World Religions
The Gospel and Friendship in a Pluralistic Suburb
What Do You Know?
What
Do you have any personal experience with Mormonism?
What do you know about Mormons?
What questions do you have about Mormonism?
1.2.
3.4.
Our “Mars Hill” Methodology
1.
• A basic introduction to the faith’s worldview
2.
• Areas of agreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice
3.
• Areas of disagreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice
GOAL: To equip you to build a truth-seeking relationship with someone of another faith.
Mormonism
Saints Living in the Latter Days
What’s in a Name?Nazarenes
Evangelicals
Nicene Christianit
y
Mormonism
The Birth of Mormonism: America
19th Century America:
Frontier Faiths
Choice Paralysis
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Receives a revelation from
God
The Birth of Mormonism: Revelations
Canon
Closed
Canon
Open
The Book of Mormon
The Birth of Mormonism: Westward
Pennsylvania
Revelations
Ohio1831-38
Missouri1838-39
Illinois1839-44
UtahBrigham Young
Branches of Mormonism Today
Latter Day
Saints
• Largest denomination
• Followed Brigham Young
• Based in Utah
Community of
Christ
• Formerly RLDS• Followed Joseph
Smith, III• Trinitarian• Based in
Missouri
Funda-mentalis
m
• Polygamist groups
• Scattered across US
• About 20,000
Mormon Scriptures: The Standard Works
Bible Book of Mormon
Doctrines &
Covenants
Pearl of Great Price
Mormonism: The Church with Authority?
Jesu
s fo
unds
Chu
rch
12 A
post
les
•Pe
ter,
Jam
es
and
John
•Rep
laci
ng
Juda
s Gre
at
Apo
stas
y
Keys
are
lost
Bis
hops
tak
e ov
erD
enom
inat
ions
for
m
God
ord
ains
Jose
ph
Smith
Jr
Res
tore
s or
igin
al
Chu
rch
Adm
inis
ters
G
od’s
au
thor
ity
Mormonism: The Church with Authority?
Aaronic(Levitical)
All men 12-18
Melchizedek
Elder
High Priest
Bishop
70
Mormonism: The Church with Authority?
Prophet
Councilors
Council of 12
Apostles7
Quorums of 70
Stakes
Bishops
Mormonism: All in the Family
God in Mormonism
God the Heavenly Father
Created Our Univer
se
Physical
Body
Divine Spouse
Birthed Spiritu
al Childre
n
Humans in Mormonism
We pre-exist as Intelligences
Exact nature and origin are unknown
Birthed as Spiritual Children
Lesser than GodWe desire the ability to become like God
Encased in Bodies
Souls given the chance to growLearning Good/EvilNeed a way to get back to God
Jesus in Mormonism
Heavenly Mother
Heavenly Father
Lucifer You Me Holy Ghost
Jesus
Mormonism: Together Forever
Telestial
Terrestrial
Celestial
Other Mormon Practices
Dietary Restrictions
Mission
Baptism for the Dead
Marriage
Temple Garments
Building Bridges to Mormonism
We both value a relationship with God
We both love Jesus!
We have a common sacred history
We both value Family and Tradition
Is God Trinity?
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Polytheism
Ghost
Father
Son
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Making vs. Begetting
God
Father
SonSpirit
God/Father
Son
Ghost
Mormonism Christianity
Christianity: God became Human
Mormonism: Humans become God
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Is God Trinity?
Is Jesus God?
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
God
Father
SonSpirit
Incarnation
• Jesus is Godin flesh.
Is God Trinity?
Is Jesus God?
The Gender of God
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Male
Female
Is God Trinity?
Is Jesus God?
The Gender of God
New Testament
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
The King James Version
* Based on recent manuscripts.* Lots of translation errors.* New translations are very accurate.
A Closed Canon
The New Testament was closed in the 400s by consensus of the Churches under authority of the Holy Spirit.
Church Tradition
We have full confidence that the Holy Spirit has preserved the True Church.
Is God Trinity?
Is Jesus God?
The Gender of God
New Testament
Church Authority
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Authority
mediated only by God
Authori
ty mediated by Keys given
to human
ity
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
Is God Trinity?
Is Jesus God?
The Gender of God
New Testament
Church Authority
Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree
How Not to Build a Friendship
Don’t argue over who’s really Christian
Don’t call Latter Day Saints a cult
Avoid the stereotypes
Polygamy
How to Be a Perfect Stranger
Worship is on Sundays
Similar to Protestant worship
Open Table Sacrament
Singing and Preaching
Different from Temples
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