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From: gks@vax135.UUCP (Ken Swanson)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Mormonism (part I of IV)
Message-ID: <995@vax135.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Apr-85 09:26:05 EST
Article-I.D.: vax135.995
Posted: Wed Apr  3 09:26:05 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 4-Apr-85 06:04:15 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 89

This is the 1st of 4 postings on the teachings and history of
Mormonism (Doctrine of God, Doctrine of Man, Doctrine of
Salvation, Brief History of Mormonism).
The following information was excerpted from a tract, "The
Mormon Mystique," published by the American Tract Society of
Garland, Texas.
All referenced Mormon documents were either written by Joseph
Smith (founder of Mormonism) or by one of his authorized
disciples, or were published by the Mormon church.

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Mormon Doctrine
---------------

	"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most
	 correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our
	 religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding
	 by its precepts, than by any other book."
					Joseph Smith
					DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF
					 THE CHURCH, Vol. IV,
					 p. 161

	"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those
	 who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he
	 will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
					Proverbs 30:5-6


1. Doctrine of God

Mormonism: God the Father has a flesh and bones body (DOCTRINE AND
	COVENANTS, 130.22).
Bible: God the Father is Spirit (John 4:24).
*
Mormonism: God the Father is simply a man who achieved godhood
	(HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, V. 6, p. 305).
Bible: God the Father has always been God (Ps. 90:2).
*
Mormonism: God Himself is ever progressing upward in knowledge,
	wisdom and power (JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, V. 1, p. 93;
	V. 6, p. 120).
Bible: God already possesses eternal wisdom, power, and
	knowledge, and so never changes (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8).
*
Mormonism: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct gods
	(TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, p. 370, 372).
Bible: There is only one God, but three distinct persons in the 
	Godhead (Deut 6:4; Isa 48:12-13; Matt 3:16-17).
*
Mormonism: God the Father has Eternal Wives through whom spirit
	children have been and continue to be born (MORMON
	DOCTRINE, 1966, p. 516; THE SEER, Orson Pratt, p. 37, 158).
Bible: God has no wife and stands alone as God (Isa 46:9).
*
Mormonism: Christ, before his earthly ministry, was the first spirit
	child born to the Heavenly Father and Mother (WHAT THE
	MORMONS THINK OF CHRIST [booklet], p. 37).
Bible: Christ is Eternal God, not the product of a conception
	(John 1:1-2).
*
Mormonism: Satan [Lucifer] was originally the spirit brother of
	Christ (THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES, p. 15).
Bible: Satan was originally a created angel who led a rebellion
	against God in heaven.  Christ is Creator, Satan a
	created being (John 1:1-3; Col 1:16; Ezek 28:11-19).
*
Mormonism: God the Father in His glorified physical body had sexual
	intercourse with the virgin Mary that resulted in the
	conception of the physical Christ (MORMON DOCTRINE, p. 547;
	JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, V. 1, p. 51; V. 4, p. 218).
Bible: The physical Christ was conceived supernaturally by the Holy
	Spirit in the body of the virgin Mary (Matt 1:18-25).
*
Mormonism: Jesus was man's spiritual brother (the result of the
	Father's intercourse with His Eternal Wife before the earth
	was formed) but became a god, equal to the Father, after his
	death, ascension, and exaltation (THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE
	AGES, 1958, p. 21).
Bible: Jesus Christ presented Himself to men as Eternal God during
	His earthly ministry (John 5:18, 10:30-33).

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Ken Swanson
AT&T Bell Labs
Holmdel, NJ
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