Similar to other denominations, there are plenty of heresies about Mormonism that Real Bible Believers seek to debunk.
Baptism for the Dead
Mormons do that because they believe that they can make sure the souls of their loved ones who passed away can go to heaven or attain salvation.
This teaching raises several problems.
1 Corinthians 15:29 “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”
The context of ‘if the dead rise’ is about a literal resurrection of the body, not the soul. Just like how Jesus Christ is resurrected, which is a bodily resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:).
We do water baptism because one day, our bodies will be resurrected. The word baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Bible talks about baptism in multiple contexts – the Red Sea was also called baptism, baptism of suffering, literal water baptism, etc.
Romans 6:3-5 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: thatlike asChrist was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”
We can see that baptism is a symbolic picture above.
1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
Once again, the picture of baptism is a “picture”. We should have bad conscience if we do not get baptized because we are disobeying God.
Polygamy
There are Mormons out there who still practice polygamy, as do their founder Joseph Smith.
Romans 7:2-3 “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.”
Most Mormons would argue back that some characters like Abraham, Jacob, and David practiced polygamy too and married multiple wives. To debunk that, those characters were from The Old Testament, not New Testament. Joseph Smith has violated the New Testament Law.
According to Romans 7, Joseph Smith is an adulterer. Many Mormons claim that it is applicable to women, not men.
1 Timothy 3:1-2 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
The Bible clearly condemns polygamy, and Joseph Smith who is claimed to be a bishop or leader needs to be condemned for breaking the qualifications of pastoral ministry.
Titus 1:5-6 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
Based on the verse shown above, Joseph is not even qualified to be a regular Mormon elder. As a Mormon elder, one should abide by only marrying one wife. Joseph preaches having multiple women in the afterlife, which is clearly what the Bible opposes.
Matthew 22:29-30 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
In the afterlife or in heaven, there is no marriage for us who are saved through Christ Jesus. Joseph Smith taught that if you live a good life, when you go to heaven, you will have a lot of beautiful women and you can copulate with them to multiply and become your own god. This is not very different from the Islam teaching.
Matthew 22:29-30Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Mark 12:24-26 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not, therefore, err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. [And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Jesus Christ is saying that you do not know the scriptures if you say that in heaven, you can marry or be given in marriage.
Jacob 2: 24-28 (Book of Mormon) Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife ; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
This part as retrieved from the Book of Mormon is contradicting Joseph’s own belief about polygamy, and really opens door to question its credibility.
From here, we can tell that the religion of Mormonism is inconsistent, false, and full of fallacies, as the Mormons have demonstrated that they do not know much about their scriptures.
Mormons believe in the following:
i. Disbelief in Hellfire
ii. Deny that Jesus is God
iii. Deny Trinity
Mormons believe that they are carrying out the priesthood from Melchizedek. The Mormon Churches do a lot of witnessing, just like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In addition, their rituals are more related to Masonry.
John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
They are totally trying to twist the verse to get it to “prove” that they got the priesthood.
They are weak in rationale, and nonsensical as they believe laying on of hands means passing down priesthood. However, Bible-believers have proven with scripture that it simply means receiving of Holy Spirit.
James 5:14-15 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Why would they even think that this verse having anything to do with passing down the priesthood?
Hebrews 5:4 “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
They believe that this Aaronic priesthood did not die out. They were talking about the high priest during the Old Testament times. They were just giving an account of the Aaronic priesthood in Old Testament. It’s so silly that these are all the basis for them to say that they’re Aaronic priests.
The two easiest religions to debunk are Islam and Mormons. The reason is that their founders are totally inconsistent and make things up as they go along. These two religions always try to point at Christianity being wrong, but find it hard to defend their own religion.
Hebrews 7:11-14 “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”
This passage has clearly debunked the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood continuing until now, because the priesthood system changed because of Jesus’s coming.
Revelation 1:5-6 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Christians are priests of God.
Hebrews 9:8-12 “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on themuntil the time of reformation.”
Hebrews 9:8-12 “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
The Mormon Tabernacle rituals should be gone, as when God indicates the priesthood of Jesus Christ, it should be something spiritual, not physical or outward. The physical outward rituals and ordinances were already over and done.
For further reading,
- King James Version and Dispensationalism are so important to debunk wrong doctrines.
- Study Christian teachings in Beginner Discipleship.
- What the Bible says about Mormonism? – Latter-Day saints teach wrong doctrines: God has always been God and did not achieve godhood, there is one trinitarian God, Jesus Christ was born in Jerusalem, not Bethlehem, God the Father does not have flesh and bones, God dwells in the hearts of people, polygamy is sinful, doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, baptism and enduring are not required for salvation, there is no baptism for the dead.
- What is wrong about Mormonism? – Mormon false teachings of baptism for the dead and polygamy are condemned in the Bible, hellfire is an eternal place of torment and everlasting punishment
- Why God is not a Mormon? – Mormon church teaches that God the Father is in service to another God, “If I’m sincere, God will bless me”, Elohim is not Jehovah, Joseph Smith’s prophecies that did not take place – therefore that makes him a false prophet