Apologetic Analysis of Mormonism
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as Mormons, began as a six member church and has grown to over 15 million people and over 29,000 congregations worldwide ("LDS Statistics and Church Facts"). With the past presidential candidacy race, it seemed that Mormonism faced many critiques or questions from Americans as Mitt Romney took the hot seat and answered questions about his religion ("21 Questions Answered About Mormon Faith").
Throughout my life I have heard the same statements from outsiders of the LDS church. Some of these statements include the beliefs that Mormons are: polygamists, discriminatory against African Americans and claim to be the one true church. Members of …show more content…
However, Jesus promised that full apostasy of the church would never happen (Taylor, 2010). Again, this disagreement between Mormons and Christians is not debating opinions, but is debating what is true. Therefore, we can believe that Jesus was truthful when He warned of only a partial apostasy and not a full apostasy of His Church (Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 3:21, 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:1, Holy Bible: authorized King James Version, 2009). In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Holy Bible: authorized King James Version, 2009). I believe that Jesus’ words were to be taken truthfully and if Mormons believe Jesus to be perfect and the son of God, then they should take His words to be accurate. If Jesus declared that the very gates of hell would not prevail against His Church, then one would presume that His Church would be firm under His power. In other words, Jesus was strong enough to declare that His Church would never be given over to apostasy. Furthermore, if Mormons believe God is powerful, like Christians do, then they would not believe that Jesus would be limited by hell. Although Jesus is the enemy of Satan, Satan is by no means equal in power to …show more content…
This paper allowed me to learn a great deal about them, while at the same time strengthening my faith. A few of the errors in the Mormonism doctrine are: Scripture, Church restoration, and salvation by works. The differences and defense of Scripture exposed the fallacies of the Mormon books. The differences explored in the Church restoration argument exposed the disobedience to Jesus’ words that Mormons have participated in. Finally, we see that the salvation preached in Mormonism is not a salvation that can stand firm. At the end of my life when I stand before my Maker, I will not justify myself deserving of heaven by my filthy, good works, but rather I will say I am deserving of heaven by Jesus alone. I pray that Mormons can come to know true salvation in Jesus someday and leave behind their false religion that Satan has so greatly blinded them with. Knowing other religions, strengthens us as believers to better witness to them, so that they too may come to personally know the one, true God that
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as Mormons, began as a six member church and has grown to over 15 million people and over 29,000 congregations worldwide ("LDS Statistics and Church Facts"). With the past presidential candidacy race, it seemed that Mormonism faced many critiques or questions from Americans as Mitt Romney took the hot seat and answered questions about his religion ("21 Questions Answered About Mormon Faith").
Throughout my life I have heard the same statements from outsiders of the LDS church. Some of these statements include the beliefs that Mormons are: polygamists, discriminatory against African Americans and claim to be the one true church. Members of …show more content…
However, Jesus promised that full apostasy of the church would never happen (Taylor, 2010). Again, this disagreement between Mormons and Christians is not debating opinions, but is debating what is true. Therefore, we can believe that Jesus was truthful when He warned of only a partial apostasy and not a full apostasy of His Church (Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 3:21, 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:1, Holy Bible: authorized King James Version, 2009). In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Holy Bible: authorized King James Version, 2009). I believe that Jesus’ words were to be taken truthfully and if Mormons believe Jesus to be perfect and the son of God, then they should take His words to be accurate. If Jesus declared that the very gates of hell would not prevail against His Church, then one would presume that His Church would be firm under His power. In other words, Jesus was strong enough to declare that His Church would never be given over to apostasy. Furthermore, if Mormons believe God is powerful, like Christians do, then they would not believe that Jesus would be limited by hell. Although Jesus is the enemy of Satan, Satan is by no means equal in power to …show more content…
This paper allowed me to learn a great deal about them, while at the same time strengthening my faith. A few of the errors in the Mormonism doctrine are: Scripture, Church restoration, and salvation by works. The differences and defense of Scripture exposed the fallacies of the Mormon books. The differences explored in the Church restoration argument exposed the disobedience to Jesus’ words that Mormons have participated in. Finally, we see that the salvation preached in Mormonism is not a salvation that can stand firm. At the end of my life when I stand before my Maker, I will not justify myself deserving of heaven by my filthy, good works, but rather I will say I am deserving of heaven by Jesus alone. I pray that Mormons can come to know true salvation in Jesus someday and leave behind their false religion that Satan has so greatly blinded them with. Knowing other religions, strengthens us as believers to better witness to them, so that they too may come to personally know the one, true God that