| Mormon Watch.com | Examining the Doctrine of the LDS Church | |
| LDS VIEW | Biblical View |
| 1. | Man can become God. |
"We are God’s literal spirit children, and as such we have the potential to become like Him." Ensign, Feb. 2006, 30–31. “In the theology of the restored church of Jesus Christ, the purpose of mortal life is to prepare us to realize our destiny as sons and daughters of God—to become like Him.” Ensign, May 1995, 85–86. “It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, . . . and that He was once a man like us."History of the Church, 6:305–7 "Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods." D&C 132:37
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"I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Isaiah 44:6
“is there a God beside me; yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8 “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 45:5 "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:" Numbers 23:19 |
| 2. | Multiple Gods exist (Polytheism) |
...you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another,... from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings. and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power" Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, Vol.6, Ch.14, p.305-6 " 2. They will become gods." Blessings of Exaltation, Gospel Principles p.302 Those who receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ will receive special blessings. The Lord has promised, “All things are theirs” (D&C 76:59). "... and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods , which are set there, to the exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever." D&C 132:19 "Intelligent beings are organized to become Gods, even the Sons of God, to dwell in the presence of the Gods, and become associated with the highest intelligences that dwell in eternity. We are now in the school, and must practice upon what we receive" Discourses of Brigham Young, p.245 "Our father in heaven, according to the Prophet, had a father, and since there has been a condition of this kind through all eternity, each Father had a Father" Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:47 |
"I am he; before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour." Isaiah. 43:10-11 "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6 “is there a God beside me; yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8 “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 45:5 “from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other”. Isaiah 45:6 “And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.” Isaiah 45:21 "To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?” Isaiah 46:5 “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 46:9 "I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another." Isaiah 42:8 |
| 3 | Jesus paid for all your sins, but you must pay him back | "Since the Savior paid for our sins and satisfied justice for us, we become debtors to Him rather than to justice. We must therefore meet the stipulations He has established for forgiveness and cleansing. Otherwise, He withdraws His proffered mediation, and we are left to deal alone with the demands of justice, lacking the means to become pure. One must choose Christ to receive what Christ offers." ELDER D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON Of the Presidency of the Seventy, Ensign, June 2001, 18-25 |
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| 4 | The Bible is not accurate and should not be trusted | 8th Article of Faith: " We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." “What makes us different from most other Christians in the way we read and use the Bible and other scriptures is our belief in continuing revelation. For us, the scriptures are not the ultimate source of knowledge, but what precedes the ultimate source. The ultimate knowledge comes by revelation.” Dallin Oaks, Ensign, Jan. 1995, 7 "Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God." 1 Nephi 13:28 "3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible." |
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| 5 | Only Those Who Don't sin Are Forgiven | "When we truly repent, the Lord fully forgives us and our guilt is swept away." Ensign, Apr. 2002, 23 "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them." D&C 58:43 "And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God." D&C 82:7 "For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory." D&C 88:22 "And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved." D&C 18:22 "We are told that if we cannot abide the law of the celestial kingdom we cannot inherit a celestial glory" Journal of Discourses, Vol.26, p.133 "How few there are on the earth to-day, or in any other dispensation, who have been able to abide the celestial law of God." Journal of Discourses, Vol. 22, p.204 "If we are fully obedient to celestial law, fulfilling the laws of Christ, we will be worthy of a celestial glory. But for those who do not fully comply with celestial law, other lesser degrees of glory have been prepared" Ensign, Nov. 1977, 18 |
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Isaiah 43:25 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Ephesians 1:7 "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12 "...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:34 " He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19 "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED." Romans 4:7
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| 6 | Man lived with God in a Preexistent Life | "Of all the major Christian churches, only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the human race lived in a premortal existence with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ." Ensign, Feb. 2006, 30–31. “One of the strange things to me,” wrote President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972), “is the fact that so many people believe that there is a spirit in man and when he dies that spirit continues to live as an immortal thing, yet that it had no existence until man was born in this mortal life.” Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. (1954–56), 1:56. "We worship God as the almighty ruler of heaven and earth. He is our Father in Heaven. We lived with Him as spirits before we were born. We are His children and belong to His eternal family." Ensign, Sept. 2001, 33-39 “You elected to have this earth experience as part of His plan for you. The prophets call it ‘the plan of mercy,’ ‘the eternal plan of deliverance,’ ‘the plan of salvation,’ and yes, ‘the great plan of happiness.’ You were taught this plan before you came to earth and there rejoiced in the privilege of participating in it” Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov. 1996, 73 “We were first begotten as spirit babies in heaven and then born naturally on earth” (Journal of Discourse, Vol. 4, p. 218) |
"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Cor. 15:46-47 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jer. 1:5 (Please note that although Jeremiah 1:5 seems to talk about a pre-existence, if you look closer at the text it is talking about God’s appointment of Jeremiah to be a prophet. In addition, it talks about God knew Jeremiah, not Jeremiah knowing God. This is important. since God is Omniscient God know's all things. No where in the Bible can you find a statement where man knew God before this mortal existence.)
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| 7 | The main purpose of the LDS Temples is to do work for the dead | The moment I heard of it,” wrote Elder Wilford Woodruff, “my soul leaped with joy; for it was a subject in which I felt deeply interested. I went forward and was baptized for all my dead relatives I could think of.” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, pg.84. | |
| 8 | The atonement of Christ took place in the Garden of Gethsemane not on the Cross | "Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane..." Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah pg. 337 "Jesus paid for all our sins when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane," (“Sharing Time: The Atonement” Laurel Rohlfing, Friend, Mar. 1989, 39.) “It was in Gethsemane that
Jesus took on Himself the sins of the The most transcendent of all such events occurred in a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem’s walls, when the Chief Citizen of planet Earth sweat great drops of blood from every pore as He in agony took upon Himself the sins of all men on conditions of repentance." (“Once or twice in a thousand years” BRUCE R. MCCONKIE, ENSIGN, APRIL 2005, 54.)
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| 9 | God Has a Body of Flesh and Bone | "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." (D&C 130:22) "Not only do we know that God possesses a glorified body
of flesh and bones, but from this restored understanding
of the nature of God flows the |
"And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." Exodus 33:20 "No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" John 1:18 "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape." John 5:37 "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father." John 6:46 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" Colossians 1:15 "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17 "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:16
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| 10 | Marriage will exist in Heaven | "Marriage is ordained of God. The Lord has said, "Whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man" (D&C 49:15). Since the beginning, marriage has been a law of the gospel. Marriages are intended to last forever, not just for our mortal lives. " And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods , which are set there, to the exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever." D&C 132:19 |
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." Matthew 22:29-30 "There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." Luke 20:29-35
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| 11 | Adam's sin was a good thing. Man is not accountable for Adam's Sin | "The Fall was a glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life" Ensign, Jan. 2002, pg. 36 2 Nephi 2:25 “Adam fell that men might be,” Lehi declared, “and men are, that they might have joy” "Adam did only what he had to do. He partook of that fruit for one good reason, and that was to open the door to bring you and me and everyone else into this world, for Adam and Eve could have remained in the Garden of Eden; they could have been there to this day, if Eve hadn’t done something." President Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign, Jan. 2006, 52-53 2nd Article of Faith: "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." |
"So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men..." Romans 5:18 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Romans 5:12 " For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:21
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| 12 | Work is required to live with God when you die | 3rd Article of Faith: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." "It is clear that our acceptance of the gift of grace is not a single act occurring at a single moment in time, but is instead an ongoing process and obligation." Ensign, June 2001, 18-25 "And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. “For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved” Alma 42:22–24 |
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22-23 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20 "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." Romans 3:27 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:4-5 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Romans 11:6 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:21 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 2 Timothy 1:9 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Titus 3:4-5
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| 13 | God can cease to be God. | “There is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God." Ensign, June 2001, 18-25 |