Devout Mormons truly believe they are followers of Jesus Christ. They usually defend their faith and voice their objections to the challenge of their Christianity by showing the connection of His name with their church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

The history of the Mormon Church, however, shows that this has not always been true. When the church was organized on April 6, 1830, it was given the official name of the "Church of Christ." (Doctrine and Covenants 20:1)

However, in Kirtland, Ohio, on May 3, 1834, (and by unanimous vote) the name of the church was changed to "The Church of the Latter Day Saints." (History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 63) The decision to remove the name of Christ from the Mormon Church was approved by none other than Joseph Smith himself! The Church of the Latter Day Saints existed under that name for nearly four years before Smith had a "revelation" to change the name again. On April 26, 1838, it became "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," which is how it is still officially known today. (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 115)

In spite of these historic facts, many Mormons will respond with the statement, "But we still believe in Jesus, therefore we are Christians!" But this issue of APOLOGETICS will show that the Mormons are placing their trust in "another Jesus." They cannot be considered Christians any more than those mentioned in James 2:19, "The devils also believe, and tremble."

The Mormon Jesus is in direct conflict with the Jesus of the Bible, and he has NO power to save even one single Mormon from his or her sins!

ANOTHER JESUS

Before we look at the life of the Mormon Jesus and the false teachers that have given him birth, we should look carefully at the writings of a truly inspired man of God. It seems that the Apostle Paul was faced with the same dilemma in the first century. He stated his case in 2 Corinthians, Chapter 11.

Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth was during his visit to Macedonia while on his third missionary journey. The danger signs within the Corinthian Church demanded a quick and very harsh response. Paul was aware of counterfeit prophets under the Old Testament who wore the clothing and spoke the same language as true prophets. He also knew about false apostles under the New Testament who posed as true Apostles of Christ.

Paul's words were stern and direct. He warned the church against the "deceitful workers" who were just as energetic at promoting error as the Apostles were at promoting truth and who would endeavor as much to undermine the kingdom of Christ as the Apostles did to establish it. Paul warned the church about a different gospel, a different spirit, and "another Jesus" than the ones he had preached. He was fearful that the Corinthian Church would be led astray, away from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, by the craftiness of the evil one and his counterfeit ministers. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The Apostle Paul's warnings to the Corinthian Church are just as applicable today! Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were documented false prophets, posing as ministers of righteousness to a very naïve and superstitious people. Consequently, because of their unbiblical foundation and doctrines, current Mormon Church leaders are false apostles and counterfeit ministers of righteousness leading their people astray. And the victims of this evil monstrosity are the innocent Mormon families who are sincerely seeking after a true relationship with God!

I urge all of those who have been seduced by Joseph Smith to return to the security and authority found in Scripture alone. For one to believe basic teachings about Christ that are not biblical and true, is to believe in "another Jesus" who, in fact, does not exist and has no power to save.

The following pages compare the major differences between the "Jesus of Mormonism" and the "Jesus of the Bible." Share this article with your Mormon friends and pray that the Holy Spirit will teach them about the REAL Jesus!

A HEAVENLY MOTHER?

There is no embarrassment in the Mormon Church when they declare that Jesus has a Heavenly Mother. Because of their belief that God is just an exalted man, such thinking is perfectly consistent with their theology.

According to Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, "Implicit in the Christian verity that all men are the spirit children of an Eternal Father is the usually unspoken truth that they are also the offspring of an Eternal Mother. An exalted and glorified Man of Holiness (Moses 6:57) could not be a Father unless a Woman of like glory, perfection, and holiness was associated with him as a Mother.

"This doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in plainness by the First Presidency of the Church they said that 'man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, '" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 516)

Milton R. Hunter, a member of the First Council of the Seventy, agrees: "The stupendous truth of the existence of a Heavenly Mother, as well as a Heavenly Father, became established facts in Mormon theology." (Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism, 1981, p. 178 [fromThe Gospel Through the Ages, 1958, p. 98 ]).

The concept of a "Heavenly Mother" is not found in the Scriptures. This doctrine is just one of many that separates Mormon theology from that of historic Christianity.

JESUS, THE SPIRIT-BROTHER OF LUCIFER?

Another basic teaching in Mormonism is that Jesus was born in a so-called pre-existence and is literally the brother of Lucifer. This doctrine is such a serious point of contention with Christians that few Mormon missionaries will freely admit to it.

The fear of blasphemy, however, did not seem to affect Brigham Young. In his discourse of October 30, 1870, Young says, "'Who will redeem the earth, who will go forth and make the sacrifice for the earth and all things it contains?' The eldest son said: 'Here am I;' but he did not say 'send me.' But the second one, which was 'Lucifer, son of the morning,' said, 'Lord, here am I, send me, I will redeem every son and daughter of Adam and Eve that lives on the earth, '" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 282)

Milton R. Hunter confirms this doctrine: "The appointment of Jesus to be Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer,...this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind." (The Gospel Through the Ages, 1945, p. 15)

According to the Bible, however, these heretical doctrines cannot be possible! How can Jesus be the brother of His own creation? "For by him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him." (Colossians 1:16)

NOT BEGOTTEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT...

One of the most perplexing problems facing Mormonism today is its doctrine concerning the birth of Christ. The problem stems from the Mormon insistence that God the Father is just an exalted man with a body of flesh and bones. In addition, Mormonism teaches that Jesus was born as a result of "natural action" between the Father and his spirit daughter Mary. Consequently, any belief in the orthodox Christian view that Jesus was begotten by the Holy Ghost becomes impossible!

Scripture tells us that "...the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost....for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:18,20) This doctrine is also found in the Book of Mormon: "And Behold, he shall be born of Mary,...she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God." (Alma 7:10)

Two more points must be mentioned here. First, to the Christian the term "Holy Ghost" means exactly the same thing as "Holy Spirit." And second, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

Since we know that God is a Spirit and that He is Holy, it is no contradiction for the Christian to believe that Jesus was begotten by the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and also be the Son of God.

It is ironic that Mormon authorities, through a misunderstanding of biblical terms, have been forced to deny not only the Bible, but their own Book of Mormon as well! Joseph Fielding Smith (10th Mormon President) boldly declared, "They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost. I challenge the statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible."

Smith then adds, "...if he (Jesus) is the Only Begotten of the Father in flesh, he must be the Son of the Father and not the Son of the Holy Ghost." (Doctrines of Salvation, 1954, Vol. 1, pp. 19-20)

Brigham Young made it very plain that the birth of Jesus was not by the Holy Ghost: "When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50)

NOT BORN OF A VIRGIN...

As you may have guessed by now, the Mormon Church has thrown the doctrine of the virgin birth out the window. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah declared, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) Even though this prophecy was fulfilled with the birth of Christ, this cardinal Christian doctrine can never be accepted in the maze of Mormonism!

In a sermon dated July 8, 1860, Brigham Young stated his position: "The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood – was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 115)

Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie described the act that took place between God the Father and Mary in similar terms: "Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers." (Mormon Doctrine, 1979 edition, p. 547)

Apostle Orson Pratt, one of the original Apostles of the LDS church, was even more specific and makes these unbelievable assertions: "Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father;...Inasmuch as God was the first husband to her, it may be that He only gave her to be the wife of Joseph while in this mortal state, and that He intended after the resurrection to again take her as one of his own wives to raise up immortal spirits in eternity." (The Seer, 1853, p. 158)

Christians believe that because the Holy Spirit is God, the conception of Jesus was a miraculous event. It did not require a sexual or physical act of any kind. This, however, is precisely what Mormonism would have us believe. Joseph Smith Jr. tells us, "The birth of the Savior was a natural occurrence unattended with any degree of mysticism, and the Father God was a literal parent of Jesus in the flesh as well as in the spirit." (Tanner/Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism, 1981, p. 180 [from Religious Truths Defined, p. 44 ])

Joseph Fielding Smith adds, "Christ was begotten of God, He was not born without the aid of man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 18)

Regardless of where you go within the Mormon hierarchy, the denial of the virgin birth is the same. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie claims, "These name-titles all signify that our Lord is the only Son of the Father in the flesh. Each of the words is to be understood literally. Only means only; Begotten means begotten; and Son means son. Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers." (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pp. 546-547)

McConkie then adds, "God the Father is a perfected, glorified, holy Man, an immortal Personage. And Christ was born into the world as the literal Son of this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father. There is nothing figurative about his paternity; he was begotten, conceived and born in the natural course of events, for he is the Son of God, and the designation means what it says." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 742)

It should be obvious to all our readers that the Christian concept of the virgin birth is not possible in Mormonism. The Mormon Jesus was a product of sexual relations between an exalted man and Mary. The Mormon view, however, forces some very grave conclusions:

1. Mary could not have been a virgin after the experience.

2. Mary was an adulteress because she was engaged to Joseph at the same time God the Father had relations with her.

3. God the Father was an adulterer (according to Mormon teaching he already had at least one wife and was unfaithful with Mary).

4. God the Father was guilty of incest (because Mormonism teaches that Mary is his own daughter from the so-called pre-existence).

JESUS, THE POLYGAMIST...

The doctrine of plural marriage in the Mormon Church has been a point of great consternation and criticism in recent years. The confusion and misunderstandings surrounding this subject are voiced by LDS members and non-members alike.

However, according to the official History of the Church and literally hundreds of other historical documents, polygamy was established and has been practiced since the early years of Joseph Smith. So essential was this doctrine to the attainment of godhood to the early church that Brigham Young professed, "The only men who become Gods, even the Son of God, are those who enter into polygamy." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, p. 269)

In 1855, Young declared, "Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned;...take this revelation,...and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned." (Deseret News, November 14, 1855)

The commandment by God for Mormons to engage in polygamy was supposedly revealed to Joseph Smith in 1843. It is still an integral part of LDS scripture and is included as Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants (one of the standard doctrinal works of the Mormon Church). In their effort to give credibility to such an ungodly doctrine, it was probably natural for Mormon leaders to use Jesus as an example and accuse Him of having many wives.

For example, Jedediah M. Grant, second counselor to Brigham Young, made these statements: "The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based on polygamy....A belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus and his followers. We might almost think they were 'Mormons.'" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 346)

Mormon Apostle Orson Hyde publicly stated that, "...Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 210)

The same Apostle taught that both Jesus and the Father were polygamists and will spend eternity with their wives: "...the great Messiah who was the founder of the Christian religion, was a polygamist,...the Messiah chose to take upon himself his seed; and by marrying many honorable wives himself, show to all future generations that he approbated the plurality of Wives....God the father had a plurality of wives,...the Son followed the example of his Father, and became the great Bridegroom to whom kings' daughters and many honorable Wives were to be married. We have also proved that both God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ inherit their wives in eternity as well as in time;..." (The Seer, p. 172)

When "Christendom" spoke out against polygamy and called it one of the "relics of barbarism," Brigham Young replied: "Yes, one of the relics of Adam, of Enoch, of Noah, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of Moses, David, Solomon, the Prophets, of Jesus, and his Apostles." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, p. 328)

Contrary to the teaching of the Mormon Church, nowhere in the Bible does God command or condone polygamy. Neither does the Bible indicate that the Father and Son are polygamists. Such ideas are absurd to anyone who has read the Bible and who has even an ounce of interpretive ability.

It is true that the practice of having several spouses, especially wives, was common throughout the ancient world. For example, according to the custom of the times, Abram took Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of his wife Sarai, to be his wife when Sarai was unable to bear a child (Genesis, Chapter 16). A careful reading of this passage, however, reveals that this decision did not come from God, but from Sarai.

Abram did not seek the counsel of the Lord, but rather followed the dictates of his own fleshly "wisdom." The act resulted in an unhappy marriage, complete with bitterness, hatred, and despite. Scripture shows that Sarai recognized that a sin had been committed, but she chose to blame her husband for it: "My wrong be upon thee." (Genesis 16:5)

The most famous polygamist in the Bible was King Solomon who, "...had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart." (1 Kings 11:3) Solomon was completely disobedient to the desires of the Lord and had been warned by Him that this very thing would happen: "...neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." (1 Kings 11:2)

It is not at all strange that Solomon did not find a good woman among the thousand, as no woman of virtue would become part of such an arrangement! Solomon had, as his father King David before him, violated God's strict criticism of polygamy expressed in Deuteronomy 17:17, "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away:..."

Apparently, polygamy (like divorce) was tolerated by Moses because of the hardness of the people's hearts. But divine wisdom has appointed one woman for one man, and such has been the case from the beginning. The standard has not changed: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife..." (Genesis 2:24).

With the coming of Christ, New Testament leaders were instructed to be the "husband of one wife": "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?" (Matthew 19:4-5)

"What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." (1 Corinthians 6:16)

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of ONE WIFE,...Let the deacons be the husbands of ONE WIFE,..." (1 Timothy 3:2,12)

Although Mormon leaders have consistently taught about the divine commandment and benefits of plural marriage, some Mormons claim that these teachings do not represent the "official doctrine" of the Church today.

Whether these teachings are accepted or not, the fact remains that the commandment is still included in standard Mormon scripture (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132) and has never been rescinded or removed. This has allowed for the existence of the many thousands of polygamous families within fundamental Mormon communities to this very day!

Regardless of what Mormon families accept in their personal lives, their allegations concerning Deity are far more serious matters. For the Mormon Church to insist that God the Father and Jesus Christ were both married to plural wives is nothing short of blasphemy!

JUST ANOTHER "PROGRESSIVE GOD"

From the days of Joseph Smith to the present, Mormonism has taught that God the Father was once a man and that men may become gods. This plurality of gods doctrine gave rise to the idea that advancement and progress within the god class must be necessary.

Mormon Apostle Orson Hyde commented, "Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point where He is now." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 123)

Likewise, Mormon leaders believe that Jesus Christ progressed to become "a God." Milton R. Hunter, one of the General Authorities of the Mormon Church, gives this information: "Jesus became a God and reached His great state of understanding through consistent effort and continuous obedience to all the Gospel truths and universal laws." (The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 51)

Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explains that Jesus is only one of three Gods that are to be worshipped: "–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost – comprise the Godhead....To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship." (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577)

To teach that Jesus is one of many gods who worked His way through the ranks and was finally promoted to godhood is to deny the most fundamental teachings in the Bible. Scripture emphatically declares there is only ONE true and living God, without advancement and without change!

"...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." (Isaiah 44:8)

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." (Isaiah 43:10)

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me ." (Isaiah 45:5)

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:22)

"...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)

The Mormon concept of three gods is opposed to Scripture. The One All-knowing God has always been God and will always be God. He also tells us emphatically that He does not know of any other God! Either God is wrong as He speaks through the Prophet Isaiah, or Mormon Apostle McConkie is wrong as he speaks through Mormon Doctrine!

The "One True God" of the Bible exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though we are not told exactly how that can be, we do know that it is taught in Scripture.

HIS BLOOD SHED FOR NOTHING

Atonement and salvation doctrines are the most effective ways to determine the power of one's "god." Mormons are quick to point out that they believe in the power of Jesus Christ to offer salvation and heavenly rewards and refer to their third article of faith to convince us: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."

However, a closer look at this article shows that something other than faith in Christ is necessary in order to be saved. What exactly do they believe and practice? Comments and teachings of Mormon authorities are very revealing, and they show us very clearly that the blood of the Mormon "Jesus" was insufficient to atone for the sins of mankind.

Mormons teach that the atonement of Christ was only the first step in a long list of requirements in order to be saved. Jesus only opened the door for a lifetime of necessary works and ordinances. In addition, there are many acts by man that cannot be forgiven by the Mormon Jesus and can be atoned for only through the shedding of the individual's blood. Brigham Young explains, "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 53-54)

On another occasion, Brigham Young claimed, "There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247)

Mormon leaders have always insisted that certain sins are beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. Joseph Fielding Smith informs us that, "Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore, their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf." (Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 135)

Apostle Bruce McConkie agrees: "...under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 92)

In the early Mormon Church, there were many crimes determined to be in the category that required a person's blood to be "spilt": murder, adultery and immorality, stealing, using the name of the Lord in vain, not receiving the gospel, marriage to an African, covenant breaking, and apostasy from the church. For each of these crimes, the blood of Jesus was determined to be inadequate for cleansing.

For those who have not committed these "unforgivable sins," the list of necessary works that lead to salvation is just as long: obedience to the church and its gospel, baptism for the dead, marriage, etc. The Mormon's part in earning his own salvation is spelled out in The Book of Mormon: "...for we know that is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (II Nephi 25:23)

President Joseph Fielding Smith explains "Individual Salvation" with this definition: "-- that which man merits through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 134)

Apostle Bruce McConkie claimed that one must be a member of the Mormon Church: "There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670)

Joseph Smith taught that a person's salvation depended on his obedience to be baptized on behalf of his dead ancestors. According to Smith, "Those Saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 193)

Smith added, "The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead." (Ibid., p. 356)

On the subject of the importance of temple marriage to salvation, Apostle Milton R. Hunter comments, "Marriage is not only a righteous institution, but obedience to this law is absolutely necessary in order to obtain the highest exaltation in the Kingdom of God." (Gospel Through the Ages, p. 119)

How very sad it is that the Mormon people cannot comprehend the power of the blood of Christ to wash away ALL sins! The Gospel (Good News) declares that salvation is available to all, without regard to laws and ordinances. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,...By which also ye are saved,...how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

"...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL SIN . If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7, 9)

According to Scripture, salvation is offered by grace and cannot be earned. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God; NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)

The Apostle Paul warned that works of the law performed by man in order to be saved brings a curse! "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God,...Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:..." (Galatians 3:10-13)

In an effort to support their works-oriented salvation, many Mormons will respond with James 2:26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." But James makes it clear that good works are a natural expression of true faith. The truly regenerate man will naturally display good works as a result of genuine faith and salvation, but his works were not required by God to get him saved! While Paul tells us that works are not justified in the sight of God, James tells us that works are only justifiable in the sight of men. Both teachings are in perfect harmony!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

That was the question asked by the prison guard at Philippi, the primary city of Macedonia, as he fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. With much time on their hands to explain the plan of salvation, Paul and Silas were certain to get every point across to this fearful man who had just witnessed a powerful act of God. (Acts 16)

As you read Chapter 16 in Acts, you will notice that Paul never mentioned to the guard that he must marry another wife or two. He never mentioned specific laws and ordinances and did not advise the man to perform temple baptisms in behalf of his dead relatives. The guard was never advised that he would have to become a member of the Mormon Church and believe in a special prophet. He was not questioned about his background to determine if his own blood would have to be spilled. And thank God he never heard the words of Brigham Young, "...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 289)

The answer given by Paul and Silas was absolute, complete, and final: "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)

CONCLUSION (sent to me by a good friend)
"The characteristics, the attributes, the history, and the redemptive work of the 'jesus' you choose must be in accord with the Jesus of the Bible or you have chosen the wrong 'jesus.' The true Jesus is the One whose physical death, alone, upon the cross, fully atoned for the sins of mankind. Choose this Jesus and you have chosen THE Saviour, you have chosen God. Choose any other, however much he might resemble the true Jesus, and you have chosen a satanic counterfeit who will lead you to an eternal hell." (Moreno Dal Bello, WHICH JESUS?, Global Good News, www.goodnews.org.au)