THE CHURCH OF CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
The thirteen articles of faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (cont’d):
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
If you’re going to make something up you should at least put a little effort into it instead of taking what already exists and then saying ditto somewhere else. The chances of two religious organizations evolving exactly the same way on two separate continents is exactly zero. The Mormons in this article are making the claim that a primitive church existed in America from 2200 BC to 420 AD with an identical religious organization as what existed in Christian churches in Europe and Asia. I don’t know how they can make that claim with a straight face. The Mormons say Jesus was in both locations which the Bible refutes.
Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Isaiah 44:24 – Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.
Isaiah 5:20 – Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
7. We believe in the gifts of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Any time you end any statement with “and so forth” it means you can make up anything you want and add it later and say it was a part of this article of faith. The Holy Bible confirms these gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit to believers at his discretion. The problem I see is someone lying about having a gift in order to fool people.
Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 14:3 – They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.
Isaiah 45:5 – I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
The Mormons believe in the Bible as long as it has been changed to include verses translated to their liking. The Mormons don’t tell us how much of the Bible they believe and how much they have changed to fit their preconceived religious ideas. What is obvious is that Mormons don’t see the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. The 66 books of the Bible were carefully vetted over 1500 years ago as the complete revelation of God. The canon was officially closed. That means Christians will not acknowledge any other writings as inspired by God. The Book of Mormon was written in the early 1800’s by Joseph Smith and never adopted as Scripture by Christian scholars so it’s obviously not a further revelation from God. The Mormons have the audacity to claim they have two additional books that are also holy Scriptures from God, namely, “Doctrines and Covenants” and “The Pearl of Great Price.”
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 – For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.
Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.
Daniel 12:2-3 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Can you imagine God making such a vague and inept statement? I can’t. This article says nothing but allows Mormons to make up anything they want later to support their cult. This is classic double-speak all the way which allows anyone to delude themselves and believe whatever they want to believe. Satan must be laughing his ass off over this one.
Isaiah 46:9 – Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
Zechariah 12:1 – The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
Psalm 104:24 – O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent, that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive paradisiacal glory.
Some of this is confirmed in the Bible. Israel has twelve tribes not ten. Jerusalem is the city of God and Jesus will rule from there and not somewhere in America. New Jerusalem will be built by God and come down from heaven to hover over Jerusalem not somewhere in America. Mormons badly want the spiritual universe to revolve around America but history and the Bible clearly shows that’s not the case.
Joshua 24:23 – Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.
Isaiah 42:8 – I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.
Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.
11. We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
I find this article personally offensive. We worship God how he says to worship him in the Bible. Anything else is a stench in God’s nostrils and those who dishonor God will feel his wrath on the last Day. The Mormons in a roundabout way are admitting they don’t believe in the gospel of Christ. To Mormons truth is a moving target. Truth is determined by feelings. When people oppose Mormon beliefs it confirms to Mormons that their beliefs must be true. What hogwash! Anyone who has been raised a Mormon is probably already brainwashed anyway because Mormons are only allowed to read church-approved material. Mormons are taught to disregard any information that opposes their faith even if the arguments seem reasonable. Mormonism has protected itself on all sides from criticism and outside influence. It’s very difficult to argue with a Mormon about faith.
Joshua 24:15 – Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Proverbs 28:9 – One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
The Bible says we’re to obey civil authority because it was established by God and the Mormons are simply confirming what the Bible says. Where civil authority conflicts with the commandments of God, we are to obey God. The Mormons don’t make that distinction.
Isaiah 45:22 – Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Hosea 13:4 – Yet I am the LORD your God … there is no Savior besides Me.
Isaiah 43:11 – I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul – We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Claiming Christian attributes doesn’t make them yours. If you believe in “all things” then you don’t stand for anything. You go where the wind blows, or in the case of Mormon’s, you do what you “feel” is right instead of obeying the commands of God that are contained in an unredacted Bible. If Mormons actually sought what was praiseworthy they would compare the Bible with their Book of Mormon and see they are totally different books at odds with each other. The Bible is the word of God and full of wisdom. The Book of Mormon is nothing more than the ravings of a lunatic, a religious crackpot and the first false prophet on the American continent. Jospeh Smith has a special place in hell for leading his followers down the path to perdition. Look how many times in his Word God tells us not only is he God, but he’s the only God. Are any Mormons out there paying attention? Mormons who currently think they’ll become gods in the next life and rule a planet are in for a rude awakening on judgment Day. When they look up and see the Great White Thone they’ll know then their fate is sealed and the lake of fire is their destination forever.
Psalm 95:6 – Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Psalm 29:2 – Give unto the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.