At the Mormon.org website, visitors can learn about Joseph Smith and what he means to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Under the sub-heading, “A Martyr of the Restored Gospel,” the site says,
“Joseph Smith gave his life for the cause of truth.
“Some people mistakenly believe Mormons worship Joseph Smith. This is false; we worship God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Joseph was not a perfect person, nor a deity. He was a man of virtue who fulfilled an extraordinary calling.”
It’s a curious thing that “some people mistakenly believe Mormons worship Joseph Smith.” But perhaps there is a reason some get that idea.
Consider Mormon apostle Stephen L. Richards who, in 1941, commented that
“the day will come when the righteous of the earth will look to [Carthage Jail] and make their pilgrimages to it in worshipful veneration of the ‘man who communed with Jehovah.’” (Quoted in Brian Q. Cannon, “ ‘Long Shall His Blood…Stain Illinois’: Carthage Jail in Mormon Memory, 10. [pdf] Cannon citation: Journal History, October 31, 1953, 6; August 30, 1941, 2–3)
Indeed. Peoria’s Journal Star reported in 1988,
“The Old Carthage Jail, where Mormon founder Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844, holds the same significance to his approximately 6.5 million followers as Calvary holds for Christians all over the world.
“That’s the comparison made by Ted Cannon, director of the Mormon Visitor Centers at Carthage and Nauvoo.” (Doug Schorpp, “Mormons to renovate Carthage Jail,” Journal Star, June 26, 1988, D3)
These Mormon men were apparently mistaken in what they said, for Mormons do not worship Joseph Smith. Nevertheless, it seems there has been plenty of confusion throughout the history of Mormonism regarding who Mormons do worship. In Mormonism, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three deities – three Gods (see the LDS Bible Dictionary, “God”). The question is, are they supposed to worship only one of these Gods, or are they to worship two, or perhaps all three of them? Members of the Mormon Church remain confused over the issue. Contradictory authoritative teaching in the Church is likely the reason why.
In 1912, in an effort to correct a mistaken Mormon belief resulting from doctrine taught by Brigham Young that the first human being, Adam, was God the Father, the Mormon Church’s First Presidency clarified,
“While, as Paul puts it, ‘there be gods many and Lords many (whether in heaven or in earth), unto us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and one Jesus Christ by whom are all things.’ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worships Him, and Him alone, who is the Father of Jesus Christ, whom He worshiped, whom Adam worshiped, and who is God the Eternal Father of us all.
“Your brethren, (signed) JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency.” (Messages of the First Presidency, “Identity and career of Adam; February 20, 1912,” 4:267)
Mormons were not to worship Adam or Jesus, but were to worship Heavenly Father alone. Half a century later, in 1966, Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie believed something different. He explained that Mormons worship three deities:
“Three separate personages – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost – comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God, it is evident, from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exists. To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is an infinite number of holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who have passed on to exaltation and are thus gods.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, 576. Italics in original)
Then, in 2002, Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley clarified in the Church’s General Conference,
“He [Jesus Christ] is the central focus of our worship.” (“We Look to Christ,” Ensign, May 2002, 90)
Today, the lds.org website says,
“Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. They acknowledge the Father as the ultimate object of their worship, the Son as Lord and Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the messenger and revealer of the Father and the Son.” (“Godhead”)
Perhaps there is a difference between “the central focus” and “the ultimate object” of a Mormon’s worship; yet in the most recent quote above, there seems to be a distinction between worshiping the Father while acknowledging the Son and Holy Spirit.
In light of this, I don’t know if the December 2012 Ensign magazine actually clarified which God/Gods Mormons are to worship when it seemed to disagree with the lds.org website:
“While we believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, we worship our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.” (“What We Believe,” Ensign, December 2012, 8)
I’m inclined to think that the Ensign statement just muddied the waters because lds.org also says this:
“To worship God is to give Him our love, reverence, service, and devotion. The Lord commanded Moses, “Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve” (Moses 1:15)…
“Prayer is one way to worship Heavenly Father…
“Another way to worship Heavenly Father is to join in fellowship with others who worship Him…
“Participation in priesthood ordinances is also part of worship. As we reverently partake of the sacrament and attend the temple, we remember and worship our Heavenly Father and express our gratitude for His Son, Jesus Christ.” (“Worship”)
And this:
“Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have always worshipped God the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus Christ…
“ ‘We testify that He will someday return to earth. ‘And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together’ ( Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him.’” (“Jesus Christ”)
I don’t know exactly what it means that every tongue will “speak in worship,” but I do know that these entries at lds.org (as well as the entry titled “Holy Ghost”) say nothing about Mormons today actually worshiping either the Son or the Spirit; they only speak of worshiping the Father.
So while it’s pretty clear that Mormons do not worship Joseph Smith, the identification of which of the Mormon Gods they are supposed to worship remains a bit fuzzy.
I don’t mind honoring true men and women of God. In fact I pray often that God will make me like Esther or Daniel so that I am unshakable in my faith to the point that I would be willing to die in order that His will be done. Men fell on their faces before Elijah when they saw him. These are true men and woman of God. They had the spirit of the Lord on them and their lives were proof of that.
Joseph Smith cannot even be placed in a category nearby to Daniel, Elijah and Esther. There just is no comparison. What kind of life did Joseph Smith live and what teachings did he spread? The temple he built is not better than the temples the Romans built to their pagan gods.
Im glad that when that woman asked you if you felt the spirit of God in that place that you said no, Sharon Lindbloom. I would have paid money to see the look on her face. I would have said the same thing. The only reason these people believe this is because they have not had someone to lead them. When I read this passage in Matthew for the first time, I cried. Matthew 9:36 Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Also Mark 6:34 He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
We are told in Ezekiel 34:23 that God saw the people being scattered by all the bad shepherds with their wrong teachings. He says therefore, I will deliver My flock, and they will no longer be a prey; and I will judge between one sheep and another. Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David (the one who will be Messiah in the line of David), and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David (this is speaking of Messiah) will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken. Isaiah 40:11 speaks about how God is to his sheep. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Ezekiel 34:15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. Finally in John 10:11 we see Jesus state I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
I say all of this because the Mormon church is sheep without a shepherd. They have false leaders who are scattering the sheep with false doctrines. In fact the last time I went to the ward I was told that President Monson was the good shepherd that we were to listen to. That is not what I read in scripture. They just need to find the Messiah and listen to his teachings so that they can return and be reconciled to the one true God.
We have recently had a situation in a church in our area whereby the pastor claimed to be getting messages from Jesus. Now this wouldn’t be so bad in-and-of-itself but the guy kind of went all Joseph Smith on the people. It’s all typical cult leader type of behavior. Thankfully the guy got basically run out of town but not before he did some damage to what had been a really good solid church.
This Mormon business of “feeling the spirit” is a typical manipulation technique. It’s fueled by emotion masquerading as spiritual experiences. It is borrowed from the old time Methodist camp meetings that were popular during Joseph Smith’s time. Sadly there’s enough evangelical Christian sounding language in this, that it forms a perfect counterfeit. Problem is that it does fuel the Mormon personal testimony.
Talk about the confusion that these Mormons must feel when they begin to discover that the religion is totally bogus. What to do about the “feeling the spirit” experiences they think have confirmed their religious expression.
I would guess that this must be one of the most difficult things for a Mormon to confront; that they were being emotionally manipulated.
And the LDS get particularly confused when they’re taught that all of these disparate and conflicting voices — even the demonstrably false revelations — are eternal truths from God:
“Approved curriculum materials from the Church, such as scriptures, general conference talks, and manuals, contain doctrine—eternal truths from God.”
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/07/we-teach-by-the-power-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/06195_eng.pdf
Who are you supposed to believe if they’re all speaking for God?
Falcon
That is sad. I don’t understand it. Why can’t people just be happy with the instruction that we were given in scripture? What is left out that God forgot to say? I have these discussions with people who believe in speaking tongues, not other languages but gibberish, and they say it’s a message from God. It’s scary that people are ready to believe random people who have not proven themselves to be from God but will deny the prophets of scripture that was proven.
Tongues were clearly spoken in the New Testament. Some believe this represents the gift of prophecy today. I am not sure this is reason alone to criticize them. I don’t believe speaking in tongues has a use today, especially without someone to translate them, and I agree with Catty that God has revealed everything we need to know in existing scripture.
But the question of who Mormons worship is indeed interesting. Its not clear, and its not sure what logic they use to justify it.
Oh well. I don’t see any immediate clarification in sight…
Joseph Smith and Mormonism use a very familiar ruse: they create a problem and then supply the solution to the problem they created. Joseph Smith and the early Mormon leaders painted a picture where Christendom was fallen, in apostasy, leaving the people who were trying to believe to run about like sheep without a shepherd. They were riffing on OT prophetic statements without acknowledging that the problem of a shepherdless people as described by those prophets was solved in and through the very being of Jesus, who declared himself as the great I Am, the very embodiment of the Good Shepherd. Joseph Smith and his cronies created the Great Apostasy, which never happened. They set up a priesthood designed to supply shepherds, which priesthood and shepherds were not needed. It is all a phony-baloney ruse. It is a very effective counterfeit, which has fooled millions because it is such an effective counterfeit.
I love fine guitars (not cigars). Due to the high incidence of very good fake instruments coming out of Asia (primarily China), Gibson USA has begun applying holograms to their guitar headstocks, which are under the layers of lacquer finish. No hologram = not genuine. Mormons fail to realize that God provided us with His hologram of authenticity–the Bible. I wanted to say also the Holy Spirit, but didn’t because, once again, Mormonism has succeeded in creating a counterfeit of God–the so called “witness of the Spirit,” another manufactured, cheap “Asian guitar.”
I find it at once ironic and a great blessing that it takes God the Holy Spirit himself, the most often misused person of the Trinity, to take hold of a Mormon, to shake that Mormon sufficiently to loosen him or her from the grasp of the ruse, and then to lead the Mormon to Christ. That was my experience. It wasn’t fun, but the clarity I have now dazzles me. It is, indeed, freedom in Christ.
Cattyjane and MJP……………….
Oh boy! I think the last thing MRM wants us to do is to get veering off on a discussion of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and if they are valid for today, or if they were just for a certain “dispensation” within the Church Age. But I think the discussion would have some value as it pertains to the topic at hand. I’ll limit my comments to this. Read First Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14 and think about what Paul is saying there and what the implications are for the Church. The Holy Spirit is the Father’s gift to the Church. Many/most denominations of Christianity recognize the legitimacy of the operation of the Gifts in today’s Church. This would include Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Assembly of God, for example. Baptist tend to be of the dispensation flavor of theology and would reject the Gifts for today.
If you are interested in where I stand, I’m more in-line with the Gifts having never left the Church. I see no reason why God would remove what He gave for the nourishment of the Body. There are many Christians who have a private prayer language/speaking in tongues. The Gift is meant to build-up or edify the believer. Then there is a situation where someone might speak in an unknown tongue in a prayer meeting but notice Paul says to only do it if someone has the Gift of interpretation. Prophesy is interesting. If you read through the Book of Acts examples of prophesy as a Gift of the Holy Spirit are given. I’ll stop there.
Andy Watson use to tell me that he was never in an LDS church service that didn’t seem like a funeral. With their emphasis on “feeling the spirit”, I’d think that the LDS powers that be, would be trying to create an ambiance of the “spirit” in order to drive deep the members commitment to Mormonism.
If you attend a contemporary Christian service that emphasizes praise and worship type music, it’s not long before a spiritual atmosphere is present. But most of the songs are related to praising the Lord Jesus Christ, being thankful to the Father, acknowledging the presents of God’s Holy Spirit.
Who are Mormons going to sing praise choruses to? Joseph Smith? How about a god who use to be a man and who is like millions perhaps billions of other men who became gods?
If someone is going to sing praise and give adoration to Jesus, generally it’s because they know Him in a personal way. They’ve come to faith in Him and are born again by the Spirit of God. Doesn’t the Word say that those who would come to the Father through Jesus Christ would praise God in Spirit and in truth? Pretty tough to do that if it’s a false god, false Jesus and false spirit.
Cattyjane ,
Glad to hear you are doing fine . I hope your study of the New Testament is going strong , and I hope that you have come to understand that Jesus deserves your worship — Matt 14:33 .
While it’s true that Mormons do not worship Joseph Smith , unfortunately they have been taught that in order to receive eternal life they are required to confess him as a true prophet sent by God .
Mike R
Yes I have 2 Christian ministers that I am studying with. I am going through the book of John at the moment.
cattyjane,
That’s great news . Thanks for sharing it with us .
So the LDS folks believe that Joseph Smith is the dude in charge of the “new dispensation”. And isn’t he suppose to be charged with the duty of giving the thumbs up or down to folks wanting to enter the Celestial Kingdom? That’s a pretty lofty position from an LDS point-of view.
My guess this is all pretty embarrassing for former Mormons. No wonder so many of them don’t want any involvement in religion.
CattyJane,
“Yes I have 2 Christian ministers that I am studying with. I am going through the book of John at the moment.”
No construction of words could express how much joy this brings to my heart.
Is it fair, guys, to state Mormons put too much emphasis on Smith?
(Question is intentionally vague in some ways…)
MJP,
Yes it’s fair . Mormons do place way to much emphasis on Joseph Smith , they have to in order to sell their gospel . Mormonism stands or falls on Joseph Smith’s claims . Take him away and there is no Mormonism . In constantly talking about Smith Mormons reinforce in their minds that they are unique and different from everyone else , all others belong to the church of the Devil .
People who want to know God and be forgiven and reconciled to Him do not need Joseph Smith , it’s that simple . Jesus sent out His apostles to preach the gospel , the ” good news” . People heard that gospel preached and responded by bowing before Jesus and confessing Him as Lord and Savior . People were saved then and ever since then by hearing / reading that gospel . But Mormonism claims that salvation became unavailable to mankind for 1700 years until Joseph Smith arrived on the scene and allegedly restored it . Thus to be saved today a person must accept Smith as a true prophet otherwise they can’t be forgiven of their sins and accepted by God .
Men who come in the latter days and claim to be sent by God with new truths necessary for people to accept in order to be saved and gain God’s approval are nothing new . Some of these prophets will even attempt to mimic the claims of God’s true prophets /apostles which we know from scripture .
Thus we are to test all latter days prophets because as Jesus warned : many false prophets will come in the latter days ( Matt 24:11 ) . Mormon prophets have failed the test .
If you wonder what Mormons think of Joseph Smith, you might consider the words in the chorus of the traditional Mormon hymn, “Praise to the Man”:
“Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.”
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/praise-to-the-man?lang=eng
Mike R
You said about Mormon beliefs “Thus to be saved today a person must accept Smith as a true prophet otherwise they can’t be forgiven of their sins and accepted by God ”
From what I remember of the church beliefs people don’t go to outer darkness unless they are really horrible. Even if someone doesn’t convert to LDS they can still have the chance to convert in the after life by the missionaries there. They may only reach the lowest heaven tho. Me on the other hand since i completely removed my membership have no hope. Since I actually warn people against the church I am an apostate, so I think I go to outer darkness. Not sure on that. So in LDS no one is completely lost because of the hope with the missionaries in the after life. That is one of the attractions of the church. That is what attracted me. It answers those pesky questions that Christians don’t usually have answers for like, what happens to someone who doesn’t ever hear about Jesus Christ, does God just throw them in hell? Seems unfair. LDS beliefs don’t allow for that unless the person is really bad. Then no good person would care about that right? A good person would see that as justice being served because of the evil persons ways. Does God see it like that is the question.
The story of Jonah is amazing. I sometimes think that people miss a huge message in this story. Its so much more than just a story about a guy and a big fish. I actually told this story to my kid the other day. Jonah was a very famous prophet of his time. He understood the scriptures and knew the laws and commandments, yet he chose to disobey God because he did not want God to forgive Nineveh. Nineveh was a gentile nation and an enemy of Israel. Nineveh did not know the laws and commandments of God and worshiped idols. When Jonah disobeyed he was cast into the belly of Sheol, which is basically dead. If Nineveh didn’t repent they would also be destroyed and face death.
What I see in this story is the power and equality of forgiveness given to each individual by God in the story. The characters are drastically different when looking at them from an outside works perspective. Jonah is a prophet of God who has probably lived a mostly righteous life. Nineveh is a pagan idol worshiping nation who doesn’t even know the ten commandments and is an enemy of Israel. What is striking is that to receive forgiveness from God both did the exact same thing. They cried out to God and repented. God forgave each one in the same way. He delivered them from death.
Jonah of course was angry with God for forgiving them. I love the response that God gives to Jonah. Jonah 4:10-11 “You cared about the plant, which you did not work for and which you did not grow, which appeared overnight and perished overnight. And should not I care about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not yet know their right hand from their left, and many beasts as well.” God saw that they had not yet understood the laws and commandments and had mercy on them when they repented. That is what is meant by “who do not yet know their right hand from their left”. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is also a story that shows mercy. God was willing to spare any that would be righteous and repent. I think that God is a just and merciful judge. He is perfect in judgement and able to see to the depths of a person heart and what their understanding is. He is merciful in more ways than we can understand, and he is not willing that any should perish.
I don’t believe in missionaries in the after life or multiple heavens and an outer darkness. What I do believe in is a God who knows our innermost being and is perfect in his judgement because he created us. I am accountable to what I have been taught and I realize that. How He will judge those who have not received the message of Messiah is up to Him. However he does it will be perfect in all ways because He is perfect and merciful. That is what I know and that is what I trust.
And he is more merciful because of the one that He sent to this earth. The Messiah, Jesus. His mercy was made complete in him. We can now look to the Messiah as righteous on our behalf since he stands as our high priest and makes atonement for us. He pleads day and night on our behalf. Once we can understand the mercy that God has shown us and receive Messiah as our high priest and redeemer, the laws are written on our hearts. The battle is over and our minds are transformed to righteousness. His grace becomes sufficient for us. We are not redeemed by our works but by the works of the Messiah that was sent by the Father. Any good works that are done by us are done as willing servants to the Most High for His names sake.
Anyways…thought I should add that so there wasn’t any confusion.
cattyjane —
Well said. You have a good heart.
cattyjane,
What I stated about the requirement of confessing Joseph Smith as a true prophet in order to gain salvation is what Mormon leaders have taught , and by ” salvation ” they were not referring to merely a resurrection , rather , they are referring to entrance into the celestial kingdom of God . I reject the testimony of Joseph Smith , deny he was a true prophet , therefore I will not be able to enter the celestial kingdom of God according to Brigham Young as well as subsequent Mormon leaders . That was my point , that’s what I was thinking of .
I appreciated your comments about Jesus .
Mike R
Right but from what I was told when I was a member, the only people who go to outer darkness are truly evil people. The rest would just go to the lowest heaven. According to LDS everyone gets a chance to accept the Mormon doctrine in the spirit world by the missionaries. Your right that you wouldn’t enter celestial kingdom, but think about it. If you could just live how ever you wanted and still inherit some form of heaven isn’t that better than believing in a christian hell that people go to for not believing a certain way? Really there is no need to worry. Just don’t be out right evil and you wont go to outer darkness.
Maybe im off on this but that is what I believed as a Mormon. I wasn’t the best Mormon tho so I could have misunderstood. I just remember one of my friends in the church saying that in order for a person to go to outer darkness they have to be really evil. I wasn’t really evil and I didn’t know anyone who was really evil. Sounded like everyone was safe that I cared about. Even if they didn’t believe they would have the chance later in spirit world. Once your there I think you kinda believe everything right? Ya maybe they wouldn’t make it to celestial but at least they would all make it somewhere safe. That was my form of thinking. Did I want to make it to celestial? Of course. I didn’t ever see myself being some kind of god tho and ruling my own planet. I didn’t get all in depth like that. I just knew that celestial was the greatest reward and best place to be. Like I said, I was a bad Mormon. I didn’t study and didn’t always go to sacrament meeting. Im sure they would say that is why I left. No the answer to that would be, I left because I started studying.
Does that kind of belief line up with what all the previous leaders have said? I realize the common beliefs of LDS don’t always line up with the actual historical church leaders teaching. You guys know more on the history stuff so what did they say?
Cattyjane.
Yesterday I preached the sermon at a funeral of a woman who passed away at 101 years old. The text I used was Jeremiah 31:31-34 and First Corinthians 11:23-26. The New Covenant. Our “heart transplant”.
catyjane —
I think you pretty much got the LDS doctrine correct. You obviously studied it quite a bit to understand it so well. My understanding was that only a handful of people will be inheriting Outer Darkness, so that means you’d have to be really, really, REALLY bad.
And Joseph Smith reportedly had a vision of the Telestial Kingdom, the lowest of the kingdoms in his universal salvation plan. He said he wouldn’t describe it, though, because it was such a wonderful kingdom that if people knew what it was like they would commit suicide to get there. http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/committing-suicide-to-get-to-telestial.html
Yeah, I’m familiar with that teaching on the Telestial Kingdom. It still strikes me as odd that a) if its so good, why would you be so jealous of those who make it further and b) why you have to work so hard to past something so wonderful…
—
As to my question on it being unreasonable or unfair to criticize Mormons for placing such a great emphasis on Smith, I have heard Mormons compare how they lift up Smith with how we hold up, say Paul and his epistles.
Just an interesting, but unfounded (I think) comparison. No one ever follows up a statement about how great life has been since conversion with a statement like knowing Paul was a prophet because of his fruits… But you hear that all the time with Smith and the Book of Mormon.
I don’t know what the LDS folks have going on with Joseph Smith but other sects of Mormonism aren’t all that enamored with him. The Temple Lot bunch see him as a fallen prophet. At the very least, the LDS have a serious hero worship buzz for Smith.
“………………Whitmer’s critiques are made clear: he believed Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet and that the two main groups claiming him as their founder (the LDS and the RLDS) were in error for putting too much trust in him. Whitmer obviously believed that Smith had begun practicing polygamy, though not until 1844, and that the Utah Mormons were continuing in that sin while the Reorganized Church flatly ignored it. His Church of Christ, however, was superior because they focused on the teachings of Christ alone rather than the arm of flesh.”
It takes courage for an LDS member to look with a critical eye on Joseph Smith. I know these folks have to go through a series of stages to get to the point where they finally throw up their hands and walk away from Smith.
Hero is an accurate point. They absolutely love the guy. At best, they will say he was human and had faults, but you won’t find them going much beyond that, and they won’t be specific on any details on how he was not perfect.
………………but remember. Joseph Smith is suppose to be the purveyor of this “dispensation”. I’d say that’s quite a job. Actually he’s a god also. He’s got his own planetary system right now with his spirit offspring, having mortal bodies, praying to and adoring and worshiping him. So Smith is being worshiped some place. He and all of those women he got sealed to are procreating at a rapid rate. How many wives, heavenly mothers, did Smith end-up with? The men who were also married to these women got aced-out by Smith.
LDS, why in the world are you in this religious sect? It’s based on nothing but Smith’s wild imagination.
Falcon —
Why are the LDS in their sect? Mitt Romney just answered that question in the Spring 2015 issue of BYU Magazine:
“But I can affirm this . . . : your fellow members of the Church will be a blessing that far more than compensates. They will bless you when you are sick, lift you up when you fall, help you raise a teenager, counsel you about a job, and yes, even move your unpacked junk into an apartment. We are not perfect. . . . But we are remarkably good as a people at reaching out our hands to one another in need. Decide to be one of those that does just that.” http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2881
What’s the problem with that? It isn’t a problem, really, except that he’s listing reasons why it’s wonderful to be LDS and he never mentions grace or Christ’s atoning power, or the Resurrection, or the glory of God. To far too many Mormons, their religion is about a protective social structure, friends, and people willing to help each other. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that — it’s even a virtue — if you’re only talking about a social club or a sorority, but God is also about grace and truth, which Mormons tend to sidestep.
There are Christians who upon hearing Mormon leaders in public interviews talk about worshiping the Father and even Jesus , can think that Mormonism has the same God and Christ , except for perhaps minor differences etc . However these people are badly mistaken . Mormon leaders have not been silent at teaching that they worship the true God , preach the true gospel , and have the only true church of Jesus Christ . Consequently traditional Christians have been deceived into accepting a false gospel , members of a false church who worship a false god according to Mormonism .
Why do Mormon leaders teach we worship a false god ? Because we refuse to worship the Mormon God who is a creature ( human male ) who supposedly ” attained ” His present position by working hard for it . Believing in this type of god is similar to what others sadly succumbed to in the past — Rom 1:23 .
But true Christians know the True God and worship Him in truth . He was never a creature from another planet who attained to becoming the one Lord God Almighty we meet in scripture rather He has always been God . He does not have Gods above Him who possess more dominion than He . He is not one of many Gods , He is not among a myriad of spirit siblings produced by a male God and
His wives in heaven . Those are some of the teachings introduced by Mormon leaders . But the true Creator is much more Majestic and unique than that . Sadly , the Mormon people have been fooled into following their leaders because the God of Mormonism has the same titles as the True one revealed in the Bible , and that is a distraction that has fooled Mormons into thinking their leaders introduced the true authentic Creator and have His approval to teach and lead them .
To be saved a person must worship the true God and bow before the true Savior asking to be forgiven and pardoned . The true Savior will hear their prayer and abundantly forgive and give them the gift of eternal life . Only the true Savior , Jesus , has the ability and authority to save a sinner ,
counterfeits can’t deliver such a miracle . It’s that simple . The Jesus introduced by any latter days prophets must be the same one the Bible reveals . Worshiping a imitation Jesus is a dead end venture that eventually pays terrible dividends eternally . Bottom line : the Mormon God , the Mormon Savior, are not worthy to be worshiped . Gal 4:8 .
The precious Mormon people deserve to know the truth about what their leaders have been up to .
We pray for them to walk away from these men and ask God to direct their lives into truth . We know that will not be easy .