This next section, Love God, love your neighbor, focuses on teaching the youth that loving their God means following all His laws and commandments.
It begins:
“God loves you. He is your Father. His perfect love can inspire you to love Him. When your love for Heavenly Father is the most important influence in your life, many decisions become easier.” (page 11)
As we’ve talked about before, we’re not automatically part of God’s family. He doesn’t consider us one of His children until we repent of our sins and accept the work on the cross Jesus did for us to pay our sin debt. Also, the term “Heavenly Father” has implications that aren’t correct from a biblical perspective. In Mormonism, their god is their Heavenly Father because he had sexual relations with his goddess wife to create their spirits.
After we have accepted Jesus, we become adopted into God’s family. Only then can we call Him Father. Romans 8:14–15 tells us:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.“
And in Galatians 4:6–7:
“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Later in the same section, it goes on to say:
“All people are your brothers and sisters—including, of course, people who are different from you or disagree with you”
The first part, which says, all people are your brothers and sisters, is FALSE. As Christians, we know from Scripture that only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus are part of God’s family. See the above verses. Mormons worship a false Christ, other religions worship false gods or reject Jesus completely, and some people don’t believe in God at all.
None of these people are your brothers and sisters. Yes, we should respect and desire to help unbelievers when they need help, but they’re not part of God’s family. We can pray for them as we serve them and hope they will see Jesus in us and have a desire to know Him.
On pages 11–12, this lesson shifts to talking about all the things the youth must do to show how much they love their god. They must keep the Sabbath day holy, partake of the sacrament, fast, and pay tithes and offerings. It’s a perfect example of why people say Mormonism has a works-righteous system.
Ephesians 2:8–9 tells us:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
I didn’t know this verse existed until I left Mormonism. Compare this with what I and countless other Mormons have been taught in 2 Nephi 25:23:
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do”
Quite the contradiction, isn’t it? It was a constant struggle for me as a Mormon to truly know if I was doing enough. I felt so distant from God, so unworthy, so unloved, and not reconciled to God.
Another Bible verse that I wish I had known back then is Romans 11:6:
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
This section closes with temple recommend questions, along with my rebuttal to them. They are as follows: (page 14)
“Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?”
Of course, we are to reflect Jesus in our daily lives and interactions with others. We’re commanded to be salt and light, as we see in Matthew 5:13–16:
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
They’re asked if they’re following Jesus, but what Jesus are they commanded to follow? If they’re following the Jesus of Mormonism, they’re following the wrong Jesus, and he will only lead them to follow unbiblical teachings.
“Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?”
This goes back to their works-righteous system we talked about earlier. How do you know if you’re worthy enough to partake of the sacrament? When do you know if you’ve done enough to merit the Mormon god’s love and acceptance? Their desire to live under the “law” is something I can’t understand. As Romans 6:14 tells us, we’re not under the law.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
Their final question is:
“Are you a full-tithe payer?”
This is one of the laws they’re supposed to obey: the law of tithing. This again goes back to working their way to godhood. They are training the youth at a young age in the importance of being worthy enough to enter the temple for the first time to receive their own endowments. This is the only way they can hope to be truly saved, according to the doctrines of the Church.
Scripture tells us to be cheerful givers and not to give with the wrong motives or to expect something (godhood) in return.
2 Corinthians 9:6–7: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
It’s always going to be about Mormons exalting themselves to godhood through their works. For them, Jesus is there, somewhere in the back, waiting to be called up only when they need to use Him. He’s not in the forefront of their lives, active in their daily lives.
I pray for the Mormon youth. I pray they have Christian friends who will lead them to the truth of who Jesus is and teach them about the truly good news of the gospel.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes
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