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The word cult is not difficult to define. While both cults and world religions are religious groups, there is a distinct difference between them. World religions do not claim any compatibility with Christianity. Cults, on the other hand, generally claim to be "Christian", or to be compatible with Christianity, but their doctrine and practices misrepresent and/or contradict the teachings of the Bible. Which is why Bible Believing Christians rightly consider Mormonism a cult
BRIEF OVERVIEW
(Index To Articles Below)
The Mormon view of the Bible is summed up in the following statement:
"The Bible of the Old World has come to us from the manuscripts of antiquity - manuscripts which passed through the hands of uninspired men who changed many parts to suit their own doctrinal ideas. Deletions were common, and, as it now stands, many plain and precious portions and many covenants of the Lord have been lost. As a consequence, those who rely upon it alone [the Bible] stumble and are confused" (Bruce McConkie, in ‘The Ensign’, December 1985, p 55).
[See Section A Remarkable Book Called The Bible]
Mormons deny that the Bible (the Old and New Testaments) is the complete and inerrant Word of God, strict monotheism (instead they adhere to henotheism, meaning that they believe in only one God for this planet), the fact that Jesus Christ is uniquely the Son of God (instead they say he is unique among the sons of God), the virgin birth (instead they explain it as a miraculous conception resulting from physical intercourse between God and Mary), and salvation by God’s work of grace alone.
Mormonism also teaches that Christ’s true church must have contemporary prophets, apostles, and priests, and that the Mormon church is the only one possessing all of these characteristics; Jesus Christ made a second appearance to proclaim the gospel to the Americas after His ascension; there are three different levels of heaven for people of different levels of spiritual maturation; and obedient Mormons can eventually achieve the status of “Gods” over their own planets. Mormonism teaches that the words of the current “prophet, seer, and revelator” (the current president of the Mormon church) can supersede and even contradict previous revelations. This is how they have justified the many doctrinal changes that have occurred over the years, such as their promotion of polygamy and their exclusion from the priesthood of people of “dark skin.”” (Equip.org)
The Warning In Galatians
In the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul warns of "another Jesus whom we have not preached... a different spirit which you have not received... a different gospel which you have not accepted" (2 Cor. 11:4).
In the New Testament book of Galatians, Paul again warns:
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" (Gal. 1:8).
Ironically, this latter warning is a nearly exact description of how the Mormon church was founded:
In 1820, Joseph Smith Jr., age 14, went into the woods near Palmyra, New York to pray concerning the different denominations of Christianity. Allegedly, God the Father and Jesus appeared to him and told him not to join any of those churches. Three years later an angel named Moroni, the son of the leader of a people called the Nephites who had lived in the Americas around 400 AD, appeared to Smith and told him that Smith had been chosen to translate a book written on golden plates by Moroni's father. Smith claimed to receive the plates along with instructions to begin the translation, which was published in 1830 as the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is supposedly the account of an ancient people who came from the Middle-East to the Americas. Smith claimed that during the translation process, John the Baptist appeared to him and ordained him to accomplish the divine work of restoring the true church by preaching the true gospel which, allegedly, had been lost from the earth. From 1833-1835, a collection of additional 'revelations from God' to Joseph Smith were published by the LDS church as the 'Doctrine and Covenants'. In 1880 another work, the 'Pearl of Great Price', was also added to the Mormon body of 'scripture'. (Dr. Michael Davis. Is Mormonism Christian?)
History and Beliefs
Brief History Who was Joseph Smith and how did it all start? The Story Vs.The Facts
Mormon Beliefs I Mormon Beliefs About the Bible and Salvation
Mormon Beliefs II Mormon Beliefs about Prophecy, Heaven, and Celestial Marriage.
Is Mormonism Christian? They accept as Scripture writings outside of the Bible, teach doctrines that contradict the Bible, and hold to beliefs completely foreign to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.
What Mormons Wont Tell You When They Call at Your Door
Book of Mormon More correct than the Bible? Check it out...verse by verse.
Additional Scripture? Does the Bible allow for additional Mormon Scripture? Does Mormon scripture fit the historical time frame for those who were qualified to judge it and does it have express Apostolic authorship or endorsement?
Bible or Book of Mormon The difference in reliability between the Bible and the Book of Mormon
Evaluating The Book of Mormon It is very difficult to see how the Book of Mormon passes the test of conformity. It has problems archeologically, linguistically, scientifically and logically. Furthermore, the book is full of outright plagiarisms from the King James Bible and many of its events have more in common with nineteenth century evangelicalism than with the period around the time of Christ. Lastly, some of the stories and events in the writing are patently ridiculous. For these reasons, the Book of Mormon is not true and cannot be the word of God.
Prophecies / Quotes Weren’t false prophets condemned to die in Deuteronomy 18:20? Quotes by leaders on a number of topics including the Mormon Blood Atonement Doctrine. LDS Leaders invite challenges to Mormonism and condemn other Churches
Joseph Smith Didn’t Believe in The Book of Mormon In 1844 Joseph Smith declared that the Book of Mormon was "the most correct book of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book" One would think that the Prophet would found his church upon the teachings of this "keystone" book. Let's see if he did.
10 Questions Mormons often promote their religion as a branch of "Christianity," and their basic doctrines may indeed give the appearance of being mainstream. However, when you delve below the surface you find differences in the most fundamental areas. Here are some of the questions and issues that arise from the unique claims of the Mormon Church.
Mormon Salvation On the surface, much of what Mormons do seems similar to Bible-based Christian denominations. What they believe, however, is not at all in correspondence to the Bible. Nowhere is this fact more evident than when the question “What must I do to be saved?” is asked.
Terminology Differences Whenever an evangelical Christian and a Latter-day Saint engage in a doctrinal discussion they encounter the problem of terminology. LDS leaders use the standard Christian vocabulary but with radically different definitions. A Christian should never take for granted that his/her LDS friend understands common Christian terms in the biblical way.
Joseph Smith and Muhammad.. The Similarities It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking—and troubling—parallels.
Of Cities and Swords The Impossible Task of Mormon Apologetics.
Doctrine
Baptism For The Dead Is one of the distinctive doctrines of Mormonism that separates it from historic, Biblical Christianity.
Road to godhood The Mormon church teaches that God was once a man and that he progressed to godhood. So for the Mormon, the good news is that you too can become as God. However there are many explicit Biblical passages that clearly declare this cardinal truth.
Temple and Family
The Mormon Temple Mormons are not free. They are imprisoned by the constant and burdensome gospel principles and temple ordinances for themselves and the dead so as to climb the ladder to exaltation in the celestial kingdom - and it does not end in this world!
The Mormon Family The Mormon family must keep up an appearance of perfection.
The Occult
Translation or Divination? The eyewitnesses to the dictation of the Book of Mormon describe a different scenario than the one depicted by the LDS Church.
Roots In The Occult Examine the strange doctrines, symbols, and occultic background of this group. Where does the ‘Temple Endowment Ceremony’ originate?
Book of Abraham includes link to scanned images of the Egyptian papyrus scroll from which Joseph Smith claimed to translate the Book of Abraham, as well as the original Book of Abraham translation manuscript.
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