Biblical Perspective on LDS 13 Articles of Faith

What does God say in His word about Himself and the gospel? What is a Christian? Before we can understand the reasons Mormonism does not qualify as being Christian, we must define some terms.  A Christian is someone who subscribes to a particular theological view. Christianity revolves around belief in and on Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible. If I claim to be a Christian but say that my backyard peach tree is the reincarnation of Christ, would I be a Christian? If I claimed to be Islamic but denied the Q’uran or the prophet Mohammed, would I really be a Muslim? If I claimed to be Hindu but refused to accept reincarnation and the many gods of Hinduism, could I rightly be called a Hindu? If I insisted that I was Mormon, but denied that Joseph Smith was a prophet, did not believe the Book of Mormon to be scripture, and said that temple work was not necessary to the salvation of both living and dead, could I really claim to be Mormon? Absolutely not. So if a person or organization denies the basic tenets of Christianity, can it be considered genuinely Christian?

Does simply being a “good person” make someone a Christian? If being a good person makes someone Christian, then how do you explain the many non-Christians who do volunteer work and are honorable in their dealings with their fellow man? How would you explain a philanthropic atheist?

Would believing that Jesus was a great teacher or a wonderful prophet make a person Christian? If believing that Jesus Christ walked the earth some 2,000 years ago made people Christians, then that would make Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and many atheists Christians, because most accept the fact that historically Jesus was a real person. They may acknowledge he was a good man and maybe even a prophet, but they don’t believe He was the Son of God. Satan and demons believe and know Jesus is God in the flesh, but we couldn’t call them Christians! So when I say a person is not Christian I do not mean it pejoratively.

It is interesting that LDS leaders emphatically insist there is no such thing as Mormon Fundamentalists; in other words, that those off-shoots of the Mormon Church that practice polygamy and hold to the original teachings of early LDS prophets are not to be considered Mormons. Even though these “non-existent” fundamentalists revere Joseph Smith and believe the Book of Mormon to be true, the Church refuses to acknowledge them as Mormons. Yet, the LDS Church will not play by its own rules, holding itself to a different standard. If LDS leadership does not allow for people who believe core Mormon doctrines to call themselves Mormons, how can they turn around and demand to be called Christians when they deny the very tenets of Christianity?

If a Mormon denies the doctrines that theologically define Christianity, he cannot consider himself a Christian. If a person denies the inerrancy of the Bible, does not accept the Triune nature of God—acknowledging that God always existed as God, and rejects Christ’s completed work on the cross, he cannot be considered a Christian, notwithstanding they may try to “follow his example.” Mormon doctrine and Christian doctrine are two different things entirely. So to say that Mormons are not Christians is NOT saying they are not good people. You will find many wonderful people in Mormonism! Theologically speaking, however, they are no more Christians than Christians rejecting Mormon doctrine are Mormons.

It is not logically possible that a religion which rejects the biblical Trinity and accepts polytheism, which denies that God always existed and instead maintains that God was once a man who evolved into godhood, which teaches works-salvation and denies salvation by grace, which offers a pagan view of the virgin birth, which endorses the occult, and so on, can legitimately call itself Christian. Mormonism is not true Christianity and true Mormons cannot be considered Christians…..For Mormons to maintain they are truly Christian, they must ignore the weight of 20 centuries of history and the conclusion of most people outside the church who have seriously and independently investigated the issue.” 

(Fast Facts on Mormonism, John Ankerberg and John Weldon, 2003, p. 90)

Comparing the Mormon Articles of Faith to Biblical Teachings

Response to the First Article of Faith:

The Godhead

Was God once a nebulous “Intelligence” who became a spirit being through birth to a heavenly mother and father of his own? Did he “keep his first estate” (advancing as a spirit being) and thereby qualify for mortality, getting to be born to mortal parents on an earth like this in a galaxy far, far away? Did he earn his salvation/”exaltation” on that planet by “living the gospel,” adhering to all the rules and regulations in such a way that he became worthy enough to advance to godhood? Did our “Heavenly Father” receive a resurrection with a Celestial-level body of flesh and bone so he could begin creating his own worlds with his many wives? Are there other gods out in the universe doing the same thing as he is and can humans become gods eventually if they become Mormons and valiantly “live the Mormon gospel?”

The Trinity

There are many excellent books and websites that go into greater detail on why the Trinity—or the Three-in-oneness of God—is a Biblically sound doctrine. Here we will touch on just a few points.

There is what is called a “plural of majesty,” such as when Queen Victoria, referring to herself, would say, “We are not amused.” This denotes the greatness of God in His majesty, holiness, and dignity. We also see in the Hebrew that the word used for God in Genesis 1:26-27 is “Elohim” (plurality), but in the latter part of the same sentence singular descriptions are used. This is no grammatical error. The phrases “our image” and “our likeness” in Genesis 1:26 are concluded with “His own image” and “in the image of God.” It does not read, “in their own image” or “in the image of Gods.” It would have been so easy for God to say, referring to Himself, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, “We are three separate gods, but are one in purpose,” as Mormonism teaches, if it were true! However, the Bible repeatedly refers to “God” as being one. Christians understand that as one in essence, not “one in purpose.” Judaism might explain there are different “aspects” of God, yet only one God.

LDS might say that the concept of the Trinity is incomprehensible. Why is that a problem? Isn’t it incomprehensible in Mormonism that their god had a father who had a father who had a father and there was never a first father? The fact that we cannot comprehend God does not negate His existence or His Triune nature. God exists outside of time and space. Scientists theorize that there are 10 dimensions or more (do an internet search on dimensions). Why is it so hard to believe that God is more than the three-dimensional humans He created? It seems reasonable to expect that God can be a plurality in one Being given we live in a multiverse.

God the Father

The LORD is the everlasting God. Isaiah 40:28

Before me there was no god formed, nor will there be one after me. Isaiah 43:10

I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6

Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. Isaiah 44:8

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

I am the LORD and there is no other. Isaiah 45:18

And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. Isaiah 45:21

For I am God and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22

To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Isaiah 46:5

I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9

God the Father is Spirit

Now to the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. 1 Timothy 1:17

He is in the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15

Look at my hands and feet…Touch me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. Luke 24:39

No one has ever seen God, but God One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. John 1:18

LDS will refer to Exodus about no one able to see God and then Moses seeing him. In Christian theology that is known as a “Theophany;” which Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines as;

[A]ny direct visual manifestation of the presence of God….But even in a theophany a person does not actually see God Himself. This is an impossibility according to Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16; and 1 John 4:12. …The most frequent visible manifestation of God’s presence in the Old Testament is the ‘Angel of the Lord.’ Other theophanies are the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-6), the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21-22), the cloud of fire of Sinai (Ex. 24:16-18), and the cloud of the glory of the Lord (Ex. 40:34-38)…Theophanies are never given for their own sake, to satisfy a curiosity about God, but to convey some revelation or truth about Him.” 

(Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1995, Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 1242-1243)

Jesus Christ is the Eternal God

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1 

This is why I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not trust that I AM [who I say I am], you will die in your sins. John 8:24 (CJB)

Yeshua said to them, “Yes indeed! Before Avraham came into being, I AM!” John 8:58 (CJB)

[A]lthough He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

The Bible tells us that Jesus created ALL things, including the angels; so how could Lucifer be Jesus’ “spirit brother” when Jesus created all the angels, including Lucifer? “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him” Colossians 1:16. Throughout the Bible, when it speaks of “principalities, powers, and dominions,” the writers are referring to ranks of angels.

In the rabbinical (Jewish) thought of the first century, these words were used to describe different orders of angels (see Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 2:10,15; Titus 3:1). Apparently there was a heresy flourishing in Colossae…that involved the worship of angels. In the process of worshiping angels, Christ had been degraded. So, to correct this grave error, Paul emphasizes in Colossians 1:16 that Christ is the one who created all things—including the angels—and hence, He alone is supreme and worthy of worship….Lucifer and Christ are of two entirely different classes—the createdand the Creator.

(Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons, by Ron Rhodes, 1995, pp. 275-276)

Response to the Second Article of Faith

The Fall of Man

God tell us in His word that Adam’s fall was sin. It was rebellion against God, in that He commanded them to not eat the forbidden fruit. The Mormon Church uses semantics to “prove” it was not sin, by saying that Adam’s eating of the fruit was a “transgression,” not sin. Both Hebrew and Greek use the words sin and transgression interchangeably. The Hebrew lexicon (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) defines “transgression” in its two uses in the Hebrew as “unfaithfulness,” “rebellion, revolt, sin, transgression against human or divine authority.” Even in the Greek context of Adam’s transgression (Romans 5; 1 Timothy 2:14), the usage of the word is not in the context of Adam’s transgression being a good thing!

Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violation of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will). 

1 John 3:4 (Amplified Bible)

If Adam and Eve were not yet “mortal” and could not reproduce, as LDS theology dictates was necessary for their progression, then why would God pronounce things “very good?”

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:27-31

Adam and Eve warned not to disobey

Genesis 2:17, The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

The moment Adam ate of the fruit, he died a spiritual death, being separated from God’s presence. He also became subject to physical death; the ongoing decay and winding down of life that actually begins at birth. The first several years of of lives are marked by growth and development, nevertheless, death is programmed into our genes.

Halley’s Bible Commentary explains the fall in this way;

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was ‘good for food,’ ‘pleasing to the eye,’ and ‘desirable for gaining wisdom.’ Whatever the exact nature of this tree—literal, figurative, or symbolic—the essence of Adam and Eve’s sin was this: they wanted to transfer control of their lives from God to themselves. God had, in substance, told them they could do anything they wanted to, except for that one thing. As long as they were in right relationship with God—in other words, as long as they recognized God as their creator and master—they experienced life as God had intended it to be, and they were truly the crown of God’s creation. They were completely satisfied with this life until Satan, in the form of a serpent, deceived them into thinking that if they were like God and knew what he knows, life would be even better. Once the seed of deception had been planted, they became dissatisfied. They wanted to ‘be like God.’ They wanted to be their own master and sole master of God’s creation. Is that not the essence of human sin? From the beginning, God designed humans to live forever; the one condition was obedience to God…..Is there any other way He could have made them? Could there be a moral creature without the power to choose? Freedom is God’s gift to humanity: freedom to think, freedom of conscience—even freedom to disobey God. 

(Halley’s Bible Handbook, with the New International Version, Zondervan publishers, 2000, pp. 91-92)

Adam’s sin brought condemnation

Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s (Jesus) act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to god, brought into right standing with Him). But then law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded. So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord. 

Romans 5:18-21 (Amplified Bible)

Eve was deceived

[A]nd I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah [Eve] was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness. For if someone comes and tell you about some other Yeshua than the one we told you about, or if you receive a spirit different from the one you received or accept some so-called “good news” different from the Good News you already accepted, you bear with him well enough!

2 Corinthians 11:3 (CJB)

There are a couple of noteworthy things in this passage. First, the fact that Eve was deceived. If eating the forbidden fruit was a good thing, as Mormonism teaches, then she could not have been deceived by Satan who is telling her to do what “God” really wanted her to do in the first place. Yet, here is Paul telling us she was, in fact, deceived. Second, notice how Eve was deceived. Satan came “preaching” his own gospel to Eve. He came preaching a god different from the God who created them, by portraying God as a liar. He presented the very same lies to Eve that are taught in Mormonism today!

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

What was Satan’s greatest aspiration? To become like God! In fact, he wanted to BE God! Isaiah 14:13-14 tells us, speaking of Lucifer;

You have said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Likewise, Mormon doctrine teaches the same lie; that we can be as God; in fact, that we can become gods!

Because of Adam, all die

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

This does not just encompass physical death. Adam caused the spiritual death of mankind; i.e., eternal separation from God. That is not a good thing. It is an awful, horrific thing, for it would have meant the grave and hell forever if Jesus did not redeem us!

Sin and death entered the world by Adam

Here is how it works: it was through one individual that sin entered the world, and through sin, death; and in this way death passed through to the whole human race, inasmuch as everyone sinned. Sin was indeed present in the world before Torah [rendered “law” in Greek] was given, but sin is not counted as such when there is no Torah. Nevertheless death ruled from Adam until Moshe [Moses], even over those whose sinning was not exactly like Adam’s violation of a direct command. In this, Adam prefigured the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the offense.For is, because of one man’s offense, many died, then how much more has God’s grace , that is, the gracious gift of one man, Yeshua the Messiah, overflowed to many! No, the free gift is not like what resulted from one an’s sinning; for from one sinner came judgment that brought condemnation; but the free gift came after many offenses and brought acquittal. For if, because of the offense of one man, death ruled through that one man; how much more will those receiving the overflowing grace, that is, the gift of being considered righteous, rule in life through the one man Yeshua the Messiah! 

Romans 5:12-17 (CJB)

Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all men. Although the Law was not in effect from Adam to Moses, death still reigned; the punishment for Adam’s sin—physical and spiritual death—was upon ALL mankind, even on those who did not sin by breaking a command of God as Adam did! Look at how awesome God is though! Judgment on ALL followed ONE sin, bringing condemnation. But the gift of salvation (being spiritually reunited with God now and through the eternities, allowing us to forever dwell in His presence) followed many trespasses and brought justification. We are justified before God, not by our works, but through Christ’s work on the cross!

Response to the Third Article of Faith

Christ’s Atonement on the Cross Complete

Nowhere in the Bible does it tell about two different kinds of salvation, nor does it refer to the resurrection as a “general salvation.” Nowhere in the Bible, when read in context, is it implied that we are God’s spirit children by birth to heavenly parents and that we can progress to godhood. Salvation, as taught in the New Testament, always refers to a believer’s position in Christ as an adopted child, allowing him/her to live in God’s presence and with Jesus forever. There is only one heaven and one hell. Our final destination is an either/or proposition; we either live forever in eternal torment, separated from God, or we live forever in heaven with God

Christ’s atonement is for all

It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

1 Timothy 4:9-10

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

1 John 2:1-2

Christ’s atonement provided for our salvation, allowing us to live forever in the presence of God in heaven. It gave us an Advocate before the Father, so that when we do mess up (and we often do) we come to God to confess our wrong-doing and by His grace we are cleansed and made righteous! He, Jesus Christ, is the atonement for our sins. Our works, our sorrow, our efforts to be good do not bring forgiveness. It is Christ’s work alone that gives us Right Standing before God.

Salvation is a GIFT, no “laws and ordinances” required

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself]. (Amplified Bible)

Ephesians 2:8-9

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

(Verse 14 in the KJV; “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.”)

Colossians 2:13-14

Now before the faith came, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, disclosed), So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith. But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer (the guardian of our childhood). 

Galatians 3:23-25 (AMP)

Response to the Fourth Article of Faith

The Gospel Not a Set of Principles and Ordinances

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

A careful study of the New Testament reveals that “the gospel” is a message about a Person; Jesus Christ; that He lived, died, and was raised from the dead, and that through His substitutionary death on the cross in our place, we are saved by grace through faith.

Keep in mind what Paul said, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Cultists and unbelievers bristle at the Biblical doctrine that all it takes is saving faith in Jesus and trust in His work on the cross in our behalf. Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, was a propitiation for our sins. They say it is too simplistic to just “ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life.” They insist that we must add works to our faith in order to be saved. Now, does a true follower of Yeshua make sin a lifestyle or use grace as a license to sin? Not at all! Good works follow our salvation because the indwelling of the Holy Spirit enables us to walk in God’s ways.

It is interesting to read the account of Moses and the children of Israel when the fiery flying serpents came and bit them, causing many to die. the people cried out to Moses for deliverance. Moses was told to make a serpent of brass and place it on a pole, then beckon the Israelites to look upon it. Those who looked, lived; those who refused, died. This event is an awesome foretelling of the gospel! The serpent is a symbol for sin. brass is a Levitical symbol for judgment. The serpent being raised on a pole was a visual of sin being judged.

Now, fast forward to the gospel of John (John 3:14-15) where Jesus points to this saving event in the wilderness, saying, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” In a way we cannot even comprehend, Jesus, Who had no sin, was “made sin” for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus took our sin upon Himself, taking judgment upon Himself, so that we will be saved if we just look to the cross. If we look to the cross, we will live eternally in heaven with Him. There will be those who, like many of the Israelites, will refuse to look to the cross alone to be saved because too is “too simple.”

Response to the Fifth Article of Faith

Christians get their authority directly from God, by virtue of their adoption

A common question asked by Mormons is, “Where do you get your authority?” As you read the Bible you will see that the “authority” to preach, prophecy, or teach came directly through the Holy Spirit or by Jesus Himself. The Old Testament shows that there were often many prophets in Israel at the same time, as opposed to the LDS teaching that there can be only one Prophet on the earth at a time who “holds all the priesthood keys to the kingdom.”

Unlike LDS theology, which teaches that only adult male priesthood holders can hold the office of a prophet, there are several Biblical accounts of female prophetesses. Deborah was a prophetess who led Israel in battle. She was also Israel’s fifth judge (see Judges 5). Women of the Bible also prophesied of many wonderful events. Consider Moses’ sister Miriam, Hannah, Anna in the Temple, Elizabeth, and Mary. 1 Corinthians 11:5 assumes a sanction for women to prophesy.

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.” (NIV)

Ephesians 1:11-14

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

Once we become redeemed believers, the Holy Spirit indwells us (“born from above”). With the Holy Spirit living in us, we therefore have God’s authority to act in His name. Each person in God’s family is given a gift, some severally. With the gifts comes the authority to use them as the Holy Spirit directs us. It is interesting that the majority of Mormon “priesthood holders” are from the tribe of Ephraim according to their “patriarchal blessings,” yet according to Mosaic Law one cannot be a priest unless he is from the tribe of Levi!

Response to the Sixth Article of Faith

Jesus did not organize “a church” as defined by LDS

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary explains;

CHURCH—a local assembly of believers as well as the redeemed of all ages who follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In the four gospels of the New Testament, the term “Church” is found only in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. This scarcity of usage in those books that report on the life and ministry of Jesus is perhaps best explained by the fact that the church as the body of Christ did not begin until the day of Pentecost after the Ascension of Jesus (Acts 2:1-4). That the church began on the day of Pentecost may be demonstrated in various ways: (1) Christ Himself declared the church to be yet future (Matt. 16:18); (2) it was founded upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and such an accomplished fact was not possible until Pentecost (Eph. 1:15-23); (3) There could be no church until it was fully purchased with Christ’s blood (Eph. 2:13) 

(Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1995, p. 275)

You will find members of Christ’s church among every mainstream Christian denomination and within the Messianic Jewish community. Membership in Christ’s true church is based on relationship, not religion. “The Church” is the body of redeemed believers. A Mormon might ask, “If there is only ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism,’ then why are there so many denominations?”

One Lord means only one Savior; Jesus of the Bible. One faith does not mean “one religion” or “one denomination.” One faith means faith alone in Christ alone. One baptism does not mean that there is only one way to baptize someone through “proper priesthood authority in only one church.” Baptism is a public demonstration of a private commitment to Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion is also symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah. It does not matter if one is baptized in a Methodist church or a Baptist church, in a font or in a river. One might just as well why does Baskin Robbins have 31 flavors? Every Christian is different in the way he worships. Every Christian is fed a little differently. Some believers prefer formality; others prefer flexibility. Some like traditional hymns while others respond better to modern praise and worship. A familiar idiom among Christian churches is “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things charity.”

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

To put that in a modern context, “There is neither Baptist nor Lutheran, Calvary Chapel nor Nazarene, Methodist nor Pentecostal, Jew nor Gentile, for we, as the redeemed, are all one in Christ Jesus.” Denominations may differ in some regards, but our salvation comes through saving faith by a relationship with Jesus alone. That is what makes us members of His “church,” His community.

Response to the Seventh Article of Faith

Gifts are given to glorify God and edify the body of Christ (the church)

Spiritual gifts are given to the children of God (born-again believers) as the Holy Spirit sees fit. These gifts cannot be earned, for God is “no respecter of persons.” We are encouraged, however, to seek after, or earnestly desire, the best gifts.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:4-12 

The gifts of the Spirit are given freely by God. Some people have one gift, others have several; but either way, the gifts are to build and edify the body (the community of the redeemed). The gift of tongues can be as on the day of Pentecost when the disciples were speaking in the languages of the various nations who were represented there. Three thousand people were saved that day! There are also those who speak with the “tongue of angels” (ecstatic utterances known only to God) usually during their own private prayer time, although sometimes publicly. This gift is one which glorifies and exalts God, as well as speaks the innermost desires of the person’s heart which cannot be expressed sufficiently through an earthly tongue.

Whether a Christian is given the gift of knowledge (knowing something about another person that only God could reveal); the gift of wisdom (such as the supernatural wisdom that King Solomon had); prophecy (the forth-telling/expounding of God’s word or less frequently, a predictive message); the gift of healing (being able to heal a sick or afflicted person under the direction of the Holy Spirit); or any of the other gifts, these are to be used to build and edify the church and be motivated by love.

Response to the Eighth Article of Faith

The Bible is inerrant and complete

Has the Bible been translated correctly? Can it be supported? Are key doctrines missing?

The question often arises when discussing the biblical records, “How can a document that has been copied over and over possibly be reliable?” While it is true the documents have been copied many times, we often have misconceptions about how they were transmitted. All ancient documents were copied by hand before the advent of the printing press in the 16th century. Great care was exercised in reproducing these manuscripts. When we think of copying manuscripts we often assume that one copy was made and then another from that and another from that and so on, each replacing the copy it was reproduced from. This is not how manuscript copying worked. Copyists were usually working from one or two documents that were very old. They would make many copies of their source copy, all the while preserving their source and comparing the copies they have made.

Jewish historian, Josephus (an eyewitness), tells how the Jews copied the Old Testament;

We have given practical proof of our reverence for our own Scriptures. For although such long ages have now passed, no one has ventured either to add, or to remove, or to alter a syllable; and it is an instinct with every Jew, from the day of his birth, to regard them as the decrees of God, to abide by them, and, if need be, cheerfully to die for them.

(Against Apion, Book I, sec., 8, p. 158)

Josephus’ statement is no exaggeration. The Jewish copyists knew exactly how many letters were in every line of every scroll and how many times each word occurred. This enabled them to check for errors (Shelly, Prepare to Answer, p. 133). The Jews believed that adding any mistake to the Scriptures would be punishable by Hell. This is not like modern secretaries who have many letters to type and must work hard to keep their jobs, consequently feeling that mistakes are inevitable. Great care is exercised with scripture when someone holds a strong conviction about their sacredness.

But even with the great amount of care exercised in copying, errors have crept into the manuscripts. No one questions that spelling errors, misplaced letters, and word omissions have occurred. What is not true is that these errors have gradually built up over time so that our copies look nothing like the originals.

In 1947 the accuracy of these documents was confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls. These scrolls were found in caves in the dessert near the Dead Sea by a shepherd boy. Before the discovery of these scrolls, the earliest Old Testament manuscripts we had were from about 980 A.D. The manuscripts discovered in the caves dated from 250 B.C. to shortly after the time of Christ. In careful comparison of the manuscripts it was confirmed that the copies we had were almost precisely the same as those which date over 1000 years earlier! Old Testament scholar Gleason Archer said that even though there is such a difference in dates of the manuscripts, “they proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more that 95 per cent of the text. The 5 per cent of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations in spelling.” No other historical literature has been so carefully preserved and historically confirmed.

When we come to the New Testament we see a similar phenomenon. There are over 5,000 Greek New Testament manuscripts in existence. This is by far more than any other historical documents, which usually have maybe a dozen copies from very late dates. The New Testament manuscripts are many and old and they are spread over a wide geographical area. What this enables the New Testament historian to do is collect manuscripts from Jerusalem and Egypt and Syria and other places and compare them for variations. And variations do exist, but as with the Old Testament they are relatively few and rarely important to the meaning of the text. What these manuscripts demonstrate is that different families of texts existed very early that were copied from the original or good copies of the original. This allows us to trace the manuscripts back to the source as one would follow the branches of a tree to get to the trunk. Aside from the manuscripts themselves, “virtually the entire New Testament could be reproduced from citations contained in the works of the early church fathers. There are some thirty-two thousand (32,000) citations in the writings of the Fathers prior to the Council of Nicaea (325).”

(Excerpt above from Moreland, Scaling the Secular City, p. 136)

Response to the Ninth Article of Faith

God has revealed all that matters in regard to salvation

Why don’t Christians accept the possibility that other books, such as the Book of Mormon, are also scripture? Doesn’t God still deal with His people today? Those are good questions. Christians do, in fact, believe that God deals with humankind today and that His hand has been upon mankind since He first created the world and everything in it. Christians believe in and experience miracles. They receive personal direction and guidance from the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are actively manifest in God’s children.

The belief among Mormons is that God loves His children as much today as He did in Bible times, which leads them to conclude that continued revelation through prophets and additional scripture is necessary, especially in troubling modern times such as these. It certainly is true that God loves people! He has loved them from the very beginning of their creation! He loves us so much, in fact, “that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Because of this, He made the “gospel” (the message, the good news about the Person of Jesus Christ) very simple; so simple that even a child could understand and believe.

God laid out His plan for the redemption of mankind in the Holy Bible. Old Testament prophets proclaimed the need for a Savior and foretold His coming. The Law was given to be a schoolmaster—to show us our sin and depravity. As Paul said, “Indeed, I would not have known what sin was except through the law” (Romans 7:7). The commandments and the requirements of the Mosaic Law brings us face to face with our unrighteousness. And just in case we try to justify ourselves by saying “I keep the commandments,” Jesus comes along and reveals our hearts and true nature by saying, “If any of you even looks at another person with lust you’ve committed adultery.”

The Torah reveals the character and nature of God. The entire Old Testament (Tanakh) reveals our sin nature and need for a Savior. It shows that only a Perfect blood sacrifice (nothing less than God Himself) can put us into right standing with God and allow us in His presence. The New Testament records the fulfillment of those prophecies in Christ Jesus. The whole Bible testifies of our need for redemption and gives man the solution; 1) recognize and confess our sin to God; 2) believe on Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice; and 3) accept His gift of salvation through His substitutionary death on the cross (He died in our place). That’s it!

That is why we don’t need more scripture. That is why we no longer need prophets to lead us. Jesus paid it all; He is everything we need for eternal life with God, and the Bible lays out everything we need to know about the plan of salvation.

Response to the Tenth Article of Faith

The Ten Tribes are not “lost” and the New Jerusalem will not be in Jackson County, Missouri

The Lost Ten Tribes

The Children of Israel, also known as the the tribes of Israel, are the descendants of Jacob, Abraham’s grandson and Isaac’s youngest son (see Genesis 25:19-34). Jacob went on to have 12 sons, for which the tribes of Israel are named, along with his two grandson’s through Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh).

After King Solomon died centuries later, the kingdom was divided into two parts, the southern and northern kingdoms. Two tribes in the south became Judah, while the northern 10 tribes became Israel. Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE. Some of the people were taken captive, others fled the area, and still others were deported to other lands. Thus they are called the “Lost Ten Tribes” because they were dispersed throughout the region and the world. Many were assimilated into their respective local cultures, and some were able to retain their Jewish identities over the millennia.

The organization Jewish Voice answers the question of where the Lost Tribes of Israel are now;

In the last 75 years or so, Jewish communities have become known in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, India, China, and other surprising countries. Even more surprising to some is that members of the Lost Tribes living in these countries look like any other people native to these regions. Even though the “Lost Tribes” are found, the name stuck because it says so much about their history.

(https://www.jewishvoice.org/learn/who-are-lost-tribes-israel)

The New Jerusalem

The best description of the New Jerusalem is found in Scripture itself:

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 

Revelation 21:1–2, 10–17 (Emphasis mine)

Response to the Eleventh Article of Faith

Agreed! We, too, as Christians claim the privilege of worshiping God according to our conscience and beliefs. No one should be forced or compelled to believe, nor can they be. We present the gospel message (the good news of Jesus Christ) and leave it up to individuals as to their decisions regarding matters of faith.

Response to the Twelfth Article of Faith

Biblically speaking there is agreement with the LDS view with a caveat; we should obey the laws of the land as long as they do not go contrary to the laws of God. As Peter and the other apostles declared in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Neither Jesus nor His disciples, nor later the apostles, attempted to overthrow Rome. This is because Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. We conduct our lives as to impact our respective cultures in meaningful and beneficial ways, but we do not set out to overthrow governments. We’ll leave that up to Jesus when he returns!

Response to the Thirteenth Article of Faith

This LDS statement of faith is something to be agreed with. The Apostle Paul admonished; “In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8).

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Note: for greater clarification I prefer to use the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) and/or the New American Standard Bible (NASB); the NASB because of its word-for-word translation, and the CJB because it restores the Jewishness of the Bible, including the Apostolic Writings (New Testament), which is Jewish in thought and context.

Mormons exclusively use the King James Version of the Bible. I have refrained from using only the KJV on this web site to make it easier for Christians who are more familiar and comfortable with modern versions. It may also be helpful for LDS people who visit this site to read Scripture free of Mormon interpretation and in proper context.

One of the benefits of some of the modern translations is that they retain the original meaning while using language appropriate to our 21st-Century understanding.