Mormonism in the light of spirit-filled Christianity
When I was in High School I was friends with a few Mormon families. I was welcomed into homes, surrounded by love, and was sent several sets of missionaries to my house. Most of the conversations surrounded with my fixation on their beliefs of the afterlife (which I found fantastically bizarre) and their attempts to stick to the practiced routine of warm, fuzzy conversations about Joseph Smith and how much God loves me and wants us all to join the LDS. I have some friends who have recently begun to be courted by Mormons and it spurred me to do have another look at Mormon doctrine and the book of Galatians.
Here are some notes you might find helpful.
(note on Wikipedia, any fact you are curious about, follow the citation. Every quip of information on wikipedia is, by rule, cited to it’s source. Everything the article says about the church, Bible or history is readily linked to the church doctrine, theologian or historian who originally wrote it.)
Joseph Smith article on Wikipedia - This is a great article, It doesn’t white wash over his personal history into magic and treasure hunting, nor does it gloss over the historicity of him marrying about 30 times, promising eternal life to 14 year old girls if they consented. It should be noted that the LDS religion has since changed with the times and considers such practices forbidden; still this is the prophet from whose teachings all their doctrine originates.
Latter Day Saints article on Wikipedia - Clear and concise, It demonstrates modern LDS similarity to Christianity and on what points it offers a stark contrast. Some points of differentiation are that the Bible is not viewed as inerrent but that the writings of Joseph Smith are the preeminent source for doctrine and practices.
The doctrine of exaltation always gets me. According to Mormon doctrine, there are four places to go when you die. Really REALLY bad people go to perdition, outer darkness. Those that outright reject goodness still get to go a not so good level of heaven known as the Telestial kingdom. If you were a “good person” tried to live well, and nice, if you were a Christian, etc.. you could get into the next level known as the Terrestial Kingdom. But only if you observed (key word... you have to earn this) the ordinances and covenants of the LDS faith could you acquire a spot in the Celestial Kingdom. This is where it gets sci-fi-ish, because if you got sealed in a temple marriage, you get to become a god and make spirit babies to inhabit your own world. Brigham Young also taught (and fundamentalists still believe) that you have to have multiple wives to receive this. LDS has for years rejected the notion that multiple wives are necessary for exaltation, but it’s still good to know that that’s where it came from.
Also in Mormon practice there are two levels of priesthood that men can work their way through for service to the church. There is one church “prophet” (read pope) who hears directly from God and passes down decrees to local churches.
On to Ephesians.. J
The main keys for understanding what the LDS’ers wanted from me when I was a kid are found in Galatians. In Galatia some smart law abiding teachers were trying to stake their own claim in the religious disciplrey going round and they thought they had a pretty comparable product. These teachers started garnering followers for themselves promising that their way was the real way but you had to follow their rules to be acceptable by God. You had to be circumcised. You had to keep their law. You had to pay homage to their system of things. People got swept into for various reasons. In Mormonism they show you these picture perfect families that are all beautiful and all get along and everyone is happy when you come over for dinner. It’s like the perfect all American dream. All you have to do to take part in their inheritance is to follow their laws, get baptized into the LDS, and follow the ordinances and covenants.
Here’s what Paul says (and this really was the Word of Salvation for me at that time):
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:6-12)
A couple of notes, Joseph Smith claims the book of Mormon was given to him by an angel. And it’s a new “gospel” about how Jesus came and preached to the Native Americans. Only it’s entirely a work of fiction. It doesn’t match up to who lived there at the time, it’s archeologically impossible and it’s only function is to perpetuate Mormonism. The first main points from the above section of Ephesians that is absolutely critical to me is , the God that used Paul to write Galatians specifically warned about this type of deception. Harsh words I know, but both the Bible and the writings of Joseph Smith cannot simultaneously be true. One must be mistaken. I am convinced that Paul was right. The second extremely important bit I get from the above passage is why. Paul talks about the difference between a religion of men and a revelation of God. I would love to expound on that if you wouldn’t mind reading just a bit more. J
In my early walk with Christ, there was no religion. I sought God by praying to the heavens. Embarrassingly enough I was actually praying to the pagan gods Freya and Odin. I prayed if you are out there please somebody answer me. I had been searching for something real and true and that exact moment God spoke to my heart and said, “You already know me.” And sure enough I did. I gave my life to Him. He then put it on my heart to study the Bible and my heart lept because it witnessed that the same voice that was speaking to me from revelation was at the same moment speaking to me in the written word. Without a direct personal revelation of Jesus, all you have are words to guess at the meaning at.
Anyway the men in Galatia were no preaching from revelation. They may have thought they had a good thing and were convinced and convincing one another that it was the right set of rules to teach but God was not in it.
Now about the whole “follow our rules and religion” mindset; “.. a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
The religious folk in Galatia were preaching that you had to be initiated into their ways b circumcision, then you had to follow their rules and laws, then you’d be acceptable. This is very similar to how one earns “exaltation” in Mormonism. This is also exactly opposite of what Paul says of Jesus. The second we die to ourselves and take on Jesus, He takes on our sins and we are Sons of God. I love that about my God.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (Galatians 2:20-21)
Moreover Paul says above that if it is attainable by these works and covenants then Jesus didn’t even need to die. Paul goes on to talk even more in depth on the purpose of law and it’s inability to save us, thus the foolishness of the thought that we need to take on additional laws or additional bondage.. but we have everything we need when and once we encounter His spirit.
And again Paul laments: “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” (Galatians 4:9-11)
So we were freed from all this silly bondage and now we think we need to start observing all these legal/religious rituals?
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
Now here’s a revalation from Paul to us who see a religion and wonder why they look so good, “As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.” (Galatians 6:12-13) He says they may look good but they don’t even follow the whole law that they are claiming.. and they only want to convince you to follow the law so that they can brag about you. Again, the people in Galatia looked great in the flesh. That’s how they enticed others to join them. But in secret they didn’t even keep their own law. Behind closed doors they were not what they appeared and they were not what they preached. And their only motive was to be able to brag that they got another person to join up. I’m convinced this is the same spiritual motivation in Mormonism. At face value, you see families apparently so perfect you’d get their family photo when you buy a new frame. But inside, behind closed doors, nothing can replace the God of Jacob. Nothing can replace the peace of the spirit. No law, no religion, no amount of points accumulated. There is no replacement for my God.
I think the temptation comes when we are dissatisfied with our current circumstances. Our church isn’t exciting enough. My life isn’t going where I wanted it to go. My family doesn’t love me… etc. These nice looking welcoming families seem so inviting. All they ask is that you listen and consider joining them. I offer you this alternative. Remember the God of your youth.. or the God of your salvation.. or the God you met when you first got saved. If there is a disappointment, turn to Him for that solution. He has the answer and He loves you deeply. Law and man’s religions never had anything on that.