They Teach a Different Jesus

http://ericbarger.com/mormon_jesus.htm

Why Mormonism is Wrong...if for no other reason!

By Eric Barger

We receive many questions, requests for prayer and help, etc. This was a question and my response we received in December, 2000.

In a message dated 12/18/2000 4:09:24 PM Central Standard Time, ****@AOL.com writes:

< I was just looking at books at Barnes and Noble's website, and i stumbled across your review of The God Makers. Speaking as an LDS memeber (sic), i found it quite offencive (sic) that you would accuse Mormons of having "demonic roots and practices", boasting that it's the "hard truth". I'm far from saying that you shouldn't have your own opinion, I would just ask that you not display offencive (sic) facts that are based on unresearched opinions on the web. Thanks for taking the time to read this. > -- Lauren

Eric's response:

Lauren,

Thanks for writing. I understand how you may feel about what I and many others have said about Mormonism. Let me quickly explain one key fact as to why I feel Mormonism has demonic roots.

In studying the Bible it is clear that any "revelations" that come along after the Bible was completed must be tested by the Bible and what it teaches. Scripture teaches that nothing should be added or subtracted from the finished revelation of God's Word.

Also, it just makes sense that since you, as a Mormon, acknowledge that the Bible is the Word of God that you should logically test any and every teaching that comes along claiming to be from God by using the oldest known and accepted revelation from God as the key. This should include anything that Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and subsequent Mormon Prophets taught (i.e., The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, etc.) So, this brings me to the single largest dilemma I have with Mormonism. In fact, if this were the only problem it would be enough to make me reject Mormonism.

The biggest problem I have with Mormon doctrine (though I find many, many other problems) is on the identity of Jesus Christ. After all, if you worship a Jesus OTHER than the REAL Jesus who died for our sins as portrayed by the Bible you are still lost in your sins and going to hell. Though you and other Mormons may be very sincere in your faith, if that faith leads you to "a different Jesus" and "a different gospel" you are doomed. Read Paul's warning for yourself in II Corinthians 11.

From Joseph Smith right through the current Mormon President, Gordon Hinckley, it has been taught and accepted that the traditional and historic Jesus WAS NOT the Jesus of Mormonism. Would you like the quotes by them, complete with footnoted references? (see below) I find it curious that this is something that NO Mormon missionary I have ever asked about this has ever known. That is because the Mormon Church chooses to ignore and mask this today and also because the modern Mormon Church is trying to present itself as just another perhaps more-enlightened Christian denomination. About this last point, it is interesting to remember that 50 years ago Mormons stressed that they were NOT Christians in the classic sense. Now, in an effort to get acceptance and quite frankly to deceive new unsuspecting members, the witnessing and public relations tact attempts to align Mormonism with historic Christianity. As an apologist for historic Christianity it is curious to me that any organization promoting a "different Jesus" could also honestly claim to represent real Christianity.

Lauren, there is no other way to gain God's favor, salvation and eternal life than through the shed blood of the Savior - the REAL Jesus. In Him, God came as God-in-the-flesh of a man...another contradiction with Mormonism's founders who believed that God was always a flesh and blood man, even though Scripture teaches that God is a Spirit. (John 1).

So, instead of writing you a book, please understand that it is not Mormons that I have any quarrel with, but rather Mormonism and its founders.

Please read the Scriptures I have pointed out and then read Paul's warning to Timothy in I Tim 4:1. But above all, realize what I mentioned previously - there is only ONE authentic Jesus. Do you have the right one or one of the many counterfeits that Satan (through his demons) is perpetrating upon people today?

Please let me know if you want to see some documentation or if you need any help. I will be glad to give it as my travel and speaking schedule allows.

My best because the REAL Jesus is alive!

Eric Barger
Take A Stand! Ministries
www.ericbarger.com

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On the identity of the Mormon Jesus:

Mormon doctrine (from accepted Mormon sources) claims the following:

"The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind." - Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15 (The same was intimated by Apostle Orson Pratt in Journal of Discourses Vol. 13, PP. 62-63)

This derives from the following:

Lucifer, our elder brother who desired the glory for himself, stood up and proposed his own plan - Moses 4:1-4, Abraham 3:27-28 (Pearl of Great Price which is considered one of three "inspired" books by Mormons)

And from Ensign (official Church magazine), December, 1980, pp.3-5 we read:

"Jesus of Nazareth", Spencer W. Kimball's, First Presidency Message: "His [Jesus'] trials were continuous. Perhaps his brother, Lucifer, had heard him say when he was still but a lad of 12, 'Whist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?'"(Luke 2:49)

"...Then came the time when Satan thought to trip him. Their encounter in the previous world had been on more equal terms, but now Jesus was young and Satan was experienced."

More proof that the Mormon Jesus is not the Christian Jesus comes from the following Mormon source. The official LDS Church News Archives quoted current Mormon President Gordon Hinckley speaking on the identity of the Mormon Jesus back in 1998.

"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints ‘do not believe in the traditional Christ.' (He said) ‘No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fulness (sic) of Times...In this dispensation, the Lord has declared that this Church is "the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth.’"

- LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, June 20, 1998 reporting on Hinckley’s speech to 6,600 missionaries assembled in Paris. (http://www.desnews.com/cgi-bin/libstory_church?dn98&9806210091.)

It should be noted that Mormon apologists try and play down the connection that their "prophets" have made concerning Jesus and Lucifer being what is commonly referred to as "spirit brothers." However, their defense becomes quickly inadequate. To demote Jesus and to elevate Lucifer to such a position begs to question the very person of God and His validity as Creator, Savior and Master of all things. Also, if God is a God of order does He allow chaos to reign between "sons"? Such thinking would mean that at some point (if you follow the Bible's teaching on origins) that Lucifer was even involved with creation! Scripture clearly instructs that he (and all of the other angels) are, were and always will be created beings - no matter what any man may claim (see Ezekiel 28:12-19). The Bible also states that God has but ONE Son. (See John 3:16) Lucifer is NOT NOW, nor EVER has been on par with God. On the other hand, the Bible Jesus IS NOW and ALWAYS has been God, second person of what is commonly referred to as the Trinity - God Almighty!

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Is telling the truth about Mormonism or exposing the fabrications of Joseph Smith a "vicious attack on Mormons?"

No, telling the truth to those caught in deception is the loving and right thing to do. This is why Christians need to take any and every avenue available to expose Mormonism in hopes that (1) Mormons repent and come to the real Jesus and (2) the unsuspecting be turned away from Mormonism's deadly grasp..

Also, we should note that history reveals that Mormon founder Joseph Smith launched his attack on Christianity long before there were any "Anti-Mormonism" ministries:

Allegedly instructed by the angel Moroni, Joseph Smith wrote:

"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)--and which I should join.

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven" (Joseph Smith History 1:18-20)

This is repeated word-for-word in chapter two of The Pearl of Great Price and is considered inspired scripture by Mormons.

And finally this from the Book of Mormon:

"And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil. And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth." (1 Nephi, 14: 9-10)

That's from the mouth and pen of Joseph Smith folks! Remember, the Mormon Church cannot ignore Joseph Smith whenever they feel like it! He founded their church and as supposedly a prophet! Examine one more statement from Smith as we close.

"I have more to boast of than any man ever had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet."

- History of the Church, by Joseph Smith, vol.6, pp.408-409.

It is my prayer that Mormons examine the facts, turn to the Jesus of the Bible, depending solely on His shed blood, renounce the counterfeit Jesus of Mormonism and then proceed to run from Joseph Smith and the teachings of the LDS Church as if they were the plague!

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Copyright 2001 Eric Barger