Mormonism
Mormonism
In this lesson we will examine the claims and doctrines of those
who are called "Mormons." We will seek to understand why they become so
committed and dedicated to their religious beliefs. The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, largest of the groups who accept Joseph
Smith, Jr. as a prophet of God in these latter days, are commonly
called "The Mormons." We will investigate some of their claims today.
But first, the West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen
minute sermons each Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we
want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human
doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who
listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on
this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge,
but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the
most important issue of this life and of eternity.
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Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
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today's program.
The name "Mormon" is not objectionable to most of the Latter Day
Saints. Dean B. Cleverly, executive assistant in the Missionary
Department of the LDS Stake in Bountiful, Utah, responded to a question
as to the appropriateness of using the name "Mormon" to designate Latter
Day Saints. He wrote, "The early members of the latter-day Church were
nicknamed 'Mormons,' because they accepted the Book of Mormon as a
companion volume of scripture to the Bible. Originally a term of
contempt, the nickname was soon accepted and used rather freely by the
Latter-day Saints." (Ensign, December 1983, page 29). We certainly mean
no disrespect in our use of the term and use it as Cleverly says is an
accepted practice among the Mormons.
This study is about what Mormonism is, what it roots and goals are,
and how it operates as a religious confession around the world today.
It is a subject that should be investigated by Mormon and non-Mormon
alike. We are perfectly agreeable to what our Mormon friends believe.
Joseph Smith, Jr., the first prophet, seer, and president of Mormonism
claimed to have received a revelation directly from Jesus Christ to be
given to one Sidney Rigdon at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. Here is
the "revelation."
"Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of
the earth and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and
revelations which are to come. Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso
readeth, let him understand and receive also; For unto him that
receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power. Wherefore,
confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and
private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made
manifest. Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against
the Lord. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you -- there is no weapon
that is formed against you shall prosper; and if any man lift his voice
against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time. Wherefore,
keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 71, verses 4-11, page 115). This
revelation from Jesus through Joseph Smith was not intended for Rigdon
alone. Notice that the Lord said, "Now behold this is wisdom; whoso
readeth..." This includes all who believe this was really a revelation
from Christ. The one who reads is to understand the message, receives
even more power. The Mormon today who believes this was a revelation
from Christ is not afforded the option of deciding whether the
circumstances are right for a public or private attack against those who
deny their doctrinal positions. They have no choice, for to them, the
Lord has plainly commanded it.
This study is not presented with enmity toward Mormons. It is at
odds with the origin, structure, doctrines, and practices of Mormonism.
There is much in Mormonism that is admirable and worthy of imitation.
Their commitment to clean living, evangelistic zeal, and concern for the
family life in this world is commendable. Also, should they really
apply the above revelation Smith claimed to have received, their
willingness to defend publicly or privately their views is certainly
praiseworthy.
Orson Pratt was one of the original Twelve Apostles of Mormonism
and a prolific writer and speaker. He wrote in regard to the Book of
Mormon, "The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that
if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one
can possibly be saved and receive it. Therefore, every soul in all the
world is equally interested in ascertaining its truth or falsity." (A
Series of Pamphlets, R. James, Liverpool, 1851, "Divine Authenticity of
the Book of Mormon," page 1).
The late Bruce McKonkie, also an Apostle of Mormonism wrote, "The
plain fact is that salvation itself is at stake in this matter. If the
Book of Mormon is true -- if it is a volume of holy scripture, if it
contains the mind and will and voice of the Lord to all men, if it is a
divine witness of the prophetic call of Joseph Smith -- then to accept
it and believe its doctrines is to be saved, and to reject it and walk
contrary to its teachings is to be damned.
"Let this message be sounded in every ear with an angelic trump;
let it roll round the earth in resounding claps of never-ending thunder;
let it be whispered in every heart by the still, small voice. Those who
believe the Book of Mormon and accept Joseph Smith as a prophet thereby
open the door to salvation; those who reject the book outright or who
simply fail to learn its message and believe its teachings never so much
as begin to travel that course along the straight and narrow path that
leads to eternal life." (Ensign, November 1983, page 72).
Separated by over 130 years, two of Mormonism's most vocal Apostles
have unequivocally drawn the line in sharp focus. Either we accept
Mormonism, which is based on approval of the claims of Joseph Smith,
Jr., and believe the Book of Mormon to be divinely inspired and revealed
or we will be lost forever. The statements of Pratt and McKonkie remove
the issue from the optional. It is no longer a matter that you can be
right and turn down the claims of Mormonism. You cannot be saved if you
reject their message, according to two of the highest officials
Mormonism has ever produced. Generally, the Mormons with whom most of
us are familiar are clean shaven, healthy young people who know very
little of true Mormonism. This is not said to their discredit. They
are energetic and zealous. Most of them simply do not know this basic
fact about their own religion. The last thing most of them would ever
dream of saying is that you cannot be saved and reject their message.
But that is exactly what the highest officials of their religion have
repeated over many years.
The prophet himself is on record on this point in very clear
language. His explanation of his own condition just prior to receiving
the angelic visitations reads like this. "My mind at times was greatly
excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The
Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and
used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors,
or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other
hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in
endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. In
the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to
myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or are
they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and
how shall I know it?" (Joseph Smith, 1:8-10). The prophet went on to
conclude, "they were all wrong..." (verse 20). Smith was forbidden by a
divine personage to join any of the existing churches, thus was to
establish the one true church, The Latter Day Saints.
There is nothing wrong with claiming to be uniquely the one true
church. The Roman Catholic Church has held this view of themselves for
centuries. But to claim it and not be willing to admit or defend it is
repulsive. For to claim to have all the true teaching of the Lord which
are essential to the salvation of the world, and then be unwilling to
defend it, even in accord with the instructions of the Lord Himself, is
weak and unworthy of anything remotely related to Deity. Also, if the
claims of Joseph Smith, Jr., the writings of two of Mormonism's most
prestigious Apostles, and the written revelations of Mormonism are all
true, then all religious confessions and communities are false, belong
to Satan and salvation is only among those who follow the Mormon line.
What evidence is there to verify the Mormon claim? The first
evidence upon which Mormonism must base its claim is the Book of Mormon
itself, the other revelations they claim from God, and that Joseph
Smith, Jr. did, in fact, receive the visit from the angel Moroni. This
can also be reduced to one simple fact: do you believe Joseph Smith, Jr.
or not? If one accepts his testimonies, then there will be nothing to
hinder one's acceptance of the Book of Mormon (as well as all the other
revelations) as divine gifts from God Almighty. Another evidence upon
which Mormonism stands is their claim to having restored the church
which Jesus established. We will examine only the Book of Mormon in
this lesson, for it its credibility is destroyed, the entire structure
of Mormonism crumbles.
When an examination of Mormonism begins a fundamental fact must be
observed. Anything that was spoken or written by Joseph Smith, Jr. has
the same weight as anything spoken by the true biblical prophets such as
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others. Anything spoken or written by any of
their Twelve Apostles carries the same authority today as what was
spoken or written by the Apostles of Christ in the first century. A
true prophet is a speaker for God and an genuine Apostle is a spokesman
for Christ. When Moses expressed his lack of confidence in his ability
to speak for God, God promised to be with his mouth (Exodus 4:10-11).
Aaron, his brother, became his prophet (Exodus 7:1-2). What any of
those among the Latter Day Saints who are believed to be prophets,
apostles, seers, presidents, etc. have said or written must be believed
without question. Mormons claim their "quorum of the twelve" occupy the
place they think the apostles vacated and that the present president
occupies the same place as Joseph Smith, Jr.
Mormonism is a religious system built upon the foundation of Joseph
Smith, Jr., an alleged latter day prophet and upon the existence of the
Book of Mormon, which is assumed to be divinely revealed through Joseph
Smith. It is based on alleged continued revelation from Heaven to
mankind and claims to be the only way there is for mankind to every
enjoy salvation. Those who reject it, according to the direct
statements of Mormon leaders, are lost and will never enjoy salvation.
The single best way to show the error of Mormonism is to show the
basic flaw in the Book of Mormon itself. If the book is flawed, the
religion drawn from it cannot be true. It is never necessary to read
the book and then ask God to reveal to you directly whether it is true
or not. The book cannot be true. The following will prove that beyond
any reasonable doubt.
The Book of Mormon proposes to reveal God's dealings with the
Americas. It relates a story of expeditions from the middle east to the
Americas, the last of which occurred somewhere between 600 B.C. and 421
A.D. It further purports to restore certain truths that were taken out
of the Bible (I Nephi 13:26- 28). The Book of Mormon lays the
responsibility for these removals of truth on the doorstep of the
"abominable church," which very likely was the Catholic Church. The
story is of the family of a prophet named Lehi. They sailed across the
Atlantic ocean by divine help and guidance and landed safely in the
Americas. The precise location is a matter of study still among
Mormons.
The Book of Mormon starts by telling of one of the principal
familes in the story, the family of Lehi. He was allegedly a prophet.
While still in the wilderness of Judea, Lehi was instructed to kill a
man named Zoram and take brass plates containing the law from him. Lehi
discovered that the plates contained not only the books of the Law of
Moses, but also a record of the Jews from the beginning to the time of
Zedekiah, king of Judah. (I Nehpi 5:11- 12). But he found something
even more interesting. He found prophecies from some of the prophets
and especially prophecies of Jeremiah. But even more interesting to him
personally, he found a genealogy of his fathers and discovered that "he
was a descendant of Joseph; yea even that Joseph who was the son of
Jacob, who was sold into Egypt and who was preserved by the hand of the
Lord." (verse 14). Please keep this clearly before you for a few
minutes.
Still near Jerusalem, Lehi and some Ishmaelites gave thanks and
offered sacrifices unto the Lord their God, "and they did offer
sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him" (I Nephi 7:22). During their
sojourn in the wilderness two sons, Joseph and Jacob, were born (I Nephi
18:7). The ship was finally sea-worthy and underway. The little band
ultimately reached "the promised land." Immediately upon arrival, Nephi
wrote down an accurate record of his family lineage, with very careful
attention paid to his father's genealogy (I Nephi 19:1-2).
Family disputes and differences caused a split between Nephi and
his brother Laman. Nehpi and his tribe kept the law of Moses with them
and built a temple of worship. They also kept certain other records.
Nephi seems to have spent considerable time recording various
conversations and events. His collection of metal plates was probably
quite sizable at the time of the family split. He claims that he and
his family "did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the
commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses"
(II Nephi 5:10). Please keep this clearly in your mind also.
The most egregious and obvious blunder in the entire Mormon plot is
displayed in the next item. After making grandiose claims to keeping
the law of Moses in all things, Nephi reports that "I, Nephi, did
consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers
over the land of my people" (II Nephi 5:26). Now, to those things we
have clearly in mind -- Lehi was a descendant of Joseph, not Levi. All
of his sons, including Joseph and Jacob, were also not descendants of
Levi. They had a good ìcopy of the Law of Moses with them. That law
specifically stated, "And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and
they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh
nigh shall be put to death" (Numbers 23:10). Aaron was of the tribe of
Levi (Exodus 4:14). Nephi broke the commandments at least three ways.
First he installed men into the priesthood who were not sons of Aaron.
Second he did not slay them after they came nigh to do the priest's
work. Third, he lied about his careful observation of the law of Moses.
Hebrews 7:13-14 affirms that Jesus could not have been what Nephi
made Joseph and Jacob do. Jesus could not have been a priest under the
Law because he came from Judah, "of which tribe Moses spake nothing
concerning priesthood." What is said of Juda is true of Joseph. The
Book of Mormon represents God Almighty as instituting, approving, and
blessing a new priesthood in the descendants of Joseph, not Levi. Even
though the Law of Moses specified that anyone other than a Levite or a
son of Aaron should approach the office of priest would die, the Book of
Mormon represents God as blessing one of another tribe who became a
priest. If Nehpi told the truth, when he claimed to have an accurate
copy of the first five books of Moses (the Law) and that he kept it
meticulously, he sinned when he installed non-Levites as priests. There
is no reasonable answer any Mormon can give to this dilemma.
Other doctrinal errors of Mormonism include their concept of God.
They do not believe in just one God -- they have a multiplicity of gods.
And, they believe their gods are all in a state of eternal progression.
The doctrine of genealogies, temple marriages, and a host of other views
can all be answered. There are not only contradictions between the
Bible and the Book of Mormon, there are many contradictions between the
Book of Mormon, and another book they called inspired, Doctrine and
Covenants With Pearl of Great Price. But for the purpose of this
lesson, the above refutation of their position is sufficient.
If you have any question at all about this topic, or if you would
like extra study materials on it, contact us. You call or write West
End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. 42101.
Until the next time we have this opportunity to be with you by radio,
may God richly bless you and yours. Good bye.
Radio Sermon No. 43, Page 1
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