For the past month I have been battling with an understanding, explanation, and the truth about Mormonism, because this particular group has been highlighted in conversation and in the news with the current GOP campaign and elections of 2012. Surprisingly, the spark and nudging did not originate from the candidates, themselves, but rather by high profile Christian leaders that are going public with their own views on one particular candidate’s faith, Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon.
When I read the books, study the messages, and follow the Gospel spoken by great Christian leaders, I place my trust and confidence in these leaders to help me understand the Word of God and how we are to live as Christians in this present day. Are these Christian leaders perfect? Of course not. Are they always right? Of course not. They’re human in the flesh and sinners just like me that need Jesus Christ. But when a Christian leader chooses to go public in the mainstream media influencing millions with their own opinion or interpretation on Mormonism, I am appalled and confused.
Franklin Graham did an interview recently and said Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith “doesn’t bother me at all.” Joel Osteen was just interviewed on CBS primetime and was asked his opinion about Mitt’s Mormon faith, “What I see about Gov. Romney is that he says ‘I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He’s raised from the dead and he’s my savior.’ I see him as being a believer in Christ like me.” In the Washington Times, Osteen is also quoted saying Mormons “are Christians,” although it may not be the “purest form of Christianity.”
As a bible-believing Christian most of my life, I have learned that we are not to compromise our belief and Faith in the Trinity: God, the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. To claim your a Christian and compromise on any of the three in the Trinity is NOT Christianity. I recently blogged about people who claim they believe in Jesus Christ and Heaven, but don’t believe in hell. It dosen’t work. You can’t discredit the Word of God nor the words spoken by Jesus Christ, and claim your Faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a contradiction.
Peter wrote in his Letter: “…there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words….” 2 Peter 2:1-3
Jesus, Himself, warned us in Matthew 24:11-12 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Mormonism is exactly this, a manifestation of a false prophet: Joseph Smith, who invented the Mormon religion on April 6, 1830 in Palmyra, New York. His black-n-white picture is shown above.
If I am a Mormon and believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, will I go to hell?
The “Jesus Christ” the Mormons believe in is not the same eternal Jesus Christ we, as Christians, are taught in the Bible. The differences and biblical deviations are huge. Any deviation from the true meaning of Salvation as given to us through the historical texts of the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible is a grave error. Mormonism clearly rejects Christian orthodoxy (belief and tradition) as the very argument for its own existence and doctrine, and it clearly identifies historic Christianity as a false faith. I’m Not expressing my opinion they are false; it is a documented fact they teach aberrant and unchristian theology.
I asked this same question on January 19, 2012 on the Radio show, Pastor’s Perspective on 107.9 FM, hosted by Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and Don Stewart. Their answers were very interesting and helpful. Click on the following audio soundbite: Erik’s Radio Question on Mormonism
Let’s take a look at a few false teachings of Mormonism that clearly contradicts the true meaning of Christianity:
If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation [the context is the full gospel including exaltation to Godhood] outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Mormon Doctrine, p. 670
There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God
Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188
God used to be a man on another planet.
Mormon Doctrine, p. 321;
Joseph Smith Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614;
Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345;
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333;
The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as mans…
D&C 130:22
There are many gods…
Mormon Doctrine, p. 163
“And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light,”
(Book of Abraham 4:3).
After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-347, 354
There is a mother god
Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443
God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children
Mormon Doctrine, p. 516
The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. “That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man,”
Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35
Jesus’ sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions),
Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247
Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both,
Mormon Doctrine, p. 163
The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus “in the morning of pre-existence,”
Mormon Doctrine, p. 192
“The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood – was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers,”
Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115
The Holy Ghost is a male personage
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Le Grand Richards, Salt Lake City, 1956, p. 118;
Journal of Discources, vol. 5, p. 179
Good works are necessary for salvation
Articles of Faith, p. 92
“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation,”
Miracle of Forgiveness, by Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206
And there is much, much more….
Yes, Mormons have several other bizarre beliefs concerning tithing, drinking coffee, pre-existing spirits, prophets, the tribes of Lehi, multiple heavens, priesthood, and forgiveness. And yes… Mormons may also wear sacred underwear given by the temple that serves as a reminder of their promises to God. Still, the crux we need to focus upon is the Mormon distortion of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
Can you be a Mormon and claim your a Christian? After reading the few claims and teachings above of the Mormon faith, the answer is clearly NO. When we address a few of these false teachings, such as God came from another planet, or that he has a goddess wife, or that you and I can become gods, Satan is Jesus’s brother, or Jesus’s sacrifice did not cleanse us from all our sins, we find no biblical inspired support for these beliefs. In fact, the Bible clearly contradicts all these teachings without any compromise. None of the Mormon beliefs above can be found in the bible. They’re all man made. Moreover, the Mormon Church says the Bible is not trustworthy, but rather the true faith was lost, and Joseph Smith restored the so-called “true” Christian faith.
Joel Osteen was dead wrong when he said Mormonism is not the “purest form of Christianity,” implying it is Christianity. Mormonism is NOT Christianity – period. To think and believe Mormonism is Christianity is a compromise and contradiction to the very of Word of God. There is no compromise in Christianity. I do not believe Jesus Christ is the brother to Satan, because no where in the bible is this found in scripture. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. When you deviate from the truth of God’s Word, the Bible, and base your faith on distorted and false teachings, you have no foundation or roots in believing Jesus Christ, and any claim of Jesus as your Savior has no merit. As a Mormon, you have been deceived. What urks me more is when a “Christian” leader goes public endorsing Mormonism. Sorry Joel, but your “deceptive words” is blasphemy and I truly question your Faith and Salvation.
When Paul wrote his second Letter to the Church of Corinth, he clearly warned us there will be people that will “boast” the Gospel with conceit and vanity, which will lead to deceitfulness. Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-15 carefully: “But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
As a result of these public boasting through the media, its sad to think of the millions of people that will be influenced to agree and compromise with Mormonism. As a Christian we need to be alert and ready to address any Mormon, helping them recognize the Bible text and pray God will open their eyes to the Truth.
To answer the question if Mormons will go to hell even if they declare Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? If they live by their doctrines and beliefs with their form of Jesus that has been boasted to them, I’m very sorry to say without a doubt, YES. There is no compromise in the Word of God. It’s black and white with clear sound instruction and meaning.
