Mormons, Christmas, and God
by Charley Carle
Mormons are often offended when someone maintains that they are not Christians. The LDS First Article of Faith reads, “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” Christians claim that this is not the Jesus of the Bible, although there are historical similarities and the spelling is identical. The Apostle Paul warned about deceivers who appear as “the apostles of Christ” but they preach “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:13,4). Jesus foretold, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets” (Mat. 24:24,5,11).
The present LDS Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, says he does not believe in the traditional Christ (Deseret News, June 20 1998). LDS Apostle McConkie claimed that Christians have “a mythical Christ” (Mormon Doctrine, p.269). The LDS Church publication, The Ensign, said, Christian Churches worship a different Jesus from the Mormons (May 1977, p.26). How then are they different?
The Mormon Jesus was born in Jerusalem (Alma 7:10), not Bethlehem (Mat. 2:1). This could not be the same baby!
Joseph Smith’s Jesus was born on April 6 (D&C 20:1). Ignoring that revelation, Mormons celebrate in December.
The wise men and the disciples worshiped Jesus Christ as God! Language studies clearly prove that what the Father receives, Jesus receives in worship (Mt.2:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9; Rev. 4:10-11; 14:7). LDS Apostle McConkie said, “We worship the Father and him only and no one else. We do not worship the Son and we do not worship the Holy Ghost” (BYU Devotional Speech, March 2, 1982). Yet in the Book of Mormon, Third Nephi 11:17 and 17:10, they fell down and worshipped at the feet of Jesus.
Mormons elusively claim that their Apostle McConkie had no authority or he was just expressing his opinions. That’s wrong! Gordon B. Hinckley claimed the inspiration of the Lord as he laid that popular excuse to rest. “The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles ” ¦ expound its doctrine ” ¦ sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator…” (May 1994, The Ensign). The LDS considers their apostolic authority to be as great as a Bible Apostle.
Mormonism misses the obvious, saying, “Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1:50-51). Mormon theology describes the birth of Jesus by reproductive processes. “Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband” ¦ Do you inquire by whom? He was begotten by God our Heavenly Father” (LDS “Prophet” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, p.268, 1866). “Jesus is the only person who had our Heavenly Father as the father of his body” (Family Home Evening Manual, 1972, pp.125-126).
Who is the true Jesus? He is the only begotten Son (John 1:14,18; 3:16). Mormons add “in the flesh,” thinking they were once God’s “spirit children.” “The principal personalities in this great drama were a Father Elohim, perfect in wisdom, judgment, and person, and two sons, Lucifer and Jehovah,” meaning Satan and Jesus (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp.32-33). This is why Mormon’s refer to Jesus as an “elder brother.” McConkie fancifully argues, “suffice it to say that our Lord was born of a virgin, which is fitting and proper, and also natural, since the Father of the Child was an immortal Being… He is the Son of God in the same sense and way that we are the sons of mortal fathers” (The Promised Messiah, pp.466, 468). No! Lame excuses do not suffice! Allegedly, the Mormon god had sexual intercourse with his own spirit daughter, Mary, in an incestuous relationship. That’s immoral! The Mormon Jesus was the sexual offspring from one of the many wives of God. No! The “sign” of Christ’s birth was Mary’s virginity, not virginity until conception! Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Ghost, not the Father! (Isaiah 7:13; Mat. 1:18; Luke 1:34). He was placed in the womb without the normal means of conception (Luke 1:35) because nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37).
Mormon gods are more pagan than Christian! The LDS Mary gave birth to a Son who was her elder brother in her pre-existence. The confusion intensifies if you accept the original Book of Mormon. In First Nephi (1830 ed. p.32), it reads, “the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world.” This leads to the Mormon Jesus fathering himself! In reality, God was not a physical Father of Jesus anymore than if He literally begat the nation of Israel by sexual relations (Ex. 4:22).
The Mormon Church has a very different theology of God from historic orthodox Christianity. Reportedly, an “angel from heaven” visited a boy named Joseph, directing him to some golden plates and “another gospel.” The experience was serious enough to place Joseph Smith under the curse of God in Galatians 1:6-9 – then again when he retranslated the Book of Revelation, receiving the curses of 22:18-19. After meeting Moroni, Joseph met the god(s) of Mormonism, as described in The Pearl of Great Price, written in 1838 and published in 1842. His vision describes “two Personages.” Pause and think, if you met Almighty God, how could you possibly forget how many beings there were? In 1832, Joseph Smith described the experience in his own handwriting. The historian office of the Mormon Church publicly verified the authenticity of Joseph’s “1832” account. Historian James B. Allen noted, “In this story, only one personage was mentioned” ¦ obviously the Son” (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.40). Marvin S. Hill, professor of American history at BYU, said the 1832 account was probably more accurate and Joseph Smith may have changed his views concerning God. Mormons who fail to examine evidences rely on Smith’s later account to prove that the Father is an exalted man. A complete transcript of the 1832 document is found in, An American Prophet’s Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith, 1989, pp.3-8. The LDS “official account” is clearly bad history!
Interestingly, LDS Prophet Hinckley spoke of it before the world-wide General Conference, October 4, 1998, saying, “Our entire case as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rests on the validity of this glorious First Vision” (Church News, Oct. 10, 1998, p.17). Prophet Young was close to Smith. He said (in context), Joseph only saw an angel! “But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith” ¦” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.171). This “entire case” rests on very sandy soil!
The Mormon god is Elohim, Jehovah being a different god. Lord and God are just different names, like “Jesus Christ,” used together hundreds of times where Jehovah is Elohim (Gen. 2:4-22; Deut. 4:1; Jud. 5:3; 1 Sam. 2:30 – or 1 Kings 8:60 and Ex. 34:14 in “The Joseph Smith Translation”).
Those who personally come to know God gain eternal life (John 17:3; 1 John 5:13). To every eternity bound soul, everything else should pale in comparison! Mormonism struggles to find the true God. The 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon reads in 1 Nephi 11:18, “Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God” (p.25). Later editions changed “God” to “the Son of God.” If I were a Mormon, I’d give a thousand dollars to lay hold of a copy of that edition, allegedly dictated word for word from God! Does the Mormon Church have the same God as Jesus’ apostles and other true believers (John 20:28-29)?
Joseph Smith once believed that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 3:5-8; 7:27; 13:34-35; 15:1-5; Alma 11:28-31,38,44; Ether 3:14). The tenth LDS prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith, offered some lame excuses about it, but the intent of the Book of Mormon is clear! It has “The Testimony of the Three Witnesses” after the introduction, reading, “And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.” That sounds believable on the surface. Really, the god of early Mormonism was not “three persons” in one God, but “one person” in “three modes” (a strange heresy known as modalism). No wonder Joseph Smith wavered in his faith!
Joseph abandoned the “one person-one god” teaching, to the “Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate Gods” (Mormon Doctrine, pp.576-577). He also changed God’s attributes, saying, “We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil…” (Come Unto Me, p.95). His sermon conflicted with the eternality of God in the Book of Mormon (Mormon 9:10; Moroni 7:22; 8:18). How can one change the eternality of God? By redefinition! The adjective and noun were confused to limit “eternal” only to God’s name; just as Brent, Harry or Jack (Mormon Doctrine, p.233). Imagine the absurdity of a finite little pip-squeak down here changing Almighty God! Joseph’s god “was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth” (Teachings, pp.345-346). Apostle Bruce McConkie adds, “The Father is a glorified, perfected resurrected, exalted man who worked out his own salvation by obedience” ¦” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.64). Who needs resurrected? The dying! Who needs salvation? Sinners! (Rom. 6:33). Would you trust such an anemic god?
Gordon B. Hinckley is embarrassed about the god of Joseph Smith. The current revelator explained it this way, “I don’t know – I don’t know – I don’t know” ¦” He told Time Magazine, “I don’t know that we teach it, I don’t know that we emphasize it… I understand the philosophical background behind it, but I don’t know a lot about it, and I don’t think others know a lot about it” (Time, Aug. 4, 1997, p.56). LDS claims about final authority and answers on the Godhead are built on a superstructure of confusion. With Church publications, vaults and genealogies, the “living prophet” does not know LDS doctrine? Check these two websites for online information about the Hinckley interviews and revealing
documentation from the LDS head office!
Institute for Religious Research
http://www.irr.org/mit/
Dodging and Dissembling Prophet?
Berean Christian Ministries
http://www.bcmmin.org/
What Ever Happened to Truth and Openness?
Smith went from one god, to two, to three, and ad infinitum (repackaged Hinduism), saying, “learn how to be Gods yourselves” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol 6, p.306). Joseph Smith adopted the lie that the serpent (Satan) told Eve, bringing sin and destruction (Gen. 3:1-5; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:1-10). All trying to be gods perish (Jer. 10:10-11)! Clearly no man, Mormon included, will ever attain Godhood as God says, “I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me” Isaiah 43:10. If God knows of no other true Gods (Isaiah 45:22), how is it that Mormon authorities do? Self-exalted gods or “gods in embryo” are obviously fake. Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34 are easily interpreted. Note these articles:
As God Is, Man May Become?
http://www.mrm.org/index.html
IN THE BEGINNING MAN
http://www.letusreason.org/
Kings and Priests, YES, Gods – NEVER
http://www.macGregorministries.org/
Mormon “gods in embryo” expect to gain their own worlds, one being the moon. Joseph Smith taught that it was inhabited by people about six feet tall, who dressed like Quakers, and lived to be about 1,000 years (The Young Woman’s Journal, 1892, Vol.3, pp.263-264 and Journal of Oliver B. Huntington, Vol.3, p.166, typed copy at Utah State Historical Society). Brigham said the sun is inhabited too (Journal of Discourses, 1880, p.271). Deceit!
Prophet Young officially revealed a new Heavenly Father to his people “” ¦God revealed to me–namely that Adam is our Father and God… ” (Deseret Evening News, June 14, 1873). “I tell you, when you see your Father in heaven, you will see Adam” ¦” (Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young, Oct. 8, 1854). “When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden… He is MICHAEL, the archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS… HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the Only God with whom we have to do” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, pp. 50-51, 1854; Compare the D&C 27:11; 138:38). He explained, “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture” (Journal of Discourses 13:95). Brigham warned about rejecting “these doctrines” ¦ will prove their salvation or damnation” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 51, April 9, 1852.) – John 10:1-11.
Brigham laid the trap. Evidence abounds that he was neither misunderstood or misquoted. Embarrassed, the Church leadership tries to mask Brigham’s strange God. Spencer W. Kimball called it “false doctrine” (Church News, 10/9/76). Apostle Bruce R. McConkie at the BYU Marriot Center called it “heresy” in 1980. These are the ones Brigham said would be damned! Does Mormonism have credibility problems? False doctrines indicate false prophecies; false prophecy identifies a false church. Did the LDS living prophet lead people astray after other gods? (Ex. 20:3; Deut. 13:1-5). Suppose a prophet identified you as Saddam Hussain for the next 25 years! Ponder what does it means to have the wrong man or the wrong God.
Mormon leaders are right about having a different Christ! McConkie claims Jesus became a God in his pre-existent state (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p.129). But then he says, “Jesus kept the commandments of his Father and thereby worked out his own salvation” ¦” (The Mortal Messiah, Vol.4, p.434). Why would a God have to work out his own salvation to gain it at his resurrection? Only sinners need to be saved. To say Christ had to do anything towards “salvation” is blasphemy. LDS theology logically does not follow, because if Moroni devoutly practiced the Mormon Gospel, he should be a god not an angel (Doc. & Cov. 132:17,37).
Mormon gods must have wives, so the Mormon Jesus was married (D&C 132:7-22). Mormon polygamist Apostle Orson Hyde claimed, “Jesus was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana of Galilee” ¦if Jesus was not the bridegroom on that occasion, please tell who was” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.89). That is poor logic! Have you heard of grooms who needed invitations to their own weddings? (John 2:2). This is not stressed today, yet the Mormon Church still says a man must be married to become a god.
What about a Mother God? Mormonism claims, “This doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in all plainness by the First Presidency of the Church” (Mormon Doctrine, p.516). Now some Mormons wish to pray to her publicly, but the Church refuses. Her inferior godhood is in “most perfect obedience” to her “great head”–her husband (The Seer, p.159). While Christian ladies serve the Lord, the Mormon women who anticipate exaltation expect to serve their husbands. Joseph Smith, a polygamist introduced an “everlasting covenant” that is still in Mormon scripture (D&C 132). Failure to abide in polygamy results in being “damned”! Mormons anticipate polygamy in heaven, but the female role is to be one of a god’s polygamous wives, as birth-machines like queen bees mass-producing offspring. Dear Mormon ladies who turn to Christianity rejoice in Matthew 22:29-30.
This is not to hurt precious Mormon people. I suggest, read through the Book of John. Underline all it says about how to have eternal life and who Jesus is – and TRUST HIM!
