Life After Ministry

Abortion

Ensign, November 1998, pg. 71; “Abortion is an ugly thing, a debasing thing, a thing which inevitably brings remorse and sorrow and regret…While we denounce it, we make allowance in such circumstances as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have serious defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.” – Gordon Hinckley

Genesis 9:6; “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”

So is abortion okay or is it not?  When people write or call in defending the Church to tell me the Christians should work alongside the Mormons on moral issues I always share this example with them.

Abraham the Astronomer

Signs of the Times, p.155; “Moreover, Abraham records that he received by revelations the fact that Kolob is the “first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God,” and its time is the Lord’s time and by it he reckons. These ancient prophets knew not only of the revolutions of the earth and the planets, but they had superior knowledge of the fixed stars. Abraham and Methuselah were astronomers with knowledge revealed through higher powers than the telescope. They knew more about the heavenly bodies than all the astronomers of this age put together.” – Joseph Fielding Smith

Deuteronomy 13:1-5; “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.  4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”

If Abraham and Methuselah received this info on the stars, etc., the information isn’t recorded anywhere but in Smith’s imagination.  No one but the LDS teachings has ever heard of “Kolob”.

Abraham, the Gospel, Baptism & Priesthood

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 13; ““Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6-11; D. & C. 132:29-50.).”

Genesis 15:1, 6; “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Who conferred this “priesthood” onto Abraham?  The Bible tells us the priesthood wasn’t instituted until the time of Moses and his brother Aaron.  The “covenant of exaltation”, aka polygamy, got Abraham into trouble.  Remember Hagar was the bondwoman (meaning cast out), while Sarah was the free woman (meaning promise).

Abraham, Lineage of is Pure

Answers to Gospel Questions 1:171; “…Abraham, Joseph, and Moses married women of their own race, and we need have no worry over our lineage, because we are of that same race.”

Galatians 3:16; “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

Actually Joseph married Asenath, an Egyptian woman.  She was given to Joseph as a gift from the pharaoh in appreciation for what Joseph had done for Egypt.  (Gen. 41:45)  Asenath and Joseph had two sons; Manasseh and Ephraim.

Secondly, the Mormons are not a race of people so how could they be Egyptian or Hebrew?

Abrahamic Covenant

www.lds.org; “Abraham made covenants with God when he received the gospel, when he was ordained a high priest, and when he entered into celestial marriage. In these covenants, God promised great blessings to Abraham and his family. These blessings, which extend to all of Abraham’s seed, are called the Abrahamic covenant.”

Holman Bible Dictionary; “God made His second covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:18; 17:2). As the covenant with Noah involved a righteous man (Gen. 6:8-9), so the covenant with Abraham involved a man of faith (Gen. 15:6). God initiated His covenant with this type of person, but this does not mean that the person earned God’s covenant with good works. Rather, this type of person was open to God’s actions and could be directed by God for His purposes. The covenant with Abraham, like that with Noah, involved divine promises, not human obedience. God promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants after a long sojourn to a foreign land.”

Genesis 15:5-6; “And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Abraham did not receive the gospel, he was not ordained a high priest and he didn’t enter into celestial marriage.  God made Abraham cast Hagar out to the wilderness because she was not part of the promise God had made with Abraham.  Abraham and Sarah made a grave mistake by having him father a child (Ishmael) through Hagar.

Abuse

Ensign, May 1992, pg. 31; “The victim must do all in his or her power to stop the abuse. Most often, the victim is innocent because of being disabled by fear or the power or authority of the offender. At some point in time, however, the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse. Your priesthood leader will help assess your responsibility so that, if needed, it can be addressed…

     As a victim, do not waste effort in revenge or retribution against your aggressor. Focus on your responsibility to do what is in your power to correct. Leave the handling of the offender to civil and Church authorities. Whatever they do, eventually the guilty will face the Perfect Judge. Ultimately the unrepentant abuser will be punished by a just God.” – Richard Scott

Psalm 18:45-48; “The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.  46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.  47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.  48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.”

EXCUSE ME???  How could a young child be responsible for stopping any abuse?  How could they ever be responsible for even a shred of any abuse taking place?  Who do these people think they are assessing the victim’s responsibility?    Shame, shame on them.

Active LDS

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 14; “The religious practices of active Latter-day Saints include attendance at worship services and religious education classes on Sunday; donation of tithing and other financial contributions; service in a variety of Church callings; performance of temple ordinances on behalf of the deceased; personal and family prayer; scripture study; religious discussion with other family members; adherence to moral standards of personal honesty and integrity; genealogical research; service in the community; and development of habits of thrift and self-sufficiency.”

Isaiah 64:6; “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Acts 2:38; “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Hmmm…confess sins, call upon God to be saved…all other things according to Isaiah are filthy rags.

Ether 12:11-12; “…by faith was the law of Moses given…12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.”

Exodus 12:13; “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

Romans 5:8; “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Adam and Eve Had No Blood

Note: As seen below, I obviously had a typo for this. Yikes! Instead of stating it came from the LDS Bible Dictionary, i placed the URL instead. 

Not surprising, when I saw this and tried to correct the error, I noticed the Church has since changed its content.

I’ve left it this way to show how the Church retro-engineers their writings in an effort to hide their past. If you click on the link below, it shows various references to Adam, but not the one they previously had on their site.

http://scriptures.lds.org/bd/f/2; “Before the fall, Adam and Eve had physical bodies but no blood. There was no sin, no death, and no children among any of the earthly creations. With the eating of the “forbidden fruit,” Adam and Eve became mortal, sin entered, blood formed in their bodies, and death became a part of life. Adam became the “first flesh” upon the earth (Moses 3: 7), meaning that he and Eve were the first to become mortal. After Adam fell, the whole creation fell and became mortal. Adam’s fall brought both physical and spiritual death into the world upon all mankind (Hel. 14: 16-17).” – Bible Dictionary of the LDS Church

Genesis 2:24; “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Note:  In Hebrew the word flesh means body.  So if they were commanded to multiply while still in the Garden of Eden how could they have done so without blood?  The Bible tells us that life is in the blood.  See Gen. 9:4 & 2:7.  The Hebrew word for soul is “nephesh” in 2:7.  It means a “breathing creature”.

Adam and Eve Had No Blood

Answers to Gospel Questions 3:100; “When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, there was no blood in their bodies. Their lives were quickened by spirit; therefore they were in a state where they could have lived forever, and so likewise could every other mortal creature. (II Nephi 2:2-25.) When Adam fell, the change came upon all other living things and even the earth itself became mortal, and all things including the earth were redeemed from death through the atonement of Jesus Christ.”

Genesis 2:7; “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Note:  The Hebrew word for soul is “nephesh”.  It means a “breathing creature”. 

Adam and Eve Had No Blood

Preach My Gospel, pg. 50; “When first teaching this doctrine, do not teach everything you know about it.  Explain very simply that God chose two of His children, Adam and Eve, to become the first parents on earth.  After their transgression they were subject to both sin and death.  By themselves they could not return to live with Heavenly Father.  The Lord spoke to Adam and taught him the plan of salvation and redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ.  By following that plan, Adam and his family could have joy in this life and return to live with God (see Alma 18:36; 22:12-14).”

Matthew 10:26-27; “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”

Lie?  Since when is lying condoned by God?

Adam & Eve Praise God for Their Sin

Moses 5:11; “And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.”

Genesis 3:9-16; “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.  11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?  12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.  13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.  14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.  16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”

When was the last time, if ever, you’ve been proud of and praised God for your sin?

Adam and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Man Adam, pg 84; “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and he sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (JST, Luke 22:41-44.) Elder Bruce R. McConkie postulated that this angel was likely Adam. If this angel was Adam (and there seems to be no reason to doubt it), here was the Messiah in the Garden of Gethsemane in his greatest of all trials, shedding his blood to redeem mankind from the effects of Adam’s transgression in the Garden of Eden and also from the results of each person’s own sins. There appeared from heaven to strengthen him the very person of Adam himself-he who brought mortality and blood and death and sin into the world. The parallel issue is unmistakable!

The plan of salvation to which both Adam and Jesus subscribed in the premortal world was being worked out in the world of Adam’s posterity. Each had fulfilled his foreordained part, and now the two principals were together as Jesus triumphed over sin and mortality. The next day Jesus would die upon the cross, and three days later he would rise from the grave, totally triumphant, not only over the death of the body but also over the death of the spirit-which is alienation from God.” – Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millett

Galatians 3:13-14; “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Adam and the Ten Commandments

Adam Who is He, pg 58; “Some people have the idea that the Ten Commandments were first given by Moses when he directed the children of Israel and formulated their code of laws. This is not the case. These great commandments are from the beginning and were understood in righteous communities in the days of Adam. They are, in fact, fundamental parts of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the gospel in its fullness was first given to Adam.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:94-96)” – Mark E. Petersen

Proverbs 26:23-26; “Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.”

Adam Created by the gods

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 15; “Latter-day scriptures attest that Adam is a son of God, that his physical body was created by the Gods in their own image and placed in the Garden of Eden (Moses 6:9, 22; Abr. 5:7-11; TPJS, p. 345-53; cf. 2 Ne. 2:14-19).”

Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Adam is Archangel Michael

D&C 27:11; “And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days.”

Revelations 12:7; “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”

Lies, lies, lies…Michael is Adam, Adam is God, Adam is the prince?  Who is Jesus?

Adam Created by the gods

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 15; “Latter-day scriptures attest that Adam is a son of God, that his physical body was created by the Gods in their own image and placed in the Garden of Eden (Moses 6:9, 22; Abr. 5:7-11; TPJS, p. 345-53; cf. 2 Ne. 2:14-19).”

Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

“Us” in the Hebrew is “elohim” which actually has 3 distinct meanings.  1. The fullness or deity of God (Gen. 1:26).  2. Rulers, kings, princes (Ps. 82:6).  3. Pagan gods (1 Sam. 28:13). 

Mormons call their heavenly father by the name of Elohim.  They do not believe in the Trinity so they can’t believe in the fullness or deity of God.  They can’t believe that their Elohim is the explanation #2.  This leaves the Mormon with only one other option of their Elohim.  Pagan gods.  Their explanation in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism confirms this.

Adam-God Doctrine

D&C 27:11; “And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days.”

D&C 78:16; “Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life.”

Exodus 20:3-5; “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”

Holman Bible Dictionary:  “Michael: Archangel who served as the guardian of the nation of Israel (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1). Together with Gabriel, Michael fought for Israel against the prince (angelic patron) of Persia. This angelic Michael figures in much extra-biblical literature in the intertestamental period. In Revelation 12:7 Michael commands the forces of God against the forces of the dragon in a war in heaven. Jude 9 refers to a dispute between the devil and Michael over Moses’ body.”

As you can see Michael is not Adam, nor is Adam remotely thought of being Michael…

Adam Held the Priesthood

History of the Church 3:385; “The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Gen. 1:26, 27, 28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven.”

Psalm 119:169-170; “Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.”

Adam Holds Priesthood

Encyclopedia of Mormonism pg. 16; “As the first on this earth to receive priesthood keys, Adam continues to dispense authority to others and to watch over priesthood administration on the earth; those to whom keys have been given must return them or account for them to Adam…”

Hebrews 7:5; “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.”

Where in the Bible does it say that Adam received the priesthood or that anyone who holds the priesthood must answer to Adam?  The first time we see any mention of priesthood is found in Exodus 28:1. 

Adam; If Adam & Eve hadn’t sinned could they have had children? 

2 Nephi 2:22-23; “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.  23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.”

Genesis 2:24, 3:23; “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh…Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”

Adam is Ancient of Days

Women of Mormondom, p. 191; “Brightest among these spirits, and nearest in the circle to our Father and Mother in heaven (the Father being Adam), were Seth, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus Christ…Among these the Mormon faith would rank Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and their compeers…

These are the sons and daughters of Adam‑the Ancient of Days‑the Father and God of the whole human family. These are the sons and daughters of Michael, who is Adam, the father of the spirits of all our race. These are the sons and daughters of Eve, the Mother of a world.” – Eliza Roxcy Snow

Adam is God of All

“On the Potter’s Wheel”, Appendix A, Memorandum Book, H. C. Kimball; “April 30, 1862. The Lord told me that Adam was my father and that he was the God and father of all of the inhabitants of this Earth.” – Stanley B. Kimball, editor

Colossians 1:15-18; “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Adam Lived in America

Journal of Discourses 12:339; “The very first man who had dominion on the face of the earth, under the direction of the Heavens, once dwelt on this Continent. His name was Adam. Whether his first residence was on this land, whether the garden that was planted for his occupation was on this Continent, or some other, is not revealed in any written or printed revelation. But he certainly did, in the course of his lifetime, either from this being his native land, or by emigration, actually come in possession of this part of the globe…” – Orson Pratt

Genesis 2:15; “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”

While no one has “discovered” the actual Garden of Eden we know from scripture it is near the Assyrian province of Thelassur (Isaiah 37:12, 2 Kings 19:12).  The book of Ezekiel (27:23) also mentions Eden which is located on the Euphrates.

Adam, Michael and Salvation

Signs of the Times, p.155; “Men were just as intelligent then as they are now. Michael, the prince, whom we know as Adam, the Progenitor of the human family, holds the keys of salvation under the direction of Jesus Christ. He was chosen to be at the head and a ruler over his posterity because of his worthiness and intelligence. He had a perfect language, both spoken and written, for it was given him by the voice and finger of God!” – Joseph Fielding Smith

Acts 4:10-12; “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

The dictionary defines the word “progenitor” as “a biologically related ancestor, a person or thing that first indicates a direction, originates something or serves as a model.”

Questions: what is Michael the prince of?  If Michael’s an angel how can he also be a human being?  Why does Michael or Adam hold the keys of salvation?

Adam Not Made from this Earth’s Dust

Journal of Discourses 3:319; “He was the person who brought the animals and the seeds from other planets to this world, and brought a wife with him and stayed here. You may read and believe what you please as to what is found written in the Bible. Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth. He was made as you and I are made, and no person was ever made upon any other principle.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, April 20, 1856

Genesis 3:19; “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

The Bible clearly states Adam was made from the dust of this earth.  Interestingly, the Quran tells us that Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, God forgave them and then sent them down here to earth (Surah al-Baqara 2:30-39). 

Adam, Prince over All Nations Forever

D&C 107:54-56; “And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. 55 And the Lord…said unto him:

I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. 56 And Adam…being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.”

Genesis 12:1-3; “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Adam Spread the Gospel

Adam, Who is He, pg. 9; “Adam received the holy priesthood and was commanded by the Lord to teach his children the principles of the gospel. Moreover, Adam was baptized for the remission of his sins, for the same principles by which men are saved now were the principles by which men were saved in the beginning. In that day as many as repented and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Adam made all these things known to his sons and daughters.” (Doctrines of Salvation, Bookcraft, 1956, 3:81-82.)”

Mark 1:1; “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” (Also see Matt. 4:16-17.)

The word “gospel” is a Greek word meaning “good news”, originating in 950 AD.  “Baptize” is also a Greek word meaning “to immerse” from the 13^th century AD.  How could Adam be baptized, hold the priesthood and teach the gospel?

Adam Tempted by God

Doctrines of Salvation 1:121; “By many he has been severely criticized because of his fall, but Latter-day Saints, through modern revelation, have learned that such was necessary in order that man should have his agency and, through the various vicissitudes he has to pass, receive a knowledge of both good and evil, without which it would be impossible for him to gain the exaltation prepared for him…”

James 1:13; “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”

Again, it’s just one lie after another.  The thought pattern employed by the LDS Church in this teaching actually represents the Yin-Yang theory.

Adam, the Father of Our Spirits?

Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 11, 1869, Brigham Young Addresses, 1865-1869, Vol. 5, page 361; “… the period will come when the people will be willing to adopt Joseph Smith as their Prophet, Seer and Revelator and God! But not the father of their spirits, for that was our father Adam.” – Elden J. Watson, Feb. 1982

Psalm 50:16-17; “But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.”

Adam was a Travelin’ Man

Adam in America

Doctrines of Salvation 3:74; “GARDEN OF EDEN AND CITY ZION SAME PLACE. In accord with the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we teach that the Garden of Eden was on the American continent located where the City Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they eventually dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri.”

Adam in Old World

Moses 3:8, 10-14; “And I, the Lord God, planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there I put the man whom I had formed. 10 And I, the Lord God, caused a river to go out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11 And I, the Lord God, called the name of the first Pison, and it compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where I, the Lord God, created much gold; 12 And the gold of that land was good, and there was bdellium and the onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second river was called Gihon; the same that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river was Hiddekel; that which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river was the Euphrates.”

Adam’s Altar

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 21; “At that great gathering Adam offered sacrifices on an altar built for the purpose. A remnant of that very altar remained on the spot down through the ages. On May 19, 1838, Joseph Smith and a number of his associates stood on the remainder of the pile of stones at a place called Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri. There the Prophet taught them that Adam again would visit in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, holding a great council as a prelude to the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Mediation and Atonement pp. 69-70.) At this council, all who have held keys of authority will give an accounting of their stewardship to Adam. Christ will then come, receive back the keys, and thus take one of the final steps preparatory to reigning personally upon the earth. (7:9-14; Teachings, p. 157.)”

Romans 5:12, 14; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

Amazing.  I’ve often wondered how the Church has been able to convince people of stuff like this.  I wonder how many people got up and left when they heard Smith preaching lies and what made the others sit there and do nothing…

Adoration for Deity not Needed

The Best of Lowell L. Bennion, Selected Writings 1928-1988: pg. 79; “Christ was as humane and man-centered as any humanist in his concern for persons, but he also loved God and shared with him his love for man.  And so my loyalty to persons includes man, every man, I hope, but also Deity—the Father and the Son. They too are persons. I don’t know that they need my direct adoration and affection, but it is my simple faith that they suffer when men suffer and rejoice when men have cause to rejoice. So in a modest way, but with all my heart, I would diminish their suffering and enhance their joy.”

Psalm 95:3-6; “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

Age of Accountability

D&C 18:42; “For all men must repent and be baptized, and not only men, but women, and children who have arrived at the years of accountability.”

Galatians 1:15-16; “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”

Age of Man, Age of God

Doctrinal Themes of D&C pg. 17; “Thus, man is as old as God, in that the basic element of life within him was never created and, in fact, cannot be created.”

Deuteronomy 32:6; “Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?”

Now Mormonism also teaches that God created man spiritually through a sexual union with one of his wives.

If this is true then how in the world could mankind be the same age as God?

The definition of “create” is “to cause to come into being”.

Agency

www.lds.org; “Agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves. Agency is essential in the plan of salvation. Without it, we would not be able to learn or progress or follow the Savior. With it, we are “free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27).”

1 Chronicles 28:9; “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

It seems I am always using the example from Genesis where Adam and Eve “had” to eat the forbidden fruit.  I am certain God did not want for Adam and Eve to sin.  God in His mercy gave us another way. 

Alien Life

Wonderful Flood of Light, pg. 25; “We cannot comprehend it all, of course. We do not know how many inhabited worlds there are, or where they are. But certainly we are not alone. This is a universe of spiritual order, in which “Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest” (Abraham 3:9).” – Neal A. Maxwell

Matthew 7:24-27; “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

If there are other inhabited worlds, how many saviors are there?

Alien Life

Ensign, April 2001, pg. 4; “How many planets are there in the universe with people on them? We don’t know, but we are not alone in the universe! God is not the God of only one planet!

I testify that Jesus is truly the Lord of the universe, “that by [Christ], and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:24).” – Neal Maxwell

Matthew 13:19; “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.”

This verse about the sower is what I would want for the Mormon to hear.  Why waste your precious life listening to the garbage spoken of by a false apostle when you can feast upon His word?

Alpha & Omega

3 Nephi 9:18; “I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation 1:8; “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Amalekites

Omni 1:12-30; “Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—…30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.”

Exodus 17:8-11; “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.  10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.  11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

The Holman Bible Dictionary says this about the Amalekites:  “AMALEKITE (am’ ay lehk ite) A nomadic tribe of formidable people that first attacked the Israelites after the Exodus at Rephidim. Descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12), they inhabited the desolate wasteland of the northeast Sinai peninsula and the Negeb. They were the first to attack Israel after the Exodus (Num. 24:20). Israel won the initial battle (Ex. 17:8-16), but later was driven back into the Sinai wilderness by a coalition of Amalekites and Canaanites (Num. 14:39-45).”

American Constitution; Elders to Save American Constitution in Joseph’s Lifetime

Journal of Discourses 6:152; “It is said that brother Joseph in his lifetime declared that the Elders of this Church should step forth at a particular time when the Constitution should be in danger, and rescue it, and save it. This may be so; but I do not recollect that he said exactly so. I believe he said something like this—that the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he, If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the Elders of this Church. I believe this is about the language, as nearly as I can recollect it.” – Orson Hyde, Salt Lake City, January 3, 1858

American Continent Empty?

The Improvement Era, July 1940, Vol. 43, no. 7, pg 396; “The Lord took every precaution to see that nothing might interfere with this posterity of Joseph in working out their God-given destiny and the destiny of America. He provided, and so told Lehi at the very beginning of his settlement, that… it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations… The Lord so kept the land for a thousand years after Lehi landed. He so kept it in His wisdom for another thousand years after the Nephites were destroyed, perhaps to give the Lamanitish branch another chance.” – J. Reuben Clark

Americans: Embrace Mormonism or be Destroyed

The Seer, pg 215;

“Q. What does the Lord require of the people of the United States?
A. He requires them to repent of all their sins and embrace the message of salvation, contained in the Book of Mormon, and be baptized into THIS church, and prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord.
Q. What will be the consequence if they do not embrace the Book of Mormon as a divine revelation?
A. They will be DESTROYED from the land and SENT DOWN TO HELL, like all other generations who have rejected a divine message!” – Apostle Orson Pratt

Ammon

Ensign, June 1977, pg. 73; “The story of Ammon is one of the most dramatic and heroic in scriptural literature. From a rebellious prince, one of “the very vilest of sinners” (Mosiah 28:4), fighting against the church of God in his father Mosiah’s kingdom, Ammon underwent a transcendent conversion and dedicated the next fourteen years of his life to a perilous and difficult mission among the Lamanites. With his brothers, Ammon was instrumental in converting thousands of Lamanites to Christ, thereby changing the course of Lamanite history. At the end of his mission, Ammon became the high priest over these same people (see Alma 30:20), who were called after him—the people of Ammon (see Alma 27:26).” – Robert A. Rees

Genesis 19:36-38; “Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.”

So – the Ammonites are the descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his daughters.  To find out more information about the behavior of these people see Amos 1:13-15 and an article on our site about demonic names in the Book of Mormon.  http://www.lifeafter.org/demonic_names.asp

More than a few of Solomon’s concubines were Ammonites and they were, in part, responsible for turning Solomon’s heart away from God – they were worshipping Milcom.

Ammon Reads Man’s Thoughts

Alma 18:18; “Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?”

Ps. 94:11; “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”

No one but God knows the thoughts of men.

Ammonites

Alma 24:17-18; “And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.  18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.”

Genesis 19:38; “And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.”

From Holman Bible Dictionary; “AMMONITES, Semitic people living northeast of the Dead Sea in the area surrounding Rabbah who often battled with the Israelites for possession of the fertile Gilead. See Deut. 2:20.”

Ancestor Worship

“Generations Linked in Love,” Ensign, May 2010, 92; “Consider the spiritual connections that are formed when a young woman helps her grandmother enter family information into a computer or when a young man sees the name of his great-grandfather on a census record. When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple.” – Russell M. Nelson

Ezekiel 18:2-4; “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Hebrews 9:27; “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Ancient of Days; Jesus or Adam?

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 167; “Commencing with Adam, who was the first man, who is spoken of in Daniel as being the “Ancient of Days,” or in other words, the first and oldest of all, the great, grand progenitor of whom it is said in another place he is Michael, because he was the first and father of all.”

Daniel 7:9; “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”

Give just one verse proving that Adam is “Ancient of Days” please.

And It Came To Pass

2 Nephi 1:1; “And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching my brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many things unto them, and rehearsed unto them, how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem.”

Matthew 6:7; “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”

Twenty percent of the 6,604 verses in Book of Mormon contain the phrase “and it came to pass”.  They are merely filler words used in the deceitful practice of brain washing the Mormon people.  Repetitive words and phrases have the ability to self-hypnotize. 

Angels Handshakes and Red Haired Angels

D&C 129:1-3; “There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones—For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.  3 Secondly: the spirits of just men made perfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.”

Teachings of the Doctrine and Covenants, pg. 38; “Once a woman claimed a revelation for the guidance of the Church. According to her account, a heavenly being appeared to her and personally gave the alleged instructions. The Prophet Joseph asked her the one question, “What was the color of the angel’s hair?” And when her reply was “Red,” the Prophet remarked: “There are no red-headed angels.”” – William Berrett

1 John 4:1; “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

First of all, Jesus was not a resurrected angel personage.  Second of all those who have died are in paradise with Jesus right now, not out roaming the earth – Luke 16:19-31.  And last but certainly not least – RED HAIR???  Honestly, this guy’s imagination was off the charts.

Angels & Handshakes

History of the Church 5:267; “When a messenger comes, saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand, and request him to shake hands with you. If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand. If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect, he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear. Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message. If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him. These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.”

James 4:7-8; “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Smith should’ve memorized James 4.  Resist the devil indeed!

Angel Resurrected Jesus

Essential Brigham Young, “When I Contemplate the Subject of Salvation”, A Sermon Delivered on 12 February, 1854, pg 96; “It is true, Jesus said “I lay down my life that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” I do not doubt the power of Christ; but did he prove that in his resurrection? No. But it is proved that an angel came and rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, and did resurrect the body of the Son of God.

What angel was this.

It is no[t] for me to say. I do not know him. If I ever did know him it is so long since I have entirely forgotten who it was. That Jesus had power to lay down his life, and power to take it up again I do not dispute. Neither do I dispute, but what an angel came, that was sent by the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to roll away the stone from the sepulchre, and resurrect the Son of God. Suffice it to say that he was some character who had himself been resurrected.”

http://signaturebookslibrary.org/?p=11179

Romans 10:9; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 8:11; “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Angels: Testing Angels’ Handshakes

D&C 129:4-5; “When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you. 5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.”

2 Corinthians 11:13-14; “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.”

Angels: Treasures Moved Around by Angels

Journal of Discourses 19:37; “These treasures that are in the earth are carefully watched, they can be removed from place to place according to the good pleasure of Him who made them and owns them. He has his messengers at his service, and it is just as easy for an angel to remove the minerals from any part of these mountains to another, as it is for you and me to walk up and down this hall.” – Brigham Young, Farmington, June 17, 1877

 2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Angel of Light

Intro D&C (1976); Moroni is an “angel of light”.

2 Cor. 11:14; “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

Sometimes the truth is so blatantly obvious you’re blinded by it.

Angel of Light, Other Gospels

Lord Needed a Prophet, pg. 10; “Joseph watched in wide-eyed wonderment as the personage moved toward him without touching the floor…Joseph was spellbound. He listened to the angel tell how, when the right time came, he—a poor farm boy—would be able to translate the ancient writing on the plates of gold. He would have the help of the Lord and two small stones called the Urim and Thummim…Moroni told Joseph many other marvelous things, but finally the light began to diminish, and Moroni disappeared. He returned to Joseph’s bedside two more times during the night…” – Susan Madsen

Galatians 1:6-9; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

This passage from the Bible is what further convinces me God knew in advance about Mormonism.

Angels and Men

Journal of Discourses 9:103; “All the difference between men and angels is, men are passing through the day of trial that angels have already passed through. They belong to the same family that we do; but they have proven themselves worthy only of an exaltation to the state of angels, whereas we have the privilege of obtaining not only the same exaltation they enjoy, but of going further until we become Gods, even the sons of God.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, January 5, 1860

Angels Never Have Wings

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 162; “…An angel of God never has wings. Some will say that they have seen a spirit; that he offered them his hand, but they did not touch it. This is a lie. First, it is contrary to the plan of God; a spirit cannot come but in glory; an angel has flesh and bones; we see not their glory. The devil may appear as an angel of light. Ask God to reveal it; if it be of the devil, he will flee from you; if of God, He will manifest Himself, or make it manifest. We may come to Jesus and ask Him; He will know all about it; if He comes to a little child, he will adapt himself to the language and capacity of a little child.”

Isaiah 6:1-2; “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

Anthon Transcript

Joseph Smith History 1:64-65; “”I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

65 “He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.””

Comprehensive History of the Church 1:103; “ANTHON’S LETTER TO E. D. HOWE, NEW YORK, February 17, 1834. “Dear Sir: I received your letter of the 9th, and lose no time in making a reply. The whole story about my pronouncing the Mormon inscription to be reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics is perfectly false…Upon examining the paper in question, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick—perhaps a hoax…This young man was placed behind a curtain in a garret in a farm-house, and being thus concealed from view, he put on the spectacles occasionally or rather looked through one of the glasses, deciphered the characters in the book, and having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the curtain to those who stood outside. Not a word was said about their being deciphered by the gift of God…

… On hearing this odd story, I changed my opinion about the paper, and instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax, I began to regard it as part of a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money, and I communicated my suspicions to him to beware of rogues…I am thus particular as to the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I have frequently conversed with friends on the subject since the Mormon excitement began, and well remember that the paper contained anything else but Egyptian hieroglyphics.”

Antichrist

Confessing spirit of Smith is of God – Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 435; “Whosoever confesseth that Joseph Smith was sent of God to reveal the holy Gospel to the children of men, and lay the foundation for gathering Israel, and building up the Kingdom of God on the earth, that spirit is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that God has sent Joseph Smith, and revealed the everlasting Gospel to and through him, is of Antichrist, no matter whether it is found in a pulpit or on a throne. 8:176.”

1 John 4:1-3; “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.”

Okay let’s get this right…The Mormons don’t really believe in the traditional Bible as it was written.  They don’t believe in the same God that the Christians and Jews believe in.  They don’t believe in the same Jesus Christians believe in.  However, they’ve used part of our sacred script to twist and pervert it to coincide with Smith’s version of the Bible.

Apostasy

Articles of Faith, pg. 181; “A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ. Scarcely had the Church been organized by the Savior, whose name it bears, before the powers of darkness arrayed themselves for conflict with the organized body. Even in the days of our Lord’s personal ministry in the flesh persecution was waged against Him and the disciples.” – James Talmage

Titus 3:10-11; “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

Paul warned us there would be apostates and gave us the standard of how to deal with them.  This doesn’t mean the entire world apostatized!

Apostasy

General Handbook of Instructions 1999; “The Church warns its members against symposia and other similar gatherings that include presentations that (1) disparage, ridicule, make light of, or are otherwise inappropriate in their treatment of sacred matters or (2) could injure the Church, detract from its mission, or jeopardize its members’ well-being. Members should not allow their position or standing in the Church to be used to promote or imply endorsement of such gatherings.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-3; “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”

In other words, don’t ever think it’s okay for you as a Mormon to speak your mind in public about the Mormon Church.

Apostasy of Body of Christ

Jesus the Christ, pg. 692; “For over seventeen hundred years on the eastern hemisphere, and for more than fourteen centuries on the western, there appears to have been silence between the heavens and the earth. Of direct revelation from God to man during this long interval, we have no authentic record. As already shown, the period of apostolic ministry on the eastern continent probably terminated before the dawn of the second century of the Christian era. The passing of the apostles was followed by the rapid development of a universal apostasy as had been foreseen and predicted.” – James Talmage

1 Thessalonians 4:8; “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”

This is such a blatant lie by the LDS Church.  There have been millions of people who’ve heard from the Lord in those 1,700 years and hundreds who gave their very lives for the sake of Christ.

 Apostasy; Church of the Devil

Journal of Discourses 18:215-216; “There are only two churches on the earth—only two parties. God leads the one, the devil the other. As soon as a man hears the Gospel preached and becomes convinced of this truthfulness, he is tempted of the devil, who, whenever there is an opportunity, suggests doubt for his reflection…This single doubt is perhaps the beginning of his apostacy [sic] from the Church. In the days of Joseph, people were inclined to turn away from the faith and go into apostacy [sic], as much as they do to in proportion to our numbers, and I have sometimes thought more so. You allow the devil to suggest to you that I am not leading you right, and allow that thought to abide in your hearts, and I will promise you that it will lead you to apostacy [sic]. You allow yourselves to doubt anything that God has revealed, and it will not be a great while before you begin to neglect your prayers, refuse to pay your Tithing, and find fault with the authorities of the Church.” – Brigham Young, Logan, Utah, August 15, 1876.

2 Timothy 2:19; “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

When the Mormons tell you that Smith, Young or any of the other leaders were only speaking of the Catholic Church as being the “whore of Babylon”, you now have proof that theory is false.

Apostasy; Definition of Apostasy in LDS Church

Mormon Doctrine, pg 45; “To the extent that worldliness false doctrine, and iniquity are found among the saints, they too partake of the spirit of the great apostasy. Speaking of men in the last days Nephi said: “They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.” (2 Ne. 28:14.)

It follows that if members of the Church believe false doctrines; if they accept false educational theories; if they fall into the practices and abominations of the sectarians; if they use tea, coffee, tobacco or liquor; if they fail to pay an honest tithing; if they find fault with the Lord’s anointed; if they play cards; if they do anything contrary to the standards of personal righteousness required by the gospel — then to that extent they are in personal apostasy and need to repent.”

Colossians 2:16-17; “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Apostasy…not Exactly

Answers to Gospel Questions 2:45; “Moreover, the Lord, of necessity, has kept authorized servants on the earth bearing the priesthood from the days of Adam to the present time; in fact, there has never been a moment from the beginning that there were not men on the earth holding the Holy Priesthood. (Moses 5:59.) Even in the days of apostasy, and apostasy has occurred several times, the Lord never surrendered this earth and permitted Satan to have complete control. Even when the great apostasy occurred following the death of the Savior’s apostles, our Father in heaven held control and had duly authorized servants on the earth to direct his work and to check, to some extent at least, the ravages and corruption of the evil powers. These servants were not permitted to organize the Church nor to officiate in the ordinances of the gospel, but they did check the advances of evil as far as the Lord deemed it necessary.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, jr.

Ephesians 4:14; “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Apostasy of the Christian Church

Gospel Principles, pg. 90; “Soon pagan beliefs dominated the thinking of those called Christians. The Roman emperor adopted this false Christianity as the state religion. This church was very different from the church Jesus organized. It taught that God was a being without form or substance.” –

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?”

The Christians didn’t “make up” this theory.  This is what has always been taught in scripture!

Apostasy, Signs of, Those Who Question

History of the Church 3:385; “I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.”

Luke 13:26-27; “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.  28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”

I and thousands of others like me are not on the high road to apostasy.

Apostasy: Where’s the Proof of an Apostasy?

1 Nephi 13:26; “And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.”

Matthew 24:10-11, 35; “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Apostate Christendom: Signs of the Times

The Millennial Messiah, p.403; “Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general. False churches, false prophets, false worship—breeding as they do a way of life that runs counter to the divine will—all these are signs of the times.” – Bruce McConkie

Romans 3:13-17; “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known.”

Apostates

Ensign, January 1974, pg. 78; “…some of the greatest of our enemies are those within our own ranks. It was the lament of the Master, as he witnessed one of those chosen men, who under inspiration he chose as one of the Twelve, betray him with a kiss and for a few paltry pieces of silver turn him over to his enemies…When we see some of our own today doing similar things, some who have been recognized and honored in the past as teachers and leaders who later fall by the wayside, our hearts are made sore and tender. But sometimes we have to say just like the Master said, “The devil must have entered into them.”… “Many have belittled Joseph Smith, but those who have will be forgotten in the remains of mother earth, and the odor of their infamy will ever be with them, but honor, majesty, and fidelity to God, exemplified by Joseph Smith and attached to his name, will never die.”…No truer words were ever spoken, and that person fell just as all others will fall who try to tear down the work of the Lord.” – Harold B. Lee

Mark 13:22-23; “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. ²³But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.”

Mother earth?  Only Wiccans refer to the earth in this manner.  Joseph Smith’s name will indeed die as will his “works” in the end.  Harold Lee was correct when he said that some of their enemies are those within the Church – those are the ones that have exposed Smith’s lies to the world.

Apostates & Bowie Knives

Journal of Discourses 1:84; “I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath my bowie knife, and conquer or die. [Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.] Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be put on the line, and righteousness to the plummet. [Voices, generally, “go it, go it.”] If you say it is right, raise your hands. [All hands up.] Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, March 27, 1853

Jude 1:3, 16-19; “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.  17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”

My, there seems to be some pent up anger towards those who disagree…

Apostates Damned

Journal of Discourses 17:150; “You have heard me say, a great many times, that there is not that man or woman in this Church, and there never was and never will be, who turn up their noses at the counsel that is given them from the First Presidency, but who, unless they repent of and refrain from such conduct, will eventually go out of the Church and go to hell, every one of them.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, August 9, 1874

Matthew 10:28; “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Apostates Go To Hell

Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 226; “O ye Twelve and all Saints! profit by this important Key—that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to the brethren. (HC 3:385.)”

Psalm 1:1-2; “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

Nice to see that heaven and Jesus Christ is equated to “the brethren”.  Now you can see why people are afraid to leave.

Apostates Lead Church Members Astray

Latter-day Prophets & the Doctrine & Covenants 1:102; “Mark E. Petersen: They do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.  One of the reasons people apostatize from this Church is that they have failed to heed the warning of the scriptures against listening to false teachers who raise their voices in our midst. [Sec. 45:5-6; 2 Nephi 28:20-31.] In spite of the fact that these warnings of the scriptures are crystal clear, many of our people fail to heed them.  How do these false teachers lead people astray? They do so by attacking the fundamental doctrines of the Church. [Sec. 52:9, 14-20, 36.] They attack the teachings of the Authorities. They seek to develop doctrinal disputes among the people to undermine their faith, and they lead people to apostasy when they do such things as that. Very often false teachers who have come among us endeavor to justify their position by claiming to have received some revelation or dream directing them, they say, in the paths which they tread. . . .So, Latter-day Saints, beware of false teachers, when men come among you and begin to preach doctrines unto you which tend to destroy your confidence in the holy scriptures. . .”

John 8:31-32; “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Interestingly enough everything Petersen says in this warning are the tactics used by the Mormons themselves.

How do people become ensnared in a cult?

By listening to someone who claims they’ve received special communications with God that no one else is privy to.

What do we see all throughout Mormon doctrines?

The attack upon God’s enduring word, the attack upon God’s church and worst of all, the attack upon God Himself.

Apostates: Leave or Die

Journal of Discourses 1:83; “I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath [sic] my bowie knife, and conquer or die. [Great commotion in the congregation, and a simaltaneous [sic] burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.] Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet. [Voices, generally, “go it, go it.”] If you say it is right, raise your hands. [All hands up.] Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, March 27, 1853

Romans 12:19; “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Apostates Must Crawl Out Under Book of Mormon

General Conference, October 2009, Jeffrey Holland; “For 179 years, this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history — perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands,” Holland said. “If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages … such persons, elect or otherwise, have been deceived and, if they leave this church, they must do so by crawling over or around or under The Book of Mormon to make their exit.”

Matthew 14:24-27; “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

There are literally hundreds of people who leave the Mormon Church on a weekly basis.  Our ministry alone receives dozens of e-mails monthly telling us as much and while LAM plays a small part in the grand scheme of things, our inbox tells us a different story than what the LDS Church claims.

We are now averaging 3 people weekly that call in asking how they can know Jesus!

Apostates must Suffer

Ensign, “Dear are the Sheep that have Wandered”, June 2013; “My dear brothers and sisters and friends, my message this morning is one of hope and solace to heartbroken parents who have done their best to rear their children in righteousness with love and devotion but have despaired because their child has rebelled or been led astray to follow the path of evil and destruction…Successful parents are those who have sacrificed and struggled to do the best they can in their own family circumstances.”

“The depth of the love of parents for their children cannot be measured. It is like no other relationship. It exceeds concern for life itself…But what if the children who have been taught by faithful, loving parents have rebelled or been led astray? Is there hope?”

“…Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain…”

A principle in this statement that is often overlooked is that they must fully repent and “suffer for their sins” and “pay their debt to justice.”… If the repentance of the wayward children does not happen in this life, is it still possible for the cords of the sealing to be strong enough for them yet to work out their repentance? In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told:

“The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God…“And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.”

“…To those brokenhearted parents who have been righteous, diligent, and prayerful in the teaching of their disobedient children, we say to you, the Good Shepherd is watching over them. God knows and understands your deep sorrow. There is hope…The prodigal son was welcomed back into the family, but his inheritance was spent.

“Mercy will not rob justice, and the sealing power of faithful parents will only claim wayward children upon the condition of their repentance and Christ’s Atonement…” – James Faust

1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 John 20:30-31; “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Apostates Turn Black and Wrinkly

Journal of Discourses 5:332; “You can see men and women who are sixty or seventy years of age looking young and handsome; but let them apostatize, and they will become gray-haired, wrinkled, and black, just like the Devil.” – Brigham Young, Wednesday, October 7, 1857.

Isaiah 30:12-13; “Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”

Okay… now I might be turning wrinkly – after all I am aging.  Turning black?  Hmmm…I don’t think so.

Apostle

1 Nephi 11:34; “And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.”

Mark 6:30; “And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.”

Apostle

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 59; “An “apostle” is an ordained leader in the Melchizedek Priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Apostles are chosen through inspiration by the president of the church, sustained by the general membership of the Church, and ordained by the First Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve apostles by the laying on of hands. They serve as general authorities-as distinguished from local and regional officers-holding their office as apostle for the duration of their lives. The senior apostle is the President of the Church.”

Matthew 19:28; “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Surprise, surprise, the info they gave in this example is a lie.  The “apostles” are chosen by the mere fact of who has been in their position the longest.  Ironically, that’s how their “prophet” is also “divinely” chosen.

Apostles

Times and Seasons, 5.618, January 1844-January 1, 1834; “Let no man presume for a moment that his place will be filled by another; for, remember he stands in his own place, and always will; and the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation stand in their own place and always will, both in time and in eternity, to minister, preside and regulate the affairs of the whole church.” – Brigham Young, August 15, 1844, Nauvoo, IL.

2 Peter 2:1-3; “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

This is actually a false prophecy – why did they fill the empty spot of the prophet of the deceased Joseph Smith if they said they weren’t going to?

Apostles, All 14 of Them!

178^th General Conference, April 2008; “”On Saturday, February 2, 2008, funeral services for President Hinckley were held in this magnificent Conference Center – a building which will ever stand as a monument to his foresight and vision. During the funeral, beautiful and loving tributes were paid to this man of God. The following day, all 14 ordained Apostles living on the earth assembled in an upper room of the Salt Lake Temple.””

Matthew 10:1; “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”

So if they’re following the “biblical pattern” why are there fourteen apostles?

Apostles, Three Never Die

D&C 7:1-3, 7-8; “And the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.  And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.  And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory…And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come. Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired.”

John 21:20-23; “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”  (Also see Foxe’s Book of Martyrs for listing of how each of these apostles died.)

Question: when and where did this conversation between Jesus and the apostle take place that’s been recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants?

Apostles, Twelve Nephite

Latter-day Prophets & the D&C 1:101; “After Jesus had been crucified and had ascended unto his Father, he visited his “other sheep” in America, known as the Nephites, and there chose twelve disciples and organized his Church, as he had done among the Jews, an account of which is given in some detail in Third Nephi of the Book of Mormon. [3 Nephi 15:11-24.] (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, 1950, pp. 51-52.)”

Isaiah 30:1-2; “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”

The Bible tells us that the “other sheep” are the Gentiles.  Why would Jesus be visiting with the Jews if He’d already told them everything?

Why Did the 12 Apostles Die?

Contributor 1:76; “The Book of Covenants plainly informs us that the disciples of Jesus were destroyed because they in their hearts forgave not one another.”

1 Thess. 1:5; “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

2:10; “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.”

2 Cor. 1:12; “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

Actually, the apostles (all but John) were martyred because of the gospel.

 Archaeology & Book of Mormon

Answers to Gospel Questions 2:196; “It is the personal opinion of the writer that the Lord does not intend that the Book of Mormon, at least at the present time, shall be proved true by any archaeological findings. The day may come when such will be the case, but not now.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.

Holman Bible Dictionary for Archaeology; “The purpose of archaeology is not to “prove the Bible.” This lies outside the scope of archaeology and, in any case, the Bible does not need to be “proved.” Archaeology can, however, make considerable contribution to one’s understanding of the Bible. It can help clarify and illuminate the Bible in many important ways.”

The “prophet” said this to cover for the lies.  They knew there would never be any evidence to prove the Book of Mormon people ever existed.

Archaeology & Book of Mormon

Ray T. Matheny, Mormon scholar and BYU professor of anthropology, letter dated Dec. 17, 1987; “While some people chose to make claims for the Book of Mormon through archaeological evidences, to me they are made prematurely, and without sufficient knowledge.  I do not support the books written on this subject including The Messiah in Ancient America, or any other.  I believe that the authors are making cases out of too little evidences and do not adequately address the problems that archaeology and the Book of Mormon present.  I would feel terribly embarrassed if anyone sent a copy of any book written on the subject to the National Museum of Natural History – Smithsonian Institution, or other authority, making claims that cannot as yet be substantiated…. there are very severe problems in this field in trying to make correlations with the scriptures.  Speculation, such as practiced so far by Mormon authors has not given church members credibility.”
1 John 4:1-4; “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

Why should the average members believe their stories when their experts know the whole thing is a lie?

Arson, Nauvoo Expositor

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 48; “By 1844 Joseph Smith also faced serious dissension within the Church. Several of his closest associates disagreed with him over the plural marriage revelation and other doctrines…They became allied with local anti-Mormon elements and published one issue of a newspaper, the Nauvoo Expositor. In it they charged that Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet, guilty of whoredoms, and dishonest in financial matters…The Nauvoo City Council and Mayor Joseph Smith declared the newspaper an illegal “nuisance” and directed the town marshal to destroy the press. This destruction inflamed the hostile anti-Mormons around Nauvoo. On June 12, 1844, Thomas Sharp’s newspaper, the Warsaw Signal, called for the extermination of the Latter-day Saints: “War and extermination is inevitable!”

Proverbs 10:6; “Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.”

In today’s vocabulary this would be known as homegrown terrorism.

Atonement

www.lds.org; “As used in the scriptures, to atone is to suffer the penalty for sins, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinner and allowing him or her to be reconciled to God. Jesus Christ was the only one capable of carrying out the Atonement for all mankind. Because of His Atonement, all people will be resurrected, and those who obey His gospel will receive the gift of eternal life with God.”

Holman Bible Dictionary on Atonement; “The Origin of Atonement The atonement for sin provided by Christ’s death had its origin in divine love. No other reason can explain why “God reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 5:18). The anthem that continuously peals from the Bible is that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16; see 1 John 4:9-10). This does not mean that God loves us because Christ died for us. Rather, Christ died for us because God loves us. Thus, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Because atonement issues from love, it is always seen as a divine gift, never as human achievement.”

Because of Jesus’ atonement mankind is forgiven for their sins.  They won’t be resurrected in the Mormon sense of resurrection.  Mormons believe all will be resurrected to be assigned to a different level of heaven.

Atonement

“The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality”, Liahona and Ensign, April 2012; “The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity.” —David A. Bednar

Jude 1:24-25; “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Atonement

Ensign, November 2008, pg. 57; “”[The] testing of our limits in priesthood service is made necessary by God’s plan to qualify His children to live with Him again forever. Heavenly Father loves His children…To qualify us to receive that gift, He gave us a mortal body, the opportunity to be tempted to sin, and a way to be cleansed from that sin and to rise in the First Resurrection. He gave us His Beloved Son, Jehovah, as our Savior to make that possible. The Savior was born in mortal life, was tempted but never sinned, and then in Gethsemane and on Golgotha paid the price of our sins so that we could be cleansed. The purifying can come only to those who have faith enough in Jesus Christ to repent of sin, be cleansed through the ordinance of baptism, and make and keep covenants to obey all His commandments. And there was to be a fierce enemy of our souls, Lucifer, who would with his legions relentlessly try to capture every child of God to keep him or her from having the joy of eternal life.”” – Henry B. Eyring

Romans 10:9; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Have you ever had to qualify someone to receive a gift you’re giving them?

Atonement

Ensign, November 2008, pg. 35; “Jesus Christ entered a garden called Gethsemane, where He overcame sin for us. He took upon Himself our sins. He suffered the penalty of our wrongs. He paid the price of our education. I don’t know how He did what He did. I only know that He did and that because He did, you and I may be forgiven of our sins that we may be endowed with His power. Everything depends on that. What then shall we do? We will “take upon [us] the name of [the] Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]; that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us].” Everything depends on that.” – Lawrence E. Corbridge

1 Peter 2:24; “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Hebrews 13:12; “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

The excerpt above taken from the “Ensign” is just one of the reasons I have this ministry.  Jesus did NOT overcome sin for us in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus did NOT take our sins upon Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I have the answer for Mr. Corbridge’s question, “What then shall we do”.

Let’s begin with telling the truth!

The city of Jerusalem inside the gate represented heaven for the Jews.  Outside the gate was a representation of hell and is where condemned criminals endured death on a cross.  Remember, cursed is he that hangeth on a tree…Deuteronomy 21:22-23.

The tabernacle is where man went to meet with God, which of course was located outside the gate.  Exodus 33:7.  Also see Isaiah 53:10-11.

Atonement; Effects of

Ensign Nov. 2006, pg. 33; “”Is it possible to reclaim a life that through reckless abandon has become so strewn with garbage that it appears that the person is unforgivable? Or what about the one who is making an honest effort but has fallen back into sin so many times that he feels that there is no possible way to break the seemingly endless pattern? Or what about the person who has changed his life but just can’t forgive himself? . . .”The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. His Atonement is infinite. It applies to everyone, even you. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you. That is what infinite means–total, complete, all, forever.”” – Shayne Bowen

Revelations 21:1-7; “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

Though my sins be as scarlet His blood will wash me clean as snow…

Atonement for Every Man Since Adam

Mormon Doctrine, pg 62; “”And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.” (2 Ne. 2:25-26.) “The atonement,” King Benjamin explains, “was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.” (Mosiah 4:7.)”

Titus 1:16; “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Atonement for Sin

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…” – Joseph Fielding Smith

Two pages later they said this;

Doctrines of Salvation 1:132; “…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.”

And then three pages later they said this;

Doctrines of Salvation 1:135; “Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. This is scriptural doctrine, and is taught in all the standard works of the Church.”

Hebrews 9:28; “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

The state of Utah is unique in the sense that they are the only state in the Union which allows a convicted murderer on death row to choose the way they want to be executed.  Their choices:  lethal injection and firing squad.  There are 5 people sitting on death row in Bluffdale, Utah awaiting execution by firing squad.  In June 2010 there will be four men left.  A man by the last name of Garner will be executed for murdering a court bailiff while trying to escape during a sentencing hearing for another murder he committed.

Update:  Gardner was indeed executed by firing squad and he was indeed a Mormon.  How sad for this man to have lived a life of crime and then in the end not even know the difference between grace and the lies of the Mormon Church.

Atonement, Man Must Atone for Own Sin

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 92; “But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins. Murder, for instance, is one of these sins; hence we find the Lord commanding capital punishment. Thus, also, if a person has so progressed in righteousness that his calling and election has been made sure, if he has come to that position where he knows “by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood” that he is sealed up unto eternal life (D. & C. 131:5), then if he gains forgiveness for certain grievous sins, he must “be destroyed in the flesh,” and “delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.” (D. & C. 132:19-27.)”

Romans 10:13; “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

How pathetically untrue the LDS teachings are!

Atonement; Mormon Atonement is Peculiar

B.H. Roberts, Seventies Course in Theology 4:113-114; “Phase of the Atonement Peculiar to “Mormonism:” It may be remarked in passing that the difference noted in the foregoing paragraphs of this lesson on applying the Christ’s Atonement to Adam’s sin and man’s personal sins—in the first case unconditional, and in the second conditional—is a doctrine, in modern times, peculiar to “Mormonism;” or, to speak more accurately, to the New Dispensation of the Gospel revealed to Joseph Smith; and is derived almost wholly from the teachings of the Book of Mormon.”

Galatians 3:15-17; “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.  16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.”

That’s right, change the meaning, confuse the inherent of Mormonism…

Atonement; Not Sure How Jesus Atoned for Sin

“Singing the Song of Redeeming Love,” Ensign, Mar. 1993, p. 58; “We don’t know exactly how Jesus accomplished the Atonement. We only know that somehow during the course of the excruciating and agonizing hours in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, he became our Redeemer.” – Joseph Walker

Matthew 5:17; “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Ephesians 2:15-16; “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”

Genesis 3:15; “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Atonement, Place of

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 85; “To meet the demands of the Atonement, the sinless Christ went first into the Garden of Gethsemane, there to bear the spiritual agony of soul only he could bear. He “began to be sorrowful and very heavy,” saying to his three chief disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, unto death” (Mark 14:34). Leaving them to keep watch, he went further into the garden, where he would suffer “the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam” (2 Ne. 9:21). There he “struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible” (JC, p. 613).”

Hebrews 13:12; “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

The Mormon passage above is a prime example of heresy and what happens when you add to the word of God.  Jesus did not pay for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He sanctified the people with His blood outside the gates as it said in Hebrews – also see John 18:11.

Attitude

Ensign, May 2009, pg. 92; “Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” – Thomas Monson

Galatians 5:16-17; “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

How dismal for each and every Mormon.  I am so grateful my future is and always will be brighter than the little faith I carry around with me in my heart.

Authority to Preach

History of the Church 5:256-7; “Whenever there has been a righteous man on earth unto whom God revealed His word and gave power and authority to administer in His name, and where there is a priest of God—a minister who has power and authority from God to administer in the ordinances of the gospel and officiate in the priesthood of God, there is the kingdom of God; and, in consequence of rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Prophets whom God hath sent, the judgments of God have rested upon people, cities, and nations, in various ages of the world, which was the case with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, that were destroyed for rejecting the Prophets.” – Joseph Smith

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.”

This passage in the book of John is only one of many examples telling us that Jesus gave His followers the authority to preach and carry forth His gospel to others.

Authorization for Twelve Nephites

3 Nephi 12:1; “And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.”

1 Timothy 4:16; “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

If we follow Him we will listen to His words and continue in His doctrine.  There isn’t a Christian alive who if they knew the truth about Mormonism would entertain the idea of believing the Book of Mormon.

Authority, Who has it, Who gets it, Where Did it Come from and Why

D&C 42:11; “Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to anyone to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by someone who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.”

Romans 13:1; “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Since when does someone need to be ordained by a Church council in order to share the gospel?

Reasons starting with B

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