If someone prophesied my birthplace as being New Jersey but I was actually born in New York, would they have been wrong?

If someone prophesied my birthplace as being Ft. Lauderdale but I was actually born in Miami, would they have been in error?

If someone prophesied my birthplace as being San Francisco, but I was actually born in Oakland, would that be a false prophecy?

Any reasonable person using any degree of logic (and, if necessary, a map) would say, “Of course, you’re wrong on all three occasions.”

What if someone prophesied Jesus was to be born in Jerusalem, only for Him to be born in Bethlehem? This is exactly what Mormonism has done. Mormons follow a Jesus so foreign to the Bible–so different from the real Jesus Christ–that their Jesus wasn’t even born in the same place.

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. Alma 7:10 Book of Mormon

To be intellectually honest, you would have to apply the same standard, reasonableness, and critical thinking to this Book of Mormon error as you did the examples I cited above.

Dare I suggest that Salt Lake correct Alma 7:10, making this change number 3,914 to the Book of Mormon?

According to the LDS published book, Gospel Principles (1997 edition, pages 303-304), there are just a few things that are required in order to attain salvation in Mormonism. I thought I’d list them here.

** Warning ** Do not attempt to read the list of requirements in one breath. Asphyxiation may occur.

1. We must be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

2. We must receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

3. We must receive the temple endowment.

4. We must be married for time and eternity.

In addition to receiving the required ordinances, the Lord commands all of us to–

1. Love and worship God.

2. Love our neighbor.

3. Repent of our wrongdoings.

4. Live the law of chastity.

5. Pay honest tithes and offerings.

6. Be honest in our dealings with others and with the Lord.

7. Speak the truth always.

8. Obey the Word of Wisdom.

9. Search out our kindred dead and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for them.

10. Keep the Sabbath day holy.

11. Attend our Church meetings as regularly as possible so we can renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.

12. Love our family members and strengthen them in the ways of the Lord.

13. Have family and individual prayers every day.

14. Honor our parents.

15. Teach the gospel to others by word and example.

16. Study the scriptures.

17. Listen to and obey the inspired words of the prophets of the Lord.

Finally, each of us needs to receive the Holy Ghost and learn to follow his direction in our individual lives.

Whew! Is that all? What saith the Scriptures?

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

The government says you shall only have one wife; the Lord says take unto yourselves wives; and Saints obey the Lord, and we shall see who will come off victorious. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, Page 165)

“When a messenger comes, saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand, and request him to shake hands with you. If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand. If he be a spirit of a just man made perfect, he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear. Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message. If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may there fore detect him. These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Volume 5, Page 267)

I find it interesting that with all the various visions Joseph Smith claimed to have with all sorts of “heavenly” messengers, that he never once adhered to his own standard for testing a spirit. He started this whole Mormon religion without ever offering a handshake to the visitors. What’s even more amazing is that there is absolutely no Scriptural teaching, support, or example for Joe’s new hand shake “doctrine.” It goes to show that this guy could say or do anything and he would be believed.

I was wondering . . . is a “high-five” as good as a handshake?

Joseph Smith wasn’t done. If you’re unable to offer your hand, just look for the hair color:

“A sister in the state of New York had a vision, who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods, an angel would appear to her. She went at the appointed time, and saw a glorious personage descending, arrayed in white, with sandy colored hair . . . . Many true things were spoken by this personage, and many things that were false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Page 214)

What does the Bible say: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that is coming, and now it is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3

Found the post 33 Facts Mormons Won’t Tell You on the Time 2 Change Churches blog. It’s worth printing out and making copies.

   They shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. What is it? To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a god, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before. What did Jesus do? Why, I do the things I saw my Father do when worlds came rolling into existence. My Father worked out His kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to My Father, so that He may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself.

Joseph Smith

History of the Church

Volume 6 Page 306

“I prophesy and bear record this morning that all the combined powers of earth and hell shall not and cannot ever overthrow or overcome this boy, for I have a promise from the eternal God. ” Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Volume 5, Page 554, August 27, 1843.

Joseph Smith was killed less than a year later on June 27, 1844. It certainly didn’t take “all the combined powers of earth and hell” to overthrow and overcome him. Just a few bullets and a two-story window.

Dare I say Joseph Smith uttered a false prophecy?

You’ll never look at your broccoli the same way again!

The celestial vegetables and fruits which grow out of the soil of this redeemed Heaven, constitute the food of the Gods. This food differs from the food derived from the vegetables of a fallen world: the latter are converted into blood, which, circulating in the veins and arteries, produces flesh and bones of a mortal nature, having a constant tendency to decay: while the former, or celestial vegetables, are, when digested in the stomach, converted into a fluid, which, in its nature, is spiritual, and which, circulating in the veins and arteries of the celestial male and female, preserves their tabernacles from decay and death. Earthly vegetables form blood, and blood forms flesh and bones; celestial vegetables, when digested, form a spiritual fluid which gives immortality and eternal life to the organization in which it flows. (Orson Pratt, The Seer, Page 37)

When the world is redeemed, the vegetable creation is redeemed and made new, as well as the animal; and when planted in a celestial soil, each vegetable derives its nourishment therefrom; and the fluid, thus derived, circulates in the pores and cells of the vegetable tabernacle, and preserves it from decay and death; this same fluid, thus circulating, forms a spiritual seed, which planted, grows into a spiritual vegetable; this differs from the parent vegetable, in that it has no tabernacle. This is the origin of the spiritual vegetables in Heaven. These spiritual vegetables are sent from Heaven to the terrestrial worlds, where, like animals they take natural tabernacles, which become food for the sustenance of the natural tabernacles of the animal creation. Thus the spirits of both vegetables and animals are the offspring of male and female parents which have been raised from the dead, or redeemed from a fallen condition, with the world upon which they dwelt. (Orson Pratt, The Seer, Page 38)

   “I have more to boast of than ever any man had.  I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam.  A large majority of the whole have stood by me.  Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it.  I boast that no man ever did such a work as I.  The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Volume 6 Pages 408-409)

This is part two on the topic of Mormonism’s heretical teaching of Blood Atonement. To check out part one, click here. Part one dealt with teachings of Blood Atonement as taught by Mormon “prophet” Brigham Young. In this post I have listed what other Mormons have taught about this blasphemous doctrine (plus I’ve included a video). I highly recommend you read part one before reading this post.

Salvation is twofold: General—that which comes to all men irrespective of a belief (in this life) in Christ—and, Individual—that which man merits through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. But man may commit certain grievous sins—according to his light and knowledge—that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone—so far as in his power lies—for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail. MURDERERS AND ATONEMENT. Do you believe this doctrine? If not, then I do say you do not believe in the true doctrine of the atonement of Christ! This is the doctrine you are pleased to call the “blood atonement of Brighamism.” This is the doctrine of Christ our Redeemer, who died for us. This is the doctrine of Joseph Smith, and I accept it. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1 Page 133)

But man may commit certain grievous sins—according to his light and knowledge—that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone—so far as in his power lies—for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail. MURDERERS AND ATONEMENT. Do you believe this doctrine? If not, then I do say you do not believe in the true doctrine of the atonement of Christ! This is the doctrine you are pleased to call the “blood atonement of Brighamism.” This is the doctrine of Christ our Redeemer, who died for us. This is the doctrine of Joseph Smith, and I accept it. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1 Page 134)

Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. This is scriptural doctrine and taught in all the standard works of the Church. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1 Page 135)

I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed, for water will not do, their sins are too deep a dye. (Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4 Page 49)

I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood. . . . They are a perfect nuisance, and I want them cut off, and he sooner it is done the better. . . . We have been trying long enough with this people, and I go in for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, not only in word, but in deed. . . . Let the wrath of the almighty God burn against them, and the wrath of Joseph and Brigham, and Heber, and of high Heaven. (Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4 Page 50)

But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not, and the law of God is that men then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins. Murder, for instance, is one of these sins; hence we find the Lord commanding capital punishment. Thus, also, if a person has so progressed in the righteousness that his calling and election has been made sure, if he knows “by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood” that he is sealed up unto eternal life (D. & C. 131:5), then if he gains forgiveness for certain grievous sins, he must “be destroyed in the flesh . . . thus saith the Lord God.” (D. & C. 132:19-27.) (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pages 92-93, 1966 edition)

President Joseph Fielding Smith has written: “Man may commit certain grievous sins—according to his light and knowledge—that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone—so far as in his power lies—for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail. . . . Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf.” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp.133-138.) (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Page 93, 1966 edition)

You hear us talk about it a great deal, and probably many do not believe one word we say, but this people will never, no never, prosper to a high degree until we make a public example of—what? Men, who have been warned and forewarned, but who will associate with the wicked and take a course to commit whoredom, and will strive to lead our daughters and our wives into the society of poor, wicked curses, with a view to gratify their cursed passions; we will take them and slay them before this people. (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4, Page 173)

The LDS organization claims that their prophet Joseph Smith “translated” those golden plates he received from Moroni. However, not only does the original title page of the 1830 printing of the Book of Mormon say that Joseph Smith was the “Author and Proprietor,” (this of course was just one of the 3,913 documented changes to the Book of Mormon since its first publication), but even the LDS published Times & Seasons volume 5 page 715 printed in 1884 said, “On page one hundred and fifty, of said Doctrine and Covenants, it is said to Joseph Smith by the Lord, ‘Behold, thou wast called and chosen to write the Book of Mormon . . . .'”

I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due. We always knew Joseph Smith made up the Book of Mormon and it’s about time he’s given credit for it. He should be ranked accordingly on the list of top ten most influential fiction writers of America.

Mormonism teaches that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was insufficient (blasphemy) and that we have to do some work on our own (just like Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and every other false religion on the planet) to atone for our sins. The Mormon doctrine of Blood Atonement teaches that we commit some sins that require our own blood (murder) to be shed to atone for those sins (damnable heresy).

In this post I’ve put together a collection of quotes from second Mormon “prophet” Brigham Young. I hope you don’t believe what you read; believe that it’s all lies or taken out of context. I then dare you to research it for yourself! These quotes can all be verified and proven in context by reviewing the Journal of Discourses for yourself.

Without further delay, let’s let Brigham Young speak for himself:

I will tell you a dream I had last night. . . . I saw two ruffians, whom I knew to be mobbers [sic] and murderers, and they crept into a bed, where one of my wives and children were. I said, “You that call yourselves brethren, tell me, is this the fashion among you?” They said, “O, they are good men, they are gentlemen.” With that I took my large bowie knife, that I used to wear as a bosom pin in Nauvoo, and cut one of their throats from ear to ear, saying, “Go to hell across lots.” The other one said, “You dare not serve me so.” I instantly sprang at him, seized him by the hair of the head, and, bringing him down, cut his throat, and sent him after his comrade; then told them both, if they would behave themselves they should yet live, but if they did not, I would unjoint their necks. At this I awoke. I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheathe my bowie knife, and conquer or die. Journal of Discourses Volume 1 Page 83 (1853)

If you want to know what to do with a thief that you may find stealing, I say kill him on the spot, and never suffer him to commit another iniquity. Journal of Discourses Volume 1 Page 108 (1853)

I will take the Government of the United States, and the laws of Missouri and Illinois, from the year 1838 to 1845, and if they had been carried out according to their letter and spirit, they would have strung up the murderers and mobocrats who illegally and unrighteously killed, plundered, harassed, and expelled us. I will tell you how much I love those characters. If they had any respect to their own welfare, they would come forth and say, whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, “We shed his blood, and now let us atone for it;” and they would be willing to have their heads chopped off, that their blood might run upon the ground, and the smoke of it rise before the Lord as an incense for their sins. I love them that much. But if the Lord wishes them to live and foam out their sins before all men and women, it is all right, I care not where they go, or what they do. Journal of Discourses Volume 2 Page 186 (1855)

It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 54 (1856)

Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins and be received into the kingdom of God. I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands. . . . If the Lord so ordered it that they are not caught in the act of their iniquity, it is pretty good proof that He is willing for them to live; and I say let them live and suffer in the flesh for their sins, for they will have it to do. There is not a man or woman who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it. Journal of Discourses Volume 3 Page 247 (1856)

There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt [sic] upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world. I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is a strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not destroy them. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 53 (1856)

I do know that there are sins committed, of such a nature that if the people did under the doctrine of salvation, they would tremble because of their situation. And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them and that the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Pages 53-54 (1856)

Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom . . . and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, “shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?” All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 219 (1857)

But now I say, in the name of the Lord, that if this people will sin no more, but faithfully live their religion, their sins will be forgiven them without taking life. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 219 (1857)

I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels of the devil, until our elder brother Jesus Christ raises them up—conquers death, hell, and the grave. I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle’s [sic] being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force. This is loving your neighbour [sic] as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. This is the way to love mankind. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 220 (1857)

We must believe that this same Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world, that is for the original sin, not the actual individual transgressions of the people; not but that the blood of Christ will cleanse from all sin, all who are disposed to act their part by repentance, and faith in his name. But the original sin was atoned for by the death of Christ, although its effects we still see in the diseases, tempers and every species of wickedness with which the human family is afflicted. Journal of Discourses Volume 13 Page 143 (1869)

Read part two of this topic by clicking here.

Defending Contending presents the top five teachings from Mormon “prophet” Brigham Young that Mormons desperately try to conceal from you and even their own members:

#5.) Polygamy: “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.” (Journal of Discourse, Volume 11, Page 269, 1866)

#4.) Adam is God: “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 or later.” (Journal of Discourse, Volume 1, Page 50, 1852, and The Millennial Star, Volume 15, Page 769)

#3.) Men on the moon and sun: “Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? When we view its face we may see what is termed “the man in the moon,” and what some philosophers declare are the shadows of mountains. But these sayings are very vague, and amount to nothing; and 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.” (Journal of Discourses,Volume 13, Page 271, 1870)

#2.) Blood Atonement: “Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom . . . and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, “shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?” All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood?” (Journal of Discourse, Volume 4, Page 219, 1857)

#1.) The Black Race is Cursed: “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. . . . Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a 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.” (Journal of Discourses, Volume 7, Page 291, 1859)

********************

I will commence by saying to the Latter-day Saints and to all the inhabitants of the earth that I am responsible for the doctrine I teach; but I am not responsible for the obedience of the people to that doctrine. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 13, Page 1)

I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve. The people have the oracles of God continually. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 13, Page 95)

I am here to give this people, called Latter-day Saints, counsel to direct them in the path of life . . . . If there is an elder here, or any member of this Church, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who can bring up the first idea, the first sentence that I have delivered to the people as counsel that is wrong, I really wish they would do it; but they cannot do it, for the simple reason that I have never given counsel that is wrong; that is the reason. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 16, Page 161)

Time and time again, when trying to share the truth with Mormons, they employ numerous diversion tactics. One of the most common is playing the victim. An example of this would be something like this:

I quote (in context) one of their prophets on a topic; let’s say the racist teachings of their prophet Brigham Young: “Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Volume 10 Page 110)

There’s three typical Mormon responses:

1. You took that quote out of context.

2. That’s not our doctrine, it was Brigham’s opinion.

3. Stop attacking our faith.

Each one of these excuses holds no water. 1. Simply look it up for yourself and see if it’s in context or not. 2. If Brigham Young taught this stuff, why do they believe anything else he has to say?

I could go on more about those, but today I want to focus on diversion number three. I have found that time and time again, Mormons will play the victim as if their organization has been humbly going about its business when big mean Christians came along and suddenly attacked them (usually they add that it’s for some personal gain on our part).

Well I present to you today, for your examination, that when we expose LDS doctrine we are in fact defending the Christian faith from an ongoing attack from Mormonism. Why? The very existence of Mormonism is contingent upon the idea that Christianity is apostate and everything that we believe has been corrupted by Satan. Mormons shot the preemptive strike a long time ago by their founder who supposedly was told by God and Jesus (depending on which version of the first vision you want to adhere to) that, “I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt.” (Joseph Smith, Pearl of Great Price, Extracts From the History of Joseph Smith, The Prophet 2:18-19)

Let’s see what else Joseph Smith and other Mormon prophets & leaders have said about Christians, our faith, and our God:

Joseph Smith said:

If I show, verily, that I have the truth of God, and show that ninety-nine out of every hundred professing religious ministers are false teachers, having no authority, while they pretend to hold the keys of God’s kingdom on earth, and was to kill them because they are false teachers, it would deluge the whole world with blood. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,Pages 344-345)

The scriptures are a mixture of very strange doctrines to the Christian world, who are blindly led by the blind. (History of the Church,Volume 6 Page 478)

What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,

Page 270)

Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (History of the Church,Volume 1 Page xl)

And what did Brigham Young (the second prophet of LDS) have to say about Christians?

The Christian God is the Mormon’s Devil. (Journal of Discourses,Volume 5 Page 331)

The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God. (Journal of Discourses, Volume 8 Page 171)

We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—not a church but the church—and we have the doctrine of life and salvation for all the honest-in-heart in all the world. Who else has got it? Is it to be found in the creeds of Christendom? It is not. (Journal of Discourses,Volume 12 Page 173)

When the light came to me, I saw that all the so-called Christian world was groveling in darkness. (Journal of Discourses,Volume 5 Page 73)

And what did John Taylor (the third prophet of LDS) have to say about Christians?

What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute beast. (Journal of Discourses, Volume 6 Page 25)

We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense. . . . It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century. (Journal of Discourses, Volume 6 Page 167)

And what did Bruce R. McConkie write about Christians?

And virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ. (Mormon Doctrine, Page 269)

What is the church of the devil in our day and where is the seat of her power? . . . It is all of the systems, both Christian and non-Christian, that perverted the pure and perfect gospel . . . . It is communism; it is Islam; it is Buddhism; it is modern Christianity in all its parts. It is Germany under Hitler, Russia under Stalin, and Italy under Mussolini. (The Millennial Messiah, Page 54-55)

If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 1-350.) (Mormon Doctrine, Page 670)

And what about Orson Pratt?

Must we be slaves to custom and render homage to the soul-destroying, sickening influences of modern Christianity? (The Seer, Page 111)

Must we, under the broad folds of the American Constitution, be compelled to bow down to the narrow contracted notions of Apostate Christianity? (The Seer, Page 111)

Q. After the Church of Christ fled from earth to heaven, what was left?

A. A set of wicked Apostates, murderers, and idolaters, who, after having made war with the saints, and overcome them, and destroyed them out of the earth, were left to follow the wicked imaginations of their own corrupt hearts, and to build up churches by human authority, and to follow after the cunning craftiness of uninspired men; having no Apostle, Prophet, or Revelator to inquire of God for them: and thus, because of wickedness, the Church, and Priesthood, and gifts, and ordinances and blessings of the everlasting Gospel, were taken from the earth, and reserved in heaven until the fulness [sic] of times, when it was predicted that they should again be restored among men to continue until the end should come. (The Seer, Page 205)

He that would be saved must not only be sincere, but embrace the true gospel, be baptized into the true Church, and continue a faithful member of the same unto the end. This is the only way to be saved with full salvation. As neither Catholics nor Protestants are members of the true Church, they cannot claim celestial glory. (The Seer, Page 206)

Many have been taught to seek forgiveness by prayer, and have been told that baptism being only an outward ordinance would not avail any thing, and that it is to be administered to those only who have already received forgiveness:  these are doctrines of false teachers, and they are the wicked traditions handed down by apostate Christendom.  Baptism is a condition of forgiveness, and to teach mankind to seek for pardon in any other way than the one set forth in the gospel, is a wicked perversion of truth, and all such false teachers will, if they do not repent, be sent down to hell; for cursed be that man or angel who preaches another gospel, or perverts the true gospel of Christ. (The Seer, Page 255)

And in the 1997 printing of the LDS published Gospel Principles they have this to say:

One by one, the Apostles were killed. Because of the persecution, surviving Apostles could not meet to choose and ordain men to replace those who were dead. Eventually, local priesthood leaders were the only ones who had authority to direct the scattered branches of the Church. The perfect organization of the Church no longer existed, and confusion resulted. More and more error crept into Church doctrine, and soon the destruction of the Church was complete. The period of time when the true Church no longer existed on earth is called the Great Apostasy. Soon pagan beliefs dominated the thinking of those called Christians. The Roman emperor adopted this false Christianity as the state religion. This church was very different from the church Jesus organized. Members of this Church believed that God was a being without form or substance. (Page 105)

After the Savior ascended into heaven, men changed the ordinances and doctrines that he and his Apostles had established. Because of apostasy, there was no direct revelation from God. The true Church was no longer on the earth. (Page 109)

As a young boy, Joseph Smith wanted to know which of all the churches was the true Church of Christ. . . . The Savior told him not to join any church because the true Church was not on the earth. He also said that the teachings of the present churches were “an abomination in his sight.” (Page 110)

I could go on and on and on. Suffice to say Mormons attacked Christianity before Christianity ever knew about Mormonism. So don’t fall for the Mormon lie when they pull out the victim card. Their organization’s teachings, doctrines, and its very existence is an affront to Christianity, the Bible, and ultimately God Himself. Their attempt in the last few years to polish their image to appear as if they’re just another Christian group–and act like victims when challenged by Christians–is not just dishonest, but it is a cleverly packaged deception.

“We acknowledge without hesitation that there are differences between us [and Christians]. Were this not so there would have been no need for a restoration of the gospel.”(Current LDS “Prophet” Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Page 4, May 1998)

   “God made Aaron to be the mouth piece for the children of Israel, and He will make me to be god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don’t like it, you must lump it.”

History of the Church

Volume 6 Page 408

This post is in response to just one of the several misleading and downright erroneous points that Jake made in the comments section of this post regarding the comments left by Four Pointer.

I’ve copied and pasted part of Jake’s comment here:

fourpointer, It is reckless “half-truths” such as these that make your position seem so weak to anyone that has a few moments to study both sides of the arguement. Let me go point-by-point:

“…do you believe in a Jesus that was begotten by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:18)? Or was He conceived by physical, literal, sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 7)?”

The problem here is a lack of resources. You can claim that Benson taught such things, but who really knows? Who can check your sources? [I can, and so can you Jake, and anyone else who wants to “study both sides of the argument”] Do you personally have a copy of ETB’s writings? I doubt it: yet you pass on the quote like a game of “telephone” from one “evangelical scholar” to another. [I can’t speak for Foupointer, but I can tell you that I do. I have a myriad of LDS publications and writings.] I have been a member of the LDS faith for ~30+ years, and I have never once seen verifiable proof that your claim is true… that ANY Mormon prophet has claimed that Christ was “conceived by physical, literal, sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary.” It is NOT LDS doctrine, nor is it preached anywhere in the church. To use this point as your FIRST “proof” of the LDS church’s fallibility? Not a good start…

Well Jake, I am so glad that you have challenged us “Evangelical Scholars” to provide you with proof of your own church teachings to prove to you that LDS has indeed taught the very thing you deny they teach. But do me a favor, don’t just take my word for it, I strongly urge you to research it for yourself.

First look at what the Bible says: “…the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit“ Matthew 1:20 and “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…“ Luke 1:35.

Now let’s see what genuine LDS prophets have said. We’ll start with none other than Brigham Young who said in Journal of Discourses (JOD) 1:50-51 and the Millennial Star (MS) volume 15, pages 769-770, that Jesus “was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.” And “Jesus our elder brother was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven.” Young continued “Now remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.“

Young’s unbiblical statements didn’t end there. He went on to say “If the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children to be palmed upon the Elders…” What? Young ignores the clear text of the Bible to forward his view and then attempts to support his view by saying that if Jesus was begotten by the Holy Ghost then females who are baptized (in the Holy Ghost I presume) would become pregnant. What an incredible TWIST of scripture and reasoning.

But Brigham Young’s blasphemy didn’t stop there. Speaking of God the Father in JOD 4:218, he says, “When the time came that His first-born, the Saviour should come into the world and take a tabernacle, the Father came Himself and favoured that spirit with a tabernacle instead of letting any other man do it. The Saviour was begotten by the Father of His spirit, by the same Being who is the Father of our spirits, and that is all the organic difference between Jesus Christ and you and me.“

And who could forget this teaching by Brigham Young found in JOD 8:115? “The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood–was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers.” Wow. Not only is Young blaspheming the Holy Spirit by attributing this miraculous act to that of just a “natural action” but he’s also saying that Jesus was conceived in the same way we conceive children.

Mormon prophet Ezra Taft Benson said on pages six and seven of the the book Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in the most literal sense. The body in which He performed His mission in the flesh was sired by that same Holy Being we worship as God, our Eternal Father. Jesus was not the son of Joseph, nor was He Begotten by the Holy Ghost. He is the Son of the Eternal Father.“

In volume 1, page 18 of Doctrines of Salvation, Mormon prophet Joseph Fielding Smith said, “[Jesus] did not teach [the disciples] that he was the Son of the Holy Ghost, but the Son of the Father. . . . He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!“

On page 19 he continues, “Reorganites claim that Brigham Young went astray and apostatized because he declared that Jesus Christ was not begotten of the Holy Ghost. Reorganites claim that he was begotten of the Holy Ghost, and they make the statement that the scriptures so teach. But they do err not understanding the scriptures. They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost. I challenge the statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible. It is true there is one passage that states so, but we must consider it in the light of other passages with which it is in conflict.“

Smith also made this teaching very clear in the book Religious Truths Defined where on page 44 he said, “The birth of the Savior was a natural occurrence unattended with any degree of mysticism, and the Father God was the literal parent of Jesus in the flesh as well as in the spirit.“

Smith also said in the Message of the First Presidency, volume 4, page 329, “The Christian denominations believe that Christ was begotten not of God but of the spirit that overshadowed his mother. This is nonsense.“

Mormon theologian and member of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Bruce R. McConkie, in his book Mormon Doctrine, said on page 547 (1966 edition), “Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers.” On page 742 of that same book, McConkie writes, “He was born in the same personal, real, and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father. There is nothing figurative about His paternity; He was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events.”

Then there’s Orson Pratt. Brace yourself for this blasphemy. Pratt, one of the original members of the LDS Quorum of Twelve Apostles, had this to say about the relationship between our Heavenly Father and the virgin Mary in his book The Seer on page 158: “The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a 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: we use the term lawful Wife, because it would be blasphemous in the highest degree to say that He overshadowed her or begat the Saviour unlawfully.” Did you catch that? LDS wouldn’t dare say that God the Father and the virgin Mary had sex out of wedlock to begat Jesus because that would be “blasphemous in the highest degree.” However, they they teach that God the Father and the virgin Mary were married when they had intercourse to begat Jesus. But he’s not done. He continues on the same page, “He had a lawful right to overshadow the Virgin Mary in the capacity of a husband, and beget a Son, although she was espoused to another . . . . Inasmuch as God was the first husband to her, it may be that He only gave her to be the wife of Joseph while in this mortal state, and that He intended after the resurrection to again take her as one of his own wives to raise up immortal spirits in eternity.” Bet the Mormon missionaries on your doorstep won’t tell you that!

Even the 1972 LDS published Family Home Evening Manual said on pages 125-126 “How are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. . . . We must come down to the simple fact that God Almighty was the Father of His Son Jesus Christ. Mary, the virgin girl, who had never known a mortal man, was his mother.“

This warped doctrine of demons has even been promoted as late as the 1997 publication of the LDS produced book Gospel Principles. On page 380 it says, “ Jesus Christ, the only person who had God the Father as the father of his mortal body.“

I could go on but I think I’ve shown conclusively what LDS teaches in this area. So in conclusion, Fourpointer was absolutely correct in what he said and Jake, you’ve either been ill informed all these years or you purposely lied in this public forum to defend your organization from its own teachings. I like to believe the former.

Oh, and two last things Jake. I plan on addressing in later posts all the things you commented about (so stay tuned). However, I wanted to quickly respond to two other “personal” comments you made. You said “I just wish that everyone could be more open and loving with each other, instead of condemning another’s beliefs simply because we don’t understand them.” That’s the whole point Jake. I completely understand your beliefs (maybe even better than you in some areas) and that is why I confidently stand here and condemn these winds of doctrine that the LDS organization teaches. But please do not confuse (as is commonly done) my condemnation of LDS doctrine with that of its members.

You also said “But the fact that “evangelical scholars” such as yourself try to twist and stretch words and argue semantics really speaks volumes about your motives. Are you really trying to speak the truth about LDS teachings? Or make them look foolish for your own personal, selfish reasons?” Yes, I am really speaking the truth about LDS teachings. And what are those personal, selfish reasons you accuse us of? You are making a big leap to imply that Fourpointer and myself are benefiting from this somehow. Has it ever dawned on you that perhaps there are those out there (in spite of what LDS says) that actually do care about you and your eternal soul. Those who care enough to be slandered and called names but still proclaim the true Gospel? I love the Mormon people. I’ve known and still know many Mormons and it grieves me that they following a path that does not lead to life but to death. And so long as God gives me breath, I will tell you the truth, even in the midst of the bad things Mormons say about people like me.

You can read Fourpointer’s response to Jake by clicking here.