Did God inspire the Mormon church?
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Permalink Reply by Ezra Moore on
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No, God most definitely did not inspire the Mormon church. I can make this claim based on one peice of evidence alone. Joseph Smith, the prophet of the mormans claims, and the church maintains that he met with both the Father and Jesus and was given information on starting a new church. Now any Christian who has done their homework knows that no man can see the Father, not even in vision and live. So we are left with one of two possibilities. Either Jesus lied when he said nobone can look at God and live or smith lied when he said he saw God. I think I will go with the sure bet and believe Jesus. The true inspiration for that church is the father of lies himself.
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Permalink Reply by Ray Phillips on
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Ezra
Contrary to what most believe, Joseph Smith did not actually organize the Mormon Church. Brigham Young was the motivating force behind that.
Here is a little known fact. Joseph Smith wanted to worship on Sabbath. But Young and several others who were close to him, told him that if seventh-day worship was embraced that the church would not succeed. So, they choose Sunday as their day of worship.
Also, Joseph Smith was shot in a jail in Navaroo, Illiniois, as he was standing watching a crowd that was rioting in the streets blow, in the back. No one still knows who the trigger man was and it was never investigated.
Happy Sabbath!
Maranatha:)
Ray
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Permalink Reply by Benicio Schorea on
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For wat Joseph Smith was in Jail? Do you no that Joseph Smith has don every to destroy Ellen White?
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Benicio
As I remember, it has been a number of years since I read this, they were in the Navroo, Illinois jail for their own protection.
It was when they were moving from back east to Utah. When they came to Navaroo to spend the night, when the population found out who they were, a riot started. So, all of them were placed in jail to keep them safe from the rioting crowds. At least that is how I remember the story. I do not remember that they did anything except just be there and wanting to spend the night.
Maranatha :)
Ray
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Sir James
God had nothing to do with raising up the Mormon church. If you know much about them, that would not even be a question. I have investigated realitively deeply into their history and religion.
If you can find the book by Fawn Brodie, called: "No Man Knows My History," get it and read it. Fawn Brodie was a Mormon and they asked her to write a biography of Joseph Smith. They opened up all their records to her, so it is very well doctumented. You will not even wonder if God had anything to do with their being in existence after reading that report.
Happy Sabbath!
Maranatha :)
Ray
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Permalink Reply by Annie Glean-Kingery on
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O brother, you know the answer on this one yourself :-) You know our Lord is not an author of confusion. Any church that doesn't follow the Ten Commandments is an institution established by the copy cat Lucifer. His clever strategy is to create walls for people hard to see the true church. This is why there are so many who don't believe in going the church because of so many denominations claiming they hold the truth. God commanded us to follow His law so we in our daily lives His character will reflect through us. WE suppose to be the group of peculiar people, and are the light in this dark world. How wonderful it is knowing for every devise Lucifer has God Almighty has a solution for it. People out there who are still in dark world will sooner or later find the true church. It will be either from the consistent lifestyle based on His standard of His people or from the loud voice coming from His third angel's message. I think we all have noticed that God's message is being proclaimed louder than it has ever been before.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Libby on
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Preface to Mormon Delusions
We give the following preface to the work recently published under the above title. It will, if attentively considered, save many from the grasp of those deceivers. Eds. To the Christian Public.
The Scriptures assure us that in the “last days” false prophets and false teachers shall arise. But mark, there is no promise of any true prophets, as such; ALL that pretend to be prophets of the last times are FALSE ONES, profess what they may, Mormonism, Shakerism, Swedenborgianism, or any other ism depending on special prophecies of these last-times prophets. The following review and illustration relate to the latest form of deception by this class of prophets.
St. Paul predicted their rise, character, and destiny, as follows: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1, 2.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despiser of those that are good, traitors, heady high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts; ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further; for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2 Timothy 3:1-9.)
St. Peter confirms the above in the following words: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Peter 2:1, 2.)
The review under the head of “Delusions,” was written by Elder A. Cambell, of Bethany, Va., and was first published in the “Millennial Harbinger,” edited by him, in 1831. It plainly shows that the “Book Mormon” is a. vile imposture.
The illustrations of the “Montrosities” of the principles and practices of Mormonism, are gathered from various authentic sources, and they demonstrate, if the half be true, a complication of villanies, as vile as ever saw the sun.
The way the Mormon leaders practice their deceptions upon the ignorant and unsuspecting, is not, perhaps, generally known. We will state a few facts relating to this subject.
1. They come to the people as professed believers in Christianity. They preach what they know will take, as a general thing, with experimental and pious believers. Their real sentiments are kept back, till the bait is taken, after which the hook is fastened in the very heart of the unsuspecting and simple. Thus they come as “angels of light,” and in this way effect what they could not do, did they at first introduce the abominable and blasphemous doctrines of the Mormon bible.
2. They appeal to the selfish and ambitious passions of the discontented members of our churches, by promising them rewards and honors in this new institution. Almost any young man can be initiated into the priesthood, (after the order of Joseph Smith, jr., which they blasphemously say is after the order of Melchisedeck,) who will join them, and promise loyalty to this clan of impostors. Mr. Nickerson, the Mormon elder in this city, promised Brother G. W. Bruce, a respected member of my flock, an ELDERSHIP of the FIRST ORDER, if he would only join them and preach Mormonism, But the bait did not take. In other cases it has. Several poor simpletons have been ordained elders, and profess to have received the Holy Ghost, and power to work miracles, who do not know, as yet, what they believe nor whereof they affirm. They really think, however, that Joseph Smith, jr., is a prophet, like unto Moses!
3. Another mode of deception is to introduce the Book of Mormon as a part of God’s word to the church and the world. When they have gained power over the mind, any absurdity is received without difficulty. A very intelligent member of an Orthodox church in this city told me that, while under the delusion for a short time, he could not only see the consistency of the Mormon bible as a revelation from God, but could find Mormonism in almost every chapter of the Christian’s Bible. But the spell was broken while hearing one of those deceivers, who showed his cloven foot a little too soon. He has never been troubled with Mormonism since.
4. Another mode of deception is by the pretence of working miracles. Some, they say, have been cured of the headache; some of other diseases. Mr. Nickerson informs us that he has taken “deadly things,” such as arsenic, etc., and they did not “hurt him.” Reports of various cures, and the apparent honesty and simplicity with which the witnessess to these testify, often confound those who are unacquainted with the devices of the Devil. The deception lies in this very appearance of honesty. Some, no doubt, think they have received virtue through these pretended miracle-workers; and are, while under the deception, bearing a testimony which deceives many. But, as it happens, all these things are “done in a corner.” Like the golden plates, only a privileged few can see them! And more than this, the cases that are testified to are mainly such as, by the witnesses’ own statements, may be readily accounted for, without supposing the intervention of a miracle, either as the work of the imagination (for they do not pretend to cure any but such as have entire faith!) or as the effect of the “consecrated oil” with which the elder anoints the diseased portions of the body. We have heard some of them relate their most prominent “miracles,” none of which are equal, even if we credit their stories, to cases of cure through the imagination alone, that have fallen under the notice of most observing persons, and certainly not equal to many known results of the imagination which are recorded in books and well attested. But the other day we were told of a far more wonderful cure, that occurred in this city, than any miracle working of the Mormons which has come to our cars. A very respectable woman was sick, and thought she was about to die. She sent for a physician, supposing, as her friends supposed also, that she should not live through the night. It so happened that the physician did not arrive until morning; and when he told her that her disease was not dangerous, she arose, dressed herself, and walked out, apparently restored! A while ago, a gentleman was cured of a severe toothache, by the sight of the irons with which it was intended to extract the tooth; it was not drawn, nor has it troubled him since. About the same time, as a Mormon has informed us, Elder Nickerson, (or rather God through him!) cured a man of the sick headache, so that it has not since returned. And this, our Mormon informant told us, was as remarkable a miracle as any that has been wrought! To be sure the dentist’s instrnments had done as much, but they were no prophet, neither a prophet’s elder; yet in the other case, we are bound to believe there was a special interposition of Jehovah himself, in obedience to the prayers of the elder, to show unto the unbelieving Christians of Boston his peculiar approbation of his servant and prophet Joseph Smith, jr.!!! Well attested cases are recorded in medical works, in which persons have been made sick, and so sick that they have actually died by being told they were not well. Cases, too, of criminals condemned to death by bleeding, in which the patient was blindfolded, his arm scratched, but no blood taken; warm water was poured on to give the appearance to the mind of flowing blood, the progress of the blood-extracting process was described as though it were actually going on; and the person whose imagination was thus wrought upon has died in precisely the time required to take the life from another whose blood was actually set to flowing. But the
curative power of the imagination being as great as the destructive power, exhibits one class of means by which the designing Mormons impose upon the ignorant and credulous. A real miracle is a thing about which there can be no mistake. Have the Mormons ever called back the spirit to a body that has been “dead four days” and “stinketh?” Nay, verily! But, if we may credit them, they have cured a “cracked lip;” a “sore foot;” a woman with the “erysipelas and nervous rheumatism;” (a case of no less than three days’ standing;) set one man to getting better “gradually” of a “general weakness;” restored one woman of a sickness so severe as to forbid her sitting up quite all day, insomuch that she almost immediately arose from her bed and commenced getting supper; and drove a fever away from a child, so that the little thing actually fell asleep in its mother’s arms!! And these, they inform us, are the most prominent of their miracles, which in all amount to about twenty in the single city of Boston! We blush when we reflect that there are persons of apparent sincerity, and members of our churches, who are deluded and led astray by such things.
5. Finally: they threaten all who reject the Mormon doctrine with eternal damnation? By this means, some are frightened into the delusion, as the only way of escaping from hell!!
We commend the following pages as a sure preventive against the Mormon pestilence. The disease itself is a very obstinate one, yet it may be, and in some instances it has been cured. Joshua V. Himes. Boston, May 15, 1842.
Midnight Cry
“Let no man deceive you by any means,” 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
It appears from the first part of this chapter, that there was an impostor trying to instill into the minds of the. Thessalonian brethren that Christ’s second advent was about to take place. And it is said that there have been persons of this class as often as once in a century ever since, and I have no disposition to dispute it. But I do not consider this an argument to prove that the true cry will never be given (Behold the bridegroom cometh) or that it is not given at the present time. There are two things that I wish to state here, and I refer you to the word of God for proof, first, that God in his dealings with his people has always kept them somewhat in darkness respecting great events that were to take place, until it became necessary that they should know them for practical purposes. Second. That he has always revealed them to his people when it became necessary that they should know them. Our Savior has given many signs, that would take place immemediately preceding his second advent (to which if we take heed we may know something about it.) And then to close, he says Watch. Watch for what? Ans. For the signs of his coming. And in order not to be deceived as to the present cry, is it most reasonable to laugh about it, and say that because people have been imposed upon heretofore that we will pay no regard to it. Or had we better compare it with the word of God before we throw it away. It looks to me that the latter course is the best. I will give my views upon the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1-13, and leave you to judge for yourselves, ver. 1. Then immediately preceding and at the coming of the Son of man. See latter part of 24th chapter. Kingdom of heaven, the church or professing people of God. Virgins may represent the purity of the religion which they profess. Lamps. Word of God. Took their lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. Professed to take the word of God as their rule of faith and practice, and to wait for his Son from heaven. verse 2. And five of them were wise and five were foolish. Nearly one half were true Christians and the other half false professors. Now look at revivals for a year past, and what follows, and (although doubtless very many are truly converted to God) have we not reason to fear that many that now belong to our churches, never knew what it was to be born again. And then take the denominations who do not believe in regeneration, and see if the present state of things will not compare with this verse. verse 3. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. As oil in lamps is what gives light, so we get light from the Scriptures by prayerful study; and as unregenerate persons do not love the Bible, and if they read it they find it a task, so they will not get much light from it, and although they may pass at the present time for Christians from what they can gather from other’s experience, especially when the church is so nearly conformed to the world, yet the time is coming when they will need oil, or the light contained in the word of God. verse 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Vessel. The mind. The true child of God loves to study his word, and not only studies for present use, but stores his mind with other parts, especially if he is awake to the true interests of his soul, and longs for his Savior, he will look at those portions which tell about his coming the second time without sin unto salvation.
Ver. 5. While the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept.
You will find by studying the New Testament, that our Savior and his apostles endeavored to impress upon the minds of his disciples the necessity of constantly watching for the coming of the Son of man, but after a while it seems, as he delayed coming, they began to grow careless about it, and at last have settled upon the belief of a thousand years to intervene, and have gone to sleep, as it regards watching for the coming of Christ. verse 6. And at midnight, there was a cry made Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Now let us compare this with the present cry. 1st, when is this cry made. At midnight, when every thing is enveloped in darkness and all are asleep; was that not the case when Mr. Miller began to give the cry? how many do you suppose at that time were awake to the subject of Christ’s coming? 2nd. How is this cry to be made. Behold, see for yourselves. The believers in the advent nigh do not pretend that they are inspired, nor do they use a speaking trumpet, but they point you to the word of God, the fulfilment of prophecy, and the signs of the present time, and you can look for yourselves. 3rd. What is the effect of this cry, 7th verse. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. If you will look back three or four years and compare it with the present time, you will see that there has been a great overturn with regard to the study of prophecy, although out few comparatively have embraced the doctrine of the advent nigh. Many oppose the theory of Mr. Miller in consequence of his believing the time to be in 1843; but supposing he had preached the advent nigh without being anything definite about the time, and is it probable that the church would have been awakened? Who would have noticed him enough to have opposed him? You tell a believer in the conversion of the world, that you believe that Christ’s second advent is near, they will answer, so do we, if it was near 1800 years ago, it is near now, and they will sleep on. 8th verse. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. This probably refers to the short dark period which the church is to experience immediately prior to Christ’s coming, before the close of which the blood of martyrs will flow, see Revelation 6:11. And it seems that this time is now begun, for infidelity in disguise is creeping into our churches, which it seems any one might see if their lamps had not gone out. 9th verse. But the wise answered, saying, not so, lest there be not enough for you and us, but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Christians will have enough to do to look out for themselves. 10th verse. And while they went to buy, the bridegrooom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut before the foolish virgins could find out what these things now meant that were passing. The seventh trumpet sounds, the Son of man comes in the clouds of heaven with all his glory, raises his dead saints, changes the living (who have endured all the trials that they were called to pass through) who are caught up to meet him in the air. Then the mystery of God is finished. 11th verse. Afterwards come the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord open unto us. Those professors who thought they were doing very well, but made light of the idea that Christ would soon appear, now see to their astonishment, that he has come of a truth, and they cry for mercy. 12th verse. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you I know you not. Our Savior has left upon record signs, etc. and has warned them again and again to watch, and has by his servants told them that these signs were taking place, but they passed them by unheeded, and now the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and they are not saved. 13th verse. Watch therefore for ye know not the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh. Although Christ has given so many warnings to his followers to watch, yet once more he says, Watch therefore. That is, for the reasons contained in this parable. I add no more, but leave you to your own reflections. C.
Will not friend C. favor us with other communications? Eds.
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Permalink Reply by Advent Christian on
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no
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Permalink Reply by sir james on
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Annie Glean-Kingery,
it was nice to know from brother Ray Phillips, that Joseph Smith was a sabbath keeper at 1st, then decided to change
his way of thinking when some of his close friends Brigham Young , decided this would not be to best interest of their church to keep the sabbath but rather to worship on sunday. I also didn't know that joseph smith was shot in prison later in life. Yes i pretty much know this answer, however i again must say that there will be mormons , catholics, davidians, shepherd rod, baptist, lutherans, muslims, native-american indians, vikings, pirates (the good ones), pilgrims, eskimos, africans, its too many to make mentioned here on adventist online. Heaven will not be esclusively for the adventist people, but for many religions and many non believers as well. although God may not have raised up these various religions, but if you think about it, the people who were brainwashed into joining these religions, would be judged according to the light they were given.
sir james
sir james
p.s.
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Sir James
Heaven is now working on getting people out of the wrong churches. With the advanced technology people have no excuse at all for not accepting or learning the message. The end time message have been loudly proclaimed all over the world. In every corner of this world there are God's people sharing messages to them. To those who are brainwashed, God will reveal to them the truth but first they have to open themselves to the message. Regarding Joseph Smith, I have heard of him but obviously he joined the church and compromised his faith because he put his friends above God. I have heard also that Mormon Church is run by Freemason Secret Society. I am not sure if this is true or not. I wonder why they put Joseph Smith in silence. There had to be an important reason why they did it. I do believe there would be two classes of religious people at the very end of earth's history. The Sabbath Keepers who serve the Creator and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the other religious group that serve their god Lucifer, the fallen angel. Those are the people who refused to accept God's message and wanted to keep their positions in their loving city of Babylon. I am referring to the protestant churches.
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Good point Alex, how can nonbelievers be in the kingdom?
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This is Webster's definition of a non-believer
: one that does not believe in a particular religious faith
2
: one that does not believe : an incredulous person : doubter, skepticI have 3 friends who don't believe in God and yet they are helping us with mechanical work, home repair to just to name a few things. We are very low income and one of them was just here for 12 hours helping install some ceiling fans. If they don't believe in God what motivates them to help?
God will hold each and every person to light that they have in their hearts. We don't don't know their hearts but God does. I think they will be in heaven too.
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Paul vs. Saul
The Dilemma: You’ve read his writing, or at the very least heard his First Letter to the Corinthians at 100,000 weddings (“Love is not boastful,” etc.). But what’s the real name of the 13th apostle?
People You Can Impress: biblical scholars and people named Paul (also, people named Saul, although a lot of them tend to be either elderly or dead)
The Quick Trick: Before he saw Jesus, he was Saul; thereafter, Paul.
The Explanation:
Just as Prince became the Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Saul of Tarsus saw fit to have a midcareer name change. But Saul’s transformation was even more radical than Prince’s: Saul was a Jewish tentmaker who may have possessed Roman citizenship and persecuted Christians; Paul was a Christian—in fact, he was probably the single most important person in Christian history not named Jesus.
The change came about while Saul was on the road to Damascus around 35 ce, when Jesus appeared before him in a vision. Called by Christ to apostleship, Saul became Paul, and Paul quickly became one of the most important leaders of the young church. As a Jew, Paul was able to ground his theology in the Judaism of Jesus and most of the fledgling band of Christians. But Paul saw his true mission as being “the apostle to the gentiles,” and with his knowledge of Roman traditions, he was well placed to preach to non-Jewish residents of the empire. In his letters to various congregations, many of which ended up in the New Testament, Paul’s emphasis on the mystical importance of the resurrection of Christ, along with his exhortations to evangelize to the gentiles, helped establish Christianity as we know it today, as a religion entirely separate from Judaism. Paul also founded churches in Asia Minor and possibly even Spain and Britain.
Although little is known for certain about his life after the letters in the New Testament (most of which date to the 50s ce, making them some of the New Testament’s earliest writings), Paul is believed to have been—you’ll never believe it—martyred around 67 ce
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