Sunday, May 31, 2009

MORMONISM: and what people want to know part 2

Part 2

MORMONISM:

And what people want to know. Does

The Church of

JESUS CHRIST

of Latter-day Saints

have a different Jesus Christ?


19 - IS JESUS "JEHOVAH" BUT NOT "ELOHIM"?

20 - WHERE WAS JESUS BORN?

21 - WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?

22 - DOES JESUS RECEIVE WORSHIP?

23 - WAS JESUS A POLYGAMIST?

24 - DID JESUS HAVE A HEAVENLY MOTHER?

25 - IS JESUS AN INSUFFICIENT SAVIOR?

26 - DID THE LDS JESUS PERSPIRE TO BE THE SAVIOR?

27 - IS JESUS CHRIST INFERIOR TO JOSEPH SMITH?

28 - WHO IS THE SOVEREIGN SAVIOR?

29 - DID JOSEPH SMITH SEE JESUS?

30 - IF JESUS HAD TO PROGRESS TO GODHOOD, THEN WHY DIDN’T MORONI?

31 - IF JESUS CHRIST IS IN THE NAME OF THE LDS CHURCH, DOESN’T IT FOLLOW THAT MORMONS HAVE TO BE CHRISTIANS?

32 - WHICH JESUS IS YOUR JESUS?

33 - IS JESUS CHRIST A FALSE GOD OR IS HE THE ALMIGHTY GOD?

34 - DOES THE BIBLE IDENTIFY JESUS AS BEING GOD?

35 - WHAT ARE SOME OBJECTIONS TO JESUS’ DEITY?

36 - IS JESUS CHRIST DEITY? IS HE HUMANITY?


19 - IS JESUS "JEHOVAH" BUT NOT "ELOHIM"?

Trying to maintain separate gods, Mormonism confuses "LORD God" which comes from the words "Jehovah-Elohim." How can anyone miss the meaning of "LORD God" in the Bible? (Genesis 2:4-22; Deuteronomy 4:1; Judges 5:3; 1 Samuel 2:30). Examples from the "Joseph Smith Translation" are in 1 Kings 8:60 and Exodus 34:14. This is no more confusing than to read "Jesus Christ." Jesus is the Christ. Jehovah is Elohim. However, the LDS are half-right at least to know that Jesus is Jehovah.

If He is not JEHOVAH, who alone is named JEHOVAH? (Psalms 83:18). If this excludes JESUS, why does He share the Father’s name? (John 17:11). So if the Father’s name is Elohim, then the Son’s name has to be Elohim too.

If He is not JEHOVAH, who is named "THE LORD" or "JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"? (Jeremiah 23:6). If this is not JESUS, who is this King who shall reign on the earth? (Jeremiah 23:5).

If He is not JEHOVAH, why is Jehovah called the "mighty God"? (Isaiah 10:20-21). If this is not JESUS, why did Isaiah also say the Son is "The Mighty God?" (Isaiah 9:6).

If He is not JEHOVAH God, who was Israel’s Rock? (Deuteronomy 32:4). If this is not JESUS, why would Paul declare "that Rock was Christ!" (1 Corinthians 10:4).

If He is not JEHOVAH, whom did Isaiah see high and lifted up in his vision? (Isaiah 6:1-13). If this is not JESUS, why did John declare that Isaiah was seeing the glory of Jesus? (John 12:41).

If He is not JEHOVAH, why did Isaiah write about two Persons and both who are Jehovah? The King of Israel is Jehovah (Isaiah 44:6a), but if this excludes JESUS, why is His redeemer Jehovah of hosts? (Isaiah 44:6b).

If He is not JEHOVAH, whose feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives bursting that mountain from east to west in dramatic evidence of His power and authority? (Zechariah 14:3-5; Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-21). If this is not Jesus, who physically rose from the Mount of Olives and will visibly return there in like manner? (Acts 1:9-12).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who else is the "true and faithful witness"? (Jeremiah 42:5). If this is not JESUS, who is walking in the midst of the churches "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning (beginner - Greek) of the creation of God"? (Revelation 2:1; 3:14).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who created everything by Himself? (Godhead. No angels or work crew Romans 1:20; Isaiah 44:24; 45:8-12; Malachi 2:10). If this excludes JESUS, why would Scripture declare He made all things? (John 1:3; 14:2; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2,10). The Holy Spirit was active in creation as well (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:23).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who forgives sin and "will by no means clear the guilty"? (Exodus 34:7). If this is not JESUS, who said to the poor "sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee"? (Mark 2:5).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who said, "That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear"? (Isaiah 45:22-23). If this is not JESUS, how is it that His name is above every name? Why would every knee bow to Jesus? Why would every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord-Jehovah? Why would this glorify the Father if Jesus is not worthy as being the Almighty God? (Phil. 2:9-11).

If He is not JEHOVAH, of whom did David write, "The LORD is my shepherd"? (Psalms 23:1). If this is not JESUS, who is the "good shepherd," the "one shepherd," and "that great shepherd of the sheep"? (John 10:11,16; Hebrews 13:20).

If He is not JEHOVAH, who "maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still"? (Psalm 107:28-29). If this is not JESUS, who "arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm"? (Matthew 8:26).

How clear! Jesus Christ is Jehovah-God, the Almighty. Jehovah-Elohim is God.

20 - WHERE WAS JESUS BORN?

The Mormon Jesus was not born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Mat. 2:1) but in Jerusalem (Alma 7:10). Trying to excuse this, Mormon logic says Jerusalem is a region. No, Jerusalem is a city. When God inspired Micah the prophet to write "Bethlehem," God meant Bethlehem (5:2). And if someone named "Jesus" was born in Jerusalem, whoever he was, he was not the Jesus of the Bible. The devil’s star may seem so bright but it leads you to the wrong baby.

21 - WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?

We don’t claim to know when Jesus was born, but Joseph Smith claimed to know. Jesus was born on April 6 (D&C 20:1). If so, why isn’t this when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Christmas carols?

22 - DOES JESUS RECEIVE WORSHIP?

Since the apostle Bruce McConkie died, the LDS is leaning away from him. However, when he was alive he was popularly endorsed. That’s why he preached at BYU. He claimed, "We worship the Father and him only and no one else. We do not worship the Son and we do not worship the Holy Ghost" (BYU Devotional Speech, March 2, 1982). How interesting to claim to have the same Jesus as Christians, but they do not worship him. If the Book of Mormon is scripture, then follow it to fall down and worship Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 11:17; 17:10).

Who are we to worship? God’s angels do not accept worship because this belongs only to God (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9). Satan is not worthy of worship (Matthew 4:10). But we worship Jesus Christ as God and with His approval. The wise men and disciples worshiped Jesus as God. Jesus Christ is being worshiped by angels (Hebrews 1:6). He is worshipped in Heaven. Jesus receives what the Father receives in worship (Matthew 2:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9-10, 17; Rev. 4:10-11; 14:7).

Jesus made Himself equal with God, as affirmed by Scripture (John 5:18). This quote in John is inspired from the Apostle John, not from the words of the Jews who could have been mistaken. Jesus continued, if you do not give Him the same worshipful honor equal to the Father's, then your honor of the Father is worthless (John 5:23). What an ideal time for Jesus to make His identity known if He is only a spirit-child of the Father and a brother to the devil.

So for apostle McConkie and for the LDS church, not giving Jesus Christ worshipful honor equal to the Father's, the LDS honor to the Father is rendered worthless. Isn’t this ironic for the LDS religion to have "JESUS CHRIST" in the name of their church and yet they will not worship Him?

23 - WAS JESUS A POLYGAMIST?

Joseph Smith introduced polygamy, and as being an "everlasting covenant" (D&C 132). He said the failure to abide in it is to be "damned".

As prophets Spencer W. Kimball and Brigham Young clarified, there can be no exaltation without marriage. "If one is going to be in God’s kingdom of exaltation, where God dwells in all his glory, one will be there as a husband or a wife and not otherwise. Regardless of his virtues, the single person, or the one married for this life only, cannot be exalted…‘If he wishes to be saved, he cannot be saved without a woman at his side’" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 245).

LDS apostle Orson Pratt explained a polygamy being practiced by God. "God the father had a plurality of wives…the son followed the example of his father, and became the great bridegroom to whom king’s daughters and many honorable wives were to be married" (The Seer, p. 172).

The exalted man-god sexually produced these spirit-children, which includes Jesus, Lucifer, all the angels and devils, and everyone on earth. Since there are countless angels and billions of people, how did their sexual relations ever keep up with the birth rate?

The role of the woman is not so good. This Heavenly Father populated earth by one of his wives, but she was just one of several and sharing him with others. While Christians look forward to serving the Lord in Heaven, LDS ladies at best can only plan to serve their polygamist husbands. So ask a woman with half a dozen kids, "How would you like to have another child every year?" As her role in heaven, she is to be a birthing-machine, as queen bees mass-producing offspring to populate a world. No wonder the dear LDS who turn to Christ rejoice in the truth of Matthew 22:29-30. There are no marriages in Heaven since everyone is special in the family of God.

LDS apostle Orson Hyde claimed, "Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children" (JD, Vol. 2, p. 210). So Jesus was married and he was a polygamist. "Jesus was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana of Galilee...if Jesus was not the bridegroom on that occasion, please tell who was" (JD, Vol.2, p. 210, 89). Well now, come on! Have you ever heard of a bridegroom who needed to have an invitation to come to his own wedding? (John 2:2).

This foolishness knows no bounds, even to say the reason Jesus was crucified was because of practicing polygamy. "The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based on polygamy...a belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus, and his followers" (LDS Seventh President, Jedediah M. Grant, JD, Vol. 1, pp. 345-346).

24 - DID JESUS HAVE A HEAVENLY MOTHER?

Yes, according to Mormonism. Jesus had a heavenly mother. And we have this same heavenly mother. "This doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in all plainness by the First Presidency of the Church" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 129, 516, 751).

Some LDS people would like to pray publicly to that "mother" but the church refuses. Why? She is of an inferior godhood while in "most perfect obedience" to her "great head"--her husband (The Seer, p.159).

But since there is nothing in the Bible nor the Book of Mormon about a Mother God, McConkie appealed to sentiment while citing a Mormon hymn (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 516-517). Too obvious! Wouldn’t God know His own wife if He had one? (Isaiah 44:8).

25 - IS JESUS AN INSUFFICIENT SAVIOR?

The Mormon Jesus has been stripped of his unique deity. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is robbed of its power to make his death only to bring immortality, not eternal life. That Jesus only leaves us trying to obey Mormon laws, ordinances and priests in order to earn eternal life after all we can do. The Articles of Faith says, "We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel" (Article 3). This Mormon gospel is the laws and ordinances which oppose the finished work and full cleansing power of the cross of Christ.

The pamphlet "What the Mormons think of Christ" found in LDS visitor’s centers is to refute the saving grace of Christ. It reads, "Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept him as our personal savior, we are thereby saved. They say that his blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean" (p. 22).

Joseph Smith presented a Christ who is without redemptive power. Even the fruit of the vine was exchanged for water at the communion table, their sacraments.

26 - DID THE LDS JESUS PERSPIRE TO BE THE SAVIOR?

Jesus bore our sins at Gethsemane according to Mormonism. The early quotes are like this one: "Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent...In a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem's walls, in agony beyond compare, he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance" (The Promised Messiah, LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, p. 337 & 552. Also: Gospel Principles, 1988, p. 58; The Mortal Messiah, LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, pp. 127-128; Church News, 1 June 1991, p.14; Ensign Magazine, April, 1981, p.19; Conference Report, Marion Romney of the LDS First Presidency, Oct. 1953, p.35).

This is why Mormon art and films make much of showing Jesus praying by a rock in Gethsemane. Christians do not forget the great agony of the Lord in Gethsemane as the place of sorrow where Jesus went to pray and prepare. But that was not where He took upon Himself the sins of the world.

Now the LDS teaching seems to be changing, but who’s surprised? Christians demonstrate that "Gethsemane" is only twice in the Bible and never used in the redemptive sense, but the message of the cross is throughout the New Testament. So the current position suggests that the atonement was through the garden and the cross.

Why would any religion wanting to be known as Christian become such "enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction"? (Philippians 3:18-19). You should look these powerful passages up and read them. God is absolutely clear that Jesus Christ bore our sins at the cross (Romans 5:8-11; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:13-16; Philippians 3:18-19; Colossians 1:20; 2:13-15; Hebrews 9:14-15, 25-26; 10:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).

What happens to any religious people who miss placing their faith where God tells us to have it? The LDS do not believe Biblical doctrines. So the Jesus of Mormonism is false and their atonement is false, then the faith is false, meaning "vain", useless, or worthless in 1 Corinthians 15:2, 14, 17. The value of faith is not from its size but from the object in which it has been placed. The greatest faith in someone false is still totally worthless. All of the sincerity and false messiahs will never bridge the gap to God.

27 - IS JESUS CHRIST INFERIOR TO JOSEPH SMITH?

Why do we ask? The LDS bear witness of Joseph Smith. Christianity knows nothing of confessing Joseph Smith or any other man. Jesus told us who to confess. "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8).

Brigham Young claimed, "No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith" (JD, 7:289). No wonder one popular LDS conference song is "Praise to the Man," Joseph Smith. "I will now give my scripture…'every spirit that does not confess that God has sent Joseph Smith, and revealed the everlasting Gospel and through him, is of Antichrist'" (JD, 8:176). Who is Christian? Brigham said it, one faith or the other is of Antichrist.

How great is Joseph Smith? He preached, "I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it" (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408-409). Greater in his accomplishments that Jesus? So how did he "come out"? He died soon after that. What about holding the church together? There are at least a hundred sects of Mormonism all calling the others apostate. Why is there so much division in the churches?

So Joseph Smith is exalted. Another exaggeration is: And no one will do a greater work than Jesus until the advent of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:408-9).

28 - WHO IS THE SOVEREIGN SAVIOR?

Was Joseph Smith ever comparable to the Sovereign-Savior?

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the only God and Savior? (Isaiah 43:11; Titus 1:3-4). If He is not our God and SAVIOR, why are we "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ"? (Titus 2:13).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, coming back on that great white horse? (Rev. 19:11,16). If He is not our SAVIOR, who was riding on that little donkey down the streets of Jerusalem? (Matthew 21:1-5).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, "Who is this King of glory?" (Psalms 24:10). If He is not our SAVIOR, how could Paul say they "crucified the Lord of glory"? (1 Corinthians 2:8).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the First and the Last, the only God? (Isaiah 44:6). If He is not our SAVIOR, who is the Almighty, the first and the last, declaring, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore"? (Revelation 1:8,11,17,18).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who burned Sodom and asked, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25b). If He is not our SAVIOR, who is the Son of man who judges all things? (John 5:22,27).

If He is not SOVEREIGN, who else is worthy to sit upon the "throne" of God? (Revelation 22:1,3). If He is not our SAVIOR, why is that "throne" shared with "the Lamb"? (Revelation 22:1,3).

If He is not SOVEREIGN, who will not give His glory to another? (Isaiah 42:8). If He is not our SAVIOR, who is coming in the Father’s glory? (Mark 8:38; John 17:5; Revelation 5:13).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who cast the devils out of a hopeless man telling him to share how God had set him free? (Mark. 5:19; Luke. 8:39). If He is not our SAVIOR, why did that man apply everything to Jesus Christ? (Mark 5:20; Luke 8:39).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who is the Prince of Peace? (Isaiah 9:6). If He is not our SAVIOR, who said to His troubled disciples, "Peace be unto you"? (John 20:19).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who did Michael the Archangel call upon to rebuke the devil? (Jude 9). If He is not our SAVIOR, how could Jesus rebuke the devil and destroy him that had the power of death? (Matthew 4:10; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, who countered Satan, "Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him only shalt thou serve"? (Matthew 4:10). If He is not our SAVIOR, why would the disciples hold Jesus by the feet to worship Him? (Matthew 28:9,10,17).

If He is not our SOVEREIGN, why did the Lord God promise to seek His sheep? (Ezekiel 34:11-16). If he is not our SAVIOR, who is the Son of man who came "to seek and to save that which was lost"? (Luke 19:10).

Jesus Christ is the Sovereign God. So you need the right God if you ever plan to have the right Savior.

29 - DID JOSEPH SMITH SEE JESUS?

LDS Prophet Hinckley at the General Conference on October 4, 1998, clarified, "Our entire case as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rests on the validity of this glorious First Vision" (Church News, Oct. 10, 1998, p.17).

In 1832, Joseph Smith described the first vision in his own handwriting which was verified by the historian office of the LDS Church. "In this story, only one personage was mentioned…the Son" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.40).

For a transcript see, An American Prophet’s Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith, 1989, pp.3-8. The first vision was of only one person.

Historian James B. Allen noted, "In this story, only one personage was mentioned…obviously the Son" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.40). Marvin S. Hill, the professor of American history at BYU, said, the 1832 account is probably more accurate and Joseph Smith may have changed his views concerning God.

When was the official LDS account of "two Personages" recorded? Not until 1838. Now think it through. If you were there to meet God the Father and Jesus Christ, how would you forget how many beings were there? In every Biblical account of a revelation of God, no one was just sitting calmly on the ground like the pictures of Joseph Smith. The LDS "official account" is clearly just bad history.

Is the Father in Heaven an exalted man? No! (Numbers 23:19; John 4:24; Luke 24:39). Alma 18:26-28 confirms that God is no man.

Joseph Smith changed the King James Version Biblical text while writing his own bible. So Joseph’s rewritten bible allowed him to see God. Examples: "Thou canst not see my face at this time" (Exodus 33:20). "…no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son" (John 1:19). "No man hath seen God at any time except them who believe" (1 John 4:12). Joseph Smith changed hundreds of verses but not one change can be substantiated by the Biblical manuscripts.

Bottom line, Brigham Young said that all Joseph Smith really saw was an angel. "But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.171).

30 - IF JESUS HAD TO PROGRESS TO GODHOOD, THEN WHY DIDN’T MORONI?

Moroni is unique to the LDS, being the alleged son of Mormon. Here is a commended man who never achieved godhood. Why would Moroni only be an angel? That’s not right or consistent. "The exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is godhood itself" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321).

This angel story will never fly! The Doctrine and Covenants introduction, reads, "Joseph Smith received visitations from Moroni, an angel of light" (1979 and earlier editions). That was removed but why? Maybe because Mormon Doctrine read, "ANGEL OF LIGHT - See devil" (1966 ed., p. 35). So that is very clear like the Bible is clear about Moroni. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Orson Pratt said, Moroni "translated a record that contained the everlasting Gospel in all its fullness" (JD, Vol. 18, p. 175, 1876). Who but that angel of light would have changed the saving gospel of Jesus Christ which is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?

31 - IF JESUS CHRIST IS IN THE NAME OF THE LDS CHURCH, DOESN’T IT FOLLOW THAT MORMONS HAVE TO BE CHRISTIANS?

How naïve! One complaint about the wards is there is so much about Joseph Smith and so little about Jesus Christ. Its more like "The Church of Joseph Smith of the LDS." Even attending on Easter, the great Resurrection Day, they had nothing about Jesus Christ. Now why is that?

Joseph Smith contentiously opposed Christianity. He claimed "they were all wrong...their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt" (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith - History 1:18-20).

Brigham Young contemptuously held that "The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of salvation of God…With regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:171, 199).

Is the Book of Mormon another testament of Christ? Then why say Christianity is "the church of the devil...the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth"? (1 Nephi 14:10). Trusting in the Bible alone is to be "fools" (2 Nephi 29:3-6).

More is in the Doctrine and Covenants. It identifies the LDS as "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased" (1:30). But it says that Christians "build up the kingdom of the devil" (10:56).

We find that same spirit of contention being very strong as the temple ceremonies mock Christians, especially before being changed. The Manti Pageant openly bashes and misrepresents Christianity.

A Mormon writer claims there is no way to exclude the LDS from Christianity, but Jesus corrects him in Matthew 7:21-23. Elderly Mormons remember when the LDS were "not" Christians. So when did the LDS church become Christian? Where do we read the apologies? When did it embrace the truth to change to Christianity? Has the church renounced the theology, the history, the hostility, and the years of apostasy from Biblical Christianity? If not, then we know the present leadership agrees with the past.

Can Mormonism be excluded from Christianity? It has excluded itself. The symbols to represent a faith include the golden calf, the Star of David, a dome on a Mosque, and for the LDS, the golden Moroni. But Christianity looks to the cross of Jesus Christ. The symbol of Moroni properly distinguishes the LDS as outside of the Christian faith.

Christians look on with dismay. How can any religion redefine God, redefine Jesus Christ, and redefine the gospel and then claim to be Christian? All of the LDS "scriptures" have drastically changed in this brief history of the LDS church. The living LDS prophets have learned not to prophecy or to write "scriptures" because the earlier LDS prophets were rarely even close to getting anything right. Mormonism cannot be Christian until it denounces its heresies. So let the LDS church take "JESUS CHRIST" from its elder badges and just put Mormonism there, because the LDS church certainly does not know Jesus Christ.

While Bible Christianity invites research to determine its credibility, history, prophecy, archeology and scientific facts, why is Mormonism so offended over investigation? And what the LDS fail to understand is that nobody is really a "Christian" by simply joining any certain church.

What if I after writing this, I bear witness to you that I am a Mormon? What would you say? "No, you’re not." You might ask me if I reject Joseph Smith and all of the LDS prophets as of God? Do I believe in the Book of Mormon and LDS Scriptures? Do I think the baptisms for the dead are valid? And what about the temple endowments and the LDS gospel? I say, I definitely do not believe in any of it. I have not discovered anything that the LDS church has right. Then you would charge me that I’m not a Mormon because I do not believe what Mormons believe. That’s it exactly! And that is why the LDS cannot claim to be Christians when they refuse to accept what the Bible teaches and what true Christians believe. Christians never claim to be Mormons, so then why do Mormons claim to be Christians?

God warns about those who bring us the doctrines of another Jesus. Does the LDS faith pass the test of Scripture? No. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). Mormonism has many defenders but no defense.

32 - WHICH JESUS IS YOUR JESUS?

When a faith claims some kind of a Jesus, does that determine then that it is genuine Christianity?

The Cosmic Christ of Matthew Fox is just the "I am" in every creature.

The Course in Miracles Jesus is our combined Christ consciousness. Oprah claims her Jesus is not the only way or he would be the biggest egotist who ever lived. The New Ager’s Jesus is a spirit guide as the Christ-consciousness within and encountered by visualization. David Spangler’s Christ is the same force as Lucifer with an invitation into the New Age.

Benjamen Crème from his master, Lord Maitreya’s Christ is the Master of all the Masters but not God and never claimed to be God.

Eckankar’s Jesus was the Ultimate Guru as one of all of the saviors and prophets who came to earth.

The Family (Children of God) Jesus was just another sinner.

The Golden Ruler’s Jesus was just an example so you could save yourself.

Benny Hinn’s Jesus had to be born again. Kenneth Copeland’s Jesus was conquered by the devil on the cross. "When I read in the Bible where God tells Moses, ‘I AM,’ I say, ‘Yah, I am too!’"

Islam-Sura’s Jesus was no more than a mortal who Allah favored and made an example to the Israelites.

The Jehovah’s Witness Jesus is Michael the Archangel, a created being who became a man.

The Masonic Jesus like the Bahai’s Jesus is just a dead prophet like Mohammed.

The Oneness Pentecostal’s Son of God existed from all eternity as a plan in the mind of God. The United Pentecostal Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The Roman Catholic Jesus has to be contacted through His mother.

Roy Masters Jesus is an inner revelation process.

The Christian Science Jesus is a Divine Idea.

The Scientology Jesus was not enlightened, being a shade above clear. The real messiah is Hubbard.

Self-Realization Fellowship says Christ is the universal consciousness and oneness with God.

The spiritist Jesus of the occult is the ultimate medium in the sixth sphere of astral projection.

The Theosophy Jesus is the reincarnation of the world’s soul.

The Transcendental Meditation Christ says to be still and know that you are God.

The Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon’s Jesus is an error if you think Jesus was God since he is no different from other men.

The Unitarian Universalism Jesus is not to be regarded as supernatural.

The Divine Life Society Integral Yoga Institute Christ is not a person but an experience like Nirvana.

The Way International Jesus existed only in the mind of God before conception into Mary's womb.

Now if I gave you some paint and a brush, do you think you could improve on the Mona Lisa or would you mess it up? Who is the original Jesus? Every false religion tries to diminish Jesus Christ. So Jesus is under examination, but if you dissolve a painting down, then it is not worth much anymore. And if you chip down the real Jesus Christ, He is not worth much either. In this age of tolerance, perhaps the most acceptable position is to say they are all right. But once you say that, they are all wrong. In this case, it is not this painting being on trial. YOU are!

Who is Jesus? To every eternity-bound soul, anything else should pale in comparison to this question. Walter Martin, an expert on the cults, often commented that the name "Jesus" is the union card of the cults. Everyone has a Jesus but are they Christians? If you don’t know where the goal posts are, how are you even going to get into the game?

There is a growing spirit in this age to reject Biblical Christianity in favor of the eclectic idea that anything will do. Religious tolerance! Many claim that it is offensive and bigoted to say that the Christian faith is superior and that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and salvation is found in Him alone. In cultural relativism no one truth is absolute. But to believe anything different has to be offensive to God.

Jesus came to be the Savior of the world. That includes our world of all races, all nations, all generations, and all religions. The grace of God is inclusive to all, but it is exclusive in that only Jesus and the right Jesus can ever save you. "…the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (Deuteronomy 4:35b).

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17). We need "this" Jesus!

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:15-17).

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). These religions even reject truth from Jesus Himself. Will any "messiah" satisfy? Yes, and they have multitudes. Any messiah will do as long as he or she or it is not "that" Jesus. He cannot be the One born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth of Galilee, who lived 2000 years ago, was crucified for our sin, then rose from the dead. They may disagree among themselves about my truth and your truth, but they basically all will agree that "that One" is not true.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?" (1 Corinthians 10:20-22). To worship any false gods is likened to following after devils. So "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:3). "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 1:7).

Then who is the Jesus of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints? The Book of Mormon warns to "seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written" (Ether 12:41). So we ask the LDS kids leaving on their missions: "Are you going to preach Mormon doctrine or Book of Mormon doctrine?" What? They are not the same.

33 - IS JESUS CHRIST A FALSE GOD OR IS HE THE ALMIGHTY GOD?

The role as God will never be shared. "I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me" (Isaiah 43:10). Then can Jesus Christ be God before God? God after God? No.

There are clear Biblical distinctions between the true God and the false gods. Satan is "the god of this world," but is he God? (2 Corinthians 4:4). Moses seemed as a god to Pharaoh, but was he the eternal God? (Exodus 7:1). Cornelius wanted to worship Peter as a god (Acts 10:26-27). Herod was viewed as a god (Acts 12:21-22). Idolatry worships idols, people, or devils as gods because anything can be "called gods"(1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods" (Galatians 4:8). "By nature" were any of these the true God? The devils are fallen angels by nature. They are not God and they are not human. People are human by nature. We are not angels or gods in embryo. However, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in essence and "by nature" the eternal God.

The devil wanting to be worshipped as God will be "brought down to hell" (Matthew 4:9; Isaiah 14:12-15). False gods are judged.

God granted the dishonest judges power to sit in seats of authority to rule in His stead, but God mocks them to say, "Ye are gods…But ye shall die like men" (Psalm 82:6-7). The false gods are judged. For insight on John 10:34 see "In the Beginning Man" at < www.letusreason.org/LDS8.htm >. Or see "Kings and Priests, YES, Gods – NEVER" at < www.macGregorministries.org/ >.

Can you think to copy the Alpha and Omega and attain Godhood? If the Lord is the first, how can man copy that? Without living perfectly, exaltation is impossible to any of the LDS (Mormon Doctrine, p. 237; Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol.3, p. 26; Doctrines of Salvation 2:6). "This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection…the repentance which merits forgiveness. It is that the former transgressor must have reached a ‘point of no return’ to sin" (LDS prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 208, 354-355). How many believe Kimball earned his eternal life?

What happens to all of the little "g" gods? Every self-exalting god and from all religions and for all time are imposters. So God says they will all perish. Then I do not want to be a god. But how chilling for the LDS to read this fact. "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish" (Jeremiah 10:10-11). Every false god will be judged. What about gods in embryo? They will perish!

34 - DOES THE BIBLE IDENTIFY JESUS AS BEING GOD?

Who is the Almighty God? Do the LDS even know there is an Almighty? Jesus said the Old Testament Scriptures are about Him. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:39-40). Have you come to Jesus Christ alone for your eternal life?

Who is Jesus Christ according to the Bible?

1. Jesus is the true God (I John 5:20). In Greek grammar, "this" refers to the closest noun in the masculine gender. Therefore "Christ" is the true God. The Bible (or even the Book of Mormon) does not waver from there being only one true God (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5,6,14,18,21,22).

2. The word "one" speaks of singularity, generally speaking. The Holy Spirit is Lord (2 Corinthians 3:17) but in Isaiah 44:6, both the Father and the Son (two Persons) are the one Lord-Jehovah. Reading "one" God as in Deuteronomy 6:4, the word is the Hebrew composite unity of one. One family or one crowd speaks of multiple persons as one (Genesis 2:24; Ezra 3:1). If James and Jenny have a son, Jimmy, each is a distinct person. They are three yet one as a family. They might send Jimmy to the store. Jesus is one of the three Persons within the Godhead. The one God of three sent Jesus to earth.

3. Jesus is the coming One in (Revelation 22:20), but the coming One is Almighty God (Rev. 1:8).

4. Jesus coming and the fulfilling of prophecy is synonymous to God coming to earth (Mat. 1:23).

5. Jesus is identified as God by the Father (Hebrews 1:8). The Father calls the Son "God" and the Son calls the Father "God" (John 20:17).

6. The Greek distinctively calls Jesus "the God" (Mat. 1:23; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8), so Bible prophecy, the disciples and the Heavenly Father give the identity of "the God" as being Jesus Christ.

7. Jesus possesses all that is necessary for His position within the Godhead (Colossians 2:9). "All" means all and "full" means full! So Christ is lacking in no quality of deity.

8. Jesus is the great "I am," the self-existent, eternal God (John 8:24,58; Exodus 3:14). And it is interesting to see the Septuagint. Yesterday, Jesus was not "I was." Tomorrow He is not "I will be." Jesus Christ transcends time in every direction. You have one of two ways to die, either as a believer or as a doubter. Jesus warns, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). The Pharisees like other religions were attacking the Lord’s credentials. Then which way would you die if you were to die today, in your sins or secure in Christ? You either bear your sins or Jesus bore your sins at the cross. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Read it. Where are your sins placed right now? Can you say that you "know" you have eternal life today? (1 John 5:13).

9. Jesus is God, the only Savior (Isaiah 45:21; Luke 2:11; Titus 1:3-4; 2:13). In Titus 2:13 the word "and" is connecting two nouns with a definite article in front of the first and not the second. This means it is connecting equals. There are 256 usages of this principle and no exceptions to the Greek rule. The great God is Jesus Christ!

10. Jesus was resurrected by God (Acts 2:24,32). And yet Jesus claimed that He would resurrect His own body from the dead. The disciples believed Him and the Scriptures (John 2:18-22). Do you? He functioned without a body before the world was so while His body was in the tomb the spirit of Jesus was alive.

11. Jesus is from everlasting (Micah 5:2). This is only true of God (Psalm 90:2).

12. Jesus is the LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16; Deuteronomy 10:17). He is not "LORD of all the other Lords except One." There is only one who is the Lord God (Jude 4). John wrote "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" as larger than any of the other words in Revelation 19:16. So make no mistake about it, Jesus Christ is the Lord God!

13. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). "The LORD is my Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1). Jesus is the Great Shepherd in Hebrews 13:20. There are not two Shepherds with two folds, being in heaven and earth, or to live in our own worlds (John 10:16).

14. Jesus was pierced (John 19:37; Revelation 1:7). Prophetically the LORD God who made the heaven and earth says it was "me" (Zechariah 12:10).

35 - WHAT ARE SOME OBJECTIONS TO JESUS BEING DEITY?

Religious objections which include

:

1. Jesus was "subject" to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28). Yes, but Jesus was also subject to Joseph and Mary. He was never inferior to them (Luke 2:51). Jesus Christ was willingly subject but never inferior in any way by nature (Galatians 4:8).

2. The Father is "greater" than Jesus (John 14:28). Greater does not translate as better or superior. Jesus is better than angels for example. Greater speaks of position, not nature. Jesus spoke this from His earthly position. A husband is the head over his wife but the wife is never inferior by nature (1 Corinthians 11:4). Both are equally human. Rather the husband has the "greater" position and responsibility as the leader. A general has greater position than does a sergeant, but both are men. Clearly, Jesus as God is not inferior by nature.

3. Jesus was "the beginning of creation" or beginner (Revelation 3:14). In the Greek, He was the "arche," as the "architect" of the project. An architect is not part of what is made like a wall. Creation did not produce Jesus; Jesus produced creation!

4. Is Jesus the "wisdom" produced in creation? (Proverbs 8). In context wisdom is "my sister" (7:4). If Jesus is "wisdom" then who is the other character in 8:1? To confuse personifications and poetic symbolism is a sure way to great foolishness.

5. Jesus is "the firstborn" (Colossians 1:15). Firstborn is not the word for "first-created" in origin. It is the word for a natural heir or priority position. In context, Jesus holds all things together, being the firstborn in preeminence" (vs. 17-18). Joseph’s youngest son (Jer. 31:9; Gen. 41:51), David the eighth son (1 Sam. 16:10-13; Psalm 89:27), and Israel as a nation (Exodus 4:22) are all firstborn in preeminent position.

6. Jesus is the "only begotten Son." "Son" is not the Greek word for offspring or little born one but Jesus is uniquely the eternal Son of God (Psalm 2:7, explained in Acts 13:33). Isaac was the only begotten son of Abraham yet Ishmael was his first son (Hebrews 11:17). Ishmael was a genuine son like Jacob’s sons but Isaac was uniquely the son of Messiah’s line.

7. The word "Trinity" is not in the Bible. Neither is "theocracy," "Christendom," or "millennium." But they are all useful for describing truth. Jesus Christ is God, one of the three Persons of our one triune God.

36 - IS JESUS CHRIST DEITY? IS HE HUMANITY?

If He has no DEITY, why did Isaiah prophesy "a Son is given"? (Isaiah 9:6b). If He has no HUMANITY, why did He write, "For unto us a child is born"? (Isaiah 9:6a).

If He has no DEITY, when was Jehovah God sold for 30 pieces of silver? (Zechariah 11:11-13). If He has no HUMANITY, who did Judas sell for 30 pieces of silver? (Matthew 26:14-16).

If He has no DEITY, Whose eyes are like a flame of fire? (Revelation 1:14). If He has no HUMANITY, who lamented over the city of Jerusalem and was weeping at the grave of Lazarus? (Matthew 23:37; John 11:35).

If He has no DEITY, who is He whose hair was white like wool, as white as snow? (Revelation 1:14). If He has no HUMANITY, whose hair was matted and dripping with His own blood under a crown of thorns? (Matthew 27:29).

If He has no DEITY, how is Jehovah God pierced? (Zechariah 12:10). If He has no HUMANITY, who was pierced and crying out from an old rugged cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do"? (Luke 23:34; John 19:37; Revelation 1:7).

If He has no DEITY, who stepped out on the front porch of Glory, looked at nothing and made everything? (John 1:3). If He has no HUMANITY, whose body lay behind the stone that He made? (John 20:1).

If He has no DEITY, who said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will lift it up"? (John 2:19). If He has no HUMANITY, why did John say, He was speaking of His "body"? (John 2:21).

If He has no DEITY, why are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit three different Persons of one true God? (Isaiah 45:5-6; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 14:16; 2 Cor. 13:14). If He has no HUMANITY, why did He have half brothers and sisters as different persons of His one human family? (Psalm 69:8; Mat. 13:54-56).

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD! He was in the "form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). So was He just pretending to be a servant or was He really a servant? Jesus is in the "form of God" (vs. 6). Was He just pretending to be God or is God? The answer is obvious.

If you have the right Jesus, then you are right for all eternity; but if you have the wrong Jesus, you will be wrong for all of eternity. Have you ever wondered where to turn for the truth? Is it to a church, a temple, a clergy or to some prophet? Early Christians turned first of all to Jesus Christ. Go to JESUS! He is the Truth who can set you free! (John 8:32,36; 14:6).

Do the LDS have the God of the Lord’s apostles? Who is the Jesus of the apostles? He is "My Lord and my God"? (John 20:28). Jesus is "God". But He is more than that to the one who believes. Jesus Christ is "my God" to those who trust Him.

Jesus as the good Rabbi would have corrected Thomas if what he said was wrong. Rather He affirmed that he was exactly right. Thomas was a true believer. Jesus adds that you and I, if we believe the very same thing, we are equally blessed (vs.29).

Is He God to you? Is Jesus Christ your God? If not, why not make your relationship personal with Jesus Christ as "My Lord and my God" today? Will you receive Jesus Christ as your own God, your Jehovah, your Sovereign, and your Deity?

This is not meant to hurt the precious Mormon people. To personally know the true God is the only way for anyone to gain eternal life (John 17:3; 1 John 5:13). I suggest that you read the Book of John and underline everything about how to have eternal life and who Jesus is. Then TRUST HIM!


Saturday, May 30, 2009

MORMONISM: and what people want to know part 1

It has been a while since I have posted anything from my good friend Charlie Carle. Here is a two part posting from Charlie on Mormonism.

You can cut and paste for your own information, I will post part two on Monday > Bro. Jeff


MORMONISM:

And what people want to know. Does

The Church of

JESUS CHRIST

of Latter-day Saints

have a different Jesus Christ?

KEY QUESTIONS ON WHO IS THE LDS JESUS?

1 - DO THE LDS HAVE A DIFFERENT JESUS?

2 - WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT A DIFFERENT JESUS?

3 - IS JESUS THE DEVIL’S BROTHER?

4 - IS JESUS CHRIST THE ETERNAL GOD?

5 - WHO IS THE GOD-MAN?

6 - IS JESUS A SINNER WHO PROGRESSED?

7 - DID JESUS CHANGE FROM BEING GOD?

8 - IS JESUS A GOD AS A MORMON CAN BECOME A GOD?

9 - IS JESUS THE GOD OF THIS WORLD?

10 - IS JESUS PART OF THE TRINITY?

11 - IS JESUS THE FATHER?

12 - WAS JESUS HIS OWN FATHER?

13 - IS THE MORMON JESUS THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S GRANDSON?

14 - IS JESUS JUST ONE OF MANY GODS?

15 - IS ADAM OUR GOD BUT JESUS ISN’T?

16 - WAS JESUS VIRGIN BORN?

17 - DID MARY GIVE BIRTH TO HER OLDER BROTHER?

18 - IS JEHOVAH OUR ELDER BROTHER?



1 - DO THE LDS HAVE A DIFFERENT JESUS?

LDS people are offended to hear someone say they are not Christians. After all, "JESUS CHRIST" is emphasized in the name of their church. The first Article of Faith reads, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." But is this the Jesus of the Bible?

Who is Jesus Christ of the LDS? President Gordon B. Hinckley clarified, "[Many] have said we are not Christians. ‘Mormons are not Christians,’ they say; they do not believe in the traditional Christ. No, I don’t. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak" (Church News, January, 1999; also June 20, p.7). A different Christ!

LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie taught that Christians have "a mythical Christ" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269). That means we must decide which faith has the real Christ because somebody surely has a mythical Christ. Do we have the same Jesus? No, if you read the LDS Ensign. It says Christian Churches worship a different Jesus (May 1977, p.26).

2 – WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT A DIFFERENT JESUS?

God warns about "false apostles, deceitful workers" (2 Corinthians 11:13). These come while they "preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached…or another gospel" (verse 4).

Jesus warned, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:24). Any wrong Christ is to have the mark of a deceiver.

3 - IS JESUS THE DEVIL’S BROTHER?

Yes, as clarified by an LDS prophet. "…the Savior's example...when he was on the mountain with his fallen brother, Lucifer" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp.32-33; The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 216).

Yes, as clarified by the LDS Ensign to say, Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer (June 1986, p. 25).

Yes, as clarified by Milton R. Hunter of the First Council of the Seventy. "Lucifer...this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind" (The Gospel Through the Ages, 1945 ed., p. 15). This is official LDS doctrine. The title page reads, "Written and published under the direction of the General Priesthood Committee of the Council of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Yes, as clarified by LDS apostle, Bruce McConkie. He wrote, "Lucifer, the son of the morning, is our elder brother and the brother of Jesus Christ" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163-164). So these two older brothers are Jesus and the devil.

Can anybody explain how the Alpha and Omega can have a brother? Jesus is the Creator, Lucifer was created. A Jesus who exists as Lucifer’s brother is no more real than Henry Ford being the brother to a car made on the assembly line. How does the First and the Last create an equal? The Lord Jesus Christ made the worlds (Hebrews 1:2). The Lord made the heavens and its hosts (Psalm 33:6). The Son made "all things" (John 1:3). So how much is "all things"? Jesus created the dominions of angels, which includes the devils and Lucifer (Colossians 1:16-17; Ezekiel 28:13-15). While Jesus Christ exists from eternity past (Micah 5:2), Satan is a mere created being. Make no mistake; they were never brothers!

4 - IS JESUS CHRIST THE ETERNAL GOD?

No brother of the devil is ever the eternal God. But according to the LDS "ancient writers" of the Book of Mormon, can we identify Jesus Christ? The preface page reads, "JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD." The capitals were included for emphasis, because in his early days when Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon that is what he believed. He was the "AUTHOR" (1830 ed. preface).

Is that what Mormons believed in 1830? Yes, that is what they believed! The LDS faith was never closer to Christianity. But by the end of Joseph Smith’s life, he (get this) changed God. He preached, "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil" (Come Unto Me, p. 95). So (now get this too) he refuted the Book of Mormon (Mormon 9:10; Moroni 7:22; 8:18). He swept the entire foundation of the LDS church right into the theological ashcan.

So Christians are mystified. It is puzzling if you are intellectually honest. How can anyone change God? If a medical label reads, "Take two tablets before bedtime," does anyone say "That is just your interpretation"? What is the LDS way around this? They change God by redefinition. "Eternal" as an adjective is now a noun, God’s name is Eternal God. The LDS are taught not to question, even these absurdities (Mormon Doctrine, p. 233).

The Apostle Bruce McConkie was a most visible LDS leader in Provo and Salt Lake City. He wrote, "The Father is a glorified, perfected resurrected, exalted man who worked out his own salvation by obedience" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 64). The man who became the Father was not eternal God. Since he died, he needed to be "resurrected". And once being a sinner, he needed "salvation". Where did he get a god like that? That is the theology system of Mormonism. But is it Christian? Is that LDS god the God of the Bible?

The LDS are eager to offer you the Book of Mormon. You have to wonder, why not the Doctrine and Covenants or The Pearl of Great Price? Christians believe move of the Book of Mormon in places than the LDS. It is the Christians who believe that there is an eternal God (Ether 8:23), there is only one God (Alma 11:27-29), that Jesus is God (Ether 3:17-18), and Christ is the Lord God Omnipotent, creator of all and above all (Mosiah 5:15).

Even an 1830 revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants has enough truth to say God is "infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God…infinite and eternal, without end" (D&C 20:17, 28). The D&C 39:1 is an 1831 quote that Jesus Christ "is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I AM."

The Mormon church has the impossible Jesus. How can Jesus be the brother of the devil and not the brother of the devil? How can Jesus be created and uncreated? How can Jesus not create all things, yet create all things? How can Jesus be born as a spirit-child and yet be the eternal God? How can Jesus earn his own salvation while also being the sufficient Savior over the whole sinful world?

The LDS often tell Christians that they believe Jesus is God, but is that honest? Sometimes religions do not simply allow for you to lie, you are encouraged to lie and to deceive in order to promote that faith.

5 - WHO IS THE GOD-MAN?

Is Jesus Christ eternally God as the God-Man?

If He is not GOD, how was the church purchased with God’s "own blood"? (Acts 20:28). If He is not MAN, how was it that when the soldiers pierced His side "there came out blood and water"? (John 19:34).

If He is not GOD, why did the Jews believe He blasphemed when He claimed to be the great "I am"? (Mark 14:62-64; Exodus 3:14). If He is not MAN, why did Pilot say, "Behold, the man"? (John 19:5).

If He is not GOD, why did Jesus say, "Before Abraham was, I am"? (John 8:58). If He is not MAN, why would the Jews pick up stones to stone Him? (John 8:59).

If He is not GOD, who is Emmanuel "God with us"? (Matthew 1:23). If He is not MAN, who was the tiny babe Mary hugged to her breast? (Psalm 22:9).

If He is not GOD, why did John write, "Jesus Christ! This is the true God"? (1 John 5:20). If He is not MAN, why did Jesus say to John, "Behold, thy mother"? (John 19:27).

If He is not GOD, why did the Father say to Jesus, "Thy throne, Oh God is forever and ever"? (Hebrews 1:8). If He is not MAN, what did Paul mean, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"? (1 Timothy 2:5).

If He is not GOD, how does all the fullness of the Godhead dwell in Him? (Col. 2:9). If He is not MAN, why does all the fullness of the Godhead dwell in Him "bodily"? (Col. 2:9).

If He is not GOD, whose glory did Stephen see while calling (praying) to Jesus as God? (Acts 7:55,59). If He is not MAN, whose body did he see standing to welcome him home? (Acts 7:55,59).

If He is not GOD, to whom was Thomas speaking when he cried, "My Lord and my God"? (John 20:28). If He is not MAN, who said, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing"? (John 20:27). Jesus Christ, He is "My Lord and my God!" Jesus Christ is the God-Man.

Mormonism is the reverse of Biblical Christianity. In Mormonism, men become gods. According to God’s Word, God became a man!

6 - IS JESUS A SINNER WHO PROGRESSED?

Who was the god of Joseph Smith? Was the LDS Father just a sinner who progressed into godhood? Smith claimed that God was "once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth" (Teachings, pp.345-346).

The heresy continues that Jesus was also a sinner who had to progress in order to become worthy to be a god. "Christ attained Godhood while yet in pre-existence" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 323). He had attained unto the status of Godhood while yet in the premortal existence (What the Mormons Think of Christ, Pamphlet published by the LDS Church, 1976, p. 25). Howard W. Hunter said, Jesus will be called "the Prince of Peace, who is also the Prince of Glory and the Prince of Eternal Progress" (The Ensign, 2/95, p. 77).

The LDS explain: As a result, Jesus forgot everything about His former life. (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:33). Whereas, at the time of His mortal birth Jesus was no longer an infant spirit, it was necessary that His spirit be compressed, or diminished in size, so He could be enclosed in His infant body. (Orson Pratt, JD, 16:334). Now, this was the second birth of Jesus, for He was already the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Parents. (Orson Pratt, JD, 18:290).

The Book of Mormon says God is Spirit (Alma 18:26-29; 22:8-11; 31:15). However, while fashioning a new god, Joseph Smith was discontent with that. One way to excuse the Alma verses is to claim it was simply the speakers who got it wrong. Then why weren’t they corrected within the text? And why are there no LDS teachings from 1830 to 1842 to contradict that God is Spirit? It was later when Joseph Smith claimed that God has a body of flesh and bones (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith - History 1:17; Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; Mormon Doctrine pp. 321, 567-577).

If a body is necessary to become a god, then how did the Holy Ghost ever become a god? (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577).

7 - DID JESUS CHANGE FROM BEING GOD?

The Book of Mormon in the 1830 edition reads, "Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God" (1 Nephi 11:18, p.25). Somebody changed the Book of Mormon! Christians never had those manuscripts so who is guilty of this deceit? The LDS no longer accepting the idea that Jesus is God, changed it to read the "Son of God." But if it was dictated word-for-word as being scripture from God, how can anybody ever change the Book of Mormon?

8 - IS JESUS A GOD AS A MORMON CAN BECOME A GOD?

An understanding of pyramid marketing helps to picture Mormonism. Each god has a god over him. Each has a father, a grandfather, great-grandfathers, and on into the great-great-greats of infinity. Each god has millions of children branching off, and many becoming gods. Then the younger gods have millions of children to populate their own planets and so the little gods produce gods – and so on. So logically, there is no special god, at least nothing beyond a god who happens to be the god over this world. So why should anyone admire a god who they plan to copy someday and even to the same level?

Cut-and-paste, Mormonism has a long history of trying to change God. Picture angels leaving the total awe of the throne room to see millions of the redeemed down on their faces before God. Angels cover their faces at His holiness and glory. The foundations of the temple shake. And once again these mighty angels are overwhelmed in viewing the Almighty on His throne. Then leaning over the balconies of Heaven, Michael nudges Gabriel and he points to say, "Hey, get a load of this! Listen to that little man down there. And can you believe how those people are following him?"

Hear Joseph Smith! Shortly before his death in 1844, he introduced the gods of Mormonism that are being embraced today. The 1843 Doctrine and Covenants reads, "Then shall they be gods, because they have all power" (132:20). One earmark of a heresy are these efforts to diminish God and to deify men into becoming gods. He preached, "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea...he was once a man like us...you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you" (Mormon Doctrine p. 321; Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol 6, p.306; Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, pp.3-4).

Joseph Smith went from one god to three, then on to a whole council of gods. He introduced to Mormons the plan of self-exalting gods-in-embryo which remains the current position. From one God to an unrefined paganism and with a myriad of Gods ad infinitum. It sounds more like repackaged Hinduism than Christianity. Scripture forewarned us about these false gods. God wants to protect His people, to maintain purity and truth, and to censure the false prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). The LDS failed so God took him out. However, the heresies of Joseph Smith still remain today.

Clearly no man ever attains Godhood, especially since the job is taken. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22). Do LDS authorities know more than the everlasting God? The LDS prophet Spencer W. Kimball clarified, "We are gods in embryo, and the Lord demands perfection of us" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 286).

No wonder LDS people make good science fiction writers! Joseph Smith claimed the moon is inhabited by people about six feet tall who dress like Quakers and live about 1,000 years (The Young Woman’s Journal, 1892, Vol.3, pp.263-264 and Journal of Oliver B. Huntington, Vol.3, p.166, typed copy at Utah State Historical Society). When the astronauts returned, a Christian said, "I have a question. Did you see any Quakers up there?" They said, "No!" Brigham Young went further to say that the sun is inhabited too (Journal of Discourses, 1880, p.271).

What has happened to the LDS? Joseph Smith adopted the very lie the devil used to deceive Eve, resulting in sin and destruction (Genesis 3:1-5; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:1-10). So who met Joseph Smith in the grove? A distinct possibility is this "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The fifth LDS prophet Lorenzo Snow said in 1840, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." In an interview with LDS Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, he was asked about their doctrine that God was once a man: "There are some significant differences in your beliefs. For instance, don't Mormons believe that God was once a man?" He responded, "I wouldn't say that. There was a little couplet coined, 'As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become.' Now that's more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about" (San Francisco Chronicle, April 13, 1997).

A couplet in Websters is "two successive lines of poetry." So the prophet, seer and revelator of the LDS church could not understand the doctrine of God nor the LDS gospel? What he could not figure out, Joseph Smith made clear: "It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345). He missed the elementary basics of God?

Maybe Hinckley knew but he was just too ashamed. He was not like the Apostle Paul to speak for God. He said: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Romans 1:16). Read more of the LDS prophet’s lie on the LDS god (Time, Aug. 4, 1997, p. 56). "Dodging and Dissembling Prophet?" is available at < www.irr.org/mit/>.

9 - IS JESUS THE GOD OF THIS WORLD?

According to LDS prophets, yes, he was. "And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you the God of this world’" (Ezra Taft Benson as quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley in The Ensign, 5/92, p. 89). Christians object, "No, that has to be the devil!" Satan is "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Jesus of the LDS is "the god of this world" and "the God of the land" in the Book of Mormon. Ether says, "if they will serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ" (2:12).

10 - IS JESUS PART OF THE TRINITY?

Identifying Jesus Christ does not prove a Trinity and that’s okay. The Bible never says to believe in the Trinity to be saved. So primarily, we are addressing who Jesus is and to believe in Him. To get it right on Jesus, then there is no problem in accepting truth about the Trinity. So Jesus first!

Trinitarian formulas are in both the Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon. Early on, Joseph Smith believed the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God. The Doctrine and Covenants 20:19 is from1830. It commands, "love and serve him, the only living and true God" and worship him. Verse 28 explains further, the "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God."

"The Testimony of the Three Witnesses" in the Book of Mormon says "And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God." Alma 11:44 reads, "Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God." (More in 2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 3:5-8; 7:27; 13:34-35; 15:1-5; Alma 11:28-31, 38; and Ether 3:14). Isn’t it clear, like take two tablets before bedtime? Is one God one God, or three gods?

11 - IS JESUS THE FATHER?

The early Mormon god was still unfortunately not "three Persons existing as one true God." Joseph Smith believed in a one god who existed in three modes of "one person," a strange heresy known as Modalism (Ether 3:14; 4:7-12; Mosiah 15:1-5). No wonder he wavered from that into other ideas!

12 - WAS JESUS HIS OWN FATHER?

How ridiculous? Yet this is what the original Book of Mormon read in 1830 that "the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world" (1 Nephi, 1830 ed. p. 32). The Lamb, Jesus, is the Father. How is it possible for anyone to father himself?

13 - IS THE MORMON JESUS THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S GRANDSON?

How clear these errors in the Book of Mormon! The 1830 edition read about "the Son of the only begotton of the Father" (Alma 5:48, p. 236, line 29). Since the begotten one is Jesus Christ, who is this son? A different Jesus and a different god indeed! Another inspired testament of Jesus Christ? It is never on the level of the Bible. How could the Book of Mormon ever be word-for-word perfect from God?

14 - IS JESUS JUST ONE OF MANY GODS?

Joseph Smith should have known the answer but while he was busy starting a religion he was not sure. He voiced that uncertainty in 1830 "whether there be one God or many gods" (D&C 121:28).

He then abandoned the one person of one god heresy, that Jesus is the Father, and drifted to say the "Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate Gods" (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577). For a fuller definition, "There are three Gods--the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost--who, though separate in personality, are united as one in purpose, in plan, and in all the attributes of perfection" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 317). Where in the Bible does it say God is just "one in purpose"? "One in purpose" versus "God is one" will never be able to redefine the Almighty. Three Gods are never one God? One Godhead of three Persons is not three gods.

Joseph Smith rewrote the creation account of Genesis to be a council of Gods (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 4-5). So the LDS Jesus became one of the many gods.

Why is the gospel of the Book of Mormon different? It claims that it "contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel" (Introduction). If so, then where is this Plurality of Gods? A God of flesh and bones? God being an exalted man? Eternal progression? Preexistence? Polygamy? A heavenly mother? Adding to the both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, changing the gospel leads to curses (Galatians 1:6-9 and 3 Nephi 11:39-40). The LDS have added to the gospel. Joseph Smith even changed the Bible and including Revelation in his "Joseph Smith Translation." That means he is cursed (Revelation 22:18-19).

In John 1:1 we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Bible is monotheistic. John as a Jewish Christian would be fiercely monotheist. Two or more true Gods is never an option in Judaism or Christianity. For example, suppose Jimmy Smith was standing with his father James in Salt Lake City. We might say: "In Salt Lake City there was Jimmy, and Jimmy was with Smith, and Jimmy was Smith." If this little concept is explainable in human terms, how much more true do we need to believe what the Bible says about the infinite God. The Word is God is Jesus and "the Word was made flesh" (vs. 14).

Joseph Smith rewrote John 1:1 to read that the word was with the Son. Now it’s like Jesus has a twin or Jesus is Himself who is another. "In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God" (JST). There is no manuscript support for any of Joseph Smith’s so-called Inspired Version.

God or "a God"? The LDS Bible Dictionary, page 681, says: Now all this took place that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "A God with us." Is this the Bible Jesus? It is another Jesus.

15 - IS ADAM OUR GOD BUT JESUS ISN’T?

Following Joseph’s pattern, Brigham Young changed God. In 1854, he taught in General Conference that Adam is God (JD, 1:50-51, 1854). He kept preaching this! In 1873, it was, "God revealed to me--namely that Adam is our Father and God" (Deseret Evening News, June 14, 1873). Compare the D&C 27:11 and 138:38. Brigham threatened that the failure to accept this meant your "salvation or damnation" (Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p. 51, April 9, 1852). His claim to authority was "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture" (JD 13:95).

Brigham Young, the LDS prophet, seer and revelator is credited with much of the LDS foundation. So what happens to people when their spiritual leaders never knew God? What about all of those Mormons who followed him to worship that false god all those years? God warns about paganism. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Isn’t it ironic to name a university after a false prophet?

16 - WAS JESUS VIRGIN BORN?

The story goes that Heavenly Father, being Mary’s literal father in pre-existence, had sex with her to produce Jesus Christ. The LDS god had incest with his own daughter (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 546-547). So this LDS Jesus was really the son of a deity named Adam. God rejects that as being Christian.

Mormon theology describes the birth of Jesus in human reproductive terms. Brigham stated it clearly: "A personage of flesh and bone, He shall beget this Son in the same manner as Cain and Abel and all the other sons and daughters of Adam and Eve were begotten" (JD, 1:50-51). "The Christ Child shall be the result of 'natural action'--flesh and blood, begotten of his Father as we were of our fathers" (JD, 8:115). "Then shall it be said, 'The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband…Do you inquire by whom? He was begotten by God our Heavenly Father" (JD, 11:268, 1866).

James E. Talmage had more to say on this. He called it "A miracle--though not in violation of natural law--the literal offspring of this 'celestial Sireship'" (Jesus the Christ, p. 81).

The prominent Mormon, Orson Pratt clarified: "Mary was concerned because of her betrothal to Joseph. The angel explained, ‘You and the Father will associate together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence, you will be, for at least a time, the lawful wife of God the Father. After He is finished with you, the Father will give you to Joseph. God will be your first husband’" (The Seer, p. 158). When did God’s angel ever speak such blasphemy? Never!

Who is the true Jesus? Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son (John 1:14,18; 3:16). Gordon B. Hinckley said Jesus is the "Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh" (The Ensign, 12-94, p. 4). Don’t miss the significance of the unique LDS wording "in the flesh." He meant in contrast to being "spirit children." The true Jesus is the only begotten Son and with no "in the flesh" distinction.

The LDS believe the devil is a son of God, we are all children of God, and Jesus is distinct because of being born by sex. The teaching to the LDS people puts it this way, "Jesus is the only person who had our Heavenly Father as the father of his body" (Family Home Evening Manual, 1972, pp.125-126).

Tragically, the LDS prophets miss the obvious of the miraculous conception. It was not the Father at all who came over Mary but the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:13; Mat. 1:18; Luke 1:34). Even Alma 7:10 concurs that Mary as "a virgin" would conceive. How? - "by the power of the Holy Ghost." Jesus went into her womb without the normal human conception process (Luke 1:34-35). How can that be? God tells us, nothing is impossible with God! (Vs. 37).

McConkie fancifully argued, "suffice it to say that our Lord was born of a virgin, which is fitting and proper, and also natural, since the Father of the Child was an immortal Being...He is the Son of God in the same sense and way that we are the sons of mortal fathers" (The Promised Messiah, pp.466, 468). No, his foolishness and lame excuses will never suffice.

So Mormonism totally destroys the Biblical truth of the virgin birth. Of course Mormons do not believe the Bible! Of they did they would have to reject Mormonism. Brigham Young firmly denied the truth of the Biblical account to claim, "Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost" (JD, Vol.1:50-51). A physical Father having sex with Mary brings us to one conclusion, she would no longer be a virgin (Mormon Doctrine, p.546-547).

Is Mormonism Christian? God’s people know nothing of any Adam-god having physical intercourse with his spirit daughter who conceived through an act of incest.

17 - DID MARY GIVE BIRTH TO HER OLDER BROTHER?

In following this breathtaking Mormon puzzle, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son who was her elder brother in the pre-existence (Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, p. 43). Reading on, could this be where the song, "I’m my own Grand-paw" came from?

18 - IS JEHOVAH OUR ELDER BROTHER?

Imagine trying to convince any Jew through the ages that Jehovah God is our brother! Mormons as Jews back then would have been stoned to death for speaking blasphemy. Mormonism teaches that we were all spirit children of Heavenly Father to say "The principal personalities in this great drama were a Father Elohim, perfect in wisdom, judgment, and person, and two sons, Lucifer and Jehovah," meaning Satan and Jesus (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp.32-33). So we find Mormons freely speaking of Jesus as being "our elder brother."

Friday, May 29, 2009

Coffee at Tim Hortons

There are a number of military families here in Prince George, BC. We meet once a month to encourage each other, all of us have family members who are in the arm forces.

Beginning today, all who wants to meet once a week for coffee, will be meeting at Timmys, 10am on Massey Way. We will be wearing red, you will see us there.

Support and Prayer for our Troops,

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A LADY SOLD BY AUCTION “THREE BIDDERS”

A true incident in the life of Rowland Hill


Will you listen, friends, for a moment, While a story I unfold; A marvelous tale, of a wonderful sale Of a noble lady of old: How hand and heart, at an auction mart, Soul and body, she was sold.”


’Twas in the broad king’s-highway, Near a century ago, That a preacher stood—though of noble blood— Telling the fallen and low Of a Savior’s love, and a home above, And a peace that they all might know.


All crowded around to listen; They wept at the wondrous love, That could wash their sins, and receive them in His spotless mansions above:— While slow through the crowd, a lady proud Her gilded chariot drove.


“Make room,” cried the haughty outrider, “You are closing the king’s highway; My lady is late, and their Majesties wait, Give way, good people, I pray.” The preacher heard, his soul was stirred, And he cried to the rider, “Nay.”


His eye like the lightning flashes; His voice like a trumpet rings. “Your grand days, and your fashions and ways Are all but perishing things. ’Tis the king’s highway, but I hold it to-day In the name of the King of kings.”


Then—bending his gaze on the lady, And marking her soft eye fall,— “And now in His name, a sale I proclaim, And bids for this fair lady call. Who will purchase the whole—her body and soul, Coronet, jewels, and all?”


“I see already three bidders,” The World steps up as the first, “I will give her my treasures, and all the pleasures For which my votaries thirst; She shall dance each day, more joyous and gay, With a quiet grave at the worst”.


But out spake the Devil, boldly: “The kingdoms of earth are mine. Fair lady, thy name, with an envied fame, On their brightest tablets shall shine; Only give me thy soul, and I give thee the whole, Their glory and wealth to be thine.”


“And pray what hast Thou to offer, Thou Man of Sorrows unknown?” And He gently said, “My blood I have shed, To purchase her for mine own. To conquer the grave, and her soul to save, I trod the winepress alone.

“I will give her My cross of suffering, My cup of sorrow, to share; But with endless love, in My home above, All shall be righted there: She shall walk in light, in a robe of white, And a radiant crown shall wear.”


“Thou hast heard the terms, fair lady, That each hath offered for thee. Which wilt thou choose, and which wilt thou lose, This life, or the life to be? The fable was mine, but the choice is yet thine, Sweet lady, which of the three?”


She took from her hand the jewels, The coronet from her brow; “Lord Jesus,” she said, as she bowed her head, “The highest bidder art Thou, Thou gav’st for my sake Thy life, and I take Thy offer—and take it now.


“I know the World and her pleasures, At best they weary and cloy; And the Tempter is bold, but his honors and gold Prove ever a fatal decoy; I long for Thy rest—Thy bid is the best; Lord, I accept it with joy!” “Amen,” said the noble preacher;

And the people wept aloud. Years have rolled on—and they all have gone Who formed that awe-struck crowd. Lady and throng have been swept along On the wind like a morning cloud.


But the Savior has claimed His purchase, And around His radiant seat, A mightier throng, in a joyful song, The wond’rous story repeat; And a form more fair is bending there, Laying her crown at His feet.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

IFB KJV Directory

IFB KJV Directory

You Go Girl - Governor-General Michaelle Jean

Governor-General Michaelle Jean, centre, helps an Inuit elder skin two seals during a community feast in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, on Monday.




Canada's governor eats seal heart

Michaelle Jean
Ms Jean said the raw seal heart was delicious

Canada's governor general, Michaelle Jean, has helped to butcher and eat a seal in an apparent act of solidarity with hunters.

Ms Jean used a traditional Inuit knife to help gut the animal then ate a slice of raw heart.


Monday, May 25, 2009

Happy as a Junebug on the first day of June!!!!



Yes, this is very exciting, and I want to finish my other readings so I can get started on this new book from Striving Together Publications. I went to our Post Office to gather mail after a week out of town. There was a package for STP with the book by Mike Gass, A GLORIOUS CHURCH.

A Study of the Origin, Identity, heritage, and Integrity of the New Testament Church.



You can order yours from strivingtogether.com

Saturday, May 23, 2009

How to Pray for a Soldier

Our military personnel, whether they are inland or abroad, need our prayers. Here is a list of things you can pray for those who will become "a good soldier of Jesus Christ."


Salvation. If the soldier you are praying for has not made a commitment to Christ, this belongs at the top of your list. First Timothy 2:3-4 and Romans 12:1-2 are good scriptures to pray.


Relationship with authority structure. Though the authority structure of the military is difficult to adjust to, obeying orders can mean the difference between life and death. Pray that soldiers will learn to be "subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work," (Titus 3:1).


Enduring hardship. During times of training and war, a soldier can go without food, sleep, bathing, or word from home for days on end. Paul admonished Timothy, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. " (2 Timothy 2:3). Pray that God will use these times of testing to lead the soldier to bring Christ in to daily challenges (Psalms 18:28-29).


Camaraderie. Stu Weber, a decorated Green Beret Vietnam veteran, says, "Every warrior needs a fellow soldier. Every pilot needs a wing man." Jesus demonstrated this principle by sending the disciples out two by two. Paul and Timothy. Elijah had Elisha. Ask God to send your soldier a buddy to sharpen and encourage them
(Proverbs 27:17).


Good advisers. "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety." (Proverbs 24:6). Pray for soldiers in leadership positions to find others with wisdom and experience from whom they can seek counsel.


Courage. As Joshua prepared for battle, the Lord commanded him to be "strong and courage" (Joshua 1:9). "Courage," says David F. Winecoff, "has little to do with killing people and destroying property. Courage in its purest form is demonstrated by the person who stands by his convictions no matter the persecution or ridicule. " Pray that your soldier will have both physical and moral courage.


Resisting temptation. Abuse of power, sexual temptation, and escape through drugs and alcohol are just a few of the enticements a soldier faces. First Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that the Lord will provide a "way of escape" from temptations. Pray that your soldier will look for and take those escapes.


Witness. The reality that a soldier may meet with death at any moment makes the military fertile ground for the gospel. Ask God for open doors (Colossians 4:3) and that your soldier will have boldness to speak (Ephesians 6:19).


Safety and deliverance from the enemy. "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31). Whether in training or fighting a war, a soldier is in constant danger. The greatest protection they have is prayer cover.


Treatment of Enemies. Steeling oneself against an enemy is necessary in war time, but for war wounds to heal, forgiving the enemy becomes necessary. If your soldier goes to war, pray that he will treat the enemy as the Lord calls him to (Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44).


Serving Christ. A soldier's understanding of how the "chain of command" gets things done brought the admiration of Jesus (Luke 7:1-10). As David F. Winecoff points out in Secret Weapon, "The very first convert outside the Jewish community was Cornelius, a soldier." Pray that the soldier's commitment to duty, obedience to commands, and willingness to endure hardship will serve the Lord's army well.

Return to Prince George

Greetings from the TRUE NORTH STRONG AND FREE... Canada

Last Monday, we left Prince George at 4:15 am and drove to Trail, BC and arrived there at 4:20 pm.

We enjoyed the 25th Fellowship Meeting at Beaver Valley Baptist Church, the longest going 'fellowship meeting' in BC.

For the first time ever, Regena and I stayed in a 'Bed & Breakfast' the Royal Bed & Breakfast in Trail, BC.
It was a great experience for us, and we had a wonderful time.




Traveling home to PG, we stop in Kamloops to visit Pastor Greg Vaal and had Pastor Vaal show us their building.
I tried to call back in time, but the phone just didn't work.






We drove by the Lone Lake Yaeht Club.

We got back into PG, just in time for Thursday evening 'bible study'.

Friday was Youth, Saturday Morning was 'S O S' - sowing on saturday.
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Saturday, May 16, 2009

"Differences Between Doctor and The Pastor"


The Doctor says, "Please disrobe" and you do it without question.
The Pastor preaches that you should dress modestly and he is getting too personal.

TheDoctor charges outrageous fees and you complain but you come back the next time you are sick.
The Pastor preaches that you should pay your tithes and you leave the church.

The Doctor checks how much you weigh and you allow him.
The Pastor asks how much you pray and it's none of his business.

The Doctor gives you a nasty tasting pill and you take it.
The Pastor feeds you the Word and you say no thank you.

The Doctor's office closes at a certain time.
The Pastor is to be available, awake and ready twenty-four hours a day.

The Doctor tells you how to change your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure.
The Pastor tells you how to change your lifestyle and it raises your blood pressure.

The Doctor tells you we need to run more tests, so you make an appointment.
The Pastor says we need more Prayer Meetings and Bible Studies and you are too busy.

The Doctor says, "There is nothing more we can do", and you search high and low for one who can help.
The Pastor says, "God can help you", and you give up and say "What's the use."

The Doctor says, "Try this and see if it works and if it doesn't we'll try something else", so you do.
The Pastor gives you the promises of God's Word and you don't like to "Walk by faith."

To the Doctor, you are just another customer.
To the Pastor, you are a part of the family. He loves you. He prays for you. He helps carry your burdens. He laughs with you and cries with you.


You are important to your Pastor.