What the Bible says about Jesus vs. what Mormonism says about Jesus:
The Bible
• He is the virgin-born Son of God, conceived by the Holy Ghost (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:34-35).
Mormonism
• Jesus "was born in the same personal, real and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 547, 742).
• "When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten Him in His own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family (Adam)" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. I, p. 50).
• Christ had a "unique status in the flesh as the offspring of a mortal mother and of an immortal or resurrected and glorified Father (Adam)" (James Talmage, Articles of Faith, p. 473).
The Bible
• Satan is a created - and fallen - angel (Isaiah 14:12).
Mormonism
• "Lucifer - this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind" (Milton R. Hunter of the First Council of Seventy, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).
The Bible
• Jesus did not marry.
Mormonism
• "Jesus was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana - We say it was Jesus Christ who was married, to be brought into relation whereby he could see his seed" (Orson Hyde, apostle, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 82).
The Bible
• Jesus is the foundation of the true church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 4:11-12; Colossians 1:18).
Mormonism
• Joseph Smith: "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet" (History of the Church, Vol. 6, pp. 408-9).
The Bible
• Jesus is the judge of all (John 5:22).
Mormonism
• "No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith … Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, Junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289).
The Bible
• Jesus is the one who resurrects all (John 5:28-29).
Mormonism
• Joseph Smith will receive the keys of the resurrection. "If we ask who will stand at the head of the resurrection in this last dispensation, the answer is - Joseph Smith, Junior, the Prophet of God. He is the man who will be resurrected and receive the keys of the resurrection, and he will seal this authority upon others, and they will hunt up their friends and resurrect them" (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 116).
The Bible
• Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the Creator, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-13).
Mormonism
• A "council of the Gods" created the world. "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it … In all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods" (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 6, pp. 308, 474).
What the Bible says about the Holy Spirit vs. what Mormonism says about the Holy Spirit:
Comments
Isn't it ironic that "Christians" are guilty of such hateful speaking? It's this kind of hypocrisy that turns so many of the irreligious even further from a meaningful relationship with Christ. If the "salt of the earth" can't live Christ's teachings, why should anyone else.
Why don't those who want to constantly criticize the faith of another find something productive to do with your time. Try putting your own faith into practice (which includes the message of loving thy neighbor, I might add) by serving the destitute, the poor, the widowed, the sick, etc. The Lord only gives us so many minutes upon the face of this planet and here you sit worrying about what someone else believes.
You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
There are women living in Salt Lake City in this year of grace, 1882, who were secret
plural wives to Joseph Smith or Brigham Young, deceiving their own husbands, because they dared not brave the prophet’s anger and its consequences. For then, as to-day, the Mormon weapon against its antagonists was slander. The man or woman who has the moral courage to apostatize, becomes a target for the vilest kind of abuse and falsehood.
(The Women of Mormonism or The Story of Polygamy As Told By The Victims Themselves - Edited by Jennie Anderson Froiseth - 1882)
Mormons core beliefs about Jesus Christ are contained in the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. Quoting partial statements of Brigham Young, Jospeh Smith or any other LDS church leaders, past or present, in an effort to illustrate that LDS teachings are non-Christian, however well intended, does a great disservice to everyone. If someone really wants to know what Latter-Day Saints believe and teach about Christ, consider starting with what the Book of Mormon has to say about it, even if you believe that it was made up by Joseph Smith, which would simply place it on the same footing as the writings of any number of modern theologians. They have a very comprehensive web site at www.lds.org. Rather than assume someone else's opinion is correct, why not find out for yourself what they believe and teach?
Internal dissensions and financial troubles arose and multiplied; prophecies failed of fruition, promised miracles were not realized, alleged translations by Smith were proven fraudulent and many apostatized. Men within the inner circle hurled the most serious charges of dishonesty and immorality at each other; fights occurred in the temple in which knives and pistols had their part. (Mormonism, The Islam of America by Bruce Kinney, D.D. Formerly Superintendent of Baptist Mission* in Utah, Copyright 1912)
Pomeroy Tucker, who was well acquainted with Joseph, his family, and most of his earlier followers, testifies that as a youth and young man he was "noted for his indolent and vagabondish character, and his habits of exaggeration and un-truthfulness." [1] (A Fourfold Test of Mormonism by Henry C. Sheldon, Professor in Boston University, 1914)
[1] Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism, p. 16.
Mormons are not Creedal Christians. However, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament:
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”
One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).
This is late, and I am sure that you probably wont get this but, Jesus said that there were some who would call Him Lord, but He would say He doesn't know them.
Although, that would put you in a bit of a quandry since Paul declared that "that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:3).
The Book of Mormon declares that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of the world over and over and over again.
The Books of Mormon speak for themselves. They are contrary to the Word of God.
I do think that there is some truth in every religion, and the Spirit will testify of the truth of those things to the adherents of those religions. But the Spirit will testify strongest of the church which has God's full truth.
What do I mean by God answering me by the power of the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost answers in various ways. The Bible teaches that the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23). When we feel these things, we know it is coming from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is testifying of truth. Sometimes the Spirit tells us by a still small voice (1 Kgs. 19:12). Sometimes it is a burning feeling in the bosom (D&C 9:8). Sometimes it is just by living the doctrine that we can know that it is from God (John 7:17). The Spirit will testify to us that it is truly from Him. It is by these ways that I know that the LDS Church is the Lord's true church. The Spirit has witnessed to me that it is true.
Sorry about misspelling the name Hesadanza! I should double check sometimes.
Hedanza,
I do not believe in the LDS church, or Joseph Smith for that matter, I find his teachings to be directly contrarty to the Bible (NT/OT) that he built his faith upon and also to reason. I could theoretically be wrong though, and I do not want to criticize you as a person or your belief as being less than sincere. What you said about the Holy Spirit truly intrigues me. What do you mean by, God answering you by the power of the Holy Ghost? I have heard many people say similar things about their faiths (not all mainline Christian, some unification some Jehovah's witness some others) and within that many say that the Holy Spirit is leading them in a way that is directly against the LDS church. There is one of two things happening here, either the Holy Spirit works against God and His purposes (which cannot be true), or somebody, no many people, are deluded and either purposefully or unkowingly using the Holy Spirit for their own purposes. It is extremly important that we do not attribute something to the Holy Spirit that is not true or else we might be guilty of sinning against the Holy Spirit, which as Christ said was the only sin that could not be forgiven. I am not saying that you are one of the people doing this, and I truly want to know why you say that. There is nothing wrong with just saying it is a personal conviction too, but let it be what it is.
Wow. You sure are a rhetorician. Unfortunately, your command of the English language suffers a little bit, and I can't understand what you are saying.
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth. It has the authority of the priesthood of God to preach the gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof. It was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that the prophets and apostles of this church receive revelation from God in order to lead and direct us. Christ is at the head of this Church. It is only by praying to God and asking Him that we may know the truth (James 1:5-6). I have so asked, and God has answered, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Actually, I think I'm done here. Hesadanza, carry on if you wish - I've learned a lot from you. Thanks.
PeaceByJesus, your mind is closed. . . . But then so is mine. We have the truth. I know it and I know God knows it. We're going in circles and there are better ways to spend one's time. Thanks for the lively debate.
PeaceByJesus, Sorry, I find your posts extremely hard to understand. (No offense, but you are very wordy.) I'm still trying to decifer what you are saying, but it will take time.