World Religions Week 6 - The Mormons

Transcription

1 World Religions Week 6 - The Mormons a.k.a The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I. History 1805 founder, Joseph Smith, born in Sharon, Vermont 1820 Joseph Smith s first vision 1823 Joseph Smith discovers the golden plates Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale Smith Smith translates the golden plates into English Smith claims that John the Baptist appears and baptizes him and associate Oliver Cowdery The Book of Mormon published and copyrighted / The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints founded by Joseph Smith 1836 Followers of Joseph Smith number over 16,000, and the center moves to Ohio A special revelation introduces polygamy, which is called, The Law of Abraham 1844 Joseph Smith killed by a mob The Edumunds Act outlaws polygamy II. Location and Population a. Population i. World Population around 14,000,000 members ii. USA Population 4,900, ,236,242 of our nations Mormons live in Utah. 2. Mormons account for about 72% of Utah s total population.

2 III. b. Location i. Top 10 nations with the largest LDS communities USA (centered in Utah), Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Philippines, Peru, Argentina, United Kingdom, Guatemala, Canada ii. Top 10 nations with the highest percentage of LDS in the population Tonga (32%), Samoa (25%), American Samoa (25%), Niue (15%), Kiribati (6%), Tahiti (6%), Cook Islands (5%), Marshall Islands (4%), Chile (2.5%), Palau (2%). Types of Mormonism a. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints i. This group is by far the larger group, with a population of over ten million. ii. Its headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah. b. The Community of Christ (known before 2000 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)) i. This group has 250,000 members worldwide. ii. Its headquarters are in Independence, Missouri. c. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) i. This group was founded in 1935 and insists strongly on the practice of polygamy. ii. Warren Jeffs was in the news a few years ago (in 2007), when he was arrested for arranging multiple marriages and having himself over 70 wives. IV. Church structure a. President i. The Church is led by the President of the Church, who is assisted by two counselors. ii. The President is viewed as a prophet through whom God can reveal his guidance to the Church. iii. The current President is Thomas S. Monson. b. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles i. These are twelve full-time paid officers of the church. ii. Mormons regard this group as another example of the literal restoration of the church established by Jesus Christ. c. Local churches and districts i. Wards 1. This is the name of a local congregation. 2. A ward is overseen by a bishop and his two counselors. ii. Stakes 1. This is a collection of local wards, similar to what other denominations would call a district. 2. Stakes are overseen by a Stake President and two counselors. d. Temples 2

3 i. These are special buildings located in major cites of the U.S.(such as New York and Washington D.C.) and special ceremonies such as baptisms for the dead and celestial marriages are performed here. ii. Gentiles, or non-mormons, are not allowed to attend temples e. Related Mormon organizations i. Brigham Young University 1. Named after the organization s second president, this university boasts more than 30,000 students on two campuses. ii. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir 1. This choir has 360 singers and performs hundreds of anthems. V. Scriptures ( Four Standard Works ) a. The Bible i. Members of the LDS Church use the King James Bible ii. It is viewed as part of the Word of God, as far as it is translated correctly. b. The Book of Mormon i. Joseph Smith called it the most correct of any book on earth. ii. It is said to be originally written by ancient prophets, then quoted and abridged onto golden plates by a historian named Mormon. iii. It gives an account of two great civilizations. 1. The first civilization, known as the Jaredites, originated at the Tower of Babel.. 2. The second civilization, came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., were righteous Jews led by Lehi and later his son Nephi. a. The key subject that the Book of Mormon covers is Jesus Christ s ministry to the Nephites shortly after his resurrection. iv. The Book of Mormon supposedly interprets Biblical prophecy, and the Bible predicts the Book of Mormon. v. In writing, Mormons claim that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are of equal value, but in practice, the latter is studied much more thoroughly. vi. Problems with the Book of Mormon 1. Contradictions with the Bible 3

4 a. Alma 7:10 says that Jesus was born in Jerusalem (contra. Lk 2:4, which says Bethlehem. b. 2 Nephi 31:17 says that the narrow gate is repentance and baptism by water (contra Eph 2:8,9, for it is by grace you are saved, through faith) c. Moroni 8:8 says that children are incapable of committing sin (contra to Psalm 51, where it says in sin my mother conceived me.) 2. Contradictions to the character of God. a. 2 Nephi 5:21 advocates racism by saying that blackness was a curse against Native Americans, who were formerly white and beautiful. 3. False claims about Egyptian hieroglyphics a. Joseph Smith claimed that the golden plates were written a kind of reformed Egyptian writing, that he sent copies of these strange letters to a New York Professor Charles Anthon, and that the latter confirmed them to be genuine. b. Quite the contrary, when Prof. Anthon learned that his name had been used in this way, he immediately wrote a letter denying that he had ever said such a thing. c. In fact, no scholar has ever been able to find a single piece of evidence suggesting that there ever was a language known as reformed Egyptian. 4. Lack of archeological evidence a. The Book of Mormon portrays two great nations that supposedly had enormous buildings, millions of people, metals such as iron, copper, glass and steel, domesticated animals such as pigs and swine, and crops like wheat, barley and oats (cf. Ether 9:17-19, 15:2,15). b. The Smithsonian Institute (and many other archeological societies) have made it clear that there is no evidence for any such advanced civilization. 5. Plagiarisms of the King James Bible a. Mosiah 14 is a reproduction of Isaiah 53 b. 3 Nephi 13 copies Matthew 6 almost word for word. c. And many others c. Doctrine and Covenants d. The Pearl of Great Price VI. Beliefs a. The Trinity i. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate personages or individual beings. ii. Therefore, they are essentially three Gods, not one. 4

5 iii. But this goes against one of the most well known verses in the Old Testament, which says, Hear O Israel the Lord your God, the Lord is one. (Deut 6:4) b. God the Father i. God has a physical body like a man. 1. The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man s; the Son s also, but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit (Doctrines and Covenants, Sec. 130:22) 2. However, Jn 4:24 says that God is a spirit, and Jesus said in Lk 24:39 that a spirit has not flesh and bones. ii. God was not always as He is now. He was once a human like you and I who became glorified. 1. God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! (Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith, p ) 2. Brigham Young even taught that Adam was in fact God the Father (Journal of Discourses 1:50). 3. However, God said I am He; before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me (Isa 43:10). Also, For I am God, and not man (Hos 11:9) (Cf. Ps 90:2, Isa 43:10) iii. Mormons also teach that there is a Heavenly Mother. c. The Holy Spirit i. He is a personage of spirit (a God), but not a member of the Trinity. ii. There are conflicting writings in Mormonism as to whether the Spirit occupies space or not. d. Jesus Christ i. Jesus was conceived by the Father, and not the Holy Spirit (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:50-51) (contra Lk 1:35) ii. Jesus was conceived by God coming to earth in human form and having sexual relations with Mary. 1. Brigham Young said, The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He [Jesus] partook of flesh and blood-was begotten of his Father, as we are of our fathers. (Journal of Discourses 8:115). 2. Not only is this idea blasphemous, but it is a cheap rip-off of Roman mythology, where gods came down from heaven and had sexual relations with earthly women. iii. Jesus was a polygamist (as was the Father). 1. Apostle Orson Pratt taught, The great Messiah [married] many honorable wives himself, showing all future generations that he approbated the plurality of Wives Both God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ inherit their wives in eternity as well as in time (The Seer, p. 172). 2. But this goes against Scripture in many ways: 5

6 a. God the Father is never said to have a wife in Scripture ( I am God and there is no other ). b. The Gospels make it clear that Jesus never married. c. Polygamy is never endorsed by the Bible. d. Jesus clearly taught that marriage is only for this earth, and not the eternal state (Mt 22:30). e. Salvation in Mormonism i. Mormons believe that all people will be saved. ii. In Mormonism, the best levels of salvation are earned (not something that is received through faith). 1. Salvation for Mormons is defined as that which man merits through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel (Docs. of Salvation, vol 1, p. 134). 2. This goes against Eph 2:8-9 ( For it is by grace you have been saved, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. ) 3. To add to this doctrine, Mormons say that if one wants to earn their salvation, you must do the following things: a. You must be part of the LDS church. b. You must be baptized in the church. c. You must be diligent in performing baptisms for your dead ancestors. d. You should be married in a temple. e. You must do your very best to be obedient to Jesus Christ. f. You must accept Joseph Smith as God s prophet. f. Eschatology i. There is no hell or eternal punishment (contra. Rev 19:19-20; 20:10,15; 21:8; 14:10-11) ii. Everyone goes to heaven, but there are three levels of heaven. 1. The telestial level is where rebellious people (liars, thieves, murderers, those who did not believe in God, etc.) go. 2. The terrestrial level is where Christians go who did not accept Joseph Smith s message, people from other God-fearing religions, and Mormons who did not do their duties on earth. 3. The celestial level is for faithful Mormons who accepted Joseph Smith and worked their way into heaven. VII. Practices a. Holidays i. Christmas (same as other Christians) ii. Easter (same as other Christians) iii. Pioneer Day July 24 iv. Founding of LDS Church in New York (1830) April 6 6

7 v. John the Baptist s visit to Joseph Smith (1829) May 15 b. Baptisms for the dead i. Using obscure passages such as 1 Cor 15:29, which speak of baptism for the dead, they say that one can be baptized and have their faith transferred to a dead relative by proxy. ii. This is why Mormons are so concerned with genealogical research- you cannot be baptized for your dead ancestors unless you at least know who they are. c. Polygamy i. Polygamy has been formally eliminated since the decree of 1890 by the Church President. ii. However, the arrest of Warren Jeffs in 2007 (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) shows that polygamy may still exist some communities, though not out in the open. d. Heavy missionary activity i. The Mormons had over 80,000 missionaries in ii. Children are taught at an early age that they are expected to serve a mission following high school. e. Dating i. Dating is discouraged until age 16. ii. This comes from a revelation given to former President, Spencer Kimball. f. Tithing i. The LDS Church requires all temple Mormons to tithe their income and requests the same from other members. ii. Members are also expected to give fast offerings on the first Sunday of every month. g. Marrying between races is discouraged. i. Former President Spencer Kimball wrote, We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background." ( Marriage and Divorce, in 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year [Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1977], p. 144) ii. This has no biblical basis, and in the end, reveals the racism that has always existed within the church (Brigham Young believed those who engage in interracial marriage should be put to death). h. The Word of Wisdom i. This is a dietary code that requires abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and illegal drugs. ii. Caffeinated soft drinks are left to individual discretion. 7