View source for Countercult ministries/Watchman Fellowship/Section 1

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|L=Countercult ministries/Watchman Fellowship/Section 1
|H=Response to claims in "Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile"
|T=Watchman Fellowship
|A=Rick Branch
|<=
|>=[[../Section 2|Claims made in "Hinckley Claims LDS Worship Different Christ"]]
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{{ChartWatchmanSection1}}
<onlyinclude>
{{H2
|L=Countercult ministries/Watchman Fellowship/Section 1
|H=Response to claims in "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile" by Watchman Fellowship
|S=
|L1=Response to claim: Joseph was told during the First Vision that "all the Christian Church's doctrines 'were an abomination'"
|L2=Response to claim: Mormonism is a "polytheistic religion," because of the belief that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three distinct and separate personages
|L3=Response to claim: According to Joseph Smith, God "was once a man like us"
|L4=Response to claim: Brigham Young said that the birth of Jesus Christ "was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action"
|L5=Response to claim: Jesus "is the brother of Lucifer"
|L6=Response to claim: Latter-day Saints make a distinction between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit
|L7=Response to claim: "every worthy male, according to the standards of Mormonism, will become a god and rule over their own planet"
|L8=Response to claim: There is a "Mother God"
|L9=Response to claim: We are all spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Father and Mother, and we once lived in the pre-existence
|L10=Response to claim: "Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence"
|L11=Response to claim: salvation or exaltation "is based on one's own good works or merit"
|L12=Response to claim: Latter-day Saint consider the Bible "suspect due to its many errors and missing parts"
}}
</onlyinclude>
==Response to claim: Joseph was told during the First Vision that "all the Christian Church's doctrines 'were an abomination'"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
The authors claim that Joseph was told during the First Vision that "all the Christian Church's doctrines 'were an abomination'."
|authorsources=<br>
#Joseph Smith - History 19, Pearl of Great Price.
}}
{{disinformation|
This is false.  Joseph was told that the "creeds" were an abomination, not all the doctrines taught.
}}
{{:Question: Do Latter-day Saints believe that no genuine Christians exist outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?}}

==Response to claim: Mormonism is a "polytheistic religion," because of the belief that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three distinct and separate personages==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
The authors claim that Mormonism is a "polytheistic religion," because of the belief that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three distinct and separate personages.
|authorsources=<br>
#''Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 370.
*McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', pp. 576-577.
}}
{{disinformation|
This is false.  The Saints believe that God is "one," but understand this oneness differently than creedal trinitarians.
}}
{{:Question: Are Mormons polytheists because they don't accept the Nicene Creed?}}

==Response to claim: According to Joseph Smith, God "was once a man like us"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
According to Joseph Smith, God "was once a man like us."
|authorsources=<br>
#''History of the Church'', 6:305
}}
{{information}}
{{:Question: Does the doctrine that God has a physical body contradict the Bible?}}

==Response to claim: Brigham Young said that the birth of Jesus Christ "was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
Brigham Young said that the birth of Jesus Christ "was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action."
|authorsources=<br>
#{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|vol=8|disc=27|start=115}}
*McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 742.
}}
{{misinformation|Just because Brigham Young expressed his opinion on this matter does not make it Church doctrine.}}
}}
{{:Question: Do Mormons believe that Mary was still a virgin when Jesus was born?}}

==Response to claim: Jesus "is the brother of Lucifer"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
Jesus "is the brother of Lucifer."
|authorsources=<br>
#Milton Hunter, ''The Gospel Through the Ages, 15.
}}
{{propaganda
}}
{{:Question: Do Latter-day Saints consider Jesus to be the brother of Satan?}}

==Response to claim: Latter-day Saints make a distinction between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
Latter-day Saints make a distinction between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit.
|authorsources=<br>
#McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', pp. 752.
}}
{{misinformation|}}
In the source cited above (McConkie's ''Mormon Doctrine''), the author notes that the term "Holy Spirit" "is a synonym for the Holy Ghost, that Spirit entity or personage of Spirit who is a member of the godhead."  But, two other scriptural uses of the term include the spirit of Christ that entered His physical body, and the power or influence of Christ generally.
}}

==Response to claim: "every worthy male, according to the standards of Mormonism, will become a god and rule over their own planet"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
The authors state the "every worthy male, according to the standards of Mormonism, will become a god and rule over their own planet." The authors state that women are excluded.
|authorsources=<br>
#Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Doctrines of Salvation'' 2:48.
}}
{{propaganda|
Men cannot be exalted without women; women cannot be exalted without men.  The critics ignore the fact that human deification (''theosis'') is a prominent biblical teachings and found among the early Christians.
}}
{{:Question: Do Mormon men believe that they will become "gods of their own planets" and rule over others?}}

==Response to claim: There is a "Mother God"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
There is a "Mother God."
|authorsources=<br>
#Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Answers to Gospel Questions'' 3:143-144.
}}
{{information}}
{{:Question: Do Latter-day Saints believe in a female divine person, a "Heavenly Mother" as counterpart to God, the Heavenly Father?}}

==Response to claim: We are all spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Father and Mother, and we once lived in the pre-existence==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
We are all spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Father and Mother, and we once lived in the pre-existence.
|authorsources=<br>
#McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', p. 589.
}}
{{information|
This is an [http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,FF.html accurate] reflection of LDS belief.
}}
{{:Source:Gospel Topics:Becoming Like God:Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them}}

==Response to claim: "Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
The authors claim that "Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence."
|authorsources=<br>
#Melvin J. Ballard, ''Three Degrees of Glory'', p. 21.
}}
{{disinformation|
This claim is false; the critics cite an author from 1922&mdash;and here he makes it clear he is only expressing his opinion: "I am convinced." This idea has since been repeatedly repudiated by leaders of the Church.
}}
{{:Source:Gospel Topics:Race and the Priesthood:2013:Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor }}

==Response to claim: salvation or exaltation "is based on one's own good works or merit"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
The authors claim that salvation or exaltation "is based on one's own good works or merit."
|authorsources=<br>
#Lowell Bennion, "The Religion of the Latter-day Saints," p. 160.
*''Church News'', October 8, 1988, p. 23.
}}
{{misinformation|}}
Neither the ''Church News'' nor Bennion's manual from 1940 are canonized doctrinal sources.

The Book of Mormon teaches that "here is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah...." ({{s|2|Nephi|2|8}}).

That said, the Bible, Book of Mormon, and other LDS scripture teach that we must exercise faith, accept Christ, repent, be baptized, and endure to the end to be saved.  These are "good works"&mdash;they do not save us, but signal our sincerity and willingness to follow Jesus.
}}
{{:Question: Do Mormons ignore the doctrine of grace at the expense of "works"?}}

==Response to claim: Latter-day Saint consider the Bible "suspect due to its many errors and missing parts"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Watchman Fellowship: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Profile
|claim=
The authors claim that Latter-day Saint consider the Bible "suspect due to its many errors and missing parts."
|authorsources=<br>
#''Articles of Faith'' No. 8, ''Ensign'' January 1989, pp. 25, 27.
}}
{{disinformation|
The article of faith says only that LDS believe the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly."  LDS are not bound by transmission or translation errors by non-prophetic authors.  They are not scriptural inerrantists.
}}
{{:Question: Do Mormons believe that the Bible has less value because it contains errors?}}

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