![]() Mormons respond by saying that Adam’s disobedience was part of God’s program, so it was not really a sin. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed’ (Galatians 1:8–9). So how do Mormons reconcile the fact that God gave a command to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ ( Genesis 1:28) along with the contradictory command not to take fruit from the forbidden tree (the eating of which Mormons say enabled them to carry out the command to multiply)? ‘ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. From a biblical perspective, complications in conception and birth defects are associated with the curse, but Mormons link the ability to reproduce with the introduction of death into the world. ![]() It is even more difficult to understand how the introduction of sin and death into the world played a positive role in enabling them to have offspring. Surely functional reproductive systems were part of a completed creation, especially since God commanded Adam and Eve to increase in number ( Genesis 1:28)? Some Mormons have suggested that the Fall ‘brought about required changes in their bodies, including the circulation of blood and other modifications as well.’ 5īut this is contrary to the Bible’s teaching that God finished creating on the sixth day and that all He had made was ‘very good’ ( Genesis 1:31). Mormons believe that Adam and Eve had ‘physical bodies not yet subject to death and not yet capable of procreation.’ 1 Mormon leaders have not clearly stated why a man and a woman living in a completed creation and free from the effects of physical and spiritual corruption were not able to procreate. Smith’s self-styled religion attracted much antagonism from Christians. Smith made bizarre claims of extra-biblical revelation, encounters with an angel named Moroni, and visitations from many significant biblical characters, including John the Baptist, Elijah and even Jesus Christ. And they would have had no children wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery doing no good, for they knew no sin’ (2 Nephi 2:22–23). And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were created and they must have remained forever, and had no end. The Book of Mormon says: ‘And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. The Bible is only one of four books that the Mormons get their doctrines from (called ‘standard works’): The Book of Mormon, the Bible, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. ![]() Mormons (officially ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’) acknowledge that the Fall of Adam was a historical event, but they also say that the Fall ‘has a twofold direction-downward and yet forward.’ 3 When interacting with Mormons, Christians would do well to focus on the Fall, since it is foundational to the Gospel. It is to be expected that a wrong interpretation of the events of Genesis (in this case, the Fall) will inevitably lead to a misunderstanding of the Gospel.Ī proper understanding of salvation depends upon a correct understanding of where we came from, why we are here, and what is wrong with the world. While I need to clarify what he meant by ‘saved’ (see later), it is clear from this remark that points of agreement between Mormons and Christians are superficial when compared with differences. My Mormon friend also told me that he believed that Adolf Hitler would be saved along with Mother Teresa. Christensen declared that ‘it would have been a terrific calamity if they had refrained from taking the fruit of the tree.’ 2 Oaks called the Fall a ‘glorious necessity’, 1 and Elder Jess L. He was only echoing a position consistently held by Mormon ‘prophets’ and ‘apostles’. The Fall: a ‘glorious necessity’?! How Mormons muddle Genesisīy Maxwell Brown ‘Our view is that Adam made a good decision’, a Mormon replied when I asked him about Adam and Eve partaking of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ( Genesis 3).
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