First let me state that there is no such
thing as a "silver bullet", a set of refutations that will cause
all Mormons, or those interested in Mormonism, to realized how false it
is. People that have never been Mormons and know what the Bible say can at times
see the problems when pointed out. Before you try to witness to LDS I ask you to
first read article C-1 on my web page, the address is at the very end of this
page. Pay close attention to what is said under, "Know What You Need."
Then I suggest you read articles B-7, B-2 and F-1 to help you understand the
major differences between Mormonism and historical biblical Christianity. It is
important for you to realize that many Mormon missionaries will not share some
of the unique teachings of their church, some out of ignorance and some because
they think you are not ready for the meat of the Mormon "gospel." I have
known them to lie about what their church teaches.
As for what to say, you are in the best position to
determine this. I first like to tell people a little about my self and why am
there speaking with them. I sometimes then try to find out what they know about
Mormonism. With Mormons and non-Mormons I always first like to compare the
information in article B-2 and F-1 first, the attributes of God as taught by the
Mormon church and compare these to what the Bible teaches.
The purchase of a single Mormon teaching manual,
Gospel Principles, published by the Mormon church, will help you demonstrate
clearly what the Mormon church teaches. Using Mormon teaching manuals is clearly
the best way to demonstrate this. It can be purchased for about $5.00 at
your local Mormon book store. There are more details on this below. Here
are the key pages in this teaching manual.
Adam: 29-31; (31-33; Chapt 6); Apostasy: 100; (105, Chapt 16); Apostles: 96; (103-104, Chapt 16)
Church - only true one: 106; (111-112, Chapt
17)
Cross: Garden more important than
cross: 58, 61 (changed in 1997 Ed.)
Exaltation:
Become God with all Father & Son
have: 290; (302, Chapt 47)
First Principle: 99, 107, 293; (104, Chapt 16; 113, Chapt
17; 305, Chapt 47)
Must meet requirements in this life: 291; (303, Chapt 47)
We can have spirit children:
231, 234, 290; (242-243, Chap 38; 302, Chapt 47)
Filthy lucre: 172; (182,
Chapt 27); First Principle(s): 99, 107, 110, 293; (104, Chapt 16;
113, Chapt 17; 305, Chapt 47)
Fulness of
Gospel: 92; (98, Chapt 15); Also see "Introduction" of the Book of
Mormon
God (the Father):
Father of Son-literally: 57; (64, Chapt 11);
Has body of flesh & bones:108, (113, Chapt 17)
Once a man like us, not God: 293; (305,
Chapt 47); Ruler of universe: 5; (8, Chapt 1)
We become like him: 290; (302,
Chapt 47)
Heaven - levels in: 231-232, 278-286; (242, Chapt 38;
290-292, Chapt 45; 297-298, Chapt 46);
Heavenly
parents: see Parents - Heavenly; Holy Ghost: Not
omnipresent: 34; (37, Chapt 7)
Jesus Christ:
Creator: 23; (27, Chapt 5); Garden
more important: 58, 61 (removed from 1997 Ed)
Literal Son of Father: 57, (64, Chapt
11); Not always God: 9; (11, Chapt 2)
Second coming: 265f; (277f, Chapt
43); Spirit brother of Satan: 15; (17-18,
Chapt 3)
Obey without understanding: 214; (224, Chapt 35);Only true church: 60, 106; (67, Chapt 11; 111-112, Chapt 17); Organization: 106-109; (111-114, Chapt 17)
Parents-Heavenly: 9, 17; (11, Chapt 2; 19 Chapt
3); Priesthood: 81-87; (88-92, Chapt 14)
Prophet's word is scripture: 43, 45-46, 49, 51; (47, 49, Chapt
9; 55, Chapt 10)
Repentance: 120-123; (124-127, Chapt 19)
Satan & Jesus spirit brothers: 15; (17, Chapt
3)
Scriptures: Prophet's word is scripture: 43,
45-46, 49, 51; (47, 49, Chapt 9; 55, Chapt 10)
Sin: All sinners:
12, 117; (15, Chapt 2; 122, Chapt 19);
Examples of sin: 121-122; (125-126, Chapt 19)
Forgiveness of: 68-69, 120-123, 243, 244; (74-75, Chapt 12; 124-127, Chapt
19; 252, 253, Chapt 39)
Repentance of: 120-123; (124-127, Chapt 19)
Spirit children:
Begotten & born of Father & Mother
in heaven: 9; (11, Chapt 2)
Matured in heaven: 9, 278; (11, Chapt
2; 290, Chapt 45)
We
can have them: 231, 234, 290; (242, 243, Chapt 38; 302, Chapt
47)
Temple in MO.: 258; (268, Chapt 41); Temple
Recommend Interview: 235- 236; (245-246, Chapt 38)
Temples - why?: 247; (255-256, Chapt 49); True church -
only: 106; (111-112, Chapt 17)
KEY: plain numbers =1978 Ed.; numbers in ( ) = 1997 Ed.
In using this book I
stick with the first principles spoken of by Joseph Smith (1835 Doctrine
& Covenants, Lecture Third of Faith, page 36, verses 2-5; Teachings
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 345-346); mainly a person
cannot be saved without the correct knowledge of the attributes of God. I
compare what Gospel Principles says about God to what the Bible says (see
web page articles B-2 with F-1).
You can find an
online copy of Gospel Principles at the following web page address by the
Mormon church:
http://www.lds.org/library/gos_pri/gos_pri.html This web page
does not show the page numbers so you will have to use the chapter numbers to
find the subjects you are interested in.
I suggest you read the first
two paragraphs of chapter 2. As you read this note that at one time the spirit
of the Mormon Jesus Christ did not exist. This is clearly not a biblical
teachings. According to the Bible, Psalms 90:2, our creator has always been
God.
Then
read all of chapter 47. In this note that faithful Mormons can have everything
that the Father and Jesus Christ have - all power, glory, dominion, and
knowledge. Also note that they may also have spirit children who will worship
them as we do God the Father. They can become like God, as the Mormons
say. But this is more than like God, it is being a god. Near the end
of this chapter note that even the Mormon God the Father was once a man
who had to start at the bottom of the ladder to progressed to become a god, one
of many. In Isaiah 43:10 (also see 44:6, 8) God say that no gods were formed
before him and none will be formed after him. You might want to run copies
of chapt 2 and 47 for your friend (I don't know if this is legal, this is your
decision). I also suggest you run copies of articles B-2 with F-1.
How to purchase a Gospel
Principles (and other LDS books and scriptures)
You can get a 1997 edition of this Mormon
teaching manual from your local LDS book store. Look in the yellow pages under
"Church" and then call one of the LDS numbers or ask them, or your LDS friend,
where to find the local LDS book store. If they ask why you want one just
tell them that you want to learn what their church teaches from one of their
manuals and do not want to be influenced by anyone. Tell them if you have
questions you'll call them back. You might also find an LDS book store under
"Books" or "Book Stores" in the yellow pages.
If you don't have any local LDS book
stores then try Zions' Book Store, Salt Lake City. Their phone number is 1-800
333-7269 (toll free), you will need a charge card. They have a new section
and a used section for Mormon books. This is a private book store that deals in
a lot of LDS books. More than likely they will have a new or a used one.
Three Important Facts -
Joseph Smith, the founder and first president
and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons,
also called LDS), in the 1835 Doctrine & Covenants (abbreviated D&C; one
of their Scriptures) said the following
"It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the Bible....Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and 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, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 345-347; History of the Church, 6:305-306; Journal of Discourse 6:3-4; Times and Seasons, Aug. 15, 1844; 5:614).
Note what Smith said the "First Principle" was. This was
one of his last major teachings before his death June 27, 1844.
I do agree with the idea Smith's expressed
above about the importance of knowing the attributes of God and this is what we
should concentrate on first when showing the major problems with Mormonism. In
the "Gospel Principles Index" above I would use the information under
"God (the Father)," using the sub-subjects of "Once a man like us, not God," "We
become like him." Under "Exaltation" use "Become a God with all Father
& Son Have," "We can have spirit children," "Must meet requirements on this
life." Then use "Satan & Jesus spirit brothers" and "True church
only." Under "Spirit children" use all of the items. Then compare what
this manual says to what the Bible says.
When I see this very important subject is
getting nowhere I start to seriously consider ending the discussion for awhile,
or not speaking to this person again, as they may really not want to know. I
will then probably ask the question, "If Mormonism is wrong would you like to
really know it?" If they are not sure or say they want to know I then I
summarize the attributes of God in the Bible and as taught by the Mormon
Church.
I then go
on to show the changes that have taken place in Mormon Scriptures and teachings
over the years. These ideas are shown in article D-7, D-9, and the other
articles in D) Changes in Mormon Teachings. You should consider not let your
discussion taking more that two hours per session.
If you do not have a good background in
what the Mormon church teaches then I also suggest you read all of the articles
in B) Background on Mormonism and A) Why Do We Do This?
As far as the Book of Mormon not contradicting
the Bible - for just one example compare 2 Nephi 25:23 and Moroni 10:32 with Eph
2:8; John 1:17; Gal 2:16-21. In fact some of the teachings in the Book of Mormon
contradicts present day Mormonism. In addition there are many present day
teachings of the Mormon church that are NOT found in the Book of Mormon. The
details can be found in the article B-9.
Our ultimate goal is to lead the person we are
speaking with to a personal relationship with the one true God of the
Bible. Keep in mind, they may think they are worshiping him already. It's up to
you to show they have a different God, a different Jesus (2 Cor. 11:3-4),
another gospel (Gal 1:8-9), and that they are breaking the first
commandment. But many times we can only plant seeds or water what someone
else planted (1 Cor 3:6). Remember the old adage, "You can lead a horse to
water, but you cannot make him drink."
Please ask me questions as
you see the need. If person you are speaking with gives what seem to be
reasonable answers to the questions you ask - please bounce them of me. Most
times they are not reasonable, and sometimes out right wrong.
May Jesus Christ hold, carry
and bless you in your witness.
John Farkas
Berean Christian
Ministries
P.O. Box 1091
Webster, NY 14580
E-mail: bcmmin@frontiernet.net
Web pages:
Mormonism:
http://www.frontiernet.net/~bcmmin
Jehovah's
Witnesses: http://www.frontiernet.net/~bcmmin/jwstd.htm
art/witdetails
11-5-99; Rev
1-27-00