What Does Your Church Teach?

Elements of Faith

The Book of Mormon Teaches:

Gentile Traditions

God

One God who took on Flesh

Mosiah 5:45 LDS: Mosiah 7:27

'that God should come down among the children of men and take upon Him flesh and blood and go forth upon the face of the earth;

Three or more Gods who are Separate beings.

Salvation

Rely Wholly on The Merits of Christ. If we repent, Salvation is applied. Works show if our heart changed.

Moroni 6:5 LDS: Moroni 6:4

And their names were taken that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God to keep them in the right way - To keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

We Merit Salvation by Jesus and our Works. Works determine the degree of our salvation.

Priesthood Order

Was called (only) the Order of God

Alma 9:69 LDS: Alma 13:6

And thus being called by this holy calling and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach His commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into His rest,

Labeled An Order of Melchizedek/ Aaron.

Jesus never referred to an Order of Mechizedek.

Scholars question whether Psalms 110:4 was a later scribal addition to the original text.

Priesthood Structure

Simple Nephite priesthood: Disciple, High Priest, Elder, Teacher, Priest

Moroni 3:1 LDS: Moroni 3:1

The manner which the disciples, which were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers.

Derived from Testament: Apostle, Disciple, Patriarch, High Priest, Bishop, Seventy, Elder, Teacher, Priest, Deacon

Judgment

Salvation applied to those who turn from Sin

2 Nephi 6:72 LDS: 2 Nephi 9:38

And in fine, wo unto all they that die in their sins! for they shall return to God and behold His face and remain in their sins.

Salvation applied with certain minimal works required, then reward increases proportionally by other works.

Grace

Applied after all we can do and enduring to the end of life. (i.e. after we reconcile our will to God’s will)

2 Nephi 11:44 LDS: 2 Nephi 25:23

For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all that we can do.

Applied for believing and/or saying a prayer. (Evangelical)

Marriage

Marriage is One Man, One Wife only

Jacob 2:36 LDS: Jacob 2:28

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, delighteth in the chastity of women,

Plural Marriage is Holy (Mormon)

Prison House

No Prison House taught or mentioned. Repentance in this life IS the mercy of God. This life the only chance to turn from sin.

Alma 16:228 LDS: Alma 34:32

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God;

Yea, behold, the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

Alma 16:230 LDS: Alma 34:33

For after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity,

Behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life,

then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

Prison House is taught incorrectly, Offering a second chance to repent. Integral to Gentile thoughts of afterlife, believing it shows the mercy of God

Death in this life

Brings Judgment whether life was good or evil. We meet God at end of this life.

Alma 19:43 LDS: Alma 40:11 Behold, it hath been made known unto me by an angel that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, Yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

A 2^nd judgment for those in the prison house. Some leave the prison house and return to God.

Covenant to Gather/ Restore Israel

Abrahamic Covenant fulfills all scripture leading to Zion/Gathering

2 Nephi 12:74 LDS: 2 Nephi 29:14

And I will show unto them that fight against My word, And against My people, which are of the house of Israel, That I Am God and that I covenanted with Abraham, That I would remember his seed forever.

A questionable Enoch Covenant overrides the minds of conservative members.

Satan

Was (only) an angel who fell

2 Nephi 1:101 LDS: 2 Nephi 2:17

And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven;

Was a contender to be Savior

Genesis 3:4 (Inspired Version Only)

Zion

Built after Lamanites turn back to Christ, repentant Gentiles assist.

Ether 6:8 LDS: Ether 13:8

Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land, And it shall be a land of their inheritance; And they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; And they shall no more be confounded until the end come when the earth shall pass away;

Built by a gathering of Gentiles.

End of World

Good overcomes Evil

1 Nephi 3:230 LDS: 1 Nephi 14:14

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb and upon the covenant people of the Lord which were scattered upon all the face of the earth;

Good people raptured from the Earth, Earth succumbs to Evil. (Evangelical)

Baptism

For those capable of Sin in this life, after repentance, decision made only by the sinner.

Moroni 8:11 LDS: Moroni 8:11

Behold, I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach: Repentance and baptism unto they which are accountable and capable of committing sin.

Proxy Baptism for those who have previously died (Mormon).

Infant Baptism (Catholic)

Sin

God does not allow the least degree of sin.

Alma 21:18 LDS: Alma 45:16

And as I have said, so shall it be; For this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, For the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.

Some sin will be winked at but forgiveness assumed by association with the right church.

Salvation

No Predestination. Salvation is freely offered to all

2 Nephi 1:66 LDS: 2 Nephi 2:4

And the way is prepared from the fall of man, And salvation is free;

Predestination. (Calvinists) God has predetermined who can be saved.

Lineage

Book of Mormon comes to Gentiles, from them to Lamanites. After Lamanite return, Gentiles are numbered among the remnant of Joseph who are of Manasseh.

3 Nephi 10:1 LDS: 3 Nephi 21:23

But if they (Gentiles) will repent, and hearken unto My words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish My church among them; And they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this, the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, And they shall assist My people, the remnant of Jacob -

Gentiles become adopted into Ephraim and receive the greater blessing.

Eternity

Salvation is a full return to God or full separation from God.

1 Nephi 4:61 LDS: 1 Nephi 15:35

Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken;

Salvation is divided: multiple salvations, some with God, some with Jesus, Some with Holy Ghost only.