This past Friday I read the "My Turn" article submitted by Gary Ormesher. In the article he claimed that, "Jesus Christ did authorize, approve and personally name his Restored Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (Doctrine and Covenants 115:4-5)" He also claimed this was done through Joseph Smith and testified that it was, "by the power of the Holy Ghost," he knows, "beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the word did restore His church to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith." He also claims that, "the Lord did restore Aaronic Priesthood, the Melchisedek Priesthood, His saving ordinances, His temples, and meeting houses and much more for our benefit; so that we may return to our Heavenly Father, in a forgiven state."

What Gary put in print may be what he sincerely believes, but is simply untrue. I asked to comment on this because I am concerned about the blurry lines being created by Latter-Day Saint (LDS) members, political candidates, and changing methodologies used by many to suggest that LDS members are adherents to the Gospel presented in the Bible. They are not!

Space will limit an exhaustive examination, but I will show that LDS doctrine is not the doctrine of the Bible, and by doing so, show that Jesus Christ did not, "authorize, approve and personally name his Restored Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

Secondly, I am writing this piece because I genuinely care about the LDS people and want to see them (and anyone else who will read this) that, "a forgiven state" i.e. forgiveness of sins, is not through the LDS Church, or for that matter, any other church. Forgiveness of sin is by faith alone, in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is clear that teachings in contradiction to the Bible cannot be considered equal to or additions to what the Bible clearly communicates. Here is an example.

Joseph Smith declared; "God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret." "...I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil..." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.345-346). Another one of their leaders coined the phrase, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." (The Gospel Through the Ages, Hunter, p.105-106). Brigham Young, another so-called prophet of the LDS church, said, "It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God has once been a finite being." (Deseret News, Nov. 16, 1859, p. 290)

LDS members are taught, "It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, ...and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did..." "...you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another..." "...from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power." (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol.6, Ch.14, p.305-6). Brigham Young taught that faithful Mormons can achieve godhood. He said, "Intelligent beings are organized to become Gods, even the Sons of God, to dwell in the presence of the Gods." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.245)

However, the Bible says, "Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." (Isaiah 43:10) In the book of Psalms we read, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." (Psalm 90:2) In the Book of Isaiah we read, "'You are My witnesses,' says the LORD, 'And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no Savior.'" (Isaiah 43:10-11)

The LDS church teaches that Jesus was the "spirit brother of Lucifer." (Journal of Discourses 13:282) They believe that Jesus Christ, Lucifer, and all of us were spirit children of God in the pre-mortal world. (Mormon Doctrine pg. 278) (Man: His Origin And Destiny pp. 351,355). Jesus is called "the First Spirit Child born to God the Father in Pre-existence" (Doctrine and Covenants 93:21-23 ). In the Pearl of Great Price, Satan declares, "I am also a son of God." (Moses 5:13)

However, the Bible teaches that Jesus is God: the Creator. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-5 & 14)

There are clear contradictions between LDS teaching and the teachings of the Bible. One would do well to take note. Being convinced of something doesn't make it true. I pray Gary and his friends would reconsider.

Forgiveness of sin is granted by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. It is my earnest desire to share the love of God, found in Jesus Christ, with all my Mormon friends, my community and people all over the world. It is my joy to say, our faith is not in a church, but in the one who is building His Church. "...I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." - Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18)

Paul D. Van Noy is Pastor of Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur d'Alene.