I am a student of history, philosophy and theology. I want this to stay on a non-personal basis as it is not my intent to disrespect you but rather to challenge you to consider the info I am putting forth. So, I will primarily use examples from your churches own writings. As in many cases, people fail to conduct an in depth study of what they believe in including not only "all" the theological data but also any supporting historical data.
Also, if you place all your faith in a religion that you believe in, you should really learn how to spell "mormon". And yes, I have purposely chosen not to capitilize the name of the church.
Your church may not overtly say it is waiting for the second coming of Joseph Smith but the mormon writings support that they are. I have even quoted this from one of your "many" mormon books.
It is the position of the LDS Church that the book of mormon is another testament of Christ. It is not the position of Christians.
When God spoke through men to put the Bible to writing it was there to be read for all to see.
The LDS church projects the book of mormon as the primary theological book they believe in. But they say little about the various other books that the LDS church follows that conflict with both the book of mormon and the Bible. One must keep everything in context and read all the books together that forms everything a religion professes and its people believes in. For instance Islam primarily uses the Quoran but also uses the Bible and other books to a lessor degree and many conflict with each other.
John Smith allegedly found some gold tablets and was given some rose colored glasses in order to read the tablets. No one could translate the tablets except Smith which were the basis for the book of mormon and the mormon church. So if we are to believe in mormonism we must trust the translation of some tablets by an faliable man. Sorry, I do not put my trust in any man, just in God and Christ. Smith was known to perform ritualistic magic amd was involved in using peep stones to receive psychic information.
Good works don't cancel the penalty of sin, repentance does.
My point exactly. This is the position of the mormon church, however, Christians believe that the Grace of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can forgive your sins not any works. Christ shed His blood so that we might have eternal life. But we must also accept Christ as our personal saviour. Mormonism believes that "repentance" incorporates "works"
Smith was a known diviner and the Bible preaches against those engaged in divination.
Many prophecies announced by Smith never came true including those that he said would come true in his own lifetime.
Other LDS prophecies did not come true such as the prophecy that Brigham Young would become President of the United States
In studing the teachings of the various books of the mormon church they are really polytheistic and not monotheistic. Anotherwords they believe and are open to many gods. There are men who are accepted to have evolved into godhood. This is where mormon followers become really uncomfortable with that challenge.
But lets look at Joseph Smith's own words: "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods;and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and the people in it." (Doctrines of the Gospel; page 16).
Or, the creation account found in mormon scripture in the Pearl of Great Price: At the beginning....the Gods (plural) organized and formed the heavens and the earth....
Joseph Smith said this about Christian pastors: "they are of their father the devil....."
In 1 Nephi, chapters 13, 14 and elsewhere the book of mormon calls the Christian Church "a church which is most abominable above all other churches"..."it is founded by the devil" and etc.
I could go on if you would like....
