THE CROSS
Concerned Christians
April 2025
THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
THE BIBLE vs. MORMONISM (LDS-thought)
The first portion of this article is a copy from last month’s newsletter. I am reemphasizing the theological differences. This month we will look at theological concepts numbered 4. THE CHURCH, 5. TEMPLES, 6. PRIESTS, 7. PRE-EXISTENCE.
The January and February Newsletters (2025) compared LDS-thought regarding ‘GOD’ and ‘JESUS’, respectively, with the Bible. The differences between the two are obvious. The LDS-God and the LDS-Jesus ARE NOT equivalent to the creator God of the universe and his son Jesus.
When Joseph Smith presented the Book of Mormon to the world in 1830, it was supposed to supersede all that was in the Bible. But it was not enough. Later in 1833 Doctrine and Covenants (D and C) was presented as a new revelation. D and C became an official part of Mormonism in August 1835. After Joseph Smith’s death in 1844 a new revelation named The Pearl of Great Price was canonized in the 1880 General Conference. It purports to be further new revelations of Joseph Smith dated 1838, later published in 1842.
The purpose of this demonstrates the developmental nature of Mormon theology. It is continuing revelation which is a fundamental LDS concept.
The Bible stands in stark comparison. The God of the Bible, being omniscient, never had to update any of His revelation. It is ‘one and done’.
As the comparisons are done between LDS and Biblical teachings one will observe most support does not come from The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, or The Pearl of Great Price, but from future church leaders after the Utah migration.
I am restating again; Christian denominations unite on basic Bible truths. The LDS organization is currently claiming to be a Christian denomination. The LDS theology is NOT the same as the Bible. In our booklet NO COMPARISON, there are 10 more theological concepts to compare. They are: 1. SALVATION 2. CHURCH LEADER 3. SCRIPTURE 4. THE CHURCH 5. TEMPLES 6. PRIESTS 7. PRE-EXISTENCE 8. THE CROSS 9. HEAVENLY STRUCTURE 10. BAPTISM.
Only the differences will be listed. For documentation of the Bible and Mormon literature you will need to contact Concerned Christians to order your copies of NO COMPARISON. Please state the quantity you need, your name, mailing address and email address. Your telephone number is also helpful.
THE CHURCH
The Bible
- The Church is the body of the saved in Jesus Christ.
Mormon (LDS teachings)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is “The only true church and living church upon the face of the whole earth”.
TEMPLES
The Bible
- Are not necessary. At Jesus’ death the curtain in the Jewish Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Christians have direct access to God through Jesus. The New Covenant surpasses the Old Mosaic Covenant of priests and temples. A Christian’s body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Mormon (LDS teachings)
- Many temples are constructed for the purpose of performing certain ordinances of Mormon ritual for the living and the dead.
PRIESTS
The Bible
- Christ has all power and authority in heaven and on earth. He is the High Priest of His church.
- Christ’s priesthood is unchangeable and is forever. It is His alone.
Mormon (LDS teaching)
- “. . . Priesthood is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth.”
- “If a man gets the fullness of the priesthood of God, he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord.”
PRE-EXISTENCE
The Bible
- There is no pre-existence except for God in His fullness. Humans are born a new physical being, the first birth. According to John 3 we are “born again”, a second birth, becoming part of the Kingdom of God by way of His Spirit.
Mormon (LDS teachings)
- Every person on earth was first a spirit child pf God and a heavenly mother on another planet before being born physically on this earth to earthly parents.
Your copy(s) of NO COMPARISON are waiting for you now. Be prepared for the young missionaries to visit you. Challenge them to read the booklet with an open mind and make their own comparison.
Next month I will compare the last three theological concepts; 8. THE CROSS, 9. THE PLACE IN HEAVEN, 10. BAPTISM.
Keep preparing for your adventure with Mormon missionaries,
Gary Keating
From Mormon Apologist to Christian:
The Story of Michael Flournoy
LDS CARE AND SOCIAL GROUP
Our hope at this ministry is to love and support all who have ties to the LDS church. Many of our loved ones attend the LDS church, are raising children in that faith, or we ourselves grew up in the LDS religion and culture. We may have questions about the ever-changing policies and doctrine of the church. We might have friends and neighbors who are LDS and have questions about the information and changes that have recently occurred in the LDS church.
We are rekindling a group that we held regularly in the early 2000s but with renewed focus and leadership. The LDS Care Group is a safe space for both former and current LDS Church members to share, encourage, wrestle, and grow in their Christian faith journeys with others who have similar life experiences, challenges, and culture. Currently, we meet near Dobson & Ray in Chandler. Please email Kristine Nelson at [email protected] if interested. Or call: 480-833-2537
What a glorious time of the year this is to be a Christian as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. I am so thankful that God left us his word, the complete story of himself, everything we need to know in this life, to read and study. Every reading we glean another nugget to ponder, to share and discuss with others. We learn to live it. His Holy Spirit will never lead us astray.
Blessings, Paulette
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We at Concerned Christians do meet every week. If you are not local, please set that time aside to voice your concerns from your prayer space. If you are local and would like to attend, we ask you to call 480-833-2537 for time, day and directions. We truly look forward to meeting and praying with you in the War Room. We ask that you add Concerned Christians to your prayer list along with any other Mormon witnessing group you are familiar. The importance of intercessory prayer cannot be stressed enough. We have seen God grant many blessings to us over the years. If you have a ministry related request please send us a short email. [email protected] “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.” I Thessalonians 1:2
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