| PRE-EXISTENCE |
LDS: Teach that everyone pre-existed. We all exist eternally. (D&C
93:29; Bk of Abr 3:21-22; Teachings,
pp. 352-354) |
Bible: Only Christ pre-existed, not
man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) We did
not have a spiritual existence prior to
earth. (1 Cor. 15:46) |
| THE FALL |
LDS: Teach the Fall was a blessing.
Fall brought mortality and physical
death.. Believe Adam was given
conflicting commandments and was
supposed to fall. (Doct. of Salvation
Vol. 1, pp. 111-115; Gospel
Principles, pp. 31-33; 2 Nephi 2:25;
Mor. Doct., pp. 268-269) Bible: God
tempts no one. (James 1:13-14) Man
is basically sinful. (Rom. 8:5-8; 1
Cor. 2:14) SIN LDS: Specific acts,
not man's basic nature. Must know
act is wrong to be a sin. ( Mormon
Doctrine, pp. 550, 735-736) |
Bible: We are in spiritual rebellion
until conversion. (Eph. 2:3; Rom.
5:6) We do not just commit sins; we
are basically sinful. (Matt. 1:21) |
| REPENTANCE |
LDS: Repent of individual acts, not
sinful nature. All sins must be paid for
by reconciling them with equal good
works.(Gospel Prin., p. 39; Doct. of
Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 133; Vol. 2, pp.
16-17) |
Bible: Must repent of basic rebellion.
Also that "repent" means to change
one's mind about sin and not to
reconcile the sin by good works.(Jer.
17:9; Luke 5:32) |
| ATONEMENT - SALVATION
BY GRACE |
LDS: Believe Christ's death brought
release from grave and universal
resurrection. Salvation by grace is
universal resurrection. Beyond this,
man must earn his place in heaven.
Saved by grace after all we can do. (2
Nephi 25:23; Mormon Doctrine pp.
669-671) |
Bible: Salvation is universal in
potential for all who believe and
based on belief of each individual.
This is a relationship with God
through Faith in Christ and His
Redeeming work on the Cross.(Rom.
1:16; Heb. 9:28; Eph. 2:8-9) |
| REDEEMED |
LDS: From mortal death only, not
from sinful rebellion or spiritual
death. (Doct. of Salvation, Vol. 2,
pp. 9-19; Gospel Principles, pp. 74-78; Articles of Faith, #2) |
Bible: Christ redeems from more
than mortal death; redeems us from
spiritual death. (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1)
|
| GOSPEL |
LDS: Doctrines and commandments
of the Mormon Church. True gospel
of Jesus Christ restored by Joseph
Smith. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 331;
334; Doct. of Salvation, Vol. 1, pp.
156-159) |
Bible: Message of Christ's death and
resurrection as atonement for our
sins. (1 Cor. 15:1,4; Gal. 1:8) |
| BORN AGAIN |
LDS: Baptism into the LDS Church.
(Mormon Doctrine, p. 101) |
Bible: We are spiritually dead until
our spiritual rebirth. (1 Pet. 1:23; 2
Cor. 5:17) |
| TRUE CHURCH |
LDS: Only the Mormon Church. The
true church was taken from the earth
until Joseph Smith restored it. (D&C
1:30; 115:3,4; Mormon Doctrine, pp.
133, 136) |
Bible: The invisible Christian Church
is not an organization; as born-again
Christians we are part of God's
Church. The visible Christian Church
is the Assembly which preaches the
Word of God in its purity and
administers the Sacraments according
to God's institution; Specifically
Christ's institution. (1 Cor. 12:12-14;
Matt. 16:18; 18:19-20) |
| AUTHORITY - PRIESTHOOD |
LDS: Believe only LDS have
authority to baptize, ordain, etc.
Have two-part system of priesthood -
Melchizedek and Aaronic. (Doct. of
Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 80-81; D&C
107:1-21) |
Bible: Christ brought end to Aaronic
priesthood and instituted the Public
Ministry in which qualified people
are called by the assembly, who holds
the office of the keys, to serve as
their Public teachers, overseers,
evangelists and representatives of
Christ within the scope of the
particular call they receive. Christ is
the only High Priest after the manner
of Melchizedek. The Priesthood of
all believers gives the responsibility
and authority to act in the Name of
Christ to others in non-corporate
services to others. (Heb. 5:9; 2 Tim.
2:2, 1 Pet. 2:9) |
| BAPTISM |
LDS: Must be performed by LDS
priesthood.. A promise to god to
keep his commandments.(2 Nephi
9:23-24; D&C 20:68-74; Mormon
Doctrine, pp. 69-72) |
Bible: Emphasis is on Believer - not
priesthood authority. God's promise
of Salvation and forgiveness of sins
to the Believer.(Mark 16:15-16; Acts
2:37-41) |
| SONS OF GOD |
LDS: We are all literal spirit children
of God. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 589-590) |
Bible: We become a child of God at
conversion. (John 1:12)
| ETERNAL LIFE |
LDS: Exaltation in Celestial
Kingdom; godhood and ability to
bear children in heaven. Must have a
temple recommend and be sealed in
Mormon temple. (D&C 131:1-4;
132:19-25, 30, 55) |
Bible: Not limited to certain ones in
heaven. No mention of parenthood
or temple marriage but is given to all
Christians. (1 John 5:12-13, Rev.7:9) | |