| Why the Mormon Church is not the TRUE churchJesus Christ started? Robert Millet is part of the Church Public Affairs (Manager of Outreach andInterfaith Relations)
Millet is the Mormon churches spokesman to try and make peace withChristians, he currently does public tours called dialogues between anEvangelical and Mormon. Millet states, “much of the misunderstanding in modern Christendomstems from a “vocabulary issue” -- the need to educate ourselves as towhat our friends mean.” I agree, the meaning of what is said can bedifferent than the words. The meaning can alsobe more important then the words said. We will consider the LDSchurch own words and statements; themeaning becomes obvious.
In this article the main differences between true Christianity and what thereligion of Mormonism proposes as the truth will be laid out for anyone tounderstand. The choice of which is true will be their own.
I want to make it clear for both Mormons and Christians how divided we areon the essentials of the Christian faith, that is based on the teachings ofJesus Christ and His Apostles. My intent is not to make Mormons angry (it maybe unavoidable) but to have them understandthe basic differences and why we do not accept their religion as authenticChristianity. I will only quote from their officials; their president’s,prophet's and apostles.
We will concentrate on only three things: 1) The nature of God. 2) JesusChrist, and 3) the way of Salvation. With their own quotes next to the Bibleand the explanations of the text it will be proven they have a very differentmessage than the Christian church does from the Bible. A message that is not compatible at allwith Jesus Christ, nor with the apostles.
1) The Nature of God
Mormons teach there are many Gods and that man himself can become a god.Mormon teaching- “Question- Are there more Gods than one? Answer- Yes,many.1 Cor 8:5” (Catechism, by Elder John Jaques, chapter 4, page 13.)
The Bible teaches there is only ONE true God who eternally exists beforeanything was made and that all other gods are false.
MORMONISM -“You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, andto be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you”(Founder and Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, The Journal ofDiscourses, Vol. VI, page 4)
Their own prophet taught that men who are created by God can become God. Ofcourse their concept of God is not the same as the bible because the Bibleteaches God always existed as God, does not change, so no creature created byhim can become Him.
“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sitsenthroned in yonder heavens ( Founder and Mormon Prophet JosephSmith, April 6, 1844, The Journal of Discourses, Vol. VI,page 3
“...He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all,dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did...” (History ofthe Church, Vol. 6, p. 305-306).
The Bible- “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of theincorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man (Romans 1:22-23)
They are teaching that God was a man “as we are now” and then achieved hisexalted rank. So God the Father was not always the Father, but becamethe Father (see John 17)
“Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint andsinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into itwith a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him.(Second President and Prophet Brigham Young, April 9, 1852, recorded inThe Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 50).
“As man is, god once was; as God is, man may become.”(LorenzoSnow the fifth President of the Church, LDS Church News, Jan. 16, 1983,p. 14)
“In the Heaven where our spirits were born, there are many Gods, each oneof whom has his own wife or wives which were given to him previous to hisredemption, while yet in his mortal state” (The Seer, by ApostleOrson Pratt, Vol. 1, March 1853, No. 3, page 37)
“The Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth” (“Bookof Abraham,”4:1, in The Pearl of Great Price, by the Prophet JosephSmith, page 38.
“The head God called together the Gods and sat in grand council tobring forth the world.”
“I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I havepreached on the subject of deity, it has been on the plurality of Gods…thedoctrine of a plurality of Gods is as prominent in the Bible as any otherdoctrine.” (founder J. Smith History of the church Vol.6 pp.308,474)
The founder Smith was so convinced of his Godhood that he declared “MyFather worked out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same;and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that he mayobtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt him in glory. He will then takea higher exaltation, and I will TAKE HIS PLACE, and thereby become EXALTEDMYSELF.” (LDS “Founder” and “Prophet” Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 6, p. 4, 1844, emphasis added)
“In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods;and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it”(sermon by Founder and Prophet Joseph Smith, April 6, 1844, recorded in TheJournal of Discourses, Vol. VI, page 5)
Joseph Smith said “God himself was once as we are now, and is anexalted man.” “…I say, if you were to see him today, you would see himlike a man in form- like yourselves, in all the person, image and very form asa man…” (founder Joseph Smith history of the Church vol.6 p.305 also teachings ofthe prophet J.Smith p.345)
“It [Mormonism] is the only system of religion known in heaven or onearth that can EXALT A MAN TO THE GODHEAD, and this it will do to all thosewho embrace its laws and faithfully observe its precepts.” (LDS “Prophet”and second president Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p. 251, 1863)
Spencer W. Kimball, the twelfth president of the church stated: “Brethren,225,000 of you are here tonight. 1 suppose 225,000 of you may become gods. Thereseems to be plenty of space out there in the universe. And the Lord has provedthat he knows how to do it. 1 think he could make, or probably have us helpmake, worlds for all of us, for every one of us 225,000” (The Ensign, p.80, Nov. 1975).
Brigham Young the second president of the church, “How manyGods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were noGods and worlds…”(Brigham Young Journal of Discourses, vol. 7p.333).
What Mormon can believe in only one God? If they did, they would go againsttheir founder, the prophets, presidents, apostles and all the teachings intheir church.They would not have the testimony of their founder Joseph Smithbeing a prophet.
The Bible- Isaiah 44:6 “Beside Me there is no God”
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, orever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting toeverlasting, thou art God”
Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God”
Deuteronomy 6:4 “our God is one LORD”
Deuteronomy 4:35,39 “Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightestknow that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.v.39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORDhe is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”
Isaiah 44:6, 8 “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and hisredeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and besideme there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told theefrom that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there aGod beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there isno God beside Me”
Isaiah 45:18 “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Whois God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did notcreate it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and thereis no other.”
Isaiah 45:21 “and there is no God else beside me; a justGod and a Savior; there is none beside me.
God says that he alone is God, not just over this world but in all thingsHe alone created. He is the Eternal One (“I AM”, Exodus 3:14). No onecould or ever will be able to become deity or God.
Psalm 86:10 “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thouart God alone.
I Chronicles 17:26 “Thou alone art God”
2 Samuel 7:22 “O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither isthere any God beside thee”
1 Kings 8:60 “the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
ISAIAH 46:9 “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, andthere is none like me.”
This means that none become God like the gods before them
John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might knowthee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”
1 Timothy 2:5 “ For there is one God, and one mediatorbetween God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
2) Jesus
This brings us to the next Mormon distinctive that differs from orthodoxChristianity – the Jesus of Mormonism. Mormon theology widely differs from Christianityon this subject, they teach that a “Heavenly Father” and “HeavenlyMother” begat spirits, Jesus was born in heaven with many other spiritbrothers-including Lucifer. The Bible does not teach of a mother (or Father andson as a family) but the Mormon church does.
“This doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmedin plainness by the First Presidency of the Church (Mormon Doctrine,Apostle McConkie 1979, page 516)
Milton R. Hunter, who served in the First Council of the Seventy, confirms:“The stupendous truth of the existence of a Heavenly Mother, aswell as a Heavenly Father, became established facts in Mormon theology”(The Gospel Through the Ages, 1958, p.98).
Their own president should settle the matter-Hinckley was asked on aprime-time Australian TV broadcast if his church taught that God the Fatherhas a wife, he replied, “I don't know, but I suppose so. As we have aFather I assume we have a mother.” Pressed by interviewer David Ransom,Hinckley acknowledged: “Yes. Well we...Yes, we have a mother in heaven”(From a transcript of the 9 November 1997 Compass TV program, AustralianBroadcast Company president Hinckley)
“In the pre-mortal spirit life Jesus, Lucifer, and all of us were thespirit children of God and His wives” (Gospel Through the Ages, pp.15, 93-99; Journal of Discourses, Vol. XI, p. 122). Apostle Bruce McConkiewrote, “The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (MormonDoctrine, p. 129.) This agrees with Joseph F. Smith, sixth president of theLDS Church, “Among the spirit children of Elohim, the first-born wasand is Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, to whom all others are juniors” (GospelDoctrine, p. 70).
According to Joseph F. Smith, sixth president of the LDS Church, “Amongthe spirit children of Elohim, the first-born was and is Jehovah, or JesusChrist, to whom all others are juniors,” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 70).Joseph F. Smith, Jr., made this plain in his book,: “The birth of theSavior was a natural occurrence unattended with any degree ofmysticism, and the Father God was the literal parent of Jesus in the flesh aswell as in the spirit”( Religious Truths Defined, page 44)
In the book of Mormon, Alma 7:10 Jesus was born at Jerusalem. In Micah 5:2;Luke 2:4 the Bible states it was Bethlehem. The Mormon’s argument is that“Jerusalem” refers to the general vicinity, but in I Nephi 1:3 itis called a “city.” Bethlehem and Jerusalem are two different citiesaccording to the Bible. So they have a Jesus also born in a different city.
Doctrine and Covenants 93:21-23 teaches that, “Christ, the Firstborn,was the mightiest of all the spirit children of the Father.” Joseph F.Smith the sixth prophet of the LDS Church said this of Jesus, “Among thespirit children of Elohim, the first-born was and is Jehovah, or Jesus Christ,to whom all others are juniors,” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 70).
The Mormons Jesus is created, the Bibles Jesus is the creator. Jesus cannotbe both created and non- created, the brother of the devil and the creator ofthe Devil. He is either one or the other.
The Bible- Tells all those from the time of Jesus onward toour day who Jesus ACTUALLY is- 1 Timothy 3:16 tells us “God wasmanifested in the flesh.” This goes along with various other passages suchas Romans 9:5 “According to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all,the eternally blessed God. Amen
In Hebrews 1:10 The Father speaking of the Son, “And, Thou, Lord, inthe beginning has laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens arethe works of your hands... and they shall be changed: but thou art thesame” (quoting Psalm 102:25).
John 1:3 “All things were made through Him, and withoutHim nothing was made that was made.”
Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him all things were created that arein heaven and that are on earth,
Revelation 1:7-8 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eyewill see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth willmourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, theBeginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is tocome, the Almighty.”
In conclusion on this topic. What kind of God became flesh? For the Mormons-none. Jesus is an angel that became a man, and was exalted to become a God.
The Bible- “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Donot be carried about with various and strange doctrines.” (Hebrews13:8-9)
The Jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible. They cannot be bothcreated and non- created.
3) The Gospel Now we come the most important part of this article. I’m speaking thetruth in love, there is nothing more that I would desire than to see Mormonsunderstand the gospel that is the Bible.
Galatians 1:8-9: ”But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preachany other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him beaccursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, ifanyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you havereceived, let him be accursed.”
Paul states in 2 Corinthians11:3-4 “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by hiscraftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is inChrist. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus(that’s what Mormons have) whom we have not preached, or if you receive a differentspirit (that’s what Mormons have) which you have notreceived, or a different gospel (that’s whatMormons have) which you have not accepted-- you may well put up with it!”
Mormonism
“The Sectarian Dogma of justification by Faith alone has exercised aninfluence for evil since the early days of Christianity” (The Articlesof Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage, 1899 edition, page 120. In his1925 edition of The Articles of Faith, on page 479, he calls “justificationby faith alone” “this pernicious doctrine.”)
“As with the proposal of Lucifer in the preexistence to save allmankind, so with the doctrine of salvation by grace alone, without works, asit is taught in modern Christendom -- both concepts are false. There is nosalvation in either of them. They both come from the same source; they are notof God” (What Think Ye of Salvation by Grace p. 49; Robert Millet,p. 73)
Joseph Fielding Smith, the tenth prophet, explained “Our EternalFather would have every soul saved if that were feasible. Salvation,however, is based on merit and obedience to divine law and therefore is onlyobtained through compliance with divine commandments” (Nov. 1965, p.962).
George Q. Cannon speaking of Joseph Smith “If we get oursalvation, we shall have to pass by him, if we enter our glory, it will bethrough the authority he has received. We cannot get around him” (George Q.Cannon, 1988 Melchezedik guide, p.142)
2 Nephi 25:23 by grace we are saved, after all we can do.”
“Therefore, acting alone, the grace of Christ is notsufficient for salvation. The works of man -- the ordinances of salvation,the deeds of service and acts of charity and mercy -- are necessary forsalvation...” (By Grace Are We Saved: The necessity of God'sgrace in addition to man's good works, 1989 ed., p. 70)
Robert. Millet is the one who is going around in discussion with GregJohnson telling people that we can get along and that believe the same thing.Here he calls being saved by faith through grace a doctrine of the Devil. “Aswith the proposal of Lucifer in the preexistence to save all mankind, so withthe doctrine of salvation by grace alone, without works, as it is taught inmodern Christendom -- both concepts are false. There is no salvation in eitherof them. They both come from the same source; they are not of God’ (WhatThink Ye of Salvation by Grace p. 49; cf. Robert Millet, p. 73).
Marion Romney (LDS First Presidency) said, “This Church is the ensignon the mountain spoken of by the Old Testament prophets. It is the way, thetruth, and the life” (Conference Report, April, 1961, pg. 119).
“So hear it all ye ends of the earth; if you ever enter into the kingdomof God, it is because Joseph Smith let you go there. This will apply to Jewsand Gentiles, to the bond and free; to friends and foes; no man or woman inthis generation will get a resurrection and be crowned without Joseph sayingso. (Second president Brigham Young, Conference held on October 8, 1854)
The Bible -
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [itis] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”(Ephesians 2:4–9).
“being justified freely by His grace through the redemptionthat is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). V.28 “Therefore weconclude that a man is justified by faith apart from thedeeds of the law”
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yeadoubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of theknowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of allthings, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found inhim, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that whichis through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”(Philippians 3:7–9).
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according tohis mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewingof the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ ourSaviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirsaccording to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5–7).
The Bible speaks of the grace of God through faith to be saved- there is noOTHER way.
As Robert Millet stated “...if everything we teach and believe isin the Bible, we wouldn't have needed a Joseph Smith, a Book ofMormon, a Doctrines and Covenants or a restoration!”(43 minute video, Source: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/49068/6036%20)
Their spokesman for Church Public Affairs believes that the Bible is insufficient, and they defendthis position today- nothing has changed.
The Bible-Jesus said in Jn.17:8 “I have given them your words you have given me.”
Jesus said “my sheep hear my voice, they will flee from thevoice of stranger.”
John 8 “He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do nothear, because you are not of God.”
The whole Old Testament testifies that there is only one God who madeeverything that exists. The whole New Testament testifies that Jesus Christ isthat God who came in human flesh. No matter how one tries to reform or adjustMormon doctrine it does not make it Christian doctrine. Softening the Mormonposition on these 3 points does not make it authentic and can only bring intoquestion anyone’s honesty in their motives. If the concept of many gods isnot abandoned, if the belief that Jesus is a spirit creature is not abandonedthen the gospel that centers on Jesus Christ cannot be the true gospel. And ifit is not the true authentic one, then it cannot save no matter how sincere aperson is. |