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Term
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LDS Definition
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The Bible Teaches
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Pre-Existence
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Everyone pre-existed; we all exist eternally.
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Only Christ pre-existed, not man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) We
didn't have a spiritual existence prior to earth. (1 Cor.
15:46)
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Fall
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Brought mortality and physical death, not a fallen nature.
God gave Adam two conflicting commandments and doomed him to
fall. Adam’s fall was a noble choice, not sin. He “fell
upward” making it possible for him to be glorified to
godhood.
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God tempts no one. (James 1:13-14).
Man is basically sinful (Rom. 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 2:14)
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Sin
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A specific act of disobedience, not man’s basic nature
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We are in spiritual rebellion until conversion. (Eph. 2:3;
Rom. 5:6). We do not become sinful because we sin, we sin
because we are basically sinful. (Matt. 1:21)
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Repentance
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Need to repent of individual sinful acts, not related to a
sinful nature.
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Must repent of basic rebellion that is part of our sinful
nature. (Jer. 17:9; Luke 5:32)
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Atonement/Salvation
by Grace
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Christ’s death brought release from the grave and provided
for universal resurrection. Salvation by grace is universal
resurrection; beyond this resurrection, man must earn his
place in heaven.
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Salvation is not universal, but is based on the faith of
each individual. (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 9:28; Eph. 2:8-9)
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Redeemed
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Christ redeemed all people from mortal death only; not from
sinful rebellion or spiritual death.
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Christ redeems the elect from both physical and spiritual
death. (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1)
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Gospel
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Mormon Church system and doctrines.
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Message of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as
atonement for our sin.
(1 Cor. 15:1:4; Gal. 1:8)
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Born Again
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Baptism into LDS Church.
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We are spiritually dead until our spiritual rebirth, (1 Pet.
1:23; 2 Cor. 5:17)
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True Church
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Only the Mormon Church. The true church was taken from earth
until Joseph Smith restored it.
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As a born-again Christian we are part of God’s Church (His
“elect” or “called-out ones.” (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt.
18:19-20; Matt. 16:18)
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Authority and
Priesthood
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Only LDS have authority to baptize, ordain, etc. They have a
two-part system of priesthood: Melchizedek and Aaronic.
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Christ brought and end to the Aaronic (Levitical) priesthood
and is the ONLY High Priest after the manner of Meichizedek;
i.e., a Priest forever. (Heb. 5:9; 2 Tim. 2:2)
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Baptism
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Must be performed by a member of the LDS priesthood.
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Emphasis is on the believer and his relationship to God, not
on the authority of any priesthood except Christ’s. (Mark
16:15-16)
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Sons of God
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We are all literal spirit children of God.
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We become a child of God at conversion. (John 1:12)
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Eternal Life
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Exaltation in Celestial Kingdom and elevation to deity, with
the ability to bear children in heaven and reign over a
world of his own; Must have a temple marriage to qualify.
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The gift of God given freely to all His elect; not limited
to certain individuals in heaven. There is no mention of
parenthood or temple marriage. In fact, there is no marriage
in heaven. (1 John 5:12-13)
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Immortality
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Universal gift to all, the ability to live forever. But
different from “Eternal Life.”
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All men are “immortal” in the sense that they will live
forever; the justified will live in eternal bliss in the
presence of God; the lost will live in eternal torment
separated from the presence of God. (2 Tim. 1:10)
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Heaven
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Divided into three kingdoms: Celestial, Terrestrial, and
Telestial. There is a place for almost everyone (they misuse
1 Cor. 15:40-41)
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Only mentions two conditions: life eternal in heaven or
everlasting punishment in hell. (Matt. 25: 31-46)
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Kingdom of God
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The Celestial Kingdom: only those in the Celestial Kingdom
are in God's presence. Those in Terrestrial or Telestial
Kingdoms aren’t in the presence of “The Heavenly Father.”
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All redeemed will be in God’s presence. (Rev. 21:1-3). All
believers are part of Kingdom. (Matt. 13: 4143)
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Hell
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Hell as an institution is eternal; inmates come and go as in
jail; don't spend eternity there; stay until one has paid
debt to God.
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No mention of people getting out of Hell. (Rev. 21:8; Matt.
13:24-43 and 47-50; Luke 16:26)
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Godhead
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Father God is a resurrected man with physical body, Christ
is a separate resurrected man with physical body, Holy Ghost
is a separate man with a spiritual body — Three totally
separate Gods.
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God not a man. (Num. 23:19). Only one God. (Isa. 43:10-11;
44:6; 45:21-22). Father is Spirit and Invisible. (John 4:24;
1 Tim. 1:17)
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Holy Ghost
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Is a separate God from Father and Son; different from Holy
Spirit. Holy Ghost is a person; Holy Spirit is influence
from Father and not personal.
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Same Greek word used for Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit (1 Cor.
3:16 and 6:19)
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Virgin Birth
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God, as a resurrected, physical man, is literal Father of
Jesus in the same manner in which men are conceived on
earth; believe Matt. 1:18 in error
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Says Mary was “with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 1:18;).
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