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