THE CROSS
Newsletter
January 2024
NO COMPARISON
From Our Warehouse of Literature
A Second Quick Understanding of
Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Beliefs
The full title of this pocket-sized booklet is: NO COMPARISON, The difference between Mormonism & Christianity.
This booklet is a page-by-page comparison of the LDS doctrine on the left compared to the Christian Bible teaching on the right.
Pages 2 – 15 compare the differences of doctrine about Jesus.
Pages 16 – 31 compare the differences of doctrine about God.
Pages 32 – 37 compare 10 primary theological differences.
Page 1 is a statement of Christian concern for LDS family and friends.
Pages 38 – 41 provide added Biblical support for being concerned about your Latter-day Saint’s friends.
The Latter-day Saint’s concept of “Progressive” (page 20) is a teaching that God is ‘progressive’, that is, evolving or developing. This requires someone who might receive God’s revisions or additions of thought, hence, a living prophet. This requires a leader, a living prophet (who is also the president) who may receive new communications.
The God and Father of Christianity is firm and unchangeable. He was/is the Creator. He even warns regarding anyone attempting to change His Word, the Bible.
The Book of Mormon, published in 1830, was the founding document of the Mormon Church, later to be designated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
However, none of the Latter-day Saint teachings in this booklet are included in The Book of Mormon! It has all developed by future Church Prophets, after the passing of Joseph Smith in 1844, as their evolutionary religious thought develops. This continues even to the current time.
Faith in Jesus is built on a firm foundation!
The Latter-day Saint doctrine is always subject to change!
Contact us to receive your copy without charge.
Phone: 480.833.2537
Text: 480.209.7982 (If you hear “this is Gary”, you called the correct number.
Email: [email protected]
Gary Keating, General Manager
LDS Salvation vs Biblical Salvation: Are You Really Saved?
As an LDS child, I was raised with the belief that in order to go to heaven, I had to work out my own salvation. I had never heard that Christ died for all the sin in the world, including mine, nor that we all can have eternal life through His death on the Cross and the Good News of the gospel of the Bible. I grew up trusting in a prophet who revealed scripture to the leaders of my church. I knew I must be baptized into that church. I believed that my church was the only true church on this earth, and that I was chosen to come here for a valiant purpose from the pre-existence so that I could prove myself worthy of entering into Heavenly Father’s kingdom, the celestial kingdom.
As a Bible believing follower of Christ now for more than twenty years, I have watched the recent and gradual blurring of lines put forth by the LDS church with its meaning of salvation, its increased focus on Jesus, as well as the gray area the LDS church seems to intentionally design in order to aspire to be a mainstream Christian denomination. This is worrisome.
Recently I went to the LDS Church’s main website https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/. I typed in ‘Salvation’ and discovered their current teaching on salvation, with references cited from both the Book of Mormon and the Bible for what LDS doctrine says about sin and salvation. Click here to read it directly from their web-based educational manual:
LDS Salvation from Sin:
“To be cleansed from sin through the Savior’s Atonement, you must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 2:37–38). If you have been baptized and have received the Holy Ghost through the proper priesthood authority, you have already been conditionally saved from sin. You will not be completely saved from sin until you have finished your life on the earth, having faithfully endured to the end.
Note that you cannot be saved in your sins; you cannot receive unconditional salvation simply by declaring your belief in Christ with the understanding that you will inevitably commit sins throughout the rest of your life (see Alma 11:36–37). Through the grace of God, you can be saved from your sins (see Helaman 5:10–11). To receive this blessing, you must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, strive to keep the commandments, forsake sin, and renew your repentance and cleansing through the ordinance of the sacrament.”
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/true-to-the-faith/salvation (2024)
**Note that this states that you cannot simply be saved in your sin or receive unconditional salvation simply by declaring your belief in Christ…and it goes on further to state the works you must strive to do. This is in direct conflict with what the Bible teaches.
As one scrolls down even further with both Book of Mormon and Biblical sources cited, one can read more of the requirements (source link here and below):
LDS Eternal Life, or Exaltation:
In the scriptures, the words saved and salvation often refer to eternal life, or exaltation (see Abraham 2:11). Eternal life is to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and dwell with them forever—to inherit a place in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom (see John 17:3; D&C 131:1–4; 132:21–24). To receive this great gift, we must do more than repent of our sins and be baptized and confirmed by appropriate priesthood authority. Men must receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and all Church members must make and keep sacred covenants in the temple, including eternal marriage. If we use the word salvation to mean eternal life, none of us can say that we have been saved in mortality. That glorious gift can come only after the Final Judgment.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/true-to-the-faith/salvation (2024)
**Note that LDS salvation requires baptism, confirmation by priesthood authority, keeping sacred covenants, and temple marriage, none of which are mentioned as requirements for salvation in the Bible.
Biblical Salvation and Sin:
In contrast, Biblical salvation is solely centered on the fact that Christ alone paid the price and we enter into his kingdom through Jesus’ death on the cross and our sole belief in Him and who He is:
Romans 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
John 10:27-30 (NIV)My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.
In the bible, when Christ was nailed to the cross and voluntarily gave up his spirit, he said “It is finished” or “τετέλεσται” (tetelestai). These are the same words that appear on a note or debt that has been paid in full. He paid the price in full for all our sin. I continue to marvel at this incredible fact. I live with the comfort that Jesus will never abandon me.
Biblical Salvation is completely different than LDS salvation. LDS doctrine and its shifting vocabulary with salvation, baptism, priesthood, and its required covenants confuse meaning and contradict sound biblical teaching.
If you or a loved one would like help in processing these differences, please reach out to one of us at our Concerned Christians ministry.
Blessings,
Kristine Nelson
Concerned Christians have contracted to support MICHAEL and LYNN WILDER on radio 1360 AM in the Phoenix area, Friday at 4-4:30pm. The show will air thru May.
If you would like to help with this venture please mark your donation “Wilder Podcast”
We at Concerned Christians meet every MONDAY evening for an hour of prayer at 6:30 p.m. 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 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
We pray for opportunities to speak with Christians because we firmly believe “It is easier to keep them out than to get them out.”
If you would be interested in sharing your testimony of being delivered from the LDS Corporation into the family of the triune God, please send it to [email protected] Please include contact information.
It is great to stay informed with local and world news. TV or newspapers are great. But, do not neglect the Good News, God’s Word.
The New Year is here. How is your plan going for some daily Good News from God?
I started a new devotional this year. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Sarah wrote this as Jesus himself was speaking directly to the reader. One short page per day and a few Bible references for each day. It isn’t too late to get you a copy and it is a great way to get you familiar with your Bible.
Blessings,
Paulette
David Allan Bednar is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. He was elected October 2, 2004. As a member he is recognized by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
March 17th Mark your calendar! 10 am.
Gary and Sandie Keating will be teaching at
Strawberry Chapel in Pine/Strawberry, AZ.
8579 Fossil Creek Rd, Pine.
They will have a former LDS member with them.
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