Mormon vs.

Christian Doctrine
Mormon God the Father - Once a man like Adam - Not the first god (only god of this planet) - Not omniscient, omnipotent or omnipresent - Organized matter not creator - A created being - Born of a sexual union between God and Mary - Not co-equal with God - Elder brother of Lucifer - Attained perfection - A pre-existent person created by the union of god and one of his wives - A spirit person - Like an angel in terms of capability - Pre-existent soul, needs a body to become complete - Literal sons and daughters of God, but forgot Him at birth - Forgetting results in sin against God - Satan did not deceive Eve, but told the truth about being like God - Adam must disobey in order for salvation - Adam transgressed, he did not sin - Every person is resurrected w/o Adams sin, no original sin - Salvation possible by works prior to Christs death, burial and resurrection - Salvation took place in the Garden of Gethsemane not at the cross - Atonement attained by perfect obedience to elders of the LDS - 4 Kingdoms: celestial, terrestrial, telestial and outer darkness (hell) - Celestial: attain godhood over own planet - Terrestrial: all good people - Telestial: people released from outer darkness at resurrection - Outer darkness: reserved for the few who sinned against God prior to physical birth and did not get a body - An invention of the apostate Church - Cant be true since cant be understood - The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three distinct entities that are one in purpose only - Bible is not completely true and must be interpreted through Mormon doctrine - 4 Scriptures: Bible (KJV), Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants - Book of Mormon: written in reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics, translated by Joseph Smith alone Christian - Eternally God, there is no other - Created the universe ex nihlo (out of nothing) - There is none greater - Virgin born through the power of the Holy Spirit - God in the flesh, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father - Eternally perfect - The agent of creation and salvation - Co-equal with God the Father and God the Son - Each person has a definite beginning, not preexistent - sons and daughters of God through faith in Jesus Christ - Sinful by nature - Satan lied to Adam and Eve - Man is not like God - The fall was not necessary - Disobedience at heart of sin resulting in spiritual death - Salvation is through the act of Christs death on the cross, burial and resurrection - Salvation could not be attained without the cross - Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone

God the Son

Holy Spirit

Man

Fall

Atonement

Heaven and Hell

- Only two destinations - Heaven: only those who humbled themselves through faith - Hell: Reserved for Satan, his angelic followers and those who refuse to believe and reject God and His revelation

Trinity

- Biblical in origin - Describes Gods nature

Scripture

- Completely reliable, the standard for all doctrine, over 5000 manuscripts available - Fully inspired by God - Only source for doctrine - Written in recognizable languages and translated by many

Doctrine

Denominations

Grace

- Determined by the Elders of the Church - Prophets are continuously given and are to be obeyed - Changed by new revelation to a prophet - 1835: Polygamy required for one to obtain godhood; 1890: Polygamy outlawed for practice by Mormons (will only be practiced in Celestial kingdom) - 1830s: Dark skin was the sign of one cursed and a dark skinned individual could not become a priest; 1978: Dark skinned individuals are not cursed and can now be members of the priesthood - Claims LDS only true Church and only one denomination - Claims Joseph Smith recovered the true Church and the practices that were corrupted earlier - In reality, 6 distinct denominations of the Mormon Church (separated over leadership and the practice of polygamy and other rites of the Church) - Works necessary to achieve godhood - Perfection attainable through complete obedience to elders (tithing, family, marriage in temple) - Open to men only - Aaronnic: young males age 13 (rite of passage) - Melchizedek: late, required to attain godhead, completed in the temple, requires a temple marriage - Priests initiated in secret handshakes and passwords - Baptism: Required for Salvation; must be done by a temple authority; baptism for dead allowed in order to gain godhood for people who died before Joseph Smith - Communion: bread and water; must be done continuously within the temple - Temple: open to Mormons only once dedicated; marriage in temple necessary to achieve godhood; entrance requires knowledge of secret rites, passwords and handshakes - Word of Wisdom: Health code; no use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, caffeine (tea or coffee); required to be followed in order to enter the Temple

- Established through careful reading of the Bible - Has come down through the teachings of the apostles and right reason and affirmed in the traditions of the Church - Prophetic word has ceased (Scripture is closed) - Salvation is opened to all who believe (not predicated on ethnicity, language, marital status, etc) - Unchanging in base doctrines - Formed over disagreements in worship practices (infant baptism, Lords Supper) - Practices consistent with the New Testament

Priesthood

Practices

- Grace given freely - Works are a result of grace given - Perfection cant be obtained in this life which is why grace is necessary - Christ is great and only high priest who mediates the covenant between man and God - Priesthood of Believers based on doctrine of access to high priest - Believers are ambassadors that introduce people to Christ - No secrets required - Baptism: required for obedience, but not for salvation; it is individual and cannot be done for another - Communion: bread and wine/juice symbolizes Christs body and blood Church: open to anyone who will come in - Marriage: recognized either in or outside of the Church (civil marriage) and does not confer salvation or godhood - Dietary Laws: were OT regulations for the Jews which were superseded by Christs death, burial and resurrection; may be followed for health, but not for salvation purposes