How we can explain to a Mormon the differences of the Bible and what their church is teaching to obtain salvation? To do this their position needs to be explained in detail, and compared to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the original apostles.

The Mormon lifestyle is governed by their teaching of obedience to celestial law. Doctrine and Covenants 88:22 states, “For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.�?President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote, “To enter the celestial and obtain exaltation it is necessary that the whole law be kept...Do you desire to enter the celestial Kingdom and receive eternal life? Then be willing to keep all of the commandments.�?(The Way to Perfection, p. 206). The Mormon is to prove himself worthy of exaltation by his obedience and they believe they can achieve perfection in this life. They point to the Bible for this where Jesus said “be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.�?The understanding of this Scripture comes from their non- biblical concept of sin. The sin which came from the garden in Mormonism is not the same definition as Christianity. To Mormon's, Adam did not fall in the Biblical sense, but instead was given an opportunity to become a god. Sterling W. Sill who served as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve explained Adams transgression as “Under Christ Adam yet stands at our head... Adam fell, but he fell in the right direction. He fell toward the goal ... Adam fell, but he fell upward. �?Deseret News Church Section, July 31, 1965)

"Properly understood, it becomes apparent that the fall of Adam is one of the greatest blessings ever given of God to mankind" (Apostle Bruce McConkie, NWAF, p. 87). Notice the difference, the Bible says man and the earth was cursed, and the Mormon position is that it was blessing. One cannot arrive at this conclusion from the Words God spoke, but can from the words the Devil spoke. For God did not bless them but punished them for this act of rebellion AGAINST His Word. Yet Brigham Young said, “The devil told the truth, what is the mystery about it? ...I do not blame Mother Eve, I would not have had her miss eating the forbidden fruit for anything in the world.�?(Prophet Brigham Young, Deseret News, p. 308, June 18, 1873.) Jesus said the Devil was a liar and a murderer from the beginning, he has no truth in him. Immediately we are confronted with a very different concept of history as well as theology being presented.

Brigham Young also said “We are the sons and daughters of celestial Beings, and the germ of the Deity dwells within us. When our spirits took possession of these tabernacles, they were as pure as the angels of God, wherefore total depravity cannot be a true doctrine.�?(Discourses of Brigham Young, pp.50-51)

So without the understanding of the encroachment of sin on mankind and how serious it is, brings the Mormons distorted view of Grace and what faith and works are.

The Bible teaches that what happened to Adam was the most horrendous act to man and destroyed our future estate that our creator had in mind for us. It was the worst human disaster in history. Even though it only affected two people initially, its repercussions would be felt to all mankind down through history. Satan who was a foreign intruder deceived and challenged man by alienating him from his best friend, God.

These views are two completely different stories and have two completely different solutions for the problem for our fallen human nature. There is only one solution to solve the problem of sin; one of these does not work. We need to keep in mind that Mormonism is claiming to give the restored gospel that was lost in Christianity. As we will see it is nothing more than the Galatian heresy that Paul refuted so clearly plus some custom additions of their own.

One of the additions according to Brigham Young “Sin is upon every earth that ever was created, and if it was not so, I would like some philosophers to let us know how people can be exalted to become sons of God, and enjoy a fulness of glory with the Redeemer. Consequently every earth has its redeemer, and every earth has its tempter; and every earth, and the people thereof, in their turn and time, receive all that we receive, and pass through all the ordeals that we are passing through�?(Journal of Discourses 14:71-72).

So what happened here as an attack by the spiritual terrorist Satan also repeats itself over and over in other places in the universe. This is certainly not Bible. Not a hint is given anywhere from Jesus and the apostles writings on such a repetitive act on other worlds. This is done to frame their philosophy of gods and goddesses populating and ruling other worlds as Adam and Eve did here.

                            Clint710 <(((>(