The Mormon Matrix
In June 1999 film fans were excited at the release of The Matrix, a film in which a computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. It is set in a post-holocaust world, and the Matrix is a computer generated world laid over the real world to give the illusion that all is normal and life goes on. In reality, the world has been destroyed and people are being manipulated by machines.
Many saw a parallel with Mormonism and I wrote this at the time to illustrate some of those parallels. As we end this year and, God willing, look toward another year of ministry I thought it would be good to publish it again. To remind ourselves of how sinister and manipulative Mormonism really is and how worthwhile is the task of exposing the Mormon Matrix and publishing the Christian truth.
Mormon-Christian
The late Mormon prophet Gordon B Hinckley, in the April 3rd 1999 Mormon General Conference, stated:
"I am pleased to report that the Church is better known and better understood. Generally the media have been kind to us. They have dealt honestly with us. There are exceptions, of course, and this we regret. The old images of the past continue to be dragged forth by those who deal in sensationalism and exploitation." (May 1999 Ensign magazine, emphasis added)
Mormonism has been pursuing respectability and acceptance for a long time now. There has been a concerted effort to impose a matrix, or a pre-formed image (one definition of matrix is, a mould in which a type, die etc. is cast), over the top of those "old images of the past".
It is remarkably successful at this and people are joining because of the image, only later discovering the reality underneath. What is the image that the Mormon Church seeks to project today? What are people seeing and what is behind this Matrix? Because, underneath the Mormon Matrix beats the life of a very different world.
Firstly there seems to be an overwhelming concern amongst Mormons to be regarded as Christians. Today it is common to hear Mormons describe themselves as Mormon-Christian. In the April 1998 General Conference Gordon B Hinckley observed, "There are some of other faiths who do not regard us as Christians."
Speaking in February 1998 Mormon apostle Boyd K Packer gave a message "…for those who teach and write and produce films which claim that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a Christian church and that we, the members, are not Christians." (Speaking Today, April 1998 Ensign magazine).
The Mormon hierarchy are anxious that Mormons be seen as Christians amongst other Christians, their church as another Christian church, their creed, like many another, simply an expression of differences on secondary things whilst holding to the same essential truths - just like other Christians. But what is their traditional attitude to these churches with which they are now so anxious to be identified?
Apostate, Abominable Christendom
"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong…all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." (Joseph Smith, History 1:19)
"Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the Church of the lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 14:10)
John Taylor, third president of the Mormon Church said:
"We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense…Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol [sic]; it is as corrupt as hell and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work." (Journal of Discourses, vol.6, p.167)
Corrupt Bible
Although Mormons officially declare a commitment to the Bible in reality they do not trust it because, according to Mormonism this great and abominable church to which Christians belong has corrupted the Bible:
"For behold they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 13:26-27)
The 8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church states:
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (Emphasis added)
In fact the Bible is the only Mormon "standard work" which is not accepted as infallible. Whilst the Book of Mormon is accepted as the infallible book of the restoration, the Bible is seen as the corrupt book of the apostasy, its use limited to those proof texts that can be lifted to "prove" the Mormon creed.
Unbiblical Jesus
Although professing faith in the biblical Jesus, from birth to death and resurrection, they deny key Bible teachings about Jesus.
The Bible states that Jesus "was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit", and "what was conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit", and that she remained a virgin until Jesus' birth, for "[Joseph] had no union with her until she gave birth to a son". (Matt.1:18,20,25)
Mormonism, however, teaches that Jesus was conceived by literal, physical sexual intercourse between God and Mary. Brigham Young, second president of the church stated:
"The Only Begotten of the Father. (Moses 5:9). 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 mean 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." (Journal of Discourses, vol.4,p 218 emphasis added)
Young also stated:
"Now remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost." (Journal of Discourses, vol.1, p 51 emphasis added)
An Impotent Saviour
The Bible speaks of "God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness" (Ro.5:17), and also refers to "us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (Ro.4:24), further stating,
"That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We therefore implore you, as Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you, on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor.5:19-21)
Mormonism, however, teaches the insufficiency of Christ's atonement:
"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 offences 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." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol.1, p. 135 emphasis added)
A Broken Promise
In the Bible Jesus made firm and solemn promises concerning his commitment to his church.
He promised that, "when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) and,
"I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it". (Matt.16:18)
Mormonism, however, is based on the false idea that there was a "Great Apostasy", or complete falling away from truth shortly after the death of the Twelve Apostles, that the Spirit abandoned the early Christians, that the gates of hell did prevail, and that for nearly two thousand years, until the advent of Joseph Smith, all churches were, " wrong…all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." (JSH 1:19)
"behold they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 13:26-27)
An Equal to Jesus
Mormon apostle James E Faust said at the April 1999 General Conference:
"We stand on the brink of the next century. From this vantage point, we need to remember that the most significant events in the last 2,000 years…were the Savior's Atonement and the restoration of the gospel…These two singular events will continue to be of transcendent importance to mankind as we move forward in time. The past, present, and future pivot on these marvellous divine interventions."
The World beneath the Matrix
Here is the true message of Mormonism, the ministry and work of Jesus and that of Joseph parallel and equal in being the most significant pivotal events and of transcendent importance in the history of mankind.
In the doublespeak of Mormonism they have claimed that their faith is Christ-centred, they have projected the image of Christian orthodoxy, whilst at the same time believing that Jesus did not keep his promises of John 16:13 and Matthew 16:18, that Jesus' work on the cross is inadequate, that God's word in the Bible is insufficient for "teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16). Here then is the Mormon Matrix:
| MATRIX | REALITY |
| Bible-based Jesus following Respecting other churches Trusting in the finished work of the cross A Christian denomination | Book of Mormon centred Joseph-centred Devaluing other churches Trusting in the "restored" church and gospel of Joseph A Christian Counterfeit |
The Typical Mormon
It would be wrong to imagine that the average Mormon can see behind the Matrix. The missionary at your door, your Mormon neighbour or work colleague is not coming to you thinking "I must bring my Joseph centred faith and present it as Christ centred. I must get my friend to dump his Bible in favour of the Book of Mormon." They believe that what they have is the Christ-centred reality of scripture. That the little "doctrine" they get from their Bible is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
If anything they believe that, far from having less than the truth, they have more truth through the restoration. They are victims of the Matrix, not its operators.We want them to know that though the Matrix is an illusion, and the reality behind it a deception, there is a reality that brings freedom - freedom in Christ,
"To the Jews who had believed him Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'"
(John 8:31-36)
Dear Mike,
ReplyDeleteWhere is the Reference?
Bible Christians, believers in Sola Scriptura, teach that the Bible is complete and that it is all that is needed. They teach that all answers are given by Scripture.
I wish to refute that thinking by showing that there are a lot of questions brought up in Scripture that are not answered therein. So where do we go to find those answers so that we have the fullness of truth and not just some of it?
Matthew 11:21, "Woe to thee, Corozain...For if in Tyre and Sidon had been worked the miracles that have been worked in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
What are these miracles in Corozain? Where is the reference?
Matthew 23:2, "The Scribes and the Pharisees have sat on the chair of Moses."
Where is this 'chair of Moses' referenced in Scripture?
Acts 20:35, "In all things I have shown you that by so toiling you ought to help the weak and REMEMBER the Word of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Show me the verse where Jesus said these words.
Matthew 2:23, "And He went and settled in a town called Nazareth; that there might be fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
In what verse did the prophets say this?
James 4:5, "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit which dwells in you covets unto jealousy.""
Where does Scripture reference this?
2Timothy 3:8, "Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these men also resist the truth..."
Who are Jannes and Jambres? Where is the reference? If you know, by what means did you find it?
Hebrews 11:35, "Women had their dead restored to them by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might find a better resurrection."
Who are these 'others', the ones searching for a better resurrection? Where is the Bible reference?
Jude 1:9, "Yet when Michael the Archangel was fiercely disputing with the devil about the body of Moses..."
Where can this 'dispute' be found in Holy Scripture?
Jude 1:14, "Now of these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord has come with thousands of His holy ones.'"
Where is this prophecy in Scripture? Where is the reference?
Since non-Catholics are bound to Scripture and Scripture only (Sola Scriptura), the purpose of this post is to show that everything is not in the Bible.
Answers to some of the questions asked here can be found through Tradition, and others through the seven books that non-Catholics do not have in their Bibles.
Some can be found in the multitude of apocryphal writings, and in the very large library of writings by the Church Fathers.
Others simply cannot be found anywhere but have been lost forever for various reasons. It is thought that about 400,000 priceless historical writings alone were lost due to the great fire in the library of Alexandria Egypt in 48 B.C. (the actual date is debatable).
Others have been lost simply by the deterioration of the scroll media used by the various authors of antiquity.
Catholics have the fullness of truth since they can draw on so many resources outside of Scripture as mentioned above.
Protestantism has many pieces missing to their puzzle of GOD's salvation history unless they are willing to search the Catholic sources listed.
As long as they cling to the false doctrine of sola scriptura, they will never see the full picture. They will never have the fullness of truth.
Michael, Thanks for taking the time. I really don't want to get too deeply into the Protestant/Catholic thing since this is primarily a Mormon discussion blog.
ReplyDeleteI have a Catholic friend who makes every effort, sending me Catholic Answers material and I have been over the ground so much. The answers to some of your points and the overall understanding I have on this issue are covered in two previous posts:
Lost Books 1
Lost Books 2
You make two fundamental errors it seems to me. The first is dealt with fully in my previous posts. You make the error of assuming that Scripture is meant to be exhaustive and I wonder what benefit you think may be derived from knowing some of the answers you say Protestants don't have. But Scripture is sufficient not exhaustive.
Your second error is in assuming tradition and extra-biblical sources play no part in Protestant thinking. Sola Scriptura doesn't mean that Scripture is the only source but it is the only authoritative source by which all others are tested. That was the primary argument put by Martin Luther and it is a compelling argument it seems to me.
I wish you a happy new year Michael.