the ages. I believe CRI sells it. KINGDOM OF THE CULTS is, of course, a classic!

#134—The "Burning Bosom" or peaceful feeling—what does it really prove?

Mormons claim that they have a "testimony" of the Book of Mormon or of Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling. They say that they base this on a peaceful feeling they get when they pray about it. Frequently they also describe it as a "burning bosom" which allegedly only the Holy Spirit can produce. All of this is based upon Moroni 10:4 in the Book of Mormon and on Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9; which teach that feelings can be an accurate gauge of doctrine.

The problem with this is that it is contrary to the revealed Word of God, the Bible. The Bible declares that the heart (seat of feelings) can be more deceitful than anything (Jeremiah 17:9) and that ways which "seem" right to people often lead to death and destruction (Proverbs 14:12).

Nowhere in the Bible are we told to "pray about" the truth or falsity of a doctrine or a prophet. This is because the devil can influence our emotions very easily, as can our own sin nature. One might just as well "pray about" whether or not they should rob a bank or commit adultery. The Bible already tells us how to measure these things.

Isaiah 8:20 says that if a prophet speaks contrary to the Bible (Law and testimony) it is because there is no light in them. Deut. 13:1-3 and Deut.18:20-22 declare that if a prophet either leads us toward worshipping a false god or gets one single prophecy wrong, then that prophet is false and we should not follow him. All of these things are true of Joseph Smith, so he is a false prophet.

The Bible provides accurate and OBJECTIVE ways of measuring the truth of a doctrine or a prophet. The methods the Mormons promote are subjective and very unreliable. Simple human experience bears this out. We can feel someone loves us when actually they might love another, and we are only interpreting their actions in a subjective way which makes it appear that they love us.

If we can be this easily deceived in human relationships, why trust our immortal souls on such sloppy and unreliable methods?

#135: Book Of Mormon and Bible Discrepancies

Concerning the Bible and the Book of Mormon and discrepancies between them, the problem which needs to be brought forth is that it is very difficult to find any. This is part of the seductive charm of the book. It is no more a representative book of LDS theology than is a Spider-Man comic!

You see, none of the distinctive doctrines of Mormonism (Law of Eternal Progression, polygamy, men becoming gods, temple rites) are found in the Book of Mormon. One could read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and be almost entirely ignorant of the doctrines of Mormonism. See the resource section for the paper we have on this, "Those Plain and Precious Things."

The fact is, the Book of Mormon actually teaches against many key doctrines of the LDS Church today! This fact is blissfully ignored by the missionaries. Since the "hook" in the LDS conversion process is getting the person to read the Book of Mormon and "pray about it," the fact that the Book of Mormon is about 97% Biblical is a great incentive. If investigators were to read the Pearl of Great Price or the Doctrine and Covenants (other LDS Standard Works) and "pray about it," they would probably conclude, unless they were Biblical dunces, that Mormonism was false.

This is incredibly deceptive! It is like offering somewhat gourmet cooking for them to evaluate as to whether or not they should have supper at a fast food restaurant. However, the missionaries do this continually. To actually set the record straight, however; there are some doctrinal differences between the Bible and the Book of Mormon:

1) Book of Mormon says you can pray to learn important spiritual truths from heart feelings (Moroni 10:3-5)—Bible says heart and feelings are sinful and cannot be trusted (Jer. 17:9, Prov.14:12). 2) Book of Mormon Trinity is actually Sabellian or Modalist—meaning it teaches that Jesus was the Father and then became the Son (Mosiah 15:1-5)—whereas the Bible teaches that there are three distinct eternal Persons in one, eternal God (1 John 5:7, etc.). 3) Book of Mormon denies the completeness and inerrancy of the Bible as the Word of God (2 Nephi 29:3-10); while the Bible says of itself that it is perfect, untampered with, and sufficient for doctrine and salvation (Mt.5:18, 1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17, 2 Tim.3:16) 4) Book of Mormon Jesus is a vindictive monster who wipes out half a continent full of people in revenge for his crucifixion by Roman soldiers on another continent (3 Nephi 8); whereas the Biblical Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) 5) Book of Mormon introduces a prophet, Lehi, in Jerusalem at the time of Jeremiah (1 Nephi 1:4-2:4) who prophesies and behaves in a manner totally contradictory to the message which God gave the prophet Jeremiah (Jer.24:5-10, 42:9-12) in the Bible.

These are, for the most part, subtle differences; and there are others—some of them buried so deep in the Book of Mormon that most investigators never find them. Thus, the overall effect is that the investigator with just an average knowledge of the Bible perceives the book to be in accord with the Bible. The bottom line, though, is that the Book of Mormon is not a good barometer by which to judge the orthodoxy of Mormonism.

#136—IS THE BIBLE ALL-SUFFICIENT, OR ARE THERE BOOKS MISSING FROM IT?

One of the premises upon which the LDS Church is founded is that the Bible has been tampered with and/or that there are books missing from it which should have been included, but were either deliberately or accidentally omitted.

First of all, Jesus Christ made it very clear that no one would be allowed to touch or tamper with the Word of God. In Matt. 5:18, the Lord told us, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." That means, in plain English, that not the tiniest dot of a "I" or cross of a "T" would be allowed to be changed until the Second Coming of Jesus!

This is echoed by many other verses in the Bible. (1 Pet.1:25, Is.40:8, 51:6, Ps.119:89; 12:6-7; 19:7-8; 111:7; Lk.16:17) This all pretty well rules out the possibility of anything being removed from the Bible either accidentally or on purpose. If God promises that He will preserve the Bible from tampering, then who is powerful enough to over-rule Him? (Isa. 50:2, Isa. 59:1)

Now, as far as their being other "sacred books" out there which are needed by us; the burden of proof is definitely on the Mormon. The Bible gives absolutely no indication of such a phenomenon! In fact, it cautions against those who would add to the canon of scripture (the books of the Bible) in Rev. 22:18-19, Deut. 4:2, 12:32 and 19:9!

Additionally, virtually all of the supposed "lost books" of the Bible cited by the Mormons are in the Old Testament. Now to a Hebrew there are 39 books in their Bible. These are exactly the same number of books found in the Bible.

Until Acts 10, every Christian believer was a Jew or a Jewish proselyte (convert). These people all believed and knew that there were 39 books. Thus, in terms of there being any additional books in the Old Testament, here is what it boils down to:

1. Historical fact One: The Old Testament is a Hebrew book which Jews call the Holy Scriptures. It is written by Hebrews, and for the most part in Hebrew. It is called, in Hebrew, the Tenach, for reasons which will become important shortly. 2. Historical fact Two: Jesus, a Hebrew, clearly defines the beginning and the end of the Old Testament as Genesis and 2 Chronicles in ways (and for reasons) that will shortly become apparent. He does this in Matt. 23:35. He also clearly divides it into three main sections, even as Jews did before Him (see Luke 24:44-45). 3. Historical fact Three: The Old Testament is found in contemporary Rabbinical schools right now, beginning at Genesis and ending at 2 Chronicles; and divided into the same three main sections. 4. Historical fact Four: There are 39 books in the Hebrew Bible before the time of Jesus. 5. Historical fact Five: There are 39 books in the Hebrew Bible after Jesus. 6. Historical fact Six: There are 39 books in it TODAY, divided into the same three divisions as were used by Jesus.

Now, it may be confusing that the Bible used by Christians has an Old Testament which begins with Genesis and ends with the prophet Malachi. However, understand that this is a strictly Christian way of ordering the Hebrew scriptures. The Hebrew Bible has the same books, but the orders of the divisions of those books are different!

The Hebrew Bible is called the Tenach—an acronym. It stands for these 3 divisions: 1. TORAH—the Law, the five books of Moses or Pentateuch. 2. NA’ABHIM—the Prophets, Isaiah through Malachi. 3. KETUVIM—the Writings, Psalms and Wisdom literature (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs) and Historical literature (Joshua—2 Chronicles). Hence, T-N-Kh or Tenach—remember, there are no vowels in Hebrew. Thus, a Hebrew today, just as a Hebrew in Jesus’ time, would be accustomed to think of the Hebrew Bible as beginning with Genesis and ending with 2 Chronicles.

Now how does Jesus affirm this delineation in the Gospels? Well, first of all, in Matt. 23:35, he warns the Pharisees (who were, of course, very familiar with the scriptures): That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. This is a typically idiomatic Hebrew way of saying from Genesis to 2 Chronicles! Why? Because Abel was the first "martyr" slain in the Bible (Gen. 4:8), and Zacharias was the last "martyr" slain by the rulers of Israel in 2 Chronicles 24:20-21. This shows that as far as Jesus was concerned, the Hebrew canon of scripture was complete!

Additionally, in Luke 24:44, Jesus was teaching the disciples on the road to Emmaus: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Here is the same three-fold division which has been used for thousands of years! There is no evidence of tampering!

The Apocryphal books, which are some of those alleged to be part of the "missing" Old Testament, partially take place outside of this historical framework (1 and 2 Machabees occur during the inter-testamental period, AFTER 2 Chronicles!)

Additionally, there is no internal evidence for any of these "missing" books (either apocryphal or otherwise)! Internal evidence means that neither Jesus nor Paul, for example, ever once quoted from them, in more than 200 Old Testament citations given in the New Testament! Yet, in spite of this, Bruce R. McConkie claims that the following are missing books from the Bible (numbers added for convenience): 1. Book of the Covenant (Ex.24:4,7); 2. Book of the Wars of the Lord (Num.21:14); 3. Book of Jasher (Josh.10:13, 2Sam. 1:18); 4. A Book of Statutes (1Sam. 10:25); 5. Book of the Acts of Solomon (1Kgs. 11:41); 6. Books of Nathan and Gad (1Chr. 29:29, 2Chr. 9:29); 7. Prophecy of Ahijah and Visions of Iddo (2Chr.9:29, 12:15, 13:22); 8. Book of Shemaiah (2Chr. 12:15); 9. Book of Jehu (2Chr. 20:34) 10. Acts of Uzziah (2Chr. 26:22); 11. Sayings of the Seers (2Chr. 33:19) 12. An epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (1Cor.5:9) 13. An epistle of Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 3:3) 14. An epistle of Paul to the Laodicians (Col. 4:16) 15. Epistle of Jude (Jude 3) 16. Prophecies of Enoch (Jude 14)—(MORMON DOCTRINE, p.454)

Impressive as this list looks, it actually represents an appalling lack of understanding of the Bible! First of all, #1 and #15 are totally eliminated because they obviously refer to books which are not missing, but which are in the Bible already! There is no indication that the "Book of the Covenant" is anything other than the Torah or Five Books of Moses! There is also no indication that Jude wrote a different epistle than the one we have. Nothing in the text in plain English would indicate that.

Of the remaining fourteen, there is nothing in any of those texts which would indicate that the people who wrote the texts considered them to be inerrant scripture! It is an error in logic to assume that just because a book is mentioned in the Bible that God intended it to be in the Bible. Additionally, it is always presumptuous to assume that the Bible teaches or asserts things it does not teach! Nowhere does the Bible say, for example, that the "Book of Jasher" was intended to be part of the Hebrew canon; or that Paul’s "missing" epistle to the Corinthians was inspired.

First of all, Mormons are the first ones to insist that everything a prophet or apostle writes is not necessarily scripture. They do this continually when we cite Brigham Young’s teaching of the Adam-God doctrine or Apostle Orson Pratt’s teaching that Jesus had at least 3 wives. If Mormons wish us to grant them the right to make that distinction, then they should be willing to grant THE HOLY BIBLE the right to make distinctions between inspired writings of prophets and apostles and non-inspired writings! If the Bible doesn’t say that these are inspired books, then they aren’t inspired. When God doesn’t speak, human beings should keep humble silence and not assume things which are not taught!

For example, the apostle Paul quotes a couple of pagan Greek poets in Acts 17:28, which hardly means that those poets are missing parts of the canon of scripture!

The only one of the list which is problematic is the last one, Jude 14, which says And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Again, this does not say that Enoch wrote a book, does it? It just says that he prophesied. Now, since the Holy Spirit (the Author of Jude) is God, and knows all things; He certainly would know what Enoch prophesied 4000 years earlier!

It just takes confidence in the fact that the Author of the Bible is indeed the Holy Spirit; and that He is perfectly able to include those books He wants and exclude those books (which are just simply historical records, etc.) which He does not want in His Book!

The Book of Mormon cannot possibly be lost or missing scripture because of the following reasons: 1. It contradicts the prior revelation of the Old and New Testament in many places; 2. It is filled with scientific errors and egregious historical inaccuracies; 3. It is very badly written, both from a grammatical and a literary standpoint, and God is not a poor writer; 4. It is unnecessary; there is NO Biblical evidence that we need any more inspired books than what we already have in the 66 books of the Bible! We challenge the Mormons to find us ONE Biblical text (in context) which indicates that we need to look beyond the Bible for more light and truth!