View source for Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism Unmasked/Chapter 2

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{{H1
|L=Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism Unmasked/Chapter 2
|H=Response to claims made in "Chapter 2: The Marketing of an Image"
|S=
|L1=
|T=[[../../|Mormonism Unmasked]]
|A=R. Philip Roberts
|<=[[../Chapter 1|Chapter 1: Mormons on Your Doorstep]]
|>=[[../Chapter 3|Chapter 3: The Making of a Religion]]
}}
<onlyinclude>
{{H2
|L=Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism Unmasked/Chapter 2
|H=Response to claims made in Mormonism Unmasked, "Chapter 2: The Marketing of an Image"
|S=
|L1=Response to claim: 16 - "Mormonism therefore practices proselytization, of the conversion of a person, not just to faith in the Christ of Mormonism but to the Mormon Church itself"
|L2=Response to claim: 16 - converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to "renounce the validity of their own denominations"
|L3=Response to claim: 17 - the Book of Mormon is "fallacious" and that it contradicts "all that historians and anthropologists know about the Americas"
|L4=Response to claim: 18 - Mormons teach that if the whole family "obeys and serves the church, then they will spend eternity together"
|L5=Response to claim: 19 - the concept of performing ordinances for deceased relatives is contrary to the Bible
|L6=Response to claim: 19-20 - "Generally the claim of the LDS Church to be the one true Church, the fact that LDS baptism is essential for eternal progression, and questions raised about the integrity of the Bible are not mentioned by the missionaries to potential converts"
|L7=Response to claim: 20 - Mormonism "adds a nonbiblical dimension" to the law of tithing by "teaching that tithing is essential to gain the celestial kingdom
|L8=Response to claim: 21 - "since the general authorities of Mormonism are comprised of business executives, there is a built-in stratum of money-making minds within the church hierarchy"
|L9=Response to claim: 22 - Joseph Smith stated that "all Christian denominations were wrong, their confessions an abomination, and their professors and members corrupt"
|L10=Response to claim: 25 - "due to the negative connotation of the word Mormon and its identification with anti-Christian beliefs, now the 'Mormons urge use of formal name'-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
|L11=Response to claim: 25 - "on the surface, Mormons sometimes look and sound Christian"
}}
</onlyinclude>

==Response to claim: 16 - "Mormonism therefore practices proselytization, of the conversion of a person, not just to faith in the Christ of Mormonism but to the Mormon Church itself"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author states that, "Mormonism therefore practices proselytization, of the conversion of a person, not just to faith in the Christ of Mormonism but to the Mormon Church itself."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#Author's opinion
}}
{{propaganda}}

==Response to claim: 16 - converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to "renounce the validity of their own denominations"==
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to "renounce the validity of their own denominations."
|authorsources=<br>
#Not provided.
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
}}
{{propaganda}}
{{:Question: Do Mormons believe that everyone else will be "damned"?}}

==Response to claim: 17 - the Book of Mormon is "fallacious" and that it contradicts "all that historians and anthropologists know about the Americas"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that the Book of Mormon is "fallacious" and that it contradicts "all that historians and anthropologists know about the Americas."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{misinformation}}
{{:Question: What criticisms are raised with regard to Book of Mormon archaeology compared to that of the Bible?}}

==Response to claim: 18 - Mormons teach that if the whole family "obeys and serves the church, then they will spend eternity together"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that Mormons teach that if the whole family "obeys and serves the church, then they will spend eternity together."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{misinformation|Mormons teach that if one accepts the atonement of Jesus Christ, and receives the necessary ordinances, that they will be able to spend eternity together with their family.}}

<!-- ====18====	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|claim=The author claims that the concept of eternal families has no support in the Bible.
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}} -->

==Response to claim: 19 - the concept of performing ordinances for deceased relatives is contrary to the Bible==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that the concept of performing ordinances for deceased relatives is contrary to the Bible. He bases this upon Hebrews 9:27: "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." The author claims that there is no "second chances for salvation after death - only judgment."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{misinformation}}
{{:Question: Does the practice of baptism for the dead have ancient roots?}}

==Response to claim: 19-20 - "Generally the claim of the LDS Church to be the one true Church, the fact that LDS baptism is essential for eternal progression, and questions raised about the integrity of the Bible are not mentioned by the missionaries to potential converts"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that, "Generally the claim of the LDS Church to be the one true Church, the fact that LDS baptism is essential for eternal progression, and questions raised about the integrity of the Bible are not mentioned by the missionaries to potential converts."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{disinformation|This claim is nonsense.}}

==Response to claim: 20 - Mormonism "adds a nonbiblical dimension" to the law of tithing by "teaching that tithing is essential to gain the celestial kingdom==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author states that Mormonism "adds a nonbiblical dimension" to the law of tithing by "teaching that tithing is essential to gain the celestial kingdom. Tithing, therefore, becomes a work that contributes toward achieving a higher level of salvation."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{misinformation}}

==Response to claim: 21 - "since the general authorities of Mormonism are comprised of business executives, there is a built-in stratum of money-making minds within the church hierarchy"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that "since the general authorities of Mormonism are comprised of business executives, there is a built-in stratum of money-making minds within the church hierarchy" and that "Mormons use high-powered investments to produce an empire of financial enterprise."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{propaganda}}

==Response to claim: 22 - Joseph Smith stated that "all Christian denominations were wrong, their confessions an abomination, and their professors and members corrupt"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that Joseph Smith stated that "all Christian denominations were wrong, their confessions an abomination, and their professors and members corrupt."
|authorsources=<br>
#Joseph Smith-History 1:19, Pearl of Great Price (Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981).
}}
{{disinformation|The author has borne false witness regarding Joseph Smith's statement.
Joseph Smith-History 1:19 states:
<blockquote>
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
</blockquote>
*Note how the author has altered the meaning of this passage
**Joseph Smith: "all their creeds were an abomination in his sight". Author: "all Christian denominations were wrong, their confessions an abomination."
**Joseph Smith: "those professors were all corrupt." Author: "their professors and members corrupt."
}}

==Response to claim: 25 - "due to the negative connotation of the word ''Mormon'' and its identification with anti-Christian beliefs, now the 'Mormons urge use of formal name'-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author claims that "due to the negative connotation of the word ''Mormon'' and its identification with anti-Christian beliefs, now the 'Mormons urge use of formal name'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
|authorsources=<br>
#}}
{{disinformation|Mormons have ''always'' urged the use of the formal name of the Church.}}

==Response to claim: 25 - "on the surface, Mormons sometimes look and sound Christian"==	
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=Mormonism Unmasked
|claim=The author states that "on the surface, Mormons sometimes look and sound Christian."
|authorsources=<br>
#None provided
|authorsources=<br>
#
}}
}}
{{propaganda|Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world.
}}

{{ChurchResponseBar
|link=http://www.lds.org/topics/christians?lang=eng
|title=Are Mormons Christian?
|publication=Gospel Topics
|summary=Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unequivocally affirm themselves to be Christians. They worship God the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus Christ. When asked what the Latter-day Saints believe, Joseph Smith put Christ at the center: “The fundamental principles of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ, ‘that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended up into heaven;’ and all other things are only appendages to these, which pertain to our religion.”1 The modern-day Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reaffirmed that testimony when they proclaimed, “Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. … His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”
}}

{{endnotes sources}}



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