LDS Mormons Say "There are many cults and many false faiths..."

Phoebe Ann said:

On another occasion President [Joseph Fielding ]Smith made this promise to those who study the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants: “If we will put them into practice, if we will keep the commandments of the Lord, we will know the truth and there shall be no weapon formed against us that shall prosper [see D&C 71:9–11]. There shall be no false doctrines, no teaching of men that will deceive us. There are many cults and many false faiths, there are many strange ideas in the world, but if we will search these revelations then we will be fortified against errors and we will be made strong.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1931, p. 17.)
“Introduction,” Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual (2002), 1–2

Speaking of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “If we will put them into practice, if we will keep the commandments of the Lord, we will know the truth and there shall be no weapon formed against us that shall prosper. There shall be no false doctrines, no teaching of men that will deceive us. … If we will search these revelations then we will be fortified against errors and we will be made strong” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1931, p. 17).
The Gift of Modern Revelation


But the missionaries who knock on our doors would rather have us read the Book of Mormon. Why?

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Because the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion and keeping the commandments is the key to knowing God and the therefore truth.

(New Testament | John 14:15 - 17)

15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(New Testament | John 16:13)

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

That is why: “If we will put them into practice, if we will keep the commandments of the Lord, we will know the truth and there shall be no weapon formed against us that shall prosper [see D&C 71:9–11].

Phoebe Ann said:

That keystone claim is only a word. The Book of Mormon doesn't tell Mormons what is required to have eternal life.

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Secular analogy: CrossGen Comics -

CrossGen - Wikipedia

Everything CrossGen produced under its main brand was canonically a part of the same effective universe.

As such, "CrossGen Chronicles" #1 was the keystone to literally everything in the story universe. Not only did people need it to understand what was going on, CrossGen itself pushed this fact by challenging people to purchase this book and the first four issues of any of the other launch titles; anyone who wasn't hooked after these four could mail them back to the company for a full refund.

Was the book an absolute info dump spelling out anything and everything about the shared universe at length? Nope. The full details were slowly spelled out as each title went along.

By way of comparison, the Book of Mormon serves as a second witness to what is testified in the Bible, helps to clarify various teachings, establishes that God spoke to more than just the people in the Middle East, and set the stage for everything that came afterwords.




(If anyone here hasn't heard of CrossGen, don't feel bad. While their books were solid, their financial plan wasn't. They deliberately allowed themselves to run razor-thin margins in the belief that they'd strike it big once their properties were established enough to be licensed, but no one ever sought licenses and so they didn't have enough money to cover a major upheaval in the industry. They went bust in pretty short order, leaving a veritable flood of unsold product for bulk vendors like CardsOne to buy and sell cheaply later on. There was a period of time where it seemed like every other vintage comics grab bag they sold via Dollar Tree had either CrossGen's "Meridian" #3 or a hideously terrible Batman / Spawn cross-over book, this on top of the dozens of other CG single issues to be had.)

Phoebe Ann said:

That keystone claim is only a word. The Book of Mormon doesn't tell Mormons what is required to have eternal life.

The Book of Mormon is the “keystone” of our religion, and the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter-day revelation. The Lord has placed His stamp of approval on both the keystone and the capstone.
President Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1987, 105; or “The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants,” Ensign, May 1987, 83


"First, it contains revelations provided for us in our day. The other scriptures are also of great value to us, but they spoke to people of other generations in other days. The Doctrine and Covenants is our scripture, directed specifically to our generation.

"Second, it is the only volume of scripture that includes as its introduction a revelation given by the Lord for that purpose. The preface, or first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, is a revelation from the Lord introducing the Doctrine and Covenants."
The Doctrine and Covenants—A Scripture for All Seasons - BYU Speeches


In the revelations the doctrines of the gospel are set forth with explanations about such fundamental matters as the nature of the Godhead, the origin of man, the reality of Satan, the purpose of mortality, the necessity for obedience, the need for repentance, the workings of the Holy Spirit, the ordinances and performances that pertain to salvation, the destiny of the earth, the future conditions of man after the resurrection and the judgment, the eternity of the marriage relationship, and the eternal nature of the family. Likewise the gradual unfolding of the administrative structure of the Church is shown with the calling of bishops, the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and the Seventy, and the establishment of other presiding offices and quorums. Finally, the testimony that is given of Jesus Christ—his divinity, his majesty, his perfection, his love, and his redeeming power—makes this book of great value to the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth.

My encouragement to you tonight is to study the doctrines of the Lord’s Church. With all the mountains of information being fed to the world today, how comforting it is to know that the Lord has preserved His dealings with His children as contained in His holy scriptures. Here is our foundation of truth. It will stand the test of time. It is the doctrine and His revealed covenants we must take upon ourselves that will lead us back to His presence. It is the only course that will lead to life eternal, which is surely the objective of each of us.
L. Tom Perry, The Doctrine and Covenants—The Capstone of Our Religion
The Doctrine and Covenants—The Capstone of Our Religion - BYU Speeches

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Like I said, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.

Phoebe Ann said:

I don't see any Book of Mormon quotes in your answer.

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There are a lot of people who are offended by the Book of Mormon:

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:23)

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

Some people don't like the The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints because it is too hard for them. They don't realize that the Bible is just as hard if they live it correctly:

(New Testament | John 14:12)

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Phoebe Ann said:

My mother left Mormonism a week after baptism. She didn't leave because it was too hard. She never liked attending any church. I didn't leave because it's too hard. You are apparently biased against the Bible. For Christians it isn't hard.

Why would a Christian need a Mormon to copy and paste Bible verses to them? Many have been taught the Bible since they were children. Others started reading the Bible later in life. In our churches, we hear the Bible every week. At home we read it because we want to be close to the Lord.

His word is a lamp to our feet!

Ephesians 4
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Now tell me why you don't quote the BoM. Your church tells the missionaries to hand out copies of it.

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I have quoted the Book of Mormon many times, but when I do people will not take it seriously. Many even argue about the Bible verses I quote. Recently someone said Jesus didn't need to work to become God. People tell me that they were saved the the moment they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Another said why do Mormons think they need to work so hard. I was not referring to you personally when I said "Some people don't like the The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints because it is too hard for them." I like the scripture you quoted.

He is the way said:

Recently someone said Jesus didn't need to work to become God.

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Jesus didn't need to work to 'become' God, because Jesus has always been God, and will always be God. He didn't 'become' God by work or by any other thing. Jesus is God by nature.

This isn't something that Christians reject because Mormonism is "too hard" for them. They/we reject it because it is deeply heretical and wrong.

dzheremi said:

Jesus didn't need to work to 'become' God, because Jesus has always been God, and will always be God. He didn't 'become' God by work or by any other thing. Jesus is God by nature.

This isn't something that Christians reject because Mormonism is "too hard" for them. They/we reject it because it is deeply heretical and wrong.

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Yes Jesus did need to do the works the Father gave Him to do:

(New Testament | John 5:36)

36 ¶ But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

(New Testament | John 10:37 - 38)

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

(New Testament | John 14:12)

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

(New Testament | Luke 13:31 - 32)

31 ¶ The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Not found in any of the above (or anywhere): "I need to do to these works in order to become God"

dzheremi said:

Not found in any of the above (or anywhere): "I need to do to these works in order to become God"

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(New Testament | Matthew 7:21)

21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What does this have to do with my post? "I need to do these works to become God" isn't found in your latest citation either.

dzheremi said:

What does this have to do with my post? "I need to do these works to become God" isn't found in your latest citation either.

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Don't you believe that doing the will of God the Father is works?

(New Testament | John 5:30 - 36)

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 ¶ There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 ¶ But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

(New Testament | Hebrews 12:10)

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

(New Testament | 2 Peter 1:4)

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

He is the way said:

Don't you believe that doing the will of God the Father is works?

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Whether anyone believes it is or isn't has nothing to do with anything. Jesus doesn't need to do anything in order to 'become' God, because He is already -- and always has been and always will be -- God. He is God by nature, not according to what He does.

Phoebe Ann said:

That has nothing to do with anything. Millions of people wan't read the Bible.

I never heard any person, Mormon or non-Mormon say that.

John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

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You quoted:
ohn 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

I agree, we need Jesus Christ.