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While there are some things that are right about Mormonism, the docrine of Mormonism has:

The wrong god

The wrong Jesus

The wrong salvation

The wrong scriptures.

With these four wrongs, it does not matter much what is right.

The Trinity: Most Mormons will say they deny the Trinity. However, I have met a number of Mormons who say they believe the doctrine of the Trinity. Upon talking with them, I have found that they do not know what the Trinity is, but instead are thinking of three gods. This page does not refer to Mormons rejection or misunderstanding of the Trinity. Refer to the Trinity page for more on that.

Salvation: This page does not refer to the Mormon's errors about salvation. Refer to the Salvation page for more on that.

Hell and the Lake of Fire: This page does not refer to Mormons denying Hell and the Lake of Fire. Actually, in addition to three Mormon Heavens, (celestial, terrestial, and telestial), I have talked with Mormons who do believe in Hell, but Hell is only for demons and a very few people, such as people who leave the Mormon church. Refer to the Hell page for more on that.

A: Most would agree the Holy Spirit does not have a physical body and Jesus did not have a physical body at that time. If "us" is referring to a discussion with the Father, Son, and Spirit, then image cannot refer to a mere physical body. By the way, Genesis 9:6 shows that since the Fall, we still have God’s image. See When Cultists Ask p.22 for more info.

A: Yes. Genesis 9:6, after the flood, shows that even though we are marred by sin, we still have God’s image. See Now That’s A Good Question p.152-153 for more info.

A: No. God being almighty means God can do anything, and God being the Creator means God created everything. God created the universe "ex nihilo", which means from nothing. Thus, to be precise, God not only created the "things of matter and energy", but God created matter and energy themselves.

See When Cultists Ask p.24-25 for a different, but complementary, answer.

A: a. Journal of Discourses vol. 1 p.50. (Sermon by Brigham Young) "Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken - He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing must hear it, and will know it sooner or later." (italics and small caps are in the original)

b. Journal of Discourses vol. 1 p.51. (Same Sermon) "Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven."

Note that Mormons often respond that this is a printing error. It is interesting to note that the volumes of the great Christian preacher Charles H. Spurgeon were published about the same time, and there were no printer’s errors saying some created being was God in his works. Following is corroborating evidence that the Mormon prophet really said this.

1. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal under 2/19/1854. (Look in the BYU Library)

2. Deseret Evening News 6/14/1873

3. Deseret Evening News 6/18/1873

4. Diary of Hosea Stout: On the Frontier vol. 2 p.438.

5. The Millennial Star vol. 16 p.543.

6. The Millennial Star vol. 15 p.769-770. one and a half years after.

7. Journal of John Nuttall vol. 1 pp.18-21.

8. Diary Journal of Abraham H. Cannon vol. 11 p.39 (taught for 50 years)

9. Sacred Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1856 p.375

10. Women of Mormondom p.179

11. Journal of Discourses vol. 4 p.1 (President Heber C. Kimball is speaking on 6/29/1856)

"...and I also know that if we are not one with brother Brigham, our leader, we are not one with Christ. Yes, I know this, and my feelings are and have been with brother Brigham all the time. I have learned by experience that there is but one God that pertains to this people, and He Is the God that pertains to this earth - the first man. That first man sent his own Son to redeem the world, to redeem his brethren."

12. Finally, a much later book:

The Position of Adam in L.D.S. Scripture and Theology: "The identification of Adam with God the Father by President Brigham Young is an irrefutable fact." p.58

A: No. First some background on the Mormon "Book of Abraham", and the importance of the fraud, and then proof that it is a fraud. This material was taken from previously written material on Mormonism.

The Mormon Book of Abraham is a part of the Mormon Scripture the Pearl of Great Price. It is the basis for the Mormon anti-black doctrine, that kept blacks from ever getting the Mormon priesthood. The anti-black doctrine was altered (by the Mormon god?) in 1978.

The Mormon Book of Abraham was written from ancient Egyptian scrolls Joseph Smith obtained in July 1835, which he stated contained the writings of Abraham and Joseph. He did not know ancient Egyptian, which few could read at that time. He proclaimed that God divinely inspired him to translate some of these scrolls into English, and this is how The Book of Abraham came to be.

These Egyptian scrolls were once thought lost and destroyed, but eleven of them were found in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and given to the Mormon church in 1868.

The Book of Mormon was said to be translated from the same language as the Book of Abraham. If Joseph Smith could not translate the one then he did not translate the other, and none of his scripture can be trusted. Moreover, if the scroll is a pagan scripture to an idol god Joseph Smith would be a Prophet, Seer, and revelator of his guide, the idol of the scroll.

Here is what Joseph Smith stated about translating: "A Translation of some ancient Records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt. -- The writings of Abraham written by his own hand, upon papyrus." Pearl of Great Price p.29.

There are three ways we know these are the Egyptian scrolls Joseph Smith tried to translate.

1. Three of the four handwritten original Book of Abraham manuscripts had the Egyptian Hieroglyphs in the margin. Of the eighty-odd Egyptian hieroglyphs on the scroll, 20, 13, and 10 hieroglyphs were written on manuscripts #1, #2, and #3 respectively. When there were gaps in the scroll 7, 6 and 6 restored hieroglyphs were added on the three manuscripts. From this we can be confident this Egyptian scroll was the one Joseph used.

2. Joseph invented a language of the Egyptian language. The bound, thirty-four page book, called the Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, is still in the church's possession. This language book illustrates many of the Egyptian hieroglyphs of the scroll. A very similar English "translation" is in the Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar as in the Book of Abraham. Some view this as one of the more damaging facts against the inspiration Joseph claimed to have.

3. The pictures at the beginning of both the Egyptian scroll and Smith's Book of Abraham are the same. The only difference is a pencilled in spot on the Egyptian picture that was filled in on the Mormon picture. Not only are the pictures copied the same, but the captions in pictures #2 and #3 referring the Egyptian idols are also copied into the Mormon scripture.

Smith thought he was translating these hieroglyphs. Read the actual translation by Dr. Klaus Baer on the next page. (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought: Autumn 1968 p. 119-120.)

"Osiris shall be conveyed into the Great Pool of Khons --and likewise Osiris Hor, justified born to Tikhebyt, justified --after his arms have been placed on his heart and the Breathing Permit (which [Isis] made and has writing on its inside and outside) has been wrapped in royal linen and placed under his left arm near his heart; the rest of his mummy bandages should be wrapped over it. The man for whom this book has been copied will breathe forever as the bas of the gods do." (bas are souls.) On p.111 Dr. Baer stated, "Joseph Smith thought that his papyrus contained the Book of Abraham."

Smith translated thousands of English words from these hieroglyphs. Joseph said this was the writing of Abraham and the word of his god. Actually it was a variant of the Book of the Dead a pagan Egyptian magic book filled with heathen gods and goddesses, often buried with mummies.

Dr. Richard Parker of Brown University in a personal letter to Marvin Cowen dated Jan. 9 1968 said, "5. I have seen Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar. The interpretation of the signs purported to be Egyptian have no resemblance to the meaning ascribed to them by Egyptologists."

Fifty years ago Dr. A.B. Mercer said, "Any pupil of mine who would show such absolute ignorance of Egyptian as Smith does, could not possibly expect to get more than zero in an examination in Egyptology." (Improvement Era, vol. 16, p 615.) This is still true today.

Dr. John A. Wilson said, "...as far as I am concerned I see pieces of two or possibly three different papyri and every one of them looks like a traditional Book of the Dead." (letter Jan. 5, 1968.)

Let's look next at the three pictures in the Book of Abraham and the accompanying captions from one of the scrolls and Times and Seasons volume 3.

The writing and pictures are typical Egyptian funeral scenes of Egyptian idols. Joseph taught these images represented Abraham and the Real God.

Facsimile #1:

Hor Justified son of the holder of the same titles.

Facsimile #2

Grant that the soul of Osiris Sheshonk may live

I (Min) am a copulating bull without equal.

May this tomb never be desecrated.

Facsimile #3

O gods of . . ., gods of the Caverns, gods of the south, north, west, and east, grant well-being to Osiris Hor justified

Smith's god deceived him. Joseph Smith's translation is worthless. If you seek the Lord, dear Mormon I pray you leave the Mormon Church reject Joseph's hoax, and give your life to the Most High God through Jesus Christ His Son.

In Genesis 11:26, this could mean that Terah was 70 when he started having children, and Abram was not born until Terah was at least 130. See Bible Difficulties and Seeming Contradictions p.136-137, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties p.378, When Critics Ask p.45-46, and 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.309-310 for more info.

A: No. Genesis 14 only mentions one individual named Melchizedek. Hebrews 7:23-24 says this Melchizedek was a type of Jesus. Nothing in the Bible suggests we need any more priests today besides Jesus. See When Cultists Ask p.27-28 for more info.

A: Contrary to Mormon theology, it says that

a) The True God is not a human.

(A Mormon might say that God is not a man anymore, but used to be a man and is now a glorified man. I have never heard a Mormon use this line, though.)

b) The True God is not a son or descendant of a man, either.

See also 1 Samuel 15:29 and the next question.

A: One Mormon man I talked seemed to have a high respect for the Bible. However, when I had him read this verse, and I did not give him any explanation, he said, "Well, well, that’s just wrong." We did not talk much more, but I felt I did my job. I showed him a difference between the Bible and what Mormonism taught him, and now he had a choice to make.

I have talked with more Mormons than I can remember about this verse as well as 1 Samuel 15:29, and with one exception, they all had no answer.

However, one Mormon missionary I talked with did have an answer. He said that verse meant "God is not the kind of man that He should lie, nor the kind of son of man that He should repent."

A couple of points here:

1. The words "kind of" are not in the Hebrew.

2. The novel interpretation "kind of" was unknown to every single Jewish, Christian, and even heretic writer until Mormonism had started.

3. Since no Hebrew or Greek-speaking believer would understand the verse this way, then if this were the correct interpretation, it was a "secret-code" understandable only to Mormons.

Beware if in order to have your theology survive, you have to interpret a sentence in a foreign language in a such a way that no native speaker of that language can be found who would recognize it that way.

A: While Balaam sinned greatly later, at this time, while Balaam was speaking this, Balaam was speaking the words God put in His mouth (Numbers 23:16), and only the word God put into His mouth (Numbers 22:34).

A: There are two possible answers.

1. Kings having the name of a previous king are not uncommon. Examples are many British Kings named Henry, two northern Israelites Kings named Jeroboam, two Phoenician kings named Hiram, and many Egyptian Phaoaohs named Thutmose and Rameses. Thus the Agag in Saul’s time was a successor of the Agag mentioned here. Thus this question is like asking, "How could Henry [the Eighth] of England have executed his wives when Henry [the First] died centuries before they were born."

2. The Phoenician Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum I 3196 mentions an Agag at a different time and location than these two Agags. We do not know much about the Amalekites, and "Agag" could have been a title for the ruler of the Amalekites, like Pharaoh was a title for the ruler of Egypt.

A: No. Seed means spiritual offspring here, not biological offspring. For example, all believers can consider Abraham their father. As a concrete example, Romans 4:16 and Galatians 3:7 both say that Abraham is the father of all who believe, and we can consider ourselves his seed. Jobn the Baptist in Matthew 3:9 and Luke 3:8 said that God could even raise up children of Abraham even from the stones.

A: At this time there was great animosity between Israel and Judah. One stick represented Israel, and the other, Judah. This prophesied that the tribes of Israel and Judah would be one people after God has gathered His people from the nations. When that happens, David shall be king over them (Ezekiel 37:24), and they will live in the land where their ancestors lived (Ezekiel 37:25). Thus, the two sticks could not be the Bible and the Book of Mormon for the following reasons.

1. The sticks refer to two peoples, not books.

2. When they are joined, David will reign over them.

3. They will be joined when they live in the land of their ancestors.

4. Finally, The Book of Mormon cannot be referred to here, as it is full of falsehoods, including a complete American civilization of which no archaeological evidence has been found. For example, ask any honest Mormon archaeologist where any city mentioned in the Book of Mormon is located, and they will tell you they have not found it yet. How many decades will go by, and how many towns of the Incas, Chimus, Aztecs, Mayans, etc. do we have to discover before concluding the cities in the Book of Mormon will never be found, because they never existed.

See the Complete Book of Bible Answers p.331-332, When Cultists Ask p.86, and a transcript of the Hank Hanegraff’s 8/7/1998 Bible Answer Man radio program (sponsored by the Christian Research Institute) for more info.

A: No. There was no one with the office of prophet between the four hundred years of the close of the Old Testament and John the Baptist, so even Mormons cannot say this and be consistent. See When Cultists Ask p.87 for more info.

A: According to When Cultists Ask p.90 Mormons such as Van Gordon claim that since God does not change, and God once used revelation and new scripture, God always has to.

Logically, one should not confuse God’s methods, which can change, from God Himself, who is changeless.

One key attribute of God is that He does not lie (Numbers 23:19), and God does not contradict Himself. Now some Mormon prophets have given some very strange teaching. For example, Brigham Young preached that "Adam is our god and Father, the only God with whom we have to do (Journal of Discourses volume 1 p.50-51). One should not try to justify strange teachings, including Brigham Young’s, by hiding behind the idea that God has to change.

A: No, for three reasons.

1. This verse does not refer to baptism, to the dead, or any sacrament or ordinance. Rather, it refers to John the Baptist serving as a forerunner to Jesus, turning the people back to God.

2. Neither Mormons nor others have found any evidence of baptism for the dead in history, until a false religious group called the Serinthians practiced this in Corinth in Paul’s day.

3. It is hard to believe that even Mormons would consider this a baptism for the dead. To Mormons baptism for the dead is a secret ceremony, that only Temple Mormons may view. John was doing this in the open, and skeptical Pharisees and scribes were coming and going while John was baptizing.

See When Cultists Ask p.91-92 for more info.

A: Children can have short memories and be very unreasonable at times. They can have difficulty seeing any perspective except their own. Jesus explains why he said this in Luke 7:33-35 On one hand, they criticized John the Baptist for not drinking wine or eating regular food, and then they turn around and criticize Jesus for drinking wine and eating regular food.

I saw a similar situation in Salt Lake City ministering to Mormons. Mormons would ask if I was ever a Mormon, and I would answer "no". Since I was not a Mormon, how could I understand what they were teaching. They would ask ex-Mormon Christians the same question, and they would answer "yes". How could they listen to someone who was apostate and left their church. Apparently, there is no getting through to some people.

A: First, here are the women we know of who accompanied Jesus and the disciples. According to Luke 8:3-4, the women who traveled with Jesus were Mary Magdalene, Joanna wife of Cuza, Susanna, and others. Other passages mention Salome (Mark 15:40), Mary mother of James (Mark 15:40, Luke 24:10), and Martha, Mary Magdalene’s sister.

There is no basis to say that Jesus ever got married, or had any kids, or any kids were born without a sinful nature. While no verse actually says Jesus was never married, no verse ever says Jesus did not fly to Mars either. Here are all the other pre-resurrection passages about the women:

Joanna and Salome are mentioned no where else

Martha (with Mary) were only mentioned in three pre-Resurrection passages, a dinner (Luke 10:38-41), healing of their brother Lazarus (John 11:1-45), and a second dinner with Lazarus (John 12:1-8).

Since there is no other mention, one could have almost no stronger argument that Jesus married Mary than he married her sister Martha. However, Jesus obeyed the Mosaic Law, and marriage of one man to two sisters, while both were living, was forbidden in Leviticus 18:18

A: Jesus is referring to Gentiles (non-Jews). It does not refer only to people of the New World as Mormons teach. It does not refer to all who believe and are not of the Jehovah’s Witness 144,000 as Jehovah’s Witnesses teach. See The Complete Book of Bible Answers p.57-58, When Cultists Ask p.175-176 and Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse p.78-79 for more extensive answers.

A: They were slaves for 400 years, but prior to that, they were in Egypt for 30 years under Joseph. (I know of an precocious seventh grader who figured out this alleged contradiction in less than one minute.) See Bible Difficulties and Seeming Contradictions p.137-139 for more info.

A: No. Two points to consider in the answer.

1. Note the absence of any reference to any goddess or mother.

2. Note the absence of any reference to sexual activity on God’s part. Muslims often falsely think Christians believe God can have sexual relations. While the genuine Christians have never said God is a sexual being, Mormons do teach that God is a sexual being. See When Cultists Ask p.203-204 for more info.

A: Apparently some Mormons appeal to this to show that compasses were used in ancient times, and thus having a compass exist in the Book of Mormon would not be an error of a historical anachronism after all.

Three points to consider in the answer.

1. The Bible was written in the Greek language, not English. The Greek is "Going around from there", and absent is any mention of any navigational instruments in this verse.

2. The English language has evolved, and the English in the 400 year old King James Version is not identical with the English of today. The word "compass" meant to go around in that time.

3. "Compass" is used in the KJV to meant to go around or surround in Luke 21:20 also.

Summary: Thus the translators of the King James Bible did not translate incorrectly here. Rather they used a word that was correct in English 400 years ago.

A: No. While the Mormon Church teaches that all humans are spirit children of God (and his goddess wives), Romans 8:15 specifically says that we are God’s children by adoption. While it is true that every person, animal, plant, and demon is a part of God’s creation, Romans 8 is only referring to those who have been born again.

See Mormons Answered Verse by Verse by David A. Reed and John R. Farkas (Baker Books) p.82-83 for more info.

A: No. This is a very ancient error, that long preceded Mormonism. Adam and Eve were tempted with this erroneous teaching in Genesis 3:4. Satan himself wanted to become like God in Isaiah 14:12-15.

As David said in Psalm 23:6, "…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." Thus Mormon men will not have their own planets, their own harem of goddess wives. One Mormon once said to me, "I think God made a lot of mistakes, and when I become a god, I will do better."

See When Cultists Ask p.218 for more info.

A: No. Two examples of Paul tolerating independent thinking are Philippians 3:15 and Romans 14:1-10. Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse p.92-94 points out that JWs are commanded to "Avoid independent thinking … questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization," and to "Fight against independent thinking" (Watchtower magazine 1/15/1983 p.22,27.)

For Mormons, the Mormon prophet Ezra Taft Benson, when he was a Mormon apostle, said, "When the prophet speaks, the thinking is done."

A: No. 1 Corinthians 8:5 refers to all the idols that non-Christians believed in. There are many gods, but there is only One rightfully called God. We should worship the "only wise God" 1 Timothy 1:17 KJV). See also the discussion on John 10:35. Tertullian (200-240 A.D.) in Against Hermogenes ch.4 Ante-Nicene Fathers 3 p.479 was one of the first to discuss 1 Cor 8:5. He said the many gods are gods in name only, while there is only one true God.

Would you eat in an idol’s temple, contrary to verse 10 of the same chapter? There are indeed many idol gods, but would you teach that these gods are real, contrary to verse 4? If not, then you cannot use verse 5 to talk about multiple real gods. Verse 6 says that we are different, in that we only believe in one God.

A cultist once told my Christian roommate, Greg, that there were many gods, but there was only one god of this world, and he worshipped the god of this world. However, the Bible shows that the god of this world is Satan, in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 1 John 5:19.

See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.595-597, The Complete Book of Bible Answers p.81-82, When Cultists Ask p.227-228, 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.23, and Mormons Answered Verse by Verse p.83-84 for more info.

A: No. As the answers to the next three questions show, each person is baptized themself, and we do not baptize for dead people. See When Critics Ask p.464-465 for a more extensive answer.

A: No. Paul was saying that if even these pagans believed in resurrection as proven by their baptism for the dead, why can’t you believe in resurrection. A very similar argument is in Theophilus To Autolychus 1:13. (Theophilus was the Bishop of Antioch from 168-181/188 A.D.)

"Then, as to your denying that the dead are raised … you believe that Hercules, who burned himself, lives; and that Aesculapius, who was struck with lightning, was raised;…" (ANC 2 p.92)

If baptizing for the dead is one of the most important things we can do, like Mormonism teaches, then why are we not once commanded to do this in scripture? Paul said others (they) in 1 Corinthians 15:29. A cult in Paul’s time in Greece, called Serinthians, baptized for the dead, but nobody ever said Christians were to do that.

According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Walvoord and Zuck, editors) p.544-545, within the Eleusian Mysteries was the doctrine of washings required for bliss in the afterlife (Pindar Fragment 212, Sophocles Fragment 753.) Baptism on the account of others was known, from Orphica Fragment 245. See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.616-618 for more info.

Gleason Archer in Inerrancy (Norman L. Geisler editor Zondervan 1980) says that regardless of this, we are not to emulate many things the Corinthians did as they had:

- Carnality 1 Corinthians 3:1

- Immorality 1 Corinthians 5:1

- Sectarianism 1 Corinthians 1:10

- Heresies 1 Corinthians 11:19

- Abused the Lord’s supper 1 Corinthians 11:21

If practicing this today as Mormons do lead to intensive genealogical study, 1 Timothy 1:3,4 and Titus 3:9 command God’s people not to devote themselves to endless genealogies.

A: First some true facts that are not directly related to the answer, and then the answer.

1. The Greek word (huper) means "on account of", not necessarily "for the sake of".

2. Many people became Christians on account of the witness of Christians who were already martyred.

3. Baptism for all Christians means that in one sense we are all dead men, that is, dead to ourselves and alive in Christ (Colossians 2:11-13)

The answer: The pronouns Paul uses (they, they, and we) make it conspicuous that Paul never said he nor his immediate readers practiced baptism for the dead. Paul did not command, recommend, perform, practice, or say the Corinthians practiced baptism for the dead. In 1 Corinthians 10:18-22, Paul mentions that others sacrificed to idols, but we should not do that either. There is no example of Christians doing baptizing for the dead in the entire Bible, or in the early church. However, some religious pagans in Corinth, called Serinthians practiced baptism for the dead.

Since there is no command or example of this, and the only known practice was by pagan Serinthians, Mormons are on rather shaky ground to make this a most important part of their religion".

When talking to Greeks, Paul used writings of pagan Greek poets to echo things that were true, such as in Acts 17:23-29. Jude used true statements in apocryphal books to drive home a point with his listeners. Jesus likewise used, what is called an "ad hominem" argument to prove He was from God in debating with the Pharisees in John 5:31-34.

Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 15:29-30, that even though many Greeks disbelieved and sneered at a physical resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12; Acts 17:43), yet at the same time Greek Serinthians were baptizing for the dead. Why do they think they need to do this bodily ritual of baptism, if the bodies are forever gone? See Mormons Answered Verse by Verse p.85-87, Now That’s a Good Question p.590-591, When Cultists Ask p.235-236, and The Complete Book of Bible Answers p.212-213 for more info.

A: Apart from this verse, we know of only two cases, both pagan practices. Mandaeans in Mesopotamia practiced this, and Serinthians (who happened to be in Corinth) practiced this. We have no evidence of a single Christian practicing this. See Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties p.401-402 and 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.121-122 for more info.

A: There are two complementary answers.

1. All truth is God’s truth. Paul’s quote is from a famous playwright named Menander (Thais 218). See The Bible Knowledge Commentary : New Testament (Walvoord and Zuck editors) p.544-545 and When Cultists Ask p.236-237 and for more info. See also the discussion on Acts 17:16-34.

2. Paul quoted from Isaiah 22:13, except that Paul took out the "you say" that Isaiah had in the middle. Like Paul, Isaiah was not suggesting we follow this hollow saying, but Isaiah was expressing the view of godless people.

By the way, Menander lived approximately 342-291 B.C. Isaiah prophesied from before 739 B.C. to after 682 B.C. Paul likely would have been familiar with Menander as well as Isaiah.

A: No. This analogy simply shows that as there are different glories in the (one) physical sky, there are different kinds of glory in the (One) Heaven. The fact that Paul gave three examples (sun, moon, and stars) does mean three heavens, and more than Paul giving four examples in 1 Corinthians 15:39 (men, animals, birds, and fish) means there are four heavens. Heaven would not be Heaven without Jesus being there. See When Cultists Ask p.238-239 for more info.

There are at least three (unnamed) Heavens, according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2. Paul visited the third one.

A: No. That Paul was caught up in the third Heaven does not validate the Mormon concept, which was totally unknown prior to the Nineteenth century. In particular, the Mormon "Telestial Heaven", which is slightly worse than earth and where many people go, would not sound like Heaven at all to a Christian or Jew. See When Cultists Ask p.246 for more info.

A: No. Paul is speaking just to the Galatian church, not to all churches. For example, after the letter of Galatians was written, Jesus Himself in the book of Revelation 2:8-11 and 3:7-13, had only good things to say about the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia. When Cultists Ask p.248 mentions that Mormons say that God needed to restore the church through Joseph Smith.

A: Since our religion is to be the same as the apostles, we should do so. Paul would have made a very poor Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness. For that matter, so would Thomas who called Jesus "my Lord and my God" in John 20:28. So would Stephen who prayed to Jesus in Acts 7:59. So would John, who saw with his own eyes people and angels praising and glorifying Jesus in Heaven in Revelation 5:8-14; 7:9-10. To top it all off, Jesus said all are to honor the Son just as they honor the Father, in John 5:23.

A: This particular verse says "unity of the spirit", not unity of an organization. It also says we ought to preserve the Spirit’s unity, not try to make our own. So this particular verse does not prove anything about organizations. As to the broader issue, whether organizational unity is desirable, see the next question. See also When Cultists Ask 251-252 for more info.

A: The Greek phrase is a "one-woman man". All agree that promiscuous, divorced and remarried, and polygamous men were disqualified from being elders (sorry Mormons). Christians generally agree with John Chrysostom’s Homilies on Timothy (< 392 A.D.) and the Constitutions of the Holy Apostles 3:17 (c.4th century), that unmarried elders and deacons are OK. Bible Difficulties and Seeming Contradictions p.54 also says this refers to a monogamous relationship.

A: Jesus was begotten of the Father before time began, but that is not what is referred to here. Jesus was begotten by God the Father in a non-sexual but physical way when Jesus came to earth.

No verse in the Bible says Jesus was the son of God in any other way at any other time. Romans 1:4 only adds that Jesus was "declared" to be the Son of God with power, by His resurrection from the dead. See Mormons Answered Verse by Verse p.52-53 for more info.

A: Three points to consider in the answer.

1. Joseph Smith was an occultist, who was convicted (misdemeanor) of the occult practice of glass-looking for buried treasure. You have to be asking the true God.

2. The popular Mormon account of the first vision was made up in part after Joseph Smith’s death. There are at least three conflicting first visions.

3. It is fine to pray to the true God about things such as which church to attend. However, we do not pray about things we know are unbiblical and wrong.

When Cultists Ask p.288 mentions that prayer and feelings are not a test for religious truth. We should compare what we hear with Scripture as the Bereans did (Acts 17:10-12), and test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21). See The Complete Book of Bible Answers p.335-336 for more info.

A: The word for carried along is used in Acts 27:15,17 of a ship carried by the wind. Here are four points concerning the inspiration of the Bible.

1a. Most revelation is through the ideas and thoughts of men the Lord especially chose. Revelation 1:19 gives one example. None of it was just man’s word, though (2 Peter 1:19-21)

1b. Some revelation was the direct words, such as in John 12:28, Isaiah 6; Exodus 3:4,5, and so forth.

1c. God used the individual style of the human authors in writing. Nothing was written as God’s Word that God did not want written or was not true.

1d. The Bible is not a secret code book. The meanings of words are not whatever modern definitions we feel like giving them, but are the normative meanings understood by the native speakers of the languages at that time.

2a. We cannot understand everything about an infinite God who is transcendent and "other" than us. Nevertheless, we have the responsibility to learn and understand what God has revealed to us.

2b. God communicates in ways we understand. He is free to move us with poetry, explain things to us with analogies, and simplify things with anthropomorphic expressions. God can use idioms, like "sunset", and God can use our categories of things, like calling a rabbit by the Hebrew classification of animals that chew the cud.

2c. God’s Word contains both propositional truth and a presentation of Himself. It contains both positive language about what things are true, and negative language about what things are false.

2d. The human writers could refer to non-Biblical sources, such as Jewish history books (Book of Jasher Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18, etc.), and even Greek poets where they spoke what is true (Acts 17:23,28; Titus 1:12).

See Philosophy of Religion by Norman L. Geisler (Baker Book House 1988) p211-291 for more info on God and human language.

3a. All scripture is from God, and God’s Word in the original manuscripts. It is all true on which all it speaks. Truth is not contradictory. Scripture does not merely contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God. (Romans 3:1-2; John 10:35; Proverbs 30:5-6; 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 33:4; Psalm 119:151)

3b. Scripture is not only accurate, it has the precision required for us to know God’s meaning. The precision extends even down to tenses and number of words, as in Psalm 82:6 and Matthew 22:32. However, scripture often uses approximations, especially of time and quantity.

3c. God does not lie. However, not telling us everything on a subject is not lying. For example, if at least three women were at Jesus’ tomb in Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:1 is still true in only mentioning two of the women. The New Testament has the exact substance of Jesus' teaching, but not always the exact words. (Matthew 22:37; Matthew 13:22; Mark 12:30; Mark 4:19.)

3d. Scripture is complete, in telling us all we need to know for salvation and for growing in faith. Scripture is not an encyclopedia, nor does it claim to tell us everything about everything.

3e. God allowed some transmittal errors, but His Word stands forever. Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:89. His Word is preserved infallibly (without significant error) up through today. (Isaiah 55:11; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Psalm 119:89,91,144,160)

4a. We should cherish and love Scripture as precious to us (Psalm 56:10; Psalm 119:72,97,105,120). We are not to worship scripture, but praise God who gave us Scripture. (Psalm 119:12). We should delight in God’s law (Psalm 119:16,35,47) and "tremble" at God’s word (Isaiah 66:5). Our hope is in God’s word (Psalm 119:74,81).

4b. We realize that we are saved by Jesus, not by studying Scripture. John 5:39-40; James 1:22-25; 1 Corinthians 13:2

4c. Value Scripture (Acts 13:48; Colossians 3:16) for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and for help in temptation (Psalm 119:10).

4d. We should diligently read and study Scripture (Acts 17:11; Revelation 1:3). We should interpret it. Not twist or misinterpret it (2 Peter 3:16). We must not add to or go beyond God's Word (Proverbs 30:5-6; 1 Corinthians 4:6-7; Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19; Eccclesiastes 12:12; Mark 7:13)

4e. Some Old Testament commands have been fulfilled and are not to be done, such as eating pork, sacrifices, etc.. (Acts 10:9-16; 15:1,5-29; Mark 7:19; Galatians 5:2-4; Hebrews 9:9-10; 10:18)

4f. Scripture is not just suggestions for life, but it is authoritative in our lives (Psalm 119:33-34; John 8:37; John 12:48-50; John 14:23). We should believe all God teaches and obey all of God’s commands. (John 14:23-24)

For Mormon readers, this differs from Mormon teaching on the inspiration of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith allegedly supernaturally translated the Book of Mormon word and word and letter by letter, by looking at a seerstone in a black hat.

For Muslim readers, a Christian’s view of the inspiration of the Bible differs from a Muslim’s view of the inspiration of the Quran. Most Muslims believe the Quran on earth is an exact, "mechanical dictation" copy of a Quran on tablets in Heaven.

See the discussion on the Bible for the difference between inerrancy and hyper-literalness. See The Complete Book of Bible Answers p.16 for more info and seven incorrect views and why they are wrong. For a very extensive discussion, see Christian Theology by Millard Erickson (Baker Books 1985) p.175-259.

;Ps119:74,81,89, 92,105

A: The book of 1 Enoch is an extra-Biblical Jewish book, of composite origin, with a mixture of truth and error. The fact that Jude’s quote matches a verse in the Book of 1 Enoch does not show that Enoch did not in fact, say this.

In contrast, many have proven that the scroll Joseph Smith fraudulently claimed to translate the Mormon Book of Abraham from was an idolatrous, pagan book.

1. It cannot be proven (or disproven) that Jude copied this verse from Enoch

2. Even if Jude did take this from the book of 1 Enoch, 1 Enoch is a composite book, and could have fragments of divinely inspired prophecies.

3. In sharp contrast, Joseph Smith’s bogus translation was from a book to idols.

See the next question for a more thorough answer.

A: See the previous question for a brief answer. For a thorough answer, consider the following points.

1 Enoch is a composite book, with five parts written at various times by various authors. The quote in question is from the first and earliest part. However, it is possible that the quote was added later. The earliest copy we have is a fragment form the Dead Sea scrolls. However, the earliest copy with this quote is from the 15th century in Ethiopia. It has some truth in it, but is has mythological aspects too, with all the discussion of various angels and demons. The book of 1 Enoch is not lost to the modern world. For more info, and to read the Ethiopic and Slavonic versions of 1 Enoch, see The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha vol. 1 (Doubleday 1983)

The Egyptian Book of the Dead was probably not read much. Rather, its purpose was to be buried with the wealthy dead person to act as a magic charm to ease their entry into the after-life. There were as many variations of the book of the dead as there were copies, as each one had the deceased’s name written in it. Many have translated the actual fragment Joseph Smith used to allegedly translate the Book of Abraham. From a Mormon source, you can read the translation in The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyrii by Hugh Nibley (Deseret Books 1975). For non-Mormon sources you can read The Changing World of Mormonism by Jerald and Sandra Tanner (Moody Press 1981) p.360, or The Book of Abraham Papyrus Found by H. Michael Marquardt (Modern Microfilm 1975 p.14). All three translations are essentially the same.

According to Joseph Smith, the Mormon Book of Abraham was allegedly written by Abraham about his travels in Egypt. Joseph Smith claimed it was written in the same language as the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith translated it with supernatural assistance. The Salt-Lake City Mormons (LDS) have four scriptures, and one of them, the Pearl of Great Price, contains The Book of Abraham as one of its books. The Book of Abraham 1:21-26 is the only Mormon-scriptural basis for the Mormons’ anti-black doctrine. This said it was that blacks could never hold the highest priesthood. This doctrine was changed by the Mormon Church in 1978.

1. Joseph Smith claimed he "translated" the scrolls in Pearl of Great Price p.29.

2. Three of the four original English copies had the Egyptian characters next to the English.

3. The three pictures match

4. Most telling of all, Joseph Smith wrote a book, Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, where he purportedly tried to teach others his fake Egyptian.

5. Smith translated an average of over 100 words per Egyptian hieroglyph, when it should have been one to two words per hieroglyph.

6. Nobody caught Joseph Smith at that time, solely because there was nobody in America at that time who could read ancient Egyptian.

In Summary: The Mormons have as a part of scripture a bogus translation of an idolatrous, pagan book. While some of them have seen similarity between their situation and Jude 14 being found in 1 Enoch. The situation is totally different because

1. If Jude did quote from the book of 1 Enoch, 1 Enoch is not an idolatrous, occultic book. It is Jewish book with a blend of truth and error.

2. It cannot be determined if Jude actually did quote from the book of 1 Enoch. They may have had a common source, or this could have been added to 1 Enoch before the 15th century by a misguided monk.

A: Yes. This is an excellent verse to show the worship of Christ. Please notice the following.

1. They fell down before the Lamb. (5:8)

2. They were doing this act with the prayers of the saints. (5:8)

3. They praised the Lamb as worthy. (5:9)

4. Then the angels praised the Lamb as worthy. (5:12)

5. The angels sang that the Lamb was worthy to receive many things, including honor and glory and praise. (5:12)

6. Then every living creature said to both the Father and the Lamb "be praise and honor and glory and power…" (5:13 NIV).

7. The four living creatures said "Amen" to all that.

8. Finally when the elders fell down and worshipped in 5:14, they were apparently worshipping the ones they were praising in 5:8-12).

This is in sharp contrast to Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie, who said it was wrong to worship Jesus. (McConkie said this in Our Relationship with the Lord, an address at Brigham Young University). This is also in sharp contrast to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who believe you could "honor Jesus, sort of like many people pledge allegiance to the flag of their country", but not worship Him.

A: Proverbs 30:6 and 1 Corinthians 4:6 also warn people about not adding to God’s word. Some see this in a general sense as referring to the whole Bible, others, such as 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.13, see this in a strict sense as just referring to the book of Revelation. Assuming this just refers to Revelation, one reason might be that there is so much about the future, and much of it speaks of judgment and wrath, some who want to take out of the Gospel everything except love would be tempted to try to reduce or eliminate Revelation from the Bible. Today in some liberal "Christian" denominations, the Book of Revelation is rejected. See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.782-784 for more info.

When Cultists Ask p.312 mentions that Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, violated this in his "inspired version" of the Bible. In Revelation 5:6, Smith changed "having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God…" to "having twelve horns and twelve eyes, which are the twelve servants of God…".

As early as 170-202 A.D. the early Christian writer Irenaeus, in Against Heresies ch.20, in mentioning that he is quoting John, quotes Revelation 5:6. Thus, RLDS and other Mormons cannot say Smith was correcting what was corrupted in the Middle Ages, because Irenaeus showed us what it said in his time.

Likewise, Mormons Answered Verse by Verse p.101-102 mentions that Joseph Smith took 1 John 4:12 "no man hath seen God at any time", and added "except them who believe".