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