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Mormons do not like it when their
Church is accused of being false. The Mormon church spends a great
deal of time and money on public relations with the aim of
portraying a loving, family oriented, non-condemning Christian
denomination.
Their desire for a good image is understandable.
But the question remains. Does the Mormon church condemn other
religious systems? The answer is definitely, "Yes." Let's look at
Mormon writers and see what they have said.
Joseph Smith said .
. .
(Regarding Joseph Smith's
alleged first vision where celestial personages appeared to
him.) . . .) "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
— 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 . . ."
(Joseph Smith, "History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 5-6.)
"What is it that inspires
professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation?
It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by
which he deceives the whole world." ("Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith," Compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, page
270.)
(In questions directed to
Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. . .)
First -- "Do you believe the Bible?"
If we do, we are the only people under heaven
that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the
day that do."
Third — "Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?"
Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they
repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings, page 119.)
Brigham Young said. . .
"But He did send His angel to
this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards
became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that
he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for
they were all wrong." (Brigham Young, "Journal of
Discourses," Vol. 2, page 171. - 1855)
John Taylor said . . .
"We talk about Christianity,
but it is a perfect pack of nonsense....Myself and hundreds of
the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory;
and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol;
it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a
better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the
nineteenth century."( Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, page
167 - 1858)
"Where shall we look for the
true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any
nation of Christendom." (J.D.", Vol. 10, page 127. - 1863)
James Talmage said . . .
"A self-suggesting
interpretation of history indicates that there has
been a great departure from the way of salvation as
laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from
the Church of Christ". ("The Articles of Faith,"
Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. P. 182.)
Bruce McConkie said
. . .
"With the loss of
the gospel, the nations of the earth went into a
moral eclipse called the Dark Ages." ("Mormon
Doctrine," Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, page.
44.)
Joseph Fielding
Smith said . . .
"Again, following
the death of his apostles, apostasy once more set
in, and again the saving principles and ordinances
of the gospel were changed to suit the conveniences
and notions of the people. Doctrines were corrupted,
authority lost, and a false order of religion took
the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it
had been the case in former dispensations, and the
people were left in spiritual darkness."
("Doctrines of Salvation," page 266.)
The Book of Mormon
says. . .
"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 14:10).
"And when the day
cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the
mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable
church of all the earth, whose foundation is the
devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father
shall commence. . ." (1 Nephi. 14:17).
The Doctrine and
Covenants says . . .
"Verily, verily, I
say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross
darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has
become corrupt before my face" (Doctrine and
Covenants, 112:23).
When the Mormon missionaries come to the door and
do their "gospel" presentation, they mention an apostasy and the
need for a prophet, their prophet, to restore the true Teachings
of Jesus. Of course, these ‘restored' teachings are completely
false.
Nevertheless, the Mormon church clearly condemns
other religious systems. Those Mormons who complain about poor
treatment should familiarize themselves with their teachers'
words.
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