Consider the admonitions in the following verses. It is vital that we become students of the Word of God so that we have the ability, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to discern what is contrary to the Scriptures.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23
- 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
- 22 abstain from every form of evil.
- 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 1:6-12
- 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
- 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
- 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
- 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
- 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
- 11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
- 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
1820
1823
May 29, 1852
Critical elements of concern are recorded in the previous Mormon documents. Joseph Smith claims that he saw God. We will consider verses from the Bible that teach that this is an impossibility since no man can see God and live. There are discrepancies concerning Joseph Smith's account. Some say he saw angels and others claim it was the Father and the Son. Joseph Smith claimed that you could not see God without the Priesthood. He does not claim to have received the Priesthood until 1829, nine years after he claimed to see God. Joseph Smith claims that there was a great religious fervor in his day. This is what precipitated his desire to find out what religion was true. Historically speaking, there was no religious fervor during this period of time. In fact, most churches were declining.
We will address the issue of the priesthood later in this document.
September 21, 1823
September 22, 1827
May 1829
? 1829
The claim to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood is in stark contrast to the Bible. This will be addressed in this document under "Priesthood".
April 6, 1830
1844
June 27, 1844
Joseph Smith tried to identify himself with Jesus. As you consider the following verses that describe the life and death of Christ, and compare them to the Mormon descriptions of Joseph Smith, you will recognize the similarities.
Speaking of the death of Jesus Christ:
- Isaiah 53:7
- He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.
- Luke 23:34
- But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
Speaking of the death of Joseph Smith:
- "...I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summers morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me — he was murdered in cold blood." Doctrine and Covenants 35:4
If you read additional historical records of the Mormon church, you will see the accurate account of what happened to Joseph Smith. It is certainly in contrast to the previous record in the Doctrine and Covenants.
In the introduction to Vol. VI of the History of the Church, page XLI, the following is stated about Joseph Smith's death:
John Taylor, the third Prophet of the LDS Church recorded the following in the Gospel Kingdom:
In the teachings of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith declared: "God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted MAN, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens'... I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 345)
Other Mormon writings contradict the previous claims:
Other references: Book of Mormon, Mormon 7:7, III Nephi 11:36
The Mormons do NOT believe in the same God that is spoken of in the Bible. They believe that Jesus came to earth as a man, just like we have. They believe that we all lived as spirit babies prior to this life. (Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. II p 86, President Joseph Fielding Smith). We were the result of sexual relations between God and his wives. The reason Mormons believe it is important to have many children is to give spirit babies the opportunity to come to this earth. Once a spirit baby comes to earth, it will have the opportunity to become exalted.
Mormons believe that there are three heavens. The Telestial, Terrestrial, and the Celestial. Hell is a place reserved for Satan, his followers, and the sons of perdition. The Telestial Kingdom is the lowest degree of heaven, reserved for the wicked of the world. The Terrestrial Kingdom is for honorable men, those who did not accept Mormonism. The Celestial Kingdom is the highest heaven. Within this Kingdom there are varying degrees. The lower part of this heaven is reserved for Mormons who did not get married in the Temple. Those married in the Temple achieve position in the highest part of the Celestial Kingdom. They attain "Exaltation" or "Godhood." They will be able to take their wives and go start another world.
Mormons believe that Jesus came to earth as a man - and only a man. He progressed through this life and made it to the highest heaven where he became "Exalted" and attained "Godhood." They believe that God has a body of flesh and bones. They do NOT believe in the Trinity.
- Romans 1:21-25
- 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
- 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
- 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
- 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.
- 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Emphasis mine)
Many Christians believe that there is one God - what we term the Trinity, but very few understand why. The following verses provide the basis for why we believe in the Trinity.
- Isaiah 44:6
- "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides me.
- Isaiah 44:8
- ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides me, or is there any {other} Rock? I know of none.'"
- Isaiah 45:5-6
- 5 "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known me;
- 6 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other,
- Isaiah 45:14
- Thus says the LORD, "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush And the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will walk behind you, they will come over in chains and will bow down to you; they will make supplication to you: ‘Surely, God is with you, and there is none else, no other God.'"
- Isaiah 45:18
- For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, {But} formed it to be inhabited), "I am the LORD, and there is none else.
- Isaiah 45:21-22
- 21 "Declare and set forth your case; indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except me.
- 22 "Turn to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
- John 2:19-21
- 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
- 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"
- 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
- Isaiah 9:6
- For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Emphasis Mine)
- Colossians 1:13-17
- 13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
- 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created by Him and for Him.
- 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
- (Emphasis Mine)
- Genesis 1:1
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Emphasis Mine)
- Acts 5:3-4
- 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land?
- 4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God." (Emphasis Mine)
- Deuteronomy 6:4
- "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
- Matthew 3:16-17
- 16 And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him,
- 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
The Mormons will read this passage and remind you of the fact that three persons are represented in the preceding passage. This is certainly true, and we do not contend with the fact that the Trinity comprises the three Persons of the Godhead. The Bible does clearly establish the fact that there is only one God and that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father comprise this one God.
The basic theology of Mormonism is polytheistic (the belief in many Gods). The Bible is clearly monotheistic (there is only one "true" God)
The Mormons will also use verse 5 of the following passage to establish the fact that the Bible teaches there is more than one God. If you read the entire passage, you will easily see the fallacy of their argument.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1-6
- 1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
- 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;
- 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
- 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.
- 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
- 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Keep in mind that Joseph Smith claimed to see God face to face in his first vision. The Mormons believe that God has a body of flesh and bones. They believe that God and His wives had “spirit babies.” Mormons must have many children so the spirit babies can come to earth and have an opportunity to be exalted.
It is ironic that God has a body of flesh and bones, but He has spirit babies!
A causal reading of Scripture might lead you to believe that God can be seen. As we progress through this particular study, we will present verses that clearly teach that God is a “spirit” and that He is “invisible.” If this is the case, then why do we have verses that seem to teach otherwise?
Consider this: Since God is a spirit, how can we identify with Him? There are no descriptions that we could possibly relate to. In light of this, the Bible uses what are called anthropomorphism’s when speaking of God. That is, the Bible will use human characteristics in relation to God. The fact that God speaks face to face helps us understand the intimacy that God had with some of His people. It does not establish the fact that God had a face.
Exodus 33:11
11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
- Exodus 33:21-23
- 21 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;
- 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
- 23 “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
Isaiah 6:1-5
- 1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.
- 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
- 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”
- 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.
- 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
- Exodus 24:9-10
- 9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
- 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire , as clear as the sky itself.
If God is said to have a mouth, feet, legs, etc., an accurate interpretation would require us to add the following:
- Psalms 57:1
- Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in Thee; and in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge, until destruction passes by.
- Psalms 91:4
- He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
- Deuteronomy 4:24
- For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
- John 4:24
- “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
- Jeremiah 23:24
- “Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- Exodus 33:20
- But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”
- John 1:18
- No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained {Him.}
- Colossians 1:15
- And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
- 1 Timothy 1:17
- Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, {be} honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 John 4:12
- No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
- Proverbs 15:3
- The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.
- Acts 17:27
- that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
- Psalms 33:6
- By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
- Hebrews 11:3
- By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
Joseph Fielding Smith says, “Salvation is twofold: General - that which comes to all men irrespective of a belief (in this life) in Christ - and individual - that which man merits through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.” (Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. I p 134)
Stephen L. Richards said, “There will be a general salvation for all in the sense in which the term is generally used, but salvation, meaning resurrection, is not exaltation.” (Contributions of Joseph Smith, p 5)
LDS Apostle, Bruce McConkie says, “Full salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness, and all true principles. Many conditions must exist in order to make such salvation available to men. Without the atonement, the gospel, the priesthood, and the sealing power, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” (Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie, p 670)
The Mormons have what are termed a “General Salvation” as well as a “Personal Salvation.” By having more than one salvation, the Mormons can reduce the number of people who might be going to Hell.
As was stated earlier, the Mormons believe in three degrees of heaven. This doctrine is taught in Doctrine and Covenants 76. They also believe that it is taught in the Bible in I Corinthians 15. As a reminder, I will restate the names of the three heavens and who will be sent to each.
Virtually everyone will make it to the Telestial. Your works will determine if you make it any higher. In the event that you do not make it to the Celestial Kingdom, Mormons trace their genealogies in order to be baptized for those who have died. According to Mormon doctrine, this will allow the dead to work their way into a higher degree of heaven. We will consider baptism for the dead later in this document.
The Mormons will often use the Bible as a text to prove their doctrines. In the case of three heavens, they use the following:
- 1 Corinthians 15:40-41
- 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.
- 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
Their conclusion: The three glories of verse 41 relate to three degrees of heaven. Unfortunately many professing Christians have not become careful students of the Word. A verse is presented as a proof text for a doctrine and they don’t know how to make sure it means what they are told. If the Mormons were to honestly use this as a proof text, they must conclude that there are literally millions of heavens, since “star differs from star in glory.” The problem for the Mormons is that this passage is not talking about heavens. It is clearly and undeniably talking about the resurrection. Consider the passage:
- 1 Corinthians 15:35-57
- 35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”
- 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;
- 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
- 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.
- 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.
- 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.
- 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
- 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;
- 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
- 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
- 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
- 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
- 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
- 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.
- 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
- 50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the
- perishable inherit the imperishable.
- 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
- 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
- 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.
- 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
- 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
- 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The focus of this entire passage is dealing with resurrection. It is a violation of the basic principles of Biblical study to impose a doctrine on a text in order to support one’s personal views. The Mormons cannot find a single Biblical text that would support their concept of three heavens.
As Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure, He encouraged them with the following verses. The joy of going to heaven is the fact that we will be in the presence of the Lord .
- John 14:1-6
- 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
- 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
- 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
- 4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
- 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
- 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
- John 1:12
- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name,
- Romans 11:4-6
- 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
- 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
- 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Ephesians 2:8-10
- 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
- 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
- 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- 2 Timothy 1:8-9
- 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
- 9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
- Titus 3:5
- He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Galatians 2:20-21
- 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
- 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
- Romans 4:1-5
- 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
- 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.
- 3 For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
- 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due.
- 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,
What if I sin after I am saved?
- 1 John 1:9
- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What if I choose to keep on sinning after I am saved?
- Hebrews 12:5-11
- 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
- 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives."
- 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
- 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
- 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
- 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.
- 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
- 1 Corinthians 11:28-32
- 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
- 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly.
- 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
- 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged.
- 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.
According to the Mormons, the Book of Mormon is a record of Jesus Christ when He came to the America’s. As the Bible is a historical book that deals with the people of Israel, they claim the Book of Mormon is a historical book that addresses people in the America’s. They claim that the Bible and the Book of Mormon go hand in hand.
According to Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon was written on gold tablets in Reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics. He was able to read them by using the Urim and Thummin. After the gold plates were translated, they mysteriously disappeared.
The Mormons use two Bible passages in support of the Book of Mormon. The first one is John 10:16
- John 10:16
- "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock {with} one shepherd."
The Mormons use this to prove that Jesus Christ came to the America’s. By reading the passage, it is obvious that Jesus is speaking with the Jews. They become violently upset because they understand that Jesus is going to offer salvation to the Gentiles. Read the book of Acts and it is clear that God has opened wide the door of salvation to the Gentiles. This was a personal affront to the Jews, since they are God’s chosen people.
- John 10:14-31
- 14 “I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me,
- 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
- 16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock {with} one shepherd.
- 17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
- 18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
- 19 There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words.
- 20 And many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”
- 21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”
- 22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;
- 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
- 24 The Jews therefore gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
- 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me.
- 26 “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.
- 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
- 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
- 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
- 30 “I and the Father are one.”
- 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
The next passage they use to prove that Jesus came to the America’s is the following passage in Ezekiel
- Ezekiel 37:15-17
- 15 The word of the LORD came again to me saying,
- 16 “And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’
- 17 “Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
The Mormons claim that the stick of Judah is the Bible and the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon. It is remarkable how many people casually and carelessly accept their interpretation when it is so easy to refute. Once again, consider the passage within its context.
- Ezekiel 37:15-22
- 15 The word of the LORD came again to me saying,
- 16 “And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’
- 17 “Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
- 18 “And when the sons of your people speak to you saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’
- 19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’
- 20 “And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
- 21 “And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, ”Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
- 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
Verse 18 says, “Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?” The verses following do exactly that. This is a prophecy. The nation of Israel has been divided. Each stick represents a part of the nation of Israel that will one day be reunited. There is no reference to books or scrolls. The interpretation is presented within the context of the passage. Once again the Mormons have violated the clear teaching of Scripture in order to support their blasphemous doctrines.
The Book of Mormon was translated in 1827. Keep in mind that the gold plates that Joseph Smith translated from were supposed to be from the time when Christ visited the America’s. It is ironic that the Book of Mormon quotes entire passages from the King James Bible - word perfect. The King James Bible was written in 1611. The gold plates would have been written hundreds of years before this time. Joseph Smith lived well after the era of King James English. Why would there be exact quotes unless the Book of Mormon is a hoax?
For additional information concerning the Book of Mormon read “Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?” by Wayne L. Cowdery, Howard A. Davis, and Donald R. Scales. Vision House Publishers, 1977
Follow the logic of those committed to the doctrines of Mormonism.
- Amos 3:7
- Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.
If God does nothing apart from His servants the Prophets, then wouldn’t you naturally conclude that we need Prophets today?
- Ephesians 2:19-20
- 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
- 20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
- Ephesians 4:11
- And He gave some {as} apostles, and some {as} prophets, and some {as} evangelists, and some {as} pastors and teachers,
The previous two passages make it clear that the apostles continue to be a significant part of the church ministry.
- Acts 1:15-26
- 15 And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,
- 16 “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
- 17 “For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”
- 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
- 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in t heir own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
- 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it’; and, ‘His office let another man take.’
- 21 “It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—
- 22 beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us— one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection."
- 23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
- 24 And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen
- 25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
- 26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
After Judas betrayed Jesus, he was replaced with Matthias.
- Malachi 3:6
- "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed."
Since God never changes then we must conclude that we should have both Apostles and Prophets in the church today!
The following passages make it clear that the prophet’s role was replaced when Jesus Christ came to earth.
- Luke 16:16
- “The Law and the Prophets {were proclaimed} until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
- Hebrews 1:1-2
- 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
- 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
The foundation of the church rests securely on Jesus Christ. The apostles were given the privilege of playing a significant role in the establishment of the church.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
- For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- Colossians 1:18
- He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.
It is true that the apostles replaced Judas with Matthias. It is also true that he is the only one that was ever replaced. In addition, God never gives instructions for replacing an apostle.
The Mormons say that because God never changes, we should continue to have apostles and prophets today. It is certainly true that God never changes, but He has worked on this earth in different ways. If we are to continue everything that God initiated, then we should continue offering sacrifices.
The Mormons clearly manipulate the Scriptures to substantiate their erroneous doctrines. Consider the responsibility the Lord has placed upon those who call themselves Prophets.
- Deuteronomy 18:20-22
- 20 ‘But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’
- 21 “And you may say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’
- 22 “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Herein lies an enormous problem for the Mormons. First of all the Bible makes it clear that the Prophets have been replaced with the Son, Jesus Christ. Secondly, a Prophet must never make an error in prophecy. If he does, he is NOT a Prophet of God. We are not to fear them and they are to be put to death under Old Testament Law.
Each of the following are documented false prophecies as recorded in Mormon documents:
The list of false prophecies is exceedingly long. The Bible says that one false prophecy is sufficient to discredit a person who claims to be of God.
Mormon’s belief in baptism for the dead is critical to their belief in the possibility of advancing from one degree of heaven to another. The principle is this: Good Mormons will carefully research their genealogies. Their intent is to help those who have already died to be able to advance from one kingdom of heaven to a higher kingdom. They accomplish this by being baptized in the Mormon Temple for the dead.
Not only do they substantiate this with Mormon documents, i.e. Doctrine and Covenants, Section 124 and 128, they also suggest that the Bible teaches this doctrine. The passage from the Bible they use is 1 Corinthians 15:29.
- 1 Corinthians 15:29
- Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?
This is the only Bible verse they have to offer support for this doctrine. While it is difficult to isolate the exact practice of the day that caused Paul to make this statement, there are several conclusions we can draw from it.
First of all keep in mind that Paul is speaking concerning the resurrection of the dead. There were those who were struggling with this particular doctrine. He directs attention to those who were being “baptized for the dead,” making reference to the fact that even they believe the dead will be raised. His focus is on resurrection. He does not make any comments either for or against baptism for the dead, nor does he make reference to who was being baptized for the dead and why.
The Mormons believe this is evidence for this major Mormon doctrine. This verse contains two questions. The ultimate conclusion is that the dead will one day be raised. There are absolutely no other Scripture references concerning the doctrine of baptism for the dead.
Hebrews 9:27 does not allow for any progression after one’s death.
- Hebrews 9:27
- And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this {comes} judgment,
- John 3:36
- “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The Bible speaks clearly on issues relating to salvation and eternity. Salvation is complete when we acknowledge our sinfulness and recognize God’s rightful place in our lives. The Bible never suggests that we can help those who have already died, nor is there the opportunity for advancement in the heavenly realm after death.
Mormons believe they can hold both the Aaronic Priesthood as well as the Melchizedek Priesthood. Refer to page five for documentation.
In response to this belief, consider the following passages of Scripture:
- Hebrews 5:1-4
- 1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
- 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;
- 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.
- 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. (Emphasis Mine)
Following are the Old Testament passages of Scripture that explain precisely what the Aaronic Priesthood is, what is to be worn, and what the responsibilities will be. It is obvious that the Mormons do not hold this priesthood.
- Exodus 28:1-29:46
- 1 “Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me— Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
- 2 “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
- 3 “And you shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.
- 4 “And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and a n ephod and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister as priest to Me.
- 5 “And they shall take the gold and the blue and the purple and the scarlet material and the fine linen.
- 6 “They shall also make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of the skillful workman.
- 7 “It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined.
- 8 “And the skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.
- 9 “And you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
- 10 six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth.
- 11 “As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall set them in filigree settings of gold.
- 12 “And you shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial.
- 13 “And you shall make filigree settings of gold,
- 14 and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them of twisted cordage work, and you shall put the corded chains on the filigree settings.
- 15 “And you shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman ; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it.
- 16 “It shall be square and folded double, a span in length and a span in width.
- 17 “And you shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald;
- 18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond;
- 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
- 20 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.
- 21 “And the stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes.
- 22 “And you shall make on the breastpiece chains of twisted cordage work in pure gold.
- 23 “And you shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece.
- 24 “And you shall put the two cords of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece.
- 25 “And you shall put the other two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, at the front of it.
- 26 “And you shall make two rings of gold and shall place them on the two ends of the breastpiece, on the edge of it, which is toward the inner side of the ephod.
- 27 “And you shall make two rings of gold and put them on the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on the front of it close to the place where it is joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
- 28 “And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece may not come loose from the ephod.
- 29 “And Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
- 30 “And you shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the LORD; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.
- 31 “And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
- 32 “And there shall be an opening at its top in the middle of it; around its opening t here shall be a binding of woven work, as it were the opening of a coat of mail, that it may not be torn.
- 33 “And you shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
- 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around on the hem of the robe.
- 35 “And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers; and its tinkling may be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the LORD, that he may not die.
- 36 “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the LORD.’
- 37 “And you shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban.
- 38 “And it shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
- 39 “And you shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen, and shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of a weaver.
- 40 “And for Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics; you shall also make sashes for them, and you shall make caps for them, for glory and for beauty.
- 41 “And you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests.
- 42 “And you shall make for them linen breeches to cover their bare flesh; they shall reach from the loins even to the thighs.
- 43 “And they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they enter the tent of meeting, or when they approach the altar to minister in the holy place, so that they do not incur guilt and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and to his descendants after him.
- Chapter 29
- 1 “Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them to minister as priests to Me: take one young bull and two rams without blemish,
- 2 and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil; you shall make them of fine wheat flour.
- 3 “And you shall put them in one basket, and present them in the basket along with the bull and the two rams.
- 4 “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting, and wash them with water.
- 5 “And you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod and the ephod and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod;
- 6 and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.
- 7 “Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head and anoint him.
- 8 “And you shall bring his sons and put tunics on them.
- 9 “And you shall gird them with sashes, Aaron and his sons, and bind caps on them, and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.
- 10 “Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull.
- 11 “And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
- 12 “And you shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.
- 13 “And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and offer them up in smoke on the altar.
- 14 “But the flesh of the bull and its hide and its refuse, you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin
- offering.
- 15 “You shall also take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram;
- 16 and you shall slaughter the ram and shall take its blood and sprinkle it around on the altar.
- 17 “Then you shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its head.
- 18 “And you shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.
- 19 “Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram.
- 20 “And you shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the lobes of his sons’ right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the rest of the blood around on the altar.
- 21 “Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his garments, and on his sons and on his sons’ garments with him; so he and his garments shall be consecrated, as well as his sons and his sons’ garments with him.
- 22 “You shall also take the fat from the ram and the fat tail, and the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them and the right thigh (for it is a ram of ordination),
- 23 and one cake of bread and one cake of bread mixed with oil and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread which is set before the LORD;
- 24 and you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD.
- 25 “And you shall take them from their hands, and offer them up in smoke on the altar on the burnt offering for a soothing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering by fire to the LORD.
- 26 “Then you shall take the breast of Aaron’s ram of ordination, and wave it as a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be your portion.
- 27 “And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering which was waved and which was offered from the ram of ordination, from the one which was for Aaron and from the one which was for his sons.
- 28 “And it shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the sons of Israel, for it is a heave offering; and it shall be a heave offering from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their heave offering to the LORD.
- 29 “And the holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that in them they may be anointed and ordained.
- 30 “For seven days the one of his sons who is priest in his stead shall put them on when he enters the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place.
- 31 “And you shall take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place.
- 32 “And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
- 33 “Thus they shall eat those things by which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration; but a layman shall not eat them, because they are holy.
- 34 “And if any of the flesh of ordination or any of the bread remains until morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.
- 35 “And thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you; you shall ordain them through seven days.
- 36 “And each day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement, and you shall purify the altar when you make atonement for it; and you shall anoint it to consecrate it.
- 37 “For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy.
- 38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each day, continuously.
- 39 “The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;
- 40 and there shall be one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a libation with one lamb.
- 41 “And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it the same grain offering as the morning and the same libation, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.
- 42 “It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.
- 43 “And I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory.
- 44 “And I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me.
- 45 “And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.
- 46 “And they shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.
The Mormon claim to have the Melchizedek Priesthood is nothing short of blasphemy. Carefully read the following passage. The only person who could possibly hold this Priesthood is Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 7:1-28
- 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
- 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
- 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually.
- 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.
- 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.
- 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises.
- 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
- 8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
- 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, p aid tithes,
- 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
- 11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
- 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
- 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
- 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
- 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
- 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
- 17 For it is witnessed of Him, “Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
- 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
- 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
- 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath
- 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘Thou art a priest forever’”);
- 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
- 23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing,
- 24 but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
- 25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
- 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
- 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
- 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
The only people who hold a priesthood are those who are true believers. It is a “royal priesthood,” given to us because God has graciously permitted us to be children of God.
- 1 Peter 2:9-10
- 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
- 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
When Joseph Smith received his first vision in 1820, he was told that all of the present religions and all of their creeds were an abomination in God’s sight. (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith 2:19)
This claim that there was a total apostasy is a direct violation of Scripture.
- Matthew 16:18
- "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it."
The Mormons have taken great pride in the fact that they are the one true church. Ironically, they have tried diligently to pattern their Articles of Faith after mainstream denominations.
There are scores of other discrepancies between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The god they worship is definitely not the God of the Bible. They have carefully used the same terms that we would use, but they have redefined them.
It is the goal of every good Mormon to become a “god.” That was also the pursuit that Satan had in Isaiah.
- Isaiah 14:12-14
- 12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!
- 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north.
- 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’
Satan is undeniably clever. His desire is to deceive everyone on this earth. As believers we have a tremendous responsibility to know the Scriptures so that we can clearly and accurately lead others to the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
- 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
- 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.
In closing, Galatians 1 should be a constant reminder to us to hold fast the Word of Truth.
- Galatians 1:6-9
- 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
- 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
- 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
- 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
The Book of Mormon - True or False, Arthur Budvarson 1959 Pacific Publishing Co.
God’s Word, Final, Infallible and Forever, Floyd McElveen 1985 Available through Gospel Truths Ministries, P.O. Box 1015 Grand Rapids, MI 49501
How to Answer a Mormon, Robert A. Morey 1983 Bethany House Publishers
Is Mormonism Christian, Gordon H. Fraser 1965 Moody Press
Mormonism, Anthony A. Hoekema 1963 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Mormonism a Major Cult, Rev. Hal Mason Wyoming Bible Institute P.O. Box WBI Ranchester, WY 82839
Mormonism (A Study of Mormon History and Doctrine), Jerald and Sandra Tanner 566 Center St. Salt Lake City 16, UT
Mormon Claims Answered, Marvin W. Cowan 1975 P.O. Box 21052 Salt Lake City, UT 84121
A Rebuttal to “The Problems of the Book of Mormon,” Arthur Budvarson Utah Christian Tract Society P.O. Box 725 La Mesa, CA 92041
What Every Mormon Should Know, Edmond C. Gruss 1975 Accent Books
Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon, Wayne L. Cowdery, Howard A. Davis and Donald R. Scales 1977 Vision House Publishers
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Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1988. Used by permission.
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Last updated: 2/12/98
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