Someone’s Knocking It is very unusual if you have never met a Mormon knocking at your door. You may have Mormon friends: most are very family friendly.

(Introduction: 8th paragraph) Book of Mormon “We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Introduction: 8th paragraph)

To “ponder” the message from The Book of Mormon Purpose of this Sermon To “ponder” the message from The Book of Mormon About God Jesus and Salvation

Book of Mormon / Bible

Bible: One God Genesis 1:2 אֱלֹהִים (Elohim or “God”) – is always written in plural form …And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! Bible: One God The Biblical teaching, however, is that there is only One God. Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!

Book of Mormon: Many Gods Abraham 4:1-3: 1 And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth. 2 And the earth, after it was formed, was empty and desolate, because they had not formed anything but the earth; and darkness reigned upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of the Gods was brooding upon the face of the waters. 3 And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light; and there was light.

Joseph Smith: Many Gods Joseph Smith said: “In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it.” Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, v. 6, pp. 307, 308

Joseph Smith: Many Gods Joseph Smith said: “I wish to declare I have always an in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods.” Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, p. 306

Bible: God is Spirit Nothing in the Bible talks about God (the Father) as human flesh. John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Joseph Smith: God is Flesh/Blood Joseph Smith said: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., Doctrine and Covenants 130:22

Bible: Jesus Jesus is God, who was manifest in the flesh. Gen. 1:26; Jn. 1:1-3, 14; Phil. 2:5-8 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… Genesis 1:26

Bible: Jesus Jesus is God, who was manifest in the flesh. Gen. 1:26; Jn. 1:1,14; Phil. 2:5-8 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1, 14

Bible: Jesus Jesus is God, who was manifest in the flesh. Gen. 1:26; Jn. 1:1,14; Phil. 2:5-8 …Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God… taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-8

Book of Mormon: Jesus Abraham 3:27-28: 27 And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. 28 And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him.

BoM: Doctrine of Salvation Passage Mormon Missionaries use at the end of each study: And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. Moroni 10:4-5

Doctrine of Salvation “Full salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness, and all true principles….There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” Mormon apostle Bruce McConkie Bruce R. McConkie (LDS apostle), Mormon Doctrine, p. 670

Bible: Doctrine of Salvation Hear the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by His apostles that lived with Him. Matt. 28:18-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… Matthew 28:18-20

Bible: Doctrine of Salvation Respond to the gospel message by believing and confessing Jesus as the Christ. Rom. 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Bible: Doctrine of Salvation Respond by repenting of your sins and being baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins. Acts 2:38 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Plea to Mormon Neighbors The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11

Exhortation to Faithful Christians But there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:7-8