Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Heretical?
I’m sure some have seen this infographic get spread around as if it’s some authoritative document on the theology Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For the benefit of those who run across it I’ve compiled a response that includes responses from other faithful members who’ve repeatedly addressed these false claims as well as my own commentary:
Before I go through this list and address some of these I would like to suggest that you provide the scriptures that back up these claims this graphic makes. Many of these are just completely untrue and the best way for anyone to realize that is to search the scriptures and see for yourself that these doctrines are largely absent from them.
Also, I will be outsourcing some of this to @slc_saint as she’s addressed much of this graphic in far more detail than I will here. Also, this is less for you as the poster of this graphic and more for the people who are members or not members so they can see how ridiculous and stupid this graphic really is.
First is the use of “Mormon”. That’s wrong, if you want to be seen as anything other than ignorant or hateful, use the right name of the church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Using Mormon shows you are antagonistic and have strong bias against the Church, which shows greatly in that you actually think this graphic is authoritative.
1. All Christian’s believe this. This is basic scripture. John 1:1-4“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the blight of men.” John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” If you are a trinitarian Christian then you believe that God was once man. That’s the whole message of Christianity, that God became man so that He could save man. Or do you not believe that Jesus Christ is God?
Now, I know what you’re thinking “That’s not the same thing as what the graphic says!” Yes it is. The point I’m making is this isn’t a heretical idea because this idea is Christian at its core, so to say it is heretical is to say Christianity is heretical. I would suggest that anyone who actually wants to know why this point is on this list they should actually read the “King Follett Sermon” given by Joseph Smith. You will have a much greater understanding of the doctrine, the implications, and the actual biblical argument surrounding this doctrine as well. Here is a link to four separate accounts. https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/accounts-of-the-king-follett-sermon
2. Please show me where in our doctrine we say God “brought his wife to this world.” That’s inane. God doesn’t inhabit Earth. Nor does he only govern Earth. He is the ruler of the entire universe. How small is God to you that you think He is just parked over Earth and has nothing to do with the grand infinite cosmos? I suggest anyone who is interested in learning more about this and diving into the scholarly, biblical, and Book or Mormon arguments surrounding this subject watch this video with David Butler. There is too much to address on the subject and I’m not well read enough to do that. You can watch this man describe it and provide his argument and that will be far more sufficient than anything I could say or provide on the matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3q7vIinWG4&t=1796s.
3 and 4 and 5. These all go together. First, I will point out that nowhere in our scriptures do we give Satan the title of brother of Jesus. Again, feel free to prove me wrong. Give me the book and the verse that says Satan is the brother of Jesus and I will eat my words, but you can’t. I will quote @slc_saint who has already done a great job addressing this stupid graphic on the matter:
“The scriptures refer to him as
• a son
• accuser of our brethren (who are "our brethren"?)
• he has angels
• a dragon
• he sought to make himself greater than God the Father
So when you ask me if I think he is the brother of Christ, it depends on what you mean by that term.
>> Do we believe they were born of the same mother and on equal terms? Definitely no and no.
>> Do we think he has some origin with God and was called a son. Yes.
>> He was someone who was important that fell.
>> Do we think he was ever considered Christ's equal or counterpart? Definitely not.
>> Do we think he is grossly evil, creepy, and vile? Yes.
>> Do we think he is real and harmful? Yes.
We don't refer to Satan as a brother of Jesus in scriptures, the temple, or in any official revelation or vision."
(https://x.com/slc_saint/status/1708450018665910396?s=20)
Technically, you could say yes that Satan and Christ are, as in they are cut from the same cloth that all eternal beings (you and I included) are cut from. How this is heretical, I don’t know, but I think you denying this denies human nature at its core. I address the implications of that in blog post I wrote last year: https://tdespain.com/children-of-god/
And 5 is just basic Christian belief from Revelation. “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12: 4-9. I guess the Bible is just heretical then? Though I wouldn’t expect anyone who posts this graphic to have actually read the Bible or have the reading comprehension to understand the words that are in it.
6. Not even going to give this the time of day it’s so bombastically idiotic. Show the scriptures and I will address it. Otherwise, just no. Flat out lie. That’s all this is. @slc_saint sheds light on it here: (https://x.com/slc_saint/status/1694752134460240037?s=20).
7. Show me the scriptures. That’s it. Where are the scriptures that teach this? If you actually study our faith you would find that this is actually not doctrine and is in fact debated about among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
8. Show me the scripture that says to reach an exalted state you have to be an upstanding member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to receive exaltation? Exaltation is not a function of following rules that define a “good” member of any church. Exaltation is a gift provided by Jesus Christ on condition of our dedication to Him. We are not given this gift because we do any of those frankly arbitrary things. Through the grace of Christ us we can access that gift through our obedience to His commandments. We are not being “good” church members and getting rewarded for that. We are following Jesus Christ and being His disciples.
Exaltation is not reserved for members of the Church. It is reserved for those who are valiant and forthright in their service and belief in God. All men can receive it, in this life or in the life to come. There will be no LDS Church in the afterlife, there will only be the Kingdom of God, and whether or not you are a part of it is all on you. The ordinances and covenants required to enter that Kingdom will be available to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation in this life. It is not about membership in a church, it is about being a member of God’s Kingdom.
I would say it is far more heretical to claim that one need do nothing than simply proclaim belief in Jesus Christ to enter His kingdom. That is such a bastardized view of Christ’s ministry and teachings. He required EVERYTHING from his disciples. He requires EVERYTHING from us, anything less is not sufficient, as taught by Christ:
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
Please explain to me how heretical it is to precisely follow the commands of Jesus Christ himself?
I’ve touched more on the requirements of exaltation side of this. @slc_saint provides a great writeup on the actual doctrine of deification here: https://x.com/slc_saint/status/1695938025337831552?s=20
9. Actual heresy is the belief that God would separate his children’s families in the afterlife and that he will cast into Hell the vast majority of all humanity with no hope for redemption because they were born outside of the time of Christianity or were unable to access it because of circumstances far beyond their control. Until your theology and religion can square the idea of a loving God that functionally condemns ALL of his children into eternal torment through no fault or decision or action of their own, then no Christian has any leg to stand on here. The version of God you believe is incapable of saving His children.
The true God, the Father of us all and the Ruler and King of the universe is all-powerful and has a plan that is able to account for all the failings of a fallen world. He has the power to save ALL of us if we let him. I much prefer to believe in the true, living, and loving God that has revealed himself to us through his scriptures and modern prophets. That is the real God and He has given us a path to everlasting happiness with our families. I have an idea of what heaven is like because I live it each day with my own family. Please explain to me what parts of life are more heavenly than being a part of a loving and Christ-centered family?
@slc_saint does another great job sourcing scriptures to backup this doctrine, and additionally the idea of temples all together: https://twitter.com/slc_saint/status/1695460571376664953
10. I’ll let @slc_saint address the reductionist view of this claim and expand the doctrine as it deserves: (https://twitter.com/slc_saint/status/1693550379722592681). As for myself I will challenge your very idea of God. To quote myself from the blog post I linked earlier, and as a bonus I’ll include the bit about reductionists such as yourself:
“The people who spread these falsehoods have purposely torn apart and reshaped our true doctrine so that those who read these claims will think, “Wow, that’s insane, how could any reasonable person believe this?” These reductionists claim we think we wear magic underwear or that we’ll be rewarded with our very own planet if we’re good enough. (This one is particularly blasphemous and not just for Latter-day Saints. Anyone who claims this is what LDS doctrine is, has a deep misunderstanding of the very nature of God himself. This claim results to reducing the role of God to being the overseer of one single planet. Is God not the ultimate King of all of the universe and beyond? It is insulting to the highest degree to the very Father that bestowed us with life on this planet in a universe of infinite worlds to suggest that when Christ grants the righteous “to sit with [Him] in [His] throne, even as [He] also overcame, and [is] set down with [the] Father in his throne” (Rev. 2:21) that he means we are to inherit a single planet. Is God the God of just the Earth? Or is he the ruler of the universe and everything beyond? Anyone that would reduce our doctrine to such a ridiculous state is admitting that they do not understand the role of God in the universe as taught by the Bible. And those who cannot, or refuse, to understand God would not know Him if he stood before them and spoke to their faces.)”
I invite any who read this graphic and post to learn the truth, the very truth that Jesus Christ himself revealed to Joseph Smith. The truth that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God, as taught by the Book of Mormon. The truth that covenants and ordinances, given by Jesus Christ and administered by those ordained of God are necessary for entrance into God’s Kingdom. The truth that there is no other way, nor means, nor path to salvation except through Jesus Christ and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is as close to God’s Kingdom on Earth as you can get. We are charged by Christ himself to prepare the world for his coming. And I invite you to be a part of that preparation, so that when Christ comes, you will be at his right hand and recognize Him as He truly is.
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