A Latter Day Saint Quick Reference

God - The God that we recognize on earth is merely one of millions of gods that started on the pathway of their eternal progression in much the same way that we currently live. By merging faith with works, a faithful Mormon can someday achieve god-hood. Through producing millions of spirit children through sexual relations with one's wife (or wives), an incipient god populates their own planet. God is flesh and blood.

Jesus - Jesus is our spirit brother and also the brother of Satan. Jesus' plan of how people would become gods was chosen over Satan's plan by God the Father. This sibling rivalry sparked the rebellion of Satan and his followers who were forever denied the opportunity to take flesh and blood bodies. Jesus is more of a pathfinder than the Savior who paid for all sins and who secured all of the blessings of eternal life.

Heaven - Three levels exist and almost everyone gets into the lowest level known as the terrestrial heaven. Telestial heaven is reserved for Mormons who don't quite do all that is necessary to achieve godhood. Celestial heaven is reserved for the faithful Mormons who are given the right to see the face of God the Father and who also secure the privilege of godhood through faith and works. After death, everyone is resurrected and given a second chance to accept the Mormon Gospel.

Hell - Reserved for only a very few apostate Mormons who attack the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Salvation - There is a difference in Mormon terminology between the phrases "eternal life" and "salvation." Eternal life is achieving the ability by personal merit and faith to become a god. Salvation is generally available to everyone through the merits of Christ's salvific work.

Bible - The Bible is accurate only as far as it has been properly interpreted. Mormonism contends that the Christian faith was lost shortly after the passage of the twelve apostles. The Bible was also lost in its true form. Joseph Smith restored the Gospel through translating the Book of Mormon. Though the Bible has a secondary role in the life of the Mormon faithful, the reliable words of God may be found in the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants.

For more thorough coverage of Latter Day Saint beliefs, visit the following sites:

• Utah Lighthouse Ministries - http://www.utlm.org/navtopicalindex.htm
• Mormon Official Website - http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/
• Walter Martin Site - http://www.waltermartin.org/eyewit.html

A Theology of Abandonment

I heard a message last Wednesday from John MacArthur which he preached in May of 2007. The message had been recommended by a friend. While the content of the message was not shocking, it was rather shocking to hear a major pastor lay it on the line.

MacArthur announced that he believed that America has been abandoned by God. He then went on and developed an extremely compelling theology of abandonment using Romans 1 as the linchpin of his argument.

He noted that among all the nations that God had abandoned in the Bible, that America has surpassed all of them in the breadth of its iniquity.

There are certain practical and personal implications for Christians in the United States if God has abandoned us. How should we rear our children? What should we expect to happen to American media in the next ten years? Of the influences that currently shape us, how will these influences begin to falter? What is our role as proclaimers of the Gospel? Should we separate? How can we escape from inclusion in God's wrath? How do we help others to escape?

In ages past, heroes of Biblical proportions were faced with hard choices in light of God's abandonment of their cultures. We live in no less momentous times if MacArthur is right. For my part, I came to the same conclusion almost ten years ago.

While America has likely been abandoned, there is always an opportunity to forestall God's wrath.

Psalm 81:13-14

"If my people would but listen to me,
how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!"

Note: For a transcript of MacArthur's sermon, visit http://www.gty.org/Resources/transcripts/80-184.