Lesson 2 Witnessing To Mormons Series

Witnessing to Mormons

Lesson 2

Jeff Bixby

March 9, 2001

Scripture: Galatians Ch.1:6-8 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."

We will now go into the Mormon teachings and doctrine. This is where they get mormon theology which I call mormonism. Mormonism as you will see, perverts the gospel so much, that mormon leaders have to eat away and explain away prior thoughts or "prophecies". How can they do this? A mormon prophet/president can invalidate a previous prophecy or teaching on thier canon scripture. However past and present mormon teachings and doctrines clash into contradictions that sometimes even the mormon scriptures contradict. How can I use this to witness? Well Joseph Smith himself says this in a book Prophetic Record:"The only way of ascertaining a true prophet is to comare his prophecies with the ancient word of God, and see if they agree, and if they do and come to pass, then certainly he is a true prophet." Of course if you try to use the Bible many Mormons will not accept that because you are not "interepting it correctly". You can actually use the Book of Mormon and other items to expose and show the mormon that there is something wrong with the doctrine and mistakes are made and being made in teachings by the prophets of the church. The Book of Mormon does not in theology, teach mormonism. Following is a brief list of these examples. There are many more.

Contradictions in Mormonism doctrine

Polygamy

(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine 578)Plural marriage is not essential to salvation or exaltation. (D&C 132:4)For behold, I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not in that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory. It should be noted that at the present time the LDS church does not currently teach this doctrine to be practiced, but at one time it was taught and practiced. Some splinter LDS groups still practice it today believing that the LDS church has fallen away from Joseph Smith’s teachings. If a mormon believes it publicly he/she would be considered a "fundamentalist" and not to be taken seriously. LDS church hopes to one day practice this doctrine again in the future and still holds a belief in it, not practice, yet.

Plural Gods

(Book of Mormon Alma11:28;29) Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No. (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine 317) There are three Gods- the father, the son and the Holy Ghost. The quote from Alma is often contested by mormons stating that Amulek was lying, this is not the case in the passage it is very clear that Zeezrom is the liar and not Amulek.

Adam’s origin

(Joseph F. Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:90) The Book of Mormon, the Bible Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price all declare that Adams body was created from the dust of the ground, that is, from the dust of this ground, this earth. (Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 3:319) Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth.

Omniscience and Omnipotence of God

(Orson Pratt, The Seer, Aug. 1853, pg117) Each of these personal Gods has equal knowledge with all the rest...None of these Gods are progessing in knowledge: neither can they progress in the acquirement of any truth... Some have gone so far as to say that all the Gods were progessing in truth, and would continue to progress to all eternity... but let us examine, for a moment, the absurdity of such a conjecture. (Brigham Young, Deseret Weekly News, 263) Do not... say that he cannot learn anymore. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 3:203) We might ask, when shall we cease to learn? I will give you my opinion about it; never never... both in time and eternity.

Fall of Man

(John Widstoe, Evidences and Reconciliation, 195, in Cowan, 75) In the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is no original sin. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:21) God Showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of thier parents.

Treating Enemies

(Apostle George A. Smith, Journal of Discourses, 5:107) As I remarked, we were then very pious, and we prayed the Lord to kill the mob. (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi12:44-45) But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven.