Latter-day Saint Views on the Bible: A Comparative Analysis

Photo by Rachel Strong on Unsplash

Words carry immense significance in any discourse, especially when discussing religious beliefs and doctrines. In their latest post, the writer at Life After Ministries blog attempts to utilize 1 Timothy 4:16 to critique what they term the "lies of Mormonism." The writer emphasizes that Christians should heed not just God's words, but also be aware of the so-called false teachings within the LDS Church. This careful attention or heed involves scrutinizing the teachings of LDS leaders like Ezra Taft Benson, specifically a lengthy quotation from an article published in the November 1984 edition of the Ensign magazine.

From the writer's perspective, Christians are encouraged to "read over the Mormon reference" to identify contradictions taught by Ezra Taft Benson during his time as an LDS Apostle, just before he became a Prophet. The underlying call is for Christians to notice how these teachings allegedly deviate from Biblical truths. The writer argues that the LDS Church has an agenda to malign the Lord, and that they target anything related to God, whether it be the Lord Himself, the body of Christ, or His infallible word.

The writer's assertion is that Latter-day Saint Christians might knowingly or unknowingly participate in planting seeds of doubt, purportedly as part of their doctrinal dissemination. They caution Evangelical Christians to remember that the average Mormon may be unaware of the supposed malicious nature of their doctrine, thus urging a compassionate but firm approach when witnessing.

However, while words are indeed significant, it's crucial to recognize the potential for confirmation bias and prejudicial views that can distort the discourse. The writer at Life After Ministries appears to project their own biases by cherry-picking scriptures like 1 Timothy 4:16 and selectively quoting Ezra Taft Benson to paint a narrative that may not fully represent LDS beliefs. Such tactics, including poisoning the well and begging the question, are indicative of toxic apologetics, which are unfortunately employed by some within the Evangelical Christian community to dismiss Latter-day Saint perspectives.

As someone engaged in both Reformed Theological Christian and Latter-day Saint Christian apologetics, I recognize the importance of approaching these discussions with integrity and respect. Words should illuminate rather than obfuscate, and our discourse should strive towards understanding rather than division. It's imperative to acknowledge the depth and sincerity of LDS Christians' faith in the Bible and their daily dependence on it.

Thus, while words are powerful tools for addressing differing beliefs, they must be used responsibly. Misrepresenting or undermining another's faith through selective interpretation and biased conclusions does a disservice to genuine theological dialogue. The goal should be to foster conversations that are truthful, respectful, and enriching for all parties involved.

BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER AND READ FULL CONTENT HERE