Lesson 3 Witnessing To Mormons Series

Witnessing to Mormons

Lesson 3

Jeff Bixby

March 12, 2001

Scripture: 2Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

A question that you may be asking yourself right now is, how can mormons believe in those things in lesson 2 if they use the Bible? Well, mormons twist and distort the Bible to mean what they want it to, or simply just becuase a prophet/president said so. The context of scripture is not used. New meanings to words are created for a mormonism purpose. In this lesson we will look at contradictions in mormonism according to Gods word. Mormon leaders contradict what Gods word says. Below are some examples of that. Mormons will believe a mormon prophet or leader and what ever he says.

Gates of Hell Prevailed

(Pamphlets by Apostle Orson Pratt 112) The gates of hell have prevailed and will continue to prevail over the Catholic Mother of Harlots, and over all her Protestant Daughters. Orson Pratt an mormon leader clearly states that he believes that hell has victory, but the Bible says otherwise. (Matthew 16:18) "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Righteousness through Polygamy

(Doctrine and Covenants) Abraham recieved concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. The thought that polygamy will bring righteousness is of all things not biblicial. Abraham was not justified by having many wives. (Romans 4:5) For what does scripture say? "Abraham believed God and it was cridited to him as righteousness." Having faith in the Lord brings righteousness not having more than one wife.

Justification/Saved by works

(McConkie, Doctrinal New Testement Commentary. 3:260) Man is justified by works. The Bible is says that we are not justified by anything we do. (Romans 3:28) For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (Romans 3:20) By the works of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight. (Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves lest any man should boast.

Hatred of enemies

In Missouri we were taught to "pray for our enemies, that God would damn them, and give us power to kill them"(Letter BF Johnson, 1903 cited in the book Changing world of Mormonism by Tanners) Jesus himself taught us that we should love our enemies and pray for them, Early Mormons did not think this way. "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."(Matthew 5:43-44)

Mankind has always been Good

(Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 9:305) It is however universally recieved by professors of religion as a scriptural doctrine that man is naturally opposed to God. This is not so. Paul says in his Epistle to the Corinthians, "But the natural man recieveth not the things of God" But I say it is the unnatural "man receiveth not the things of God."... The natural man is of God. Brigham Young is who brought the mormons to Utah. See how he just sort of over rides the word of God. Scripture tells us that we all were born of sin and unrighteousness. (1Corinthians 2:14) But a natural man does not accept the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, becuase they are spiritually appraised.(John Taylor 3rd Mormon President Journal of Discourses 10:50)It is not natural for men to be evil. (Romans 3:10-12) As it is written:"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together became worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one"

No original sin

In the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is no original sin.(John Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, 195 in Cowan 75) Mormons have no biblical basis for any doctrine that they hold to, it is truly the doctrine of men. The Bible is clear on men and women being born with sin becuase of Adams trangression. (Romans 5:18) One trespass was condemnation for all men.

Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ Denied by Mormons

Mormon doctrine denies Jesus always was God. Jesus became a Godd... through consistent effort(M.R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1945, 51, in McElveen, 154) Once agian the Bible shows us differently. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever(John 1:1) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever(Hebrews13:8)

God Dwells in our hearts

The idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old secterian notion, and is false. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:3) Jesus Answered and said to him "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him."(John 14:23)