The Bible tells us to believe we will receive what we pray for, and warns us to be careful what we ask for.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 21:23 KJV
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 KJV
However! if you believe and study the Book of Mormon, it has fail safes built into it. You do not have to be responsible for what you ask for. Examine the doctrine of the Book of Mormon.
And Assuredly as Christ liveth, He spake these words unto our fathers, saying: "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in My name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, Behold, it shall be done unto you." Moroni 7:26 RCE
These are not the same doctrine. The Bible is saying that you as a believer of God and a follower of Jesus Christ have power, be responsible and believe in it!
The Book of Mormon seems to be for those faint of heart Christians who don't know what to ask for and don't want to be held responsible for accidentally removing a mountain! Okay humor aside, but honestly lets take a look at it.
And Assuredly as Christ liveth, He spake these words unto our fathers, saying: "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in My name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, Behold, it shall be done unto you." Moroni 7:26 RCE
That is a pre-qualifier. So anything you ask that is not good won't happen. Sounds good doesn't it? Of course, except that isn't why it's in there. Do you suppose that God being a good and just God would honor a prayer request from you that is evil? No that doesn't make sense. So why is "which is good" be in there? Because it's an "out" for Mormon leaders. The Mormons will explain that you didn't get what you prayed for because its not good and God doesn't want you to have that.
Is that what the Bible says?
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22 NKJV
As you can see, the Book of Mormon give it's believers excuses and reason for unanswered prayers. A faith that needs excuses does not sound like one that has real power. And how can it? If you pray, "God, if it be good and in thy will" is that Faith? No because you have already opted to use an excuse and a pre-requisite for not looking like a fool. That isn't believing in the power of God.
However if you pray "God heal this sick man in Jesus name!" That is calling on the power of God in faith, believing it will happen. Face it, are you going to go up to someone and pronounce that, risk looking like a fool if you don't have a strong faith in your God?
This is another doctrinal differences between the Bible and Book of Mormon. And another example of why I truly believe that the Book of Mormon is Satan's bible as it weakens and erodes your faith and power in Jesus Christ.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Monday, January 18, 2016
Book of Mormon alters Jesus's wisdom
Book of Mormon alters Jesus's wisdom
Sorry I've been gone a while, I've been working on a book about leaving Mormonism, and some other projects. Last time I promised we'd look at the book of Moroni in the Book of Mormon for some examples of twisted scriptures set up to create the works doctrine and mentality that persists inside Mormonism.
Lets pick up mid verse of Moroni 7:4 RCE
-For I remember the word of God which saith:
"by their fruits ye shall know them;
For if their works be good, then they are good also."
For behold, God hath said:
"A man being evil cannot do that which is good."
And if you continue reading it goes into a very naive and simplistic view of what God really said. Basically that a fountain of water being bad can't bring forth good water, grudging gift givers aren't counted as good gift givers etc.
The real kicker is later it says that a good person can't follow the devil and a bad person can't follow Christ. It entirely simplistic and encouraging the reader to take a very naive view on good and evil. Let me write specifics.
Moroni 7:10 RCE
Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God;
And that which is evil cometh of the devil;
For the devil is an enemy unto God
and fighteth against Him continually,
And inviteth and enticeth to sin
and to do that which is evil continually.
But behold that which is of God inviteth
and enticeth to do good continually;
Wherefore everything which inviteth and enticeth
to do good and to love God and to serve Him
is inspired of God;
Stop right there. Pretty much that last verse says it all. So long as anything promotes doing good, it is of God. So this Book of Mormon that enticeth to do good is of God? Eh? Think about it.
It all sounds peaches and cream God, mother and apple pie perfect, but honestly where does Joseph Smith get this from? Is that really what the Bible says? Hmmm.......God commanded a father to kill his son as a test of obedience. Huh........the act of murdering your son isn't exactly what I would call a "good act" but it was of God.
Lets see, God destroyed the entire human race save Noah and his family. Was that good? Well they where all wicked you may argue. None the less, you can't just say if something looks good, then it is of God. That is a very broad brush stroke of hogwash.
Remember the top verse? The Book of Mormon wants you to think you are good, and godly because of your works. Look back up there or read Moroni 6:4 through oh 18? (he goes on a tangent)
Now lets look in the Bible at what Jesus said.
Matthew 7:15 KJV
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth food fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A Good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hew down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.
Okay so that specifically takes care of the good works part of the Book of Mormon. Jesus meant for us to examine the works of people to determine if they were false prophets. Does that mean that by doing good works we are therefore true prophets? Does that mean by bringing good fruit we are good people and of God?
Lets read just a little further.
Matthew 7:21 KJV
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Okay that's pretty clear on the matter. Your works though good, even to the casting out of devils, prophesying and doing wonderful things, don't mean you are good! You won't make it to heaven!
Yet if you read and believe the Book of Mormon, that is exactly what it is saying! Again
Moroni 6:4 RCE
-For I remember the word of God which saith:
"by their fruits ye shall know them;
For if their works be good, then they are good also."
This is just another twist of Satan's bible taking the truth and changing it slightly so we all think we need to do good works to get to heaven. What does Jesus say? But he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. THAT guy gets to walk through the gates.
Read the Book of Mormon, then read the Bible IN CONTEXT. Someone recently told me Bible stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. So if they are basic instructions, wouldn't you apply them to the situation they are speaking about? We don't take basic instructions for repairing our car, though true in that area, and use them to bake bread do we?
In the Bible this is a warning for us to watch out for false prophets. In the Book of Mormon its taken and used to promote us to do good works because anything that is good is God. That's a far narrower view point, very simplistic and misleading. How many criminals in history have done horrific things in the name of God, or to "better society"?
Remember Hitler himself was creating a master race! well that sounds good don't it? especially if you are part of that elite society? How many of those "Good Germans" died because they blindly followed Hitler till their city went up in a hurricane of fire created by intense American firebombings?
Maybe you can't see that viewpoint. Okay so what are you doing good in your life? Should you believe the Book of Mormon which says that anything that is good is of God? Huh...if we do that, then ergo we can start counting every good deed we do right? Because we want to be of God correct? See where this is going? If you start looking at your good works to see if you are of God, you're not looking to Jesus and his death on the cross for your salvation, and therefore missing the mark.
A thief was getting justice by being executed via one of the painful of deaths of all time. He had nothing good going for him or he wouldn't be sentenced to death right? After all it was society's "Good" laws which condemned him to death. That man got really lucky that day, because hanging on the cross next to his was the Son of God whom he defended publicly rebuking his fellow criminal, then by these words acknowledged his lord and savior and obtained paradise with Jesus Christ.
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" Luke 23:42
The Bible is saying we can tell false prophets from their works. The Book of Mormon is saying good works means you are of God. Two very very different things and two very very different doctrines. Read in context.
Sorry I've been gone a while, I've been working on a book about leaving Mormonism, and some other projects. Last time I promised we'd look at the book of Moroni in the Book of Mormon for some examples of twisted scriptures set up to create the works doctrine and mentality that persists inside Mormonism.
Lets pick up mid verse of Moroni 7:4 RCE
-For I remember the word of God which saith:
"by their fruits ye shall know them;
For if their works be good, then they are good also."
For behold, God hath said:
"A man being evil cannot do that which is good."
And if you continue reading it goes into a very naive and simplistic view of what God really said. Basically that a fountain of water being bad can't bring forth good water, grudging gift givers aren't counted as good gift givers etc.
The real kicker is later it says that a good person can't follow the devil and a bad person can't follow Christ. It entirely simplistic and encouraging the reader to take a very naive view on good and evil. Let me write specifics.
Moroni 7:10 RCE
Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God;
And that which is evil cometh of the devil;
For the devil is an enemy unto God
and fighteth against Him continually,
And inviteth and enticeth to sin
and to do that which is evil continually.
But behold that which is of God inviteth
and enticeth to do good continually;
Wherefore everything which inviteth and enticeth
to do good and to love God and to serve Him
is inspired of God;
Stop right there. Pretty much that last verse says it all. So long as anything promotes doing good, it is of God. So this Book of Mormon that enticeth to do good is of God? Eh? Think about it.
It all sounds peaches and cream God, mother and apple pie perfect, but honestly where does Joseph Smith get this from? Is that really what the Bible says? Hmmm.......God commanded a father to kill his son as a test of obedience. Huh........the act of murdering your son isn't exactly what I would call a "good act" but it was of God.
Lets see, God destroyed the entire human race save Noah and his family. Was that good? Well they where all wicked you may argue. None the less, you can't just say if something looks good, then it is of God. That is a very broad brush stroke of hogwash.
Remember the top verse? The Book of Mormon wants you to think you are good, and godly because of your works. Look back up there or read Moroni 6:4 through oh 18? (he goes on a tangent)
Now lets look in the Bible at what Jesus said.
Matthew 7:15 KJV
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth food fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A Good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hew down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.
Okay so that specifically takes care of the good works part of the Book of Mormon. Jesus meant for us to examine the works of people to determine if they were false prophets. Does that mean that by doing good works we are therefore true prophets? Does that mean by bringing good fruit we are good people and of God?
Lets read just a little further.
Matthew 7:21 KJV
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Okay that's pretty clear on the matter. Your works though good, even to the casting out of devils, prophesying and doing wonderful things, don't mean you are good! You won't make it to heaven!
Yet if you read and believe the Book of Mormon, that is exactly what it is saying! Again
Moroni 6:4 RCE
-For I remember the word of God which saith:
"by their fruits ye shall know them;
For if their works be good, then they are good also."
This is just another twist of Satan's bible taking the truth and changing it slightly so we all think we need to do good works to get to heaven. What does Jesus say? But he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. THAT guy gets to walk through the gates.
Read the Book of Mormon, then read the Bible IN CONTEXT. Someone recently told me Bible stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. So if they are basic instructions, wouldn't you apply them to the situation they are speaking about? We don't take basic instructions for repairing our car, though true in that area, and use them to bake bread do we?
In the Bible this is a warning for us to watch out for false prophets. In the Book of Mormon its taken and used to promote us to do good works because anything that is good is God. That's a far narrower view point, very simplistic and misleading. How many criminals in history have done horrific things in the name of God, or to "better society"?
Remember Hitler himself was creating a master race! well that sounds good don't it? especially if you are part of that elite society? How many of those "Good Germans" died because they blindly followed Hitler till their city went up in a hurricane of fire created by intense American firebombings?
Maybe you can't see that viewpoint. Okay so what are you doing good in your life? Should you believe the Book of Mormon which says that anything that is good is of God? Huh...if we do that, then ergo we can start counting every good deed we do right? Because we want to be of God correct? See where this is going? If you start looking at your good works to see if you are of God, you're not looking to Jesus and his death on the cross for your salvation, and therefore missing the mark.
A thief was getting justice by being executed via one of the painful of deaths of all time. He had nothing good going for him or he wouldn't be sentenced to death right? After all it was society's "Good" laws which condemned him to death. That man got really lucky that day, because hanging on the cross next to his was the Son of God whom he defended publicly rebuking his fellow criminal, then by these words acknowledged his lord and savior and obtained paradise with Jesus Christ.
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" Luke 23:42
The Bible is saying we can tell false prophets from their works. The Book of Mormon is saying good works means you are of God. Two very very different things and two very very different doctrines. Read in context.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Is Mormonism Truly Christianity?
Search your feelings to know the truth?
The Mormon way isn't Christ's way
There is so much loud debate. So many people trying to prove that Mormonism is true or it is not. Archaeological studies, DNA studies etc.
All of this bickering is to tip the scale of the "feeling" war that is being waged. Is this good? Well I am glad people are willing to research, to fight, and to prove the Book of Mormon is wrong. I'm a recovering Christian who recently left the Mormon faith so I'm studying a lot. One really interesting youtube video done by Chris Johnson a couple years ago provides more evidence as to where Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon was pilfered from. He has a great study comparing the text of the Book of Mormon to The First Book of Napoleon and The Late War and how it influenced Joseph Smith's writing of the Book of Mormon. You can view it on youtube at.
Or go to his website. http://askreality.com/hidden-in-plain-sight/ I look forward to digging into the books he references in his talk.
Matthew 4:1-11King James Version (KJV)
4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
But should our decisions to believe be influenced by these studies?
Mormonism encourages you to pray and let your spirit tell you if the Book of Mormon is true. Anti-Mormons yell, "LOOK AT THE FACTS!" All of this is just creating a "game of war" environment for our hearts and minds. It becomes confusing and turbulent. Is this Christian? Not really.
Don't get me wrong, I love the work that Chris Johnson has done. It further shows that the Book of Mormon is an adaptation of many other influencing books. Also shows that this indeed could be inspired, but not necessarily by God. And Joe boy himself admits that he was led by an angel of light.
Should we then as people seeking God's truth listen to the Anti-Mormons and be swayed by them? Or the Pro-Mormons? Should we not listen to any of these loud voices? I will tell you one thing, if you are still a believer in Mormonism, that does not mean you can't hear God's voice. I was told that when I was still a Mormon believer. The Anti-Mormons will say that your faculties are impaired because you are listening to a different Jesus. I know this to be a false argument because it limits God's power. He can speak to whomever he wants.
Listen to God. All these studies by men are good, and bad at the same time. Even the ones that support your current beliefs are bad. Why? Because you are listening to men. Heck even if you are a Mormon believer, the Doctrine in Covenants tells you not to trust in the arms of flesh. In essence don't listen to men. So that being said, lets look at an example that neither side can deny. An example of listening to God's truth.
Both sides believe the Bible is true. Lets take an example from the King James Bible of what we are to do. Mormon's say, listen to your feelings and your spirit inside you to know if the Book of Mormon is true? right? What did Jesus Christ do?
Matthew 4:1-11King James Version (KJV)
4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
What do you think Jesus was feeling? Ask yourself, as a man, what would YOU be feeling? I'm hungry, I want food. I'll prove to the devil I am the Son of God hah! look, stones are bread devil! Do any of us doubt that Jesus could have done that? How many of us if given that same dare from one of our friends or acquaintances KNOWING that we could indeed prove the power we have, wouldn't do it?
Again being on top of a temple pinnacle what do you think Jesus might feel as a man? I myself am scared witless of heights! If I can command angels to save me, why wouldn't I?! God loves me and doesn't want me harmed. What would you be feeling if you were in Jesus's shoes?
Lastly how many of us desire power, glory or even just simple security knowing that we will live in comfort and acceptance and will be able to provide for our loved ones? These were offered Jesus. If your boss or a powerful business man you know offered you money and security if you did something he wanted, or did NOT do anything about something? How many of us have sat and said nothing when we should have stood to our feet in front of our friends and business associates and said, "no, I will not be a part of this and you shouldn't either." That is a terrifying feeling to risk ridicule, loss of acceptance, or even your job.
And lastly, did Jesus search his spirit wondering if any of this was okay? No. What is the keyword in EVERY response from Jesus? It is written. It is written. Not I feel that would be wrong, I feel God won't like that. Jesus knew what the word of God was. He didn't listen to his feelings, didn't even consult his feelings! He held fast to the written word of God.
While I love the studies, and am a man that loves a good argument, as a Christian we are to hold fast to the written word of God. I know what you are thinking now. "But Jake! The Book of Mormon IS the written word of God!" Well as a Mormon you've got some tough work before you if you still believe that. Also note that Satan himself in tempting Jesus used "it is written", do you think he is beyond writing his own Bible?
Instead of turning to the studies and the "war of words" and listening to men who want to sway those "feelings" inside you to determine if the Book of Mormon IS the written word of God, I pray that you will turn instead to the uncontested word of God. The Bible. Neither side, Pro or Anti Mormon can contest that the Bible IS the word of God. Jesus Christ himself clung to it. That should be your guide as well. And please don't pick up a "interpretation" of the Bible. Get a King James Version. It's a bit harder with the old English, but it's all there.
Instead of turning to the studies and the "war of words" and listening to men who want to sway those "feelings" inside you to determine if the Book of Mormon IS the written word of God, I pray that you will turn instead to the uncontested word of God. The Bible. Neither side, Pro or Anti Mormon can contest that the Bible IS the word of God. Jesus Christ himself clung to it. That should be your guide as well. And please don't pick up a "interpretation" of the Bible. Get a King James Version. It's a bit harder with the old English, but it's all there.
If you are a Mormon and know your Book of Mormon you can find the similar but altered Bible verses. Do they agree? Do they match? Study both of these, use my sidebyside blog links to help you find comparable verses. Use the Bible as your baseline. As the cornerstone of your faith. If the Book of Mormon is truly inspired by the same God of the Bible, they will both be the same. Because God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
"Person of Faith" Now available for Purchase!
Don't miss out on Person of Faith now available for purchase as an ebook on Amazon and Nook!
Less than 4 dollars so go get one and read! It's an in depth though fairly short read - for more info click this link:
To purchase on Amazon click the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/Person-Faith-What-means-one-ebook/dp/B017FHTNGM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1446420653&sr=8-3&keywords=Person+of+Faith
To Purchase on Barnes and Noble click the following:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/person-of-faith-grace-marshall/1122886269?ean=2940151163217
And remember, good reviews are always helpful!
To Purchase on Barnes and Noble click the following:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/person-of-faith-grace-marshall/1122886269?ean=2940151163217
And remember, good reviews are always helpful!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Mormons worship an angel of light
How can a Mormon, call themselves a Christian?
How the LDS Church makes it plainly obvious that they are not.
I know many Mormons who think they are Christians. My brother is a devout Mormon, the family I was raised in is part of a church that is an off shoot of the LDS church. Growing up I thought I was a Christian. When I run into Mormons I ask them how they can call themselves Christian. They are puzzled as to why I don't consider them Christians and defend themselves with many arguments.
However instead of getting bogged down in a lot of debates, let's just step back and look at Mormons.
2nd Corinthians 11:3 But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
So with the simplicity that is in Christ let's look at the Mormon church and ask, is it of Christ?
Mormon Baptismal Fonts
I had the opportunity to visit a Mormon temple before it was dedicated to God. So all us “un-godly” as my twin put it, could visit it without defiling “God's sanctuary.” Because you know what God? until the Mormon's say its yours, they can get publicity by letting people view the splendid work they built for you. Ok that is sarcasm, but seriously.
I have never liked Mormons, heck I've never liked the church I was raised in. All the Joseph Smith worship just felt wrong. But upon seeing the Baptism Font the feeling of viewing something entirely evil came over me.
This is a oval font mounted on the backs of twelve oxen supposedly signifying the twelve tribes of Israel. Different temples have the font made of different materials. Some look gold, some look to be plaster. However the very design seems sinister as you can see below.
This baptism font was designed by Joseph Smith's directions for the baptism of the dead. This is a Temple only Baptism Font specifically for this rite. The “Stakes” which is what Mormons call their weekly church buildings, do not have these. Maybe too much for the new converts?
While researching the significance of oxen online, I found this curious and actually quite hilarious article about the baptismal fonts in the Mormon church at www.utlm.org.
Oxen Cut From Twelve To Six
In some of the newer, smaller LDS temples they are only using six oxen in a half circle, against a wall of mirrors. In 1982 Peggy Fletcher commented:
Some months ago, while perusing periodicals for our section called "Mormon Media Image," I spotted a curious item in the newsletter of a group who call themselves, "Saints Alive in Jesus" (a group fervently dedicated to "exposing the Mormon fraud and reconverting its members to Christianity"). It read:
The LDS church unveiled plans for the smaller, economy size one story temples recently. Ten of the already announced new temples will use the new design. One interesting difference is that the baptismal font will rest on 6 oxen rather than 12, and a mirror will be used to create the other 6.
The newsletter went on to query sarcastically, One can only wonder which of the 12 tribes have been disenfranchised for the sake of a little economy?
Naturally I presumed it to be a false rumor, a bit silly at that, another attempt by this group to discredit the Church, but thought it worth checking out anyway. To my dismay the Church Building Department confirmed it to be a fact. Six oxen and mirrors. The brain reels with the possibilities that introduces. Said one of my editors, "Effective placement of mirrors in local chapels could quickly double sacrament meeting attendance while cutting in half the number of officers needed to staff the ward." Missionaries wouldn't need companions, only mirrors.
What sort of mind, I asked myself, came up with this innovative scheme to save money, substituting tricks and sleight of hand for sacred symbolism? (Sunstone Magazine, July 1982, p. 18)
Mirrors to deceive people that something is there that is not? Does that seem odd? Shall we just make a pretense of Christianity? Is it enough for me to put up a good show? Apparently it is for Mormons.
But do these Golden Oxen remind you of anything? Think back to the last time there were golden statues of cows? Here is a photo prompt.
This is a depiction of the worshiping of the Golden calf made by the Israelites in Exodus 32. What did God have to say about that?
Exodus 32:7 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
But come on man! Mormons don't worship the baptismal font oxen! You're over reacting. It's just artwork. Chill out. I have no doubt that is what a lot of people think. No big deal right? Tell that to the Bible. It's pretty clear.
Exodus 20:1-4 And God spake all these words saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Okay that is pretty clear. So if you are a Bible-reading-Christian, you know that God isn't that up on engraven images,. especially golden cows. I wonder, is that part IN the Mormon Bible? Oh did you know that Joeseph Smith re-wrote the Bible too? That's another article.
But lets look at some more graven images.
What is this?!........This is the “Angel Moroni”. All nice and golden. And look, it's an angel blowing a trumpet. The trumpet of truth and wisdom across all the world. Hmmmm.....anyone wanna take a guess what Mormons do with this?
There you go! They put it on top of their Temples!!!
Okay so now lets look at the Angel Moroni. This is supposedly the angel that gave Joseph Smith the plates of gold to write the Book of Mormon and then took them back. Is this Moroni ever mentioned in the Bible? No.
When Jesus was ministered to by Angels who was it that came to him? Moses, Elijah and Moroni? Nope! No Angel Moroni. Hmmmm.....maybe this Moroni just got a promotion so that HE got to minister to up and coming prophets in the 1830s? Yeah Moses, Elijah, Paul and Peter were all busy that day so Moroni got to talk to little Joe Smith? That's it!
What is the Angel Moroni Statue?
Wikipedia says this. “Because of his instrumentality in the restoration of the gospel, Moroni is commonly identified by Latter Day Saints as the angel mentioned in Revelation 14:6, "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."
The image of the angel Moroni blowing a trumpet is commonly used as an unofficial symbol of the LDS Church. Moroni appears on the cover of some editions of the Book of Mormon, and statues of the angel stand atop many LDS temples, with most statues facing eastward.
And supposedly Joseph Smith himself calls this Moroni “An Angel of Light”. Well he got THAT part right. However lets see what the Bible says about this. Hang in there because I'm going to take you the long way through it.
2nd Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
This is Paul warning of false prophets. Lets continue at verse 12.
2nd Corinthians 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, “that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion: that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Okay that's pretty clear. There will be people teaching a different Christ (read the KJV and the Book of Mormon or any of my Bible vrs Book of Mormon blogs, and you'll see it does teach a different Christ.)
So Mormon's have an Angel of Light on their temples. Graven images of oxen holding up their baptism fonts for their baptism of the dead rituals, if you even dig into their teachings they are teaching a different Jesus.
So are they Christians? Ask yourself what this looks like? Mirror tricks, engraven images, and at the very top of their temple a golden statue of an angel of light. On Christian churches if there is anything it's usually a cross which ties to Jesus Christ and salvation. Mormons worship an angel of light though. If you don't agree with that statement, why is that statue the most lifted up image in Mormonism? Pretty hard to make it more obvious.
But the cleverness is in it's obviousness. So plain that no one thinks that Satan would make it so clear that that he is atop those temples. He's the master of deception! And the best deceptions are those that are in plain view.
Discrepancies and Why?
If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which the Bible states in Hebrews 13:8, then why would He write the Bible differently than the Book of Mormon? The Bible was written over hundreds of years by a multitude of different authors and then compiled and canonized. Why would He change that delivery to an angel delivering plates to a boy who translates the entire scripture?
Why would God hide the true testament of Christ for years then deliver it to some European? Even if it was waiting for America, then why wasn't it delivered even a hundred years earlier?
3 Nephi 7:27 in the Book of Mormon states, "That these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shalt be manifested unto the Gentiles, That through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed-which shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief-may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of Me, their Redeemer." The issue with that is that if that was being done with the Book of Mormon then how come God sent the Bible out which was easily accessible to gentiles over a thousand years earlier? And why would God wait over a thousand years for the gentile Joseph Smith? Gentiles were plenty before that.
If you look at the point that the Bible was already available, how does the Book of Mormon bring the knowledge of the redeemer? It doesn't, the gentiles already had the knowledge of Christ. Unless the Book of Mormon speaks of a different Christ than the one in the Bible?
One more thing:
Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV) - "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than that 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.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
"Person of Faith" Cover Reveal!
Christians are often bombarded by instructions on how to be a person of faith and what it means if they are not. They are often confronted with the idea that they need to have a stout and strong faith to please God or for good things to happen in life. Person Of Faith explores the idea of what it means to have a powerful faith in God and then delves into the truth of how to be a person of faith.
Do you want to be a mighty man or woman of God? The goal of this book is to further your understanding of faith so you can deepen your walk with God and take your next leap of faith.
Make sure to keep an eye out for Person of Faith which will be coming out on Amazon this November!
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