MORMONISM

Truth....False?   

   Sorry to have taken so long to answer your letter.  Hope all is well.

   I too have much love for you and am proud to have you as a friend.  The reason that we have not had a meaningful relationship over these years is due to your request that I leave you and your family alone regarding your chosen religious beliefs.  This was after several exchanges of letters between us in 1980 & early 1981.

   The truth is that I do respect your right to live as you believe to be the way.  I also do care and desire the best for your life; and of your family.  I have no problem with accepting you or any other people as creation of God.  I love them as He does.  However, Truth is to be stood up for regarding God, Jesus Christ and relationship(especially eternally; salvation) with God.

   You see, traditional Christianity, and myself, see Mormonism as not true Christianity; nor really having a right to refer to itself as "Christian".  We see no salvation in Mormonism.  The reason why is that we believe the Jesus Christ of your faith as not being the real Biblical Jesus.  Also, we see that there is only one God, period, not many of different worlds(universes, etc.), and that men do not become Gods.  Also, we hold that the Bible is the sole source of God's revelation and absolute final authority.  For Mormonism to state that the Bible is their 'foundation' is a mere play on words and an untruth since the ' foundation' is ignored and not followed when it conflicts with the 'other writings' and or opinions of the "living prophet", etc..  It has been said that when the foundation is ignored the house will fall.

   Perhaps the following 5 Points of Biblical differences verus Mormonism will help to explain my point of view: (hope so)

1 God

The Bible:

The one true God exists as three eternal distinct persons. One God: "Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me" (Isa. 43:10) See also Deut. 4:35;6:4; Isa. 44:6,8; I Cor. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5. The Father is God: John 5:18; 10:29; 14:28; 17:1-3; I Cor. 8:6; Phil. 2:11. The Son is God: Isa. 7:14; 44:6: John 1:1-3, 14; 5:18; 10:30; 20:28; John 8:58 cf.Exod. 3:14; Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-18; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; I John 5:20; Rev. 22:13-18. The Holy Spirit is God: Exod. 17:7 cf. Heb. 3:7-9; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3,4; Acts 13:2 cf. Gal. 1:1 and I Tim. 1:1; I Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 13:14; 2 Tim. 3:16 cf. 2 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 9:14. God is infinite, eternal, and immutable(unchangeable): I Kings 8:27; Isa. 57:15; Mal. 3:6

Mormonism:

"First, God Himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heavens, is a MAN like unto one of yourselves, that is the great secret..." (Joseph Smith, Jr., Times and Seasons, vol. 5, pp. 613-614). "Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost are only one God. I say that is a strange God anyhow-three in one, and one in three!....All are to be crammed into one God....It would make the biggest God in all the world. He would be a wonderfully big God-he would be a giant or a monster" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 372). "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..." ibid., pp. 345-347).

The Bible:

Jesus Christ is God: Isa. 7:14;44:6; John 1:1-14; 5:18; 10:30; 20:28; John 8:58 cf. Exod. 3:14; Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-18; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; I John 5:20; Rev. 22:13-18. Jesus Christ is man: Mark 2:27,28; John 1:14; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:5-11; I Tim. 2:5; I John 4:1-4. Jesus Christ is one(divine) Person: John 1:14; Rom.. 1:3,4; 8:3; 9:5; Gal. 4:4,5; Phil 2:5-7; I Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:11-14; I John 4:2,3. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead: Luke 24:36-47; John 2:19-21; Rom. 8:11; I Cor. 15:3-7; I John 3:2.

Mormonism:

"We say it was Jesus Christ who was married, to be brought into the relation whereby he could see his seed, before he was crucified" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 82). "The Saviour was begotten by the Father of His spirit, by the same Being who is the Father of our spirits, and that is all the organic difference between Jesus Christ and you and me" (ibid., vol. 4, pp. 217-218). "Now remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost" (ibid., vol. 1, p. 51).

The Bible:

The Holy Spirit is eternally God: Exod. 17:7 cf. Heb. 3:7-9; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3,4; Acts 13:2 cf. Gal. 1:1 and I Tim. 1:1; I Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 13:14; 2 Tim. 3:16 cf. 2 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 9:14. The Holy Spirit is a distinct person: John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-11,14; Acts 5:3; 13:2; 16:7; Rom. 8:16, 26; I Cor. 12:11; Eph. 1:14; 4:30.

Mormonism:

"The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a Personage of Spirit, a Spirit Person, a Spirit Man, a Spirit Entity. He can be in only one place at one time, and he does not and cannot transform himself into any other form or image than that of the Man whom he is, though his power and influence can be manifest at one and the same time through all immensity" (Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 359).

The Bible:

All human beings have sinned and continue to sin: Gen. 3:6, 19; Rom. 3:23; 5:12-18; 6:23.

Mormonism:

"In the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is no original sin" (Evidences and Reconciliations, p. 195). "... it is possible to transgress a law without committing a sin, as in the case of Adam and Eve" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 804).

5 Salvation

The Bible:

Salvation is only by means of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice; salvation is entirely by grace, not works: John 1:29; 3:16,17; 6:29; 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; 16:31; Rom. 5:12-18; Eph. 2:8-10; I Tim. 2:5.

Mormonism:

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" (James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith, nos. 3 and 4). "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 continuous revelation, the ministering of angels, the working of miracles, the prevalence of gifts of the spirit, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 670).

Friend,

   Maybe you find this letter most hard.  For that I am sorry if I am not better able to relate such Biblical Truth in a better way.  Romans 1:16

   I am your friend.  I will always stand ready and willing to help you in anyway I can.  Please give my love to your family.  If my understanding is not correct, please let me know that you would like to help me and continue in dialogue to resolve the issue.

  Love,    Reuben

   p.s. If you like, I have a video I would appreciate having your feedback on.  Yes, it is about Mormonism and Biblical foundations.  Let me know.

For further information contact:  

-MENORAH MINISTRIES -
P.O. Box 460024
Glendale, CO 80246-0024
Voice: 303-355-2009 Fax: 303-355-6901
E-mail: menorah@menorah.org
Internet Page: http://www.menorah.org

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