The Trinity
Salvation by grace
God has a physical body
Is the Bible all of God's word?
Modern Revelation
Topics
Judged by our Works
The One-ness of God
The Apostasy
Jesus Christ
Basic Beliefs
Family
Genealogy
Free Book of Mormon
Modern prophets speak now!
Chat with a missionary
Have missionaries teach me
Find an LDS church
Programs for youth/teens
Search LDS scriptures
Other Languages
More Good Foundation
Jeff Lindsay.com
Is Mormonism a cult?
Great Washington Post Article
Polygamy (Multiple Wives)
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Concerns about LDS Doctrine
Major or perceived doctrines. True or False?
There are several major doctrines (and some perceived doctrines) that people believe are contrary to "traditional" Christianity. This table will give you understanding of some of the major ones:
Doctrine/
Perceived Doctrine |
True? |
Notes |
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"'Mormons' don't believe in the Trinity" |
True
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"Mormons" (or members of Christ's church in the latter days) believe that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are 3 distinct beings (but one God). When Joseph Smith was 14 years old, he wanted to know which church to join. You really should read the full story in Joseph's own words, but in short he was visited by two glorious beings: Heavenly Father and His Son, the resurrected Jesus Christ.
While a spiritual witness of Joseph's account is their main source for believing that Heavenly Father and Jesus are two distinct beings, they also believe the Bible is overwhelmingly supportive of this belief. See The One-ness of God
for more details. Unfortunately most of traditional Christianity holds fast to this product of a meeting
convened by the emperor Constantine, "the Trinity". |
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"'Mormons' believe they can earn their salvation, or that they are saved by their works." |
Not True
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As all Christians believe, "Mormons" know they will be judged by our works. However they do not believe that just by doing certain works they can earn their salvation. Too many scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints say that we are saved by the grace of Christ. This page cites 8 such scriptures that are explicit on this point. It also talks about how works fit in.
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| "'Mormons' believe God has a body of flesh and bone" |
True
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As all Christians believe, "Mormons" believe that Jesus was resurrected and that he has (still) a body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).
"Mormons" also believe, as all Christians believe, that we were created in the image of God and that Jesus also is (now) in His express image! (see Hebrews 1:3 KJV, NIV). Read more...
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| "'Mormons' don't believe the Bible is all of God's word" |
True
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Along with all Christians, "Mormons" believe that God spoke to man from the time of Adam and Eve and continued to do so until many years after Jesus was resurrected.
The difference is that they believe he still speaks to man on the earth. They believe that he stopped for a time during a period of spiritual famine foretold of in the Bible which called
"the Apostasy". And that, perhaps along with the book of Revelation discussing things in a finalistic way, creates for "traditional" Christianity a perceived (but non-existent) border over which more revelation cannot cross. |
Did we miss any?
Are there things you've heard about LDS doctrine that we didn't mention here? We would like to hear from you.
Click here to suggest doctrines or concerns that you feel are not adequately addressed by this site.
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