Is Mormonism Christian? Unmasking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dr. Tal Davis Email: josephtaldavis@ gmail.com MarketFaith Ministries www.marketfaith.org
Feb 23, 2016
Is Mormonism Christian? Unmasking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dr. Tal Davis Email: josephtaldavis@ gmail.com
MarketFaith Ministrieswww.marketfaith.org
LDS World Church Statistics Total Membership
(2012) 14,782,473
Converts Baptized (2012) 272,330
LDS World Church StatisticsCongregations: (2012) 29,014
LDS World Church StatisticsFull-time Missionaries (2012):
58,990 Missions: 347
LDS World Church Statistics Temples (2012): 141
Church Statistics (2012)
United States:Members: 6,321,416
Congregations: 13,742 Temples: 68
Missions: 103
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Joseph Smith, Jr.Born December 23, 1805Grew Up In Palmyra, NY
Joseph sought wisdom as to which church to join
Joseph Smith’s “First Vision”- Fall 1820
Claims Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to him
1823-
Sept. 21- Joseph’s “Second Vision” of Angel Moroni
1823- Sept 23- Joseph shown Golden Plates at Hill Cumorah
1827- Sept. 22- Smith obtained plates & began translation of The Book of Mormon
June 1829- Book of Mormon translation completed
March 1830-First edition published in Palmyra NY
1830- April 6- “Church of Christ” restored with six members in Fayette NY
1831- Mormons migrated to Kirtland, Ohio & Independence, Missouri
1838- “Mormon War” in Missouri
1840- Mormons move to Nauvoo, Illinois
June 27- Joseph Smith
assassinated in Carthage, Ill.
1846-47- Brigham Young
leads westward trek to Utah
Founded settlement in Salt Lake City, Utah
Sept. 1890- Pres. Wilford Woodruff proclaimed “Manifesto” suspending Plural Marriage
1978- Pres. Spencer W. Kimball announced revelation allowing black males to receive LDS priesthoods
Understanding Mormon Authority and Scripture
The Four Standard Works• King James Bible
“As far as it is translated correctly”
The Book Of Mormon
Claims to be “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”
Smith claimed to translate from golden plates in “Reformed Egyptian”
Book of Mormon Timeline600BC – AD400
Jesus Appears in the New World
Two Additional Mormon Scriptures
• The Doctrine and Covenants
• The Pearl of Great Price
President Thomas S. Monson Living Prophet, Seer, and
Revelator.
Beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDS Beliefs About GodAn exalted man of flesh and
boneHas a physical bodyHas a wife (or wives)Heavenly Father did not create
world from nothing but organized earth out of pre-existent matter
There Are Countless Other Gods In The Universe
Our Heavenly Father Has A Father, Grandfather, etc.
LDS Beliefs about GodMen may become
gods
Men are “Gods in embryo”
Women May Become wives Of Gods
Beliefs about the Holy Ghost
“The Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.” [Doctrine and Covenants 130:22]
LDS Beliefs about Jesus“Jehovah” in the
Pre-mortal EstateThe “Firstborn Son
of God”“Only-begotten” in
the flesh
The Mormon Plan of Salvation
Unconditional or “General” RedemptionJesus “Atoned” for
Adam’s “Necessary Fall” in Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross
Jesus raised from the dead to restore immortality lost in the fall for all humanity
The Mormon Plan of Salvation
Conditional or “Individual” Redemption
Steps to Exaltation1. Faith
2. Repentance
3. Baptism By Immersion in the LDS Church by Aaronic Priesthood
4. Laying On Of Hands by a Member of the Melchizedek Priesthood in Order to Receive the Holy Ghost
5. Ordination as a Aaronic Priest and Melchizedek Priest (Men only)
6. Receiving the Temple Endowments
(Men & Women)
7. Celestial (Temple) Marriage for Time and Eternity
8. Temple Works (Baptism and ordinances for the dead)
9. Observing the “Word of Wisdom”
10. Sustain The Prophet
11. Tithing
12. Weekly Sacrament Meetings
13. Obedience
Life After Death•Paradise for baptized Mormons
•Spirit Prison for all others where missionaries preach Mormon gospel
Three Kingdoms Of Glory
1. Celestial Kingdom(Worthy Mormons)
2. Terrestrial Kingdom(Honorable people)
3. Telestial Kingdom(The ungodly, wicked, and filthy)
Perdition (Hell) (For Satan, his angels and apostates)
Basic Principles for Witnessing to Mormons1. Have a clear
understanding of authentic Christian beliefs
2. Understand Mormon beliefs
3. Define all terms clearly4. Give a clear testimony
of your faith in Christ5. Focus on salvation by
grace through faith in Christ alone
6. Warn the Mormon about trusting in feelings
7. Read all Bible verses in context
8. Focus on basic doctrines9. Share the plan of salvation10. Pray and trust the Holy
Spirit