The Church of Ladder Day Saints (LDS or Mormon) 17 Points of the True Church of Christ - Refuted
I am picking out this church denomination in particular, as a good example of bad, but there is truth here that all denominations can learn from. I am not saying there are not saved people within these groups. I am speaking against denominationalism and religiosity.
The following numbered seventeen points are the LDS church’s arguments for their belief that they are the “one true church”. Keep in mind, the LDS use the bible as other Christians use, plus Joseph Smith’s addition, he called “The Book of Mormon”, or “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”. I have added comments in blue that serve to clarify the Word of God.
The first issue at hand is the interpretation of the word “church” in the bible. The misunderstanding, this and other denominations, encounter is the misinterpretation of this word in the King James Version of the Word of God that most insist on using. And even if a more modern version is used, most of those versions rely heavily on the King James Version for interpretation. The original Word of God was God inspired and perfect as written by the original writers. But King James was not inspired of God directly, so his version is not perfect. Fact: nothing created or undertaken by man is perfect. Also, some words have changed meanings from the old English as understood to by us modern English speaking people.
The word used in the Greek was Ekklesia, meaning “an assembly of people”, or a “gathering of citizens”. We think of a church as a building or a denomination. In each of these scriptures, Jesus and the inspired writers were not talking about this kind of a church. When the correct understanding of this word “church” is understood, one can start all over with the interpretation of the below arguments.
On this basis, you can throw out all the below misinterpretations. But lets look at them individually anyway, in the name of thoroughness, for those interested.
1. Christ organized the Church. (Eph 4:11-14)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 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: 14 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; This is all true, and there are other churches that teach this doctrine, including the charismatic churches.
2. The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:23)
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
This verse does not say anything about the name of the church. The Revelation however does. It says he will mark them with his name. We will not mark ourselves.
3. The true church must have a foundation of Apostles and Prophets (Eph 2:19-20)
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Jesus Christ himself being the true corner stone… not a man. He will place his name on us, we will not place his name on us. Revelation.
4. The true church must have the same organization as Christ's Church (Eph 4:11-14)
They give the same scripture as in number 1. 5. The true church must claim divine authority (Heb 5:4-10)
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Most churches, including the Church of Christ don’t read this scripture, and want it’s leaders to go through the teachings of the traditions of men, and the false religions. You have to have a degree from men to be a preacher. The Apostle Paul had no such paperwork, who these men quote. Paul was taught directly from God. And this was the problem with Joseph Smith. He took honor unto himself.
6. The true church must have no paid ministry (1 Cor 9:16-18; Acts 20:33-34; John 10:11-13) 1 Cor 9 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Acts 20 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
John 10 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
If this were true, then why do the leaders of the mormon church take money from the parishioners?
7. The true church must baptize by immersion (Matt 3:13-16) 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Many churches teach this.
9. The true church must practice divine healing (Mark 3:14-15) 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
Many churches teach this.
10. The true church must teach that God and Jesus are separate and distinct individuals (John 17:11; 20:17) 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
This true and most churches do not understand it because they lean to heavily on the King James version of the bible, a mistranslation in many places. Go to the orginal inspired texts, in Greek and Hebrew for the truth.
11. The true church must teach that God and Jesus have bodies of flesh and bone (Luke 23:36-39; Acts 1:9-11; Heb 1:1-3) Luke 23 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. 39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
Acts 1 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Heb 1 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
12. The officers must be called by God (Heb 4:4; Ex 28:1; 40:13-16) Heb 4 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Ex 28 1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Ex 40 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
Right, and they can’t just say they are called by God. Their fruit must bear out the truth. Joseph Smiths fruit did not bear out the truth. He was a proven false prophet. http://www.carm.org/false-prophecies-of-joseph-smith.
13. The true church must claim revelation from God (Amos 3:7)
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
This is a copy of another point already responded to.
14. The true church must be a missionary church (Matt 28:19-20)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
This point is clear among most denominations.
15. The true church must be a restored church (Acts 3:19-20) 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;
This is another clear point among most denominations.
16. The true church must practice baptism for the dead (1 Cor 15:16&29)
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
I don’t know exactly what the author is trying to say here, but to baptize the dead is not a teaching of Jesus Christ or his apostles. A study of the Greek may be in order here because in the Greek there are multiple words for the English word dead, and may be other meanings. Paul often talked about the spiritually dead, for example. This is another example of the fallacy of the King James Version of the bible.
17. "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt 7:20)
This is it exactly! The fruits of a false prophet are false prophecies. The fruits of a false teacher are false teachings. If you follow the teachings of a false teacher, you will be following him to where he is going. I can make this claim with confidence: Joseph Smith, I assure you will be in hell, not at the side of Jesus. If you study his life in on a personal way, you’ll learn this man lived his life in the effort of leading others unto himself, and away from God. He died with gun in hand defending his own life, not as the church claims, as a martyr. If it was God’s plan for him to be a martyr, and he was a true prophet of God, then he would know it, and there would have been no need for him to kill other people to defend his own life. This false church tries to elevate this man to the level of Jesus with this martyrdom teaching. Jesus was the only sacrifice needed. Jesus did not try to defend himself, even though he could have with a word, he rather went to his death willingly to save your soul. The question is, will you accept this gift, or will you follow the false teachings of false prophets, seeking self-gratification in life. This is not a casual decision. This is life and death.