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KING JAMES
“Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 1855, I, 50-51).
“They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost. I challenge that statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible. It is true there is one passage that states so, but we must consider it in the light of other passages with which it is in conflict” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1969, I, 19).
Here are two Mormon Presidents and Prophets contradicting the very book upon which their cult was founded, The Book of Mormon, for in Alma 7:10, we read:
“...she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.”
Not only do these Presidents and Prophets refute their cult’s very foundation, The Book of Mormon, but they refute the Bible’s testimony as well, for it is plainly stated that Mary’s conception was the result of God’s Holy Spirit. Listen up again.
“This is how the birth of Jesus came about: Mary was pledged [engaged] to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through [or by means of] the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).
“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God’ ” (Luke 1:35).
So two Mormon Presidents and Prophets decide to counter both Joseph Smith’s translation and the Bible! Joseph Smith says Mary would be “overshadowed and conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost,” but Brigham Young and Joseph Fielding Smith say no. Even a child can see the incompatibility between these two Mormon Prophets and their founder, Joseph Smith, and between the same two Prophets and Matthew and Luke.
Whose testimony is more credible, Prophets Brigham Young and Joseph Fielding Smith or Matthew and Luke? Sensible students of the real scriptures know the answer. When the messages of two or more people who are addressing the same subject collide, as is the case here, something is wrong with one or more of the messengers and their messages. In this predicament, we know assuredly who the false teachers are. Here’s a hint: They’re not Matthew and Luke.
Jesus is God’s only begotten Son. God is Jesus’ Father. No one denies this truth. God’s Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb, yet God is the Father. In other words, the Holy Spirit of God impregnated Mary. This would be equivalent to saying that my seed impregnated my wife and she bore me a son. My seed is not the father. I am. And so it is with God and His Holy Spirit. We might say the Holy Spirit, figuratively speaking, was God’s “spiritual seed” that impregnated Mary. Now note what Young said: “Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.” The point is, Jesus was begotten by God’s Holy Spirit, just as my son was begotten by my seed. There’s no way around this fact, according to Matthew 1:18 and Luke 1:35.
We've all known about the weird concept Catholics have of Mary, but the Mormon’s concept eclipses theirs. It is no longer a mystery, then, why intelligent people question the credibility of Mormon leaders, past and present. I don’t think I’ve ever known a cult whose theology is as contradictory and preposterous as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She depicts the very height of pagan idolatry. She has no equal when we consider that Mormons believe and teach that they, too, may become gods through the process of “eternal progression.” Their founder taught:
If this isn’t enough to convince you of Mormon idolatry, listen to Lorenzo Snow, former President and Prophet of the Mormon Church, quoted in Brigham Young, 1892, p. 404: “As a man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be.”
Jesus quoted from Psalms 82:6, which reads, “I said, ‘you are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere men. You will fall like every other ruler.” This statement was addressed to Israel’s corrupt judges. These corrupt judges were not referred to as “Gods.” Consequently, they were not gods in the sense of being equal to, or on a level with, the God of creation. They were “gods” in that they were God’s representatives—“to whom the word of God came.”
These judges, unlike our eternal God, were not gods of supernatural powers and attributes. They were mere men, God’s agents, to dispense justice among His people without respect of persons. But due to their wicked behavior, God threatened them with the same judgments He confers upon “mere men” and corrupt rulers. In other words, Israel’s judges were like God in that they were God’s agents. These particular judges, however, had corrupted themselves. Now compare all of this information to the Mormon’s multiple Gods, which was noted previously.
1) That God was once as we are (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, 1855, VI, 5).
2) That God was not God from all eternity (Ibid., pp. 3-4).
3) That we, ourselves, can become Gods (Ibid., pp. 3-4).
4) “As a man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be” (Lorenzo Snow, deceased Mormon Prophet).
Lorenzo Snow isn’t talking about becoming God’s agents or representatives, as Israel’s judges were. He’s talking about our Heavenly Father—becoming a God on precisely the same level as God the Father.
This translates into raw paganism. If not, I’m at a loss for words—especially when we consider that the real scriptures affirm there is “one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4:6). God himself declares, “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). The great apostle Paul told Timothy, “For there is one God” (I Tim. 2:5).
The first of Ten Commandments God gave Israel, was, “You shall have no other gods before [besides] me” (Exodus 20:3). But Mormons claim there are many Gods besides God the Father. Jehovah warned Israel, “Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips” (Exodus 23:13). Yet, in the face of these clear-cut statements, Mormons continue to teach there are many Gods—and many more to come! They contradict God himself. How very terrible. This is paganism of the deepest dye, and the severest of evils. The following statement from the apostle Paul aptly applies to “Latter-Day Saints.”
“For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live” (I Cor. 8:5-6).
So it matters little when Mormons affirm there are many Gods, for the fact is there is but one—and will never be but one. On the other hand, pagan doctrines similar to the Mormon’s multiple Gods will never, in this life, end. There will be many more to surface.
“The nature of The Book of Mormon is such that, if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it” (Orson Pratt, Mormon Apostle, Divine Authenticity of The Book of Mormon, p. 124).
Wow! Because of The Book of Mormon, there’s going to be a whole slew of people lost eternally. But isn’t this the philosophy of all cults? Either accept their teachings and adopt their cult or heaven is lost forever. Now we know why Mormons try so hard to convert non-Mormon believers. You cannot discourage them by telling them you already have a healthy relationship with the Lord Jesus. They’ll still try to convert you to The Book of Mormon and to their cult. They are told by Mormon instructors, “If the Spirit does not touch his or her heart, move on to someone else.” This means that if you offer resistance or call their teachings into question, you’re not a prime candidate for Mormonism.
However, not all Mormons entertain the idea that non-Mormon believers who reject The Book of Mormon are lost. I’ve been in correspondence with quite a few of them, including editors and “guardians of truth,” and a segment of them acknowledges that non-Mormon believers can be saved eternally, but only on a lower level of glory. So, again, we see dissension and discord within the Mormon ranks. And no wonder! Mormon theology would confuse a celestial genius. There are rumblings and schisms within the camp of the Mormon gods.
Don’t abandon me now, for we need to return to “church” and Smith’s earthen artifacts, the “gold plates.”
Smith’s “gold plates” must have been made from the bark of trees, for his testimony and “divine” documents would never stand up in a Court of Law—whether human law or God’s law. On the other hand, the real Bible has withstood the onslaughts of critics for centuries and continues to attract the attention and readership of millions. Its authenticity speaks for itself. This cannot be said of scribbler Joseph Smith and his nonsensical “translation.”
This man will probably go down in history as the greatest of Mormon “prophets.” Let it be eternally said, however, that the spirits of God’s prophets have been tried and proven authentic, but the spirit of Joseph Smith has not passed the test.
Based on the enormous number of errors and contradictions and falsehoods, I recommend that Smith’s Book of Mormon and his synthetic “gold plates” be given a decent burial and laid to rest as one of history’s testimonials to an era of “preposterous poppycock.” Let it be so.
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