Category: Mormonism
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Aaronic Priesthood (Definition)
Aaronic priesthood. Known as the lesser of two priesthoods held by Mormon males (Priesthood and Church Government, p. 106). It is taught that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were visited by John the Baptist on the bank of the Susquehanna River on May 15, 1829; he laid hands on them and ordained them to the…
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Though He Insists It Isn’t, Richard Mouw’s Definition of a Cult Fits the LDS Church
In an interview printed in Christianity Today titled “Rich Mouw on Why Evangelicals Need to Be Quick to Listen to Mormons,” Dr. Richard Mouw, the outgoing president of Fuller Seminary (yes, the same Dr. Mouw that continues to accuse evangelicals of bearing false witness when it comes to the teachings of Mormonism) insists that the word cult should…
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A Case of Not Willing To Listen
Richard Mouw is probably best known for his seven-minute speech at the Mormon Tabernacle a few years ago that preceded a talk by Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. Using half of his fifteen minutes of fame, Mouw apologized to the Mormons for ill treatment over the years by the Christian community. Meanwhile, his words upstaged the…
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“Evangelical Hostility Toward Mormons”?
In a recent article applauding how more Evangelical Christians are apparently accepting the Republican presidential candidate in spite of his Mormonism, Dr. Richard J. Mouw—who recently announced that he’s stepping down as president of Fuller Theological Seminary—explained that “anti-Mormon sentiment runs strong among evangelicals. We differ on this from mainline Protestants and Catholics. Those two…
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Mormon Doctrine and How It Is Established: An Official Explanation?
At the April (2012) General Conference of the Mormon Church, Apostle D. Todd Christofferson told the congregation, “…we must admit there has been and still persists some confusion about our doctrine and how it is established. That is the subject I wish to address today.” In his remarks, Apostle Christofferson explained, “The President of the…
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Ezra Taft Benson’s “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”
“The Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” was a devotional talk that was given by Mormon Apostle Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) on Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University. Benson became Mormonism’s 13th President on November 10, 1985 after the death of Spencer W. Kimball. When Benson gave this speech LDS Church was membership…
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Mormonism’s Growth Figures—What Can You Believe?
Screaming front page headline in Wednesday, May 2, 2012’s Salt Lake Tribune (in bold, no less): “Multiplying Mormons expand into new turf” Subhead 1: “2010 census: LDS Church is fastest-growth Christian faith in 30 states, report shows” Subhead 2: “Only Muslims, with 67% jump from 2000-2010, outpaces 45% LDS increase.” Anyone picking up the paper…
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Does Mormonism Still Teach God the Father Was Once a Man?
Joe Carter at The Gospel Coalition blog recently wrote a good article providing relevant FAQs in answer to the question, “Are Mormons Christian?” The first topic Mr. Carter addressed was, “What do Mormons believe about God?” His answer began this way: “Mormons claim that God the Father was once a man and that he then…
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A Mormon Denominational Walkabout
On a recent visit to Kansas City I stopped in Independence, Missouri. It was a beautiful spring day, so I took a short stroll covering approximately a five-block area near the LDS Visitors Center. Of course, the Community of Christ’s temple dominates the landscape, but the small area is further dotted with churches that spring…
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Joseph Smith’s Violence to Kingdom-Growth Parables
There are at least three parables in the Bible on the gradual growth of the kingdom unto maturity: 1. Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19) 2. Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43) 3. Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21) All three of these parables were…
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Should Christians Support a Mormon Running for President?
By Bill McKeever The fact that two members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have aspired to become President of the United States in the 2012 elections, has caused many to wonder whether or not a Christian should support such a person for the highest office in our land. Let me begin by…
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When the Constitution “Hangs by a Thread” – The White Horse Prophecy in Modern Mormonism
By Bill McKeeverFollowing the Mormon expulsion from Missouri in 1838, Joseph Smith made a trip to Washington, D.C. “to present to the National Congress the petition of the Saints for a redress of their grievances, suffered in Missouri” (History of the Church 4:xxvi). Arriving in November 1839, Smith met with several powerful politicians of that day, including President…
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Surviving Apostles?
By Bill McKeeverB.H. Roberts, an LDS Seventy and LDS Church historian, in his introduction to the History of the Church, stated that the LDS Church is founded upon this very premise. He wrote, “Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day…
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Is This Bigotry? A Response to Latter-day Saints Who Say, "We Never Criticize Christian Churches"
When Dr. Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor of the 10,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas referred to Mitt Romney’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a cult, he caused a firestorm among Mormons and those in the media. Sadly, even though Dr. Jeffress carefully explained that his comment was within the context…
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Five Basic Principles of a Mormon Testimony
A very popular new book (# 2 at this writing) found in the LDS bookstore chain Deseret Book is The Testimony Glove. According to the Testimony Gloves blog, “Testimony Gloves are a tool to help children understand the basic principles of a [Mormon] testimony.” This testimony is comprised of five points of knowledge: God is…
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Romney’s and Huntsman’s “Pastors” on Historic Christianity
Last week Deseret News published an article titled, “Michele Bachmann’s pastor on Mormonism.” The article notes that outspokenly Christian presidential-hopeful Michele Bachmann has not said what she thinks of Mormonism (the religion of two of her political opponents), but the pastor at her new church home has. In July of 2007 Bob Merritt, pastor of…
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One of the Fastest Growing Churches?
How often have we heard the claim that the growth of Mormonism proves it is a true religion? Honestly, too many times to count. It is insinuated that the LDS Church’s size and success in getting people to join its church are factors that are somehow supposed to lend credibility to the religion’s truthfulness. We…
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A Royal Priesthood
The Priesthood is a big deal in Mormonism. At Mormon.org it is defined as “The power and authority of God, given to men on earth to act in all things for the salvation of God’s children.” Fifteenth LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Without [the Priesthood], we have nothing.” (Ensign, Aug 1998, 72) The April…
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The Transfiguration of Brigham Young
When Joseph Smith died in June of 1844, the Mormon Church faced a succession crisis. Mormon historian Richard S. Van Wagoner explained, “Despite frequent kidnaping and assassination attempts, Joseph Smith established no firm policies regarding presidential succession in the event of his death. The resulting confusion threw the prophetic transition into turmoil. He simply had…
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