Life After Ministry

Reasons Starting with F

Faith

Faith, pg. 1; “Father Adam understood this basic principle: “An angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.” (Moses 5:6.) He showed his unwavering faith—and since the witness and the miracle follow rather than precede the faith, the angel then sought to enlighten him, saying: “This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.””

Hebrews 11:1; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Okay.  Adam was sacrificing to God.  The angel asked him why he was doing this.  Adam said he didn’t know why, only that God told him to do it.  Adam then said, the testimony and God’s miracle comes after my faith.  The angel decided to clue him in and told him all this is a precursor of Jesus’ sacrifice…

Bear with me, sometimes it takes me awhile to sort through things.

My 17 years of studying yet limited experience with the Old Testament tells me that the story here sounds a lot like the Abraham experience with Isaac minus the mysterious angel in the book of Moses.

And where in the Bible does it say that Adam knew anything about Jesus?

Faith by Works

Wilford W. Andersen, April 2010 LDS General Conference, Saturday Morning Session; “Faith in the Savior requires more than mere belief. The Apostle James taught that even the devils believe and tremble. But true faith requires work. The difference between the devils and the faithful members of this Church is not belief but work. Faith grows by keeping the commandments. We must work at keeping the commandments. From the Bible Dictionary we read that “miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith comes by righteousness.”

James 2:17; “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

How sad that the believers of a so-called “true religion” would be compared in such a lowly fashion to “devils”.

Faith, How to Find

Be Your Best Self, pg. 160; “How does one find faith? We do not find it by reading about it in a book; we must discover faith for ourselves. President David O. McKay taught: “The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.” It is a good thing for us to sit down and commune with ourselves, to come to an understanding of ourselves and decide in that silent moment what our duty is to family, to church, to country, and to our fellowmen.”

Romans 10:14-17; “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

In the Mormon Church I had always been taught I was especially good because I was born in the latter days to a Mormon family.  I had held out and waited patiently for my family.  My faith had been great.

My family – have I ever told you about my family?  Oh my goodness!

Seriously I couldn’t figure out why I would’ve chosen that family or why I would’ve sinned against Jesus while I was with Him and then the reasoning started kicking in after having a bunch of babies…why would I want to be pregnant for eternity and after I began studying I started rethinking the whole “gods and goddesses thing”.

When I was Mormon there was also a popular saying “quit feeling sorry for yourself”.   Meaning if you begin any reasoning process in your mind then you’re feeling sorry for yourself and your circumstances so stop it.

Faith, Investigation of

George A. Smith, Journal of Discourses 14:217; “If a faith will not bear to be investigated; if its preachers and professors are afraid to have it examined, their foundation must be very weak. Those who come into the Church of Latter-day Saints, if they are faithful, learn in a short time, and know for themselves. The Holy Spirit and the light of eternal truth rest down upon them, and you will hear them, here and there, testify that they know of the doctrine, that they are acquainted with and understand it for themselves.” – Salt Lake City, August 13, 1871

John 5:39-44; “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.  41 I receive not honour from men.  42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.  43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.  44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”

It is weak indeed isn’t it?  The statement made here by Mr. Smith was nothing more than a ruse to divert the attention of outsiders and trick them.  Remember “follow the brethren”?

Faith (the Blind Kind)

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 2, Issue 2, pg. 13; “The Book of Mormon, Historicity, and Faith – Our faith in Christ is grounded in the work of redemption that was accomplished in a specific garden and on a designated cross in a particular moment in our earth’s history. It is not the exact site that matters so much as it is that there was such a site. If Jesus did not in reality suffer and bleed and die and rise from the tomb, then we are spiritually doomed, no matter how committed we may be to the “faith event” celebrated by the first-century Christians.” – Robert Millet

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Lies, lies, lies.  The historical truth is that Jesus did not pay for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, but on the CROSS!

(A) Fall Upward

2 Nephi 2:22-25; “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. 23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. 24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

James 1:13-15; “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Joseph Smith has tried to introduce the idea that God set Adam up to fail. If it hadn’t been for Adam’s sin, man wouldn’t be…

This is nonsensical!  God abhors sin – Psalm 5:4-5; “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”

Why would God go to all the trouble of creating man and set him up to fail? Do you as a parent do that to your kid? That’s the meaning of malevolent! 

God is loving, judicious and full of grace and truth – John 1:14.

How can He be full of truth and tempt Adam to sin?

How could He be full of grace and set Adam up to fail by telling him he had to sin to fulfill all commandments?

The Fall

Ensign, Nov. 1993, pgs. 72-75; “Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall …Joseph Smith taught that it was not a “sin,” because God had decreed it…Brigham Young declared, “We should never blame Mother Eve, not the least” (in Journal of Discourses, 13:145). Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: “I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin. … This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin … for it was something that Adam and Eve had to do!” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation…1:114–15). This suggested contrast between a sin and a transgression reminds us of the careful wording in the second article of faith: “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression” (emphasis added).”

Result is Gen. 3:8; “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”

Look at how brazen their comments are!  “…Christians condemn Eve for her act…Not the Latter-day Saints!”  My body literally groans at the implications of such a belief.  They celebrate sin and honor her disobedience…  There are times I just don’t have words and this is one of those times.

Fall of Man is Blessing vs. Curse

Articles of Faith, pg. 63; “It has become a common practise with mankind to heap reproaches upon the progenitors of the family, and to picture the supposedly blessed state in which we would be living but for the fall; whereas our first parents are entitled to our deepest gratitude for their legacy to posterity—the means of winning title to glory, exaltation, and eternal lives. But for the opportunity thus given, the spirits of God’s offspring would have remained forever in a state of innocent childhood, sinless through no effort of their own; negatively saved, not from sin, but from the opportunity of meeting sin…From Father Adam we have inherited all the ills to which flesh is heir; but such are necessarily incident to a knowledge of good and evil, by the proper use of which knowledge man may become even as the Gods.” – James Talmage

Gen. 3:15; “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

This clip of doctrine says it all about Mormonism.  In reality believing there must be opposites to learn is a form of Witchcraft.

Fall, Man Must be Redeemed from

Ether 3:13; “And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.”

Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Using little phrases in part from the Bible is what continues to confuse the Mormon people.  Most times the Mormon won’t stop to read an entire story in context but see little snippets of information and believe that is what is also taught in the Bible because the vocabulary is similar.

Falling from Grace

Mosiah 18:17, 20; “And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church. 20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.”

Gal. 5:4; “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

It’s supposedly 147 BC at the time of Mosiah’s writing.  Why are these people preaching Jesus saves and obedience to the Law at the same time?

Paul tells us in Galatians those who do such a thing are forfeiting their salvation! 

As Christians this would be a nightmare come true! Can you just imagine Jesus saying that you’ve fallen from grace? 

What wouldn’t you be ready to give up for Him? 

False christs Lead to False Gospels

Alma 46:41; “But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.”

1 Cor. 15:1-4; “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

It’s supposedly BC 72 so why are they believing in Christ and what purpose does this verse serve for those reading/believing in this and last but not least, how does this glorify God?

These are the types of stories people can and will believe when they don’t heed Paul’s words in First Corinthians!

False Doctrine, God Allows

Bruce R. McConkie, Letter written by Bruce McConkie to Mr. Eugene England dated February 19, 1981; “I do not know all of the providences of the Lord, but I do know that he permits false doctrine to be taught in and out of the Church and that such teaching is part of the sifting process of mortality”

Hebrews 6:18; “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”

If it is impossible for God to lie then why would He ever condone false doctrine into His church?

False Gods, Better to Worship False Gods than Nothing at All

Mortal Messiah 2:177; “It is better, no doubt, to have a false religion and to worship false gods than to have no religion and no worship at all. Neutrality is as nothing, and indifference is denigrating and damning. Those who are lukewarm—who are neither hot nor cold; who take no affirmative stand; who do not seek the blessings available through worship—will one day be spewed out of the divine mouth, as it were, and find their place in one of the lesser eternal realms.” – Bruce McConkie

Romans 8:5-8; “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Never in a million years could I imagine my pastor standing up at the pulpit and telling the congregation what McConkie has said here.

False Prophecies

Church Property in Joseph’s Hands Until Christ Returns

D&C 104:1; “Verily I say unto you, my friends, I give unto you counsel, and a commandment, concerning all the properties which belong to the order which I commanded to be organized and established, to be a united order, and an everlasting order for the benefit of my church, and for the salvation of men until I come.” – April 23, 1834

Titus 1:9-11; “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

Take notice of the wording here.  Smith prophesied that the Mormon properties would be in their hands forever.  Forty seven verses later the United Order was dissolved.

D&C 104:47; “And now, a commandment I give unto you concerning Zion, that you shall no longer be bound as a united order to your brethren of Zion, only on this wise—”.

False Prophecies/D&C

D&C 113:1-6; “Who is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?  2 Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ.  3 What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse?  4 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 there is laid much power.  5 What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?  6 Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant 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.” – Also see Isaiah 11:1-6.

Isaiah 11:10-11; “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.  11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”

1. The tribe of Ephraim is no more.  Jesus is not a descendant of Judah, not Ephraim.

2. Joseph Smith does not rightly hold the priesthood.

False Prophecies, Earlier Revelations Deleted

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 406; “Over the years after the first printing, other revelations were received and some earlier materials were deleted. An 1835 edition, published in Kirtland, Ohio, was entitled Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and contained 103 sections. In subsequent editions, more sections were added (see Doctrine and Covenants Editions). The most recent additions were sections 137 (1836) and 138 (1918) on salvation of the dead, and the Official Declaration 2 announcing the priesthood available to every worthy male member of the Church (1978). An article on marriage written by Oliver Cowdery in 1835 was deleted from the 1876 edition. Beginning with the 1921 edition, a set of lessons called the Lectures on Faith have not been included.”

1 John 4:1; “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

If the revelations were inspired of God why were they deleted?

False Prophecy

History of the Church 2:380-381; This large section tells us of a prophecy given by Joseph Smith in which he sees the twelve LDS apostles in heavenly glory.  However, if you dig a little deeper we learn that five of those apostles were ex-communicated from the fold!  Part of this revelation can also be found in D&C 88.

History of the Church 2:382; “…And I saw in my vision all of the Presidency in the celestial kingdom of God, and many others that were present…”

Lyman Johnson HC 3:20; “…and he was cut off from the Church.”
Luke Johnson HC 2:528; “Apostasy in Kirtland.  I returned to Kirtland on or about the 10th of December. During my absence in Missouri Warren Parrish, John F. Boynton, Luke S. Johnson, Joseph Coe, and some others united together for the overthrow of the Church.”
William McLellin HC 3:31; “…he had no confidence in the heads of the Church, believing they had transgressed, and had got out of the way, consequently he quit praying and keeping the commandments of God, and indulged himself in his lustful desires…”
William Smith HC 7:483; “William Smith who has published a pamphlet against the Twelve was excommunicated from the church by unanimous vote.”
Thomas Marsh HC 3:284; “…the following persons be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, viz.: George M. Hinkle, Sampson Avard, John Corrill, Reed Peck, William W. Phelps, Frederick G. Williams, Thomas B. Marsh, Burr Riggs, and several others.”

2 John 1:10-11; “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

So we have to ask; did the apostles get saved or not?

False Prophecy

History of the Church 4:478; “”Some people say I am a fallen Prophet, because I do not bring forth more of the word of the Lord. Why do I not do it? Are we able to receive it? No! not one in this room. He then chastened the congregation for their wickedness and unbelief, ‘for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son and daughter whom he receiveth,’ and if we do not receive chastisements then we are bastards and not sons.””

1 John 5:3-4; “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Didn’t God deliver the message of salvation even to those in Noah’s day and Noah was the only righteous person?

False Prophecy about Jews

2 Nephi 10:7; “But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance.”

Matthew 24:4-5; “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Well the Jews did go back to the land of their inheritance in Israel in 500 BC and again in 1948, but they still don’t believe in Jesus.  And why were they saying things like this about “Christ” more than 500 years before His birth?

False Prophecy, Kings and Queens Will Come to Nauvoo

History of the Church 4:605-606; “I now deliver it as a prophecy, if the inhabitants of this state, with the people of the surrounding country, will turn unto the Lord with all their hearts, ten years will not roll round before the kings and queens of the earth will come unto Zion, and pay their respects to the leaders of this people; they shall come with their millions, and shall contribute of their abundance for the relief of the poor, and the building up and beautifying of Zion.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10; “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Again this prophecy serves as a fool proof way of proving their authenticity.  How can it be a prophecy when in fact you already know it won’t happen?  Keep dangling that carrot…

False Prophets, Beware of in LDS Church

General Conference, October 1999; “When we think of false prophets and false teachers, we tend to think of those who espouse an obviously false doctrine or presume to have authority to teach the true gospel of Christ according to their own interpretation. We often assume that such individuals are associated with small radical groups on the fringes of society. However, I reiterate: there are false prophets and false teachers who have or at least claim to have membership in the Church… False prophets and false teachers are those who declare that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a duplicitous deceiver… They also attempt to redefine the nature of the Godhead, and they deny that God has given and continues to give revelation today to His ordained and sustained prophets…False prophets and false teachers are those who arrogantly attempt to fashion new interpretations of the scriptures to demonstrate that these sacred texts should not be read as God’s words to His children but merely as the utterances of uninspired men…” – Russell Ballard
Galatians 5:19-21; “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

So if a teacher in the Priesthood class points out a false prophecy of Smith or Young, that teacher is a false teacher?

False Teachers

Preach My Gospel, pg. 46; “Just as the Christian world was blessed by the courage and vision of the reformers, many other nations and cultures have been blessed by those who were given that portion “that [God] seeth fit that they should have” (Alma 29:8).  Teachings of other religious leaders have helped many people become more civil and ethical.”

1 Corinthians 15:33; “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

Oh the subtlety of the evil one.  The tone in their presentations is changing.  Ten years ago those “courageous Christians” he’s referring to now were the whores of Babylon who groveled in absolute darkness.

Familiar Spirits

Gospel Doctrine, pg. 435; “We are told by the Prophet Joseph Smith, that “there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it.” Hence, when messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred, friends, and fellow-beings and fellow-servants. The ancient prophets who died were those who came to visit their fellow creatures upon the earth.”

Leviticus 19:31; “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”

Angels are not resurrected prophets from the past.  Communicating with spirits is of the devil.

Familiar Spirits from Out of the Ground

Divine Authority or the Question: Was Joseph Smith Sent of God, pg. 8; “Mr. Smith, though an unlearned man, testifies that he was commanded to translate them, through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by the aid of the Urim and Thummim, and that the Book of Mormon is that translation. Now, Isaiah [Ch. 29] says to Israel…Thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.  Who cannot perceive the perfect harmony between Isaiah’s prediction and Mr. Smith’s testimony? Isaiah, as if to impress it upon the minds of those who should live in future generations, gives no less than four repetitions of the same prediction in the same passage, informing us, in the most definite language, that after Israel should be brought down, they should speak in a very familiar manner out of the ground, and whisper low out of the dust. Mr. Smith has been an instrument in the hands of God of fulfilling this prediction to the very letter. He has taken out of the ground the ancient history of one half of our globe-the sacred records of a great nation…”

Isaiah 8:19-22; “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?  20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.  21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.  22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.”

Again we see Satan using scripture in an inappropriate context and twisting it to sound good.  Scary indeed!

False Teachers Thrust to Hell

2 Nephi 28:15; “O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!”

The One God of this Earth is Adam

Journal of Discourses 4:1-2; “I have learned by experience that there is but one God that pertains to this people, and He is the God that pertains to this earth—the first man. That first man sent his own Son to redeem the world…” – Heber C Kimball, Salt Lake City, June 29, 1856

Revelation from God – Adam is God

Deseret News, June 18, 1873; “How much unbelief exists…in regard to one particular doctrine…which God revealed to me — namely that Adam is our father and God.” – Brigham Young

Church Denounces Adam-god Theory

“Our Own Liahona”, Ensign, October 1976; “We hope that you who teach in the various organizations, whether on the campuses or in our chapels, will always teach the orthodox truth. We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations. Such, for instance, is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine.” – Spencer W Kimball

Deuteronomy 18:20; “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.”

Well now, that’s a conundrum isn’t it? Ask anyone in the Church today about the eternal destiny of Brigham Young and they’ll tell you he’s in heaven with Joseph Smith.

Families are Eternal because of Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith, The Prophet, The Man, pg. 6; “I thank him and love him for the sealing power of the holy priesthood that makes possible and certain the continuance of the family through eternity. I have said many times that if nothing else came out of all of the sorrow and travail and pain of the restoration than the sealing power of the holy priesthood to bind together families forever, it would have been worth all that it has cost.” – Gordon Hinckley

Romans 8:5; “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Here we have a “prophet” declaring he is thankful for a man who spread lies.  Smith doesn’t hold the priesthood anymore than I do.

Familiar Spirits

Today we’re taking a look at these familiar spirits, how the Church defines this phenomenon & why it refers to the Book of Mormon as the voice that’s a familiar spirit.

Cowley’s Talks on Doctrine, pg 185; “They literally came out of the earth, and righteousness in the personage of a holy angel came down from heaven and placed them in the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Isaiah speaks of the ancient seers being covered, and that in the latter days their speech should be “low out of the dust.” The Book of Mormon was written by seers upon the American continent.”

Under the entry of “familiar spirits” McConkie defined it this way:

Mormon Doctrine, pg 273; “See SPIRITUALISM”

Under spiritualism it said;

Mormon Doctrine, pg 760; “Those religionists who attempt and frequently attain communion (as they suppose) with departed spirits are called spiritualists. Their doctrine and belief that mediums and other mortals can actually hold intercourse with the spirits of the dead is called spiritualism.…Thus, no matter how sincerely mediums may be deceived into thinking they are following a divinely approved pattern, they are in fact turning to an evil source “for the living to hear from the dead.”…information revealed from spirits through mediums is not according to “the law and to the testimony.””

The Mormon apostle Orson Pratt insisted the BoM was either the voice Isaiah spoke of or it was an imposter…

Divine Authority or the Question, Was Joseph Smith Sent of God, pg 10; “Here it will at once be perceived that the Book of Mormon is actually the book predicted by Isaiah, or else it must be an imposter. The book mentioned by Isaiah was to have every characteristic which seems to accompany the Book of Mormon.” – Orson Pratt

The apostle Daniel Ludlow emphatically taught the interpretation of Isaiah’s prophecy is not a dire warning, but a promise to Mormons the Book of Mormon is something to look forward to.

Companion to Y our Study of the Book of Mormon, pg 16; “However, a careful reading of this scripture, particularly when read together with Nephi’s explanation, would indicate that the term it “hath a familiar spirit” means that this record (the Book of Mormon) would speak with a “familiar voice” to those who already have the Bible. In other words, Nephi is evidently saying here that the doctrinal teachings of the Book of Mormon would seem familiar to people who had already read and accepted the Bible.” – Daniel Ludlow

Again and again God warns us through His word of dangers in this life. Some of the prophecies in the Old Testament were announcements to the Israelites of impending doom and punishment. Other prophecies were for future events that will take place and to date; we’re still waiting on the Lord for those! 

What to do with prophecies in the past? 

We use them as examples of what God doesn’t want us to do. We study the historical aspects of the socio-economic era to determine Israel’s behavior pattern, what plagued them as a society, as well as their strengths.

This particular prophecy in Isaiah 29:4 was a pronouncement upon the Israelites at that time because of the riotous behavior they continued to engage themselves in. They bowed their knee to Ba’al. They had worshipped the creature instead of the creature (Ro. 1:20-25), and did so under the trees in a grove.

They made sweetcakes to the goddess Asherah and even painted her image on household oil flasks.  They paid homage to her because of the fertility powers they believed she held – just like we do today with “Mother Earth”.

They had also stooped so low they were worshipping Molech (aka Ba’al).  Molech was the god of the Ammonites who would sacrifice their kids in fires to appease their gods.

The passage from Isaiah 29 is referring to the upcoming events they (Israelites) should expect for rejecting God.

Other atrocities of the Israelites:

 They frequented the tents of soothsayers and witches looking for a message that a dead relative may have for them. Fortune tellers would take old wine skins and fill them half way which produced a spooky ghost-like noise. Doing this out of eyeshot of the intended “victim” the fortune-teller would then give their listening audience a fabricated feel good story about their deceased loved ones.

The Israelite then believed their dead relative was speaking from out of the ground where they had been buried.  The witches called these sounds and interpretations “familiar spirits”.

God called it idolatry.

Leviticus 20:6; “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”

Isaiah 29:4; “And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.”

As we’ve seen in the Bible and outside historical sources, God wasn’t kidding. Israel was stripped of her dignity and almost wiped off the face of the earth.

Many who survived the Assyrian onslaught were taken captive and enslaved to a life of servitude to the Assyrian king. Others were split up and placed in outlying communities so far removed from others it was believed they’d starve to death. Still others were allowed to go south and join the two southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah.

With our history lesson behind us, let’s take a look at the text!!  Context is king and trumps all presumptions so what does it tell us?

Isaiah 29:3-5; “And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. 4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. 5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.”

God warns the Israelites their city would be under siege from outsiders. They were going to find themselves so humbled either through death, servitude to a foreign king or through the reality they’ve lost everything they know in life and are now wandering again.

Their voices would be low, as a whisper, so the enemy couldn’t detect them when they spoke and resemble the familiar spirits they had gone “whoring after”.  When all this was accomplished Babylon would do the same to the Assyrians (vs. 5).

So from ONE verse (vs. 4) the Church built an entire theory by claiming a punishment for worshiping demons in the Bible is the pet name for their false gospel (BoM). 

Oh please God have mercy on my people!  Place in their hearts a desire to read and know what these things mean. Give them a heart of curiosity to study Your word and give them means to purchase a dictionary.

Families are Forever

Higher Laws: Understanding the Doctrines of Christ, pg. 147 by Sen. Orrin Hatch; “Have you ever wondered what will happen to your family in the hereafter?…The family is the most important reason for living and enjoying this earthly life…One of the reasons for Mormon temples is the performance of sealings, or eternal marriages, for loving couples who dedicate themselves and their families to being worthy to be together forever.”

2 Timothy 2:14-16; “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

“The family is the most important reason for living…”?  Thanks but no thanks to your theology Senator Hatch.  I love my family so much but it pales in comparison to my love and adoration to Jesus.

Families Essential to Lord’s Plan

Liahona, January 2002, pg. 80; “Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity.

With the Lord, families are essential. He created the earth that we could gain physical bodies and form families (see D&C 2:1–3). He established His Church to exalt families. He provides temples so that families can be together forever (see D&C 138:47–48).”” – Russell Nelson

Psalm 19:1; “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”  Also see Psalm 24:1, 148:1-5; Nehemiah  9:6; Exodus 20:11; Gen. 1:21, 25.

Ephesians 4:11-12; “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Also see Romans 12:4-8 & 1 Corinthians 12:12, 14, 17-27

1 Corinthians 3:16; “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  Also see 1 Corinthians 6:19.

As you can see there are many heretical statements made in that quote so the best thing to do is take it apart sentence by sentence for a rebuttal.  Nothing in what Mr. Nelson had to say was truth and in case you’re not aware, the Liahona is a magazine produced by the Church for children.

He was lying to little kids.

One more thing – isn’t our greatest work to love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself?  This is called “Shema” – Mark 12:28-31, Deuteronomy 6:4-6.

Families in Heaven

Ensign, November 1981, pg. 107; “With your companion, make it a family objective to all be together in the celestial kingdom. Strive to make your home a little bit of heaven on earth so that after this life is over, you may be able to say: We are all here! Father, mother, sister, brother, All who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled— We’re all at home. . . . We’re all—all here. (Charles Sprague, The Writings of Charles Sprague, New York: Charles S. Francis, 1841, p. 73.)”” – Ezra Taft Benson

1 Cor. 13:12; “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Matthew 22:30; “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

Romans 6:5; “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

Note:  There’s no doubt we’ll recognize our loved ones in heaven.  The problem here is believing that being a family gains you salvation.

Family Proclamation

www.lds.org; “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”

Genesis 2:24-25; “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

While God certainly ordained marriage here on earth, it is by no means the way of salvation.

Families are Forever

“Children”, Liahona and Ensign, November 2011; “I testify of the great blessing of children and of the happiness they will bring us in this life and in the eternities.” —Neil L. Andersen

Mark 12:25; “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.”

There are no marriages in heaven, no pregnancies, no watching over our own children and their families. If there were such things don’t you think Jesus would’ve told us so? This is a pretty important subject after all.

I’ve had questions about this teaching (Families are Forever) from the time my parents got divorced.

Because both of my parents were remarried to other people how does that work? And because my husband’s parents were never Mormon it just complicates things even more…whose planet do we live next to? I don’t mean any disrespect by saying that, it just doesn’t make sense.

Families Essential to Salvation

Today ask your Mormon friend if families are essential to salvation and godhood how did Jesus become God in John 1:1 before He came here to earth? He hadn’t been born yet.

John 1:1; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Families; Traditions of Men vs Commandment of God

“The Importance of the Family,” Ensign, May 2003, 42; “The Church has established two special times for families to be together. The first is centered around the proper observance of the Sabbath day. This is the time we are to attend our regular meetings together, study the life and teachings of the Savior and of the prophets. ‘Other appropriate Sunday activities include (1) writing personal and family journals, (2) holding family councils, (3) establishing and maintaining family organizations for the immediate and extended family, (4) personal interviews between parents and children, (5) writing to relatives and missionaries, (6) genealogy, (7) visiting relatives and those who are ill or lonely, (8) missionary work, (9) reading stories to children, and (10) singing Church hymns.’

“The second time is Monday night. We are to teach our children in a well-organized, regular family home evening. No other activities should involve our family members on Monday night. This designated time is to be with our families.” – L. Tom Perry

Mark 7:7-9; “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”

How many family home evenings are enough? What if you get to heaven and you’re found guilty because you should’ve had one or two more FHEs???  (FHE: family home evening) What then? 

And what if you didn’t hold enough family council meetings, sing just the right church hymn or write to the missionary? Will you lose your salvation? 

What happens if you didn’t think to do the genealogy work for Aunt Matilda? Are you damned for that and is Matilda damned because some paperwork wasn’t filled out? 

Come on people – Jesus came into the world not to condemn, but to save – John 3:17! Jesus fulfilled the Law so that we can be released from it – Romans 7:6. Don’t fall into the traditions of genealogy which to God is useless – 1 Timothy 1:4. He already knows who you’re related to and their day of salvation is over with.  

Father and the Son Living in Man’s Heart is False

Messages of the First Presidency 1:168; “When the Savior shall appear, we shall see Him as He is. We shall see that He is a man like ourselves, and that the same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy. (John xiv:23.) The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.”

John 14:23; “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

The word “abode” in the Greek means “to tarry”.  I often have to wonder what made Smith think he could define what certain words meant when he only had a third grade education.  The above “instruction” was given by Smith on April 2, 1843 at Ramus, Illinois.

How very sad for people like my own mother who will continue to place their eternal destiny on someone who obviously knows nothing about God or His power.

Father, Who hath Seen the?

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1123; “There is indeed indication that the intelligence dwelling in each person is coeternal with God. It always existed and never was created or made (D&C 93:29). In due time that intelligence was given a spirit body, becoming the spirit child of God the Eternal Father and his beloved companion, the Mother in Heaven. This spirit, inhabited by the eternal intelligence, took the form of its creators and is in their image (Ballard, p. 140).”

John 1:18; “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

In no way shape or form are we or could we ever be co-eternal with God!

Fear of God

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 505; “Latter-day Saints are sometimes described, because of an assumed overemphasis on works, as living in “fear and trembling.” The phrase is Paul’s (Phil. 2:12). Actually, Mormons aspire to follow Paul’s teaching and practice to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause,” but that anxiety is related to freedom and responsibility (see D&C 58:27). They strive to find and fulfill their callings and fear to fall short of the divine purpose in their lives. They are constantly charged to magnify their callings and not to be weary in well-doing.”

Philippians 2:11-13; “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

I remember being so afraid of God (Heavenly Father) that I would shut myself off from Him.  I remember being taught that if I wanted to know Him I had to be afraid of and fear Him.

Work out your own salvation means to allow Him who has “wrought all our works in us” to continue allowing Him to change us, to work in us to become more holy.

Fear of God isn’t meant to be sure you’re scared to death of Him.  Revere Him.  Be in awe of Him.  Have a healthy respect for Him, knowing He is God and you will never be.

Feelings

General Conference, October 2009, Richard G. Scott; “What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear.”

Proverbs 28:26; “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

I for one, do not want to be a fool, therefore, the Bible is my guide and not my ever changing attitude.

Fig Aprons & Hiding from God

Let’s take a look at what happened in the Garden of Eden at the moment Adam and Eve sinned.

Genesis 3:7-8, 14, 21; “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

Let’s see…they sinned and immediately covered themselves with fig leaves and hid from God. Now think about this. If you were to meet them in person, say on the streets of Salt Lake or the hometown where you live, wouldn’t you steer clear of anyone hiding from God?

Do you hide from God?

Why are Mormons wearing the same regalia in the most holy of places (LDS temples) that Adam and Eve threw together because of shame?  Are you shamed in the temple? 

God rejected their makeshift outfits and kicked them out of the Garden of Eden, but before He did all that He cursed them!  Cursed!  How is being cursed by God a blessing and something to emulate in your sacred ceremonies? 

Let’s take a look at that ceremony –

ADAM: What is that apron you have on?

LUCIFER: It is an emblem of my power and priesthoods.

ADAM: Priesthoods?

LUCIFER: Yes, priesthoods…

LUCIFER: See–you are naked. Take some fig leaves and make you aprons. Father will see your nakedness. Quick! Hide!

[Lucifer withdraws from view.]

ADAM: Brethren and sisters, put on your aprons.

[He waits until they have done so.]

[To Eve.] Come, let us hide.

The aprons represent two things.

1. Lucifer’s power.

2. Sin. 

Why would you engage in this behavior? You can read the ceremony in full here.

First Resurrection for Righteous & Unrighteous

D&C 76:50, 64; “And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just— 64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.”

Mosiah 15:24; “And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.”

Acts 24:15; “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

It’s no wonder Mormons are always confused. The first resurrection that’ll take place is for everyone. As Paul shows us in this verse everyone is called, and then comes either judgment before God or salvation. 

So if everyone that’s ever lived is resurrected and then judged what should this tell the Mormon people about the verse in Mosaih? That verse says some people may not have heard about salvation before their death, but according to the verse in Acts they must have.

First Vision

Doctrines of Salvation 1:188; “CHURCH STANDS OR FALLS WITH JOSEPH SMITH. Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground. If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who wilfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth. If his claims and declarations were built upon fraud and deceit, there would appear many errors and contradictions, which would be easy to detect. The doctrines of false teachers will not stand the test when tried by the accepted standards of measurement, the scriptures.”—Joseph Fielding Smith

http://www.lifeafter.org/vision.asp

John 8:44; “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Might I suggest that he was one of the biggest frauds the earth has ever seen?  Remember under the entry “cults” it lists Smith’s First Vision.

First Vision

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 515; “The First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith is the beginning point, the fountainhead, of the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation. This theophany occurred in a grove near Palmyra, New York, in the spring of 1820.”

Revelation 2:2; “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.”

Someday Joseph Smith’s “theophany” will be nothing but a distant memory for us all.

First Vision According to George A. Smith

Journal of Discourses 12:334; “Joseph Smith had attended these meetings, and when this result was reached he saw clearly that something was wrong. He had read the Bible and had found that passage in James which says “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not,” and taking this literally, he went humbly before the Lord and inquired of Him, and the Lord answered his prayer and revealed to Joseph, by the ministration of angels, the true condition of the religious world. When the holy angel appeared, Joseph inquired which of all these denominations was right and which he should join, and was told they were all wrong…the Lord was about to restore the priesthood and establish His Church, which would be the only true and living Church on the face of the whole earth.” – George A. Smith, Salt Lake City, November 15, 1868

Galatians 3:4-6; “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”

If the body of Christ – meaning all of Christianity – had truly disappeared then what do Paul’s words mean?

Mormons try and tell people they are the true Jews but this can’t happen unless you’re literally of Jewish descent. Therefore, Paul’s teaching here means that the Gentiles would be fellow-heirs when they believe in the Messiah (meaning Jesus). How can everyone who believes in Jesus whether they’re Jewish or Gentile all be deemed wrong and unworthy of God’s salvation? 

While Jesus’ promise to us that His church would always be in existence is important, there’s also things like this that must be taken into account. 

The existence of Christianity didn’t take place in a vacuum. Rather it was a well planned out event that God orchestrated and had been in the making for thousands of years!  God was at work in the hearts of mankind for a long time. 

Galatians 4:4-7; “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” 

Joseph Smith didn’t want to accept the dispensation of God’s saving grace had already taken place and Smith didn’t want to accept the fullness of time had already arrived. The truth is that Smith wasn’t the center of attention and he wasn’t humble enough to accept that. 

And besides all that – who appeared to Joseph Smith that first night and why can’t the apostles and elders remember this all important event? 

First Vision According to John Taylor

Journal of Discourses 10:130-131; “How did this state of things called Mormonism originate? We read that an angel came down and revealed himself to Joseph Smith and manifested unto him in vision the true position of the world in a religious point of view. He was surrounded with light and glory while the heavenly messenger communicated these things unto him, after a series of visitations and communications from the Apostle Peter and others who held the authority of the holy Priesthood, not only on the earth formerly but in the heavens afterwards.” – John Taylor, Salt Lake City, March 1, 1863

Psalm 119:89; “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

The verse in Psalms can’t be true if Joseph Smith’s story is true. And how do we know if Smith’s story is true or not if the apostles don’t remember?

What is truth in Mormonism? 

The apostles don’t recall how Joseph received the news of a new gospel so how would the followers know how it came to be? 

Being a leader comes with the added responsibility that you tell the truth. This is obviously an unreachable task in Mormonism.

First Vision: False Apostle’s Faulty Memory

Journal of Discourses 6:29; “Do you suppose that God in person called upon Joseph Smith, our Prophet? God called upon him; but God did not come himself and call, but he sent Peter to do it. Do you not see? He sent Peter and sent Moroni to Joseph, and told him that he had got the plates. Did God come himself? No: he sent Moroni and told him there was a record, and says he, “That record is matter that pertains to the Lamanites, and it tells when their fathers came out of Jerusalem, and how they came, and all about it; and, says he, “If you will do as I tell you, I will confer a gift upon you.” Well, he conferred it upon him, because Joseph said he would do as he told him. “I want you to go to work and take the Urim and Thummim, and translate this book, and have it published, that this nation may read it.” Do you not see, by Joseph receiving the gift that was conferred upon him, you and I have that record?” – Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, November 8, 1857

Proverbs 18:2; “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”

As a Mormon I used to think it was me and my faulty cognitive thinking whenever I’d read contradictory statements like the one seen here. Then I’d wonder what was wrong with me because no one else openly questioned these things. 

Today it makes me wonder if they published these things on purpose to confuse people and if so then why does the Church still quote from these guys today if they want to be seen as the “one true church”?

First Vision Memory Problems

Journal of Discourses 2:171; “But as it was in the days of our Savior, so was it in the advent of this new dispensation. It was not in accordance with the notions, traditions, and pre-conceived ideas of the American people. The messenger did not come to an eminent divine of any of the so-called orthodoxy, he did not adopt their interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven, in power and great glory, nor send His messengers panoplied with aught else than the truth of heaven, to communicate to the meek the lowly, the youth of humble origin, the sincere enquirer after the knowledge of God. But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith Jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong…” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, February 18, 1855

Matthew 7:7; “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

There was obviously a huge disconnect between the leaders of Mormonism and the Lord. As Jesus told us in Matthew; if we ask, we receive. Does Joseph Smith’s story sound like he went to the Father like Jesus said to do? 

John Piper gives some great insight for the passage in 7:7-11. In his book Desiring God he lists 8 encouragements to pray given to us from the Lord. The notes I’ve listed here are taken from his book and video. I’ve listed his bullet points that I think are important for us to remember when/if someone new comes along preaching another gospel and we want to ask God if it’s true. 

1. “He Invites Us to Pray”. 

2. “He Makes Promises to Us if We Pray”.

3. “God Makes Himself Available”.

4. “Everyone Who Asks Receives”.

5. “We are Coming to Our Father”.

6. “Our Heavenly Father is Better than Our Earthly Father”.

7. “We Can Trust God’s Goodness Because He has Already Made Us His Children”.

8. The Cross is the Foundation of Prayer.”

By John Piper. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org 

AMEN, AMEN & AMEN! 

In light of all that we need to ask if these men who give conflicting messages really have our best interest at heart. Are their words contradictory to what Jesus promised us in Matthew 7:7? 

If we go to our Father in Heaven will He give us a conflicting story like Joseph and Brigham did? A few days ago we also saw the Mormon apostle Heber Kimball who also contradicted Joseph’s original story – so who’s telling the truth and who isn’t? 

Followers, Who Had More?

Journal of Discourses 14:202-203; “…when we examine and understand the facts in relation to this personage whom we call the Savior of the world, there were not, strange to say, as many persons believed on him as have believed on Joseph Smith in the latter days. Not that Joseph was the Savior, but he was a prophet.” – Salt Lake City, August 13, 1871.

Luke 5:15; “But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, August 13, 1871

Fame:  The state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed.

Multitudes: A great amount or number, usually, of people.

Once again, the Bible destroys the wisdom of the “wise”.

Followers, Who Had More?

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 14:202-203; “…when we examine and understand the facts in relation to this personage whom we call the Savior of the world, there were not, strange to say, as many persons believed on him as have believed on Joseph Smith in the latter days. Not that Joseph was the Savior, but he was a prophet.” – Salt Lake City, August 13, 1871.

Luke 5:15; “But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.”

Fame: The state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed.

Multitudes: A great amount or number, usually, of people.

Once again, the Bible destroys the wisdom of the “wise”.

Following the Church

Doctrines of Salvation 3:295; “FOLLOW CHURCH, NOT THE WORLD…A great many of the members of the Church evidently do not realize the importance of the blessings we receive in the temples of the Lord…We should have some sympathy for people taught in the vagaries and foolish traditions of the world, when we discover how tenaciously members of the Church cling to foolish notions in spite of all that is written.”

Matthew 4:19, 25; “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.”

I’ve asked the question many times “Are you on your way to Jerusalem” and each day we need to pray the Lord will keep our hearts resolute to do just that.

 

Three years after Jesus introduced Himself to the disciples we read how Peter has denied Him. How many times had they publicly declared they’d follow Him to the ends of the earth and how many times did He try to tell them it was going to be more difficult than a childlike commitment is unknown. Their experiences are much like ours today.

We have the same power of God in our midst as He literally resides inside of us and yet we still find it hard. Each of us has had our own Peter moments in life, but we need to remember we’re not here to follow a church or a prophet!

As Christians we’re here to follow Jesus exclusively!

When someone asks you about your faith do you proudly tout “Oh I’m a Lutheran” or “I belong to such and such fill in the blank church”?  NO!  When people ask about our faith we proclaim Christ Jesus! 

The foolish traditions in Mormonism are many, but matter what they are, at the end of the day that’s all they are – traditions. 

Are you following Jesus or a church? If you’re following a church, i.e. Mormonism, okay.  It’d be sad, but you need to admit you’re following a church. If you’re following a church then why are you calling yourself a Christian? Christians are people who follow Jesus – not a church.

Following the Prophets

Journal of Discourses 4:368; “How easy it would be for your leaders to lead you to destruction, unless you actually know the mind and will of the Spirit yourselves. That is your privilege. And when you testify in this public congregation, or in your prayer meetings, testifying of the things of God that you know and understand, you are at liberty to speak freely upon those things which you believe.” – Brigham Young, June 28, 1857, Salt Lake City

Matthew 16:24; “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

In an earlier entry they said not to malign the leaders of the Church in public.

Food Storage; Mormon Jesus Says No!

3 Nephi 13:31; “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”

D&C 109:8; “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”

Matthew 6:31-32; “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

The 2 Mormon “scriptures” above are just another example of the contradictory teachings in the Church.

Forgiven Because of Faith in Christ, 544 BC

Enos 1:5-8; “And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.  And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.”

2 Peter 1:16; “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

If God can’t lie then why was this guy forgiven by his faith in Christ circa 544 BC?

Forgiveness is Conditional

Articles of Faith, pg 99; “The first step toward the blessed state of forgiveness consists in the sinner confessing his sins; the second, in his forgiving others who have sinned against him; and the third in his showing his acceptance of Christ’s atoning sacrifice by complying with the divine requirements.” – James Talmage

Also see:

A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, pg 46; “Nature of Repentance—The term repentance is used in the scriptures with several different meanings, but, as representing the duty required of all who would obtain forgiveness for transgression it indicates a godly sorrow for sin, producing a reformation of life, fn and embodies (1) a conviction of guilt; (2) a desire to be relieved from the hurtful effects of sin; and (3) an earnest determination to forsake sin and to accomplish good.” – Apostle Franklin D. Richards & Elder James A. Little, 1898

Romans 3:23-27; “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Life is complicated in Mormonism. Just when you think you can’t possibly do anymore you find out you’re wrong. The efficacy of Christ’s perfect sacrifice is all for naught when we have to rely upon our own self determination and greatness.

Forgiveness is Conditional

Things of the Soul, pg. 116; “Forgiveness from the Lord is earned through great personal effort. It takes courage to face the reality of your transgression, accept whatever penalty is required, and allow sufficient time for the process to work. When that is done, you will be innocent again. The Lord said: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).”

Matthew 12:31-32; “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

According to the book of Enos from the Book of Mormon forgiveness is granted because of faith, not great personal effort.

Forgiveness is Earned

Enos 1:5-8; “And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.  And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Things of the Soul, pg. 116; “Forgiveness from the Lord is earned through great personal effort. It takes courage to face the reality of your transgression, accept whatever penalty is required, and allow sufficient time for the process to work. When that is done, you will be innocent again. The Lord said: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).”

According to the book of Enos from the Book of Mormon forgiveness is granted because of faith, not great personal effort. 

Telling two different stories about the same thing is called lying and qualifies as a false prophecy.

Forgiveness, None for the Adulteress

Miracle of Forgiveness, pg. 164; “In my years since then I have repeatedly heard people praise the Lord for his mercy in having forgiven the adulteress. This example has been used numerous times to show how easily one can be forgiven for gross sin. But did the Lord forgive the woman? Could he forgive her? There seems to be no evidence of forgiveness. His command to her was, “Go, and sin no more.” He was directing the sinful woman to go her way, abandon her evil life, commit no more sin, transform her life.”

John 8:7-11; “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

It is very dangerous to take things out of context and this is a classic example of why we don’t do these things.  Notice how they’ve conveniently left out that Jesus said “Neither do I condemn thee…”  It is Jesus that does the transforming of us, not the other way around.  Apart from Him we are nothing.

Forgiveness, None for the Thief of the Cross

Miracle of Forgiveness, pg. 164; “Another mistaken idea is that the thief on the cross was forgiven of his sins when the dying Christ answered: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43.) These men on the cross were thieves. How could the Lord forgive a malefactor? They had broken laws. There was no doubt of the guilt of the two men, for the one voluntarily confessed their guilt. The Lord cannot save men in their sins but only from their sins, and that only when they have shown true repentance.”

Luke 23:39-43; “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

The Mormon Jesus is impotent.  If he can’t save you while you’re still a sinner then why is he a god?

Forgiveness not Available While in Sins

Ensign, April 2013; “…the Son of Man forgives sins! While this truth is readily accepted by all believers, not so easily acknowledged is the essential companion truth: the Savior forgives sins “upon earth” and not just at the Final Judgment. He does not excuse us in our sins. He does not condone our return to past sins. But when we repent and obey His gospel, He forgives us.

In this forgiveness we see the enabling and the redeeming power of the Atonement harmoniously and graciously applied. If we exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the enabling power of His Atonement strengthens us in our moment of need, and His redeeming power sanctifies us as we “[put] off the natural man.”  This brings hope to all, especially to those who feel that recurring human weakness is beyond the Savior’s willingness to help and to save. See 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Alma 11:34, 37; Helaman 5:10–11.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10; “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Romans 5:8-9; “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

If Jesus can forgive your sins while you’re here on earth doesn’t that mean He’s forgiven you while you’re in your sin?

Forgiveness of Sins

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 1210; “Having one’s sins remitted is a vital part of the developmental process that results in godhood and lies at the heart of the religious experience of a Latter-day Saint.”

1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Mormon who works towards godhood is working for nothing.  God is such a loving, giving Father.  Abba (daddy) is waiting and desiring for every single Mormon to come to Him.

Forgiveness through Living All Commandments/False Promises of Hope

The Miracle of Forgiveness, pg 164-165, 354-355; “…living all the commandments guarantees total forgiveness of sins and assures one of exaltation…trying is not sufficient. Nor is repentence when one merely tries to abandon sin”.

Romans 16:17-18; “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Mercy divorced from judgment is evil and hope shouldn’t be held onto when perfection is required.

If we aren’t looking to Him who will save us from ourselves we’re doomed because there’ll never be enough time to work on bettering ourselves. The false prophet Spencer Kimball was right about one thing in his blasphemous book.

Merely trying to be good or trying to be repentant isn’t enough. We’re born with a sin nature and incapable of being good on our own. We need Jesus’ blood to wipe out our sin so we can find exemption for the judgment we deserve. And then we need the Holy Spirit to regenerate and renew our way of thinking. Without His supernatural power we won’t be forgiven.  But glory to God that He did for us what we can’t do for ourselves!  Thank You Jesus!

Forgiveness through Obedience

Miracle of Forgiveness, pgs. 208-209; “Eternal life hangs in the balance awaiting the works of men.  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 that perfection which comes by complying with the formula the Lord gave us.” – Spencer W. Kimball

Psalm 130:7-8; “Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

The workings of God and eternal life do NOT hang in the balance awaiting what mankind might or might not do.

Forgiveness through Shedding Own Blood

Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4:128-129; “…the life of the flesh is in the blood, and that “the blood maketh an atonement for the soul,” make plain what is needful for the salvation of the soul where one’s sins place him beyond the reach of vicarious means of salvation—then it is the shedding of the sinners own blood that must here be referred to.”

Matthew 26:28; “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

How could anyone who calls themselves a Christian believe in the LDS teaching here?

Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet

1 – The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

1 John 2:27; “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Job 32:8; “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

2 – The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

Matthew 24:35; “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Hebrews 2:1-3; “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”

3 – The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

Matthew 4:4; “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

4 – The prophet will never lead the church astray.

Psalm 82:5; “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”

5 – The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

2 Thess. 2:3-4; “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

6 – The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.

Ps. 12:1-8; “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.  2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?  5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.  8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.”

7 – The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

Ezekiel 13:2-3; “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; 3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

8 – The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

1 John 4:1; “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

9 – The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

Deut. 12:29-32; “When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; 30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.  31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.  32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

10 – The prophet may advise on civic matters.

2 Peter 2:1, 19-20; “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

11 – The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

Acts 17:2;“And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”

12 – The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

Jude 1:4; “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

13 – The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.

Luke 14:11; “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

14 – The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

John 14:6; “I am the way the truth and the light, no one comes to the Father, except by me”.

Free Agency

Mormon Doctrine, pg 26; “Agency is the ability and freedom to choose good or evil. It is an eternal principle which has existed with God from all eternity.”

Journal of Discourses 7:374; “Have we not a right to make up our minds in relation to the things recorded in the word of God, and speak about them, whether the living oracles believe our views or not? We have not the right. Why? Because the mind of man is weak…” – Elder Pratt, Salt Lake City, January 29, 1860

John 8:32; “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

If free agency is so important to mankind why is there so much controlling going on in Mormonism?

Why is it so difficult for a Mormon to leave the Church without being harassed by the leadership and court systems they must go through to get out?

If free agency is truly a mainstay in the Mormon Church why aren’t Mormons allowed to make their own decisions?

Instead you have leaders and prophets saying things like Pratt did in our example above and the notorious comment made at a General Conference “When the leaders speak the thinking is done”.  How does that comment equate to free agency?

Free Agency

 “Prayer and Promptings”, Ensign, Nov. 2009, 43-44; “We were given our agency. We must use it wisely and remain close to the Spirit; otherwise, we foolishly find ourselves yielding to the enticements of the adversary.” – Boyd K. Packer

John 14:23, 26; “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

I love this whole passage in John when Jesus is telling the disciples He wasn’t going to leave them orphaned. This particular verse with the word “abode” means to tarry, meaning He’s not going anywhere.

Mormon teachings would have you believe that if you don’t behave he’s leaving – there is apparently no room for error. Just as in the Book of Mormon, members of the Church are held to a standard God didn’t intend for anyone.

The clue in all this mayhem is that the Church doesn’t have the same Holy Spirit the Bible talks of.  The Holy Ghost/Spirit of Mormonism is fickle and leaves at a moment’s notice with the idea of someone not behaving the way they should.

And what lies underneath all this is how the Mormon Holy Ghost operates. The Mormon HG doesn’t indwell the believer. He is merely a force that can influence much like the sun does and isn’t omnipresent. In D&C 130:22 he can descend upon someone and not tarry with him.

The work of the Holy Spirit reminds us of how to behave just as it says in verse 26. 

Freemasonry and Mormonism

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 528; “Although some argue that Joseph Smith borrowed elements of Freemasonry in developing the temple ceremony, the Endowment is more congruous with LDS scriptures (especially the book of Abraham and the Book of Moses) and ancient ritual than with Freemasonry. Latter-day Saints view the ordinances as a revealed restoration of ancient temple ceremony and only incidentally related to Freemasonry. The two are not antithetical, however, nor do they threaten each other…”

Matthew 6:33; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Everything McConkie said in this entry is an absolute lie.  Smith copied the temple oaths from the Masonic ritual oaths.

Fullness of Time

History of the Church 3:51; “”That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.” Now, I ask, what is a dispensation? I answer, it is power and authority to dispense the word of God, and to administer in all the ordinances thereof.”

Galatians 4:4-5; “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Smith couldn’t accept the fact that he wasn’t the Messiah.  His ego was so overblown that he had to lie about every single thing in the Bible.

It kind of reminds me of what happened on D-Day at Normandy.  Hitler’s advisors recorded that when they told him of the impending doom he laughed and said “it’s what we’ve been waiting for”.

Both are a sign of insanity.

Reasons Starting with G 

Link to Index