So Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and believes in Jesus Christ. One has to ask him a question then; if you believe in Jesus Christ as the savior of the world, why are you a Mormon? the article that I have read is kind of interesting, if it wasn't for the fact that it isn't even based on historical fact. Some people in the church today think that because a church is large, and has a lot of people adhering to it, than it has to be Christian; or at least there is one Christian in the church. However, I think we should realize something that is very important. Most people will go with the majority, and are not willing to take a stand alone on any given issue. The American Revolution was fought with only about 20% of the colonists, and many believe that it may have been a staged event. Only history will tell.
Years ago I talked to a woman that stated that the Mormon's were a Christian sect and religion; and I said why, because there are 5 million of them world wide? She said yes, there has to be at least one Christian in the Mormon religion. Does this mean that there is at least one Christian in Joel Olstein's church of over 40,000 adherence? or could it mean that those Christians could actually be deceived by Joel Olstein's doctrines and perceived Christian adherences. I think what we must realize is that what is being presented to us may not actually be the truth or within Biblical parameters. Tim LeHay has written many Christian books and articles. He has been interviewed many times on TV. and on Biblical news stations; but does this make him right about his pre-tribulation rapture stand, or any other stand that he takes. The answer of course is NO. Consider:
1) What is a Mormon? -- Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a Mormon, and there is no Mormon Church. "Mormon" is merely a nickname for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, the Mormons are divided into two major groups, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with head quarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with headquarters in Independence Missouri. It is interesting that they use the name of Jesus Christ; but is it true that they are true to the disciples and a part of Christian History? This remains to be seen; because their doctrine is not within the frame work of the teachings of the Apostles.
2) I am one that believes that you are what you say you are or what the church that you go to says you are. If I go to a Roman Catholic Church (Catholic comes from the Latin and means Unity -- or -- Roman Unity Church -- Spiritualized Roman Empire); some one would inevitable come up to me and ask me how long I've been a Catholic. If I say that I'm not a Roman Catholic; than he will no doubt ask me, why I'm in a Roman Catholic Church? It is important to realize, by going to that church; I have to adhere to it to some extent, or else I wouldn't be there. This means the stations of the cross, praying to Mary, going to confession, lighting a candle for the dead and so forth; all of which come from pagan worship. It is interesting to note that the pagan religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, and so forth) conduct the very same ritualistic practices. So going into a church that practices such idolatry is paramount to adhering to it even if it is only by proxy. Jesus Christ condemns these practices; as well as the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Apostles and Disciples.
3) History of any religion is very important, Christianity is no exception. However, I believe that Christianity is more of a way of life than a religion. Muslims try to make Islam a way of life, and the Jews do the same with Judaism; but only Christianity brings true righteousness to its fulfillment. Mormonism is no exception here. One has to know its history, its up bringing so to speak; not to just make a decision based on what it looks like on the outside; "Be not judging according to appearance, But {just judgment} be judging." (Rotherham's Emphasized Bible), or "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (Bible of King James). Here, Jesus Christ tells you to look beyond the pretty outside; and into what that religious establishment is really trying to say. Do they preach the words of the Apostles, and the convictions of the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament?
It is important to consider these facts:
A) Joseph Smith, jr.. (the self proclaimed prophet. The Old Testament Prophets were not self proclaimed. God revealed to other's who they were. At that time there were schools for prophets. Elijah was known as a Prophet of God; he didn't hide it, and God didn't want him to hide it. This is true in the New Testament when Paul declared himself to be an Apostle {"Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Jesus our Lord have I not seen? Are not ye my work in the Lord?" - I Corinthians 9:1, Rotherham's Emphasized Bible} Not because he said so; but because God declared him to be so. He also showed evidence of it. This is the basic point that I'm making here. There must be evidence of the office of prophecy because it is an office administered by Jesus Christ - "And God hath indeed set |certain| in the assembly, -- First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, After that mighty works, then gifts of healings, helps, guidings, kinds of tongues." I Corinthians 12:28. Rotherham's Emphasized Bible. -- These should not be confused with the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit I Corinthians 12:1-11) was born in Sharon, Vermont, December 23, 1805, the fourth child. His father, Joseph Smith, Sr., was a mystic, a man who spent most of his time digging for imaginary buried treasure (he was addicted to Captain Kidd's legendary hoard!). This right here should be cause for alarm.
The testimony of Judge Daniel Woodard of the County Court of Windsor, Vermont, a former neighbor of the Smith family is very revealing. Judge Woodard went on record in the Historical Magazine in 1870 with a statement to the effect that the elder Smith definitely was a treasure hunter and that "he also became implicated with one Jack Downing, in counterfeiting money, but turned State's evidence and escaped the penalty." Cause for alarm here also. "Train up a youth, in the direction of his duty, he will not depart from it."( Proverbs 22:6 Rotherham's Emphasized Bible), or "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Bible of King James).
B) Joseph Smith, Jr., in the year 1820, received a vision when God the Father and God the Son materialized and spoke to him when he was praying in a neighboring wood. "the Pearl of Great Price," speaks of this extensively. The two personages told him that he was called to be the one to be used to restore Christianity to its true state. If this was true, than you would think that he would adhere to the teachings of the Old Testament and New Testament, as well as the teachings of the Apostles and the Disciples. But did/does he:
"But Accursed let him be! As we have said before even now' again' I say: If anyone is announcing unto you a glad-message aside from that which ye accepted, Accursed let him be." (Galatians 1:8-9, Rotherham's Emphasized Bible). or "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Bible of King James).
Evidently this did not affect Joseph Smith jr... to much since he shortly took up once again the habit of digging for treasure along with his father and brother, who were determined to unearth Captain Kidd's plunder by means of "peep stones," divining rods," or just plain digging. (a peep stone is supposedly a magical rock which when placed in a hat and partially darkened allegedly reveal lost items and buried treasure. Divining rods were sticks supposed to lead to treasure or water.).
The Old Testament and New Testaments speak out against the use of sorcery and magic in order to attain anything that is outside of God's realm. What I am saying here is simply that God does not want anyone, especially an Israelite (member of the white race, -- Angle-Saxon {Isaac's son}, Hebrew) to be associated with any of these practices.
Have we forgotten what happened when King Saul went to the witch at Endor; (Saul was told that "there is a woman that owneth a familiar spirit {necromancy} that lived there," ( I Samuel 28:7-13 Rotherham's Emphasized Bible) and asked her to divine, or conjure up, (to divine --- the use of occult practices, even at that time such as palm reading, crystal balls, tarot cards, and so forth) a familiar spirit (necromancy), "and bring up for me--whomsoever I shall name unto thee." The witch reminded Saul (she did not know that Saul was speaking to her at the time) that the King had outlawed the practice of witchcraft in the land. Saul assured her that "By the life of Yahweh there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing." (Rotherham's Emphasized Bible) or "And Saul sware to her by the LORD saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing." (Bible of King James). So now Saul is using Yahweh as a crutch, and in essence; acting in God's behalf. In other words, he is swearing a covenant with her that is not within God's realm. God has condemned his actions many times. This is a form of blasphemy. Abusing God's Old Testament laws.
We do this in our own day and age. Whenever a white woman marries a black, Asian, or Hispanic; she goes to church, or a church setting to make her vows. She is standing before God (Jesus Christ) and the people in the church as witnesses to vow something that is illegal in God's eyes. God condemns interracial marriages, and therefore; will not accept it {Exodus 33:16; Leviticus 20:24; Joshua 23:12-13; Deuteronomy 7:3 Proverbs 23:27; Ezra 9:1 - 10:14}. God cannot accept a covenant relationship that he has condemned; therefore, God will not honor that relationship. In other words, your on your own; and you have to face the consequences. God is very explicit about this.
To continue: "Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me, And when the woman saw Samuel she made outcry with a loud voice, and the woman spake unto Saul, saying-- Wherefore hast thou deceived me, thou thyself being Saul? Now the woman discovers that it was actually Saul who requested her services, and requested her to bring forth Samuel, who had been dead. A direct violation of the scriptures (necromancy). Interestingly, if the woman was a witch and a soothsayer of prominence; how come she didn't know that it was initially Saul that entered the room? In other words, Saul could not have deceived her if she was acting on God's behalf because God would have revealed to her who Saul really was {Genesis 20:1-10-- Abraham told King Abimelech that Sarah was his sister, instead of saying that she was his wife. God revealed to Abimelech in a dream who Sarah really was}. This is actually proof that witchcraft is in the demonic realm, and not within God's realm. God will always reveal himself and his source. This is why it is difficult and next to impossible to get God out of our government, laws, and society.
Samuel (and it probably was the spirit of Samuel) told Saul, "Wherefore then shouldst thou ask me,-- when Yahweh hath turned away from thee, and hath come to be with thy neighbour? (I Samuel 28:15-21) In other words God had forsaken Saul and has aligned himself with Saul enemies the Philistines. This continue' s to the end of the chapter. I use the Bible of King James to clarify certain passages that those reading this may find troubling. In verse 16, in the King James it states, "Then said Samuel, Wherefore then doest thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?"
Could it be possible that this is what God has done to us (The United States of America - {America} literally means "Kingdom of Heaven.") because of our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan; and allowing illegal aliens to flood our country? Yes. However, God will drive us out of Iraq and Afghanistan in disgrace; and drive the Hispanics out of our country in dishonor.
