W ITNESSING FOR C HRIST IN A R ELIGIOUSLY P LURALISTIC W ORLD : C ONFRONTING C ULTS AND F ALSE R ELIGIONS WITH E. C ALVIN B EISNER Unit 2: Mormonism

M ORMON HISTORY Joseph Smith Jr., founder Brigham Young, second President Succession of 14 “Prophets” after them

T URNING POINTS IN M ORMON HISTORY Mormon War (1838) Utah War (1857) Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857) Polygamy ( ) Racism ( )

M ORMON STATISTICS Worldwide membership: 14.8 million Missionaries: 59,000 Temples: 141 Congregations: 29,000 Universities and colleges: 4 Church materials languages: 177 Income: $7 billion annually

M ORMON PRACTICES, CUSTOMS, AND VALUES Tithing Restrictions on food and drink Family lifestyle

G ROUPS RELATED TO M ORMONS Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Fundamentalist” Mormons: polygamist clans

M ORMON CHURCH STRUCTURE Branches Wards Stakes Areas

M ORMON CHURCH GOVERNMENT First Presidency Council of Twelve Apostles First and Second Quorums of the Seventy Presiding Bishopric General Authorities: all of the above combined

M ORMON T HEOLOGY 1: S OURCES OF A UTHORITY Standard works Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price General authorities and continual revelation Words of the current Prophet Types of revelation Prophecy Visions Inspired speeches Gift and power of God to translate

R EFUTATION OF M ORMON ARGUMENTS FOR SOURCES OF AUTHORITY Open canon doesn’t entail Mormon scriptures canonical. Smith’s version of the Bible didn’t add anything. Role of prophet was consummated in Christ. Ephesians 2:20 Hebrews 1:1-2 Proper explanation of prooftexts Psalm 102:27 and Malachi 3:6 Joel 2:28 Amos 3:7 Ephesians 2:20

M ORMON T HEOLOGY 2: T HE NATURE OF G OD God the Father is an exalted man. There are many gods. Mormonism’s “trinity” is tri-theistic and an integral part of its polytheistic theology. What about the “Adam-God” doctrine?

R EFUTATION OF THE M ORMON DOCTRINE OF G OD, P ART 1: G OD IS NOT A MAN. God the Father is not an exalted man and does not have a body like men’s. Psalm 90:2 Numbers 23:19 John 4:24 Colossians 1:15 Image of God: Intellect—Colossians 2:10 Will—Ephesians 4:24 Affection—2 Peter 1:5-7 Dominion—Genesis 1:26

R EFUTATION OF THE M ORMON DOCTRINE OF G OD, P ART 2: T HERE IS ONLY ONE G OD There can’t be more than one infinite of the same nature. Deuteronomy 4:35 Isaiah 44:6-8 1 Timothy 2:5

R EFUTATION OF THE M ORMON DOCTRINE OF G OD, P ART 3: THE T RINITY There is only one God (see Part 2) The Father is God: John 17:3 The Son is God: John 1:1 The Holy Spirit is God He is personal: Acts 13:2 He is eternal: Hebrews 9:14 Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct Persons: Matthew 28:19

M ORMON THEOLOGY 3: T HE NATURE OF MAN Human beings preexisted as intelligences. Part of their progression to godhood involves a probationary period on earth. Great war in heaven divided children of God into two camps. Adam transgressed but did not sin: “fell up.” Adam’s transgression is not passed on; each is responsible only for his own sin. Man’s ultimate goal is to become a perfected god.

R EFUTATION OF THE M ORMON DOCTRINE OF MAN Humans didn’t preexist: 1 Corinthians 15:46-49 The real human probation on earth: Romans 3:23; 6:23; Philippians 3:8-14 Mormon “war in heaven” idea collapses—and with it its racism against Blacks: Acts 10:34-35; 17:26 Adam did not “fall upward”: 1 John 3:4; Genesis 2:16-17; 3:17-19, 21; Romans 5:12-19 Adam’s transgression is passed on: Romans 5: Saved men’s destiny is not godhood: Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 22:29-30

M ORMON THEOLOGY 6: T HE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION Christ’s atonement secures resurrection for all; final salvation for none. Christ’s atonement was only for Adam’s transgression. Christ’s atonement was done in Gethsemane. Individual salvation requires works in addition to Christ’s atonement. Mormons can save the dead by proxy baptism.

R EFUTATION OF THE M ORMON DOCTRINE OF SALVATION Christ’s death secures believers’ perfection: Hebrews 10:4-22; Romans 5:15-19; 3:23-28 Christ’s atonement was for every believer’s: 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:24 Christ atoned on the cross: Matthew 26:36-39; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2: Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, not by our works: Romans 3:20, ; 4:1-8; Galatians 2:16. No one can save another: Psalm 49:7-9; Isaiah 43:11; John 14:6; Acts 4:12