MORMONISM

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MORMONISM

• ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST?

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OUTLINE

• History
• The Book of Mormon
• Mormon Teachings
• Evangelism

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Joseph Smith

• Diviner
• Treasure Hunter
• Religious Fraud

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Early History
The Hill Cumorah

• 1823 A visit by the angel Moroni
• You will be given golden plates on the hill
  Cumorah
• 1827 Dug up golden plates. Written in Reformed
  Egyptian.
• Used the Urrim and the Thummim with his head in
  a hat to translate the Book of Mormon.
• Conveniently, God took the golden plates back to
  heaven.

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• His translation complete, Joseph had one further
  use for the golden plates. To assure skeptics
  that the plates did, indeed exist, he showed them
  to several trusted witnesses, who signed
  statements affirming that they had beheld the
  plates. In preparation for viewing the plates,
  the chosen witnesses prayed for several hours.
  After lengthy praying, one witness reported that
  he saw only an empty box. Joseph sent him out
  for additional prayer, after which the golden
  plates were fully visible to the witness.
• Later, all these witnesses became apostate to
  Mormonism.

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Understanding Mormonism

• This is my testimony..
• Emotion-based religion.
• Mormons are, arguably, the most Christian-like
  group around, and they know it.

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WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

• Palmyra, New York
• Kirtland, Ohio
• Independence, Missouri
• Nauvoo, Illinois
• Salt Lake Valley, Utah

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JOSEPH SMITH AND SIDNEY RIGDON
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General Joseph Smith
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BRIGHAM YOUNG
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The Mormon Scripture

• The Book of Mormon
• A grade B religious fantasy about the Jaredites
  and the Nephites.
• The Pearl of Great Price with the Doctrine and
  the Covenants.
• The Bible, so long as it is correctly
  translated.
• Mormon 818 Dont demand to see the plates or
  you will be killed.

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Did Jesus come to the New World?
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• Statements by the Smithsonian Institution and the
  National Geographic Society
• "The Smithsonian Institution has never used the
  Book of Mormon in any way as a scientific guide.
  Smithsonian archaeologists see no connection
  between the archaeology of the New World and the
  subject matter of the Book." Official
  Statement, 1979
• "Neither representatives of the National
  Geographic Society nor, to my knowledge,
  archaeologists connected with any other
  institution or equal prestige have ever used the
  Book of Mormon in locating historic ruins in
  Middle America or elsewhere." Dr. Neal Judd

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MORMON TEACHINGS

• The Latter Day Saints
• Modern-day revelation
• We are all gods
• Polygamy
• Racism
• Baptism for the dead
• Scriptures to bear in mind Galatians 16-9, 2
  Thessalonians 25-12, 1 John 218-23.

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The Latter Day Saints

• The original church completely fell away with the
  death of the original apostles. There was no
  legitimate church for about 1700 years.
• This is my testimony, Joseph Smith is a prophet
  and the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.

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We are all gods.

• The Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are
  three separate gods.
• Mormonism is polytheism.
• I will preach on the plurality of gods. I have
  always declared God to be a distinct personage,
  Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage
  from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a
  distinct personage and a Spirit and these three
  constitute three distinct personages and three
  Gods. Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 370.
• From Joseph Smiths most famous sermon God
  himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted
  man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!... I
  am going to tell you how God came to be God. We
  have imagined and supposed that God was God from
  eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away
  the veil so that you may see He was once a man
  like us yea that God himself, the Father of us
  all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ
  himself did.

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Polygamy

• A new revelation against polygamy by the Utah
  church 1890
• Joseph Smith had at least 30 wives, some less
  than 15 yrs. old and took many other women as
  well.
• Celestial marriages.
• When our father Adam came into the garden of
  Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and
  brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He
  helped to make and organize this world. He is
  Michael, the Ancient of Days! About whom holy men
  have written and spokenHe is our Father and our
  God, and the only God with whom we have to do.
  Journal of Discourses vol 1, p 50.
• The grand reason why the Gentiles and
  philosophers of his school persecuted Jesus
  Christ, was because he had so many wives there
  were Elizabeth, and Mary, and a host of others
  who followed him.

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Racism

• Mormons 515 Indians are dark filthy and
  loathsome.
• 1 Nephi 1113 dark people are sinful.
• 2 Nephi 521 Dark skin are loathsome. Those
  who marry dark skinned are cursed.
• Officially renounced by new revelation in 1978.

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Other interesting doctrines

• Baptism for the dead
• Modern-day priesthood of Melchizedek
• Baptism in the name of Jesus preached to the
  Nephites several hundred years BC. A very
  confused idea of covenants.

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The Salt Lake City Temple
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REACHING OUT TO MORMONS

• This is my testimony.. Emotion vs reason.
• Do not attack Joseph Smith personally
• Friendship/family
• Study on Covenants Joe Fields

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Study 1 The Word of God
What books are identified as the words of God?
2 Nephi 2913 words of the Jews (Old
Testament) words of the list tribes of Israel
(Lost book?) words of the Nephites (Book
of Mormon) What does they both shall be
established in one mean? 1 Nephi 1341 What are
the plain and precious things that were taken
from the Bible? (1 Nephi 1328) Please be
specific. Do the Bible and the Book of Mormon
have to be in harmony with each other? What are
the two sticks? in Ezekiel 3715-22? What
version of the Bible do you accept as the
inspired word of God? Does Gods word in the
Book of Mormon ever contradict Gods word in the
Bible? Would there ever be any reason to reject
the Bible as Gods word?
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Study 2 Infinite and Eternal Atonement Alma
3414 / Hebrews 101
Atonement Shadow
Atonement Applied
 
Book of Mormon   Mosiah 1614 (148
BC) 2 Nephi 2524-27 (545 BC) Alma
3319-22 (74 BC) Mosiah 1231-1328
(148 BC) Alma 2515 (77
BC)
Book of Mormon   Mosiah 42,3 (124
BC) Jacob 411 (421 BC) Jarom
111 (399 BC) Jacob 7
(421 BC) Alma 714
(83 BC)
The New Testament   Galatians 38 (AD
49) John 314, 1232 (AD 85-90) 1 Peter 221-25
(AD 64) 1 Corinthians 57 (AD
54) Hebrews 9 (AD 60-69)  (Galatians
319,23, Colossians 214)
The Old Testament   Genesis 123
(1500 BC) Numbers 214-9 (1500 BC) Isaiah
534-7 (701 BC) Exodus 121
(1500 BC) Leviticus 4 (1500
BC)  (Hebrews 101, Galatians 324)
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Study 2 (cont.) The Mystery

• Ephesians 19,10 The mystery.to be put into
  effect when the times have reached their
  fulfillment
• Ephesians 33-5 The mystery.which was not make
  known to men in other generations
• Ephesians 36 The mystery.the gospel.the
  promise in Christ Jesus
• Ephesians 39 The mystery, which for ages past
  was kept hidden in God.

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Study 3 The Plan of RedemptionAtonement in
Christ before the foundation of the world
New Testament after AD 30 Hebrews 911-14
When Christ came Colossians 214-16
Canceled the
written code John 316
Belief in Christ Romans 325 Atonement in
Christ Acts 238 Baptism into Christ Acts
1126 Becoming a Christian
Law of Moses 1500-400 BC Leviticus 16
Animal Sacrifices Exodus 208 Keep the Sabbath
   
Book of Mormon Jarom 15,11 Law of Moses /
Sabbath 399 BC 2 Nephi 2524-27 Belief in
Christ 545 BC Mosiah 42 Atonement
Applied 124 BC Alma 714 Baptism for
Remission of Sin 83 BC Alma 4615 Christian
73 BC
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Study 3 (cont.)
What arrangement did God make for atonement under
the Law of Moses? What did the Nephites
command in regard to atonement? What event
fulfilled the Law of Moses?
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Study 3 (cont.) Plan of Redemption
The Partiarchs Mt Sinai Law of Moses The
Cross New Testament Adam/Eve Ex 20
Ten Commandments 2 Cor 36 Spirit
of Law Cain/Abel Nu 319
Temple/Priesthood 2 Pet 25 All
Believers Noah/Ark Animal Sacrifices
Heb 108-10 Crucifixion Abraham/Isaac/Ja
cob Were Those under the Law of Moses required
to build an ark? Was Noah required to offer
animal sacrifices for sin? Are Christians
required to keep the Law of Moses? Were those
under the Law of Moses required to accept the
Atonement of Christ?
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