Abraham 3:26; “And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.”
Romans 4:4-7; “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
Trying to work your way to heaven will only lead you to being judged under the Law.
Earth; Brigham isn’t Sure How Earth was Created
Journal of Discourses 14:116-117; “As for the Bible account of the creation we may say that the Lord gave it to Moses, or that Moses obtained the history and traditions of the fathers, and from them picked out what he considered necessary…no matter whether it is correct or not, and whether the Lord found the earth empty or void, or whether he made it out of nothing or out of the rude elements…it will remain a matter of speculation in the minds of men unless he give revelation on the subject.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, May 14, 1871
This man has already prophesied God didn’t make the earth out of nothing. This is a false prophecy and a false prophet.
Earth Conceives and has Parents
Journal of Discourses 6:36; “Does the earth conceive? It does and it brings forth. If it did not, why do you go and put your wheat into the ground? Does it not conceive it….Where did the earth come from? From its parent earths. Well, some of you may call that foolish philosophy. But if it is, I will throw out foolish things, that you may gather up wise things. The earth is alive. If it was not, it could not produce”. – Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, November 8, 1857
Well…the earth provides us with the soil to plant our fields and God provides beautiful scenery for us through His creation of the earth.
I think it’s safe to say scientists haven’t found any baby earths, nor have they found the parents of this earth.
These false teachers falsely believed they had the liberty to tell any story they wanted to. After all, who’s going to know at that stage in the game? No one had been to the moon to discredit the other lies of people living there.
It’s too bad these fellows didn’t spend more of their spare time reading their Bibles to prepare a sermon based on truth.
Earth Fell into Space
Journal of Discourses 17:143; “This earth is our home, it was framed expressly for the habitation of those who are faithful to God, and who prove themselves worthy to inherit the earth when the Lord shall have sanctified, purified and glorified it and brought it back into his presence, from which it fell far into space.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, July 19, 1874
Psalm 104:5; “Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.”
David wasn’t asking the question who laid the foundation of the earth – rather, he was stating the fact that God, who laid the foundations of the earth…
This false prophecy, courtesy of Brigham Young, goes to show how far he’ll go to confuse the people. The man who hadn’t opened his Bible in years is telling people the earth just fell from space and bounced into existence is a deplorable prophecy and teaching!
Ensign, March 1997; “According to President Brigham Young, Abraham 5:13 [Abr. 5:13] also means that before the Fall of Adam, the earth was near the very throne of God. But when the Fall occurred, the earth literally fell or moved from the physical presence of God to its present position in our solar system. When all the effects of the Fall of Adam are finally overcome, the earth will literally move back into the presence of God.” – Andrew Skinner
Nehemiah 9:6; “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”
We have dozens upon dozens of scriptures we can use to show this Mormon prophecy is from the devil. The point is that nowhere in the Bible does it allude to the fact that the earth was hurled from its axis and fell into the universe.
Earth Formed Out of Other Planets
Discourses of Joseph Smith, pg 265; “The world and earth are not synonymous terms. The world is the human family.—This earth was organized or formed out of other planets which were broken up and remodeled and made into one on which we live. The elements are eternal… In the translation “without form and void,” it should read, empty and desolate. The word created should be formed or organized. (Richards and Little, op. cit., p. 271.)”
Joshua 24:14-15; “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
In the Old Testament we see how God went with the Israelites and led them out of Egypt. They in turn forsook the gods of their fathers and began serving the One True God.
Somehow along the way around thirty five centuries later there stood a group of people in the heart of America who made the decision to listen to the words of a man who wanted to be a god. And yet the Mormons didn’t see or didn’t want to recognize the gods of Joseph Smith were the same gods the Israelites rejected in lieu of worshipping the One True God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Joseph introduced these unknown earth gods who promised new found knowledge and in turn forsook the God of the Bible.
This gospel of unknown gods is milled out to the unsuspecting by no less than 50,000+ young men and women each and every year worldwide and all under the auspice of the “one true church on the face of the earth”. Strangely, none of its members question the claims of their leaders while claiming that knowledge is salvation.
We can’t serve the Lord in sincerity and truth without completely surrendering our life to Him. It can’t behoove us to study His word like it says the Bereans did (Acts 17:11) and most importantly it doesn’t bring glory to God when we aren’t true to His word. Part of the other problem with this scenario is the 50,000+ kids out there thinking they’re serving God when in fact they’ve rejected Him.
There’s nothing in the Bible to back Joseph Smith’s assertion and in fact rejects the Lord with this and other teachings.
This type of behavior is called unbelief masked in the accusation of a faulty translation of the Bible. The Israelites’ proclamation wasn’t a reactionary impulsive act made on emotion, but a definitive one they committed themselves to for life. They saw God in action and knew He wasn’t a transitory god who changed with societal whims of the day.
Earth has a Spirit
Journal of Discourses 5:172; “Some say the earth exists without spirit; I do not believe any such thing; it has a spirit as much as anybody has a spirit.” – Apostle Heber C. Kimball,
Jeremiah 2:26-28; “As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. 28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.”
I have searched and searched the Bible f looking for anything that remotely suggests the earth has a soul or spirit. I also searched for anything in the Bible that spoke of people who believe this.
The only people I’ve heard of that believes the earth has a spirit or soul in today’s age are Pantheists, Witches and Mormons.
Earth, How it was Created
Abraham 4:25; “And the Gods organized the earth to bring forth the beasts after their kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind; and the Gods saw they would obey.”
Isaiah 45:18; “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”
I don’t know how a Mormon couldn’t question this “scripture”. The thought of a group of “gods” is scary, not comforting and not in line with biblical teaching.
Earth: How was it Created?
Jacob 4:9; “For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?”
Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 350; “Now I ask all who will hear me, why the learned men who are preaching salvation, say that God created the heavens and earth out of nothing? The reason is, that they are unlearned in the things of God…Now, the word create came from the word “bara”, which does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize…God never had the power to create the spirit of man at all.”
Genesis 1:1; “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
John 1:1-3; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Colossians 1:15-16; “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”
In scripture we see that God created the earth out of nothing.
Where in the Bible does it say God only organized elements to “create” the earth? Are there any other scriptures verifying this?
Which of Joseph Smith’s prophecies do you believe? If you say the one from the BoM then Joseph’s theory is wrong. If you say you believe Joseph’s theory then the Bom is correct.
And all that brings us to what God said. So again, which account do you believe? God’s or Joseph’s two contradictory revelations?
Earth is Dying
Doctrines of Salvation 1:72; “We have every reason to believe that the passing away of an earth simply means that it will undergo, or has undergone, the same definite course which is destined for our earth, and the Lord has made that perfectly clear. This earth is a living body. It is true to the law given it. It was created to become a celestial body and the abode for celestial beings.” – Joseph Fielding Smith
Titus 1:15-16; “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
There are many teachings in Mormonism that go beyond the explainable. The evidence of their teachings speaks for themselves in the unsubstantiated proof these things aren’t true.
Earth is Spirit World
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 376; “When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world. Are you going into Abraham’s bosom? No, not anywhere nigh there but into the spirit world. Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity. Where else are you going? Nowhere else, only as you may be permitted. 3:369.”
Isaiah 45:11-12; “Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.”
Brigham Young’s teaching is also in direct contrast to what Jesus told us in Luke 16:19-31.
Earth not Made out of Nothing
Journal of Discourses 14:116-117; “…to assert that the Lord made this earth out of nothing is preposterous and impossible. God never made something out of nothing; it is not in the economy or law by which the worlds were, are, or will exist…How long it has been organized it is not for me to say, and I do not care anything about it.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, May 14, 1871
I cringe each time I see a statement like the one Brigham made here. My reaction is because of what God must think. I just can’t imagine being in His presence when comments like this are made…
Earth Organized
Latter-day Prophets Speak: Selections from the sermons and Writing of Church Presidents, pg. 266; “It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. – Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:51, April 9, 1852”
Genesis 1:1; “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
The word create in Hebrew is ba-ra; meaning to create (qualified). He called into being out of nothing.
Now if God called something (the earth) into being out of nothing, then what would He have been busy organizing if nothing was there?
Earth to be Resurrected, Celestialized & Redeemed
Doctrines of Salvation 1:88; “CELESTIAL DESTINY OF THE EARTH. At the end of the world the earth will die; it will be dissolved, pass away, and then it will be renewed, or raised with a resurrection. It will receive its resurrection to become a celestial body, so that they of the celestial order may possess it forever and ever. Then it will shine forth as the sun and take its place among the worlds that are redeemed… EARTH TO BE A CELESTIAL SUN. It is my opinion that the great stars that we see, including our sun, are celestial worlds; at least worlds that have passed on to their exaltation or other final resurrected status.” – Joseph Fielding Smith
2 Peter 3:10-13; “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Nowhere in the Bible does it say the earth will become a celestialized sun! Peter’s pretty clear in this description of what will take place and he didn’t mention anything about the earth being resurrected (good grief) or that it’ll be exalted with other earths.
Earth’s Reaction to Jesus’ Death
3 Nephi 8:17; “And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.”
Matthew 27:50-53; “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
The stories in the Book of Mormon are always bigger, badder and boastful. The “whole earth was deformed”? Really?
From verses nine to sixteen it said the “city of Moroni did sink” and everyone drowned. Verse ten tells us the earth was carried up upon another city and it became a “great mountain”. Further north of that place destruction hit the land that had never been known before and the “whole face of the land was changed”; and tornadoes and exceeding quaking struck the whole earth. Cities were sunk, burned and people slain while other cities were left desolate. The cities that remained had people carried away in tornadoes.
It’s odd because the Bible tells us of people who came out of their graves and lived again…hmmm…it makes one wonder what earth Smith was actually referring to.
Earth; Who or What has Existed Eternally
Joseph Smith – Seeker after Truth, Prophet of God, pg 158; “Here Joseph Smith again broke with existing false traditions. It had been taught that God created the earth out of nothing, by the fiat of his word. Instead, Joseph declared that the earth was made from existing materials. That is, the earth was organized rather than created. Latter-day Saints always speak of the “creation” of the earth in that sense.” – John A. Widstoe
Colossians 1:16-17; “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
All created things needs a creator which by default means the creator had to be in existence before the created thing.
Earth Will be Resurrected because It Keeps the Law
Doctrines of Salvation 1:73; “This earth is living and must die, but since it keeps the law it shall be restored through the resurrection by which it shall became celestialized and the abode of celestial beings. The next verse of this revelation explains this as follows: “For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; And not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand”” – Joseph Fielding Smith
Proverbs 18:7; “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”
Does the earth think on its own or have a mind to do so? Who’s in control here? Is it God or the very things He created???
Egypt in the Pearl of Great Price
Abraham 1:23; “The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden.”
Let’s begin with who “discovered” what.
Genesis 10:6, 8, & 10 tell us that Ham’s descendants were the first monarchy of the southern regions of the earth – this included Egypt and none of the players involved included females.
See Easton’s Bible and Holman’s Bible Dictionaries.
The Egyptians weren’t exactly God fearing people, but that isn’t what the book of Abraham would have you believe. Three verses later (1:26) it tells us Pharaoh was a righteous man as well as someone who judged his people “wisely and justly” and only lived to serve God.
Clearly we’re talking about a different Egypt and a different Abraham, right? If this isn’t the case then once again we have another false prophecy from Joseph Smith.
Elder
www.lds.org; “An office of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Also used as a title for male missionaries or general authorities of the Church. Elders have authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and to bestow priesthood blessings.”
James 5:14-15; “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”
Keep in mind the Mormon male missionary is 19 years old – enough said.
Emma Damned
Journal of Discourses 17:159-160; “I want to say to my sisters that if you lift you heels against this revelation…you will go to hell, just as sure as you are living women. Emma took that revelation, supposing she had all there was; but Joseph had wisdom enough to take care of it…Said she—”Joseph, you promised me that revelation, and if you are a man of your word you will give it to me.”…She went to the fire-place and put it in, and put the candle under it and burnt it, and she thought that was the end of it, and she will be damned as sure as she is a living woman. Joseph used to say that he would have her hereafter, if he had to go to hell for her, and he will have to go to hell for her…” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, August 9, 1874
Romans 2:1-3; “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”
I find this passage interesting each time I read another judgment from someone in the Church against anyone who disagrees with their philosophies.
Emma Smith
Brigham Young Sermon, October 1, 1866 and reported in the Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, Winter 1980, pg 82; “The sympathies of the Latter-day Saints are with the family of the martyred prophet. I never saw a day in the world that I would not almost worship that woman, Emma Smith, if she would be a saint instead of being a devil… [We] would have been exceeding glad if the prophet’s family had come with us when we left Nauvoo… We would have made cradles for them… and would have fed them on milk and honey. Emma is naturally a very smart woman; she is subtle and ingenious…. she has made her children inherit lies. To my certain knowledge Emma Smith is one of the damnest liars I know of on this earth; yet there is no good thing I would refuse to do for her, if she would only be a righteous woman.”
James 4:11; “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
The Utah Historical Quarterly is a publication highlighting events past and present in Utah. In this particular publication they showcased a sermon of Brigham Young’s taken from a book called “The Lion and the Lady” written by Valeen Tippetts Avery and Linda King Newell. Their insight into the relations of the RLDS Church and that of the HQ in Salt Lake City is telling and gives us an idea of what was really going on.
Their report on Brigham also tells us that he must’ve spent a fair amount of time thinking about the scenario at hand. As James said you shouldn’t speak evil of another and this is especially true when you’re the leader! Shame on him for saying anything about her at all!
Endowments
Reed Smoot Case, vol. 3, p. 185; “…the endowments have never changed and can never change; as I understand it; it has been so testified, and that Joseph Smith Jr., himself was the founder of the endowments.” – Senator Reed Smoot
Revelation 22:8; “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
The endowments changed within a year of its inception in 1842 and less than a decade before the Reed Smoot hearings they changed again to ensure all temples were performing the same endowments.
Of course this doesn’t account for the numerous changes that have taken place since the hearings – the latest being in 2008.
Endure to the End…
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 456; “Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God. This belief distinguishes Latter-day Saints from many other Christian denominations, which teach that salvation is given to all who simply believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. Latter-day Saints believe that to be saved a person must have faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrate repentance of sins, submit to baptism by immersion, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying-on of hands by those holding the true priesthood authority, and then remain faithful to all covenants, continue in righteousness, and endure faithfully to the end of mortal life (Heb. 3:6-14; 6:4-15; Mark 13:13). This enduring faithfulness makes it possible for a person to receive fully the grace of Christ. The Doctrine and Covenants states, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).”
Romans 11:6; “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
For the Mormon there is no grace – ever.
Eleven Witnesses to the Book of Mormon
Oliver Cowdery; Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated from the Church on Friday, April 12, 1838 by a church court along with the Whitmers (his brothers-in-law), Hiram Page and William Phelps. (Far West Records for the LDS Church for April 3, 1838)
Martin Harris; Martin Harris belonged to more than thirteen denominations throughout his life. The Cambellites in Pennsylvania being one of them. Before he became a Mormon he belonged to at least five denominations and after his excommunication from the LDS Church he joined another eight. He eventually rejoined the LDS faith and moved to Utah in 1870 and was rebaptized. (“Martin Harris: Mormonism’s Early Convert,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 19 (Winter 1986):30-34.). Also see Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg.
David Whitmer; Whitmer was excommunicated on April 13, 1838 for “possessing the same spirit with the Dissenters”.
From Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1565; “A year before his death Whitmer wrote a pamphlet, An Address to All Believers in Christ (1887), apparently to justify his separation from the Church. In the pamphlet, he again gave witness to the truth of the Book of Mormon, but claimed that Joseph Smith drifted into errors after completing the translation. Whitmer rejected many later developments in the Church, such as the offices of high priest and prophet, seer, and revelator; the Doctrine and Covenants; and the doctrines of gathering and of plural marriage.”
Christian Whitmer; Baptized into church April 11, 1830. Died Nov. 27, 1835.
Jacob Whitmer; Baptized April 11, 1830. In 1838 he voluntarily left the Church. He died on April 21, 1856.
Peter Whitmer, Jr.; Baptized on June 9, 1830. He died on Sept. 22, 1836, almost two years before his family was excommunicated.
John Whitmer; Baptized in June 1829. He was ex-communicated April 12, 1838.
Hiram Page (brother-in-law of Joe Smith, jr.); Baptized on April 11, 1830 and voluntarily left the Church in 1838.
Joseph Smith, Sr. (father of Joe Smith); Baptized into church on April 6, 1830. Died in 1840.
Hyrum Smith (brother of Joe Smith, Jr.); He was baptized in June 1829. Died in June 1844.
Samuel Harrison Smith (brother of Joe Smith, Jr.); Baptized into church May 25, 1829. Became a Mason in 1842. Died July 30, 1844.
Elias – #1
Mormon Doctrine, pg 219; “1. ELIAS OF ABRAHAM’S DAY. — As part of the restoration of all things, a prophet named Elias came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836, and committed unto them the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham…Now what was the gospel of Abraham? Obviously it was the commission, the mission, the endowment and power, the message of salvation, given to Abraham. And what was this? It was a divine promise that both in the world and out of the world his seed should continue “as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.” (D. & C. 132:30; Gen. 17; Abra. 2:1-12.) Thus the gospel of Abraham was one of celestial marriage (including plurality of wives); it was a gospel or commission to provide a lineage for the elect portion of the pre-existent spirits…This power and commission is what Elias restored, and as a consequence, the righteous among all future generations were assured of the blessings of a continuation of the seeds forever, even as it was with Abraham of old. (D. & C. 132.)”
Matthew 11:13-14; “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.”
Necromancy.
Elias – #2
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 220; “2. ELIAS A NAME FOR ELIJAH. — Elias is the Greek form of Elijah. This leads to some confusion and the necessity of determining whether Elijah or someone else is meant in each passage where the name Elias appears. Such a determination is not difficult, however, when the full doctrine of Elias and Elijah is understood.”
Mark 9:13; “But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.”
Necromancy.
Elias – #3
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 220; “3. SPIRIT AND DOCTRINE OF ELIAS. — Joseph Smith taught that a preparatory work, one that lays a foundation for a greater work, one that goes before to prepare the way for a greater which is to come, is a work performed by the spirit of Elias. This principle is called the doctrine of Elias. The Prophet explained that the spirit and doctrine of Elias pertain to the Aaronic Priesthood only. He used himself as an example…In the same way John the Baptist, he explained, served in the spirit and power of Elias; that is, as our Lord’s forerunner, serving in the lesser priesthood, he prepared the way for a greater work.”
Luke 4:26; “But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.”
Necromancy.
Elias – #4
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 221; “4. ELIAS OF THE RESTORATION. — Correcting the Bible by the spirit of revelation, the Prophet restored a statement of John the Baptist which says that Christ is the Elias who was to restore all things. (Inspired Version, John 1:21-28.) By revelation we are also informed that the Elias who was to restore all things is the angel Gabriel who was known in mortality as Noah. (D. & C. 27:6-7; Luke 1:5-25; Teachings, p. 157.) From the same authentic source we also learn that the promised Elias is John the Revelator. (D. & C. 77: 9, 14.) Thus there are three different revelations which name Elias as being three different persons. What are we to conclude?”
Romans 3:13; “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.”
Necromancy.
Elias – #5
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 221; “5. JOHN THE BAPTIST AN ELIAS. — No better illustration is found in the revelations of one who acted in the spirit and power of Elias — and yet who expressly disavowed any claim to being the Elias who was to restore all things — than that seen in the ministry of John the Baptist. Gabriel foretold that John would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elias” (Luke 1:17).”
Matthew 17:10-12; “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.”
Necromancy.
Elijah
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 223; “Because Elijah has come in this dispensation, the fullness of salvation is again available for the living and the dead. He “was the last prophet that held the keys of the priesthood” in ancient Israel, the Prophet said. His latter-day mission was to “restore the authority and deliver the keys of the priesthood, in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness. . . . Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood; and without the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.” (Teachings, p. 172.)”
2 Kings 2:1; “And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.”
Elijah did not hold any priesthood while on earth. He was a prophet who lived in the ninth century BC. Interestingly enough he placed the “mantel of prophet” on the shoulders of Elisha when the latter was out plowing a field. 1 Kings 19:19-20.
Endowment
www.lds.org; “A special spiritual blessing given to worthy and faithful members of the Church in the temple.”
www.dictionary.com; “Funds or property donated to an institution, individual, or group as a source of income”
Exodus 22:16; “And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.”
The only time the word “endow” is used in the Bible is from the above scripture. The Hebrew translation for this is to “bargain for” or “to wed”.
Endowments for Ex-communicated Members
Ensign, July 1999, pg. 65; “Excommunication: Ordinance work for deceased persons who were excommunicated at the time of their death requires First Presidency approval. For more information, contact Special Services…
Questions of worthiness: Temple ordinances may be performed for deceased persons one year or more after the date of death without regard to worthiness or cause of death. This includes those who may have taken their own lives or the lives of others.
As you provide ordinances for your ancestors, do not try to determine their worthiness, whether they will accept the ordinances, or the feelings of other deceased persons affected by the ordinances. In order for these ordinances to be binding in eternity, they must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, and the people involved must merit them by their individual worthiness and accept them. These determinations must be made beyond the veil.”
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.”
The reference above will not be found in the Ensign article listed. The Ensign article lists the guidelines for the Endowment Ceremonies performed in the LDS temple. The reference about the excommunicated members and thereafter is at the end of the list that was not published in the Ensign. There are no other published works of this guideline except for what we found on the web which you can access here.
Enoch’s Age & Problems in D&C
D&C 107:49; “And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated.
Genesis 5:23; “And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years.”
Oops. How many false prophecies will it take for members of the Church denounce all their false prophets?
Ephraim
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 461; “Many Latter-day Saints believe that they are of the branch of Ephraim, of whom Joseph prophesied (2 Ne. 3:5-16; D&C 133:30-34) and that the Prophet Joseph Smith is the “choice seer” (3 Ne. 3:6).”
Obadiah 1:10-11; “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. 11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.” (See all of Obadiah 1:1-21)
My mother is one of those many Mormons who believe they’re from the tribe of Ephraim. It’s heartbreaking to know that she holds onto these lies.
Ephraim, LDS from Tribe of
Gospel Doctrine, pg. 115; “A striking peculiarity of the Saints gathered from all parts of the earth is that they are almost universally of the blood of Ephraim. If they have received the Holy Ghost they are of one spirit, so that whatever creates a discord in the spirit and unity of the Saints is of evil origin. The Spirit of God never begets strife, nor does it set up and insist on distinctions among those who have been its recipients.”
Hosea 9:11-12; “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!” (See entire passage Hosea 9:11-15.)
It’s peculiar all right.
Eternal Increase
First Presidency—Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, Charles W. Nibley; “Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant son of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so that undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God” (in Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 5:244).” – Also see The Origin of Man
Isaiah 43:10-11; “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
It seems I use this passage from the Bible a lot! I still remember seeing it for the first time not long after I left Mormonism and its impact some twenty years later is still felt every day!
How can this Mormon god who doesn’t hold enough power to create the universe out of nothing extend godhood to men? Where is the rationale in this?
Eternal Life
www.lds.org; “…Eternal life, or exaltation, is to live in God’s presence and to continue as families (see D&C 131:1–4). Like immortality, this gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. However, to inherit eternal life requires our “obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3).”
John 17:3; “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
There is no such thing as the “laws and the ordinances of the gospel”.
Eternal Life vs. Immortality
Easter Thoughts, Marion Romney, Ensign, May 1975, pg. 82; “Great is the debt we owe to our Redeemer for our resurrection. But this is not the final goal. Attaining to immortality is a prerequisite to, but it is not necessarily the same as attaining eternal life. Immortality denotes length of life—deathless. Eternal life denotes quality of life—the quality of life God enjoys.”
Galatians 2:21; “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Got everything Mitt Romney’s cousin just told you in that entry? Wow, the Bible is so easy!
Eternal Marriage for Salvation?
Mormon Doctrine, pg 118; “Its importance in the plan of salvation and exaltation cannot be overestimated. The most important things that any member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ever does in this world are: 1. To marry the right person, in the right place, by the right authority; and 2. To keep the covenant made in connection with this holy and perfect order of matrimony — thus assuring the obedient persons of an inheritance of exaltation in the celestial kingdom.”
1 Corinthians 7:1; “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
Why would Paul tell the men in Corinth it was okay not to marry if marriage is essential to salvation?
Are there any examples in the Bible at all telling us we have to get married in order to be saved?
Eternal Progression
Distinct Doctrines and Teachings of the Pearl of Great Price, pg. 76; “He [the Father] will then take a higher exaltation, [that is, in glory] and I [Jesus] shall take his place, and thereby become exalted myself. So that Jesus treads in the tracks of his Father, and inherits what God did before; and God is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all his children.”
John 8:58; “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
“Jesus treads in the tracks of his father”? Honestly, just how convoluted will the lies become?
Eternal Progression
Gospel Through the Ages, pgs. 114-115; “…if we accept the great law of eternal progression, we must accept the fact that there was a time when Deity was much less powerful than He is today. Then how did He become glorified and exalted and attain His present status of Godhood? In the first place, aeons ago God undoubtedly took advantage of every opportunity to learn the laws of truth.…”
Isaiah 45:20-22; “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
I think Milton Hunter, the author if Gospel through the Ages, was surprised indeed at what he found out when he met his Maker.
Eternal Progression
“Faith of Our Father,” Ensign, May 2008, 75; “Continuing revelation is a fundamental feature of [the faith of our Father]. Joseph Smith’s first prayer is a powerful testimony of this. Revelation is a constant compass that keeps us always true to the will and the faith of our Heavenly Father.
Our Heavenly Father loves His children. He hears the prayers of the humble and sincere of every nation, tongue, and people. He grants light to those who seek and honor Him and are willing to obey His commandments. We joyously proclaim that the faith of our Father is on the earth today.” – Dieter Uchtdorf
Malachi 3:6; “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
Continuing revelation only keeps us true to the faith of man, not our Heavenly Father. Continuing revelation means we have to keep constant vigil to the people making the changes that may or may not come our way in life.
Eternal Progression; Why God is God
A Rational Theology, pgs. 24-25; “Why God is God. To determine this relationship between God and man, it is necessary to know, as far as the limited human mind may know, why the Lord is the supreme intelligent Being in the universe, with the greatest knowledge and the most perfected will, and who, therefore, possesses infinite power over the forces of the universe. It must be admitted at once that the mind of man can know God only in part…the Lord who is a part of the universe, in common with all other parts of the universe is subject to eternal universal laws. In some manner, mysterious to us, he has recognized and utilized the laws of the universe of which he is the chief intelligence. Therefore, if the law of progression be accepted, God must have been engaged from the beginning, and must now be engaged in progressive development…”
Revelation 1:8; “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Uhhh…the Lord is not subject to anything but our horrible behavior and even that is questionable. He CREATED the laws of the universe and to equate God Almighty to a mere “intelligence” is rather ignorant.
The law of eternal progression is nothing but a bad sci-fi movie gone bad – God does not progress.
Eternal Progression
Orson Hyde JD 1:124; “Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point where He now is.” – Salt Lake City, October 6, 1853
Numbers 23:19; “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
Again, where does it even remotely suggest such a thing in the Bible?
Evil in Heaven
2 Nephi 2:11, 13; “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things…13 …And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God…”
Revelation 22:3; “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.”
Who in the right mind would want to be in heaven and experience misery and evil?
Why should we work so hard here on earth for a future redemption if that’s what is awaiting us?
Evolving Religion
Millennial Star, No. 8, October 1, 1845, vol.6, p.121; “Joseph Smith in his lifetime did not receive everything connected with the doctrine of redemption, but has left the key with those who understand how to obtain and teach this great people, all that is necessary for their salvation and exaltation in the celestial kingdom of our God.” – Brigham Young
2 Peter 3:2; “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.”
If Joseph didn’t have the whole story on how to get saved what exactly was his purpose on this earth?
Exaltation
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 479; “It is available only in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom and is reserved for members of the Church of the Firstborn. This exalted status, called eternal life, is available to be received by a man and wife. It means not only living in God’s presence, but receiving power to do as God does, including the power to bear children after the resurrection (TPJS, pp. 300-301; D&C 132:19). Blessings and privileges of exaltation require unwavering faith, repentance, and complete obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 13:14; “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
This makes me so sad but I have to ask why the goal is to have sex all the time? What’s the deal with that? I wonder if the Mormons know there’s more to life & heaven than marriage and having babies. What about enjoying the presence of Jesus and the Father? What about worshipping at His feet?
Exaltation; Blessings of Exaltation
Gospel Principles, pg 277; “What are some blessings that will be given to those who are exalted? Our Heavenly Father is perfect, and He glories in the fact that it is possible for His children to become like Him. His work and glory is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).
Those who receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ will receive special blessings. The Lord has promised, “All things are theirs” (D&C 76:59). These are some of the blessings given to exalted people:
1. They will live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ (see D&C 76:62).
2. They will become gods (see D&C 132:20–23).
3. They will be united eternally with their righteous family members and will be able to have eternal increase.
4. They will receive a fulness of joy.
5. They will have everything that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have—all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge (see D&C 132:19–20).
President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “The Father has promised through the Son that all that he has shall be given to those who are obedient to His commandments. They shall increase in knowledge, wisdom, and power, going from grace to grace, until the fulness of the perfect day shall burst upon them.”
Isaiah 43:10-11; “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
Does it make sense to try and become a god to receive the same power, honor and glory that God does and still worship God? How does God receive all the honor when someone else receives honor for being a god?
Exalted, Learn What gods Learned to be
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 255; “If we could only learn enough to be self-preserving and self-sustaining, we should then have learned what the Gods have learned before us, and what we must eventually learn before we can be exalted. 9:169.”
Colossians 2:9-10; “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
1. There is only one God.
2. To be self sustaining indicates no reliance upon God for anything.
3. The Bible tells us God is omniscient so what is there for Him to learn?
Excommunication
Ensign, July 1973, pg. 108; “There are some who claim that even though they are excommunicated from the Church, their priesthood and temple blessings are not taken away. Let us remind those persons that the power to seal is also the power to loose, for the Lord has said of his true servants that “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19; D&C 132:46.) Excommunication takes away all rights, privileges, and blessings of the Church.” – Mark E. Petersen
Romans 14:16; “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
No, people who chose to resign from the Church find that their blessings are increased a hundredfold by the Lord. The best thing people have found when they leave the Church – freedom.
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