This video is approximately 1 hour and 6 minutes long, but is worth a watch for anyone who is interested in Mormonism,and is looking for assistance in answering the falsehoods of the church.
I pray this may be useful to you and feel free to leave any comments.
The Mormon church is one of the largest groups in the world, taking in an estimated 4.7 billion dollars a year, and has an estimation of around 1, 500 new members a day.
HOW TO TREAT A MORMON
It is very, very important to treat the Mormon as a person first and a Mormon second. They may think different, but still share the same feelings.
If you feel you can not treat the person or persons with respect do not attempt to carry on a discussion.
MOTIVES FOR SPEAKING
Another recommendation is if you are speaking to a Mormon with the least bit of motive to flex your “theological muscle”, it is recommended that you should reexamine your motives, for we are to reprove and rebuke with all longsuffering (2 Tim. 4:2). We have a duty to preach the gospel (1 Cor. 9:16) and to bring glory to God (Rev. 4:11; 19:1)
WHAT DO I SAY TO THEM?
There is a lot to the Mormon faith so what do you say to them in the short amount of time you may have? They may try to bring up their own topic about a prophet etc.. but feel comfortable and genuine and tell them you would like to focus on Jesus Christ and salvation, they will happily agree.
FIRST VERSE
Anything you say about Christ, the Mormon will most likely agree with you unless you have an in-depth study with them. Once again there is a need to be serious about this; the Mormon has a soul that needs Christ. There are a number of verses you’ll want to memorize and be able to answer. Be sure to only use the King James Version because they will only recognize that translation, also it is important to read the verses and let them read them as well or follow along so they will know you’re not lying to them.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Read these two verses slowly and clearly, emphasizing on parts such as “not of yourself”, “gift”, “not of works” and the term “boast”
Mormon Comeback
A Mormon may actually agree stating without the cross no one could be saved. They may also quote that they are saved through faith plus all they can do.
Answer
It is important to emphasize the key words especially the meaning of the word “gift”. It is a gift given by God and has nothing to do with us.
SECOND VERSE
Please note that the second part of this article will have answers to some of the verses they may bring up after you quote any of the verses for salvation not of works.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
This is a great reference. Study it carefully before using it so you can fully enjoy the complete meaning of it.
Mormon Comeback
A possible comeback I have heard — “Oh that’s Moses’ law”
Answer
Ask them if James and Paul wrote about the same law. They should say yes. If so read them James 2:10,11. These are commandments mentioned as Paul mentions in many places. So this law as in the context of Romans 3, are rules set up by God and we can not justify ourselves by working to be good. But justification is found in faith alone.
THIRD VERSE
The Mormons are all about works, so provide them with one. Tell them that God actually does mention a work that can be done:
John 6: 28 ¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
There are many verses that could be brought up and I am sure the reader can think of some of their own. But let us look at some of the verses the Mormons may use to refute the idea of faith in Christ alone and that works are not required to obtain eternal salvation.
MORMON ANSWERS
There are many verses that the Mormons use to try and show works are necessary to complete salvation. It is very important to read a verse in context of the chapter, book and entire Bible. .
FIRST VERSE
Rev. 20:13 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.
There is no need of spending a great deal of time on this verse, other then pointing out a couple important points.
1 — There is no mention of the judging to determine the location of the soul.
2 — All that are judged land in the same place — the lake of fire. (v. 14 — notice the both that were raised in v 13, the dead and hell are both the same that are cast into the lake of fire. None in this portion go to heaven.)
SECOND VERSE
James 2: 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
There are some points within this chapter and book that needs to be brought out to the Mormon
– If there is no spirit in the body, the body is dead so if the vital signs of faith which is works is not there, then the faith is not real.
– Works is like a battery tester. Is the battery any good? Is the faith true?
Notice the very example that James uses in verses 15-17
Be sure to read the book of James before a Mormon visits you and explain to the Mormon that in chapters 1 and 2 James is explaining earthly things (i.e.. (James 2:2-4)
Explain to the Mormons in James 2:23, James is referring to Genesis 15. While in verse 21 he is referring to Genesis 22.
In verse 21 Abraham is justified by his works in the sight of man to show the reality of his faith because…in verse 23 Abraham is made right before God. Make note that one is referring to God while the other is referring to man.
THIRD VERSE
Philippians 2: 12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
This letter is addressed to the church as a whole to aid with serious problems:*
1 — Rivalries (ch. 2:3-4)
2 — Judaizing Teaching (circumcision necessary for salvation, — 3: 1-3)
3 — Perfectionism ( sinless perfection in this life, — 3:12-14)
4 — Influence of antinomian libertines (ignoring God’s word and doing as they please, — 3:18-19)
The salvation here has no mention of eternal salvation of the soul, but rather salvation of the church from danger. You may just in passing want to show the Mormon as well chapter 1, verses 6, 10. It is Christ doing the work of salvation within us, it is not us.
FOURTH VERSE
Matthew 7: 21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
They may bring up this verse as well as verse 24 claiming that no one will enter heaven unless they do the will of God, but the verse does not say that, true ones are doing the works of the Father because of who they are, but bring them to the attention of verse 22. There were people who were doing God’s work, even in His name and they were lost, how could that be?
Show them verse 17
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit..
A true tree will bring forth the fruit that is supposed to come from it, it will come natural. The apples would never have appeared without the true nature of the tree, and true works for God can never be revealed without the faith being real. The important verse as well to understand this portion is verse 13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
The Lord is the door John 10:9. Whoever enters in through the gate/door which is Jesus Christ is saved. Whoever puts their trust in Him is saved (John 3:18). The chapter such as 17 and on, then explains that the main thing is Christ. People may do things but if they do not know Christ as their own personal Saviour they are lost. The works done by the ones in verse 22 did them no good because they didn’t have a personal knowledge and relationship with Christ.
FIFTH VERSE
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Bring to their attention this verse obviously is a verse to prove the reality of the person’s salvation because being saved has nothing to do with us. Read them:
1 Corinthians 1:8
Php. 1:6,10
Ephesians 5:26, 27
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24
CONCLUSION
If only I could make it more known, the seriousness and great importance of speaking to the Mormons. They have a lost soul; they need to know the importance of being delivered. They need to know the joy and security that can be found only in Christ.
If necessary print this off, write and ask us to mail it to you. Make your own notes, memorize these passages. If you know you can present the truth to them please do. Keep a KJV bible by your door, get a small one for your purse or jacket pocket.
People are being deceived by the friendly impression of the Mormon church yet need to know the seriousness of losing their soul.
¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
1 Thess. 5:23,24
* Special Thanks to Ron Rhodes “Reasoning From the Scriptures with the Mormons” for compiling the list.
MORMON STAND
Within the Mormon church, they hold to the teaching that after Christ had left this earth, there was a state of apostasy*, and the true Church of God was not restored until the revelation given to Joseph Smith (the founder of the Mormon church)…….below are some direct quotes from the Mormon’s Official Website:
Apostasy*
A general falling away from the truth occurred after the death of Christ’s Apostles. This is called the Apostasy.
When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He established His Church. After His Ascension into heaven, His Apostles carried on His work under His direction, …. After the Apostles and many righteous Church members were killed and other members departed from the truth, the Lord took the priesthood authority and His Church from the earth. Without God’s priesthood authority, the Church no longer functioned as Christ had established it. The ordinances were changed and many plain and simple truths were lost. While many good people and some truth remained, the original Church was lost.
The scripture reference given on their website for this is:
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
The Restoration
The Apostle Peter prophesied of the “restitution of all things” before Christ’s Second Coming (Acts 3:19–21). Having been lost because of the Apostasy, Christ’s Church and the fullness of His gospel needed to be restored to the earth. This Restoration would make available the opportunity for all to receive once again all of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith’s First Vision marked the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth
Scriptural Reference:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
(This all can be found on http://mormon.org)
BIBLICAL VIEW
Apostasy
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Point 1: One thing that the Mormons enjoy doing is reading into text. If you are not careful you can easily be caught up into their trick. They will tell you something and then use a verse to show they are true. If you look at the verse in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. There is no mention there at all of a total apostasy of the Church. They are reading into the text something that is not there.
Point 2: Paul is not referring to a wide scale event that is taking place, but is speaking of a specific distinguishable apostasy that has not yet come (rf. 1 Timothy 4:1-3, James 5:1-8; 2 Peter 2;3:3-6).
Point 3: It is obvious that there is no teaching here of an apostasy of Christ’s church. But a teaching that a day will come when one will rise up and try to denounce anything of God, and claim himself to be God.
There is no scripture whatsoever to say that the church founded by Christ was done away with
—-
The Mormons have many different reasons and references to attempt to show that the Church that Christ founded and the apostles helped build was taken away.
THE RESTORATION
If you allow the portion of scripture quoted above to read for itself and within context you will quickly learn there is nothing being mentioned here about a total apostasy of the church and then a need for complete restoration of it.
The message in Acts 3 is being spoken to a Jewish group of people. Peter was offering them salvation through Christ, the one that would return and restore all things, including the restoration of Israel. Something the Jews were looking forward to
(rf. Is. 40:9-11; Ezek. 37:21-28; Hosea 14:4-7; Amos 9:11-15)
EXTRA POINTS
It is worth mentioning as well that there are many clear verses to show that there will not be a complete apostasy of Christ’s church and will continue to grow and be strong until Christ’s return:
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph. 3:21
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:25
*Abandonment of one’s religious faith, a political party, one’s principles, or a cause. (http://dictionary.com)
I am sure that if certain people see this video, it will result in a lengthy debate, but so be it.
This is for the most part a very well done cartoon depicting the very core teaching of Mormonism. Feel free to leave comments or email me at: potandtorch@gmail.com
