Mormonism
Does It Pass God's 3-Question Test for Truth?
Frequently Asked Questions
and Comments
From time to time, I receive questions and comments concerning
the material presented at this Web site. Some of those have been
addressed on this page. It is possible that your particular
question or comment has been addressed here. If not, you can
contact me as shown at the bottom of this page. (I may update this
page from time to time as appropriate.)
The book, Mormonism: Does It Pass God's 3-Question Test for
Truth? is presented as a documentation of the evidence
invalidating the claims of Mormonism. Therefore, it is fairly
concise and to the point. The following responses to questions and
comments cover areas that are outside the scope of the book. In
the responses, I tried to write as though I was speaking to you
face to face. Unfortunately, this written format does not allow
you to hear my voice and see my face, thus preventing you from
being able to fully judge whether I am really motivated by love
(as I claim), or by jealousy and hatred. I pray that you can see
my heart through the words and that you will avoid the temptation
to assume my motives are wrong and then to ignore the information.
Please take the time to check out the material and test its
validity. It may just be the most important decision you will ever
make.
Thank you for taking the time to investigate the claims in Mormonism:
Does It Pass God's 3-Question Test for Truth? If you still
have questions about the material, please contact me. May God
bless you in your search to know His Truth!
Sonny Bowman
Questions and Comments List
I do not attack Mormons! I tried to make that very clear with
the following statement in the "home page" of the book, Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth? Maybe you
missed this statement.
"Is it intolerant to question the teachings of
others? It is not intolerant. I fully support the right
of people to believe anything they choose to believe. However, I
have a responsibility to tell people what I learned when I
applied God's three-part test to Mormonism. It would be wrong
not to share with others what I learned. After a person
considers the information in this book, then he or she can
decide what they should believe. That is between them and God.
All I ask is that they carefully consider the information so
that they can make the best decision of what they should
believe."
As is apparent here, I am not criticizing people for believing
Mormonism. I only wish to share what I have learned about
Mormonism's claims. The Internet is an ideal place to do this
because people can investigate the material or ignore it as they
choose. No one is pressuring them to read the material.
[Question List] [Top
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If you mean that I should silently let you believe a lie, then
you are wrong. I cannot in good conscious before my Lord Jesus
Christ let you believe a lie without warning you. If you mean that
I should let you believe Mormonism if you want to after I have
warned you about its errors, then I do respect your beliefs. I
support your right to believe anything you want to believe. I only
seek to warn you that Mormonism fails God’s test for truth. You
are free to heed or reject the warning. But I cannot be silent
(also see the comments in the following sections).
I find people's attitudes on this matter hard to understand.
People take the time to correct what they perceived as my errors.
At the same time, they condemn me for doing something similar. I
respect a person's right to express his point of view and to
disagree with me. However, there are some who seem to think I
should not have the same rights that they freely exercise.
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First of all, it does not prove I am right even if I proved
everyone else was wrong. So what's the point? I am interested in
knowing and experiencing the truth. I am not interested in just
thinking I am on the right path. If I am on the wrong path, I want
to know it so I can get off and find the right path. How about
you?
I do not judge, condemn, or attack the Mormon people.
They, like everyone else, will be judged by Jesus Christ
concerning whether they have accepted or rejected His provisions
for their salvation (Romans 14:10-12). Rather, it is a love for
the Mormon people that motivates me to share what I have learned
with them.
On the other hand, there is a Scriptural directive to expose
the false doctrine and lies of the religion
called Mormonism (according to Ezekiel 3:18-19 and other passages
noted in the following paragraphs). Mormonism is not an accurate
representation of God’s truth as demonstrated in the book, Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth?
There are serious conflicts between the teachings of Biblical
Christianity and Mormonism. Even Mormonism acknowledges this when
it teaches that all other religions are wrong and their creeds are
an abomination to God (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph
Smith--History 1:18-20). (This statement condemning all non-Mormon
religions is the foundational vision upon which Mormonism was
built.)
People have a right to believe what they want. However, I have
an obligation to provide people with accurate information to
enable them to make an informed choice. If a person chooses to
believe Mormonism when he clearly understands the difference
between it and Biblical Christianity, I certainly support his
right. On the other hand, it is not right for Mormonism to claim
that it is Christian and that its teachings are in agreement with
the Bible when there are such vast differences between Mormonism
and biblical Christianity (see examples of this claim in Mormon
Doctrine, pp. 512-513; Discourses of Brigham Young,
p. 126).
The evidence demonstrates that the religion of Mormonism (The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is a work of Satan
and opposed to the true knowledge of God. As such there is
Scriptural precedence for warning people. Jesus came to destroy
the works of the devil (1 John 3:8, John 8:39-44). Paul worked to
cut off opportunity for false apostles to deceive others (2
Corinthians 11:12-15). We are told to reprove and expose the
errors of darkness (Ephesians 5:11-13, Titus 2:11-15). We are told
to refute those who contradict the truth of the Scripture and to
silence deceivers (Titus 1:9-13). We are also told to contend
earnestly for the faith (Jude 3).
Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth (Galatians
4:16)? It is a love for Jesus and the people He died for that
compels me to alert people to the error of Mormonism. I do not
hate the people caught in the deception of Mormonism--I simply
seek to alert them.
Suppose you came home late one night and noticed that your
neighbor's roof was on fire. You knew the whole family was inside
sleeping peacefully. Would you be so rude as to run up to their
front door and yell and scream and try to wake them up, or would
you let them go on sleeping peacefully? I have seen the
"burning roof" and I cannot help but warn the Mormons of
the impending danger. They are people Jesus died for. They must be
warned!
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The Mormon Church claims that God told Joseph Smith in his
first vision not to join any of the churches because they were all
wrong and their creeds are an abomination to God (Pearl of
Great Price, 1981, Joseph Smith-History 1:18-19). The Mormon
Church further claims that God restored the true gospel through
Joseph Smith since it had been lost and was no longer taught by
the other churches. These beliefs are taught by Mormon
missionaries who go door to door encouraging people to leave their
churches to join the Mormon Church. The Mormon Church does
warn people away from other churches! Knowing all this, how can
you complain when I seek to share the truth I have found?
[Question List] [Top
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It is Christ-like to teach against error when
motivated by love. Jesus did this frequently and strongly (see the
following passages and others). Since Jesus exposed error, it
would not be Christ-like to be silent when error is evident!
(Matthew 16:6-12) Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (7)
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we
have taken no bread. (8) Which when Jesus perceived, he said
unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves,
because ye have brought no bread? (9) Do ye not yet understand,
neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how
many baskets ye took up? (10) Neither the seven loaves of the
four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (11) How is it
that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning
bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and
of the Sadducees? (12) Then understood they how that he bade
them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of
the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
(Matthew 23:13-33) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:
for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are
entering to go in. (14) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence
make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater
damnation. (15) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he
is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than
yourselves. (16) Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say,
Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but
whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
(17) Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or
the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (18) And, Whosoever shall
swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the
gift that is upon it, he is guilty. (19) Ye fools and blind: for
whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the
gift? (20) Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by
it, and by all things thereon. (21) And whoso shall swear by the
temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. (22)
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of
God, and by him that sitteth thereon. (23) Woe unto you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not
to leave the other undone. (24) Ye blind guides, which strain at
a gnat, and swallow a camel. (25) Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup
and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and
excess. (26) Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is
within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be
clean also. (27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed
appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's
bones, and of all uncleanness. (28) Even so ye also outwardly
appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy
and iniquity. (29) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and
garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, (30) And say, If we had
been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been
partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. (31) Wherefore
ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of
them which killed the prophets. (32) Fill ye up then the measure
of your fathers. (33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how
can ye escape the damnation of hell?
(John 8:41-44) Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they
to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even
God. (42) Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye
would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither
came I of myself, but he sent me. (43) Why do ye not understand
my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. (44) Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie,
he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
[Question List] [Top
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The Bible is a record of historical events as well as a record
of God’s word to man and His dealings with people. The Bible
contains several false prophecies that are identified as such
(e.g., Jeremiah 14:13-15). That does not invalidate the Bible.
It is important to understand what constitutes a false
prophecy. A prophecy is known to be false only if it proves to be
wrong. For a prophecy to be proven wrong, several factors must be
considered. Are there any conditions for fulfillment stated or
implied with the prophecy? If such conditions are not fulfilled,
then the prophecy is not false. Are there time limits placed on
the fulfillment? If no time limits are given and the prophecy has
not yet taken place, then the prophecy cannot be classified as a
true prophecy or a false prophecy. It is simply an unfulfilled
prophecy.
It is possible for a prophecy without a stated time limit to be
proven false. For example, if a prophecy says a certain thing will
not happen, if that thing happens, the prophecy is false (unless
there are other qualifying conditions that apply). On the other
hand, if a prophecy says something will happen, and it has not
happened, the prophecy is not necessarily false since the event
could still happen in the future. However, if the prophecy says
that an event will happen before a certain time (as indicated by
length or before some other event), then the prophecy is false if
the event does not take place within the specified time frame.
Many prophecies contained in the Bible are judgments against
people or nations. Unless stated otherwise during the prophecy,
all such judgment prophecies are conditional on the response of
the recipient. God reserves the right to forgive and to show mercy
when people repent or have tender hearts towards His words (as
stated in Ezekiel 33:14-16). If a judgment is pronounce, the
person or people turn to God, and the judgment is rescinded, that
is not a false prophecy. (See Jonah 3:1-5, 10 and 2 Kings 20:1-5
for some of the many examples of this in the Bible.)
In the book, Mormonism: Does It Pass God’s 3-Question
Test For Truth?, the prophecies listed were carefully
evaluated for any conditions. Each one was confirmed as a false
prophecy. Even the LDS Church admits that the "Toronto
prophecy" was a false (i.e., failed) prophecy.
In summary, the Bible is not invalidated by the "false
prophecy test" — Mormonism is invalidated
by this test.
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Fourteen different Mormon documents were quoted in the book. Of
those materials, the following six are published by the LDS
Church.
Achieving A Celestial Marriage, The Articles of
Faith, Book of Mormon (1981 & 1920 editions), Doctrine
and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and Truth
Restored.
If material containing Mormon doctrine published by the Mormon
Church does not accurately represent Mormon doctrine, then what
material does? Should I believe your opinion of what constitutes
Mormon doctrine or should I believe documents published by the
Mormon Church? Obviously, documents published by the LDS Church
are more trustworthy expressions of true Mormon doctrine than the
opinions of general members.
Concerning the other sources quoted in the 3-question test
book, the following eight documents include recorded statements
made by Mormon prophets and leaders.
A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (by B.H. Roberts), History of the
Church (by Joseph Smith), Discourses of Brigham Young
(compiled by John A. Widtsoe), Discourses of the Prophet
Joseph Smith (compiled by Alma L. Burton), Doctrines of
Salvation (by Joseph Fielding Smith), Journal of
Discourses, A Marvelous Work and A Wonder (by
LeGrand Richards), and Mormon Doctrine (by Bruce R.
McConkie).
People sometimes claim that I am quoting "one person’s
opinion on a certain topic." If these quoted Mormon prophets
and leaders do not accurately understand and state Mormon
doctrine, then who does? Surely Mormon upper leadership accurately
understands and expresses Mormon doctrines better than anyone
else.
In a letter addressed to me, the Copyrights and Permissions
Office of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, acknowledged
that all of the Mormon documents quoted in the book, Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth?, "…
are fully covered by copyrights either owned or subject to the
control of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
If the LDS Church controls these documents (as they claimed) and
the teachings in them are not representative of correct Mormon
doctrine (as individual Mormons have claimed), why do they not
remove them from circulation or at least correct them?
With all these facts considered, these fourteen documents
surely provide an accurate source of information concerning
official Mormon doctrine.
Occasionally, I receive comments that Apostle Bruce R.
McConkie’s material (i.e., Mormon Doctrine) is not
representative of Mormon doctrines. However, in a couple of
articles in the Mormon Church News (April 28, 1985, pp.
3, 13), the following comments were made. "Elder Bruce R.
McConkie’s writings and speeches qualified him as perhaps the
Church’s leading contemporary theologian, according to some
observers." "… Mormon Doctrine remains the
most definitive encyclopedic work on Church doctrine."
"President Hinckley said … [about McConkie] His language
was clear, its meaning unmistakable." "President Benson
… spoke of Elder McConkie’s knowledge of the scriptures and
said when a doctrinal question came before the First Presidency
and the Twelve, Elder McConkie was asked to quote the scripture or
to comment on the matter." Obviously, Mormon leadership
valued McConkie’s accurate understanding of Mormon doctrine.
Therefore, inclusion of material from Mormon Doctrine is
appropriate in this study.
Who should I consult when attempting to determine official
Mormon doctrine — general Mormon members, Mormon missionaries?
No! The most accurate sources of Mormon doctrine are the LDS
church publications and teachings of its prophets and leaders.
That is the source of material used in the book, Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth?. There is no
better source for accurately determining official Mormon
doctrines.
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I reviewed every document referenced in the book, Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth? I spent many
hours in LDS book stores, used book stores, and libraries
collecting material for the book to ensure that it accurately
represented Mormon doctrine and statements in context.
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If
you understand the idea that God is the only god relatively rather
than absolutely, it all makes sense.
Apparently, some Mormons believe that there are many gods in
the universe, but they only worship the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. They conclude that, relative to our planet, there is only
one God of consequence. However, this does not solve the error of
Mormonism’s polytheism (belief in many gods).
In the first place, Joseph Smith taught that we have three Gods
(i.e., the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) (see the following quote).
So relatively speaking, we have three gods
according to Joseph Smith, not one.
"I have always declared God to be a distinct personage,
Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the
Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a
Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and
three Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo
and behold! we have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural: and
who can contradict it?" (Recorded in the Discourses of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Alma L. Burton, 1977,
page 35.)
That immediately contradicts the often quoted passage from 1
Corinthians 8:6 which says, "But to us there is but one
God…" where the emphasis is usually placed on the "to
us" portion. That passage actually states that there is only
one true God (even though there are many idols, who are false
gods).
God did not leave open the option to understand that there is
only one God relatively. For example, God stated that no gods were
created before or after Him (Isaiah 43:10-12) totally eliminating
the possibility of any other gods in the universe. God stated that
He does not even know of any other Gods (Isaiah 4:6-8), and surely
He would know about them if they existed anywhere. (I cannot
imagine the Mormon Church knowing that there are other gods out
there when even God said He doesn't know of any. Surely they do
not know more than God!) God created the entire universe and
everything in it (Genesis 1:1-19; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 45:12, 18).
Since He created everything, there can be no additional worlds
created by other gods.
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This is usually a reference to 1 Corinthians 8:5 which says,
"… (as there be gods many, and lords many,)" The
comment is usually made to support the Mormon teaching that there
are thousands of gods and that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy
Ghost are three separate gods.
However, this passage in 1 Corinthians does not support that
idea. It actually states that there is only one true God. The many
gods mentioned in this passage are all false gods. There are many
false gods but only one true God. This is obvious from reading the
verse in context.
(1 Corinthians 8:4-6) As concerning therefore the eating of
those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know
that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none
other God but one. (5) For though there be that are called gods,
whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords
many,) (6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom
are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom are all things, and we by him.
This passage clearly declares that there is only one true God
and there are many beings who are called gods, but who are not.
The many gods of Mormonism are idols (i.e., false gods) just as
this passage in 1 Corinthians explains.
Occasionally, people will quote Psalm 82:6 that says
"…Ye are gods…." to prove there are many gods. That
passage is talking about Jewish leaders who sat as gods before the
people of Israel by speaking God’s words to them. However, they
were going to find that they were not really gods when they
"…die like men…."
(Psalms 82:6-7) I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are
children of the most High. (7) But ye shall die like men, and
fall like one of the princes.
Even Moses was made as god to Pharaoh, but that did not mean
that Moses was actually a god.
(Exodus 7:1-2) And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made
thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy
prophet. (2) Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron
thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children
of Israel out of his land.
Neither of these passages support the Mormonism teaching that
there are many real gods. The Bible is very clear that there is
only one true God. That fact is documented in the book, Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth?
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Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism and its first Prophet,
taught that we have three Gods.
"I have always declared God to be a distinct personage,
Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the
Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a
Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and
three Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo
and behold! we have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural: and
who can contradict it?" (Recorded in the Discourses of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Alma L. Burton, 1977,
page 35.)
Brigham Young, the second Prophet of the Mormon Church taught
that there are Gods (plural, i.e., more than one) and that men can
become gods with them.
"Gods exist and we had better strive to be prepared to
be one with them." (Recorded in Discourses of Brigham
Young, compiled by John A. Widtsoe, 1978, page 227 and also
recorded in the Journal of Discourses, volume 7 page 238.)
The Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie taught that Mormons
worship three Gods.
"Three separate personages--Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost--comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God,
it is evident, from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of
Gods exists. To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these
three are the only Gods we worship." (Mormon Doctrine,
2nd edition, 1979, page 576) (See the material about authorized
sources if you question whether Bruce R. McConkie was
representative of the Mormon Church's beliefs.)
The prophets Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and the Apostle Bruce
R. McConkie were leaders of the LDS Church. As such, surely they
accurately understood and taught official Mormon beliefs. They
definitely were not teaching the Bible.
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The following quotes demonstrate that the Mormon Church does
not agree with this statement.
"GOD WAS ONCE A MORTAL MAN. (1-2) He Lived on an Earth
like Our Own." (Achieving a Celestial Marriage,
Student Manual, published by the LDS Church in 1976, page 129)
"Less well understood, however, is the fact that God is
an exalted man who once lived on an earth and underwent
experiences of mortality." (Achieving a Celestial
Marriage, Student Manual, published by the LDS Church in
1976, page 129)
"As shown in this chapter, our Father in heaven was once
a man as we are now, capable of physical death. By obedience to
eternal gospel principles, he progressed from one stage of life
to another until he attained the state that we call exaltation
or godhood." (Achieving a Celestial Marriage,
Student Manual, published by the LDS Church in 1976, page 132)
Joseph Smith said that God was not always 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 ... that he was once a man like us; yea, that
God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same
as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the
Bible." (Recorded in Discourses of the Prophet Joseph
Smith compiled by Alma L. Burton, 1977, pages 340-241.)
The Mormon Articles of Faith declares that God used to
be a man like those who live on the earth today. It further states
that men can become gods like God our Father.
In spite of the opposition of the sects, in the face of
direct charges of blasphemy, the Church proclaims the eternal
truth: "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be."
(The Articles of Faith, James E. Talmage, published by
the LDS Church, 1982, p. 430, emphasis in original)
According to the Mormon Church, God was not LIKE a man, He WAS
a man!
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The Bible is very clear about the following: There is only one
true God, the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is
God. While the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct, together they
comprise one God. God has clearly declared that there is only one
God (see material in Mormonism: Does It Pass God’s
3-Question Test For Truth?). Therefore, the Father, Son, and
Spirit cannot be three separate gods.
In a similar fashion, man is a three-part being — spirit,
soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23) — yet he is only one human
being. Each part of man is distinct, yet he is still only one man
— not three. Man was made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Man’s characteristic as a three-part being helps us understand
that God can be a three-part being while still only being one God.
The fact that the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct does not
contradict the fact that together, they comprise the one and only
true God.
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Asking for wisdom according to James 1:5-6 is not necessarily
asking for a sign. However, a person can ask for a sign in the
context of asking for wisdom. When a sign is sought (such as a
"burning in the bosom"), there is a possibility of
deception. Jesus warned against seeking signs (see the material in
the book).
How do you know when God is speaking to you, the devil is
speaking to you, or it is just something else? The nature of a
counterfeit is that it closely resembles the real. The devil is a
master counterfeiter and people must be very careful to avoid
being deceived. All I am trying to do is to point out that you
must try the spirits when you ask for wisdom. This is the same
warning that we find in the following verse.
(1 John 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world.
The primary point concerning this in the book,
Mormonism:
Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test For Truth?, is that
mutually exclusive answers have been received by people seeking to
know if Mormonism is true using the method outlined in Moroni
10:4-5. At least some of the people using that method have been
deceived into believing the wrong answer. So how can you be sure
that you are one who got the right answer rather than the wrong
answer? By applying objective tests to the question. When you
receive an answer that is in agreement with God’s word and His
nature, then you can be confident that the answer you received is
correct. If your answer does not agree with God's word and His
nature, then you received a counterfeit that must be rejected.
Have you ever been in an "anti-gravity" house? These
are specially built structures sometimes found at amusement parks
or fairs. They are designed to deceive your sense of what is
horizontal. While in one of these houses, it looks like water runs
up hill. Your senses can be deceived, but if you pull a level out
of your pocket and place it on the floor, you will find that what
looks to be sloping uphill is actually sloping downhill. The level
becomes an objective standard that you can use to validate or
invalidate your experience.
The book, Mormonism: Does It Pass God’s 3-Question Test
For Truth? outlines the objective standard that God provided
to help you determine if the answer you received was correct or a
counterfeit when you pray about Mormonism (or any religion). This
standard was provided by God to help us avoid deception by the
devil. It is a wise person who realizes that his senses can be
deceived and that he needs to follow God’s instructions to
ensure that he is not deceived. Only a foolish person will
stubbornly refuse to believe that he needs to heed God’s
warnings about protecting against possible deception.
[Question List] [Top
of Page] [3-Question Test Book]
The Bible demonstrates that Mormon doctrine is in error while
Mormon doctrine says the Bible cannot be trusted. If Mormonism
were not true, then it would be natural for its leaders to try to
counteract the Bible teachings that prove Mormonism is wrong. The
real question is, "which is right?"
We have a very accurate record of the Bible's original text in
Hebrew (Aramaic) and Greek. We are more sure of the original text
of the Bible that we are of the original texts of Shakespeare’s
writings. We can also check the accuracy of any translation since
we have the original language texts. The original text for the Book
of Mormon is not available, so how can anyone know for sure
that it is accurately translated. (It puzzles me how over 3,000
changes can be made to the text of the Book of Mormon
when the original is no longer available for validating the
changes and when God gave Joseph Smith the "correct
translation" in the beginning.)
The Bible has very strong evidence that it is the word of God
as it claims to be. It is prophetically accurate, geographically
accurate, historically accurate, archaeologically accurate, and
scientifically accurate (where it talks about science). Consider
geographical and historical accuracy. The Bible describes real
people and places. Encyclopedias and history books include
information from sources other than the Bible about many of the
people mentioned in the Bible. Maps abound showing the lands and
times of the Bible with exact locations of many towns, rivers,
mountains, and lakes mentioned in the Bible. Encyclopedias and
other non-religious books also contain information about these
places.
In comparison, the Book of Mormon is very weak. Try to
find non-Mormon information on Moroni, Nephi, or any Nephite or
Lamanite mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Where you find
them mentioned, you will see statements such as "according to
the Book of Mormon…." There is no confirmed
secular history of these individuals demonstrating that they
really existed..
Even more telling is the lack of a map in any
Book
of Mormon that shows where any river, city, or mountain is
located from Book of Mormon times. (Some have maps
showing sites related to Joseph Smith's life, but these do not
show places mentioned in the Book of Mormon.) In spite of
what people may say about the confirmed existence of these places,
the evidence is that no one knows for sure where any are. Surely
the LDS church would publish a map in every Book
of Mormon if it knew for sure where any Book of Mormon
river, city, or mountain was located. Since they do not publish
such a map, they must not know for sure.
Have you ever seen an actual coin (or replica) mentioned in the
Book of Mormon that has been positively identified as
such? There are many coins mentioned in the Bible that are
positively identified by secular scholars.
The evidence is strong in support of the Bible and just as
strong against the Book of Mormon. The Bible is much more
trustworthy than the Book of Mormon and Mormonism. The
claim that many precious truths have been taken out of the Bible
is a ploy to keep people from seeing the clear evidence that
Mormonism is not what it claims to be.
[Question List] [Top
of Page] [3-Question Test Book]
From time to time, this comment is made by Mormons. So far, I
have not had any explain exactly how this proves that Mormonism is
true. I presume they are implying that since Mormons are good
people, their religion (Mormonism) must be true. Whatever the
case, this quote actually proves that Mormonism is a false
religion of a false prophet. The quote comes from the Book of
Matthew as follows.
(Matthew 7:15-20) Beware of false prophets, which come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring
forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit. (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.
Note that this passage specifically applies the
"fruits" test to prophets to determine
if they are false prophets. One of the fruits (not the only one)
of a prophet is prophecy. As the 3-Question Test
book points out, Joseph Smith produced some bad fruit in that area
and was thus exposed as a false prophet. As this passage in
Matthew points out, he may appear to have been a sheep, but
inwardly, he was a ravening wolf.
[Question List] [Top
of Page] [3-Question Test Book]
Mormonism, Does It Pass God's 3-Question Test for Truth?
Attention: The material in this book attempts to accurately
describe official Mormon doctrine in certain important areas.
Therefore, quotes are included from several authorized sources of
Mormon doctrine. However, this book does not claim to be
authorized by or endorsed by the Mormon Church.
Copyrights of quoted Mormon materials belong to The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) or the
copyrights are under their control.
Quotations from the Bible are from the King James Version.
If you have questions or comments, please contact
Sonny
Bowman or check the links to Related
Sites.
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