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What Do Mormons Believe?
(The God Makers)
The following is a book review of The God Makers,
by Ed Decker and Dave Hunt. It takes the reader through the beliefs of
the Mormon Church. (For a book review of Is Mormonism Christian?
by Gordon H. Frazier, and Mormonism:
Shadow or Reality, by Gerald and Sandra Tanner, please
see What
Do Mormons Believe?)
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in the early 19th century as a new
religion closely related to the ancient pagan mystery religions,
Hinduism, and Masonry, but carrying the Christian label. "He
was able to convince his followers that he was even greater than Jesus
Christ" (pg. 46). Smith said, "The followers of Jesus ran away from
Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet." Decker and
Hunt say, "In spite of the name of Jesus Christ being on the Church
letterhead, it is to Joseph Smith that the Mormons look for their
redemption" (pg 40-41). President Joseph Fielding Smith
said, "(There is) no salvation without accepting Joseph
Smith." "Like Krishna, the Mormon Jesus saves only the
righteous" (pg. 60). "The Mormon Jesus is not the Jesus of
the Bible and of Christians, but the literal brother of Lucifer in the
'premortal existence'" (pg. 199). Smith also claimed that Christ would
return in 1891 (pg. 227). This failed prophecy in itself
disqualifies Smith as a prophet (Deuteronomy. 18:22).
The Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith told a tale that he had discovered golden plates with
hieroglyphics on them, and he translated this ancient language with a
"seer stone" (pg. 81), resulting in his Book of Mormon which was
allegedly first written in 600-500 BC. It (along with various
other Mormon documents translated from various other "discovered"
plates and other sources) makes some very imaginative claims. Not only
have these hieroglyphics and other claims proven to be fraudulent, but
Mormon archaeologists and anthropologists admit that no one knows the
location of even one Book of Mormon city or geographical site.
The Book of Mormon contained so many outrageous claims, obvious
contradictions, absurdities, and childish grammatical errors that over
4000 changes have been made to it to correct Joseph Smith's
mistakes. Even B.H. Roberts, eminent Mormon historian and
General Authority of the Church admits that the evidence points not to
divine authorship, but to Joseph Smith as its imaginative but
uneducated author. He cites a "lack of perspective in the
things the book relates as history that points quite clearly to an
undeveloped mind as their origin. The narrative proceeds in
characteristic disregard of conditions necessary to its reasonableness,
as if it were a tale told by a child, with utter disregard for
consistency" (pg. 111). He goes on to agree that it's full of
absurdities and lapses. Here are some examples of the grammatical
errors:
- "it were easy to guard them"
- "I were about to write them"
- "the priests was not to depend"
- "they was angry with me"
- "things which is not seen"
- "he found Muloki a preaching"
The Book of Mormon also plagiarize many early American books, and it
copies entire chapters of the Bible. It contains hundreds of
quotes from the New Testament although it was supposedly written about
600 years before the New Testament books. Not only that, all
the quotes are in King James English! It also contains an incredible
story about Christ's alleged visit to America. Many other Mormon
documents are the result of similar cut-and-paste jobs.
Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt said of the Book of Mormon, "If false, it is
one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever
palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions."
Salvation by Works
Mormons believe that they earn their salvation through their works and
obedience to thousands of church laws, rather than by faith as the
Bible teaches (Gal. 2:16). They even claim, "Paul knew . . . that
obedience to Christ's law was necessary for salvation" (pg.
137). As a result, through misguided counsel, many Mormons practice high moral standards.
Gods
As the title of the book implies, Mormons believe they will eventually
become gods. They believe that the universe is populated with
gods and goddesses with physical, resurrected bodies that were once
mortal. "The belief that Satan told the truth and that Adam and Eve did
the right thing in following him instead of God comprises the very
heart of Mormonism" (pg. 30). Decker and Hunt indicate that there
are trillions of gods in Mormonism; even more than in Hinduism (pg. 74).
Preexistence
This belief about becoming gods easily yields to the related doctrine
of preexistence. They believe they "lived before coming to
this earth" (pg. 25), in their own version of reincarnation.
African-Americans
Brigham Young said that African-Americans "never can hold the
Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have
received the promises" (pg 23-24). Also, under Mormonism,
the penalty for marrying an African-American is death on the spot (pg. 232).
Paganism
Decker and Hunt present Mormonism as a revival of ancient pagan myths
and practices under Christian labels. The Mystery Religions,
pagan rivals of Christianity, taught emphatically the doctrine that "men may become Gods" pg. 27).
Polygamy
Mormons believe they can only reach godhood through partnership with a
spouse, which they call "celestial marriage" (pg. 35). Joseph
Smith and Brigham Young declared that only polygamists could become
gods. Mormons are also encouraged to produce as many children
as possible, in order to produce more gods and bring more glory to
themselves. Although women can become goddesses, their role is somewhat
submissive, remaining eternally pregnant and bearing children forever.
Prophets
"The Mormon is obligated to believe whatever Mormonism's Prophet, Seer,
and Revelator living at the time says, no matter if it contradicts the
Bible or even Joseph Smith" (pg. 34). Joseph Fielding Smith
said, "'at every General Conference of the Church,' the speakers are giving
forth Scripture that is equal to anything in the Book of Mormon or the
Bible" (page 42). However, one major problem is that all the
prophets contradict each other. For example, Joseph Smith
said that the Book of
Mormon was critical for salvation, but Brigham Young said the New
Testament alone would do (pg 109-110).
Secret Rituals
"At the very center of the LDS faith are the Temples with their secret
pagan ceremonies," (pg. 63) where Mormons use secret knowledge, occult
rituals, and redemption of the dead which reveals their belief that
death is neither real nor final. In Mormonism, those who die
aren't really dead but can still communicate with the living and join
the Mormon Church beyond the grave, while in a Mormon purgatory called
the "spirit prison." The secret rituals are practiced both
for the living and by proxy for the dead. This practice is
defended using 1 Corinthians. 15:28, but while it actually refers to a
pagan practice, Mormons misinterpret it to apply to Christians. Decker and
Hunt believe that this communication with the dead and apparitions is
demonic, as with the practices of necromancy in many other cults. They go so
far as to cite Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible which refers to an evil being
obsessed with the dead as "Mormo," whose followers would be called Mormons (pg. 72).
Mormon Temple rituals include many carryovers from Masonic rituals,
including secret names, penalties, blood oaths, grips, tokens, Masonic
markings, the square, the compass, the beehive, astrological symbols, the
all-seeing eye of occultism, and the upside-down five-pointed start,
which is the symbol of Satanism. Decker and Hunt say, "This
is the play-acting of children's fantasies, the stuff of myths" (pg. 190).
Secrecy
Decker and Hunt note that this secrecy is contrary to Christianity. In Mormonism, as in Masonry, only those of the
very highest degrees are aware of the true nature of their religion. About 70 percent of
Mormons "don't know what takes place inside their own Temples" (pg.
198). However, Jesus said, "I spoke openly to the world; I always
taught in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jews always resort,
and in secret have I said nothing" (John. 18:20). Most Mormons seem to succumb to the circular reasoning that,
since they are destined to be gods, they must be right (pg. 237).
Summary
Decker and Hunt note, "To think critically for oneself is not only
discouraged by the Mormon hierarchy but is considered to be inspired by
the Devil" (pg. 186). Repeating Orson Pratt's words, "If false, it is
one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever
palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions."
Owen Weber 2009
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