Mormonism

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Mormonism, also known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a religion of just over 11 million members, most of whom reside in the United States. Their headquarters are stationed in Utah, where roughly 65% of the state are Latter-day Saints (hereafter "LDS"). In the most simplistic of terms, Mormonism deviates historic Christian beliefs. The table below outlines the most fundemental differences, while the sections that follow it go in to greater detail of what exactly the LDS believe about different doctrines.





Mormonism Christianity
Godhead The Father and Son are resurrected men who both have bodies. The Holy Ghost is a man who has a spiritual body. All three are completely separate Gods who are one in purpose, power, and thought. They are the Gods of this world only, while other gods still exist. God is not a man. (Num. 23:19) He has always been God. (Psa. 90:2; Mal. 3:6; Hab. 1:12; Rom. 1:22-25) There is only one God. (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:21-22) The Father is Spirit and is invisible. (John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17)
Jesus Jesus is literally our elder brother, born to Heavenly Parents in the premortal life. Jesus, Lucifer and humans are all the same species (or nature) and we are all brothers and sisters. Jesus is fully God, always has been, and is not a subordinate deity (Isa. 9:6; John 8:58; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 13:8; John 1:1-4, 14; Col. 1:16-17).
Scripture
The transmission of the Bible has produced errors within it texts and is therefore not to be trusted. The Book of Mormon, Doctrine of Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price are accepted as additional scripture. The Bible is inerrant and is trustworthy to those who read it. The Bible is sufficient and the canon has been closed.
Salvation
LDS believe Christ's death brought a release from the grave and thus universal resurrection. Salvation by grace is universal resurrection. Beyond this, man must earn his place in heaven. We are saved by grace after all we can do. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23) 		Salvation is the work of God in delivering his people from bondage to sin and condemnation, resulting in slavery to righteousness (Romans 6:18) and eternal life (Romans 6:26).
Man Everyone existed in heaven before they were born on earth. We have existed eternally. (D&C 93:29; PGP: Book of Abraham 3:21-22) Only Jesus existed before mortality, not man (John 8:58; Col. 1:17). Our existence began on earth. (Zec. 12:1; 1 Cor. 15:46)


History

The Mormon movement began in 1820 near Palmyra, New York. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, claimed to have received a series of visions in which he was told by God that all the churches were "wrong", their "creeds were an abomination in his sight", and all their "professors were corrupt" [1]. He was told that God would restore the true New Testament church using him as a mouthpiece. Consequently, Mormons consider Joseph Smith the first prophet of a new dispensation and believe that the Christian Church went into apostasy after the death of the Apostles.

In the course of his visions, an angel named Moroni is said to have visited Joseph to disclose the location of a book "written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this [American] continent, and the source from whence they sprang". Moroni also said that "the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants" [2]. Joseph was instructed to retrieve the plates and translate them with God's assistance. The result, called the Book of Mormon, was first published on March 26, 1830. Smith referred to the Book of Mormon as "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion" [3]. Following these first visions came a series of additional revelations that were later published in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Pearl of Great Price houses the Book of Abraham. Joseph Smith supposedly translated this from "old manuscripts". There is a well-done DVD out on the problems of Joseph Smith and the Book of Abraham.

Today there are many churches that claim to be the true successor of the church Joseph Smith founded. The largest of these is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The second largest is the Community of Christ headquartered in Independance, Missouri.

Mainstreaming

Historically, Mormonism highly emphasized theological distinctives from other churches. As of today, a much smaller set of distinctives is emphasized and similarities with those with Christian backgrounds and traditional values are stressed.

Historically and presently, many doctrines of Mormonism are heretical. Most of these doctrines are not taught to potential converts from the beginning. Instead, they are revealed later as the convert "matures" and gains the ability to accept them. Meanwhile the Mormon Church attempts to make its official doctrines appear even more Christian while what underlies the seemingly Christian terminology is far from conventional Christianity.

The LDS Canon

  • Bible (KJV only)
  • Book of Mormon ("Another Testament of Jesus Christ")
  • Doctrine and Covenants
  • Pearl of Great Price

Receiving Revelation

"Today the Lord continues to guide the Church be revealing His will to His chosen servants. Prophets are not the only people who can receive revelation. According to your faithfulness, you can receive revelation..." (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, pp. 140-141, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2004)

Aberrant teachings

LDS view of the Bible

It is a foundational Mormon belief that the Bible has been corrupted in its transmission and translation and many "plain and precious things" have been lost from it. In regards to reliability and trustworthiness, the Book of Mormon is regarded as far superior. Many Christians have experienced, when appealing to scripture in a conversation with a Mormon, the fall-back appeal to the unreliability of the Bible. When presented with a Bible passage that contradicts the Mormon faith, many Mormons simply default to the belief that the Bible is at fault, not the Mormon faith.

According to contemporary Mormon Robert Millet:

"To be sure, we believe the Bible is the word of God, that it is in fact God-breathed and is an inspired statement of actual historical events, fundamental doctrines, and life-expanding principles of truth. We love the Bible. We read it, we memorize it, and we cite it regularly in our sermons and writings. But we do not believe that one must subscribe to a notion of either scriptural inerrancy or biblical sufficiency in order to retain the kind of reverence and respect and commitment to the scriptures so necessary to a solid faith. While we are convinced that the hand of God was involved in the overall preservation of the Bible, we are realistic about the fact that scribal errors in the form of deletions, additions, and changes took place through the centuries of textural transmission" (Interview - go here to read the whole thing)

Nature of God

While original Mormonism retained that God had many of the incommunicable attributes that are ascribed to God in Christian theism, developed and historic Mormonism reject this. According to historic LDS teachings, none of the infinite gods have the ability to create intelligences or matter. Rather, they only have the ability to organize matter.


Godhead

Mormons reject the Biblical and historic doctrine of the Trinity, claiming that each person is a seperate being. In other words, while the three persons might share a form of unity, they do not share any incommunicable attributes.

Contemporary Mormon Robert Millet defines the LDS view of the Godhead this way:

"Latter-day Saints do not accept the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. We do, however, believe there are three persons in the Godhead; that these three persons possess all of the attributes of godliness in perfection; and that their unity and love are so perfect and infinite that they constitute a divine community which is sometimes called ‘God’ in the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. In short, while Latter-day Saints do not believe in the ontological oneness of the members of the Godhead, we believe they are infinitely more one than they are separate" (Interview with Robert Millet - go here to read the whole thing)

God the Father

"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 [4]

Historic Mormonism and much of contemporary Mormonism teaches that the Father was once not as he is, and needed to progress to become God. Many unequicovally affirm that he sinned and need his own savior and his own wife(s). Much of historic Mormonism has also taught that God the Father is still progressing in some form of knowledge or glory. In other words, the Father, rather than having all things reflect existing glory, needs to do things in order to add to his glory.

The Father is viewed as the primary monarch of this world, the only one in the Triad (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) to which we should pray and give worship.

See Omnipresence of God, Invisibility of God, and Humanity of Christ.

Jesus

According to Mormon theology Jesus was the first being literally conceived by the Father and a wife.

Jesus in this conception passed from the stage of "intelligence" to "spirit baby". He thus was not eternally glorious and needed to progress.

There is much debate within LDS thought as to whether Jesus was divine before he received a body. Some say that he was given his divinity from the Father before he received his body, whereas more traditionally LDS thought has conceived of Jesus obeying the law perfectly on this earth and thus attaining his divinity. Either way, Jesus at some point was given his divinity, his godhood, the very essence of what made him God, and there was a time when he did not have them. This is direct conflict with the Christian faith and with the Bible (see deity of Christ).

Many Mormons believe that Jesus was necessarily married in order to fulfill the requirements of righteousness.

Jesus is generally viewed as the one spoken of as Yawhweh/Jehovah in the Old Testament. However, since Yawhweh/Jehovah demanded worship and prayer, this causes some tension with the Mormon idea that the Father, as the grand monarch of this world, alone is worshipped and prayed to.

"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ. No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fulness [sic] of Times'" (June 20, 1998) [5].

Holy Ghost

LDS theology understands the Holy Ghost as a,

"Spirit Man, or a Spirit Entity. He can be in only one place at one time, and he does not and cannot transform himself into any other form or image than that of the Man whom he is, though his power and influence can be manifest at one and the same time through all immensity... His mission is to perform all of the functions appertaining to the various name-titles which he bears" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 359).

Creation

LDS traditionally deny the doctrine of creation ex nihilo. Blake Ostler is the most outspoken LDS (see his article here) as well as many others. Joseph Smith taught that matter is eternal and that it has coexisted with God. (In fact, because matter is eternal, and because God is composed of matter, he is thus eternal). Therefore, God did not create this world out of nothing. Instead he created this world out of the pre-existing matter and simply organized the existing material. He therefore did not create it.

Pre-existence of man

LDS scripture speaks of man being created in heaven prior to being created physically on the earth:

"For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth... for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air... all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word" (Moses 3:5-7, from the Pearl of Great Price).

LDS tend to use Jeremiah 1:5 as biblical evidence for the pre-existence of man. Thus, man was physically born in heaven from Mother and Father God (c.f. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 589). The implication of this idea is that man is born with a divine nature. This means that man has the potential to become a god and fulfill his divine potential.

Eternal progression

"As god once was, man is. As God is, man may become." -President Lorenzo Snow

Historic Mormonism has taught that those whom God conceived with his wife(s) have the potential to come like him in all respects. It is important to note here that Mormonism does not distinguish between the incommunicable and communicable attributes of God, nor does it affirm most of his incommunicable attributes in all their luster. This belief plays prominently in what the Mormons view as the purpose of life: to receive a physical body, exercise "agency" (libertarian free will), learn to choose between good and evil, and to learn and gain experience that will help one become a god. (Source: What is the purpose of my life?)

Mormons believe that this teaching is in harmony with Biblical teachings. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5: 48) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 16-17)

For Christians who believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, however, Isaiah 43:10 completely removes this doctrine from the realm of plausibility. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."

There is much speculation in the traditional Christian sects as to exactly what Mormons mean when they say that they believe that man can become like God. To Mormons it is similar to what happens in mortal life when a child grows up to be a parent of his own children. The child doesn't replace his own parents, but inherits the ability to become a parent. Mormons appeal to the idea that man is already like God; for example, man was created in the image of God. Mormons take super-literally the injunction found in Matthew 5:48 and believe that men can eventually become exactly like God (while still worshipping Him), becoming perfect and being able to continue their posterity through creation.

See Incommunicable attributes of God and Theosis

Existence of multiple gods

Mormons believe in the existence of multiple gods. This is rooted in the denial that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share the same being and substance. This stems from the normal Mormon assumption that a person necessarily has his own, unshared being. The baptism of Jesus, for example, is seen as an interaction between three god-beings, not just three persons (cf. Smith, The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 346-7; Abraham 4:1, Pearl of Great Price; and Gospel Principles, 290).

Justification not of the ungodly

"Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the reward reckoned, not of grace, but of debt. But to him that seeketh not to be justified by the law of works, but believeth on him who justifieth not the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." --Joseph Smith retranslation of Romans 4:4-5 [6]
“What then is the law of justification? It is simply this: “All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations” (D. & C. 132:7), in which men must abide to be saved and exalted, must be entered into and performed in righteousness so that the Holy Spirit can justify the candidate for salvation in what has been done. (1 Nephi 16:2; Jacob 2:13-14; Alma 41:15; Doctrine and Covenants 98; 132:1, 62.) An act that is justified by the Spirit is one that is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, or in other words, ratified and approved by the Holy Ghost.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 408)

Worthiness the basis for justification and entrance into God's presence

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." --2 Nephi 25:23

Atonement not sufficient to secure destiny to Celestial Kingdom

This is a tricky section in that LDS will claim that the atonement does allow for all to be resurrected. Unless you are the worst of the worst, you will go to the Telestial Kingdom (the worst go to what is known as Outer Darkness). Consequently, Mormonism has been accused of a sort of Universalism in which the majority go to heaven. However, the results of the atonement do not apply to those who wish to progress to another level of heaven. This is up to the individual and their works. Jesus gets you so far, but you must take yourself the rest of the way.

It is also of note that historic Mormonism (and much of contemporary) has denied that the atonement paid for all types of sins, including murder and adultery.

The Priesthood

"...priesthood is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of men. It is the power by which the gospel is preached; by which the ordinances of salvation are performed so that they will be binding on earth and in heaven; by which men are sealed up unto eternal life... and by which in due course the Lord will govern the nations of the earth and all that pertains to them" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 594).

Heaven

On February 16, 1832 in Hiram, Ohio, Joseph Smith and Signey Rigdon received a vision of the kingdoms of heaven. The record of that vision is long, but it is available online in its entirety as Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Mormons believe that this division in heaven is consistent with Biblical teachings. "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2) "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption." (1 Corinthians 15: 40-42)

Celestial Kingdom

Those who inherit the celestial kingdom are those "...who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given - That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true. (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 50-53)

Terrestrial Kingdom

Those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom "...are they who died without law; And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men." Doctrine and Covenants 76: 72-75)

Telestial Kingdom

Those who inherit the telestial kingdom "...are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus. These are they who are thrust down to hell. These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, ... shall have finished his work.98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world; ... as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world; ... These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch; But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant. Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints ... and received into the cloud. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God" (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 82, 84-85, 98, 100-106)

Sinful dispositions carry over into the afterlife

On April 2, 1843 in Ramus, Illinois, Joseph Smith received a "revelation", canonized now as D&C 130 [7]. Among other things, this revelation contained the phrase: "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.." Mormons believe that this implies that a man's sinful nature will carry over into the afterlife.

See Resurrection and Glorification.

The Temple

File:SLTemple.jpeg

Mormons believe that marriage can be bound on earth and in heaven for eternity. Mormons believe that marriage is of supreme in God's plan. The creation was not complete until Adam had his helpmate. Mormons believe that both Paul and Peter taught that men and women would not be saved alone, but as couples. "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:11) "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."(1 Peter 3:7)

Marriage

The only place that Mormons perform such marriages is in their temples. Mormon temples differ from Mormon chapels most notably in that only Mormons are permitted to enter temples while visitors of all faiths are welcome chapels. Sometimes this causes great heartache when a Mormon wishes to marry in the temple, but his or her parents cannot attend the ceremony because they are not Mormons.

Many Mormons find it a great comfort to know that their marriage and family will not end at death. This promise gives them a sense of eternal belonging and eternal commitment. It just wouldn't be heaven for them if they were no longer married to their spouse.

Baptism for the dead

Citing verses like John 3:5, Mormons teach that baptism is absolutely necessary for being born again and for entering the kingdom of God. As a reconciliation between this, the Mormon conception of God's love, and the fact that man have died without being properly baptized, Mormons believe that members of their church can be baptized on behalf of their dead ancestors. They believe that this makes it possible for those who have not been baptized to accept baptism, if they choose (in the spirit-realm), and enter the kingdom of God. Citing 1 Corinthians 15:29, Mormons also believe that Paul assumed that baptism for the dead was a normative, prescribed practice, and that he used it to argue for the reality of the resurrection.

See Baptism and 1 Corinthians 15.

Polygamy

Although the practice of polygamy is not an active doctrine in most Mormon circles today, it set Mormons apart from the rest of the United States during the 19th century. There are accounts indicating that Joseph Smith himself had 27 wives, though he publicly denied this many times. Because of his denials, many of the splinter groups headquartered in the eastern and southern states do not believe Joseph Smith ever taught the practice. If they do acknowledge polygamy as a teaching of Joseph Smith, they claim that it was a sin on Smith's part and was not a true principle given from God. These groups do not believe many of the doctrines taught by Smith in the last few years of his life, claiming that he had fallen away from the truth.

It was Brigham Young (with 56 wives) who, in 1852, first gave polygamy the push to become a semi-regular practice within the LDS Church in Utah. After a series of legal decisions made by the United States government toward the late 1800's, the church issued an official declaration [8] to end the practice of polygamy. The practice continued for several years in Canada and Mexico, but gradually came to an end. Today, members of the LDS Church are excommunicated if they are found to be practicing polygamy. There are several splinter groups in Utah who encourage the practice of polygamy while sharing many beliefs and doctrines with the LDS Church.

A Unified Theology?

LDS are notorious for having a changing theology. This goes hand in hand with their belief in modern day revelation. As each Prophet receives revelation, their theology inevitably must change. The most blatant examples are when blacks were able to hold the priesthood (1978), and when polygamy was finally banned by LDS President Wilford Woodruff (1890).

LDS theology has also been compared to trying to nail green jello to a wall - you just can't do it! Even under one Prophet, 12 apostles, and many other leaders, it seems that the LDS Church seems to struggle with sorting out their theology. Some of this comes from change, some of this comes from internal disagreement, and some of it comes from an unwillingness to be unequivocal about controversial doctrines.

Some contemporary LDS scholars such as Robert Millet and Stephen Robinson have begun professing to believe in salvation by grace alone, by faith alone, through Christ alone. Most of the LDS Church would disagree with such a profession. Most Mormon scholars and teachers still teach the historical belief that obedience and worthiness will place one in the Celestial kingdom and in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Additionally, David Paulsen has begun to verbally express that he believes God the Father and Jesus to be "uncaused beings" (note, something like this has yet to be published). Historically, LDS believe that God was once a man, who progressed and became the god that he is now. However, what Paulsen is saying - and what is new in his theology - is that neither the Father was never once a man. They have alway been God in that they have always possessed every attribute necessary to be God, and never had to progress. Also, he affirms an Evangelical generation of the Son, rather than a literal birth of Jesus from Mother and Father God (see section on Jesus above for further details of the historical LDS belief about Jesus). This would be new to LDS theology. A note of caution: this is Paulsen's personal view, and again, none of his views or theology has been accepted as official church doctrine.

The Mormon Church is the only true church

"Latter-day Saints believe that truth is to be found throughout the earth--among men and women in all walks of life, among sages and philosophers, and among people of differing religious persuasions. But they do claim that through the call of Joseph Smith and his successors, and through the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to earth. They value the truths had among the children of God everywhere but believe that theirs is the "only true church" in the sense that the same divine authority and the same doctrines of salvation had from the beginning are now to be found in their fullness in the LDS faith. It is odd that Protestant Christianity should be so offended with Joseph Smith's statement that 19th-century Christianity was off course; is that not exactly what those protesters like Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli said in regard to the Roman Catholic Church?" (Robert Millet, The Mormon Faith: A New Look at Christianity)

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