Mormonism in a Nutshell by Cooper Abrams

         It is common knowledge that Mormons consistently and deliberately hide the teachings of their religion. Their main deception is that they present themselves as simply another mainline Christian denomination who believe and worship our Creator who has revealed Himself in the Bible. They claim they worship the Jesus Christ of the Bible, and their founder Joseph Smith used His name to identify their church. However, even a cursory examination of the teachings of their church shows plainly, they worship a false God and Jesus Christ and not our true God and Creator of the Bible. What is worst is they hide their true beliefs which would instantly expose what they truly are to any informed Christian. This appears to be the reason they are so secretive about their true believes. If you ask them about this they reply these are matters to sacred to discuss in public.

         To the contrary, biblical Christians are not ashamed or try to hide their faith in Jesus Christ as their God and Savior and belief in His word the Bible. They gladly and openly preach and teach all the tenants of biblical faith in Gospel of Jesus Christ. They enthusiastically proclaim their faith, hide nothing, and have no secret ceremonies. Further biblical Christians do not evangelize to get people to join their church, but to win them to Jesus Christ, so they may have their sins forgiven and receive eternal life.

         The truth is the Jesus Christ of the Mormon church is very different Jesus from our true Savior as revealed in the Bible. It only takes a little research to reveal this truth. This was verified by the late President and Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley of the LDS church. He stated on June 4, 1998, in a speech in Paris, France:

"The traditional Christ of whom they speak (meaning traditional Christian churches) is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak as been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the matters of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages." (Church News, June 20, 1998, p70)

         Biblical Christians label the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as a Christian cult. What makes a cult is when someone or a group takes the traditional beliefs of an established faith, changes or distorts its normal tenants of faith, and gives new definitions of its terms to fit the cult's views. This is what Joseph Smith and the Mormons have done since their beginnings in the early 1800s.

         Let us look then at the teachings and beliefs of the LDS church.

         Mormons believe that their Jesus was the first born son of their once human god. They believe their god was once a mortal man who was born on some planet out in the Universe and there lived a good and worthy life. Their god, however, is only one god of millions of gods who rule planets out in the Universe. After being born a mortal man on a planet out in space he lived a life faithful to the god of his planet. When their man-become-god died, he was resurrected to a place the Mormons call the Celestial heaven. In the Celestial heaven he was rewarded for his good works and was exalted to godhood. This once mortal man, who was born a sinner like all men, but was rewarded for his good works and was make a god. He was then given the planet Earth to rule by a council of gods that meet near the star Kolob that is near the center of the Universe. The Mormons have always declared their god has a physical body and is a now god of "flesh and bone" although now exalted in godhood. They ridicule Christians who believe the Bible which says God is a Spirit.

         Mormons believe this then new god who had not existed until he was born on some planet in the Universe. Being born a man he had physical body of flesh and bones. However, after he was exalted to godhood he came to earth, bringing with him his heavenly family. His family was "sealed" to him, for all time and eternity," when he was a mortal man and performed a secret ceremony in a Mormon temple called the "endowments" referred to as the "temple marriage." He then, with his many wives, began to sexually produce "spirit children" in heaven. Although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, based in Salt Lake City, Utah does not practice polygamy today, they do believe their god is a polygamist and has many wives in heaven. It is interesting that Jesus Himself said "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven." (Mark 12:25)

         The first born "spirit child" of this man-become-god was the Mormon Jesus and his second son was Lucifer or Satan. In fact, Jesus according to Mormonism is not the "only begotten son of God," but only the first of billions or trillions of their god's sons and daughters. The sincerely believe that every person born on earth was first born as a spirit child in heaven and then was allowed to come to earth to becoming mortals, so through eternal progression they would have the opportunity to be come a god themselves. This is why biblical Christians correctly state that the Jesus of the LDS church is the brother of Satan. According to the Mormon belief believe of "preexistence", all mankind are the brothers and sisters of Jesus and Satan. Mormons call Jesus their "elder brother." The fact is Satan is their second elder brother.

         This teaching or doctrine of the Mormon church is called "preexistence." It means everyone who ever has been born on earth was first the offspring of their god and one of his wives in heaven. They proclaim "Families are Forever" meaning that after death the family remains together if they performed the secret marriage ceremony or endowments in an LDS temple. Only the most faithful of the Mormons are allowed in the temples and are required to have a pass called a "temple recommend" to enter their temples. To get the "temple recommend" they have to be interviewed by LDS church officials and meet strict requirements. The ceremonies performed in their temples are highly secret. Only "worthy Mormons" are allowed in the their temples and to performed the "temple marriage." Only worthy Mormon men, who hold the Melchizedek priesthood, who have been married in their temples, can become gods. The temple ceremony is actually of a wive being sealed to their husband who is a priest. On married men who have had their wives sealed to them can become gods. After performing the temple marriage, having received the endowments they are allowed to wear holy or sacred underwear (called temple garments, which the purchase at the church store, to protect them from temptation and evil. It is reported that only twenty percent of Mormons hold a valid "temple recommend" that is required to take the "Endowments" or Temple Marriage. Non-temple Mormons, both men and women, will be the servants of the worthy Mormons who are exalted to godhood.

         Thus the Mormon god lives in heaven with his heavenly family. They believe that their god is, of course, is married and there is also heavenly mother(s) as well. Their belief is their god has an innumerable number of heavenly wives who bear the children of their "heavenly father." A worthy Mormon man, holding the Melchizedek priesthood, while on earth can receive the heavenly marriage to numerous wives while on earth. These wives will be his subordinate wives in heaven. Every person born on earth was once sexually conceived in heaven by "heavenly father" (their title for god) and one of his wives. (Think about the practical ramifications of this belief. It is estimated as many as a trillion people have been born on earth. They teach that these heavenly "spirit children" are allowed by "heavenly father" to come to earth and get human bodies when humans have children. This is one of the reasons Mormons have large families. They are seeking to provide mortal bodies for "spirit children" so they can come to earth and continue what the Mormons call "eternal progression." They are the only religion that seeks to get people out of heaven and on to the earth.

         Eternal progression is actually the gospel of Mormonism. Through eternal progression, their man-become-god was able to become a god and the ruler of earth. Mormons believe that if they are faithful to their church and god, do the temple ceremonies, they too may be exalted in the Celestial heaven and become a god themselves. Is Mormonism a cult? The answer is emphatically "Yes." Their faith is not Christian and not based on the clear teachings of the Bible. They deceptively use the name Jesus Christ and other Christians terms but give them LDS definitions. It should be noted however, that the LDS Church officials tell their membership they worship the God and Jesus Christ of the Bible. If you ask a Mormon do they worship the God and Jesus Christ who is revealed in the Holy Bible they will answer affirmative. However, a comparison of the god and Jesus of Mormonism with the Bible, show they are completely different. If you would like to read a detailed articles titled "Who is the God of Mormonism?" go to https://bible-truth.org/LDStheism.html.

         If you would like to read more about the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints please click this line.


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