Mormonism

Authorities of the Mormon Faith

• Revelation received by president, the modern prophet • Book of Mormon • Doctrine and Covenant • Pearl of Great Price • Bible (?) -- Inspired Translation

Mormon Theology

God

• 3 gods, not trinity • Progressed from man

BUT “This is what the LORD says … I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” (Isa 44:6) “I the LORD do not change.” (Mal 3:6)

• In physical bodies, males & females BUT “God is spirit” (John 4:24) Why Trinity?

• One God “For there is one God.” (1 Tim 2:5) • Father is God “.. there is but one God, the Father.”(1 Cor 8:6) • Jesus is God “Christ, who is God.” (Rom 9:5) • Holy Spirit is God “…lied to the Holy Spirit … but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4) • Appear together “…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of

the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19) Jesus

• Created being BUT “... Through him all things were made…” (John 1:1-3) “For by him all things were created ” (Col. 1:15-16) Man

• Created by Elohim from pre-existing intelligences BUT “For you created my inmost being…” (Psa 139:13) “The LORD .. forms the spirit of man within him…” (Zec 12:1) Sin

• God’s will BUT “.. you were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (Eph 2:1) “The Lord … not wanting anyone to perish…” (2 Pet 3:9)

• Necessary for discernment, descendents & happiness • Against original sin

BUT “...sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12) Salvation

• General Salvation & Individual Salvation (salvation & exaltation ) BUT “… by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Heb 10:14)。 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

• Ordinances of the Gospel – baptism & laying on of hands BUT “…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.” (1 Pet 3:21) “.. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” (Eph 1:13)

• Baptism for the dead BUT “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him.” (Psa 49:7)

Is Mormonism Trustworthy? Book of Mormon words of God?

• Gold plates & translation doubtful • No manuscript • No reformed Egyptian • No archaeological evidence • Others

Joseph Smith prophet of God?

• Sorcery, Polygamy • False prophecies

The only true church?

• “… they were all wrong … all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; … (Joseph Smith History 1:19)

• "This [the LDS] Church...is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30).

• BUT “God is in the church forever…” (Eph 3:21) Who is the spirit behind Mormonism?

• “… you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. (D&C 9:8) ”

• BUT: Test the spirit (1 John 4:1-3)

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

1 We abelieve in bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the dHoly Ghost. 2 We believe that men will be apunished for their bown sins, and not for Adam’s ctransgression. 3 We believe that through the aAtonement of Christ, all bmankind may be csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 4 We believe that the first principles and aordinances of the Gospel are: first, bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, cRepentance; third, dBaptism by eimmersion for the fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ghands for the hgift of the Holy Ghost. 5 We believe that a man must be acalled of God, by bprophecy, and by the laying on of chands by those who are in dauthority, to epreach the Gospel and administer in the fordinances thereof. 6 We believe in the same aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, bprophets, cpastors, dteachers, eevangelists, and so forth. 7 We believe in the agift of btongues, cprophecy, drevelation, evisions, fhealing, ginterpretation of tongues, and so forth. 8 We believe the aBible to be the bword of God as far as it is translated ccorrectly; we also believe the dBook of Mormon to be the word of God. 9 We believe all that God has arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 10 We believe in the literal agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the bTen Tribes; that cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will dreign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be erenewed and receive its fparadisiacal gglory. 11 We claim the aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the bdictates of our own cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them dworship how, where, or what they may. 12 We believe in being asubject to bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the dlaw. 13 aWe believe in being bhonest, true, cchaste, dbenevolent, virtuous, and in doing egood to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we fhope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to gendure all things. If there is anything hvirtuous, ilovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Joseph Smith From Pearl of Great Price

Spirit children born of God & wife Mormon Plan of Eternal Progression (From Utah Lighthouse) 1/3 cast out With Satan Born according to merit

1st resurrection

preach

Death

2nd resurrection

Satan and the 1/3cast out of Heaven

Pre-existing Intellig

Spirit World -- War in heaven

EARTH Need body to progress

Terrestrial Kingdom

Telestial Kingdom

paradise

Spirit prison

Millen- nium

Judg-ment

Second Death Outer D k

Celestial Kingdom Married in temple -- Godhood

Revelation received by president, the modern prophetBook of MormonDoctrine and CovenantPearl of Great PriceBible (?) -- Inspired Translation

Pre-existing Intelligences

Spirit World

EARTHNeed body

Celestial Kingdom

TerrestrialKingdom

TelestialKingdom

Judgment

Second DeathOuter Darkness

Paradise

Spirit Prison - Hell

Millen-nium

Eternal Progression

3 gods, not trinityProgressed from manBUT “This is what the LORD says … I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” (Isa 44:6) “I the LORD do not change.” (Mal 3:6) In physical bodies, males & femalesBUT “God is spirit” (John 4:24)

One God“For there is one God.” (1 Tim 2:5)

Father is God“.. there is but one God, the Father.”(1

Cor 8:6) Jesus is God

“Christ, who is God.” (Rom 9:5) Holy Spirit is God“…lied to the Holy Spirit … but to God.”

(Acts 5:3-4) Appear together“…baptizing them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19)

Created beingBUT “... Through him all things were made…” (John 1:1-3) “For by him all things were created ”(Col. 1:15-16)

Created by Elohim from pre-existing intelligencesBUT “For you created my inmost being…” (Psa 139:13) “The LORD .. forms the spirit of man within him…” (Zec 12:1)

God’s willBUT “.. you were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (Eph 2:1) “The Lord … not wanting anyone to perish…” (2 Pet 3:9) Necessary for discernment, descendents & happinessAgainst original sinBUT “...sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12)

General Salvation & Individual Salvation (salvation & exaltation )BUT “… by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Heb 10:14)。“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

Ordinances of the Gospel – baptism & laying on of handsBUT “…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.” (1 Pet 3:21)“.. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” (Eph 1:13)

BUT “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him.” (Psa 49:7)

Is the Book of Mormon words of God?Is Joseph Smith a prophet of God?Is Mormon church the only true church?Who is the spirit behind Mormonism?

Gold plates & translation doubtfulNo manuscriptNo reformed Egyptian No archaeological evidenceOthers

Sorcery, Polygamy False prophecies

“… they were all wrong … all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; … (Joseph SmithHistory 1:19)"This [the LDS] Church...is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30). BUT “God is in the church forever…” (Eph 3:21)

“… you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. (D&C 9:8) ”

BUT: Test the spirit (1 John 4:1-3)