Reasons starting with V

Reasons Starting with V


v1Vocabulary

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1537; Although Latter-day Saints share with other Christian faiths a general Judeo-Christian linguistic heritage, “Mormon language” includes many words and phrases that have distinctive meanings.  Also, many words commonly used in other branches of Christianity are not common in LDS language.

Romans 1:22-23; Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

This is one of the top signs of a cult.  When a group of people change the meanings of words it is for one purpose only.  To define their own theology and to confuse the members.

Vocabulary of Mormons Unique

Preach My Gospel, pg. 21; Defining Words…We have a powerful message with a unique vocabulary.  Just as a physician speaks differently in the family waiting room than in the operating room, so too must you learn to speak so that those who are unfamiliar with our message can understand what you are teaching.

Matthew 5:15; Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

The only reason the LDS Church has to explain the English language to an English speaking audience is because they have changed the meanings of the English words they employ.  The surgeon uses layman terms with families because most people don’t speak Latin and/or aren’t trained in surgical terminology.

Virgin Birth

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 822; Our Lord is the only mortal person ever born to a virgin, because he is the only person who ever had an immortal Father. Mary, his mother, “was carried away in the Spirit” (1 Ne. 11:13-21), was “overshadowed” by the Holy Ghost, and the conception which took place “by the power of the Holy Ghost” resulted in the bringing forth of the literal and personal Son of God the Father. (Alma 7:10; 2 Ne. 17:14; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38.) Christ is not the Son of the Holy Ghost, but of the Father.

Luke 1:26-28; And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (See entire passage Luke 1:26-56)

Contrary to popular Mormon belief, God did not have sex with Mary.

Virtue

God Delights in Chastity

Moroni 9:9; And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—

John 15:15-16; Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Why is chastity and virtue the most precious thing?  What about your life?

Raped Daughter Better off Dead

Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 194; I would rather follow her to the grave, and send her home pure, than suffer my daughter to be prostituted. I will not suffer any female member of my family to be polluted through the corruptions of wicked men. 2:322.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27; But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

What an evil, evil, wicked man he was.  Isn’t prostituting your daughter the same as having her betrothed to a relative amongst several other wives?

Virtue Worth More Than Life

Miracle of Forgiveness, pg. 61; Your virtue is worth more than your life. Please, young folk, preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives. Do not tamper with sin … do not permit yourselves to be led into temptation. Conduct yourselves seemly and with due regard, particularly you young boys, to the sanctity of womanhood. Do not pollute it.

Isaiah 43:1-4; But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.  4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Ditto.

Visions from God

Milton Backman, Jr., Ensign, January 1985; On at least four different occasions, Joseph Smith either wrote or dictated to scribes accounts of his sacred experience of 1820… In an important way, the existence of these different accounts helps support the integrity of the Latter-day Saint Prophet. It indicates that Joseph did not deliberately create a memorized version which he related to everyone. In the legal profession, attorneys and judges recognize that if a witness repeats an incident by using precisely the same language, the court might challenge the validity of such a statement…Indeed, there are long-standing precedents for differing accounts of the same spiritual experience. For example, the four Gospels do not correspond exactly concerning the great events at the garden’s empty tomb. There are variations as to the number of women and angels who were present and whether the angels were sitting or standing. Although the Prophet Joseph Smith in his inspired translation clarified some of these details (and others cited below), minor disparities remain in the four descriptions of this event (compare Matt. 28 with Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20). The differences, however, are not important—they may have resulted from incorrect transmissions or translations, or may be the result of recording the event from different perspectives. The glorious fact remains that the tomb was empty because Jesus had risen as the first fruits of the Resurrection.

Jeremiah 14:14; Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Having a different perspective of the same event is only good if you’re using the testimonies of MORE THAN ONE person.  All nine different accounts came from ONE person – Joseph Smith.  When the same person gives nine different stories it’s called lying.

All 9 versions of the first vision can be found at http://www.lifeafter.org/jsmith

Visions of Joseph Smith

Teachings of David O. McKay, pg. 91; His declaration was simple but positive; and he was surprised when men doubted its truth. To him his claim was but the statement of a simple fact; to the Christian world it proved to be a lightning flash that, striking, weakened their religious structure from turret to foundation.

John 12:48; He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Smith wasn’t surprised, he was mad that people found him out.

Volunteerism

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1539; Members strive to govern themselves and voluntarily find ways to serve within the principles, objectives, and guidelines taught by the Church. While all members are commanded to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will” (D&C 58:27), it is not customary for members to offer unsolicited advice, to intervene in the responsibilities of others, or to suggest themselves for specific Church callings. Most members accept whatever callings are extended to them, and few request to be released except under difficult circumstances.

James 2:17-18; Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

No we wouldn’t want the Mormons to be inspired to do something unsolicited like think for themselves or to be inspired by God instead of the Church…good grief.  They don’t request to be released because they know it’ll cost them their temple recommend.

 

Reasons Starting With W