Mormonism and the Washington Post
Today I received an e-mail from my good friend Ed Decker asking me to post a comment on the blog site for The Washington Post.
In an article written by one of their reporters, Sally Quinn, she related a conversation she had with one of her friends she described as a “liberal atheist”. This conversation between the two of them was focused on why people who are religious are weird and why Smith’s religion is too new for anyone to believe it. I can appreciate their conversation because I used to think and feel the exact same way.
I wasn’t raised in a Christian home; rather, I was a 6th generation Mormon from Utah and part of that belief system for 30 years. As a Mormon I looked upon all Christians as the “whores of Babylon” and would rather have a friendship with an atheist over a “Jesus freak” any day. My view of the Christians was obviously less than stellar.
At any rate in this article Ms. Quinn gave her definition of Mormonism and as soon as I read it I understood why Ed wanted me to respond!
Her explanation of Mormonism wasn’t derogatory in any way; however her understanding of the LDS Church is way off. As you can imagine I had something to say.
Her article was another reminder for me that not everyone in this world is intimately aware of Mormonism. I’ve discovered in the 17+ years of ministry the majority of people who’ve heard of Mormonism don’t always have a clear understanding of what it is or how it works. For those of us who grew up in Mormonism, it’s hard to imagine not knowing about it!
Ms. Quinn told her readers that Mormons believe Jesus died on the cross for their sins and is the son of God. She also remarked that because of how new this religion is, it wouldn’t be able to gain the trust or belief of people like Jesus’ original twelve apostles did.
This is where I parted ways in agreement. The problem the body of Christ has with Mormonism isn’t because it started in the early nineteenth century. The problem is that every single doctrine of Christianity was turned on its proverbial head in Mormonism.
Joseph Smith clearly denounced every principle of Christianity, dubbing the body of Christ as the whores of Babylon (1 Nephi 14:10). Mormons believe they’re going to be a god someday over their own planet (D&C 132:21) and they don’t believe Jesus paid for their sins on the cross, rather he did that in the Garden of Gethsemane according to Joseph Smith (D&C 19:18).
If you have the time this provides a great opportunity for us as Christians to share the gospel and set the record straight about true Mormonism! The link to her article and my response is below. You can find my response on their site under “Michelle41”
Thanks for your great article! I do have a correction and some clarifications for the readers though.
Mormons do not believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. They believe He died on the cross, but He paid for their sin in the Garden of Gethsemane (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18).
Also – while Mormons do publicly say that Jesus is the son of God this does not carry the same meaning as the Christian world understands it. The Mormon Jesus is the literal son of God. They believe he was conceived through a sexual union between their Mormon heavenly father by the name of elohim and his daughter Mary. (Brigham Young in Journal of Discourses 8:115-116).
And because it goes without saying in the Christian world that Jesus is God in the flesh don’t assume this is what the Mormons believe. They believe he is a god but not the Triune God of the Bible. There is no Trinity in Mormonism (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22).
They also believe they will become gods themselves, thereby qualifying themselves as polytheists. (Doctrine and Covenants 132:21)
They also believe he (Jesus) is the spirit brother of Lucifer (Abraham 3:22-27).
How do I know these things? I was a 6th generation Mormon from Utah and in the Church for 30 years.
What the Mormons need is our prayers, not our votes.
Michelle
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