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

For the Christian, it’s extremely important to know the difference between what’s true and false, light and darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, godliness and ungodliness. As the Apostle John said “many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The word of God tells us to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), for the church of God to be a pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).

Any truth mixed with the slightest lie is no longer truth at all. The reason why cults are so dangerous to believers is that they mix truth with sprinkled lies as to not alarm those who may be ignorant of biblical truth. In this series we will be looking at different cults and seeing if their doctrine/teachings line up with the truth of God’s Holy Word the Bible. Mormon teachings are very dangerous and twisted so be prepared for a strange ride.

MORMON BEGINNINGS

The Mormon cult began with a man called Joseph Smith, Joseph was born on December 23, 1805 in Vermont. His family then moved to Palmyra, a village in Wayne County, New York. This was the time of the Second Great Awakening, a time when people were eager for something to believe, in the midst of the Protestant movement Joseph Smith brought in heretical teachings.

In his early years he became involved with Methodism, Smith was concerned about his soul and confused by the claims of competing religious beliefs. In 1820 at the age of 14, he went into the woods to pray; and allegedly God the Father and Jesus appeared to him and said not to join any of the denominational churches.

Now it starts to get weird Joseph claimed an angel named “Moroni”, who was supposed to be the “son of Mormon”, the leader of the people called the “Nephites” who lived in the early Americas, appeared and said to him that he was chosen to translate the book of Mormon which was compiled by Moroni’s father around the 4th century. If this were true why would an angel need a human to translate anything when they’re these powerful beings?

The book was written on golden plates and found next to Joseph’s home in Palmyra, New York. As he began to translate the book Joseph claimed that John the Baptist appeared and ordained him to the divine work of restoring the true church by preaching the “true gospel” which, allegedly, was lost from the earth.

After the publication of the Book of Mormon, Mormonism began grew and the religion was so divergent from Christianity, i.e., multiple of gods, polygamy (Joseph had 27 wives), etc. Joseph ended up in jail and killed by an angry mob.

SECOND FOUNDER

All cults seem to have 2 founders one who starts the cult typically a charismatic individual and the second afterwards who lays the remaining foundation helping the movement to grow.

Brigham Young an American religious leader, politician, settler and second president of The LDS cult. He brought the Mormon teachings to Salt Lake City. Young went by many nicknames the most popular being “American Moses” he also went by “Modern Moses” or “Mormon Moses” due to him leading his followers to Utah. A polygamist he had 55 wives and instituted a ban against the priesthood of black African men.

After assuming the leadership role of the Mormons, leading them to Salt Lake Utah which at the time located in Mexico; outside of the then United States territory. He placed the people in harsh conditions so that they could only rely upon themselves to survive, it was a strategic move on Young’s part to have complete control over all of the followers.

WHAT DO MORMONS TEACH?

Mormonism is called the religion of the Americas because it has no roots in Biblical Christianity, it doesn’t come from the Hebrew or Greek text and is never mentioned in the Bible. It touts “another testament of Jesus Christ” as the subtitle of the book of Mormon suggest.

But does it agree with God’s word or does it contradict? In the book of Acts, we have an account of Paul the Apostle visiting the synagogue in Berea to preach the Gospel, the Bereans searched the scriptures to be certain of what they heard to be true and we should always do the same.

Acts 17:10, 11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Atonement

Mormons say: “Jesus paid for all our sins when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane,” (Laurel Rohlfing, “Sharing Time: The Atonement,” Friend, Mar. 1989, p. 39.).

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

Where do Mormons get the idea that the Lord Jesus paid for our sins somewhere else besides the cross of Calvary? When the Lord Jesus came to Gethsemane and was sorrowful is was not that He was atoning for our sins at the garden.

Matthew 26:36–39 “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

He was grieved not because He was wishing not to go to the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ was ready, willing and able to give himself as a ransom on the rugged tree. There was no turning back for Him being the Prince of Life, God in the flesh, He set His face like a flint toward Jerusalem (Isaiah 50:5–9). Nothing was going to deter Him from the cross.

Matthew 26:42 “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

The reason why He was sorrowful is He knew what He would endure before the cross, that sinful men would come and lay hands on Him in the hours leading up to the cross.

Matthew 26:45 “Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Mormons say: “We accept Christ’s atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all of the commandments,” (Gospel Principles, Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, p. 68.).

The Bible: Mormons try to add works as a means of receiving salvation, notice for them it’s not just trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they add baptism and obeying all of the commandments. What does the word of God say in regards to our works? Our righteousness are filthy rags before a Holy and righteous God.

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

Romans 3:19, 20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Baptism

Mormons say: Baptism for the dead, (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. II, p. 141). This is a practice of baptizing each other in place of non-Mormons who are now dead. Their belief is that in the afterlife, the “newly baptized” person will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven.

The Bible: Notice the above statement says “Mormon heaven”, not God’s heaven but “Mormon’s heaven”. I tell you friend Mormon heaven doesn’t exist. Nowhere in scripture does God ever say that a person can be baptised for a dead person. This is strictly a Mormon teaching and you will never find it in the Holy Bible. There is a contradiction from the Mormon teaching because God says you die once then you stand before the judge.

If you die in your sins then you’re lost for all eternity, but if you’re saved because of placing your faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, you can have life eternal in heaven.

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

Matthew 18:8, 9 “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

Luke 9:60 “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

Notice the Lord Jesus never said anything about baptising ones-self for a dead person, we all get one chance and that’s all. This is why it’s extremely important to be born again, to be saved by God’s grace.

THE HOLY BIBLE 

Mormons say: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. . .” (8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church).

“Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God,” (1 Nephi 13:28).

The Bible: Mormons will state that they believe in the word of God while at the same time say it was somehow corrupted, mistranslated, scriptures missing/taken away etc. They doubt the preservation of God’s word, therefore, they don’t believe God can prevent His word from being somehow corrupted. The word of God says His word endures forever.

Psalms 119:89 “LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

1 Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

The Book of Mormon

Mormons say: The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (History of the Church, 4:461).

The Bible: This proves the point above in which Mormons aren’t Christian and are a cult because they teach that their book is superior to the Bible. Cults will typically say they believe the Bible but will then say you must read something outside of the Bible. ie book of Mormon, Watchtower, Awake etc. Mormons place their faith in false books in which they deem scripture such as the erroneous uninspired book called “Pearl of Great Price”.

“A Selection from the Revelations, Translations, and Narrations of Joseph Smith First Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” — LDS (Pearl of Great Price)

The Devil

Mormons say: The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus “in the morning of pre-existence,” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 192).

The Bible: The Lord Jesus Christ was never born biologically He’s always existed. The Mormon cult falls into the same error as the Jehovah Witnesses. When the Bible speaks of “firstborn” or “begotten” in the context of Christ Jesus our Lord it’s referring to His position, not a biological birth. The Old Testament does speak of biological birth but upon understanding the scriptures God gives us spiritual truths of things to come.

For instance, David is called the firstborn but we read in the book of Samuel that he had older brothers therefore biologically we can conclude that it’s not speaking of his birth but position.

Psalms 89:27 “Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.”

The firstborn of Joseph was Manasseh and second Ephraim but the reverse order is spoken of in terms of birthright in Genesis.

Genesis 41:51–52 “And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Jeremiah 31:9 “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

The Lord Jesus spoken of as the firstborn proclaims not an actual birth but His position as before all and above all, the book of Colossians puts it beautifully when speaking of His eternal existence as God. Last but not least the Devil was not “born” he’s a created being the anointed Cherub an angel to be exact.

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

Ezekiel 28:13–19 “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.”

Mormons say: “According to our teachings, Satan and an army of supporters were cast down to earth from the premortal spirit world. They are spirit brothers of ours, and are real persons having spirit bodies” (Joseph F. Merrill, Conference Reports, April 1941, p. 49).

The Bible: Satan is an angel and so were the other 3/4’s who followed him, they’re not our brothers how can that be when God says in Genesis “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:”. The angels are not created in the image of God according to His likeness. Additionally, God breathed into Adam the breath of life making us a living soul. The Bible never speaks of an angel being created in the same manner.

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

Mormons say: “On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some — especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers. Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning. Lucifer, too, was an angel ‘who was in authority in the presence of God,’ a ‘son of the morning.’ (See Isa. 14:12; D&C 76:25–27.) Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15; D&C 93:21.)” (Jess L. Christensen, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, June 1986, p. 25).

The Bible: This is complete blasphemy on the part of Mormonism, to say that the creator of all things would be Satan’s brother is a grievous error. If Satan is an angel (created being) he cannot be the Lord Jesus’s brother. In the book of John speaking of the Lord Jesus it says:

John 1:1–3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Take notice that it says “all things were made by him” that includes all the angels, therefore Satan cannot be His brother, the scriptures are very clear.

Mormons say: “A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the father but Jesus’ plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Savior of all Mankind and to “deny men their agency and to dethrone god,” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193; Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8).

The Bible: It’s astounding the fallacies cults will create in order to make their theology work. You will not find anything in the Bible about presenting salvation plans to the Father. The plan of redemption was not an afterthought for God, He was not surprised and therefore needed to figure something out. No! God knows all things and was not taken off guard.

1 Peter 1:20 “Who verily was foreordeined before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Revelation 13:8 “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Who is God?

Mormons say: God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321; Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613–614; Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333).

The Bible: Another lie spoken by this cult. Nowhere in the Hebrew or Greek text will you find anything about the Father being a man from another planet. This is complete heresy on the part of Joseph Smith.

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Mormons say: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s . . . “ (D&C 130:22).

The Bible: Once again we have to refer back to John 4:24 which speaks of “God as a Spirit”. Do not be confused the Lord Jesus is God, but we’re speaking of God the Father. We have to remember that God consists of 3 distinct person’s. Not 3 Gods. 1 God consisting of 3 distinct person’s all sharing the same divine nature (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

I myself don’t use the term “Trinity” only because the Bible never uses that word, I use the word Godhead which is Biblical in reference to the New Testament. Nevertheless, the doctrine of the Trinity is Biblical.

Godhead — θεῖος theîos, theios; from G2316; godlike (neuter as noun, divinity): — divine, godhead.

1. a general name of deities or divinities as used by the Greeks 
2. spoken of the only and true God, trinity
3. of Christ
4. Holy Spirit
5. the Father 

On the same note the Old Testament (written in Hebrew) which never uses the word Godhead (Greek) does use the name God, and the name God speaks to a plurality.

God — אֱלֹהִים ʼĕlôhîym, elohiym; plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates.

1. (plural)
2. rulers, judges
3. divine ones
4. angels
5. gods (lowercase “g” always signifies false god(s) in biblical terms)
6. (plural intensive — singular meaning)
7. god, goddess (lowercase “g” signifies false god(s) in biblical terms)
8. godlike one
9. works or special possessions of God
10. the (true) God
11. God

Mormons say: “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined 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).

The Bible: This is the first lie ever told beginning with Satan in the garden of Eden when he uttered in Genesis 3:1 “…Yea, hath God said,…” creating doubt in the mind of Eve. Satan said:

Genesis 3:4, 5 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

And Satan continues to deceive people with this same lie in Mormonism, Hinduism, New Age etc.

Mormons say: God the Father had a Father, (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 476; Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 19; Milton Hunter, First Council of the Seventy, Gospel through the Ages, p. 104–105).

The Bible: And the nonsense continues, God is eternal never having a beginning never having an end, Mormon doctrine is in direct contradiction to God’s word. When Moses asked God on Mount Sinai God said:

Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Psalms 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.”

1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

God, becoming a god

Mormons say: After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345–347, 354.)

The Bible: Once again oldest lie from the devil himself than men can become gods, this is just not true read Genesis 3:4, 5. Satan lied to Eve and that was the beginning of the downfall of man, once she made her husband Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit.

God, many gods

Mormons say: There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).

The Bible: There are many false gods, there’s only one true God and that’s the God of the Holy Scriptures, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. The Bible speaks of false gods/idols.

Revelation 9:20 “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:”

Mormons say: “And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light,” (Book of Abraham 4:3).

The Bible: This is very important here because you’ll notice, Mormons believe in more than 1 God. In the above statement, you’ll notice Gods an “s” on the end. True Christians who believe in the Godhead do not believe in 3 Gods. We believe in 1 God consisting of 3 distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

God, mother goddess

Mormons say: There is a mother god, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443). God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 516).

The Bible: There’s no such thing as “mother god” in the Bible, neither is there any such thing as “mother nature”. These are all pagan concepts stemming from Greek mythology, false gods such as “Gaia”. Paganism was rampant back then people worshipped idols and even sacrificed their children.

The people in Ephesus were angry with the Apostle Paul because he spoke the truth and preached the Gospel and the people wanted to continue to worship a false goddess by the name of Diana or Artemis.

Acts 19:24 “For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;”

Acts 19:27 “So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.”

Acts 19:28 “And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

Acts 19:34 “But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

Acts 19:35 “And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?”

As you can see the Mormons do not worship the true God, and they aren’t Christian at all they’re a cult who claims Christianity but are far from it.

God, Trinity

Mormons say: The Trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. “That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man,” (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35).

The Bible: Since the days of the Apostles Christians have been defending the faith against heresies concerning the Godhead as being 3 separate Gods. Christians do not believe there are three separate Gods, we believe in 1 God consisting of 3 distinct persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The above section “who is God” explains this.

The Gospel

Mormons say: The true gospel was lost from the earth. Mormonism is its restoration, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 182–185.)

The Bible: If this were so then Mormons must believe that since the day the Lord Jesus rose from the dead in resurrection power and ascended up on high into heaven, from that day forward until Joseph Smith all people were lost meaning going to hell (while Mormons don’t necessarily believe in hell they do believe in outer darkness). The gospel was never “lost” the gospel in simplest words are “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. Mormonism tries to place Joseph Smith as saviour and he is not.

Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”

Heaven

Mormons say: There are three levels of heaven: telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348).

The Bible: The scriptures of the Bible never mention such places, it does mention the sky, stars, moon and sun. But never places Mormons teach.

Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.”

Psalms 8:3 “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;”

Revelation 22:5 “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

The Holy Ghost

Mormons say: The Holy Ghost is a male personage, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, (Le Grand Richards, Salt Lake City, 1956, p. 118; Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 179).

The Bible: While the Holy Ghost is a person (Acts 5:3, 4, Acts 13:2, Hebrews 3:7, John-14:16) He is not “a marvelous work or wonder”. The Holy Ghost is God a distinct person of the Godhead always existed the same as the Father and the Son.

Luke 3:22 “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”

Jesus Christ of Mormonism

Mormons say: The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129).

The Bible: This is a classic example of the heresy of Arianism which other cults like the Jehovah Witnesses, SDA, Christadelphians and Islam believe. They either reduce Him to a created being (angel), or in the case of Islam just a prophet. The Lord Jesus is God, in the Gospel of Luke we have an account of the man possessed by the devil called Legion. The Lord Jesus cast out the unclean spirit and He tells the man:

Luke 8:39 “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”

Mormons say: Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8; Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).

The Bible: The Lord Jesus Christ is the creator of all things, therefore, Satan cannot be His brother because Satan is a created being himself.

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

Mormons say: Jesus’ sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).

The Bible: Mormons don’t believe God’s word because the Bible specifically says in the epistle from John the Apostle that we are cleansed from all sin.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Mormons say: “The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood — was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115).

The Bible: He was born of a virgin Mary His mother.

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Joseph Smith

Mormons say: If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation [the context is the full gospel including exaltation to Godhood] outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670).

The Bible: Joseph Smith didn’t restore anything all he did was founded a cult which denies the Bible and tries to add to the word of God in every way.

Acts 4:8–12 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Fruit of the Mormon cult

If one is to ascertain what the Mormon belief produces look no further than Warren S. Jeffs the founder of the FLDS movement, while the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is in some ways different to the LDS. The FLDS practices actually more in line with the teachings of Joseph Smith, in Smith days polygamy was a belief they practised. The FLDS to this day still holds to that practice.

One of the main ones being polygamy Jeffs is a husband to 50 wives. Not only that but it’s also interesting that he was also regarded as a prophet, pretty convenient for him. If anything he was a true follower of Joseph Smith and Mormonism as crazy as that may be.

Pre-existence

Mormons say: We were first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born naturally on earth, (Journal of Discourse, vol. 4, p. 218).

The Bible: You’ll never find anywhere in the Bible which makes the claim the Mormons make of being “spirit children in Heaven” man was created on the earth, the first being Adam. After God created the earth and all the animals on the land, sea and in the air.

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

Mormons say: “The Father, Elohim, is called the Father because he is the literal father of the spirits of mortals (Heb. 12:9). This paternity is not allegorical. All individual human spirits were begotten (not created from nothing or made) by the Father in a premortal state, where they lived and were nurtured by Heavenly Parents” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 2:549).

The Bible: Hebrews 12:9 is taken well out of its context the verse is not saying that we’re begotten of God by biological means, the Lord Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. We (those who are saved) have been translated from the lineage of Adam into the lineage of the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45).

In the passage of Hebrews, it’s speaking of how we have human fathers and have experienced the upbringing of our earthly father, now being a child of God when born again and as we at times go through chastening we aren’t to despise it because it’s for our own good and God our Father teaches us through it that we may grow and yield fruits of righteousness. We do not have “Heavenly Parents” as in how we have parents here on earth.

Hebrews 12:5–11 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

The Prophets

Mormons say: We need prophets today, the same as in the Old Testament, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 444–445).

The Bible: Mormons, as well as many Christians, do not understand that we’re living in a different dispensation. Prophets were used by God in a specific time for the nation of Israel. God used prophets for the nation to deliver His message when they needed instruction or rebuking. But that time has past and we now have the entire canon of scripture.

The Jews needed the prophets at that time because they never had the Old Testament scriptures except for a few scrolls like Isaiah or Jeremiah. They couldn’t open up a Bible and say well let’s look at the Gospels or Epistles. That’s why the book of Hebrews puts it this way.

Hebrews 1:1, 2 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

This verse says it all how God spake using many different ways in time past by the prophets but now in these last days spoken to us by His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. We no longer need any more prophets the Lord Jesus gave us God’s word Himself being God in the flesh. Joseph Smith came long after the prophets and the Lord Jesus. The time of the prophets is over.

Salvation

Mormons say: “One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation,” (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).

The Bible: Mormonism teaches works salvation while at the same time will say they believe in the Bible. That’s a contradiction, if the Bible says the work has been finished fully and completely by the Lord Jesus then nothing more needs to be done. He defeated death at the cross and made salvation possible for all who believe.

John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Mormons say: A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the father but Jesus’ plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Savior of all Mankind and to “deny men their agency and to dethrone god,” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193; Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 8).

The Bible: How deceived the LDS are in order for anyone to pass off a ridiculous story such as that you’ll have to toss the Bible out the window and concoct something completely alien to God’s word. You just will not find anything like this in the scriptures it’s completely made up from Joseph Smith.

Mormons say: Jesus’ sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).

The Bible: Lies of the devil! The infallible word of God says otherwise. The sacrifice of the spotless Lamb of God was more than enough and covers all sin, past present and future!!!

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Mormons say: Good works are necessary for salvation (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 92).

The Bible: We read in God’s infallible word that our works are filthy rags, how we are saved by grace through faith. Salvation has nothing to do with us and self-righteousness because we’re sinners, we are not perfect we’re not without sin. We’ve been born in sin and have committed sin and God requires perfection. Only the Lord Jesus is without sin without any blemish. Salvation is a free gift for those who believe.

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

Ephesians 2:8, 9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Mormons say: There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188).

The Bible: This is complete heresy Mormons try to place Joseph Smith in the place of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible tosses down their rubbish.

Acts 4:10–13 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Philippians 2:10 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

The Lord Jesus said “except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

Mormons say: “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do,” (2 Nephi 25:23).

The Bible: Mormons will never have the assurance of salvation because for them it’s “after all we can do”, how will they ever know if they did enough? They cannot, therefore, they’ll never have rest because they’re working for salvation trying to attain it on their own terms. But God says the work has already been done by the perfect Son of God and He cried out “it is finished”, nothing more needs to be done, it’s fully complete. I’ll place my trust in the Lord Jesus before I place it on myself.

CONCLUSION

We now see how the beliefs of the Mormon LDS contradicts the Bible in enormous ways, hence the reason why they’re a cult. They don’t believe in the Bible and they follow a false prophet by the name of Joseph Smith. They don’t worship the same God as Christians do. They try to use the name Christian when they’re far from any of the beliefs and that’s why they’re a cult.

Mormons are lost and in need of salvation just like any other unbeliever, they’ve been deceived by doctrines of devils. Let us be willing to speak truth to Mormons, we do not hate them we love them and want them to have eternal life.

John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

God bless.