Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church (Bible study)
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 27, 1994
2 Timothy 4:3
MORMONISM
I. Modern Characteristics of Mormonism:
A. Firmly established in the American West, with intense missionary
activity all over the world. (29,000 sent out annually)
B. About 5,000,000 members.
C. Strong emphasis on the family, clean living and work ethic.
D. Ruled by a first president and the supreme council called "The
Twelve Apostles."
E. Church controls vast wealth, encourages tithing.
F. Renegades are noted for polygamy, violence and an apocalyptic
outlook.
G. Mormon-owned industries: Marriott Hotels, WordPerfect Software,
Brigham Young University, the Osmond Family.
II. Brief history.
A. Founded by Joseph Smith, Jr., who was born in Vermont in 1805.
Attracted to "peep stones" and treasure hunting. The area was
torn by conflicting religious revivals; seeking God, Smith had
a vision of the Father and the Son.
B. Later, the angel Moroni guided him to Golden Plates, which he
translated with special glasses. This became the Book of
Mormon, and tells of Israelites who came to the Americas and
fought the local Indians. (It was probably plagiarized from a
novel by Rev. Spalding.) Although written centuries before
the King James Bible, it lifts entire passages, including those
which incorrectly translate ancient Hebrew and Greek words.
C. Smith gathered followers and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he
was killed by a mob. The survivors under Brigham Young trekked
to Utah to establish a theocracy.
D. Seeking statehood, Utah was turned down due to its practice of
polygamy. The chief apostle had a vision that limited polygamy
to heaven, and Utah became a state after those who still
practiced polygamy were arrested by the government.
III. Main Deviations from historical Christianity.
A. Mormons deny the Trinity and the deity of Jesus Christ.
1) God the Father has a literal flesh-and-blood body and B. Young
taught that he was the evolution of Adam. compare John 4:24
2) Jesus is equivalent to an archangel.
3) Every Mormon can evolve into a god with their own world if
they are faithful and have a large family. In heaven
they will be polygamous and have millions of spirit children
to inhabit this planet. Mormons say, "As man is, God once
was - As God is, man may become."
B. Mormonism denies the authority of the Bible.
1) They add the "Book of Mormon," "The Pearl of Great Price,"
and "Doctrine and Covenants" as inspired revelation.
2) They say our Bible has errors in it.
C. The virgin birth is denied.
1) Jesus was born after the Father came to earth and had sex
with Mary, according to Brigham Young. compare Luke 1:3-35
D. They do not believe in justification by faith alone. Romans 5:1
1) They believe this doctrine is an evil influence.
2) Salvation comes from obedience to the Mormon Church and its
teachings. There is no hell, but the lowest level of
their heaven is not much different.
E. They misinterpret the atonement bought by Jesus.
1) Christians believe Jesus' death washes away our sins and
purchases eternal life for us.
2) Mormons believe his atonement purchases only resurrection of
a new body.
