1/17/12 Mormon Belief: The Doctrine of the LDS Church

What do Mormons believe? How different are their beliefs from those of the mainstream of Christianity? Although the beliefs of individual Mormons vary (just as they do in any other religion), we can say something about what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a whole teaches.

 

12/23/11 Gospel Principles Chapter 46:
On Judgments, Kingdoms, and the Gospel

In this study, we will examine what chapter 46 of the LDS manual Gospel Principles teaches about the important subject of judgment, including the LDS doctrines concerning the various possible eternal destinations of human beings and how those relate to the gospel of salvation.

 

12/17/11 Gospel Principles Chapter 43:
Signs of the Restoration and Christ’s Return

In this study, we will examine two crucial claims that the LDS Church makes about this Restoration. The first is its claim that Joseph Smith’s ministry was that of a prophet of God who prophesied about events preceding the Second Coming of Christ. The second is its claim that the Bible actually prophesied the LDS Restoration.

 

10/17/11 Gospel Principles Chapter 41:
Spirits, Spirit Bodies, and Salvation after Death

Aspects of LDS doctrine about the spirit world do not fit with the teachings of the Bible. Some of the issues here may seem of interest only to professional theologians, such as whether spirit is a form of matter. However, when these seemingly academic issues are put into the larger perspective of the whole belief system of the LDS religion, they turn out to be of extreme importance.

8/18/11 Gospel Principles Chapter 40: Temples and Ordinances for the Dead

In this study, we will examine what the Bible teaches about temples and compare that teaching with the LDS view of temples and of the ordinances it performs in them. We will then take a close look specifically at the practice of baptisms for the dead and consider the claim that this practice is endorsed in 1 Corinthians 15:29.

7/13/2011 Gospel Principles Chapter 38:
A Closer Look at Eternal Marriage

Turning to chapter 38, which focuses specifically on eternal marriage, we will address two questions. (A) Is there any biblical basis or support for the doctrine of eternal marriage? (B) What is the real origin of the Mormon doctrine and practice of eternal marriage?

6/10/2011 Gospel Principles Chapters 34-35:
Obedience and Eternal Life

Evangelical Christians have some fundamental disagreements with the LDS view of salvation and works. Unfortunately, there is widespread misunderstanding (and not just among Mormons) as to what the evangelical view of works really is. The two chapters of Gospel Principles under discussion here provide an excellent opportunity to clarify this issue.

 

6/2/2011 Mitt Romney’s Mormonism

Mitt Romney announced today (June 2, 2011) the official beginning of his run for the Republican nomination for U.S. President in 2012. The announcement will undoubtedly also kick off a fresh round of debates about the relevance of his Mormon faith to his viability as a presidential candidate. However, the mere label Mormon does not really tell us very much about Romney as an individual.

 

5/6/2011 Gospel Principles Chapter 32:
Is Tithing Fire Insurance?

The teaching of the LDS Church that tithing is an obligation or “law” is not particularly unusual. What is unusual and worth careful evaluation is the teaching of the LDS Church that those who tithe are promised to be spared from the fiery judgment at Christ’s second coming.

 

5/6/2011 Biblical Teaching of Salvation by Grace Alone through Faith in Jesus Christ

This article begins with a brief summary that explains the dynamics and the “why” of God’s plan for saving mankind from his fallen state. Following this summary are quotations from relevant Bible passages along with limited comments to help the reader put the verses into a meaningful context.