All I Possess

I’ve previously written about the LDS mistrust of the Bible, and the “Plain and Precious” things purportedly removed.

But today I want to assert a new claim:

Which one is the church that “removed” the plain and precious doctrine of salvation by grace? It’s technically in there, but they skip right over it.

Which one is the church that “removed” the fact that baptism is the only ordinance?

Which one is the church that “removed” the idea that the veil is torn and we need no more human authority between us and God?

Which one is the church that “removed” the idea that God doesn’t dwell in temples made by human hands?

Which one is the church that “removed” the truth that the law is fulfilled, and we need no more works, no more food laws, no more compulsion, no more shame, no more elitism?

All of these doctrines are clearly taught all throughout the New Testament, for anyone who is reading with unbiased eyes, with a heart of surrender.

But they’ve been “removed” when the culture and the doctrines and the conference talks and the handbook teach a false gospel that puts lenses on the members of the church, and then these plain and precious truths can no longer be seen!

The biblical truth of Grace is very simple indeed.

What could be more plain?

What could be more precious?

But the Church of “Jesus Christ” of Latter Day Saints removed these plain and precious truths!!

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6:3)

Wow! If that’s isn’t the LDS church!!

Does not agree to sound instruction – ✅

Conceited – ✅

Unhealthy interest in controversies – ✅

Robbed of truth – ✅

Financial gain – ✅

“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be … having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

I’ve heard this one in the LDS church, but I didn’t realize how perfectly it fits them!

Denying the power of Godliness — like denying grace?

Worming their way into homes? 😂 Wow. Mission prep 101.

Sins and evil desires? You mean like calling a harlem the “new and everlasting covenant?” 😳

Always learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth? Can you have a more complicated doctrine without actually understanding anything the Bible teaches? 🤦‍♀️

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Col 2:8)

That last part really strikes me here. “Elemental spiritual forces” sounds exactly like how I hear Christians evaluating LDS testimony experiences based on feelings rather than Bible study.

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Cor 11:3-4)

I wish I could send this verse to everybody investigating the LDS church right now. The LDS church teaches a different Jesus! If you know your Bible, you would realize this! And the Bible is filled with these warnings to watch out for anyone preaching a different gospel!

“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” (2 Cor 11:12-15)

Yep, feelings can be deceiving. Satan masquerades as an angel of light! He will lead you to false apostles — and a church who wants to be considered equal (calling themselves Christians) when they have distorted the plain and precious truths of the Bible!

(Also, this verse shows me precisely why Evangelicals get a bad rap for “cutting the ground” under the Mormons in such an unyielding way. It’s perfectly Biblical! Who knew?!)

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Gal 1:6-9)

And finally,

“Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2 Peter 2:2-3)

Phew!

That’s a lot of scriptures!

I think these apostles wanted us to be warned against false prophets and false churches who would pervert the Biblical gospel, wouldn’t ya say??

So, in short: The LDS church is bad news. It is false! The end.