Witnessing to Mormons
Lesson 2
Jeff Bixby
March 9, 2001
Scripture: Galatians Ch.1:6-8 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."
We will now go into the Mormon teachings and doctrine. This is where they get mormon theology which I call mormonism. Mormonism as you will see, perverts the gospel so much, that mormon leaders have to eat away and explain away prior thoughts or "prophecies". How can they do this? A mormon prophet/president can invalidate a previous prophecy or teaching on thier canon scripture. However past and present mormon teachings and doctrines clash into contradictions that sometimes even the mormon scriptures contradict. How can I use this to witness? Well Joseph Smith himself says this in a book Prophetic Record:"The only way of ascertaining a true prophet is to comare his prophecies with the ancient word of God, and see if they agree, and if they do and come to pass, then certainly he is a true prophet." Of course if you try to use the Bible many Mormons will not accept that because you are not "interepting it correctly". You can actually use the Book of Mormon and other items to expose and show the mormon that there is something wrong with the doctrine and mistakes are made and being made in teachings by the prophets of the church. The Book of Mormon does not in theology, teach mormonism. Following is a brief list of these examples. There are many more.
Contradictions in Mormonism doctrine
Polygamy
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine 578)Plural marriage is not essential to salvation or exaltation. (D&C 132:4)For behold, I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not in that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory. It should be noted that at the present time the LDS church does not currently teach this doctrine to be practiced, but at one time it was taught and practiced. Some splinter LDS groups still practice it today believing that the LDS church has fallen away from Joseph Smith’s teachings. If a mormon believes it publicly he/she would be considered a "fundamentalist" and not to be taken seriously. LDS church hopes to one day practice this doctrine again in the future and still holds a belief in it, not practice, yet.
Plural Gods
(Book of Mormon Alma11:28;29) Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No. (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine 317) There are three Gods- the father, the son and the Holy Ghost. The quote from Alma is often contested by mormons stating that Amulek was lying, this is not the case in the passage it is very clear that Zeezrom is the liar and not Amulek.
Adam’s origin
(Joseph F. Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:90) The Book of Mormon, the Bible Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price all declare that Adams body was created from the dust of the ground, that is, from the dust of this ground, this earth. (Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 3:319) Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth.
Omniscience and Omnipotence of God
(Orson Pratt, The Seer, Aug. 1853, pg117) Each of these personal Gods has equal knowledge with all the rest...None of these Gods are progessing in knowledge: neither can they progress in the acquirement of any truth... Some have gone so far as to say that all the Gods were progessing in truth, and would continue to progress to all eternity... but let us examine, for a moment, the absurdity of such a conjecture. (Brigham Young, Deseret Weekly News, 263) Do not... say that he cannot learn anymore. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 3:203) We might ask, when shall we cease to learn? I will give you my opinion about it; never never... both in time and eternity.
Fall of Man
(John Widstoe, Evidences and Reconciliation, 195, in Cowan, 75) In the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is no original sin. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:21) God Showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of thier parents.
Treating Enemies
(Apostle George A. Smith, Journal of Discourses, 5:107) As I remarked, we were then very pious, and we prayed the Lord to kill the mob. (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi12:44-45) But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven.
Indwelling of God
(Book of Mormon Alma 34:36) The Lord hath said... in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell. (Doctrine and Convenants 130:3) The idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.
Salvation by grace
(Book of Mormon 2Nephi 10:24) Remember, after ye are reconciled to God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are Saved. (Book of Mormon Moroni 8:25) Fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins.
God was once a man
(M.R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, 104) Mormon prophets have continuously taught the sublime truth that God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man. (Book of Mormon Mormon 9:8-10) Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read teh scriptures; if so, he does not understand them. For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow or changing? And now if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whomthere is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a god who is not a God of miracles. This is aong the lines of a mormon taught doctrine of Eternal progression. That men once dead and in heaven, what ever level that might be, can still progress in knowledge. Also that Jesus, God the Father and Holy Ghost, are still progessing or changing.
Creation of man
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 11:122) God... created man, as we create our children; for there is no other process of creation in heaven, on the earth, in the earth, or under the earth, or in all eternities that is, that were, or that ever will be. (Book of Mormon, Jacob 4:9) By the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why is he not able to command the earth or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?
Fall of Adam producing children
(Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:11) Were it not for out transgressions we never should have had seed.
(Pearl of Great Price, Moses 2:27-28) And I, God, created man in mine own image. ...Male and female created I them. And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful and multiply.
Child Baptism
(Doctrine and Covenants 68:27) And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old. (Book of Mormon Moroni 8:8-10) Listen to the words of Christ... your Lord and God... I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children... Yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized.
As you can see there are many contradictions to mormon doctrine within the church’s own statements and scriptures. These examples can be used to help witness to Mormons by showing them that these things need to be investigated. Most Mormons who give up or leave the LDS church leave because they had questions about some of these contradictions in doctrine and many times mormon leaders and bishops simple try to brush them off saying "You should pray harder, the enemy has brought doubt." or something to that effect. There are several resources for exiting mormons that provide sound teaching, church placing in a good Christ centered church, and fellowship. It’s very stressfull to be a good mormon, often times being excommunicated can result in loss of friends or family.
