Liahona, ‘Making Your Life a Soul-Stirring Journey of Personal Growth,’ December 2018 “It takes a special kind of faith to “believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom,” and then to be ready to accept them, whatever they are. … This isn’t about knowing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel or diagramming the allegory of the olives trees, as useful as such exercises may be. This kind of learning is about changing ourselves, about being different (better) because we know more of what God knows. … …as we learn His will, as we gather light and truth and make it part of us every day, that light will grow in us, “brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:24; emphasis added) when we can be with Him because we will be like Him.” — Jeffrey R. Holland
Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Our LDS reference today came from Jeffrey Holland’s article in the December 2018 Liahona. To read the article in full, click on link provided above.
Today we have a few observations and questions about his statements, so here we go!
Holland’s first comment set the tone of what Mormonism is all about, and we believe may have hinted at possible bigger changes coming soon –
‘…it takes a special kind of faith to believe… many great and important things…and then be ready to accept them whatever they are…’
We’re wondering why/if this is any different than what the Bible says? Are members again being told not to question their leaders?
Mr. Holland also emphasized the importance of becoming better which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, unless of course you believe as Mr. Holland and it’s done in an attempt to know more of what God knows.
‘…This kind of learning is about changing ourselves, about being different (better) because we know more of what God knows…’
Why aren’t they teaching members to learn more about God, instead of teaching they should have God’s knowledge?
You can’t have what God has because He’s not giving part of Himself away. We can learn about Him through the Bible, and we can discover new things about His character we didn’t know prior, but we can’t have His knowledge because it belongs to Him – not us/you.
Furthermore, believing you can know what God knows is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden — Genesis 3:5. Unfortunately, Mr. Holland didn’t share this truth, but instead told another lie by stating the following –
‘…as we learn His will, as we gather light and truth and make it part of us every day…when we can be with Him because we will be like Him.’
Oh beloved, we won’t be in heaven with God because we’ll be like Him! Those who are in heaven with God right now are there because they’ve accepted Jesus shed His blood was needful for their sins.
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
There was nothing in Mr. Holland’s message at all regarding the day Jesus was born, or how studying that subject matter could give them more insight about the Lord. This message was solely about their agenda, not God’s.
If you’re LDS, please know we’re praying you compare Mr. Holland’s words with God’s words that are in your Bible! The words of this guy aren’t true, and will lead you away from God, not to Him.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Mr Holland believes that Mormons (People) should WORK to become like God so that, after the resurrection, they can become gods and goddesses their own worlds (planets) (Read DC 132:19,20). Mormons believe that Jesus sacrifice on the cross and the BLOOD HE SHED FOR OUR SINS, isn’t quite enough for salvation. In Mormon Church, you also have to go to the Temple to have certain ordinances performed on your behalf. A side note: In order to be worthy to go to the Temple, you have to have a Temple Recommend, which,includes a bar code for scanning..In order to get a Temple Recommend, you are required to pay 10% of your gross income for tithing. Tithing, by the way, only counts when it is given to the church (not shelters, hospitals, veterans groups, Special Olympics, Hurricane Relief, Red Cross etc). Also, Mormons believe baptism is necessary for salvation, however, this baptism can only be performed by a worthy priesthood holder, who is also the possessor of a Temple Recommend. In other words, unless you have been baptized by a Mormon into the Mormon Church, you cannot enter into God’s Celestial Kingdom
Mormons are taught that every word spoken by any of their General Authorities is ,in fact, the Word of God. The talk by Elder Holland in the Liahona is considered by Mormons to be scripture. I would (guess) that the average Mormon likely spends more time reading articles by their General Authorities than they do the Bible