Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Becoming Gods/Chapter 10

Chapter 9

A FAIR Analysis of: Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism A work by author: Richard Abanes

Claims made in "Chapter 10: The 'Christian' Question"

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
255, 434n15	LDS leaders spent decades denouncing mainstream Christianity.	Did early LDS leaders denounce Christianity?	Joseph Smith, EJ", vol. 1, no. 4, p. 60 www.solomonspalding.com/docs/eldjur04.htm Joseph Smith, History of the Church 5:218. Orson Pratt, "Baptism for the Remission of Sins," The Seer, p. 255. Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses 2:196. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 5:73. Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:89-90. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 5:229. John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 6:25. (Note: the author's endnote erroneously lists this as JoD 2:25) Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:171. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:199. John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225. Andrew Jenson, Collected Discourses 2:150. B.H. Roberts, The Mormon Doctrine of Deity, p. 116. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 132, 246, 269, 314-315.
256	The Book of Mormon teaches that there are only two churches: 1) the false church of the devil and 2) the true church of the Lamb.	Great and abominable church	1 Nephi 13꞉4-9 1 Nephi 13꞉24-29 1 Nephi 14꞉10-13 D&C 19-21
257	The "ongoing condemnation of Christianity" is "built into the very core of Mormonism as a central tenet."	Did early LDS leaders denounce Christianity?	Author's opinion
262, 440n46	The "Mormon Jesus" is one of three gods overseeing this planet.	Polytheism The "Mormon Jesus" versus the "Traditional Jesus"	Source not specified.
262, 440n46	The "Mormon Jesus" is the literal brother of Lucifer.	Jesus Christ is the brother of Satan The "Mormon Jesus" versus the "Traditional Jesus"	No source specified.
262, 440n46	The "Mormon Jesus" atoned only for Adam's transgression, providing us with the opportunity to obtain "eternal life" by our own efforts.	The "Mormon Jesus" versus the "Traditional Jesus"	Source not specified.
262, 440n46	The "Mormon Jesus" provides no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God.	Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief The "Mormon Jesus" versus the "Traditional Jesus"	Source not specified.
268	The Bible does not mention a total apostasy.	No complete apostasy?	2 Peter 2꞉1-2 Acts 20꞉29-30 2 Timothy 4꞉3-5 2 Timothy 1꞉15 2 Thessalonians 2꞉3 2 Thessalonians 2꞉7
273	Baptism for the dead is unbiblical.	Baptism for the dead	No source given.
274-276	The need for the Aaronic priesthood ceased and was replaced by a new one that is held by all believers.	Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood Christians don't need a mediating priesthood? Is There a "Priesthood of All Believers"?	Hebrews 7-10
276-279	The Melchizedek priesthood was never a literal order of priests. It belonged only to Melchizedek and Christ.	Priesthood non-transferable? Jesus is the only Melchizedek priesthood holder Bible teachings about priesthood	Hebrews 7꞉24 D. Guthrie and J.A. Motyer, eds., The Eerdman's Bible Commentary, p. 1241.