A Comparison of the LDS Articles of Faith with the Bible - Part 5 by Lloyd Sharp

Article 9: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

" Mormonism claims to have a modern day prophet. This prophet guides the LDS church and claims to be guided by divine revelation from God. In light of this, Mormons are taught to keep their "eye on the prophet - for the Lord will never permit His prophet to lead this Church astray" (Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pg. 142, published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

The prophet (also known as the President) of the LDS church can add to or change LDS scripture when "the Lord" reveals he should do so. This is done in spite of the fact that God himself says, "I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi 3:6). This is best seen with the doctrine of polygamy. According to the second LDS President Brigham Young, polygamy is "a doctrine revealed from heaven" (Young, Journal of Discourses 11:239). "You might as well deny "Mormonism," and turn away from it, as to oppose the plurality of wives" (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 5:203). Despite such claims, it was the "prophet" Wilford Woodruff whose "advice" was to "refrain" from the doctrine of polygamy in 1890 when "the Lord" told him to do so (Declaration 1 in the Doctrine and Covenants).

The question must then be asked, which "prophet" are Mormons to follow? The LDS church in Salt Lake City, Utah, excommunicates anyone caught practicing polygamy. They consider other LDS sects, such as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) to be apostate for practicing polygamy. Yet the FLDS claim only to follow the teachings of the "prophets" Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

Then we must consider that there are those "apostles" in the LDS church who say that "Obviously the holy practice [of polygamy] will commence again after the Second Coming of the Son of Man and the ushering in of the millennium" (Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 578). Needless to say, the contradicting teachings of such "prophets" and "apostles" show that these "prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart" (Jeremiah 14:14).

Mormons often point to Ephesians 2:20 to show that the Bible supports their belief. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone."

Mormons tend to ignore the fact that Jesus Christ is the "chief cornerstone" of this foundation. The cornerstone of ancient buildings was the most crucial in laying a foundation. All other stones were set to line up with the cornerstone. If the cornerstone was off, the entire foundation would be off as well.

As the "chief cornerstone," Jesus taught "all the prophets and the law prophesied until John [the Baptist]" (Matthew 11:13, inserts and italics added). "The law and the prophets were until John [the Baptist]..." (Luke 16:16, insert and italics added). The point Jesus makes is clear. The coming of John the Baptist marked the end of the Old Testament era.

The apostles of Christ fell in line with the "chief cornerstone" and taught this same thing. Paul was clear that "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). Once a foundation is laid, you build a house on it. You do not lay another foundation.

The writer to the Hebrews was very specific on this matter, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2, italics added). God once spoke to us through prophets. He now speaks to his people through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the prophet of prophets. Moses spoke of His coming (Deuteronomy 18:15,18). The Jews of Jesus' day understood that a great prophet would come. They asked John the Baptist if he was the prophet and he said no (John 1:21). Mormonism fails to understand the supremacy of Christ as the leader of His church over earthly prophets. As a result, it attempts to rebuild the foundation that has already been laid.

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