www.DoYouKnowWhy.org
Mormonism
The Church Of Jesus Christ
Of Latter day Saints
Mormonism teaches a Father God, Jesus Christ, and a Holy Spirit. They teach on sin, salvation, and atonement, and use many terms common to Christianity. Mormonism also has the name of Jesus Christ as part of the full name of the church. This is where the abbreviation LDS originates, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is important to realize again that just because the same name or terminology is used does not necessarily mean that a religion has the same named person or the same meaning for the terminology used.
When the specifics about the Mormon religion which are inconsistent with Christian teachings are pointed out, some Mormons have claimed that they are being persecuted by those who raise these points. Since this “Criticism” claim is raised by Mormons, we should consider the original Mormon criticisms of Christian churches. This link shows the criticisms of Christianity raised by the founding and influential members of the Mormon Church and that these criticisms of Christian churches began long before teachings of Mormonism were challenged.
"We Never Criticize Christian Churches"
www.mrm.org/we-never-criticize
Once again, we need to focus on what is true about the Essential teachings between Mormonism and Christianity and consider the actual differences.
What are the essentials of the Christian faith?
www.gotquestions.org/essentials-Christian-faith.html
www.str.org/articles/essential-christian-doctrines
https://carm.org/essential-doctrines-of-christianity
Another possible reason for Mormons feeling persecuted is that the Mormon Church doesn’t seem to encourage its members to think critically. Mormons and others are encouraged to pray about the Book of Mormon, to pray to receive what is called “A burning in the bosom”, to see if it is true.
The Book of Mormon (official LDS site)
www.lds.org/manual/the-restoration/the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng
What does the Bible teach?
Read the Book of Mormon and Pray to Determine its Truth - Is this Good Biblical Advice?
www.godandscience.org/cults/praytruth.html
Praying About the Book of Mormon - Is it Biblical?
www.mrm.org/praying-about-bofm
What does the Bible say?
Acts 17:11 "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
The Bible tells us to compare all things with Scripture because it is through the word of God that we confirm the truths of God, not by praying for a sign.
James 1:5 and praying about the Book of Mormon
https://carm.org/james-1-5-pray-book-of-mormon
The Essentials of Christianity specify the Christian teachings on the identity and nature of God, of Jesus, of man, sin, salvation, Heaven, and hell. The links below contrast the teachings of both the Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness religions with these Essentials. The links reference actual Mormon works.
Mormon – Doctrines differing from Christianity
https://carm.org/dictionary-mormon
Comparison Chart - Mormonism and Christianity
www.4truth.net/fourtruthpbnew.aspx?pageid=8589952801
Mormonism Vs. Christianity
https://evidencetobelieve.net/mormonism-vs-christianity/
www.allaboutreligion.org/mormonism-vs-christianity.htm
Is the Mormon Religion a Christian Religion?
www.philvaz.com/apologetics/num23.htm
Why the Mormon Church is not the True Church Jesus Christ started?
The following links will connect you to the Mormon works referenced in the above links and some of the teachings in official Mormon works.
Mormon Religious Works
Book of Mormon
www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng Current ver.
https://archive.org/details/bookmormon01smitgoog
1840 ver.
Doctrine and Covenants
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc?lang=eng
http://sacred-texts.com/mor/dc/index.htm
ttps://archive.org/details/doctrineandcove00pratgoog/page/n4 - 1814 ver.
Pearl of Great Price
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp?lang=eng Current ver.
https://archive.org/details/pearlofgreatpric00hall
1867 ver.
Mormon Doctrine - Bruce R. McConkie
https://archive.org/details/MormonDoctrine1966_201806/page/n1
Journal of Discourses
http://journalofdiscourses.com
Discourses of Brigham Young
www.josephsmithacademy.org/inspira/ebooks/discourses-of-brigham-young (click PDF in left column)
King Follett Discourse
www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng
Articles of Faith - 1899
https://archive.org/details/articlesfaithas00talmgoog
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
http://scriptures.byu.edu/tpjs/STPJS.pdf
History of the Church – by BYU Studies
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx
Quotations from Mormon Leaders
“As man now is, God once was; as God is now man may be.” - Lorenzo Snow
“Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful” (official)
www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-5-the-grand-destiny-of-the-faithful?lang=eng (official)
As God Is Man May Be?
www.mrm.org/lorenzo-snow-couplet
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" - Joseph Smith
King Follett Discourse - 3rd Section: 'God is an Exalted Man'
www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng (official)
"Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves" - Joseph Smith
King Follett Discourse - 4th Section: 'Eternal Life to Know God and Jesus Christ"
www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng (official)
“Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhow—three in one, and one in three! It is a curious organization… All are to be crammed into one God, according to sectarianism. It would make the biggest God in all the world. He would be a wonderfully big God —he would be a giant or a monster”
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith - p. 372
http://scriptures.byu.edu/tpjs/STPJS.pdf (official)
"We cannot remember that Lucifer, a son of God the Father, a brother of Jesus Christ, rebelled against God’s plan" - Robert D. Hales - Presiding Bishop
The Aaronic Priesthood: Return with Honor - Paragraph 3
www.lds.org/general-conference/1990/04/the-aaronic-priesthood-return-with-honor?lang=eng&query=aaronic+priesthood%3a+return+with+honor - Paragraph 3 (official)
"It is the Devil, the mighty Lucifer, the great prince of the angels, the brother of Jesus" - Joseph Young
http://journalofdiscourses.com/6/31 - Paragraph 12
“no less a person than Jesus Christ was married on that occasion” - Orson Hyde
http://journalofdiscourses.com/4/49 - Paragraph 11
“We say it was Jesus Christ who was married” - Orson Hyde
http://journalofdiscourses.com/2/18 - Paragraphs 34/35
"The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God" - Brigham Young
http://journalofdiscourses.com/8/44 - Paragraph 3
“We know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do”
www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/25?lang=eng - 2 Nephi 25:23
"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."
www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.8?lang=eng Articles of Faith 1:8
The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible and other inspired Mormon works, including itself.
The Book of Mormon Vs The Bible
www.equip.org/article/the-book-of-mormon-vs-the-bible/#christian-books-2
The Book of Mormon contradicts Itself, other inspired Mormon writings and contradicts the Bible
www.bible.ca/mor-contradictions.htm
Bible and Book of Mormon Contradictions
www.utlm.org/onlineresources/bibleandbomcontradictions.htm
The Bible or the Book of Mormon?
www.str.org/articles/the-bible-or-the-book-of-mormon
This link also answers the Mormon claim:
“We believe in the Bible insofar as it has been translated correctly”.
Next Section - Mormonism and Prophesy