Saturday, June 7, 2014

Heresies of Mormonism



Heresies of Mormonism
     The first and most significant heresy is their position on the Bible. Although they say they believe the Bible is the Word of God, they also believe that the Book of Mormon is also the Word of God! (Article 8 of the Mormon Catechism). They also claim the following books to be equal with God's Word: 'Doctrines and Covenants', 'Journal of Discourses', 'Pearl of Great Price', 'Articles of Faith', 'The Seer', 'Key to Science and Technology', 'A Compendium'.

     We must refute these false teachings knowing that 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God' (II Timothy 3:16) and not the heretical writings of men! II Peter 1:21 tells us that 'The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost'. Joseph Smith was not qualified to be called a 'holy man' and his writings certainly are not equal with the inspired Word of God! God’s Word was complete upon the writing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ which contains explicit warnings to those who add or take away from the Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18, 19).

     Their teaching concerning the person of God is also riddled with heretical ideas. Brigham Young's 'Journal of Discourse' Vol. VI, p. 50 states: 'To a Mormon, God is Adam. When our Father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and brought Eve, one of his wives with him. He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do'. 

     James Talmage wrote in his book 'Articles of Faith' pp. 41-42 'It is clear that the Father is a personal being possessing a definite form, with bodily parts...We know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possess a tangible body, infinitely pure and perfect and attended by transcendent glory, nevertheless a body of flesh and bone'.

     The Bible clearly teaches that 'God is Spirit' (John 4:24) and 'A spirit hath not flesh and bones' (Luke 24:39) and that God is 'The invisible God' (Colossians 1:15); 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.' (John 1:18)

     They also believe that all men were with God and His Son Jesus Christ in the beginning living with Him in the spirit world. They erroneously teach: 'What God was once, we are now; what God is now, we shall be' (Manual of the Mormon Church, Part I, p.52). This is in direct opposition to what the Bible plainly teaches concerning God's creation of the first man Adam in Genesis 1:26ff.  God was and never will be what man is and to claim such a far-fetched idea is obvious blasphemy against God and His Truth!

     In addition their teaching concerning the salvation of man is fatally flawed. They say that the gospel of Jesus Christ is called the plan of salvation. It is a system of rules through which salvation may be gained. 'We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost'. (Fourth article of 'The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints).

     The saving ordinances of the church (baptism and laying on of hands) must be administered by men holding the priesthood, which is the authority of God delegated to men. 'Without these divinely ordained and inspired men, holding this Holy Priesthood, the work of the ministry cannot be performed acceptably by God, neither can the church be perfected' (Taken from Charles W. Penrose's book, 'Rays of Living Light' op. cit., p. 76).

    

     The Bible again, openly teaches that salvation is by grace alone and not by works! (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). There are no saving ordinances found anywhere in the Bible, however, the Bible over and over again teaches that we have a Savior, and His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Putting faith in Him and what He has accomplished for us on the Cross of Calvary is all we need for salvation!

     The last, but in no way the least of their heresies concerns the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. They say: 'The fleshly body of Jesus required a mother as well as a father. Therefore the father and mother of Jesus according the flesh must have been associated together as husband and wife; hence the virgin Mary must have been for the time being the lawful wife of God the Father' ('The Seer', p. 159)

     He was not begotten of the Holy Ghost' ('Journal of Discourses', I, 50) Therefore, Mormon doctrine denies the virgin birth of Christ! They also claim: 'It was Jesus Christ who was married at Cana to the Marys and Martha, whereby He could see His seed before He was crucified' (Orson Hyde in his 'Journal', Vol. II, p. 80).

     The Bible doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ is plainly taught in Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 31:22; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:30-35 and Galatians 4:4. This vital doctrine of Scripture has been believed by every major orthodox movement of the true church of Jesus Christ throughout the centuries!

     Their unfounded claim of Jesus polygamous marriage is blasphemous and totally void of Biblical or historical evidence showing their disrespect for His person and His own teachings concerning marriage in Matthew 19:3-9!


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