Mormons...
they are not the same as us
This page is an almost exact retyping of a pamphlet, a photocopy of one side of which I was sent by a friend. I have made a few slight alterations and a couple of additions to suit the message of this website. Rest assured the picture presented here is totally accurate. I guarantee it.
The bulk of the material is produced by John Farkas, to whom we have a link on our links page under 'Berean Christian Ministries', and to whom we give acknowledgement for the source material.
Are Mormons Christians?
Historically, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) has not wanted to be called Christians. Their founder, Joseph Smith, said that Christians were 'all wrong' - their creeds were an abomination and that they were all corrupt.' (Pearl of Great Price).
The Mormon church is now spending millions of dollars on a public relations campaign aimed at moving into mainstream Christianity and trying to overcome the stigma of being a cult. The political and economic benefits are obvious. Further, if they are accepted as traditional Christians their proselytising of Christian denominations will also be easier.
Speaking a different language
Mormons may use the same words as Christians, but they give them different meanings. We discuss a few here.
Their teaching is based on four standard documents they call canonised scriptures (known as the 'Standard Works'). They are: The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great price, and the Bible (only in the KJV). All have equal status, except that while the Bible is qualified as 'so far as is translated correctly', the others are without question 'the Word of God' in their minds.
Whom do Mormons mean when they say 'Heavenly Father'?
To the Mormons, the 'HeavenlyFather' was once a human being like us, capable of physical death, with a father of his own. This exalted 'man' was made the god of this world because of his good works on another planet in the Universe. He 'earned' godhood and thus was appointed by a council of gods in the heavens to his high position as god of planet Earth. He has a body of flesh and bones, not blood.
The Bible teaches that there is only one God and that He is the God of all creation, not just of this world.
Who do Mormons mean when they say 'Jesus Christ'?
The spirit of Jesus Christ was the first spirit born to God the Father and his wife (who Mormons know as the 'Heavenly Mother'). He is the 'spirit brother' of Satan whose spirit was procreated in the same way.
According to Mormon teachings, God, a resurrected man with flesh and bones, fathered Jesus in the flesh by having sex with the virgin, Mary. Jesus progressed to become God under the Father. He now has a body of flesh and bones, but no blood.
What do Mormons mean when they say 'Salvation'?
Mormons avoid the biblical teaching of Christ's atonement for sin being accomplished on the Cross. They teach that he suffered for sin in Gethsemane when he sweated great drops of blood. They qualify salvation as follows:
hell as known by Christians does not exist. However there is a place for 'sons of perdition', those who reject the Mormon gospel after having accepted it. It will be very small, enquirers are told, because it is taught that very few turn their back on the 'true gospel' and the 'only true church'.
general salvation is simply resurrection from the dead, granted to all through Christ's atonement. Admitted to heaven (3rd grade) - the Telestial kingdom. Here are also the whoremongers and murderers.
heathen salvation is also resurrection from the dead, granted to all who never heard the gospel, through Christ's atonement. Also admitted to heaven (2nd grade) - the Terrestrial kingdom.
individual salvation involves entering the Celestial kingdom (Heaven 1st grade) through works of Mormonism. Those there will worship those in the highest level of that kingdom, those who become gods in their own right.
There is also another point, seldom discussed...
Mormons teach that there are some sins that are not covered by Jesus' atoning blood. This then makes the BLOOD OF THE SINNER of greater value than Jesus' blood.
The Bible teaches that Salvation and eternal life are the free gift of God for all people, not acchieved by good works, but through (personal) faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, and was raised from the dead.
The Bible also teaches that those who do not accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of their life will go to 'hell', a place reserved for the eternal souls of those who are disobedient in this respect.
The Mormon church presents 'another Jesus' as Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4,
and 'another gospel' as he warns in Galatians 1:8-9.
Mormons are not Christians;
They are not the same as us.
last updated 15th May 2010
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