Agglomeration

As I do on my main apologetics blog, I like to post a collection of links to articles which my readers should find of interest. When it comes to Mormonism, I can’t help but link to articles on an excellent site which exposes the false teachings of that belief system. I usually have links to other sites also, so this won’t be totally a promotion of Life After Ministry — but very close! So let’s get started.

Would you like a crash course on Mormonism in order to converse with the “missionary” at your door?

Mormonism is rife with contractions in their teachings, and they know it but don’t want to acknowledge it. They often will hide these past contradictions, especially to their young people.  They often defy the rest of humanity as they contradict themselves. I could give evidence after evidence showing LDS contradictions, but let’s just look at this last one, concerning the term “only begotten.” 

The LDS history is also rife with false prophecies; here’s one I hadn’t previously heard of.

Mormons always claim they don’t attack Christians and therefore we shouldn’t “attack” (i.e. expose) them. Those who have read this blog know that I have listed many times and places where Mormons denigrate Christianity and really attack it.  I found this older article which gives more great examples refuting this lie of Mormonism.

If the Mormons ever studied archaeology they would learn that the whole origin of their religion, and the claims of the Book of Mormon, just don’t have anything about them which is part of reality.

More evidence proving Joseph Smith’s “first vision” was totally fabricated.

The truth about Joseph Smith’s “martyrdom” is that he died in a gun battle, not as a martyr.

Another anachronism proving the lie of Mormonism.

About those witnesses to the Book of Mormon—their “evidence" couldn’t even stand up in court.

Four reasons to reject LDS restoration claims.

It still all comes down to sex for salvation.

Did you know that God was wrong to give Adam just one wife? Well according to Mormonism, monogamy degenerates humanity.  Actually, many studies have shown that polygamy degenerates humanity.  Just look at how it degrades women!

Well, now we’ll end this edition with two items currently in the news: 

The LDS is trying to re-invent their racist past but a printing error brings it out! I guess the Book of Mormon is now wrong and that the racial curse is just a theory.

Brigham Young University is now allowing same-sex couples to participate in a ballroom dance competition. This is giving tacit approval to homosexual relationships, contrary to God’s commands against homosexuality.

Mormon Bread and Water “Sacrament”

The following article is posted by permission, and I hope it gets spread around all over the Internet. The original can be found here.

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Mormon Bread and Water Sacrament

01/10/2020 by lifeafterministry

Today we’re looking at the LDS version of Communion, or Sacrament, as it is known in Mormonism. Because nothing in Mormonism is straightforward, you’ll find multiple layers to this ordinance. I’ve tried to lessen the confusion by highlighting the bottom line in each of their explanations of how this works.

You can read a brief explanation, and links for each item at the end of this article.

• Mormons believe they can be cleansed of sin by taking the Sacrament.
• Mormons believe they renew covenants made at baptism by taking Sacrament.
• Mormons believe that leavened bread (Wonderbread^®) and water, represent Jesus’ sinless sacrifice, and spilt blood at the cross.
• Mormons believe children taking Sacrament is good practice for oaths they’ll take in the future.
• Mormons believe Jesus told Joe Smith it doesn’t matter what you eat or drink at Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

Obviously, the meaning of the Last Supper has been lost in translation somewhere. There was no mention of Passover in any of the references I pulled, and no mention of how Passover was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ spilt blood, or sinless sacrifice.

During their Sacrament meetings the elements are passed to the congregation after perfunctory prayers are offered by 12 year old boys dressed in white shirts, and conservative ties. As mentioned above, people of all ages may participate in taking Sacrament, even though they also state this ritual is to renew covenants you’ve made previously.

We’re wondering…

Where is Jesus in all of this?

Tragically, it’s hard to ignore their bread and water routine is eerily similar to the old adage of what convicts are served in prison.

Ensign, ‘Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,’ September 2001; “Throughout the Church each week, members gather for the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. This…provides a way whereby we can be cleansed of our sins.” – Vaughn J. Featherstone [emphasis added]

Encyclopedia of Mormonism 1992; “…The Sacrament in LDS belief does not serve primarily as a means of securing remission of sins. It does, however, focus attention on the sacrifice for sin wrought by the Savior and on the need for all those who have been baptized to maintain their lives constantly in harmony with his teachings and commandments.” [emphasis added]

Gospel Topics, Sacrament; “…In partaking of the sacrament and making these commitments, Church members renew the covenant they made at baptism…In return, the Lord renews the promised remission of sin and enables Church members to “always have his Spirit to be with them…”” [emphasis added]

Liahona, Worshiping at Sacrament Meeting,’ August 2004; “…Little children, as sinless beneficiaries of the Lord’s Atonement, may partake of the sacrament as they prepare for covenants that they will make later in life.” – Russell M. Nelson

Gospel Principles, pp 33-37; “…During the sacrament, we partake of bread and water … in a latter-day revelation He has said that it doesn’t matter what we eat and drink during the sacrament as long as we remember Him (see D&C 27:2–3).” [emphasis added]

Be sure to share this info with a Mormon!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18

Original posting 1/9/2015.

Mormon Abortionist

There is also evidence that some of Smith’s plural wives had abortions performed by John C. Bennett (a physician), a Mormon, and a close friend and confidant of Smith’s for almost two years, from July 1840 to mid-May 1842. Mrs. Orson (Sarah) Pratt, a Mormon resident in Nauvoo, said one reason nobody really heard about some of Smith’s impregnated women was because his friend Dr. Bennett performed abortions for him. She reported that Bennett once showed her and her husband the instruments which he used to “operate for Joseph.” Not surprisingly, she branded Bennett “the evil genius of Joseph.” Her abortion testimony was later corroborated by William Wyl (von Wymetal), a German newspaper reporter. He also learned that Bennett performed abortions for the founder of the Mormon church. Sarah Pratt stated that there was a house about a mile and a half from Nauvoo that functioned as “a kind of hospital.” She explained, “They sent women there when they showed signs of celestial consequences.” This house, according to Harry M. Beardsley, was a large brick mansion “fitted up by Bennett as an abortion hospital.

Alvin J. Schmidt, The American Muhammad: Joseph Smith, Founder of Mormonism,” pg.178. 

Update 3/6/20: See this post at Life After Ministry

Did They Really Say That?!?

Your virtue is worth more than your life. Please, young folk, preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives. 

Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 63

So if you are about to be raped, you should force the person to kill you?

And just look what happens if you remain monogamous:

This law of monogamy, or the monogamic system, laid the foundation for prostitution and the evils and diseases of the most revolting nature and character under which modern Christendom groans, for as God has implanted, for a wise purpose, certain feelings in the breasts of females as well as males, the gratification of which is necessary to health and happiness, and which can only be accomplished legitimately in the married state…”

Orson Pratt, Salt Lake City, October 7, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:195

So then, God made a mistake when he gave Adam just one wife?  So prostitution is caused by a man not being able to have more than one wife?  Why do STDs not appear in monogamous unions if they are the origin of them?

Things Mormons know about Michael the archangel which the Bible doesn’t tell us:

President Young said Michael was a resurrected Being and he left Eloheem and came to this earth & with an immortal body, & continued so till he partook of earthly food and begat Children who were mortal. (Keep this to yourselves). Then they died.

Wilford Woodruff Journal, p. 270-271, 27 January 1860.

Michael, as an angel, was created as an angel, which is a spiritual being not related to humans. They do not marry (as noted by Jesus in Matthew 22:29-30) and do not procreate. It is interesting that his audience was to keep this information to themselves — obviously because he knew it was a lie!

And we cannot doubt that the greatest of all female spirits was the one then chosen and foreordained to be ‘the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh’ (1 Nephi 11:18). Nor can we do other than suppose that Eve was by her side, rejoicing in her foreordination to be the first woman, the mother of men, the consort, companion, and friend of mighty Michael…”

Bruce R. McConkie, “Woman, Eve and the Fall,” p. 59; Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:74-75

So Eve was a consort of Michael? But Eve was human and Michael is an angel, so how does that work?!? Where in the Bible do we find even that Eve was a friend of Michael? (H/T: Life After Ministry.)

If Mormons would just read their Bible and quit listening to the lies of their leaders they just might find the true Gospel and be saved!

Christian Christmas vs Mormon Christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas; it's when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. This is one of the primary doctrines of Christianity: that Jesus was born of a virgin so that he would not have inherited sin. In Christianity God was incarnate in Jesus, begotten by the Holy Ghost.

On the other hand, Mormons celebrate the birth of a baby conceive by natural intercourse between their god-man and Mary: their Jesus is not God.

Last Wednesday, 18 December, I published an article about how Mormons understand the non-virgin birth. Today I am posting links to articles I’ve previously written, so as to demonstrate the non-Christian beliefs the Mormon have about the birth of Jesus.

My prayer is that Mormons will read these articles and recognize the false teachings of Mormonism.

For Mormons, it is not Jesus’ birthday.

What Child Is This? The LDS Christmas Story.

An Interesting Christmas date.

Christmas and Mormons.

The non-Virgin Virgin Mary of Mormonism.

Mormons —Think About this at Christmas!

The following article is posted by permission.

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LDS Leaders Disagree on Jesus’ Conception

12/16/2019 by lifeafterministry

Alma 7:10 “And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the

land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.”[emp. added]

Journal of Discourses 1:51 “I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea—“if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties.”” — Brigham Young, Great Salt Lake City, April 9, 1852 [emp. added]

Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Foregoing the obvious problems in the passage from Alma, we’re looking at just one topic today, and that’s what Mormons think of Jesus’ conception.

Yesterday the verse in Alma reminded me of the day I discovered Brigham’s speech in the Journal of Discourses. I was newly out of the Church, and Ed Decker sent me home with a set of the Journals. As I was thumbing through the first volume, I came across the infamous quote above that marked the first of my shocking discoveries.

Gut-wrenching doesn’t do justice to what I felt that day. I sobbed for hours even though I had left the Church several months beforehand. My dismay was rooted in the sadness in my heart for the Lord, and my people. I had no idea they had said things like the example above – and very sadly, most Mormons aren’t aware of the garbage in the Church’s history either.

As Mr. Nelson tours the world with his message to read the Book of Mormon, we’re praying Mormons will discover their own shocking news. It’s not meant to be rude, but we do pray something will jolt them into the reality of the countless lies in their church.

We can’t help but wonder how many times Mr. Nelson has had to shelve contradictions like this one. Being a prophet and all, he surely knows Brigham’s statement is blasphemous. Shame on him.

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18

Did They Really Say That?!?

What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing . . . Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God.

John Taylor, Salt Lake City, May 6, 1870, Journal of Discourses 13:225.

The Mormons are the real people who do not know God or the things of God.  They know only the false man-god of the false LDS gospel.

H/T: Life After Ministry.

Angels Can Be Humans?!?

What are angels? They are intelligences of the human species. Many of them are offsprings of Adam and Eve. That is they are men, who have, like Enoch or Elijah, been translated; or, like Jesus Christ, been raised from the dead; consequently they possess a material body of flesh and bones, can eat, drink, walk, converse, reason, love, fight, wrestle, sing, or play on musical instruments. They can go or come on foreign missions, in heaven, earth, or hell; and they can travel space, and visit the different worlds, with all the ease and alacrity with which God and Christ do the same, being possessed of similar organizations, powers and attributes in a degree.

B. H. Roberts, LDS Church Historian, 1903

Everywhere angels are mentioned they are spiritual beings who were created BEFORE mankind. Although they take on the appearance of men when appearing to people, they are not humans, and do not have flesh and bones.  They are an entirely different species of created beings; the are NOT men!

Adam and Eve were human beings; therefore all their offsprings were human beings. It is impossible for humans to have angel offspring.

Angels, with spiritual bodies, are similar to Christ in that they are not limited to our dimensions.

Yes, this is the sort of total nonsense which Mormons believe. Proving once again that the are NOT Christians.

H/T: Life After Ministry.

Yes, HE Really Did Say That!!!

—if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children…

Brigham Young, Great Salt Lake City, April 9, 1852. Journal of Discourses 1:51.

Since the Holy Ghost isn’t physical, nor can he procreate, this statement of a belief is entirely absurd!  Remember, Brigham Young was the LDS prophet and President at the time he made this statement.

H/T: Life After Ministry

Did He Really Say That?!?

The Devil has the mastery of the earth: he has corrupted it, and has corrupted the children of men. He has led them in evil until they are almost entirely ruined, and are so far from God that they neither know Him nor his influence, and have almost lost sight of everything that pertains to eternity. This darkness is more prevalent, more dense, among the people of Christendom, than it is among the heathen. They have lost sight of all that is great and glorious—of all principles that pertain to life eternal.

Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, October 14, 1860.  Journal of Discourses 8:209.

Remember this the next time a Mormon tells you that your shouldn’t “bash” Mormons because they’ve never “bashed” Christians.

H/T: Life After Ministry.