Is Christianity Mormonism?

 

 

 

 

 

Since I left the Mormon Church one of the things I don't understand any more is why Mormons call themselves Christians? Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be rude in any way, but there are some differences in the two and I just don't see how Mormonism is Christianity. Gordon B. Hinckley said in "What of the Mormons?" in 1976 "They [Mormons] are generally classed as Protestants, since they are not Catholic. Actually they are not closer to Protestantism than they are to Catholicism...Neither historically nor on the basis of Modern Association, theology or practice can they be grouped with either. Suffice it to say that its theology, its organization, and its practices are in many respects entirely unique among today’s Christian denominations." Even the late Prophet of the Church said himself that the church is different from other Christian churches, and he's not the only one. Brigham Young said "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity." I agree with the first half of this statement, the second half not so much. But he still says that the two are different, if he believed Christians aren't Christian that's his opinion. But it doesn't stop there, there are some major differences in the beliefs. Just to name a few: The LDS church believes that Jesus and Satan are brothers, Christian denominations do not. Mormons believe that you are saved by grace only all your good works, Christians believe that we are not good enough, we know we are not. We know that there is nothing we can do or say that will get us to heaven. The only thing that saves is Jesus, and Jesus alone. You do good works because you are saved, not to be saved. The Church also teaches that you have to believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet to enter the into heaven (LDS Church news March 17, 2001), Brigham Young said "From the day the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are - I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent." (Journal of Discourses Vol. 7 p. 289), this is huge. Jesus himself said that He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one enters his Father’s kingdom, except through Him. It does not say Joseph Smith, or the guy that will find another book buried in a hill, it's Jesus. Just Jesus, that's all you need, He's all you'll ever need. So again you are faced with the Choice of Jesus or Joseph. At least I was, and it was easy for me, I chose Jesus. There is one more thing that I think I should point out. As a Mormon you are told that there was a great apostasy and the true gospel fell away, and it had to be restored. But Jesus told Peter that he was the rock that He would build his church on and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Once again are you going to believe Jesus the Son of God, or man? Who are you going to trust your soul with? Jesus has mine, who has yours?

 

Anyways, do you see these differences? If I said I am a Mormon, even though I do not believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet (or any of the other men that have followed), I do not believe in the Book of Mormon, and I do not believe that I need Josephs consent to enter my Gods Kingdom, would you be ok with that? Or would you tell me that I was not a Mormon and I would need to talk with a Bishop or some Missionaries. So why would a Mormon call themselves Christian if they don't believe in the same things Christian denominations do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examining Facsimile One from the Book of Abraham

Fireside with Sandra Tanner.

Sandra Tanner is with Lighthouse Ministries, and she is a direct descendant of Brigham Young.                      

 

 

 

The guy in this next video is Bill McKeever with Mormon Research Ministry. This guy is very knowledgeable.

Bill starts out by pointing out that Alma 10:3, the introduction, and the title page all say that that the people of the Book of Mormon are Hebrews, and they are the ancestors of the Native Americans. Dr. Daniel Peterson (BYU professor), and Dr. Trent Stephens say that DNA evidence does not support these claims. Then there is this "There has been little to if any evidence seriously considered by the mainstream scientific community that would indicate a Middle East origin, or any other source of origin, for the majority of contemporary Native Americans...We propose that the Book of Mormon is the account of a small group of people who lived on the American continent, interacting to some degree with the indigenous population but relatively isolated from the general historical events occurring elsewhere in the Americas" Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 12, number 1, 2003 pp.38 & 44; vs 1 Nephi 12:20, Helaman 11:20, and Mormon 1:7, all these scriptures found in the book of Mormon say that the people of the Book of Mormon was a large crowd. 2 Nephi 1:8-9 says that the land was not known about by other nations, and that they shall be kept from all other nations. Spencer W. Kimball said that the people of the Book of Mormon numbered in the hundreds of millions (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.601), George Q. Cannon said that America was kept hidden by the Lord (Gospel Truth p.528). There are also people who say that the Book of Mormon took place in Central America; Joseph Fielding Smith Doctrines of Salvation 3:239-240 tells us that the events couldn't have taken place in Central America, even Ezra Taft Benson Believes that the Book of Mormon events happened in North America. So that means that the previously stated theory("There has been little to if any evidence seriously considered by the mainstream scientific community that would indicate a Middle East origin, or any other source of origin, for the majority of contemporary Native Americans...") is not valid, so why is there no DNA to support Hebrew ancestry of the Native Americans.
Here are a few other videos with Bill McKeever, I just don't have any notes with these so you'll have to watch them to see what they are about. They are actually short, and a good watch.

A seer stone and a hat- Translating the Book of Mormon.

 

 

The untold Story of the Death of Joseph Smith

 



 

 

 

Most of my finding are from videos that I found online. Yes I know I've heard it, "You can't trust what's on the internet", "those are just hate videos" or what have you. The thing is I looked at what they said, and found it to be true. The majority of what I found was from church websites.

This video mainly points out that no one can work their way into Heaven. Some scriptures to keep in mind while you watch this: Galatians 1:6-9 " I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." And 2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and be reconciled to God; For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." vs. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

 

We all have a dark side, we do whether we like it or not. Have you ever told a lie, stole anything, used Gods name in vain, or looked at a person in lust. Jesus says that if you have ever looked at a person with lust you have committed adultery in your heart, and that Jesus is the only way to get into heaven. A person that would like to enter into heaven must do the following: repent of your sins, believe that Jesus is the Christ your Savior, and Confess with your mouth to all that you have been saved (share the good news). My response to this: this is true. Jesus says in Matthew 5:28 that if you have looked at a woman in lust you have committed adultery in your heart. Jesus also says in 1 John 3:15 that if you have ever in angry at another person, you have committed murder in your heart. If you have ever stolen anything, no matter how small, you are a thief. Mark 3:28-30 if you have ever used the Lords name in vain, you are a blasphemer, and that is unforgivable. But the good news in this is that 2,000 years ago God sent is only Son Jesus in all is magnificent glory, grace, and love, to punish Him for your sin. To punish Him for my sin. I will be the first to admit that I have done all of these things. And that without my wonderful Savior, I would not make it to heaven, my just God would not allow it. But He loved me, and He loved you so much that He sent his only Son, the spotless Lamb to take your place and mine. So that if we repent, believe, and confess with our mouths that Jesus is the Christ, he is our Savior, then we can stand at the judgment seat spotless! And we will be allowed into heaven. No one can work their way into heaven.

 

This next video takes more of a historical point of view, it looks for historical evidence to support Book of Mormon events.

 

 

The Book of Mormon was supposed to have taken place in the Americas, but:

• The Jaredites were prophesied to be the largest nation in the Book of Mormon, but there is no evidence.
• 1 Nephi 18:25 say's that there was cows, oxen, horses and goats. There weren't any horses in America before 1540.
• Mosiah 9:9 speaks of wheat and barley. Wheat was not consumed in America until 1602
• Nephites supposedly kept really good record of things. No writings have been found to support this.
•  The Book of Mormon was first written on the gold plates. Neither the Aztecs, Native Americans, nor the Mayans kept record on Metal.
• Mormon 9:32 says that the gold plates were written in reformed Egyptian. Neither linguist nor Egyptologist have found record of reformed Egyptian.
• Alma 11 speaks of the monetary system of the Nephites, claiming they used gold and silver. Ancient Americans did not use gold and silver for money. Instead they used coco beans, coffee beans, or clam shells.
• 400 AD supposed extermination of the Lamanites. No evidence to support this.
• Ether 15 and Mormon 8:2 speak of huge battles. There has been no mass graves, swords, or any other evidence to support this.
• 2 Nephi 5:16 says that Nephi built a temple like unto King Solomon's. Jew's are not allowed to build temples anywhere but Mt. Moriah, aka the Temple Mount. Also priests were only from the bloodline of Aaron, not Joseph (It was against the Old Testament laws for anyone to be a priest outside of the bloodline of Aaron).
• Bible figures are well known, Book of Mormon figures are not.
• No way to back up the prophecies/events from the Book of Mormon, you can historically back the Bible.
• The Bible is written in the correct language for the time, the Book of Mormon is not.
• There is Evidence to Support Jesus, and Christianity, in the Middle East. There is no evidence in the America's to support the Book of Mormon.

As you can see, there is quite a bit of historical evidence that does not support the Book of Mormon. I had brought some of these points up with my Mom the last time I discussed my change of views with her. She had brought out a book that had artifacts that supposedly belonged to the people in the Book of Mormon. You have to ask yourself though, why would professionals lie? What would these people have to gain lying, and not stating their professional opinion? The Bible has been used to help Archeologists locate things, wouldn't the Book of Mormon (if true) do the same in the Americas? There are a few more things I would like to leave you with until next time. Growing up I always heard about the burning in the bosom; Moroni 10 say's that we should ponder these things in our hearts, but the bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 and Proverbs 28:26 that the heart is desperately wicked, and anyone who trusts his heart his a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. In a 2002 conference Gordon B. Hinckley himself said that the church does not believe in the same Christ as the Bible.

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him " I am the way, the truth, and the life . No one comes to the Father except through Me."" Also see John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says to test all things and to hold fast to what is good, and Isaiah 40:8 tells us that the grass withers, the flowers fade but the word of God stands forever.

 

 

 

 

 

When I first started looking for answers I stumbled across a website that flung me into my weeks and weeks of searching, reading, and learning things I never knew or new things about things I knew little of. This website (www.goodnewsforlds.com) had a video that they had put together and put up on their website called Joseph Smith vs. Jesus Christ. In this video they made some really great points.

Who is Jesus?

In the Book of Abraham 3:27 says "And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first." On the other hand the Bible says in Colossians 1:16 " For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." With this the creators of this are trying to point out the Jesus and Satan are not brothers, like the LDS church teaches. God created all things, even Satan, Jesus and Satan are not brothers.

Who is God?

D&C 130:20 states "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. However the Bible says in John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” also see Psalms 90:2 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." The Bible says that God does not have a body like man, but is Spirit. Both cannot be right.

 

In the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 345-346, Joseph tells us how God Became God. "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself visible, -- I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form -- like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with him, as one man talks and communes with another.
These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that 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; and I will show it from the Bible.
Here, then, is eternal life -- to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming his name, is not trifling with you or me"   The Bible says over and over that there is only ONE God. 1Corinthians 8:4-5 says there is one true God, but many false gods, Isaiah 44:6 Before me there is NO gods, or Isaiah 45:5 Besides me, there is NO God.

Eternal Life.


As anyone in the LDS church could tell you, Mormonism teaches that there are 3 levels of Glory; and how you lived is what determines where you will end up. The Telestial (D&C 76:103) is for adulterers, sorcerers, whoremongers, and whosoever loves a lie. The Terrestrial kingdom (D&C 72-75) is for the honorable who died without knowing the gospel. The Celestial kingdom (D&C 76: 57) is for those who held the priesthood, and became gods. It's clear that the LDS church teaches that how well you live the law, is how well off you are after you die, it even gives you the chance to become god yourself. The Bible teaches in Romans 6:23 that salvation through Christ Jesus is the gift of God, or John 6:28-29 "Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” ". Gifts aren't earned, they are given freely with of love, no strings attached. Ephesians 2:8-9 " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is impossible for one to work their way into heaven. Jesus is the ONLY way.

In the History of the Church Vol. 6 pg. 408 Joseph Smith said "Come on! Ye prosecutors! Ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! For I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet." vs. Matthew 16:18 when Jesus tells Peter " And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.". Here you have choose who you believe Jesus, or Joseph, It cannot be both.

A revelation in D&C 90:1-5 the keys of the kingdom are committed to Joseph Smith, but Matthew 28:18 tells us that all authority in heaven has been given to Jesus.


Prophecies and Revelations:

There are a few revelations within the church that seem odd, others maybe not so strange, but they have not come true. The Young Women's Journal vol. 3 pg.263/ Patriarchal Blessings Books 9 pg. 294-295 says that people who look like Quakers live on the moon. But that's not the only thing in space that people live on, Journal of Discourses Vol. 13 pg. 271 says that there is life on the sun... the sun. D&C 84:3-4 says that a temple would "be reared in this generation" (written in Sept. 1832) located in New Jerusalem (The western boundaries of Missouri). The last time I checked that temple has yet to be built. D&C 114:1 (written in April 1838) says that David W. Patten would leave the following spring on a Mission. David W. Patten died Oct. 25, 1838 in battle. D&C 1:37-38 says that the prophecies, and promises are faithful, and will come true. The previously listed revelations did not come true. The Bible tells us that God tests our faith, and how to tell if a prophet is true. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 "“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.", Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "And if you 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 happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.".


The Coming of the Lord:

Growing up in the LDS church I heard multiple times that no one knows the day or the hour of the Lords returning. Matthew 24:36 tells that is correct, not even the angels in heaven know. But in the History of the Church Vol. 2 pg. 182 (Chapter 13) Joseph Smith said (in 1835) that Jesus would return in 65 years. This speaks for itself. Either most of the members of the Church are unaware of this prophecy, or they just ignore it.

Character of Joseph Smith:

Joseph Smith was arrested in Bainbridge for glass looking, and deceiving Josiah Stowel; Joseph took a stone that he had found and claimed that he could find buried treasure with it.

Now let’s talk about Joseph Smiths multiple wives. A revelation given in 1843 talks about plural marriage, as well as eternal marriage (D&C 132). The Journal of Discourses Vol. 11 pg. 269 says that in order for Men to become gods, they must enter into plural marriage. Deuteronomy 17:17, Mark 10:7-9, 1 Timothy 3:2, as well as Titus 1:6 speak against plural marriage.

The First Vision:

Joseph Smith Claimed to speak with the Father and the Son in the sacred grove. However in the Church's own book, D&C 84:21-22 says that without the priesthood, no man can see the Father and live. With this in mind, how would Joseph Smith been able to live during the first vision? At this time Joseph Smith did not have the priesthood.

The Translator:

Anyone who grew up in the church has seen numerous paintings of Joseph Smith translating the plates. They show him with the urim and thumim translating the plates by candlelight.  What if I told you that he translated the book of Mormon by putting a seer stone (the same one he used when he was arrested for deceiving Josiah Stowel) in a hat and translating the book that way? (http://mit.irr.org/translation-or-divination; http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/transcripts/?id=10) The Bible says that all scripture is given by God, you don't need a stone, see 2 peter 1:21.

DNA:

5,000 Indians, 150 Tribes no Hebrew descent. The Native Americans are of Asian descent. The Book of Abraham papyri, that is found included in the Book of Mormon (at least it was in mine), is supposed to be the writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt. The papyri was found to be Egyptian, however, it’s a funeral text written many centuries after Abraham's time.

Over and over again, you can see that the Bible and the teachings of the LDS church contradict each other over and over again. You can believe one or the other. They contradict each other too much to be able to believe in both. Galatians 1: 6-9 "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Paul was warning the Church of Galatia of people preaching false doctrine, and it still rings true today. Joseph Smith said that the angel Moroni met him in his bedroom on multiple occasions. Paul warned of angels preaching other gospels, he even cursed them. Jesus is the ONLY way. 1John 3:5  " And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

 

 

 

Here is another video I found, its about a former bishop and why he left Mormonism.

 

Bibliography
http://education.byu.edu/edlf/archives/prophets/prophets.html

https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx

http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/JournalOfDiscourses3/id/9608