Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

By Evangelical Christian Readers

Q: All the Mormons I know are very good people. They talk about the Lord and sound very Christian to me. But I don't know that much about Mormonism. Why shouldn't I give consideration to joining their church?

A: Mormonism is not what it appears to be. While active Mormon people are often folks with higher-than-average moral principles, and their church projects a very positive "family" image, beware! The core doctrines of the faith are incredibly dangerous, and the evil, hidden deep within this positive image, is shocking to those who are looking for a Christian church.

Mormonism teaches well-meaning people to believe in many gods, none of whom can be called "the Most High God." It teaches that one of their gods, called Elohim or "the Father," was once a man like us and progressed to become a god, presumably under the guidance of another god before him. Jesus is a separate lesser god (whom Mormons are not permitted pray to, let alone have a relationship with). It teaches that the goal of human beings is to progress until they become gods, as well. This is polytheism (the worship of many gods). Since none of these gods are the Most High God, this can be called nothing less than idolatry. Idolatry was condemned by the Most High God in the Bible as among the most evil of all sins, and worthy of the severest punishment, beyond even murder and sexual sins. The God of the Bible hates idolatry, and calls it "evil." Part of this blaspheme is to teach that Jesus is the product of a sexual relationship between Elohim and Mary. Only rarely will a Mormon admit this teaching, yet it is well documented. Since all members of the LDS Church must semi-annually sustain the leaders of the church that teach such blaspheme, you cannot escape this evil if you join this church. Moral practices in other areas of life are good, but such morality does not begin to offset these heinous teachings in the eyes of God.

(Exodus 34:14) For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

(Deuteronomy 13:1-5) If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, {2} And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; {3} Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. {4} Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. {5} And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Mormonism teaches "another gospel" that is contrary to the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone as found in the Bible.

(Galatians 1:6-9) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: {7} Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. {8} But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. {9} 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.

These are strong words, but they apply precisely to Mormonism. Mormons believe that forgiveness through Christ must be earned by permanently stopping sin. Since we know that all sins must be forgiven in order to dwell in the presence of a holy God, their doctrine necessitates that a person must permanently stop all sin in order to receive enough grace to be able to dwell with Heavenly Father. This is a works-based gospel that cannot save anyone, because no one has ever been able to meet its requirements for obtaining the atonement of their sins. It is a powerless gospel, and all who depend upon it will be eternally separated from their Heavenly Father. Striving to keep God's commandments is a good thing, but depending upon one's own goodness to satisfy God's perfect standard brings damnation. This means that they will go to hell, not because they are worse people than evangelical Christians, but because they are refusing to receive the forgiveness of sins that Jesus Christ is offering them by grace alone through faith in His promise. As it is written:

(Matthew 7:22-23) 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? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

In that same context a few verses earlier, Jesus had warned that many prophets and teachers will appear to be harmless and good, but are actually tricking people. It is amazing that so many folks assume that Mormonism cannot be bad because it looks so good. This can be a fatal error, and Jesus warned us about it:

(Matthew 7:15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

(Matthew 24:24-25) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. {25} Behold, I have told you before.

There is another very basic reason for avoiding the Mormon religion: It is flatly, provably, false. It makes extraordinary claims, which makes Mormonism very vulnerable to examination. It falls apart in virtually every way, and in every subject area. Joseph Smith is a false prophet who made many prophecies that did not come to pass. He claimed to translate the Book of Abraham by the gift of prophecy, yet it has been proven to not have anything to do with scripture at all, but is the ancient pagan Egyptian Book of Breathings. He made similar claim for the Book of Mormon, but it contradicts the Doctrine and Covenants, the Bible, archeology, geography, botany, zoology, anthropology, linguistics, and itself. It is full of anachronisms and Biblical plagiarism, and has absolutely zero archeological evidence to verify it as a historical book. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young had lives full of corruption and fraud according to the historical record. Both arrogantly broke the law, claiming to be above the law. I could go on, but I think you get the point. It is a false religion.

Mormonism is not Christian. They may claim to be Christian, but they do so by re-defining their words. Please see the glossary Christianity Re-Defined by Mormonism and study it carefully to understand the difference. Let me illustrate: Suppose a man were to paint the word "Christ" on a large rock. Then that man bowed down to that rock, and prayed to that rock. Is that man then a "Christian?" After all, he worships and prays to Christ, doesn't he? It may seem like an absurd example, but it points out how re-defining Christ changes everything that Mormons claim about themselves. Mormons are not Christians by any definition except their own. Perhaps they want you to be "open-minded" and accept them completely and totally as Christians, yet they will never accept you as complete and total latter-day saints (with any opportunity to have exaltation in their celestial kingdom) unless you join their church. Mormons are as exclusive as they come, believing that theirs is the "one true church." But they cannot have it both ways. The fact is that they are Mormons, not Christians.

I wish that I could say that Mormons were going to be OK because they are such nice and sincere people. For a long time I tried to tell myself that my wonderful parents were not in danger of judgement. Yet as I have studied the Bible, I am forced to the reality that it just is not so. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are all like drowning men in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, both Mormons and non-Mormons. But, like a life-ring being thrown to us from a rescue ship, the cross of Christ is placed within our reach. Because of the trickery of the devil, some people refuse to grab the life-ring and be rescued. Pride apparently has them believing that if they keep working on their stroke that eventually they may be able to swim to shore. Evangelical Christians are not better people than Mormons, but they have chosen to grab the life ring. Mormon doctrine absolutely prevents Mormons from grabbing it, and that is certain eternal death. If you are not a Mormon, perhaps you also have not yet grabbed the life-ring that can save you. Either way, you can make that decision of faith today, taking God at His word in John 6:47 and receiving the pardon of all your sins forever based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. I pray that this will be your decision, but in any case I urge you to beware of the danger of Mormonism.

In Christ,

Mark Champneys