Does these things right about Christianity ?

[mynameisstephen]

this information will give you a brief overview of Mormonism,

Official Name: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormons)Founder: Joseph Smith Jr., on April 6, 1830
Current Leader: Gordon B. Hinckley (b. 1910)

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah

Membership (1998):Worldwide: 10.3 million in 28,670 wards and branches in 162 countries; United States: 5.1 million in all 50 states and D.C.;

Canada: 152,000

Missionaries (1998): 58,700

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph F. Smith Jr. (1805–1844). Smith claimed to have had a visitation from God in 1820 in which God directed him to establish the true church. Consequently,he organized the Mormon church on April 6, 1830, with six original members. Beginning with a few hundred followers, the church moved to Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois before Smith’s death at the hands of a mob at the Carthage, Ill., jail. Smith had been arrested for encouraging the destruction of the

Expositor, a Nauvoo, Ill., newspaper.

One True Church: The Mormon church claims to be the only true church. In God’s supposed revelation to Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ told him join no other church for "they were all wrong . . . their creeds were an abomination . . . those professors [members] were all corrupt" (The Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History—1:19).Mormons teach that after the New Testament, all churches became heretical and no true saints existed until the "Church of the Latter-day Saints" was organized, hence their name. Non-Mormons are thus called "Gentiles." The new revelations given to Smith, the institution of the prophet and apostles in the church, the restoration of the divine priesthoods, and the temple ceremonies make the church authentic. True and full salvation or exaltation is found only in the LDS church.

Biblical Response: The true Church of Jesus Christ has had an ongoing presence and witness in the world since Pentecost. Jesus Christ promised that His Church, true baptized and regenerate believers, would not fail (Matt. 16:17,18). The marks of a true church include faithfulness to the teaching of the first apostles (Acts 2:42)—not the creation of new doctrines.

Authority of the Prophet: The president or prophet of the church is thought to be the sole spokesman and revelator of God. Joseph Smith was the initial prophet, but each successive president holds that position. Through him God’s will can be made known to the church. All revelations are made scripture and no Mormon can attain godhood without accepting Joseph Smith as a true prophet. The Mormon scriptures state that Latter-day Saints "shalt give heed unto all his [the prophet’s] words and commandments . . . For his word ye shall receive as if from mine [God’s] own mouth" (Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5).

Biblical Response: Old and New Testament prophets were God’s spokesmen. Their words were always consistent with the Bible and pointed to God’s Son, Jesus Christ. A test of genuineness for prophets was that any prediction they proclaimed would come true (Deut. 18:20–22). For example, Joseph Smith predicted that the temple of the church would be built in Independence, Mo., within his lifetime (Doctrine and Covenants 84:2–5). No temple has yet been built there. New Testament prophets spoke, along with teachers, pastors, and evangelists, in evangelizing with and edifying the church (Eph. 4:11–13).

Mormon Scripture: Mormons accept four books as scripture and the word of God. The King James Version of the Bible is one of them, but only "as far as it is translated correctly"—seemingly allowing for possible questions about its authority. Joseph Smith made over 600 corrections to its text. Other "standard works" are the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. The Bible is missing "plain and precious parts" according to the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 13:26), which the other three volumes complete. The Book of Mormon has the "fullness of the gospel" and tells the story of a supposed migration of Israelites in 600 B.C. to the American continent. These Israelites subsequently lapsed into apostasy although their story was preserved on golden plates written in "Reformed Egyptian." Joseph Smith, it is said, translated the plates by the "gift and power of God" (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3). Reformed Egyptian does not exist as a language. The golden plates were returned to the angel Moroni after they were transcribed and Moroni returned them to heaven. The Book of Mormon does not contain explicit Mormon doctrine. Doctrine and Covenants contains the revelations of the Mormon prophets—138 in number along with two "declarations." Here most of Mormon doctrine can be found including the priesthood, baptism for the dead, godhood, and polygamy. The Pearl of Great Price contains Smith’s religious history, the Articles of Faith, the Book of Abraham, and the Book of Moses.

Biblical Response: The Bible explicitly warns against adding to or detracting from its teaching (Rev. 22:18; Deut. 4:2). The New Testament contains the inspired and totally accurate witness of contemporary disciples and followers of Jesus. It alone claims to be fully inspired by God and usable for the establishment of doctrine (2 Tim. 3:15–17; 2 Pet. 1:19–21).

Establishment of Temples: The first Mormon temple was constructed in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836. A temple was constructed in Nauvoo, Ill., in 1846. Presently there are at least 53 operating temples throughout the world including the one finished in Salt Lake City in 1893. The purpose and function of temples is for the practice of eternal ordinances, including primarily baptism for the dead, endowments, and celestial marriages. Baptism in the Mormon church, for both the living and the dead, is essential for the fullness of salvation. The dead often are baptized by proxy, which affords them after death the opportunity to become Mormons. Celestial marriage for "time and eternity" is also a temple ordinance. It is necessary for godhood and seals the marriage forever. Temples form an essential part of Mormon salvation. Only Mormons in possession of a "temple recommend" by their bishop may enter a temple.

Biblical Response: The Temple of the Old Testament was a place of symbolic sacrifice fore-figuring the sacrifice of Christ. Worship in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was a practice of early Jewish believers (Acts 2:46). Otherwise there is no mention of any such practice in the New Testament. Never was the Jewish temple used for baptism for the dead, marriage, or other secret ceremonies. It was the place in the Old Testament where the glory of God occasionally dwelt. Today the individualbeliever is God’s dwelling place and not a physical building (1 Cor. 3:16).

God Is an Exalted Man: Elohim, the god of this universe, was previously a man in a prior existence. As a result of having kept the requirements of Mormonism, he was exalted to godhood and inherited his own universe. God is confined to a "body of flesh and bones" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22) and yet is thought to be omniscient and omnipotent. He obviously cannot be omnipresent. There are an infinite number of gods with their own worlds—these too were previously men. The Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, and "Heavenly Father" comprise three separate and distinct gods. Heavenly Father sires spiritual children in heaven destined for human life on earth. All humans, as well as Jesus Christ and Lucifer, are god’s heavenly children. (See Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; God, Jesus, and the Spirit thus had beginnings.)

Biblical Response: God is Spirit and is not confined to a physical body (John 4:24). Jesus Christ was incarnated through a miraculous and nonphysical conception through the Virgin Mary. He was fully God from the beginning (John 1:1). Together with the person of the Holy Spirit, they form the triune (three-in-one) eternal God.

Jesus Is God’s "Son": Jesus was Heavenly Father’s firstborn spirit child in heaven. He was begotten by God through Mary in a "literal, full and complete sense" in the same "sense in which he is the son of Mary" (Bruce McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1993], 67). These two elements of Jesus being literally God’s son form his uniqueness in Mormon theology. In the Garden of Gethsemane as well as on the cross, Jesus atoned for Adam’s sin and guaranteed all humankind resurrection and immortality. Jesus visited the Israelites or Indians of North America after his resurrection and established the true church among them. We are the spiritual, but literal, younger brothers and sisters of Christ. Some Mormon documents claim that Jesus was married at Cana in Galilee (Mark 2) and had children himself.

Biblical Response: Jesus is viewed as God, the Word or Son, eternally existent with the Father and worthy of identity as God (John 1:1–14). He was born of the Virgin Mary who had conceived him supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for the sins of the world, and was raised from the dead. He will come again and reign as Lord of lords.

Humans Are Gods in Embryo: Every human being has the potential of becoming a god by keeping the requirements of Mormonism. A wellknown statement within Mormonism is, "As man is god once was, as god is man may become." From a prior spirit existence in heaven, humans may be born on earth in order to exercise freedom to choose good or evil and to have a body for the resurrection. Basically humans are good, but they will be punished for their sin. By keeping Mormon teaching and obeying the church and the Prophet, after the resurrection worthy Mormon males may pass the celestial guards, bring their wives with them, and achieve a status similar to Elohim—the god of this world. The consequences of their sin are erased by their allegiance to the tenets of Mormonism. In resurrection faithful Mormons receive exaltation to godhood and will exercise dominion over their world.

Biblical Response: Human beings are God’s special creation. There is no evidence from Scripture of preexistence; rather, God states that it was in the womb of our mothers that He formed us (Isaiah 44:2). A sinful nature is part of humanity’s experience. Liberation from the power and presence of sin is experienced as a result of faith in Christ. At that point God’s image is begun to be remade in every Christian. Although the believer is being transformed to Christlikeness, the Bible does not teach literal godhood as the inheritance of the saints (Rom. 8:29; Rev. 1:5,6).

Mormon Plan of Salvation: The Mormon plan of salvation is built on the idea that all people have eternal life, but only the most faithful Mormons have godhood or enter the celestial Kingdom. In order to obtain this ultimate step, Mormons must exercise faith in the God of Mormonism, its Christ, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; exercise repentance; and be baptized in the LDS church. Additionally, Mormons must keep the "Word of Wisdom" by abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine; tithe to the church; attend weekly sacrament meetings; support the Mormon prophet; do temple works; and be active in their support of the church.

Biblical Response: Salvation, according to the Bible, is due to God’s grace and love. He provided Jesus as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is through faith in the crucified and risen Jesus that we may be saved. Works are excluded (John 1:12; 3:16; Rom. 10:9–13; Eph. 2:8,9).

[Quahom1]

Welcome to CR Amulek.

All that matters to us is what you have to say about issues. Thank you for presenting your views.

v/r

Q

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by mynameisstephen

...

Establishment of Temples: The first Mormon temple was constructed in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836. A temple was constructed in Nauvoo, Ill., in 1846. Presently there are at least 53 operating temples throughout the world including the one finished in Salt Lake City in 1893. The purpose and function of temples is for the practice of eternal ordinances, including primarily baptism for the dead, endowments, and celestial marriages. Baptism in the Mormon church, for both the living and the dead, is essential for the fullness of salvation. The dead often are baptized by proxy, which affords them after death the opportunity to become Mormons. Celestial marriage for "time and eternity" is also a temple ordinance. It is necessary for godhood and seals the marriage forever. Temples form an essential part of Mormon salvation. Only Mormons in possession of a "temple recommend" by their bishop may enter a temple.

Biblical Response: The Temple of the Old Testament was a place of symbolic sacrifice fore-figuring the sacrifice of Christ. Worship in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was a practice of early Jewish believers (Acts 2:46). Otherwise there is no mention of any such practice in the New Testament. Never was the Jewish temple used for baptism for the dead, marriage, or other secret ceremonies. It was the place in the Old Testament where the glory of God occasionally dwelt. Today the individualbeliever is God’s dwelling place and not a physical building (1 Cor. 3:16)....

There is also a beautiful Temple in the Maryland/DC area off of I-495.


We do not condemn nor imply condemnation here at CR Stephen...ligthen up.

v/r

Q

[Quahom1]

Welcome to CR Amulek,


Please note:
We have nothing against people sharing their faith with other members, but CR does not tolerate the presence of members whose sole purpose is to preach at others of different or the same faith.

Neither does CR tolerate the presence of self-appointed modern-day prophets, nor anyone else aggressively seeking to promote their own agendas here.

CR especially does not allow self-promotional posts from new members, even if this includes links which are non-commercial.

Commercial or other promotions are strictly prohibited, and attempts to post affiliate links on the forums may result in your being reported to your affiliate manager (that's me).

Faith specific boards are generally a place to share thoughts, ask general questions, and enter interested discussions regarding that faith. Please note that faith boards are not intended as a place for aggressive criticism of the said faith either.

The Comparative Studies and Belief & Spirituality boards offer a place to compare and contrast belief systems.

At no point does CR offer itself as a personal soapbox for people to attack other religious viewpoints, or to be attacked.

Your thoughts are very welcome here, as is your presense. We ask only that you abide by our bylaws. If you haven't done so, please read our Code of Conduct. It is straight forward and fair.

Once again Welcome to CR!

v/r

Q

[Amulek]

Sorry, Qhahom. I just assumed since Dor could post http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm showing the differences in our religion and Christianity (many of which are false or misleadingly out of context) I could post a link that showed factual information about our religion.

It is my belief that if you want information about a faith, view their official documents and sources, not the documents and sources of people against him.

Also, to mynameisstephen:

Much of the information you gave is your opinion or the opinions of those against the Church and is misleadinging inaccurate.

[Amulek]

Originally Posted by mynameisstephen

For example, Joseph Smith predicted that the temple of the church would be built in Independence, Mo., within his lifetime (Doctrine and Covenants 84:2–5).

I will give this as an example of how your information is misleading. D&C 84:2-5 reads:



2 Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.
3 Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.
4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation.
5 For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.

This does not imply it will happen within Joseph Smith's lifetime. The word "generation" is figurative, and does not imply a generation in a family nor 100 years. It means in this list dispensation of the Gospel. And it speaks of after the Second Coming, during which people will be ressurected, so Joseph Smith "and others whom the Lord was well pleased" (italics added) will be able to dedicate.

Actually, it implies it will not be built until after Joseph Smith's death.

Examples of prophecies the prophet did make that have already come to pass (and did so after his death) are the Civil War, Jews returning to Israel after World War II, and even the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Amulek

Sorry, Qhahom. I just assumed since Dor could post http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm showing the differences in our religion and Christianity (many of which are false or misleadingly out of context) I could post a link that showed factual information about our religion.

It is my belief that if you want information about a faith, view their official documents and sources, not the documents and sources of people against him.

Also, to mynameisstephen:

Much of the information you gave is your opinion or the opinions of those against the Church and is misleadinging inaccurate.

Sorry myself. I missed that one. But I will fix it.

v/r

Q

[Faithfulservant]

Well it was a bit of an old post and that was BEFORE you were moderating, Q

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

Well it was a bit of an old post and that was BEFORE you were moderating, Q

Fair is fair, I should be considered a jerk by all, equally.

v/r

Q

[Dor]

I am going to reply to this later but Q please check your PM.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Dor

I am going to reply to this later but Q please check your PM.

I did sir. Now I ask that you check yours.

v/r

Q

[Postmaster]

The brother of Jesus in the Book of James, stated that no man should suggest what he is about to do of highlight his plans for the next few days in anyway without adding the phrase "if God wills." Do not say "I will go here and there do this and that" without adding the phrase "if God wills."

In Cyprus and Greece when ever we say we are going to do something in the future we say "An theli O Theos" meaning "if God wants it to" after we say what will do...

[mynameisstephen]

Originally Posted by Amulek

It is my belief that if you want information about a faith, view their official documents and sources, not the documents and sources of people against him.

1. “I say to the whole world, receive the truth, no matter who presents it to you. Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 16, Page 46
1873

_____________________
2. If we cannot convince you by reason nor by the word of God, that your religion is wrong, we will not persecute you, but will sustain you in the privileges, guaranteed in the great Charter of American Liberty: we ask of you the same generosity –protect us in the exercise of our religious rights –convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by reason, 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 reflection that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming you fellow beings”

Orson Pratt
The Seer
Page 15
1854

____________________
3. “Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! 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 helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! About whom holy men have written and spoken —He is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it and will know it sooner of later.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 1, page 50
April 9, 1852

____________________
4. “You believe Adam was made of the dust of this earth. This I do not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible; but it is not, to my understanding. You can write that information to the States, if you please –that I have publicly declared that I do not believe that portion of the Bible as the Christian world do. I never did, and I never want to.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 2, page 6
1853

____________________
5. “Thou we have it in history that our father Adam was made of the dust of the earth, and that he knew nothing about his God previous to being made here, yet it is not so; and when we learn the truth we shall see and understand that he helped to make this world, and was the chief manager in that operation.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 3, page 319
1856

____________________
6. “After men have got their exaltations and their crowns –have become Gods, even the sons of God –are made Kings of kings and Lord of lords, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit;

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 6, page 275
1852

____________________
7. “Mankind are here because they are the offspring of parents who were first brought here from another planet, and power was given them to propagate their species.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 7, Page 285
1859

____________________
8. “Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.”

Brigham Young
Millennial Star
Volume 15, Page 770
1853

False Prophecies
Paramount to determining whether or not a person really is a prophet of God, is the testing of the prophecies uttered in the name of the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 makes it clear that if a pretended “prophet” says anything in the name of the Lord, and the “thing follow not, nor come to pass” then that is a false prophecy. Believers in the true and living God are then counseled not to pay any attention to that false prophet.


9. “Brigham Young will become President of the United States”

Heber C. Kimbal
Journal of Discourses
Volume 5, Page 219
Sept. 6, 1856

____________________
10. “You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have been the termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 7, Page 290
October 9,1859

____________________
11. “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 11, Page 269
April 19, 1866

____________________
12. “Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as a State into the Union without denying the principle of polygamy? If we are not admitted until then, we shall never be admitted.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 11, Page 269
April 19, 1866

____________________
13. “I prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left,”

Joseph Smith
History of the Church
Volume 5, Page 394
May 18, 1843

____________________
14. “God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end.”

Wilford Woodruff
Journal of Discourses
Volume 6, Page 120
1857

____________________
15. “The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 11, Page 268
1866

____________________
16. “Hence, the doctrine of a plurality of Gods is as prominent in the Bible as any other doctrine. It is all over the face of the Bible. It stands beyond the power of controversy.”

Joseph Smith
History of the Church
Volume 6, Page 474
1844

____________________
17. “The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father”

Orson Pratt
The Seer
Page 158
1853

____________________

18. “The angel taught Joseph Smith those principles which are necessary for the salvation of the world”

Wilford Woodruff
Journal of Discourses
Volume 2, Page 196
1855

____________________
19. “How did this state of things called Mormonism originate? We read that an angel came down and revealed himself to Joseph Smith and manifested unto him in vision the true position of the world in a religious point of view. He was surrounded with light and glory while the heavenly messenger communicated these things unto him”

John Taylor
Journal of Discourses
Volume 10, Page 127
1863

____________________
20. “Baptism is just as essential to salvation, as Faith and Repentance. –Without being immersed in water no man can enter into the fulness of Celestial glory”

Orson Pratt
The Seer
Page 255
1854

____________________
21. “Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 3, Page 266
1855

____________________

Strange Teachings
22. “Does the earth conceive? It does. Where did the earth come from? From its parent earths. The earth is alive. If it was not, it could not produce.”

Heber C. Kimball
Journal of Discourses
Volume 6, Page 36
1857

____________________
23. “no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 7, Page 289
1869

____________________
24. “Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? …when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets; and so will this earth when it is celestialized.”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 13, page 271
1870

____________________
25. “…What man or woman on the earth, what spirit in the spirit-world can say truthfully that I ever gave a wrong word of counsel, or a word of advice that could not be sanctioned by the heavens? The success which has attended me in my presidency is owing to the blessings and mercy of the Almighty. Why I have referred to this is to show you that I realize the importance of obeying the words of the Lord, which he gives through his acknowledged servants…”

Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 12, Page 127
1867

[I, Brian]

I am reminded of political parties, who, when they have nothing to offer people themselves, instead turn to trying to dismiss their competitors for having less.

The Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints is pretty open about it's ideas:
http://www.mormon.org

But please let us not turn this thread into an attempt to solely attack other people's faiths and opinions - I am sure there are more constructive ways to address the initial post in this thread.