A look at the Mormons

In studying the Mormon religion after looking at the Jehovah witness' the winner goes to the Mormons for being the more ridiculous of the two. I will begin with some back ground on this group, they were started by a mere mortal by the name of Joseph Smith Jr. who after a couple of angelic visitations and visions claimed to be given a new revelation to the truth of the Holy scriptures. The first vision, according to Mormon history, happened when a revival broke out in Palmyra, New York 1820 and a young Joseph Smith Jr. confused by the people all claiming a different sect as the one to follow Methodist,Baptist and so on, led him to inquire of the Lord as to which to follow. He claims that during this inquiry of God that a being appeared to him, at age 15, that he was not to follow any of these for they were all wrong and they were all an abomination in his sight even using scripture from the New Testament writings to make this point to young Smith. In 2nd Corinthians 11:14 it tells us that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light so the idea that Smith did receive a visit is not unbelievable to me, in fact I think it probably happened but it was not God. The fact that the "being" used scripture to make his point reminds me of when Satan tried tempting Jesus in the desert but  it did not work with Him, unfortunately in Smiths' case it did. Smith moved in with his father-in-law after the second vision he received in September of 1823. In that vision he was told of these gold plates that he had to get at a place the "being" would show him. He began to translate the gold plates with, by his account,Divine help and then published the translation, which was financed by a farmer who he told the writings were "reformed Egyptian."  April 6, 1930 in Fayette, New York "the church of Jesus Christ" was officially organized with 6 members the name was eventually changed to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The membership grew quickly and started moving around. The group met with a lot of adversity which led to Smith creating an army of about 200 men at one point, Smith was arrested with his brother Hyrum after having a press destroyed for publishing anti-Mormon material and was killed along with his brother by a mob who stormed the jail, according to Mormon history he did not go down without a fight. Brigham Young  took leadership after that and eventually ended up in Utah. The Mormons reject the doctrine of the Trinity as well as eternal punishment. Jesus to them is just the same as anyone else, just another pre-existing soul with the chance to achieve what Jesus did. Although with the works based salvation that they preach why do you need a savior at all ? And who cares really, there is no hell according to the Mormons. But what they do offer to the best of their clan is the chance to advance to god like status which comes with a whole host of perks to include rule and reign over your own planet someday with a host of heavenly wives,but you can start the hIran here and now. Sorry they really go off the deep end, they have had like 3000 revisions to their doctrine in their relatively short history why because they are changing with the times and the Bible of historic Christianity says God is the same yesterday, today and forever. These cults all have the same common thread they don't dig what the bible says so they change it to accommodate what they want it to be like or what they feel it should be like. I could write pages on examples of all the little wrongs but why, after you take Jesus from His rightful place and put him in with the masses your jacked already. The rest after that matters little.They believe in what they call "the living prophet" who is the head of the church and transfers from leader to leader as they die off. This "living prophet" has the power to change anything at any time, in February of 1980 at Brigham Young university, Ezra Taft Benson said,"the living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works" this meaning the existing written works of doctrine. I would also point to one important failed prophesy, Smith said the temple would be built in Zion (Jackson county,Missouri) during his generation and never be moved, not only did it not happen, while he was declaring this from Kirkland, Ohio his cult was being run out of town and his printing presses destroyed, of coarse on learning this he changed the prophesy a little and it still didn't happen. In today's small world of instant knowledge this cult would not have lasted a year, but now that it is established no one cares to challenge its claims, after all they are not hurting anyone and they are generally nice people. But if they are spreading a lie that has eternal consequence they need to be called out and exposed. I don't have nearly the anger at other religions that don't claim Jesus and the Holy Bible as there authority, if you want to start a religion go ahead but don't pervert the truth about the Christian God to do it.