Wednesday, January 16, 2008

What Mormons Supposedly Believe and Don't Believe

The Associate Press released this short list of some of the things that set Mormons apart from other forms of Christianity. Two things about this list: you'd be hard pressed to find most of that information on the official Mormon (LDS) Web site; and it doesn't mention the stuff about Mormons supposedly believing that Jesus Christ and Lucifer (satan) are brothers.

Anyway, here's the list:

  • Nature of God: God once was a mortal who became an eternal being after a great trial.
  • Jesus Christ: Christ was God's first-born spirit child, his only earthly child and the only perfect mortal.
  • No Trinity: Mormons reject the idea of the Christian Trinity — God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as one ethereal being. Instead, they believe the three are separate beings joined in a common purpose.
  • Pre-existence and the afterlife: Before their mortal birth, humans existed in pre-mortality and were born in the spirit world to heavenly parents. Mormons also believe in the resurrection and teach that most people will receive some measure of salvation and have a place in a three-level eternal kingdom.
  • One true church: Mormons say their faith is not Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox but holds a unique place as "restored New Testament Christianity." Founder Joseph Smith said God told him none of the existing churches were practicing Christianity as it was intended.
  • A living prophet: Mormons believe the head of their church is a living prophet, seer and revelator who can communicate with God.
I've come across some other sources which reveal what Mormons truly believe... like, for example, that GOD was once a regular guy that earned the godhood through various trials.

Here's another Web site that supposedly explains what Mormons believe, among which is that the Book of Mormon is also from GOD, and that the book is just one of three from GOD. Mormons also apparently used a version of the Bible edited by founder Joseph Smith.

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