Preface
     Introduction

1. Mormonism: Introduction
2. History of Mormonism
3. Testimony
4. The Writings of Mormonism
5. A Sample of Contradiction in Mormon Writings
6. Blood Atonement
7. Suggestions for Witnessing to Mormons

It is my hope and my prayer that the following information will be a blessing to the Body of Jesus Christ. It is not my intent to frighten, nor to condemn anyone. If you have given your life to God through His Son, Jesus, there is no need to be afraid; but I do believe there is a great need to be informed, and obedient to God's commands. The following pages are offered to those who earnestly seek the truth. They are not designed to be used as a judgment against any person or group of people. I also do not believe this information should be used to conduct private "witch hunts". I offer this study of the New Age with the hope that others may see and finally understand that Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life"; that He is the only way to God the Father in Heaven; that sin is real and that salvation is a gift of God, 4 ( not of works, lest anyone should boast." If you are a part of any of the groups, or the schools, or are practicing any of the areas discussed in this booklet, it is my prayer that you would seriously consider what the Word of God, the Bible, has to say about these issues. If you have any questions or requests, please contact me. May the Lord bless you as you read this material.

Paul says to the church at Rome, "Your obedience is talked about all over the world; all the places that we have been talk about the obedience of the Roman church." Paul continues, "I'm glad. That is a good thing. Yet, I would have you wise unto that which is good. What I want you to know is the Word of God. To know what is good and to stick with what is good. And I would have you simple concerning evil." Their faith and obedience had come abroad to all. Everyone talked about the obedience of the church at Rome. That is what you and I want them to talk about when they talk about us. We want people to say, "I have heard he is in love with God. I have heard that she really sticks with the Word of God." That is what we want said about us. That is what I want said about me. We don't want them calling us all kinds of names, unless it is sour grapes.

"I want you to be wise concerning that which is good." We need to know the Word of God. We need to know it, period. We need to be wise concerning that which is good, and simple concerning evil. How much do you need to know about something to be simple, or ignorant, about it? How much do you have to know about Satanism to be simple in it? Not a thing! Just know they worship Satan, and that it is bad. Isn't that what God said He wanted for us?

I need to know basically what they are into, so that I can stay away from it, forever, because God's Word says stay away. I need to know what is good, so I have got to know the Word of God. This is not a study of Mormonism doctrine that is so in-depth that you will be an expert in everything they think. I want you to be an expert in the Word of God. If you ever get called an expert in anything, it ought to be the Bible.

People accuse me, falsely, of being an expert in the cults. I am not an expert in anything. Would to God that I were an expert in His Word. I am not, but if I were to be accused of being an expert in something, I would rather be accused of being an expert in the Word of God than anything else. That is what you need to be, too.

Frequently, someone will come up and say, "What do you know about this group?" I'll tell them, "I don't know a whole lot about them, I just know that they do not worship Jesus Christ and that is enough for me, because the Word of God says:

That is enough for me.
"Well, don't you want to go in-depth and find out..."
No, I don't want to. I have been told by God not to.
"Why?"

Because your brain will turn into tapioca pudding and run out your ears. I know, for a fact, that there are people, who are not born-again, who began a study of the New Age and are now locked away in mental institutions. Stay out of this stuff. If God wants you in an area for some reason, what you will notice is that all of a sudden you are in that area and you didn't even know it. You didn't set yourself out to do it. God did it. And God doesn't have you put on weird clothes and sneak into all the different services and spy on the cults.

Why would you disguise yourself, first of all. Christians don't have to do anything in secret. Second of all, I don't need to go into the service to know enough about Mormons to know they are not what God wants me to be.

Your obedience to the Word of God should go out to the whole world so that they will say, "That woman is a woman of God. That man is a man of God. They are people of His Word." Paul told us, "That is what I want people to say about you. I am glad for you, but I would have you wise concerning that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Don't learn about it. Don't practice it. Don't try this at home." We discuss this cult stuff so that we can recognize what is anti-Christian. All these cults, except for Islam, fit together under a title I would call, "luke-warm, watered-down Hinduism." Most every bit of it fits into that category. Look at the way they operate; the way they think; the way they are beginning to treat one another; the way they act; and the way they interact with what they call "spirit guides" or "the oversoul". It all boils down into a type of Hinduism.

In the small New Testament book of Jude we read these words:

Jude exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith". Knowing that many have gone out and polluted or even completely changed the Gospel, Jude would have us defend the faith. The exhortation remains intact today. The Gospel has been attacked thousands of times since our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven. One of the many attacks on "the faith" that Jude is referring to here comes in the form of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church.

The apostle Paul gives this piece of wisdom to the Christian Church in Galatia:

Simply put, any change to the Gospel, no matter who from, or where from, must be rejected by those who truly follow Jesus Christ.

Christians very commonly ask, "Are the Mormons Christians?" Or, "What's the difference between the Mormon Church and the Christian Church?"

This booklet is designed to give you a basic understanding of Mormonism. It is not my goal to attack any specific person, but to point out the truth. I John 4:6 makes it very clear that there is a spirit of truth and a spirit of error. We, as Christians, are commanded to know and recognize the difference. Jesus tells us that it is the truth that makes us free (John 8:32).

We will see that the Mormon Church has a different Jesus and a different gospel (see 2 Corinthians 11:4), that the teachings of its founder are in direct opposition to the Word of God, and we will also explain how we can effectively witness to those in the Mormon Church.

"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!... We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see ... he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did... You have got to learn how to be God's yourselves......." (Joseph Smith, The King Follett Discourse, August 15, 1844, as recorded in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-346).

Let's look at this statement, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man". God who? The God they are talking about is Elohim. We see the same word in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, Elohim".

What this statement is saying is, God, Elohim, is just like or was once like we are now and is an exalted man. What does this teach you? What logically follows? We will be the same, someday.

"And, God the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ did". God lived on a planet at one time, He has to have started a life somewhere. He is nothing more than an exalted man.

The Mormons believe that God was once just like you are now. That is heresy. That is anti-Christ. It goes against everything the Word of God teaches.

The founder of Mormonism is Joseph Smith, Jr. He was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. Joseph was the third son of Joseph and Lucy Smith. Joseph's father was a mystic, a hunter for treasures and was in trouble with the law for counterfeiting. Now, just because your father is in trouble does not mean that you are bad. But Joseph, as a boy, would use what he called a "peek stone". In the New Age, the middle of the forehead is where the "spiritual seeing eye" is. Joseph would place the stone in the middle of his forehead and the stone would turn colors when it detected hidden treasures.

Joseph was told by supernatural visitors that all Christian denominations were corrupt and he should not join any of them. (What would Joseph Smith think of his church claiming to be a Christian denomination?). The angel, or more literally, the resurrected personage, Moroni, visited Joseph Smith three times on the same night, with the following information. (This list is a compilation of the three visits.)

1. Joseph Smith's name would be known all over with good and bad connotations.
2. Joseph Smith was given information regarding golden plates that recorded the history of the Native Americans and the gospel brought to them by Jesus Himself (In other words, Jesus came to America).
3. Joseph Smith was told about the Urim and Thummin.

The Bible is very specific on what the Urim and Thummin are. They were kept in the breastplate that the high priests would wear. The angel, however, said that the Urim and Thummin is a pair of glasses, made of stone, attached to a breastplate.

These glasses were the only way the golden plates could be translated. (For the actual use of the Urim and Thummin see: Numbers 27:21, 1 Samuel 28:6, and I Samuel 14:41).

Think about this for a moment, what did Joseph use to do when he was young? Take a little peek stone, put it against his forehead, and see where the buried treasure was. What did the angel tell him? Put these special glasses on and you will be able to find where the buried treasure is and translate the golden plates with them.

Joseph Smith was not allowed to retrieve the plates and the glasses for four years, by command of Moroni. Moroni told him that he was to visit the spot where the plates were hidden once every year. Joseph was finally allowed to collect the pieces in September of 1827.

In 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, who helped with the translation, were anointed into the priesthood of Aaron, by John the Baptist. They both began to prophesy and they could interpret scripture correctly.

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, when they were anointed, talked with John the Baptist. Deuteronomy 18 says that we are to have nothing to do with communicating with the dead.

Not long after their entrance into the Aaronic Priesthood, Peter, James and John anointed Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery into the Melchizedek Priesthood, which was a higher office of priesthood.

Who is the priest according to the order of Melchizedek? Jesus Christ. Peter, James and John, who anointed Smith and Cowdery into the order were not up that high, they were just apostles. Smith and Cowdery are putting themselves right up there with Jesus. That's pretty high.

Later, Joseph Smith and his brother were arrested by state militia upon the command of the Governor of Illinois. Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, and other Mormons burned the presses of an anti-Mormon group that continued printing anti-Mormon materials. They were put in jail in Carthage, Illinois. Both were killed by a mob that stonned the jail.

Someone had sneaked Joseph Smith a gun. When the mob violence turned ugly, Joseph shot some of them and was himself shot. Mormons believe that Joseph Smith died as a "martyr". Joseph Smith died because someone shot him. He died in a blaze of glory. He died nothing like Jesus Christ, or Stephen, or any of the martyrs in the Bible. They died preaching the Gospel and forgiving others. In Foxe's Book of Martyrs, how did they die? Certainly not in a blaze of glory. They died crying out to God to have mercy on those who were hurting them, crying out to God to receive them. Joseph died very differently than those we call martyrs.

"So in accordance with my determination, to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head... When the light rested upon me I saw two personages (whose brightness and glory defy all description) standing above me in the air. One of them spoke unto me, calling me by name, and said (pointing to the other), "This is my beloved son, hear him. '...I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right.... I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt... He again forbade me to join with any of them: and many other things did he say unto me which I cannot write at this time. " (Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 728, 748).

"The Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age, a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day came down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of God and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying, 'Joseph, my son these sins are forgiven thee, go thy way, walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, behold, I am the Lord of glory, I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name have Eternal life......." (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young University Studies, 1969. p. 281).

"I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down upon me, and filled me with joy unspeakable, a personage appeared in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeared like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testified unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,- and I saw many angels in this vision. I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication... "(Joseph Smith's Diary, 1835-36, p. 24, as quoted in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Spring 1971, p. 87).

"On the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, previous to retiring to rest, our brother's mind was unusually wrought up on the subject which had so long agitated his mind - his heart was drawn out in fervent prayer.. while continuing in prayer for a manifestation ... on a sudden a light like that of day .. burst into the room. ...And in a moment a personage stood before him ... he heard him declare himself to be a messenger sent by commandment of the Lord, to deliver a special message, and to witness that his sins were forgiven......." (Oliver Cowdery, stating that Joseph Smith assisted him writing this information. Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1, 1834. p. 78-79).

Here we have four quotes by Joseph Smith and three different stories of exactly how and when he was visited by God. He changes his age, the time of year and he changed who was there, one time it was God, the next time it is God and Jesus and another time it is just an angel. When a major event happens in your life don't you remember who was there, when it happened and where it happened?

The Mormon Church condemns the Roman Catholic Church for its teaching that the Pope is infallible, but it teaches the same thing about its leaders. "The Lord Almighty leads this church, and he will never suffer you to be led astray if you are found doing your duty. You may go home and sleep as sweetly as a babe in its mother's arms, as to any danger of your leaders leading you astray... " (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p. 289). Brigham Young says that everything the Mormon leaders tell you can be trusted. The Mormon leaders will not make mistakes. And they condemn the Catholic Church for saying the same thing.

Anyone who says they are infallible is lying. God says, "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6). Every one of us. I have been teaching for years and it is absolutely possible that I could be wrong. And it is absolutely possible that I could make a mistake. I have to study, and I have to pray. I have to depend on Scripture and God's Holy Spirit. But, "Any Latter Day Saint, who denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the 'prophets, seers, and revelators' of the church is cultivating the spirit of apostasy... Lucifer.. wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to 'do their own thinking '" (The Ward Teacher's message for June, 1945).

This is a quote out of Mormon doctrine. For a Mormon to go up to his leader and say, "I think you guys are wrong on this issue, and I think the Word of God says something different" is to cultivate the spirit of apostasy. If you have ever witnessed to a Mormon, you can tell them some point of doctrine, "You guys say God lived on earth."
They will answer, "No, we don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No, we don't."
Then you show them in one of their own books. They will say, " I don't believe that."
"Well, why don't you go and ask someone about this?"
"No, I couldn't do that."

This is why they can't go and ask someone. Any saint who questions their leaders causes Lucifer to win a great victory. That's when they start backpedaling. Doing that little moonwalk. They don't know what to think. They are afraid to think for themselves, they are even taught not to think for themselves.

"When our leaders speak the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan - it is God's plan. When they point the way there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. (Improvement Era, June 1945. p. 354).

What does Scripture say about this?

Mormons go directly against the Word of God, and say that when their leaders speak, the thinking has been done. In Journal of Discourses, Mormons are instructed, "... learn to do as you are told ... if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it, none of your business whether it is right or wrong" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 32).

Now you can begin to see why it is difficult to witness to them. They do not listen. They aren't allowed to listen. They will get in trouble. Getting out of the Mormon Church is not as easy as getting in. You could lose your job, or your life. Does this sound like something Jesus is a part of? Jesus said you would know them by their fruit (Matt. 7:20). Some might say, "but they have such good families". But, check it out for yourself How good are their families? Maybe we should heed Jesus' words when He warned all of us to be sure that not just the outside is clean, but that the inside is clean too (Matthew 23:27). That is a lesson for all of us. It's an inward problem. The main question is "What have you done with Jesus Christ?"

"...No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289). Who are they waiting for to save them? Not Jesus Christ. Not His blood. They need the blood of Joseph Smith. On the day Joseph Smith died, the blood of Joseph Smith and the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed us from our sins. They are waiting for Jesus and Joseph to come back. Joseph Smith has become their God. He is a false god. The Bible says to worship Jesus Christ, and Him only. Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life and no man can come to the Father but by him (John 14:6). The quote by Brigham Young is heresy.

"Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are... I cannot go there without his consent... He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289). Joseph Smith is the one who must give consent to allow you into his "sphere, capacity and calling" so you can have a mansion. Fine, I don't want to go to Joseph Smith's celestial city, I want to go to Heaven.

"... I am an Apostle of Joseph Smith ... all who reject my testimony will go to hell, so sure as there is one, no matter whether it be hot or cold..." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 212). Brigham Young doesn't know whether hell is hot or cold. He does not know the Scriptures. Jesus Himself said hell was hot.

"I will now give my scripture - 'Whosoever confesseth that Joseph Smith was sent of God.. that spirit is of God,- and every spirit that does not confess that God has sent Joseph Smith, and revealed the everlasting Gospel to and through him is of Anti-Christ...'" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 176). This very loose paraphrase of 1 John 4:1 flies straight in the face of the Word of God. We must reject Mormonism, even if we know nothing else of it, this is enough. It is absolutely wrong. And if you can accept this statement by Brigham Young, then you too will perish, Joseph Smith or no Joseph Smith. He was and is a false prophet.

"In the evening I received the first degree in Free Masonry in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office." (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 551, under the date of March l5, 1842). Although the Mormon church would like us to believe that Joseph Smith received the temple ceremony by direct revelation from God, the evidence clearly shows that he borrowed heavily from Freemasonry. In the secret rituals of the Temple, the quotes are almost identical to Freemasonry.

"Mormons don't grovel before God, prating their unworthiness and imploring mercy. They are not slaves! They are men, made in the image of God! They proudly stand, holding their heads high, and put out their hands to shake that of God in greeting, as any worthy son would be expected to respectfully but proudly stand before a wise and good father " (Those Amazing Mormons. p. 82). No Mormon grovels before God.

Jesus told a little parable about two men who came into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, a hypocrite, headed for hell. And he stood right up and prayed, 'I thank you Lord that I am not like that person over there. I fast twice a week, get that, twice a week. I thank you that I am not a sinner like that guy over there. I do not grovel, I stand before God.' And there was a man that was a tax collector, a loser, the scum of the earth. Nobody liked him. He was down on his knees and would not lift his face toward God. And he said, 'God have mercy on me, sinner that I am.' And Jesus said, 'The one that bowed down and groveled before God and humbled himself walked out of there justified.' What happened to the one who would not bow before God? He went out completely unchanged (Luke 18:10-14).

A. The Book of Mormon:
The Book of Mormon is the writing that Joseph Smith translated from the golden plates he received from Moroni, which were completed in the Spring of 1830. Smith claimed that the inscription on the plates was written in "Reformed Egyptian". Such a language has never been discovered to date, and attempts by the Mormon Church to present examples have been rejected across the board by experts in all arenas. Archaeologists and anthropologists have been unable to substantiate the claims made in the Book of Mormon concerning the genetic origin of the native Americans (being Mongoloid, not Semitic), nor the claims to the nature and extent of their civilization.

1. Its contents:
It is the story of two people groups who migrated from the Middle East to the Americas. The first group was the Jaredites from the area of Babel. They were told by the Lord to sail in eight wooden barge-like vessels in 2,250 B.C. They landed on the west coast of Central America where they began to battle amongst themselves, and in one battle or in one series of battles, two million people of one tribe were killed. The Jaredites dwindled down to two warriors, one from each of the tribes. Coriantumr and Shiz. Coriantumr finally killed Shiz. The only two Jaredites who survived total extinction from war were Coriantumr and the prophet Ether who recorded this history on 24 plates. The Jaredites never survived as a people group.

The second group recorded in the Book of Mormon that migrated to the Americas was the people of Lehi, a prophet of the tribe of Manasseh. Lehi and his people left Jerusalem around 600 B.C. due to persecution. Lehi preached against Jewish sin and prophesied Jerusalem's destruction. Lehi and his people first moved to the Red Sea. Lehi sent his sons back to Jerusalem to gather his important documents: brass plates of the Pentateuch, various recorded prophesies, and the brass plates of Laban (Lehi's genealogy). Lehi's son, Nephi, was told by God to build a ship and to sail eastward, guided by a compass (which was not invented until the 12th century A.D.!). The compass that they used was found by Lehi on the ground... (how did he know what it was and how to use it?????) They finally arrived on the west coast of South America. Laman and Lemuel, also sons of Lehi, continually rebelled against the Lord, and to punish them, God cursed them with black skin. On the other hand the Nephites who obeyed God, migrated north into Central and North America. Nephi prophesied that Jesus Christ Himself would come to them, and in 34 A.D. Jesus supposedly came to the North American Indians. In 3 8 5 A.D. in upstate New York (on a hill called Cumorah) the Lamanites killed all but one Nephite, named Moroni, the son of Mormon. Mormon had written the history of the Nephites, as was started by Nephi, and was carried on by other Nephites down the line, on golden plates. Two types of plates contained two types of Nephite history: larger plates recording secular history, and smaller plates containing sacred information. Mormon abridged the contents of the smaller plates and hid his abridgment in the hill of Cumorah. After Mormon was killed in battle in 3 8 5 A.D., his son Moroni added to the plates the books of Ether and Moroni, and reburied the plates on Cumorah in 421 A.D. In the years 1823-1827, Moroni, now an angel, or resurrected personage, disclosed the place he had originally hid the plates. Joseph Smith translated these plates, and this is how the Book of Mormon became known to the modern world.

2. Its usefulness to Mormons:
1Nephi 13:28,29 is supposedly God's statement regarding the pollution of the Bible. The mission of the Book of Mormon is to correct, supplement and enable proper interpretation of the Bible. The Bible is only of equal authority to the Book of Mormon, when it is interpreted properly, i.e. in the light of the Book of Mormon.

B. Doctrine and Covenants:
Its origin and place: It is the collection of revelations given to Joseph Smith, published while the group was in Kirtland, Ohio. It is Mormonism's second greatest book, containing 136 sections divided into verses. Sections 1-135 are from Joseph Smith and Section 13 6 is from Brigham Young. At the end of the book is a manifesto prohibiting polygamy. One of its more significant chapters for doctrinal insight is 132, which is Joseph Smith's revelation on multiple wives, proper marriage and a word to Emma Smith on the consequences of not heeding his revelation. This section should be compared with Jacob 2:24,27. This is a very important book to the Mormons for its doctrinal teachings.

C. The Pearl of Great Price:
It contains the Book of Moses which is Joseph Smith's reworking of the first six chapters of Genesis from the KJV Bible. It also contains the Book of abraham which was supposedly written by Abraham while he was in Egypt. In the Book of Abraham, chapter 4:3 teaches polytheism; chapter 3:3,9,16 teaches on the star, Kolob; chapter 3:22 the pre-existence of souls; chapter 3:24,25 the purpose of the earth being created; chapter 4:1 teaches on matter and creation. The Pearl of Great Price also contains Joseph Smith's translation of Matthew 24, parts of Smith's autobiography and the Articles of Faith.

Please note the contradictions:
In the Book of Jacob 2:24, God says that many wives and concubines is an "abomination before me, saith the Lord." But in the Doctrines and Covenants Section 132:39 God says that He gave those wives and concubines to David, and that "in none of these things did he sin against me ......

Reed Peck said Joseph Smith claimed he had a revelation in which the Apostle Peter told him that he (Peter) killed Judas; "He (Joseph Smith) talked of dissenters and cited to us the case of Judas, saying that Peter told him in a conversation a few days ago that he himself hung Judas for betraying Christ..." (Reed Peck Manuscript. p. 13) Is this true? No! Scripture tells me differently, therefore, I know better. So, if Peter showed up in my room and said that he had killed Judas, I would say, "I don't care who you are but you don't belong here. I rebuke you in Jesus name. Get out of here." Not Joseph Smith, he listened.

"I know that the day is right at hand when men will forfeit their Priesthood and turn against us and against the covenants they have made, and they will be destroyed as Judas was." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Dec. 1857, vol. 6, p. 125-26). Many people tried to get out of the Mormon Church at one time. How was Judas destroyed? He was hung, by Peter. Many people were thinking about leaving the church and they would be destroyed like Judas. Judas was hung by an apostle. There are apostles in the Mormon Church. So, who is going to hang you? If you go in and take that temple ritual, you say that you are willing to have your throat cut. These are not the kinds of things Jesus would have His followers be a part of.

"It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. As it was in ancient days, so it is in our day... There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient day, and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, or a calf, or of turtle doves, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man..." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, p. 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, Oct. 1, 1856, p. 235). To the Mormon Church, blood atonement means just that, some sins that you commit have to be paid for with your own blood. Some sins you have to pay for with your own blood. Does this sound like salvation by grace through faith?

"There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it...." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 20).

What does the Word of God teach us? We read in First Peter 1: 18-19,

Peter tells us that we have been redeemed, that is, bought completely by the blood of Jesus Christ, Himself. His blood purchased our full and complete forgiveness. No sins remain. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior; or are you too planning to pay for some of your sins with you own blood? His Blood is enough. Your blood will avail nothing.

Something for all of us to seriously consider: If Mormons are Christians as many of them claim to be, and if they are the only true Christian Church as their Prophets clearly taught and still teach, then obviously there are certain doctrines that Christians MUST teach to be true Christians, for example:
* God is an exalted man
* Jesus and Lucifer are spirit-brothers
* Jesus was begotten through a sexual relationship between the Father and Mary
* Men can become gods
* Secret temple rituals are necessary in order to obtain eternal life
* The Garden of Eden was in Missouri
* The Bible, God's Word, is missing many "plain and precious parts"
* The Book of Mormon is "the most correct book on earth" (Robert McKay, a researcher and associate editor at Utah Missions, headquarters in Marlow, OK).

To be a true Christian, you would have to support everyone of those doctrines. And absolutely every one of those doctrines goes against the Word of God.

A little more food for thought...

Concerning communication with the dead, a practice strictly forbidden by the Word of God (Deuteronomy 18:9-14), please note the following:

In 1992, while the San Diego temple was being built, many Mormon families in the area were given a packet entitled Family Temple Preparation Material. Included in this written material were seven pages devoted to "TRUE STORIES" of temple patrons who were visited by the dead.

Fourth Mormon Prophet, Wilford Woodruff told followers in 1887, "The dead will be after you, they will seek after you as they have after us in St. George [a temple in Southern Utah]." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, p. 229).

M.F. Farnsworth, a temple recorder, states, "Persons have told me of seeing their dead friends for whom they have officiated, manifesting themselves to them." (Temple Manifestations. p. 66).

One of the main issues when witnessing to a cultist is the question of spiritual authority. As Christians, you and I look to the Word of God as our authority. The cultist will usually look to his/her leader (either in person or in the leaders' writings) to decide the truth.

Keep in mind that the authority of the Mormon Church, and the Book of Mormon rests totally on Joseph Smith and his claim to be an inspired prophet of God. Joseph Smith is their ONLY basis of religious authority. Though there may be doctrinal differences between the various sects of Mormons, they believe and teach that Joseph Smith -IS a prophet of God. Please understand that this is not a personal attack on Joseph Smith himself, but a simple proof of what he has spoken as a "prophet of God".

"By hundreds of thousands in many lands Joseph Smith is today held in remembrance as a prophet of God... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has its foundation in the revelations he received, the sacred truths he taught, and the authority of the priesthood restored through him." (Joseph Smith's Testimony, p. 30).

As you can see, the crucial issue is not baptism for the dead, or eternal marriage, or any of the other doctrines that the Mormon missionary at your door is programmed to discuss. The most crucial issue is Joseph Smith's claim to be a PROPHET OF GOD!!!

A Mormon missionary is "trained" to give a "testimony" that goes something like this; "I testify by the Spirit of God that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God." So the obvious question that a Christian should ask is "How do you know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?" The standard reply is that the missionary or Mormon will tell you that they got a "burning in their heart or bosom". Be careful not to discuss "feelings" with the Mormons. Most of what they believe is based on their "feelings". They might ask you what you "feel" about the Book of Mormon or what you "feel" about Joseph Smith. The question is not what do we feel. The question is what proof for or against Joseph Smith is there to show whether he is what he claims to be. I believe God expects us to use our heads. Not to puff ourselves up with knowledge, but to think and use what God has given us to use.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO TEST JOSEPH SMITH'S CLAIM TO BE A PROPHET OF GOD IS TO EXAMINE HIS PROPHECIES!!!

Since the Bible came before the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants, it can and should judge ALL new revelations. The Scripture reference that applies to Joseph Smith and his prophecies is Deuteronomy 18:20-22:

Once all of Joseph Smith's prophecies have been examined the next step would be to present the Biblical Gospel.

The Bible specifically says in Deuteronomy 18 if someone gives a prophecy and it does not come to pass, that person is a false prophet. God is almighty. He is good at what He does. If you have read through Isaiah, you have noticed in chapter 46, God saying, "I am God. Nothing can be compared to Me". I can do anything I want. 1 will prove to you another thing that shows you I am God. I will tell you the future before it happens. I will tell you the end from the beginning and no other god will do that. Here are the rules - 100% accuracy. If you miss one, you lose. I win. Now, if you miss none, then both you and I are God." That's the agreement. If you miss one you're out. That's pretty tough standards. 100% accuracy is always required of anybody that says, "I am a prophet. I speak for God."

And every one of the Christians that comes to you and says, "Well, Nostradamus predicted..." Don't worry, he missed well more than one prediction. God laughs, "Man, you blew it when you missed your first one. Nostradamus made mistakes. Jean Dixon makes mistakes. I am God. I'm the one with 100%. Nobody can do what I can do."

"Yeah, but so and so predicted once..." I don't care. He missed one. How many do you have to miss to be a false prophet? Just one. And what do you do with a false prophet? What does the Bible go on to say in Deuteronomy 18? Don't have anything to do with them. Don't fear them, and don't follow them.

Brigham Young said, "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture". (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, p. 271). In plain English, he is saying that he is speaking for God Himself. So what does Brigham Young say?

"Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon?... When you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, p. 271). Brigham Young says everything he says is scripture. He also says people live on the sun and on the moon.

Joseph Smith said people live on the moon. They live to be 1000 years old and every one of them is six foot tall and they dress like Quakers. God told him that.

I would be a fool to stand up and say, "Thus saith the Lord" unless it is the Lord. It is too easy to test. God says, if they predict something will happen, and it happens, then it was from Me. If they predict something and it doesn't happen, they spoke presumptuously, they are a false prophet.

"In the wilderness of Judea, on the temple's pinnacles and on the high mountain, a momentous contest took place between two brothers, Jehovah (Jesus) and Lucifer (Satan), sons of Elohim (God, the Father)." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimbal, p. 34, Kimbal is the twelfth president of the Mormon Church.) Spencer Kimbal says this is scripture.

Below is a listing of some of the prophecies of Joseph Smith. (Many Mormons will not know these or want to talk about them. They are even "trained" not to discuss them. So be sure to have your facts correct and gently and lovingly share the TRUTH with them.)

1. Although Joseph Smith died on June 27, 1844, please note the following "prophecy".
"I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God, that the commencement of the difficulties which will cause much bloodshed previous to the coming of the Son of Man will be in South Carolina.... I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou are eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter. I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous, appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. (Doctrines and Covenants, Section 130, p. 238).

*Joseph Smith's diary, March 10, 1843 - July 14, 1843; "... I prophesy in the name of the Lord God - and let it be written; that the Son of Man will not come in the heavens till I am 85 years old. 48 years hence or about 1890..."

First, we see Joseph Smith claimed to be a prophet of God. Second, Joseph Smith claimed that God told him when He would show up. 1890. The fact that Joseph died before 1890 doesn't matter. Joseph Smith predicted when Jesus would come back, not when he was going to die, or how long he was going to live. Jesus didn't show up in 1890.

2. In 1835, Joseph Smith prophesied that the coming of the Lord was near and that fifty-six years would wind up the scene. "President Smith then stated .. it was the will of God that those who went to Zion with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should he ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." (History of the Church. p. 182).

No matter how you figure it 1835 plus 56 doesn't even come close to the 1990's. The "scene" still continues today. The Lord has not returned as of 1994. We do believe He will return soon, but no one knows the day or the hour. It is clear that Joseph Smith was not speaking on behalf of God or in accordance with God's will in this false prophecy.

3. "Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others.... Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall he built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it... Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses - for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed." (Doctrines and Covenants. Section 84, p. 2-5, 31).

The temple was not built in that generation. NO house was built unto the Lord, and no cloud rested on it. It's still not there. It hasn't happened.

4. "And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation: pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country. The people of the Lord, those who have complied with the requirements of the new covenant have already commenced gathering together to Zion, which is in the state of Missouri: therefore declare unto you the warning which the Lord has commanded to declare unto this generation... Repent ye, repent ye, and embrace the everlasting covenant and flee to Zion, before the overflowing scourge overtake you, for there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things, which I have spoken, fulfilled." (History of the Church. p. 315-316).

Nothing of the kind has taken place to date. Joseph specifically stated the eyes of those living on the earth at that time would see the destruction of America. Joseph Smith was wrong.

5. "Nearly all the great discoveries of men in the last half century have, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly, contributed to prove Joseph Smith to be a Prophet. As far back as 1837, I know that he (Joseph Smith) said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do - that they live generally near the age of 1000 years. He described the men as averaging near six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style." (Our Sunday Chapter. 1892).

We have pictures the moon and the guys aren't there. Unless, they are really well hidden, we can figure that Joseph missed on this one, too!

6. This prophecy was given by Joseph Smith, the Prophet, at Salem, Massachusetts, August 6,1836 "... I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit of Zion, and many people in this city, who, I will gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion, through your instrumentality.... I will give this city into your hands, that you shall have power over it, insomuch that they shall not discover your secret parts; and its wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours. Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them... For there are more treasures than one for you in this city."

Joseph left Salem with only eight (8) converts and no money. And, by the way, the Mormons did NOT pay their debts. The truth is the complete opposite of this prophecy.

7. "Thus saith the Lord,- "It is wisdom in my servant, David W. Patten, that he settle up all his business as soon as he possibly can, and make a disposition of his merchandise, that he may perform a mission unto me next spring, in company with others, even twelve including himself, to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world."

This prophecy was given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 17, 1838. David W. Patten was supposed to go on a mission the next spring (1839), according to the prophecy. David W Patton was shot and killed in October 1838.

What is the point of all of this? The majority of those that come out of the cults come out because they are looking for the truth. Almost everybody that comes out of the Mormon Church, comes out because they are looking for the truth. Next time you witness to a Mormon, don't discuss eternal marriage; don't discuss major doctrines of the Bible, go straight to the Old Testament and show them Deuteronomy 18. Agree together that the first one of you that lies is serving the false religion. The Mormon Church is built on lies, starting with Joseph Smith, through Brigham Young and right on down the line. Christians have nothing to hide. Study anything in the Bible, it cannot be proven wrong. Christians don't need to worry about defending the Bible. The Bible will be right. Don't argue with them about burnings of the bosom, or the original Greek. 'Talk about false prophets. Show them in Deuteronomy 18 that one false prophecy makes you a false prophet. Then discuss Joseph Smith. If you can establish where they're coming from, if they are actually interested in the truth, then you can show them the truth of God's Word by first showing them that they are following something false. If they will agree that they are following something false, now you are wide open to show them the truth and they will listen.

If they are not interested in the truth, you can never convince them. You can beat all their arguments with Scripture, but that will not change them. You can prove that Joseph Smith is a false prophet, that there are mistranslations, that nothing about the archaeology of the Book of Mormon is correct, but they will walk out the door believing in Mormonism and they will just go on to the next door. Once the Mormon hears the gospel and rejects it, let them go. You follow God. We were all headed for hell, but God has saved us. He can save their life, but you need boldness and you have to understand that you are not going to argue anyone into Christianity. You have to love them, and you have got to show them right away that what they are following is false. And if they will not accept that, you will get nowhere. It is up to the Spirit of God now, because your arguments will not work. Jesus said:

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior I would like to invite you to pray right now. Simply recognize that you have sinned and have a need for a Savior. Then, as the scripture above states, open the door to your heart and allow Jesus to come in. Turn from the ways that you have walked and begin to walk in the ways of God. Jesus loves you and as you ask in faith He will come into your heart and change your life.

The Scriptures stand against the Mormons. We cannot call them brothers and sisters. They may say, "We're Christians, too!" No way, a Christian is someone who has been broken at the foot of the cross:

Jesus Christ Himself was broken and put to death for these very people who now are waiting for Joseph Smith to return. Jesus is the only hope. Not just for Mormons, but for you and I. There is forgiveness of sins in Jesus and Jesus only.