LDS Doctrine Q & A

Is God body or spirit?
God has both a body and spirit and that is why we are commanded to worship God in spirit and in truth. God is spirit, but he is not a spirit only or not only a spirit. The only difference between purified, glorified, spirit matter and the purified, glorified physical matter that constitutes God's body is that it is tangible but being tangible does not confine God to time or space but gives Him power over time and space and other matter as He can literally interact with it.

Where was Christ born?
Christ was born in Bethlehem, a suburb of Jerusalem, but to a Nephite who didn't grow up in Jerusalem, answering Jerusalem was a more clear answer. If someone not from your home town asked where you were born, how would you answer?

Are genealogies scriptural?
LDS do not do genealogy to prove that we are more related to Abraham then someone else. We do genealogy to learn more about our faith heritage, more about ourselves, and so we can share the blessings of the restored gospel with those who came before us and whose legacy of faith created the psycho-social and spiritual environment where we could more easily receive Christ. (Mal. 4: 6) (1 Cor. 15: 29).

Is marriage eternal?
Angels are not married or given in marriage. That is because marriage is something that is only done on Earth during morality. So, the woman would have been married to the first man for time and all eternity by the keys of the kingdom given to Peter which is the authority that whatsoever is bound on Earth is also bound in heaven. This is the power that the Pharisees denied. The other 6 brothers had this woman as a second-wife under the law of Levarite marriage and the doctrine of the care for widows.

How long did darkness fall over the earth at Christ’s death?
3 days in the Americas could have been due to a pyroclastic flow from an erupting volcano. The air was so thick with ash that fire could not be started.

What does the Bible say about men, prophets or angels announcing another Gospel, as claimed by Joseph Smith?
The Book of Mormon teaches the same gospel of Jesus Christ as is contained in the Bible.

Did Melchizedek have a father?
The priesthood and spiritual authority of Melchizedek did not come from his father or mother but came from God while his temporal reign as king of Salem was passed down to him from His father. Melchizedek was a Christian and is a powerful type of Christ, but was not Christ Himself.

How old was Enoch when he was translated (taken up to heaven)?
The Bible gives different numbers for the same thing sometimes as well.

Should we believe those who say they have seen Christ in secret?
No you shouldn't. You should pray in secret and ask God yourself if this is true an let God tell you if it is true or not.

Is there more than one God?
In context of Isaiah, there is only One God who can save us. But the Bible says that God is a God of gods, and the Most High God (El Elyon). Describing men, God said, “I said, ye are gods, and sons of the Most High” All mankind are literal children of Our Father in Heaven and thus have the seeds of the divine within them; we are gods en embryo.

Is the use of King James’ English in the Book of Mormon logical?
Yes, because what makes JKV English sound distinct is its many Hebraisms. The Book of Mormon was written using Hebrew grammar together with reformed Egyptian Demotic-script instead of Paleo-Hebrew/Phoenecian. So, when the Book of Mormon was translated into English it retained many of the Hebraisms that give it the same distinctness as the KJV. Modern Bible translations focus on removing the Hebraic grammar in order to sound more modern.

Does the Book of Mormon plagiarize the Bible?
The same God who revealed the Bible, revealed the Book of Mormon. The Nephites had the Bible from Genesis to Jeremiah and referenced it continually like Christ referenced the Bible while on Earth.

Was God or Christ ever a man like we are?
God became a man in the same way Christ became a man but is still considered God from eternity to eternity.

When were followers of Christ first called "Christians"?
Adam, Enoch, Noah and Melchisedek were the first Christian's and received the everlasting covenant. Melchisedek presented broke bread and wine with Abraham symbolic of the Christian remembrance of Christ's blood and body sacrifice which would happen many centuries into the future.

When was the Book of Mormon's Book of Jacob written?
The use of "adieu" by Jacob represents that “adieu” was a part of the English language in 1830 and not a part of the Hebrew or Nephite language. English has many Latin and French words in it thanks to the Norman conquest of Great Britain.

Was Christ conceived by the Holy Spirit?
Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of the Eternal Father

Is the doctrine of the Virgin Birth consistent with actual sexual relations between God and Mary?
There is no official doctrine on this question except to say that Jesus is the Son of the Father and not the Holy Ghost. Orson Pratt and Bruce R. McConkie were of the opinion that the Christ was literally "begotten" of the Father requiring Mary to be married to God and then remarried to Joseph under the law of the widow (1 Tim 5). Again, this was only well-intentioned opinion.

How many will be condemned to Hell?
There will be few who go with Satan to Outer Darkness. There will be others who receive a degree of salvation and will have access to the Holy Ghost or Jesus Christ. Those who are exalted will live in the presence of the Eternal Father. All mankind the just and the unjust will be resurrected but there are different rewards in heaven based on our degree of the Love of Christ we received.

Do differences between Christian denominations require a new church?
The few offshoots of the LDS church are few and relatively small in number and like Protestant churches tended to break off due to a disagreement over one or another doctrine while sharing the vast majority of doctrines in common with one another.

Are additional scriptures required?
True Christians should accept every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

Do all believers have authority / hold the priesthood?
Yes, and that is why all LDS are literally ordained as priests in LDS temples as was Aaron. Men and women are washed, anointed, clothes in priesthood robes. When Christ comes again he will come as King of kings and Lord of lords to receive the 144000 which represents an innumerable quantity of persons, 12000 from every tribe representing that priests in the last days will not just be from Levi or Aaron but from every kindred, tongue and people.

Was the Gospel fully preached before Mormonism?
Yes, until it was rejected and corrupted by mixing it with Greek philosophy and doctrinal creeds were established by 5/4 committee votes and not by unifying revelation.

Are the Father and Son one?
Yes, in purpose.

Was polygamy tolerated by God after the Old Testament?
Yes, Moses said in Exodus 21 if a man taketh another wife that she should not deny the first her food, clothing and duty of marriage. In the Law of Moses, Levarite marriage was commanded in which an older brother would take his deceases younger brothers wife as a second-wife if he died and hadn't had any children yet. Abraham and Jacob had multiples wives and it was counted unto them for righteousness because it was done to raise up a righteous posterity or to take care of widows which Paul speaks of in 1 Tim 5. Those Elders who take widows as second wives who are told by Paul to remarry and have children deserve double honor. But Bishops should generally be the husband of only one wife so they have extra time to care for the business of the church.

Does Doctrine & Covenants contain fulfilled prophesies?
The Doctrine and Covenants predicts the start of the Civil War “At the rebellion of South Carolina” … the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain … and then war shall be poured out upon all nations … And … slaves shall rise up against their masters … and that the remnants … shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation." (Doctrine and Covenants 87:1-5).

Is Adam our God?
LDS refer to Our Heavenly Father as Elohim and the Son as Jesus Christ, and Adam who is known as Michael the Archangel. So, if Adam is Michael, he cannot be the same person as who we call Elohim.

Does Christ dwell in the hearts of believers?
Christ dwells in our hearts by the Holy Ghost

Are sincere, last-minute conversions honored by God?
Death-bed repentance will result in salvation from Outer Darkness (hell) but not exaltation.

Is Christ the brother of Lucifer?
Lucifer is a fallen-angel who is of the same stature as Michael the Archangel. But Christ is God. All men and angels are considered sons and daughters of the Eternal Father according to the following

Eph. 3: 14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Are personal efforts necessary for salvation?
We are saved by grace alone 100% But we are sanctified by works prepared by God such as baptism, prayer, priesthood, scripture, church organization, everlasting temple covenant, marriage, sacrament. None of these works can men do without God. Man cannot contribute even one iota to his salvation or sanctification. But man receives the Holy Ghost which empowers a man to receive all these things which results in a greater reception of Christ's grace, love, and grace. All the things listed are works which the Bible says will sanctify, purify or perfect. It is God who does these works through us who serve as instruments in God's hand and serve as witness to the power of Christ's atonement which not only has the power to cover and hide sin under the rug, but also has the power to purge us, and turn us completely away from sin in this world. This is why Paul says the Lord does not dwell in buildings made with mens hands. But we know the Lord and His presence dwelt in the Jerusalem Temple. So that must mean that God built that temple using men as instruments in his hands.

Should I allow Mormon missionaries into my home?
Yes!

John 13: 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.