Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
To Moroni With Love
The Challenge
This is a very special booklet. I'm sure that you have never read one quite like it. And I can assure you that it has been a tremendous burden of research and prayer for me in its development. It is given to you, my LDS friend, in love and in Christ.
If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may doubt the sincerity of that love, but I assure you that it is real and it is honest. If you are one of the many people investigating the church, I pray that you will take time out from your studies to read this thoroughly and ask the Lord to settle the matter in your heart and mind.
Whatever your reason for reading these words, I promise that the next hour of reading time may well be the most significant hour in your spiritual life. Significant, because it will either solidify your belief in the absolute truth of the Mormon message, or questions will be raised that may cause you to take another and deeper look at some of the key doctrines of the church.
I write this an ex-Mormon who spent almost 20 years in the LDS Church, a member of the Melchizedek priesthood, a Temple Mormon and active in many church callings. I am setting forth a challenge that first came from Brigham Young:
Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it and see if it will stand the test. (Journal of Discourses 16:46, 1873)
No man can disprove a truth…Why not rather every man rise up and say, "Let God be true, let the truth remain and let me know the truth. That is what I want I will submit to it; and let every false theory and principle fall, to rise up no more." (ibid. 8:132, 1860.)
Even more to the point was Orson Pratt's statement regarding the "truth":
If we cannot convince you by reason nor by the Word of God, that your religion is wrong, we will not persecute you…we ask of you the same generosity…Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God and we will be ever grateful for the information, and you will ever have the pleasing reflections that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming your fellow beings. (The Seer, p.15)
I am not going to try to outwit or out quote Mormon theologians and apologists. I am just going to tell it to you like it is, and put the "Restored Gospel" of the LDS Church to the test of God's Word and common sense logic.
MY CHALLENGE is that you read this with the same sincere heart mentioned in Moroni 10:4, asking God to manifest His truth to you. I exhort you to apply the same test to these pages. Seek not my truth or the Mormon truth, but God's eternal truth. Our very eternal lives are at stake, both yours and mine.
It is my solemn witness before God that he hold me accountable for any soul that I might lead from the light of His Son Jesus into the darkness of error and false doctrine. It is my earnest prayer that God so bless each reader with a full comprehension of the information written herein that, through His Holy Spirit, the truth will be evidenced without doubt or turmoil.
Points of Reference
It is the premise of this work that the Mormon and the Christian worship at entirely different altars, with "gospels" that fully separate the one from the other. It is therefore quite important that we identify the major points of division so that we can work from correct points of reference.
Joseph Smith's First Vision
One of the most important events in all of Mormon history was the day that God the Father and Jesus Christ came down, in the flesh, and told Joseph Smith that the churches were all wrong and that, in effect, Christianity was totally lost.
When the Light rested upon me I saw two personages…one of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, "This is My beloved Son, hear Him!" I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light which of all the sects was right and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong…all their creeds were an abomination in His sight, that those professors were all corrupt. (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith (History 1:19)
Christianity Lost
If we accept Joseph Smith's word for this, we must immediately conclude the Christian church is in very deep trouble. While the Christian may doubt the authenticity of Joseph Smith's statements, several very solid facts remain.
* First, it is the basic Mormon belief that God finds the Christian worship of Him unacceptable and even loathsome.
* Second, the LDS belief in a great apostasy irrevocably separates Mormonism and Christianity.
* Third, there is no way that both can be right. The claims of Mormonism to being the "restored" church exclude that possibility forever.
The Nature of the Mormon God
The foregoing description of God's appearance to Joseph Smith is noteworthy beyond his expressed displeasure with Christianity. Far more critical is his statement that God the Father and Jesus Christ both appeared before him separately, side by side, and in the flesh. It is critical because it immediately separates Mormonism and Christianity in regard to the nature of God.
Deeper review of the LDS doctrine of the Godhead reveals further separation. Basically, it is found in the doctrine of the "Law of Eternal Progression" (as man is, God once was as God is, man may become). In the book Mormon Doctrine, we are told: Further, as the Prophet also taught, there is a God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…God the Father of Jesus Christ had a father…Mortal persons who overcome all things and gain an ultimate exaltation will live eternally in the family unit and have spirit children, thus becoming eternal Fathers and eternal Mothers. God Himself, the Father of us all, is a glorified, exalted immortal resurrected man. (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, pp.322-23, 517, 643)
Joseph Smith really let the cat out of the bag in his sermon at the funeral of King Follett. Because of the length of the sermon, I will extract a few of the key thoughts.
I will prove that the world is wrong by showing what God is…I will go back to the beginning before the world was…God Himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the Great Secret. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea...
Here then is eternal life to know the only true God; and you have got to learn 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 from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation…and to sit in glory as do all those who sit, enthroned in everlasting power. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.345 -47)
Not only did he tear apart the Christian belief about the nature of God, but he then brought to full circle the Law of Eternal Progression by placing man within it.
Putting all this into perspective, Joseph Smith then described the method by which his God planned the creation of the world.
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. (ibid. p.349)
Biblical Perspective on God
The Biblical position on this is quite simple. It just doesn't teach or accept a single part of the "Law of Eternal Progression." The Bible is very clear in the matter.
I am He, before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be any after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour. Isaiah 43:10-11.
I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself. Hebrews 6:13
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Gather, He hath declared Him. John 1:18
God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent. Numbers 23:19
On these and many other scriptures like them, stands the Biblical concept of God. They are in total disagreement with the Mormon view.
In fact, the whole matter goes beyond the concept of "different views of God"; we are dealing with "views of different Gods!" The emphasis is critical.
What we face is the fact that either Mormonism is correct or the Bible is correct. One is right, the other is wrong!
The Two Kinds of Mormon Salvation
Articles 2 and 3 of the Articles of Faith of the LDS church give a brief look into Mormon doctrines regarding salvation.
* We believe that men shall be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
* We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel. [the LDS Gospel]
The LDS gospel essentially teaches that everyone will be saved. But the degree of glory depends on one's obedience to the Mormon doctrine, including everything from tithing to Temple Ordinances for self and family, as well as baptism for the dead, obedience to the living Prophet and the hierarchy of the Priesthood, attending all meetings, missionary work, welfare work, etc. Perhaps the most widely accepted work on the subject is The Articles of Faith by early Mormon Apostle and key theologian, James Talmage.
The summation of his words is the LDS position that there are actually two levels of salvation.
Level 1 The General Salvation
Talmage explains it this way: The extent of the atonement is universal, applying alike to all descendants of Adam. Even the unbeliever, the heathen and the child who dies before reaching the years of discretion, all are redeemed by the Saviour's self-sacrifice from the individual consequences of the fall. (Articles of Faith, p.85)
In other words, Christ's death upon the cross brought a general salvation for all men, which is a resurrection in order to be judged for our works.
Level 2 Individual Salvation, or Exaltation
Of the Saved, not all will be exalted to the higher glories. No one can be admitted to any order of glory, in short, no soul can be saved until Justice has been satisfied for violated law…In the Kingdom of God there are numerous levels of gradations provided for those who are worthy of them. (ibid. p.91)
The basic LDS doctrine is that Christ's atonement places all humanity at a judgment table to be reviewed for our righteousness and works, or "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."
The LDS concept is, we shall all have access to 3 different kingdoms of levels of glory, depending upon our worthiness. The lake of fire, as a place of destination, is not part of present-day LDS theology.
The Celestial Kingdom, the highest level of which is reserved for those obedient members of the Melchizedek Priesthood, who shall, with their worthy wives, become gods and goddesses.
The Terrestrial Kingdom is a secondary level set aside for those who, though honorable, failed to comply with the requirements for exaltation, or for those who proved not valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Telestial Kingdom is the lowest. It is reserved for those who had no testimony of the gospel and were lost in the carnality of the world.
The Christian Concept of Salvation
In contrast, the Christian understanding of salvation is altogether different. In the first place, the Bible teaches that all humanity has sinned and faces the judgment of God.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:20
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
But the Bible also teaches that God has provided a way to forgiveness and eternal life for man. It is not something we can do. It is something God has already done for us! It can be summed up in one scripture: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
The Bible teaches that it is only through Christ that a person can be forgiven of sin and released from its penalties.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift, price already paid, unearned by us.
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. Ephesians 2:8-9
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24
The Bible teaches that by confessing and forsaking our sins, asking the Lord to forgive us, confessing our inability to come to the Father except through Jesus and asking Him to be our Saviour and Lord of our life, we shall be forgiven and be born-again and live eternally with God.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Mt.10:32
I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
The Bible also teaches that those who refuse to believe Christ and obey Him will experience frightful judgment by God. Read Revelation 20:11-15. There are no three levels of glory taught here but the lake of fire!
Also, John 3:36 states: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36.
In Comparison
The difference between the two theologies is this: The Mormon believes that personal salvation is a function or result of works of righteousness and obedience to laws and ordinances of the gospel.
The Bible teaches that works and obedience to God's laws are a function or result of personal salvation.
In other words, the Bible teaches that you don't bark to become a dog, you bark because you are one. You can sit there forever and go "Baa, Baa, Baa" but you will never become a sheep. You bark because you ARE a dog, you baa because you ARE a sheep. You don't work to get saved; you work because and when you ARE saved.
The scriptures say it this way:
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:31-32
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:1-4
Either the Mormon concept of salvation is correct or the Biblical concept of salvation is correct. One is RIGHT and the other is WRONG!
New Scripture
Another point of separation between Mormonism and Christianity is the LDS belief that God has revealed, through His Latter-day Prophet, new and more complete scripture. The LDS Church teaches that The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants are all new and vital scripture.
The Christian denies the divine origin of these and maintains the Holy Bible to be the only Holy Scripture given by God.
Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2
What thing soever I command you observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish it. Deuteronomy 12:32
Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Proverbs 30:6
Thus, the Bible shows the LDS scriptures false. Again, either the Mormons are correct in this or the Christians. There can be no middle of the road.
What's the Difference Anyway?
In summary, the doctrines of Mormonism that irreconcilably separate the Mormon Church and the Christian Church are as follows:
* 1. All churches except the Mormon Church are in error, all are abominations before God.
* 2. The Bible is, at best, a weak source of truth. It is in error and God has sent more complete and accurate scripture.
* 3. We must earn our own salvation.
* 4. We can become "Gods."
* 5. God was once a man but progressed into Godhood. So did our Heavenly Mother.
* 6. All this is known because God sent a prophet in the latter days.
These doctrines are not conceptual differences of the same man/God relationship. If they are truly the LDS theology, then Mormons and Christians are actually worshipping at different altars with totally different Gods and gospels!
Now the question is, what do we do with this information? If God is a loving and caring God, He will have provided some way for us to check out different gospels, different christs, and even different gods.
How can we, at such opposite ends in doctrinal difference, come together on some common ground to evaluate these differences in an effort to determine both truth and error?
The Common Denominator
The one area upon which we agree is the Holy Bible being the Word of God (insofar as it is translated correctly).
And we do have the correct translation of the original scriptures. The Dead Sea scrolls verify that we have the correct translation of the Old Testament; and a huge mass of ancient manuscripts of the New Testament verify that our New Testament is the same text that was first given to the Church of Christ.
Since both the Christian and the Mormon basically believe that the Bible is God's Word to man through the age of the Apostles, let's see what it has to say regarding the subjects we have covered.
First, a Warning or Two
The Bible is explicit in its warnings regarding doctrines other than those given in detail by the New Testament writers. Let's look at a few. Remember, they pertain to warnings against teachings other than those THEY brought to the people.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted…
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
Just what was the gospel Paul preached to the early church?
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Cor. 15:1-5.
Preach the word; be instant in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:1-2
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Mark 13:21-23
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-18
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15
Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses are all things proven true (Matthew 18:16). In the case of warnings about false doctrine and false prophets, I have more than doubled the number of two or three witnesses.
I am concerned that you come to know that Mormonism faces the grave danger of eternal condemnation if its doctrines are not in full accord with the Word of God.
A True Prophet?
James Talmage stated the challenge quite clearly in the book, The Articles of Faith.
The question of this man's [Joseph Smith] divine commission is a challenging one for the world today. If his claims to a divine appointment be false, forming as they do the foundation of the Church in this last dispensation, the superstructure cannot be stable; if however, his avowed ordination under the hands of heavenly personages be a fact, one need search no farther for the cause of the phenomenal vitality and continuous development of the restored church. (The Articles of Faith, p.8)
Joseph Smith, himself, put it all into boastful perspective when he said:
I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has 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. (History of the Church, vol.6, pp.408-09, 1844)
Brother Talmage, we accept the opportunity to test the Prophet Joseph Smith because upon his honor rests the honor of the Mormon gospel.
Biblical Tests of a Prophet
The Word of God is amazingly clear in the testing of a prophet. Numerous scriptural tests are available, in detail and with enough backup scripture to confirm the validity of each test. Although there are many tests, we will limit ours to four areas.
Test #1 Other Gods
If there arise among you a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee saying, let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams…and that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death. Deuteronomy 13:1-5
A true prophet of God will not teach a conflicting doctrine of God. Not only does the Mormon doctrine of God (the Law of Eternal Progression) totally conflict with the basic scriptural God, but it is even in conflict with Mormonism's teachings.
First, the "official" version of the first vision is in major conflict with the "only known account of the vision in Joseph Smith's own hand," which was written about six years before the official account as recorded in The Pearl of Great Price. It states: …the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph my son thy sins are forgiven thee, go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life behold the world lieth in sin at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouths of the prophets and Apostles behold and lo I come quickly as it was written of me in the cloud clothed in the glory of my Father.
This account was taken from BYU Studies, Spring 1969, p.281. Dean C. Jessee, Church Historical Department states: "This is the only known account of the vision in his [Joseph Smith's] own hand." (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Spring 1971, p.86).
There was no mention of God and Jesus in the flesh, only Jesus in a vision into the Heavens.
Secondly, the God of Mormonism and the Law of Eternal Progression do not agree with The Book of Mormon spoken of as containing the "Fullness of the Everlasting Gospel" (D&C 27:5). Nowhere in its pages is there any reference to either the God of Mormonism or the Law of Eternal Progression. In fact, quite the opposite. One of the many Mormon scriptures that describes the nature of God is as follows:
And now Abinadi said…I would that ye should understand that God Himself should come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people, and because he dwelleth in the flesh he shall be called the Son of God and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son.
The Father because He was conceived by the power of God; and the Son because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and the Son. And they are one god, ye the very eternal Father of heaven and earth.
And thus the flesh becoming subject to the spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God. The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 15:1-5
Test #2 False Prophecy
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other Gods, even that Prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:20-22
A true prophet of God cannot utter a single false prophecy, not one! At no time can he give out a "Thus saith the Lord" and have it not come to pass. Joseph Smith gave forth approximately 64 prophecies. 64 times he said, "Thus saith the Lord."
If even one single one of these prophecies failed to come to pass, the scriptures call Joseph a false prophet. Some very comprehensive research has gone into this area. It is easy to do research on historical events. Out of 64 prophecies, 58 of them fail the test! Only six of them came to pass!
Even granting the ability of the Mormon challenger to persuade the researcher to ignore or disregard 50 of them, the remaining eight still totally destroy (eight times) the honor of Joseph Smith as a prophet of the God of Abraham, of Moses and of John the Baptist.
Let's look at a few of these prophecies.
The Civil War Prophecy
Every Mormon should be familiar with the prophecy concerning the Civil War. But have you really looked at it in its entirety and checked it out?
1. Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;
2. And the time will come that war will be pour out upon all nations, beginning at this place.
3. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain…and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.
4. And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshalled and disciplined for war.
5. And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.
6. And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations.
7. That the cry of the saints, and the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath, from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies.
8. Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants, p.87)
First, it was given on Christmas day, 1832, in appearance almost 30 years before the Civil War began. Yet, in actual fact, Congress had passed a tariff in July of 1832 that South Carolina declared unacceptable. Six months later, or during Christmas season, 1832, the nation's press expected and wrote about an immediate outbreak of Civil War to being with this South Carolina rebellion. Even the US Army was on alert in the matter. With this in mind, it was no great revelation to predict the events stated in verse #1.
In fact, however, the outbreak did not come to pass. The entire prophecy was shelved and never appeared in print during Joseph Smith's lifetime! The first two editions of the History of the Church did not include it even though it was in the handwritten manuscript. It did not appear in print until 1851, when the nation was again having problems between the north and the south.
Secondly, the scope of the prophecy is that the war would begin locally and pour out upon all nations, and it shall be the direct cause of an international global war. This is a definite prophecy that DID NOT come to pass at all.
Third, verses 3-6 state that the slaves shall rise up, the "remnants left in the land" shall come against the Gentiles (non-Mormons) and the bloodshed, famines, plagues (caused by this great war) shall bring, with God's wrath, "a full end of all nations." Again, a definite, tangible prophecy that DID NOT come to pass.
By any test, within any standard, the prophecy on the Civil War was and is a false prophecy.
The Grease Spot Prophecy
On 16 December 1843, Joseph Smith spoke of a petition he had filed with Congress for protection of the Latter-Day Saints: While discussing the petition with Congress, I prophesied by virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and God shall damn them and there shall nothing be left of them not even a grease spot. (Millennial Star, vol.22, p.455)
Needless to say, Congress did not grant the petition and the government grew to be the most powerful government in the world! Another false prophecy!
Jesus' Return
While Ezekiel and other prophets of old set the stage for specific events to unfold over the centuries, Joseph Smith was talking in the NOW times, not in the distant future. In 1835:President Smith then stated…it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, would be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord which was nigh, even fifty-six years should wind up the scene. (History of the Church, vol.2, p.182.)
He later added that if he met with a violent end, the scene would wind up a good ten years earlier. Well, 1881 and 1891 came and went without any return of Christ. Another specific test of exact prophecy and another failure.
Who Is Oliver Granger?
Just one of the simpler prophecies dealt with the great fame of one Oliver Granger.
And again I say unto you, I remember my servant, Oliver Granger; behold, verily, I say unto him that his name shall be hand in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever; saith the Lord. (Doctrine and Covenants 117:12)
Silly? Yes! Of great importance? No! False? Yes, unless you and three out of four Mormons you ask tell you with fond remembrance, just who Oliver Granger really was.
Test #3 Out of Harmony with Other "True" Prophets?
To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
Joseph Smith not only falls out of harmony with the Bible with his doctrines on God, but is also in disharmony with the Word of God in several other areas.
The Mormon Apostasy not Scriptural
Joseph Smith claims a total, complete apostasy took place. This, in spite of numerous scriptures promising that Christ shall come and establish His Church and it shall never be taken from us. Matthew 16:18 says: And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter [Petros = "little stone"], and upon this rock [Petra = Bedrock = Jesus] I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [See 1 Cor.10:4 for the same use of the word "Rock"]
The Mormon Priesthood Not Scriptural
The LDS Church teaches that Christ established the "true church" government before He ascended. Where is the establishment of the Melchizedek Priesthood? Where is the witness of even one scripture where Christ laid hands upon any man and ordained him to the Melchizedek or Aaronic Priesthood?
Further, where in the New Testament does Jesus confirm the Old Testament Priesthood to be established order for His Church? Quite the opposite was actually true! (See Matthew 16:5-12)
In fact, John the Baptist, the man who Joseph Smith said came down from heaven and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood NEVER even had that authority! (See Matthew 21:23-27) If he did, the people who controlled the Aaronic Priesthood in those days surely didn't know about it!
Where in the New Testament does Christ establish temple ceremonies the rites and rituals, blood oaths, secret words, names, combinations? The wearing of specially designed and marked garments?
Where did He establish His 12 apostles to be under the control and direction of a prophet and his two counselors? Who was the first Prophet, Seer and Revelator so established? Where in the New Testament was he set apart and ordained as such?
Where did Jesus establish polygamy as the path to righteousness as the "New and Everlasting Covenant" with God?
If the Church Jesus established was "God's Perfect Church" (Mormon emphasis), how could Christ establish it forever and miss all these highly important items?
Test #4 A Lying Prophet
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed. Isaiah 9:15-16
The LORD said unto me, the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: the prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart. Jeremiah 14:14
Joseph Smith openly violated this trust many times. Two of the more significant times he knowingly lied while the Prophet and spiritual leader of the LDS people are herein mentioned. Both times, his position would have been in serious jeopardy had the real facts been known!
Joseph the Glass Looker
It was charged that Joseph Smith was accused and found guilt of parting a local farmer from his money in a less than honest scheme, commonly money digging or glass looking. It was reported to have been an activity that brought him rebuke from his soon-to-be father-in-law, Isaac Hale. It is also historically recorded that he was removed from membership in a local Methodist church because of the activity and trial results.
Joseph Smith skims over the specific event leading to the trial in The Pearl of Great Price (Joseph Smith History 1:56) explaining that he was only a day worker for the man so engaged and not personally involved. Mormon writers have continually challenged its doubters to find the records (seemingly lost) and prove Joseph Smith a liar or stop the attacks.
Mormon writer Hugh Nibley, in The Myth Makers, p.142, says:
If this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith. Well, in spite of 140 years of silence, the records did turn up. In 1971, Reverend Wesley Walters discovered them in the basement of the Chenango County, New York jailhouse.
The records, affidavits, and other data show conclusively that Joseph Smith was arrested, went to trial, was found guilty as an imposter in the Stowell matter of "glass looking." It is not a matter of debate, opinion or religious preference. It is a proven historical fact. The key issue here is NOT where he did or did not indulge in the practice. The issue is that Joseph Smith LIED in the matter.
Joseph the Polygamist
In the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, the issue of polygamy was very definitely spoken out against.
Inasmuch as this "Church of Christ" has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband; except that in the event of death when either is at liberty to marry again. (Doctrine and Covenants 101:4, 1835 edition)
In other words, no man could marry a second wife unless the first one died. No divorce and no polygamy. It was labeled a CRIME! That was the "Word" from God.
However, Joseph Smith didn't exactly live as he preached. In 1887, Andrew Jenson, Mormon Church Historian, listed 27 women who were married to Joseph Smith, officially, during the time such a union was a "crime" before God.
Fawn Brodie, in her book, No Man Knows My History, (Appendix C) lists each in detail and brings the number to a total of 48 women who were sealed to the Prophet and united with him in "Holy Polygamy." These marriages are not to be confused with later "proxy" sealings to the dead Joseph Smith. 149 additional dead women were later sealed to him in temple ceremonies, according to Brodie.
It was only when it became so openly known that Smith finally admitted it and declared it a special gift of God and released the now "scripturized" law of polygamy given in Doctrine and Covenants §132. Although this "revelation" came forth in 1843, it not show up in "scripture" until 1876. The earlier warning against polygamy (Doctrine and Covenants 101:4, 1835 edition) just disappeared without not or explanation.
It should be noted that Joseph's new "revelation" giving God's sanction for what was a crime before Him only a few years earlier, DID NOT retroactively absolve Joseph of all wrong. Doctrine and Covenants 132:61 states.
If any man espouse a virgin and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.
First, Joseph had already been quite active in the "espousing" business long before his wife heard of the doctrine, long before she reluctantly gave consent to be party to it.
Second, seven of the ten wives he already had were already married to other living men in complete opposition to the new "revelation" Joseph received! Joseph received "Marriage for eternity, with concubinal privileges" while the husbands had married for "time only."
Third, notwithstanding the problems already stated, the whole idea of multiple wives was (and still is) in total disagreement with Doctrine and Covenants 42:22 which says, "Thou shalt love thy WIFE with all thy heart, and shall cleave unto HER and NONE else." (Author's emphasis)
A Lie is a Lie
Friends, a lie is a lie is a lie, and when it comes out of the mouth of a man proclaimed to be a prophet of God, that man is sent not of God, neither has God commanded him. He speaks only out of "the deceit of his heart." (Jeremiah 14:14)
Joseph the False Prophet
I beseech you to seek further in the Word of God, the Bible, to test all things by it and through it. The salvation Joseph Smith taught is not of the Lord. He has led you to follow after other gods and he has led you away from the true Word of God into false scripture.
MORMONISM, AS THE "ONLY TRUE CHURCH," CANNOT BE PARTIALLY TRUE! IT MUST BE TOTALLY CORRECT OR TOTALLY WRONG. IT IS MY TESTIMONY TO YOU THAT IT IS TOTALLY WRONG!
You may look about you in a Sacrament Meeting and find my words harsh and difficult to accept among all the smiling, radiant faces. But Satan is not going to come to you looking like a 14-foot frog with hair and fire coming out of his nostrils. He is going to look just like an "angel of light" and so will his ministers (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
My heart weeps because the scriptures are clear in the warnings as to the end of those who follow such prophets and their ministers.
For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Isaiah 9:16
A Personal Testimony
This witness is not given to hurt you. It is given to testify to you that the Lord loved me as much when I was a Mormon as he loves me today; that He loves you every bit as much as He loves me, but that He weeps for every soul lost in false doctrines and false religions. This is not some intellectual battle between us; for the battle is the Lord's, and it is with powers outside the realm of flesh and blood. He is calling His own from the world. He stands at the door and knocks. He has NO prophets and priests waiting there ahead of Him…He stands there!
Dear brothers and sisters, Joseph Smith has led you back into the bondage of the Old Testament Law, and more than that, back under the control of a false prophet. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law. The New Covenant Lamb of God put an end to it all and replaced it with His love and intercession. JESUS is my high priest after the order of Melchizedek and there is no other in the kingdom of God (Hebrews 7:24).
Having left the Mormon Church after almost 20 years, it is my personal testimony to you that:
1. I do not place my eternal life in the hands of any Latter-Day Prophet nor is it (my eternal life) conditional on my membership in any church or priesthood. I place my life at the foot of the cross, in Jesus Christ and in God's Holy Word, the Bible.
2. Joseph Smith was not a prophet of God. He fails every test of a prophet, including teaching false doctrine, uttering false prophecies and lying.
3. The LDS Church is NOT "The Restored Gospel." Scripture promises and history proves that the "Gospel" never left the earth.
4. The Book of Mormon is manifestedly a contrived document and not of divine origin.
5. The Pearl of Great Price (particularly the Book of Abraham) is a work of pure fraud.
6. The Doctrine and Covenants have been rewritten, added to, and whole sections deleted in such proportion as to make it invalid as scripture of any kind, even if it were true that God originally spoke to Joseph Smith (which He didn't).
7. The LDS Church leadership has made serious and substantial changes to all their scriptures as well as most Church history. I believe they have done this in order to dupe their members, to hide doctrinal errors and to protect some leaders from exposure of their moral failure.
8. The Priesthood of the LDS Church holds absolutely NO authority to act in the name of GOD. Its origin is a lie and its power is the power of priestcraft, and its author is Satan.
9. The LDS Law of Eternal Progression with its unscriptural description of the True Nature of God is the real abomination in the sight of God.
It is my solemn testimony and firm belief that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fails every test God has given us for this purpose.
As mentioned earlier, the Saviour foretold of this happening in Mark 13:21-22:
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
I chose to take heed to His Word in the 21st verse. "I believed them not." After my own evaluation, I determined that they were false prophets with a false christ and I had my name removed from the records of the LDS Church.
THE REAL JESUS
The real Jesus is waiting to love you and nurture you and lead you into the safety of His Word. It is no strange doctrine, but a COMPLETE doctrine, to submit yourself to the gentleness of the true Saviour.
Repent and believe in HIM today! The Real Jesus, the one who died on Calvary for your sins. Believe on Him, believe that having Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and Saviour is all that you need to live with your Heavenly Father; that you don't need church membership or a special priesthood or temple garments or a prophet to guide you…just JESUS! He is every that God could give.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
~J. Edward Decker
This is a very special booklet. I'm sure that you have never read one quite like it. And I can assure you that it has been a tremendous burden of research and prayer for me in its development. It is given to you, my LDS friend, in love and in Christ.
If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may doubt the sincerity of that love, but I assure you that it is real and it is honest. If you are one of the many people investigating the church, I pray that you will take time out from your studies to read this thoroughly and ask the Lord to settle the matter in your heart and mind.
Whatever your reason for reading these words, I promise that the next hour of reading time may well be the most significant hour in your spiritual life. Significant, because it will either solidify your belief in the absolute truth of the Mormon message, or questions will be raised that may cause you to take another and deeper look at some of the key doctrines of the church.
I write this an ex-Mormon who spent almost 20 years in the LDS Church, a member of the Melchizedek priesthood, a Temple Mormon and active in many church callings. I am setting forth a challenge that first came from Brigham Young:
Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it and see if it will stand the test. (Journal of Discourses 16:46, 1873)
No man can disprove a truth…Why not rather every man rise up and say, "Let God be true, let the truth remain and let me know the truth. That is what I want I will submit to it; and let every false theory and principle fall, to rise up no more." (ibid. 8:132, 1860.)
Even more to the point was Orson Pratt's statement regarding the "truth":
If we cannot convince you by reason nor by the Word of God, that your religion is wrong, we will not persecute you…we ask of you the same generosity…Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God and we will be ever grateful for the information, and you will ever have the pleasing reflections that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming your fellow beings. (The Seer, p.15)
I am not going to try to outwit or out quote Mormon theologians and apologists. I am just going to tell it to you like it is, and put the "Restored Gospel" of the LDS Church to the test of God's Word and common sense logic.
MY CHALLENGE is that you read this with the same sincere heart mentioned in Moroni 10:4, asking God to manifest His truth to you. I exhort you to apply the same test to these pages. Seek not my truth or the Mormon truth, but God's eternal truth. Our very eternal lives are at stake, both yours and mine.
It is my solemn witness before God that he hold me accountable for any soul that I might lead from the light of His Son Jesus into the darkness of error and false doctrine. It is my earnest prayer that God so bless each reader with a full comprehension of the information written herein that, through His Holy Spirit, the truth will be evidenced without doubt or turmoil.
Points of Reference
It is the premise of this work that the Mormon and the Christian worship at entirely different altars, with "gospels" that fully separate the one from the other. It is therefore quite important that we identify the major points of division so that we can work from correct points of reference.
Joseph Smith's First Vision
One of the most important events in all of Mormon history was the day that God the Father and Jesus Christ came down, in the flesh, and told Joseph Smith that the churches were all wrong and that, in effect, Christianity was totally lost.
When the Light rested upon me I saw two personages…one of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, "This is My beloved Son, hear Him!" I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light which of all the sects was right and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong…all their creeds were an abomination in His sight, that those professors were all corrupt. (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith (History 1:19)
Christianity Lost
If we accept Joseph Smith's word for this, we must immediately conclude the Christian church is in very deep trouble. While the Christian may doubt the authenticity of Joseph Smith's statements, several very solid facts remain.
* First, it is the basic Mormon belief that God finds the Christian worship of Him unacceptable and even loathsome.
* Second, the LDS belief in a great apostasy irrevocably separates Mormonism and Christianity.
* Third, there is no way that both can be right. The claims of Mormonism to being the "restored" church exclude that possibility forever.
The Nature of the Mormon God
The foregoing description of God's appearance to Joseph Smith is noteworthy beyond his expressed displeasure with Christianity. Far more critical is his statement that God the Father and Jesus Christ both appeared before him separately, side by side, and in the flesh. It is critical because it immediately separates Mormonism and Christianity in regard to the nature of God.
Deeper review of the LDS doctrine of the Godhead reveals further separation. Basically, it is found in the doctrine of the "Law of Eternal Progression" (as man is, God once was as God is, man may become). In the book Mormon Doctrine, we are told: Further, as the Prophet also taught, there is a God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…God the Father of Jesus Christ had a father…Mortal persons who overcome all things and gain an ultimate exaltation will live eternally in the family unit and have spirit children, thus becoming eternal Fathers and eternal Mothers. God Himself, the Father of us all, is a glorified, exalted immortal resurrected man. (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, pp.322-23, 517, 643)
Joseph Smith really let the cat out of the bag in his sermon at the funeral of King Follett. Because of the length of the sermon, I will extract a few of the key thoughts.
I will prove that the world is wrong by showing what God is…I will go back to the beginning before the world was…God Himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the Great Secret. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea...
Here then is eternal life to know the only true God; and you have got to learn 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 from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation…and to sit in glory as do all those who sit, enthroned in everlasting power. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.345 -47)
Not only did he tear apart the Christian belief about the nature of God, but he then brought to full circle the Law of Eternal Progression by placing man within it.
Putting all this into perspective, Joseph Smith then described the method by which his God planned the creation of the world.
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. (ibid. p.349)
Biblical Perspective on God
The Biblical position on this is quite simple. It just doesn't teach or accept a single part of the "Law of Eternal Progression." The Bible is very clear in the matter.
I am He, before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be any after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour. Isaiah 43:10-11.
I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself. Hebrews 6:13
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Gather, He hath declared Him. John 1:18
God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent. Numbers 23:19
On these and many other scriptures like them, stands the Biblical concept of God. They are in total disagreement with the Mormon view.
In fact, the whole matter goes beyond the concept of "different views of God"; we are dealing with "views of different Gods!" The emphasis is critical.
What we face is the fact that either Mormonism is correct or the Bible is correct. One is right, the other is wrong!
The Two Kinds of Mormon Salvation
Articles 2 and 3 of the Articles of Faith of the LDS church give a brief look into Mormon doctrines regarding salvation.
* We believe that men shall be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
* We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel. [the LDS Gospel]
The LDS gospel essentially teaches that everyone will be saved. But the degree of glory depends on one's obedience to the Mormon doctrine, including everything from tithing to Temple Ordinances for self and family, as well as baptism for the dead, obedience to the living Prophet and the hierarchy of the Priesthood, attending all meetings, missionary work, welfare work, etc. Perhaps the most widely accepted work on the subject is The Articles of Faith by early Mormon Apostle and key theologian, James Talmage.
The summation of his words is the LDS position that there are actually two levels of salvation.
Level 1 The General Salvation
Talmage explains it this way: The extent of the atonement is universal, applying alike to all descendants of Adam. Even the unbeliever, the heathen and the child who dies before reaching the years of discretion, all are redeemed by the Saviour's self-sacrifice from the individual consequences of the fall. (Articles of Faith, p.85)
In other words, Christ's death upon the cross brought a general salvation for all men, which is a resurrection in order to be judged for our works.
Level 2 Individual Salvation, or Exaltation
Of the Saved, not all will be exalted to the higher glories. No one can be admitted to any order of glory, in short, no soul can be saved until Justice has been satisfied for violated law…In the Kingdom of God there are numerous levels of gradations provided for those who are worthy of them. (ibid. p.91)
The basic LDS doctrine is that Christ's atonement places all humanity at a judgment table to be reviewed for our righteousness and works, or "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."
The LDS concept is, we shall all have access to 3 different kingdoms of levels of glory, depending upon our worthiness. The lake of fire, as a place of destination, is not part of present-day LDS theology.
The Celestial Kingdom, the highest level of which is reserved for those obedient members of the Melchizedek Priesthood, who shall, with their worthy wives, become gods and goddesses.
The Terrestrial Kingdom is a secondary level set aside for those who, though honorable, failed to comply with the requirements for exaltation, or for those who proved not valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Telestial Kingdom is the lowest. It is reserved for those who had no testimony of the gospel and were lost in the carnality of the world.
The Christian Concept of Salvation
In contrast, the Christian understanding of salvation is altogether different. In the first place, the Bible teaches that all humanity has sinned and faces the judgment of God.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:20
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
But the Bible also teaches that God has provided a way to forgiveness and eternal life for man. It is not something we can do. It is something God has already done for us! It can be summed up in one scripture: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
The Bible teaches that it is only through Christ that a person can be forgiven of sin and released from its penalties.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift, price already paid, unearned by us.
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. Ephesians 2:8-9
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24
The Bible teaches that by confessing and forsaking our sins, asking the Lord to forgive us, confessing our inability to come to the Father except through Jesus and asking Him to be our Saviour and Lord of our life, we shall be forgiven and be born-again and live eternally with God.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Mt.10:32
I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
The Bible also teaches that those who refuse to believe Christ and obey Him will experience frightful judgment by God. Read Revelation 20:11-15. There are no three levels of glory taught here but the lake of fire!
Also, John 3:36 states: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36.
In Comparison
The difference between the two theologies is this: The Mormon believes that personal salvation is a function or result of works of righteousness and obedience to laws and ordinances of the gospel.
The Bible teaches that works and obedience to God's laws are a function or result of personal salvation.
In other words, the Bible teaches that you don't bark to become a dog, you bark because you are one. You can sit there forever and go "Baa, Baa, Baa" but you will never become a sheep. You bark because you ARE a dog, you baa because you ARE a sheep. You don't work to get saved; you work because and when you ARE saved.
The scriptures say it this way:
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:31-32
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:1-4
Either the Mormon concept of salvation is correct or the Biblical concept of salvation is correct. One is RIGHT and the other is WRONG!
New Scripture
Another point of separation between Mormonism and Christianity is the LDS belief that God has revealed, through His Latter-day Prophet, new and more complete scripture. The LDS Church teaches that The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants are all new and vital scripture.
The Christian denies the divine origin of these and maintains the Holy Bible to be the only Holy Scripture given by God.
Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2
What thing soever I command you observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish it. Deuteronomy 12:32
Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Proverbs 30:6
Thus, the Bible shows the LDS scriptures false. Again, either the Mormons are correct in this or the Christians. There can be no middle of the road.
What's the Difference Anyway?
In summary, the doctrines of Mormonism that irreconcilably separate the Mormon Church and the Christian Church are as follows:
* 1. All churches except the Mormon Church are in error, all are abominations before God.
* 2. The Bible is, at best, a weak source of truth. It is in error and God has sent more complete and accurate scripture.
* 3. We must earn our own salvation.
* 4. We can become "Gods."
* 5. God was once a man but progressed into Godhood. So did our Heavenly Mother.
* 6. All this is known because God sent a prophet in the latter days.
These doctrines are not conceptual differences of the same man/God relationship. If they are truly the LDS theology, then Mormons and Christians are actually worshipping at different altars with totally different Gods and gospels!
Now the question is, what do we do with this information? If God is a loving and caring God, He will have provided some way for us to check out different gospels, different christs, and even different gods.
How can we, at such opposite ends in doctrinal difference, come together on some common ground to evaluate these differences in an effort to determine both truth and error?
The Common Denominator
The one area upon which we agree is the Holy Bible being the Word of God (insofar as it is translated correctly).
And we do have the correct translation of the original scriptures. The Dead Sea scrolls verify that we have the correct translation of the Old Testament; and a huge mass of ancient manuscripts of the New Testament verify that our New Testament is the same text that was first given to the Church of Christ.
Since both the Christian and the Mormon basically believe that the Bible is God's Word to man through the age of the Apostles, let's see what it has to say regarding the subjects we have covered.
First, a Warning or Two
The Bible is explicit in its warnings regarding doctrines other than those given in detail by the New Testament writers. Let's look at a few. Remember, they pertain to warnings against teachings other than those THEY brought to the people.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted…
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
Just what was the gospel Paul preached to the early church?
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Cor. 15:1-5.
Preach the word; be instant in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:1-2
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Mark 13:21-23
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-18
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15
Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses are all things proven true (Matthew 18:16). In the case of warnings about false doctrine and false prophets, I have more than doubled the number of two or three witnesses.
I am concerned that you come to know that Mormonism faces the grave danger of eternal condemnation if its doctrines are not in full accord with the Word of God.
A True Prophet?
James Talmage stated the challenge quite clearly in the book, The Articles of Faith.
The question of this man's [Joseph Smith] divine commission is a challenging one for the world today. If his claims to a divine appointment be false, forming as they do the foundation of the Church in this last dispensation, the superstructure cannot be stable; if however, his avowed ordination under the hands of heavenly personages be a fact, one need search no farther for the cause of the phenomenal vitality and continuous development of the restored church. (The Articles of Faith, p.8)
Joseph Smith, himself, put it all into boastful perspective when he said:
I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has 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. (History of the Church, vol.6, pp.408-09, 1844)
Brother Talmage, we accept the opportunity to test the Prophet Joseph Smith because upon his honor rests the honor of the Mormon gospel.
Biblical Tests of a Prophet
The Word of God is amazingly clear in the testing of a prophet. Numerous scriptural tests are available, in detail and with enough backup scripture to confirm the validity of each test. Although there are many tests, we will limit ours to four areas.
Test #1 Other Gods
If there arise among you a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee saying, let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams…and that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death. Deuteronomy 13:1-5
A true prophet of God will not teach a conflicting doctrine of God. Not only does the Mormon doctrine of God (the Law of Eternal Progression) totally conflict with the basic scriptural God, but it is even in conflict with Mormonism's teachings.
First, the "official" version of the first vision is in major conflict with the "only known account of the vision in Joseph Smith's own hand," which was written about six years before the official account as recorded in The Pearl of Great Price. It states: …the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph my son thy sins are forgiven thee, go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life behold the world lieth in sin at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouths of the prophets and Apostles behold and lo I come quickly as it was written of me in the cloud clothed in the glory of my Father.
This account was taken from BYU Studies, Spring 1969, p.281. Dean C. Jessee, Church Historical Department states: "This is the only known account of the vision in his [Joseph Smith's] own hand." (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Spring 1971, p.86).
There was no mention of God and Jesus in the flesh, only Jesus in a vision into the Heavens.
Secondly, the God of Mormonism and the Law of Eternal Progression do not agree with The Book of Mormon spoken of as containing the "Fullness of the Everlasting Gospel" (D&C 27:5). Nowhere in its pages is there any reference to either the God of Mormonism or the Law of Eternal Progression. In fact, quite the opposite. One of the many Mormon scriptures that describes the nature of God is as follows:
And now Abinadi said…I would that ye should understand that God Himself should come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people, and because he dwelleth in the flesh he shall be called the Son of God and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son.
The Father because He was conceived by the power of God; and the Son because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and the Son. And they are one god, ye the very eternal Father of heaven and earth.
And thus the flesh becoming subject to the spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God. The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 15:1-5
Test #2 False Prophecy
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other Gods, even that Prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:20-22
A true prophet of God cannot utter a single false prophecy, not one! At no time can he give out a "Thus saith the Lord" and have it not come to pass. Joseph Smith gave forth approximately 64 prophecies. 64 times he said, "Thus saith the Lord."
If even one single one of these prophecies failed to come to pass, the scriptures call Joseph a false prophet. Some very comprehensive research has gone into this area. It is easy to do research on historical events. Out of 64 prophecies, 58 of them fail the test! Only six of them came to pass!
Even granting the ability of the Mormon challenger to persuade the researcher to ignore or disregard 50 of them, the remaining eight still totally destroy (eight times) the honor of Joseph Smith as a prophet of the God of Abraham, of Moses and of John the Baptist.
Let's look at a few of these prophecies.
The Civil War Prophecy
Every Mormon should be familiar with the prophecy concerning the Civil War. But have you really looked at it in its entirety and checked it out?
1. Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;
2. And the time will come that war will be pour out upon all nations, beginning at this place.
3. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain…and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.
4. And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshalled and disciplined for war.
5. And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.
6. And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations.
7. That the cry of the saints, and the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath, from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies.
8. Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants, p.87)
First, it was given on Christmas day, 1832, in appearance almost 30 years before the Civil War began. Yet, in actual fact, Congress had passed a tariff in July of 1832 that South Carolina declared unacceptable. Six months later, or during Christmas season, 1832, the nation's press expected and wrote about an immediate outbreak of Civil War to being with this South Carolina rebellion. Even the US Army was on alert in the matter. With this in mind, it was no great revelation to predict the events stated in verse #1.
In fact, however, the outbreak did not come to pass. The entire prophecy was shelved and never appeared in print during Joseph Smith's lifetime! The first two editions of the History of the Church did not include it even though it was in the handwritten manuscript. It did not appear in print until 1851, when the nation was again having problems between the north and the south.
Secondly, the scope of the prophecy is that the war would begin locally and pour out upon all nations, and it shall be the direct cause of an international global war. This is a definite prophecy that DID NOT come to pass at all.
Third, verses 3-6 state that the slaves shall rise up, the "remnants left in the land" shall come against the Gentiles (non-Mormons) and the bloodshed, famines, plagues (caused by this great war) shall bring, with God's wrath, "a full end of all nations." Again, a definite, tangible prophecy that DID NOT come to pass.
By any test, within any standard, the prophecy on the Civil War was and is a false prophecy.
The Grease Spot Prophecy
On 16 December 1843, Joseph Smith spoke of a petition he had filed with Congress for protection of the Latter-Day Saints: While discussing the petition with Congress, I prophesied by virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and God shall damn them and there shall nothing be left of them not even a grease spot. (Millennial Star, vol.22, p.455)
Needless to say, Congress did not grant the petition and the government grew to be the most powerful government in the world! Another false prophecy!
Jesus' Return
While Ezekiel and other prophets of old set the stage for specific events to unfold over the centuries, Joseph Smith was talking in the NOW times, not in the distant future. In 1835:President Smith then stated…it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, would be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord which was nigh, even fifty-six years should wind up the scene. (History of the Church, vol.2, p.182.)
He later added that if he met with a violent end, the scene would wind up a good ten years earlier. Well, 1881 and 1891 came and went without any return of Christ. Another specific test of exact prophecy and another failure.
Who Is Oliver Granger?
Just one of the simpler prophecies dealt with the great fame of one Oliver Granger.
And again I say unto you, I remember my servant, Oliver Granger; behold, verily, I say unto him that his name shall be hand in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever; saith the Lord. (Doctrine and Covenants 117:12)
Silly? Yes! Of great importance? No! False? Yes, unless you and three out of four Mormons you ask tell you with fond remembrance, just who Oliver Granger really was.
Test #3 Out of Harmony with Other "True" Prophets?
To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
Joseph Smith not only falls out of harmony with the Bible with his doctrines on God, but is also in disharmony with the Word of God in several other areas.
The Mormon Apostasy not Scriptural
Joseph Smith claims a total, complete apostasy took place. This, in spite of numerous scriptures promising that Christ shall come and establish His Church and it shall never be taken from us. Matthew 16:18 says: And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter [Petros = "little stone"], and upon this rock [Petra = Bedrock = Jesus] I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [See 1 Cor.10:4 for the same use of the word "Rock"]
The Mormon Priesthood Not Scriptural
The LDS Church teaches that Christ established the "true church" government before He ascended. Where is the establishment of the Melchizedek Priesthood? Where is the witness of even one scripture where Christ laid hands upon any man and ordained him to the Melchizedek or Aaronic Priesthood?
Further, where in the New Testament does Jesus confirm the Old Testament Priesthood to be established order for His Church? Quite the opposite was actually true! (See Matthew 16:5-12)
In fact, John the Baptist, the man who Joseph Smith said came down from heaven and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood NEVER even had that authority! (See Matthew 21:23-27) If he did, the people who controlled the Aaronic Priesthood in those days surely didn't know about it!
Where in the New Testament does Christ establish temple ceremonies the rites and rituals, blood oaths, secret words, names, combinations? The wearing of specially designed and marked garments?
Where did He establish His 12 apostles to be under the control and direction of a prophet and his two counselors? Who was the first Prophet, Seer and Revelator so established? Where in the New Testament was he set apart and ordained as such?
Where did Jesus establish polygamy as the path to righteousness as the "New and Everlasting Covenant" with God?
If the Church Jesus established was "God's Perfect Church" (Mormon emphasis), how could Christ establish it forever and miss all these highly important items?
Test #4 A Lying Prophet
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed. Isaiah 9:15-16
The LORD said unto me, the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: the prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart. Jeremiah 14:14
Joseph Smith openly violated this trust many times. Two of the more significant times he knowingly lied while the Prophet and spiritual leader of the LDS people are herein mentioned. Both times, his position would have been in serious jeopardy had the real facts been known!
Joseph the Glass Looker
It was charged that Joseph Smith was accused and found guilt of parting a local farmer from his money in a less than honest scheme, commonly money digging or glass looking. It was reported to have been an activity that brought him rebuke from his soon-to-be father-in-law, Isaac Hale. It is also historically recorded that he was removed from membership in a local Methodist church because of the activity and trial results.
Joseph Smith skims over the specific event leading to the trial in The Pearl of Great Price (Joseph Smith History 1:56) explaining that he was only a day worker for the man so engaged and not personally involved. Mormon writers have continually challenged its doubters to find the records (seemingly lost) and prove Joseph Smith a liar or stop the attacks.
Mormon writer Hugh Nibley, in The Myth Makers, p.142, says:
If this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith. Well, in spite of 140 years of silence, the records did turn up. In 1971, Reverend Wesley Walters discovered them in the basement of the Chenango County, New York jailhouse.
The records, affidavits, and other data show conclusively that Joseph Smith was arrested, went to trial, was found guilty as an imposter in the Stowell matter of "glass looking." It is not a matter of debate, opinion or religious preference. It is a proven historical fact. The key issue here is NOT where he did or did not indulge in the practice. The issue is that Joseph Smith LIED in the matter.
Joseph the Polygamist
In the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, the issue of polygamy was very definitely spoken out against.
Inasmuch as this "Church of Christ" has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband; except that in the event of death when either is at liberty to marry again. (Doctrine and Covenants 101:4, 1835 edition)
In other words, no man could marry a second wife unless the first one died. No divorce and no polygamy. It was labeled a CRIME! That was the "Word" from God.
However, Joseph Smith didn't exactly live as he preached. In 1887, Andrew Jenson, Mormon Church Historian, listed 27 women who were married to Joseph Smith, officially, during the time such a union was a "crime" before God.
Fawn Brodie, in her book, No Man Knows My History, (Appendix C) lists each in detail and brings the number to a total of 48 women who were sealed to the Prophet and united with him in "Holy Polygamy." These marriages are not to be confused with later "proxy" sealings to the dead Joseph Smith. 149 additional dead women were later sealed to him in temple ceremonies, according to Brodie.
It was only when it became so openly known that Smith finally admitted it and declared it a special gift of God and released the now "scripturized" law of polygamy given in Doctrine and Covenants §132. Although this "revelation" came forth in 1843, it not show up in "scripture" until 1876. The earlier warning against polygamy (Doctrine and Covenants 101:4, 1835 edition) just disappeared without not or explanation.
It should be noted that Joseph's new "revelation" giving God's sanction for what was a crime before Him only a few years earlier, DID NOT retroactively absolve Joseph of all wrong. Doctrine and Covenants 132:61 states.
If any man espouse a virgin and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.
First, Joseph had already been quite active in the "espousing" business long before his wife heard of the doctrine, long before she reluctantly gave consent to be party to it.
Second, seven of the ten wives he already had were already married to other living men in complete opposition to the new "revelation" Joseph received! Joseph received "Marriage for eternity, with concubinal privileges" while the husbands had married for "time only."
Third, notwithstanding the problems already stated, the whole idea of multiple wives was (and still is) in total disagreement with Doctrine and Covenants 42:22 which says, "Thou shalt love thy WIFE with all thy heart, and shall cleave unto HER and NONE else." (Author's emphasis)
A Lie is a Lie
Friends, a lie is a lie is a lie, and when it comes out of the mouth of a man proclaimed to be a prophet of God, that man is sent not of God, neither has God commanded him. He speaks only out of "the deceit of his heart." (Jeremiah 14:14)
Joseph the False Prophet
I beseech you to seek further in the Word of God, the Bible, to test all things by it and through it. The salvation Joseph Smith taught is not of the Lord. He has led you to follow after other gods and he has led you away from the true Word of God into false scripture.
MORMONISM, AS THE "ONLY TRUE CHURCH," CANNOT BE PARTIALLY TRUE! IT MUST BE TOTALLY CORRECT OR TOTALLY WRONG. IT IS MY TESTIMONY TO YOU THAT IT IS TOTALLY WRONG!
You may look about you in a Sacrament Meeting and find my words harsh and difficult to accept among all the smiling, radiant faces. But Satan is not going to come to you looking like a 14-foot frog with hair and fire coming out of his nostrils. He is going to look just like an "angel of light" and so will his ministers (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
My heart weeps because the scriptures are clear in the warnings as to the end of those who follow such prophets and their ministers.
For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Isaiah 9:16
A Personal Testimony
This witness is not given to hurt you. It is given to testify to you that the Lord loved me as much when I was a Mormon as he loves me today; that He loves you every bit as much as He loves me, but that He weeps for every soul lost in false doctrines and false religions. This is not some intellectual battle between us; for the battle is the Lord's, and it is with powers outside the realm of flesh and blood. He is calling His own from the world. He stands at the door and knocks. He has NO prophets and priests waiting there ahead of Him…He stands there!
Dear brothers and sisters, Joseph Smith has led you back into the bondage of the Old Testament Law, and more than that, back under the control of a false prophet. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law. The New Covenant Lamb of God put an end to it all and replaced it with His love and intercession. JESUS is my high priest after the order of Melchizedek and there is no other in the kingdom of God (Hebrews 7:24).
Having left the Mormon Church after almost 20 years, it is my personal testimony to you that:
1. I do not place my eternal life in the hands of any Latter-Day Prophet nor is it (my eternal life) conditional on my membership in any church or priesthood. I place my life at the foot of the cross, in Jesus Christ and in God's Holy Word, the Bible.
2. Joseph Smith was not a prophet of God. He fails every test of a prophet, including teaching false doctrine, uttering false prophecies and lying.
3. The LDS Church is NOT "The Restored Gospel." Scripture promises and history proves that the "Gospel" never left the earth.
4. The Book of Mormon is manifestedly a contrived document and not of divine origin.
5. The Pearl of Great Price (particularly the Book of Abraham) is a work of pure fraud.
6. The Doctrine and Covenants have been rewritten, added to, and whole sections deleted in such proportion as to make it invalid as scripture of any kind, even if it were true that God originally spoke to Joseph Smith (which He didn't).
7. The LDS Church leadership has made serious and substantial changes to all their scriptures as well as most Church history. I believe they have done this in order to dupe their members, to hide doctrinal errors and to protect some leaders from exposure of their moral failure.
8. The Priesthood of the LDS Church holds absolutely NO authority to act in the name of GOD. Its origin is a lie and its power is the power of priestcraft, and its author is Satan.
9. The LDS Law of Eternal Progression with its unscriptural description of the True Nature of God is the real abomination in the sight of God.
It is my solemn testimony and firm belief that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fails every test God has given us for this purpose.
As mentioned earlier, the Saviour foretold of this happening in Mark 13:21-22:
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
I chose to take heed to His Word in the 21st verse. "I believed them not." After my own evaluation, I determined that they were false prophets with a false christ and I had my name removed from the records of the LDS Church.
THE REAL JESUS
The real Jesus is waiting to love you and nurture you and lead you into the safety of His Word. It is no strange doctrine, but a COMPLETE doctrine, to submit yourself to the gentleness of the true Saviour.
Repent and believe in HIM today! The Real Jesus, the one who died on Calvary for your sins. Believe on Him, believe that having Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and Saviour is all that you need to live with your Heavenly Father; that you don't need church membership or a special priesthood or temple garments or a prophet to guide you…just JESUS! He is every that God could give.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
~J. Edward Decker
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Looking at Freemasonry through Christian Glasses
Many men who are recruited, or encouraged to petition the Masonic Lodge for membership, join Freemasonry with the belief that participation is consistent with a sincere expression of faith in Jesus Christ. That is all the more likely to be the case when the potential member is recruited from within the church by other church members. If a man knows that the pastor or another church leader is a Lodge member, Freemasonry is effectively endorsed by church leadership. If it were not compatible with Christianity, the pastor wouldn’t be involved, he may reason. When he goes into the Lodge, he will likely view what he sees through Christian glasses, or through a Christian paradigm. Many men mistakenly believe that Freemasonry is a Christian organization because they are misled by their Christian paradigm. They have no appropriate paradigm which allows them to accurately understand Freemasonry.
Paradigms
A paradigm is a model of reality. All of us have paradigms whether we realize it or not. We interpret literally everything we see through one or more of our paradigms. Paradigms often dictate how we are able to view something. If we do not understand how an inappropriate paradigm can confuse our understanding, we are easily misled. In order to understand how the use of an inappropriate paradigm - or set of paradigms - can cause confusion, consider a man who had never seen or heard of an airplane. Try to interpret things through his eyes as he deals with a new experience. He has no concept of manned flight. He has a variety of experiences which have allowed him to form a set of valid paradigms - models of reality - for his previous experiences. If we were to get him to sit next to the pilot of a small two place Cessna and the pilot started the engine at the end of the runway which stretched out before them, would the man would think, "We are about to fly."? Of course not. He does not recognize the concrete surface in front of him as a runway, but rather as a road. He has no concept of an airplane or of an appropriate surface on which an airplane would take off and land. If he looks off to the right and sees an orange wind sock held perpendicular to the runway by a stiff breeze, he knows that the wind is blowing briskly. His wind paradigm allows him to understand something he cannot see, but he does not fathom the great significance of the cross wind in that particular situation. He will understand the sound of the engine for what it is; he has seen engines on tractors, trucks and other machinery. He expects engines to create noise and possibly some visible smoke from the exhaust. He cannot see any fuel, or the fuel tanks hidden in the wings, but he would intuitively know that both were present because his paradigm would require them. He is unable to correctly understand part of what he sees and hears because he filters what he sees through his past experiences and education. When they start down the runway, he possibly understands that a propeller is much like a fan and therefore, it is not surprising that it pulls them down the road. He will see the propeller as a fan because he has a paradigm which allows it. If he had no fan paradigm, he would likely assume that the wheels were somehow driven directly by the engine, as most other vehicles are; he could be quite puzzled by the propeller. When the wheels leave the ground and he looks down, all of a sudden he gets a new paradigm and he is then able to understand things in the future based upon this new paradigm. It would allow him to understand the possibility of traveling from Washington to London in a way other than by sea, for instance. After a few takeoffs and landings in a stiff cross wind, he will no longer view the taut wind sock in quite the same calm manner. Until he gains the set of new paradigms which allow him to understand manned flight, he will not be able to understand how inappropriate and misleading his earlier paradigms had been to this new situation. Everything new we experience will be viewed initially through our existing paradigms. We usually give no thought to whether or not our paradigms might confuse us. We usually come to know that our previous experiences have not prepared us to understand something new only when what we perceive clearly falls outside of the realm of possibility. At that point, we learn that the paradigm we were attempting to use is invalid. When we come to understand reality, we develop a new paradigm which is valid for the new situation. A great many of the Masons who claim to be Christians are confused about the true nature of Freemasonry because they are misled by their paradigms. When a man who is a Christian petitions for Lodge membership, he is investigated. The investigating committee will ask him a series of questions. They may ask his neighbors and others who know him about his character. The mere fact that he is investigated will cause him to believe that Freemasonry is very particular about the character and beliefs of the men who are admitted for membership. The process of investigation may cause him to view Freemasonry all the more favorably because everyone is not accepted. One of the questions which is always asked is, “Do you have faith in the existence of A Supreme Being?” Most Christians, without giving it a second thought, will interpret this question as “Do you have faith in God?” Many Masons actually believe that a man must have faith in God to be a Mason. Some believe that a man must be a Christian to be admitted, yet the Jewish Mason knows better.
Does Freemasonry actually require faith in God? Your answer to that question will likely be determined based upon your understanding of the phrase “A Supreme Being.” That understanding may be the result of the use of a paradigm which models God as the only Supreme Being.
God as revealed in the Scriptures
The Scriptures, the written foundation of Christianity, reveal that there is only one God who created the heavens, the earth and man.
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. (Isaiah 45:5)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Genesis 1:26)
The Scriptures reveal that God is a Spirit. God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship in spirit
and in truth. (John 4:24)
Scripture contains many accounts of men worshipping false gods. A good example would be those who worshipped Baal at Mt. Camel (1Kings 18). Scripture makes clear that there are many false gods and that many people groups have worshiped them.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. (Psalms 96:5)
Pagans are those who worship a god who is not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Scripture reveals
that those who have not embraced Jesus Christ do not have the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)
Another fact revealed in Scripture is that false gods, for example those of the Gentile peoples which surrounded Israel, are actually demons:
What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1 Cor 10:19-21)
The Trinitarian nature of God has been revealed many places in Scripture. God is revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three manifestations of God always act in unity and agreement. Jesus, the Son, said: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)
The Holy Spirit is also revealed as God: But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4)
Paul expressed the Trinitarian nature of God in the dispensing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. (1 Cor 12:3-6)
The Christian paradigm - the model of reality - concerning God and false gods is formed on the basis of the contents of Scripture. We know that there is only one God who exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We know that pagans neither worship God, nor have faith in Jesus Christ as one person of the Trinity. We know that pagans worship demons, rather than God. We understand that all those who do not follow in the teachings of Jesus, those who do not view Jesus as God and the Son of God do not have God. Jesus explained that those who know Him, know the Father. So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?"
Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." (John 8:19)
Scripture states the crucial importance of knowing Jesus. A person cannot come to the Father, except through Him: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
Non-Christian paradigms of God
When Freemasonry interviews a pagan who has petitioned for Lodge membership - for instance a Mormon, Moslem, or Hindu - they ask him if he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” Members of all three of these groups are able to answer yes and may be admitted for membership. Actually they interpret the question much as a Christian would and will understand the question as, “Do you have faith in God?” When they answer yes, are they actually expressing faith in God, or are they expressing faith in a false god?
The Mormon Paradigm
The Mormon is able to answer affirmatively, that he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being,” as he has faith in the Mormon god Elohim. Mormons believe that Elohim was once a man who lived on a planet near a star named Kolob. Elohim did not create the planet, the star named Kolob, or anything else on the planet upon which he was born. Elohim was simply a man. As part of his salvation experience, Elohim was exalted into Godhood and given a planet (Earth) to populate with spirit children produced through celestial sex with his goddess wives. The first born of these spirit children was the Mormon Jesus. Lucifer is another of Elohim’s spirit children, making Jesus and Lucifer brothers, according to Mormon doctrine. Mormons claim faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but they do not believe that these are three personalities of the same Spirit. Mormonism teaches that the Father and the Son both have physical bodies. It teaches that the Holy Ghost is a “personage of Spirit” and does not have a body of flesh and bones like the Father and the Son. Mormons do not believe in the Trinitarian God. Notice that it is necessary to understand both the Mormon paradigm and the Christian paradigm about God in order to know that Mormonism is in error. Try to view God using the Mormon paradigm and then the Christian paradigm. Notice that using either the Christian or Mormon paradigm, a person would be able to state that they believe in God, or even that they believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Without understanding both the Christian and the Mormon paradigms, it would be impossible to know how the answer, “Yes.,” is actually the answer to two different perceptions of the question concerning faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” The Christian is implicitly stating, “Yes, I have faith in the existence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God with three personalities.” The Mormon is implicitly stating, “Yes, I have faith in God who was once a man living on another planet and also believe in his first born son - a spirit child – a separate spirit.” The Christian who is able to view the question, switching between the two paradigms is able to see the problems. Mormons are not strangers to Freemasonry. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was a Mason. His brother Hiram and Brigham Young were also Masons. Mormon temple rituals are based upon Masonic ritual.
The Moslem paradigm
A Moslem who is asked if he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being” is able to answer affirmatively because he has faith in Allah. “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet,” is an often repeated phrase within Moslem circles. Islam was founded by Muhammad who was born approximately A.D. 570 in Mecca. Muhammad encountered both Judaism and Christianity on the trade routes he traveled with a camel caravan. In A.D. 610, Muhammad reported that he had been visited by the angel Gabriel. The message Muhammad claimed to have received from Gabriel became the essence of the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Islam was founded in Arabia in approximately A.D. 628-630, 600 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Arabian peoples belonged to many different tribes who worshiped different pagan deities. Muhammad taught that there was only one God and that his name was Allah. Before Muhammad received his revelation, Allah was the supreme Deity already familiar to the Bedouin people of northern Arabia. Muhammad purged Mecca of hundreds of its pagan gods, establishing a monotheistic religion. Muhammad used a scimitar, or large knife, to kill those who worshipped other gods in his drive to “rid the Ka’aba of idolatry.” (Shriners use the scimitar, the crescent moon and star of Islam as symbols for the Shrine, declare that Allah is the God of their fathers and take an oath upon the Koran.) Muhammad and Islam decreed death to all those who do not worship Allah. The people of Islam were no better off after Muhammad "purged idolatry" from the Ka’aba than they were before, because they simply exchanged the worship of one demon for another. Moslems claim that Allah is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, yet they teach that he has no son. Islam teaches that Jesus is only a prophet, inferior to Muhammad. Since the Christian paradigm holds that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, while the Moslem paradigm models God as Allah alone, we can easily understand that the Moslem envisions a false reality when he is asked if he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” He believes that his faith in Allah is faith in THE Supreme Being. He is mistaken; Allah is a false god, or demon.
The Hindu Paradigm
The Hindu is able to respond to the question, “Do you have faith in the existence of A Supreme Being?” affirmatively through his faith in Brahman, one or more of the incarnations of Vishnu, or one of the many other Hindu gods. If Hindus believe in many gods, how could a Hindu truthfully state that he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being?” The Hindu paradigm concerning God is quite different from the Christian paradigm. Hinduism adheres to monotheism, monism and pantheism, simultaneously. Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God. Monism is a philosophy that holds that everything is an extension of one reality. All differentiation is an illusion which is absorbed into the one source of all that exists. Pantheism is the belief that everything is God. This misconception of the nature of God forms the essence of Hinduism. Brahman is believed to be the life principle or force that exists in all that is. Man is not a separate spiritual entity apart from the spiritual entity that created him. Rather, man and everything that exists is a part of Brahman. Although Hinduism worships many lesser gods, they are viewed as extensions of Brahman. Therefore, when a Hindu looks at the worship of other Hindu gods, he views this worship as worship of extensions of Brahman who is all that is. Brahman and the lesser gods are all one essence. Hindus are tolerant of other religions because they see a similarity in all of them. They view truth as the essence of all religions. Hinduism holds that all religions embrace the same essential truth, yet they have substantial variations in doctrine. These variations of doctrine are thought to be due to the application of the same essential truth to different human situations. All religions are viewed as an extension of the one universal religion. With knowledge of the Hindu and Christian paradigms concerning false gods, we can understand that the Hindu’s affirmative answer to the question about faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being” would be the result of confusion on his part. His paradigm of God is misleading him. Since his paradigm holds that all gods are an extension of Brahman, he would believe that he has faith in the existence of the same God which Christians worship, although he would believe that our understanding of God is limited.
The Masonic Paradigm
Freemasonry is able to accept the Christian’s faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” Similarly, Freemasonry is able to accept the Mormon’s faith in a god who was once a man living on another planet as faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” Freemasonry likewise accepts the Moslems faith in Allah, a god who has no son, as faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” The Hindu is also able to satisfy the Masonic requirement of faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being” with his faith that everything that exists is part of Brahman.
How is Freemasonry able to accept these different, incompatible concepts of God as expressions of faith in the existence of A (SINGULAR) Supreme Being? Freemasonry is able to do this essentially because the Masonic paradigm of God holds that all men worship the same God, simply using a variety of different names. Somewhat like Hinduism, Freemasonry holds that all of the pagan gods, along with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all in essence the same God, viewed from the different vantage points of the many world religions. Freemasonry rejects the concept of a false god, as well as the concept of false religion. These Masonic teachings are clearly explained in Masonic Monitors, Masonic Code and other Masonic materials published by the authorities of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodges.
Consider the follow excerpts:
"There never was a false god, nor was there ever really a false religion, unless you call a child a false man." Max Müller - quoted in LOUISIANA MASONIC MONITOR
Not only does Freemasonry teach that all false gods are actually God by another name, Freemasonry applies teachings of eternal life to all Masons, with or without faith in Jesus Christ: As Masons we have one faith, one hope, one charity. We believe in, and depend upon the same God, have the same hope of eternal life, and that same charity which is of an enduring and uniting nature, which will enable all the good and true to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life. KENTUCKY MONITOR, p. 169
The Masonic concept of monotheism is much like the Hindu concept of monotheism, rather than the Christian view which dictates that there is One God and many false gods. Hindu monotheism views all of the various Hindu deities and all gods of other religions as merely extensions of Brahman and therefore actually the same deity. Masonic monotheism holds that all of the various gods of all false religions are the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Freemasonry requires that its members believe in one God. Additionally, Freemasonry requires that its members accept the Masonic doctrine known as the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man.
This last requirement is not stated verbally, but rather is implemented by acceptance of organizational requirements.
“The first of the universally recognized Landmarks of Freemasonry states that ‘monotheism is the sole dogma of
Freemasonry. Belief in one God is required of every initiate, but his conception of the Supreme Being is left to his own interpretation. Freemasonry is not concerned with theological distinctions. This is the basis of our universality.’”
INDIANA MENTOR’S MANUAL, p. 19
Masonry has no religious dogma other than that it requires a belief in Deity. Any man, good and true, whether he be Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, Parsee, Buddhist, Brahman or Deist may be admitted to Masonry because all these
religions require a belief in Deity. MASONIC CODE ALABAMA, p.141, 1963
To the altar of Freemasonry all men bring their most votive offerings. Around it all men, whether they have received their teachings from Confucius, Zoroaster, Moses, Mohammad or the founder of the Christian religion--just so long as they believe in the universality of the fatherhood of God and universality of the brotherhood of man--meet upon a common level.
The Jew returns to his synagogue, the Mohammedan to his mosque and the Christian to his temple-- each better prepared for the solemn duties of life by the associations in this universal brotherhood. LOUISIANA MONITOR, p. 150, 1988
The Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man doctrine embodies the foundation of Masonic teaching. It holds that there is one God who is the Father of all men and is worshiped by men of any and all religions. Freemasonry teaches that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the same spirit which the Hindus worship as Brahman, the Moslems worship as Allah, the Mormons worship as Elohim, and the Zoroastrians (Parsees) worship as Ahura Mazdah. All Masons implicitly embrace the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man; they put it into practice when they participate in Lodge. Freemasonry prohibits a “discussion of religion” within the Lodge. When a candidate is brought before the Lodge to be voted into membership, no one is allowed to ask if the candidate is a Hindu, Moslem, Mormon, Buddhist, or if he claims to be a Christian. By voting to admit men who may not have faith in Jesus Christ as God into membership, or by sitting in Lodge with such men, the “Christian” Mason and all other Masons put the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man doctrine into practice. By sitting in Lodge, or recognizing other men as Masons, a man implicitly agrees that the other men have met the key requirements for membership. Those requirements are that they believe in the existence of “A Supreme Being” and that they believe that there is only one God. Scripture states that anyone who does not abide in the teachings of Jesus does not have God. (2 John 9) Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father but by Me. (John 14:6) Freemasonry disagrees. Each Mason, at one point in our ceremonies, expresses a belief in the existence of a Supreme Being. To refuse or decline to do so would have denied him the privileges of Freemasonry.
We welcome to our doors and admit to our privileges worthy men of all faiths and creeds who possess the indispensable qualifications, and bar none because of their faith or creed. MASONRY AND THE MASON Grand Lodge of Texas, p.7, 1997
If a particular Mason were to believe the teachings of Christianity and understand the Christian paradigm which holds that the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons rather than God, he could not knowingly accept a man who has faith in a false god as one who has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” To do so would be to take the inconsistent position that demons are Supreme Beings. The difficulty in joining men of incompatible religions around the altar of universal religion becomes obvious when the issue of prayer is considered. Freemasonry cannot choose the god of any well known false religion as the object of worship, as even immature Christians would recognize the error immediately. Similarly, they cannot choose Jesus Christ or the Holy Trinity as the object of worship because Jews, Moslems and others in the Lodge would be offended. The obvious solution is to keep Jesus out of the Lodge and attempt to cause all present to believe or pretend that they are praying to the same spirit they worship when they meet congregationally with others who practice their particular religion. Freemasonry solves this problem with the Masonic paradigm that all men worship the same God, simply using different names. Freemasons offer prayer to a god who is known as the Great Architect of the Universe (GAOTU). Freemasonry defines the nature of the GAOTU with adherence to the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man doctrine. The GAOTU is implicitly defined as Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Allah, the Mormon Elohim, Ahura Mazdah, Baal, Molech and all other false gods which have ever been named by man. When Freemasonry causes pagans to join in prayer to the GAOTU, are they then worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? No, they are still worshiping demons, as would be any Christian who would join with them. Participation in Freemasonry ensnares a man in idolatry. In the Lodge, prayer is offered by one man for all present.
Grand Lodges confirm the nature of Masonic teachings and prayer: A Mason offering prayer in the Lodge may pray to his God -- observing his own conception of Deity. . . . None should take umbrage because he addresses his prayer to his own conception of Deity. He must use prayer in the Ritual in all ritualistic ceremonies. Any other prayer is out of order in such ceremonies. MASONIC CODE OF ALABAMA, pp.141-2, 1963
When addressing the Deity in prayer it should never be done in a way that excludes Brothers of other faiths and of necessity should be inclusive and universal, not sectarian or denominational. MASONIC MANUAL-MINNESOTA, p109, 1998
Masons believe that there is one God and that people employ many different ways to seek and to express what they know of God. Masons primarily uses (sic) the appellation, "Grand Architect of the Universe," and other non-sectarian titles, to address Deity. In this way, persons of different faiths may join together in prayer, concentrating on God rather than on differences among themselves. Masonry believes in religious freedom and that the relationship between the individual and God is personal, private, and sacred. MASONIC MANUAL OF MINNESOTA, p16, 1998
The Grand Lodge of Indiana reveals that the object of prayer in the Lodge, the GAOTU is not actually God, but rather merely a symbol: “One fundamental of Freemasonry is its non-sectarian character. Any man may offer his devotions to the Deity he reveres, under the Masonic title, no matter what name he may use in his religious worship. Thus, Great Architect of the Universe (or any of its variations) is a symbol of Deity as named and worshiped in all religions. INDIANA MENTOR’S MANUAL, p. 49
Christians who accurately understand the Masonic paradigm concerning God will never become a Mason. Those who become aware of the Masonic paradigm after joining the Lodge will renounce Freemasonry. Genuine Christians will not knowingly worship at a pagan altar, be it a Masonic altar or any other. Church leaders should include teaching about false concepts of God as part of the church’s educational program. Some have claimed that we should simply preach the Gospel and ignore error. That is not a sound position for two very obvious reasons. First, addressing error is Scriptural.
Paul wrote: I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim 4:1-5)
John clearly explained how to recognize the heresies of the Gnostics: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)
Christians should recognize the spirit behind Freemasonry for what it is. Freemasonry does not confess Jesus. Second, simply preaching the Gospel will not keep church members from becoming ensnared in paganism. Proof of this is present within many churches and often within leadership. Many church members are Masons and members of other pagan fraternal orders, such as the Elks, Eagles, Moose, Odd Fellows, etc. If all church members understood the Masonic paradigm, they would be able to instantly recognize the same heresy when it is taught in other fraternal orders. Freemasonry is the archetype for virtually all other fraternal orders. Dialog with “Christian” Freemasons has provided evidence that many of them not only understand the Masonic paradigm concerning God, but are willing to defend it. Very few men who are active in Freemasonry over a period of time are ignorant. It is generally the new Mason, or the inactive Mason who is misled.
www.ephesians5-11.org
Paradigms
A paradigm is a model of reality. All of us have paradigms whether we realize it or not. We interpret literally everything we see through one or more of our paradigms. Paradigms often dictate how we are able to view something. If we do not understand how an inappropriate paradigm can confuse our understanding, we are easily misled. In order to understand how the use of an inappropriate paradigm - or set of paradigms - can cause confusion, consider a man who had never seen or heard of an airplane. Try to interpret things through his eyes as he deals with a new experience. He has no concept of manned flight. He has a variety of experiences which have allowed him to form a set of valid paradigms - models of reality - for his previous experiences. If we were to get him to sit next to the pilot of a small two place Cessna and the pilot started the engine at the end of the runway which stretched out before them, would the man would think, "We are about to fly."? Of course not. He does not recognize the concrete surface in front of him as a runway, but rather as a road. He has no concept of an airplane or of an appropriate surface on which an airplane would take off and land. If he looks off to the right and sees an orange wind sock held perpendicular to the runway by a stiff breeze, he knows that the wind is blowing briskly. His wind paradigm allows him to understand something he cannot see, but he does not fathom the great significance of the cross wind in that particular situation. He will understand the sound of the engine for what it is; he has seen engines on tractors, trucks and other machinery. He expects engines to create noise and possibly some visible smoke from the exhaust. He cannot see any fuel, or the fuel tanks hidden in the wings, but he would intuitively know that both were present because his paradigm would require them. He is unable to correctly understand part of what he sees and hears because he filters what he sees through his past experiences and education. When they start down the runway, he possibly understands that a propeller is much like a fan and therefore, it is not surprising that it pulls them down the road. He will see the propeller as a fan because he has a paradigm which allows it. If he had no fan paradigm, he would likely assume that the wheels were somehow driven directly by the engine, as most other vehicles are; he could be quite puzzled by the propeller. When the wheels leave the ground and he looks down, all of a sudden he gets a new paradigm and he is then able to understand things in the future based upon this new paradigm. It would allow him to understand the possibility of traveling from Washington to London in a way other than by sea, for instance. After a few takeoffs and landings in a stiff cross wind, he will no longer view the taut wind sock in quite the same calm manner. Until he gains the set of new paradigms which allow him to understand manned flight, he will not be able to understand how inappropriate and misleading his earlier paradigms had been to this new situation. Everything new we experience will be viewed initially through our existing paradigms. We usually give no thought to whether or not our paradigms might confuse us. We usually come to know that our previous experiences have not prepared us to understand something new only when what we perceive clearly falls outside of the realm of possibility. At that point, we learn that the paradigm we were attempting to use is invalid. When we come to understand reality, we develop a new paradigm which is valid for the new situation. A great many of the Masons who claim to be Christians are confused about the true nature of Freemasonry because they are misled by their paradigms. When a man who is a Christian petitions for Lodge membership, he is investigated. The investigating committee will ask him a series of questions. They may ask his neighbors and others who know him about his character. The mere fact that he is investigated will cause him to believe that Freemasonry is very particular about the character and beliefs of the men who are admitted for membership. The process of investigation may cause him to view Freemasonry all the more favorably because everyone is not accepted. One of the questions which is always asked is, “Do you have faith in the existence of A Supreme Being?” Most Christians, without giving it a second thought, will interpret this question as “Do you have faith in God?” Many Masons actually believe that a man must have faith in God to be a Mason. Some believe that a man must be a Christian to be admitted, yet the Jewish Mason knows better.
Does Freemasonry actually require faith in God? Your answer to that question will likely be determined based upon your understanding of the phrase “A Supreme Being.” That understanding may be the result of the use of a paradigm which models God as the only Supreme Being.
God as revealed in the Scriptures
The Scriptures, the written foundation of Christianity, reveal that there is only one God who created the heavens, the earth and man.
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. (Isaiah 45:5)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Genesis 1:26)
The Scriptures reveal that God is a Spirit. God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship in spirit
and in truth. (John 4:24)
Scripture contains many accounts of men worshipping false gods. A good example would be those who worshipped Baal at Mt. Camel (1Kings 18). Scripture makes clear that there are many false gods and that many people groups have worshiped them.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. (Psalms 96:5)
Pagans are those who worship a god who is not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Scripture reveals
that those who have not embraced Jesus Christ do not have the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)
Another fact revealed in Scripture is that false gods, for example those of the Gentile peoples which surrounded Israel, are actually demons:
What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1 Cor 10:19-21)
The Trinitarian nature of God has been revealed many places in Scripture. God is revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three manifestations of God always act in unity and agreement. Jesus, the Son, said: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)
The Holy Spirit is also revealed as God: But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4)
Paul expressed the Trinitarian nature of God in the dispensing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. (1 Cor 12:3-6)
The Christian paradigm - the model of reality - concerning God and false gods is formed on the basis of the contents of Scripture. We know that there is only one God who exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We know that pagans neither worship God, nor have faith in Jesus Christ as one person of the Trinity. We know that pagans worship demons, rather than God. We understand that all those who do not follow in the teachings of Jesus, those who do not view Jesus as God and the Son of God do not have God. Jesus explained that those who know Him, know the Father. So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?"
Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." (John 8:19)
Scripture states the crucial importance of knowing Jesus. A person cannot come to the Father, except through Him: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
Non-Christian paradigms of God
When Freemasonry interviews a pagan who has petitioned for Lodge membership - for instance a Mormon, Moslem, or Hindu - they ask him if he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” Members of all three of these groups are able to answer yes and may be admitted for membership. Actually they interpret the question much as a Christian would and will understand the question as, “Do you have faith in God?” When they answer yes, are they actually expressing faith in God, or are they expressing faith in a false god?
The Mormon Paradigm
The Mormon is able to answer affirmatively, that he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being,” as he has faith in the Mormon god Elohim. Mormons believe that Elohim was once a man who lived on a planet near a star named Kolob. Elohim did not create the planet, the star named Kolob, or anything else on the planet upon which he was born. Elohim was simply a man. As part of his salvation experience, Elohim was exalted into Godhood and given a planet (Earth) to populate with spirit children produced through celestial sex with his goddess wives. The first born of these spirit children was the Mormon Jesus. Lucifer is another of Elohim’s spirit children, making Jesus and Lucifer brothers, according to Mormon doctrine. Mormons claim faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but they do not believe that these are three personalities of the same Spirit. Mormonism teaches that the Father and the Son both have physical bodies. It teaches that the Holy Ghost is a “personage of Spirit” and does not have a body of flesh and bones like the Father and the Son. Mormons do not believe in the Trinitarian God. Notice that it is necessary to understand both the Mormon paradigm and the Christian paradigm about God in order to know that Mormonism is in error. Try to view God using the Mormon paradigm and then the Christian paradigm. Notice that using either the Christian or Mormon paradigm, a person would be able to state that they believe in God, or even that they believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Without understanding both the Christian and the Mormon paradigms, it would be impossible to know how the answer, “Yes.,” is actually the answer to two different perceptions of the question concerning faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” The Christian is implicitly stating, “Yes, I have faith in the existence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God with three personalities.” The Mormon is implicitly stating, “Yes, I have faith in God who was once a man living on another planet and also believe in his first born son - a spirit child – a separate spirit.” The Christian who is able to view the question, switching between the two paradigms is able to see the problems. Mormons are not strangers to Freemasonry. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was a Mason. His brother Hiram and Brigham Young were also Masons. Mormon temple rituals are based upon Masonic ritual.
The Moslem paradigm
A Moslem who is asked if he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being” is able to answer affirmatively because he has faith in Allah. “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet,” is an often repeated phrase within Moslem circles. Islam was founded by Muhammad who was born approximately A.D. 570 in Mecca. Muhammad encountered both Judaism and Christianity on the trade routes he traveled with a camel caravan. In A.D. 610, Muhammad reported that he had been visited by the angel Gabriel. The message Muhammad claimed to have received from Gabriel became the essence of the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Islam was founded in Arabia in approximately A.D. 628-630, 600 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Arabian peoples belonged to many different tribes who worshiped different pagan deities. Muhammad taught that there was only one God and that his name was Allah. Before Muhammad received his revelation, Allah was the supreme Deity already familiar to the Bedouin people of northern Arabia. Muhammad purged Mecca of hundreds of its pagan gods, establishing a monotheistic religion. Muhammad used a scimitar, or large knife, to kill those who worshipped other gods in his drive to “rid the Ka’aba of idolatry.” (Shriners use the scimitar, the crescent moon and star of Islam as symbols for the Shrine, declare that Allah is the God of their fathers and take an oath upon the Koran.) Muhammad and Islam decreed death to all those who do not worship Allah. The people of Islam were no better off after Muhammad "purged idolatry" from the Ka’aba than they were before, because they simply exchanged the worship of one demon for another. Moslems claim that Allah is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, yet they teach that he has no son. Islam teaches that Jesus is only a prophet, inferior to Muhammad. Since the Christian paradigm holds that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, while the Moslem paradigm models God as Allah alone, we can easily understand that the Moslem envisions a false reality when he is asked if he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” He believes that his faith in Allah is faith in THE Supreme Being. He is mistaken; Allah is a false god, or demon.
The Hindu Paradigm
The Hindu is able to respond to the question, “Do you have faith in the existence of A Supreme Being?” affirmatively through his faith in Brahman, one or more of the incarnations of Vishnu, or one of the many other Hindu gods. If Hindus believe in many gods, how could a Hindu truthfully state that he has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being?” The Hindu paradigm concerning God is quite different from the Christian paradigm. Hinduism adheres to monotheism, monism and pantheism, simultaneously. Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God. Monism is a philosophy that holds that everything is an extension of one reality. All differentiation is an illusion which is absorbed into the one source of all that exists. Pantheism is the belief that everything is God. This misconception of the nature of God forms the essence of Hinduism. Brahman is believed to be the life principle or force that exists in all that is. Man is not a separate spiritual entity apart from the spiritual entity that created him. Rather, man and everything that exists is a part of Brahman. Although Hinduism worships many lesser gods, they are viewed as extensions of Brahman. Therefore, when a Hindu looks at the worship of other Hindu gods, he views this worship as worship of extensions of Brahman who is all that is. Brahman and the lesser gods are all one essence. Hindus are tolerant of other religions because they see a similarity in all of them. They view truth as the essence of all religions. Hinduism holds that all religions embrace the same essential truth, yet they have substantial variations in doctrine. These variations of doctrine are thought to be due to the application of the same essential truth to different human situations. All religions are viewed as an extension of the one universal religion. With knowledge of the Hindu and Christian paradigms concerning false gods, we can understand that the Hindu’s affirmative answer to the question about faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being” would be the result of confusion on his part. His paradigm of God is misleading him. Since his paradigm holds that all gods are an extension of Brahman, he would believe that he has faith in the existence of the same God which Christians worship, although he would believe that our understanding of God is limited.
The Masonic Paradigm
Freemasonry is able to accept the Christian’s faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” Similarly, Freemasonry is able to accept the Mormon’s faith in a god who was once a man living on another planet as faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” Freemasonry likewise accepts the Moslems faith in Allah, a god who has no son, as faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” The Hindu is also able to satisfy the Masonic requirement of faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being” with his faith that everything that exists is part of Brahman.
How is Freemasonry able to accept these different, incompatible concepts of God as expressions of faith in the existence of A (SINGULAR) Supreme Being? Freemasonry is able to do this essentially because the Masonic paradigm of God holds that all men worship the same God, simply using a variety of different names. Somewhat like Hinduism, Freemasonry holds that all of the pagan gods, along with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all in essence the same God, viewed from the different vantage points of the many world religions. Freemasonry rejects the concept of a false god, as well as the concept of false religion. These Masonic teachings are clearly explained in Masonic Monitors, Masonic Code and other Masonic materials published by the authorities of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodges.
Consider the follow excerpts:
"There never was a false god, nor was there ever really a false religion, unless you call a child a false man." Max Müller - quoted in LOUISIANA MASONIC MONITOR
Not only does Freemasonry teach that all false gods are actually God by another name, Freemasonry applies teachings of eternal life to all Masons, with or without faith in Jesus Christ: As Masons we have one faith, one hope, one charity. We believe in, and depend upon the same God, have the same hope of eternal life, and that same charity which is of an enduring and uniting nature, which will enable all the good and true to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life. KENTUCKY MONITOR, p. 169
The Masonic concept of monotheism is much like the Hindu concept of monotheism, rather than the Christian view which dictates that there is One God and many false gods. Hindu monotheism views all of the various Hindu deities and all gods of other religions as merely extensions of Brahman and therefore actually the same deity. Masonic monotheism holds that all of the various gods of all false religions are the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Freemasonry requires that its members believe in one God. Additionally, Freemasonry requires that its members accept the Masonic doctrine known as the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man.
This last requirement is not stated verbally, but rather is implemented by acceptance of organizational requirements.
“The first of the universally recognized Landmarks of Freemasonry states that ‘monotheism is the sole dogma of
Freemasonry. Belief in one God is required of every initiate, but his conception of the Supreme Being is left to his own interpretation. Freemasonry is not concerned with theological distinctions. This is the basis of our universality.’”
INDIANA MENTOR’S MANUAL, p. 19
Masonry has no religious dogma other than that it requires a belief in Deity. Any man, good and true, whether he be Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, Parsee, Buddhist, Brahman or Deist may be admitted to Masonry because all these
religions require a belief in Deity. MASONIC CODE ALABAMA, p.141, 1963
To the altar of Freemasonry all men bring their most votive offerings. Around it all men, whether they have received their teachings from Confucius, Zoroaster, Moses, Mohammad or the founder of the Christian religion--just so long as they believe in the universality of the fatherhood of God and universality of the brotherhood of man--meet upon a common level.
The Jew returns to his synagogue, the Mohammedan to his mosque and the Christian to his temple-- each better prepared for the solemn duties of life by the associations in this universal brotherhood. LOUISIANA MONITOR, p. 150, 1988
The Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man doctrine embodies the foundation of Masonic teaching. It holds that there is one God who is the Father of all men and is worshiped by men of any and all religions. Freemasonry teaches that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the same spirit which the Hindus worship as Brahman, the Moslems worship as Allah, the Mormons worship as Elohim, and the Zoroastrians (Parsees) worship as Ahura Mazdah. All Masons implicitly embrace the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man; they put it into practice when they participate in Lodge. Freemasonry prohibits a “discussion of religion” within the Lodge. When a candidate is brought before the Lodge to be voted into membership, no one is allowed to ask if the candidate is a Hindu, Moslem, Mormon, Buddhist, or if he claims to be a Christian. By voting to admit men who may not have faith in Jesus Christ as God into membership, or by sitting in Lodge with such men, the “Christian” Mason and all other Masons put the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man doctrine into practice. By sitting in Lodge, or recognizing other men as Masons, a man implicitly agrees that the other men have met the key requirements for membership. Those requirements are that they believe in the existence of “A Supreme Being” and that they believe that there is only one God. Scripture states that anyone who does not abide in the teachings of Jesus does not have God. (2 John 9) Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father but by Me. (John 14:6) Freemasonry disagrees. Each Mason, at one point in our ceremonies, expresses a belief in the existence of a Supreme Being. To refuse or decline to do so would have denied him the privileges of Freemasonry.
We welcome to our doors and admit to our privileges worthy men of all faiths and creeds who possess the indispensable qualifications, and bar none because of their faith or creed. MASONRY AND THE MASON Grand Lodge of Texas, p.7, 1997
If a particular Mason were to believe the teachings of Christianity and understand the Christian paradigm which holds that the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons rather than God, he could not knowingly accept a man who has faith in a false god as one who has faith in the existence of “A Supreme Being.” To do so would be to take the inconsistent position that demons are Supreme Beings. The difficulty in joining men of incompatible religions around the altar of universal religion becomes obvious when the issue of prayer is considered. Freemasonry cannot choose the god of any well known false religion as the object of worship, as even immature Christians would recognize the error immediately. Similarly, they cannot choose Jesus Christ or the Holy Trinity as the object of worship because Jews, Moslems and others in the Lodge would be offended. The obvious solution is to keep Jesus out of the Lodge and attempt to cause all present to believe or pretend that they are praying to the same spirit they worship when they meet congregationally with others who practice their particular religion. Freemasonry solves this problem with the Masonic paradigm that all men worship the same God, simply using different names. Freemasons offer prayer to a god who is known as the Great Architect of the Universe (GAOTU). Freemasonry defines the nature of the GAOTU with adherence to the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man doctrine. The GAOTU is implicitly defined as Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Allah, the Mormon Elohim, Ahura Mazdah, Baal, Molech and all other false gods which have ever been named by man. When Freemasonry causes pagans to join in prayer to the GAOTU, are they then worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? No, they are still worshiping demons, as would be any Christian who would join with them. Participation in Freemasonry ensnares a man in idolatry. In the Lodge, prayer is offered by one man for all present.
Grand Lodges confirm the nature of Masonic teachings and prayer: A Mason offering prayer in the Lodge may pray to his God -- observing his own conception of Deity. . . . None should take umbrage because he addresses his prayer to his own conception of Deity. He must use prayer in the Ritual in all ritualistic ceremonies. Any other prayer is out of order in such ceremonies. MASONIC CODE OF ALABAMA, pp.141-2, 1963
When addressing the Deity in prayer it should never be done in a way that excludes Brothers of other faiths and of necessity should be inclusive and universal, not sectarian or denominational. MASONIC MANUAL-MINNESOTA, p109, 1998
Masons believe that there is one God and that people employ many different ways to seek and to express what they know of God. Masons primarily uses (sic) the appellation, "Grand Architect of the Universe," and other non-sectarian titles, to address Deity. In this way, persons of different faiths may join together in prayer, concentrating on God rather than on differences among themselves. Masonry believes in religious freedom and that the relationship between the individual and God is personal, private, and sacred. MASONIC MANUAL OF MINNESOTA, p16, 1998
The Grand Lodge of Indiana reveals that the object of prayer in the Lodge, the GAOTU is not actually God, but rather merely a symbol: “One fundamental of Freemasonry is its non-sectarian character. Any man may offer his devotions to the Deity he reveres, under the Masonic title, no matter what name he may use in his religious worship. Thus, Great Architect of the Universe (or any of its variations) is a symbol of Deity as named and worshiped in all religions. INDIANA MENTOR’S MANUAL, p. 49
Christians who accurately understand the Masonic paradigm concerning God will never become a Mason. Those who become aware of the Masonic paradigm after joining the Lodge will renounce Freemasonry. Genuine Christians will not knowingly worship at a pagan altar, be it a Masonic altar or any other. Church leaders should include teaching about false concepts of God as part of the church’s educational program. Some have claimed that we should simply preach the Gospel and ignore error. That is not a sound position for two very obvious reasons. First, addressing error is Scriptural.
Paul wrote: I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim 4:1-5)
John clearly explained how to recognize the heresies of the Gnostics: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)
Christians should recognize the spirit behind Freemasonry for what it is. Freemasonry does not confess Jesus. Second, simply preaching the Gospel will not keep church members from becoming ensnared in paganism. Proof of this is present within many churches and often within leadership. Many church members are Masons and members of other pagan fraternal orders, such as the Elks, Eagles, Moose, Odd Fellows, etc. If all church members understood the Masonic paradigm, they would be able to instantly recognize the same heresy when it is taught in other fraternal orders. Freemasonry is the archetype for virtually all other fraternal orders. Dialog with “Christian” Freemasons has provided evidence that many of them not only understand the Masonic paradigm concerning God, but are willing to defend it. Very few men who are active in Freemasonry over a period of time are ignorant. It is generally the new Mason, or the inactive Mason who is misled.
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