The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emerged in early 19th-century America. It fulfilled a dual need. On the one hand, it catered to the need for an "American myth," as this was the era of nation-building and the search for national roots. On the other hand, it addressed the desire for the "restoration" of the primitive church, in contrast to denominationalism, as this was also the period of the so-called Restoration Movement. Today’s Mormon religion is thus a combination of biblical elements, alleged ancient and modern American revelations, a rationalist theology, a new priestly hierarchy, Masonic rites, and Puritan morality.
The church was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-1844). As a teenager, he was searching for the true church when the Father and the Son appeared to him, declaring that the churches "were all wrong and abominable in His sight" (1820). Later, an angel named Moroni also appeared to him, through whom he obtained the records of a once-flourishing Christian culture in America (1823). Smith dug up the gold plates, translated them, published them under the title The Book of Mormon, and founded his church (1830). Although he showed the plates to 11 witnesses, the angel took them to the afterlife. Smith and his followers were initially persecuted, and he himself was eventually lynched in a prison. Under the leadership of the second church president, Brigham Young, they succeeded in establishing a state in what is now Utah. Their center has since been Salt Lake City, with a global spread of 13 million members. Several similar churches have split from the Utah church, the largest of which (about 250,000 members) is the Reorganized Church (Missouri), which also conducts missionary work and considers itself Smith's true heir.
Distinctive Doctrines and Their Criticism
a) The American Prophet
LDS Claim:
Joseph Smith Jr. was the first President, Seer, and Revelator of the restored Church of the Last Days, without whom there would be no (complete) salvation. Despite his church-founding and city-organizing talents, he was poorly educated. This also proves that the great works he produced could not be his own writings but were inspired by God. According to Smith, Acts 3:21 speaks of him and the restoration of the church. He claimed about himself that "I am prouder of this than any other man. Since the days of Adam, I am the only man who has been able to keep a whole church together. The majority of the entire thing is on my side. Neither Paul, nor John, nor Peter, nor Jesus did this. I boast that no man ever did a greater work than I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him, but the Latter-day Saints never have run away from me." As a prophet, he predicted his persecution and died as a martyr.
Criticism:
Smith was undoubtedly one of the most charismatic figures of his time, but contemporary sources do not confirm the later idealized image. He grew up as a farm boy involved in treasure hunting and occultism. He was subject to civil proceedings for fraud, and the Methodist church – which he joined after God explicitly forbade him in the First Vision – expelled him. His works faithfully reflect his historical and biblical ignorance. After founding the church, at the height of his career, he was mayor of Nauvoo, a bank director, militia commander, and a candidate for U.S. president. He had the printing press of an opposition newspaper destroyed. When his bank went bankrupt, he fled without compensating his creditors. He falsely prophesied multiple times. He was not a martyr; he killed two of his attackers with a smuggled pistol before he was shot. Smith introduced polygamy, citing divine revelation. In addition to his legal wife, he had 47 other living wives, married only in church ceremonies, including teenagers and already married women, and 149 deceased women were also sealed to him in temple ceremonies.
b) Continuous Revelation
LDS Claim:
The Bible is considered scripture "as far as it is translated correctly," but according to Smith, the text of the Bible is corrupted. The Inspired Version revealed to Smith corrects the errors and restores the removed parts (its full text is only published by the Missouri church). Jesus also gave revelations in America: the ancient-origin Book of Mormon, and the modern-day Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Pearl of Great Price. In addition, the teachings of the current Prophet and the 12 apostles are also considered revelations. God's judgment is upon those who reject continuous revelation and the Mormon scriptures. God would not allow the leaders of His church to teach false doctrine.
Criticism:
The Book of Mormon contains many biblical passages, which is why it has a "biblical" text and exerts a positive influence on its readers. However, Mormons interpret almost every biblical term differently from Christians. The teachings in the Book of Mormon contradict the Bible on important issues and even later Mormon revelations. The Inspired Version is completely arbitrary, a true Bible falsification; for example, Smith added a long prophecy about Joseph (that is, himself) to the end of Genesis 50, supposedly spoken by the ancient Joseph. The text of the Bible has indeed been preserved and is sufficient for salvation and holy living (Acts 11:14, Rom 1:16, 15:4, 1 Cor 1:18, 21, 2:2-5, 2 Cor 4:3, 2 Tim 3:14-17, Heb 1:1-2, etc.).
c) The Book of Mormon
LDS Claim:
The Book of Mormon is an ancient American revelation from God, equivalent to the Bible (Palestinian scriptures). It was written on gold plates in "reformed Egyptian" script. Its content centers on the history of Jews (Nephites, Lamanites) who sailed across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the American continent, the promised land, from 621 BC to 421 AD. The descendants of a portion of these American Jewish tribes (the Lamanites, who were cursed and had dark skin due to their sins) are the Native Americans and the peoples of Oceania.
The Book of Mormon was translated from the gold plates by Smith "by the gift and power of God." Its authenticity is confirmed by the fact that those who sincerely ask God whether the Book of Mormon is true will receive a revelation from God (e.g., a warm feeling in their hearts). The Book of Mormon is "the most perfect book in the world, the cornerstone of our religion, and whoever lives by its teachings will come closer to God than by any other book" (JS). The stories described in the Book of Mormon can be placed in the regions of ancient Aztec, Inca, and Mayan cultures.
The Bible also prophesied the appearance of the Book of Mormon (Ezekiel 37:16-20). The Book of Mormon contains so many biblical passages because the Jews who sailed to America brought with them the Old Testament that had been written until 621 BC, and the New Testament elements were spoken by Jesus Himself in America.
Criticism:
The style and much of the text of the Book of Mormon derive from the English translation of the King James Bible (1611). Unlike the Bible, the existence of the American culture described in the Book of Mormon (peoples, cities, countries, battles, writings, etc.) has not been confirmed by archaeology. Contrary to the data in the Book of Mormon, pre-Columbian America did not have wheat, barley, horses, donkeys, sheep, cattle, pigs, elephants, iron and steel, coins, synagogues, or leprosy. Native Americans are not Semitic (like Jews and Arabs) but belong to the Mongoloid race and originate from Northeast Asia. The history and characteristics of Central and South American cultures are not compatible in any way with the cultures described in the Book of Mormon (e.g., the Mayan culture was later and Stone Age in nature). The real author of the Book of Mormon projected the conditions of 19th-century North America back into the past. Ezekiel 37:16-20: The joining of the two inscribed sticks is a prophetic illustration of the post-captivity reunification of Israel and Judah, where God will again gather His people from everywhere (verses 20-22), not a unity of Palestinian and American revelations. The Book of Mormon also quotes from Old Testament Jewish prophets who lived after 621 BC (from Jeremiah to Malachi), whose writings addressed the situation of the Jewish people in Palestine and who could not have had contact with the supposed American Jews. Smith even adopted the translation errors from the King James Bible.
d) The Book of Abraham
LDS Claim:
The Book of Abraham, which is part of the Pearl of Great Price and is theologically important, was translated by Smith from an Egyptian papyrus purchased from an antiquities dealer named Chandler, using his God-given ability. The facsimiles of three segments of the papyri are included in the text of the Book of Abraham, along with Smith's detailed, numbered explanations.
Criticism:
According to modern Egyptology, the papyri considered the original source of the Book of Abraham actually contain the text of a pagan funerary document from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. The Egyptian script was deciphered by Champollion in 1822, and its grammar and dictionary were published in 1836 and 1841, but even long after Smith, no one in the United States could read Egyptian. The "Egyptian Grammar" written by Smith is also a product of fantasy. The authenticity of his "revelations" is not determined by feelings or mutual affirmations (cf. Jeremiah 17:9) but by facts. Nothing confirms the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham; on the contrary, everything we know refutes them.
e) The Restored Church
LDS Claim:
The church founded by Jesus in Jerusalem fell into error, disbanded, and ceased to be the true church in the early centuries due to the foretold Great Apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared in America and founded His church there, but by the early 5th century, the Nephite church in America was also destroyed.
The final restoration of the church on earth (Acts 3:20-21, Revelation 14:6) occurred in 1830 through Joseph Smith, thus making the Mormon church "the kingdom of the Lord, once again, reestablished on the earth, which prepares for the second coming of the Messiah," and which "is the only true, living church upon the face of the whole earth." According to God's promise (Daniel 2:44), the church will never be overthrown again. Moreover, God revealed to Smith that the New Jerusalem would be built in the United States, in the state of Missouri. Since the Mormon church has taken the place of unfaithful Israel, every new member is assigned to one of the Jewish tribes (even those of non-Jewish origin).
Although the Mormon community has been unjustly persecuted from the beginning, Mormons do not criticize other churches.
Criticism:
According to Joseph Smith's account, the Father and the Son who appeared to him declared that the contemporary Baptist, Methodist, Reformed, Lutheran, etc., churches "were all wrong" and that "all their creeds were an abomination." The denominations of that time are the same as those today, so the very existence, legitimacy, and mission of the Mormon church is a judgment against all Christian churches.
However, the universal Christian church, despite all its problems, could not have ceased to exist for almost a millennium and a half, because according to Christ, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18, Jude 24-25 cf. Ephesians 5:25-32). So who lied: Jesus or Smith? The New Testament also writes about the need for continuous faith defense (Jude 3), not about disintegration after the 1st century. The original text of 2 Thessalonians 2:3: does not say "great apostasy" but "rebellion" (without details), and at this time, the Antichrist will also appear, who will sit in God's temple, deify himself, etc. None of this has happened yet. Daniel 2 speaks of an eternal kingdom after the destruction of great political powers, but these political powers still exist. Therefore, the Mormon Church is not a "restoration" of the early church, because it overstepped the biblical boundaries from the beginning, which could have ensured that it remained within Christianity.
f) The Godhead
LDS Claim:
According to the fundamental doctrine, the Godhead consists of three persons: the Father (Elohim), the Son (Jehovah), and the Holy Ghost. However, the deeper teachings, which are revealed later, suggest that there are actually many gods who possess perfect souls and perfect bodies, have genders, and reproduce. God Himself was once a man but was exalted to become God, meaning He was not always God.
Humans are essentially gods in an embryonic state. After the final judgment, if they meet all the conditions, they too can become gods and goddesses, with their own worlds. "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be..." (JS)
The Bible also teaches the existence of many gods (1 Corinthians 8:5) and the exaltation of humans to godhood (Psalms 82:1,6, John 10:34-36).
Criticism:
In the Bible, Jehovah and Elohim are the same God, under the name Yahweh Elohim (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 40:3 cf. John 1:23). The Hebrew word "elohim" means "gods" only when the verb following it is in the plural (with a few exceptions for pagan gods), but when the verb is singular, it means "the Godhead" (as Hebrew uses the plural form of a noun to form an abstract noun).
God is a spiritual being (Psalms 139, John 4:24, Acts 17:28-29), and the "body parts" attributed to Him in the Bible are only metaphors. There is only one God (Isaiah 43:10, 45:5, 20-21, 44:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, James 2:19, etc.). God has always been God (Isaiah 40:28, John 5:26, Hebrews 13:8, 9:14, 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16) and does not change (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17). God is not a man (Hosea 11:9, Numbers 23:19), and the deification of man is a satanic doctrine (Genesis 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Psalms 82:1,6: God is mocking the judges who were "gods" (mighty ones) but, because of their unfaithfulness, will die like mere mortals. John 10:34-36: Jesus refers back to Psalms 82: If God mockingly called the judges "gods," how much more true is it for Him, if He calls Himself the Son of God! 1 Corinthians 8:5: There are so-called (believed to be, considered to be) gods in pagan religions; cf. 8:6 "...yet for us there is only one God."
g) The Children of Heavenly Father and Mother
LDS Claim:
In addition to Heavenly Father, there is also a Heavenly Mother, whose name is unknown, and prayers should not be directed to her. Together, they have given birth to many billions of spirit children, who existed even before earthly, mortal life (pre-existence, Jeremiah 1:5, John 1:2, 14, 8:58, 17:5).
In order for these spirit children to progress and prove their obedience, they must experience the joys and sorrows of earthly life. Satan (Lucifer) and a portion of the spirits rebelled against this plan of earthly life and redemption, as Satan wanted everyone to be saved, but without free will. Jesus, on the other hand, desired to follow the Father’s will, allowing people to make their own choices. Therefore, the Father entrusted Him with the redemption. Jesus, under the Father's direction, created this world with the help of the archangel Michael and the chosen spirits from the pre-existing chaotic matter. The fall of Adam (the archangel Michael) and Eve was a necessary evil, part of the divine plan: only this way could they become mortal humans capable of biological reproduction, only this way could the spirit children be born on earth, and only this way could they begin their path of eternal progression and exaltation.
Criticism:
In the Bible, God's "fatherhood" is meant to make His relationship with us (paternal love) understandable; biological gender is only attributed to pagan gods. "Jehovah" (Jesus) and Satan (a fallen angel) are not brothers, nor are they our brothers! The Bible makes a clear distinction between the Creator and His creations; they are not of the same kind. Humans do not come from pre-existence but from the earth (Genesis 2:7, John 3:13, 33, 8:23, 1 Corinthians 15:47). Jeremiah 1:5 does not speak of everyone's pre-existence but specifically of Jeremiah's calling. John 1:2, etc., speaks only of Jesus, not of everyone (cf. Colossians 1:15-19).
God created the world out of nothing (Romans 4:17), entirely by Himself (Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 45:12, etc.) with His mere word (Genesis 1:3, John 1:1-3). The fall brought not a blessing but a curse (Romans 6:23, 5:14, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Since then, no one is inherently a child of God, but one can become so, receiving the authority, by coming to faith in Christ (John 1:12-13, 1 John 5:1, Romans 8:15, Galatians 3:26).
h) Perfection and Eternal Progression
LDS Claim:
God is perfect and commanded His children to be perfect as well (Matthew 5:48), to become completely holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), and to ultimately be exalted to godhood (2 Peter 1:4). God would not have commanded perfection if humans were not capable of achieving it.
A believer must become worthy of everything, fulfilling the conditions of the bilateral covenant with God: Christ has done His part, so the believer must do their part as well.
The process of conversion and the condition of sanctification include faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, honesty, faithfulness, regular testimony, paying tithing, keeping the word of wisdom, and performing temple ordinances.
A person is not inherently sinful but becomes so only when and if they commit sin. Repentance has seven steps: acknowledgment, remorse, confession, restitution, forgiveness of others, keeping the commandments, and not committing the same sin again. Grace comes into effect only after the believer has done everything within their power to keep the commandments. By the grace thus received, one becomes eligible for the blessings of mortal and eternal life.
Criticism:
2 Peter 1:4: According to the text and its context (verses 3 and 5), Christ's divine power has given the believer everything needed for a godly life (here on earth), by making Himself known through His own glory and moral excellence [Greek "aretē"], and indeed, He called them to Himself through these, and on this basis, He promised them that through these, they would become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption caused by evil desires. It does not mean that one "becomes a god," but rather that one partakes in something that is a natural attribute, a gift of God alone (Greek "physis"), namely moral excellence. Matthew 5:48 does not say, "slowly become perfect," but be perfect here and now, because God is. 1 Peter 1:16 does not say, "become as holy as I am," but be holy here and now, because God is.
Only God is holy (Revelation 15:4), and no one is as holy as God (2 Samuel 2:2, 6:20), but Christ's holiness and righteousness are attributed to the believer (Romans 3:24-26, 4:3-5, 1 Corinthians 1:30), making every sanctified (set apart for God) person once and for all perfect (Hebrews 10:14). Sanctification as a process only refers to living out this perfection more fully.
Humans are not sinful only when they sin, but they sin because they are inherently inclined to sin (Luke 5:8, Colossians 2:13, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, 5:10-21, 8:3). Everyone sins frequently (James 2:10, 3:2), and everyone repeatedly commits the same sins, yet still receives forgiveness (Luke 17:3-4). A believer's life is, until the end, one of unmerited, unearned grace; this is not cheap, not expensive, but priceless, and therefore a free gift (Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:5). A holy life and service are not tools for achieving goals but a sign of grateful reciprocal love (1 Peter 1:5-9, Ephesians 5:1) for the blessings already received as a gift (Ephesians 1:3-14). In the Bible, the sinful believer receives grace, i.e., release from judgment, and does not become favored based on merit, as in the Mormon religion.
i) The Restored Priesthood
LDS Claim:
God has restored the authority of the church's priesthood in the last days, meaning the authority to act in God's stead and in His name (Matthew 16:19).
There are two types of priesthood with different responsibilities and rights. The Aaronic Priesthood (for those over 12 years old) mainly performs physical services: baptisms and administering the sacrament. The Melchizedek Priesthood (for "elders" over 18 years old) conducts salvific ordinances: conferring the Holy Ghost, teaching, and leading the church. The Aaronic Priesthood was conferred on Jesus by John the Baptist, and the Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred on Jesus' apostles by Him. John the Baptist, who appeared to Smith and his close associates, conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon them, and the apostles Peter, James, and John, who also appeared, conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood. The ordination into the priesthood continues today through the laying on of hands (this is the so-called priesthood line).
Criticism:
Only Levites, descendants of Levi by blood, could belong to the Aaronic Priesthood, making it non-transferable (Exodus 29:9, Numbers 3:10, 2 Chronicles 31:19). The figures in the Book of Mormon were not Levites, so they could not be priests, nor could they have a temple.
Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah, so He could not have been a Levite (Hebrews 7:13-14). However, because of Jesus' one and only sacrifice, the Aaronic Priesthood lost its function, and the priesthood changed (Hebrews 7:12, 27). The privilege of priestly service, once exclusive to male members of one tribe, became universal (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:4-6), including women (Acts 2:16-18), since it became a spiritual sacrifice (1 Peter 2:5, Hebrews 13:15, Romans 12:1, 15:16, Philippians 4:18). The eternal priesthood after the "order" of Melchizedek is also exclusively, and non-transferably, Christ's (Hebrews 7:24) because only He is immortal (Hebrews 7:2-3,15-16,24).
j) The Holy Temple
LDS Claim:
Educational work and community practice take place worldwide in meetinghouses (chapels). However, there are only about 150 temples worldwide. Certain ordinances necessary for salvation and specific covenants can only be performed in the temple, and it is also where one can learn about pre-earthly and post-mortal life. The most important ordinances are endowment, eternal marriage, sealing of children to their parents, and ordinances for the dead. After a public opening, only worthy church members with a temple recommend (entry permit) may enter the temple. The ordinances can only be performed by those authorized to do so, and the ordinances are sacred and practically secret, as members are sworn not to disclose them to outsiders (this would be a grave sin).
Criticism:
Mormon "temple work" has nothing to do with the rituals of biblical times, the early church, or today's Christian denominations. Israel could have only one temple, and its priesthood was limited to male members of one tribe. Everyone approached it with a sense of guilt, fully aware of their unworthiness, as the temple's function was the offering of sacrifices and worship (obtaining forgiveness of sins and thanksgiving). However, because of Christ's sacrifice, the temple lost its function, and in AD 70, it was destroyed. God must be worshiped in spirit (John 4:24). Not a building, but the Christian community and the individual have become God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:19-22 cf. Revelation 21:22).
Smith received a "revelation" about secret temple rituals shortly after becoming a member of a Masonic lodge in 1838, after which they considered him a traitor. He adopted many rituals but reinterpreted almost all of them. However, significant changes have been made to the theoretically sacred and unchangeable Mormon temple ceremonies over time: most recently in April 1990 in the text and rituals, and in January 2005 in the ritual clothing.
k) Work for the Dead
LDS Claim:
The church exists and operates in the spirit world as well. The spirits of the dead are sent either to paradise or to a prison for spirits, which has several levels. Spirits are classified according to their deeds, but if they learn and live by the gospel rules, they can ascend to higher levels. And if a relative performs ordinances for them in a temple on earth (1 Corinthians 15:29), they can pass into paradise (1 Peter 3:18-20, 4:6). If they do not repent of their sins, they must suffer for them, similar to Christ's suffering, and after the resurrection, they may reach the lowest (telestial) level of glory.
For this reason, every Mormon traces their ancestors so that they can provide their dead relatives with an opportunity for salvation through proxy ordinances. The church's International Genealogical Department assists them in family history research. In the temples, living and dead family members are linked together through various ordinances. According to Smith, "Our ancestors cannot be made perfect without us, nor we without them."
Journal keeping also serves to more fully bind families together, as the journals of today’s Saints are like those of the prophets: descendants can later learn much from their testimonies.
Criticism:
According to the Bible, our fate is determined here on earth (Hebrews 9:27, Luke 16:19-31, Romans 2:14-16), and the soul's final destiny is either eternal life or eternal death, heaven or hell (Daniel 12:2, Revelation 20-21). Those who could not know the law of Moses or the gospel of Christ are excused by God for their ignorance (Acts 14:16, 17:30) and are judged based on their conscience (Romans 2:14-16). Those who could make a decision regarding the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) are judged based on their faith or unbelief (John 3:18,36). If they do not believe, the words of Moses and Christ condemn them (Deuteronomy 18:19, John 5:45-47, 12:48).
The interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:29 is difficult, but it is certain that there is no trace of any need or possibility for ordinances to be performed on behalf of the dead elsewhere in the Bible or in Christian church history before the 19th century, so it cannot be a restoration, but only a new doctrine. 1 Peter 3:18-20, 4:6: Christ preached not to all the dead but only to the spirits of the people who lived in Noah's time, before the law of Moses and the gospel of Christ. Moreover, it speaks only of Christ, not that the souls of deceased believers would preach to other souls. Mormons are not "co-redeemers"; their ordinances for the dead are simply futile.
l) Resurrection and Final Judgment
LDS Claim:
Resurrection is the final reunification of the soul and the physical body in a perfect and immortal form. Everyone will be resurrected, but there are two resurrections: the first for the righteous and the second for sinners who do not repent. After the resurrection comes the final judgment, where everyone will receive what they deserve. Judgment is given to the Son (John 5:22), but He will call upon others to assist: for example, the New Testament apostles will judge the 12 tribes of Israel, the American apostles will judge the Lamanites and Nephites, and the Presidency and the Twelve Apostles who served during their lives will judge the Mormons.
Criticism:
According to the Bible, resurrection is not the reunification of the soul (Greek pneuma/psyche) and the physical body (Greek sarx), but the complete transformation and glorification of the "body," meaning the form of existence (Greek soma) (Mark 12:24-25, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:35-56, 1 John 3:2).
John 5:22: The Father has given all judgment to the Son (Acts 17:31, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Timothy 4:1), who will judge everyone's life (Genesis 18:25, Job 21:22, Romans 2:6, Revelation 20:11-12). One believer cannot judge another, that is, no one can judge God's servant (Matthew 7:1-2, Romans 14:4,10,12-13).
m) Degrees of Glory
LDS Claim:
The righteous will be placed in one of the three heavenly degrees of glory (2 Corinthians 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:40-42). In the highest, celestial glory, everyone can live with their family in the constant presence of the Father and the Son, but even within this, there are three degrees: to reach exaltation, or godhood, four ordinances (including celestial marriage) and the observance of 18 laws are necessary. The second, terrestrial glory is for those honorable people who did not accept the gospel on earth due to others but accepted it in the spirit world, or who accepted it on earth but later fell away; they cannot be with their families, but Christ will visit them. The telestial glory is for those who did not accept the gospel on earth or in the spirit world and led sinful lives; they are the majority and will be visited only by the Holy Ghost. The fourth is outer darkness (Matthew 8:12), for those who knew the truth but allowed Satan to rule them; they will suffer in eternal darkness with Satan and his angels, forever stuck in their progression.
Criticism:
The last day, the final judgment in the Bible, is entirely different (cf. Revelation 20:5-6,11-15, 21:8), as is the fate of Satan and his demons (cf. Revelation 20:10).
2 Corinthians 12:2 does not refer to post-resurrection degrees of glory. Paul's experience happened in his lifetime, in the present, though he did not know exactly how (verses 2-3), so he described it according to the rabbinic ideas of his time. According to these, the first heaven is for the birds, the second for the angels, and the third heaven or paradise is the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 15:40-42 does not speak of heavenly degrees but of the earthly and heavenly bodies of people, that is, their forms of existence (Greek soma). Matthew 8:12: Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, that is, God's earthly kingdom, the Millennium, not of an otherworldly place. In His illustration, believing Gentiles (verses 10-11) and truly believing Jews will rejoice together, but the self-righteous but actually unbelieving contemporary Jews (verse 12) will be cast out.
n) Eternal Marriage
LDS Claim:
Mormons enter into so-called celestial marriage in the Temple, not only for earthly life but for eternity. Through this, they will be exalted in the highest degree of celestial glory and, as gods and goddesses, will create, populate, and rule new worlds. Procreative power is, in fact, a holy creative power.
Polygamy (plural marriage) was introduced by Smith and Young, claiming revelation from God. Although Mormons have not practiced it since 1890 due to pressure from American public opinion, and even face excommunication for it, it will be reinstated in the coming Millennium (Christ's thousand-year Kingdom) so that all of God's spirit children can become human. Today, only so-called "fundamentalist Mormon" churches practice polygamy (about 30-40,000 members).
Criticism:
According to Jesus, there will be no marriage after the resurrection (Mark 12:24-25). The Bible makes a sharp distinction between divine creation and biological reproduction. God created with His word, from nothing, and created new things (e.g., humans). Humans, with their already created physicality, only reproduce.
The biblical examples of polygamy—before the Mosaic law (Lamech, Abraham, Jacob) and during the time of some kings (David, Solomon, Rehoboam)—were not recorded as models to follow (cf. 1 Kings 11:1-4), and the institution of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) was given only for exceptional situations. God's plan has always been for the marriage of one man and one woman, that they two should become one flesh (Genesis 2:24 cf. Ephesians 5:25).
Positive Aspects
The Christian background of the Mormon religion is evident in its recognition of the Bible as scripture, the use of biblical vocabulary, and the central role of Christ. The lifestyle of its members is exemplary in many respects, as Mormon ethics draw heavily from biblical principles. There is a strong emphasis on individual responsibility, the development of talents, and honesty. The "Word of Wisdom"—though in the Bible it simply means "wise words"—promotes a healthy, active lifestyle (prohibiting coffee, black tea, smoking, and drug use), resulting in the average Mormon living 10 years longer than the average American. The church's focus on family and love for children is reflected in the exemplary family lives of Mormons: marriage is considered eternal, and Monday's "family evening" is dedicated to shared learning, playing, praying, and singing together. The church offers genealogical research as a free service to non-members as well and has compiled the civil registration databases of more developed countries at its own expense. The social safety net provided to members (through relief societies) demonstrates exemplary solidarity: there are no unemployed Mormons, and the Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) fully finances the education of young church members. Members also engage in much charitable work outside the church, with many regularly contributing to those in need through the so-called fast offering (donating the cost of two meals). The dedication of young missionaries is unquestionable, with many saving from a young age to cover mission expenses. The church's choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is also world-renowned.
Negative Aspects
The Mormon religion denies or misunderstands almost every important doctrine of biblical Christianity. At the same time, the Mormon Church—misleadingly—attempts to present itself as one of the Christian denominations, while internally it continues to regard itself as the only true church. This "interest-driven ecumenism" helps the church gain acceptance but is morally questionable. The biblical vocabulary used by Mormons also strengthens the impression of Christianity, although almost every word means something entirely different than in the Bible. Therefore, meaningful conversations with them require understanding "Mormon language."
The perfectionism of the church is striking. Since they misunderstand the biblical command for perfection, water down the concept of sin, and do not understand the true, biblical meaning of grace, many members find themselves in conflict between the church's expectations (becoming perfect and worthy) and their own abilities (their sinful nature). Even the Mormon press now acknowledges that the Utah population, which is 70% Mormon (especially women), needs stress-relieving medication at a rate higher than the national average, and that more than half of the missionaries, who usually bear testimony almost like robots for two years, become inactive after returning home.
Behind the appealing image of the Mormon family ideal, with many children, lies the teaching that spirit children waiting in the pre-mortal existence are eager to be born into earthly life through the sexual union of their earthly siblings as soon and in as great numbers as possible. The love of family and the appreciation of children are, of course, also present in the Christian church, but without this background teaching, which is bizarre from a biblical perspective.
The Mormon religion has an esoteric-gnostic structure. Regarding their proselytizing method, according to the iceberg principle, the prospective convert is not given, and indeed cannot be given, a full picture of the Mormon belief system. What is visible on the surface appears biblical and Christian, and partly it is. However, beneath the surface, strange, unbiblical doctrines are hidden. Investigators are given only the Book of Mormon; the other scriptures (Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) can be read only after baptism, once they have become members of the church. The deeper teachings are received in the Temple, and those involved in temple work can also learn the content of the so-called temple records. This multi-layered system only becomes apparent over the years.
Ordinary members know only the heroic side of the church's history (the pioneer journey, persecutions, the building of Salt Lake City, etc.). The average Mormon is either unaware of or does not recognize the significance of the internal contradictions in Smith's story, the completely different versions of his visions, his false prophecies, the significant textual changes made to the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, and the scientific refutations of the claims in the Book of Mormon and the content of the Book of Abraham papyri. The church leadership keeps these contradictions silent and suppresses internal criticism: a number of Mormon scholars (anthropologists, Egyptologists, geneticists, etc.) who have voiced professional criticism have already been excommunicated. As incredible as it may seem, this is a religion that—beyond the biblical and Masonic elements—is largely a product of 19th-century American religious imagination.
