Saturday, October 28, 2006

Has The Mormon Church Dipped The Company Pen Into Political Ink?

According to many media news sources, Governor Mitt Romney has carefully met with Mormon leaders to construct an international Mormon network in order to further Romney’s presidential agenda. Click here for full details from the Boston Globe.

Romney is a member of the LDS faith and has not hesitated to proclaim his religion when confronted. Romney does however, avoid questions that would explain what exactly Mormon theology consists of. Besides the obvious things that Mormons would like the general public to think, such as; Jesus Christ, the suffering on the cross for our sins, God the Father. But when it comes down to the fundamental teachings of Mormonism, Romney, like many Mormons will evade the question.

Many people who know little of Mormon theology are unaware that the church teaches things like Jesus being the spirit brother of the devil and that God has a body of flesh and bone and had sexual relations with Mary in order to conceive Jesus Christ. These are just a few of the many unbiblical concepts of Christian theology that Mormons consider doctrine.

The speculation of Mitt Romney's political relationship with the LDS church are just that.....speculation. But considering the Mormon churches background and credit in relation to honesty, it is hard to simply toss these allegations aside without serious consideration of the facts.

If Romney and the Mormon church are completely innocent from the media's claims, then the entire situation should withstand all scrutiny of investigation.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

According To Mormons, Jesus Is Not The Only Person Worthy of Praise


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints otherwise known as Mormons was founded by a man named Joseph Smith in the early 1800’s. Smith allegedly was instructed by an angel named Moroni to retrieve an ancient record written upon golden plates, that would contain the account of Jesus Christ visiting the Americas after his crucifixion.
Supposedly, Joseph Smith then translated these ancient writings into English with the power of God. This translation is now known as the Book of Mormon.
All though this incredible story falls on the testimony of one man, and history has proven this tale to be of fiction; Mormons still have faith and believe that Smith's work is worthy of more than just mere recognition.
In traditional Christianity the idea of worshiping or giving praise to anyone other than God is considered blasphemous. The fundamental belief of only one God who is worthy of worship, can be found throughout the bible. (see Isaiah 43:10, 9:6, John 10:30, 1:1-3, Luke 1:35, Matthew 3:16)
Mormons consider themselves Christians. But are they really abiding by the traditional theological teachings of the Bible?

PRAISE: 1 : to express a favorable judgment of: 2 : to glorify (a god or saint) especially by the attribution of perfections intransitive senses : to express praise- prais·er noun


Let’s compare the LDS Hymn “Praise To The Man” to Biblical Christianity.
LDS Hymn #27 Praise To The Man:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer. Blessed to open the last dispensation, Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.
Chorus: 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.
2) Praise to his memory, he died as a martyr; Honored and blessed be his ever great name! Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, Plead unto heaven while the earth lauds his fame.
3) Great is his glory and endless his priesthood: Ever and ever the keys he will hold. Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom, Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.
4) Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven; Earth must atone for the blood of that man. Wake up the world for the conflict of justice. Millions shall know "brother Joseph" again.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people.
Psalm18:49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.
Psalm 27:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Psalm 47:6-7 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
Psalm 59:17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.
Psalm 66:4 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.
Psalm 68:32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord.
Psalm 75:9 But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 92:1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
Psalm 101:1 I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
Psalm 108:3 I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
Psalm 135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
Psalm 138:1 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the (false) gods I will sing praises to You.
Psalm 146:2 While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
Psalm 149:3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the tumbrel and harp.




Some supporting quotes to reinforce the unbiblical aspects of Mormonism:

“I have more to boast of than ever any man had, I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”
-Joseph Smith, (1st Prophet,) History of the Church, Volume 6, page 408-409


“If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
-Bruce R. McConkie, (Apostle) Mormon Doctrine (1966), page 670.


"No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith...every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are"
- Brigham Young, (2nd Prophet)Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.289

“There are yet others who have an excessive zeal that causes them to go beyond the mark. Their desire for excellence is inordinate. In an effort to be truer than true they devote themselves to gaining a special, personal relationship with Christ that is both IMPROPER AND PERILOUS.I say perilous because this course, particularly in the lives of some who are spiritually immature, is a gospel hobby that creates an unwholesome holier-than-thou attitude.”
-Bruce R. McConkie, (Apostle) Church News, March 20, 1982, Pg. 5

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

No One Can See God's Face And Live....Well, Sometimes


D&C 84 was penned September 22-23, 1832, covering various topics including the bestowal of the priesthood offices in the LDS Church.

In D&C 84:21-22 Joseph Smith Jr. wrote:
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; 22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

D&C 84:22 says that without the priesthood, no man can see the face of God and live. He makes a veiled reference to Old Testament Bible verses like Exodus 33:20, but ignores the fact that not even Moses saw “God’s face." Please pay close attention to the whole and context of verse 20 -- where God makes NO exceptions for what he says (i.e. “unless you have the priesthood”) the fact is that not even Moses was allowed to see God’s figurative face, nor His Glory and live to tell about it. Surely Moses’ station in God’s eyes was greater than his brother Aaron -- to whom the LDS attribute such great power.

What’s the problem with this? Joseph Smith Jr. claims to have received the priesthood on May 15, 1829.

Joseph Smith Jr. earlier claimed to have seen God face to face in 1820, nine years before he claims that he was given the priesthood; nine years before, according to D&C 84, that he would have had the ordinance and power of godliness to be able to see God face to face and live.

The LDS Church teaches that the restored priesthood will allow men to see God face to face and live, but it would be impossible without it. At the same time they teach that Joseph Smith Jr. saw God face to face and lived, before he held the priesthood.