as Scripture until the 'councils'. However, the method by which a scroll or parchment was
accepted as "Scripture" was in truth, determined by the following process:
a. Self – authenticating quality
b. Commonly used in Christian worship (Col 4:16 commonly circulated)
c. Apostolic authority – direct ties to an Apostle
d. Commonly received as Scripture by the people of its time in both the OT and the NT
e. The Old Testament is taken directly from the Hebrew Canon
• all books of the Old Testament are quoted by Jesus
f. Internal consistency – 66 books, over 40 authors in 3 languages on 3 continents
• yet does not contradict other scripture,
2. Reliability: LDS claims that 'wicked priests' changed the Bible and removed "precious truths"
(Book of Mormon — 1 Nephi 13:26-29; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 190-191)
However, the following facts still remain and will need to be accounted for:
a. Manuscript Evidence– 24,633 mss dating back to 150AD!
b. Archaeological Evidence– voluminous evidence verifying every monetary unit, culture,
city, people etc.
c. Predictive Prophecy Evidence– 61 major prophecies fulfilled to the tee in Jesus
d. Scientific Statistical Probability of fulfilled prophecy.
3. LDS claim there was a 'great apostasy'. (Gospel Principles, pp. 105-106; Mormon Doctrine, p. 44).
However, there doesn't seem to be an answer to a simple question: When did this happen?
Again, here are some facts that Joseph Smith failed to take into account prior to his claim:
a. There is an unbroken line of teaching/teachers:
i. 30-33 AD (the time of Jesus Himself)
ii. 33-95 AD Apostles
iii. 95-165 Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Clement of Rome
iv. 165-284 Iraneus, Origen
v. 328-430 Athanasius, Chrysostom, St. Jerome, Augustine
b. The early church fathers passed the consistent teaching of Scripture to the reformers
i. 16th century - Wycliff, Hus, 14th cent. ; Martin Luther, Jean Calvin
ii. 17th century - John Bunyan
iii. 18th century - John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards (contemporaries of Joseph Smith)
iv. 19th century - D.L. Moody,
v. 20th century - C.S Lewis, Billy Graham, Francis Schaeffer
4. Denominations: LDS claims that all other denominations are an abomination to God.
(Mormon Scripture Citation needed!)
a. Catholicism, Greek Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Church of England (Anglican),
Presbyterians, Anabaptists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Evangelical
• all comprise the vast majority of the Biblical Christian orthodoxy.
b. The above list (though not exhaustive) are all agreed on the basic essentials of the faith:
i.God is triune (not 3 gods - one in purpose)
ii. Jesus is God the Son (not the spirit brother of Lucifer)
iii. The Holy Spirit is God, etc.
c. The orthodox denominations might differ is on the non-essentials i.e. method of worship,
methods of edification of the church i.e ways of applying the gifts of the Spirit,
free will v. God's will emphasis...etc. but they still hold to the essentials listed above,
whereas LDS doctrine rejects the above essentials outright. It is primarily for this reason
that the LDS faith considers itself a "Christian" religion, but orthodox Christianity,
on the whole, considers Mormonism to be a cult that formed around the misguided
charisma of a man named Joseph Smith.
5. Mormon History according to Mormon and other external historical records.
a. Prior to starting his own church, Joseph Smith was a treasure seeker and a Mason
b. Smith claimed to go into the forest to find the true church and received a vision of
God and Jesus
c. In this vision god told him to join no church for they are all an abomination to god
d. Smith claims to have received some ancient plates with Egyptian Hieroglyphics
and the Urim and Thummim
e. From these he translated the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price,
and Doctrine and Covenants.
f. They taught and practiced polygamy and were subsequently chased out of
Pennsylvania, Ohio (where Smith was killed in a gunfight)
g. Brigham Young took over the movement and they migrated west along the Oregon Trail
h. They came into the Salt Lake Valley and Brigham said his famous, "This is the place"
i. The church settled there with Brigham at the helm
j. The presidency passed to chosen men from the "12 apostles"
k. they settled into Idaho, Nevada, and Utah - all 3 states heavily LDS in population.
l. Mormonism, although claiming 501c3 status as a recipient of members’ tithes,
is a very successful business: owning ZCMIs, Banks, etc
6. Who is god, according to Mormon books?
a. God came from a planet near a star named Kolob – (B of M Abraham 3:1-3)
b. God came here to Earth as a baby and grew into God (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
J.F. Smith pp345-346; Life of Lorenzo Snow, Dr. Thomas Romney p46; Art. of Faith, James Talmage p430)
c. There are many gods and goddesses in the heavens (B of M Abraham 4:3)
d. Not 1 God in 3 persons but 3 gods with 1 purpose
(Bruce Mckonkie, Mormon Doctrine, p576-577; Teaching of the Prophet Joeseph Smith, JF Smith p370)
7. Who is Jesus, according to Mormon books?
a. Jesus is one of many 'spirit sons' of God (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce McConkie p192,590;
Gospel Principles, pp. 17-18)
b. Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce McConkie p192,590)
c. both offered plans, Lucifer's was rejected, he rebelled (Gospel Through The Ages,
Milton Hunter p15; "Pearl of Great Price", Book of Moses 4:1-3)
d. Jesus' plan was accepted and he came to Earth ("Pearl of Great Price", Book of Moses 4:1-3)
e. God cannot create man because man's spirit has always existed –
(Doctrines and Covenants 93:29; Abraham 3:22; Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith, JF Smith p354)
f. Man has no beginning but grows from man into God – (see above references)
+ (Mormon Doctrine p321; D & C 132:20-21; Teachings of Prophet JS, p347, 374 Articles of Faith, p530)
g. The "true" Gospel was lost from the Earth
(Doctrines of Salvation vol 3 pp 265-326; D & C 112:23)
h. Salvation is automatically applied for Adamic sin; the rest of your daily sin requires works
(Articles of Faith, James E. Talmage p85, 91, 92; for 'works' see references below)
i. Accepting the doctrines and ordinances of Mormonism results in true salvation (Gospel
Principles, p. 303-304; Pearl of Great Price - Third Article of Faith; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 339, 671;
Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 25:23)
j. Those who died without hearing the Mormon "gospel" have an opportunity to hear
after dying (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 686-687; I Peter 3:18-21, 4:6; D. & C. 76:73-74)
k. Baptism for the dead, necessary for salvation: Living LDS baptized on behalf of dead
(D & C 128:15; Teachings of Prophet J.S., JFS p193; Articles of Faith, p152)
8. Mormon doctrine authority
a. 'scriptures' what are they?
i. Book of Mormon – Comprised of supposed accounts of Jesus visit to the "Indians" of
North America. However, not a single artifact has been found to support a single story.
ii. Pearl of Great Price – Contains Abraham in Egypt; Articles of Faith; History etc.
iii. Doctrines and Covenants – compilation of ecclesiastical constitution for LDS church
iv. Bible – KJV or Joseph Smith Translation are only accepted versions. Because, like
most cults, Mormons believe the Bible to corrupt, it is the least of all LDS scripture.
b. 'Prophets' who are they, who were they?
i. Most cults begin from the endeavor of a powerful personality who controlled the scope
of investiation and questioning that was allowed by the sect.
ii. Prophet is the same as the 'President' with similar authority as Catholic Pope
iii. Line of LDS Men Who Claimed or were Named 'Prophet'
Joseph Smith1830-1844
Brigham Young1844-1877
John Taylor 1877-1887
Wilford Woodruff 1887-1898
Lorenzo Snow1898-1901
Joseph F. Smith 1901-1918
Heber J. Grant1918-1945
George Albert Smith 1945-1951
David O. McKay1951-1970
Joseph Fielding Smith 1970-1972
Harold B. Lee 1972-1973
Spencer W. Kimball1973-1985
Ezra Taft Benson 1985-1994
Howard W. Hunter1994-1995
Gordon B. Hinckley 1995-present
9. Major Points of Difference Between LDS and Christians:
a. LDS God v. Biblical God
i. "our father in heaven" god of the LDS church comes from a planet near a star
named Kolob contrast this vs the Biblical "God The Father"
Who created all planets and all stars. Kolob or no Kolob.
b. god of the LDS church began as man vs Biblical God with no beginning or end
c. LDS Jesus vs. Biblical Jesus
i. "Jesus Christ the Savior" of the LDS faith was "sired" from the above erroneous god
in a physical relation with Mary (as the LDS god is a glorified man) contrast this vs. the
Biblical Jesus who created all things and has always been God unchanging with the
Father and Holy Spirit Triune God.
ii. Jesus of the LDS faith is satan's spirit-brother contrast this vs the Biblical Jesus
who is satan's God and creator
10. Internal issues of Mormon Authority –
2Pet 1:20 'No scripture came by private interpretation...but men spoke by God...'
a. Conflict within what the LDS Prophet says and LDS scriptures say.
LDS Prophet:
LDS Scriptures: Alma 34:33-35 – No chance for salvation after death
2 Nephi 28:21-22; Mosiah 2:39; 3:25 – The devil teaches 'no hell'
LDS Prophet:
LDS Scriptures: Mosiah 7:27; D&C 38:1-3– Christ was the God, the Father of all things
Alma 18:26-28; 22:9-11 – God is a spirit
LDS Prophet:
LDS Scriptures: Moses 2:26a – God MADE man in His own image
Mormon 9:9-11, 19; Moroni 7:22 – God has ALWAYS been God
LDS Prophet:
LDS Scriptures: D&C 20:19,28; 2 Nephi 31:21; 3Nephi 11:36 – There is only ONE God
11. External issues of Mormon Authority:
a. Though many archaeologists LDS and secular have tried and tried, still not one monetary
unit or civilization, city, people etc has been found in any of the sites mentioned in
the Book of Mormon
b. Smithsonian Institute states in publicly distributed statements that there is no connection
between the Book of Mormon and Central and South American archeology
(where the events supposedly took place) SIL - 76 Rev. May 1980
c Changes to LDS Scripture – about 4000 changes to the Book of Mormon
since the 1830 edition appeared. This is a curious bit of information, considering that all
of the odd, extra-biblical teachings of Mormon are predicated on Joe Smith's claim that the
Bible can't be trusted because it had been "changed" by wicked priests.
1830 Book of Mormon "And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin which thou seest,
is the mother of God ....first book of Nephi, P. 25
Current Book of Mormon: "And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is
the mother of the Son of God... I Nephi 11:18-21)
1830 Book of Mormon "And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying,
look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the
people; yea, the Everlasting God..." First Book of Nephi, p.26.
Current Book of Mormon: "...that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the
everlasting God." INephi 11:32
1830 Book of Mormon "And now limhi was again filled with joy, on learning from the
mouth of ammon that King Benjamin had a gift from God..."
Book of Mosiah, P. 200
Current Book of Mormon: "...filled with joy in learning from the mouth of Ammon that
King Mosiah had a gift from God..."
12. Failed prophecies:
a. Inhabitants on the Moon Prophecy
i. Oliver B. Huntington, a devout LDS contemporary of Joseph Smith, stated that Smith
taught,"The inhabitants of the moon are more of a uniform size than the inhabitants
of the earth, being six feet in height. They dress very much like the Quaker style and
are quite general in style or fashion of dress. They live to be very old; coming generally;
near a thousand years. This is the description of them as given by Joseph (Smith)
the Seer, and he could see whatever he asked the Father in the name of Jesus to see"
(Journal of Oliver B. Huntington, Vol. II, p. 166).
ii. In over 60 years of close observation of the moon and its surface, no inhabitants found.
b. Inhabitants of the Sun
i. Brigham Young, second LDS Prophet, said, "Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this
little planet that shines on an evening, called the Moon?... When you inquire about the
inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to
them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the
Sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life
there? No question about it; it was not made in vain"
(Journal of Discourses Vol. XIII, p. 271).
ii. This is a Prophet speaking here. His word is supposedly the word of the LDS god and
The Prophet is as infallible as the LDS god (c.f. Roman Catholic Pope) see below:
• Brigham Young, "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children
of men, that they may not call Scripture" (Ibid., p. 95).
• This "Scripture" about men on the moon as well as the Sun by Brigham Young
ought to raise eyebrows about Brigham Young's inspired messages.
c. Second Coming Predictions
i. Wilford Woodruff, fourth LDS Prophet said on June 27, 1875, "I believe there are many
children now living in the mountains of Israel (Utah) who will never taste death, that is,
they will dwell on the earth at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ"
(J. of D., Vol.18, p. 37).
ii. On June 6, 1880, Woodruff again said, "We live in the generation itself when Jesus
Christ will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory"
(J. of D., Vol. 21, p. 124).
iii. Woodruff died on Sept. 2, 1898, and all the children he spoke of in 1875 are now dead.
Therefore, Woodruff's predictions are false.
iv. Compare this "prophecy" with the clear teaching given in 1Thessalonians 5:1-3
concerning the truth that no date will ever be given concerning the Second Coming
because of the obvious fact that Jesus will come like a thief in the night.
