Lifting The Veil

There is one thing in this article that I completely agree with: the discussion should ultimately come back to Jesus Christ and the gospel preached by His apostles. That is where every Christian discussion about Mormonism ought to begin and end. The question is not whether Mormon people are sincere, moral, hardworking, or devoted to their families, because many certainly are. Sincerity, however, has never been the biblical test of truth. A person can sincerely believe something and still be sincerely wrong, which is why Scripture tells us to examine what we believe rather than simply trusting our feelings, traditions, or religious authorities. That principle applies just as much to Mormonism as it does to every other religious system. The real question is not whether Joseph Smith believed he was a prophet. The real question is whether the message attributed to Joseph Smith agrees with the revelation God has already given through Jesus Christ and His apostles. Scripture tells us to “...

There is a point in any serious discussion about Mormonism when the conversation has to move beyond Joseph Smith, church history, priesthood authority, temple ceremonies, and competing claims about which institution possesses the proper authority. Eventually, all of those questions have to give way to something much more fundamental: Who is Jesus Christ, and is the gospel taught by Mormonism the same gospel that Jesus Christ and His apostles preached? From a Christian perspective, that is where the examination should begin. This is not an argument against Mormon people. Many Mormons are sincere, moral, hardworking, devoted to their families, and genuinely convinced that they are following God. There is no reason to question the sincerity of every person who belongs to the Mormon church. Sincerity, however, is not a test of truth. A person can sincerely believe something that is not true, which means that religious claims have to be examined by something more reliable than personal c...

One of the more controversial subjects in the Book of Mormon is its description of a “skin of blackness” being placed upon the Lamanites. This subject is sometimes explained very differently by modern Mormons, so it is important to go back to the actual text and look at what it says rather than simply accepting a modern explanation. In 2 Nephi 5, the Book of Mormon describes a separation between Nephi and his followers and the Lamanites. The text says the Lamanites had become hardened because of their rebellion, and then states that the Lord caused a “skin of blackness” to come upon them so they would not be enticing to the Nephites. The passage then calls this a “curse” and describes the physical difference as a way of distinguishing the two groups. The language is important because the text does not simply say that the Lamanites were spiritually different. It specifically describes a change involving their skin and connects that change with the curse placed upon them. Alma 3 contains...

Not merely because Mormons believe differently, but because Mormonism fundamentally changes the biblical doctrines of God, Christ, salvation, Scripture, and revelation while claiming to restore original Christianity. Biblical Christianity teaches one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5). Mormonism teaches the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separate beings, teaches that God the Father has a physical body and was once a mortal man, and teaches that faithful humans can eventually become gods. Yet Scripture says, “from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2) and “before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me” (Isaiah 43:10). Mormonism teaches Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers. Scripture says Jesus is the eternal Word through whom “all things were made” (John 1:1–3). Mormonism also makes exaltation dependent upon faithfulness to ordinances, covenants, temple ceremonies, and works. Biblical Christianity says, “By grace are ye saved through faith... not ...