By Alan Smith
Did You Know?
Mormonism is a religious group under the umbrella of “Christian.” It is my point of view that they are better categorized as a cult. I view Mormonism as a sect outside the orthodoxy of Christianity. In most accounts, their theology is significantly different than traditional, orthodox Christianity.
A Brief History
In upstate New York during the 1800?s Second Great Awakening, there were several counties that had become known as the “Burned Over District.” These were areas where the gospel has been preached and people had responded in such numbers, that there was no one left to evangelize. The western portions of New York was composed completely of converts.
It is in this area of New York that a young boy named Joseph Smith was reared. He and his family were devout believers and very religious.
In the spring of 1820, Smith was praying in the woods near his home when he experienced a vision of the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He was told that he would be the prophet who would restore the purity and truthfulness of the church.
In the fall of 1823, Smith was visited by an angel named Moroni who directed him to a location where he found a book of golden plates. These plates contained writings that would eventually become “The Book of Mormon.”
A Glimpse into Theology
It is not the purpose of this post to explain or describe the totality of the Mormon religion. I do want to highlight a few of the deal breakers. There are a few aspects of Christianity that are non-negotiable. Doctrines and theological positions that we cannot bend, they are the fundamentals to our faith. I would like to highlight a handful of these fundamental doctrines that are heresy as taught by the Mormon church.
The Nature of God
Heresy One: God is only one of many gods (Polythiest).
Joseph Smith, in Pearl of Great Price, the book of Abraham, uses the plural reference to Gods.
?In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.370 – 372, Joseph Smith states, “The doctrine of plurality of Gods is prominent in the Bible. The heads of the Gods appointed our God for us. . . you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves . . . . the same as all Gods have done before you.”
Brigham Young, Mormon Prophet wrote: “How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods” – Journal of Discourse, Volume 7, p.419 of 474
The Biblical Truth:
God is ONE and there are no other gods. (Monothiest)
Deuteronomy 4:35
Isaiah 44:6, 48:12, and 45:14, 21-22
Isaiah 43:10
Nehemiah 9:6
I Timothy 1:17
Heresy Two: God is flesh and bone, an exalted man.
Joseph Smith, in Doctrines and Covenants, states that “the Father has a body of flesh and bones tangible as man’s; the Son also . . . .”
Joseph Smith continues: “God himself…is a man like unto one of yourselves…God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth…You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves” (Times and Seasons, vol.5, pp.613-614); “Here then is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves…the same as all Gods have done before you…To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.346-347).
The Biblical Truth:
God is Spirit, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent
Hosea 11:8 – I am God and not man, the Holy One.
Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man that He should lie.
Malachi 3:6 – For I, the Lord, do not change.
Also see Isaiah 43:10, Psalms 139, Psalms 90:2