Extracts. I will start with the question of salvation: the principle that started my search for the truth. The question to be answered was: is salvation obtained through ceremonies and good works, as my church teaches, or is it the "gift of God" as the Bible states?
I have already quoted two statements from the "Latter-day Saints" books explaining how salvation is achieved. Here is another, from former Nephi Anderson: "The saving ordinances of the gospel are to be administered by men of the priesthood, which is the authority of God delegated to man."
Now I quote from the Bible:
"The wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"It is by grace that you have been saved, by means of faith. And it is not from you, it is the gift of God. It is not by works, so that no one may boast." . (Ephesians 2.8-9). "He saved us, not because of the works of righteousness which we would have done, but according to his mercy, by the baptism of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he has poured out upon us in abundance through Jesus Christ our Savior "(Titus 3: 5-6).
Mormon teachings are incompatible with the Bible. Since that wonderful day when I stopped trying to reconcile Mormon teaching with the Bible, I have been released. I experienced what the Bible calls "the new birth " (Gospel according to John chapter 3). Now I am much happier than in the past. I fully know the peace of God which surpasses all knowledge. Every day I live in joy. All the burdens went out of my heart, as well as all the doubts, all the fears. I have long wanted to bear witness to others who are still members of the religion in which I was born and where I have lived most of my life.
For lack of space, I cannot dwell on all the details of my struggles in the midst of despair and uncertainty, before reaching the truth, but what I desire, as far as my weak words can, c is to explain clearly how great it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, having absolute certainty of my salvation, which does not depend on what I have done or what I might do , but rather because I live under the grace of God with the Spirit of Christ in my heart. It is all the difference between the darkest night and the clearest day. Having found the light, no power on earth could compel me to return to darkness.
For the Mormon system is indeed a system of darkness. Faithful followers of Joseph Smith, those who believe in the Book of Mormons, the Book of Doctrines and Covenants, and other books which are said to be inspired, yes, those will be scandalized by this statement, but it is true.
My path to discovering the truth.
For over two years, I taught theology, studied more and more diligently, often on my knees. I begged God, as never in the past, to reveal the truth to me. And it was during the first months of this period that the doubts (which I already had about my religion and which were latent in my heart) began to materialize.
Let me make it clear that at that time my dearest desire was to justify my faith in my church. Even the doubts that arose, I kept them away from me. I calmed my conscience by explaining to him quite simply that I did not understand such and such principle because certainly I was not yet worthy to discern its true meaning.
The agony of my belief in Mormon doctrines was long and painful. I was desperate for it despite the belief that these doctrines were utterly wrong. When the class president asked me to teach doctrine, I felt utterly unworthy and tried, but in vain, to show her that it would really be presumption if I tried to teach. to the ladies who were so much further than me on the path to "eternal progression".
Certainly my life was decent and respectable by the standards of this world, but I had long given up any hope of deserving my salvation. I knew that if this depended on a life of good works and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, as written in the articles of Faith, then I had failed miserably.
Apostle FD Richard explains: "Redemption from personal sins can only be acquired through obedience to the demands of the gospel and a life of good works." Elder EF Parry said, "The gospel of Jesus Christ is called the plan of salvation. It is a system of regulations whereby, if one conforms to it, salvation can be acquired." So what luck did I have? Any. But this nice lady brushed aside my protests.
She informed me that the sisters agreed with her that I was the one to lead the class. Believe me, I did it with humility. I made the decision that henceforth the most important thing in my life would be to justify the confidence of these ladies in me. I constantly prayed for good guidance. I
It was then that a horrible confusion began. As I looked for the few suggested Bible references in the journal for the lesson plan, I found myself reading more than just the verse. I read the chapters that preceded as well as those that followed. I found that the meaning was often quite different from what a verse, isolated from its context, might suggest. In addition, as a result of reading the precious Word of God, I discovered many things that did not agree with Mormon teaching .
The shock shook me. I had always believed that the religion of the "Latter-day Saints" accepted the Bible as the true Word of God, despite the eighth article of Faith: "We believe that the Bible is the Word of God as far as it is translated. correctly". I never thought that the Bible could undergo a dishonest translation. It is true that, like other Mormons, I had never been encouraged to read it, but I had always assumed it was the book above all books, and in my church, and in all Christian religions.
Now I know why Mormons are not encouraged to read their Bibles. Anyone who reads it with an open heart, asking God to enlighten them, will quickly find, if they honestly seek the truth, that Mormonism has nothing to do with the true Church of Christ. The Bible is the truth. Scientifically, historically, prophetically and psychologically it has been proven to be true. She has her own testimony.
Renowned men, scholars of research, all have corroborated the truth and infallible accuracy of the Bible through the centuries. Moreover, regardless of this abundant evidence, any born-again believer knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is the Word of God, pure and everlasting, of which the Spirit is the interpreter. "It's' spirit that gives life; the flesh is of no use. The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life "(John 6:63).
"If anyone wants to do his will, he will know if my doctrine is from God, or if I am speaking from my leader." (John 7.17).
When the supreme object and purpose of our life is to do the will of God, we will know without difficulty that the Bible is His Word.
The Lord promised that he would give the Spirit to all who believe. "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, because he dwells with you, and he will be in you". (John 14.17). Mormon leaders have undermined their followers' faith in the reliability of the Bible by casting suspicion on its divine inspiration. Here is what Apostle Orson Pratt writes in his book "The Divine Authority of the Book of Mormons":
"If we admit that the apostles and evangelists wrote the books of the New Testament, this does not mean that they were divinely inspired at the time of writing them." And he added in the same book: "Let's add all this imperfection to the uncertainty of the translation. Result: Who, if sane, could claim for a single second that the Bible in its present form, makes a perfect guide?
Who can say that a single verse in the Bible has not been tampered with, that it has the same meaning now as it originally did? " So many similar claims have been made of Mormon writers. I could cite many others that come to mind if space allowed. I should limit my own comment as well.
The question of salvation among Mormons.
I will start with the question of salvation: the principle that started my search for the truth. The question to be resolved was: is salvation obtained through ceremonies and good works, as my church teaches, or is it the "gift of God" as the Bible states? Already quoted two statements in the books of "Latter-day Saints", explaining how salvation is obtained. Here is another, from former Nephi Anderson: "The saving ordinances of the gospel are to be administered by men belonging to the priesthood, which is the authority of God delegated to man ".
Now I quote from the Bible:
"The wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "It is by grace that you have been saved, by means of faith. And it is not of you, it is the gift of God. It is not by works, so that no one may boast." . (Ephesians 2.8-9). "He saved us, not because of the works of righteousness which we would have done, but according to his mercy, by the baptism of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he has poured out upon us in abundance through Jesus Christ our Savior "(Titus 3: 5-6).
Mormonism teaches that man is his own savior, through his own obedience. The Word of God says that salvation is "the gift of God". A donation cannot be earned otherwise it is no longer a donation. Time and time again, the Bible tells us that salvation is not by works. She clearly explains that it is not from us. How can we deserve something that is not up to us? Consider, then, the precious doctrine of justification by faith alone.
In the “Articles of Faith” (1899 edition) the apostle James E. Talmage says: “The sectarian dogma of justification by faith alone has exercised its evil influence since the early days of Christianity.” In the edition of 1925 the denunciation is even stronger: he calls for justification by faith alone, a pernicious doctrine.
Here are quotes from the Word of God.
"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"He who believes in him is not judged; but he who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the Only Begotten of God". (John 3.18).
"Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5.1).
"And they are freely justified by his grace, by means of the redemption which is in Jesus Christ". (Romans 3.24).
Why is this (doctrine of salvation by faith) pernicious in the eyes of Mormons? Oh no ! This is not pernicious, but rather a wonderful, overpriced doctrine. I could quote many more verses to support the belief that I have.
Why is this pernicious in the eyes of Mormons? I'll tell you: because it destroys the claims of the Mormon priesthood. All members of the "Latter-day Saints" are aware of these claims. I will quote only one from "Doctrines and Covenants", section 86, verse 11: "Wherefore, you are blessed if you endure in my goodness, being a light to the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior for my people of Israel ".
But the Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus is the one and only mediator (priest) between God and men.
Read 1 Timothy 2.5: "For there is one God, and also one Mediator between God and men, Jesus Christ man".
He's our Eternal High Priest. Read Hebrews 7:24: "But he, because he abides forever, has a priesthood which is not transferable".
Mormons claim to have regained the Aaronic and Melchizedeck priesthood. But in the Bible there is nothing to indicate that such orders of priests ever existed in the church of Jesus Christ. Anyone with a minimal knowledge of the Bible knows that the Aaronic priesthood belonged only to the Jews.
When Jesus Christ came to die on the cross of Calvary, he was performing the rites of the Old Testament, with his priesthood and his offerings, and these were definitively abolished. This is the whole teaching of the letter to the Hebrews.
As for the highest priesthood, the order of Melchizedeck, the Scriptures clearly attest that no one ever possessed it except the Lord Jesus. He never gave it to anyone else. There is a royal priesthood which belongs to all true disciples of Christ. See 1 Peter 2.9: "You, on the contrary, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, so that you may proclaim the virtues of him who called you from darkness into his admirable light".
Read Revelation 1.6: "And who made us a kingdom, priests to God his Father, glory and power to Him forever and ever. Amen." To all who are reconciled, Christ has given the ministry of reconciliation. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18: "And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to him through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation".
Next, I would like to draw your attention to the huge difference between Mormon teaching and Bible teaching about the person of God. Other major differences between biblical doctrine and Mormon doctrine. According to Mormon doctrine there are several gods, and polygamists in addition.
Polytheism
I quote the apostle Orson Pratt: "In heaven, where our spirits are born, there are many gods, each of whom has his wife, or his wives, who were given to them, while they were still mortal." Here is another quote from the Speech Log. This is a sermon by the Prophet Joseph Smith. "In the beginning the head of the gods called a council of the gods. They came together and made a plan to create the world and the people."
But the Bible said,
"So as to eating meat sacrificed to idols, we know that there are no idols in the world, and there is only one God." . (1 Corinthians 8.4) Look closely at this passage. You will see that its context shows the meaning to be in stark contrast to the Mormon interpretation, with the apostle Paul pointing out the contrast between the pagan belief in many gods and the Christian revelation of one God.
"For all the gods of the peoples are idols, and the Lord made the heavens." (1 Chronicles 16:26). "Thus says the Lord, King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:" I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God "(Isaiah 44.6)." I am the Lord, there is no other, besides me there is no God "(Isaiah 45.5).
Denial of the eternal divinity of God.
According to Mormon teaching, God was once a man. I am quoting from a sermon by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the discourse journal: "God himself was once as we are now; he is a high man."
In the book "The Key to the Science of Theology" the apostle Parley P. Pratt, writes: "God, angels and men are a species, a race, a great family, scattered among the planetary systems as colonies, kingdoms, nations, etc. "
The Bible says:
"I will not act according to my fiery anger, I renounce destroying Ephraim; for I am God and not a man". (Hosea 11.9).
"God is not a man to lie, nor the son of a man to repent. What he has said, will he not do? What he has said, will he not carry out? not? "(Numbers 23. 19). God has always been God. See Psalm 90.2; Dt. 33.27. "Before the mountains were born and you created the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity you are God".
"The Eternal God is a refuge, and under His eternal arms is a retreat". As for the idea that God would have been a man, notice what the Bible says: "This is why it is written: the first man, Adam, becomes a living soul." (1 Corinthians 15:45).
There was no man before Adam.
Then consider the following statement made by the prophet Brigham Young in one of the "Journal of Discourse" sermons. Think about what it means, what it implies. “Now listen to this, you inhabitants of the earth, Jews, Gentiles, saints or sinners: When our father Adam entered the Garden of Eden , he entered it with a heavenly body, bringing with him Eve, one of his wives. helped to make and organize the world. His name is Michael the Archangel, the Ancient of Days, of whom the saints wrote and spoke. He is our father and our God, and the only god with whom we have to do ". Is it possible to believe such a thing?
All Mormons are aware of this verse which President Lorenzo Snow claimed to have received by revelation and which established itself as the doctrine of the Church: "What man is, God once was; what God is , man can become it ". The Church teaches that men are to learn how to become gods just as all gods have done before them. Far too much has been written about it for me to quote here (see Journal des Discours Vol.VI).
Now let's look at the Word of God.
Satan was the first to want to become a god out of ambition. He said "I will be like the Most High. I will ascend to the summit of the clouds, I will be like the Most High". (Isaiah 14.13-14). But God said about him: "But you were cast down into hell." (Isaiah 14.15). Satan's first lie to man was "You will be gods": "But God knows that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing Good and Evil". (Genesis 3.4).
Jesus called Satan a liar: "He does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him ... He is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8.44).
God is perfect, unchanging. So he could not "progress" as the Mormons teach. He did not become God, for he always was God and always will be. "For I am the Lord, I do not change". (Malachi 3.6). "From eternity to eternity you are God". (Psalm 90.2).
Likewise Jesus is eternal and unchanging because he is the Son of God. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13.8).
Mormon leaders admit that man is a sinner. So think about what this means in the light of their doctrine: "What man is, God once was, what God is, man can become". It means that God was once a sinner. It doesn't look like the God I worship at all. The God of the Bible never committed sin.
His word says,
"The Lord is righteous. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." (Psalm 92. 16). In my opinion, to bring the Eternal God down to the level of sinful man is horrible blasphemy. God, the creator, is infinitely above man, his so limited creature. If we think otherwise, we no longer understand the gravity of sin or the holiness of God. Denial of the divinity of Christ.
Likewise the Mormon teaching of the person of Christ departs radically from the teaching of the Word of God.
For example, the birth of Christ. Looking back, I am amazed that for so many years I have accepted the Mormon point of view, despite the many testimonies of Christians around me; the disagreement arose from the fact that the Bible was unknown to me.
Mormon theologians went to great lengths to deny one of the most important truths in the Bible: that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I quote again "the Journal of Speeches", a work of the Church which I have been able to examine thoroughly for class studies.
The following is from President and Prophet Brigham Young (volume 1): “When the Virgin Mary conceived the Child Jesus, the Father begot him in his own image. He was not conceived by the Holy Spirit. Who is the father? He is the first of the human family, and when he took a tabernacle it was begotten of his father in heaven, just as the tabernacle of Cain, Abel, and the other sons and daughters of Heaven. 'union of Adam and Eve ".
Read it again, and if you have access to the "Journal of Speeches", read a little further. For lack of space I will not quote these blasphemous words of Brigham Young any more, but when you read them you will understand what I mean. To put it plainly, Brigham Young taught that Christ was the son of Adam, born of sexual union with Mary.
Now read what the Bible says about the birth of our Savior. "As he thought about it, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take with you Mary your wife, for the child whom she has conceived comes from the Holy Mind". (Matthew 1.20).
Read also Luke 1.35: "The Angel answered him: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the Holy Child who will be born of you will be called the Son of God". There are still many doctrinesand Church principles of "Latter-day Saints" which are no more like biblical doctrines than day is like night, but I cannot examine them all here.
There is Mormon teaching concerning the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Godhead. Mormons believe that Christ married; if that was true, why is the Bible silent on such an important event? Polygamy. And then there is the awful principle of polygamy, something I have always deplored. If all the wives and mothers in this church were honest, they would admit that they think the same thing, and if it was possible, they would be happy to make this abomination go away.
Then there is the erroneous teaching that God predestined the fall of man. Not being able to sum it all up in a few words, I draw your attention to the true story in the Book of Genesis. Then compare with Book of Mormons 2 Neph. 2.22 - 25.
"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden, and all the things that were created should have remained as they were. found after their creation and they should have remained forever and had no end. They would not have had children; they would have remained in a state of innocence, without feeling joy because they knew no misery, without doing good, for they knew no sin. But all things were made by the wisdom of him who knows all. Adam fell that men might be, and men are to have joy. " Gift of the Holy Ghost compelled by the laying on of hands.
I add a word about another principle of Mormonism, because it was one of the first points of my religion that had raised doubts in my mind. Here is the question: To receive the Holy Ghost is the laying on of hands essential?
Here is an affirmation from the President, the Prophet Charles W. Penrose: “After baptism, or the birth of water, comes the baptism or the birth of the Spirit. This gift of God is communicated through the laying on of human hands. whom God has called and authorized to perform this holy ceremony ".
Now I quote the Word of God:
"Because you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, who cries out Abba! Father!" (Galatians 4.6).
"In him you also, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in him you believed and were sealed with the Holy Spirit which had been promised, which is a pledge of our inheritance, for the redemption of those whom God has purchased, to the praise of his glory "(Ephesians 1: 13-14). The Holy Spirit entered the hearts of the disciples at Pentecost. (See Acts 2); and came upon Cornelius and his family (Acts 10); when they accepted the Lord Jesus. They did not lay hands on them. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the heart and the life of each person who becomes a child of God by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
I bear witness to it. I know that when I entered the Mormon church at my baptism and received the laying on of hands, the Spirit certainly did not come to dwell in me. I know that when hands were laid on my son, there was no change in his life. But I do know one thing: the moment I accepted Jesus as myPersonal Savior by faith in Him, and I surrendered myself to His will, it was then that the Holy Spirit truly came into my heart. It was the greatest experience of my life. I had that day a real contact with God. I was born again to be a new creature "in Christ". Believe me, it was just exactly as he promised, "If anyone is in Christ, he's a new creature. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Ah! If I could only show you how wonderful it is to know that one is saved now by the personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus. If only my feeble efforts could stir up in your heart a desire to seek the truth for yourself, instead of blindly accepting the dominance of fallible men.
I have always been introduced to Joseph Smith, who has been exalted to the position of a deity. It is not for me to judge him, but, after all, he is not God. How many testimonies highlighting his divine attributes, his character, the veracity of his prophecies, etc. Therefore, Christ does not have the first place in the testimony of Mormons. Joseph Smith occupies this first place. Think about it. It is he who receives the praise which belongs to our Savior; Doesn't that appeal to you? Extract from the book "Why we left the Mormons" edited by: Le Témoignage Evangélique 227 Avenue Colonel Rozanoff 40000 MONT DE MARSAN9.
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