p. 10 | D. A. PARSONS by D. A. PARSONS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 10, 1908

D. A. PARSONS

By D. A. PARSONS

Mormonism—No. 1

D. A. PARSONS

The sect known as Mormons was founded by Joseph Smith in the year 1830, and received from him its official title of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Twelve apostles were chosen to take their place in the church, as in primitive times, and the priesthood system was re-established. But a more exalted position was reserved for Joseph Smith. He claimed to be the oracle of God to the denomination and to the world, and to possess more than human authority among men.

Soon after Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844, Brigham Young was “elected” prophet, seer, and revelator, and thus became, they say, the channel through whom the Lord continued to speak, and to give “the choicest fruit that can be culled from the tree of knowledge, suited to the taste of all who can appreciate such delicious food.”—Journal of Discourses, Vol. II (Preface).

The almost unlimited power that these

priest-leaders have in the Mormon Church, is clearly set forth in the following language:— > “Those holding the fulness of the Melchizedek priesthood are kings and priests of the most high God, holding the keys of power and blessings! In fact, that priesthood is a perfect law of theocracy, and stands as God to give laws to the people.”—“Compendium,” page 279. “Men who hold the priesthood possess divine authority thus to act for God.”—“New Witness for God,” page 187.

That Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were thought to possess this “priesthood” and “divine authority,” is evident from the following words:— > “That was the grit Joseph Smith had; and when he spoke, he spoke by the power of an endless priesthood which was upon him, and that is the power by which Brigham speaks.”—“Journal of Discourses,” Vol. I, page 348.

Any man in any church who is believed to possess such remarkable powers as are here claimed for Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, must stand there as supreme authority in spiritual matters, and such is the authority of these men in Mormon theology. Mormon literature claims that “to the saints their words [and the words of their twelve apostles] are as the words of God, their teachings fraught with heavenly wisdom, and their directions leading to salvation and eternal lives.”—“Journal of Discourses,” Vol. IV (Preface).

As they assert that these men “possessed divine authority thus to act for God,” and their words were “as the words of God,” we therefore appeal to their sermons officially published by the Mormon Church; for they rightly represent her doctrines both secretly and publicly taught. Two of the following quotations are sworn statements; the others are taken directly from Mormon publications as they lie before us. None are garbled, nor does the context change their meaning in the least.

Baptism for the Dead

A very prominent but not secret feature of Mormon theology is baptism for the dead. It is a curious fact that not less than nine tenths of their converts are first deceived, bewildered, and then caught by this specious deception. As authority for the doctrine they quote Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 15:29: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”

There are several interpretations of this passage. Some say that it refers to immersion into the death of Christ, and thus becomes a pledge of the resurrection. Others contend that the apostle identified those apostates who rejected the resurrection (verse 12) with those who practised the rite; hence his pointed question, “If the dead rise not at all, why are they then baptized for the dead?” Paul’s failure to rebuke the doctrine there and then would not prove that he favored it; for it may have been one of those things left to be “set in order” when he came. 1 Cor. 11:34.

One thing is certain,—if the rite was ever practised, there is no mention of it, except in the possible example of a few Corinthian apostates. Such guides are not a law unto God’s people. Nevertheless the Mormon Church says, “If those who die unbaptized are to obtain salvation, the necessary ordinances will have to be attended to by proxy.”—“Rays of Living Light,” No. 11. But unfortunately for Mormon theology, Joseph Smith unwittingly exposed the fallacy of this idea by relating the following vision:—

“The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God. . . . I saw the transcended beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter. . . . I saw . . . my father and my mother, my brother Alvin, that has long since slept, and marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins. Thus the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying, ‘All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts.’”—“Compendium,” page 267.

Of course this is diametrically opposed to what Smith taught elsewhere, but contradictions are not uncommon in his writings. His surprise, together with the explanation of the “voice,” is proof that his brother had not been baptized by proxy. As his parents were alive when the “vision” was given, it describes a future condition of affairs. He saw what will be. He saw his brother as he will be in heaven, and expressly states that he “obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, . . . and had not been baptized.” If Alvin can get there under such conditions, it follows that others may, and this is exactly what the voice said.

God Responsible for Sin

One of the most wicked doctrines taught by Mormonism is that God gave a command, according to their interpretation of which sin became compulsory. In proof of this we appeal to the “Book of Mormon,” 2 Nephi 2:23, 25, and to the “Compendium of Their Doctrines,” pages 5, 119. These say:— > “And now if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen, . . . and they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. . . . Adam fell that men might be.” “She, being deceived, forced upon him the necessity of partaking of the forbidden fruit with her, or of remaining in a condition where it would have been impossible to fulfil the first great commandment of the Father.” “Here Adam tells the Lord, by way of apology, that in order to keep his commandment that he and the woman should remain together, he was compelled to partake of the forbidden fruit after her.”

Perish the impious thought that in order to obey God’s commandments, the sinless Adam was “compelled” to sin! But these statements do more than to affirm that he was forced to disobey. They claim it was necessary for Adam and Eve to experience “misery” and “sin,” or they could have “no children,” “no joy,” and could do “no good.” This is blasphemy. They try to shift the responsibility of sin on God, and thus make him the author of sin and death. Therefore Mormonism is not to be chosen; for its god is the god of evil.

Not content with these charges, they lower the divine Being to the level of “an exalted man,” and declare that he died a natural death. They say: “The Father hath some day laid down his life, and taken it again.” “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret.”—“Compendium,” page 278; “Journal of Discourses,” Vol. VI, page 3.

It seems to us hardly possible to show more dishonor to Jehovah, or more contempt for his holy name. It is written, “I am God, and not man.” Hosea 11:9.

More Idolatry

A sermon in which Brigham Young repeatedly denies the divinity of Christ, by asserting that he had two human parents, leaves no doubt who this man-god is. Invested with all his “divine authority,” Brigham Young declared:—

“Now hear it, O inhabitants of earth, Jew and Gentile, saint and sinner! 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! about whom holy men have written and spoken. HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christian or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later.”—“Journal of Discourses,” Vol. I, page 50. (Italics and capitals theirs.)

No comment is necessary to show the blasphemous nature of this statement. The vital bearing it has on the Mormon religion is patent to all. Brigham Young expressed it thus:—

“Now let all who may hear these doctrines pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference; for they will prove their salvation or damnation.”—“Journal of Discourses,” Vol. I, page 51.

Joseph Smith was the first to teach these ideas to his people. He frequently said that Adam is the being mentioned by Daniel as “the Ancient of days” be-fore whom the books were opened, and the judgment was set. And as the Scriptures say these events will take place “before God,” the unavoidable conclusion is that Joseph Smith believed and taught the Adam-God theory. Compare “Doctrine and Covenants,” Sections 27, 11, 116, with Dan. 7:9, 10; Rev. 20:12.

Mormon leaders are now striving hard to evade or hide from the public view this idolatrous thing; but they can not truthfully deny their own words. The church must either acknowledge that Adam is her “only god,” and the judge of the world, or denounce Smith and Young as false teachers. Either course would be equally fatal to Mormonism. A good sample of the various methods resorted to by their leaders to cover up their most objectionable doctrines is found on page 293 of a recently published work entitled, “Scientific Aspects of Mormonism.” The book was written by a professor in Brigham Young University, and the foot-note of that same page quotes Brigham Young’s statement thus:—

“Adam is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we shall have [immediately] to do.”

But the quotation is garbled, twisted, interpolated. Why, we ask, was the word “shall” inserted, with nothing to indicate that it did not belong there? The answer is obvious. It was to prepare the way for the explanatory word “immediately.” Such are the unscrupulous methods that help to make up the “Scientific Aspects of Mormonism”!

Asheville, N. C.