|
PREFACE, 1
CONTENTS, 3
1. BIBLICAL PROOFS OF THE RESTORED CHURCH, 13
An Overview: The Apostasy and Restoration, 13
Biblical Prophecies of the Apostasy, 15
Paul's Prophecies-They Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine, 15
Paul Foretells Identifying Characteristics of the Apostate Church, 17
John's Prophecy: Satan to Overcome the Saints, 18
Paul's Prophecy: A Falling Away Before the Lord Comes in Glory, 18
The Savior's Explanation: Why the Apostles Would be Martyred, 19
Peter's Prophecy: False Teachers Will Bring in Damnable Heresies, 19
John's Warning: The Spirit of the Antichrist Already Being Manifested, 20
Paul's Warnings: The Apostasy Already Happening, 20
The Apostasy A Basic Doctrine of the Bible, 21
Basic Protestant Doctrines-An Effort to Overcome Catholic Power, 22
Six Characteristics of Christ's New Testament Church, 22
Priesthood-The Authority to Act in the Name of God, 23
A Chain of Ordinations-Priesthood Received from Authorized Priesthood Holders, 24
Twelve Apostles-The Foundation of the Church, 26
Prophets-Authorized Spokesmen for God,27
Revelation-God's Word Revealed to Man, 28
Recognition that a Universal Apostasy Would Occur, 29
Are Catholicism or Protestantism the True Church of Christ?, 29
A Modern Test: Do the Churches of Today Have the Six Characteristics?, 30
Beware of Satan's Counterfeits, 31
Events in the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, 33
Biblical Prophecies of Restoration Events, 35
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: God's Kingdom to Be Established and Fill the Earth, 35
The Restoration Period: The Times of Restitution of All Things, 38 All Things to Be Gathered in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, 38
Paul's Allusion: the Appearance of the Father and the Son, 39
John's Prophecy: An Angel Bringing the Everlasting Gospel, 40
Isaiah's Prophecy: Apostasy, Then the Vision of All in a Sealed Book, 41
Malachi's Prophecy: The Coming of John the Baptist, 43
Sealing Powers Restored by Peter, James and John, 44
Malachi's Prophecy: Elijah to Turn the Hearts of the Children to their Fathers, 45
A Witness: God's Church Has Been Restored, 47
2. BIBLICAL PROOFS OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, 48
Pray for Guidance-Things of God Are Revealed by the Spirit of God, 48
A Synopsis of Book of Mormon History, 49
Christ's Prophecy: Other Sheep Shall Hear My Voice, 52
Jacob' s Prophecies: Joseph's Descendants to Come to the Everlasting Hills, 53
Ezekiel's Prophecy: Records of Judah and Joseph to be Joined Together, 56
The Psalmist's Prophecy: Truth Shall Spring Out of the Earth, 60
Isaiah's Prophecy: The Restoration and Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon, 60
lsaiah's Prophecy: The Fall of the Nephite Nation, 64
Isaiah's Prophecy: Revelation Withheld During the Great Apostasy, 65
A Summary: Biblical Proofs of the Book of Mormon, 68
You Can Gain a Revealed Testimony the Book of Mormon is God's Word, 69
Moroni's Promise: Ask God with Real Intent, 71
3. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PROPHETS TODAY, 72
Two Key Questions Asked by a Thoughtful Seeker of Truth, 73
God Ministered to His People Through Prophets in Old Testament Times, 73
God Ministered to His People Through Prophets in New Testament Times, 79
The Bible Prophesies of Future Prophets Who Will Minister in the Last Days, 81
Revelation 22:18-19 Refers to the Book of Revelation, Not the Entire Bible, 83
The Existence and Acceptance of Prophets is a Test by Which One May Identify the True Church of Jesus Christ, 85
The Bible Teaches that Baptism is Essential for Salvation and Must Be Administered by Authorized Priesthood Bearers, 86
True Priesthood Authority is Necessary for Men to Perform Ordinances Which Are Acceptable
to God, 90
My Invitation: Enter in at the Strait Gate that Leads to Eternal Life, 95
4. JOSEPH SMITH- A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD, 96
Joseph Smith-A Man of Significant Accomplishment and Influence, 96
What Historical American Has Exerted the Most Powerful Influence on His Countrymen?, 101
Prophetic Fulfillment-the Test of a Prophet, 102
The Hidden Thoughts of Oliver Cowdery Revealed Through Joseph, 103
Joseph Foretells David Whitmer's Movements, 105
A Lawyer Prompted to Deliver "The Lord's Anointed", 107
Orson Hyde to Go to Jerusalem, 108
Brigham Young to Preside Over the Church, 109
Joseph's Prophecies of the U.S. Civil War and Future Wars, 110
The Falling of the Stars Foretold, 111
Prophecies and Pentecostal Days in the Kirtland Temple, 112
Jackson County to be Visited by Fire and Sword, 115
Martin Van Buren Not to Be Elected Again, 116
Stephen A.. Douglas to Seek the Presidency of the United States, 117
This Church Will Fill the Rocky Mountains and North and South America, 118
The Saints Will Be Driven to the Rocky Mountains, 118
Joseph's Work to Be Accomplished Before His Death, 119
Joseph Prophesied That His Death Was Near, 119
Mobocrats to Face the Cannon's Mouth from an Unanticipated Source, 120
Dan Jones to Live to Fulfill a Mission to Wales, 122
Willard Richards' Life Would Be Preserved While Friends Would Fall Around Him, 122
A Tribute to Joseph: Praise to the Man Who Communed with Jehovah, 123
5. A LATTER-DAY SAINT VIEW OF CHRIST AND THE TRINITY, 126
Life Eternal Requires Knowing The Truth About God, 126
MY Motive For Preparing These Comments, 127
False Logic-the Source of Anti-Mormon Teachings That Mormons Are Not Christians, 128
Your Task-Serve as Judge and Jury as These Doctrines Are Compared, 128
The Creeds Reflect an Eight-Step Doctrinal Evolution Concerning the Nature of God, 129
Many Protestants and Catholics Don't Understand or Fully Accept Their Church's Creeds, 132 My Challenge: The Creeds of Christianity Are in Error Concerning the Nature of God, 135
Issue Number One: Mainline Christianity Has Rejected the Literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ, 136
Issue Number Two: Christian Theologians Have Adopted an Unscriptural and Erroneous Definition of What a Spirit Is, 140
Issue Number Three: Passages Which Teach That God Is a Spirit Are Misinterpreted to Imply He Doesn't Also Have a Tangible Body, 142
Issue Number Four: God the Father Also Has a Tangible Body, 142
Objection Answered: Man in God's Image Debases God, 149
Objection Answered: No Man Has Seen God, 150
Objection Answered: Passages Showing the Nature of God are Anthropomorphisms, 152
Issue Number Five: God the Father is Father of the Spirits of All Mankind, 153
Issue Number Six: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost Are Three Separate Beings, 154
Issue Number Seven: The Trinity Are United in Purpose But Three Separate Beings, 156
A Modern Witness of the Nature of God: Joseph Smith, 158
6. DOCTRINAL EVIDENCES THAT MORMONS ARE CHRISTIANS, 161
False Assertions of Mormon Doctrine Are Advanced by Anti-Mormon Critics, 161
Why This Discussion Was Prepared, 162
Critics Intentionally Avoid Scriptural Passages Which State Mormon Doctrines, 163
Book of Mormon Passages State Latter-day Saint Doctrines Concerning Christ, 163
Seventy-two Doctrinal Teachings About Christ in Mormon Theology, 164
1. We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 165
2. Jesus is the Son of God the Father, 165
3. Jesus is the Only Begotten Son in mortality of God the Father, 166
4. The mortal mother of Jesus Christ was the virgin, Mary, 166
5. Jesus is the Savior, 167
6. Jesus is the Redeemer, 167
7. Jesus is the King of All the Earth and Heaven, 167
8. Jesus is known as the first and the last, 168
9. Jesus is the God of Israel, the "Holy One of Israel", 168
10. Jesus is the creator of this earth and all that is in it, 168
11. A title used for Jesus in Latter-day Saint scripture is Jehovah, 169
12. Jesus of the New Testament is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, 171
13. Jesus was the creator of not just this earth, but of worlds, 172
14. Jesus worked under the direction of God the Father when he created the earth, and during his mortal ministry, 173
15. God the Father gave responsibility for creating, governing, redeeming and judging this earth to Jesus, 173
16. Jesus is a God, and rules as the God of this earth, 174
17. Jesus will inherit this earth and all things he has created, 175
18. God the Father glorifies his name through Jesus, 175
19. Jesus has a throne and sits at the right hand of God the Father, 175
20. Jesus and God the Father are separate, distinct individuals, 176
21. Jesus is one with his disciples in the same way he is one with God the Father-they are united in purpose and objectives but are not the same person, 177
22. Jesus is a Mediator-an intermediary between man and God the Father, 178
23. Jesus is the object of our praise, 179
24. We worship Jesus, 179
25. Jesus is omnipotent-he is all powerful, 179
26. Jesus is omniscient-he knows all things, 180
27. Jesus is a God of miracles, 180
28. Jesus is a God of mercy, 181
29. Jesus is the source of all good, 181
30. Jesus is the source of all spiritual gifts, 181
31. Jesus is the Father of heaven and earth, in the sense that he created them, 182
32. Man is created in the image of the pre-mortal Jesus, 182
33. Jesus was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem his people, 183
34. Jesus will restore the descendants of Jacob to their homeland in Israel and to their former glory, 183
35. Jesus both gave and fulfilled the law of Moses, 184
36. Salvation is only available to mankind through Jesus, 184
37. Jesus offers his salvation to all mankind, 184
38. Jesus broke the bands of death and made it possible for mankind to live again, 185
39. Jesus took upon himself the sins of all the world and paid for the transgressions of mankind, 185
40. The sacrifice and death of Jesus began the resurrection process, 185
41. Mankind is saved by the grace of Jesus, 186
42. Man can be redeemed through the blood of Jesus, 187
43. The Book of Mormon was written to persuade men to believe in Jesus, 187
44. The Book of Mormon confirms the Bible's witness that Jesus is the Lord, 188
45. Latter-day Saint scriptures counsel and command Church members to study the words of Jesus, 189
46. Mormon scriptures warn of the danger of denying Jesus and his works, 189
47. It is man's responsibility to perform all religious acts in the name of Jesus, 189
48. Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus, 190
49. Mormons regard and conduct themselves as disciples of Jesus, 190
50. Man's greatest responsibility during mortal life is to serve Jesus and keep his commandments, 190
51. We put off the natural man by submitting our will to Jesus, 191
52. Jesus requires those who act in his name to be properly authorized and ordained, 191
53. Worthy priesthood holders have both authority and power to work miracles in the name of Jesus, 192
54. People can be healed through faith in Jesus, 192
55. The name of Jesus is included in the name of our Church, 192
56. Church members partake of the sacrament in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus as a symbolic renewing of our personal covenant with him, 193
57. Latter-day Saints accept the nickname "Christian" and willingly apply the informal term to ourselves, 193
58. We take the name of Jesus upon ourselves as we become members of his church through baptism, 194
59. Jesus is the example whom we follow and emulate, 194
60. Latter-day Saint scriptures record visits of Jesus to the Americas following his resurrection, 195
61. Ancient Book of Mormon prophets accurately foretold the coming of Jesus, 195
62. Jesus is the Messiah who will restore Israel in the last days, 196
63. Jesus will again come to the earth, this time in a glorious advent, 196
64. Jesus will personally rule upon the earth during the millennium, 197
65. Jesus will judge all mankind at the final judgment day, 197
66. Every knee shall bow to Jesus at the last day, 198
67. Faith in the Lord Jesus leads to salvation, 199
68. Jesus's doctrine of salvation requires faith, repentance, baptism, reception of the Holy Ghost, and faithfulness to the end, 200
70. Forgiveness of sins comes from Jesus as a result of faith in him, 200
71. Those born again through faith on Jesus are spiritually begotten by him, 200
72. Charity is the pure love of Jesus, and man must have this pure love to gain eternal life, 201
The Invitation of Mormonism: Come Unto Christ and Be Perfected in Him, 202
7. GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION, 204
We Are All Spirit Children of God the Father And Lived Before Our Mortal Birth, 204
The Pre-Mortal Role of Jesus Christ, 207
The Pre-Mortal Rebellion of Satan and His Followers, 208
The Earth Created by Jesus Christ Under the Father's Direction, 209
Ten Tasks to Be Accomplished in Mortal Life, 210
1. Be Eligible to Live with God for All Eternity, 210
2. Have Faith in Christ and Partake of His Redeeming Grace, 211
3. Find the True Church of Christ and Make It Your Schoolmaster, 212
4. Be Baptized and Receive the Ordinances Required by God, 213
5. Be Born Again-Be Cleansed and Changed by the Spirit of God, 214
6. Keep the Commandments, 215
7. Labor to Do God's Will and Further His Work on Earth, 215
8. Live So As To Have the Constant Guidance of the Holy Spirit, 216
9. Become Godlike-Cultivate the Attributes of the Divine Nature, 217
10. Endure in Righteousness to the End, 217
Summary: Pre-Mortal and Earth Life, 218
Death and the Spirit World, 219
Vicarious Baptisms Performed for the Dead, 220
Two Resurrections of the Dead and the Final Judgment, 221
Many Mansions in New Heavens and a New Earth, 225
Man Has the Potential to Be "Perfect in Christ Jesus", 226
Heirs of God, and Joint-Heirs with Christ, 227
Summary: The Spirit World, Resurrections, and Final Rewards, 228
8. ARE YOU SAVED?-A MORMON'S VIEW OF FAITH, WORKS, GRACE AND SALVATION, 230
Man is Saved Through the Grace of Jesus Christ, 233
Grace is God's Willingness to Bless Mankind with Mercy, Pardon, Gifts and Power, 233
All Have Sinned and Are in Need of Christ's Saving Grace, 234
Sin Is Transgression of God's Laws, 235
Sin Results in Spiritual Separation from God, 236
Adam's Fall Subjected Mankind to Sin, Physical Death and Spiritual Death, 237
An Atonement Was Needed to Overcome Sin, Physical Death, and Separation from God, 238
Only Christ Had the Power to Die and then Return to Life, 239
Christ Paid for Our Sins So Man May Attain Eternal Life, 240
Christ Began Resurrection for All Mankind and Allows Forgiven Individuals to Regain God's Presence, 241
Faith is Personal Commitment to God and Trust in His Power, Promises and Love, 242
"Works" Are Righteous Deeds Motivated by Faith in God, 243
"Justification" Means to Be Declared Free From Sin Before God, 245
"Sanctification" Means to Be Made Clean, Pure and Holy by God, 245
"Born Again" Means to Be Personally Changed By the Spirit from a Carnal Disposition to a Righteous-Seeking Disposition, 246
A Comparison of Protestant and LDS Beliefs on the Fourteen Points of Doctrine, 247
Seven Areas of Doctrinal Disagreement Between Protestants and Latter-day Saints, 248
Concern #1: Lack of True Repentance, 250
Concern #2: Rejection of Authorized Baptism as an Essential Step Towards Salvation, 252
Concern #3: Presumed Guidance of the Holy Ghost, 256
Concern #4: Assumed Invulnerability to Losing Salvation, 258
Concern #5: Antinomianism-Assumed Release from Ethical and Moral Responsibilities, 260
Concern #6: Failure to Grow and Seek Eternal Rewards, 260
Concern #7: Lack of Knowledge of After-Death Events, 262
Is Your Concept of Salvation a Something-for-Nothing Insurance Policy?, 264
The Real Question: Not "Do You Accept Jesus?" but "Does Jesus Accept You?",264
9. RECOGNIZING TECHNIQUES OF DECEPTION IN ANTI-MORMON LITERATURE, 266
"Yellow Journalism" Defined, 266
National Organizations are Objecting to Anti-Mormon Tactics, 267
The Objectives of This Discussion, 268
1. The Unanswerable Falsehood Technique, 269
2. The Out-of-Context Technique, 270
3. The Inflated Issue Technique, 271
4. The Judgmental Opinion Technique, 272
5. Either-Or Argumentation, 273
6. The Misuse of Parallels Technique, 274
7. The Argument from Silence Technique, 274
8. The Conclusion Contrary to Evidence Technique, 275
9. The Specific-to-Generalization Technique, 276
10. The Assumed Characteristics Technique, 276
11. The Bandwagon Logic Technique, 276
12. The Disregarded Evidence Technique, 277
13. The Erroneous Time of Fulfillment Technique, 279
14. The Implied Infallibility Technique, 279
15. The Double Standard of Interpretation Technique, 280
16. The Colored Comment Technique, 282
17. The Redefined Motive Technique, 282
18. The Misquoted Statement Technique, 283
19. The Private Test of Authority Technique, 284
20. The Misleading Headline Technique, 284
21. The Half Truth Technique, 285
22. The Character Assassination Technique, 288
23. The Falsified Quotation Technique, 293
24. The Straw Man Approach, 293
A Review and Quiz on Yellow Journalism Techniques, 295
Questions to Ask When Evaluating Anti-Mormon Materials, 299
How to Respond to Those Who Write and Circulate Anti-Mormon Material, 300
LIST OF SCRIPTURAL QUOTATIONS, 305
INDEX, 315
|
