Reasons Starting with S
Living the Gospel, pg. 218; “One of the main and logical reasons for not engaging in commercialized amusements, is that it causes numerous other persons to be obliged to work. Thus they have to forego both the rest and chance to worship on the Sabbath day….The other reason for not engaging in unnecessary recreational activities, just as important as the first, is that we ourselves have neither time nor inclination to “go to the house of prayer” and offer up our sacraments upon that holy day which the Lord has appointed unto us to pay our devotions to the Most High.” – Gerrit DeJong, Jr.
Exodus 20:8-11; “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
Typically the Mormons will stay home on Sundays. Small towns in Utah such as Kaysville will be nothing but a ghost town.
Sacrament
www.lds.org; “On the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His Apostles and instituted the sacrament (see Luke 22:19–20). After His Resurrection, He instituted the sacrament among the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 18:1–11). Today the sacrament is an ordinance in which Church members partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. This ordinance is an essential part of worship and spiritual development. Through this ordinance, Church members renew the covenants they made with God when they were baptized.”
Holman Bible Dictionary; “LORD’s SUPPER – A memorial celebrated by the early church to signify Jesus’ sacrificial death for humankind’s sin. The form of the observance was established by the Lord at the Last Supper when He symbolically offered Himself as the paschal Lamb of atonement. His actual death the next day fulfilled the prophecy. Only Paul uses the phrase “Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20), although implication of it is made in Revelation 19:9 (“marriage supper of the Lamb”). Church fathers began to call the occasion the “Eucharist” (that is, “Thanksgiving”) from the blessing pronounced over the bread and wine after about A.D. 100. Church groups celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly as a sign of the new covenant sealed by Christ’s death and resurrection.”
That’s right, keep in the traditional Mormon spirit of things and take away the blood of Christ. Water is used along with bread filled with yeast, a sign of sin.
Sacrament
Ensign, May 2006, pg. 40; “From the very beginning, before the world was organized, God laid out a plan whereby He would offer blessings to His children based on their obedience to His commandments. He understood, however, that we would be distracted at times by the things of the world and would need to be reminded regularly of our covenants and His promises.
One of the first commandments given to Adam was that he should worship the Lord and offer the firstlings of his flocks as an offering to Him. This ordinance was given to remind the people that Jesus Christ would come into the world and would ultimately offer Himself as a sacrifice…(Moses 5:5–7).
From that day down until the time of our Savior, Heavenly Father’s children were commanded to offer sacrifices. It was discontinued with the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. Then, the night before He completed that sacrifice, the Savior instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to help us remember Him and the Atonement He made for all mankind. Thus, in the ancient law of sacrifice and in the sacrament, the Lord has helped us be certain that we do not forget His promises and the requirement that we follow Him and obey His will.” – L. Tom Perry, apostle
Matthew 26:26-28; “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
There’s nothing in the Bible to suggest that Adam made sacrifices of animals to God. God made a sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve but the next time we see any sacrificing is with Abel.
Sacrament of Bread and Water
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1244; “The ordinance of the Sacrament is administered by “those having authority”-that is, by priesthood bearers. According to modern revelation, priests in the Aaronic Priesthood and any Melchizedek Priesthood holder may officiate at the Sacrament table; in general practice, the table is prepared by teachers in the Aaronic Priesthood, and the bread and water are blessed by priests and passed to the members of the Church by deacons in the same priesthood.”
Exodus 13:3; “And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.”
Luke 22:20; “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
This is wrong in so many ways…
In the Mormon Church “those having authority” means that a 12 year old boy is administering the Lord’s Supper – something which should floor all who call themselves a Christian. A 12 year old has more authority in Mormonism than I do; a 46 year old female.
Bread and water. What can a person say to this? It’s indefensible. The Mormons use the everyday grocery store bread (usually Wonderbread) and tap water as tokens for the Lord’s Supper – Sacrament, or as Christians call it; Communion.
Sacrifices in Salt Lake Temple
Wilford Woodruff’s Journal: 1833-1898, Dec. 18, 1857, vol. 5, pg. 140; “LDS President Wilford Woodruff recorded the following information given to him in a meeting with Brigham Young: “Under the pulpit in the west End [of the SLC Temple ] will be a place to Offer Sacrafizes. [sp] There will be an Altar prepared for that purposes [sp] so that when any sacrifices are to be offered they should be offered there.”
1 Sam. 15:22-23; “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
And what makes them think God would accept these sacrifices?
Sacrifices Stopped by Nephites
Ensign, November 2008, pg. 19; “When the Savior appeared to the Nephites following His Resurrection, He taught them that they should stop the practice of sacrifice by the shedding of blood. Instead, “ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). That commandment, repeated in the modern revelation directing us to partake of the sacrament each week, tells us how we should prepare. As Elder Nelson taught, “Each member of the Church bears responsibility for the spiritual enrichment that can come from a sacrament meeting” (Liahona, Aug. 2004, 14; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 28).”
Psalm 51:17; “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Here they go again lifting scripture from the Bible but condemning the Bible from the other side of their mouths. Why would they believe this if they built an altar for sacrifices inside the Salt Lake temple?
Sacrificing Children to Molech
3 Nephi 17:23; “And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. 24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.”
Leviticus 18:21; “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
Molech is found in Strong’s Concordance and in Hebrew it means the chief deity (king) of the Ammonites. #4427-4432 gives the definitions and derivatives of this name.
Salvation, After All We Can Do
Ensign, November 2009, pg. 34; “Salvation and eternal life would not be possible if it were not for the Atonement, brought about by our Savior, to whom we owe everything. But in order for these supreme blessings to be effective in our lives, we should first do our part, ‘for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.’ Let us with faith, enthusiasm, dedication, responsibility, and love do all that is within our reach, and we will be doing all that is possible to achieve the impossible—that is, to achieve what for the human mind is impossible but with the divine intervention of our loving Father and the infinite sacrifice brought about by our Savior becomes the greatest gift, the most glorious of realities, to live forever with God and with our families.” – Jorge F. Zeballos
Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
There is no shame in LDS doctrines. It used to be that most people wouldn’t be so brazen when they lied. Not so with the Mormons.
Salvation, Assurance of
Conference Report, Apr. 1950, 168; “None of us are secure except we keep the commandments of our Heavenly Father. The pathway of righteousness is the highway of happiness. There is no other way to happiness.”
Hebrews 13:5-6; “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Why isn’t the entire Bible acceptable to the Mormon Church? They could rest in knowing they are safe and secure in the arms and work of the Lord.
Salvation Because of Joseph
Joseph Smith: The Choice Seer, Epilogue; “Because of Joseph Smith, we have a hope born of the Spirit and strengthened by prophetic declaration that the faithfulness of parents to their temple covenants can secure their children everlastingly. “When a seal is put upon the father and mother,” said the Choice Seer, “it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother” (Teachings, p. 321)…. Ours is the song of praise to the man ordained from eternity past to part the veil and open the heavens, for through him the fulness of truth and the fulness of priesthood powers have come to earth again.”
Revelation 3:20; “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Parting the veil, we have a hope, salvation for the children…all these are the things Mormons believe Joseph Smith did for them. My heart is breaking for my mother.
Salvation, Belief in Jesus Saves You
Helaman 14:8; “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.”
Romans 10:9; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
What it doesn’t say is that Helaman supposedly took place in BC 6, just before Jesus was born so why are they calling upon the Son of God for salvation when people didn’t know to do that until 30 AD?
For the Mormon it’s not a matter of just calling upon Jesus for salvation, you also need works.
Salvation; By Grace You are Saved
4th Article of Faith; “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
1 John 1:7; “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Salvation by Knowing God Through Joseph Smith
Journal of Discourses 4:271; “A man cannot find out himself without the light of revelation; he has to turn round and seek to the Lord his God, in order to find out himself. If you find out who Joseph was, you will know as much about God as you need to at present; for if He said, “I am a God to this people,” He did not say that He was the only wise God. Jesus was a God to the people when he was upon earth, was so before he came to this earth, and is yet. Moses was a God to the children of Israel, and in this manner you may go right back to Father Adam.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, March 8, 1857
1 Chronicles 17:20; “O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”
Finding out about Joseph doesn’t tell you anything about God and finding out about yourself knowing Joseph will only tell you if you’ve been duped. Additionally, Moses was not a god to the people and Jesus is THE ONLY GOD over everything.
Salvation Comes Through the Church
Ensign, July 1973, pg. 108; “When the Savior established his church during his mortal ministry, and as it was further developed by the twelve apostles of that day, one important fact became conspicuously clear, which is: that salvation comes through the Church… It does not come through any separate organization or splinter group nor to any private party as an individual. It comes only through the Church itself as the Lord established it.
It was the Church that was organized for the perfecting of the Saints.
It was the Church that was given for the work of the ministry.
It was the Church that was provided to edify the body of Christ, as Paul explained to the Ephesians.
Therefore it was made clearly manifest that salvation is in the Church, and of the Church, and is obtained only through the Church.” – Mark E. Petersen
Ephesians 4:14-15; “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
This is a small part of a 6 page diatribe on the importance of being a Mormon.
Salvation for the Dead
Doctrines of Salvation 2:156; “But the Jews rejected him, and his testimony, and with violence drove him from the city. Nevertheless, he continued to proclaim liberty to the captives, declaring that he came not alone to save the living but also to save the dead…ENOCH’S KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION FOR DEAD. This vicarious salvation for the dead is not a new doctrine. It is new and strange for this generation it is true, but only because of a lack of comprehension of the revelations of the Lord. The Prophet Joseph Smith said it is the burden of the scriptures. It has been taught among the Lord’s people from the earliest times.”
Psalm 49:7; “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.”
So how do you explain this verse in Psalms?
Salvation Free but Must be Purchased
Doctrinal New Testament Commentary 3:462; “Buy of me] “Salvation is free” (“#2 ne. 2:42 Ne. 2:4), but it must also be purchased; and the price is obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Eternal life is available freely, “without money and without price” (“#isa. 55:1Isa. 55:1; “#2 ne. 9:502 Ne. 9:50), but it is gained only by those who buy it at the storehouse of the Great God who pleads with men to purchase his priceless possession.”
Acts 20:28; “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Hmmm….looks like Jesus already purchased salvation for His church!
Salvation, Full
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 670; “Full salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness, and all true principles. Many conditions must exist in order to make such salvation available to men…If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 1-350.)”
Mark 10:25-27; “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
This Mormon teaching is a great description of what Mormonism is really all about.
Salvation Given because of Joseph Smith
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 396; “Joseph Smith’s greatness lies in the work that he did, the spiritual capacity he developed, and the witness he bore of the Redeemer. Since the keys of salvation were restored to the Prophet, it is in and through and because of his latter-day mission that the full redemptive power of the Lord has again become available to men. It is because the Lord called Joseph Smith that salvation is again available to mortal men. “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.” (D. & C. 135:3.)”
John 15:13, 15; “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
If Jesus was going to come back and give the “keys of salvation” to Joseph Smith then WHY DID HE DIE?
Salvation; how to obtain
D&C 132:4; “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.”
Romans 10:9; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
The Mormons do not believe this verse in their cannon of “scripture” so why is it still there?
Salvation, How to obtain full
Discourses of Wilford Woodruff: page 23; “If I ever obtain a full salvation it will be by my keeping the laws of God”.
Psalm 37:39; “But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.”
The comment above was made by a prophet of the LDS Church. You have to wonder why he called himself a Christian.
Salvation, LDS Can Administer
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 130; “The Gospel has brought to us the Holy Priesthood, which is again restored to the children of men. The keys of that Priesthood are here; we have them in our possession; we can unlock, and we can shut up. We can obtain salvation, and we can administer it. 4:299.”
Gal. 6:14; “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Even the apostle Paul wouldn’t take credit for his missions work so why would the Church say such things?
Salvation, Man Sanctioned Plan of
TPJS, pg. 181; ““The first step in salvation of man is the laws of eternal and self-existent principles. Spirits are eternal. At the first organization in heaven we were all present, and saw the Savior chosen and appointed and the plan of salvation made, and we sanctioned it.”
Jude 1:3-4; “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 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.”
The Mormon version of salvation is vastly different from that of Christianity. A different salvation, a different god, a different gospel.
Salvation, Motherhood Brings
Gospel Doctrine, pg. 288; “Motherhood lies at the foundation of happiness in the home…God has laid upon men and women very sacred obligations with respect to motherhood… In I Timothy 2:13-15, we are told that “Adam was first formed, then Eve…Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” Can she be saved without child-bearing? She indeed takes an awful risk if she wilfully disregards what is a pronounced requirement of God…”
1 Timothy 2:13-15; “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
As a Mormon I had six pregnancies and seven children, of which only two survived to adulthood. I knew with each child I carried that it didn’t bring me any closer to salvation than the one before.
Salvation, None in Christ Outside of Church
Power of the Word; Saving Doctrines from the Book of Mormon, pg. 182; “A rejection of Peter, James, Nephi, or any of Jesus’ apostolic ministers was at the same time a rejection of Jesus. There are members who feel they can enjoy a relationship with the Lord independent of his church, separate and apart from the organization established by revelation. There are even those who feel they can stay close to the Lord while they criticize or find fault with the Church and its leaders. They are wrong. They are deceived. They are painfully mistaken and are walking in slippery paths. No person comes fully to the Master who does not acknowledge the mantle worn by his anointed. There is no salvation to be found in Christ independent of his constituted priesthood authorities. In the words of Elder Marvin J. Ashton, “Any Church member not obedient to the leaders of this Church will not have the opportunity to be obedient to the promptings of the Lord.””
Acts 4:12; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Like many other ex-Mormon Christians I was shocked when I discovered Acts 4:12. It was another confirmation to me that I had done the right thing. Being obedient to church leaders doesn’t bring you any closer to salvation than filling your car with gas.
Salvation, None Outside of Mormonism
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 138; “There is no salvation outside this one true Church, the Church of Jesus Christ. There is one Christ, one Church, one gospel, one plan of salvation, one set of saving ordinances, one group of legal administrators, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph. 4:5.)”
Ephesians 4:3-6; “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
True to form, the Mormons don’t want to accept the surrounding verses in this passage. Indeed, there is one faith, one baptism and most importantly, ONE GOD who is above all, through all and IN all.
Salvation not an Event
Sermons & Writings of Bruce McConkie, pg. 52; “We do not work out our salvation in a moment; it doesn’t come to us in an instant, suddenly. Gaining salvation is a process. Paul says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philip. 2:12).”
Phil. 2:12-13; “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. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Contrary to the writings of McConkie, salvation is indeed an event.
We are saved, we are being saved and we will be saved when we see Jesus.
Salvation, not through Law
D&C 22:2; “Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works.”
Hebrews 9:11-14; “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Again, here is another way the Church keeps its members confused. The passage in Doctrine and Covenants sounds Christian doesn’t it? Remember what Wilford Woodruff said though; “he won’t gain salvation outside of the law”.
Salvation; Now is Day of
Alma 5:33; “Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.”
2 Corinthians 6:1-2; “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.).
1. Alma supposedly took place in the BC era.
2. Mormons don’t believe they are saved through mercy.
Salvation, President of Church Holds Keys to
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 591; “…the supreme officer of the Church, the “President of the High Priesthood of the Church…His duty is “to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses…He is the one man on earth at a time who can both hold and exercise the keys of the kingdom in their fulness. (D. & C. 132:7.) By the authority vested in him, all ordinances of the gospel are performed, all teaching of the truths of salvation is authorized, and through the keys which he holds, salvation itself is made available to men of his day.”
John 6:37; “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
As you can see for yourself, Jesus said nothing about supreme officers, being like Moses or allowing salvation to be available again through someone other than Himself.
Salvation, None in Christ Outside of Church
Power of the Word; Saving Doctrines from the Book of Mormon, pg. 182; “A rejection of Peter, James, Nephi, or any of Jesus’ apostolic ministers was at the same time a rejection of Jesus. There are members who feel they can enjoy a relationship with the Lord independent of his church, separate and apart from the organization established by revelation. There are even those who feel they can stay close to the Lord while they criticize or find fault with the Church and its leaders. They are wrong. They are deceived. They are painfully mistaken and are walking in slippery paths. No person comes fully to the Master who does not acknowledge the mantle worn by his anointed. There is no salvation to be found in Christ independent of his constituted priesthood authorities. In the words of Elder Marvin J. Ashton, “Any Church member not obedient to the leaders of this Church will not have the opportunity to be obedient to the promptings of the Lord.””
Psalm 100:3; “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Nowhere in scripture does it tell you not to investigate or not to question. God would never expect this of you and the fact that you have a brain so you can reason is proof.
Salvation, None Outside of Mormonism
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 138; “There is no salvation outside this one true Church, the Church of Jesus Christ. There is one Christ, one Church, one gospel, one plan of salvation, one set of saving ordinances, one group of legal administrators, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph. 4:5.)”
Ephesians 4:3-6; “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
True to form, the Mormons don’t want to accept the surrounding verses in this passage. Indeed, there is one faith, one baptism and most importantly, ONE GOD who is above all, through all and IN all.
Salvation through Atonement and Law
Ensign, April 2001, pg. 4; “Having purchased us (see 1 Cor. 7:23) with His atoning blood (see Acts 20:28) in the great and marvelous Atonement, Jesus thereby became our Lawgiver (see Isa. 33:22). It is by obedience to His laws and His commandments that we may return one day to His presence and that of our Heavenly Father.” – For more references from this speech, also see “Alien Life” entry above.
1 Corinthians 7:22-24; “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”
Acts 20:28-30; “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
Isaiah 33:20-24; “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. 21 But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. 22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. 23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. 24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.”
Read scripture know God and know that He has saved you through the shedding of His blood. You are saved and you are only bound to Jesus not the laws of some church.
Salvation through Christ
Helaman 5:9, 12; “O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world…And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
Hebrews 9:12; “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
How can Jesus be the redeemer of Helaman if Jesus hadn’t been born yet?
Salvation Through Confession of Christ
Moses 5:15; “And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned; and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled.”
Acts 10:43; “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
The “decree” in the Pearl of Great Price was for Adam and Eve.
Salvation Through Grace
2 Nephi 10:24; “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.”
Romans 5:8; “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
In 600-500 BC the Israelites lived by the law, not grace.
Salvation Through Obedience
Gospel Standards, pg. 36; “If we keep the commandments of God, He will love us, and the Savior will manifest Himself unto us. If we fail to keep the commandments of God, there is no promise made to us. The Savior said: “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.” It is the keeping of the commandments of God that causes men to grow and to become strong and powerful in the Church and Kingdom of God.—CR, October, 1900: 36.”
Matthew 7:22-23; “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Note: See Matthew 7:15-23 for the entire context of “Not everyone who saith unto me Lord, Lord…”
Salvation, True
Gospel Standards, pg. 36; “If we keep the commandments of God, He will love us, and the Savior will manifest Himself unto us. If we fail to keep the commandments of God, there is no promise made to us. The Savior said: “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.” It is the keeping of the commandments of God that causes men to grow and to become strong and powerful in the Church and Kingdom of God.—CR, October, 1900: 36.”
John 4:24; “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
God loves us even when we break a commandment – that’s why He sent His Son Jesus! Promises from God are unconditional. Some of His covenants did have conditions but not promises.
Satan Our Brother
Elder Joseph F. Merrill, Conference Report, April 1949, First Day-Morning Session, p.27;
“Now there is another personality of which I desire to speak, one that the world calls by a name, but in whose reality as a personal Being it does not believe and that person is Satan, the Devil. But according to our understanding and teaching. Satan is a person with a spirit body, in form like that of all other men. He is a spirit brother of ours and of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Elder Brother in the spirit world.”
Matthew 16:23; “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
As it was offensive to Jesus for Peter to say Jesus didn’t need to die – it is extremely offensive to Christians, not to mention Jesus that Satan is our brother. Lord have mercy on their souls.
Satan’s Power is Eternal
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 1; “The principles of truth and goodness, and of eternal lives and the power of God are from eternity to eternity. The principle of falsehood and wickedness, the power of the Devil and the power of death are also from eternity to eternity. These two powers have ever existed and always will exist in all the eternities that are yet to come. 11:234.”
Ephesians 2:15-16; “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
This is a lie, lie, lie. Satan’s power is not eternal.
Satan Prepared Hell
1 Nephi 15:35; “And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken.”
John 1:3; “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Satan did not prepare hell. God did as a place to send Satan.
Satan Tried to Become Savior
Gospel Through the Ages, pg. 15; “At the great council in heaven, God stood in the midst of His spirit-children and appointed “the noble and great ones” to future positions of leadership after they should become mortals. fn In that assembled throng there was “one like unto God.” This glorious personage volunteered to be the Savior of the world, humbly declaring, “Father, Thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.””
Isaiah 14:14-15; “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
Here’s Satan and his work. It sounds a lot like Mormonism, ascending above the gods and angels and become gods themselves.
Satan’s Work
Moroni 7:17; “But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15; “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
This passage in Moroni is a way to make the Bible look like it’s wrong. Again it’s taking away from the authoritative voice of the Bible and trying to make the Mormon writings better than God.
Save Your Own Souls
D&C 4:3-4; “Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.”
Mark 10:45; “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Jesus did the work. Trusting in your own strength will get you nowhere.
Save Yourself
Gospel Standards, pg. 5; “We must save ourselves and stand for our own sins. We cannot blame our negligence upon somebody else.—JH, June 3, 1889: 8; Utah Enquirer, June 4, 1889.”
Psalm 86:7-8; “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.”
Why do they consider themselves Christians when they believe things like this?
Saved by Grace vs. Saved by Grace after All We Can Do
2 Nephi 25:23; “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
One of the classic examples of how Smith plagiarized the Bible and added to it at the same time.
Saving Our Souls
Era, 24:259; “The saving of souls, including our own soul, is the one great labor of all others that is most valuable and important, and that will bring to us the blessings of our Father and the good will of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.—Era, 24:259.” – Also see Gospel Standards, pg. 31.
Psalm 19:7; “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
Statements like the one here is what confuses the Mormon and makes them feel as if they will never be saved.
Scriptural Authority
Follow the Living Prophets, pg. 112-113; “Relying only upon canonized scriptures, observed President Wilford Woodruff, “would scarcely be sufficient to guide us twenty-four hours” (in Journal of Discourses 9:324)…Elder Orson F. Whitney said:… The Latter-day Saints do not do things because they happen to be printed in a book. They do not do things because God told the Jews to do them; nor do they do or leave undone anything because of the instructions that Christ gave to the Nephites. Whatever is done by this Church is because God, speaking from heaven in our day, has commanded this Church to do it. No book presides over this Church, and no book lies at its foundation. You cannot pile up books enough to take the place of God’s priesthood… That is the constitution of the Church of Christ. … Divine revelation adapts itself to the circumstances and conditions of men, and change upon change ensues as God’s progressive work goes on to its destiny. There is no book big enough or good enough to preside over this Church. (In Conference Report, October 1916, p. 55.)”
Mark 16:15; “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
So what Jesus told the Israelites isn’t enough. That my friend is heresy.
Scripture, Acceptance of
Sermons & Writings of Bruce McConkie, pg. 81; “No one today would say: “I will believe in Christ, but will not believe in Peter, James, and John and their testimony of him.” In the very nature of things belief in Christ is more than accepting him as a single person standing alone, as one person independent of any other. Belief in Christ presupposes and includes within it the acceptance of the prophets who reveal him to the world.”
Eph. 2:19-20; “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
I believe in what God can do supernaturally. I believe that Jesus told the disciples He would never leave nor forsake us and that He would be with us always. It’d be spiritual suicide to believe anything else.
Scripture; All is Applicable
Ensign May 2004, pg. 111; ““Everything in the scriptures is applicable to our lives. The scriptures answer our questions, they provide role models and heroes, and they help us understand how to handle challenges and trials. Many times the scriptures you read will be the answer to your prayers.””
Romans 15:4; “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
How can they be applicable if it’s the prophet that gives direction?
“Scripture”, Changes in
Book of Commandments – PGP JS History pg. 41; “He called me by name and said unto me, that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Nephi – 1833.”
Joseph Smith History 1:33; “He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.”
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.”
It seems that this scenario would cause divisions like Paul warned us about, eh? Who appeared to Joseph; Nephi or Moroni?
Scriptures, Changes to
Companion to Your Study of the BoM, pg. 313; “In providing a solution for the difficulty of obtaining air, the Lord informed Jared: “Behold, thou shall make a hole in the top thereof and also in the bottom thereof; and when thou shalt suffer for air, thou shalt unstop the hole thereof, and receive air. And if it so be that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole thereof, that ye may not perish in the flood.” (Page 542 of the first edition. Italics added.) This quotation is taken from the first edition of the Book of Mormon because the four thereofs underlined above appear in the early editions, but for some unexplainable reasons were deleted from the 1920 edition and all subsequent editions (perhaps the revising committee thought they were superfluous).”
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.”
The whole story of Jared and his family in the “boat” to cross the ocean is so incredibly silly it’s laughable. Why would Jared need to remind God that they needed air? And if you made a hole in the bottom of a boat… do I need to finish that sentence?
This is what happens when it’s not inspired, when you add to the word of God and when you lie.
Scripture, “Inspired”
Moroni 10:1; “Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good…”
Jarom 1:1-2; “Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept. 2 And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.”
1 Nephi 6:3; “And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.”
Jacob 1:1-2; “Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven. 2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious”
Omni 1:1; “Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy.”
2 Peter 1:20-21; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Ah-hem, point proven.
Scripture is Pure
2 Nephi 29:10; “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.”
Proverbs 30:6; “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
This is a lie from the pit of hell. God has supplied us with all that it is needed to know and understand what He wants for us to know.
Scripture is from Catacombs of Egypt
Gospelink 2001, Introduction to Book of Abraham; “A Translation of some ancient Records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt. – The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. See History of the Church, vol. 2, pp. 235, 236, 348-351.”
Isaiah 30:1-2; “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”
This is really scary – the “scriptures” that comprise the Pearl of Great Price are from the graves in Egypt. Why would you believe that funerary burial directions would be the word of God?
Scripture, Prophet’s Spoken Words Are
D&C 68:2-4; “And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.”
2 Corinthians 3:3-6; “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
In other words scripture is an evolutionary process in Mormonism.
Second Chance Theory
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 685; “There is no such thing as a second chance to gain salvation by accepting the gospel in the spirit world after spurning, declining, or refusing to accept it in this life. It is true that there may be a second chance to hear and accept the gospel, but those who have thus procrastinated their acceptance of the saving truths will not gain salvation in the celestial kingdom of God.”
Luke 16:19, 25, 30-31; “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Then what pray tell is it Mr. McConkie?
Second Chances for Salvation
Doctrines of Salvation 2:132; “The Lord has so arranged his plan of redemption that all who have died without this opportunity shall be given it in the spirit world.”
Hebrews 4:1-3; “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
This is a lot like purgatory.
Second Coming; Year of Jesus’ Return
In 1835 Smith said in HC 2:182; “…and it was the will of God that those who went Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh—even fifty-six years should wind up the scene.”
Matt. 25:13; “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
That became a false prophecy in 1891 in addition to what Jesus said in the verse above.
Secrets, none
Alma 37:25; “I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land.”
John 18:19-20; “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.”
If the Mormons don’t believe you should have secrets then why are their temple oaths not shared with the public and why was Joseph Smith taking the secret oaths of the Masonic Lodge?
Secret Organizations
Gospel Doctrines, pg. 110; “It is a well known truth that the counsel of the First Presidency of the Church, in all cases, has been and is against our brethren joining secret organizations for any purpose whatsoever, and that wherever any of them have already joined, they have been and are counseled to withdraw themselves from such organizations, as soon as circumstances permit and wisdom dictates.”
Psalm 10:6-7; “He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.”
This means Joseph Smith was sinning.
Seer Stones (Crystal Gazing)
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1293; “Joseph Smith wrote that in 1823 an angel told him about “two stones in silver bows…fastened to a breastplate…the possession and use of [which] constituted “seers’ in ancient or former times” (JS-H 1:35). Joseph used these and other seer stones that he found in various ways (occasionally referred to by the biblical term Urim and Thummim) for several purposes, primarily in translating the Book of Mormon and receiving revelations (see HC 1:21-23, 33, 36, 45, 49; 3:28; 5:xxxii; CHC 6:230-31).”
D&C 130:8; “The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.”
Deuteronomy 18:9-13; “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.”
Jeremiah 29:8-9; “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.”
God resides in a crystal?
Why would you ever believe in a fortune-teller?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_gazing; “Crystal gazing may be used by practitioners—sometimes called “readers” or “seers”—for a variety of purposes, including to predict distant or future events, to give character analyses, to tell fortunes, or to help a client make choices about current situations and problems.”
www.britanica.com; “Crystal gazing – divination of distant or future events based on visions seen in a ball of rock crystal. Divination based on an analysis of reflections in water, on polished metal, or on precious stones was practiced by early humans, who probably interpreted these phenomena as a vision of the spirit world. Scrying became widespread by the 5th century ad and was condemned by the medieval Christian church as the work of the devil.”
Self Perfection for Salvation
Delbert Stapley, Conference Report, April 1961, 2nd day afternoon session; ““And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3.) As sons and daughters of God, we are required to purify and perfect ourselves in righteousness, otherwise, we cannot be with him nor enjoy eternal lives and glory in his kingdom.”
Ezekiel 28:2; “Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God.”
We’re not the ones that do the purifying in ourselves. That’s the job of the Holy Spirit!
Self-reliance
“Lesson 7: Self-Reliance”, Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B, 60; “The Lord’s plan for Church members to be self-reliant is simple. It is that we do our best to provide for our personal and family needs by developing good work habits; being thrifty; gathering a home supply of items necessary to sustain us for at least one year; planning for our future needs; and maintaining physical, spiritual, emotional, and social health. Self-reliance begins at home, with the individual and the family.”
Romans 10:3; “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
Question: If you are responsible for all that where and/or when does the Lord have room to come into your life?
Self Sufficiency
Doctrinal Themes of D&C, pg. 40; “In his life’s work, the Prophet Joseph endeavored to establish a society. I would like to call it the “society of Zion”—a society so sufficient and so complete within itself that it could take care of every need of man. There would be no reason whatsoever for giving the Law of Consecration as an economic program for the Latter-day Saints if the Lord did not expect that through this Church program men were to carry out their total economic pursuits. When viewed in this light, Mormonism ceases to be merely a Sunday religion.”
2 Peter 2:9-10; “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”
Theologically this is a sound system as it is what the early church did. However, Mormons don’t really operate the system in a biblical manner. They give to those who are in need only if you join the church.
Already a member? You’re only given help for a very short period of time and then you’re cut off. After all, you were supposed to have a year’s supply of food on hand.
Servanthood
Conference Report, April 1915, pg. 78; “Now, brethren, I read in Scripture, “He that is the greatest, shall be a servant.” Some think that means he that is greatest in the kingdom of God must be a valet, or a butler, or a hostler. I do not believe in that doctrine, at all; I think it means that he that is greatest in the kingdom of God must give service, be willing to sacrifice. He that is greatest must be a Joseph Smith, a Brigham Young—and I am not afraid to say, a Heber C. Kimball.” – Jonathan Golden Kimball
Hebrew 4:2; “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
There are times that when the evil one is so blatantly wrong saying nothing at all is the best response. This is one of those times.
Sexual Sin, Incest
Orson Pratt, The Seer, pg. 158; “The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father: we use the term lawful Wife, because it would be blasphemous in the highest degree to say that He overshadowed her or begat the Savior unlawfully….But God having created all men and women had the most perfect right to do with His own creation, according to His holy will and pleasure: He had a lawful right to overshadow the Virgin Mary in the capacity of a husband, and beget a Son, although she was espoused to another, for the law which He gave to govern men and women was not intended to govern Himself, or to prescribe rules for his own conduct. ..Inasmuch as God was the first husband to her, it may be that He only gave her to be the wife of Joseph while in this mortal state, and that He intended after the resurrection to again take her as one of his own wives to raise up immortal spirits in eternity.”
1 Corinthians 5:1-5; “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
How utterly disgusting and filthy.
Sheep
3 Nephi 15:17; “That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
Mark 16:15; “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The “other sheep” Jesus was referring to was in reference to the Gentiles.
Shema
TPJS, pg. 346; “The Scriptures say it, and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it. Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.”
Holman Bible Dictionary says; “The Shema became for the people of God a confession of faith by which they acknowledged the one true God and His commandments for them. Later worship practice combined Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21; Numbers 15:37-41 into the larger Shema as the summary of Jewish confession. When Jesus was asked about the “greatest commandment,” He answered by quoting the Shema (Mark 12:29).”
Mark 12:29; “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.”
Deut. 6: 4; “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”
Lord = Jehovah which means Self-Existent One or Eternal; it’s also the Jewish national name of God.
God = Elohim which means The Supreme God. When not in use with the article in a sentence it means pagan gods, rulers, kings or judges.
Shunning, Anti-Mormons to be Shunned
Ensign, November 1981, pg. 67; “Since the spring of 1820, Lucifer has led a relentless attack against the Latter-day Saints and their leaders. A parade of anti-Christs, anti-Mormons, and apostate groups have appeared on the scene. Many are still among us and have released new floods of lies and false accusations. These faith-killers and testimony-thieves use personal contacts, the printed word, electronic media, and other means of communication to sow doubts and to disturb the peace of true believers… Avoid those who would tear down your faith. Faith-killers are to be shunned. The seeds which they plant in the minds and hearts of men grow like cancer and eat away the Spirit. ” – Carlos E. Asay
John 15:18; “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
And so we are. The problem lies in the terminology of course. Anyone who speaks out against the teachings of the Church are called “anti-Mormons”. Sadly, the truth is that we’re not anti-Mormons. We love the Mormon people but we are anti-Mormonism.
Shunning/promotion of
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 204; “If a child or relative of mine forsakes the Gospel, the holy Priesthood, his God, and the Kingdom of God, farewell to that child or relative, whether near or distant. I own none as relatives, only those who love and serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All that belong to my Father’s house I own. I love them, I delight in their society, no matter whether they are poor or rich, learned or unlearned, if they observe the laws of the Kingdom of God and live according to it. 9:155.”
1 John 4:20; “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
If a child of yours attended a different church would you shun them? Where in the Bible does it say to do so?
Sidon
Alma 2:17; “And they began to slay the Amlicites upon the hill east of Sidon. And the Amlicites did contend with the Nephites with great strength, insomuch that many of the Nephites did fall before the Amlicites.”
Matthew 11:21-23; “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”
From our website @ www.lifeafter.org;
Sidon
Biblical meaning: This is a land that was possessed by the Cannanite cults. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. Their goddess was Ashtoreth. 1 Kings 11:5. They brought nothing but misery to Israel. Jesus referred to the iniquities of the Sidonians in Matthew 11:21-3; ‘Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you’.
Book of Mormon’s definition: In 84 BC, Alma began baptizing the people in the river of Sidon. Alma 4:4. Sidon was also the river where the Nephites defeated the Amlicites & the Lamanites. Alma threw their bodies from the banks into the river so that they could cross to the other side. Alma 2:17, 27, 34-5. It says that the land where Sidon was became peaceful and prosperous.
You can read more about Book of Mormon names and places on our site by clicking here:
http://www.lifeafter.org/demonic_names.asp
Sin; Former Sins Can Return
D&C 82:7; “And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.”
Isaiah 43:25; “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
If this was true I’d never have forgivenss.
Sin, Man must Atone for own
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 92; “But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins. Murder, for instance, is one of these sins; hence we find the Lord commanding capital punishment. Thus, also, if a person has so progressed in righteousness that his calling and election has been made sure, if he has come to that position where he knows “by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood” that he is sealed up unto eternal life (D. & C. 131:5), then if he gains forgiveness for certain grievous sins, he must “be destroyed in the flesh,” and “delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.” (D. & C. 132:19-27.)”
Hebrews 10:14; “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
As mentioned before, the Mormon Church teaches that King David didn’t receive a full salvation but Moses, Paul and Joseph Smith did.
Sin Not an Attribute of Man
Journal of Discourses 10:251-2; “I wish you to understand that sin is not an attribute in the nature of man, but it is an inversion of the attributes God has placed in him. Righteousness tends to an eternal duration of organized intelligence, while sin bringeth to pass their dissolution. Were it our purpose, at this time, we might produce extensive, instructive and interesting arguments of a Scriptural and philosophical character, in support of these views.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, October 6, 1863
Romans 5:12; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
If this was true then why did my kids have temper tantrums?
Sin; Original Sin
Introduction to the Gospel, pg. 312; “Joseph Smith became a prophet and spokesman for God, a living witness of the principle of continuous revelation which characterized God’s relationship to man…In the restoration, man was raised to the dignity which he had formerly known both in the Hebrew and Christian scripture. Original sin and human depravity were done away with and in their place came again Jesus’ high regard for the dignity of man, the worth of every individual as a child of God, and great emphasis on man’s freedom and accompanying moral responsibility…in the Latter-day Saint teaching of salvation which reveals a fine balance between the grace of Deity and man’s individual merit.” – Lowell Bennion
John 2:24-25; “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
Both Jews and Christians have always believed in original sin, thus the need for a sacrifice for our sins.
Sin; Same Sin Twice is Unforgiven
D&C 42:26; “But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out.”
1 John 2:1-2; “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Their god sure has a short fuse.
Sins; Who Bears Our Iniquities?
Discourses of Joseph Smith, pg. 28; “Notwithstanding my weaknesses, I am under the necessity of bearing the infirmities of others, who when they get into difficulty, hang on to me tenaciously to get them out, and wish me to cover their faults. (HC 5:516.)”
Isaiah 53:11; “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
What an absolute lie.
Sinful or Born Perfect?
2 Nephi 2:23-5; “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.”
Romans 5:12-14; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”
This is dualism.
Skin Color & Sin
Jacob 3:8; “O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.”
James 2:9; “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
When the Mormons tell you they’re not racist ask them about their “sacred works”.
Solomon’s Temple & Nephi’s Temple
2 Nephi 5:15-17; “And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. 16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. 17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands.”
1 Kings 5:13-16; “And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 16 Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.”
Completed circa 950 BC the first temple took 7 years to build and was destroyed in 586 BC during the Babylonian invasion. 1 Kings 5, 6 & 7 (see also 2 Chronicles 3, 4 & 5) goes into great detail about how the temple was built – the temple was 3 stories high (some reports say 20 stories tall) and the entire inside of it was overlaid in gold.
Notice in there are only 3 verses in the Book of Mormon that addresses the topic of their magnificent temple. – There’s no detail of how long it took to build, what materials and how much they used or how many people it took to construct their temple.
Son of man or Son of Man?
Answers to Gospel Questions 1:9; “In each of the four gospels we read where the Savior frequently refers to himself as “the Son of man.” Invariably in the New Testament, the common noun, “Man,” is printed with a lower case “m.” This is very likely due to the fact that the scholars who did the translating did not understand the significance of this expression. Seemingly, they took the view as you have expressed it, that it has reference to the fact that our Lord became a man and while on the earth appeared as a man. You will realize that for centuries the prevailing notion that God, when speaking of either the Father or the Son, was without body and was not in the form of man, except as our Lord appeared among man in his earth ministry.”
Luke 19:10; “For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Son of Man – this phrase appears 84 times in the Gospels with all but one used as by Jesus as a self-description. Jesus used this term more than any other to describe Himself. In the Book of Luke Jesus Christ presents Himself as a man without equal by referring to himself as the Son of Man, without contradicting that He is also fully God. For Christ to atone for the sins of men He had to become a true man Himself. Jesus needed to show them that he was a man and sinless so that when He was slain people would understand that a spotless lamb had been sacrificed. The question of His humanity is not a debate internal to Christianity but external. It is a central belief of Christianity.
Soul
www.lds.org; “In scripture, the term soul is used as a synonym for spirit to describe a person in four different phases of his or her eternal existence. Soul is used to describe a person in premortal life—before birth (see Abraham 3:23). During earth life, the soul is joined with a physical body (see Abraham 5:7). At death, the soul leaves the body and goes to the spirit world to await resurrection (see Alma 40:11–14). In the Resurrection, the body and soul are inseparably connected, which is called “the redemption of the soul” (see Alma 40:23; D&C 88:15–16).”
Job 33:4, 6; “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.”
Genesis 2:7; “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
No one but God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit existed before He created the earth.
Spirit, How to Qualify for the
Ensign, November 2008, pg. 17; “This is a commandment with a promise. 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]” (D&C 20:77). That Spirit is the foundation of our testimony.”
Ephesians 1:13; “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
When you ask Jesus to come live inside your heart you’ve “qualified” for the Holy Spirit. First though, you have to repent of your sins, confess Jesus is God and forsake all other gods, including those of the Mormon Church.
Spirit Babies – Duty to Bring Forth
Journal of Discourses 4:56; “Do you understand this? I have told you many times that there are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?—to prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can; hence if my women leave, I will go and search up others who will abide the celestial law…This is the reason why the doctrine of plurality of wives was revealed, that the noble spirits which are waiting for tabernacles might be brought forth.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, September 21, 1856
John 6:28-29; “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
Once again it’s sex over worshipping the God of the Bible.
Spirit Children Born to Exalted Men
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 751; “In a future eternity, spirit children will be born to exalted, perfected glorified couples for whom the family unit continues. The very glory of exalted beings is to have “a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.””
Isaiah 14:12-15; “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
At the end of my life as a Mormon I remember begging God to send me to hell if it meant I’d be pregnant for eternity.
Spirit Children, We are All
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Talk, pg. 5, October 3, 1954; “We believe that he is our Father in heaven, literally; that we are his spirit offspring; that we dwelt with him in the pre-existent eternities, were taught by him, saw his face, knew of the terms and conditions that apply to the plan of salvation, and desired with an overwhelming longing that we, his spirit offspring, might progress to the state where we would have glorious bodies, and would attain the state of exaltation he then had.”
Isaiah 44:24; “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
Same story, different day but it’s never about Christ Jesus and Him crucified.
Spirit is a Substance
Handbook of Restoration, pg. 269; “The Father is a glorified and perfect person, and Jesus Christ the Son is in his express image and likeness. One is an individual as much as the other. Each is a spirit clothed with a spiritual, yet tangible, immortal body. Spirit is substance, not immateriality. It is eternal in its essence, and so are the elements of that which is known as matter.”
Job 33:4; “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
With all the evidence in the Bible you’d think the Mormons would be exhausted trying to preach another god.
Spirits Choose Parentage
Journal of Discourses 2:117; “Do good spirits want to partake of the sins of the low and degraded? No; but they will stay in heaven until a way is opened for purity and righteousness to form a channel in which they can come, and take honorable bodies in this world, and magnify their calling. Let us take that course, and if we do not draw the brightest spirits to honor our generations, it is because I do not understand…Try this, and your offspring will be the fairest specimens of the work of God’s hand. If the servants of God will maintain the principles of holiness and integrity, they can then have more than one wife, and by that means you can draw in your train more of those spirits that will glorify the God of Israel.” – Orson Hyde, Salt Lake City, September 24, 1853
Acts 15:7-8; “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us.”
What a tangled web they weave when they practice to deceive. If those “choice spirits” were going to wait in heaven until they found acceptable parents with no sin they’d be there forever.
Spirits Do Not Choose Parentage
Way to Perfection, pg. 44-45; “NO SCRIPTURAL PROOF OF PRE-MORTAL CHOOSING We have no scriptural justification, however, for the belief that we had the privilege of choosing our parents and our life companions in the spirit world. This belief has been advocated by some, and it is possible that in some instances it is true, but it would require too great a stretch of the imagination to believe it to be so in all, or even in the majority of cases. Most likely we came where those in authority decided to send us. Our agency may not have been exercised to the extent of making choice of parents and posterity.”
Spirits Come Only to Heirs of Salvation
Doctrinal Themes of D&C, pg. 21; “The good spirits, in the superlative sense of the word, are they who, in this life, partook of the Holy Priesthood and of the fulness of the gospel. This class of spirits minister to the heirs of salvation, both in this world and in the world of spirits. They can appear unto men, when permitted, but not having a fleshy tabernacle, they cannot hide their glory. Hence, an unembodied spirit, if it be a holy personage, will be surrounded with a halo of resplendent glory, or brightness above the brightness of the sun. Whereas, spirits not worthy to be glorified will appear without this brilliant halo, and although they often attempt to pass as angels of light, there is more or less of darkness about them. (Key to Theology, p. 115.)” – Hyrum Andrus
2 Corinthians 11:14-15; “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Think of all the time this guy’s wasted making up stories and lying about God. Why not speak the simple truth and proclaim His righteousness, goodness and mercy?
Spirits, Listening to the
Alma 3:26; “And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.”
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.”
This passage in the Book of Mormon is talking about another nameless war. No specifics, no reason why the war began or how it ended. It’s a story lost amongst the others where tens of thousands of people died. How is this glorifying God?
Conference Report, April 1953, p. 35; “There are two spirits striving with all men; one telling them what to do that is right, and one telling them what to do that will please themselves, that will gratify their own pride and ambition. If we live as we ought to live we will always follow that spirit that teaches us to do that which is right.” – ElRay Christiansen, Assistant to the Twelve Apostles
1 Corinthians 2:11-14; “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.”
Satan does not abide with me.
Standard Works
Conference Report, Apr., 1988, p.97 col. L; Ezra Taft Benson; “For the next six months, your conference edition of the Ensign should stand next to your standard works and be referred to frequently…. Harold B. Lee said, we should let these conference addresses “”be the guide to [our] walk and talk during the next six months. These are the important matters the Lord sees fit to reveal to this people in this day”” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1946, p.68).”
Acts 5:29-31; “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
They’ll do anything to keep the Mormon away from the Bible and here’s a good example of that.
Stick
Hebrew word for stick: “From H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plural sticks):— + carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.” – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #6086
Greek word for stick: “phruganon” which comes from the Greek word “phlox”. It means “something desiccated which that is a dry twig – stick.” – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5434
Ezekiel 37:15-19; “The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.18 ¶ And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.”
Stick of Ephraim
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 767; “Ezekiel, in foretelling the preparation and coming forth of the Book of Mormon, called it the stick of Ephraim, and the stick of Joseph in the hand of Ephraim. In similar imagery he called the Bible the stick of Judah. The promise was that these two records would become one stick in the Lord’s hand in the day of the gathering of Israel. (Ezek. 37:15-28.)… The Book of Mormon is the stick of Ephraim in that it is a record of God’s dealings with a people who were of the tribe of Ephraim; it is the stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim in that it records God’s dealings with a portion of the tribe of Joseph, the record of which came forth by way of latter-day Ephraim and is now in the hands of church members who nearly all are of Ephraim. (D. & C. 27:5.)”
Ezekiel 37:15-17; “The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.”
Stick of Joseph
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 419; “[For Latter-day Saints, the “Stick of Joseph” and the “Stick of Ephraim” refer to the Book of Mormon. Both phrases appear in the book of the prophet Ezekiel (“ezek. 37:1637:16, 19). The view that the Stick of Joseph consists of a scriptural record receives support from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants (“1 ne. 13:351 Ne. 13:35-40; “2 ne. 3:112 Ne. 3:11″2 ne. 18:0-12, 18-21; “D&C 27:5D&C 27:5).”D&C 27:5 Articles that deal with this subject are Book of Mormon, Biblical Prophecies about; Ezekiel, Prophecies of; Joseph of Egypt: Writings of Joseph; and “Voice from the Dust.”]”
Isaiah 29:3-4; “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.”
Stick of Joseph
Journal of Discourses 13:175-176; “The Old and New Testaments are the stick of Judah. You recollect that the tribe of Judah tarried in Jerusalem and the Lord blessed Judah, and the result was the writings of the Old and New Testaments. But where is the stick of Joseph? Can you tell where it is? Yes. It was the children of Joseph who came across the waters to this continent, and this land was filled with people, and the Book of Mormon or the stick of Joseph contains their writings, and they are in the hands of Ephraim.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, May 29, 1870
Ezek. 37:16-19; “Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? 19Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.”
Stick of Judah
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 419; “In LDS terminology, the “Stick of Judah” refers to the Bible. The phrase appears in the book of the prophet Ezekiel (37:19). The belief that the Stick of Judah consists of a scriptural record is stated in the Book of Mormon (1 Ne. 3:9-12; 5:5-6, 10-13; 13:20-29; 2 Ne. 3:11-12; cf. D&C 27:5). Articles that discuss this subject are –>Book of Mormon, Biblical Prophecies about; –>Ezekial, Prophecies of; –>Joseph of Egypt: Writings of Joseph: and “–>Voice From the dust.”]”
Leviticus 20:27; “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.”
As for the previous three entries and the proper Hebrew transliteration for the word “stick” we can see the LDS meaning for this word has absolutely nothing to do with the Book of Mormon or the Bible for that matter.
In fact, the passage in Ezekiel is talking about how the tribes of Judah and the tribes of Joseph (or Ephraim) are representative in the two sticks Ezekiel was to show to the people. God wanted them to see that just as Ezekiel held both sticks in one hand, God would one day hold the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim) and Judah in one hand where there would be no more animosity between either.
As a side note here, God often used the name “Ephraim” when referring to Israel. It was a pet name He used lovingly for His children; see Hosea 11:1-4.
Straw Man
Answers: Straightforward Answers to Tough Gospel Questions, pg. 216; ““To build a straw man, your critic takes something he knows he can pound the stuffing out of, and he attributes it to you as your belief. He then beats it up as evidence that the doctrines of the Church aren’t true. One way for him to do that is to show where two of our leaders have said something that appears to be in conflict. The fallacy in his doing so is that he has the notion that we believe in the infallibility of prophets. Thus if Brigham Young said something that is not the doctrine of the Church, then the Church can’t be true because one of its prophets made an error. Now, Elder, do you see what is happening? Your critic is telling you that we believe in the infallibility of prophets. The truth is, we simply don’t believe that.”
Matthew 13:18-23; “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
The prophet’s words need to be true – ALL THE TIME. Everyone knows that all men are fallible, that is not the issue. The issue is the message, not the messenger.
Strength from the Lord, Qualifying for
Ensign, May 2004, pg. 16; “The restored gospel of Jesus Christ gives us help in knowing how to qualify for the strength of the Lord as we deal with adversity. It tells us why we face tests in life. And, even more importantly, it tells us how to get protection and help from the Lord.” – President Henry B. Eyring
Matt. 19:24-26; “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
How does one qualify for the strength of the Lord if he needs to ask for it?
Study the Lives of the Master and the Prophet Joseph – 2/2008
Ensign, Nov. 2006, pg. 61; “All of us would do well to study the life of the Master and try to emulate His words and doings. We would likewise do well to study the life of the Prophet Joseph. From his example, each of us could learn much concerning our own behavior.”
John 7:17-18; “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself. 18 He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”
Unfortunately this will fall upon deaf ears. The average Mormon doesn’t know how to study the Bible or how to go about looking for information in the Bible about Jesus. If they had the skills to do this I believe every Mormon would begin comparing the two men and leave the Church.
Stupor of Thought
Promptings of the Spirit, pg. 96; “However, in D&C 9:9 the Lord says that if a wrong thought is being pursued, there will be no feeling of rightness, but instead, a stupor of thought, and that the stupor of thought “shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.” Actually it is the Spirit which causes the stupor of thought and the forgetting. That means that the Spirit really is present, but works within us like ebbs and flows, presenting and subtracting feelings and thoughts. Thus, stupor of thought is not a true condition of the Spirit being absent.” – Errol Fish
2 Corinthians 10:5; “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
We are discouraged in the Bible from trusting our own feelings so everything Mr. Fish said here is a lie.
Suffering
Neal Maxwell, That Ye May Believe, pg. 10; “If we criticize God or are unduly miffed over sufferings and tribulation, we are really criticizing the Planner for implementing the very plan we once approved, premortally (see Job 38:4, 7). Granted, we don’t now remember the actual approval. But not remembering is actually part of the plan!”
Job 38:4-7; “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
2 Cor. 4:8-18 gives us a good synopsis of suffering w/ vs. 11 being the summation of why and how we are to suffer; “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
If you believe you picked out your life before you were born is to believe in a lie.
Suicide
1958 Edition of Mormon Doctrine; “Suicides. See Murderers. Suicide is murder, pure and simple, and murderers are damned. There is no more justification for self-murder than for the wilful destruction of another. There is a common and supposedly compassionate tendency on the part of many to reason that all who commit suicide must be mentally unbalanced and that therefore they are not accountable for their crimes…..But the great probability is that nearly all self-murderers–though they may be depressed an mentally ill–do in fact know right from wrong, the same as most killers do. No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” – Bruce McConkie
2 Corinthians 4:8-9; “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in Utah. Statements like the one above from Bruce McConkie an “apostle of the Lord” shows a lack of empathy, grace and love people truly need and desire.
Suicide
Eternal Man, pg. 26; “Rewarding Rewording – Even Latter-day Saints, when the idea is put in ways that break out of routine phraseology, may find that it shakes their ordinary ways of thinking. Here, for example, are some of its meanings and entailments…Death, like all events, is lived through. It is comparable to the loss of an arm, and that is temporary…Suicide is just a change of scenery. Through all transformations of eternity, no self can change completely into another thing. Identity remains.” – Truman Madsen
2 Corinthians 6:17-18, 7:10; “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:10; For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
2 Timothy 2:25-26; “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
I would imagine that Mr. Madsen was surprised to learn the truth when he saw Jesus face to face.
Superiority Complex
Doctrines of Salvation 1:236; “SAINTS ARE THE BEST PEOPLE. We are, notwithstanding our weaknesses, the best people in the world. I do not say that boastingly, for I believe that this truth is evident to all who are willing to observe for themselves. We are morally clean, in every way equal, and in many ways superior to any other people.”
1 Samuel 2:3; “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”
This superiority of the Mormons is something the Christian has to overlook and know they need Jesus just like we do.
Superiority & Persecutions of Mormons
Marvelous Work and Wonder, pg. 393; “In light of the superior lives and accomplishments of faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as discussed only briefly in the preceding chapter, one who does not understand that it is the heritage of the followers of Christ to be persecuted and evil spoken of, would not be able to account for the almost unparalleled persecution to which the members of the Church have been subjected. From the very moment that Joseph Smith, at the age of fourteen, announced he had seen God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ in holy vision, the forces of evil combined against him and against those whose faith led them to embrace the restored truth. Why he should be so persecuted and evil spoken of was a matter the boy Joseph Smith could not understand.”
1 John 2:16; “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
“Unparalleled persecution”? What about the Christians who were used as human torches for Nero’s gardens? Really now…
Remember, boasting can only take place within the earshot of others.
Reasons Starting with T & U:
http://lifeafterministry.com/2010/10/01/reasons-starting-with-t-u/
Link to Index:
http://lifeafterministry.com/2012/06/07/mormon-quotes-1000-reasons-to-leave-mormonism/
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