Mormonism: What Saith the Scripture?

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

" ... that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints ..." (Jude 3)

.MORMONISM
in the Light of Scripture

Mormonism's.Teaching

Teaching of Scripture

The Nature of God
God the Father is flesh and bones. Doctrine & Covenants, 130:22
God the Father was once a man. History of the Church, V 6, p 305
God the Father has wives, which bear him spirit children. Mormon Doc, 1966, p 516; The Seer, Orson Pratt, p 37, 158 "God is Spirit ..." Jn 4:24
"Before the mountains were brought forth ... even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psa 90:2
"... I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." Isa 46:9

Immutability of God
God is always changing. Journal of Discourses, V 1, p 93; V 6, p 120 "I am the Lord, I change not." Mal 3:6

Polytheism
There are three gods: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 370, 372 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deut 6:4

Satan's
Origin & Nature
Satan used to be the spirit brother of Jesus. Gospel Through the Ages, p 15 "In the beginning was the Word ... all things were made by him ..." John 1:1-3 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible ..." Col 1:16; cp. Ezek 28:11-19

The Virgin Birth
In his glorifed physical body, the Father had sexual intercourse with the virgin Mary. Jour of Discourses, V 1, p 51; V 4, p 218; Mormon Doc, p 547 "... Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. ... Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth ... And knew her not till she had brought forth ..." Mat 1:18-25

Deity
Jesus became a god after his death and ascension. Gospel Through the Ages, 1958, p 21
Man can become God. Jour of Discourses, V 10, p 223; Hist of the Church, V 6, p 306; Doc & Covenants, 132.20 Jesus claimed to be God while here on earth. Jn 5:18; 10:30-33
"... before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." "... I am God ... there is none like me." Isa 43:10; 46:9 Cp. Isa 44:8

The Creation of Man
Man is eternal and has always existed. Doc & Cov, 93.29; Jour of Discourses, X, p 5; VI, p 6 Man was created. Gen 2:18-25; Job 38:1-7

Sin and the Fall
Adam didn't sin; he fell upward. Pearl of Great Price, Moses 5:10-12; Doc of Salv, V 1, pp 114, 115; Jour of Discourses, V 13, p 145; V 10, p 312
Man's fall was "a necessary, honorable act in carrying out the plan of the Almighty." Joseph Smith: Seeker after Truth, p 160 Sin brought destruction upon all. Gen 3:16-24; Rom 5:12-21
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man ...." Jas 1:13-17

Salvation; The Blood
The blood Jesus "shed" in Gethsemane pays for most sin. Church News, Oct 9, 1982, p 19
Personal sin was not covered by Jesus' blood. Morm Doc, pp 62, 669; Third Article of Faith; Jour of Disc, V 3, p 247 The blood Jesus shed on Calvary paid for sin. 1 Pet 2:24
"... the blood of Christ ... purge[s] your conscience ..." "...without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9:14, 22 "... the blood of Jesus ... cleanseth us from all sin." 1 Jn 1:7

The Gospel
"... all of the laws ... rites, ordinances" are a necessary part of the gospel. Mormon Doc, p 331 "... by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20; cp. Col 2:16, 17

Salvation
Three elements are necessary for salvation: faith, baptism into Mormonism, and works. Mormon Doc, pp 669, 670; Ensign, Nov. 1982, p 61 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph 2:8, 9

The Church
The true gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and can only be found in Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) Mormon Doc, p 334; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 119 Jesus said his church would withstand the enemy 's attempts to destroy it (Mat 16:18).

Eternal Life
Eternal life comes through obedience to the organization and the seal of marriage under the Mormon priesthood. Jour of Disc, V 11, p 221, 269; Mormon Doc, p 411 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Jn 17:3 "... the gift of God is eternal life ..." Rom 6:23 "... you that believe on the name of the Son ... may know that ye have eternal life ..." 1 Jn 5:13

RETURN

	Mormonism's.Teaching	Teaching of Scripture
The Nature of God	God the Father is flesh and bones. Doctrine & Covenants, 130:22 God the Father was once a man. History of the Church, V 6, p 305 God the Father has wives, which bear him spirit children. Mormon Doc, 1966, p 516; The Seer, Orson Pratt, p 37, 158	"God is Spirit ..." Jn 4:24 "Before the mountains were brought forth ... even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psa 90:2 "... I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." Isa 46:9
Immutability of God	God is always changing. Journal of Discourses, V 1, p 93; V 6, p 120	"I am the Lord, I change not." Mal 3:6
Polytheism	There are three gods: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 370, 372	"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deut 6:4
Satan's Origin & Nature	Satan used to be the spirit brother of Jesus. Gospel Through the Ages, p 15	"In the beginning was the Word ... all things were made by him ..." John 1:1-3 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible ..." Col 1:16; cp. Ezek 28:11-19
The Virgin Birth	In his glorifed physical body, the Father had sexual intercourse with the virgin Mary. Jour of Discourses, V 1, p 51; V 4, p 218; Mormon Doc, p 547	"... Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. ... Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth ... And knew her not till she had brought forth ..." Mat 1:18-25
Deity	Jesus became a god after his death and ascension. Gospel Through the Ages, 1958, p 21 Man can become God. Jour of Discourses, V 10, p 223; Hist of the Church, V 6, p 306; Doc & Covenants, 132.20	Jesus claimed to be God while here on earth. Jn 5:18; 10:30-33 "... before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." "... I am God ... there is none like me." Isa 43:10; 46:9 Cp. Isa 44:8
The Creation of Man	Man is eternal and has always existed. Doc & Cov, 93.29; Jour of Discourses, X, p 5; VI, p 6	Man was created. Gen 2:18-25; Job 38:1-7
Sin and the Fall	Adam didn't sin; he fell upward. Pearl of Great Price, Moses 5:10-12; Doc of Salv, V 1, pp 114, 115; Jour of Discourses, V 13, p 145; V 10, p 312 Man's fall was "a necessary, honorable act in carrying out the plan of the Almighty." Joseph Smith: Seeker after Truth, p 160	Sin brought destruction upon all. Gen 3:16-24; Rom 5:12-21 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man ...." Jas 1:13-17
Salvation; The Blood	The blood Jesus "shed" in Gethsemane pays for most sin. Church News, Oct 9, 1982, p 19 Personal sin was not covered by Jesus' blood. Morm Doc, pp 62, 669; Third Article of Faith; Jour of Disc, V 3, p 247	The blood Jesus shed on Calvary paid for sin. 1 Pet 2:24 "... the blood of Christ ... purge[s] your conscience ..." "...without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9:14, 22 "... the blood of Jesus ... cleanseth us from all sin." 1 Jn 1:7
The Gospel	"... all of the laws ... rites, ordinances" are a necessary part of the gospel. Mormon Doc, p 331	"... by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20; cp. Col 2:16, 17
Salvation	Three elements are necessary for salvation: faith, baptism into Mormonism, and works. Mormon Doc, pp 669, 670; Ensign, Nov. 1982, p 61	"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph 2:8, 9
The Church	The true gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and can only be found in Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) Mormon Doc, p 334; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 119	Jesus said his church would withstand the enemy 's attempts to destroy it (Mat 16:18).
Eternal Life	Eternal life comes through obedience to the organization and the seal of marriage under the Mormon priesthood. Jour of Disc, V 11, p 221, 269; Mormon Doc, p 411	"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Jn 17:3 "... the gift of God is eternal life ..." Rom 6:23 "... you that believe on the name of the Son ... may know that ye have eternal life ..." 1 Jn 5:13