Today in History, in the year 1830, Joseph Smith organizes the first meeting of the Church of Christ with a small group of believers.
Smith was said to have been visited by an angel named 'Moroni' who informed him of an ancient text, which was engraved on gold plates, that was lost for 1,500 years. He spent the next six years translating the text which told of ancient people in America, who were Israelites. Out of this work came the book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The Bible tells us that if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel preach any other Gospel than that which was given to us, let that person or angel be accursed. Here is Paul talking to the Galatians:
"I marvel that you 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.
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."
For more info the beginnings of the Mormon church, go to:
Mormon Church Established
Reading the blog, it sounds like the author is qualifying the LDS Church as a gospel other than that which Paul preached. For the record, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the SAME gospel which Jesus established while on the earth and the same gospel which Paul refers to in the text quoted in this blog. This gospel was lost from the earth during the Dark Ages, and was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. There is nothing different about what is preached now by the Mormons and what Jesus himself taught 2000 years ago. For more info (accurate info), please visit Mormon.org.
ReplyDeleteWell, for the record, from my conversations with Mormon people, as well as what I have read about their beliefs, they do not believe the same way as those who believe in the Bible about issues such as the deity of Christ (Mormons also believe that Lucifer was the brother of Jesus-Mormon Doctrine, p. 163), salvation by faith in Christ alone (Mormons believe that our trust in Christ is the door to salvation, but we must do good works to continue in our salvation. They use verses like James 2:20 which say that 'faith without works is dead' to mean that we also have to work for our salvation. Salvation is evidenced by works, but never the cause of it). Mormons believe that man will eventually become a God. "After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-347, 354)
ReplyDeleteThose are a few of the differences between Mormonism and what the Bible teaches. The Bible is very clear that human beings are sinful and in need of salvation. Someone, other than sinful human beings, had to provide that salvation. God, in His rich mercy provided salvation by giving us His Son. 2,000 years ago, Jesus, who live a perfect life (never breaking the Commandments) died a horrible death, that He didn't have to, but He did it in our place, so we would not have to pay for our sins. No human being can possibly keep the Commandments perfectly without breaking them (except for Jesus). So, even if a person strives to keep the Commandments, he or she would still have to pay for the ones already broken.
I'm not seeing a whole lot in common with the Mormonism beliefs and what the Bible says (including Paul's teachings). Perhaps you could expound further?
With all due respect, if you have Mormonism views that you are holding onto, and you believe that they are the same as the Bible's view of the Gospel that was preached by Paul and the apostles, please state them here. I have heard, on the one hand, from people who hold to Mormonism, that they are the same message, but when I have talked with individual Mormons, at length, I find the discrepancy in their beliefs being the same as the Bible. Could it be something else that causes the misunderstanding?
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