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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Chapter 17
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Contents
- 1 Response to claims made in "Chapter 17: Is Mormonism Christian"
- 1.1 375 epigraph (PB) - Gordon B. Hinckley is listed as "President, Mormon Church"
- 1.2 The author(s) of One Nation Under Gods make(s) the following claim:
- 1.3 FAIR's Response
- 1.4 Claim
- The author presents his second significant reason that people join the Church as "the long-held Mormon notion that Latter-day Saints are innately better than non-Mormons."
- 1.5 Claim
- Does the Church have, as the book claims, a "standard practice" of "not disclosing controversial doctrines?"
- Did early LDS leaders take a "staunchly anti-Christian stance?"
- Did Joseph actually say that all the churches of Christendom "were all wrong" and that Christian ministers "were all corrupt?"
- Did Joseph claim that all other churches were founded by Satan and part of the "satanic world system?"
- Did LDS leaders spend 150 years calling Christians "derogatory names" and insulting them?
- The book presents a table contrasting "Mormon Beliefs About Jesus" with "Christian Beliefs About Jesus."
- Did President Hinckley actually "confess" that Latter-day Saint do not believe in the same 'Jesus' in which non-LDS Christians believe?
- Did Bruce R. McConkie discourage people from attempting to form a "personal relationship" with Christ?
- McConkie said:
- Is the "LDS teaching" that there exists more than one god is refuted by the Bible?
- If the Bible says that "God will share His glory with no one," then how could one hope to become like Him?
- Paul said in the Bible that "the natural (or physical) comes first, then comes the spiritual." Why then, did Brigham Young say that people are "made first spiritual, and afterwards temporal?"
- The author states: "The Christian gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4)."
- The Latter-day Saint gospel, by contrast is represented by a statement by George Q. Cannon, who said to have claimed that LDS believe that "evolution of man until he shall become a god" is "the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believed in by the Latter-day Saints."
- Do LDS dismiss the Bible's teachings "whenever they contradict official LDS beliefs?"
- Did LDS leaders repeatedly condemn the Bible?
- Did the Church present itself as a "Christian organization" only by restricing accurate information about LDS beliefs?
- Was a "faithful Mormon" excommunicated for "accurately" explaining "Mormon doctrines and history?"
- Did the Church respond that such information had to be suppressed so that the Church could become more "mainstream" Christian?
- Did Gordon B. Hinckely answer questions about LDS doctrine evasively?
- Gordon B. Hinckley said: "None of you need worry because you read something that was incompletely reported. You need not worry that I do not understand some matters of doctrine. I think I understand them thoroughly."
- Author's quote: "The masking of Mormonism has continued unabated...Mormonism's smoke-screen of words has served to greatly confuse observers..."
- Have Latter-day Saints attempted to "infiltrate" Christian churches in order to convert entire congregations?
- Is the LDS Church really a "cult?"
- The author states that LDS leaders will have to "completely sever its ties with Christianity" in order not to be called a "cult" and gain "legitimacy."
Response to claims made in "Chapter 17: Is Mormonism Christian"
| Claims made in "Chapter 16: Mormon Racism: Black Is Not Beautiful" | A FAIR Analysis of: One Nation Under Gods A work by author: Richard Abanes
|
Claims made in "Chapter 18: Cover-Ups, Conspiracies, and Controversies" |
375 epigraph (PB) - Gordon B. Hinckley is listed as "President, Mormon Church"
The author(s) of One Nation Under Gods make(s) the following claim:
Gordon B. Hinckley is listed as "President, Mormon Church"
FAIR's Response
- There is no church called the "Mormon Church."
- Perhaps in this epigraph to a chapter entitled "Is Mormonism Christian?", the author wished to avoid stating the true name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
375, n3 (PB)
Claim
- The author presents his second significant reason that people join the Church as "the long-held Mormon notion that Latter-day Saints are innately better than non-Mormons."
Author's source(s) - Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, 236.
- The author's claim is false
- This claim actually originated with the Tanners. The author also quotes the Tanner's primary source. See: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Moody Press, 1979), 27.( Index of claims ).
- Unsurprisingly, there is no mention of gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon mentioned among the many reasons the author presents for joining the Church—the reason most Latter-day Saints themselves would give.
- Latter-day Saint culture/Attitude toward non-members
376 (PB)
Claim
- Does the Church have, as the book claims, a "standard practice" of "not disclosing controversial doctrines?"
Author's source(s) - No source provided.
376 (PB)
Claim
- Did early LDS leaders take a "staunchly anti-Christian stance?"
Author's source(s) - No source provided.
377, n8(PB)
Claim
- Did Joseph actually say that all the churches of Christendom "were all wrong" and that Christian ministers "were all corrupt?"
Author's source(s) - Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History 1:19
- This claim is also made in Becoming Gods, p. 26
- Apostasy/Individual versus organizational
- First Vision/Contradiction about knowing all churches were wrong
377 (PB)
Claim
- Did Joseph claim that all other churches were founded by Satan and part of the "satanic world system?"
Author's source(s) Response
377, 600n11-14 (PB)
Claim
- Did LDS leaders spend 150 years calling Christians "derogatory names" and insulting them?
Author's source(s) - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, 265.
- Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:89.
- Orson Pratt, The Kingdom of God—Part 1, no. 2, October 31, 1848, 3. Reprinted in Orson Pratt, Orson Pratt's Works, vol. 2
- Kent P. Jackson, "Early Signs of the Apostasy," Ensign, December 1984, 9.
378, 601n18-21 (PB)
Claim
- The book presents a table contrasting "Mormon Beliefs About Jesus" with "Christian Beliefs About Jesus."
Author's source(s) - Joseph Fielding Smith, vol. 1, 130 and Ezra Taft Benson, Teaching of Ezra Taft Benson, 14. Quoted in "Gethsemane Was Site of "Greatest Single Act," Church News, June 1, 1991, 14.
- Joseph Fielding Smith, vol. 1, 188.
- 1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:8-9, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, Hebrews 10:12
379 601n22(PB)
Claim
- Did President Hinckley actually "confess" that Latter-day Saint do not believe in the same 'Jesus' in which non-LDS Christians believe?
Author's source(s) - Gordon B. Hinckley. Quoted in "Crown of Gospel is Upon Our Heads," LDS Church News, June 20, 1998, 7.
- This was no "confession"—President Hinckley was bearing testimony of Christ.
- Jesus Christ/Latter-day Saints aren't Christians
379-380 603n23 (HB) 601n23 (PB)
Claim
- Did Bruce R. McConkie discourage people from attempting to form a "personal relationship" with Christ?
- McConkie said:
"[Y]ou have never heard one of the First Presidency or the Twelve...advocate this excessive zeal that calls for gaining a so-called special and personal relationship with Christ..."
"[Y]ou have never heard one of the First Presidency or the Twelve...advocate this excessive zeal that calls for gaining a so-called special and personal relationship with Christ..."
Author's source(s)
- Bruce R. McConkie, "Our Relationship with the Lord," BYU Speech, March 2 1982.
Response
- Misrepresentation of source: Use of sources: McConkie on special relationship
380
Claim
- Is the "LDS teaching" that there exists more than one god is refuted by the Bible?
Author's source(s) Response
- Nature of God/Polytheism
- Isaiah 43-46 have been misinterpreted by the author in this context.
380
Author's source(s)
Response
- These verses say God will not give his glory to another. That is, God will not cease to be God or decline in glory. But, the scriptures are clear that God will share his glory with others: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).
- Nature of God/Deification of man
380, 603n25 (HB) 601n25 (PB)
Claim
- Paul said in the Bible that "the natural (or physical) comes first, then comes the spiritual." Why then, did Brigham Young say that people are "made first spiritual, and afterwards temporal?"
Author's source(s) - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:50..
- Zechariah 12:1
- The verse in Paul is speaking of the resurrection, not pre-mortal life. See: Use of sources: Natural before spiritual body?
- Plan of salvation/Premortal existence
381, 603n26 (HB) 601n26 (PB)
Claim
- The author states: "The Christian gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4)."
- The Latter-day Saint gospel, by contrast is represented by a statement by George Q. Cannon, who said to have claimed that LDS believe that "evolution of man until he shall become a god" is "the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believed in by the Latter-day Saints."
Author's source(s) - George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, vol. 1, 9.
- It is absurd to imply that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not central to Latter-day Saint belief.
- Absurd claims
- Nature of God/Deification of man
383, 601n29
Claim
- Do LDS dismiss the Bible's teachings "whenever they contradict official LDS beliefs?"
Author's source(s) - Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 764.
- Misrepresentation of source: Elder McConkie wrote simply that "The Church uses the King James Version of the Bible, but acceptance of the Bible is coupled with a reservation that it is true only insofar as translated correctly." Thus, the Bible is scripture, but if the translation or transmission of the text has been corrupted, why ought one to accept it?
- Latter-day Saints may have a different interpretation of the Bible than the author, or his brand of Christianity. What makes his interpretation valid and another invalid? No two Christian denominations believe in all the same biblical readings.
- Mormonism and the Bible/Inerrancy
- Mormonism and the Bible/Textual criticism
- Bible complete and sufficient?/Sola scriptura
383-4, 601n31
Claim
- Did LDS leaders repeatedly condemn the Bible?
Author's source(s) - Orson Pratt, "The Bible and Tradition, without Further Revelation, an Insufficient Guide," Divine Authenticity fo the Book of Mormon—No. 3," December 1, 1850, 47. Reprinted in Orson Pratt, Orson Pratt's Works, vol. 2.
- Leaders did not "condemn the Bible," but (as the title of Elder Pratt's work shows) argued that the divided state of Christendom was ample testimony that the Bible alone did not seem sufficient to settle all doctrinal arguments and difficulties. It is difficult to question this, with various Christian sects which continue to proliferate.
- Use of sources: Orson Pratt condemns the Bible?
- Bible complete and sufficient? / Sola scriptura
385
Claim
- Did the Church present itself as a "Christian organization" only by restricing accurate information about LDS beliefs?
Author's source(s) - Author's opinion
- The irony is thick when this book complains about the "dissemination of incomplete and deceptive information."
- LDS only recently claim to be Christian?
- Loaded and prejudicial language
385, 601n37-38
Claim
- Was a "faithful Mormon" excommunicated for "accurately" explaining "Mormon doctrines and history?"
- Did the Church respond that such information had to be suppressed so that the Church could become more "mainstream" Christian?
Author's source(s) - T. LaMar Sleight, letter to Michael Barrett. Quoted in Bill McKeever, "Excommunicated for Publicly Discussing Mormon Doctrine?", Mormonism Researched (Summer 1994), 3.
- This claim is absurd—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not "trying to become a mainstream Christian church."
- LDS only recently claim to be Christian?
- Absurd claims
- Loaded and prejudicial language
388
Claim
- Did Gordon B. Hinckely answer questions about LDS doctrine evasively?
Author's source(s) - No source provided.
389, 603n45 (HB)
Claim
- Gordon B. Hinckley said: "None of you need worry because you read something that was incompletely reported. You need not worry that I do not understand some matters of doctrine. I think I understand them thoroughly."
Author's source(s) - Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1997 General Conference Address.
389
Claim
- Author's quote: "The masking of Mormonism has continued unabated...Mormonism's smoke-screen of words has served to greatly confuse observers..."
Response391, n53
Claim
- Have Latter-day Saints attempted to "infiltrate" Christian churches in order to convert entire congregations?
Author's source(s) - Rick Branch, "Mormon Church Infiltrates Christianity," Watchman Expositor, vol. 9, no. 3, 7.
- How, exactly, do members of the Church 'infiltrate' other denominations? When their deception became known, would the pastor not turn away? How do the members of the Church manage to brainwash these pastors into accepting their theology anyway?
- LDS only recently claim to be Christian?
- Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Absurd claims
393-400
Claim
- Is the LDS Church really a "cult?"
Author's source(s) - Various
400
Claim
- The author states that LDS leaders will have to "completely sever its ties with Christianity" in order not to be called a "cult" and gain "legitimacy."
Author's source(s) - Author's opinion.
- The idea that Latter-day Saints will ever disassociate themselves from Christ is an extremely absurd claim.
- LDS only recently claim to be Christian?
- Absurd claims
Further reading
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition}} | To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition | edit |
| {{To learn more box:''Under the Banner of Heaven''}} | To learn more about responses to: Under the Banner of Heaven | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Robert Price}} | To learn more about responses to: Robert Price | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Ankerberg and Weldon}} | To learn more about responses to: Ankerberg and Weldon | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Ashamed of Joseph}} | To learn more about responses to: Ashamed of Joseph | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Beckwith and Moser}} | To learn more about responses to: Beckwith and Moser | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Beckwith and Parrish}} | To learn more about responses to: Beckwith and Parrish | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Benjamin Park}} | To learn more about responses to: Benjamin Park | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Bible versus Joseph Smith}} | To learn more about responses to: Bible versus Joseph Smith | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Bible versus Book of Mormon}} | To learn more about responses to: Bible versus Book of Mormon | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: ''Big Love''}} | To learn more about responses to: Big Love | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Brett Metcalfe}} | To learn more about responses to: Brett Metcalfe | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Bill Maher}} | To learn more about responses to: Bill Maher | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Bruce H. Porter}} | To learn more about responses to: Bruce H. Porter | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Carol Wang Shutter}} | To learn more about responses to: Carol Wang Shutter | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: CES Letter}} | To learn more about responses to: CES Letter | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Charles Larson}} | To learn more about responses to: Charles Larson | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Christopher Nemelka}} | To learn more about responses to: Christopher Nemelka | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Colby Townshed}} | To learn more about responses to: Colby Townshed | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: D. Michael Quinn}} | To learn more about responses to: D. Michael Quinn | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: David Persuitte}} | To learn more about responses to: David Persuitte | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Denver Snuffer}} | To learn more about responses to: Denver Snuffer | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Dick Bauer}} | To learn more about responses to: Dick Bauer | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: George D Smith}} | To learn more about responses to: George D Smith | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Grant Palmer}} | To learn more about responses to: Grant Palmer | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Hank Hanegraaff}} | To learn more about responses to: Hank Hanegraaff | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: James Brooke}} | To learn more about responses to: James Brooke | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: James White}} | To learn more about responses to: James White | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner}} | To learn more about responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD}} | To learn more about responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: John Dehlin}} | To learn more about responses to: John Dehlin | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: Martha Beck}} | To learn more about responses to: Martha Beck | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: McKeever and Johnson}} | To learn more about responses to: McKeever and Johnson | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: New Approaches}} | To learn more about responses to: New Approaches to the Book of Mormon | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Richard Abanes}} | To learn more about responses to: Richard Abanes | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Richard Van Wagoner}} | To learn more about responses to: Richard Van Wagoner | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Richard and Joan Ostling}} | To learn more about responses to: Richard and Joan Ostling | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Rick Grunger}} | To learn more about responses to: Rick Grunger | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: Rod Meldrum}} | To learn more about responses to: Rod Meldrum | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Roger I Anderson}} | To learn more about responses to: Roger I Anderson | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Ronald V. Huggins}} | To learn more about responses to: Ronald V. Huggins | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Sally Denton}} | To learn more about responses to: Sally Denton | edit |
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| {{To learn more box:responses to: Vernal Holley}} | To learn more about responses to: Vernal Holley | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Walter Martin}} | To learn more about responses to: Walter Martin | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Wesley Walters}} | To learn more about responses to: Wesley Walters | edit |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Will Bagley}} | To learn more about responses to: Will Bagley | edit |