Did They Really Say That?!?

The temple work for the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence and other founding fathers has been done.  All these appeared to Wilford Woodruff when he was president of the St. George Temple.  President George Washington was ordained a high priest at that time.  You will also be interested to know that, according to Wilford Woodruff’s journal, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were also ordained as priests at that time.

Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.604

Let me get this straight:  While the Bible specifically states that there is nothing we can do for those who are dead (Hebrews 9:27), the Mormons think they baptized and conferred priesthood on these dead men?!?  

What is even more interesting is that they consort with the dead who “appear” to them, again in contradiction to the Bible’s commands against communication with the dead (Lev. 19:31, 20:6; Deut. 18:9-14; Isa.8:19).

This is more evidence of the false nature of the LDS faith.

Gospel Topics Essays

In 2013 the LDS church began posting a series of essays intended to show that they are being more “transparent” about their history and beliefs but, as usual for the LDS, they told mostly half-truths and even lies.  Even so, the information provided has been truthful enough that many Mormons have finally learned that sites like mine, which expose the LDS for what they are, have actually been telling the truth!  This becomes quite disconcerting for them, and many have left the LDS because of this.

The LDS has the following to say concerning the Gospel Topic Essays.

Recognizing that today so much information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be obtained from questionable and often inaccurate sources, officials of the Church began in 2013 to publish straightforward, in-depth essays on a number of topics. The purpose of these essays, which have been approved by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has been to gather accurate information from many different sources and publications and place it in the Gospel Topics section of LDS.org, where the material can more easily be accessed and studied by Church members and other interested parties.

Notice that sites like the Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Mormonism Research Ministry, et al (including THIS blog) are considered “questionable and often inaccurate sources.”  Of course they’ve never demonstrated anything on these sites is ever inaccurate, but by saying so they hope to keep Mormons from learning the truth.

Mormonism Research Ministry has published responses to these essays so as to demonstrate where the LDS is not being as forthcoming as they claim.  Below are the topics of the LDS essays, the dates they were first posted, and the links to both the LDS article and the MRM commentary:

Are Mormons Christian?  (11/20/13)

https://www.lds.org/topics/christians?lang=eng&_r=1

http://www.mrm.org/mormons-christian

Becoming Like God  (2/24/14)

https://www.lds.org/topics/becoming-like-god?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/becoming-like-god

Book of Mormon Translation (12/30/13)

https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/book-of-mormon-translation-essay

Book of Mormon and DNA Studies (1/31/14)

https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/dna  

First Vision Accounts (11/20/13)

https://www.lds.org/topics/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/first-vision-accounts

Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women (10/23/15)

https://www.lds.org/topics/joseph-smiths-teachings-about-priesthood-temple-and-women?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/gospel-topics-women

The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage (12/23/13)

https://www.lds.org/topics/the-manifesto-and-the-end-of-plural-marriage?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/end-plural-marriage

Mother in Heaven (10/23/15)

https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/mother-in-heaven

Peace and Violence among 19th Century Latter-day Saints (5/13/14)

https://www.lds.org/topics/peace-and-violence-among-19th-century-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/peace-and-violence-essay

Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah (12/16/13)

https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/plural-marriage-early-utah

Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo (10/22/14)

https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng

http://www.mrm.org/gospel-topics-polygamy

Race and the Priesthood (12/6/13)

https://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

http://mit.irr.org/race-and-priesthood-analysis-of-new-mormon-statement

Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham (5/13/14)

https://www.lds.org/topics/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng&_r=1

http://www.mrm.org/book-of-abraham-essay

Wildly Unbiblical Teachings

Consider how very fortunate we are to be living in this land of America . . .  Many great events have transpired in this land of destiny.  This was the place where Adam dwelt; this was the place where the Garden of Eden was; it was here that Adam met with a body of high priests at Adam-ondi-Ahman shortly before his death and gave them his final blessing, and the place to which he will return to meet with the leaders of his people (D&C 107:53-57).  This was the place of three former civilizations: that of Adam, that of the Jaredites, and that of the Nephites.

Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp.587-588

Firstly, the American continent didn’t even exist in Adam’s time, and the Flood wiped out what land masses would have existed, and completely reshaped the world. 

Secondly, Adam never met with any council of priests — there were no such persons during Adam’s time, and there is no biblical evidence that Adam will ever return to earth to meet with anyone.

Thirdly, there is no archaeological evidence that such cultures as Jaredites and Nephites ever existed outside of Joseph Smith’s imagination.

Did They Really Say that?

Presumptuous and blasphemous are they who purport to baptize, bless, marry, or perform other sacraments in the name of the Lord while in fact lacking his specific authorization.

Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.494.

And yet Mormons continue to claim that they never speak against Christians.