II. Errors, Misinterpretations And Exaggerations Concerning LDS Doctrine

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

1. Adam and Eve and temple patrons put on aprons similar to Lucifer's apron (74:34, 78:29).

Adam and Eve put on aprons of fig leaves as described in Gen. 3:7, not aprons similar to Lucifer's apron.

2. "The temple ceremonies have nothing to do with the grace of God or the sacrifice of Christ for our sins" (210:10).

The temple activities are a literal realization of all that Jesus Christ stood for; they allow each temple-goer to emulate Christ's teachings by helping bring eternal life to others.

3. Latter-day Saints are subject to death if they reveal temple secrets (13:16).

Not true. See comments with page 13, lines 16-18 in "Detailed and Documented Responses" Section.

4. "Latter-day Saints are encouraged to have encounters with the alleged spirits of the dead" (72:15-19).

Like early Christians (I Cor. 15:29) Mormons perform rites in behalf of the dead, but there is no effort made to contact them.

5. "Not one verse in either the Bible or the Book of Mormon. . . teaches Celestial Marriage. . . is essential for eternal life" (147:35).

Although the details of marriage for eternity come from the LDS scripture called the Doctrine and Covenants, there are biblical scriptures that speak of the eternal nature of the husband and wife relationship.

6. The fine print of Mormonism is that becoming gods cannot be done alone, "but only in partnership with a spouse to whom one has been married in the temple 'for eternity' " (34:9).

This is not a teaching members do not know, but one of the most well-known LDS doctrines.

7. "One's genealogy must be traced all the way back to Adam" (147:11).

Four generations are encouraged; additional research is also encouraged. It is impossible to trace one's genealogy back to Adam.

8. "[Mormon] temples are supposed to be like the ones Enoch, Noah, and Abraham worshipped in" (208:32).

LDS doctrine contains no such claim. LDS temples today are different than any in prior history.

9. "Blond, blue-eyed, pseudo-Aaronic priests" perform secret rituals in LDS temples (209:5).

Aaronic Priesthood holders (mostly young men in their teens) are not eligible for temple rites except performing proxy baptisms. The Melchizedek or higher Priesthood is required for men to participate in all other temple ordinances. Worthy men and women of all colors of skin, hair, and eyes participate freely.

10. "Swearing an oath of total obedience to her husband in the temple ritual [the wife] must be perfect" (57:8).

Husbands and wives both pledge to be faithful and to be obedient to God's law. Perfection is not one of the temple pledges.

11. "{Mormons believe] temples are the link between man and godhood" (63:4).

More accurately, temples can be a link if the temple-goer lives a worthy life. All temple blessings are contingent on a person's actions.

12. Many Mormons do not know most temple work is for the dead (64:5).

Most Mormons do know that most temple work is in behalf of the dead and on each visit to the temple after the first each person is given a proxy name which he/she is to represent.

13. "All Christian ministers are ridiculed and slandered as absolute fools" in the LD temples (246:4).

Not so. The one minister who appears is portrayed as a sincere seeker after truth who comes to accept the higher truth presented to him.

14. There should be no temple because our bodies are the real temples of God. 095:2).

Latter-day Saints also believe that our bodies are temples of God. That is why LDS people are taught to abstain from harmful substances and keep their bodies undefiled.

15. One must commit to Joseph Smith or abandon the temple in shame (187:2-5).

LDS people indicate a loyalty to leaders before ever going to the temple. Joseph Smith is not mentioned once in the temple ceremony or the temple recommend interview.

16. Early Christians did not participate in pagan temple rituals as Mormons do today, or "in temple ceremonies of any kind" (194:26).

LDS temple rites are not pagan, but Christ is revered throughout the ceremony. To Christ, the Jerusalem temple was a holy place, and he and his Apostles spent much time in its courts, where they would have approvingly observed rites conducted under the Mosaic Law.

17. Those who go to the temple "are completely under Satan's power" (192:24-32).

This is inconceivable since temple-goers must demonstrate and declare they are living high moral standards, everything Satan is against. A similar charge was made against Christ by his accusers.

18. Lucifer dominates the temple ritual (138:12)

Lucifer is rebuked and expelled both times that he is portrayed in the temple enactment scenes and his dialogue is only a small portion of the total temple ceremony.

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

19. Mormons believe God is a man (199:21).

God is an exalted, resurrected, glorified man, far more superior than mortal man can conceive.

20. "The Mormon Jesus was . . . a man who had to prove himself in a mortal body in order to become a 'God' " (199:21).

Christ was a God and a Godhead before he was earth and was involved in creating the earth.

21. "Mormon theology . . . ridicules the Trinity"(199:21-201:13).

Latter-day Saints believe in a trinity, but define the Godhead as consisting of three separate beings.

22. The Mormon Holy Ghost cannot be God (199:21).

The LDS people declare the Holy Ghost to be a separate personage, and part of the Godhead.

23. God is changing and evolving (199:21-201:13).

God is perfect and not changing and evolving. God's work is to save and exalt his children and provide them with an opportunity to have all that he has.

24. "God was once sinful" (114:4).

This is not LDS theology.

25. Jesus and Lucifer were sexually begotten of God in the preexistent world (26:16).

LDS doctrine does not include any knowledge of God's method of procreation. All of us, including Jesus and Lucifer, were God's premortal children.

26. "Mormons do not believe in a creation or a creator" (259:23).

Not true.

27. "I chose Jesus over Joseph (245:2).

Latter-day Saints choose both; knowing Joseph Smith leads to a greater likelihood of finding the real Jesus.

28. "[The LDS] 'God' is an extraterrestrial from Kolob, definitely not the God of the Bible" (234:33).

There are numerous interpretations of God even among Bible believers and the Latter-day Saint concept of God is consistent with the Bible.

29. The Mormon God is not omnipotent, or omniscient(260:7).

Latter-day Saint doctrine teaches that God is all-knowing and has all possible power, but even God cannot save an unrepentant sinner.

30. It is arrogant to define God as human (258:33).

Yes it is, and Latter-day Saints do not define God as such, but do believe man is of God's species.

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

31. "Like Mormonism, Hinduism [teaches] humans are gods" (28:25).

Latter-day Saints believe each individual has the potential to become a god, whereas Hinduism teaches that the human soul (atman) can eventually merge

and unite with the universal Brahman.

32. "The ambition to become a god is . . . basic human selfishness that lies at the root of all evil" (52:29).

Just the opposite is true. To have a righteous goal and to develop the kind of character that is necessary to achieve it is better than not knowing who we are or where we are going. To strive to become a god brings a selfless and altruistic attitude.

33. Mormons must achieve godhood through pagan ritual (31:11).

Latter-day Saints must achieve perfection before becoming gods. The covenant revealed from God, not the ritual, helps point the way. Actually the idea of humans becoming gods is implied but never mentioned once in the temple ceremony.

34. Mormon women who become goddesses will be "eternally pregnant" and have billions of babies (22:17; 51:8; and 147:24).

LDS doctrine does not claim knowledge of the methods of creating spiritual off-spring.

35. A radical self-image results from believing one can become a god (51:1).

This is a possibility if that is one's desire without efforts at achieving higher morality and good works, which LDS teachings require

36. "The worst despots in history have been those who claimed to be divine" (237:19).

LDS doctrine teaches only Christ was divine. There is a difference between potential divinity and current divinity. Latter-day Saints do not even believe godhood (divinity) is a destiny, only a possibility.

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

37. "Mormon doctrine. . . is not based upon the Bible or even the Book of Mormon" (31:2).

This simply is not so. Latter-day Saints can demonstrate that their teachings are biblical, as well as believing the additional Book of Mormon teachings.

38. "The Book of Mormon contains almost no Mormonism" (31:2 and 114:22).

Much of what is distinctively LDS comes from the Book of Mormon. (See "Book of Mormon Contents" in this "Overview" section).

39. The Book of Mormon is an embarrassment to the LDS Church (114:30).

Untrue. Faithful Church members love and cherish the Book of Mormon. It is the keystone of their religion.

40. The Book of Mormon is more important to Mormons than the Bible (110:17).

The LDS Church considers all its scriptures important and always puts the Bible first when publishing all four scriptures together.

41. The Book of Mormon has many contradictions (110:23).

This simply is not so. In fact it is remarkably consistent.

42. The Book of Mormon is stolen from other sources (112:27).

This charge has been discarded by knowledgeable historians.

43. Much of the Book of Mormon is copied from the Bible (112:29).

The relatively few biblical phrases are completely appropriate since the same God is speaking to his children who do not have access to most of each other's scriptures. Parts of the Book of Mormon are similar or identical to the Bible and are identified as such.

44. "How the Book of Mormon 'prophet' Nephi who allegedly wrote 600 to 500 B.C. could. . . quote Matthew, Luke, Peter, and Paul verbatim centuries before they wrote . . .seems to allow only one explanation (113:10).

Nephi did not quote any of these prophets, but his words were translated into biblical-sounding language, and there is biblical phraseology in the Book of Mormon.

45. "The hundreds of quotations from both the Old and New Testaments [are not acknowledged as coming from the Bible]" (113:1).

On the contrary, most passages in the Book of Mormon that are even similar to the Bible are cross-referenced. The Old Testament similarities are logical, since Book of Mormon people brought Old Testament records with them from Jerusalem.

46. There is not one shred of archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon (86:30).

Although "amateur LDS archaeologists" have overstated the case, there is much internal and external evidence for the Book of Mormon.

47. The Book of Mormon does not contain the fullness of the gospel as Mormons claim (114:30).

The word gospel means "the good news" that Jesus the Christ has come to the earth. Not too many pages can be read in the Book of Mormon but what someone is teaching and testifying of Christ and his teachings. There was much on the Book of Mormon plates that Joseph Smith did not translate and 116 pages of translation were lost.

48. "Mormons accept Lucifer's religion of self-effort" (138:27).

Lucifer is real, but must be rejected by all faithful Latter-day Saints. Lucifer's religion has nothing to do with self-effort. The authors do not explain where they get the idea that Lucifer's religion is "self-effort."

49. Mormons believe there is no hell or eternal punishment (114:7).

This is not true. Except for sons of perdition, the LDS concept of hell is less final and inhumane than traditional views. (Sons of perdition in LDS doctrine are those who actually have firsthand knowledge of the reality of Christ and then deny it.)

50. The LDS teach Christ and Lucifer were brothers in the pre-existence (199:21).

Yes, but only in the same sense that all beings are related as spirit children of God.

51. Mormonism is satanic because its spiritual visitations come from the devil who can transform himself into an a gel of light (71:20).

Although the devil can appear as such, appearances of God and angels of God are characterized by light and the faithful can distinguish between the two powers.

52. Mormons worship Satan (74:1).

The LDS temple, the Book of Mormon, and other LDS scriptures and teachings all make clear that Satan is an enemy to God. Mormons do not worship Satan.

53. Mormons do not teach that Satan is a fallen angel (74:23).

That Satan is a fallen angel and was cast out of God's presence is emphatically taught in LDS doctrine.

54. The angel who commanded Joseph Smith to practice plural marriage was from the devil (160:34).

LDS history teaches that it was an angel of the Lord, perhaps Moroni.

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

55. "Blind faith in prophets is the mark of a cult" (93:2).

Blind faith is not part of the LDS Church and having prophets is one of the Bible's most common concepts (Eph. 4:11-14).

56. "Joseph Smith restored the pagan mysteries in Masonic form in the temple ceremonies" (138:16).

The few similarities are superficial. There is no valid resemblance between the basic purposes and procedures of the two ceremonies. See further comment in connection with page 138, line 16, in "Detailed and Documented Responses" section.

57. Mormons are polytheistic (74:5).

Latter-day Saints do not worship a multiplicity of gods and thus are not polytheistic. They might be called henotheistic: they believe in more than one god, but worship only one God.

58. "Mormonism openly aligns itself with [paganism]" (27:33 and 137:19).

Not true. However, there are some similarities between paganism and the various versions of Christianity.

59. Mormons have their own mythology. (82:15).

In the sense the book uses the term, equating mythology with spiritual experience, this is true, but the book misuses the word.

60. Mormons might unite all occult groups to form a world-wide, ecumenical, satanic occult group (243:7 and 257:7).

An unfounded and unrealistic charge.

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

61. The "Zion" kingdom must bi viewed in the broader context of the planned Mormon takeover of the world (230: last 8).

Latter-day Saints hope to prepare themselves so they can be part of Christ's millennial kingdom when it is established by the Savior. There is no "planned Mormon takeover.

62. Mormon world conquest is the basis for storing a year's supply of food, guns, and ammunition (229, last 8 and 241:19).

The LDS Church has never issued any directive calling for any member to possess weapons or ammunition, only c year's supply of food. Latter-day Saints believe they have a leadership role in preparing for Christ's second coming, but this is different from a goal of "conquest" or "conspiracy."

63. "When that time comes [a worldwide LDS theocratic communism], woe to all who transgress the . . . Mormon gospel. Excommunication with loss of earthly property will be supplemented with the death penalty" (232:14).

LDS doctrine absolutely forbids any church the right to take life or property.

64. The goals of Mormon authoritarianism are the same as those of other cults that are planning to take over the world (230:8).

The LDS Church is authoritative, but far from authoritarian. Which cults do the authors mean?

65. Mormonism is a conspiracy (234:24).

This is not LDS doctrine or ambition. The Church is open in its aims.

66. "It is only when we see Mormonism as a revolutionary secret society determined to take over the world that we begin to understand the real purpose behind its Priesthoods" (209:23).

The purpose of the priesthood is to serve mankind and prepare to be worthy to meet Christ at his second coming or when a person leaves this life.

67. Mormons are the anti-Christ predicted in Revelation 13:13-18 that will come forth before the end of the world (250:29).

Numerous individuals including popes, Martin Luther, Roman emperors and others have also been so charged throughout history. No organization is more pro-Christ than the LDS Church.

68. The Freemen Institute is the successor to the Mormon Council of Fifty (252:30).

This institution is not connected with the LDS Church, although some LDS members and non-LDS people belong to this independent group.

69. "The obsessive [LDS] ambition of world domination is openly denied today but secretly plotted" (234:24).

Totally untrue.

70. Joseph Smith taught, organized and encouraged his followers to rob, murder and plunder those who opposed them" (221:last 2).

It was the Danite faction who were guilty of some misdeeds and Joseph Smith was unaware of their activities. It is a fact of history that it was Latter-day Saints who were robbed, plundered, murdered and driven from Missouri. There was maybe one non-Mormon death in the Missouri conflict; dozens of Latter-day Saints were murdered.

71. Joseph Smith and Christ will reign during the Millennium (46:32).

Latter-day Saint doctrine does not claim that Joseph Smith will have a leadership role in the Millennium.

72. Christ will come to the temple in Missouri, not Jerusalem, at the Second Coming (83:16).

He will appear at different times at both locales according to LDS thought.

Charges made by the book

Actual LDS teaching

73. "There are over 4,300 [commandments] in Mormonism" (185:11).

This is not LDS doctrine.

74. "Conscience must remain silent like the lips that will be sealed with the death oaths of secrecy" (187:2).

Never once does the book mention the cardinal LDS doctrine of free agency. LDS scripture forbids any church the power to take a life.

75. "If Mormonism is [true], then the entire human race ought to submit to the authoritarian claims of the Brethren" (211:1).

Mormonism is not authoritarian. Authoritarianism would be the devil's plan. LDS doctrine asks but does not demand support for Church leaders. Members may covenant to be obedient.

76. "To disagree with their leaders . . . means excommunication and damnation." This is what happened to Sonia Johnson because she was for ERA (231:2-11).

Seldom, if ever, is anyone excommunicated for disagreeing with LDS leaders. The Johnson excommunication was for far more than disagreement; it involved open opposition and deliberate undermining of LDS purposes.

77. LDS leaders "only command and their followers must obey without question" (9:31).

Latter-day Saints do believe they ought to listen to their leaders and pray to know if what they say is right, but this statement in the book grossly overstates the matter.

78. "Truth is synonymous with the teachings of The Brethren" (51:24).

Although the LDS faithful look willingly to their leaders for truth, to imply that truth only emanates from them or that the pronouncements of leaders is infallible is wrong (thirteenth article of faith).

79. Mormons are afraid to consider the possibility of error in their church (245:28).

There certainly are some Latter-day Saints who at times question the truthfulness of the LDS Church, but once the questions are resolved, a person does not need to reconsider every time old charges are brought up again in a new format.

80. "When the leaders have spoken, the thinking has been done" (240:31).

This is not LDS doctrine. Leaders speak mostly about moral issues, which members ponder and pray about; and many issues are not addressed by Church leaders, which leaves a vast amount of thinking left to be done by each individual.

81. "The course of wisdom is the course of obedience" is an LDS slogan used to get Mormons to conform (9:4).

The scriptures stress obedience to God and his prophets (I Sam. 15:22 and Amos 3:7).

82. Plural marriage is not authorized in the Bible (157:3; 169:29 and 170:1).

The Bible has examples of plural marriage by some of its leading figures. God approved of David's plural wives prior to his murder of Uriah (2 Sam. 12:8).

83. LDS plural marriage was adultery (171:32).

LDS doctrine is that plural marriage is authorized by God at times and when so authorized it is not adultery.

84. Everyone was commanded to practice plural marriage to justify Joseph Smith's adultery (155:3).

It is reasonable that God would require his leaders to practice such a trying doctrine before expecting other members to obey it. However, at no time were all Latter-day Saints asked to practice plural marriage.

85. The LDS claim of an 1831 revelation on plural marriage is a cover-up for adultery (150:10).

1831 or perhaps 1829 is the earliest date known when Joseph Smith first received revelation on this principle.

86. Church leaders taught that LDS plural marriage is needed for godhood (168:27).

The LDS doctrine is that plural marriage is not essential for ultimate godhood. When the Lord commands it, it is expected, which explains such statements by Church leaders at those times, but Church leaders (and the Book of Mormon) also taught that plural marriage was a temporary practice for specific times and specific people.

87. The Book of Mormon condemns plural marriage (169:29).

The Book of Mormon does teach monogamy but says the Lord could command differently at times (Jacob 2:27-30).

88. Plural marriage was stopped because doing so was expedient (172:19).

If expedience was the reason to stop plural marriage, it would have been stopped much earlier. For many years, it was an ordeal to live this principle. The Church President waited for a revelation to stop it.

89. Joseph Smith practiced plural marriage without his wife's knowledge (166:1).

Emma was usually aware of Joseph's practice and at times selected and approved wives. At other times she was angry

90. Mormons do not believe in the grace of God (60:26).

Actually, the Book of Mormon teaches that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Ne. 25:23) and mentions grace thirty-five times. The Doctrine and Covenants mentions grace twenty-eight times.

91. Mormons "reject the full value of Christ's blood" because they insist good works are necessary (136:8).

Latter-day Saints believe in Christ's atonement (grace) and works.

92. Cain's sin (and the sin of Mormons too) was to do good works (135:13).

Cain's "sin" was his overall wickedness and trying to cover it with a sacrifice instead of repenting.

93. Mormons say there is no forgiveness without righteousness, which denies instant access to eternal life which the infinite atonement of Christ provided (182:31).

Mormons do believe righteousness is needed, but this is evidence of their love of Christ and his atonement, not a denial

94. "Eternal life is a free gift" (250:15).

As far as salvation (resurrection) is concerned, yes; as far as exaltation (highest kingdom), no; works are also needed.

95. "Because Mormons reject the full value of Christ's blood [they take water at communion services]" (136:10).

Assuming that water is less representative of Christ's blood than