Here’s the 2nd part of the e-mail from our Mormon friend Shane! Remember to pray for him and the other Mormons who read this!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
1 Cor 1:18
Shane’s e-mail is in red font, my response is in black –
September 21–22, 1823. Joseph Smith was visited by an angel named Moroni. Moroni prophesied of coming events and told Joseph of the Book of Mormon record, written on plates of gold. The angel allowed Joseph to see the gold plates, which were buried in the nearby Hill Cumorah.
September 22, 1827. Joseph Smith received the gold plates from Moroni at the Hill Cumorah after having met with Moroni on 22 September of each of the previous four years.
Okay let’s take a look at a few things here.
1 – Your information above comes from the official website of the LDS Church under “Restoration”. When we get there it tells us to see Joseph Smith History 1:53, 59. So, with all that behind us I have a question for you Shane.
Did you read the verses before the two you’ve listed here? Just six short verses before this is verse 47, and it says;
“After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced; when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me for the third time, the cock crowed, and I found that day was approaching, so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night.”
2 – Have you ever read Luke 22:34? If not it says;
“And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”
Just a coincidence? I think not!
Facts about Moroni according to the LDS Church:
1976 – Introductory page of Doctrine & Covenants, 3rd paragraph;
“This took place in the early spring of 1820. In September 1823, and at later times, Joseph Smith received visitations from Moroni, an angel of light, who revealed the resting place of the ancient record from which the Book of Mormon was afterward translated.”
So, we learn here that Moroni is an angel of light. Now look at facts about an “angel of light” according to the Book of Mormon:
2 Nephi 9:9;
“…yea, to that being that who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself into an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.”
Facts about an “angel of light” according to the Bible:
2 Corinthians 11:14;
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
According to the Mormon Church and Joseph Smith, Moroni is a resurrected man turned angel who came to deliver a message to Smith. The practice of listening to or communicating with dead people is called “necromancy”. Satanists and witches practice this form of divination.
Here’s what the Holman Bible Dictionary has to say about it;
Under “Necromancy” it says “See Medium”. I find this incredible considering this is exactly how Smith referred to himself. So I went to “Medium” and it says this;
“One possessed by (Lev. 20:22) or consulting (Deut. 18:11) a ghost or spirit of the dead, especially for information about the future. Acting as a medium was punishable by stoning (Lev. 20:27)…
Isaiah 8:19 suggests a possible connection between the consulting of mediums and ancestor worship. Those to be consulted are termed “fathers” and “gods.” (Compare 1 Sam. 28:13 where Samuel is described as elohim or “god.”) The chirping and muttering of the spirits perhaps refers to the inarticulate sounds which must be interpreted by the medium. Consulting of mediums defiled the land and was described as prostitution. God’s people were to trust God in times of distress and not resort to other “gods” in an attempt to learn the future.” – (emphasis mine)
This is also very interesting in light of what D&C 132:7 says; “…by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred)…”
3 – What’s the deal with Joseph Smith meeting up with this angel of light Moroni year after year on the same date?
September 21st to the 22nd is the Autumnal Equinox that begins a 13 week “Sabbath” in the Illuminati’s world. I find it odd it would be on the same day every year and equally suspicious it would land on an occultic pagan day of observance.
Just a coincidence again?
Another problem with this theory is what God has to say about “voices from the dust”.
According to Nephi listening to voices from the dust is a good thing, but the Holy God of the Bible says the exact opposite.
And what is so unbelievable is how obvious this is! It is almost word for word good versus evil. It’s obvious Smith plagiarized this and conveniently did not add the rest of the passage where God Almighty tells the Israelites this is an EVIL thing to do!
2 Nephi 26:16; “For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.”
Isaiah 29:3-6; “And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. 4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. 5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. 6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.”
It is from finding out the truth like the above information that I do this work. Knowing that I had taken part in a form of prostitution just about kills me every time I think of it! I know my Lord God has forgiven me, but because of my past behavioral problem I will forever feel pain in my chest.
May 15, 1829. Having read about baptism for the remission of sins as they worked on the translation of the gold plates, Joseph Smith and his scribe Oliver Cowdery went to a secluded area to inquire of the Lord concerning the matter. There, on the banks of the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Pennsylvania, they received the answer to their prayer. John the Baptist, a resurrected being, came to them as “a messenger from heaven . . . in a cloud of light.” He conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.
This is remarkable considering John the Baptist was not qualified to hold the Levitical Priesthood during his time on earth (we’ll completely forego the subject that he was beheaded).
Luke 16:19-31 is a good example of how dead loved ones do NOT come back to visit living people.
Then, in obedience to his instructions, Joseph and Oliver baptized each other and ordained each other to the Aaronic Priesthood.
God obviously changed the rules of who could and couldn’t hold the priesthood. Malachi 3:6;
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
May 1829. The ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
This is even more incredible than the John the Baptist theory and the Levitical priesthood. There have only been two people in history that held the Melchizedek priesthood; Melchizedek and Jesus.
June 1829. Guided “by the gift and power of God”, the Prophet Joseph Smith completed the translation of the Book of Mormon.
When in June 1829? Remember that Smith met Cowdery (Smith’s scribe) between April 5-7, 1829. Smith had come to a complete standstill in the translation process after Martin Harris had lost the original 116 pages so they pretty much had to start from scratch.
March 26, 1830. The first printed copies of the Book of Mormon became available in Palmyra, New York.
April 6, 1830. The Church was organized in Fayette Township, New York, beginning with six members.
March 27, 1836. The Kirtland Temple, the first temple built in this dispensation, was dedicated. The Prophet Joseph Smith offered the dedicatory prayer, which had been given to him by revelation.
April 3, 1836. The Savior appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple.
How many times has Jesus appeared to people since He was resurrected and taken to heaven? Does this mean Paul was wrong when he said that with Jesus’ return a trump would sound?
1 Thess. 4:16.
Did the angels lie when they told the apostles Jesus would return on the clouds just as He had ascended? Acts 1:11.
Moses, Elias, and Elijah also appeared and gave priesthood keys to Joseph and Oliver. Elijah brought the keys of the sealing power, which make it possible for families to be sealed together forever.
I have a question here. Exactly who is Elias to you Shane? You see, in the Bible Elias and Elijah is the same person. Elias is the Greek form of Elijah and is used in the NT 30 times.
However, according to Mormonism this is not always the case. In Mormonism Elias is the angel spoken about in Revelation 7:2 and the person who appeared to Joseph in D&C 110. It’s also documented in Mormon Doctrine that he is Christ, the angel Gabriel (who is actually Noah to the Mormons) and he’s also John the Revelator. There are actually 5 different Elias’ according to Joseph Smith. Mormon Doctrine, pgs. 219-222.
This is just another way to confuse the LDS people.
By the way, Elijah did not hold any priesthood while on earth. He was a prophet who lived in the ninth century BC. He placed the “mantel of prophet” on the shoulders of Elisha when the latter was out plowing a field. 1 Kings 19:19-20.
Isaiah 2:1-3
1. The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (Utah in the Ute Indian language means- “Top of the Mountain”. Millions of people travel to Salt Lake City every year.)
Okay and…???
3. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Read the text. It says out of Zion, from Jerusalem. Nowhere in the Bible does it mention Utah or Missouri.
The story in the Bible is about God’s redemptive love for mankind whom He alone created. They resided in Jerusalem and Zion is a part of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem actually means “City of Peace”. Zion means “highest point” and some Arabic scholars translate it to mean “parched” or “to be dry”. So what does the passage you gave above have to do with Joseph Smith?
Acts 3:19-26
19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Again, let’s follow the text. This is a sermon given by Peter after he has healed a lame man. They are on Solomon’s porch (court of the Gentiles).
What does this have to do with Smith?
Revelation 14:6-7
6. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Shane, I have other questions for you.
You see during the time I’ve spent answering various issues throughout this e-mail I keep finding a recurring theme.
I am reminded of what it was like when I was LDS and what it was like at the beginning of my walk with Jesus after leaving the Church.
It never occurred to me to look up the history of the Christian church from the time of Christ to Joseph Smith. It never occurred to me to investigate the claims of the Church for myself to understand what they were telling me. And it never occurred to me to study the Bible as an historical document to make sure I was not taking things out of context.
1 – Why does the LDS Church promote the idea of carrying around the KJV Bible and yet not trust it?
2 – Do you ever find yourself confused or overwhelmed with the prospect of opening your Bible to see what God has to say to you personally?
3 – What do you personally think about the inconsistencies in Joseph Smith’s stories?
4 – Do you find it difficult to deeply trust Jesus’ words in passages like Matthew 16:18?
5 – If you’ve ever read the Book of Mormon all the way through and trust it, why can’t they find any evidence like they can from the Bible? How does this make you feel?
6 – How could everyone in the world for 1,800 years be wrong and Joseph Smith was the only person that was correct all that time?
God has never demanded His followers to believe things that don’t make sense. He has never demanded blind obedience. He invites and encourages us to test all things. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21; “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
2 Corinthians 1:24; “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”
8. The Priesthood
The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God. Through the priesthood God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power He redeems and exalts His children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man”. God gives priesthood authority to worthy male members of the Church so they can act in His name for the salvation of His children. Priesthood holders can be authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, and govern the kingdom of God on the earth.
God did not create the world through the power of the priesthood. God created the earth because of and through His omniscience and omnipotence.
The priesthood was instituted for mankind by God. It was designed to be an intermediary to God on behalf of man. God is not governed by the priesthood in the sense that He has no power without it. He is “governed” by it if you will, by the fact that He instituted it; therefore we can know what to expect from Him.
Functions in the OT priesthood were the sacrifices of animals, the shedding of blood to show that the Israelites (God’s people) were in covenant with God. The New & Everlasting Covenant was instituted with the ultimate sacrifice of the unblemished Lamb of God, meaning Christ Jesus.
There is no such thing as “Through this power He redeems and exalts His children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man”.
The only way we are redeemed is through the blood of Jesus that was shed for us upon the cross and God’s power!
Romans 4:25;
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
1 Corinthians 6:14;
“And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”
Hebrews 10:12 is a great synopsis of what happened to the priesthood. It says;
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
Now there’s only one question to ask…If there was more work to do in 1830 then why would He do such a thing? (Sacrifice His Son)
Another great passage is found in Hebrews 9:12-14.
John 15:16– Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
If the fruit were to remain then why the need for a restoration?
Also – let’s take a look at Matthew 11:3. John the Baptist had sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus an all important question; “And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”
Question: If he (Jesus) was the one they were waiting for all those hundreds of years then why would this be in the Bible and wouldn’t Jesus have told them about Joseph Smith at that time? Why the need for a restoration if Jesus was “the one”?
Acts 8:14-20
14. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Not sure why you added this passage but I find it interesting this, of all passages, would appear in your note.
Are you aware this is speaking about the magician (false prophet Simon)? He went about the region telling people he had great powers from God, but the apostles were quick to shoot that theory down when the people of the region had called for them to come. If you read the entire passage in context it’ll give you the whole story!
And the best part of this chapter is found in verse 4 which says; “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Every nook and cranny of the region and continent was hearing and accepting the gospel!
Now how could it be that everyone on the face of the earth had deserted Jesus’ teachings? If this is true (even a little bit true), why in the world did Jesus die?
James 5:14-15
14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Every believer of Christ is a member of the priesthood Shane.
1 Peter 2:9;
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Joseph Heals A Woman’s Arm
John Johnson, as well as several others, joined the Church after a miraculous healing of his wife’s lame arm by the Prophet Joseph Smith. The incident is recounted in the footnotes of the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Period 1, Vol. 1, by Joseph Smith. Ezra Booth is mentioned specifically. He was a Methodist preacher of “much more than ordinary culture, and with strong natural abilities,” who was one converted by the healing of Mrs. Johnson.
“Ezra Booth . . . in company with his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and some other citizens of this place [Hiram], visited Smith at his home in Kirtland in 1831. Mrs. Johnson had been afflicted for some time with a lame arm, and was not at the time of the visit able to lift her hand to her head. The party visited Smith partly out of curiosity, and partly to see for themselves what there might be in the new doctrine. During the interview the conversation turned on the subject of supernatural gifts, such as were conferred in the days of the apostles. Someone said, ‘Here is Mrs. Johnson with a lame arm; has God given any power to men now on the earth to cure her?’ A few moments later, when the conversation had turned in another direction, Smith rose, and walking across the room, taking Mrs. Johnson by the hand, said in the most solemn and impressive manner: ‘Woman, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command thee to be whole,’ and immediately left the room. The company were awe-stricken at the infinite presumption of the man, and the calm assurance with which he spoke. The sudden mental and moral shock—I know not how better to explain the well-attested fact—electrified her rheumatic arm—Mrs. Johnson at once lifted it up with ease, and on her return home the next day she was able to do her washing without difficulty or pain.”
2 Corinthians 11:14;
“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.”
9. Examples of a True Prophet of God:
The ultimate test of a true prophet is that when he speaks in the name of the Lord his words come to pass. That standard was explained by the Lord to Moses in these words:
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously” (Deut. 18:22).
Many prophecies of Joseph Smith are recorded to which this test might be applied. May I illustrate with two examples.
WOW!!!!!!! You are one of the very few members of the Church that I’ve seen use this scripture Shane! Now let’s take a look at the rest of the passage shall we?
Deuteronomy 18:20-22;
“But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
Here are just a few false prophecies made by Joseph Smith and other leaders in the Church. To see the entire article click here.
Jesus Crucified for Our Sins
1 Nephi 11:33; “And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.”
Doctrines of Salvation 1:132; “We will never be able to pay the debt. The gratitude of our hearts should be filled to overflowing in love and obedience for his great and tender mercy. For what he has done, we should never fail him. He bought us with a price, the price of his great suffering and the spilling of his blood in sacrifice on the cross.”
So far so good, right? Wrong! Read on to see for yourself…
Jesus Bled in Garden of Gethsemane for Our Sins
D&C 19:18; “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink…”
Doctrines of Salvation 1:130; “We speak of the passion of Jesus Christ. A great many people have an idea that when he was on the cross, and nails were driven into his hands and feet, that was his great suffering. His great suffering was before he ever was placed upon the cross. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that the blood oozed from the pores of his body: “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink,””
Additionally, there are of course more contradictions within the LDS “scriptures” and teachings.
So here are two false prophecies and it only takes ONE false prophecy to make someone a false prophet. Just because he gets part of one prophecy correct it doesn’t mean he’s a true prophet.
In 1832, he prophesied that the southern states and northern states of the United States of America would shortly be divided in civil war, that this war would be the beginning of world wars which would eventually involve all nations and result in the death and misery of many souls. Specifically, he said that the great Civil War would begin with a rebellion in South Carolina (See D&C 87). This prophecy was published to the world in 1851.
The Civil War began with the secession of South Carolina from the Union, and other states followed. When Lincoln sent provisions to the Union forces at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, the Confederate forces opened fire on the fort. Since that fateful day in 1861, the world has seen as a result of warfare the death and misery of many souls.
Okay let’s take a look at this “prophecy” in context.
D&C 87:1-2; “Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls; 2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.”
Based on what it says in the first two verses of this section we can see this is a false prophecy.
Verse two says; “2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.”
Did war break out on all nations at this time? No. Remember Deuteronomy 13:1-3;
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
So the question becomes this: Do the Mormon people worship the God of the Bible that has been preached and taught about for thousands of years? Or has Joseph Smith convinced a group of people to believe in a god that doesn’t resemble the God of the Bible?
God according to the LDS Church:
D&C 130:22-23;
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. 23 A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.”
Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 23;
“Personality and Fatherhood of God—Some would have us believe that God is present everywhere. It is not so. He is no more everywhere present in person than the Father and Son are one in person.”
These teachings are completely opposite of what the Bible says about God.
Isaiah 44:6;
“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
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?”
Isaiah 9:6;
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
In another prophecy, one of the most remarkable pronounced on the head of one man, Joseph Smith said to a young judge named Stephen A. Douglas, in the presence of several others:
“Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you; for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life” (History of the Church, 5:394).
Stephen A. Douglas did aspire to the presidency of the United States. He did have opportunity to defend the Church. But in a political speech in 1857, he viciously attacked the Church as “a loathsome, disgusting ulcer in the body politic” and recommended that Congress cut it out.
Some have asserted that no one had better prospects for the presidency than did Douglas, but when the results of the election were tallied, he received only twelve electoral votes. The election victory went to an obscure backwoodsman by the name of Abraham Lincoln.
This does not prove Smith was a true prophet of God.
10. Temples and why they are needed in our day:
This statement indicates to all that you do not believe in the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
1 Cor.3:16;
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1 Cor. 6:19;
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
Also see Galatians 2:16-17, 20-21.
Temples are literally houses of the Lord. They are holy places of worship where individuals make sacred covenants with God. Because making covenants with God is such a solemn responsibility, individuals cannot enter the temple to receive their endowments or be sealed in marriage for eternity until they have fully prepared themselves and been members of the Church for at least a year.
Mark 15:37-38;
“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
Now if the veil of the temple was rent in two what else could that mean except we have full access to God Himself without having to be a high priest who was the only one that could enter the Holy of the Holies?
Throughout history, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples.
That’s only partially true. With the advent of JESUS temples were no longer needed.
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?”
The Church is working to build temples all over the world to make temple blessings more available for a greater number of Heavenly Father’s children.
Both by derivation and common usage the term temple, in its literal application, is of restricted and specific meaning. The essential idea of a temple is and ever has been that of a place specially set apart for service regarded as sacred, and of real or assumed sanctity; in a more restricted sense, a temple is a building constructed for and exclusively devoted to sacred rites and ceremonies.
The Latin Templum was the equivalent of the Hebrew Beth Elohim, and signified the abode of Deity; hence, as associated with divine worship, it meant literally the House of the Lord.
In olden times, the people of Israel were distinguished among nations as the builders of sanctuaries to the name of the living God. This service was specifically required of them by Jehovah, whom they professed to serve. The history of Israel as a nation dates from the Exodus.
And what does the Latin thing have to do with this? Besides all that, we are not living in OT times nowadays. Remember Jesus?
During the two centuries of their enslavement in Egypt,
FYI for the reader – the 215 year enslavement is a matter of opinion. There are just as many scholars who say their enslavement lasted the entire time they were in Egypt for 430 years.
the children of Jacob had grown to be a numerous and powerful people: nevertheless, they were in bondage. In due time, however, their sorrows and supplications came up before the Lord, and He led them forth by the outstretched arm of power. No sooner had they escaped from the environment of Egyptian idolatry than they were required to prepare a sanctuary, wherein Jehovah would manifest His presence and make known His will as their accepted Lord and King.
Many incidents in the earthly life of the Savior are associated with the Temple of Herod. It is evident from scripture that while opposed to the degraded and commercial uses to which the temple had been betrayed, Christ recognized and acknowledged the sanctity of the temple precincts. The Temple of Herod was a sacred structure; by whatsoever name it might have been known, it was to Him the house of the Lord. And then, when the sable curtain descended upon the great tragedy of Calvary, when at last the agonizing cry, “It is finished,” ascended from the cross, the veil of the temple was rent, and the one-time Holy of Holies was bared.
THIS IS A SIGN FROM GOD THERE IS NO NEED FOR TEMPLES!!! Why was the veil rent in two????
The absolute destruction of the Temple had been foretold by our Lord, while He yet lived in the flesh (see Matthew 24:1–2; Mark 13:1–2; Luke 21:6).
How are you sure these passages of scripture have been translated correctly? I believe them, but how can you know for sure when there are other verses that you doubt?
In the year A.D. 70, the temple was utterly destroyed by fire in connection with the capture of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus.
The Temple of Herod was the last temple reared in the Eastern Hemisphere in ancient times. From the destruction of that great edifice onward to the time of the reestablishment of the Church of Jesus Christ in the 19th century, our only record of temple building is such mention as is found in Nephite chronicles.
This isn’t true Shane. There have been all kinds of temples built on the Eastern and Western hemispheres since that time. There are Buddhist temples, Mayan temples, Masonic temples, etc…
Book of Mormon scriptures affirm that temples were erected by the Nephite colonists on what is now known as the American continent, but we have few details of construction and fewer facts as to administrative ordinances pertaining to these western temples.
Don’t you find it odd there are no descriptions in the Book of Mormon about these things? Whereas the Bible goes into great detail about every single item God wanted in the temple, their uses and the meanings of each.
Begin reading about this in 1 Kings 6; also see articles on our site
Speaking of LDS teachings not found in the Book of Mormon, have you ever thought about the lack of teachings regarding the Celestial Kingdom in there?
Interestingly enough, a man by the name of Emanuel Swedenborg came out with a “theological work” he called “Heaven and Hell”. In this book he described heaven as the “Celestial Kingdom” and insisted this highest of three kingdoms is the only place in heaven where marriage exists. According to Joseph Smith he had read Swedenborg’s book that had been written in 1778.
Writings on the three degrees of heaven during this time in history were sparse unless of course you read accounts of it in the occult or Smith’s revelations. Swedenborg’s teachings fell into the category of occultic work. A great book that gives unparalleled information on this is Michael Quinn’s work entitled “Early Mormonism and the Magic World View”.
The people constructed a temple about 570 B.C., and this we learn was patterned after the Temple of Solomon, though it was greatly inferior to that gorgeous structure in grandeur and costliness (see 2 Nephi 5:16). It is of interest to read that when the resurrected Lord manifested Himself to the Nephites on the western continent, He found them assembled about the temple (see 3 Nephi 11:1–10).
Again, don’t you find it odd that if Jesus really did show up to some people on another continent and found them worshipping in a temple He would have told them they didn’t have to do those things any longer?
The Book of Mormon, however, makes no mention of temples even as late as the time of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem;
Perhaps it was because as you mentioned earlier Joseph was not a learned person and didn’t know any better?
and, moreover, the Nephite nation came to an end within about four centuries after Christ. It is evident, therefore, that on both hemispheres temples ceased to exist in the early period of the Apostasy and the very conception of a temple in the distinctive sense perished among mankind.
Like I said, there have been all kinds of temples built all over the earth.
The next part of Shane’s e-mail included a large section from the LDS website called “Why These Temples” by Gordon B. Hinckley. Because of its volume I am only including the link for those who would like to read the entire thing.
My own Testimony
As you can see, I believe strongly in the church of Christ, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
With all sincerity here – do you belong to the church of Jesus Christ or do you belong to a church of Latter-day Saints?
Many people across the world will continue to learn of Christ and his teachings. They might not know all the truths now, but that is why members of the LDS Church are not supposed to condemn other religions. Other faiths have many truths, because after Christ and his apostles where rejected by the world, then his gospel was taken from the earth until people were ready to open their hearts and souls to their God.
Not true.
Jesus’ way is the only truth there is.
John 14:6;
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
And it’s not true the gospel left the earth after Jesus and the apostles died.
1 Peter 1:23-25;
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
God does not abandon his children, it is the human family who leaves his presence by disobedience to his laws and ordinances. But if we would be righteous and ask in faith for blessings, then He would share is kingdom with all his children who would enter at the strait gate. God loves us!!!
Does your earthly father and mother leave you to find your own way, or do they try to give you the best direction for your life as they can? So why would God not give us direction now, as he did in years past?
We our taught in our church, that “God will do nothing save he tells his prophets first”. This is so the righteous can always be prepared for anything in life, and the wicked who do not listen to the Spirit can be tried until they repent or destroyed if they will not have a change of heart.
Shane the good Lord still speaks to man through His Word. There has never been a time on earth that God has not spoken to His people; even in the inter-testamental period, people had the Scriptures to know what God thought and how they were to be in communion with Him.
Moreover, people today may hear from other people about God, but there are no new prophecies. When someone says they have heard from God they need to be saying that they are there to share the word of the Lord.
In recent studies of the LDS Church, the members by percentage, are more prepared than any other people in the United States!!!
How are works ever going to get you into heaven?
Matthew 6:28-32;
“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek🙂 for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
Additionally. are you aware that if you believe it is through your own good works you’re saved then you need to obey all of the Law? Did you know there are 613 laws you must observe in order to be “faithful”? If you are guilty of not obeying even one of them then you are guilty of violating all of them.
James 2:10;
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The LDS Church is usually one of the first to give humanitarian aid to others who live across the world when tragedies appear. (Example- Immediately after the great flood happened in New Orleans from the hurricane, the LDS church already had millions of supplies on trucks headed for the city, before others could pull their forces together.)
You know that for sure do you? Did the LDS Church talk about my church that has a sister church in New Orleans? We filled U-Hauls with money and supplies and were there before they let them into the city. What about the hundreds upon hundreds of other churches around the world that came in to help?
What about the hundreds of Christians waiting on the freeways to enter New Orleans in order to bring food and clothing? I personally know two families that actually moved there to help rebuild NO. One of my daughters is friends with another family that drove there to collect the homeless pets and house them until they found their owners or found new homes. I know I can’t be alone in experiencing these things.
(As a side note we’ve been bombarded with e-mails from Mormons pointing out the humanitarian aid to Haiti the Church has contributed. While it is a good will gesture to mankind, giving away food and clothing doesn’t get anyone into heaven.)
The LDS Church also owns the largest cattle ranch in the United States and is starting to own more land as a whole than any other people in the United States. We believe that this is so the land can be dispersed among the Lords people when He comes to rule and reign again upon the earth. It has been prophesied that those who are righteous will come to Zion for protection from the evils of the world, and so the church buys land, so there is plenty of room for those seeking the Lords protection through His church.
The Zion of the Bible is not Utah or Missouri. The Zion of the Bible is in Israel; more specifically it’s a part of Jerusalem. For example: Isaiah 4:2-3;
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.”
It has been prophesied by many prophets in the Bible, that there will be a falling away from the Lords Gospel, before His Second Coming, and in the last days His gospel will be restored to the earth once more, so the world can be prepared to meet their maker, but only if they will soften their hearts and believe in Christ!!!!
Specifically, which biblical prophets have said these things?
The time when people fell away from His Gospel was once called the “Dark Ages”. During this time no progression in science or technology happened, and many countries fought wars over religion, because they could not decide what was fact and what was fiction. Gods authority was not present on earth anymore, so there was much confusion!
Contrary to popular belief, during the time of the Dark Ages, God did not hide out in the background. This period of time people experienced the founding of many monasteries throughout the world.
Cases in point were the monasteries which were operating in Ireland during the 4th century. Their missionaries went as far east as Kiev and as far west as Iceland. Ireland is well known to have been the leading educators during the “Dark Ages” with people coming from as far away as Syria and Armenia.
St. Patrick was known to have studied and lived over thirty years sharing the gospel during his monastic experience. He had been kidnapped by a gang of pirates around the age of 15 or 16 and it was while he was a slave that he became a believer. He stayed in Ireland for six years before he was finally able to escape. After a few more years passed by in England he had a vision to return to Ireland; it was there that he preached the gospel and some estimate he led more than 100,000 people to the Lord.
But then a 14 year old farm boy in Early spring, 1820 wanted to know for himself what church was true, he had prepared himself to ask God in a humble prayer, and his prayer was answered by the heavens being opened once more and the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith. We call this the “First Vision”.
Which version (there were nine of them) of the first vision are you speaking of?
I know the church is true, and I know that many others will find the truth also!!! People need to Read the Book of Mormon before they deny its truth!!!
I have read the Book of Mormon, many times in fact.
How can anyone know what is true without studying and research? And if you study it with real intent, then you shall know of its truth!!!
This isn’t true. Thousands upon thousands of people have studied it with real intent and have found it is full of lies.
I do not condemn those who seek after Christ, as those from this web page have tried to discourage people of my faith,
Shane you personally may not discourage people to find the truth, but the foundation of the LDS Church is built upon the premise that all of Christianity is the “whore of Babylon” as it says in 1 Nephi 14:10;
“And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.”
Joseph Smith’s whole vision lies upon the idea that God told him not to join any of the Christian churches because all of them were wrong! And in all honesty if you go around proclaiming the same thing as the leaders of the Church as you’ve done in this e-mail, then you are condemning people of other faiths.
Joseph Smith History 1:18-19;
“My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt…”
I encourage others to trust in God and he will show them the right path!!! If you do not believe, then that is your choice, but this is Gods church and nothing will destroy His work!!! TRY AS YOU MUST, BUT GOD WILL PREVAIL!!!!!
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Oh I believe Shane; it’s just that I do not believe in the god of Mormonism anymore. I now believe in the God of the Bible that loves me so much He sent His Son to die for me (you too) on the Cross. I believe it is through His shed blood I am saved because nothing I could do here on this earth is worthy enough to enter the Gates of God.
I pray you honestly study each of the references I gave to you here. You deserve to know the truth. Know that we’re praying for you Shane and hope to hear from you soon!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
1 Cor. 1:18
Also included in this e-mail was a statistical chart of the LDS Church. Again, because of its volume we cannot reproduce it on our site so here is the link
Leave a Reply