Answer to A Mormons Question

Dear XXXXXXX,

XXXXX asked me to write you this Email to answer the question you asked, “Why we don’t believe that Mormons are Christian”. I hope that looking at the bible and LDS scriptures; I can explain the differences between our two very different religions.

God

The first theological difference that separates us is God. To be clear, we have two different Gods. We believe in the trinity that states that God is one but is also 3 beings. The father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit make up the Trinity.

I hope that this explains it a little better. I know that this doctrine may seem a bit hard to understand but we need to remember that God is bigger and we are not to understand all elements of Him but we need to have faith. But in answering your question, this is one of the major points that evangelical Christian look and sees that Mormons don’t believe in this and call LDS non-Christians.

Another point is the belief that God was once a man and that there are more than one God and that man may become a God.

· “We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did, and I will show it from the Bible” (Teachings of the Prophet Jo­seph Smith, pp. 345-346. Italics in original. See also Gospel Principles, 1997, p. 305).

· “As man is now, God once was; as God is now, man may be” (The Teach­ings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 2. Italics in original. See also The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles manual, 1979, p. 59).

The Issue is that Christians believe that God is eternal and there is only one God. This is a major point in the Book of Isaiah chapter 45.

· 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. Isaiah 45:5 (HCSB)

· 22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22 (HCSB)

Before the world there was God and no other. Evangelical Christians believe that God is God and there is no other God. We do not believe that God was once a man but that He has eternally been God. When I have read the Book of Mormon, I have seen this belief as well in verses like;

· “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable be­ing; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity” (Moroni 8:18)

· “And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fa­thers out of the land of Jerusalem? And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words” ( Alma 22:9-11).

So this is where Evangelical Christians stand on God. As we both know, Mormons have a different believe on whom God is and therefore it is easy to see that we have two different Gods.

Jesus

· 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5 (HCSB)

This is the best verse to understand who Christians believe Jesus is. In this verse you are to see that the word, Word and Him are used for Jesus. This says that Jesus is God in the flesh and again is eternal. But the idea of Jesus in the eyes of the LDS is that He was the first born son of God and that Jesus was not God in the flesh.

“Jesus was born of heavenly parents in a premortal world—he was the firstborn of our Heavenly Father” (Robert D. Hales, “Your Sor­row Shall Be Turned to Joy,” Ensign (Conference Edition), Novem­ber 1983, p. 67)

But the bible makes it clear that the father and Jesus are one. We believe that God became flesh in the forum of the Son to die for the sins of man.

· The Father and I are one. John 10:30 (HCSB)

· 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. Acts 10:36 (HCSB)

Salvation

According to the bible, salvation comes from God as a gift through the Son Jesus Christ.

· 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:8-9 (HCSB)

· 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (HCSB)

We believe that salvation come to us when we seek God’s forgiveness and repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus Christ. Again this is another point that Christians and Mormon have a difference on. Christians believe, once again, that salvation is a free gift and we can do no works to earn or keep our salvation. It is a onetime thing that happens when we call on the name of the Lord.

· 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

But this is something different that is talked about in Mormon scripture. From what I understand and what I have read of the Mormon faith, there is an aspect of work that has to be done to earn and keep your salvation.

· “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23)

· “I do not believe that a man is saved in this life by believing, or professing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but that he must endure to the end and keep the commandments that are given” (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Reports, April 1915, p. 119).

We believe that one is saved by grace and faith alone. God understood that man could not save ourselves and God, being a loving God, sent His Son to die on the cross and that anyone who puts their faith in Him and lives for Him will be saved.

An idea I always ask members of the LDS church is, “How much works do you have to do to pay off your sins?” If we sin everyday and have to work it off, then will anyone have salvation? This is why salvation is a gift, because God know that there was not the number of animals on the earth that could pay for everyone’s sin. He sent is Son to earth to be the perfect Lamb of God and by the spilling of Him blood on the cross, we are saved.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; but it is the gift of God; 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I know I have used this verse before in this letter but I thought I would use it out of the Joseph Smith Inspired Version of the Bible to show that Joseph Smith did not change Ephesians 2:8-9 showing that salvation is a gift from God.

When writing you this letter to answer your question, I hoped I have showed you that we belong to two very different religions. Being an evangelical Christian and other Evangelical, we do not see members of the Mormon faith to be Christians because of these points. There are other points as well but for this letter I thought that these were some of the main ones I wanted to point out.

I pray that you read these and pray about them, understanding that God loves you and has a plain and place for you in His kingdom. But I also want you to understand that only one of our religions can be right. According to the Mormon belief, if I die tonight not being Mormon I would go to the Terrestrial Kingdom. But according to the Bible if one dies and he or her name is not written in the book of life, then one will be cast into the lake of fire.

I would love to meet with you face to face and we can talk more. You are always welcome to come to a service at First Baptist Duchesne and know that I keep you in my prayers.

Thank you for your time and God Bless,

Rev. Wil R. Hoffmann

Ready to Get the Word Out

So today I got may new Tract wallet and 2 packs of Million Dollar bills. I have ran out of million dollar bills and I don’t even want to talk about what happen to my old tract wallet. 

Now you can find both of these at www.wayofthemaster.com

The Million dollar bill is a tract that I have been using for years now and are good to just hand out.  I leave them with my tip when we go out to eat and just hand them out walking down the street. 

On Back of this tract it has the million dollar question, Will you go to heaven when you die?

What will your answer be?  The bible tells us that we have to be reborn to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3), and we have to put of faith in Jesus and repent of our sins.

I am happy today because now I can pass out more of these great tracts and spread the word of God.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…

Lets NOT tell people about God

When it comes to being a Christian there is one job that we most do. This is the job of evangelism and it is a must.  But why are Christian not doing their jobs and worst of all, why are churches/pastors not teaching their members how to evangelize? 

The Great Commission Matthew 28:16-20

16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

What does this passage mean to people today.  I have heard a lot of people clam that Jesus was only talking to His disciples, well for those people I say, “Get behind me Satan”. It is getting so bad in the USA that now Churches from oversea are sending missionary’s to the USA.  This is the country that was founded on Christians principles but now need Christians from other lands to show us were we have went astray. 

I found this quote in a Sunday School booklet, tell me what you think.

“We will win the world when we realize that fellowship, not evangelism, must be our primary emphasis. When we demonstrate the Big Miracle of Love, it won’t be necessary for us to go out- they will come in.” - Jess Moody

What the Crap!!! I am sorry but where in the bible does it tell to give up on evangelism?  Again; 

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you

For those who don’t know, I live in Utah.  Utah is a very unchristian state. I have 2 Mormon churches down the road from me. There are a total of 5 Mormon churches in the town that I live.  The town in which I pastor, there are 4 wards in 2 Mormon Churches (The only reason I live in another town is because we have not moved yet, our house has not became open yet.)

The point is that here in Utah, the Mormon church tells it’s members that they are the only true church and that every other church is wrong and that if they are seen in another church then they can be kicked out.  This is something that Mormons fear and in no way will they come because of our fellowship style. I have to Go and reach them with the truth. In other word, I HAVE TO EVANGLIZE TO THEM ARE THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SOULS, THEY WILL NOT COME IN.  

But this is the same everywhere.  You have to preach to the people.  I have been preaching over the book of Jonah and Jonah was called to go to Nineveh to preach the Word of God to them.  He did not show them his fellowship style and hope for the best, no, he preached to them about the sins they were committing and told them to turn to God.  

Did Jesus say, “Hey guys, have a seat and watch us fellowship, it will be great”? NO, he told the people to turn and repent.  JESUS EVANGLIZED because He knew that people need to here the truth. 

As a pastor I am so sick of churches and it’s pastor being cowards to evangelism.  They look at evangelism as some kind of dirty word.  They do not what the church to be the black eye in the community or the pastor just does not want to lose his appeal for being the guy that’s always inviting people to church. 

A pastor’s job is to preach the gospel to everyone and that does not mean just the people inside the church. It also does not mean that members can leave all the work to the pastor.  If anyone calls themselves a Christian then they need to preach the Good News about Christ. 

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! Romans 10:15 (HCSB)