Mormonism

[B A Berean]

Greetings all,

We have recently had a post about Mormonism, which I responded to. I
received an email asking what I felt about certain Mormon beliefs. I
thought that my response to that email would be valuable to post
here. The details are below...
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The first thing the Mormon email author asked was what I thought about
Mormons believing in many gods. THEY DO!
______________________________

The email author's comment or thought...

1. Some say Mormons believe in multiple Gods which is NOT the case.

My response...

Mormon teachings say that there are many gods. Clearly Joseph Smith
taught that there are many gods.

Section Three of the "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" teaches
that there are many gods.
On page 138, we find this, "...according to that which was ordained in
the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other Gods, before
this world was..."

"Journal of Discourses 6:4" Joseph Smith communicated the following on
April 6, 1844 - "Here, then, is eternal life - to know the only wise
and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and
to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before
you..."

For those who may not know, Joseph Smith was the founder and first
prophet of the Mormon church. The above two examples represent what
he had to say about many gods.
______________________________

The email author's comment or thought...

2. What is your opinion of 'BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD'' which Mormons do
in Temples throughout the world for their late Ancestors?

My response...

The Bible speaks on only one occasion about "baptism for the dead" and
here is what it says...

1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall THEY do which are baptized for
the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are THEY then baptized for
the dead?"

This is in the midst of Paul's discourse giving evidence to the truth
of the resurrection of the dead. What is interesting is that Paul
gives many "proofs" for the resurrection from the dead, but in each
case, he says "why to WE do this" or "why to WE do that". However,
when he mentions "baptism for the dead" Paul does not include himself
or the True Christians that he is addressing. When speaking of
"baptism for the dead" Paul says, "... what shall THEY do ..." and
"... why are THEY then baptized for the dead?"

Here are some of the "WE" examples in contrast to the verse quoted
above ("why are THEY then baptized for the dead?)

1 Corinthians 15:14 "And if Christ be not risen, then is OUR
preaching vain, and YOUR faith is also vain."
1 Corinthians 15:17 "And if Christ be not raised, YOUR faith is vain;
YE are yet in YOUR sins."
1 Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life only WE have hope in Christ, WE
are of all men most miserable."
1 Corinthians 15:30 "And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?"
1 Corinthians 15:32 "If after the manner of men I have fought with
beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it ME, if the dead rise not? let
US eat and drink; for to morrow WE die."

You see, the SINGLE verse from the Bible is referring to some other
group of people who baptized for the dead and is being used by Paul as
just one of many examples of how foolish it would be to not believe in
the resurrection. It is in NO WAY a teaching of doctrine advocating
baptism for the dead. As a matter of fact, according to the Bible,
there is NO HOPE once a person has died.

Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after
this the judgment:"
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The email author's comment or thought...

3. The other Temple work that follows on for each deceased individual
after baptism?

My response...

See Hebrews 9:27 above. This and other Scriptures teach that our ONLY
hope of salvation is while we are alive on this earth.
______________________________

The email author's comment or thought...

4. Your opinion of the various monies members give the church such as
tithing?

My response...

I believe strongly in tithing. However, I will only give it to
ministries that preach the True Jesus of the Bible.
______________________________

The email author's comment or thought...

5.The various commandments we are covenanted to obey after baptism?

My response...

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that
NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: (9) NOT OF WORKS, lest any
man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them."

True Christians are NOT saved by "obeying commandments". We ARE saved
by God's grace, through FAITH in Jesus Christ (the True Jesus of the
Bible).

True Christians WILL do "good works" AFTER being SAVED... NOT to get
saved. These "good works" will be a result of the real salvation that
one experiences! They will NOT be an EFFORT to ADD TO or OBTAIN
salvation.