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Authors: Richard Benson,Cindy Benson

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ADAM

Secret 99

Mormonism teaches that Adam and others helped Jesus form the earth:

“Adam and others helped in creation. It is true that Adam helped to form this earth. He labored with our Savior Jesus Christ. I have a strong view or conviction that there were others also who assisted them. Perhaps Noah and Enoch; and why not Joseph Smith… ”
248

What the Bible says:

“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”

(John 1:10)

Secret 100

Mormon doctrine says that Adam, not Jesus Christ, is the only
begotten son of God:

“And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.”
249

What the Bible says:

“And the Word [Jesus Christ] 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.” (John 1:14)

Secret 101

Mormon doctrine declares that Adam had to disobey God and fall into sin:

“…if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen… And they would have had no children… Adam fell that men might be…”
250

“We are also informed in the scriptures that before Adam and Eve transgressed they were without children, and the fall was essential to the peopling of the earth with their offspring.”
251

The following text is from the Mormon Temple Ceremony:

“Eve (speaking): ‘Do you not recollect that Father commanded us to multiply and replenish the earth? I have partaken of this fruit and by doing so shall be cast out, and you will be left a lone man in the Garden of Eden.’

“Adam (speaking): ‘Eve, I see that this must be so. I will partake that men may be.’

“And in that day Adam blessed God… saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy… And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil…”
252

What the Bible says:

It is NEVER good to sin. Genesis 3:12-19 details all of the the bad things that resulted from Adam’s fall. Man, woman, the ground and the serpent were all cursed. Man’s relationship with God was broken. Absolutely nothing good came from it.

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23)

“…sin is a reproach to any people.”

(Proverbs 14:34)

Secret 102

Mormonism says Adam and Eve’s fall wasn’t really a sin:

“The fall of man came as a blessing in disguise… I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin… It is not always a sin to transgress the law. This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin in the strict sense, for it was something that Adam and Eve had to do!”
253

What the Bible says:

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

Secret 103

Mormonism teaches that when Adam fell, he fell upward:

“…Adam fell, but he fell in the right direction. He fell toward the goal… Adam fell, but he fell UPWARD…”
254

What the Bible says:

“…sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

Sin ALWAYS leads to destruction and death… it never leads upwards.

LUCIFER

Secret 104

Mormon doctrine says that Lucifer contested the appointment of Jesus to be the Saviour of the world.

“The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind.”
255

“…when the need for a Redeemer was explained, Satan offered to come into the world as the Son of God and be the Redeemer. ‘Behold, here am I, send me,’ he said, ‘I wilt be thy son.’ ...he sought to deny men their agency and to dethrone God. ‘I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost…”
256

Secret 105

Mormon doctrine says a “grand council” voted for Jesus, instead of Lucifer, to be the Saviour:

“The contention in heaven was—Jesus said there would be certain souls that would not be saved; and the Devil said he could save them all, and laid down his plans before the grand council, who gave their vote in favor of Jesus Christ. So the Devil rose up in rebellion against God, and was cast down, with all who put their heads for him.”
257

What the Bible says:

The Bible says nothing about a “grand council” or a vote. God’s word simply declares:

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

Secret 106

Mormonism says Satan rebelled against God because his offer to redeem mankind was rejected by God:

“With the rejection of his offer… Satan made open warfare against the Lord… ‘A third part of the hosts of heaven’ joined the rebellion; ‘And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels…’ Those thus cast out are denied bodies forever.”
258

What the Bible says:

The Bible says Satan rebelled against God because of his pride. He wanted to be like God:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

(Isaiah 14:12-14)

HELL

One word perfectly describes the Mormonism’s belief about hell… “confusion,” as these quotes show:

Secret 107

Some Mormons say there is no hell:

Mormon apostle John A. Widtsoe declared:

“The meanest sinner will find some place in the heavenly realm… In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is no hell. All will find a measure of salvation… The gospel of Jesus Christ has no hell in the old proverbial sense.”
259

What the Bible says:

“…fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

See also Psalm 9:17, Matthew 23:33, Mark 9:43, Luke 16:23-24, Isaiah 5:14; 14:9, Revelation 20:14-15.

Secret 108

Other Mormon documents claim that there is a hell:

“When the wicked depart this life, they are ‘cast out into outer darkness,’ into hell, where ‘they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord,’ where they are spiritually dead. (Alma 40:13-14.) They remain spiritually dead in hell until the day of their resurrection (D. & C. 76:103-112), until ‘death and hell’ deliver up the dead which are in them, so that they may be judged according to their works.”
260

Secret 109

Mormonism says “eternal punishment” does NOT mean
“punished eternally:”

“Christians believed that to receive eternal punishment was to be punished eternally. This popular Christian error was corrected in a revelation.”
261

Former Mormon president Joseph Fielding Smith tries to explain that quote:

“We learn from the Doctrine and Covenants that eternal punishment, or everlasting punishment, does not mean that a man condemned will endure this punishment forever.”
262

What the Bible says:

“And these shall go away into
everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46)

Secret 110

Mormonism teaches that people can escape from hell:

“Repentance opens the prison doors to the spirits in hell; it enables those bound with the chains of hell to free themselves from darkness, unbelief, ignorance, and sin. As rapidly as they can overcome these obstacles—gain light, believe truth, acquire intelligence, cast off sin, and break the chains of hell—they can leave the hell that imprisons them and dwell with the righteous in the peace of paradise.”
263

“Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment…”
264

What the Bible says:

“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”

(Luke 16:26)

Secret 111

Mormonism contradicts itself on the subject of hell having an end:

Doctrines and Covenants says:

“Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment.”
265

“That part of the spirit world inhabited by wicked spirits who are awaiting the eventual day of their resurrection is called hell… Hell will have an end…”
266

But the Book of Mormon says:

“…not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.”

(1 Nephi 14:3)

Secret 112

Mormonism teaches that “eternal” punishment can last as little as one hour:

“Eternal punishment is God’s punishment; everlasting punishment is God’s punishment or in other words, it is the name of punishment God inflicts, he being eternal in nature. Whosoever, therefore, receives God’s punishment receives eternal punishment, whether it be endured one hour, one week, one year, or an age.”
267

What the Bible says:

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up
for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night…” (Revelation 14:11)

See also Isaiah 66:24, Luke 16:26, Matthew 25:41.

TEMPLE GARMENTS

Secret 113

Special temple garments supposedly protect Mormons from Satan, temptation and evil:

Excerpt from the Mormon Temple Ceremony:

“Brother (or Sister), having authority, I place this garment upon you, which you must wear throughout your life. It represents the garment given to Adam when he was found naked in the Garden of Eden, and is called the Garment of the Holy Priesthood. Inasmuch as you do not defile it, but are true and faithful to your covenants, it will be a shield and a protection to you against the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work here on earth.”

From the First Presidency letter we read:

“Wearing the garment is the sacred privilege of those who have taken upon themselves the covenants of the temple. The garment is a reminder of these covenants and, when properly worn, will serve as a protection against temptation and evil… This sacred covenant is between the member and the Lord and is an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow the Savior Jesus Christ.”
268

What the Bible says:

“…whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)

See also Psalm 118:8, Zechariah 4:6, Ephesians 6:11-17.

BIZARRE TEACHINGS OF BRIGHAM YOUNG

Secret 114

Brigham Young taught that Michael the Archangel brought Eve, one of his many wives, with him down to earth, and became
Adam, our Father and our God:

“When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS!… HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do…”
269

“…Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven.”
270

“He (Adam) sat in the council of the gods in the planning of creation of this earth, and then, under Christ, participated in the creative enterprise… Father Adam… began his earth life as a son of God, endowed with the talents and abilities gained through diligence and obedience in pre-existence. He is the head of all gospel dispensations… the presiding high priest (under Christ) over all the earth; presides over all the spirits destined to inhabit this earth… holds the keys of salvation over all the earth; and will reign as Michael, our prince, to all eternity… He was baptized… married for eternity… He has returned to earth in our day, bringing keys and authorities to the Prophet Joseph Smith…”
271

Brigham Young continued to teach this doctrine.

“Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true.”
272

In 1873, just a few years before he died, Brigham Young proclaimed:

“How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me-namely that Adam is our Father and God…”
273

However, in 1976, Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth Prophet of the LDS church, denounced the Adam-God doctrine:

“We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations such for instance, is the Adam God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine.”
274

In 1980, Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie declared:

“There are those who believe, or say they believe, that Adam is our father and our God… The devil keeps this heresy alive… It is contrary to the whole plan of salvation… and anyone who has received the temple endowment and who yet believes the Adam-God theory does not deserve to be saved.”
275

What the Bible says:

“Wherefore, as by one man {Adam} sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

See also 1 Corinthians 15:22, Genesis 1:27; 2:7.

Secret 115

Brigham Young taught that every earth needs its own
redeemer:

“Every earth has its redeemer, and every earth has its tempter; and every earth, and the people thereof, in their turn and time, receive all that we receive, and pass through all the ordeals that we are passing through.”
276

What the Bible says:

“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25)

Secret 116

Brigham Young taught that adulterers must be killed… by her nearest relative:

“The man who seduces his neighbors wife must die, and her nearest relative must kill him!”
277

What the Bible says:

“…avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

(Romans 12:19)

Secret 117

Brigham Young taught that thieves should also be killed:

“I should be perfectly willing to see thieves have their throats cut.”
278

“If you want to know what to do with a thief that you may find stealing, I say kill him on the spot.”
279

What the Bible says:


“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

(
Ephesians 4:32
)

Secret 118

Brigham Young taught that people live on the moon and sun:

“Who can tell us of the inhabitants of… the moon? …when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain.”
280

Secret 119

Brigham Young believed that gold and silver grew like hair:

“Gold and silver grow, and so does every other kind of metal, the same as the hair upon my head, or the wheat in the field.”
281

Secret 120

Brigham Young claimed that every sermon he preached
became scripture:

“I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture.”
282

What the Bible says:

2 Timothy 3:16 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” Obviously, God did not inspire Brigham Young to write that men live on the moon and gold and silver grow like hair.

BOOK: Secrets Mormons Don't Want You To Know
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