2 Timothy 2:15

Understanding Mormonism  Week 3

        As we conclude this study it is my desire that you are encouraged and challenged; encouraged by the truth of the gospel and challenged to speak the truth in love with whomever God would connect you with. We read in Acts 17 of how Paul went to Athens and “his spirit was provoked within him…” when he saw how the city was given over to false religion. He then chose to engage with the Athenians and declare the clear simple truth of the gospel. May God provoke our heart in the same manner that we would be His messengers in our homes, schools, workplace and community.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come they will not endure sound doctrine…  but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:2,3,5

 
LDS teachings states that the church was totally apostate and God had to restore the church through Joseph Smith. Therefore only those who are a part of the fully restored church (LDS) can spend eternity in the very presence of God. All other churches, all non LDS, are apostate (having only pieces of truth and not the full gospel) and are in rebellion to God.

Before we look at the doctrine and teaching of the LDS in regards to who can be saved we must remember that although we may use the same words, the meaning is often quite a bit different as seen in our last study.
For this study here are a couple of examples of the definition dilemma. 

LDS beliefs are:

Bible teaches:

Let’s compare LDS teaching to what the Bible says concerning-

 
How can man be saved?

LDS-

To have “eternal life” you must

          a.   Obey the plan you received in your “pre-mortal” existence.

Bible-

Who can be saved?

LDS-

Only those in the LDS church:

          a.   “If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation” (Mormon Doctrine, pg 670)

 
B.   Those who obey the teachings of the LDS church:

          a.   “The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the keys of salvation for all men now living because he is the only one by whose authorization the sealing power of the priesthood can be used to seal men up to salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of God” (Mormon Doctrine pg.411)

Respect- Jesus faced opposition from many different areas; religious, social, political, even resistance among His disciples (John 6:60-71). Consistently He spoke the truth without mocking or deriding the individual and He respected them enough to address difficult issues.

Sincerity- (Freedom from hypocrisy, disguise or false pretense). Effective witness requires a consistent, hypocrisy free witness. Share the gospel because you care for and love the people who are lost! Check your heart, if you are out to prove them wrong you will probably just argue.

Truth- Jesus said the “truth shall make you free… therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Don’t be drawn off track, stick with the important issues such as we have reviewed;  Who God is, Who Jesus is, How can I be saved, Who can be saved. 

 
The definition dilemma- Realize that in conversation you may be using the same words but they have different meanings. Ask questions, speak clearly, and define what you mean. Familiarize yourself with their definitions as much as possible.

Calvary Chapel Mountain Home     |     350 N Main St.     |     (208)-580-0662     |     office@ccmountainhome.com

"Understanding Mormonism" Week 1 Notes

As we begin this study it is helpful to understand the background to religion. Religion being man’s efforts to relate to God through beliefs, cultural systems and world view.

The Bible first introduces us to religion in Genesis 4:1-9 and the story of Cain and Abel.

1. V4-Notice that the Lord respected Abel and his offering. Abel had acted out of obedience and humility concerning what God had instructed him. God gazed or looked upon (received) Abel’s offering

1. Genesis 3:1-5 We see the demonic technique of casting doubt on the Word of God.
2. Matthew 4:1-11 Here the devil tries to manipulate the Word of God and tempt Jesus into sin.
Religious efforts always speak of God but the emphasis is upon what man can or must do in order to be right with God.

Let’s now look at how Jesus dealt with the religiously charged people of His day. How did Jesus handle those who misrepresented God and misinterpreted His Word? To do this let’s consider two types of religious people:

I.          The contentious(or self-righteous):  Luke 5:17-26 

               a.   Power is there to heal (v17) and yet they would not look and see who Jesus was. 

               b.   Jesus is aware of their animosity yet engages with them. 

               c.   He knew most would not listen to Him, yet He spoke respectfully and directly. 

               d.   In spite of criticism Jesus stayed true to His purpose:  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

                                    i.          Purpose- Seek and save

                                    ii.         Desire- People would be rescued, saved from eternal separation

                                    iii.       Delivery- Talked to them not at them. Many Jews, even some of the Sanhedrin were saved.

                e.With those who were contentious He engaged, planted thoughts, revealed truth but did not get drawn into debate! (additionally: Matt.    12:2,15:2,Mark 2:6-8, 3:1-6, Lk 5:30, 13:10-17)

II.         The confused: John 4:19-26- Jesus speaks to the woman and she brings up a “religious” question. 

               a.   John 4:4-42 She was confused and He brought truth and hope.

With the contentious or the confused notice how Jesus engaged with them:

1. Respect- Jesus’ respected the religious of His day; their customs in the Synagogue, their position within society. He did not ‘regard’ or hold their opinion up but He respected them as people.  This is not easy to do but it is essential if you are to have a healthy dialogue.

               i. Does not mean condone (overlook) or compromise. 
               ii. Know when to listen and when to speak Jesus often asked questions when speaking to religious people. 
               iii. True respect will lovingly address differences.

                    1. It’s not a debate! Jesus was not out to win a doctrinal debate, He was out to reveal the truth so that the truth would set them free.(John 8:32)
                    2. PRAY- For God to direct your thoughts and the conversation so you can maintain respect and begin to address critical differences.

                           a. Recognize His timing and His work in your heart and the person you are speaking with. (check your motives)

               i. Common ground- KJV Bible. This is accepted as scripture with the LDS although it is not considered to be ‘final authority’.
               ii. LDS teaching and beliefs should not contradict what is clearly stated in the Bible
               iii. Avoid secondary topics, stick with important issues: 

                           a.Who God is?
                           b. Who Jesus is?
                           c.How can a person be saved? Who can be saved? (What does it mean to be saved?)

               i. Show them what the Bible says; turn to chapter and verse and have them do the same.
               ii. Ask them to read the verse.
               iii. Avoid ‘secondary’ issues, and ‘diversionary’ questions. You will often have missionaries ‘answer a question with a question’. This enables them to redirect the conversation and bring up a more comfortable topic or text.
 

1. Who is God?

               a. BIBLE-Monotheism- 

                         i. Deut. 4:35- It was shown to you so that you might know that Jehovah is God, and no one else beside Him.
                         ii. Isaiah 44:6 So says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and His redeemer Jehovah of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and besides Me there is no God…  
                         iii. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

                         i. “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost- comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God, it is evident, from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exist. To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is an infinite number of holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who have passed on to exaltation and are thus gods.”  Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie, pgs 576-577

                         i. Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Consider also; Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:9, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 40:28

                         i. “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!...”  Teachings of the Prophet Joesph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith, pgs 345-346

                           i. Within the belief that the Father has flesh and bones the LDS also believe that the Father had sexual relations with Mary and Jesus was conceived. Denying the clear teaching of the Bible (Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:31,35) the LDS believe, “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.” Journal of Discourses, Vol.1 pg.50, Brigham Young. Brigham Young repeated this belief in greater detail and his discourse is recorded in vol.8, pg.115.

This is not an ‘exhaustive’ list rather just a scratching of the surface to reveal what is underneath. It is easily seen that the God of the LDS is not the God of the Bible!

Next week we will look at the differences between Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus of the LDS.  Our goal in all of this is to live out what Jesus said concerning truth; “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32

Calvary Chapel Mountain Home   |  350 N Main St.  |   (208)-580-0662   |  office@ccmountainhome.com