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Christianity and Mormonism Differences

Ever hear the claim that Mormons are Christians?  Every hear a Mormon claim they believer the Bible?

Well, here are 10 clear claims by the Book of Mormon and how they directly contradict the Bible's teachings on True Christianity.

1. The Book of Mormon - The Location of Jesus' Birth: Jerusalem
Alma 7:10 “he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem”

The Bible - The Location of Jesus' Birth: Bethlehem
Micah 5:2 “you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah...from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler...”
Matthew 2:1 “Jesus was born in Bethlehem”


2. The Book of Mormon - Timing of the Name of “Christians”: ~73 B.C.
Alma 46:15 “all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.” (from lds.org Introduction to the Book of Alma, “The original records used as sources for the book of Alma were likely written between 91 B.C. And 52 B.C.”)

The Bible - Timing of the Name of “Christians”:~44 A.D.
Acts 11:26 “in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” (from esvbible.org Major Events in the Life of the Apostle Paul, “44-47 A.D. Spends a year ministering with Barnabas in Antioch”)


3. The Book of Mormon - Timing of the Gift of the Holy Spirit: 545 B.C.
2 Nephi 3:12-13 “He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost…Wherefore my beloved brethren…ye that are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism…then ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.” (from lds.org 2 Nephi written “About 559-545 B.C.”)

The Bible - Timing of the Gift of the Holy Spirit: 30 A.D.
Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost arrived…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4)
(from esvbible.org Chart of New Testament Timeline, “33 (or 30) A.D. Jesus returns to Judea, is crucified, and resurrected.”)


4. The Book of Mormon - Time of Darkness at Christ's Death: 3 Days
3 Nephi 8:3 “the time that there should be darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land.” (similar in Helaman 14:27) Helaman 14:20 “there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead”

The Bible - Time of Darkness at Christ's Death: 3 Hours
Mark 15:33 “And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” (also Matthew 27:45 and Luke 23:44)


5. The Book of Mormon - Salvation is by Grace + Works
2 Nephi 25:23 “for we know it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

The Bible - Salvation is by Grace Alone
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

6. Doctrines and Covenants (a Mormon scripture) - Joseph Smith the Head of the Church
Doctrines and Covenants 28:2-8 “no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith… who is at thy head, and at the head of the church; 7 For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.”

The Bible - Jesus is the Head of the Church
Colossians 1:18-20 “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”


7. The Book of Mormon - The Fall of Man: Necessary Part of God's Plan
2 Nephi 2:26-25 “And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

The Bible -  The Fall of Man: Violation of God's Command
Romans 5:12-15 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.”


8. The Book of Mormon - Children Are Born without Sin
Moroni 8:8 “wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them”

The Bible - Children Are Born with Original Sin
Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”


9. The Book of Mormon - Truth Established By Prayer
Moroni 10:4-5 “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

The Bible - Truth Established in the Bible
2 Timothy 3:15-17 “you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Psalm 19:7-14 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…”


10. The Book of Mormon - Babel: Jaredites Language Not Confused
Ether 1:33-37 “Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people...37 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon their friends and their families also, that they were not confounded.”

The Bible -  Babel: All Languages Confused
Genesis 11:9 “Therefore its name was called Babel, because the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of the earth.  And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”


Helpful truths about the sufficiency of the Bible and the dangerous consequences of following teachings contrary to Scripture....
Jude 1:3 “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

1 John 4:6 “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

2 John 1:9 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

Mormonism is not Christianity.  The Book of Mormon contradicts the teachings of the Bible.  Mormons are not Christians, even if they say they are because their beliefs are contrary to God's truths about Himself, His Son Jesus, and His plan of salvation.

Are you a non-Christian?  Repent (turn away from) of your sins, confess Jesus as your Lord (put Him in charge), and believe that He died on the Cross and rose from the grave (Romans 10:9-10).  Salvation from God is a free gift (it can not be earned by being 'good enough') from God by His grace through faith!  

Check out www.gotquestions.org for more info and answers to tough questions about life!


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