June 25 – Joseph Smith Called Jesus a Liar. Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
Posts Tagged ‘apostacy’
Joseph Smith Called Jesus a Liar
Posted in June, Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged apostacy, body of Christ, Gates of hell won't prevail against Jesus' church, joseph smith, mormonism, TPJS p 375 on 06/25/2019| 1 Comment »
Tip of the Day, March 28
Posted in March, Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged apostacy, Bruce McConkie, Christians the whore of the earth, Joseph Smith lied on 03/28/2018| Leave a Comment »
March 28 – In 1 Cor. 1:10 Paul says; “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”.
Tip of the Day, June 25
Posted in June, Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged apostacy, body of Christ, Gates of hell won't prevail against Jesus' church, joseph smith, mormonism on 06/25/2017| Leave a Comment »
June 25 – Joseph Smith Called Jesus a Liar. Matthew 16:18; “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
Tip of the Day, March 4
Posted in Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged apostacy, bible, body of Christ, Bruce McConkie, Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ, false doctrine, false gospel, false prophecies, false prophets, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joseph smith, lds church, martyrs, Mormon doctrine, mormonism, Redeemer, salvation, Savior, truth, Twelve Apostles on 03/04/2015| Leave a Comment »
March 4 – Acts 5:41; “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name”.
Jesus’ Promises Kept
Posted in Jesus, tagged apostacy, bible, body of Christ, Book of Mormon, church, false gospel, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, lds church, mormonism, promise, salvation on 05/08/2011| Leave a Comment »
Jesus’ Promises Kept
I’m here today to let everyone know how intoxicated I am by being around those in the body of Christ. I admit that I look at the church of Jesus Christ through rose colored glasses. And I’ll be the first to admit that when I think of the Christian people it’s easy for me to overlook the flaws each denomination and individual person really has. I am more inclined to treat them in the same manner a parent has for a favorite child.
Book of Mormon; The Trouble with the Book of Mormon
Posted in Book of Mormon; The Trouble with the Book of Mormon, tagged apostacy, bible, Book of Mormon, changes to the Book of Mormon, false gospel, false prophet, grace, Jesus, joseph smith, lds church, most correct book, salvation on 04/27/2011| 2 Comments »
The Trouble with the Book of Mormon
Despite 4,000 changes, Mormons maintain it is still the most correct book ever written – including the bible.
This article will cover many of the changes to the Book of Mormon illustrating the ever-evolving theology of the Mormon Church. We present the following evidence:
We felt that it was important to start with what Mormons say about a particular change rather than have us do that.
Tip of the Day, November 30
Posted in Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged apostacy, bible, Christianity, comfort, false gospel, hope, Jesus, joseph smith, mormonism, truth on 11/30/2010| Leave a Comment »
November 30 – Philippians 4:8; “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
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I had never heard this of this verse in the 30 years I was a Mormon. It wasn’t until I had been saved when a dear Christian friend of mine showed me this verse and would remind me of it time and again during the first few years of my walk with the Lord. I don’t know of any true Christian who gets inspiration from anyone other than the Lord Jesus. The Mormon writings today are another example of what they really think of the body of Christ.
_____
“What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world.” Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts, 5: 218 – 219.
Mormon Doctrine vs. Mormon Gospel
Posted in Doctrine, tagged apostacy, bible, bible Book of Mormon, blood covenant, Christ, Christian, false gospel, freedom, God incarnate, gospel, grace, salvation on 11/08/2010| 1 Comment »
A few weeks ago I received an e-mail through the Life After Ministries website. This gentleman informed me that quoting from the LDS authorized book Mortal Messiah, written by Bruce McConkie, was proof I didn’t know the difference between Mormon doctrine and the gospel. I would respond to him privately but he’s blocked my IP address on his computer.
Okay then.
Mentoring Handbook Chapter 8
Posted in Mentoring Handbook, tagged apostacy, bible, Book of Mormon, D&C, Doctrine and Covenants, false gospel, Mormon Church, mormonism, truth Christianity on 10/22/2010| Leave a Comment »
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRIPLE COMBINATION
There are so many subjects in this topic that people could write books about it; in fact a few of my good friends have! The contradictions within the writings of the LDS Church are vast so I am not going to go into much detail here. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend getting the Christian Companion to the Triple Combination written by Colleen Ralson, you can purchase this from our website or Personal Freedom Outreach; a subsidiary of Utah Missions.
It works as a great tool to emphasize to the ex-Mormon that LDS doctrine is indeed flawed. It also serves as assurance to the ex-Mormon the contradictory teachings weren’t their imagination. While they work through this workbook they are able to see for themselves the magnitude of the errors.
The 3-in-1 (also known as quad or triple combination) is what the Church considers to be their standard works or scripture. They are a compilation of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. It becomes a “quad” if the Bible is in the same book. They believe that all the books but the Bible are inerrant. Their 8th Article of Faith states: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
Notice how they didn’t say; “we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly”. There is obviously a difference in the way the Bible is a more deficient book of God. For a few ex-Mormons going through the exodus process, it may take some time before they truly believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. Remind them of scriptures like
Isaiah 40:8; “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Another scripture that I prayed a lot when I got out was Mark 9:24 when the rich man asks Jesus to help him with his unbelief. Intellectually I believed in Jesus. In my heart, well that was sometimes “iffy”. Mark describes the man who came to Jesus and begged him for help. He told Jesus he knew God had sent Him; in his heart the old tapes kept playing the same old song…what if? Jesus won’t desert you in your hour of need! Also share with them factual information about the Bible mentioned in the previous section. And as always, if there is a favorite verse that you rely upon, share it with the ex-Mormon!
There are of course many good, reliable books and websites to use as tools for when there is doubt. The websites I’ve found over the years give verifiable truth to the issues raised and works through each scenario meticulously. While going through this life change there will be times when the ex-Mormon goes through a myriad of emotions and doubts all at the same time. One thing that is going to be there for sure is anger and hatred towards Joseph Smith. I haven’t been immune to the whole process and remember well what it felt like discovering the truth.
The emphasis of how important Joseph Smith was and still is to Church members cannot be overstated. His words still reverberates within the covers of their “scripture” and in the hallways of their ward buildings. The lies that the members have espoused are deep-seated in the hearts and minds of the believers. It’s no wonder the new Christian experiences a multitude of emotions all at once as they continue learning the truth about their heritage. Case in point is the following doctrine about the triple combination.
I’ve taken a speech from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pgs. 405-7 and listed it in sections below. The purpose in doing this is to show the general public the pages of doctrine that are soaked into the minds of these dear people. Anyone reading and listening to this year after year would have a difficult time staying focused.
After each section I have posted a few questions for the ex-Mormon. Allow them to read the paragraphs individually and ask them to list what problems they may see. Then show them the list of questions (add some of your own!) and compare. Encourage them as they begin to take control of their own thought life. You know the old saying: “Garbage in, garbage out”. The magnitude of lies they’ve been taught and have believed is incredible.
Don’t forget: 1. Prayer. 2. Bible.
“The Doctrine and Covenants is a compilation of revelations, most of which were received by the Prophet Joseph Smith for the establishment and governance of the kingdom of God in the latter days. It is a standard work of the Church… Its main focus is to build up the Church of Jesus Christ and to bring people into harmony with Christ’s kingdom… It is viewed as the capstone of the Church; its companion volume, the Book of Mormon, is seen as the keystone…” (pg. 405)
What or who is the capstone in the Bible, give proof. __________________________________________________
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What or who should be the “keystone”, biblically speaking.
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What is the purpose of the Bible? Compare that with what was said above in regards to the D&C and the BoM.____________
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Whose “job” is it to edify and unite the true body of Christ? Show proof of your answer! _______________________________
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Because of copyright laws I did not reprint all three pages of the example I am giving here. If the ex-Mormon wants to see it in full, (which is something I highly recommend), my quotes in the paragraph above to the end of this section came from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pages 405 through 407.
“The Book of Mormon was written to convince all individuals that Jesus is the Christ… the Doctrine and Covenants was given to organize and orient them according to God’s mind and kingdom.”
Where does it say (if it does at all) in the Bible that it was written to convince all individuals that Jesus is the Christ?
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According to the Bible, who does the convincing of man’s soul?
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Also, why is it they need to “organize and orient them to God’s mind and kingdom”? Wouldn’t the Bible already have served that purpose? These “further revelations” aren’t just simple additions to the Bible; they serve as replacements.
“Over the years after the first printing, other revelations were received and some earlier materials were deleted… In subsequent editions, more sections were added…” (pg. 406)
Stop the presses! The term “earlier materials” has jumped off the pages and captured my full attention! Why would you delete some earlier materials if they are revelations from God? Why does this god keep changing his mind?
What does Numbers 23:9 say about God? ______________
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Is it okay with you if the god you worship changes his/her mind at their own whim? What does Malachi 3:6 say about God? ____________________________________________________
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“Despite the fact that many of these revelations are personally directed to certain individuals or groups in nineteenth-century times and places, they contain principles that have eternal application and thus current value.” (pg. 407)
There has been a ton of “stuff” to dissect in just this little section but it will be well worth the study!
The first problem I see in the example above is applying revelations meant for specific people to the general population of today. The Bible has never operated in this fashion and neither should anyone else, biblically speaking and otherwise. An example of this philosophy would be the prophecy given to the elders of the LDS Church that they must build a temple in Zion.
How could prophesying that Zion would be found in Independence, Missouri, apply to someone like my mother who lives in Utah right now? My mother is in her sixties; she’s raising her grandchildren and lives across the street from her ailing parents. How can she take these “scriptures” and apply them to her daily life? D&C 57:1-3 says that the elders of the church should build a temple in Independence in 1831.
How does this failed prophecy help my mom in her walk with her Heavenly Father?
“The revelations include warnings of divine judgments upon the wicked; teachings about the progression of human souls toward exaltation and eternal life through the gospel of Jesus Christ; information about scripture, including the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the translation of the Bible by Joseph Smith.” (pg. 407)
I would have the ex-Mormon look in the index of the D&C, BoM, and PofGP for a variety of subjects, look up the references and begin really looking into the claims and warnings. See if the warning to obey “such and such” is still a gospel law they have to obey or if they’ve received further revelation to discontinue that “law”, i.e. polygamy (new and everlasting covenant).
“ …instructions about the priesthood, its restoration, functions, offices, and ordinances; commandments and instructions to people of the Church regarding personal behavior, education, lands and property, buildings, and caring for the poor; and callings and counsel to preach and live the gospel.” (pg. 407)
What laws or ordinances are no longer required in the LDS Church and why? _________________________________________
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In October of ‘06 Kirk and I participated in a live debate on a Christian radio talk show in Seattle. A local stake president that took part in the debate told me at the end of the show, off-air of course, that the Church never forbade the members from drinking caffeinated colas or coffee. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard! He said that I was trying to be “sensationalistic” just to get attention! Argh! He said; “Members listen to one thing and hear another; therefore they are the ones getting things all wrong”. In other words; “The 12.5 million members didn’t quite understand the prophecy that is now part of the Word of Wisdom”.
The Church will always have instructions for everything, and sadly enough the members’ understanding of each of those doctrines varies from person to person. If anything about this chapter sticks out for the ex-Mormon I pray it would be you won’t forget the truth about the “Standard Works”.
From the moment the first Book of Mormon was printed in 1830 to date, there have been over 4,000 changes made to the Book of Mormon – these do not include typographical or printing errors. All of the 4,000 plus changes are grammatical in nature. You can purchase or see proof of this from many reputable websites. There will be a list of recommendations in the Bibliography for Chapter 8. The Utah Lighthouse Ministry run by Sandra Tanner has a book she and her late husband compiled that shows a side-by-side account of the 1830 BoM and the latest edition printed in the nineties.
Joseph Smith said in TPJS, pg 299 that he didn’t use any Greek or Latin when translating the Book of Mormon.
“To the Editor of the Times & Seasons: Sir:—Through the medium of your paper, I wish to correct an error among men that profess to be learned, liberal and wise; and I do it the more cheerfully, because I hope sober-thinking and sound-reasoning people will sooner listen to the voice of truth, than be led astray by the vain pretensions of the self-wise. The error I speak of, is the definition of the word “Mormon.” It has been stated that this word was derived from the Greek word “mormo.” This is not the case. There was no Greek of Latin upon the plates from which I, through the grace of God, translated the Book of Mormon. Let the language of that book speak for itself.”
We recently completed a project counting how many time Greek or Latin words showed up in the Book of Mormon. After identifying over 60 words that derived from the Greek or Latin we stopped counting at 7,290 words.
The Book of Mormon holds many false prophecies; one of which is located very near the beginning. 1 Nephi 2:8 says that the river “Laman” emptied into the Red Sea. To date there has never been a river that has emptied into the Red Sea.
Jacob 2:25 says that polygamy is an abomination before God. That verse alone tells me someone is lying. Joseph Smith declared to Emma and the rest of the world in D&C 132 that unless you practice plural marriage you are damned!
Likewise the D&C contradicts itself and other sacred writings of the LDS Church. The writings in this can’t be trusted based on the passage listed above. Smith called plural marriage “the new and everlasting covenant”. If it’s everlasting then why did the US ban it from existence in 1890? If this was from God wouldn’t He have been able to do something about it?
D&C 114 is a false prophecy all unto itself. Smith prophesied that Patten would go on a mission the following spring – Patten was killed in a gun battle six months later, being unable to fulfill that prophecy for Joseph.
The Pearl of Great Price contradicts itself without even having to look at the other writings of the Church. For instance the creation story in Moses completely disagrees with the story in Abraham.
The false prophecies in Moses 7 place it in the same category as polygamy – a false prophecy. The prophecy is that the black people were to live under the “Curse of Cain” while here on earth. According to the LDS Church based on Smith’s prophecy here the blacks were not to hold the priesthood – ever.
In 1978 Spencer W. Kimball, then president and prophet of the LDS Church, received a new revelation from God allowing the blacks into the priesthood. So which prophet is right? If you say Kimball then what does that say about the beloved Joseph? No one ever speaks ill about him.
Lesson Plan for Chapter Eight
How many false prophecies does it take before you can safely say someone is not a true prophet of God? Show biblical proof. __________________________________________________
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What must we as Christians do with the “Standard Works” of the LDS Church in light of your answer above? ________________
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Read Galatians 1:6-9 and write down what you learn about other gospels.
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Are you (the ex-Mormon) aware of what the book of Jeremiah is about? I cannot speed over to the counter of books fast enough with you so that you can find out! If you do know then write out your thoughts below as you compare Jeremiah and the story of the Book of Mormon. Who are these Israelites the BoM talks about that didn’t obey God’s warning to stay put?
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© 2010 Life After Ministries, Inc.
Bibliography:
Websites for further research:
http://www.equippingchristians.com/
http://markcares.wordpress.com/
Link for Chapter 9:
Chapter 9. Mormon Terminology/Word Studies
© 2017 Life After Ministries, Inc.
Mentoring Handbook Chapter 7
Posted in Mentoring Handbook, tagged apostacy, bible, Book of Mormon, Christians, Christinaity, mormonism, mormons on 10/22/2010| Leave a Comment »
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIBLE
Writing about this subject was so intimidating to me that I put it as the last section to complete. I know I’m not articulate enough to convey the true essence of its importance even though in my mind it’s all worked out, coming off my tongue is quite another matter! Sometimes I take the easy way out and just pray Isaiah 40:8 for the Mormons; asking the Lord to “just fix their thoughts”, and make them know the truth of that verse!
Wouldn’t it be great if it was always that easy? This is why I am always amazed at how our God supplies for us, and this is one of the times that I’m beyond grateful that He laid it on the hearts of intelligent people to write books and papers about the authenticity of the Bible and its validity.
As a Mormon I was never encouraged to study factual information about the Bible, thus my great mistrust of its validity. Below are some basic facts of the Bible that would be beneficial for the ex-Mormon to hear.
I believe the most interesting fact I learned about the Bible is that it was God-breathed, “theopneustos”. 2 Tim. 3:16. By the power of the Holy Spirit the words were written down on papyri while God used each individual’s personality and writing style to give mankind His Law and reveal Himself to us.
The Bible is a compilation of 66 books, written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. It was written by more than forty authors in three continents over the span of more than 1,500 years. It is by far the most read book in the history of mankind.
There are 333 prophecies in the OT specifically about Jesus; 48 of which are in Isaiah chapter 53 alone! The odds of all those prophecies coming to fruition are staggering, yet that’s exactly what God did! Fulfilling just 48 of 61 of the prophecies concerning Jesus are 1 in 10157.
The Dead Sea Scrolls that were discovered in 1947 by a Qumran shepherd boy, taught the scholars no changes were necessary to the KJV Bible. The Bible is 99.9% textually pure. (Depending on the source, this figure ranges anywhere from 95% to 99.9%; I use the 99.9% figure based on the largest consensus of experts that I’m familiar with). The remaining .01% has no affect on the doctrine. Share with the ex-Mormon the method by which the scribes adhered to when copying the texts.
The original texts were hand written either by the author’s own hand, or by a scribe under their supervision. The markings, or letters, are known as jots and tittles. If even one of these were written down incorrectly, the entire page would be torn up, and thrown away (usually burned), and they would have to begin all over again. It was an incredibly tedious work! Pastor Floyd McElveen wrote;
“More than 25,000 sites have been excavated verifying the existence of cities, kings, kingdoms events, officials, etc., proving the historicity and incredible accuracy of thousands of Biblical references. Archaeologist Nelson Glueck has said, “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.”” (Evidence You Never Knew Existed, pg. 8).
The link below contains fantastic information on the Bible. I highly encourage you to go to this site, or any others you may know about, and share them with the one you are mentoring. They need to know, they deserve to know, and they will be more than shocked to know, the truth!
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/bibleorg.html
The list of reasons why the Mormons don’t believe the Bible to be trustworthy is exhaustive. Joseph Smith spent an extraordinary amount of time berating the Bible, and everyone who had ever used it, or helped write it. No one was worthy enough to escape his tirades of scathing remarks, and “prophetic” utterances of disdain towards God’s word. Listed below are just a few examples of his, and other LDS leader’s, heretical comments. Also notice the way their teachings vary, thus keeping the Mormon confused.
PRO-BIBLE
2 Nephi 9:16 “And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.” Also see 1 Nephi 13:23-4.
Articles of Faith, p. 214; “The historical and other data upon which is based the current Christian faith as to the genuineness of the Biblical record are accepted as unreservedly by the Latter-day Saints as by the members of any sect; and in literalness of interpretation this Church probably excels.”
ANTI-BIBLE
“A fundamental operating principle of “revealed” religions is that all truth cannot be completely discovered through human reason alone. Without God’s aid, no one can obtain the vital data, proper perspectives, and interpretive keys for knowing him (see Reason and Revelation). Because Latter-day Saints believe that their religion is revealed through living prophets of God, they subordinate human reason to revealed truth.” Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 112.
A Bible! A Bible! P. 13 says; “Of course Joseph Smith also stated that the Bible had not been preserved in its original purity: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly” (A of F 1:8). The word translated as it is used here must be understood to include the idea of transmission. That is, error has occurred not only in the translation from one language to another but also in the transcription of the text from manuscript to manuscript, even in the same language. The Bible has apparently suffered mostly from omissions….”
The rest of this chapter is a contribution given to us by Pastor Elbert Sorrell from Alexandria, Ohio.
“…The missionary looked at me on one occasion during the evening, apparently upset with my continual use of the Bible and said that he didn’t care what I would show him in “that book.” No matter what verses I used to answer questions or respond to them as we discussed the matters at hand, I was wrong…”
The Bible is only accepted as truth in the mind of an average Mormon in a very limited, qualifying way. The reason this is so is because of the claims that Joseph Smith made in his early written works circa 1830. Today you can find this rock solid belief in their testaments of faith (Articles of Faith) posted at the end of the Pearl of Great Price. The list of their standard works of scripture made it to number eight of their thirteen testaments. (1)
Smith arbitrarily took out and left alone what he deemed worthy of notice and believability for his devoted followers. He convinced people that the Bible was indeed the “word of God as far as it is translated correctly”; however when any member of the Church is questioned about their belief in the Bible you will be met with an air of hesitancy as their demeanor changes into a defensive mode. They claim there have been many “plain and precious truths” taken away from the Bible (this goes for their beloved KJV) and they won’t be able to provide which parts have been mistranslated or taken away. Smith convinced his believers the Bible is shot full of holes and is the one of the causes of the “Great Apostasy” which is why God needed Smith to “restore the One and Only True Church”. (2)
In my experience as a missionary we often used the Bible as a “backup” to give other doctrines in Mormonism validity as we taught them. We were often taught by our mission president to, “go from the known to the unknown” in teaching an investigator. We were to teach what was alike in our doctrine first and then the doctrines that were peculiar to Mormonism could be elaborated on more easily.
Another tactic is for them to try to use the Bible to show the disunity among the various denominations. This is something that is done quite frequently by most Mormons. For the purpose of this section let me say that your job as a mentor is to get the Mormon or ex-Mormon to see the validity of the Bible and not to become sidetracked by another issue. Also, do not get caught up in the trap of trying to defend a particular denomination. The purpose is to develop within those you are mentoring, an ability for them to use the Bible as their guide and not a particular church or group as their guide to the Bible.
After coming out of Mormonism in 1985 I was dealing one day with a Mormon missionary that was in my home and each time we dealt with a specific topic it was my habit (a good one I continue to use) to go to the Bible to verify the truth of what I was saying. The missionary looked at me on one occasion during the evening, apparently upset with my continual use of the Bible and said that he didn’t care what I would show him in “that book.” No matter what verses I used to answer questions or respond to them as we discussed the matters at hand, I was wrong. In dealing with this subject a little basic information could be helpful.
Remember that your aim is not to show them how much you know, but to impart truth in a way that is understandable to them.
A famous theologian is reported to have said that on the occasions that he was permitted to preach the Word of God that he often had people of various stations in the congregation. Amongst his listening audience you would find the rich, poor, learned and illiterate, nobles and commoners. When he preached he would attempt to reach out to those of the lowest station of society and that if he was successful in doing that, he knew that he would also reach the nobles. The Bible has come down to us through the centuries from its original form to the translations that we have today.
The original writings (those of the OT prophets, NT apostles and others who wrote the New Testament like Mark and Luke) are what are commonly called the autographs. These original writings are no longer with us today.
We do have what are referred to as manuscripts; which are copies of those originals. Many of those copies exist today and are what is used to make translations of the Bible in various languages. Needless to say, some of the manuscripts that are used are more complete or accurate than others. And while there are those that are more complete than others, there is nothing to lend to the idea that we do not have the complete Word of God for us today.
You could ask the question of your students; “Do you believe God could give us His Word perfectly through the Biblical writers?” If they answer yes then ask the following question; “If God is able to do that then don’t you think He also would have the power to preserve His Word to us today?” By now you’ve probably seen some resistance being put up by the one you’re mentoring in regards to the truths you are presenting to them. This is totally normal as well as expected so don’t panic! They have just spent an extraordinary amount of time allowing lies to be placed against their soul and they took each one of them in as truth. They don’t doubt you per se; they doubt everything and everyone that comes into their path and this includes themselves.
Remember this isn’t about flesh and blood as Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11; this is about the powers and principalities of the air. Your job is to continue laying the foundation of truth for them. Again, this is where prayer and perseverance on your part comes into play.
The subject of various versions or translations may come up from those you are mentoring as you approach the subject of the Bible. This is an area you need to be cautious in. Even though Joseph Smith did attempt a new translation of the Bible, it is not used in its entirety by the LDS church today. Unlike other cults today that has their own “translations” of the Bible, you are at an advantage with the ex-Mormon on this area because the King James Version is a reliable and beautiful translation. Rather than trying to get them to switch to another version, I would encourage YOU as a mentor to stay with the KJV in your mentoring for a few reasons:
1 – Accuracy of the language. Many things could be added here, but let it simply suffice to say the KJV is an accurate translation that can be trusted. Those you are mentoring need to have that security.
2 – Beauty of the language it is written in.
3 – Familiarity of the Mormon with it. You have enough to deal with as it is without having to contend with the issue of getting your students to acquaint themselves with a new translation of the Bible. It will also be easier for you to show how the Mormon Church has tampered with the Bible and twisted its meaning by using the KJV since this is the version they have historically twisted.
When they begin to see how their own church has twisted Scripture and lifted it out of context, while at the same time accusing various denominations of doing it, this could (and probably will) come as quite a shock to them.
You also have a wonderful opportunity here to share with the ex-Mormon or Mormon the fact that there have been Christians down through time that has given their very lives to give us the Bible in our own language. John Wycliffe in 1380 translated the NT and in 1382 translated the OT from Latin to English. William Tyndale translated the NT from Greek to English around 1524; Miles Coverdale and Thomas Matthews are also two men who undertook this noble task that are well known to those of us in the Church of Jesus Christ. These men, along with many others saw a need for the common man to have the Bible and in so doing; many were executed for their efforts.
Persecution was the order of the day simply because they loved the Word of God and loved the people they knew that needed the Word of God. It wasn’t enough they had it; they wanted others to have it as well. These people (just like those you are mentoring) went against the grain of a corrupt religious system and organization that did not want them to know the truth or tell it to others and yet at great personal cost to them in numerous ways, pressed on because they saw the reality of what the consequences were. This is another proof of the fact that the church of Jesus Christ was alive and well, even in those darkest and most difficult times, when the LDS church was yet to come into existence.
LET US REJOICE IN AND PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!
Bibliography
1 – Articles of Faith 1:8; “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
2 – Doctrines of Salvation 3:190; “We are informed in the Book of Mormon that the Hebrew scriptures went “forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God,” and after they went forth from the Jews many changes were made, and “many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.””
© 2010 Life After Ministries, Inc.
Link for Chapter 8:
Chapter 8. The Truth about the Triple Combination
© 2017 Life After Ministries, Inc.
Brief History of Mormonism
Posted in Foundation of Mormonism, tagged apostacy, bible, Book of Mormon, freedom, joseph smith, lds church, Mormon history, truth on 10/19/2010| Leave a Comment »
“Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by reason, by logical arguments, or by the word of God, and we will be ever grateful for the information, and you will ever have the pleasing reflection that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming your fellow beings from the darkness which you may see enveloping their minds.” – The Seer, pgs. 15-16, Orson Pratt, apostle
Boyd K. Packer, “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect”, 1981, BYU Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 259-271; “Church history can be so interesting and so inspiring as to be a very powerful tool indeed for building faith. If not properly written or properly taught, it may be a faith destroyer… “There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not…Some things that are true are not very useful.”
Have you ever heard of Carfax? It’s a cool little concept. You can get a report on any car you’d like to buy and in that report is all the information you’d ever want or need to know about that particular car. It’ll even tell you how many times the oil was changed and when, the number of previous owners, if it was a lease or loan, etc., the list just keeps going. You’ll have no doubts or worries about the history of the car you have your sights on. If you know what you’re looking for, the writings of the Mormon Church are like Carfax in many ways.
The Christian Church and Mormonism
Posted in Foundation of Mormonism, tagged apostacy, bible Book of Mormon, Christianity, Christians, church, gates of hell, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, joseph smith, lds church, Miormon Doctrine on 10/19/2010| 1 Comment »
People tell me all the time that Mormons are some of the nicest people they’ve ever met. I would agree with that up to a point. They’re very nice up until you disagree with their theology, then all bets are off and the gloves come on.
I still cringe whenever I think back to my life before the Lord saved me. I had the warmth of a buzz saw. I was in a bad mood 24/7 and no matter what I said outwardly, my thoughts were always filled with judgmental animosity for those who didn’t agree with me at any given time.
My grandfather used to tell us kids to “quit being ugly” and he wasn’t referring to the way we were dressed or the funky hair styles we loved back in the eighties. At the time I could never understand what he meant…hmmm…nowadays I am still dealing with the buzz saw personalities, but it’s through the e-mails I receive from those who are active LDS. Here are a few examples of what we see from many e-mails we receive every day.
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Recent Posts
Jesus Glorified By Having Kids
LDS: Bible Is Ambiguous
Was There A Complete Apostasy?
LDS Pre-existence is Reincarnation
Activity Rate, Retention, & Growth Rate of Mormonism
Amazing Facts About God
Anti-Mormon? How Mormons View the Body of Christ
Anyone or anything that disagrees with the LDS Church is considered anti-Mormon. Yet, the Church considers themselves to be a Christian church.
The Bible & Mormonism
Why Joseph Smith hated the word of God
Bible is Reliable Scripture Database
Scriptures that show Mormons can fully trust God's word!
Blood Atonement
600 BC Jerusalem & America
Historical evidence proves Lehi & Nephi didn't exist!
And It Came to Pass
20% of verses in the Book of Mormon contain the phrase "and it came to pass"
Book of Mormon
Almost 4,000 changes to the Book of Mormon and over 7,200 Greek and Latin words found
Book of Mormon Artifacts & Smithsonian’s Response
Book of Mormon Artifacts; Smithsonian & National Geographic says no artifacts found
Book of Mormon Basics
Book of Mormon: broken promises, false prophecies, historically inncorrect, poor grammar...how can you trust this?
Book of Mormon; Fullness of the Gospel?
Does God speak to prophets with glowing stones in a hat?
Book of Mormon Research Pages
Grab the info you need on several topics all in one easy access point!
Book of Mormon Witnesses
More than 1/2 the witnesses denounced their testimonies! Find out who and why we shouldn't trust their testimonies.
Demonic & Ungodly Names in the Book of Mormon
How can the names in the Book of Mormon be holy if they're ungodly in the Bible?
Foundation of the Book of Mormon
Έλληνες (Greek) in the Book of Mormon
Burning in the Bosom
Christianity & Christian Ministries
News from around the globe about Christianity & the ministries God works through.
Coincidences in Mormonism
Are these incidents all coincidental, or well planned trickery?
False Prophecies of the Mormon Church
The Lord says to disregard the prophet who speaks a lie in His name - Deuteronomy 18:20-22
Contradictions & Interesting Facts about the 3-in-1
See how the Mormon canon of scripture contradicts itself & the Bible
Creeds of Christianity
The Early Christian Church's Statements of Faith
Cross of Christ; Why do Mormons Hate It?
The 10th Mormon president/prophet of the LDS Church called the cross 'repugnant'!
Discourses and Lectures of LDS Leaders
Easter & Holy Week
Essays of the LDS Church
Faith
Follow the Prophet
Why must Mormons follow a prophet and not God?
Foundation of Mormonism
Who, or what, is the foundation of your Christian faith?
Galaxy Teachings of the LDS Church
Why does Mormonism have so many false doctrines about our galaxy and the Lord?
General Conferences
Semi-annual reminders to follow the prophet
General Research
God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit of the Bible
37 Miracles of Jesus Christ
What Do Mormons Think of the Virgin Mary?
Godhead of Mormonism
A look at the 3 gods of the Mormon godhead. Their godhead is nothing like that of the Christian Trinity - find out why!
GRACE
Heavenly Mother, Goddess Wife
Ishtar, an Assyrian and Babylonian Goddess known as the Queen of Heaven
Jesus, My Brother and Butch Cassidy
Robert LeRoy Parker, aka "Butch Cassidy"
Jesus and Lucifer are Brothers
Moses 5:13; "And Satan came among them, saying, I am also a son of God..."
Great Apostasy?
Ten questions about so-called apostacy
Handouts for Witnessing to Mormons
Witnessing tracts & handouts for missions and classes at your church
History of Mormonism
How Mormonism Attacks Christianity
Why do Mormons attack the body of Christ if they're Christians?
How to Witness to a Mormon
How to Witness to a Mormon/Help for your Mormon friends & loved ones
120+ Chronological False Prophecies of Joseph Smith
All about Joseph Smith
Church leaders have said that without the vision of Joseph Smith, they'd have nothing so let's take a look at some of the things of Joseph
Arrest of Jesus and Arrest of Joseph Smith
We know Jesus died for our sins, but what did Joseph die for?
Joseph Smith; Angels, Magic, Masonry and the Occult
Should we trust someone who's involved with these things?
False Prophecies of Joseph Smith
Why would you place your salvation into the hands of a false prophet?
The Many Visions of Joseph Smith
There are several versions of Smith's first vision; which one do you believe?
Joseph Smith’s Questionable Activities
Joseph Smith the Martyr?
An examination of Joseph Smith's death
Joseph Smith the Translator
Kinderhook Plates and The Greek Psalter Incident serve as further proof Smith was a false prophet
Will the Real Joseph Smith Please Stand Up?
Who was the real Joseph Smith?
Journal of Discourses
LDS: Not Everything in Mormonism is True
LDS Hymns
LDS Sunday School Lessons -Old Testament
LDS OT Sunday School Lessons
Lifestyles of the Mormons
Mormon lives are busier than most. With meetings, temple attendance, food storage, the strive to be perfect - it's overwhelming and far from having peace in knowing Christ. Find out why!
Man and Original Sin
The LDS Church doesn't ascribe to the orthodox belief in original sin; why is that?
Man’s sinful nature
Marriage & Childbirth Mandatory
Mentoring Handbook
Compare LDS doctrine w/ the Bible
Mitt Romney, Mormonism & America
Mormonism's True Agenda; Saving Souls or Ruling America?
Mormon Bishops
Mormon Dilemmas
Mormons are faced with confusing doctrine every time they open their scriptures.
3,000+ Mormon Quotes
Quotes & false prophecies from Mormon leaders
Mormon Church Structure
Mormon Missionary Discussions
Mormon Priesthood
Mormonism & World Religions Compared
Why does Mormonism mimic so many religions? Astrology, witchcraft, Satanism, Masonry, Universalism, Hinduism...it's all there in one package called Mormonism. Why?
Mormons On The Internet
Jesus said; "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32
Moroni & Hill Cumorah; real stories or stolen?
Moroni, Comoro off the coast of East Africa
Moroni the Angel of Light
Galatians 1:6-9 says not to accept another gospel from an angel of light, yet atop every LDS temple there sits an angel of light proclaiming a new gospel...
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Necromancy in Mormonism
Why is talking to dead people condoned in Mormonism?
Nepotism in the Mormon Church
News Updates, First Presidency Messages & Visiting Teaching Messages
An examination of the LDS' latest teachings from the presidency to the women's groups. Find out why their monthly messages aren't biblical!
Numbers Game
Why are there so many rules to obey for salvation if Mormonism is a Christian church?
Pearl of Great Price; Is It Worth Your Life?
Could this book cost you salvation in Jesus?
Polygamous Mormon Church Leaders & Wives
Why Doesn't the Church Practice Polygamy Today?
Polygamy
Ordained of God?
Polygamy Quotes
Find out what Mormon Church leaders really think of polygamy
Prayer Life of Mormons
All the rules of how to pray and what to say leaves no room for a conversation with the Lord!
Prophets & Apostles of the LDS Church
"Prophet" John Taylor in prison for polygamy
Curse of Cain
Does a true prophet of God preach racism?
Racism
1978 Prophecy, Book of Moses, Curse of Cain, 2 Nephi 30:6, All are Alike Unto God...What is the truth?
Racism in the Mormon Church
Are comments like "blacks are slaves mentally" really from the God of the Bible or racist men?
Romans Road
Romans Road to Salvation
Salvation!
Mormon Salvation vs. Biblical Salvation. Find out why they're not the same!
Signs of a Cult – Is Mormonism a Cult?
Know the Difference between Christianity and pseudo-Christianity!
Spirit Babies
True Mormon salvation = godhood with multiple wives and countless spirit babies
Suicide in Utah; 12 Per Week, 1 Every 14 Hours
Ten Tribes Quotes by Mormon Leaders
Baptisms for the Dead
A commandment from God or necromancy?
Occult Markings on Mormon Temples
Temple Ceremony Videos
Sacred or secret?
Temple Endowment Film, Ceremonies & Clothing
How does swearing secret oaths glorify God?
Temple Furniture
The biblical temple and Mormon temples have virtually nothing in common; find out why
Terminology of a Mormon vs. Biblical Terminology
Mormon vocabulary is vastly different from the norm. If you're a Christian & feel you're speaking a different language, learn about the differences here.
Testing for Truth
How you can know and trust what God has to say in His word
Thought of the Day about Mormonism
A Collection of News Items and Prophetic Utterances from and about Mormonism
Tithing Quotes
Unequally Yoked
Mormonism & Christianity are not compatible - find out why.
Visiting Teaching Messages
Why I Left the Mormon Church & Resignation Letter
"...for I know whom I have believed..." 2 Tim. 1:12
Women & Mormonism
Would a true apostle say this? Heber C. Kimball; "I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow."
Word of Wisdom
Worshiping Mormon Pioneers
The Mormon pioneers trekking across America is re-enacted every year by faithful Mormons to honor the faith of their ancestors
YouTube Mormon Quotes
And then there’s this…
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