Ham
Answers to Gospel Questions 2: 176; “Could it not be said of Ham that he was righteous in that he followed his father into the Ark? The seed of Cain had to be preserved, and Cain was chosen for that mission. It is very possible that Ham received his name due to the fact that he married a black woman. We learn that the names of many individuals in those early years were given them—and often changed—due to incidents which occurred in their lives. For example, Esau’s name was changed to Edom, and Jacob’s name to Israel, and Abraham was at first known as Abram. It is likely that Ham’s name was changed because he had a black wife, for ham is an adjective in Egyptian for black. The name Egyptus means forbidden. (Abraham 1:23.) Is it not reasonable to believe that this has reference to the fact that her descendants, as well as her ancestors, were denied some great blessing? And that that great blessing was denial of the priesthood?”
Gen. 6:10; “And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
HAM (Ham) Personal name meaning, “hot or burnt.” Second of Noah’s three sons (Gen 5:32). Following the Flood, he discovered Noah, his father, naked and drunken and reported it to Shem and Japheth (Gen. 9:20-29). When Noah learned of the incident, he pronounced a curse on Canaan the son of Ham. Ham became the original ancestor of the Cushites, the Egyptians, and the Canaanites (Gen. 10:6).
Happiness is Design of Our Existence
History of the Church 5:134, 141; “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received. That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another.”
141 “It is not positively known what occasioned the writing of this essay; but when it is borne in mind that at this time the new law of marriage for the Church—marriage for eternity, including plurity [sic] of wives under some circumstances—was being introduced by the Prophet, it is very likely that the article was written with a view of applying the principles here expounded to the conditions created by introducing said marriage system.”
John 17:17; “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Confusing indeed are the words of Joseph Smith in this example and we’ll take a look at the second part of the quote in a moment. However, first let’s take a look at how Smith was trying to confuse the masses.
Truth is not relative – it’s absolute and there’s nothing anyone can do to change truth whether or not you agree.
1. It’s impossible for us to keep all the commandments of God, thus He sent His Son in our stead.
2. Happiness is NOT the design of our existence. God created us to have fellowship with us, but in no way shape or form did He ever promise us we’d always be happy.
3.It’s impossible for the Mormon people to live in the idea or theory the things he mentioned here like Christians do when instilled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit as it says in Galatians 5:22-23. He’s the one that produces any good thing in our lives although man does try.
4. Smith’s words are meant to confuse and is circular reasoning. He basically told them if you want have happiness you have to obey and to do this you have to know the commandments. To know all the commandments though you have to obey.
What are we obeying and why?
5. Jesus asked the Father to sanctify believers through the word of God and for Mormons this is impossible because they’ve rejected it!
And finally…
6. The Church lied in the last section I’ve posted here. They know exactly why Joseph said these things.
Joseph Smith approached Sidney Rigdon’s 19 year old daughter Nancy about being his wife. When he went into her room and locked the door she told him exactly what she thought of him and suddenly Mr. Smith had another revelation to justify his behavior. The section from History of the Church is his response.
The Church isn’t telling you the truth when it said it’s not known what was meant.
You can read more about her experience in “The Letter of the Prophet, Joseph Smith to Miss Nancy Rigdon,” Joseph Smith Collection, LDS archives or in Oliver Cowdery’s writings here.
Happiness is Object of Existence
Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, pg. 310; “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. . . .”
Ephesians 1:18; “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”
Ummm, why isn’t Jesus the object?
Happiness, Teachings of God is Philosophy for
Book of Mormon, Message & Evidences, pg. 35; “According to the Book of Mormon the teachings of God are a philosophy for obtaining happiness, here as well as hereafter.”
Colossians 2:8; “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
The teachings of God are instituted to bring you into a relationship with Him. Not everything in life is “happy”.
Harlots, Mother of
1 Nephi 13:26; “And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.”
Revelations 17:5-6; “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”
Here is the quintessential teaching and philosophy of Mormonism. Everyone but them are the “whores of Babylon”.
Heart of Man
Helaman 13:3; “But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.”
Jeremiah 17:9; “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Why would God tell a prophet to prophesy what is in his heart when God had already stated through Jeremiah the heart of man is wicked 600 years prior? The prophecy wouldn’t be from God, it’d be from “Samuel the Lamanite” if there was such a person.
Heaven
Heaven: Broad is the Way
Friend, February 1986, The Three Kingdoms of Heaven; “Joseph and Sidney saw the terrestrial kingdom of heaven. People in the terrestrial kingdom were good people on earth, but they did not have faith in Jesus and did not obey all of the commandments.
Some of the people in the terrestrial kingdom did not believe the gospel when they heard it on earth but did accept it after they died. These people may see Jesus, but they cannot live with Him or Heavenly Father.”
Matthew 7:13-14; “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
This terrestrial path doesn’t sound so bad if you’re not interested in obeying God or following Jesus here on earth. Then there’s the added bonus of not being eternally pregnant!
Why does the Church teach that this is part of heaven when Jesus explicitly said otherwise?
Heaven; Those Who Die without the Mormon Gospel
Saved and go to Celestial Kingdom
D&C 137:7; “Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God.”
Unsaved and go to hell
Alma 34:32-33; “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”
So which is it?
How can you believe in both books? How can you believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and trust his contradictions?
Heaven’s Gatekeeper
Journal of Discourses 7:289; “…no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are—I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last dispensation—the keys to rule in the spirit-world; and he rules there triumphantly…” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, October 9, 1859
2 Corinthians 5:10; “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Nowhere in the bible verse above says anything about Joseph being the gatekeeper.
Heaven: How to get in
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 416; “Endowment Temples and Temple Ordinances – Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.”
Phil. 3:8-9; “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
I’m really bad with remembering people’s names, so how in the world would I ever remember all the key words and handshakes with angels?
One Heaven, One Hell
Marvelous Work and Wonder, pg. 25; “There is also the false teaching of one heaven and one hell, with the thought that all who reach heaven will share alike, and the same will be true of those who are assigned to hell.” – LeGrand Richards
Revelations 20:13-15; “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
What’s the aversion to the word of God?
Heavenly Father a Resurrected Man
History of the Church 5:426; “As the Father hath power in Himself, so hath the Son power in Himself, to lay down His life and take it again, so He has a body of His own. The Son doeth what He hath seen the Father do: then the Father hath some day laid down His life and taken it again; so He has a body of His own; each one will be in His own body; and yet the sectarian world believe the body of the Son is identical with the Fathers.”
Hosea 11:9; “I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.”
Again the teachings of Joseph Smith are filled with hatred and cynicism towards the body of Christ while he busily goes about teaching false things of God.
Heavenly Father of Mormonism
“Three Gates to Open,” CES Fireside for Young Adults, Jan. 14, 2001; “At times some may think that no one cares–but someone always cares! Your Heavenly Father will not leave you to struggle alone, but stands ever ready to help.” – Thomas Monson
John 14:16-17; “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
According to the Book of Mormon the prophet of the Mormon Church lied in that fireside.
The sacred canon of the Mormon Church is so congested with stories of unfulfilled promises and God’s desertion of His children there is little to no room to find comfort in what God can do for His children. One little mistake…and zap the Mormon god was out of there. (Moroni 9:4 & 2 Nephi 32:7 are good examples.
And what about Helaman 12:3 which I believe is the theme of the Book of Mormon;
“And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.”
And why all the “gates” the prophet Monson talked about? Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life in the book of John. Why so many gates?
Heavenly Mother; No Worshipping Mother in Heaven Allowed
The Seer, p.159; “But if we have a heavenly Mother as well as a heavenly Father, is it not right that we should worship the Mother of our spirits as well as the Father? No…it is lawful for the children to worship the King of Heaven, but not the ‘Queen of heaven.’” – Orson Pratt
2 Peter 3:15-16; “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
Yesterday we read how far off the biblical track we can go by not staying in the word of God. Believing angels and men are of the same species and that a “heavenly mother” exists are just two examples of why investigators of Mormonism should run the other way!
Why is there such a blatant disregard and disrespect for what God has revealed to us?
By and large members of the LDS Church are intelligent human beings yet we see time and again in the prophetic proclamations and doctrinal treaties they’re way off the mark. Examples like this one today reverberate the apostle Paul’s warning to the Ephesians.
Eph. 6:12; “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Heavenly Parents?
“The Love of God”, Liahona and Ensign, November 2009; “We are created in the image of our heavenly parents; we are God’s spirit children. Therefore, we have a vast capacity for love—it is part of our spiritual heritage. What and how we love not only defines us as individuals; it also defines us as a church. Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ.” —Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
Numbers 23:19; “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
The LDS Church holds to the belief that God is an exalted man who became a polygamous god and now resides with his goddess wives and has begotten billions of spirit babies.
The Mormon god and his goddess wives is a story of polytheism and idolatry wrapped in the cloak of Christianity. The God, pardon me, the One and Only True God of the Bible is NOT an exalted polygamous man who earned godhood on some other planet.
Heavenly Parents; Even the Pagans Believe!
Gospel Through the Ages, pgs 100-101; “Not only have the prophets of God throughout the various dispensations declared that mortals are the children of Heavenly Parents and that God placed mankind into mortality; but the pagan religions preserved in their theologies kindred doctrine. The ancient Greek poets and philosophers, the Mystery Religions, and even the first settlers of the Mesopotamian Valley proclaimed these divine truths. 101 In the Cybele—Attis cult, which originated in central Asia Minor, the supreme deity was known as the “Great Mother.” She was believed to be the mother not only “of all the gods,” but “of all men” as well. Several other cults which were pagan rivals of Christianity had beliefs similar to those of the Cybele—Attis cult, each of which maintained that men were the offspring of heavenly beings.” – Milton Hunter
John 4:24; “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Well I’m not so sure I’d publicly admit my church had non-Christian similarities with cults of the world. Be that as it may, I pray the words of this man opens the eyes of many a Mormon to reevaluate the oaths he/she has taken in those temples.
The first thing I thought of when I read this passage by Mr. Hunter was James 2:19 – even the demons believe! Many cults in the world share similar philosophies and what separates Christianity from all those is God of course, His nature and how He provides salvation.
When Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and told her that God is Spirit all presuppositions of God being a man must be tossed. The God of the Bible is One and there is no other – Isaiah 43:10-11. The God of the Bible is able to perform resurrections – Matt. 27:53 – The God of the Bible is eternal – Psalm 90:2 – The God of the Bible is the Creator, not created and not part of creation – Genesis 1:1…
As Christians we know the list of God’s attributes are endless. Even one example will suffice for an example of how and why He is supreme over all other so-called gods. Trying to justify the belief your god is similar to pagan gods should give anyone pause.
Hell
Joseph Smith-Seeker…Prophet of God, pg. 178; “In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is no hell. All will find a measure of salvation; all must pay for any infringement of the law; but the payment will be as the Lord may decide. There is graded salvation. This may be a more terrible punishment: to feel that because of sin a man is here, when by a correct life, he might be higher. The gospel of Jesus Christ has no hell in the old proverbial sense.”
Psalm 9:16-17; “The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
“All will find a measure of salvation…”, hey, isn’t that what Satan wanted in the book of Abraham?
Hell doesn’t Exist
Joseph Smith-Seeker After Truth, p.177-178; “The meanest sinner will find some place in the heavenly realm…In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is no Hell. All will find a measure of salvation.” – John A Widtsoe
Revelation 21:8; “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Teachings like this one bother me the most. It’s as if Satan is right there guiding this man’s every word. Scary, scary, scary!
There is absolutely nothing in the Bible that teaches such a thing as this Mormon apostle has written about in his book. It flies in the face of everything spoken of in the Bible!
Furthermore, this book is filled from front to back of glowing adoration for Joseph Smith. It wouldn’t be difficult to see why Mormons worship the prophet of Mormonism with writings like this.
Hell
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 586; “The Savior’s reference to the “gates of hell” (Hades, or the spirit world; Matt. 16:18) indicates, among other things, that God’s priesthood power will penetrate hell and redeem the repentant spirits there. Many have been, and many more will yet be, delivered from hell through hearing, repenting, and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit world after the death of the body. LDS doctrine emphasizes that after his mortal death Jesus Christ went to the spirit world and organized the teaching of the gospel there (D&C 138; cf. Luke 23:43; 1 Pet. 3:18-20).”
John 8:21; “Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.”
What does 1st Peter have to do with Jesus defending His bride in Matthew 16?
Hell Can be Made Into LDS Heaven
Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, pg. 319; “I see no faults in the Church, and therefore let me be resurrected with the Saints, whether I ascend to heaven or descend to hell, or go to any other place. And if we go to hell, we will turn the devils out of doors and make a heaven of it. Where this people are, there is good society. What do we care where we are, if the society be good? (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 5:517)”
Proverbs 29:18, 20; “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
Wow, not even one of the apostles said there were no faults in the Church. And if “we go to hell”? Their theology gets scarier and scarier the deeper you dig.
Hell isn’t Always Eternal
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg 586; “A third meaning of “hell” (second spiritual death) refers to the realm of the devil and his angels, including those known as sons of perdition (2 Pet. 2:4; D&C 29:38; 88:113; Rev. 20:14). It is a place for those who cannot be cleansed by the Atonement because they committed the unforgivable and unpardonable sin (1 Ne. 15:35; D&C 76:30-49). Only this hell continues to operate after the Resurrection and Judgment.”
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
I wonder if they alerted the Lord on the policy changes…
Hell, You Can Check Out Anytime You Like…
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 349; “That part of the spirit world inhabited by wicked spirits who are awaiting the eventual day of their resurrection is called hell. Between their death and resurrection, these souls of the wicked are cast out into outer darkness, into the gloomy depression of sheol, into the hades of waiting wicked spirits, into hell. There they suffer the torments of the damned…Hell will have an end. Viewing future events, John saw that “death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” (Rev. 20:13.)…After their resurrection, the great majority of those who have suffered in hell will pass into the telestial kingdom; the balance, cursed as sons of perdition, will be consigned to partake of endless wo with the devil and his angels…”
Revelation 20:12-15; “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
They’re in for a rude awakening if they think their torment will have an end.
High Esteem for Mormon Elders
Journal of Discourses, 4:40; “In the days of Joseph [Smith] it was considered a great privilege to be permitted to speak to a member of Congress, but twenty-six years will not pass away before the Elders of this Church will be as much thought of as the kings on their thrones.”
Ooops. No one went forth referring to Mormon elders as kings.
Unbelievably, Young continued on with proclaiming Jesus Christ would be the president while others, meaning non-Mormons, will all go to hell. Read on….
“…I desire them to let us alone… Let them attend to their own business, and we will build up Zion while they go to hell. Jesus Christ will be the President, and we are his officers, and they will have to leave the ground: for they will find that Jesus has the right of soil…I have frequently told you, and I tell you again, that the very report of the Church and kingdom of God on earth is a terror to all nations…” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, August 31, 1856
Colossians 4:6; “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Do the words of the prophet Brigham Young sound godly? That’s all you have to do. Compare these things with the Bible to determine if it sounds like a word from the Lord.
Is God’s good news a terror to all men or is it a message that God has provided in that God has sent His Son to die so you will be saved. Where in the gospel does it say that Jesus will be president because he has the right of soil?
Hill Cumorah: Problems on Hill Cumorah
Mormon 6:11; “And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me.”
There are a couple of things for us to observe in this passage.
Verses 11-14 in the BoM lists 13 people who were leading battalions of men in war. Each leader had 10,000 men he was in charge of and every single person was hewn down in the war.
Therefore, the BoM would have us believe 130,000 people were killed near Hill Cumorah and yet not one single shred of archaeological evidence has been discovered to verify this grand event.
The other problem is the number of Lamanites sitting atop Hill Cumorah. The text says 10,000 Lamanites were camped up there. 10,000! Does it look as if 10,000 or even 1,000 men could be camped up there? Imagine…
10,000 men
10,000 tents
Campfires
Food storage
Bathroom areas
Where did they all sit or stand or lie down?
History Lessons from the Bible
Ether 15:34; “Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.” –
1 Timothy 6:3-5; “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
When I write these dilemmas I’m hoping that Mormons would see the futility in what their leaders teach and what they’re expected to buy into. My prayer is that they’ll stop to think about their “holy scripture” and wonder why it says what it does.
For today’s dilemma I’m wondering…is it reasonable that Ether would say the things he did here?
Ether is a descendant of the Jaredites who sprang from Jared who supposedly lived during the Tower of Babel era (Early Dynastic Period) which took place circa BC 2500-2200.
There is a Jared mentioned in the Bible in just a handful of verses (Gen. 5:15-20). Jared in the Bible was 162 years old when he begat Enoch who by the way was indeed translated (Gen. 5:24), but how would Ether know this term or phrase if his family had sailed away to America before Enoch was born?
Would he (Ether) have said something like “I am saved in the kingdom of God” or it “mattereth not if I be translated”? Also keep in mind Abraham wasn’t even born yet and David wasn’t born until at least 500 years after Abraham so where did this vocabulary spring from?
Note: if you ask a Mormon about this Jared in the Book of Mormon they’ll tell you the Jared in the Bible and the Jared in the Book of Mormon are not the same people.
The following is just a general outline of when things happened in biblical history:
Peleg – 2700-2500 BC
Abraham – 2100-2000 BC
Moses – 1500 BC
David – 1000 BC
Daniel – 500 BC
Jesus – 4-6 BC (Historians date Jesus’ birth in the BC era now that it’s been discovered the calendars were off by this amount of time.
Holy Ghost Constant Companion
D&C 121:46; “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”
Romans 8:26-27; “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Mormons do not believe this. They believe they have to work to keep the Holy Ghost’s presence with them.
Holy Ghost, Gift of
Ensign, November 2008, pg. 35; “Nothing in this life is of greater worth than the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the source of joy, peace, knowledge, strength, love, and every other good thing. With the Atonement, it is the power by which we may be changed and made strong where we are weak. With the priesthood, it is the power by which marriages and families are sealed together eternally (see D&C 132:7, 19). It is the power by which the Lord makes Himself manifest unto those who believe in Him (see 2 Nephi 26:13). Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Everything depends on that.”” – Lawrence E. Corbridge
Acts 10:45; “And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Where is the room for the Holy Ghost to do His supernatural work if you’re the one doing the work? Notice the term “every good thing depends on getting and keeping the Holy Ghost…”
Holy Ghost Given before Pentecost
Messages of the First Presidency 5:3; “But the Divine essence, called the Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost by which God created or organized all things, and by which the prophets wrote and spoke, was bestowed in former ages and inspired the apostles in their ministry long before the days of Pentecost.”
Daniel 7:14; “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost, not before. Yes, there were times God’s spirit came upon the prophets in the OT times but He did not reside inside of them.
Other scriptures to look at for this can be found in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Holy Ghost; Is Holy Ghost Omnipresent?
D&C 130:23; “A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.”
1 Corinthians 6:19; “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
See, I told you so. The LDS Church does not believe the Holy Ghost will stay with you all the time.
Holy Ghost; Omnipresent or Not
Doctrines of Salvation 1:40; “As President Joseph F. Smith says: “He does not have to dwell with one constantly.” This man here, another one over there, and a man over in England, are confirmed members of the Church. The question arises, “How can the Holy Ghost be with them all at the same time?” He does not have to be, but the power of the Holy Ghost is such that it can be manifest in every place at the same moment of time.”
John 20:22; “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
They make it sound like he has the power of a microwave oven. Good grief.
Holy Ghost is a Sanctifier
President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, September 2008, pg. 5; “The Holy Ghost is a sanctifier. We can have Him as our companion because the Lord restored the Melchizedek Priesthood through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The keys of that priesthood are on the earth today. By its power we can make covenants which allow us to have the Holy Ghost with us constantly.”
2 Cor. 4:6-7; “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
How can He be a sanctifier if you’re the one doing the works to gain salvation?
Holy Ghost, Qualifying for
Ensign, July 2008, pg. 29; “One of the greatest blessings of membership in the Church is the opportunity to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through virtuous living we can qualify for this divine source of guidance, which enables us to see “things as they really are, and … as they really will be” (Jacob 4:13).” – Kenneth Johnson
1 John 2:20-21; “0But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”
Through your works in the Church you might “qualify” to have a moment where the Mormon holy ghost will visit you. How hopeful is that?
Holy Ghost Waiting for Body
Encyclopedia of JS Teachings, pg. 321; “But the Holy Ghost is yet a spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body, as the Savior did or as God did or the gods before them took bodies; for the Savior says the work that my Father did do I also. . . . He took himself a body and then laid down his life that he might take it up again. (Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 382; standardized).”
John 15:26; “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
Imagine, the Holy Ghost who’s supposedly been with God for eternity still doesn’t have a body, if that happens to you while you’re waiting to become a god!
Holy Ghost Waiting to Take a Body
Ensign, January 1989, pgs. 28-29; “The Holy Ghost. The Bible gives little detail about the personage of the Holy Ghost. The Prophet, however, gave us a number of insights about that spirit being and his office. On several occasions, especially in Nauvoo in 1842–43, the Prophet spoke of the Holy Ghost as a being “in the form of a personage,” as a “spirit without tabernacle,” separate and distinct from the personages of the Father and the Son. According to the George Laub journal, on another occasion Joseph taught that “the Holy Ghost is yet a spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body.” – Donald Q. Cannon, Larry E. Dahl, and John W. Welch, “The Restoration of Major Doctrines through Joseph Smith: Priesthood, the Word of God, and the Temple,”
1 Corinthians 2:10-14; “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
According to Smith if an angel tries to shake your hand and you can’t feel his hand you can know he’s evil. So what’s the deal with the Mormon Holy Ghost?
Holy Spirit
Ensign, November 2008, pg. 61; “… (Ezekiel 36:26–28).”How might we merit this promise? What will qualify us to receive this blessing? Is there a guide to follow?”May I suggest three imperatives for our consideration. They apply to the deacon as well as to the high priest. They are within our reach. A kind Heavenly Father will help us in our quest.”First, learn what we should learn.”Second, do what we should do.”And third, be what we should be.”” – Thomas S. Monson
Acts 8:14-16; “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.).”
1. Become a Gnostic in order to receive the Holy Ghost?
2. Work for the Holy Ghost’s presence?
3. Be perfect to receive the Holy Ghost?
Which of these things don’t apply?
Holy Spirit, Another Comforter
D&C 88:3-7; “Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John. This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom; Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.”
John 16:13; “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
The “light of Christ” is intelligence.
Holy Spirit, the Arrival of
Promptings of the Sprit, pg. 83; “There are also certain activities that encourage heaven to grant that initial, clear, and unmistakable outpouring of the Spirit. Some examples are as follows: reading the Book of Mormon, reading other scriptures, attending regular Church meetings, missionary work, service to others, temple work, family gatherings, visiting the sick and shut-ins, writing in our journals, and other righteous pursuits. Anything that is praiseworthy, lovely, or of good report encourages the presence of the Spirit. The Lord is eager to bless us as we are actively engaged in worthy pursuits. However, studying the Book of Mormon is surely at the top of the list.”
John 14:16-17; “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Rules to receive the holy Spirit sound as if you’ve gotta learn the little tricks like you would with a dog.
Holy Spirit Could Get Females Pregnant
Journal of Discourses 1:51; “I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea—”if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties.”” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, April 9, 1852
Romans 8:9; “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
I remember the first time I saw this in the JoD. I’d been out of the Church for about a month and I still remember the horrible feeling I had in the pit of my stomach when I realized what my beloved Church was doing.
Holy Spirit, Greatest Gift
Ensign, Nov. 2008, pg. 17; “By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament we qualify for the promise that we will ‘always have his Spirit to be with [us].’ That Spirit is the foundation of our testimony. It testifies of the Father and the Son, brings all things to our remembrance, and leads us into truth.” – Dallin H. Oaks
Galatians 6:8; “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Again, why is it the Mormons are always trying to qualify for something? Jesus told us that when we call upon Him that He will come and make His abode with us – John 14:23.
Holy Spirit: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
D&C 130:22; “A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.”
Romans 8:8-9; “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
This LDS scripture speaks volumes when you see what it really means to be a Christian in the Bible.
The Holy Ghost descending upon someone is reminiscent of the Old Testament days when God’s spirit would come upon His prophets and others whom God worked with.
The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost of the New Testament era indwells the believer – always. He doesn’t come and go at will. He is with you forever as Jesus told us He would be in John 14:16 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”
Holy Spirit; Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
“Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit”, Ensign, November 2009; “One reason we are encouraged to pray and read the scriptures every single day is that both of these activities invite the Spirit into our homes and into the lives of our family members.” — Vicki F. Matsumori
John 15:7; “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Romans 9:8-10; “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 1:21-22; “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
There are dozens and dozens of verses in the New Testament describing how and when the Holy Spirit resides inside of the believer.
Believing as the Mormons do that the Holy Ghost is a still small voice to listen out for or that the Holy Spirit only visits when you’re doing “holy” things is blasphemous.
We invite God into our hearts by accepting our need of a Savior. It’s at that time He comes and lives in our hearts and as Jesus told His disciples will come and take up permanent residence! John 14:16-26.
Holy Spirit; Nature of
History of the Church 3:379; “There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as given on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after faith, repentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence…Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter.”
John 14:17; “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
I didn’t know this truth in the Bible until after I left the Church. The Holy Ghost isn’t intelligence…
Holy Spirit; Qualifying for the Holy Spirit
“Serve with the Spirit”, Liahona and Ensign, November 2010; “Let us do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion, and then let us go forward fearlessly so that we will be given the powers to do whatever the Lord calls us to do. That growth in power to serve may come slowly, it may come in small steps that are difficult for you to see, but it will come.” — Henry B. Eyring
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.”
We read in scripture the other day that Jesus told us He didn’t come for the righteous but for those in need of a healer. The Mormons, just like everyone else in this world need a Redeemer. While their sin seems worse than ours on the outside each of us have denied and forsaken Him every time we sin.
We think we can do things better or do them our own way, but we know better! Pray for the Mormon today that they’ll see Jesus comes all at once, not in bits and pieces.
Holy Spirit, Whisperings of
Ensign, November 2009, pgs. 10-12; “This companionship can continue to be ours if we are worthy. We are told that “the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples” and that as we “let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly; then … the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion…There are places where it is easier to feel the Spirit. Testimony meetings and general conference are some of those places. Certainly temples are another. The challenge for each of us is in providing an environment where the Spirit can be felt daily in our homes and weekly at church…Similarly, we can provide an environment at church that allows the Spirit to give divine confirmation to what is being taught. Teachers and leaders do more than teach lessons or conduct meetings. They facilitate the whisperings of the Spirit to each member. Elder Richard G. Scott has said, “If you accomplish nothing else in your relationship with your students than to help them recognize and follow the promptings of the Spirit, you will bless their lives immeasurably and eternally.”” – Vicki F. Matsumori
Galatians 3:1-2; “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
“Feel the spirit”…”testimony meetings and general conferences”…
This should serve as a sign there is something wrong with the Mormon theory of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit Withdraws from Earth
TPJS, pg. 15; “The Lord declared to His servants, some eighteen months since, that He was then withdrawing His Spirit from the earth; and we can see that such is the fact, for not only the churches are dwindling away, but there are no conversions, or but very few: and this is not all, the governments of the earth are thrown into confusion and division; and Destruction, to the eye of the spiritual beholder, seems to be written by the finger of an invisible hand, in large capitals, upon almost every thing we behold.”
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.”
Jesus never declared that He was withdrawing His Spirit from the earth. That would put Him in the same category as the Mormon god who can’t keep promises. The Lord promised He would never leave us. The word “abode” means to tarry. Why would He say this if He didn’t mean it?
Holy Spirit’s Arrival
3 Nephi 7:21; “And it came to pass that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.”
John 7:39; “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
As we see in the text Jesus hadn’t been crucified nor resurrected at the time, therefore no one had received the Holy Spirit yet.
How could the Holy Spirit visit the Nephites if Jesus hadn’t been glorified yet?
Also see:
1 Timothy 3:16; “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Homosexuals not Wanted
Make Honor Your Standard, BYU Lecture, 1965; “We do not intend to admit to our campus any homosexuals. If any of you have this tendency and have not completely abandoned it, may I suggest that you leave the university immediately after this assembly…. We do not want others on this campus to be contaminated by your presence.” – Ernest Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University
Proverbs 10:12; “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
Contaminated?
Honesty…is Such a Lonely Word….
True to the Faith, pg 84; “The thirteenth article of faith states, “We believe in being honest.” To be honest means to be sincere, truthful, and without deceit at all times…if you are dishonest in your words or actions, you hurt yourself and often hurt others as well.
If you lie, steal, cheat, or neglect to give the full amount of work for your pay, you lose your self-respect. You lose the guidance of the Holy Ghost. You may find that you have damaged relationships with family members and friends and that people no longer trust you.”
Proverbs 11:3; “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
When I saw this Mormon teaching in their “Gospel Reference” called True to the Faith the first thing that came to mind was a video clip Melissa sent to me last week.
In short, Robert Millet stood in front of a group of young LDS members teaching them how to lie. In his instructions he told these kids by not answering questions of investigators such as their belief in becoming gods, they’re actually sharing the gospel with them. He went on to tell them it was okay to respond to outsiders by sharing with investigators about Joseph going to the woods to pray.
This is dishonest. Why not tell people the truth? Do you really believe your integrity stays intact by dodging the truth and hiding what you do? Be a man, stand up for what you believe in or denounce it and repent!
Honesty Needed but Not Always
Gospel Principles, pg 203; “Complete honesty is necessary for our salvation. An Apostle of the Lord has said: “Honesty is a principle of salvation in the kingdom of God…. Just as no man or woman can be saved without baptism, so no one can be saved without honesty” (Mark E. Petersen, in Conference Report, Oct. 1971, p. 63; or
Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 72).”
Boyd K. Packer, “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect”, 1981, BYU Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 259-271; “Church history can be so interesting and so inspiring as to be a very powerful tool indeed for building faith. If not properly written or properly taught, it may be a faith destroyer…There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not…Some things that are true are not very useful…Teaching some things that are true, prematurely or at the wrong time, can invite sorry and heartbreak instead of the joy intended to accompany learning.”
Colossians 3:9; “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.”
When we’re born again we put on a new self. 2 Cor 5:17 & Galatians 5:22. We walk in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit and not of ourselves. Our behavior therefore is a manifestation of what is going on inside of us.
Why would these two men who are called apostles contradict each other and at the same time agree with each other’s statements?
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