THE MORMON VIEW OF CHRISTIANITY
Biblical Perspective
...I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it. Matt.
16:18.
Publicly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints states that not
only are they a Christian organization, but that they desire fellowship with
other 'Christians.' However, a close examination of their seldom discussed
doctrinal positions reveals a far different picture:
1) Between Christ's death and Joseph Smith's first vision, "... the church was
literally driven from the earth."
(James Talmage, Articles of Faith p. 203)
2) "Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would
warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints"
(B.H. Roberts, History of the Church, Vol 1 p.XL)
3) "When the light came I saw that all the so called Christian world was
grovelling in darkness."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol 5. p.73)
4) (all Christian denominations) "... are but following the path that was
trodden by unbelievers in earlier times"
(Articles of Faith, p. 308)
5) "The Christian world so called are heathens as to their knowledge of
salvation of God"
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol 8, p. 171)
6) "What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing ... so far as the
things of God are concerned, they are the veriest of fools; they know neither God nor the things of God"
(John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol 13, p. 225)
7) "... they were all wrong (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and all other
Christian Fellowships) ... their creeds were an abomination in his (God's)
sight; that there professors (all those who profess traditional Christianity) were all corrupt."
Joseph Smith, Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History 1:19 and 2:18-20 - parenthesis added emphasis added
8) "... all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God and
any person who receives Baptism or the Lord's supper from their hands will
highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people.
Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'Whore of Babylon'
... And any person who shall be so wicked as to receive a holy ordinance of
the gospel from the ministers of any of those apostate churches will be sent
down to hell with them."
(Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 255) emphasis added
9) "(T)he religions of the day were hatched in hell. The eggs were laid in hell, hatched on its borders, and then kicked on to the earth."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses Vol 6, p. 176) emphasis added
10) "Satan sits in the place of God in Christianity after the time of the Apostles." (Ensign, Dec. 1984, p.9) emphasis added
11) "We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense ... it is corrupt as hell; and the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the 19th century"
(John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol 6, p. 167)
12) Prior to April 8,1990 part of the secret Mormon temple ritual which was
intended to purge every vestige of Christian beliefs from new initiates and
at the same time spiritually bond them to their new Latter Day Saint priest
hood contained a ceremony in which Satan hires a Christian minister to teach his (Satan's) doctrines to Adam and Eve. The minister then renounces his Christianity and accepts the Mormon rites of priesthood.
13) "Believers in the doctrine of modern Christendom will reap damnation to
their souls"
(Mormon Doctrine, 1966 ed. p. 177) emphasis added
14) "Will everybody be damned but Mormons?" Joseph Smith answered,"Yes"
(Teachings of Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret
Books, 1938, p.119)
15) "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ... is the only one
existing in the world that can and does legitimately bear the name of Jesus
Christ and His authority."
(Joseph F. Smith 'Gospel Doctrine' p. 137)
16) The Mormon organization "... is the accepted one, the only one entitled to
the designation 'Church of Jesus Christ.'
(Articles of Faith p. 403)
17) "This church ... is the only true and living church upon the face of the
whole earth"
(A New Witness For the Article of Faith, p. 705; see also Doctrine of Covenants 1:30)
18) The Mormon organization is "... the one and only completely true and
official recognized religion by the Lord"
(Milton R. Hunter, 'The Gospel Through the Ages', p. 286)
19) "This church is ... the only church which has power to save and exalt men in the hereafter."
(Mormon Doctrine p. 136; see also Journal of Discourses Vol 12 p. 313)
20) "There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints"
(Mormon Doctrine, p. 670) emphasis added
21) As to the definitions used by the Mormons, consider the word 'God'... "the
meanings Latter day Saints attach to that word bears no relation to what one
might find in a traditional Christian lexicon. And so it is throughout
Mormonism. Whatever topic is broached, new definitions are offered and
consistently used in Latter day scriptures."
(Mormonism A Faith For All Cultures, Brigham Young University Press, p. 249-250)
22) "I would have to concede without any reservation that, yes, indeed by
certain definitions Mormonism is not Christian"
(Mormon teacher & scholar, Van Hale, Capstone Conference, Park City Utah, summer 1987, as recorded in Sunstone magazine, July 1987, p.38) emphasis added
23) "...Christian churches worship a different Jesus Christ than is worshipped
by the Mormons"
(Ensign, May 1977 p.26) emphasis added
24) "The traditional Christ of whom they speak (traditional Christians) is not the Christ of whom I speak."
(President of the Mormon Church, Gordon B Hinckley, LDS Church News, July 20, 1998) parenthesis added
25) Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints "...do not
believe in the traditional Christ." (Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, June 4th Paris,
France)
26) "(T)here are many important elements of Mormon thought in which we would feel closer to the followers of Muhammad than to the contemporary Christian culture in which we have been located since our beginning." (Welcoming address by BYU Vice President Noel Reynolds on behalf of President Jeffery Holland, contained in 'Mormons and Muslims' 1983, edited by Spencer J.Palmer published by Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University p.8) emphasis added
Given the foregoing statements, "Why do the Mormons seek to join into fellowship with the very Churches they consider apostate?" "Why do they react with public indignation whenever it is pointed out that their teachings do not reflect traditional Biblical Christianity?"
THE MORMON FATHER
Biblical Perspective
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. Is.45:5;
There is no one like You and there is no God but You... II Sam. 7:22;
He alone stretches out the heavens... He is the maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the South...Job 9:8-12;
...the Lord is greater than all other gods...Ex. 18:11;
O Lord, are you not from everlasting? Hab. 1:12;
...he who lives forever... Isaiah 57:15;
...'Do I not fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord. Jer. 23:24
...Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there... Ps. 139: 7-8
Great is our Lord and mighty ...; his understanding has no limit. Ps.147:5
Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest? Job 21:22
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Rev. 19:6 (KJV)
Is anything to hard for the Lord? Gen. 18:14
I the Lord do not change! Mal. 3:6
Everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. Eccl. 3:14
God is spirit. John 4:24
The Christian view of God the Father as described above can best be summarized by stating that He is a singular God who is Supreme, Eternal,
Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Unchanging, and Spiritual in nature. However as shall now be seen, there is no similarity between this view and that advocated by the Mormon church, both today and in the past.
1) "If we should take a million worlds like this and number their particles we
should find that there are more Gods than there are particles of matter in
those worlds."
(Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 345)
2) "Through modern revelations we learn that the universe is filled with vast
numbers of intelligences... Elohiem is God simply because all of these
intelligences honor and sustain Him as such... (T)he present exalted position of our heavenly father was gradually built up... (I)f He should ever do anything to violate the confidence or sense of justice of these intelligences, they would promptly withdraw their support and the power of God would disintegrate." (W. Cleon Skousen, The First 2000 Years, 1953 ed. p. 355) emphasis added
3) "...the persons of the Father and the Son can be in them and in every other
place at the same instant of time. This is as gross an absurdity as it would be to say that three times three makes ten."
(Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 344 & 64, see also Articles of Faith, p. 42-44)
4) "(God) occupies space and is and can be in but one place at a time."
(parenthesis added, Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 319)
5) "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's."
(Joseph Smith, Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p.31 & Vol. 7, p. 333)
6) God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits
enthroned in yonder heavens... (I)f you were to see him today, you would see
him like a man in form."
(Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p.3)
7) God the father was a mortal man who advanced step by step and became God by obedience to all of the gospel laws."
(Achieving Celestial Marriage Manuel, pp. 129-130; Gospel Through the Ages, p. 115; Mormon Doctrine, p. 643; Gospel Principles, p. 293; Articles of Faith, p. 430) emphasis added
8) "The God's who dwell in the Heaven...were once in a fallen state... their
terrestrial bodies after suffering death, were redeemed, and glorified, and
made Gods... they were exalted also, from fallen men to Celestial Gods."
(Orson Pratt, The Seer, Jan 1853, p. 23)
9) "...the person of our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly
world by his Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient
Father; and so on from one generation to generation, from one heavenly world
to another still more ancient...
(The Seer, Sept. 1853, p. 132)
10) "When our Father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him... He is our
Father and our God and the only God with whom we have to do."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50)
11) "I have learned by experience there is but one God that pertains to this
people, and he is the God that pertains to this earth - the first man-"
(Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 1)
12) "Father Adam's oldest son (Jesus)... is Father Adam's first begotten in the
spirit world, who according to the flesh is the only begotten as it is written" (Journal of L. John Nuttall, Vol. 1, pp. 19-24, Wed. Feb. 7, 1877, see also Brigham Young's statement that the God who physically begot Jesus
"... is Father Adam" Call No. MS `f' 219 #8, p. 6, LDS Church Hist. Dept.)
The Mormon teaching that God the Father was (and is) the glorified and exalted Adam was first taught by Brigham Young on April 9, 1852 (See Doctrine and Covenants 27:11 and 138:38; Mormon Doctrine pp. 17-18 & 34). While current Mormon officials deny that this was ever a 'doctrine' of their church, I wish to remind the readers of two points. Young claimed divine inspiration for his teaching and, as the following statements clearly show, Young's statements were received as 'Doctrine' when they were made.
13) "Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 331) emphasis added
14) "...some years ago, I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our
Father and God ... It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy
of heaven..."
(Brigham Young, A Few Words of Doctrine given by President Brigham Young in the Tabernacle in Great Salt Lake City, Oct. 8, 1864, A.M... reported by G.D. Watt) emphasis added
15) "How much unbelief exists in the minds of Latter-Day Saints in, regards to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me - namely that Adam is our Father and God."
(Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 14, 1873) emphasis added
16) "... the doctrine preached by President Young a few years back wherein he says that Adam is our God - the God we worship ... I have heard President Young avow the truth of Adam being our Father and God."
(Adam Smoot, Minutes of the School of the Prophets, Provo Utah 1868-1871, p. 38, Utah State Historical Society) emphasis added
See also Millenial Star, Vol. 57, p. 355-356; Journal of Discourses Vol 1. p.51; Vol 3, p. 319; Vol 4, p. 216 & 171; Vol 5, p. 332; Vol 6, p. 237-238; Vol 7, p. 290; Vol 8, p. 244; Vol 9, p. 41; Vol 11, p. 327; Vol 13, p. 187; Vol 14, p. 111; Vol 16, p. 167; Vol 17 p. 185-187 and Vol 18 p. 341-343W343, and Women of Mormon, p. 179 1877 ed.; Brigham Young Jr. Journal, Vol. 30, Dec. 16, 1897. The point being made is quite simple. The current leadership of the Mormon church is in effect claiming that Brigham Young taught a doctrine which they now acknowledge was false. Yet, these same men have claimed that God would never allow that to happen!
THE MORMON HOLY SPIRIT
Biblical Perspective
...I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Joel 2:28
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you... This is what was
spoken by the prophet Joel. Acts 1:8 and 2:16 (KJV says 'Holy Ghost')
...you have lied to the Holy Spirit ... you have not lied to man but to God.
Acts 5:3-4
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us ... he says ... this is the covenant I will make with them after that says the Lord ... Heb. 10:15 (Holy Spirit referred to by pronoun 'He'; KJV says 'Holy Ghost'.
The Biblical perspective holds that the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost are
one in the same. The Greek word pneuma is translated in the KJV as both Ghost and Spirit. The terms are synonymous. Along with the Father, and the Son, the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost is the third member of the Trinity. In Acts 5:3-4 the Holy Spirit is clearly identified as God, and claims deity for Himself in Heb.
10:15. As such, He is Spirit, and along with the Father and the Son has been
from eternity. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit shares the other natures of the
Father and the Son in that he is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. As we shall now see, the Mormon view is not only different, but actually somewhat
confusing.
1) "...the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage
of the Spirit."
(Doctrine & Covenants 130:22)
2) "The Holy Ghost... is a member... in the Godhead."
(Joseph F. Smith, 'Gospel Doctrine', p. 60)
3) "The Holy Ghost as a personage of Spirit can no more be omnipresent in
person than can the Father or the Son..."
(Joseph F. Smith, ibid, p. 61)
4) "The Holy Spirit or Spirit of God ... is the influence of Deity, the light of Christ,... which proceeds forth from the presence of God..."
Joseph F. Smith, ibid p. 60; see also Doctrine & Covenants 88:6-13)
5) "The Spirit of God (ie. Holy Spirit) which emanates from Deity may be
likened to electricity ... which fills the earth and the air and is
everywhere present."
(Joseph F. Smith, ibid. p. 61 parenthesis added)
To the Mormons, the Holy Ghost is God and the Holy Spirit is not. To use
their analogy, God is the generator and the Holy Spirit is what is generated.
According to them, Jesus did not promise to send the Holy Ghost upon His disciples in John 14:16, but merely this energy from God.
6) "Wherefore, I now send upon you ... the Holy Spirit of promise... that I
promised unto my disciples, as I recorded in the testimony of John."
Doctrine & Covenants, 88:3)
Were it not confusing enough for the LDS to divide the Holy Ghost and the
Holy Spirit into two separate entities, and to specifically state that unlike
their version of the Father, the Holy Ghost has no physical body, Mormon Apostle Boyd K. Packer declared that the Spirit of God ...
7) "... is almost tangible." (Church News, December 23, 1989 p. 7)
We now have a situation where the energy of the Mormon god, ie. Spirit of God, is possibly more real than the Mormon version of the Holy Ghost!!!
THE MORMON JESUS Biblical Perspective
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given... And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form... Col. 2:9
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with
child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
You will be with child and give birth to a son... "How will this be," Mary
asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Lk. 1:31-35
"I and the Father are one." ... "We are ... stoning you..." replied the Jews
... "because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10:30+33
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world." John 3:17
"Jesus said, 'Father forgive them for they do not know what they are
doing.'" Lk. 23:34
"At that moment ... (Jesus' death) The tombs broke open and the bodies of
many holy people who had died were raised to life." Matt. 27:52 (parenthesis
added for point of reference)
The question now before us is really quite simple. "Is the Christian Jesus,
as revealed in the aforementioned passages of the Bible, the same Jesus to whom the Mormons refer?" Let's take a closer look at the acknowledged statements of Mormon 'prophets' and other Mormon doctrines to answer this question.
1) "Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers."
(Mormon Doctrine, 1979 edition, p. 547)
2) "The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood - was begotten of his Father as we are of our Fathers."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 115) emphasis added
3) "Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must
have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and wife; hence the
Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the
Father; ... Inasmuch as God was the first husband to her, it may be that He
only gave her to be the wife of Joseph while in this mortal state, and that
He intended after the resurrection to again take her as one of his own wives
to raise up immortal spirits in eternity."
(Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt, The Seer 1853, p. 158) emphasis added
4) "When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. ... And who was the Father? He was the first of the
human family; ...Jesus... was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol I, pp. 50&51) (Editor's note: See section entitled 'Mormon Father' for a more detailed discussion of the Adam / God teachings of the Mormon faith.)
5) Jesus was "...begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events."
(Mormon Doctrine, p. 742)
6) "The Father God was the literal parent of Jesus in the flesh."
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Religious Truths Defined, 1959 ed. p. 44)
7) "The appointment of Jesus to be Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, ...this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind."
(The Gospel Through the Ages, 1945 edition, p. 15, see also Pearl of Great Price, Moses 5:13) emphasis added
8) "We worship the Father and him only and no one else. We do not worship the Son." (Our Relationship With the Lord, p. 5) emphasis added
9) "Jesus became a God and reached His great state of understanding through considerable effort and continuous obedience to all the Gospel truths and
universal laws."
(The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 51) (Ed. note "When did Jesus become a God? Mormon Doctrine p 129 says that it was at his resurrection, but it also says He became a God in His pre-existent state.)
10) "As man now is, God once was - even the babe of Bethlehem, advancing to childhood - thence to boyhood, manhood, then to Godhead."
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 26, p. 368) (ed. note - Book of Mormon, Alma 7:10 says that Jesus was born in Jerusalem, not Bethlehem.)
11) "...the Lord Jesus worked out his own salvation."
(Our Relationship With the Lord, BYU devotional March 2, 1982, p. 9)
12) "...Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and
others were his wives, and that he begat children."
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.210; Journal of Discourses vol 1, p.346 1853 ed) emphasis added
13) "...the great Messiah who was the founder of the Christian religion, was a
polygamist, ...the Messiah chose to take upon himself his seed; and by
marrying many honorable wives himself, show to all future generations that he approbated the plurality of wives... God the Father has a plurality of
wives,... the Son followed the example of the Father..."
(Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 172)
14) "The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon
Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based on
polygamy ... A belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the
persecution of Jesus, and his followers. We might almost think that they
were Mormons."
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. I, p. 346) emphasis added
15) "And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth ... Behold I am Jesus Christ..."
3 Nephi 9:1 and 15. (After his death the Mormon Jesus destroyed numerous cities and killed hundreds of thousands of people in the process. For a description of this carnage see 3 Nephi 8:1-25.)
16) "The traditional Christ of whom they speak (non-Mormons) is not the Christ of whom I speak..." (Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, June 20, 1998, p. 7 - parenthesis added) see also restatement of same thing in 4/10/04 Deseret News http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595055058,00.html
17)Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints "...do not believe in the traditional Christ." (Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, June 4th Paris, France)
18) "It is true that many of the Christian churches worship as different Jesus than is worshipped by the Mormons..." (Bernard P. Brockbank)
Obviously, when Mormons cite to their 'First Article of Faith' and say "We
believe in Jesus Christ.", they are clearly referring to a different Jesus then the one described in the Bible verses cited at the beginning of this section. To
them Jesus is the product of a physical relationship between God the Father and the Virgin Mary. Since Mary was supposedly the Father's spirit daughter, we are now forced to assume that Jesus' conception was not only not miraculous, but that it was actually the result of an incestuous relationship!!!
Finally, as far as the Mormons are concerned, Jesus did not voluntarily lay
down his life so as to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness, but was killed
because of his polygamous relationship with Mary, Martha, and numerous other women.
What does the Bible say about the Mormon version of Jesus? "...if someone
comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, ...such men are false apostles, deceitful men, masquerading as angels of light." II Cor.
11:4&13
MORMON SALVATION & ATONEMENT
Biblical Perspective
...(I)f you confess with your mouth Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. Ro. 10:9
What must I do to be saved? ... Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you
will be saved. Acts 16:30-31
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Ro. 10:13
By observing the law no one will be justified. Gal. 2:16
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph.
2:8-9
He forgave us all our sins... Col. 2:12
...(T)he blood of Jesus... purifies us from every sin... If we confess oursins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness. I John 1:7&9
How you have fallen from heaven, O Morning Star, son of dawn! ... You said
in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven ... I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave. Isaiah 14:12-14
These verses summarize the basic Christian position that our salvation is solely dependent upon the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ (and our acceptance of it). However, as we shall now see, there is a substantial difference between the Biblical position and that maintained by the Mormon religion.
1) "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be."
(Articles of Faith, p.430) emphasis added
2) "The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like
Himself... We are created, we are born ... to become Gods like unto our
Father in heaven."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.93) emphasis added
3) "...that exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is
godhood itself."
(Mormon Doctrine, p. 321) emphasis added
4) "...(O)ne of the untrue doctrines found in modern Christendom is the concept that man can gain salvation ... by grace alone."
(emphasis added Mormon Doctrine,p.671 Bruce McConkie )
5) "... we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
(2 Nephi 25:23 Book of Mormon - emphasis added)
6) "...all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel"
(Pearl of Great Price, Article of Faith #3)
7) Individual salvation is "...that which man merits through his own acts
through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
(Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1 p. 134, Joseph Fielding Smith)
8) One law of salvation is baptism for the dead. "Those saints who neglect it
on behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own
salvation."
(Teachings of Joseph Smith p. 193, see also History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 313)
9) Another law of salvation is temple marriage. "Marriage is not only a
righteous institution, but obedience to this law is absolutely necessary in order to obtain the highest exaltation in the Kingdom of God."
(Gospel Through the Ages, p. 119, see also, Doctrine & Covenants 131:1-3 and Mormon Doctrine, p. 118)
10) "...the Saviour was nothing more than a good man... his death had nothing to do with your salvation or mine."
(emphasis added Journal of Discourses, Vol. 12, p.66)
11) "Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may
commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offences are committed, then the blood of
Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent.
Therefore, their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone as far as possible in their behalf."
( Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 135 Joseph Fielding Smith) emphasis added
12) "I was opposed to hanging, even if a man kill another, I will shoot him, or
cut off his head, spill his blood on the ground, and let the smoke thereof
ascend up to God."
(History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 296, Joseph Smith)
13) "Under certain circumstances ... men must have their own blood shed to atone for their sins."
(emphasis added Mormon Doctrine, p. 92, Bruce McConkie)
14) "...(T)here are sins for which repentance does not operate, sins that the
atoning blood of Christ will not wash away, sins for which the sinner must
suffer and pay the full penalty personally."
(A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 231, Bruce McConkie) emphasis added.
15) "There is not a man or woman who violates covenants with their God that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that
out. Your own blood must atone for it..."
(emphasis added, Birgham Young found in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247)
16) "Will you love your brothers and sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? ... This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants
salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it."
( emphasis added Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 219-220, Brigham Young)
17) "Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin
through both of them, you would be justified and they would atone for their
sins and be received into the kingdom of God."
(emphasis added, ibid p. 247, Brigham Young)
18) "Some of our old traditions teach that a man guilty of atrocious and
murderous acts may savingly repent when on the scaffold and upon his
execution will hear the expression: 'Bless God, he has gone to heaven to be
crowned in glory through the all redeeming merits of Christ the Lord!' This is all nonsense. Such a character will never see heaven."
(emphasis added, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 157, Brigham Young)
Mormon Heaven The Mormon's believe that the afterlife is divided into 3 distinct kingdoms,
each having a seperate degree of glory; to wit: celestial, terrstrial and telesttial. The telestial is reserved for those who were "liars and thieves, sorceres and adulterers, blasphemers and murders" (Mormon Doctrine p 778). The inhabitants of the terrestrial kingdom will be among others, lukewarm Mormons and those who reject the Mormon gospel in this life but accept it in the spirit world (Mormon Doctrine p. 784). The third level of glory is the celestial, and is open only to faithful Mormons. This level is itself divided into 3 levels each of which must each be earned. Godhood can only be attained in the topmost level and requires temple marriage (Mormon Doctrine p. 116).