MORMONISM

Culture Within A
Culture
Exploring the differences
between Biblical Christianity and
the doctrines, practices, and
beliefs of our
LDS friends.

- Week Four –
LDS MEN
The Power of the Priesthood

 Gateway International Bible Institute
4445 W. Olive Ave.
Glendale, Arizona 85302
602-993-5353 
Presented by Karrie Browning

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 FILL-IN ANSWERS – WEEK TWO
PROPHETS, PIONEERS, & POLYGAMY
JOSEPH SMITH – FOUNDER…
“ Latter-Day Prophet, SEER, and REVELATOR” who founded the LDS church with
the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830.
The First Vision ( an official version) – In 1820, at age 14, Joseph Smith went into the
woods to pray because…he was concerned about all of the Christian denominations.
“Two personages”, God The Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him, and told
him: All churches were WRONG, Their creeds were an ABOMINATION, and their
pastors CORRUPT, and not to join any of them. He would be told later what to do.

The Sacred Grove – The place in the woods where Joseph had the First Vision.

The Restoration – In 1823, The Angel Moroni appeared 3 times in Joseph Smith’s
bedroom. He told him that he was sent by God to reveal ancient records, “TheU
Golden Plates” inscribed with the early history of the Americas. These plates
contained the “Fullness of the Everlasting Gospel. Four years later, Joseph was
instructed by Moroni to dig up the plates and translate them. The gold plates had
writings on them in “Reformed Egyptian” and the translation is now called The
Book of Mormon. The golden plates were taken to heaven by Moroni after the
translation was complete. Part of them remained sealed to be brought forth in the
End Times.

Background - Joseph and his father were known for money digging, divining, gold
digging, and treasure hunting.

The Translation Method – Initially Joseph claimed that buried with the golden plates
was a breastplate and spectacles with two stones to look through called the Urim
and Thummim (U&T).

Polygamy – From January 1827 through November 1843, Joseph Smith married 34 wives
from ages 14 to58, including sisters, a “foster daughter”, and 11 women who were
concurrently married to other husbands.
--------------
The Sacred Scriptures (The “Standard Works”)
• Book of Mormon_ - The Most Important volume of scripture to LDS.
• Doctrine and Covenants - A volume of modern-day revelations from God …
• The Pearl of Great Price - A compilation of special revelations of Joseph Smith.
The Authorized King James Version of the Bible. It is printed by the LDS church
and cross-referenced to the other Standard Works. Only considered the word of God
“as far as it is translated correctly.” Believe many Plain and Precious Truths are
missing or changed from original.
The Book of Mormon – Has been changed by the church over 3,913 times.

Church

of
Th

Jesus Christ
e

of
Latter-Day Saints
All rights reserved.
 The LDS PriesthoodS
AARONIC MELCHIZEDEK
“The Lesser Priesthood” “The Higher Priesthood”

Restored May 15, 1829 May 1829

In:
To: Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith,
Oliver Cowdery Oliver Cowdery

By: An appearance of the An appearance of The Disciples

resurrected Peter, James, and John
John the Baptist

Where: In the woods near the In the woods

Susquehana river

What John the Baptist conferred
happened? them with the priesthood by
laying on of hands and they
baptized each other in the
river.
Peter, James, and John laid
hands on them, ordaining them
to the Melchizedek priesthood.
They later ordained each other
& apostles.

Offices Deacon (age 12+) Elder (18+, Bishop’s

Teacher (age14+) discretion)
Priest (age 16+) Seventy (not local)
High Priest (Bishop, High
Councilmen, Stake Leadership,
Apostles)

“Keys” Ministering of Angels Gift of Holy Ghost, Keys of

sealing

Purpose Preparation for oaths and Fullness of the powers of Christ

covenants of Melchizedek on earth.
Priesthood
Preparing, Blessing, and Passing Church Management – all Bishops &
Functions sacrament on Sundays, plus Stake leaders hold this priesthood
(LDS) assistance with leadership duties,
including collecting tithes and
offerings.

Blessings and ordinances –

Naming/Blessing babies; Baptism,
confirming, & bestowing Holy Ghost,
Sacrament services, Ordaining
All rights reserved.
Priesthood, consecrating oil,
 DEFINITIONS
The Restoration – (restore: To give back, return.) In addition to
“restoring” the “fullness of the everlasting gospel” through the
Book of Mormon, the LDS believe Joseph Smith restored the
proper organization of Christ’s church and the “eternal”
priesthoods that were lost with the death of the last apostle of
Jesus. These priesthoods are the Aaronic ( The Lesser Priesthood,
“including the Levitical”), and the Melchizedek (“The Higher
Priesthood”).

The LDS use this restoration of priesthood “authority” and it’s

organizational structure to establish its divinity and its exclusivity
as “the one true” church with the power to act in the name of
God.

All other churches of Christendom are said to be apostate.

All other churches of Christendom do not have the proper
authority to baptize, lay hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost,
ordain ministry, marry people, bless and administer the proper
communion, or any other acts in the name of God or Jesus.

Sacrament – Similar to communion, but it is leavened bread and

water. Leaven traditionally represents sin. They have put the sin
in and taken the blood out.

Sacrament Meeting – The main congregational gathering

where worthy congregants have the opportunity to “partake of
the sacrament”.

Tithing – 1/10th of one’s income. “Full-Tithe payer” status is

required for worthiness for church callings and Temple access.

Tithing Settlement – End of the year reckoning of tithes

compared to income during an interview with the Bishop or his
representatives.

Bishop – A lay minister in charge of the ward. He is not required

to have any theological education or background.

Ward – An LDS congregation. Members attend a ward based on

their geographical location and the ward boundaries. A Branch is
smaller than a ward.

Stake – A group of Wards. Stakes report within regions, and

regions to General Authorities headquartered in SaltAll
Lakerights reserved.
City.
 Top 10 Things you can say to a Mormon*
(Not necessarily in THIS order, and NOT in the first meeting!)
1. The Mormon Church is Not the “Restored Church”
 The Bible did NOT prophecy a “Great Apostasy”
before the restored church, it does predict an
apostasy from the faith that is still to come in the
End Times.
 The Bible speaks of the restoration of Israel, NOT a
church, and the LDS are NOT Israel.
1. The Book of Mormon is Man-made
 The Bible did NOT prophecy its coming in Ezekiel
37:16-17.
 It has had 3,913+ changes, plagiarisms, no
archaeological support, doesn’t contain LDS
doctrines
1. The Bible Is God’s Word and Is Trustworthy
 There are more than 24,000 partial and complete
ancient manuscript copies of the New Testament
available for inspection now.
 While they have variants, they are word/letter
variants and no Christian doctrines or moral
commandments are affected by them
 Dead Sea Scrolls prove accuracy of manuscript
transmission.
 Strong Archeological support – more than 25,000
Biblical sites located. None of DISPROVED Bible
reference.
 There are not “lost books” of the Bible. References
to other books do not mean they are part of canon.
 Joseph Smith’s inspired version is unreliable – 3
years to complete, no knowledge of Biblical
languages, added a prediction of his own coming in
Genesis 50.
1. The One True God is an Eternal Spirit Being
 …not a glorified man of flesh and bone.
1. The Trinity Involves Three Persons in One God
(Deut.6:4)
 Three distinct manifestation of God
1. Humans Are Creatures and Never Become Gods
2. Jesus is God – NOT the Spirit-Brother of Lucifer
(Col 1:16)
3. Salvation is by Grace Through Faith, Not by Works
 Salvation is being spared eternal punishment (hell)
and punishment
* Brief Summary for
of Ron Rhodes’ sins,
book by NOT the ability
the same title. to be
resurrected and dwell in one of three kingdoms for
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