Deception:

The Truth to Say to Mormons:

In 1820, at age 15,  Joseph Smith was told by a “spirit”  to not join any of the churches around him because their creeds were all wrong and an abomination in God’s sight. 

No, I do not believe that all the churches from the death of Christ until 1820 were all wrong and only what Joseph Smith says is right.  Churches may be wrong in envying one another or arguing over minor issues, but I know that Jesus Christ’s shed blood on the cross paid for my sins & reconciled me to God. I have a personal relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  That creed has never been wrong. 

A “person glorious beyond description” led Joseph Smith to a book written on gold plates containing “the fullness of the Gospel” as delivered by the Savior.  Two stones called “Urim & Thummin” were given to translate Doctrines and Covenants (which is false doctrine).

2 Corin. 11:14 says “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”  A spirit of divination is a method that familiar spirits use to pervert the Gospel.  Rev. 22:18 says: “For I testify…if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”  So since The Book of Mormon & The Pearl of Great Price were added, then I know they must be false.

Joseph Smith decided that “God gave him a revelation” and used the Bible out of context convincing many people (the Hendrikites) that Jesus would return to Independence, Missouri.  (Ketchum, 4)

When the Mormons started constructing the temple there in Independence, MO, the leader went home and died that very night.  Then later another man led the building of the temple and he went home and died.  After these men died, the people gave up building the temple.  Rev. 22:18.  

They teach that Jesus Christ had a church organization, but it sinned and fell from grace and thus, went “into apostasy” and was “taken from the earth.”   So their focus is on “the restoration of the organized Temple with registered membership” on earth once again….in Salt Lake City.

When you become a Christian, Jesus comes into your heart to be your Lord.  1 Cor. 6:19 says your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.  A Christian is already a true member of the Church and their name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:27). There is no way the church could be “taken from the earth.”  Jesus says in Matt. 16:18: “Upon this rock I will build my Church & the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  No sin is too great for the blood of Jesus to forgive and save.

Joseph Smith claimed to receive the Melchisadek and Aaronic priesthoods.  He professed to restore these back to the body of Christ.  The Lord gave him ordination instructions and then a “holy angel” came to confirm his priesthood.

Jesus Christ did away with the Melchisadek and Aaronic priesthoods in the Old Testament Law because they are no longer needed.  Jesus Christ made atonement for mankind’s sins through shedding His blood on the cross.  So the priesthoods do not need to be restored.  I do not believe that the “holy angel” was from God.  Satan came come as an “angel of light” to deceive like it says in 2 Cor. 11:14.

They believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by the ordinances of the Gospel and by obedience to the Law.

The last phrase, “By obedience to the law”  sounds like salvation by works.  Eph 2:8-9 says “we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by works…”  We are no longer in bondage to the Law.

Joseph Smith’s teaching on the nature of God called the “Adam to God” doctrine:  “As man is, God was; as God is, man may become.”  God was once as we are now – an exalted man.  We can also achieve godhood.

That doctrine reminds me of Isaiah 14:12 when Lucifer said: “I will ascend into heaven and will exalt my throne above …I will be like the Most High God.”  The Lord responded: “thou shalt be brought down to hell” because He is God and Lucifer is not.  We cannot achieve godhood, but we can pray to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and then behave with godly loving Christian character.