November 25, 2007

The race for president has become extremely interesting this year because of religion. Is Barack Obama a Moslem? What religion is Hilary Clinton? It is common knowledge that Mike Huckabee is a Baptist preacher, and Fred Thompson was once a New Testament Christian. The religions of these however are not creating the buzz; it is the religion of Mitt Romney that has people talking.

Romney is a Mormon (Enlightener, March 18, 2007) and because of the odd beliefs of Mormonism he finds himself under fire. A couple weeks ago Romney made a speech in which he made the case for religious tolerance for all Americans including those who are seeking the presidency.

The other day Mike Huckabee stirred the pot again with his comment that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan were (are) brothers. Romney and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) quickly denied this belief.

Mr. Romney may make a fine president if he is elected; insofar as false doctrine is concerned I could not or would not distinguish between Mormonism, Episcopalianism, the Baptist Church or the Catholic Church, et al. However, the charge made by Huckabee is true – sort of.

W. John Walsh, a Mormon representative said this in reference to the question: Is Satan the brother of Jesus? “This is a common question asked by those exposed to Anti-Mormon literature. Anti-Mormons often twist our doctrines out of context to make people falsely believe that Latter-Day Saints denigrate Jesus and consider Satan and the Lord to be equals. Of course, anyone familiar with our beliefs about Jesus Christ knows that we have the utmost respect and reverence for Our Savior and Redeemer.

First, Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father (and is therefore divine) and the mortal Virgin Mary. Satan, a malignant spirit, does not share this parental heritage of Jesus, and cannot be considered divine in any respect. Therefore, in the usual way that we speak of brothers and sisters, Jesus and Satan are not brothers.

However, Latter-day Saints believe that God is our Father in Heaven. Before we came to this world, we all lived as spirits under his care and guidance. We believe that God begat or created the spirits of Jesus, Lucifer, and all of the human family as his children. Our Heavenly Father is literally the father of our spirits.” (Emphasis mine, jrb).

Walsh says the Mormon belief is twisted, is it? He said that Satan does not share a common mother (the Virgin Mary) with Jesus. Thus, in the common way of speaking of brothers and sisters, Jesus and Satan are not brothers. Then he goes on to make the case that Jesus, Satan and all, including you and me, are brothers and sisters.

Such bobbing and weaving is typical with Mormonism. They are slippery and evasive when it comes to admitting what they actually believe. For example, they claim to believe in God the Father and Jesus as His Son.

What they do not tell you, however, is this: they believe that at one time God, the Father was a mere man. That is, God the Father is an exalted man (a man who has progressed to godhood) with a body of flesh and bones. Their founder, Joseph Smith said: “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man...I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in a form-like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 1973 ed., p. 346). Also, a book they consider to be divinely inspired (Doctrines and Covenants, 130:22) says, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also.”

Mormonism teaches that God the Father became a God after learning truth, aggressively pursuing godhood, and being obedient to the laws of the gospel. They claim that God is not a uniquely eternal being. They teach that all spirit is self-existent matter and is eternal (without beginning or end). Such matter (called intelligences) sometimes becomes organized into a spirit being through birth to celestial parents. Then that spirit is born through human parents on earth. Like all people, God took this course and eventually reached Godhood. If you think that is bizarre – you are right!

Furthermore Mormonism teaches that Jesus and Satan are created beings and are brothers. They try to have it both ways but can’t.

Kevin Graham, a Mormon apologist said: “One of the most common misunderstandings about LDS (Latter Day saints, jrb) doctrine is that we believe Jesus and Lucifer to be brothers. This is a true belief among Latter-day Saints.” Graham complains, however, that this doctrine is misunderstood by non-Mormons because we are blinded by our belief in the Trinity (the belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, compose the Godhead).

Graham goes on to complain that “This undoubtedly derives from their continual acceptance of creeds of ancient theologians who conjured the ‘Trinity’ doctrine . . . (prohibiting) one to see Christ as anything other than God the Father himself in the flesh.”

Before coming to earth Jesus appeared in heaven as God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” (Jn 1:1). Jesus is not a created being; He is God manifest in human flesh (1 Tim 3:16).

No one knows with certainty the origin of Satan. But what is known is that it is total nonsense (might I say FALSE DOCTRINE) to even suggest that Jesus and Satan are brothers in any way, shape, manner, or form.

The Mormon doctrine of Jesus demeans both the Father and the Son. Whether Mr. Romney actually fully understands the tenets of Mormonism I have no way of knowing. However, as a Mormon he endorses all their beliefs; with his money he not only endorses them but helps to propagate them.

This is not written to approve of or debase any presidential candidate. If my vote depended upon the religious orthodoxy of any, then I could not cast a vote. I simply write this to help set the record straight. Mormons do believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers.