Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Mormonism
From: <HISWJH@BYUVM.BITNET>
Date: Wednesday, 16 Dec 1992 15:41:22 MST
 t.com><20L002.N2fQt01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com><1992Dec16.123148.19506@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: Brigham Young University

   Some anti-Mormons are claiming that the LDS Church teachings that
traditional Christianity is in "total apostasy."  This is utter nonsense.
By apostasy we mean that traditional Christians have lost the "fullness
of the Gospel" (i.e. correct doctrines) and priesthood authority.  Since
we agree with many Christian denominations on many more doctrines
then we disagree, why would we claim that everything other
denominations believe is "total apostasy."  In fact, this is an invention
of the anti-Mormons.
    The basis of their charge stems from a misunderstanding of a passage
in LDS scripture.  Joseph Smith prayed to God asking which of the
denominations of his day he should join.  The Father and Jesus
appeared to Joseph, and <I [Joseph Smith] was answered that I must
join none of them [Christian denominations], for they were all wrong;
and the Personage who addressed me [Jesus] said that all their creeds
were an abomination in his sight; and that those professors were all
corrupt; that : <they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts
are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men,
having a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.>> (Pearl of
Great Price, Joseph Smith History, 2:19)
    Let's examine the meaning of this passage in detail.  Joseph was told
that <they  [Christian denominations] were all wrong.>  Mormons
certainly believe this.  Indeed, it is logically difficult to believe in any
given religious denomination without believing that all others are
wrong.  Does this imply that everything about all other denominations
is completely wrong?  Not at all.  Only that no other denomination is
completely correct.  Mormons certainly believe this, but it can hardly be
seen as offensive.  It simply means we disagree about doctrine.  That's
rather obvious.
    The next passage reads, <the Personage who addressed me [Jesus] said
that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight...>  This is
essentially a rephrasing of the idea in the first passage.  The creeds [i.e.
doctrines] are an abomination.  Why?  Because they are false.  In other
words, Mormons disagree with the doctrines of other denominations.
The term <abomination> might be a bit strong here and could cause
offense, but it need not necessarily be taken as offensive.  An
abomination is something you abhor.  Because the creeds are false, God
abhors them.  This seems perfectly reasonable.  Notice here the
distortion of the anti-Mormons.  They claim that Mormons say that
non-Mormon Christians are an abomination to God.  Some anti-
Mormons have gone so far as to say that because Mormons believe that
the creeds of other Christian denominations are false, that we therefore
are anti-Christian and even non-Christian.  What nonsense!  The
passage says nothing of the kind.  The DOCTRINES are false, and God
abhors them because, as a God of truth, he abhors falseness.  This is
simply good Biblical doctrine.  Prov. 6:16-19 tells us <Theses six things
doth the Lord hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ... a lying
tongue ... a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.>  (cf. Prov. 12:22).
    The next phrase is certainly the most problematic.  It states, <those
professors [of the false creeds] were all corrupt>.  Now, if the most
negative possible interpretation of this passage is taken, it could be read
to mean that the priests and ministers were corrupt in the sense they
they were dishonest, stole money from their flocks, took bribes, etc.  In
fact, this passage is rendered in Jacobean English (i.e. the English of the
King James Bible, which Joseph Smith frequently used in his sermons
and writings), and <corrupt> should certainly be interpreted according
to the usage of the KJ Bible.  Here corrupt means to change, be impure,
or inaccurate -- not to engage in shady financial dealings.  Let me give
some examples:  <treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt (destroy, change)> Mt. 6:20;  phtheirousin ... 1 Tim 6:5, 2
Tim. 3:8. The word corrupt is never used in the KJ Bible to refer to
financial dishonesty.  The proper interpretation the phrase <those
professors [of the false creeds] were all corrupt> is, that those who teach
the false creeds are causing corruption -- impurity, change, or
inaccuracy -- in doctrine.  Again, they are corrupt in the sense that they
are wrong -- not financially corrupt or immoral, but doctrinally
corrupt.
    The final phrase confirms this interpretation.  The corruption of the
professors of the creeds is that <they draw near to me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the
commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but deny the
power thereof.>  The first phrase echoes Is. 29:13-14, <Wherefore the
Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth,
and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far
from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.>  If
God said it in the past about his chosen people the Israelites, can he not
say it now about his people the Christians?  The second phrase echoes
Col 2:22 discussing the false "commandments and doctrines of men"
and 2 Tim 3:1,5, <This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come.  ... [when men shall have] a form of godliness; but denying
the power thereof."
    Thus, despite the potential for misreading the passage as an
indictment of the moral behavior and sincerity of Christian priests and
ministers, the correct reading, and the one which the overwhelming
majority of LDS would accept, is simply that non-Mormon
denominations are incorrect in some of their teachings, and that taken
as a whole, their creeds are false.
    As proof that my interpretation of this passage is not sheer sophistry
to hide the <true> LDS doctrine, let me quote from the following
statement by the First Presidency of the Church (i.e. Prophet and two
councilors):
<Statement of the First Presidency [of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints] Regarding God's Love for all Mankind (Feb. 15, 1978)
    Based upon ancient and modern revelation, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints gladly teaches and declares the Christian
doctrine that all men and women are brothers and sisters, not only by
blood relationship from common mortal progenitors but as literal
spirit children of an Eternal Father.
    The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammad,
Confucius, and the [Protestant] Reformers, as well as philosophers
including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light.
Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations
and bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. ...
    Consistent with these truths, we believe that God has given and will
give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to
eternal salvation, either in this life or in the life to come. ...
    Our message therefore one of special love and concern for the eternal
welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or
nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we
are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.>
    It seems clear to me that the official LDS position is one of respect for
the leaders and teachings not only of non-LDS Christian
denominations, but of non-Christian religions as well.  We respectfully
disagree with them, but respect them nonetheless, and believe that
there are many true, beautiful, and good ideas in all of the world's
religions.

Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc