A Journey of Faith: Contrasts Between Evangelical and LDS Beliefs
Welcome back, one and all; this week was a week of incredible opportunity and revelation. This week, I had an incredible opportunity to go to Utah for a mission to be a witness of the truth to the LDS (Later Day Saints) community. We flew out last Saturday and came back the following Friday. This was my first time going to Utah, and it was an incredible place to see. We were surrounded by beautiful mountains, some still lined with hints of snow in mid-June. The air was crisp and fresh, the cool mountain air giving one a renewed breath of life. In mid-June, we saw a peak of maybe high 80-degree weather. It was a stark contrast to the heat of Texas, where things were heating up to 113 degrees. Many of the lawns were picturesque green mowed to a perfect height, and the houses were perfectly painted with white picket fences surrounding their borders. At first glance, it appears like an earthly paradise. Yet we would soon learn things were not nearly as perfect here as they appeared.
While I was there, I was told that it is often rated as one of the highest-rated states for domestic abuse, anti-depressant usage, and high levels of opioid addiction. As I landed in Utah, I walked in knowing very little about the culture and beliefs of the LDS community. I had grown up believing that they were much like myself, an evangelical Christian. It wasn’t until I was there that I learned the full extent of our differences. So today, I will introduce you to some of the key differences that are between the Christian and the Mormon so that you may not be fooled as I was to believe that we believe the same things.
1. Scriptures and Canon
Evangelical Christians:
We adhere to the Bible (Old and New Testament) as the inspired word of God.
Believe in the doctrine of sola scriptura, meaning that the Bible alone is sufficient for faith and practice.
Bible: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV)
Bible: "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18, NKJV)
LDS (Mormons):
Accept the Bible as scripture but also regard the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as sacred texts.
Believe in continuing revelation through modern prophets.
Book of Mormon: "And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible." (2 Nephi 29:3)
Doctrine and Covenants: "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest." (D&C 84:19-20)
This means difference results in confusion of authority, as many passages do not align with one another and thus force one to determine which one holds the final authority. For the Christians, we have a solid foundation upon which we stand firm; we have a house built upon the Rock of Ages; for the Mormons, they have a house built on shifting sand, as their doctrine changes with each prophet or their own personal revelation.
2. Nature of God & Humanity
Evangelical Christians:
Christians believe in the Trinity, which means God exists as three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) but is one essence.
Emphasize the unity and co-equality of the Trinity.
Bible: "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (1 John 5:7, NKJV)
Bible: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19, NKJV)
Bible: "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." (Isaiah 43:10 NIV)
Bible: "This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6 NIV)
Bible: "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19 NIV)
Bible: "I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." (Malachi 3:6 NIV)
Bible: "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2 NIV)
Bible: "Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:16 NIV)
LDS (Mormons):
Teach that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings with one purpose.
Believe that God the Father has a physical body.
Book of Mormon: "And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen." (2 Nephi 31:21)
Doctrine and Covenants: "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit." (D&C 130:22)
Whereas the Christian believes that God is unique and outside time, space, and matter, the LDS believe that God is but one of many gods and that we can one day become gods ourselves.
"As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be." - Lorenzo Snow
"Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them." - Doctrine and Covenants 132:20
"And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever." - Book of Abraham 3:26
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself visible—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man." - Joseph Smith, King Follett Discourse (April 7, 1844)
These views starkly contradict what the Bible says about God. These views leave the door open to many new ideas that are truly corrupt from the view of Christianity and what Jesus Christ said.
3. Salvation and Righteousness
Evangelical Christians:
Emphasize grace-based righteousness, where salvation is a gift from God received through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
We believe that good works are the fruit of salvation but not the means to obtain it. Key scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28.
Bible: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV)
Bible: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28, NKJV)
LDS (Mormons):
Teach a combination of grace and works in the process of salvation. While they believe in the grace of Jesus Christ, they also emphasize the necessity of following commandments, participating in ordinances, and performing good works to achieve exaltation.
View faith and works as synergistic. Key scripture: James 2:17-26 (faith without works is dead).
Book of Mormon: "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23)
Doctrine and Covenants: "Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am." (D&C 93:1)
This view resonated with me. Growing up in Mennonite culture, I realized this was very much my own view. I grew up believing that it was by my good deeds and works that saved me rather than the free gift of God. We, as Christians, believe that good works are a natural result of the gift of salvation, but it is not they that save us.
4. Authority and Leadership
Evangelical Christians:
Christians emphasize the priesthood of all believers, where every Christian has direct access to God without an earthly mediator.
Leadership structures vary widely but often include pastors, elders, and deacons.
LDS (Mormons):
Have a hierarchical structure with a President (considered a prophet), a Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other general authorities.
Believe in a restored priesthood authority unique to their church.
Within the LDS, it is believed that the “true church” was lost when the last of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ died, and it was only when Joesph Smith discovered and translated the golden plates and wrote the Book of Moron that the true church was restored to earth.
5. Ordinances, Sacraments & The Eternal State of Believers
Evangelical Christians:
Recognize two sacraments (or ordinances): Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion).
View these as symbolic acts of obedience and faith.
Bible: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19, NKJV)
Bible: "And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" (1 Corinthians 11:24, NKJV)
Bible: "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13 NIV)
Bible: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." (Colossians 2:9 NIV)
LDS (Mormons):
Recognize several ordinances necessary for salvation, including baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination (for men), endowment, and celestial marriage.
Believe these ordinances are essential for achieving exaltation in the afterlife.
Doctrine and Covenants: "And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized...shall be received by baptism into his church." (D&C 20:37)
Pearl of Great Price: "And as it is written, they shall be priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory." (Abraham 1:3)
As Christians, we do not perform these acts to be saved but rather as a result of salvation. We take communion in remembrance of what Jesus Christ did on our behalf on the cross, and we are baptized as an outward symbol of an inner change completed by grace.
6. View of Afterlife
Evangelical Christians:
Believe in heaven and hell, with eternal life granted to believers in Jesus Christ.
Emphasize the finality of one's eternal state based on faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Bible: "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46, NKJV)
Bible: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, NKJV)
LDS (Mormons):
Teach a more complex view of the afterlife with different levels of glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms) and outer darkness.
Believe that exaltation (the highest level of salvation) involves becoming like God and is achievable through adherence to LDS teachings and ordinances.
Doctrine and Covenants: "And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom." (D&C 88:21)
Doctrine and Covenants: "And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one." (D&C 76:70)
Here, we see the LDS view, which means their salvation or level of exaltation is in constant flux. If they sin, their level of exaltation may falter, and they will be demoted. They believe that Jesus Christ is only in the highest level of heaven, as well as their eternal family. So if you do not DO everything in your power to follow the doctrine, then you may spend eternity separate from God and those whom you most loved while on earth.
7. Missionary Work
Evangelical Christians:
Place a strong emphasis on evangelism and sharing the gospel through various means.
Missionary activities are often voluntary and diverse in approach.
LDS (Mormons):
Strongly emphasize missionary work, often with young members serving formal missions for 18-24 months.
Missionary service is highly organized and structured.
These missions are credited to them (LDS) as work toward exaltation. In the Christian view, we share our faith as a result of the free gift of salvation. But I must confess that I felt a great deal of conviction in this area. I do a very poor job of sharing my own faith and telling others of this free gift of God. As I left Utah, I found myself greatly convicted in many ways. There are many things that they do that are a twisted version of the commandments of God. I related to the desire to want to be able to earn my salvation. I have often found the lingering desire to believe that if I DO X thing, then God will be happy with me. This belief always leaves me failing and falling short, and I am again reminded that by grace alone, I am saved. I am reminded that there is nothing I can DO to make Jesus love me more, and there is no shortcoming that will cause Him to love me any less. It is only in this reminder that I find true peace and rest, knowing despite the many mistakes I have made and will yet make, Jesus Christ of Nazareth does not love me any less. It is in knowing this true I go to sleep each night at rest with no haunting thoughts of what else could I have done. I sleep at peace, knowing that should I not awake again on this earth, I will instead awake to find myself welcomed by Jesus into His presence because of the work HE alone did for me.
The most dangerous lies on earth are those that smuggle in hints of the truth, and this is what we see in the LDS culture and community. There was something deeply appealing to some of its ideas when seen at the surface level. As someone who finds the modest sundress very attractive and I believe that large families are a blessing, there were many things that were very seductive. Yet what I was able to see here is the corruption of God’s commandments through human effort. I was able to see how we, as human beings, maintain the ability to take good things given to us by God, and we can pervert them. We take the will of God and we instead change it to “our will.” As I write this, I am reminded of Jesus in the garden when the Son of God Himself submitted unto God, saying: “Not my will, but Thy will be done.” Jesus Himself, knowing the cross that lay before Him, submitted Himself to the will of God. So, as I finish writing here this morning, I pray that I, too, can remember that whenever I seek and pursue my will, I will, in the end, corrupt and pervert even good things.
Prayer: “Lord God, may this mission trip be am ever-present reminder to me that Thy work has been completed by Thy hand alone. May I ever be reminded of the grace Thou hast given unto me, not by the work of my own hands, but only by the love Thou hast given unto me. Lord, may I ever submit my will unto Thee, remembering that the heart of man is deceitfully wicked and not to be trusted. By Thy alone grace have I been saved, and unto Thee I submit my every desire and want, knowing you will be faithful to complete within me the work Thou hast begun, amen.”
I ask you all to consider joining me in prayer for the work being done in the hearts and minds of those in Utah and that there might be a great revival to the truth of God. And to remember that we, too, are equally capable of corrupting the finished work of God when we pursue our will.
