Mormonism in the Spotlight

In recent weeks and months opportunity has been given to put Mormonism in the spotlight.  Many are asking questions, some are trying to give answers.  I guess the person I have been listening to a lot would be Glenn Beck.  I have listened to him slip in a little Mormon doctrine here and there and recently he did a show on it to try and answer some questions.

I guess the question I would ask, I hope respectfully,  is what foundation is Mormonism based on? 

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

What both of these scenarios have in common is that the storm came.  One house survived, one didn't.  And the foundations here are the Word of God, or something that is not the Word of God.

Again, what foundation is Mormonism based on?  Rock or sand?  And before anyone thinks I'm trying to pick on Mormons, we should all know that our foundation needs to be on the rock.  Or we won't survive the coming storm.

It occured to me a few days ago as I was thinking about doing this post that in order to introduce something that is contrary to the truth, you first have to sideline or discredit the truth.  We see the first example of this in Genesis 3:1-5, Now the Serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made.  He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"  The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "  "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

The serpent had to first put doubt on what God said before he introduced the deception to Eve.

What are some of the claims of Joseph Smith and Mormonism?  And would these things put doubt on the Word of God?

Word of God

Matthew 24:35  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away."

Mormonism



The truth of the Gospel had been lost from the earth and had to be brought back.

Word of God



Colossians 1:16-17  For by him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;all things were created by him and for
him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Ezekiel 28:15 (Speaking of Satan) You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Mormonism

Jesus and Lucifer/Satan are brothers.

Word of God

Isaiah 45:5a  I am the LORD and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

Mormonism

We will someday become gods and rule our own planets.

Word of God

Numbers 23:19  God is not a man,  that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Mormonism

God was once a man like us, a sinner, and had to be saved by his own god.

Word of God

Romans 3:20  Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Romans 3:28  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Mormonism

We are saved from judgement by our good works.



Romans 3:21-26

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

He did it to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--

he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Here we have gotten to the heart of the matter.  First, doubt is put on the truth of God's Word, then destructive deception is introduced.  According to what the Word of God says, where will you build your house?  On works (sand), or on faith in what Jesus did for you (rock)?  His Word, the Truth, the Gospel, was not lost.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22  You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?"  If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.  That prophet has spoken presumptuously.  Do not be afraid of him.

Joseph Smith prophesied that the temple would be built in western Missouri in his lifetime.

Joseph Smith prophesied that he would christen that temple.

Joseph Smith prophesied Jesus would come back before the turn of the century (1900).