 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
America: The Cult-capital of the World |
|
|
|
;There is no need to subdivide into denominations. I will state that any church that follows the instructions of Peter, and is founded on the belief that Jesus (who was conceived of a virgin, died on the cross at Golgotha, and arose three days later, is the Son of the Living God, Savior of all mankind, and the last prophet, and priest) is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, will be included in Peter?s Church. I realize that all denominations exist at the shortcomings of translators. I do not trivialize any arguments among the denominations ofPeter?s Church, I only wish to make a united stand against the followers of what I consider the mostdangerous cults in the world today. |
|
|
|
;"Then stood there up one in the counsel, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law, . . . and said unto them, . . . Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught: . . . if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God" (Acts: 34-39). These words were not an apostle?s, inspired writer?s, nor a Christian's words; but, a non-Christian's warning, to Jews who sought to harm early Christians, that has been erroneously used by Christians to avoid their obligations regarding false prophets. The Lord assures us in Revelation 2: 2-6, that " I know . . . how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: . . . but this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes [make-believe Christians], which I also hate." Some Christians also use Jude:9, which states: ". . . Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil . . . durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee", to avoid testing these false prophets, by wrongly asserting that the Lord will handle them personally, in his own time; when the verse really means that Michael had not the authority [rank, or seniority] to judge Lucifer. Meanwhile, thousands are duped into cult systems such as: Zen Buddhism, Spiritism, Christian Science, The Theosophical Society, The Baha?i Faith, The Unity School of Christianity, Scientology, Unification Church, Anglo-Israelism, Unitarianism, The Rosicrucian Fellowship, Swedenborgianism and even some sects of The Seventh-day Adventists, such as David Koresh?s followers in Waco, Texas. All these sects are considered cults, and have one startling common denominator: They are all American-made exports! It can even be said, they are our chief export. |
|
|
|
Our Freedom of Religion right is being abused for personal, and financial gain by some unscrupulous characters; furthermore, these abuses have been allowed to continue for over 150 years, not only by our government, but also by our clergy! For too long, too little has been done to stop these cancerous growths. Countless times the Lord warned us of false prophets, and false Christs, and in Mathew 24:25, the Lord scolds: "Behold, I have told you before." |
|
|
|
These cults, are harmless to Christianity, when compared to the two most powerful, mainstream, cults in America today. The previously mentioned cults make few claims to Christian beliefs; however, The Kingdom of Jehovah [Jehovah?s Witness], and The Church of Jesus Christ of The Latter-day Saints [Mormons], each claim to be the only "true Christian" faith. While the first states that the Christian clergy "are willingly . . . the instruments of . . . Satan the Devil"(Rutherford 85) and, in a most offensive affront to Christian doctrine, changes the very symbol of Christianity, the cross and Christ?s crucifixion, to "death on a torture stake" (Philippians 2:5-11[New World Translation]); the second proclaims that our Lord stated that: "all [other Christian denominations] their creeds were an abomination in his [the Lord?s] sight"(Smith History 1:19). "And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it"(1Nephi 13:6, The Book of Mormon). |
|
|
|
I will disprove the teachings of these cults; but first, I will give a brief history of the actual people, circumstances, and foundations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [Mormons], and The Kingdom of Jehovah [Jehovah?s Witness]. The Bible says: "For the wages of Sin is Death" (Romans 6:23), yet the Bible goes on to say: "Believe on theLord Jesus Christ,and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31). Before I prove that they are indeed cults in theology and practice, Let?s look at their "prophets" and their feet of clay. |
|
|
|
Charles Taze Russell and his followers sold "miracle wheat" @1912 and when THE Brooklyn Daily Eagle investigated their claims and portrayed the Russelites claim as "ludicrous and fraudulent", he sued for libel causing the Government to launch it?s own investigation into the "miraclewheat" claim. They determined that not only were the claims less than true, they were borderline fraud! The so-called "miraclewheat" was less than the standard for sale in the U.S.! The libel suit was thrown out. Russell "spoiled" for a fight with Rev. J.J. Ross, pastor of The James Street Baptist Church of Hamilton, Ontario, when Ross published, in June of 1912, two pamphlets exposing the blatant lies that Russell espoused from his pulpit. Russell once again sued for libel. It was up to Russell to prove Ross was wrong in his claims against him. Ross claimed that: Russell was "neither a scholar, nor a theologian", Russell "never attended the higher schools of learning, knows comparatively nothing of philosophy, systematic or historic theology, and is totally ignorant of the dead languages" (Ross 324) . Needless to say it was thrown out of court and Russell was exposed to be a perjurer of extremely poor judgement! I will add this for amusement: The JW have predicted the end of the world no less than three times this century; 1914, 1973, and 1975. |
|
|
|
With that in mind I will introduce to you the "savior" of the so-called "Christian" cult of Mormonism; I will confirm the true nature of Joseph Smith Jr., and I will prove that if Character is what defines a man, then "lacking in Character" is the definition of Joseph Smith Jr. |
|
|
|
Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Sharon, Vermont on the 23rd of December, 1805. His father, Joe Sr., was a "mystic" who spent most of his life looking for Captain Kidd?s treasure! He was also implicated in counterfeiting money, but escaped penalty by turning against his accomplices and testifying against them. The Honorable Judge Daniel Woodard of the County Court of Windsor, Vermont, and a neighbor of the Smith family, gives us this piece of historical fact: "He (Joe Sr.) also became implicated with one Jack Downing, in counterfeiting money, but turned State?s evidence and escaped the penalty" ( Historical Magazine 1870). Joe?s mother was given to the most trivial of superstitions and extreme in her religious views. Lucy Smith later "authored" [ghostwriter] a book titled, "Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith and His Progenitors for Many Generations". When the Mormon Church in England published it; however, it was suppressed by a wrathful Brigham Young [the successor to Joe] on the grounds that it contained "many mistakes" and that "should it ever be deemed best to publish these sketches, it will not be done until after they are carefully corrected" (Millennial Star, VOL.17, pp.297,298, [personal letter dated Jan. 31, 1885]). Now let?s return to the General . . . In 1820, God and Jesus appeared to Joe to inform him that theywere displeased with the world, and that he was to restore the "true Christianity" to the world. After meeting with our Lord and God, what did Joe do? He was so moved by this experience, he resumed his practice of digging for buried treasure with his father, by using "peep-stones" and "divining-rods". In the years that followed, this scam came back to haunt him. He even denied that any of it had happened. |
|
|
|
In the month of October, 1825, I hired with an old gentleman, |
|
|
|
by the name of Josiah Stoal, who lived in Chenango County, |
|
|
|
State of New York. He had heard something of a silver mine |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
having been opened by the Spaniards in Harmony, Susquehannah |
|
|
|
|
|
County, State of Pennsylvania; and had, previous to my hiring |
|
|
|
|
|
with him, been digging, in order if possible, to discover the |
|
|
|
|
|
mine. After I went to live with him, he took me, among the rest |
|
|
|
|
|
of his hands, to dig for the silver mine, at which I continued |
|
|
|
|
|
to work for a nearly a month, without success in our undertaking, |
|
|
|
|
|
and finally I prevailed with the old gentleman to cease digging |
|
|
|
|
|
|
after it. Hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been |
|
|
|
a money digger.(Millenial Star, Vol.14, Supplement, P.6) |
|
|
|
However, his explanation is destroyed by first-hand testimony from Lucy Smith, concerning her account of the Joe and Josiah Stoal meeting, "(Stoal) came for Joseph on account of having heard that he possessed certain keys by which he could discern things invisible to the natural eye"(Linn, The Story of the Mormons 16), and by Joe Sr.,(Historical Magazine May, 1870) who stated that Joe had been a "Peek-Stone addict", and that Joe had taken part in and directed many treasure digging expeditions. Joe Sr. also states that Joe Jr. claimed supernatural powers which aided him in his searches. [ There is no evidence that he was ever successful in these ventures] Joe Sr. goes on to verify that Joe had even told fortunes to any who would pay. Rev. Dr. John A. Clark substantiates Joe Sr. in his work, Gleanings by the Way, " Long before the idea of a Golden Bible entered their minds, in their excursions for money digging . . . Joe used to usually [sic] be their guide, putting into a hat a peculiar stone he had through which he looked to decide where they should begin to dig" (p.225, 1842). In New York vs. Joseph Smith Jr. [March 20, 1826], "(Joe) had a certain stone which he had occasionally looked at to determine where hidden treasures in bowels of the earth were...and had looked for Mr. Stoal several times." He was found guilty of money digging. I will conclude with a statement signed by 62 residents of Palmyra, N.Y.: |
|
|
|
We, the undersigned, have been aquainted with the Smith family, for a number of years, while they resided near this place, and we have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any community. They were particularly famous for visionary projects, spent much of their time in diggings for money which they pretended was hid in the earth; and to this day, large excavations may be seen in the earth, not far from their residence, where they used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures. Joseph Smith Sr., and his son Joseph, were in particular, considered entirely destitute of [italics] moral character, and addicted to vicious habits. (Mormonism Unveiled, Zanesville,Ohio, 1834, p. 261) |
|
|
|
"There exists no contemporary pro-Mormon statements from reliable and informed sources who knew the Smith family and Joseph intimately"(Martin 174). Joseph Smith was a LIAR. The Bible says: "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies" (Proverbs 19:5). |
|
|
|
I will now prove that the Mormons and Witnesses are cults in their own words and deeds. |
|
|
|
In All Gods Children, The Cult Experience - Salvation or Slavery, the authors offer a cult as: "A minority religious group regarded as spurious or unorthodox" with "great or excessive devotion to some person, idea, or thing" (Stoner 3), while Dr. Charles Braden, Emeritus Professor, Northwestern University, defines a cult as: "Any religious group that differs significantly in one or more respects as to the belief and practices from groups regarded as the ?norm? of our culture "(Martin 11). Dr. Walter Martin, Director of MA program at Simon-Greanleaf Law School, Founder and Director of The Christian Research Institute, and "The Bible Answer Man" on syndicated radio nationwide, more clearly defines a cult as "A group of people gathered around a specific person or his misinterpretation of the Bible" (Martin 11 )."A cult has a living leader . . . their doctrine is based on the leaders revelations that either replaces or supplements traditional religious doctrine" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The Jehovah's Witness's [JW] translated their own Bible [New World Translation] supposedly from original Greek, Latin, and Hebrew texts. The fourth President of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and representative of The Translation Committee, was cross-examined under oath on Wednesday, November 24, 1954, and it was found that "not only could he not translate Hebrew, he could not translate Latin, or Greek" (Martin 73). This is important because not only is this proof of their perjury in a court of Law, but of their blasphemous assertions that Jesus is another God in Heaven, "a mighty God, but not the Almighty God"(The Truth Shall Make You Free, 47), and that there is no such thing as a Triune God. These claims are made on their erroneous translations that reduce God to the status of liar, for in Deut. 6:4 God said: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:" The Witnesses also reason that there can be no "Hell" of eternal torment, when Jesus himself stated in Matt.25:41, concerning those that help not their fellow man, " . . . Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Their failure is in not heeding Gods? Word! "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 56: 8,9). |
|
|
|
The Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [JCLDS] have a "Prophet-Seer" who claims to receive revelations from God regularly since the founding of the Church in @1826, by a convicted perjurer, and money-digger, named Joseph Smith Jr. They also reduce God to liar status by claiming that Jesus and Lucifer were, and are, brothers. [. . . Let?s see . . . God is one . . . Jesus is two . . . that makes Lucifer three . . . The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? . . .Now isn't that special!] In their world it is true! Three separate Gods! The Mormons have also added to the scriptures by placing The Book of Mormon as being as important, and even more important than the Bible! "The cult leader is the sole Judge of the quality of the members? faith, and he has absolute authority over members. He often lives in "Kingly" splendor while his members live in poverty" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The Witnesses have only 144,000 slots in heaven . They are more than willing to pass judgement on their fellow man if it increases their chances of entering heaven. Whatever happened to "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1 ). |
|
|
|
The JCLDS is ruled by a male-dominated hierarchy devoted to the subservience of women, and rewards the "worthy" with Temple Recommends, and Rituals that increase your status in the Church. Without a Temple Recommend, a member is excluded from attaining Godhood, which is what Mormonism is all about!"A cult promises a system in which a convert may work to save the world and Humanity, but actually sponsors no community improvement programs" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The Witnesses care not for "worldly" concerns or troubles . . . they refuse to fight for peace, claiming that Christ has returned and has been reigning on Earth since 1914. |
|
|
|
The JCLDS help only other Mormons. They are required to stockpile and hoard weapons and food supplies . . . at least enough to last for two years, in anticipation of the tribulation period or Government seizure threats, as in 1890 when the assets of the JCLDS were to be seized if the JCLDS did not stop the illegal practice of polygamy. [You know . . . for a commandment from God, they gave it up easily . . . no true convictions in the face of persecution.]"Religious cults are exclusive social systems, claiming that their members will achieve salvation (or happiness). Members are taught that they are superior to those outside of the group" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The JW feel that they hold the only true translation of the Bible and that the clergy of all other religions are minions of Satan! |
|
|
|
The JCLDS also hold that they are the true Church and that all other denominations are an "abomination", and that they are the "True Jews" and all others are Gentiles. 	"To be a cult member you must cut yourself off from society as a whole, even family, if they try to draw you from the group" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The JW refrains from social activities unless it provides for "witnessing", and shuns those who can successfully refute their claims. Ignorance, Pride, and Misinformation are the main tools for conversion! |
|
|
|
If you are a Mormon and get out of line...you will experience "Death on Earth" . . . excommunication! Most members refrain from dating outside of their "ward" for fear of informants, and entrapments. It is also necessary to break all contacts with someone who has been excommunicated! Pride, Security, and perceived Family Orientation are the primary tools for converting."Methods of ego-destruction and thought control are part of the cults? recruiting and indoctrination process" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The JW use "Reasonings from the Scriptures" and other tracts like it to arm even the most young of converts with a pretty good "spiel", even if it can be a little sophomoric in content! |
|
|
|
The JCLDS hierarchy determines your role in life!!! From the time of your birth to your death, your role is defined...your Life is secondary to the Church. 	"Cults discourage critical analysis of their theology by dictating the suppression of negative thoughts; therefore fostering a dependency on the cults? authority, which attempts to slow or stop the maturation process of the member" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The JW use "reasoning" to identify their "superior" understanding! |
|
|
|
Mormons confirm by "the burning of the bosom". ;"Cults have rituals and practices that are often psychologically unwholesome, and even physically dangerous" (Stoner 4). |
|
|
|
The JW live for confrontation! "Jehovah?s Witnesses hate everybody and try to make it mutual . . . Jehovah?s Witnesses make hate a religion"(Stanley High, The Reader?s Digest, June, 1940). |
|
|
|
The Mormons have secret Temple rituals for marriage into the afterlife, [ignoring Jesus? words in Matt. 22:30: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."] secret baptisms for the dead. Included in these rituals are secret handgrips, handshakes, and symbolic gestures, signifying your consent to having your bowels spilled and your throat slit if you reveal the ritual to anyone. In the marriage ritual the woman is given a secret name that she can reveal only to her husband . . .. It is by this name she will be called from the grave, if he chooses to call her, that is! |
|
|
|
Russelism was founded in 1879 = 117 yrs. |
|
|
|
Mormonism was founded in 1827 = 169 yrs. |
|
|
|
Old Testament dates to nearly 3000 yrs. |
|
|
|
New Testament dates to nearly 2000 yrs. |
|
|
|
King James (1611) translation is the accepted translation for all Christian denominations and is the source document for all Modern English translations. |
|
|
|
You have now enough to make an informed decision . . .You need to understand that your eternity depends on your choices in this world. You can find our Lord?s final plead to us in Rev. 22:20, "Surely, I come quickly!" |
|
|
|
"So . . . you be kind to children and be kind to seniors, and take the potion like they used to in ancient Greece, and step over quietly; because we are not committing suicide ? it?s a revolutionary act," were the last recorded words of Jim Jones, November 18,1978 (Galanter,122). In his jacket pocket, they found a note from one of his followers: "Dad, I see no way out?I agree with your decision . . . thank you for the ONLY life I?ve known" (Kerns 205). In the last few years alone, we have seen the murder of innocents in Jonestown, across Europe, Japan, and in Waco. I could care less about the adults who succumb to the lies; I do have a problem, as a Christian of Peter?s Church, with the taking of innocent children, either by their actual murder, or by the killing of their souls through false doctrine. |
|
|
|
Additional Notes |
|
|
|
"Joseph Smith Jr. was convicted for witchcraft and sorcery in 1824, when he dug-up part of his brothers body"(The Godmakers II). |
|
|
|
"Joe Smith, the prophet, told my uncle William Stafford he wanted a fat black sheep: he said he wanted to cut its throat and make it walk in a circle 3 times around"(G.R.Stafford, The Godmakers II). |
|
|
|
"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. End of controversy. God works in no other way"(Prophet Ezra Taft Benson, Deseret News, May 26, 1945.) ". . . the first edition of The Book of Mormon and the present edition . . . are quite different in 3,913 separate instances"(Martin 29). |
|
|
|
The First Presidency states: ". . .homosexuality is viewed as an equally grievous sin with adultery"(Rosten 197). "Apostle Gordon B. Hinckley, known to be an active bisexual"(The Godmakers II). |
|
|
|
"No competent student maintains that discoveries of archaeologists as yet prove the Book of Mormon . . . a divine book . . . [which] must be accepted on principles of faith"(Harold Lundstrom, The Instructor, August, 1956, p. 238). |
|
|
|
"Each of these gods, including Jesus Christ and his Father, being in possession of not merely an organized spirit, but a glorious body of flesh and bones" (Key to the Science of Theology, p. 44, Parley Pratt [1973 Ed.]) |
|
|
|
". . . the Mormons have a full pantheon of Gods. Jesus, who before His incarnation was the spirit-brother of Lucifer, was also a polygamist, the husband of the Marys and Martha, who was rewarded for his faithfulness by becoming ruler of this earth" (Martin 380). |
|
|
|
The Mormons believe in marriage through eternity [Celestial Marriage Ceremony]; The Lord informs us: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven" (Matt. 22:30). |
|
|
|
Dr. Harold Goodman, BYU professor, former Bishop, and JCLDS Mission President states: "If he [a good Mormon] is worthy . . . he can eventually grow into becoming [sic] a God himself," and also : "Anyone that believes in Christ is a Christian and we believe that we are Christians above all others" (The Godmakers II). |
|
|
|
Work Cited |
|
|
|
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon. |
|
|
|
Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1989.	 |
|
|
|
---. The Doctrine and Covenants. Utah: |
|
|
|
---. The Pearl of Great Price. Utah: |
|
|
|
The Godmakers.Jeremiah Films, 1982.;56 min.; |
|
|
|
---.The Godmakers.Jeremiah Films, 1992.48 min. |
|
|
|
Green, Jay P. ed. trans. The Interlinear Bible: Hebrew, Greek, and English |
|
|
|
Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1986. |
|
|
|
---. A Literal Translation of the Bible. [English translation in side column] |
|
|
|
---. The Greek Text. [The Trinitarian Bible Society, London, England] |
|
|
|
Martin, Walter. The Kingdom of the Cults. Minnesota: Bethany House, 1985 |
|
|
|
The New Open Bible, Study Edition, King James Version (1611). Nashville: |
|
|
|
Thomas Nelson, 1990 |
|
|
|
Stoner, Carroll and Jo Anne Parke. All Gods Children-The Cult Experience- |
|
|
|
Salvation or Slavery. Pennsylvania: Chilton, 1977. |
|
|
|
Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society Of Pennsylvania. Reasonings from the |
|
|
|
Scriptures. New York: Watch Tower Bible Tract Society Of New York, 1989. |
|
|
|
---. New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. ;New York: Watch Tower Bible Tract ;Society Of New York1970. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back |
|
|
|
|