FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Countercult ministries/Watchman Fellowship/Section 1
| A FAIR Analysis of:
Watchman Fellowship |
Claims made in "Hinckley Claims LDS Worship Different Christ" |
Index of Claims in "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'."
Author's source(s)
- Joseph Smith - History 19, Pearl of Great Price.
Response
- This is false. Joseph was told that the "creeds" were an abomination, not all the doctrines taught.
- For a detailed response, see: Creeds an abomination
- For a detailed response, see: Apostasy
- For a detailed response, see: Non-biblical and unscriptural ideas in the creeds
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.
Author's source(s)
- Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 370.
- McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577.
Response
- This is false. The Saints believe that God is "one," but understand this oneness differently than creedal trinitarians.
- For a detailed response, see: Polytheism
Claim
According to Joseph Smith, God "was once a man like us."
Author's source(s)
- History of the Church, 6:305
Response
- For a detailed response, see: "God is a man"?
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."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:115.
- McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 742.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Conception of Jesus Christ
Claim
Jesus "is the brother of Lucifer."
Author's source(s)
- Milton Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, 15.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Jesus Christ the brother of Satan?
Claim
Latter-day Saints make a distinction between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit.
Author's source(s)
- McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 752.
Response
- In the source cited above, 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.
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.
Author's source(s)
- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 2:48.
Response
- 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.
- For a detailed response, see: Human deification
- For a detailed response, see: Gods of their own planets?
Claim
There is a "Mother God."
Author's source(s)
- Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions 3:143-144.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Heavenly Mother
Claim
We are all spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Father and Mother, and we once lived in the pre-existence.
Author's source(s)
- McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 589.
Response
- This is an accurate reflection of LDS belief.
- For a detailed response, see: Heavenly Parents
Claim
The authors claim that "Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence."
Author's source(s)
- Melvin J. Ballard, Three Degrees of Glory, p. 21.
Response
- This claim is false; the critics cite an author from 1922—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.
- For a detailed response, see: Repudiated ideas about race
- For a detailed response, see: LDS do not regard their leaders as infallible
- For a detailed response, see: Only the LDS President and prophet may declare doctrine
Claim
The authors claim that salvation or exaltation "is based on one's own good works or merit."
Author's source(s)
- Lowell Bennion, "The Religion of the Latter-day Saints," p. 160.
- Church News, October 8, 1988, p. 23.
Response
- 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...." (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"—they do not save us, but signal our sincerity and willingness to follow Jesus.
- For a detailed response, see: Do LDS neglect grace?
- For a detailed response, see: Salvation by faith alone?
- For a detailed response, see: Early Christian views on what was required for salvation
Claim
The authors claim that Latter-day Saint consider the Bible "suspect due to its many errors and missing parts."
Author's source(s)
- Articles of Faith No. 8, Ensign January 1989, pp. 25, 27.
Response
- 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.
- For a detailed response, see: Scriptural inerrancy and LDS cherish the Bible