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Line 1: − + − Members follow a law of health known as the Word of Wisdom that promotes healthy eating as well as avoiding tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea and illegal drugs.<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1301-1,00.html The Word of Wisdom] Mormon.org</ref> − [[Category: Religion]]+ + − ''Mormonism is a non-Christian religion, using many of the same terms of Christianity, but re-defining the meanings completely. '' + − Christians believe in only one God. Mormons believe there is one god of this universe, and other gods in other universes, and that their men will become gods on their own planets after death. That is re-defining the Christian meaning of God, revealed in the Bible. Christianity believes Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity, eternally the Son of God. Mormons say they believe in Jesus, but their Jesus is defined as the spirit-brother of Lucifer, results of Adam-god having sex with Eve. That is a re-definition and contradictory to the Biblical definition of Jesus Christ. + − − Salvation in Christianity is one offered to the world solely because of the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ dying for the sins of the world, the Father accepting His atonement, and offering us forgiveness and reconciliation and redemption. Christian salvation is one we cannot earn, but is given to us by God's love and grace. Mormon salvation, is contrary, one where it supposedly is earned, merited by good works. Christianity's salvation is solely because of God: His work on our behalf, because we cannot save ourselves. Our sin is too great, and we do not want salvation. He in mercy saves us anyway, and calls us to believe and to receive His love. These are two contradictory religions. Both cannot be true. − − Jesus Christ claimed to be God in the flesh, the Son of God, having added the attributes of a human nature to His eternal nature. As man's representative, He died for our sins, in our place, but because He also was God and sinless, death could not hold Him. He was raised from the dead, and has conquered death in our place. The punishment we deserve, He took instead. He offers us His mercy and love and grace--a "gift, lest any many boast" (Eph.2:8,9). − − But the claims of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young contradict every claim of Christianity. Their history has been well-documented, and they have been shown to be frauds. Many of the people in Mormonism today are unaware of the differences, of the fraudulent claims and fraudulent history. They attempt to appear as just another Christian denominiation. Instead, Christian scholars view them as a non-Christian cult. Non-Christian scholars look at the evidence and agree: their claims are not what Christianity claims. It is deceptive on the part of the leadership, and that is a mild term for evil. They allow the promotion of families and healthy living, or their Mormon Tabernacle Choir, because it pulls in people. But they add to the Holy Scripture, and in fact re-define Scripture itself, and often the members are undiscerning. − − The Apostle Paul said if anyone preaches a different Jesus or a different Gospel message than what he preached, they are to be accursed(Gal.1:8,9). Mormonism does just this. Their Jesus is a creation, rather than eternal God. That is a different Jesus. Their Gospel is one of works, where the members must give certain amounts of money to the church, do certain things in order to gain merit, gain favor, get salvation. That is contrary to the Gospel message of Christianity, where salvation is a free gift of God offered the world because of His love and grace alone, through Jesus Christ's works alone, received solely through faith, which itself is not something we 'do', but merely a trusting in and receiving of what He has done for us already on Calvary. − − The Bible reveals only one God, and that God is three in Person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. Non-Christian Mormonism redefines God into another god entirely, which really is no god at all. − − ==Mormons relationship to Christianity== − − Mormons are not merely "somewhat out of the mainstream" of U. S. Christian denominations, but not a Christian denomination at all. All three branches of Christianity, (Protestantism, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy), and all Protestant denominations, disagree with the doctrines of Mormonism. Christian authority is derived from God's Word itself, not man's traditions, nor man's claims to authority together with or above Scripture itself. God's revelation is contained in the sixty-six books of the Bible. Mormonism accepts supposed angelic revelation given to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, recorded in their two main works, [[The Book of Mormon]] and [[The Pearl of Great Price]]. The supposed revelation invents an entirely contrary religion than Christianity. − − While they claim to also believe the [[King James Bible]], the two contradictory holdings cannot be held together. In logic, "A cannot equal non-A." Christianity's content and Mormon content are contradictory, and are not the same, nor similar. These supposed revelations by Smith and Young claim to surpass and supercede the Biblical content. They do this by re-defining the meanings of Who God is, and what He expects from us, and what He has done for us in Jesus Christ. They have elevated these other contrary writings above the Biblical authority. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 explains how the Scripture alone is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching and equipping us. This is a crucial issue upon which our eternal salvation rests. Where do we go to find truth? All claims are to be tested against God's word. Paul commended the Bereans, calling them noble for going to the Scriptures every day to compare what he was teaching, to see if the things he taught were true.(Acts.17). We are to do the same with any new claim. − − "Nevertheless, modern Mormons consider themselves to be Christians." That claim is like saying "Democrats consider themselves to be Republicans." Many Mormons may be ignorant of how far off from Christianity they are, and it is the responsibility of Christians to continue spreading the good news of the real Gospel and the real Jesus so that those who have been deceived may be freed from their sins through the free gift of the real Jesus. − The LDS website says "We believe in the Jesus of the New Testament, and we believe what the New Testament teaches about Him. We do believe things about Jesus that other Christians do not believe, but that is because we know, through revelation, things about Jesus that others do not know."<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-56-16,00.html </ref> − The Bible says not to add to nor subtract from its content as the very Word of God. (Revelation 22:18-20). The New Testament authors taught that the mysteries of the past had now been revealed through Jesus Christ (Rom.16:25,16); the mysteries were now known in Jesus Christ's incarnation: that salvation was through faith in Jesus Christ's works, received through faith alone. All "new revelation" is to be tested by Scripture, and the Mormon claims of new revelation fall short of Biblical claims drastically, being a cult, and not a Christian denomination with merely a slight difference of opinion here or there. The claims are contradictory, and cannot both be true. There cannot be one God, yet many gods; salvation through grace alone on account of Christ alone, yet salvation only through doing the things which the LDS church tells you to do; etc. + + − [[An excellent reference book on cults such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormonism is "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Dr. Walter Martin. His tapes on the subject can be heard in the Listening Library at http://waltermartin.org. Another reputable source would be the Utah Lighthouse Ministry of Sandra and Gerald Tanner, http://www.utlm.org. The Christian Research Institute, with Hank Hanegraaf is a well-respected, anti-cult apologetic ministry: http://equip.org]]+ − +
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (view source)
Revision as of 05:45, March 14, 2007
, 05:45, March 14, 2007Reverted edits by PD Popejoy (Talk); changed back to last version by AngeKay
The '''Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,''' informally known as the '''LDS Church''' or the '''Mormons, ''' is a non-Christian religion founded by [[Joseph Smith]] in 1830, who claimed to have received a revelation from an Angel Moroni. In 1847, Mormons, led by [[Brigham Young]], travelled west to escape persecution and founded [[Salt Lake City, Utah]]. Salt Lake City is famous for its wide streets, which were made wide enough to allow a wagon team to turn around. Salt Lake City is home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which has been recording since 1910 and broadcasting since 1929. Its recordings usually feature hymns and patriotic music. The Choir has made five gold and two platinum recordings.
The '''Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,''' informally known as the '''LDS Church''' or the '''Mormons, ''' was founded by [[Joseph Smith]] in 1830, who claimed to have received a revelation from the Angel Moroni. It migrated from New York to Illinois to Utah where they have many members there and worldwide. The Mormons perform enormous amounts of missionary activity. Today, there are about 11 million Mormons.
The Mormons, like other small denominations, have been the target of discrimination. Mormons are depicted as "bad guys" in Arthur Conan Doyle's 1890 novel, ''A Study in Scarlet,'' and Zane Grey's 1912 ''Riders of the Purple Sage.''
In 1847, Mormons, led by [[Brigham Young]], travelled west to escape persecution and founded [[Salt Lake City, Utah]]. Salt Lake City is famous for its wide streets, which were made wide enough to allow a wagon team to turn around. Salt Lake City is home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which has been recording since 1910 and broadcasting since 1929. Its recordings usually feature hymns and patriotic music. The Choir has made five gold and two platinum recordings.
Church members follow a law of health known as the Word of Wisdom that promotes healthy eating as well as avoiding tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea and illegal drugs.<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1301-1,00.html The Word of Wisdom] Mormon.org</ref>
[[Category: Religion]]
==Mormons' relationship to Christianity==
Mormons are somewhat out of the mainstream of U. S. Christian denominations, because they accept the [[Book of Mormon]] as well as the [[King James Bible]]. The Book of Mormon includes what Mormons regard as a record of ancient people in the Americas; and as another testament of Jesus Christ. According to LDS history, The Book of Mormon was translated by divine revelations made to [[Joseph Smith]].
Nevertheless, modern Mormons consider themselves to be Christians.
The good news is, the Bible is available to all, and God has placed His message there for those Who want the Truth. For 2000 years Christianity has had eyewitness testimony in the Bible that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, proving His claims to be God the Son in human flesh. He believed the Old Testament as the very Word of God. And He gave His stamp of approval on the soon-to-be-written New Testament of His eyewitnesses. He taught there was only One God, Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He taught that salvation is something we cannot earn, but that God offers us freely and in unmerited favor on account of the death of Jesus in our place, as our Substitute. This is "without price" from us (Rev22:17). He taught that He would forgive us, would give us eternal life with Him, if we would believe. Christianity calls us to repent and believe on the real Jesus Christ, the real God, the real message of salvation. Mormonism is not a Christian denomination or sect, but a non-Christian religion. --[[User:PD Popejoy|PD Popejoy]] 01:38, 14 March 2007 (EDT)
The LDS website says "We believe in the Jesus of the New Testament, and we believe what the New Testament teaches about Him. We do believe things about Jesus that other Christians do not believe, but that is because we know, through revelation, things about Jesus that others do not know."<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-56-16,00.html Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a Christian church?] As answered on the LDS Church's website</ref>
==Polygamy==
==Polygamy==