This is in response to a commenter on Elena's blog that my list of bullet points was incorrect and that I had been "misled"
Here are the points and my sources:
- Mormon doctrine denies the eternal nature of God (the father-god was a created man who became a god)
- Mormon doctrine denies the Trinity )"That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35.)
Source: Joseph Smith: "Lectures on Faith.", approved for inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants by a Conference vote of the LDS Church on August 17, 1835. They appeared in all English editions of the D&C until their unexplained removal in 1921 without a General Conference vote. Lecture Five explicitly teaches that there are two persons in the Godhead:
Q. How many personages are there in the Godhead?
A. Two: the Father and the Son.
- Mormon doctrine denies the virgin birth (the father-god had sex with Mary to conceive Jesus)
Brigham Young, second prophet and president of the LDS church said,
"The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood—was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." (Journal of Discourses, v. 8, p. 115).
- Mormon doctrine teaches that Christ was in a plural marriage
Jedediah M. Grant, Second Counselor to Brigham Young the Second Prophet of the LDS Church:
"Celsus was a heathen philosopher; and what does he say upon the subject of Christ and his Apostles, and their belief? He says, the 'grand reason why the Gentiles and philosophers of his school persecuted Jesus Christ, was because He had so many wives; there were Elizabeth, and Mary, and a host of others that followed Him.' After Jesus went from the stage of action, the Apostles followed the example of their master. . . The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, casing his crucifixion, was evidently based on polygamy,. . .a belief in the doctrine of plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus, and his followers. We might almost think they were 'Mormons' " (Journal of Discourses, Vol 1. ppl 345-346)
- Mormon doctrine teaches that Mormonism is the only true way to heaven
- Mormon doctrine states that there is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 188.)
If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation [the context is the full gospel including exaltation to Godhood] outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670.)
- Mormon doctrine teaches that all men have the potential to become gods
- And it follows that Mormon doctrine denies monotheism (as there are as many gods as there are men who have become gods)
We were begotten by our Father in Heaven; the person of our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly world by His Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient Father, and so on from generation to generation, from one heavenly world to another still more ancient...
LDS Apostle Orson Pratt, The Seer, 1853, page 132
Milly
I'll not talking to the boys on the bikes like I had in the past, perhaps I'll be talking to them about my beliefs.
Ellen
The challenge is:
Can you varbalize how these beliefs differ from Christianity - and find Scripture references?
mom on a wire
Hey Ellen-
Thanks for the clarification on your sources. I'm certainly not trying to argue with you, or turn this into a huge issure. I just wanted to make sure your information was current and accurate. As far as the sources you cited- many of our church leaders have spoken and written their personal beliefs about our religion. However, unless what they talked about is on that website I linked to yesterday, http://www.mormon.org it is only their opinion and not the true doctrine or teachings of our church. Some of the information they wrote about is in line with our beliefs, but some of it is also pure speculation, or merely outdated (for example, our church didn't used to let blacks hold positions of authority- obviously that was wrong, and the church has completely changed its stance on that). Some Mormons choose to believe the things that former leaders speculated about, but that is their own choice and opinion, not something that they learned through the teachings of our church. I hope this helps you understand where I'm coming from. Have a good day!
mom on a wire
In response to your question on Elena's blog about the trinity, here is a summary of our beliefs on the official website: http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1598-1,00.html
Phil
Hey "mom"... lookee here. I come from the line of Lorenzo Snow; our family name continued until my great-grandmother. Her son, my grandfather, built and furnished Mormon churches here on the west coast. My uncle served as a bishop in England and maintains a leadership position there. Simply put, I know Mormonism, and I know it's not Bible-based Christianity. Now that statement should be obvious from the fact that you have to publish "another testament" to augment (and in many cases, contradict) the Word of God "once and for all delivered to the saints." [Jude 1:3] But just an examination of your beliefs on the face of it proves it's a wholesale departure from the Old Testament, and completely abrogates the terms of the new covenant of Christ's blood.
As for this game about "oh, well, that's just what some of our church leaders have said", you don't fool me there either. I know what the office of the president and prophet means. When Young, Snow, Smith, Hinkley or whomever actually decrees something, it's doctrine. For example, when President Joseph F. Smith "received the vision of the redemption of the dead" in 1918, it was rubber-stamped and enshrined in Mormon doctrine. (D&C 138). Wanna call me "misinformed"? Look it up yourself: http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/138
This is COMPLETELY against the Bible, which does not allow for repentance leading to redemption after the grave. Rather, God declares: "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" [Hebrews 9:27] That is just one example, and it comes from your lds.org website (although it's otherwise well known). Mormon doctrine is full of such lies and twists of Christian terminology. Speaking of terminology and language… “reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics” is 100% bogus, and you all just admit it now? Besides, the Hebrews that (you claim) lived in the New World (the Americas) didn’t write in Egyptian hieroglyphics any way. Ancient Hebrews wrote in Hebrew. Non-Mormon archeology offers absolutely no support whatsoever to Mormon claims. On the other hand, Biblical Archeology is one of the largest and most fascinating fields, studied by both nonbeliever and believers alike, and completely supports the Bible. I could go on and on with myriad other issues.
"mom", don't know you you're falling for the lie in the garden? Satan has sold the same lie so many times, but the essence of the lie is the same: you too can be like God... or even be a god! Mormonism is one in a line of many false religions that Satan has used to tempt fallen man with future status as deity. All those who bought into this lie will be in for Hell (literally) on Judgment Day when you all see who is the eternal God and find out that you won't be one.
I know of your church's recent re-doubling of effort to blend in to mainstream Christianity. You can change your church signs to have "JESUS CHRIST" in letter larger than in decades past, screaming as if you're true Christians. Sadly, today's Christians sometimes are gullible enough to be duped by some of it. But you won't fool the elect, and you certainly won't fool those who've examined your teachings. In fact, you won't fool anyone not willing to drink the Kool-Aid flowing out of Salt Lake.
As for me, I will continue to shepherd the church from the wolves that would devour with lies and deception. Jesus warned us, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." [Matt 24:24] LDS is just "Language to Deceive the Saints." I’m won’t be deceived.
Ellen
mom on a wire:
the website you point to says that "A prophet is a man called by God to be His special witness on the earth. A prophet speaks for God, with divine power and authority."
These are the people I'm quoting. Do they or do they not speak for God?
Lorenzo Snow, Brigham Young and Joseph Smith were all prophets and formed Mormon doctrine.
do you or do you not believe that they were true prophets?
mom on a wire
I absolutely believe that they were true prophets. However, there is a difference when they are speaking as a prophet and when they are speaking as a man.
Ellen
So, what is the lie and what's the truth?
Here is an exerpt from "Doctrines and Covenants"
We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice...
WILFORD WOODRUFF
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
October 6, 1890
The question is this: Which is the wisest course for the Latter-day Saints to pursue—to continue to attempt to practice plural marriage, with the laws of the nation against it...
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
Reported in Deseret Weekly, November 14, 1891
So, here is the President, in the document that calls itself "Doctrines and Covenants", in 1890 saying that the LDS DOES NOT practice polygamy, and in 1891 asking if the LDS should CONTINUE to practice polygamy.
Remember, this is filed under "doctrines and covenants)