THE CHANGING DOCTRINES OF MORMONISM

Mormonism of today has little in common with Mormonism in its early days. Over the years their doctrines have changed radically, including those from which they have formulated their beliefs about the God they worship. These continual, ongoing changes don't line up with their claim to being the sole possessors of truth because the main ingredient of truth is its consistency. And the reason we can always rely on the truth is because it never, ever changes.

At the start of their existence, the LDS church had similar beliefs to Protestant Christianity. The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (which you can view in the LDS archives), taught that God the Father was a trinitarian spirit being:

"...We shall, in this lecture speak of the Godhead: we mean the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are two personages ..... they are the Father and the Son: the Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and fullness: the Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle [body] ..... And he being The only begotten of The Father ... possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit." (1835 Doctrines and Covenants, Fifth Lecture of Faith, 5:1-2, pages 52-53, 55, First edition)

Note: The original Doctrine and Covenants was split into two sections. The first section comprised their canon of LDS Doctrines and the second section contained the LDS Covenants [Revelations]. The above quote from the fifth lecture of faith was recorded in the first section, and included in their canon of scripture, indicating that it was their official doctrine. However, it is the habit of the LDS church to sanitize or to deny any aspects of their history that may reflect negatively on them. And so they vehemently deny having worshipped different deities at different times in the past. In line with this, they maintain that the above quote was only the personal opinion of one of their members. But this excuse is invalidated by the fact that it was included as official doctrine in their 1835 Doctrine and Covenants.

The following verses from the LDS's 1981 printing of Doctrine & Covenants, also clearly indicate that at the time they were written (in 1830), Joseph Smith taught that God had always, eternally, been God, and that he had created mankind:

By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them; And he created them male and female .... (Doctrine & Covenants Section 20:17, 18 (revelation through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, April, 1830.)

The Book of Mormon (which was written before Smith changed his doctrine on deity) also taught the trinitarian deity, and that God was a spirit being:

..... Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God..... (Alma 11:44)

..... the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one ..... (3 Nephi 11:27)

..... to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God..... (Mormon 7:7)

Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No. (Alma 11:28-29)

..... there is but one God (Alma 11:35) And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit? And he said, Yes. And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and on the earth? And he said Yes ........ (Alma 18:26-29)

Over the years since he'd brought the LDS church into existence, Joseph had formulated a complete change in theology. Then in 1843 he went that one step further and persuaded the majority of the membership of the LDS church to follow an unbiblical God who was not a spirit being, but had a body of flesh and bone. His new deity hadn't always been a God eternally, but at one stage had been an ordinary mortal man who had lived on a fallen planet similar to earth, before progressing to godhood (History of the Church, Volume 6, pages 302-317, c/f The Encyclopedia of Mormonism; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, pages 345-346, c/f Times and Seasons, Volume 5, pages 613-615 ).

The doctrine that God was once a man and has progressed to become a God is unique to this church. (Official LDS Lesson Manual, 1997, page 34, "The Teachings of Brigham Young")

Changing one's deity is not a light matter. If our ideas about God are wrong, then we'll be wrong about all our other doctrines too, because ultimately all our beliefs stem from our view of God.



THE LDS HOLY GHOST

The LDS teaches that the Holy Ghost is a son of God and a deity. He is a personage of spirit but is not omnipresent and is, therefore, incapable of being in more than one place at a time.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the Holy Ghost is a spirit man, a spirit son of God the Father." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Volume 2).

"The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a Personage of Spirit, a Spirit Person, a Spirit Man, a Spirit Entity. He can be in only one place at one time, and he does not and cannot transform himself into any other form or image than that of the Man whom he is" (LDS Apostle McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, page 359).

However, according to the LDS's own law of eternal progression, (note that it is supposed to be a fixed law), one cannot progress to the level of deity unless one first obtains a physical body. Yet their Holy Ghost, whom they say is the third member of the Godhead, does not have a body of flesh and bone. And, according to their teachings, neither did the Lord Jesus Christ have a physical body at the time they maintain that he attained His Godhood, i.e. prior to His incarnation. So here we have at least two major exceptions to their law of eternal progression.

Mormonism is full of inconsistencies, contradictions and errors. This is indicates that it had its origins in the mind of a fallen, fallible man.

Mormon Apostle James E. Talmage has this to say, concerning the Holy Ghost:

"The Holy Ghost may be regarded as the minister of the Godhead, carrying into effect the decisions of the Supreme Council [of Gods]. The power of the Holy Ghost is the spirit of prophecy and revelation. God grants the gift of the Holy Ghost unto the obedient, the authority to so bestow the Holy Ghost belongs only to the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood" (The Articles of Faith, 1982, page 160).

"Gospel Doctrine" expands on their teaching on the Holy Ghost:

"If a man is baptized and ordained to the Holy priesthood and is called upon to perform duties which pertain to that Priesthood, it does not follow that he must always have the Holy Ghost in person present with him when he performs his duty, but every righteous act which he may perform legally will be in force and effect and will be acknowledged of God, and the more of the Spirit of God he possesses in his ministrations, the better for himself, and those will not suffer any loss unto whom he administers.

Therefore, the presentation or the "gift" of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." (Gospel Doctrine, Volume 1, pages 94 and 95.)

But this is not biblical. The Bible teaches us that under the New Covenant, once we are born again the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost (same Greek word) comes to live within us. That is why our bodies are referred to as temples (i.e. dwelling places of God). It is only because of God's indwelling Holy Spirit that the Christian is able to understand things on a spiritual level, and thereby learn to overcome the world and live on a higher plane above worldliness and evil, the way that God wants us to do.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV)

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3, KJV).

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16, KJV).

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9, KJV)

Speaking to the church, which in the New Testament was not an organization but the body of believers in Christ, the Apostle Paul said:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22, KJV)

What happens under the New Covenant is this: The unsaved man comes under conviction of his need for salvation from sin. He repents and surrenders himself to Christ for salvation, trusting in Him alone. At this stage he is born again, or born of the Spirit, becoming a new creature in Christ. In other words, from the moment we come to faith in Christ, we are indwelt by God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27, KJV)

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4, KJV)

LDS TEACHING ON THE SPIRIT OF GOD

The LDS makes a definite distinction between the Holy Ghost and God's spirit, presence or influence. As already mentioned, the LDS Holy Ghost is both a God and a son of God. And in the same way as is the case with God the Father, he is unable to be in more than once place at a time.

LDS teaching is that the spirit of God it is an inanimate force, similar to electricity. In other words, it is a type of power used by God to accomplish his purposes. This power or force is present everywhere. According to Gospel Doctrine, Volume 1, page 93-95, it is the influence, or power that emanates from deity, without being restricted to one place at a time:

"..... it is the light of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the source of intelligence, which permeates all nature, which lighteth every man and fills the immensity of space. You may call it the Spirit of God, you may call it the influence of God's intelligence, you may call it the substance of His power; no matter what it is called it is the spirit of intelligence that permeates the universe and gives to the spirits of men understanding. [Job 32:8, Doctrine and Covenants 88:3-13]" (Gospel Doctrine, Volume 1, page 94.)

"The Spirit of God which emanates from Deity may be likened to electricity or the universal ether, as explained in our manual, which fills the earth and the air and is everywhere present. It is the power of God, the influence that he exerts throughout all his works, by which he can effect his purposes and execute his will ....." (Gospel Doctrine, Volume 1, page 95.)

BIBLICAL TEACHING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost are different translations of exactly the same Greek word. Consequently, from time to time the terms Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost are used interchangeably, e.g. 1 Corinthians 1:13-14, John 7:39. So they are one and the same. And the LDS has committed a grievous doctrinal error in assuming that they are two different entities. The Holy Spirit is a Being, not a thing or a force, as is taught by the LDS. Over and over again the Bible reveals that He has all the attributes a person would have, and which could never be displayed by a thing or a force. For instance, He acts according to His will, distributes to each of us individually just as He wills, loves us, helps us, guides us, prays for us and grieves:

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; (Romans 15:30, KJV)

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11, KJV)

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26, 27 KJV)

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30, KJV)

Furthermore, Christ refers to the Holy Spirit as being a person when He says that His purpose is to guide us, and to glorify the Lord Jesus:

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-14, KJV)

(In the Greek Interlinear, it is indicated that the word translated as "himself" in verse 13, is a personal pronoun.)



REGENERATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

The present LDS teaching is that when a person undergoes Mormon baptism, he is born again (born of the spirit):

"The second birth begins when men are baptized in water by a legal administrator" (Mormon Doctrine page 101).

"Little children are spiritually alive until they arrive at the age of accountability (Moroni 8:8-26). Then they die spiritually unless they are born again... by baptism they are born of water and of the Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine page 761).

At this stage we need to remember that in biblical times the use of the word "baptism" was not confined to water baptism. It also described being engulfed by or immersed in an experience, or an initiation into something. For instance, John the baptist referred to Christ's giving of the Holy Spirit to those who came to Him as a spiritual baptism, and Christ referred to His coming death on the cross as a baptism in suffering that He would have to undergo:

(John the baptist said) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11, KJV)

(Jesus said, referring to His coming crucifixion) But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! (Luke 12:50, KJV)

Contrary to Mormon teaching that the gift of the Holy Ghost can only be received through the laying on of hands by priesthood holding members of the LDS church, and that the Spirit is received through water baptism, the Bible reveals that folk receive or are baptized in the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost (same Greek word) when the Spirit anoints the Word of God as they hear it, believe it, and consequently put their faith in Christ (c/f Acts 10:47-48, discussed below). This is what is described in John 3 as spiritual regeneration, or the new birth.

The Bible also indicates that there is no connection between water baptism and baptism of or the gift of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost. For instance, in Acts 10, we read about how God sent Peter to preach to the gentiles. As he preached the Word of God to them, the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost fell upon them, and they were regenerated or born again, because the new birth comes about through the application of the Word of God combined with the anointing or the power of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost (same Greek word), not through water baptism.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:44-48, KJV)

So the new birth, i.e. the receiving of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost, can happen at any time and in any place. The Lord Jesus put it like this:

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8, KJV)

The Apostle Peter describes the receiving of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost as a spiritual baptism, quite apart from water baptism:

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 11:15-16, KJV)

The Bible also teaches that God will give us the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost (same Greek word) in answer to our prayers:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13, KJV.)

Furthermore, the Lord Jesus gives the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit to those who come to Him for salvation, without their having been baptized or having had hands laid on them.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39, KJV) Note that the terms Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are used interchangeably in this verse.

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14, KJV)

Mormonism is filled with contradictions, which is not indicative of truth. In spite of their teaching that baptism by immersion and laying on of hands are necessary in order to receive the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost, their own scriptures teach that this wasn't the way it happened with Adam:

"And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. Wherefore thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. And that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God." (Moses 5:6-10, Pearl of Great Price) (Emphasis inserted by editor)

TRUTH STANDS THE TEST OF TIME

The existence of countless contradictions and/or changed doctrines in every area of LDS theology should alert Mormons to the fact that something is radically wrong, because truth is consistent — it never changes. That is why Christianity of today teaches exactly the same doctrines that the primitive church proclaimed in the New Testament. Truth always stands the test of time.

Should you wish to contact the editor, you are welcome to do so at reply@bibtruth.com

The following are links to articles on the differing LDS teachings on God, and on the new birth (comparing biblical teaching with that of the LDS church), as well as on their claim to be a Christian denomination:

The Mormon Gods, Past and Present

The New Birth, Biblical and Mormon Viewpoints

Mormonism's Claim to be a Christian Denomination

To access a comprehensive index of articles comparing various aspects of Mormonism with what the Bible teaches, click on the "home" button at the bottom of this page.


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