Re: [TruthTalk] Mormon doctrine

[Dave Hansen]

The following is a summation of Mormon teaching. DAVEH:  I think this is a better and more accurate summation........ http://www.jefflindsay.com/art_faith.html .........as some of what you've posted below that we believe is incorrect. that is the difficulty in finding Mormon sites that speak officially for the  Mormon Church doctrine DAVEH:   Did you ever ask a Mormon?   Try this, John...... http://lds.org/ ........I think this is the only website officially sanctioned by the Church HQ in SLC.  There are numerous apologetic sites, and many more sites for the individual Wards and Stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  However, the above site is the only one that officially speaks for the Church itself.  All others are subject to opinions, as I understand it.  This one is disputed among many Mormons and not always 'officially' taught and believed. DAVEH:   Re: 6-G.  So then why would it be included in what you indicate is a summation of Mormon teaching, John???  Where did you get this ....from a site critical of LDS theology?   Wouldn't it be better to get a summation of what LDS folks believe from an official LDS site?  May I suggest..... http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1 ..........which is a summation of our beliefs as explained by JS to a reporter by the name of Wentworth.  If you want to see some of the apologetic sites that do not represent the Church in an official sense, but yet seem to have a pretty good perspective on what LDS people believe, try these sites (which I think were previously mentioned)......... http://www.jefflindsay.com/ldslinks.shtml http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/ http://www.fairlds.org/ http://mormon.org/ http://www2.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/mormonis.htm http://www.farmsresearch.com/ all of what is stated here is from Mormon authors in good standing of the Mormon church. DAVEH:  FWIW.....Bruce R McConkie's Mormon Doctrine was less than favorably received by the President of the Church (David O McKay) when it was first published.  Even though he was in good standing with the Church, due to the criticism of DOM, BRM had to significantly correct it prior to the second edition being published.  Other LDS authors have drawn similar criticisms, such as Pratt's The Seer, which contained many doctrinal errors.  Being a member in good standing hardly means that such authors will not make claims that are unsubstantiated, and hence sometimes assumed to be official doctrine....which they are not necessarily. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The following is a summation of Mormon teaching.  The problem I have encountered is common to this article, as well.  And that is the difficulty in finding Mormon sites that speak officially for the  Mormon Church doctrine.   jd  (still looking )     Atonement "Jesus paid for all our sins when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane," (Laurel Rohlfing, “Sharing Time: The Atonement,” Friend, Mar. 1989, 39.) "We accept Christ's atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all of the commandments," (Gospel Principles, Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, pg. 68.) Baptism Baptism for the dead, (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. II, p. 141.) This is a practice of baptizing each other in place of non-Mormons who are now dead. Their belief is that in the afterlife, the "newly baptized" person will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven. Bible "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. . ." 8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church. "Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God." (1 Nephi 13:28). Book of Mormon The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (History of the Church, 4:461.) Devil, the The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus "in the morning of pre-existence," (Mormon Doctrine, page 192.) Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163.) A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the father but Jesus' plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Savior of all Mankind and to "deny men their agency and to dethrone god." (Mormon Doctrine, page 193; Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, page 8.) God God used to be a man on another planet, Mormon Doctrine, p. 321.  Joseph Smith,  Times and Seasons, Vol 5, pp. 613-614; Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol 2, p. 345, Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333.) "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s..." (D&C 130:22). God is in the form of a man, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3.) "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345 God the Father had a Father, (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 476; Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 19; Milton Hunter, First Council of the Seventy, Gospel through the Ages, p. 104-105.) God resides near a star called Kolob, (Pearl of Great Price, pages 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428.) God had sexual relations with Mary to make the body of Jesus, (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 218, 1857; vol. 8, p. 115.) - This one is disputed among many Mormons and not always 'officially' taught and believed.  Nevertheless, Young, the 2nd prophet of the Mormon church taught it. "Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38). God, becoming a god After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 345-347, 354.) "Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them," (DC 132:20). God, many gods There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163.) "And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light (Book of Abraham 4:3) God, mother goddess There is a mother god, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443.) God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children, (Mormon Doctrine p. 516.) God, Trinity The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35.) Gospel, the The true gospel was lost from the earth. Mormonism is its restoration, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 182-185.) Consists of laws and ordinances: "As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.'" (Articles of Faith p. 79) Heaven There are three levels of heaven: telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, Mormon Doctrine, p. 348. Holy Ghost, the The Holy Ghost is a male personage, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, (Le Grand Richards, Salt Lake City, 1956, page 118; Journal of Discources, Vol. 5, page 179.)  Jesus The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, page 129.) Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163; Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15.) Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247, 1856.) "Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38). "The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood - was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8: p. 115). "Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers" (Mormon Doctrine," by Bruce McConkie, p. 547). "Christ Not Begotten of Holy Ghost ...Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954, 1:18). "Elohim is literally the Father of the spirit of Jesus Christ and also of the body in which Jesus Christ performed His mission in the flesh ..." (First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, 1916, God the Father, compiled by Gordon Allred, pg. 150). Joseph Smith If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation.  There is no salvation [the context is the full gospel including exaltation to Godhood] outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670.) Pre-existence We were first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born naturally on earth, (Journal of Discourse, Vol. 4, p. 218.) The first spirit to be born in heaven was Jesus, (Mormon Doctrine, page 129.) The Devil was born as a spirit after Jesus "in the morning of pre-existence," (Mormon Doctrine, page 192.) Prophets We need prophets today, the same as in the Old Testament, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 444-445.) Salvation "One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation." (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206.) A plan of salvation was needed for the people of earth so Jesus offered a plan to the Father and Satan offered a plan to the father but Jesus' plan was accepted. In effect the Devil wanted to be the Savior of all Mankind and to "deny men their agency and to dethrone god." (Mormon Doctrine, page 193; Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, page 8.) Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247, 1856.) Good works are necessary for salvation, Articles of Faith, p. 92.) There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 188.) "The first effect [of the atonement] is to secure to all mankind alike, exemption from the penalty of the fall, thus providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure remission of personal sins (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 78-79.) "As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.'" (Articles of Faith p. 79). "This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts" (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697).  "We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do," (2 Nephi 25:23). Trinity, the The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35.) "Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God. I say that is a strange God [anyhow]--three in one and one in three. . .It is curious organization… All are crammed into one God according to sectarianism (Christian faith). It would make the biggest God in all the world. He would be a wonderfully big God--he would be a giant or a monster." (Joseph Smith, Teachings, 372).      Some Mormons may disagree with a few of the points listed on this page, but all of what is stated here is from Mormon authors in good standing of the Mormon church.             -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave Hansen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.langlitz.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you wish to receive things I find interesting, I maintain six email lists... 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