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Some of the teachings on this website may be unlike any you have ever heard. Let me encourage you to keep an open mind and also to search out what is being taught here to see if it lines up with the Bible or not. If you have problems with any of the lessons and don't agree. Send me scriptures and we can discuss your differences. Many of the lessons contained in this website will step on the toes of traditional Christianity. Jesus said that the "tradition of man makes the commandment of God of no effect." It is time to get rid of tradition and believe what the Word of God really says!
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Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16
Mormonism
What is it? What Do They Teach?
Questions and Answers - Page Two
by Jay S. McMullan
©2003
Go to Page [1] [2] [3]
On this page, I continue on with questions that I had about the Mormon faith. I began to study the LDS faith and their doctrines in early 1993 when I found out that I had received a transfer with my employer to Salt Lake City. One of my co-workers began to bring me books published by Deseret Book, the book publisher for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I did my best to keep an open mind about the LDS church's faith. In these web pages, I present the questions that I had and the answers that I have discovered. To answer each question, I give the LDS church's answer and then I follow up with questions and problems that arise from true Biblical teaching. I leave it up to the reader to make his or her own decision as to whether or not the LDS church's doctrine is sound.
What does the Mormon Church teach about families?
The LDS Teaching
The Mormon church places a large emphasis on the family. If you have not heard or seen any of their advertisements on radio and television, you are in the minority. There are some good things that the LDS church does. They try to impress upon their members to set aside one night a week, usually Monday, for family time. The LDS church also helps their membership by having church owned grocery stores (Bishop's Storehouses) where members who are down on their luck can get a certain amount of groceries each week, free of charge, for their families. The church also has been known to help members pay car payments and house payments.
Questions and Problems
While the Mormons push their family values as one of the great things in their church, one will find that the members of the LDS church are just like any other body of believers in this country. Utah used to lead the country in teenage pregnancies per capita (they still may but I do not have that information available). Personally, I think you will see more rebellion among children that are forced into a religious life than you will in other areas. Although I can't fault the LDS church for this, the problem I see is that their children are taught to believe such extraordinary and impossible things that they rebel more than children of other beliefs. The imaginary image of the perfect family and marriage obtained by members is just that, an imaginary image.
While I believe the LDS church has an admirable welfare program that other churches and our federal government should aspire to adopt, this does nothing to prove that they are the "true" church as they claim. Jesus asked what good does it do to gain the whole world and lose your soul? I ask, "What good does it do to have more members than any other church and more money than you could ever imagine if you are teaching a false doctrine and people are perishing because of it?"
How big is the LDS Church and do they pay their clergy?
The LDS Teaching
The last figure I read was that the LDS church membership is around nine million worldwide. Figures are expected to reach around twenty million in the next decade or so. The membership is taught that the Mormon clergy do not receive a salary for their work.
Questions and Problems
In the LDS clergy hierarchy, the Bishops (commonly called pastors in other churches) and stake presidents do not receive a salary for their ministry. Most of these men hold regular jobs and serve in a volunteer capacity. I was curious about the men that serve in a higher capacity for the LDS church such as the President/Prophet, his counselors, the twelve apostles and the seventy elders. To satisfy my curiousity, I called the office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City. I was told that the leaders of the church do receive a "moderate" salary and expenses. Realize that "moderate" is a relative term. What is moderate to one is "rich" or even "poor" to another.
Biblically, a minister should be paid when it is possible. 1 Cor. 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? The priests in the Old Testament lived off of the tithe of the people. Modern day ministers should live off of the tithe of the people also. I realize that in smaller churches, there is not always enough money to support a pastor but once the church grows large enough to support him, he should devote his time fully to the ministry. I also believe that the men who serve as Bishops and Stake Presidents in the LDS church should be paid for their services.
The LDS church and it's members pride themselves on the size of their church and it's growth. One should keep in mind that when the LDS church speaks of the amount of members on it's rolls, it is speaking of anyone that has ever joined, or been born into, the church. I am speaking of living people, of course. While they may have over nine million members it is logical to suggest that there are not that many "active members". Non-active members are referred to as "Jack Mormons" in Utah. Also, each active member may not hold a temple recommend which allows them to enter the LDS temples and perform their "sacred" or secret ceremonies. We will discuss the temple recommends further on page three.
Mormon Related Links
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
This is the official web site of the Mormon church. Some of the church's beliefs are listed here.
This is an excellent site for the history and doctrine of the LDS church. Many times the LDS church has had to go to the Utah Lighthouse Ministry to get copies of old documents. The web site is produced by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. Sandra is a direct descendent of Brigham Young's (the second President/Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). The Tanners are people of impeccable character and they do a lot of research to make sure everything they put on their web site is absolutley correct.
Click Here to go to Page Three for more Questions and Answers on Mormonism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
All articles, graphics, images, photographs and other material are © copyright 2000 to present by Jay S. McMullan and/or his assignees. Do not copy without written, expressed permission.
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