Recently the leaders of the Mormon Church visited Rome to dedicate one of their newest temples. This is a big deal for the Church because as you know this city is the heart of the Catholic Church.
As a Mormon, I can remember the feelings my fellow Mormons had towards Biblical Christianity and Catholics not being very friendly. So I can only imagine the thoughts these Mormon leaders were thinking as they spent time in Rome.
From the very beginning of the Mormon Church, the church members were taught how they should view Christian religions.
Joseph Smith told anyone who would listen to his so-called vision he had of Jesus and God the Father visiting him and telling him all the churches were corrupt and an abomination in their sight (Joseph Smith History 1:18-20).
His feelings of animosity toward the body of Christ and the Catholic church continued as shown in his future writings, along with the writings of other Mormon leaders. In many church publications and “scriptures” these churches are condemned and called the “whore of Babylon”, or the great abominable church.
Orson Pratt said –
“Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the “whore of Babylon” whom the Lord denounces… as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness.” The Seer, Vol.2, No.4, p.255
In the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 14:10 reads –
“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.”
Although Bruce McConkie didn’t go as far as to call all other churches a whore, he did however still condemn them saying –
“Doctrine…True doctrines are always found in the Lord’s true Church because the channel of communication between God and his people is open. False doctrines abound in churches which deny contemporary revelation and consequently have no sure way of checking various views and concepts to see if they conform to the mind and will of Deity. There is, of course, much truth in all churches, but those churches which do not have the fulness of the gospel, have much error and falsehood intermingled with such truths as they happen to have. And the fulness of salvation can come to those only who believe and conform to the fulness of the Lord’s revealed doctrines.” Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 147.
The meeting inspired Russell M. Nelson to post a picture of himself along with his counselors and his twelve apostles on Twitter with the comment
“The Lord stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” “As modern-day apostles of Jesus Christ, the message we share today is the same that apostles shared long ago — that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that this is his church.”
The picture is of a statue of Jesus Christ, and his apostles, with the Mormon leaders standing in front of them. The arrogance of these men never ceases to amaze me. As I look at the picture and consider his comment, I found myself wondering, is he comparing himself to Jesus Christ? He’s certainly comparing the Mormon apostles to those of Jesus Christ.
The gospel Jesus taught his apostles to share with the world is nothing like the gospel of Mormonism. It sickens me every time I hear Mormons refer to their Church as “the only true church”, ie their church being “his church”. I find it to be very deceptive. Jesus didn’t come to earth to establish a church, he came to save souls, and to pay the price of our sins so we won’t have to pay for them ourselves.
They continue to perpetuate the lie that we still need prophets and apostles to guide us. The true prophets pointed the people to Jesus Christ, declared his coming and what that would mean for the people. The apostles of Jesus Christ shared his gospel with everyone. This wasn’t the gospel taught by Mormons today.
It had nothing to do with being baptized in the Mormon Church, or holding the priesthood, nothing to do with temple works and attending it regularly, or with baptisms for the dead.
Jesus said nothing about avoiding tea and coffee, of following a prophet and obeying his words. You won’t find anything about paying a tithe of 10% or doing your family ancestry so you can perform salvational works for the dead either in what Jesus taught. I could go on and on, but I think you get my point.
The gospel Jesus taught is very simple, you are to repent of your sins, and know you are forgiven, choose to follow him, love God and your neighbor. We are to look to the cross for our salvation and know it’s because of what occurred there that we have eternal life. Mormons abhor the cross, I learned this the first Sunday I attended a meeting.
I remember receiving many stares and being told I shouldn’t wear a cross necklace by more than one person. I was told I shouldn’t be focused on the cross because (and I quote) “we (Mormons) don’t worship the Christ who died there, we worship the living Christ.”
This is just one reason I can point to amongst many, of why the Mormon Church will never be “his church”. They have no regard for what he endured for us on the cross. Instead, they look to the works they perform in the temple as a means for their salvation and exaltation into godhood.
They look to their works, and what they can do to make themselves worthy of this honor. They laugh at the belief that we are saved my grace because they have been taught they are “saved after all they can do.” It’s hard for them to comprehend not having to do something for their salvation.
It’s a religion that is man-centered, according to their doctrines, they are the ones who receive the glory and honor in the end. In Christianity, Jesus is the one who receives the glory and honor for the “good works” we do.
As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reads, everything we do, we do for his glory. God’s word tells us about the different crowns/rewards believers can receive in heaven, and how we will cast these crowns/rewards at the feet of Jesus because only he is truly worthy of them.
However, in Mormonism, we see a different picture, one where the individual is holding all those rewards in their arms and walking away from Jesus, as they go off to be exalted to godhood.
The Mormon leaders have hidden nothing when it comes to how they view churches other than their own. Their goal has, and will always be to convert the world to Mormonism, even those in Rome.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes
Reference-
Mr. Nelson and company have no shame. Knowing all the horrible remarks the LDS church has said specifically about the Catholic Church since its beginning.
I saw the picture…how incredibly arrogant.
You’re spot on – they have no shame. I can’t thank Melissa (Grimes) enough for keeping me alert to the shenanigans this church tries to pull off.
Her insight as a convert brings another level of what it’s like being tricked into their lies and how they’ve twisted the truth of God’s precious word. Things like singling her out for wearing a cross…what were they thinking at the Vatican of all places??? Oh my, be still my heart!
If the Mormon General Authorities are truly prophets of God, then how come nobody outside the Mormon Church know who they are. If I believed myself duly appointed by God to be the world’s only living prophet, I would make sure that I did everything possible to reach out to people, to share the gospel all over the world. I would by on Fox News, CNN; I would travel to every country in the world to PERSONALLY deliver the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Franklin Graham (Billy’s Son) used to hold prayer rallies in the capital city of every state of the union. Thousands would come to Christ. Franklin Graham wasn’t frightened of the masses, he loves the people enough to actually interface with them one one one to deliver the gospel of peace.
Also, what is the Mormon Church doing building all these temples? Temple attendance is way down. People like me don’t go to the temple because the experience is about as spiritual as a head of cabbage or a peanut butter sandwich. Every Sunday we have speakers (Bishopric) encouraging us to attend the temple more often. People aren’t going to the temple because it is a drag. Instead of building more temples, why not build some hospitals, orphanages, day care centers, food banks for the poor. Hospitals could be used for older members that can’t afford health care because they have tithed all their money to the church
Question…Are there really enough “temple worthy” Italians to justify a temple? I would think the whole “word of wisdom” might be a deal breaker…they enjoy their cappuccino/Chianti. It’s a culture/life style thing.
Same with Great Britain, Asia and India, tea is a staple.
Soldiermp…I know your comments are rhetorical, but I’ll put in my 2 cents. I think if the LDS church took to the major news networks, too many Christians would call them out on all their heresy, blasphemy, and false doctrines. And that’s the last thing they’d want. So they’ll continue to hide in their windowless temples and members only conferences.
Acts 7:48 Melissa Brown
Melissa..You are spot on. You know, I sometimes wonder whether or not all of the General Authorities actually (sincerely) believe that they are what the church claims them to be (prophets, seers, revelators). I have a feeling that there might be a few of those guys that know the church is false, but keep the narrative going so as not to destroy the faith of the members.
What do you think? Is it possible that there are a handful of GAs that know the truth?
Soldiermp… Without a doubt!!! More than a handful for sure. They have to know by now the “church” is all a lie. Way too many issues, and it’s getting harder and harder for them to rationalize all the lame excuses they try to come up with. I’m sure the GA’s and 70’s had to approve the “essays” right? So they clearly know all the problems members are having. The members aren’t drinking the “Kool Aid” anymore.
A true Christian church doesn’t have any kind of “love court” system to excommunicate members. If someone believes that Jesus is their Lord and Savior and accepts God’s undeserving gift of grace by faith, they now belong to the body of Christ. And no religious system can take that away from them.
The LDS church has made a complete mockery of what it means to be Christian. And to see them with the Pope is shameful.
1 John 4: 20
The Mormon church wants to make salvation all about serving the church. Anytime a Mormon talks about salvation, it is always about what steps have to be taken (through church channels) in order to be saved. Baptism is only considered legitimate if you are baptized by a worthy priesthood holder. That means, that anybody baptized outside the Mormon church can not be truly saved. The saving ordinances are done in the temple. If you are not a worthy temple recommend holder, you can not enter the temple to have the ordinances performed. Even somebody like Billy Graham, accordion to the Mormon church, could not enter into the celestial kingdom.