At some point all of us have seen: Mormon Elders Walking / Biking Knocking on doors

Mormons Just who are the Mormons? What do they believe?

Mormons I. History of Mormonism II. Foundations of Mormonism III. Doctrines of Mormonism

Mormons I. History of Mormonism

Joseph Smith A. Started by Joseph Smith 1. Born at Sharon, Vermont - Dec. 23, Moved with his family to area near Palmyra, NY 3. At age of 14 (1820) claimed he had a vision telling him to join none of the churches – all were in error had a second vision in which messenger Mornoni appeared to him – told him location of a book written on golden plates 5. Found the plates - not allowed to remove them at first. A heavenly messenger gave him the plates on Sept. 22, He then translated. 7. Finally published Book of Mormon on March 26, 1830

I. History of Mormonism A. Started by Joseph Smith B. Church organized (April 1830) 1. Some of Smith’s followers – when to Kirtland, OH & built a temple there. 2. Later Smith had a revelation that Jackson County, MO was the land of promise (but was not well received) 3. Moved later to Nauvoo, IL a. Local paper, Nauvoo Expositor, published material unfavorable to the Mormons b. Smith ordered that the press be destroyed & papers burned. c. Smith was arrested taken to jail in Carthage, IL d. June 27, 1844 a mob attacked jail & killed Smith

I. History of Mormonism A. Started by Joseph Smith B. Church organized (April 1830) 1. Some of Smith’s followers – when to Kirtland, OH & built a temple there. 2. Later Smith had a revelation that Jackson County, MO was the land of promise (but was not well received) 3. Moved later to Nauvoo, IL 4. October 6, 1890 – Declaration by Wilford Woodruff (President) to move to Salt Lake City, UT

I. History of Mormonism A. Started by Joseph Smith B. Church organized (April 1830) C. Divided into two groups 1. The largest – Headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah 2. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – Headquarters in Independence, MO a. Established by sons of Joseph Smith b. Reject polygamy 3. Have a doctrinal difference in “Latter Day” and “Latter- day”

I. History of Mormonism A. Started by Joseph Smith B. Church organized (April 1830) C. Divided into two groups D. Other books by inspiration

Doctrine And Covenants Published in 1833 – Book of Commandments Name changed in 1835 to D & C Deals with origin & organization of the church Claims to be given directly from God (1:37-38) Pearl of Great Price Published in 1851 Combination of history and latter-day revelation Canonized as scripture by the church 1880 Prof. Dee Jay Nelson (1967) a Mormon (an Egyptologist) examined the very papyri used – concluded “fraudulent” & left the church.

I. History of Mormonism A. Started by Joseph Smith B. Church organized (April 1830) C. Divided into two groups D. Other books by inspiration E. Organization of the church

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Mormons II. Foundations of Mormonism

Mormonism Joseph Smith was a Prophet Book of Mormon is from God If these are not true – Mormonism falls! From these two – all other principles are derived There is where to focus when talking to Mormons

Was Joseph Smith A Prophet? A. The claim – Prophet like Moses “ But, behold, verily, verily I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church, except my servant Joseph Smith, jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses” (Doctrine and Covenants 28:2) “ Joseph Smith, through whom, by the gift and power of God, the ancient Scripture, known as THE BOOK OF MORMON, has been brought forth and translated into the English….” (Book of Mormon, Origin of THE BOOK OF MORMON)

Was Joseph Smith A Prophet? A. The claim – Prophet like Moses B. Evidence He Was Not A Prophet 1. The Bible is Complete - No Modern Day Revelations a. Jude 3 – “once and for all” (Gingrich & Danker) b. 2 Pet. 1:3 – all things that pertain to life & godliness c. 2 Tim. 3: have all to be complete d. John 16:12-13 – apostles guided into all truth e. Rev. 22:18-19 – can’t add to or take away f. Gal. 1:8-9 – even if an angel preach any other….

Was Joseph Smith A Prophet? A. The claim – Prophet like Moses B. Evidence He Was Not A Prophet 1. The Bible is Complete - No Modern Day Revelations 2. His Teaching Contradicts The Bible (Gal. 1:8-9) 3. Christ is the Prophet of the Last Days (Heb. 1:1-2) 4. No Promise in the N.T. of Another Prophet (cf. Deut. 18) 5. His Prophecies Failed (Deut. 18:21-22) - Said place for Mormon temple would be Independence, MO (DC 57:1-3; 101:20; 124:51-52) - It is: Salt Lake City, UT

Is The Book of Mormon From God? A. The claim – revealed from God “ He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from which they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants” (Book of Mormon, Origin…)

“ And because my words shall hiss forth- many Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bibles…. “Thou fool, they shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible… “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written” (2 Nephi 29:3, 6, 10) You’re A Fool If You Think The Bible Is All Of God’s Revelation!

Is The Book of Mormon From God? A. The claim – revealed from God B. Evidence It Is Not From God 1. The Bible is Complete - No Modern Day Revelations a. Jude 3 – “once and for all” (Gingrich & Danker) b. 2 Pet. 1:3 – all things that pertain to life & godliness c. 2 Tim. 3: have all to be complete d. John 16:12-13 – apostles guided into all truth e. Rev. 22:18-19 – can’t add to or take away f. Gal. 1:8-9 – even if an angel preach any other….

Is The Book of Mormon From God? A. The claim – revealed from God B. Evidence It Is Not From God 1. The Bible is Complete - No Modern Day Revelations 2. Contradicts The Bible

Priest from Lehi a decendant of Jospeh (1 Nephi 5:14; 18:7; 2 Nephi 5:26 Priest of the tribe of Levi (Num. 3:10; 18:1) Name “Christian” used more than a 100 years before Acts 11:26 (Alma 46:14) The name “Christian” used first at Antioch (Acts 11:26) about 40 AD Jesus born in Jerusalem (Alma 7:10) Jesus born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:10 Church existed a about 73 B.C. (Alma 46:14) Jesus said it would be built (Matt. 16:18) Name “Jesus” announced 90 years before Mary (Alma 19:29) Name “Jesus” announced to Mary (Luke 1:31; 2:21) Book of MormonBible

Melchisedec received his priesthood from ancestors (DC 84:14) Melchisedec did not receive his priesthood from ancestors (Heb. 7:1-3) 3 Days of darkness at Crucifixion (1 Nephi 19:10; Helaman 14:20; 3 Nephi 8:3) 3 Hours of darkness at crucifixion (Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33) Law of Moses written on plates of brass (1 Nephi 4:15-16) Law of Moses written on tables of stone (Exo. 34:1) God did not confound the language of the people (Ether 1:35-37) God did confound the language of the people (Gen. 11:9) Book of MormonBible We Cannot Believe Both!

Is The Book of Mormon From God? A. The claim – revealed from God B. Evidence It Is Not From God 1. The Bible is Complete - No Modern Day Revelations 2. Contradicts The Bible 3. Errors Spelling / Grammar (yet inspired translation) “arrested” [wrested] the scriptures (Alma 41:1) “Adam and Eve, which was our first parents…” (p. 15 First Edition)

Is The Book of Mormon From God? A. The claim – revealed from God B. Evidence It Is Not From God 1. The Bible is Complete - No Modern Day Revelations 2. Contradicts The Bible 3. Errors Spelling / Grammar (yet inspired translation) 4. Copied Directly from the KJV

King James Version The Book of Mormon Copied Isaiah 53Mosiah 14 Acts 3: Nephi 20:23-16 Quotes Italics and All Quotes Peter 500+ before Peter spoke. 2 Cor. 5:10 Mosiah 3:24 Matt. 7:72 Nephi 9: B.C B.C..

Mormons III. Doctrines of Mormonism

A. God (Physical being) 1. “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (DC 130:22) 2. Bible: God is a spirit (John 4:24) without flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)

III. Doctrines of Mormonism A. God (Physical being) B. Christ (Born of Adam / Polygamist)

Doctrine About Christ Born of Adam “He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is His Father? He is the first of the human family (Adam)…” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. I, p. 50). Married to Mary & Martha (“…there were several holy women that greatly ‘loved Jesus, such as Mary and Martha her sister, and Mary Magdalene; and Jesus greatly loved them… if all the acts were written, we, no doubt should learn that these beloved women were His wives” (Orson Hyde,The Seer, pp )

III. Doctrines of Mormonism A. God (Physical being) B. Christ (Born of Adam / Polygamist) C. Polygamy “If any man espouses a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent; and if he espouses the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified; he cannot commit adultery, for they are given unto him. “And if he have ten virgins given unto him by law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him, therefore he is justified” (DC 132:61-62)

III. Doctrines of Mormonism A. God (Physical being) B. Christ (Born of Adam / Polygamist) C. Polygamy D. Inherited Sin “…for he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he has showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgressions of their parents” (2 Nephi 2:21)

III. Doctrines of Mormonism A. God (Physical being) B. Christ (Born of Adam / Polygamist) C. Polygamy D. Inherited Sin E. Matters Not What Use In Lord’s Supper “…it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament…” (DC 27:1-4)

III. Doctrines of Mormonism A. God (Physical being) B. Christ (Born of Adam / Polygamist) C. Polygamy D. Inherited Sin E. Matters Not What Use In Lord’s Supper F. Baptism For The Dead Practice a vicarious baptism for those who are dead Context of 1 Cor. 15:29 – Baptized on view of death

Mormons I. History of Mormonism II. Foundations of Mormonism III. Doctrines of Mormonism