THE WORD OF FAITH
and the Mormon Connection
by Larry Hall

The connection between the theology of the Mormon Church and the Word of Faith Movement is obvious to anyone who has studied them both. This short article will show just a few similarities between the two.

THE WORD OF FAITH...and the Planet of God:

Kenneth Copeland tells us, "You don't think God created man in His image and created the earth in some other image, huh? There's nothing under the whole sun that's new-This is a copy of home-a copy of the mother planet. Where God lives, He made a little one just like it and put us on it." ¹

"Heaven has a north and a south and an east and a west. Consequently, it must be a planet." ²

THE MORMON CHURCH...and the Planet of God:

God is supposed to have lived on a planet near a mysterious star called Kolob. According to Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, "Kolob means 'the first creation.' It is the name of the planet 'nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God.' ...One day in Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth." ³

THE WORD OF FAITH...and the Adam-God Doctrine:

Gloria Copeland, Kenneth Copeland's wife, stated, "When God breathed the breath of life into Adam, He transmitted His very self into him. God imparted the same spiritual substance of which He is made into Adam's being." ⁴

Kenneth Copeland gives his opinion, "...Adam is as much like God as you can get, just the same as Jesus, when He came into the earth. And I want you to know something; Adam in the garden of Eden was God manifested in the flesh." ⁵

THE MORMON CHURCH...and the Adam-God Doctrine:

Brigham Young, 2nd President of the Mormon Church tells us, "When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! About whom holy men have written and spoken--He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." ⁶

THE WORD OF FAITH...and the Deity of Man:

Kenneth Copeland states, "You don't have a god in you, you are one." ⁷

According to Kenneth Hagin, "You are as much the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ was. Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth." ⁸

Earl Paulk in his book Satan Unmasked explains, "Adam and Eve were placed in the world as the seed and expression of God. Just as dogs have puppies and cats have kittens, so God has little gods; we have trouble comprehending this truth. Until we comprehend that we are little gods, we cannot manifest the kingdom of God." ⁹

According to Benny Hinn, "When I stand in Christ--I am one with Him; united to Him; one in spirit with Him. I am not part of Him, I am Him! The Word has become flesh in me!...When my hand touches someone, it's the hand of Jesus touching somebody." ¹⁰

THE MORMON CHURCH...and the Deity of Man:

Apostle Bruce McConkie states, "That exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is godhood itself." ¹¹

While the Mormons actively strive for godhood, it appears that the Word of Faith Movement leaders think they have already arrived! It is ironic that the same Christians who consider Mormonism as a blasphemous cult will drive 2,000 miles in a hot bus and fall all over themselves to get close to the likes of Benny Hinn! Both cults should be treated like horseshoes straight from the blacksmith's fire. They should be examined closely and compared to Scripture, but they should be considered too hot to touch!

REFERENCES:
(1) Watchman Expositor (www.watchman.org), Word Faith Theology and Mormonism (from Kenneth Copeland video, Following the Faith of Abraham)
(2) Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis, 1997, p. 379
(3) Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 428
(4) Watchman Expositor (www.watchman.org), Word Faith Theology and Mormonism (from Gloria Copeland, Believer's Voice of Victory, June 1986, p. 10)
(5) Watchman Expositor (www.watchman.org), Word Faith Theology and Mormonism (from Kenneth Copeland video, Following the Faith of Abraham)
(6) Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50
(7) Watchman Expositor, (www.watchman.org), Word Faith Theology and Mormonism (from Kenneth Copeland video, The Force of Love)
(8) Watchman Expositor (www.watchman.org), Word Faith Theology and Mormonism (from Kenneth Hagin, Word of Faith, December 1980, p. 14)
(9) Watchman Expositor (www.watchman.org), Word Faith Theology and Mormonism (from Earl Paulk, Satan Unmasked, p. 97)
(10) G. Richard Fisher/M. Kurt Goedelman, The Confusing World of Benny Hinn, 1997, p. 13 (from Benny Hinn, Our Position in Christ, six-tape audiocassette series, part 1, tape #A031190-1)
(11) Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 321

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