The LDS Church (Mormon) has a document, which is a part of their inspired Scripture called "The Articles of Faith." Every Mormon knows these articles and knows that they are a summary of what they believe...or at least what they want the rest of the world to know they believe (you'll find nothing about their secret (they say "sacred") stuff such as the Temple Ceremony, and a few other things).
I thought it would be interesting to compare the 13 articles against Biblical Christianity and see if the LDS church passes the test for being called Christian. After the comparison, you will plainly see they fail the test MISERABLY!
In America, you have the right to believe any religious tenets you wish. I grant them this. But it really gets my dander up when they say they want to be considered as Christians when their doctrines are as far apart from Christianity as Earth is from Pluto (the planet, not the dog).
Let's take a look at the comparison:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. This statement does not affirm the three persons of the Godhead as one God (the Trinity).
Response: The Bible teaches that not only is the Father God, the Son is God also (Ex. 3: 14 c.f. Jn. 8: 58, 59) and the Holy Spirit is God as well (Acts 5: 3, 4). Jehovah (YHVH) and Elohim and one and the same (Dt. 6: 4 (Heb.)).
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
Response: Adam's sin was passed on to all humanity. Humans are under condemnation for his sin (Rom. 5: 12).
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Response: The LDS definition of "saved" (resurrected to face judgment) is not the definition of the Bible (saved from the wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7; Lk. 3: 7; I Th. 1: 10). In Biblical Christianity, salvation is not according to obedience to laws and ordinances but by grace through faith in Jesus (Eph. 2: 8, 9; Rom. 4: 4, 5).
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Response: Baptism, a work of righteousness, is not part of the Gospel nor salvation, nor does it remit sins (I Cor. 1: 17: Tit. 3: 5). The Holy Spirit is given in many incidents in the Bible without the laying on of hands (Acts 2: 4; 10: 44; 11: 15).
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
Response: Many men in the Bible were called of God without hands being laid on them (Noah, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, all twelve of Jesus' apostles, plus many others). The Mormon authority to preach and administer ordinances (the Melchizedek priesthood) does not exist in actuality since Jesus Christ holds the priesthood and it cannot be passed to anyone else (Heb. 7: 24 KJV "unchangeable" = Gr.: "aparabatos" = "untransferable").
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
Response: While pastors, evangelists and teachers exist in Biblical Christianity today, prophets (Old Testament) and apostles (New Testament) were the foundation of the church. The foundation has been laid. No one lays the foundation to a building twice (Eph. 2: 19, 20). Interestingly, the LDS do not use the term "pastor," but rather "bishop" when referring to the leader of the local congregation.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Response: Why isn't anything resembling the "gift of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues" practiced today in the LDS church. These gifts are practiced today by Pentecostals and Charismatics (which number over 500,000,000). If these miraculous gifts exist in the LDS church, why is there a school to academically learn foreign languages at the Missionary Training Center at Brigham Young University?
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Response: The use of the term "as far as it is translated correctly" implies there are errors in the Bible (c.f. Prov. 30: 5; Mt. 24: 35; Mk. 13: 31; Lk. 21: 33). It is also apparently a "loophole" when LDS doctrine contradicts the Bible and also means the Bible is inferior to LDS Scripture. It is impossible to academically determine if the Book of Mormon was translated correctly since the original language document is not available. The Book of Abraham text is not translated correctedly from the source document of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Also, there are no additions to the Bible allowed (Dt. 4: 2; 12: 32; 2 Cor. 11: 4; Prov. 30: 6).
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
Response: Not all that is claimed to be revealed from God is actually from God. It must must not contradict God's already known revelation, the Holy Bible.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
Response: America is nowhere mentioned in Bible prophecy and Christ's return will be in modern-day Israel (Zech. 14 : 2-4; Joel 3: 1-2: 14-16; Eze 43: 7). Isaiah 9: 7 reveals that Christ will sit on David's throne which has never been anywhere but Israel. The earth will not be "renewed," but recreated (Rev. 21: 1).
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
Response: If this is true, why did Joseph Smith claim he was told by God that all Christian churches and creeds were false and all who professed their faith in these churches were corrupt (Joseph Smith -- Hist. 1: 19)? Why does the LDS church consider themselves "the only true church" (Boyd K. Packer, 1985 (Packer is currently the president of the church's twelve apostles and in line to be the next Prophet of the church)? If I wish to join the LDS church, why will they not consider my Christian baptism to be valid?
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Response: LDS church records show that both church leaders and members in Utah continued to practice polygamy, against United States law, after the state joined the U.S. in 1896.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Response: There are LDS leaders and church members who are familiar with the doctrine called "lying for the Lord." Mormon Historian and former BYU professor D. Michael Quinn called the use of deception by LDS church leaders, "theocratic ethics." (The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, p. 112) It is a recognized fact that Joseph Smith lied about polygamy to protect himself or the church; which was an extension of himself.
In our country, the LDS church has the right to believe whatever they please. They can believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster or anything else for that matter. That's not the issue here. The issue is simple: STOP CALLING YOURSELF CHRISTIAN WHEN YOU DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE!!
Ciao for now,
Dave
