The Great Spiritual Salt Lake

There are several major heresies in Mormonism, usa but the foremost concern is their teaching about the evolution of God. They teach the concept that as man is, tadalafil God once was, and as God is, man may become.

• From almost the very beginning of their movement, this heretical teaching developed through their founder Smith.   He specifically taught that “God himself was once as we are now, no more than an exalted man.”
• Joseph Smith’s predecessor, Brigham Young, continued this heretical teaching by later advocating that Adam was both an earthly father and heavenly God who was the first man on the earth and its framer and maker.
• One of the most recognized and revered Mormon apostles, Orson Hyde, taught also that all Mormons were to remember God as a heavenly Father who was once a child and a mortal like themselves.
• In summary, God rose step by step through advancing good works, and eventually arrived at the godhood position he now holds.

The Mormon Texts

• Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, Pearl of Great Wisdom,
• The Bible (KJV)

I would not suggest reading any of the Mormon books (excluding the King James version of the Bible).  Even though the books of Mormon look and sound like Scripture, they are not.   The books of Mormon are complete counterfeits, and are filled with false doctrines.   The worst doctrine of all is their plan of salvation which is based on a system of good works that leads to their own personal attainment of godhood.     This is so contrary to the Bible that it seems impossible for Mormons to even include the Bible as a portion of what they believe.   Mormons will challenge you to read the book of Mormon, but before you do challenge them to read the Bible, specifically the Books of John, Romans, and Galatians.   Ask them to compare what they believe with the teachings of those books.   If they agree then read parts of the books of Mormon, but do it with a mature brother and sister in the Lord.    Reading their books may bring great struggle and depression to you; it did to me.    You have to remember when you read the books of Mormon you are examining books that have been authored by the most deceiving creature of all time, Satan.

Book of Mormon

The main text:

• The Book of Mormon is supposedly an account of the original inhabitants of America to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection. Joseph Smith claimed he translated it from the “golden plates” shown to him by the angel Moroni.
• There are major problems with the accuracy of this supposed “most correct of any book on earth” since it has undergone almost 4,000 changes correcting chronological, historical, and contradictory problems. It has received criticism from archaeologists and historians since its inception.
• Who actually authored the book has also been long debated. It is possibly a fabrication that Smith wove together from other sources such as Ethan Smith’s Views of the Hebrews or the Ten Tribes of Israel in America (1823), Solomon Spalding’s Manuscript Found (1812), Thomas Thorowgood’s Jews in America (1650), and certain popular books of that era. While there is no solid proof of this, there are many resemblances that appear to be beyond mere coincidence.
• Also, there are rumors of theft and plagiarism that leaves one wondering.   It is amazing that Mormons sometimes think that Joseph Smith came up with a new revelation from God regarding the ancestry of the Native Americans. However, the popular theory was already well developed at this time. The theory would eventually be proven inaccurate by historians and archaeologists, but not until after Smith had fabricated various parts of people’s writings on the theory and made it into a religion.

Book of Doctrines and Covenants

Joseph Smith:

In some respects it would seem more appropriate to call the Book of Doctrine and Covenants the keystone of Mormonism.   It is in such a book that Joseph Smith put forth the heretical teachings of baptism for the dead, celestial marriage, plurality of wives, plurality of gods, and possibility of attaining godhood.

The book of Doctrines and Covenants is given much greater weight than the Bible, because according to Mormonism, it is inspired, while the Bible on the other hand is full of errors due to irreparable translation weaknesses.

The Bible is hardly ever read or referred to by Mormons.  In my opinion they only use the Bible as a minor reference to prove to others they are a Christian denomination.   They are not.

The Pearl of Great Price

Joseph Smith:

This contains three major books called Moses, Abraham, and Joseph Smith. In this book Smith elevates himself to a Biblical position equal to Moses and Abraham

. Unfortunately for Joseph, this book shows better that any of the others his great deception.

In 1835 he purchased several mummies and papyri covered with hieroglyphics. Smith claimed “that one contained the writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt and that another was the work of Joseph, son of Jacob.” He supposedly translated the short hieroglyphic message into the greatly expanded Book of Abraham.

In 1967 the papyri that Smith used were rediscovered and no less than 4 expert Egyptologists examined the papyri. They all found the same thing; the papyri were nothing more than the record of an Egyptian funeral ceremony honoring the Egyptian god Osiris. Only those who wish to preserve the fantasy that Joseph Smith was given the ability to translate the book of Abraham still vainly try to defend his work.

The Bible

King James Version:

The Mormons basically pay lip service to the Bible referring to it as “the Word of God insofar as it is translated correctly” (Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Article 8). The problem, though, is they claim that the correct translation of the Bible is impossible because the Catholic Church changed the original word of God. Mormons use to teach that the Catholic Church was the “abominable church” spoken of in Nephi 13:26-29 that corrupted the gospel of the Lamb.

Teachable Moment

In your teachable moment explain some of the differences between what the Bible says and what Mormons preach.    Then locate a map or picture of the Great Salt Lake, in Utah.   If you cannot locate one at home, go on the Internet or make a trip to the library to find it.    As you look at this great expanse of water in Utah, have your children note the beautiful features of the lake.    Do not read anything about the lake to your children saving all the details for later.   Just have your children describe the great beauty they see in the Salt Lake from a bird’s eye view.    When you have finished your assessment, take your children on a day trip to a near by fresh water lake, one that is full of life and God’s beauty.  Enjoy the lake together, but pick a time toward the end of the day where your children can reflect on the life and beauty of the lake.    If possible pull out the picture of the Great Salt Lake.    And then explain that even though the Great Salt Lake looks beautiful from a picture, or even from a distance, it is not.   Because nothing can live in the Great Salt Lake.    It is filled with so much salt that nothing can survive.   It only looks like it is alive, and that is how it is with Mormonism and all other cults.   From the outside they look to be beautiful and alive.   But as you finally see them up close you will find there is no life at all.   Just as there is no fresh water, fish, or green foliage in and around the Great Salt Lake so there is no true spiritual life in or around the Mormon faith.   It is all a façade of the real thing.

God’s Word

Ephesians 2:8-9  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Matthew 5:21  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22  “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  23  “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;

* Note of reference: My primary resource for this article comes from the Gate Breakers by Dr. Stan Fleming (pages 73-97), Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons, by Mark J. Cares, the God Maker films I & II, my own readings in the book of Mormon, and the experiences I have had with Mormons in Wyoming and Idaho.