"There have also been ministering angels in the Church which were of Satan appearing as an angel of light. A sister in the state of New York had a vision, who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods, an angel would appear to her. She went at the appointed time, and saw a glorious personage descending, arrayed in white, with sandy colored hair; he commenced and told her to fear God, and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home, or he would not return; whereas God had called him to go to the ends of the earth, and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage, and many things that were false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Deseret Book Company, 1976, pp. 215-216, italics added)
Well, here is another good one. JS says that a person can know the difference between a good angel from a bad angel. It's by the color of the angels hair. Strange though, the angel that JS saw, as depicted in the picture, has sandy colored hair too.
(Click on the picture to get a better look.)
So, does this mean that Joseph Smith's angel, as seen in the picture, a bad angel too? I think so.
How do You Tell a Bad Angel from a Good Angel?
Face to Face
"The simple story told by the Prophet Joseph Smith of his interview with the Father and the Son makes it easy to understand the teachings of the Bible relating to this important matter. It must be remembered, however, that this knowledge was not obtained by the Prophet through a study of the Bible. We take the Bible merely to prove that his [God's] story harmonizes fully with the teachings thereof [of Joseph Smith's story]. Some of which we shall now consider.
See: Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 5:3
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (Exodus 24:9-10)
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord walked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man in his tent door. And the Lord spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend...(Exodus 33:9-11)
Could any historian be expected to describe this event any more clearly than to say that the Lord and Moses talked with each other "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"? Does anyone need to be told how a man speaks to his friend? The Father and the Son spoke with Joseph Smith "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." There is only one thing that made this possible, and that is the fact that God did create man in his own image and likeness.
Insert
Exodus 33:20-But, "he said," you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.
"Sometimes in the Old Testament people are said to have seen God (e.g., Ex4:9-11). But we are also told that no one can see God and live (Ex 33:20). Therefore, since no human being can see God as he really is, those who saw God [in the OT] saw him in a form he took on himself temporarily for the occasion. [e.g. burning bush]." (The Holy Bible, the NIV Study Bible, footnotes, pg.1590)
This true knowledge of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ, has come again to the world in this dispensation, not through a study of the Bible, but through the actual appearance of these heavenly personages to the young Joseph Smith, as he has so eloquently testified." (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, LeGrand Richards, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, pg. 23, italics added, Insert added)
It is impossible for a man to look upon God and live. Joseph Smith did not see God the Father and Jesus Christ. He saw something that was of the devil-appearing as light.
Saints Alive-Newsletter Fall 2009
Click on the photos of the latest news letter from Saints Alive in Jesus, Tacoma chapter. Very informative.
False Gods-Christians?
Mormons Teach: Christianity Worships False Gods.
'"And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell." (Deuteronomy 4:28) Then Moses promised then that "in the latter days" when they were in tribulation if they would seek after the Lord their God with all their hearts and with all their souls, they would find him. (See Deuteronomy 4:29-30)
Could the gods made by the hands of man, taught and worshiped by the Christian churches of the world at the time of Joseph Smith received his glorious vision, see or hear or eat or smell?
The Strange Gods of Christendom
A few quotations will indicate the general beliefs in Christendom during the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The God of the Catholic church was described as follows:
"Q.What is God?
A.God is a spirit, eternal, independent, infinite and immutable, who is present everywhere, who seeth all things and governs the universe.
Q.Why do you say that he is a spirit?
A.Because he is a supreme intelligence, who has neither body, nor figure, nor color, and who cannot fall under the senses."
(Rev. P. Collat, Doctrine and Scriptural Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in Montreal and quoted in Liahona: The Elder's Journal, December 29, 1925, p.268.)
The Methodist Church worships this kind of God.
"There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness, the maker and preserver of all things, visible and invisible; and in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power and eternity the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost." (Methodist Discipline, published in Toronto, 1886; quoted in Liahona, op. cit., p.269)
Let us examine the description of the God of the Presbyterian church:
"There is but one living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his immutable and righteous will, for his own glory; most living, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and with all most just and terrible in his judgement; hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty." (Presbyterian Church Confession of Faith, chap. 2, art.1, quoted from Liahona, op. cit., p.269)
These are but typical examples of the gods worshiped by the Christian churches during the nineteenth century. Here are the gods that Moses told Israel they would encounter as they were scattered among the nations-gods "which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell." How could a God without body, parts, or passions be expected either to see, hear, eat, or smell? How could any child of God be expected to understand, much less to love and be loved by, such an incomprehensible God as the above tenets would lead him to worship?" (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, LeGrand Richards, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, pp.12-13)
Lets set the scene at the time of Moses; verses 28-30 of chapter 4 in Deuteronomy tell only part of the story. Moses was talking to the people of Israel he was telling them that he would not be going into the land of their inheritance, rather they were to go alone. He was warning them not to worship idols. For those man made idols cannot see, hear, eat or smell. The people of Israel (back then, not now) were to seek the Lord (not idols) with all their heart and soul.
It is very self centered thinking of the Mormon church to think that Moses was talking about them.
Oh yea, this "gods" thing stated in the quote above, isn't three separate gods, like the Mormon church teaches. Catholics, Methodist and Presbyterian all worship the same God. The one-and-only true God of the Bible. Not the "gods" of Mormonism.
Q."How could a God without body, parts, or passions be expected to either see, hear, eat, or smell?"
A.First of all, you shouldn't expect anything from God. God doesn't need to do any of those things that you stated in your question. It's very naive to think God has to do those things. God is God. He does whatever He wants at His pleasure, not ours.
Q."How could any child of God be expected to understand, much less to love and be loved by such an incomprehensible God as the above tenets would lead him to worship? "
A.We are not expected to understand, that's where faith comes in. God is love, so he that knows not God, knows not love, and if you can't love God, you can't love your brother either. Incomprehensible? I think not.
Veil of Stupidity-A Joe Moment
"For some length of time I have been carefully viewing the state of things, as it now appears, throughout our Christian land; and have looked at it with feelings of the most painful anxiety. While upon one hand I behold the manifest withdrawal of God's Holy Spirit, and the veil of stupidity which seems to be drawn over the hearts of the people...." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Deseret Books, Joseph F. Smith, 1989, pg. 13)
Well, there it is, Joseph Smith thinks that the Christian heart is stupid.
A PROCLAMATION
The chart below shows a narrative of Biblical scriptures Mormons use to declare the need for a restoration. After some research, what I found was all of these Biblical scriptures are of a totally different meaning. They are not of what the Mormons say they are, rather they are about the sin of the Jews and the events prior to Christs coming. Not a restoration. I found a profound message for Mormon and non-Mormon alike at the end of my study. Here is what I found:
SCRIPTURE-------------------------TRUE MEANING
Isaiah 24:1-6---------------------------------Deals with judgment and blessing in the
-------------------------------------------------last days
Isaiah 29:13----------------------------------The condition of the people in the City of
-------------------------------------------------David
Amos 8:11-12--------------------------------The consequence of Israels sin
Micah 3:5-7, 11------------------------------Part of a rebuke to the Leaders and
-------------------------------------------------Prophets of Israel
Matthew 24:10-12--------------------------Signs of the End of the Age
Mark 13:22-----------------------------------A warning of false Christs and Prophets
Acts 20:29-30-------------------------------The rise of some who turn away from the
-------------------------------------------------truth
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4----------------------An active rebellion against Christ's church
1 Timothy 4:1--------------------------------The nature of heresy
2 Timothy 3:1-5, 4:3-4---------------------Godlessness in the last days
Revelation 13:7------------------------------Make war against the Saints
Revelation 14:6-7---------------------------The proclamation of the eternal gospel is
-------------------------------------------------to fear God
CONSOLIDATION OF THE MEANINGS--except one
*LAST DAYS
*SINFUL NATIONS
*REBUKE LEADERS and PROPHETS
*END OF THE AGE
*FALSE CHRISTS and PROPHETS
*TURNING AWAY FROM THE TRUTH
*ACTIVE REBELLION
*HERESY
*GODLESSNESS
*MAKE WAR
Put the consolidated meanings together into a sentence and see the Word of the Lord at work:
In the last days there will be sinful nations, and a rebuking of Leaders and Prophets. At the end of the age there will be false Christs and Prophets that turn away from the truth. There will be active rebellion, heresy, godlessness; all out to make war. At the end of all this is a proclamation of the eternal gospel: FEAR GOD.
Mormons Believe They WILL be Gods!!!!
"19. And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them--Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths--then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
20. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them." D&C 132
""Here, then, is eternal life--to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power....
[Such persons are] heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. What is it? To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a god, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before." (Teachings, pp.345-347)
Again: "Every man who reigns in celestial glory is a god to his dominions." (Teachings, p.374)
(Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McMonkie, Bookcraft, 1979, 321-322)
""Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." This is a mischaracterization of LDS belief. This is a scared topic that we do not speak of lightly. It is not something that can be explained in short sound bytes. It is not an established doctrine of the Church, but it is a common belief held by the majority of the members that we participate in the creation process and become as God." (Mormon FAQ/Myths and Questions, http:/www.fairmormon.org)
Fairmormon says that people are to become AS gods. It also says that the topic of becoming a god is not doctrine. The Mormon Doctrine and Covenants says that people who obey the laws will become gods. (See D&C 132:19-20) I think they need to read their own scriptures. Their own authorities have written about the subject as well. (See above quote)
Keys - Mormons Love'em
"The key and the anchor to our testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Book of Mormon."
"Book of Mormon Keys to Isaiah."
"Priesthood Keys-an authority."
"The keys of Presidency"
"Keys of Power."
"Keys of my kingdom"
"the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom"
"the keys to open up the authority"
"keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood"
"keys of the Aaronic Priesthood"
"keys to perform miracles"
"keys for legitimate ecclesiastical acts in the name of God"
"keys for a church hierachy"
"three types of keys; 1. default keys held by every priesthood holder, 2. keys associated with a priesthood office and held by every holder of that office, 3. special keys granted only to priesthood holders with select callings within the church."
"Keys for the gathering of Israel"
"keys for leading the ten tribes"
"Keys of this dispensation"
I'm sure there are more 'keys' to be found!
Sanctification
Did you know that the Mormons have a very unique way of defining the word Sanctification? Here it is, "Sanctification is the process of becoming a saint."
All you Christians out there need to help these poor Mormons understand what sanctification is all about. They don't seem to know.
Question: "What is sanctification? What is the definition of Christian sanctification?"
Answer: Jesus had a lot to say about sanctification in the Book of John, chapter 17. In verse 16 the Lord says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world,” and this is before His request: “Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth.” Sanctification is a state of separation unto God; all believers enter into this state when they are born of God: “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is a once-for-ever separation, eternally unto God. It is an intricate part of our salvation, our connection with Christ (Hebrews 10:10).
Sanctification also refers to the practical experience of this separation unto God, being the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life, and is to be pursued by the believer earnestly (1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14). Just as the Lord prayed in John 17, it has in view the setting apart of believers for the purpose for which they are sent into the world: “As Thou didst send Me into the world, even so send I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth” (v. 18, 19). That He set Himself apart for the purpose for which He was sent is both the basis and the condition of our being set apart for that for which we are sent (John 10:36). His sanctification is the pattern of, and the power for, ours. The sending and the sanctifying are inseparable. On this account they are called saints, hagioi in the Greek; “sanctified ones.” Whereas previously their behavior bore witness to their standing in the world in separation from God, now their behavior should bear witness to their standing before God in separation from the world.
There is one more sense that the word sanctification is referred to in Scripture. Paul prayed in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “The God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul also wrote in Colossians of “the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel” (Colossians 1:5). He later speaks of Christ Himself as “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and then mentions the fact of that hope when he says, “When Christ, who is our Life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory” (Colossians 3:4). This glorified state will be our ultimate separation from sin, total sanctification in every aspect. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
To summarize, sanctification is the same Greek word as holiness, “hagios,” meaning a separation. First, a once-for-all positional separation unto Christ at our salvation. Second, a practical progressive holiness in a believer’s life while awaiting the return of Christ. Third, we will be changed into His perfect likeness—holy, sanctified, and completely separated from the presence of evil.
Please go to "Got Questions.org" A wonderful place.
Agency
"'Agency' refers both to the capacity of beings "to act for themselves" (2 Ne. 2:26) and their accountability for those actions."
OK-Now think about the missionaries who ripped off all of those DVD's from all of those mail boxes.
May Santa put cole in their stockings this year!!!!!
The Jerusalem Temple vs. the Mormon Temple
THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE vs THE MORMON TEMPLES
By Richard PackhamMormons like to claim that their temples are a restoration of the temples that were built in Old Testament times. That claim collapses if one compares the Jewish temple with the modern Mormon temples.There were four successive temples built on Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Although built over a period of centuries, they did not differ essentially from each other in basic design, and all had the same rituals and purpose. All the Mormon temples (except the first two, in Kirtland and Nauvoo) resemble each other in design and use. But the Mormon temples are fundamentally different from the ancient temples in Jerusalem, as the following table shows.
Jerusalem Temple Mormon Temples Only one temple at any one time Over 120, more added each year Headed by the High Priest Headed by a Temple President Officiators (priests) were hereditary, full-time, supported by temple offerings Officiators are lay volunteers, part-time, unpaid Rituals described in detail in the Old Testament Ritual details (except for baptism) secret Rituals only for the living Rituals for both living and dead; mostly for dead No oaths required of worshipers Secret oaths required of participants in the endowment No marriages performed Marriage (sealing) "for eternity" must be performed in the temple "Holy of Holies" was empty (the first temple [Solomon's] contained the Ark) "Holy of Holies" contains an altar Only priests entered the actual temple building; all others remained in the appropriate courtyard (Court of Israel for men, Court of the Women for Israelite women, or Court of the Gentiles) All worshipers enter into the temple building Altars were used only for offering sacrifices of food and animals Altars are used only for kneeling in prayer and for sealing ceremonies Main altar stood outside the temple building, before the door All altars are inside the temple Principal function was offering sacrifices, which included the slaughter of animal victims Principal functions are baptizing for the dead by proxy, "sealing" and the secret "endowment" ceremony, which includes instruction in secret signs, handshakes, and taking of secret oaths, mostly performed as proxy for dead persons The veil of the temple separated the Holy Place (the Sanctuary) from the Holy of Holies The veil of the temple separates the Celestial Room from the previous Endowment room; no veil at the entrance to the Holy of Holies Only the high priest passed throuogh the veil of the temple All participants in the endowment pass through the veil Only the priests wore special robes All participants (including women) wear special "robes of the holy priesthood" in the endowment ritual; officiators wear plain white clothing High priest's robes were colored, richly decorated and jewelled (Ex 28-29) Robes are all white (except for a green apron) All Israelites could worship at the temple, without regard to their righteousness Only Mormons who have demonstrated their righteousness are admitted to the temple Fire descended from heaven and filled the house when Solomon's temple was dedicated (2 Chron 7:1-3) No fire has descended from heaven at the dedication of any Mormon temple Any man "with a blemish" was barred from the temple; blemishes are listed at Lev 21:17-23 - blind, lame, flat nose, brokenfooted, brokenhanded, crookbacked, dwarf, eye blemish, or "broken" testicles Men with facial hair are barred from officiating in the temple; no physical problem or "blemish" is a bar to entering
(But having undergone a gender-change operation is a bar)Primary purpose of temple worship was to obey the law. No notion of "salvation" or idea of rewards in the afterlife Baptisms, endowments and sealings are primarily to secure blessings in the afterlife - "exaltation" in the highest degree of heaven Is there nothing the two kinds of temple have in common? Yes, but not much:
- Both are considered sacred places and referred to as "the house of the Lord"
- Both are buildings
- .... with limited admission
- Ritual plays the primary role in both
...and that's about all they have in common.
This brief comparison shows that there is practically no material similarity between the ancient Jewish temples and the modern Mormon temples. Any claims to similarity merely indicate either a gross ignorance by Mormons of what the Jerusalem temples were like and what they were used for, or a deliberate attempt to deceive prospective converts into accepting the Mormon claim that Mormonism is a "restoration of all things."
Comments? Questions? (Please, no preaching, testimonies, or hate mail!) To send a comment or ask a question, click here.
© 2008 Richard Packham Permission granted to reproduce for non-commercial purposes, provided text is not changed and this copyright notice is included
