Can You Believe This?!!!!

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Newsletter - January 2008

OUTRAGE!

That’s what some of the LDS emails are saying coming from Mormons who have watched as LDS leadership have denied the Jesus-Lucifer doctrine and the basic theological foundation of Mormonism,
The Law of Eternal Progression

As Man is, God once was and as God is, Man may become.

The Jesus and Lucifer Lie:

When presidential candidate Mike Huckabee asked the simple question, ‘Do Mormons believe that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers;’ you would have thought he had just raped Mother Theresa. Mitt Romney and the leaders of the Mormon Church howled about how someone could ask such an offensive question in the course of political dialog.

However, neither Romney nor the brethren answered the question.

A spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Huckabee's question is usually raised by those who wish to smear the Mormon faith rather than clarify doctrine.

“We believe, as other Christians believe and as Paul wrote, that God is the father of all,” said the spokeswoman, Kim Farah. “That means that all beings were created by God and are his spirit children. Christ, on the other hand, was the only begotten in the flesh and we worship him as the son of God and the savior of mankind. Satan is the exact opposite of who Christ is and what he stands for.”

LDS Doctrine Says This:

MORMONISM'S JESUS AND SATAN ARE BROTHERS

“The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind.” Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15

Also see Mormon scripture Moses 4:1-4, Abraham 3:27-28 (The Pearl of Great Price)

“Lucifer, our elder brother who desired the glory for himself, stood up and proposed his own plan.”
- Ensign (official Church magazine), December, 1980, pp.3-5

“Jesus of Nazareth,” Spencer W. Kimball's First Presidency Message: “His [Jesus’] trials were continuous. Perhaps his brother, Lucifer, had heard him say when he was still but a lad of 12, 'Whist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?’” (Luke 2:49)

“...Then came the time when Satan thought to trip him. Their encounter in the previous world had been on more equal terms, but now Jesus was young and Satan was experienced.”

As far as the Jesus and Lucifer being brothers is concerned, some powerful verses to share with Mormons are from Colossians:

He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist. (Colossians 1:15-17)

You can point out that Lucifer is an angel (see Ezek.28:12-19, esp.v.14) and that nowhere does the Bible say he was begotten or born of God. In fact, the Bible teaches to the contrary that Jesus is God’s ONLY BEGOTTEN SON! (John 3:16)

The passage in Colossians clearly states that Jesus created all things, obviously including angels, since angels are included among the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Far from being Lucifer’s older brother, Jesus is God Almighty come in the flesh (John 1:1-14, Col.2:9) and Lucifer is one of His creatures!

Thus, to say that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers would be like saying Leonardo da Vinci is a brother of his painting, the Mona Lisa. There is that large a qualitative difference between Jesus and ANY member of His creation, certainly Lucifer!

---

21 Questions Answered About Mormon Faith

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Ed’s response to the recent article:

Mitt Romney’s run for president has put his Mormon faith in the spotlight, but the religion remains a mystery to most.

FOXNews.com compiled a list of 21 questions representing some widely held beliefs and misconceptions about Mormonism. The article was originally posted to the official LDS church website (http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD) but it has since been removed. It can still be found at FoxNews.com.

The Church objected to answering some of the questions on the grounds that they misrepresent the basic tenets of the Mormon religion.

“Many of these questions are typically found on anti-Mormon blogs or Web sites which aim to misrepresent or distort Mormon doctrines,” the Church said in a statement. “Several of these questions do not represent ... any serious attempt to depict the core values and beliefs of its members.”

Here are the questions and how the Church responded, along with my comments:

Questions

LDS Answers

Ed's Comments

Question 1:
Why do some call the Church a cult?

LDS Answer:
For the most part, this seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Church and its core doctrines and beliefs. Under those circumstances it is too easy to label a religion or other organization that is not well-known with an inflammatory term like 'cult.' Famed scholar of religion Martin Marty has said a cult means a church you don't personally happen to like. We don't believe any organization should be subjected to a label that has come to be as pejorative as that one.

Ed's Comments:
Billy Graham defined a cult a long time ago. He said a cult has these characteristics: The Only true Faith. No One can be ‘saved’ outside it.” It has its own scripture that is purer and more correct than the Bible, It humanizes God and deifies man, it redefines original sin, it is first created by a strong charismatic man and then all authority and power rests only at the top and is controlled even at the local level. That just describes Mormonism...

Question 2:
Does the Mormon Church believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God?

LDS Answer:
Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer, who died for the sins of humankind and rose from the dead on the third day with an immortal body. God, the Father, also has an immortal body.

Ed's Comments:
They are playing word games here. This is “LDS speak,” as we call it. Same words, different meanings altogether. Always have cultists define their terms.

First, they believe that god, a physical, exalted man, had actual intercourse or physical sex with Mary to ‘begat’ Jesus and secondly they ignore Biblical doctrine and state that god was once a man on some other planet who earned his godhood.

Question 3:
Does the Church believe in the divinity of Jesus?

LDS Answer:
Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer, who died for the sins of humankind and rose from the dead on the third day with an immortal body. God, the Father, also has an immortal body.

Ed's Comments:
LDS teach that Jesus suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, conditional on our obedience to all the laws and ordnances of the LDS gospel. His death on the cross gives us ‘General salvation,’ physical resurrection, where we can then be judged for our works, our obedience to LDS doctrine. Those who are worthy go to the Celestial Kingdom and become gods and goddesses.

Question 4:
Does the Church believe that God is a physical being?

LDS Answer:
Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer, who died for the sins of humankind and rose from the dead on the third day with an immortal body. God, the Father, also has an immortal body.

Ed's Comments:
Didn’t they just say that to the last question?

Question 5:
If so, does the Church believe that God lives on a planet named Kolob?

LDS Answer:
'Kolob' is a term found in ancient records translated by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith did not provide a full description or explanation of Kolob nor did he assign the idea particular significance in relation to the Church’s core doctrines.

Ed's Comments:

Question 6:
Where is the planet Kolob? What significance does the planet have to Mormons?

LDS Answer:
'Kolob' is a term found in ancient records translated by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith did not provide a full description or explanation of Kolob nor did he assign the idea particular significance in relation to the Church’s core doctrines.

Ed's Comments:
The Church answer to this one is not a misprint. Ducking the question is the Church’s only option because they know that if they fess up and admit to what LDS leaders have always taught about Kolob, the entire world would then understand what we already know as a fact – that it is a complete fairy tale. The above response is deceitful in that they know exactly what has been taught since the beginning of Mormonism about the Mormon god and Kolob by their scripture and prophets.

In Mormon theology, Kolob is the great star nearest the resident planet of the Mormon god of this world; it is in their scriptures.

Pearl of Great Price, Book of Abraham and Chapter 3 found at www.lds.org:

3 And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is ^aKolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.

9 And thus there shall be the reckoning of the time of one ^aplanet above another, until thou come nigh unto Kolob, which Kolob is after the reckoning of the Lord’s time; which Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong to the same ^border as that upon which thou standest.

16 If ^atwo things exist, and there be one above the other, there shall be greater things above them; therefore ^bKolob is the greatest of all the Kokaubeam that thou hast seen, because it is nearest unto me.

Question 7:
Does the Mormon Church believe that God and Mary had physical sex to conceive Jesus?

LDS Answer:
The Church does not claim to know how Jesus was conceived but believes the Bible and Book of Mormon references to Jesus being born of the Virgin Mary.

Ed's Comments:
Well, the Brethren have been explaining that god and Mary had sex ever since the first days of the Church and it pours out of the mouths and pens of Mormon prophets and Apostles to this day. Their answer here is a complete fabrication and quote after quote from Mormon scriptures and authorities refute the answer they gave to Fox News.

MARY AND GOD WERE MARRIED

The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father: we use the term lawful Wife, because it would be blasphemous in the highest degree to say that He overshadowed her or begat the Savior unlawfully. Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 158

AN ACT OF THE FLESH

The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood, was begotten of his Father, as we are of our fathers. — Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 8:115

In relation to the way in which I look upon the works of God and his creatures, I will say that I was naturally begotten; so was my father, and also my Savior Jesus Christ. According to the Scriptures, he is the first begotten of his father in the flesh, and there was nothing unnatural about it. — Heber C. Kimball, Journal of discourses, 8:211

Bruce R. McConkie, deceased member of the 12 Apostles (d.1985) and leading LDS theologian, writes on page 7 of MORMON DOCTRINE:

SON OF GOD: God the Father is a perfected, glorified, holy Man, an immortal Personage. And Christ was born into the world as the literal Son of this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father. There is nothing figurative about his paternity; he was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events, for he is the son of God, and that designation means what it says.

Question 8:
Does the Mormon Church believe Jesus appeared in North America after his crucifixion and resurrection?

LDS Answer:
The appearance of Jesus in the Western Hemisphere shortly after his resurrection is described in the Book of Mormon. Mormons believe that when Christ told his disciples in the Bible He had other 'sheep' who should receive his message he was referring to those people in the Western Hemisphere.

Ed's Comments:
They teach that he came and appeared to the people, actually, Jews who migrated from Israel and their descendants, some of whom had their skin darkened because of sin [the Indians or Lamanites]. All this has been r proven untrue by extensive DNA evidence. Oh, by the way, the Mormon Jesus caused the end of 13 cities that were destroyed and all the inhabitants living in them were destroyed because of His death on the cross.

Question 9:
If so, when did this happen? And under what circumstances?

LDS Answer:
The appearance of Jesus in the Western Hemisphere shortly after his resurrection is described in the Book of Mormon. Mormons believe that when Christ told his disciples in the Bible He had other 'sheep' who should receive his message he was referring to those people in the Western Hemisphere.

Ed's Comments:
Huh?

Question 10:
Does the Mormon Church believe its followers can become "gods and goddesses" after death?

LDS Answer:
We believe that the apostle Peter’s biblical reference to partaking of the divine nature and the apostle Paul’s reference to being 'joint heirs with Christ' reflect the intent that children of God should strive to emulate their Heavenly Father in every way. Throughout the eternities, Mormons believe, they will reverence and worship God the Father and Jesus Christ. The goal is not to equal them or to achieve parity with them but to imitate and someday acquire their perfect goodness, love and other divine attributes.

Ed's Comments:

Question 11:
Does the Mormon Church believe that women can only gain access to heaven with a special pass or codewords?

LDS Answer:
No

Ed's Comments:
True for non-worthy women, but LDS Women who have been sealed in the temple can only rise from the grave when called out with their secret temple name by their husbands.

Question 12:
Does the Mormon Church believe that women must serve men on both Earth and in heaven?

LDS Answer:
Absolutely not. Mormons believe that women and men are complete equals before God and in relation to the blessings available in the Church.

Ed's Comments:
Absolutely YES. If equal where is a Mormon Woman Bishop, Stake President, Elder, Deacon, or General Authority. They don’t exist. Tell that to the President of the LDS Relief Society and the LDS Women who disagreed with her recent speech reminding them that they belong in the home, serving...

Question 13:
Is there such a thing as Mormon "underwear"? If so, are all Mormons required to wear it? What does it symbolize?

LDS Answer:
Like members of many religious faiths, Latter-day Saints wear religious clothing. But members of other faiths — typically those involved in permanent pastoral ministries or religious services — usually wear religious garments as outer ceremonial vestments or symbols of recognition. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, garments are worn beneath street clothing as a personal and private reminder of commitments to God.

Garments are considered sacred by Church members and are not regarded as a topic for casual conversation.

Ed's Comments:
How many of them have Masonic talismanic markings sewn into the breast, navel and knee that Lucifer, in the LDS Temple, says are the emblems of his power and priesthoods???

Question 14:
Does the Mormon Church believe in the existence of another physical planet or planets, where Mormons will "rule" after their death and ascension?

LDS Answer:
No

Ed's Comments:
AN OUTRIGHT LIE. The whole purpose of coming to this earth is to gain bodies and be tested for godhood. This is the root doctrine of Mormonism.

GODHOOD

The Third Estate

That exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is Godhood itself.

Apostle Bruce R. Mc Conkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.321

"You have got to learn how to be gods yourselves...the same as all gods have done before you." (Quoting Joseph Smith)

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, (HC) vol.6, p.306, by Joseph Smith.

My Father worked out His Kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that He may obtain Kingdom upon Kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself.

Achieving Celestial Marriage Manual , p.3.

If God became God by obedience to all of the gospel law with the crowning point being the celestial law of marriage, then that's the only way I can become a god. [Answer] Right!

ACMM, p.203.

(12-15) The endowment is the celestial course of instruction...being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the priesthood and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.

D&C 124:28-36; 127:128; 128:15

Baptism for the dead/keys to the holy priesthood ordained so you may receive honor and glory. For their salvation [the dead] is necessary and essential to our salvation.

D&C 131.

Three degrees of glory celestial the highest.

Moses 1:39

This is my [God's] work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man

D&C 76:51-60, 70.

vs.51-53 list some of the requirements, vs.54-60, 70 list the rewards. They [temple Mormons] will be Kings and Priests and Gods.

D&C 132:19-20.

Then shall they be Gods, they shall have all power, the angels are subject to them.

ACMM, pp.131-132.

(1-12) The Lord commands marriage.

(1-13) Exaltation is based on celestial marriage.

(1-14) Then shall they be Gods, because they have no end.

(1-15) Only resurrected and glorified Beings may become Parents of Spirit Offspring.

(1-17) Celestial marriage prepares men to be Kings and Priests unto God.

(1-18) Celestial marriage makes women Queens and Priestesses to their husbands.

(1-19) Celestial marriage makes it possible for us to claim our moral children in eternity as well as to propagate ourselves throughout eternity.

D&C 132:1-7, 27-35, 49, 61-64.

New and Everlasting Covenant [plural marriage]: Abide or be damned, etc. Law of the Priesthood/also the name of the temple covenant sworn by all the temple endowment sisters.

MD, p.529-530.

Celestial marriage is the new and everlasting covenant of marriage.

Question 15:
What specifically does the Mormon Church say about African-Americans and Native Americans?

LDS Answer:
Mormons believe that all mankind are sons and daughters of God and should be loved and respected as such. The blessings of the gospel are available to all.

Ed's Comments:
Throughout the years in the church Blacks were a cursed people. This changed after the great Civil Rights laws were passed and the Mormons looked like fools to still call them cursed of God.

BRIGHAM YOUNG
(Second Prophet and President of the Mormon Church)

"I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the Children of men, that they may not call scripture!" Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 95.

"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable, sad, low in their habits, wild, ad seemingly without the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be and the Lord put a mark on him, which is the flat nose and black skin. Trace mankind down to after the flood, and then other curse is pronounced upon the same race - that they would be the "servant of servants;" and they will be, until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree." Journal of Discourses, Volume 7, pp. 290-291

JOHN TAYLOR
(Third Prophet and President of the Mormon Church)

“. . . after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation a upon a the earth as well as God;...” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 22, p. 304.

"When he (Satan) destroyed the inhabitants of the antediluvian worlds, he suffered a descendant of Cain to come through the flood in order that he might be properly represented upon the earth." Journal of Discourses, Vol. 23, p. 336

Question 16:
What are or were the "Golden Plates"?

LDS Answer:
The Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith from records made on plates of gold, similar to metal plates that have been found in other ancient cultures. It contained a history of peoples in the Western Hemisphere including an appearance by the Savior to them. As such, the Book of Mormon is considered a second testimony of Jesus Christ.

Ed's Comments:
No other plates have been found written in some form of “reformed Egyptian” The Book of Mormon has been proven a fabrication by extensive DNA and archeological studies. It dies on page one!

PAGE ONE

Starting with the very first page of the Book of Mormon, in the First Book of Nephi, we read the account of Lehi, the key prophet of the second migration. It is through this man that the actual Book of Mormon story comes forth. In I Nephi 1:4, we are told, "For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, King of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed."

Throughout the rest of Chapters One and Two, we see that Lehi is a mighty prophet of the Lord, and after much danger leaves the city of Jerusalem at the Lord's bidding.

Taking the clue that we are dealing with the reign of Zedekiah, we are able to go to II Kings 24:17, 18 and see that Zedekiah reigned for 11 years, starting about 600 BC. and ending his reign with the 4th and last siege of Jerusalem. This siege was conducted by Nebuchadnezzar and ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity.

At that time Daniel and Ezekiel had already been taken captive to Babylon-- Daniel in the first siege and Ezekiel in the third siege. The only prophet left in Jerusalem during Zedekiah's reign was Jeremiah and he makes that perfectly clear:

Jeremiah 2:8 "and the prophets prophesied by Baal" 5:31 "and the prophets prophesy falsely"

6:13 "and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely"

8:10 "every one dealeth falsely."

14:13-16 "the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not....They prophesy unto you a false vision and divination."

23:16 "Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you"

23:21 "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken unto them yet they prophesied" 27:14-17 "Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, ye shall serve not the King of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you...hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you...hearken not unto them; serve the King of Babylon and live." 29:8,9 "Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you deceive you...for they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord."

All these scriptures warn the people NOT to listen to ANY of the other prophets because they were ALL false and spoke lies. It is quite clear that Jeremiah was the only true prophet of God left in Jerusalem during the reign of Zedekiah.

Since God didn't deliver Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jeremiah from bondage, but wanted all the people to serve the King of Babylon, why would he favor a biblically unnamed prophet with a message in total contradiction to the one given to Jeremiah for the whole nation of Israel? He gave absolutely no biblical indication that some had to serve in Babylon, but some would be spared. In fact, He gave some pretty severe warnings to those who would attempt to escape captivity. In Jeremiah 28, we read about the false prophet, Hananiah, who taught rebellion against the Lord.

If the judgment of the Lord against Hananiah was death, why would God call and send forth another prophet, Lehi, with the same rebellious message to the very same people and call him a true prophet? Impossible! If the Book of Mormon were true scripture, Lehi would have to be in direct DISOBEDIENCE to God in leaving Jerusalem to escape capture and bondage in Babylon.

So, coming back to page one of the Book of Mormon, it immediately fails the basic test. It does not fit into its time frame correctly as true scripture. One need not go a page further to know that we are dealing with a false prophet.

Question 17:
Are consumption of alcohol and tobacco prohibited or simply discouraged?

LDS Answer:
It is against the teachings of the Church to use alcohol and tobacco or to drink tea and coffee.

Ed's Comments:

Question 18:
Does the Church also ban the consumption of "hot drinks"? And does that apply specifically to caffeinated drinks?

LDS Answer:
It is against the teachings of the Church to use alcohol and tobacco or to drink tea and coffee.

Ed's Comments:
Didn’t you just say that? But why do Mormons drink hot Cocoa [caffeine is in cocoa], Hot Postum and hot herbal teas?????

Question 19:
Why do Mormons go from door to door?

LDS Answer:
Christ admonished his disciples to take the gospel to the world. The Church follows that admonition and sends missionaries throughout the world.

Ed's Comments:
Why do 80% of their door to door converts leave the church within the first year? Because the missionaries lie to them about the becoming gods business. Why do 25% leave the mission field in disgrace and why to 50% of those who survive their two year mission drop out of church activity within two years of coming home? Maybe it’s the lies they must tell?

Question 20:
What do the Mormons believe about the family?

LDS Answer:
Mormons believe that the family is the foundation for this life and the life to come.

Ed's Comments:
How can the families stay together if each worthy son is given his own planet and goddess wives and each daughter goes off with some worthy guy-god?

Question 21:
Can someone who may never marry in life have eternal marriage?

LDS Answer:
God will not withhold blessings from any of his children who may not have the opportunity to marry in this life.

Ed's Comments:
Unmarried worthy women will be given to worthy men gods who need more wives to make spirit babies to people another planet.

The biggest question is why would they lie? Are they simply embarrassed or ashamed to allow the true teachings of the Church to be known? It would be bad for business indeed. In responding as they have, it should be clear to every Mormon knowledgeable of the Church’s teachings that their leaders are LIARS.

Isaiah 9:16 clearly says: For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.

***Please go to www.saintsalive.com for complete information on the TRUTH about Mormons. Thank you Ed Decker and all those at Saints Alive for all your eye opening truths about what Mormons are up to. This is from the newsletter for the month of January 2008.