N7QVC’s Christian Blog

Is Mormonism a cult? What do Mormons believe?

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Question: “Is Mormonism a cult? What do Mormons believe?”Answer: The Mormon religion was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ and told that all churches and their creeds were an abomination. Joseph set out to impose a brand-new religion that claims to be the “only true church on earth.” The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. Christians have no reason to believe that the Bible is not true and adequate. To truly believe in and trust God means to believe in His Word. And all Scripture is inspired by God, which means it comes from Him (2 Timothy 3:16).

Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, instead of just one. 1) The Bible “as far as it is translated correctly.” Which verses are incorrectly translated are not always made clear 2) The Book of Mormon was “translated” by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most correct book” on earth, and that a person could get closer to God by following its precepts, “than by any other book.” 3) The Doctrine and Covenants is considered scripture by Mormons, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the “Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored.” 4) The Pearl of the Great Price is considered by Mormons to “clarify” doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible and adds its own information about the earth’s creation.

Mormons believe these things about God: that He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe, but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” Though abandoned by modern Mormon leaders, Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ. Christians know this about God: there is only One true God (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:6-8), that He always has and always will exist (Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 1:17), and that He was not created, but is the Creator (Genesis chapter1, Psalm 24:1, Isaiah 37:16). He is perfect and no one else is equal to Him (Psalm 86:8, Isaiah 40:25). God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Hosea 11:9). He is Spirit (John 4:24), and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).

Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: The Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom, the Telestial Kingdom and outer darkness. Where mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this mortal life. The Bible tells us that after death, we go to Heaven or Hell based on whether we had faith in Jesus or not. To be absent from our bodies as believers means we are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unbelievers are sent to Hell, or the place of the dead (Luke 16:22-23). When Jesus comes for the second time, we will receive new bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). There will be a New Heaven and New Earth for believers (Revelation 21:1), and unbelievers will be thrown into an everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). There is no second chance for redemption after death (Hebrews 9:27).

Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. They believe Jesus is a God, but that any human can also become a god. Christians historically have taught that God is Triune and that He exists eternally as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). No one can achieve the status of God, only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2). We can only be made holy in God’s sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16) and is the only one ever to have lived a sinless, blameless life, who now has the highest place of honor in Heaven (Hebrews 7:26). Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only One existing before physical birth (John 1:1-8, John 8:56). Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, and God raised Him from the dead, and one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11). Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to Heaven by our own works, only with faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26). And many will not choose Him. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way” (Matthew 7:13). We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God’s infinite love and grace has allowed us a way out. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Clearly there is only one way to receive salvation; to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3). It is not done by works, but by faith (Romans 1:17, 3:28). When we have this faith, we will automatically be obedient to God’s laws and become baptized out of love for Him, but not because it is a requirement for salvation. We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Although Mormons are usually friendly, loving, and kind people - they are involved in a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation.

An X-Ray of the Cross Psalm 22 by Dr J. Vernon McGee

Psalm 22

 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

 2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.

 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

 28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Bible Gateway psalm 22

In a recent survey taken by the Chinese State Media it has been revealed that more than thirty percent of the people of China above the age of sixteen consider themselves as “religious”, which could be three times higher than what the Chinese officials had estimated.

This report suggests that three hundred million people nationwide in China could be religious, compared to the official figure of one hundred million, allowing this report to back up suspicions that religion has been enjoying a resurgence in China over the past twenty years and this as the communist party disapproval of the exercise of religion has eased up somewhat.

The recent survey taken in China of the country’s religious beliefs revealed that even an atheistic nation is vulnerable to the spread of the truth as will be the case across the entire world in the future days of judgment, that according to Bible prophecy.

Reports in recent years coming out of Communist China indicated there were millions of Christians in the underground church that were being jailed or persecuted for their beliefs. Hundreds of missionaries have worked closely with this underground church to distribute Bibles, to witness to Chinese people in the street, and to otherwise try to spread the message of Christ to a needy people.

Now, the official Chinese media are reporting that the government’s estimates may be way off with three times what they had estimated as the number of believers in China. What’s unique about this report is that it is similar to the report that will come out of the Tribulation Period, a seven year period of judgment yet in the future, the time between the Rapture of the Church and the return of Jesus Christ to Earth.

The book of Revelation tells of two witnesses, two preachers, that will be located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the first half of the Tribulation Period and they will have a ministry that will turn people to Christianity and Jesus Christ, that’s Revelation 11:3-7. Revelation 7:4-9 speaks of one hundred and forty four thousand Jewish men coming to Christ and then they will spread across the world to preach the gospel to everyone on Earth.

In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that when everyone on Earth had heard the gospel during that seven year Tribulation Period, He would return to the Earth to setup His Kingdom.

Jimmy’s Prophetic Prospective on the News

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2: 15

King James Version

I need to lose weight, a lot of weight, because I am not overweight; I am fat and I am more likely to have a heart attack. I think one of the reasons why I am fat is because there are times when I can’t cook well balanced meals due to my arthritis so I snack on junk food. Of course, that is only an excuse and a sneaky attack from satan to keep me from losing weight.

While I do need to lose a lot of weight physically, I also need to gain a lot of weight spiritually. Jesus doesn’t judge us by how we look; He is concerned with the condition of our hearts. He doesn’t want us to neglect our bodies but He wants us to be more concerned with the condition of our hearts.

The Bible tells us “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7).

Someone told me that when he started a diet, he went on a fast for two days first. Another person said that she was fasting to get a boyfriend. I heard an evangelist on television make this remark “I fasted thirty days and because of that many people were baptized by me.” Two years ago, someone emailed me and said “I am going to fast for a new house and a new car.

I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that there is only one fast that is acceptable to God. We read in the Bible “Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke” (Isaiah 58: 5, 6).

Fasting doesn’t change other people or our circumstances; it changes our hearts. Jesus takes away all of the bitterness, anger, hatred, resentment, jealousy, criticism, sarcasm and unforgiveness that we have allowed satan to put in our hearts. We should fast so Jesus can melt our hardened hearts. He will remove all of the negative things from our hearts that hurt Him and that stinks in His nostrils and will replace them with unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness for people.

We should be more concerned with what Jesus thinks about the condition of our hearts than we are with what people think about our outward appearance. Of course, we should take care of our bodies but if our outward appearance is more important to us than what Jesus thinks about the conditions of our hearts, what we are really saying is that we don’t care what Jesus thinks about the condition of our hearts.

Are you studying the Bible so that you will please God and make Him happy or do you only care about losing weight so that people will like you? If people don’t like you the way that you look now, then you don’t need those kind of people as your friends because they are not true friends.

It is nice to have friends and I have a lot of friends but if every person who claims to be my friend would turn their backs on me and stop being my friend, Jesus would still be my friend. He is my dearest and best friend and I love Him with all of my heart.

There is no friend like Jesus! No one loves us like Jesus loves us! Thank You, Jesus, for loving me unconditionally and for never leaving me, not even for a minute. I love You with all of my heart and I appreciate all that You have done for me.

Joanne Lowe

July 29, 2008

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him. Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23: 42, 43
King James Version

I was watching a Gaither Homecoming Video just now and they were singing a song about the cross. This verse penetrated my heart like it never has before. Jesus was literally hanging on a cross. He had been beaten, spat upon, ridiculed and mocked. He was beaten beyond recognition, yet even in the midst of all this torture and abuse, His Heart was still full of Love.

It is hard for me to comprehend with my mind such amazing and unconditional Love that our Saviour has for us, but I believe it and accept it in my heart. We are talking about the Saviour of the world Loving us so much that He forgives us even when we hurt Him. There is no friend like Jesus! There is nothing or nobody that satisfies the loneliness in our hearts like Jesus!

From that cross of torture, He looked down and said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. What kind of Love is this, that He would say this while suffering such agony and heartache? This is unconditional Love from the Heart of our Saviour. How can we do less than give Him not only our hearts, but our lives in full time service?

Have you asked Him to forgive you and come into your heart and save you? If you have prayed that prayer, then you are assured of being with Him for all Eternity. If you haven’t, then you are going to spend Eternity without Jesus. What is your choice today, Jesus or satan? You need to swallow your pride and admit you need Him.

Joanne Lowe
May 24, 2006