Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
selected
articles from:
©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
What Is the Difference Between
Mormonism and Biblical Christianity?
A Kindly Word
of Distinction
by Franklin G. Huling
©FOUNDATION Magazine, Nov-Dec 2002
Introduction
This comparison of Mormonism and Biblical Christianity is made for
the benefit of those who have accepted Mormonism and also for those who
have not. We have only love in our hearts for the Mormon people. We
trust that they will believe this and that they will give careful
consideration to the things we herein present, for they are written and
sent forth in the spirit of true friendliness and sincerity. We believe
that these matters concern the present and eternal welfare of souls.
Let us proceed to compare the views of Mormonism with the teachings
of the Bible concerning the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit,
sin and salvation. The quotations that present the Mormon view will be
taken from their own recognized, authoritative and accepted
publications. The title in full, author, publisher and date of
publication (so far as given) will be found in the bibliography appended
hereto. At the place where the quotation is cited, the name, author,
page and line of the publication will be given. It is our desire to be
absolutely accurate and fair in this important comparison. The Christian
view will be presented primarily from the Bible itself. The official
name of the Mormon Church is the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints."
[The on-line version of this article includes a
hyperlinked table of contents to help you easily navigate to the
sections that may be of particular interest. FBC Webmaster]
Table of Contents
I. THE BIBLE
1. Several Books vs. One Book
Mormon View
"We consider the Bible, Book of Mormon, Book of Doctrine and
Covenants, Pearl of Great Price and Sayings of Joseph, the Seer,
our guides in faith and doctrine"—A
Compendium, by Apostle F. D. Richards and Elder J. A. Little,
preface, lines 1-4.
"Thou fool, that shall say, A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need
no more Bible... Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible, ye need not
suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I
have not caused more to be written"-The Book of Mormon, 2Nephi
29:6, 10.
At the semi-annual Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" Church), their highest officers were
"sustained" as "Prophets, Seers and Revelators" by vote of the Church.
The following is quoted from the Official Report of the 95th Annual
Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake
City, April 4, 5 and 6, 1925, pages 149 and 150: "President Heber J.
Grant presented the General Authorities and the General Officers of the
Church; all of whom were sustained in their positions and callings by
the unanimous vote of the large assembly, as follows: Heber J. Grant,
Prophet, Seer and Revelator.... The Counselors in the First Presidency,
the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Patriarch as Prophets, Seers and
Revelators."
Christian View
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye
diminish ought from it" Deuteronomy 4:2.
"Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found
a liar" Proverbs 30:6.
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy
of this Book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto
him the plagues that are written in this Book: And if any man shall take
away from the words of the Book of this prophecy, God shall take away
his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this Book" Revelation 22:18-19.
This last book of the Bible, the Revelation, records the events with
which the Church Age will close. In it is described the Second Coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ, His Millennial Reign on the earth and the
bringing in of the new heavens and the new earth. Christians believe
that this book of the Revelation closed the canon of Scripture for this
age—until Christ returns. They believe that the penalties pronounced on
those who add to or take away from the book of the Revelation apply to
those who add to or take away from the Bible.
COMMENT: There is no prediction in the Bible of any "restoration" of
the Gospel or the coming of any true prophet before Christ comes to
catch away His redeemed ones according to 1Thessalonians 4:15-17. The
only prophets whom Christ said would come in the period between His
ascension and second advent are "false prophets." Hear what Christ said:
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show
great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before" Matthew
24:24-25.
Mormons criticize non-Mormon churches for not having all the church
officers mentioned in 1Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11—"apostles," etc. But nowhere in God's Word do we find
that there were to be any successors to the twelve apostles of Christ.
There is no record that any of the apostles ever "ordained" any persons
to succeed them in office as apostles. May we also suggest that nowhere
in God's Word do we find mention of such church officers as "President,"
or "The Counselors in the First Presidency" or such an officer as "the
Presiding Patriarch." These are all additions to the Word of God. Every
false faith adds to or takes from the Bible. God meets our every
spiritual need by the Bible.
2. The Reliability of the Bible
Mormon View
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly." No. 8 of the "Mormon" Articles of Faith, quoted
in The Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage, 1925
edition, page 236, line 1.
"Add all this imperfection to the uncertainty of the translation, and
who, in his right mind, could for one moment, suppose the Bible in its
present form to be a perfect guide? Who knows that even one verse of the
whole Bible has escaped pollution, so as to convey the same sense now
that it did in the original?" —Divine Authority of The Book of
Mormon, by Apostle Orson Pratt (Section No. 3), page 47, lines
28-32.
But Apostle and Theologian James E. Talmage takes issue with the
above utterance of Apostle Orson Pratt: "An impartial investigator has
cause to wonder more at the paucity of errors than that mistakes are to
be found at all"—The Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E.
Talmage, 1925 edition, page 237, lines 3-5.
Apostle Orson Pratt, who died a long while ago, even questions the
inspiration of the New Testament writers: "If it be admitted that the
apostles and evangelists did write the books of the New Testament, that
does not prove of itself that they were divinely inspired at the time
they wrote."—Divine Authority of The Book of Mormon, by Apostle
Orson Pratt (Section No. 3), page 45, lines 31-33.
Christian View
As to the correctness of the translation of the Scriptures, hear the
testimony of Professor Robert Dick Wilson of Princeton Theological
Seminary. There is no greater authority on Hebrew and other ancient
languages. He says: "You can be absolutely certain that we have the text
substantially of the Old Testament that Christ and the Apostles had and
that was in existence from the beginning"-The Sunday School Times,
June 27, 1925, page 414.
"Thy Word is very pure: therefore Thy servant loveth it" Psalm
119:140.
"Thy Word is true from the beginning" Psalm 119:160.
"Thy Word is truth" John 17:17.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"
2 Timothy 3:16.
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" 2 Peter 1:21.
"But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of
me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" Galatians 1:11-12
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe" 1Thessalonians 2:13.
COMMENT: Why should most of the Mormon leaders speak disparagingly of
the translation of the Bible? And why should some even question the
inspiration of the Bible? Is it not probable that they do this in order
to make people feel the need of the revelation the Mormons claim to have
received and continue to receive? Are not these aspersions cast upon the
reliability of the Bible in order to make people feel they must come to
the Mormon "prophets, seers and revelators" to obtain the Word of God,
thus bringing them under the power of the Mormon priesthood? And we have
seen that there is no justification whatever for regarding the Bible as incorrectly translated or not inspired. Every
blessing of so-called "Christian" civilization has come from the Bible.
And millions have found the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior by reading
or hearing and believing the Bible.
It is tragic indeed that the Mormon people so greatly
neglect the Bible. This is because their leaders have undermined the
faith of their people in the reliability of the Bible. Mormon
missionaries use the Bible only so far as they can get texts from it
which they can present in such a way as to appear to agree with Mormon
teachings. And they use these Bible texts with those who believe the
Bible in order to persuade them to accept Mormonism. For any other
purpose the Bible seems to have very little weight with the Mormons.
They do not by any means regard it as the final authority in spiritual
truth, as do orthodox Christians.
Next, let us consider the contrasting views about God.
II. GOD
1. One God or Many?
Mormon View-Many Gods and Polygamous
"Q. Are there more Gods than one?
A. Yes, many. 1 Cor 8:5"—Catechism, by Elder John Jaques,
chapter 4, page 13.
"In the Heaven where our spirits were born, there are many Gods, each
one of whom has his own wife or wives which were given to him previous
to his redemption, while yet in his mortal state"—The Seer,
by Apostle Orson Pratt, Vol. 1, March 1853, No. 3, page 37, column
2, paragraph 25, lines 1-6.
"The head God called together the Gods and sat in grand council to
bring forth the world."
"In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods;
and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and
people it"—sermon by the Prophet Joseph Smith, April 6, 1844, recorded
in The Journal of Discourses, Vol. VI, page 5, column 1, lines
9-12; and column 2, lines 18-22.
Christian View-One God
"There is none other God but one. For though there be that are called
gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords
many, But to us there is but one God" I Corinthians 8:4-6.
Part of the above Scripture is cited by the Mormon Catechism to prove
that there are many Gods. But a careful examination of this passage and
its context shows that it means the very opposite of what the Mormons
make it out to teach. The apostle Paul was here contrasting the heathen
belief in many gods with the Christian revelation that "there is none
other God but one."
"For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the
heavens" I Chronicles 16:26.
"Beside Me there is no God" Isaiah 44:6.
"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside
Me" Isaiah 45:5.
"Thou alone art God" I Chronicles 17:26 (Jewish translation of the
Bible).
"Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?" Jeremiah
16:20.
COMMENT: The belief in many gods is fundamental to Mormonism and is
in utter contrast with the Bible revelation of but one God. The Mormon
"gods" are not only numerous but also polygamous!
2. Was God Once a Man?
Mormon View
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits
enthroned in yonder heavens"—sermon by the Prophet Joseph Smith, April
6, 1844, recorded in The Journal of Discourses, Vol. VI, page 3,
column 1, lines 46-48.
— God and Man of Same Race
"Gods, angels and men are all of one species, one race, one great
family, widely diffused among the planetary systems, as colonies,
kingdoms, nations, etc." —Key to Science of Theology, by Apostle
Parley P. Pratt, page 33, lines 19-20.
— Adam Is Our Father and Our God
"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and
sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into
it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him.
He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel,
the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken-He is
our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do"—sermon
by President and Prophet Brigham Young, April 9, 1852, recorded in
The Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 50, column 2, lines 9-21.
COMMENT: Here we see that the Mormon Prophets teach that God was once
a man and that the man Adam is the God of this world.
Christian View
— God Has Always Been God
"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the
son of man, that He should repent" Numbers 23:19.
"I am God, and not man" Hosea 11:9.
"From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God" Psalm
90:2.
"The eternal God" Deuteronomy 33:27.
"The first man Adam was made a living soul" 1
Corinthians 15:45.
"In Adam all die" 1 Corinthians 15:22.
"And unto Adam He (God) said ... dust thou art, and
unto dust shalt thou return" Genesis 3:17, 19.
3. Can Men Become Gods?
Mormon View-Men Must Learn How to Become Gods
"The couplet given by revelation to President Lorenzo Snow is
accepted as doctrine by the entire church: 'As man is, God once was; As
God is, man may become" 'Leaflet No. 37, Series B, for use of Ward
Teachers in Liberty Stake of Zion, during September 1924.
"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"—sermon by the
Prophet Joseph Smith, recorded in The Journal of Discourses, Vol.
VI, page 4, column 1, lines 7-11.
"Each God, through his wife or wives, raises up a numerous family of
sons and daughters; indeed, there will be no end to the increase of his
own children; for each father and mother will be in a condition to
multiply forever and ever. As soon as each God has begotten many
millions of male and female spirits, and his Heavenly inheritance
becomes too small to comfortably accommodate his great family, he, in
connection with his sons, organizes a new world, after a similar order
to the one which we now inhabit, where he sends both the male and female
spirits to inhabit tabernacles of flesh and bones." —The Seer,
Vol. 1, page 37, column 2, lines 11-27; quotation from Apostle Orson
Pratt.
Christian View-God Did Not Become God
Satan was the first being who was ambitious to become a god. He said,
"I will be like the most High." But God said concerning Satan, "Yet thou
shalt be brought down to hell" Isaiah 14:14-15.
Satan's first lie to man was, "Ye shall be as gods" Genesis 3:5.
And the Lord Jesus Christ said about Satan, "He is a liar" John 8:44.
"In the beginning God" Genesis 1:1.
"From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God" Psalm 90:2.
"For I am the LORD, I change not" Malachi 3:6.
"Your Father which is in heaven is perfect" Matthew 5:48.
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever" Hebrews
13:8.
God is perfect and therefore cannot "progress," as Mormons teach.
Christ, too, is changeless because He is God.
COMMENT: Mormons admit that man is a sinner. Then if "God once was"
"as man is," the God of Mormonism was once a sinner, and he is not the
God of the Bible. For the God of the Bible says, "I am holy" (Leviticus
11:44). Also, He says, "I change not" (Malachi 3:6). There never was a
time when the God of the Bible was a sinner, and therefore He was never
a man. To regard God as having once been a sinner destroys the
realization of the sinfulness of sin and the holiness of God. It also
destroys the realization that God, the Creator, is infinitely above man,
His finite creature. Man cannot become a god.
4. Does God Have A Body?
Mormon View
"That which is without body, parts and passions is nothing. There is
no other God in heaven but that God who has flesh and bones"—A
Compendium, by Apostle F.D. Richards and Elder J. A. Little, page
287, lines 39-42.
"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's"—Doctrine
and Covenants, by the Prophet Joseph Smith, etc., 130:22.
Christian View
"God is a Spirit" John 4:24.
After His resurrection, the Lord Jesus said, "Behold My hands and My
feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit ~hath not
flesh and bones, as ye see Me have" Luke 24:39.
COMMENT: The Bible uses anthropomorphic terms such as "eyes, "ears,"
"hands," "feet," etc. to describe to man the actions of God. But the
above Bible quotations tell us that "God is a Spirit" and that "a spirit
hath not flesh and bones." The Bible also speaks figuratively of God's
"wings" (Psalm 17:8) and "feathers" (Psalm 91:4). Therefore, to be
logical, those who think God's "hands" and "feet" are literal must
believe also that God has actual "wings" and "feathers"! And if God has
a physical body, how immense it must be, for He says, "Do not I fill
heaven and earth? saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:24).
Since God the Father has no physical body, in what sense then is it
true that "God created man in His own image" (Genesis 1:27)? Is a body
all or the main part of a man? Is not the intellectual, volitional,
spiritual and self-conscious nature of man superior to the body? All
animals, even the tiniest insects, have a body. But it is in thought,
will, capacity for fellowship with God and self-consciousness that man
was made in the likeness of God. When the Lord Jesus said, "He that hath
seen Me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9), He certainly had no thought
of physical resemblance between Himself and God. If He meant that God
had a body, then any man could say, "He that hath seen me hath seen the
Father," for every man has a body! The Lord Jesus also said, "I and My
Father are one" (John 10:30). It is because Christ and God the Father
are "one" in infinite spiritual nature that He said, "He that hath seen
Me hath seen the Father." A body is physical and can be seen, but Christ
"is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1: 15).
5. What Is Man's Relation to God?
Mormon View
"I wish to be perfectly understood here. Let it be remembered that
the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that man, that is, his spirit, is the
offspring of Deity; not in any mystical sense, but actually; that man
has not only a Father in heaven, but a Mother also"—New Witness for
God, by Brigham H. Roberts, Vol. 1, page 461, lines 16-20.
"Spirits are eternal. At the first organization in heaven we were all
present, and saw the Saviour chosen and appointed, and the plan of
salvation made, and we sanctioned it"—the Prophet Joseph Smith in The
Scrap Book of Mormon Literature, Vol. 11, page 10, lines 16-18.
Christian View
"God created man" Genesis 1:27.
By nature man is God's creature, not God's child.
"But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which
were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God" John 1: 12-13.
"Ye must be born again" John 3:7.
Man has been physically born. To be saved he must be "born again," of
the Holy Spirit, by personally accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his
Savior. To the "born again" ones, God is "the Father of spirits"
(Hebrews 12:9).
COMMENT: The Bible does not teach man's pre-existence. God's question
to Job—"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job
38:4)—instead of indicating that Job existed when God created the earth,
indicates the very opposite, as the context shows. By this sarcastic
statement God reminds Job that he is finite and did not exist when God
wrought the wonders of creation. Had Job existed when God created the
earth, the inference is that Job would have known how God effected the
creation. And Job had no such knowledge because he came to be after God
created the world.
6. Is God a Creator or Just an Organizer?
Mormon View
"The Creator is an Organizer. God created the earth as an organized
sphere; but He certainly did not create, in the sense of bringing into
primal existence, the ultimate elements of the materials of which the
earth consists, for 'the elements are eternal' (D. & C. 93:33)"—The
Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmadge, 1925 edition, page
466, lines 1-5.
"The Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth"—"Book of
Abraham,"4:1, in The Pearl of Great Price, by the Prophet Joseph
Smith, page 38.
Christian View
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth" Genesis 1: 1.
"God created man" Genesis 1:27.
"God created and made" Genesis 2:3.
"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made" Psalm
33:6.
"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the
womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things" Isaiah 44:24.
"For by Him (Jesus Christ) were all things created ... all things
were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by
Him all things consist" Colossians 1:16-17.
COMMENT: The Bible teaches that God both created and made the world.
If, as the Mormons teach, God did not bring "into primal existence, the
ultimate elements of the materials of which the earth consists," then
matter is as eternal as God, and God is not the Creator but merely an
artificer. The Mormon view is that God simply shaped the world out of
matter He found already existing. Mormonism knows no real Creator, for a
Creator is one who brings into existence that which does not exist.
And now let us observe the vast difference between the Mormon and the
Christian views of Jesus Christ.
III. JESUS CHRIST
1. Was Jesus Christ Begotten by the Holy Spirit?
Mormon View
"When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had
begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.
And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; and when he
took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the
same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons
and daughters of Adam and Eve"-sermon by President and Prophet Brigham
Young, recorded in The Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 50,
"When the time came that his First-born, the Savior, should come into
the world and take a tabernacle, the Father came himself and favored
that Spirit with a tabernacle instead of letting any other man do it"—Discourses
of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by Apostle John A. Widtsoe,
page 77, lines 8-11.
"His [Jesus Christ's] unique status in the flesh as the offspring of
a mortal mother and of an immortal, or resurrected and glorified,
Father"—The Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage, 1925
edition, page 472, last line, and 473, lines 1-2. This is a quotation
from a statement signed by "The First Presidency and the Council of the
Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt
Lake City, Utah, June 30, 1916."
"Now, remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ
was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I
was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject,
when I replied to this idea — 'if the Son was begotten by the Holy
Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and
give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children to be palmed
upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great
difficulties’"— sermon by President and Prophet Brigham Young, recorded
in The Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 51, column 1,
lines 46-51 and column 2, lines 1-9.
Christian View
"The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" Matthew 1:20.
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not
a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God" Luke 1:34-35.
COMMENT: Such blasphemy against the Holy Ghost as the utterance
quoted last above from Brigham Young, President and Prophet of
Mormonism, is astounding and actually indecent. Translated into plain
English, Young taught that Jesus Christ was the Son of Adam—the first of
the human family—by "the Virgin Mary."
2. Was Jesus Christ Married?
Mormon View
"The Evangelists [writers of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John], do not particularly speak of the marriage of Jesus; but this
is not to be wondered at, for St. John says: 'There are also many other
things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one,
I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that
should be written!' (John 21:25). One thing is certain, that there were
several holy women that greatly loved Jesus—such as Mary, and Martha her
sister, and Mary Magdalene; and Jesus greatly loved them, and associated
with them much; and when He arose from the dead, instead of first
showing Himself to His chosen witnesses, the Apostles, He appeared first
to these women, or at least to one of them—namely, Mary Magdalene. Now,
it would be very natural for a husband in the resurrection to appear
first to his own dear wives, and afterwards show himself to his other
friends. If all the acts of Jesus were written, we no doubt should learn
that these beloved women were his wives"—The Seer, by Apostle
Orson Pratt, Vol. 1, No. 10, October 1853, page 159, column 2, lines
6-32.
Further teaching along this line by Apostle Orson Pratt in which he
clearly and definitively teaches that the Scriptural statements about
the "seed," "generation" and "increase" of Christ refer to His having
actual physical posterity is found in The Seer, Vol. 1,
No. 9, September 1853, page 135, column 1, line 49, to page 136, column
2, line 19.
Christian View
Christians do not believe that Jesus Christ was married at all. His
Divine Person (both God and man) and His Mission — coming into the world
to be the Divine Sacrifice for the sins of all who will accept Him — are
utterly incompatible with the idea of marriage.
The Lord Jesus Christ was and is God incarnate, and the thought of
His marriage to a human woman is wholly incongruous.
If Christ had been married, then the silence of the Bible about that
important matter is inexcusable. The fact that the Bible is silent about
Christ being married is decisive. Christ was not married.
Mormon missionaries do not tell people that they believe Christ was
married. That teaching is "strong meat" and is only given to those who
are of "full age" in Mormonism. I have heard Mormon missionaries deny
that they believed Christ was married. But when I proved that they did
teach it, they immediately began to defend this teaching.
Christ's "seed" and "generation" and "increase" are solely spiritual.
See Isaiah 53:8, 10.
3. Is Joseph Smith Greater Than Jesus Christ?
Mormon View
"Q. Which is the greatest dispensation?
A. The dispensation of the Fullness of Times, opened through Joseph
Smith"—Catechism, by Elder John Jaques, page 73, paragraph 4.
Since the Mormons teach that "the greatest dispensation" is "the
dispensation of the Fullness of Times, opened through Joseph Smith," it
is fair to conclude that Mormonism regards Joseph Smith as greater than
the Lord Jesus Christ. This will be denied by the Mormon church, but the
statement from their Catechism disproves the denial.
Christian View
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him (the Lord Jesus Christ),
and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" Philippians 2:9-1
1.
The Lord Jesus said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last"
Revelation 1: 11. (See verse 18 to prove that it is the Lord Jesus
speaking in verse 11.)
Mormonism has had a great deal of difficulty deciding what to teach
about the Holy Spirit. Let us now note what the Mormon church teaches
about the third Person of the Holy Trinity.
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is the Holy Spirit a Substance or a Person?
Mormon View
— The Holy Spirit Is a "Substance"
"There are several of these subtle, invisible substances but little
understood as yet by man, and their existence is only demonstrated by
their effects. Some of them are recognized under the several terms,
electricity, galvanism, magnetism, animal magnetism, spiritual
magnetism, essence, spirit, etc. The purest, most refined and subtle of
all these substances, and the one least understood, or even recognized,
by the less informed among mankind, is that substance called the Holy
Spirit. This substance, like all others, is one of the elements of
material or physical existence, and therefore subject to the necessary
laws which govern all matter, as before enumerated"—Key to Science of
Theology, by Apostle Parley P. Pratt, page38, lines 27-29, to page
39, lines 1-11.
— The Holy Spirit a "Fluid"
"Jesus Christ, a little babe like all the rest of us have been, grew
to be a man, was filled with a divine substance or fluid, called the
Holy Spirit"-Key to Science of Theology, by Apostle Parley P.
Pratt, page 29, lines 23-25.
— The Personality of the Holy Ghost
"In the light of revelation, we are instructed as to the distinct
personality of the Holy Ghost. He is a Being endowed with the attributes
and powers of Deity, and not a mere thing, force, or essence"—The
Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage, 1899 edition, page
164, paragraph 6.
— Distinction Made Between the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the Lord
"‘The Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God,’ both of which terms are
sometimes used interchangeably with the Holy Ghost, ‘is the influence of
Deity, the light of Christ, or of Truth which proceeds forth from the
presence of God to fill the immensity of space and to quicken the
understanding of men.' (Doc. and Cov., 88:6-13.) Prest. Jos. F. Smith.
Care should therefore be taken to discriminate between the Holy Ghost
and the Spirit of the Lord"-The Scrap Book, Vol. I, page 510,
lines 7-14.
Christian View
— The Holy Spirit Is a Person
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you
into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He
shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come"
John 16:13.
Seven times in this one passage of Scripture, the Lord Jesus Christ
refers to the Holy Spirit by means of personal pronouns. The Holy Spirit
is a Divine Person — the Third Person of the Holy Trinity — and He is
not a "substance," or a "fluid," as is taught by the Mormons.
The Lord Jesus Christ called the Holy Spirit "another Comforter"
(John 14:16), Christ Himself being one Comforter and the Holy Spirit
"another Comforter." The Holy Spirit was "another of the same kind" as
Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is as truly a person as is Jesus Christ.
— Acts Which Can Be Attributed Only to a Person Are Ascribed to the
Holy Spirit:
He knows. I Corinthians 2:1 1.
He wills. I Corinthians 12:11.
He loves. Romans 15:30.
He can be grieved. Ephesians 4:30.
He speaks. Revelation 2:7.
He leads. Romans 8:14.
Personality does not depend upon having a body. That is corporeality.
Personality consists of knowledge, will-power, feeling and
self-consciousness.
— The Holy Ghost Is God
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to
the Holy Ghost ... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" Acts
5:3-4.
The Bible teaches, and Christians believe in, the Deity of the Holy
Ghost — not merely that the Holy Ghost has "the attributes and powers of
Deity," as the Mormons teach. The Holy Ghost is God.
—No Distinction Made Between the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the
Lord
The Hebrew word ruach, translated "spirit," and the Greek word
pneuma, translated "spirit" or "ghost," both mean "wind."
Sometimes the adjective holy indicates that the Holy Ghost (which is the
Holy Spirit) is meant, and sometimes it is shown simply by the context
of the verse. Any discrimination between the Holy Ghost and the Spirit
of the Lord is utterly foreign to the Bible. Furthermore, such
distinction shows ignorance of the text and also of the languages in
which the Scriptures were originally written.
2. Is the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) Only in One
Place at the Same Time?
Mormon View
"The actual person of the Holy Ghost cannot be in more than one place
at a time—"The Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage,
1925 ed., page 160, lines 16-17.
Christian View
"Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy
presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed
in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me"
Psalm139:7-10.
COMMENT: The Holy Ghost (the Holy Spirit) is everywhere at the same
time. He is God and is omnipresent.
3. Is "Laying on of Hands" Necessary for Receiving the Holy Spirit?
Mormon View
"After the baptism or birth of water comes the baptism or birth of
the spirit. This gift from God is conferred by the laying on of the
hands of men called of God and endowed with authority to perform this
sacred ordinance"—President and Prophet Charles W. Penrose, quoted in
The Scrap Book, Vol. 1, page 217, lines 12-16.
This teaching is simply another attempt to bring people under the
power of the Mormon priesthood. A little further on we will examine the
Scripturalness of the claims of the Mormon priesthood.
Christian View
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" Galatians 4:6.
The Holy Spirit came into the hearts of the disciples at Pentecost
(Acts 2) and on Cornelius and his household at Caesarea (Acts 10)
because they had accepted Christ, and no hands were laid upon them. The
Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the heart of every one who becomes a son
of God by receiving the Son of God as his Savior (see 1 Corinthians
3:16; 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:13-14, etc.).
4. Are Spirit and Matter Synonymous?
Mormon View
"All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be
discerned by purer eyes"—Doctrine and Covenants, by the Prophet
Joseph Smith, etc., 131:7.
"Spirit is matter, and matter is full of spirit"—Key to Science of
Theology, by Apostle Parley P. Pratt, page 43, line 28.
Christian View
"The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath
given me life" Job 33:4.
"Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: and Thou renewest
the face of the earth" Psalm 104:30.
God created matter. Spirit and matter are not identical but are
distinct one from the other.
We come now to notice the vital contrast between the teachings of
Mom~ionism and Christianity concerning sin.
V. SIN
1.Did God Plan for Man to Fall?
Mormon View
"It will be seen from this, in the first place, that, as we have
before stated, God's plan in relation to man was that he should fall"—Mediation
and Atonement, by President and Prophet John Taylor, page 187, lines
7-9.
Christian View
Not a line can be adduced from the Bible to show that God planned for
man to fall. God plainly warned man of the penalty of disobedience,
saying, "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die" Genesis 2:17.
COMMENT: It is a base slander against God to say that He planned for
man to fall. If that were true, which it is not, God would be a
party to the sin of man. And if God planned for man to sin and punished
man for sinning, God would be utterly unjust. The Bible teaches that God
is holy, just and loving and nowhere even implies that He planned for
man to fall. God hates sin. How, then, could He plan for man to sin.,
2. Is Sin a Necessity?
Mormon View
"Q. Was it necessary that Adam should partake of the forbidden fruit?
A. Yes, unless he had done so he would not have known good and evil
here, neither could he have had mortal posterity, and he could not have
cleaved to Eve, as he had promised, after her fall"—Catechism, by
Elder John Jaques, page 30, paragraph 13.
Christian View
God gave man a simple test of obedience. Man could not have had a
character that was positively good until he resisted the temptation to
do evil. It was not at all impossible for man to have resisted Satan's
temptation. Man did not need to know evil by experience. He needed only
to obey God.
3. Is Sin a Cause of Rejoicing?
Mormon View
"Q. Did Adam and Eve lament or rejoice because they had transgressed
the commandment and become acquainted with the nature of evil and good?
A. They rejoiced and praised God"—Catechism by Elder John
Jaques, page3l, paragraph 14.
"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have
fallen ... And they would have had no children; wherefore they would
have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no
misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin"—The Book of Mormon,
2 Nephi 2:22-23.
Christian View
"And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam,
and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard Thy voice in the
garden, and I was afraid" Genesis 3:8-10.
"For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23.
"For He hath made Him (Christ) to be sin (sin offering) for us" 2
Corinthians 5:2 1.
"And being in an agony He (Christ) prayed more earnestly: and His
sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground"
Luke 22:44.
COMMENT: Sin brought no joy but, rather, is the cause of all the
sorrow and sickness, agony and anguish, heartache and hell, tears and
trials, grief and groanings, injustice and infamy, with which the world
is filled. The sin of man cost the precious life-blood of the sinless
Son of God. There is not a line in the whole Bible to indicate that man
needed to sin in order to have children or joy or to do good. The logic
of Mormonism would make God out to be a sinner, else He could have no
joy or do no good. Sin has made an eternal hell of torment necessary and
sends men there, if they reject Christ who died for their sin.
Finally, let us consider the great gulf between the Mormon and Bible
teachings about salvation.
VI. SALVATION
1. Is Salvation Obtained by Ordinances and Good Works?
Mormon View
"The saving ordinances of the gospel must be administered by men
holding the Priesthood, which is the authority of God delegated to
man"—Elder Nephi Anderson in The Scrap Book, Vol. 1, page 511,
lines 4-6.
"The Gospel of Jesus Christ is called the plan of salvation. It is a
system of rules by complying with which salvation may be gained"—Elder
E. F. Parry, in The Scrap Book, Vol. 11, page 321, lines
26-28.
"Redemption from personal sins can only be obtained through obedience
to the requirements of the Gospel, and a life of good works"—A
Compendium, by Apostle F.D. Richards and Elder J. A. Little, page 9,
lines 28-3 1.
"Salvation comes to the individual only through obedience"—The
Articles of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage, 1899 edition, page
93, paragraph 26.
Christian View
"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"
Romans 6: 23.
"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"
Ephesians 2:8-9.
"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; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour" Titus 3:5-6.
"Christ died for our sins" 1 Corinthians 15:3.
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this
man (Jesus Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by
Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could
not be justified by the law of Moses" Acts 13:38-39.
COMMENT: There is a head-on collision between Mormonism and the Bible
as to how salvation is obtained. Mormonism says it is "through obedience
to the requirements of the Gospel," and by that they mean the observance
of all the rites, forms and ceremonies of the Mormon "revelation" and
that with this observance of what they call "saving ordinances," there
must be "a life of good works." Thus, Mormonism teaches that man is his
own savior by his "obedience." But the Word of God declares that
salvation is "the gift of God." A "gift" cannot in any way be
earned; otherwise, it is not a "gift." Again and again we are told that
salvation is "not of works," ceremonial or of any other
sort. In fact, God's Word states that salvation is "not of
yourselves," in any sense whatever. All we sinners can do is to
reach out the hand of faith and take salvation as the free gift of God
in Christ. And the blessed Lord Jesus not only died for Adam's
transgressions, but, as Paul says, "Christ died for our sins." And we
are told that "by Him all that believe are justified from all things,"
not merely from our inherited sins or all sins committed before our
conversion, but "all things"—past, present and future. When we believe
this, we so love God that we never want to sin again. Sin becomes
abhorrent to us. We want to wholly obey God.
2. Is "Justification by Faith Alone" a "Pernicious Doctrine"?
Mormon View
"The Sectarian Dogma of justification by Faith alone has exercised an
influence for evil since the early days of Christianity"—The Articles
of Faith, by Apostle James E. Talmage, 1899 edition, page 120, lines
29-30.
But the above denunciation is not as strong as he makes in his 1925
edition of The Articles of Faith. In the latter, on page
479, lines 33-34, he calls "justification by faith alone": "this
pernicious doctrine."
Christian View
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
John 3:16.
"He that believeth on Him (Christ) is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God" John 3:18.
"What must I do to be saved? ... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16:30-31.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1.
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus" Romans 3:24.
COMMENT: Scriptures could be cited in large numbers which show that
according to the Word of God, the doctrine of "justification by faith
alone" is not "pernicious" but, rather, most precious. Why should it be
"pernicious" to Mormonism? Is it because it destroys the claims of the
Mormon priesthood? The word freely in Romans 3:24 means
"gratuitously"—absolutely free; so are we justified by faith alone in
the Lord Jesus. There is no real conflict between the teachings of the
apostles Paul and James. One who has true faith in Christ unto salvation
will be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8). But he will do
"good works" not in order to be saved but because he is saved. There is
a world of difference between doing good works to be saved and doing
good works because one is saved. A genuine believer in Christ is saved
not by what he does for Christ but by what Christ, on Calvary's Cross,
did for him.
3. In This Gospel Age Is There Any Human Priesthood Between the
Individual Soul and God?
Mormon View
"This people of the last days profess to have the Priesthood of the
Almighty, the power to act in the name of God, which power commands
respect both on earth and in heaven"—The Articles of Faith, by
Apostle James E. Talmage, 1925 edition, page 204, lines 12-15.
"Men who hold the priesthood possess divine authority thus to act for
God; and by possessing part of God's power they are in reality part of
God; that is, in the sense of being part of the great governing power
that extends throughout the universe—"A New Witness for God, by
Elder Brigham H. Roberts, Vol. 1, page 187, lines 13-17.
"The saving ordinances of the gospel must be administered by men
holding the Priesthood, which is the authority of God delegated to
man"—Elder Nephi Anderson in The Scrap Book, Vol. 1, page 511,
lines 4-6.
Christian View
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath
called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" 1Peter 2:9.
"And [Christ] hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;
to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" Revelation 1:6.
"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name"
Hebrews 13:15.
"For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus" 1Timothy 2:5.
COMMENT: The Mormons claim to have had restored to them the "Aaronic"
and the "Melchizedekan" priesthoods. Not a line from Scripture can be
cited to show that any such "priesthood" orders ever existed in the
church of Jesus Christ. The "Aaronic" priesthood belonged to the Jews
alone. When the Lord Jesus Christ came and died on the cross, fulfilling
the types of the Old Testament priesthood and offerings, this priesthood
was done away with forever. Such is the teaching of the whole of the
epistle to the Hebrews. And as to the priesthood "after the order of
Melchisedec" (Hebrews 5:6), the Scriptures show that none ever held it
but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It was never passed on to anyone.
There is a royal priesthood of all true believers in Christ; all are in
it, and there is no "greater" or "lesser" priesthood such as Mormonism
has. Both Mormonism and Romanism teach that there are many
priests—mediators—between God and men. But the Bible teaches that the
Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Mediator (priest) between God and
men. Any earthly priesthood that claims to come between the soul and God
today is an insult to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mormons make much of the matter of "proper authority" to preach and
perform ordinances. They say they alone have it. They quote, "And no man
taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was
Aaron" (Hebrews 5:4). But Aaron was not called to preach. He was the high
priest of Israel. And there was only one high priest at a time! And we
have seen that Christ terminated the Aaronic priesthood by His death for
us, whereby He became our eternal High Priest. This Scripture has not
the remotest reference to "authority." The Mormons simply imitate the
Roman Catholics in making priestly assumptions for the sake of priestly
power over the people. Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is
commissioned of Christ to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
To every reconciled one, Christ has committed the ministry of
reconciliation. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). Every true believer in Christ is
to be a witness for Christ.
Mormonism claims to be the true church of Christ. President and
Prophet Charles W. Penrose, in his leaflet, "Why I am a 'Mormon," page
4, lines 25-26, says, "It is the only religious system that professes to
have been established by direct divine authority." But the Word of God
says, "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved"
(Acts 2:47). The teaching of the whole New Testament is that every one
who is saved by faith in Christ is a member of Christ's true church.
CONCLUSION
From our consideration of the authoritative teachings of Mormonism
and the teachings of the Bible, the Word of God, we have seen that these
teachings are as different as day and night and as far apart as north is
from south.
May God keep you, my dear reader, from this awful snare of Satan if
you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. And if you are
not saved, accept the Son of God as your Savior immediately. God's Word
says, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2
Corinthians 6:2). "To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your
hearts" (Hebrews 3:7-8). "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy
under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,
and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified,
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
(Hebrews 10:28-29).
We rejoice that God has brought many precious souls out of the
darkness of Mormonism into the light and liberty of the children of God.
If you are now entangled in this false faith, may the dear Lord deliver
you. Again, God's Word declares, "The entrance of Thy words giveth
light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130). Then
spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he
that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light
of life" (John 8:12).
While we have written about the errors of Mormonism in a clear and
straightforward manner, nothing but kindness has been in our hearts, for
we truly desire to glorify God and to see lost souls come to a saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ. We have not discussed Mormonism fully but
have presented enough information to show that it is not Christianity at
all. Christians ought not to receive Mormon missionaries into their
homes. Concerning false teachers, the apostle John writes: "Receive him
not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him
God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 10-11).
Do not be deceived by claims of miraculous manifestations made in
support of Mormonism. The Lord Jesus declared, "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).
Iniquity is any departure from or violation of God's own Word.
Christ does not deny that miracles and prophesying were accomplished in
His name, but He calls them "iniquity" because they were done by Satan's
power to endorse that which was false to Christ's Word. Therefore, He
says, "I never knew you."
No matter what "light" is claimed by false teachers, the Word of God
declares, "If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there
is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The full title, author, publisher and place and date of publication
of the Mormon authoritative books quoted from in the preceding
pages is given below:
-
Articles of Faith, The.
A series of lectures on the principal
doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dr.
James E. Talmage. Written by appointment and published by the
Church. Deseret News, Salt Lake City, 1899. Also 1925 edition of the
same. Dr. Talmage is [was, Ed.] one of the Twelve Apostles of the
Church.
Book of Mormon, The.
Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. Bureau
of Information, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Publishers, Temple Block, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1905.
Catechism for Children, A. Exhibiting the Prominent Doctrines of
the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Elder
John Jaques. Published by George Q. Cannon, Salt Lake City, Utah,
1872.
Compendium, A, of the Doctrines of the Gospel.
Apostle F. D.
Richards and Elder, J.A. Little, Compilers. 3d Stereotype Edition. Geo. Q. Cannon &
Sons Co., Printers, Salt Lake City, 1898.
Discourses of Brigham Young, Second President of the Church of
Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Selected and Arranged
by Apostle John A. Widtsoe. Published by Deseret Book Company, Salt
Lake City, 1925.
Divine Authority of The Book of Mormon.
(Section No. 3.) By
Orson Pratt, one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bound in the "Utah Pamphlets," Library
No. U.040, P. 186, V. 16.
Doctrine and Covenants, The,
of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Containing revelations given to Joseph Smith, The
Prophet, with some additions by his Successors in the Presidency of
the Church. Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, U. S. A., 1923.
Journal of Discourses, The.
Vol. I By Brigham Young,
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his
two Counsellors, the Twelve Apostles and others. Reported by G. D.
Watt and humbly dedicated to the Latter-day Saints of the world.
Published by F. D. and S. W. Richards, 1854, 15 Wilton St.,
Liverpool, and Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 35 Jewin St., London.
Journal of Discourses, The.
Vol. VI. Delivered by President
Brigham Young, his two Counsellors, the Twelve Apostles and others.
Reported by G. D. Watt, J. V. Long and others and humbly dedicated
to the Latter-day Saints in all the world. Edited and published by
Asa Calkin, 42 Islington, Liverpool and Latter-day Saints' Book
Depot, 35 Jewin St., London, 1859.
Key to Science of Theology, A
. By Apostle Parley P. Pratt.
Published by F. D. Richards, 15 Wilton St., Liverpool and Latter-day
Saints' Book Depot, 35 Jewin St., London, 1855.
Mediation and Atonement of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
By President John Taylor. Published by Deseret News Publishing Co.,
Salt Lake City, Utah, 1892.
New Witness for God,
A. By Elder B. H. Roberts. Vol. I.
Published by Geo. Q. Cannon & Sons Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, 1895.
Approved by F. D. Richards, one of the Twelve Apostles, and others.
Pearl of Great Price, The.
A selection from the revelations,
translations and narrations of Joseph Smith, first Prophet, Seer and
Revelator to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt
Lake City, Utah, U. S. A., 1923.
Scrap Book of Mormon Literature,
Vols. I and 11, published by
Ben E. Rich.
Seer, The.
March 1853, No. 3; September 1853, No. 9; and
October 1853, No. 10. By Apostle Orson Pratt of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Authorized by Brigham Young, Heber C.
Kimball, Willard Richards, First Presidency of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 13,
1852.
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