Bible Question:
Are the Later Day Saints or Mormons Christians according to the Bible?
Bible Answer:
On 16 August 2018, it was announced by the church leadership of Mormonism that the name of their cult is now “Church of Jesus Christ.”[1] They asked their converts to avoid “Mormon,” “Mormonism,” and “LDS.”[2] A business man told me that the attenders and members were urged to avoid the term Mormons and call themselves Christians. At the same time, they started flooding social media and YouTube with videos of historic Christian hymns sung by Mormon choirs and special groups. They are writing materials that make them appear to be Christians to young people, who have not known them before as Mormons. In short, the leadership of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” began to engage in a serious public relations makeover of their image. The point is simple. They want people to think they are true Christians. Sadly, the answer to the question, “Are Mormons Christians?” is no! What follows will explain why they are not real Christians. You will discover they are seeking to deceive us!
Background Perspective
A woman once told me that she had asked a Mormon elder to visit her and share what the Mormon church believed. Then she asked me to come and listen. She wanted me to tell her during the meeting how I responded to what he would share. Her decision to invite him was not wise and was contrary to the command in 2 John 9-11 to avoid false teachers.
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 2 John 9-11 (NASB)
The meeting started and the Mormon elder shared with her what he wanted her to know about the Mormon church. Then she asked if I agreed. Therefore, I told her that the man had deceived her. The Mormon church does not believe Jesus was God from eternity past, but that he was a man initially who became a god. At that point, the Mormon elder told her that was their “deeper teaching.” Before that point, everything that he said sounded like historic Christianity. He sounded like a Christian.
He failed to tell the unsuspecting woman that Mormons believe the historic Christian faith is an abomination, or that it is apostate. For example, their founder, Joseph Smith, wrote this in the Pearl of Great Price,
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all of their creeds were an abomination.[3]
That is, they believe Christianity is an abomination. So, the man had deceived the young woman into thinking Mormons agreed with what she believed. As one ex-Mormon told me, “It is all made up.” Mormonism is all made up. It is not Christian. This gentleman had been a teacher in the Mormon church and he finally learned that they had falsified the background of the church even to the faithful. Even if you do not believe his words, you will discover from the Bible and the Book of Mormon why they are not Christians.
Belief About the Bible
First, the Mormon Church will display the phrase “the word of God,” but that phrase has a different meaning to a Mormon than it does to a Christian. Mormonism claims the Bible has errors and the Book of Mormon has restored the Bible. Second, that explains why Mormons say “the Bible is a sacred book that contains the word of God.[4] But they do not believe all of the Bible is the Word of God. It is important to note they refer to the “word of God, ” and not the “Word of God.” Notice the difference in capitalization of “word.” But Christians capitalize the phrase “Word of God” because they believe all of the Bible was written by God. Why do Mormons not do that? Because they want the unsuspecting person to believe that Mormons believe the Bible is inspired, sacred writings. The truth is they believe much of the Bible is not inspired by God. Their “deeper teaching” is that the Bible contains many errors and the Book of Mormon corrects those errors. For example, on a Mormon webpage that is titled, “How the Bible and the Book of Mormon Work Together” we read this,
Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. Each book supports the other’s teachings. . . . The Book of Mormon confirms what the Bible says about Jesus Christ and clarifies many other Christian doctrines.[5]
It is a carefully worded statement that is deceptive. Notice the word “clarifies” reveals that they believe the Book of Mormon is superior to the Bible. Supposedly, we need it to understand the Bible.
But sadly they do not tell the unsuspecting person the Book of Mormon has been dramatically modified and changed since their founder Joseph Smith created the book. They fail to state that there have been at least 3,913 changes to the Book of Mormon since it was first created by their founder Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830.[6] The changes are more than errors of grammar. There are substantive additions and deletions of content. The book titled, “3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon” states this on page 15,
In most books we would not consider spelling changes to be very important, but when we consider the fact that the early Mormon leaders taught that Joseph Smith received “every word and every letter” of the Book of Mormon directly from God, the spelling changes become significant. Some Mormons now claim that the witnesses to the Book of Mormon made up the story that the translation was given word-for-word to Joseph Smith; J. L. Traughber Jr., however, stated that David Whitmer told him that it was Joseph Smith himself who taught that the Book of Mormon was dictated word-for-word: “a spiritual light would shine forth, and parchment would appear before Joseph, upon which was a line of characters from the plates, and under it, the translation in English; at least, so Joseph said.” (Saints’ Herald, Noyember 15, 1962, page 16) Although there have been thousands of changes made in the Book of Mormon, the changes made in some of the other Mormon books are of a more serious nature. Some of the revelations that appear in the Doctrine and Covenants have had hundreds of words added to them. There also have been many important changes in the Pearl of Great Price.[7]
The book “3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon” shows mistakes in almost every page in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine of Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The book documents the changes with markups.
Apologetics Press has published an article titled, “Is the Book of Mormon From God?” In the book, the author provides proof the Book of Mormon has been extensively copied from the King James Version Bible (KJV), has numerous mistakes, and contains contradictions. His analysis of the 1830 Book of Mormon compared to the current version reveals there are more than 4,000 grammatical, content mistakes in the Book of Mormon. The author provides an extensive and supportive bibliography.[8]
Copies of the original 1830 Book of Mormon are available for purchase at stores. The cult started in A.D. 1830. The current version can be compared to the original. Other books have addressed the errors too! This is significant since Mormons claim the Book of Mormon is perfect, without error. Supposedly, it has never been changed. But investigations have proven that is not an accurate claim. Once again, it is deception.
While there are variations in the manuscripts of the ancient copies of the Bible, textual criticism has demonstrated that after two thousand years the Bible is 99.98% accurate. The document “How Accurate Is the Bible” discusses the accuracy of the Bible. The reader is encouraged to read it. What is significant is that Mormons claim the Book of Mormon has never changed. Every word is perfect and unchanged since Joseph Smith wrote it. They do not disclose that there are at least 3,913 changes to the Book of Mormon.
Mormon doctrines are not rooted in the Book of Mormon. Their doctrines are found in two other books. One is called the Doctrine and Covenants which is a collection of revelations that they say have been restored. The second book is the Pearl of Great Price which explains Mormon doctrines and teachings. These additional books reveal the Book of Mormon is not sufficient by itself. No major doctrine the Mormons believe can be found in the Book of Mormon. They are found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. The Book of Mormon is not superior to the Bible. So, what does that reveal about the Book of Mormon. They claim we need the Book of Mormon to clarify the Bible, and then take their doctrines from the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
In addition, entire sections of the Book of Mormon were copied from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible. The Book of Mormon contains 27,000 words that were directly lifted from the King James Bible.[9] Supposedly, the book contains writings that were copied word-for-word from plates golden plates originally created about 600 B.C. to 130-421 B.C. This creates a credibility problem.
If the Book of Mormon was first penned between 600 B.C. and A.D. 421, as claimed, how could it contain such extensive quotations from the A.D. 1611 KJV . . . ?[10]
In fact, the original Book of Mormon even contains some of the KJV Bible’s italicized words. The italicized words indicate they were not in the original manuscripts.
This reveals the Book of Mormon is not what Mormons claim. It is not the Word of God; the Bible is the Word of God! Additionally, the Book of Mormon cannot be verified by historical events or archaeology. Apologetics press has written this summary,
These are just a few problems besetting the Mormon church. If the Book of Mormon is the “most correct” book ever written, why does it contain so many mistakes? Why so many contradictions with history, archaeology, and ancient languages? Scientists, historians, archaeologists, and linguists have exposed the Mormon scriptures as the invention of a marvelously fertile imagination. So marvelous, in fact, that it has taken a century and a half to prove it conclusively false. Convincing though it was to Smith’s contemporaries, this grand old story has proven to be no match for scientific investigation. [11].
But the Bible has extensive historical and archeological support.[12]
Belief About Jesus Christ
Mormons are polytheists. They believe in many gods who supposedly rule over planets all over the universe. For Spencer W. Kimball, the twelfth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said,
“Brethren, 225,000 of you are here tonight. I suppose 225,000 of you may become gods. There seems to be plenty of space out there in the universe. And the Lord has proved that he knows how to do it. I think he could make, or could probably have us help, make, worlds for all of us, for every one of us 225,000.”[13]
Each one manages his own planet.[14] These gods have wives, a female god, and together they are constantly having sex in order to give birth to spirit babies.[15] Jesus is one of those gods who oversees this planet called earth.
They believe that Jesus was once a man and later became a god.[16] Notice that the Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow has said,
“As man now is, God once was:”
“As God now is, man may be.”[17]
Mormons teach that man has always existed. His spirit has been and is eternal. According to the Doctrine and Covenants,
Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.[18]
So, they say that Jesus has been an eternal spirit. They state that Jesus was the first spirit of all spirits. Consequently, they say Jesus is our elder brother. But that implies that the other spirits were not eternal since they were not the first spirit. They did have a beginning. What is worse is how did Jesus become the first spirit if he is actually eternal? How did any of them exist for eternity if Jesus had a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother in eternity past, and Jesus was their first baby? In fact, Mormonism teaches “all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother.”[19] Everyone can become a god and have their own world. So, Mormonism is polytheistic!
Joseph Fielding Smith, the tenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote in “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith”,
. . . he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the Bible. . . . What did Jesus say? (Mark it, Elder Rigdon!) The Scriptures inform us that Jesus said, As the Father hath power in Himself, even so hath the Son power–to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious–in a manner to lay down His body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do? To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again.[20]
Or, as one Mormon author states,
Jesus Christ was born into this world as the son of Mary (inheriting from her His mortality) and as the Son of God (inheriting from Him the powers of immortality). Christ grew in knowledge from grace to grace until He gained the fullness of all things.[21]
That is, while Jesus lived among us on this earth, He became God at some point. Joseph Fielding Smith implied Jesus became god at His resurrection. But other Mormons have questions as to when, but they are certain that Jesus was human at His incarnation and eventually became God. But that is is contradictory to the teachings of the 1830 Book of Mormon which states god is unchanging (Mormon 9:9, 19; Moroni 8:18; Alma 41:8; 3 Nephi 24:6).
This teaching is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. For the Bible teaches that Jesus was and is God from eternity past (John 1:1-2; 8:24, 58; 10:30). The Bible teaches that God never changes (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:17-18; 13:8). That is, Jesus has always been God, who took on human flesh. God never had a beginning. He is God from eternity past (Micah 5:2; John 1:1-12). 1 John 4:1-2 teaches that we can know a false teacher or a false prophet by what they teach about Jesus.
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. 1 John 4:1-2 (NASB)
Notice that these two verses describe a test. The test says that a false prophet will deny that God took on human flesh. The test does not mean that a man became a man. For that happens every day. Babies are born every day. At birth, humans are born with flesh. That is no test. But if God becomes a man, now that is a test. Mormons fail this test. Mormons teach that Jesus was only a man at birth with the power to become immortal. For Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow said that a man can become a god. They teach Jesus was only a man who became a god. Therefore, Mormon prophets and teachers are false spirits. For God never changes. Jesus is unchanging.
It is difficult for the unsuspecting person to discuss doctrine with Mormons for they have adopted the terms that Christians use. A Christian can have a conversation with a Mormon and think they agree because Mormons have redefined the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, sin, salvation, justification, heaven, for example. They have cleverly reinterpreted Bible verses. Nevertheless, we will explore some statements from their founders and the books they consider to be sacred. For example, in one of the books in the Book of Mormon called Alma, we read this statement,
. . . both the wicked and the righteous . . . shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.[22]
Once again notice that Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit are one eternal God. Mormons will be quick to say that means God is one in purpose. But the passage, which was written in 1830, does not say that they are one in purpose. Sometimes Mormons refer to John 10:30 which says God is one. While it is true that the Trinity operates together with one purpose, this verse teaches they are one in essence. They ignore verses 33 and 36 which explain what Jesus meant in verse 30. Verse 33 reveals the Jewish religious leaders understood what Jesus was saying. Then in verse 36, Jesus says that He is God. Visit “What is the meaning that Jesus is the Son of God?” to understand the meaning of “Son of God.” Also, visit “Why would Jesus say that we are gods?” They claim that God the Father is Elohim and Jesus is Jehovah. But in Deuteronomy 5:6 we discover that Jehovah or Yahweh says He is Elohim. The Hebrew word for LORD is Jehovah or Yahweh and the Hebrew for God is Elohim. That is, Jehovah calls Himself Elohim. In addition, Isaiah 9:6 clearly refers to Jesus Christ, and the Hebrew word in the phrase “Mighty God” is Elohim. That is, Jesus is Elohim. The Father and Jesus are one God. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one God (see Jesus Is God). Christians call God a Trinity, but the Mormons falsely call them three gods.
Three men known as Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris are said to have testified to the authenticity of the 1830 Book of Mormon. Today, their testimony is called “Testimony of Three Witnesses.” They wrote this at the end of the document about the Trinity.
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. [23]
They testified that God was a Trinity at the same time they testified the Book of Mormon had been translated from golden plates supplied by the Angel of the Lord. Yet, today Mormonism says God is not a Trinity.
Sadly, Mormons are trying to appear to be Christians to the unsuspecting, and then later they reveal their deeper truths. But that was not true of the early founders. John Taylor, the third LDS Prophet, said this,
“We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense… 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.”[24]
So, why would any Mormon today want to appear to be a Christian? Because they are like the spider looking for someone to enter their web. Only the unsuspecting will fly their way.
In summary, Mormonism has been filled with the doctrines of demons from its beginning and it is worse today. 1 Timothy 4:1 says,
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 (NASB)
2 Peter 2:1-3 gives a very serious warning,
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)
Galatians 1:6-9 wants us,
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Galatians 1:6-9 (NASB)
Conclusion:
Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowder, and Russell M. Nelson were false prophets. Mormonism is a “made up” religion. Mormons are not Christians. They have been deceived by demons and then deceived others. Those who follow them will be judged by God Himself. Revelation 2:20-23 gives us a principle that the followers of false teachers/prophets will be judged along with the false prophet/teacher. So, be careful to not follow them. Are Mormons Christians? The answer is no!
How can you share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them?
1) Start by focusing on their sin. Share Romans 3:10-18 and Romans 6:23. Then share Galatians 5:19-21 which describes the wages of our sins. It is spiritual death. For they do not have any confidence they are going to the third heaven. They are in fear. Share Jesus’ statement in John 8:24 (see “Do I have to believe Jesus is God to be saved?“).
2. Point out that Isaiah 9:6 teaches that Jesus is both Jehovah and Elohim. Mormons believe that the Father is Elohim and Jesus is Jehovah. In Isaiah 9:6 when Jesus is called Mighty God, the Hebrew word for God is Elohim. That is the Father and Jesus are the same person. So, Jesus could not have been created by the Father (visit “Jesus Is God“).
3. Then share that Jesus atoned for the sins of all mankind and not just the sins of Adam. Have them read Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2:2. Jesus has promised every believer forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 1:9-2:20). Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 10:17 promise that once our sins are forgiven, they are not remembered again.
4. Forgiveness of our sins occurs when we believe that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our own sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-7; 1 Peter 2:24-25).
5. 1 Peter 1:3-9 promises that our eternal life is secure. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 promises that we will always be with Jesus. May the Lord bless you.
6. Point out that the Bible only discusses one heaven (Revelation 21-22). Show them that Jesus promised His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them in heaven (John 14:1-3).
References:
1. Sarah Jane Weaver. “Mormon” Is Out: Church Releases Statement on How to Refer to the Organization. 16 August 2018.
2. Ibid.
3. Pearl of Great Price. Joseph Smith—History 1:19.
4. The Bible Is the Word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ. (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/bible)
5. How the Bible and the Book of Mormon Work Together. The Church of Jesus Christ. (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/book-of-mormon/how-the-bible-and-the-book-of-mormon-work-together)
6. Jerald & Sandra Tanner. 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. Note: the book contains extensive photographs of the pages of the Book of Mormon with before and after changes. This is significant since Mormons claim the Book of Mormon is perfect but the Bible has been changed.
7. Ibid., p. 15.
8. Dewayne Bryant, Ph.D. Is the Book of Mormon From God? [Part I and Part II]. Apologetics Press. (apologeticspress.org/is-the-book-of-mormon-from-god-part-1-2787/)
9. Ron Rhodes. The 10 Most Important Things You Say to A Mormon. Harvest House Publishers. 2001. p. 23-24.
10. Ibid. p. 24.
11. Dewayne Bryant, Ph.D. The Book of Mormon and the Ancient Evidence. Apologetics Press. (apologeticspress.org/the-book-of-mormon-and-the-ancient-evidence-975/)
12. Josh MacDowell and Sean MacDowell. Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World. October 3, 2017.
13. Spencer W. Kimball Quotes (www.azquotes.com/author/17656-Spencer_W_Kimball). and Spencer W. Kimball (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_W._Kimball
14. Johnson, Hollis R. “Worlds”, in Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing. 1992. pp. 1595–96. (contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/EoM/id/4358)
15. Spirit Children of Heavenly Parents. The Church of Jesus Christ. (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/spirit-children-of-heavenly-parents?lang=eng). Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 335.
16. Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow. “Is President Lorenzo Snow’s oft-repeated statement—“As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be”—accepted as official doctrine by the Church?” The Church of Jesus Christ. (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/02/i-have-a-question/is-president-snows-statement-as-man-now-is-god-once-was-as-god-now-is-man-may-be-accepted-as-official-doctrine?lang=eng&id=html)
17. Ibid.
18. Doctrine and Covenants. 93:29.
19. Mother in Heaven. The Church of Jesus Christ. (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng#note1)
20. Joseph Fielding Smith. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Section Six 1843-44, p.345-346.
21. Mormon Beliefs. (mormonbeliefs.org/mormon_beliefs/who-is-jesus-christ/).
22. Alma 11:44, Book of Mormon.
23. The Joseph Smith Papers, p. 589. (www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-4-testimony-of-three-witnesses-late-june-1829/1). Note: Testimony of Three Witnesses, was created in Fayette Township, Seneca Co., NY, late June 1829.
24. John Taylor (3rd LDS Prophet), 1858, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 167.
Suggested Links:
How Accurate Is the Bible?What is the meaning that Jesus is the Son of God?
Why would Jesus say that we are gods?
Do I have to believe Jesus is God to be saved?
Jesus Is God
Have you ever talked with Mormons about Mormon doctrine?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 — What is the meaning of the spirit returns to God?