Q&A Page
Q:
Is it true that the Mormons preach "another gospel?"
A:
Mainstream Christianity is influenced by creeds such as the famous Nicene Creed, which uses terminology not found in the Bible. When mainstream Christians state their beliefs, they are quoting these creeds more than the Bible, yet they believe they are quoting the Bible. If someone were to quote directly from the Bible, they would appear to be espousing a "different gospel." The LDS do believe they more accurately follow the Bible than do the mainstream Christians. One example is the term "one corporeal body." This is a term from man-made creeds which establish the belief that Jesus and God the Father live in one body, or are the same person. But that term--"one corporeal body"--is not found in the Bible, and the Bible never says they are the same person. The Bible does say that Jesus and God are one. The LDS believe this. But they don't believe they are one corporeal body. Therefore, though the LDS appear to believe "in a different Jesus," the fact is, that the LDS don't believe in the Jesus created by the creeds in the early centuries after Jesus Christ. They believe more in the God of the Bible.

Q:
Can the LDS back up their belief in the godhead, as opposed to the Trinitarian concept?
A:
Michael Flournoy has a good response to this question: MFlournoy Article His article is reprinted here with his permission.

Q:
Mormonism doesn't make any sense. Their teachings contradict the Bible. There are conflicting versions of Joseph Smith's first vision.
A:
LDS teachings don't contradict the Bible; they contradict the man-made creeds that started to show up long after the books of the Bible were written. The LDS teach that the Godhead is made up of three separate beings. Most other religions say they are one corporeal body. But the Bible doesn't use the term "one corporeal body" when describing the Godhead.

Many attack the LDS doctrine that "works" help us to gain a better reward. They say that faith or grace alone is sufficent. But the Bible also speaks of the importance of works. For example, James 2:17, 20, 26 say:

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Also, Rev. 14: 13 says, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

Rev. 20: 12-13 says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."

See also Matthew 25:31-46: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

As far as different accounts of the first vision? Who, in this life, has told the same story the same way twice? In addition, when someone asks a specific question, you use only the part of your experience to answer that specific question, instead of recount the parts that don't apply. The person who judges Mormonism based on this quirk of human nature is in danger of being judged with that same ruler in the last day.

If a religion or organization is going to be judged as unauthentic based on what seems to be contradictions and lack of logic, then one must so judge the Bible and Christianity, as they have more contradictions and illogical scenarios. The LDS people believe in the Bible, and they love its teachings and they adopt them and learn from them, but they realize that all writings that pass through the weak hand of man are going to show evidence of those weaknesses.

Non-LDS scholars have discovered many contradictions in the Bible. See, for example, Kersey Graves, The Bible of Bibles; Rolla Leslie, Was the Bible Inspired? William McCarthy, The Bible, Church and God; Remsberg, The Christ; etc.). Here are a few of the many they have found:

* Does God dwell in light or darkness? Compare 1 Tim. 6:16 with 1 Kings 8:12; Psalm 8:12; 18:11; 97:2.

* Is wisdom beneficial? Compare Ecc. 1:17-18 with Prov.3:15, 17; 8:11.

* Is righteousness good or filthy? Compare Isa. 64:6 with 1 John 3:7-8).

* Were there 28 or 43 generations between David and Christ? Compare Matt. 1:6-17 with Luke 3:23-31.

* Should we love or hate our kin? Compare Eph.5:25, 28-29; 6:2; 1 John 3:14-15 with Luke 14:26.

* Was Christ supposed to bring peace or the sword? Compare Matt.26:52; John 14:27 with Matt.10:34; Luke 22:36.

* Are there true Christians who do not sin? Compare Matt. 5:48; 1 John 3:6, 8-10; 5:18; with Rom.3:10; 1 John 1:8.

* Is it possible to live beyond the influence of Satan? Compare 2 Cor.12:7 with 1 John 3:18.

* Should saints eat with sinners? Compare Matt. 9:10-11 with 1 Cor. 5:11-13.

* Can God be tempted? Compare Heb.4:15 with James 1:13.

If anybody wants to see more of this type of thing in the Bible, find the link, on this site, that takes you to the Mormon LDS Issues site. Or send an email to the author of this site: samueler@comcast.net.

The important thing to remember is, religion is all about faith, not logic or sense, though--when you look at it with fresh eyes and you throw out all preconceived ideas--the author of this site is convinced that nobody can dispute that Mormonism is more logical than anything else out there.

Q:
I've been hurt by Mormon leaders and members. Therefore, the LDS church can't be true.
A:
Remember no one, except Jesus, is perfect. Imperfection was rampant among the disciples and apostles of Jesus' original church. This did not mean His church wasn't of Him.

Q:
Why was "King Benjamin" changed to "King Mosiah" in Mosiah 21:28?
A:
See article by Sam Richardson.

Q:
Why can't we all just get along?
A:
See article by Rareay Rob. Some thoughts on a biblical concept, Charity

Q:
Do the LDS believe only they are good?
A:
People tend to confuse our optimistic testimonies of the Church with our character. A church can be of Jesus, and perfect, but it doesn't mean the members are perfect. People also confuse our doctrine that we can become gods with our attitude. It isn't preached that only the good will become gods; we believe that those who can become gods are those that follow the steps required to qualify. As all are sinners, then sinners cannot be exluded from that opportunity.

The true latter-day saint regards him- or herself as a humble sinner, needing the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and God's armor in order to resist the fiery darts of the evil one (Eph. 6:11-18). They believe they are saved into the Telestial or Terrestrial Kingdom (Jesus' Kingdom is the Terrestrial) by the pure Grace of Jesus Christ, and into the Celestial Kingdom by keeping certain commandements and ordinances (which comes as a gift because of our works--not because we are worthy--which translates to Jesus' Grace, also). After that, those who keep higher covenants and ordinaces and endure to the end, quality to become gods (which, also, is a gift, and which means the LDS give more credit to the Atonement than those who say we can't become gods).

The LDS realize they may fail, and that non-LDS people may succeed and surpass them in this life or in the next. This short article by Jan "Brit Girl" All Are Children of God, shows that we know that goodness and charity are not found only in our church.

More Q&A to Come:
This site is still in its infancy; more Q&A will come soon.
If you have a question, please submit it and it will be considered for this area. Also, if you have a short article that you believe will help to clarify an LDS doctrine or help someone on his/her way, please submit it to samueler@comcast.net.