Secrets Mormons Don't Want You To Know (8 page)

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Authors: Richard Benson,Cindy Benson

Tags: #Spiritual & Religion

BOOK: Secrets Mormons Don't Want You To Know
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SINS THAT DESERVE INSTANT DEATH

Secret 121

Mormon founders thought several sins deserve instant death:
Murder:

“…even if a man kill another, I will shoot him, or cut off his head, spill his blood on the ground, and let the smoke thereof ascend up to God…”
283

Adultery and Immorality:

“Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins… I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands.”
284

Serious Sins:

“Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? …I have known a great many men who have left this church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them.”
285

Stealing:

“If you want to know what to do with a thief that you may find stealing, I say kill him on the spot…”
286

Marrying a Black Person:

“And if any man mingles his seed with the seed of Cane [sic] the only way he Could get rid of it or have salvation would be to Come forward and have his head cut off and spill his Blood upon the ground. It would also take the life of his Children.”
287

Covenant Breaking:

“…if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood.”
288

Lying:

“I… warned those who lied and stole and followed Israel that they would have their heads cut off, for that was the law of God and it should be executed.”
289

What the Bible says:

“Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder…” (Matthew 19:18)

“Thou knowest the commandments… Do not kill…” (Mark 10:19)

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:” (Matthew 5:21)

POLYGAMY

Secret 122

Mormonism once taught that polygamy was an abomination:

“Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.”
290

“Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband; except that in the event of death when either is at liberty to marry again.”
291

Secret 123

Mormon doctrine declares that those who are not polygamists are damned:

“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph… as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines… all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.”
292

“Some people have supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of superfluity, or nonessential to the salvation of mankind. In other words, some of the Saints have said, and believe, that a man with one wife… will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one. I want here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for I know it is false… I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean the every man in the Church, who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness and will not, shall be damned…”
293

“I speak of plurality of wives as one of the most holy principles that God ever revealed to man, and all those who exercise an influence against it, unto whom it is taught, man or woman, will be damned, and they, and all who will be influenced by them, will suffer the buffetings of Satan in the flesh; for the curse of God will be upon them, and poverty, and distress, and vexation of spirit will be their portion;”
294

“…the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on earth, and that without obedience to that principle no man can ever attain to the fullness of exaltation in the celestial glory.”
295

“The principle of Plurality of Wives never will be done away.”
296

Wilford Woodruff said:

“The Lord will never give a revelation to abandon plural marriage.”
297

“Many of this people have broken their covenants by finding fault with the Plurality of Wives and trying to sink it out of existence. But you cannot do that. God will cut you off and raise up another people that will carry out his purposes in righteousness unless you walk up to the line in your duty.”
298

What the Bible says:

“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife [not wives], and let every woman have her own husband [not husbands].” (1 Corinthians 7:2)

See also Genesis 2:24.

Secret 124

Mormonism teaches that to become a God, men MUST practice polygamy:

“The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.”
299

“Some people have supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of superfluity, or nonessential to the salvation of mankind. In other words, some of the Saints have said, and believe, that a man with one wife… will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one. I want here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for I know it is false… Therefore, whoever has imagined that he could obtain the fullness of the blessings pertaining to this celestial law, by complying with only a portion of its conditions, has deceived himself. He cannot do it… I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean the every man in the Church, who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness and will not, shall be damned, I say I understand it to mean this and nothing less, and I testify in the name of Jesus that it does mean that.”
300

What the Bible says:

This is one lie built upon another. The Bible says nothing about men becoming Gods, so obviously it doesn’t teach that sinning will get you there.

MARRIAGE FOR ETERNITY

Secret 125

Mormonism teaches that there are three major benefits of
getting married in a Mormon temple:
1.) You will be married for eternity:

“Civil marriage makes servants in eternity…Celestial marriage makes Gods in eternity.”
301

2.) You will become a God:

“…if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood… Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting…”
302

3.) You will keep bearing children throughout eternity:

“‘Except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity, while in this probation, by the power and authority of the holy priesthood,’ The Prophet says, ‘They will cease to increase when they die; that is, they will not have any children after the resurrection.’”
303

What the Bible says:

“And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:” (Luke 20:34-35)

“…in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30)

See also Mark 12:25.

MORMONISM'S EVER–CHANGING NAME

Secret 126

The Mormon church claims to be the “only true church on the face of the earth.”
304
One reason is because it has the name of Jesus Christ in its title.
305
They hold the name of their institution in high regard.

But when the LDS church officially started in 1830, it was called the “Church of Christ.” This title supposedly came from Jesus Christ Himself.
306

In 1834 the name was changed to the “Church of the Latter-Day Saints.”
307
Then in 1838 it received its current name, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
308

If the name of the LDS church is as important as they claim, shouldn’t the god of Mormonism have been able to get the title right the first time?

THE MASONRY CONNECTION

Secret 127

Joseph Smith was a high ranking Mason:

Joseph Smith himself admits:

“I officiated as grand chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo Lodge of Free Masons, at the Grove near the Temple… In the evening I received the first degree in Freemasonry in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office.
309

“I was with the Masonic Lodge and rose to the sublime degree.”
310

What the Bible says:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

(Ephesians 5:11)

Secret 128

Many early Mormon leaders were Masons, including:

• Joseph Smith, Sr. (Joseph Smith’s father.)
• Hyrum, Samuel, and William Smith (Joseph Smith’s three brothers.)
• Brigham Young (Mormonism’s second president.)
• John Taylor (Mormonism’s third president.)
• Wilford Woodruff (Mormonism’s fourth president.)
• Lorenzo Snow (Mormonism’s fifth president.)
• Sidney Rigdon (Counselor to Joseph Smith.)
• John C. Bennett (Assistant president to the First Presidency.)
• Heber C. Kimball (first counselor to Brigham Young.)
• Willard Richards (second counselor to Brigham Young.)
• Newell K. Whitney (Presiding Bishop.)
• Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Hyde, Lyman Johnson and Erastus Snow (Mormon apostles.)
• William Law (second counselor to Joseph Smith.)
• Orrin Porter Rockwell (Joseph Smith’s bodyguard.)
• William Clayton (Joseph Smith’s secretary.)
• William Marks (Nauvoo Stake president.)
What the Bible says:

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:18)

Secret 129

Joseph Smith added Masonic rituals to the Mormon religion:

Joseph Smith received his first degree in Masonry on March 15, 1842, and the very next day was elevated to the degree of Sublime Master of the Royal Secret.
311

“Six weeks later, on May 2, 1842, Smith was teaching these Masonic secrets as his own ‘revelations’ to Mormon leaders as the temple Endowment.”
312

It was from the Masons that Joseph Smith invented the basic ceremonies and symbols that are now known as the Endowment.

“Into the fabric of Freemasonry he wove his own peculiar brand of occultism, claiming it to be ‘revelation’ from on high.”
313

Mormon historian Reed C. Durham, Jr. wrote:

“There is absolutely no question in my mind that the Mormon ceremony which came to be known as the Endowment, introduced by Joseph Smith to Mormon Masons initially, just a little over one month after he became a Mason, had an immediate inspiration from Masonry.”
314

The outside of the Temple in Salt Lake City has many Masonic designs, like the All-Seeing Eye, the inverted 5-pointed star, and the clasped hands or grip. Each of these were part of Masonry before Joseph Smith started using them.

What the Bible says:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20)

MORMON PROPHETS

Secret 130

Mormonism claims that their prophet is God’s mouthpiece, who makes salvation available:

“Upon the president of the Church the Almighty bestows the highest office and the greatest gifts that mortal man is capable of receiving… He is the one man on earth at a time who can hold and exercise the keys of the kingdom in their fulness… By the authority vested in him, all ordinances of the gospel are performed, all teaching of the truths of salvation is authorized, and through the keys which he holds, salvation itself is made available to men of this day. The President of the Church is the mouthpiece of God on earth.”
315

“Brethren, keep your eye on the President of the church. If he tells you anything and it is wrong and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it. But you don’t need to worry: the Lord will not let his mouthpiece lead this people astray.”
316

What the Bible says:

“Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” (Jeremiah 14:14)

Secret 131

Mormonism claims that salvation is contingent upon obeying the words of their prophet

“Our salvation is contingent upon our belief in a living prophet and adherence to his word. He alone has the right to revelation for the whole church… ”
317

What the Bible says:

Salvation is contingent upon faith in Jesus Christ, not obedience to a sinful man.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Secret 132

Mormonism’s claim: everything the Mormon prophet says is scripture:

“…the greatest of all scripture we have today is current scripture. What a mouthpiece of God says today is scripture.”
318

“…thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.”
319

What the Bible says:

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 14:37)

We do not need prophets to communicate God’s Word to us today because we have the complete Word of God in the King James version of the Bible.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

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