Zone1 Jesus Is My Rock My Sword And Shield

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When we compare the New Testament to the teachings of the LDS Church, we see similar words being used to describe their positions; upon closer examination, however, those words are defined very differently. Even words like scripture, heaven, God, Jesus, and salvation have unique definitions and descriptions.

Yes, a true definition differing from the many false notions of God, heaven, Jesus, salvation, scripture, etc. we find in the world today.

While Christians have historically believed in the Bible as the sole authoritative scripture, the LDS Church adds the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. These additional texts are considered inspired and essential for understanding God’s will, even though much of what they contain was never taught or believed by early Christians.

When and where has God revealed that the Bible is his only revealed will and doctrine that we should receive and live by? The Book of Mormon is a history of Christianity among the children of Joseph who migrated to the America's from the Middle East and of some who migrated way back from the days of the Tower of Babel. So I would argue that these people were early Christians. The Pearl of Great Price consists of the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, Early history of Joseph Smith, Revelation of Matthew 24 given to Joseph Smith, and our Articles of Faith. We believe all of these are the revealed will of God that we are to live by.

Christianity asserts the belief in one God who is eternally God and unchanging in His nature. Humans are created in His image but remain distinct from Him. With the introduction of a doctrine called “eternal progression,” Mormons are told that Heavenly Father progressed from humanity to deity, thus paving the way for his “literal” offspring to do the same. This concept of God and humans attaining godhood is not found in ancient Christian theology.

You speak as if your 45,000 plus denominations all interpret the Bible the same. If so, why aren't they one denomination? As the Apostles Paul has taught, mankind are the offspring of God. Our spirits existed before the earth was created and they are the literal offspring of God. Jesus Christ was the firstborn among many brethren in the world of spirits and was called before the foundation of the earth to be the Savior of the world. In this life he is the only begotten of the Father. Yes, we believe that God progressed to become God and that we too can progress to become like him. When the scriptures speak of God being God from everlasting to everlasting, we do not believe that this refers to him existing as God for an eternity past but that the state of existence before this world was created was everlasting and after this temporal mortal world passes it will go into a state of everlasting. Thus God existed from everlasting before the world was to the everlasting state after the world is celestialized. So to exist from eternity to all eternity means that one exists prior to this fallen mortal state in an eternal realm, and then goes on through this mortal realm into the state of eternity that follows. We do however believe that even though God was not God from an infinite past, we do believe that he has always existed and believe that we have all existed for an infinite past as self-existing intelligence. How long God has been God we do not know, however, we do know that he was God when he and his wife procreated us as his spirit children and that he has created worlds without number and his eternal work and glory is to bring about the immortality and eternal life of mankind.

Christianity argues that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, fully divine, and coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and though these three are God and Lord, Christianity has never taught that the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit are three separate Gods as is taught in Mormonism.

True Christianity argues that Jesus, as an intelligence, has always existed but was born as the firstborn spirit child of the Father. We are all spirit children of the Father and are his offspring. Christ was made a member of the godhead upon becoming the firstborn of the Father in the spirit along with the Holy Ghost. Through Jesus Christ, the Father created all things. Christ was chosen to become the Savior of this fallen world before the foundation of the world. They are three separate and distinct beings an persons. They all represent, as part of the Godhead, the one true God. However, individually, they are not the same being. They are one in purpose and seek the same immortality an eternal life of mankind. The oneness of God is not that they are the same being but that they are one in purpose, united in all that they do. Nowhere in scripture does it teach that they are the same being. That is a made up doctrine by the Catholics which protestants seem to agree upon even though it is never taught in scripture. Nope, not even in the Bible!!

New Testament Christianity has always emphasized that justification and the forgiveness of sin comes as a result of faith in the finished work of Christ. Mormonism, on the other hand, states that forgiveness is achieved by abandoning all past sins and keeping all of their church’s commandments.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an always will teach that salvation is only in an through the atoning sacrifice and forgiveness of sins of our Savior Jesus Christ. But we also believe that Jesus has taught us that we should keep his commandment and to do good works. We DO NOT believe that our works save us. We are only saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. There is a teaching in the Book of Mormon that even after all we can do, we are still unprofitable servants and need the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Does this mean that we are to throw good works out the window? NO!!! Jesus requires them even though they are not what saves us.

Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
To have a true faith one must practice good works.

James 2:14-26
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Can you not see how the Bible teaches that we should always abound in good works and that we cannot have a true faith without good works? They do not save us but they are a critical component in order to have faith to receive the grace of Jesus Christ.

We also see practices in modern Mormonism that fail to reflect what we find in the New Testament. For example, in 1 Corinthians 15:29, the apostle Paul asked why some people were being baptized for the dead if there was no hope of a bodily resurrection. Joseph Smith takes this phrase and, without a shred of historical evidence, makes an elaborate doctrine and practice out of it.

It is obvious that from the sermon on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 that Paul is telling us that why else would they baptize for the dead if the dead rise not at all. In other words Paul is using the practice of baptism for the dead to bolster his argument for the resurrection. Why would he use it to bolster his teach of the resurrection if it was not a true teaching? Jesus taught:

John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Apparently baptism is essential before one can even enter the kingdom of God. Does this mean that if a person never had the chance to hear the gospel in this life that he is consigned to hell? I don't believe that! Jesus, according to the following scripture, went and preached the gospel to the dead.

1 Peter 4:6
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Jesus went among the dead after his death but before the resurrection and still taught salvation to those who never heard the gospel. Baptism for the dead was practiced to allow the dead to be baptized and to enter the kingdom of God. Paul was speaking to the Corinthians who knew very well what baptism for the dead was and were likely practicing it. Vicarious baptism is an essential part of the gospel that was lost after the church fell into a state of apostasy. It has now been restored in the latter-days and will be a great work during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

First of all, this practice assumes that salvation can be granted after an individual’s mortal life has come to an end. In contrast, this same Paul, writing in 2 Corinthians 6:2, cites the prophet Isaiah and concludes that “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Ironically, the Book of Mormon in Alma 34:32ff concurs with this concept, though these passages were ignored by Smith when he introduced vicarious baptisms for the dead.

If there was no salvation for the dead, then why would Jesus even bother to preach his gospel to them? It makes no sense that if a man is born in this life but never has the chance to hear the gospel that he should be consigned to hell. No, Jesus is much more fair and forgiving than you think. He did open up the gospel to the dead who are spirits and does give them the opportunity to accept the saving ordinance of baptism by proxy. It is a true teaching of Jesus Christ and will be heavily practiced from now and throughout the millennial era of Christ's reign on earth.

Alma 34:32
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

This life is a time for mankind to perform their labors but this does not mean that it is the only time. Those who never get the opportunity to hear the gospel in this life do have a chance to accept vicarious baptism and be saved into the kingdom of God. For this reason was the gospel also preached to those who are dead.

Though the first baptism on behalf of a deceased person took place in the Mississippi River, Joseph Smith claimed in January of 1841, that God told him that “this ordinance belongeth to my house” (D&C 124:30). Baptisms for the dead would be put on hold until the completion of the temple in Nauvoo, Illinois.

When a house of the Lord did not exist, Go permitted the ordinance of baptism to be performed in other places. However, to motivate the building of the temple, God had baptism put on hold. The temple was completed and the work of the Lord goes on. Today there are many temple throughout the world which perform the saving ordinances for the dead. Here is a list: List of Temples

Are we to believe that this specific location (in temples) is also a restoration of things done anciently? How could early Christians perform baptisms in a temple when the only temple recognized by God at the time was controlled by priests who were hostile to this new group of Jesus followers? Are we really to believe the religious leaders of that day, many of whom were Sadducees who didn’t even believe in the resurrection, would have granted permission to a group they considered to be a heretical sect to use the temple to perform a ritual they deemed to be unorthodox and unnecessary?

We don't have any evidence that I am aware of that baptisms for the dead were practiced before the days of Jesus on the earth. Just as baptisms for the dead were performed outside the temples at times, they could certainly have be performed outside of the temple in the days of Jesus and his Apostles. I believe that only the followers of Jesus were involved in baptism for the dead. It was obviously known among Christians since Paul mentions it in 1 Corinthians 15 and Paul used it to bolster his argument for the resurrection. I don't believe the Sadducees ever practiced it. I doubt the temple was used since the Christians did not have control of the facility.

Even if they were allowed, where inside the temple grounds would this ritual have taken place? Modern Latter-day Saints baptize by proxy in a font resembling the “Sea of cast bronze” mentioned in 1 Kings 7:23-25. This font sat atop twelve oxen, “three looking to the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, [and] three looking toward the east.” This font had a very special purpose during the first temple period. According to 2 Chronicles 4:6 it was used by the officiating priests for ceremonial washings.

As stated above, I don't believe the baptisms for the dead were performed in the temple back in the 1st century A.D.

Furthermore, this brazen sea didn’t exist during the early years of Christianity. When Jerusalem was sacked by the Chaldeans in 586 B.C., the sea was broken in pieces and the bronze was carted off to Babylon (see 2 Kings 25:13). Neither Zerubbabel’s temple, nor the temple later built by Herod, contained an edifice similar to the sea in Solomon’s temple. There was, however, a laver or basin provided for ceremonial washings, yet never do we read that this was used for a ceremony similar to modern baptisms.

Again, Christians were not in control of the temple. The Jews controlled the temple. Thus Christian practices were not being practiced therein.

According to LDS teachings, baptisms for the dead are to be performed by males who hold the Melchizedek priesthood; nowhere do we find any early Christian, including the apostles chosen by Jesus, holding such an office.

Actually baptisms for the dead is an ordinance of the Aaronic priesthood. Since the Melchizedek priesthood is a higher priesthood, It has the authority to perform all the ordinances of the Aaronic priesthood. It is an ordinance of the priesthood and priesthood is only to be conferred upon males.


Psalm 110:4
4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:5-11
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.


Hebrews 6:20
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.


Hebrews 7:9-21
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec

Jesus was a high priest after the order of Melchizedek and it was he who ordained Apostles after the same order.

A fundamental error made by Mark E. Petersen and all members of the LDS Church is to assume that Joseph Smith was telling the truth when he described what true Christianity should look like. When Petersen speaks of this restoration coming about “through the ministry of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” it would be helpful to demonstrate with evidence (not assumption) that early Christians believed and practiced these alleged “primitive” traits.

And if many truths were lost during the great apostasy that occurred shortly after the death of most of the Apostles, then Jesus call a prophet an restore these truths through him and we may not have a record of them in Bible. In other words, there may not be a record of things in great detail from the church of former days.

When all is said and done, the orthodoxy (teachings) and orthopraxy (practices) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fail to harmonize with teachings and practices outlined in the New Testament. Since this is true, we can only conclude that Jude was not including Joseph Smith’s “restored” gospel when he exhorted his readers to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Is Mormonism the “faith” that Jude speaks of? – Mormonism Research Ministry

From my perspective I do not see any failure but a complete and and more detailed restoration of what was taught and practiced along with many lost teachings that were lost in the great apostasy.

 

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While we cannot judge another person’s motives, we can and must judge what a person does or says. Joseph Smith, and hence the Book of Mormon, fails the twin tests of Deuteronomy 13 and 18. God takes false prophets very seriously. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 says, "That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God...; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you." Deuteronomy 18:19-21 says, "If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death..." And Galatians 1:8-9 says, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" How should Christians view the Book of Mormon? | GotQuestions.org

Matthew 23:29-37
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

 

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Witnessing to Mormons – what is the key?​

Answer

As a preface to this answer, please see our article on Mormonism and what Mormons believe. As Christians, we always want to use the Bible and its timeless truths as our primary tool in witnessing the love of God and salvation through Christ. One of the problems with trying to witness to Mormons is that they believe that the Bible was hopelessly corrupted through the years and is no longer reliable. Although we can say with confidence that the Scriptures are most certainly not corrupted—due to the manuscript evidence in the form of the Dead Sea Scrolls, several codices of the various portions of the biblical text, and thousands of other manuscripts—Mormons are most likely not going to agree to that. Therefore, approaching Mormons from another direction is more effective.

It is important to understand that Mormons use many of the terms that Christians use, such as salvation, justification, heaven, and others. But their definitions are quite different from the biblical definitions we are familiar with. For instance, Mormons say they believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ. But their idea of salvation is inclusive—everyone has been saved by Christ so that they will live eternally, but it is each person’s works that will determine where they will spend eternity and the extent of their eternal blessings (Articles of Faith, p. 78–79; Mormon Doctrine, p. 348). Clearly, salvation as the Bible explains it is not the same as the Mormon idea of salvation. This is why arguing doctrine with a Mormon is rarely successful.

The key to reaching the heart of Mormons is to understand that, while they may appear confident and self-assured on the outside, internally many are filled with stress and doubt because they are continually striving for perfection. This is partly driven by Mormon doctrine and partly by family pressures. Family is extremely important to Mormons, and living up to both family and church standards is a motivating factor to many Mormons. Deep down inside most Mormons is the fear of not being good enough, of not measuring up. The question in every Mormon’s mind is, “Am I worthy enough?” The best thing to do is to reinforce that doubt. Show them that by their own efforts, they are not even close to being worthy to stand before a holy God. This is the bad news that has to precede the good news. Show them from the Scriptures that all their “righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), that “no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law” (Romans 3:20), and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If the Mormon will admit to these truths, he/she should be open for the good news of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, that real righteousness only comes at the cross, where God exchanged our sin for the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). No other righteousness can stand before God on Judgment Day. Once a Mormon, or anyone else for that matter, admits these truths, he/she is well on the way to understanding true salvation.

While it is important for us to be diligent in our proclamation of truth, it is also important for us to put the results of witnessing in the hands of our God, who is able to “save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). We can rest assured that, ultimately, it falls upon the Spirit to sway the hearts of those who are lost and open their eyes to Truth. Our job is to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15), trusting God with the words that we are to say, praying diligently for the souls of those we witness to, and leaving the results to Him.https://www.gotquestions.org/witnessing-Mormons.html

Which one of the 45,000 + Protestant denominations do you belong to? Let's take a look at your particular denomination!!!! OR are you afraid to reveal it?