The Red Flags of a False Gospel (LDS)

A few weeks ago I went to Tacoma to spend time with my friend Dyami. He has been struggling with some vices. So, I had the hope of witnessing to him and being an encouragement to him. Sometime around 8PM, I had gone out to my car to grab my Bible. Funny enough, I had saw a couple of mormons exiting an apartment building. Thinking this was an opportunity to talk about Christ, I had initiated a conversation with them. We made a bit of small talk about where they were from, how they discovered the church, etc. After talking for a while, I had decided to initiate a question that I was afraid would come off rude. I understand that religion is a very intimate topic for many. So, I was as gentle as possible when I asked if they were aware of the Bible saying that no scripture should be added or taken away from it. One of them asked where in the Bible this was said, and I was stumped. I felt a sense of sadness and regret overcome me in that moment. In that initial moment, two other times I had spoken to mormons since coming to know the Lord appeared in my mind. I remembered how I had thought of digging into their church, but never doing so out of laziness and a lack of care.

But, in this moment I knew just how important it was to get some scripture on my heart regarding what the red flags of a false gospel are. I had committed to memorizing more scripture. So, I was and am ready to do this. I accepted a Book of Mormon from them and prayed with them for them to come to know the Lord and to further understand the true message of the Bible. Recommended from a family member, I read some of 2 Nephi out of The Book of Mormon, and it was painful for me. I did some skimming from pieces of the book as pointed out online, and I continued to find it disturbing. There were many hints of Bible, but much of it not aligning with the true gospel. Many contradictions being found, and a lot of it not showing the true nature of God.

After studying some bits and pieces of The Book of Mormon, I felt inspired to go into pieces of scripture of my Bible to make sure that I fully understood what I believed too. Sure, I had gone and learned a bit at Bible College. But, I needed to be sure. So, I had reviewed bits and pieces of scripture. Only after doing that do I feel equipped to write this entry and share my thoughts on the dangerous false gospel that the LDS church gives to people.

Before starting I want to clarify a few things:

1. I do NOT hate members of the church of LDS (Latter Day Saints). I just strongly dislike and disagree with their doctrine and pray for members to leave and for their salvation.

2. This blog entry is written to those who have a basic understanding of the Church of Latter Day Saints.

3. This entry includes scripture out of the Bible (KJV) and writing out of The Book of Mormon.

4. Although much prayer, study, and thought has been put into this entry, do not take this as the word of God. Take it as food for thought from a Christian who cares about your relationship with the real Jesus Christ.

5. I am NOT an expert in Christianity or Mormonism. I am simply a Christian doing my best to edify others.

So, why am I writing this entry on my blog?

I am writing a sermon that I intend to preach at my church at some point. But, some of the thoughts I have I do not think fit in a sermon. When I preach, I do not think it will be so specific to one religion, but rather more generalized for the sake of my fellow Christians having the tools to defend their faith against any other religion. Which goes into this next thought; the purpose blog entry is:

1. To provide the necessary scripture and context to scripture

2. For the simple edification of Christians

   
   

The three times I have spoken to LDS missionaries since my salvation in July of 2021 has led to me studying their faith. It's important to be able to know what you believe in and be able to defend it. I pray that this blog entry can be a blessing to you and enable you to ponder on the true living God, whether you are in need of salvation or are already saved.

You Cannot Join the Priesthood if you are black?

There are countless pieces of scripture to back up this point. However, we will be looking at Acts 17:26. At this point, Paul is preaching about Gods sovereignty over all of mankind when he famously proclaims "And hath made one blood all nations of men". This is contradicted in The Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 5:21 when Nephi is talking about his followers separating amongst themselves. Because of the rebellion of the Lamanites, God curses them to be separate from Him and to have a skin of blackness."And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them." It wasn't until June of 1978 when black people were able to be ordained to the priesthood, a revelation had by then President of the church Spencer Kimball. It is very strange to think that the same church that believes in the God of the Bible would restrict a whole race of people from pastoring just based on the color of their skin. I mean, Acts 10:34-35 alone contradicts this "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him". Jesus Christ is documented having disciples who are wicked and who betray Him, yet are still used to His glory. The crucifixion of our savior was so that we could be saved. It would be strange if we couldn't do something simply because of the color of our skin when we are born.

Adding to the Word of God?

This seems like a bit of a no-brainer, right? If God is perfect, is eternal, and never changes, wouldn't He make His word timeless? He wouldn't choose people to write it if it were to be written with things man could not use to God's glory, right? Let's see. Deuteronomy 4:2 we have Moses giving his final speech to the nation of Israel before they enter the promised land; "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." I am specifically referencing this part because Moses warns to Israel not to add or take away from the laws God had given to them. In Proverbs 30:6 we see a man named Agur writing on the wisdom of God. This verse specifically he writes "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar". This is a blatant warning that if you alter the word of God, you will be found out a liar, having shown that what you say is not the word of God. It is also implied that God will rebuke you. One more piece of scripture worth noting for my upcoming thought is (to my knowledge) one of the most common verses cited when talking about the alteration of the word of God. That is, of course, Revelation 22:18-19. Among the last few verses in the Holy Bible. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." This is a warning not to take from or add to the prophecies recorded in the book of Revelation.

Now, why do I bring up these specific verses? It's because there are many upon many times in the Bible where it is implied not to alter the word of God. If God does not want His commandments altered with the Israelites, and it's so important that Moses warns them not to do this before entering the promised land, you would think it is pretty important, right? Also, Agur's reflection on the character of God is good to ponder on in Proverbs 30. The proverb is a blessing to read, provoking the reader to have faith in God's way of working things out in His will. Agur reminds the reader that God's word is to be trusted. Finally, Revelation, the conclusion of the Bible, among the last few verses of the Bible has scripture warning the reader to not alter the account given in the book.

We can be certain that we have the correct gospel from the Bible alone because of the account given in a letter Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia regarding false teachers who were distorting the true gospel. Galatians 1:8-9 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." There is the argument that some LDS members use that throughout time the Bible has been corrupted. That is the whole reason they believe Jesus had to come to America and give the Native Americans the true gospel, so that His church could be restored to what it was supposed to be. But the Bible contradicts this in Matthew 24:35 when Jesus is talking to His disciples and tells them "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away". God promises to preserve His word. God is incapable of lying. So, either Jesus is a liar and our sins are not forgiven. Or, God is a faithful God and preserves His word and the Bible alone is enough.

"...after all we can do"

One of the biggest signs of a false doctrine, for any sect of Christianity, is when it talks about works. If it requires works for salvation (or maintaining your salvation), chances are you are not praying to the true God of the Bible. I will offer this thought for you to ponder on: why did Jesus Christ have to die on the cross if our works can justify our sins? He asked God for another way to save humanity, but God the Father insisted that innocent blood must be shed for the redemption of man. So, what is the point of Jesus Christ dying if we can be saved by our own works? We cannot. Nothing we do can save us, only by placing our faith in Jesus Christ can we be saved (John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved"). I also want to cite Ephesians 2:8-9 when Paul is telling us that salvation is a gift from God and not something we can earn or maintain by our own efforts or works; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast".

However, in The Book of Mormon, specifically 2 Nephi 25:23, Nephi writes "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." That last part very much alarmed me when I first read it because it implies that you are only saved after you do everything you can to follow Christ. While I do believe that true faith is dead without works, works after what you do are not what get you to heaven. Only a sincere faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus is what lands you a spot in the book of life.

Prophet Revelations Align With the Will of Man

It is strange to me how many revelations had by the church of latter day saints seem to correlate with the will of man, and many of them just convenient. For example, the Bible clearly states that polygamy is incorrect (Genesis 2:24). Yet, Joseph Smith, the churches founder, had claimed to have a revelation that he had to take upon himself more wives. So, himself along with a few church elders at the time took more wives. If I am correct, Joseph Smith had over 40 wives. Anyway, the U.S. government was far from okay with this. So, The Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 was passed, allowing the Feds to take the churches property if polygamy continued since it was now a felony. It was because of this that one of the churches prophets had a message that the church must stop polygamy. It is odd to me that Joseph Smith's supposed revelation from God to have more wives contradicts the clear word of God (1 Kings 11:1-13; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians 5:31, etc.) yet he is held as the greatest man to have ever lived according to the LDS church.

Conclusion

I am very aware that I still have a lot more learning to do when it comes to the history of the LDS church, as well as The Book of Mormon. It is worth mentioning that not only is the KJV Bible and The Book of Mormon canon to the LDS churches beliefs, but so are two other books: "The Pearl of Great Price" and "Doctrines and Covenants". I did not cover those for I am most definitely not educated enough on them to comment on them in much regard.

I hope that the information written here can be a blessing to you. Whether you are a Christian seeking some food for thought, or an LDS Church member that happened to stumble upon this. I wrote this entry with no ill intentions, only to enable people to ponder on the true God of the Bible and to help Christians have a foundation in their beliefs.

I pray that this entry helps you the next time you have a conversation with LDS missionaries. Or, when you spend some time in your Bible. Better yet, when you are wondering if God is faithful. All of the religions of the world can confuse us and can deter our faith. But, we must not follow religion or works or any of that nonsense, but to focus on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and meditating and acting on how we can further push His will and do His will in our lives.

If you think I missed the mark, misinterpreted something, or accidentally spread misinformation, please let me know. Or, if you are an LDS member and would like to clarify something I pointed out, I am happy to have a respectful dialogue with you. I would be saddened to learn that I said something blatantly false (according to the Bible; or BOM Canon when referring to that text).

Thank you so much for reading.

God Bless You!

Hosea 4:6