"They will put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service. And these things they will do unto you, because
they have not known the Father, nor me." (John 16:2-3, KJV)
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away
their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, KJV)
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false
teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow
their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." (2
Peter 2:1-2, KJV)
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in
unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning
the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus
Christ." (Jude 3-4, KJV)
Among historians who lived immediately after apolistic times was Hegesippus, who
"flourished nearest the days of the apostles". Eusebius wrote of the conditions marking
the close of the first century, and cites Hegesippus: "[Hegesippus] relating the events of
the times, also says, that the Church continued until then as...pure and uncorrupt...whilst
if there were any at all that attempted to pervert the sound doctrine of the saving gospel,
they were yet skulking in dark retreats; but when the sacred choir of apostles became
extinct, and the generation of those that had been privileged to hear their inspired
wisdom had passed away, then also the combinations of impious error arose by the fraud
and delusions of false teachers. These also, as there were none of the apostles left,
henceforth attempted, without shame to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of
truth. Such is the statement of Hegesippus." (Eusebius, Eccles. Hist., Book III, chap.
32)
Of the fifth century, Mosheim wrote: "The sacred and venerable simplicity of the
primitive times, which required no more than a true faith in the word of God, and a
sincere obedience to his holy laws, appeared little better than rusticity and ignorance to
the subtle doctors of this quibbling age....Several of these ancient writers, uncorrupted by
the times in which they lived, have ingenuously acknowledged, that true piety and virtue
were smothered, as it were, under that enormous burthen of ceremonies under which they
lay groaning in this century." (Mosheim, Eccles. Hist., Century V, Part II, chaps. 3:1 and
4:1; English version written in 1819 by Archibald Maclaine) (Spelling "errors" were
taken from the source document.)
John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, commented on the early decline of
spiritual power, and the cessation of Divine gifts and graces within the church: ""It does
not appear that these extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were common in the Church
for more than two or three centuries. We seldom hear of them after that fatal period
when the Emperor Constantine called himself a Christian, and from a vain imagination of
promoting the Christian cause thereby heaped riches and power and honour upon the
Christians in general, but in particular upon the clergy. From this time they almost totally
ceased, very few instances of the kind being found. The cause was not, as has been
supposed, because there was no more occasion for them, because all the world was
become Christians. This is a miserable mistake; not a twentieth part of it was then
nominally Christian. The love of many, almost all Christians, so-called, was waxed cold.
The Christians had no more the spirit of Christ than the other heathens. The Son of Man,
when He came to examine His Church, could hardly find faith upon the earth. This was
the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found
in the Christian church--because the Christians were turned heathens again, and only had
a dead form left." (John Wesley's Works, Vol. VII, 89; 36-27)
(Did you come to the above section through the "predictions" link? If so, click on this link to return to the Biblical history
you had been reading.)
Mormons and Salvation
Are Mormons automatically ‘saved’? --
Mormons are not 'perfect'. They are
not automatically 'saved'. That idea is contrary to the doctrine of the LDS Church. To
explore this, first read the LDS Third Article of Faith:
"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by
obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."
LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., in his writings Doctrine of Salvation,
wrote extensively on this topic. For example:
"CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ALONE WILL NOT SAVE. We are not going to be
saved in the kingdom of God just because our names are on the records of the Church. It
will require more than that. We will have to have our names written in the Lamb's Book
of Life; that is the evidence we have kept the commandments. Every soul who will not
keep the commandments shall have his name blotted out of that book.....The fact that
they are members of the Church will not save them. Every man and every woman
will have to answer for the deeds done in the body.....we must not get the understanding
that because we are members of the Church it is all well with us, and our salvation is
secure...It is not so. We must continue to the end; we must obey the commandments..."
(bold added by webmaster)
Do Mormons believe they are ‘saved’ by “being good”?--
No. Double NO. I admit this is sometimes misunderstood even by some Mormons.
However, no one is saved by “being good”. Salvation comes through grace, through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. Salvation by “being good” goes against LDS doctrine. Let’s
examine a few pertinent verses from the Book of Mormon:
“(21) I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning,
and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move
and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to
another--I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be
unprofitable servants....(23) And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted
unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. (24) And secondly, he doth
require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth
immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto
him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast? (25) And
now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are
even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but
behold, it belongeth to him who created you.” (Mosiah 2:21-25)
“...yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only
through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh
to redeem the world.” (Helaman 5:9)
It is plain to see that, through all that we do, we can not save ourselves. We still fall
short and are unprofitable servants. It is only through Jesus Christ that we are saved.
So, what is the purpose of works? Why “be good”? One mainstream Christian radio ad
campaign, in the spring of 1998, stated that being good is saying thank-you to God.
While that sounds nice, I have a problem with it’s over-simplicity. The Bible says
nothing about works, or “being good”, as how we say thank-you to God. Now, that could
be inferred from the text. However, I think it overlooks a deeper, more beautiful
concept.
One: James 2:14-26 looks at how faith and works work together. Works
(“being good”) is faith in action. A person who truly believes in something acts
accordingly. When a person truly has faith in Christ, their faith moves them to act
according to the teachings of Christ. A person who claims “I believe in Christ,” and then
lies or steals shows shallow faith. A person who claims “I believe in Christ,” and then
lives Christ’s teachings of love and service is “putting their actions where their mouth
is”. Thus, faith without works is dead. Thus, by works, faith is made perfect.
Two: In the Bible, Jesus plainly says, “If ye love me, keep my
commandments.” (John 14:15, KJV).
Thus, “being good” is more than simply saying thank-you to God. By “being good”, we
show our faith in Christ and let our light shine for all to see. By “being good”, we show
Jesus Christ that we love him.
Back to LDS Page
Women and the LDS Church
Here are samples of what the Holy Bible and Book of Mormon say about women:
1 Corinthians 11:11-12 "Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman,
neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even
so is the man also of the woman; but all things of God."
Alma 32:23 "And now, he imparteth his word by angles unto men, yea, not only
men but women also...."
Here is a quote from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", an official
proclamation by the LDS Church, from the First Presidency and Council of Twelve
Apostles of the Church:
"...fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."
(bold added by webmaster)
Personally, I, a woman, have never felt an atmosphere of sexism in the LDS Church. I
have never been made to feel like a second-class citizen in the Church. In fact, I have
heard many LDS men cheerfully and openly acknowledge that women are often more
spiritually in-tune than they are, are more willing to serve others than they are, and are
valuable partners. As I heard one LDS woman put it, “Why shouldn’t I treat my husband
like a king -- He treats me like a queen!” On the other hand, I HAVE been treated with
sexism and as a second-class citizen by non-LDS men....
This next part contains information about the LDS Relief Society, and quotes from LDS Melchizedek Priesthood Study
Manuals:
The Relief Society is the LDS organization for women. It began
in the spring of 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois. The men working on the Nauvoo Temple
needed shirts. In response, Sarah Kimball and Margaret Cook decided to combine their
efforts. Sister Kimball provided the materials, and Sister Cook would sew. They
decided to ask neighbor women if they would like to join the project.
The women met together and decided their efforts would be more successful if they
formed a ladies' society. They asked Eliza R. Snow to write a constitution and present it
to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith said the constitution and bylaws were the finest he had ever seen. But he
said there was something better for them. He invited them to meet with him and a few
brethren the following week. The purpose was to organize them into a society patterned
after the organization of the priesthood.
A small group of women accepted the invitation. They gathered the next Thursday,
March 17, 1842, in a room above Joseph Smith's store. The meeting started with a hymn
and a prayer.
Joseph Smith said the object of the society was to help in meeting the needs of the poor,
"--searching after objects of charity, and in administering to their wants." Later he told
the women they were not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.
Emma Smith, Joseph's wife, was chosen to be president of the society. Her counselors
were Sarah M. Cleveland and Elizabeth Ann Whitney. Eliza R. Snow was the secretary.
Elvira A. Coles was the treasurer. They were blessed and set apart by Elder John
Taylor.
The group named themselves the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo. In time the official
title became the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Relief Society at Nauvoo was the beginning of a worldwide sisterhood that would
number in the millions within 150 years. The Relief Society is organized in every nation
where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized.
The Relief Society's goals are accomplished through three departments:
welfare/compassionate service, education, and homemaking. Welfare/compassionate
service is under the direction of the Relief Society President, education under the
direction of one of her counselors, and homemaking under the direction of the other
counselor. Through these departments, the Relief Society sisters are encouraged to be
self-reliant, to assist people in need, to study the scriptures, apply the gospel in their
lives, and strengthen their families. Under the direction of the bishop, the Relief Society
plays an important role in providing temporary assistance to the poor and needy, and in
providing help during emergencies.
The Relief Society provides women with the opportunity to lead and serve others,
throughout the levels of LDS Church leadership. LDS women also provide leadership
and service in the Primary and Young Women's programs.
Go Back to
Beginning of Section
Here are some quotes on women, straight from LDS Church
priesthood study manuals:
Melchizedek Priesthood Manual Study Guide 2, Lesson 26 "Teaching Your Sons to
Honor Womanhood". The following quote consists of excerpts from pages
103-106. "Understand that your sons will be more inclined to honor womanhood
when they see that you honor womanhood in the home and elsewhere....... Luke 1: 26-35.
What evidence of God's favor of women in general and of Mary in particular does this
passage provide?....... President Joseph Fielding Smith said: 'There is nothing in the
teachings of the gospel which declares that men are superior to women.'......... Ephesians
5:25-29. Paul taught that men should honor women in what ways?....... Proverbs 6:20-22.
How should a mother's counsel be regarded?....... John 19:25-27. In what ways did the
Savior teach us to honor womanhood?....... President Heber J. Grant said: 'Without the
wonderful work of the women I realize that the Church would have been a failure. The
mother in the family far more than the father, is the one who instills in the hearts of the
children, a testimony and a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.'........ What can you do to
demonstrate to your children or other young people that you truly honor womanhood?
What example do you show? Where can you improve?"
Melchizedek Priesthood Manual Study Guide 4, Lesson 22 "Presiding Righteously in
the Home". The following quote consists of excerpts from pages 72-74 "Even
though certain basic roles assigned to men and women differ, husbands and wives are
equal partners...... President Spencer W. Kimball said: 'When we speak of marriage as a
partnership, let us speak of marriage as a full partnership. We do not want our
LDS women to be silent partners or limited partners in that eternal
assignment. Please be a contributing and full partner'...... President
Gordon B. Hinckley said: 'To men within the sound of my voice, I say, if you are prone
to dictate and exercise authority over her, if you are selfish and brutal in your actions in
the home, then stop it. Repent. Repent now, while you have the opportunity to do
so.'...... What can you do in your home to better fulfill your priesthood obligation to meet
the needs of your family? How can we be servants and blessings to our wives and
children?"
[Note: The Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guides, such as the ones
quoted from above are published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
They are "lesson manuals" used by LDS men during Sunday priesthood lessons. The
Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guides include several lessons about
honoring and cherishing women, such as "Building a Happy and Successful Marriage"
(Lesson 21, Guide 2), "Encouraging Your Wife's Growth and Development" (Lesson 11,
Guide 1989), and "Thou Shalt Love Thy Wife with All Thy Heart" (Lesson 7, Guide 4).]
Back to LDS Page
Or to continue reading straight through, follow this
link to the next page.
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page