world religions - mormonism - jr. forasteros

World Religions

The Gospel and Friendship in a Pluralistic Suburb

What Do You Know?

What

Do you have any personal experience with Mormonism?

What do you know about Mormons?

What questions do you have about Mormonism?

1.2.

3.4.

Our “Mars Hill” Methodology

1.

• A basic introduction to the faith’s worldview

2.

• Areas of agreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice

3.

• Areas of disagreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice

GOAL: To equip you to build a truth-seeking relationship with someone of another faith.

Mormonism

Saints Living in the Latter Days

What’s in a Name?Nazarenes

Evangelicals

Nicene Christianit

y

Mormonism

The Birth of Mormonism: America

19th Century America:

Frontier Faiths

Choice Paralysis

Joseph Smith, Jr.

Receives a revelation from

God

The Birth of Mormonism: Revelations

Canon

Closed

Canon

Open

The Book of Mormon

The Birth of Mormonism: Westward

Pennsylvania

Revelations

Ohio1831-38

Missouri1838-39

Illinois1839-44

UtahBrigham Young

Branches of Mormonism Today

Latter Day

Saints

• Largest denomination

• Followed Brigham Young

• Based in Utah

Community of

Christ

• Formerly RLDS• Followed Joseph

Smith, III• Trinitarian• Based in

Missouri

Funda-mentalis

m

• Polygamist groups

• Scattered across US

• About 20,000

Mormon Scriptures: The Standard Works

Bible Book of Mormon

Doctrines &

Covenants

Pearl of Great Price

Mormonism: The Church with Authority?

Jesu

s fo

unds

Chu

rch

12 A

post

les

•Pe

ter,

Jam

es

and

John

•Rep

laci

ng

Juda

s Gre

at

Apo

stas

y

Keys

are

lost

Bis

hops

tak

e ov

erD

enom

inat

ions

for

m

God

ord

ains

Jose

ph

Smith

Jr

Res

tore

s or

igin

al

Chu

rch

Adm

inis

ters

G

od’s

au

thor

ity

Mormonism: The Church with Authority?

Aaronic(Levitical)

All men 12-18

Melchizedek

Elder

High Priest

Bishop

70

Mormonism: The Church with Authority?

Prophet

Councilors

Council of 12

Apostles7

Quorums of 70

Stakes

Bishops

Mormonism: All in the Family

God in Mormonism

God the Heavenly Father

Created Our Univer

se

Physical

Body

Divine Spouse

Birthed Spiritu

al Childre

n

Humans in Mormonism

We pre-exist as Intelligences

Exact nature and origin are unknown

Birthed as Spiritual Children

Lesser than GodWe desire the ability to become like God

Encased in Bodies

Souls given the chance to growLearning Good/EvilNeed a way to get back to God

Jesus in Mormonism

Heavenly Mother

Heavenly Father

Lucifer You Me Holy Ghost

Jesus

Mormonism: Together Forever

Telestial

Terrestrial

Celestial

Other Mormon Practices

Dietary Restrictions

Mission

Baptism for the Dead

Marriage

Temple Garments

Building Bridges to Mormonism

We both value a relationship with God

We both love Jesus!

We have a common sacred history

We both value Family and Tradition

Is God Trinity?

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Polytheism

Ghost

Father

Son

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Making vs. Begetting

God

Father

SonSpirit

God/Father

Son

Ghost

Mormonism Christianity

Christianity: God became Human

Mormonism: Humans become God

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Is God Trinity?

Is Jesus God?

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

God

Father

SonSpirit

Incarnation

• Jesus is Godin flesh.

Is God Trinity?

Is Jesus God?

The Gender of God

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Male

Female

Is God Trinity?

Is Jesus God?

The Gender of God

New Testament

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

The King James Version

* Based on recent manuscripts.* Lots of translation errors.* New translations are very accurate.

A Closed Canon

The New Testament was closed in the 400s by consensus of the Churches under authority of the Holy Spirit.

Church Tradition

We have full confidence that the Holy Spirit has preserved the True Church.

Is God Trinity?

Is Jesus God?

The Gender of God

New Testament

Church Authority

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Authority

mediated only by God

Authori

ty mediated by Keys given

to human

ity

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

Is God Trinity?

Is Jesus God?

The Gender of God

New Testament

Church Authority

Where Christianity and Mormonism Disagree

How Not to Build a Friendship

Don’t argue over who’s really Christian

Don’t call Latter Day Saints a cult

Avoid the stereotypes

Polygamy

How to Be a Perfect Stranger

Worship is on Sundays

Similar to Protestant worship

Open Table Sacrament

Singing and Preaching

Different from Temples

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