A. R. F. Verteilheft 4

Ernst-Martin Borst

What I would like

to tell you

A word directed

to Mormons

Martin Publishers

Original Title

A Word Directed To Mormons.

Translated into the English language by Christine

Rathje

First German Edition 1976

Second German Edition 1977

Third German Edition 1982

Fourth German Edition 1984

Edited by the Workfellowship for Religions Questions

Nobiskrüger Allee 1, 2370 Rendsburg.

© Martin Publishers, Rendsburg

Sole Distributors Hänssler Verlag

Post Box 1220

7303 Neuhausen

Stuttgart

Order Nr. 51265

Preface

It is the first Sunday of Advent. A world famous

choir sings the ancient Christmas Carols on TV.

The name of the choir? It is the choir of your

church, the wellknown «Salt Lake City Mormon

Tabernacle Choir». A truly excellent choir.

Many who can now see and hear the choir will

certainly be reminded of conversation they had

with missionaries of the «Church of Jesus Christ

Latter Day Saints». These young people from the

U. S. are continually activ, whether engaged in

door to door visitation or being seen walking the

streets of towns and cities. It is not only so in

Europe but almost everywhere in the wolrd. As far

as I can judge they have a good reputation. It is

said of them : «They believe what they say and live

it.» And I must add that all the young missionaries

I habe met in the past were friendly people. I

admire them for the fact, that for the sake of

serving here in Europe they have interrupted their

studies or carriers and even partially pay their own

way.

It ist also generally known, that their church is very

activ in the areas of education, caring for the sick,

social amenities etc. Many other groups would do

well to copy them.

Your church possesses:

a good choir of world fame

a good team of missionaries

good social work

a good teaching ministry

a ...

But what about the teaching?

During an extended train journey from Hamburg

to Berlin I had a conversation with five young

missionaries concerning the teaching of your

church. The conversation with these young men

serves as the basis for this tract.

The Bible translation in this booklet is according to

the King James version.

1 The Bible - Our Foundation

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of

incorruptible by the word of God, which liveth and

abideth forever, «for all flesh is as grass and the

glory of man as the flowe of grass. The grass it

withereth and the flower thereof falleth away; but

the word of the Lord endureth for ever. » And this is

the word which by the gospel is preached unto

you. 1 Pet. 1:23-25

When we want to discuss matters of faith must

and can, the Bible, the word of God, be our only

reference. On what or whom could we otherwise

depend? Should we rely on the words of other

human beings? There are hundreds of religions

and everyone says something different, whom

are we to believe. No we cannot depend on man.

The Bible even forbids it: «Cursed be the man that

trusteth in man» Jer. 17.5

Also read following verses of Ps. 118:8; Acts 17.

11; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John. 4.1

To receive answers to our questians of faith we

can only rely on God and His word the Bible.

2 Is the Bible Sufficient?

You will ask yourself this questions and thereby

think of the Book of Mormons as well as the

continuous revelations. The question arises: «Is

the Book of Mormon the Word of God?» If this

were so, one would as you already do, regard it as

equal to the Bible. If not, you must look upon it as a

totally ordinary book.

2.1 What proof is there that the Book of

Mormon is the Word of God?

1. The witness of Joseph Smith.

2. The testimonies of the three witnisses

Harris, Cowdery and Whitmer.

3. Further eight witnesses.

4. Several officers of the church who had

revelations confirming the teaching and

the Book of Mormon.

2.2 What speaks against this?

1. The Bible never mentions an additional

book.

2. The Bible warns strongly against here-

sies. Refer to point 3.

2.2.3 The incredibility of the three witnesses:

1. Martin Harris admitted later, that he

never saw the golden plates.

2. Oliver Cowdery left the church after he

was convicted of theft and fraud.

c) David Whitmer also left the church.

2.2.2 The testimonies of the other eight men

are also untrustworthy.

5. Investigations has shown without a doubt

that the Book of Mormon has its origin in a

novel written by Salomon Spaulding.

6. The content of the Book of Mormon pro-

ves that the book cannot have originated

during the given period.

Points 2.2.3 - 2.2.6 I have only mentioned in

passing, as point 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 are of real

importance for our considerations. Should you

wish further information on points 3-6 you are

cordially invited to write to me.

Under our next point we will let the Bible speak for

itself.

3 What says the Bible?

The Bible does not announce an additional book,

not the «Book of Mormon», nor the book «Pearl of

Greatest Price» nor the book of «Doctrine and

Covenants». But the Bible warns us against here-

tics, false prophets and apostles. Here are some

examples:

Matt. 24. 11 :

«And many false prophets shall arise and deceive

many.»

Acts 20: 29. 30:

«For know this that after my departing shall

grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing

the flock. Also of your selves shall men arise

speaking perverse things; to draw away disciples

after them.»

2 Cor. 11:13-15:

For such are false apostles deceitful workers

transforming themselves into the apostles of

Christ. And do not marvel, for Satan himself is

transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is

8

no great thing if his ministers also be transformed

as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be

according to their works.

Clearly and hard the apostle Paul states in Gal. 1 :

8-9: «But though we or an angel from heaven

preach any other gospel unto you than that which

we have preached let him be accursed. As we

said before, so say I now again: if any man preach

another gospel to you than that which ye have

received, let him be accursed!»

Any one believing the Bible cannot possibly and is

even forbidden to believe the «Book of Mormon»

or other publications of your church. They cannot

believe the therewith propagated teachung of the

«Church of Christ Latter Day Saints», as it has

nothing to do with the biblical message. The

following example will clarify this.

4 Are there many Gods?

For you as Mormon it is evident. Your church

holds the view that there are many gods. She

teaches polytheism.

But what does the Bible say? Nowhere does it

teach any such thing! Rather it teaches unmista-

kab ably, that there is only one God eg. Is. 45:5: «I

am the Lord and there is none else, there is no

God beside me.»

5 Is the God of the Bible an Exalted Human

Being?

Your church represents this opinion yet the Bible

says something different eg. Ps. 90. 2: «Before

the mountains were brought forth or ever thou

hadst formed the earth and the world even from

everlasting to everlasting; thou art God.»

God was and is and will be from eternity to

eternity.

10

6 Salvation for the Dead?

The teaching of your church concerning baptism,

sealing etc. for the dead is also unbiblical. We are

not commissioned to do so in the Bible. Nor did

the first Christians practice this. On the contrary

the Bible states that man in this life only has the

possibility to accept or reject God's grace.

E. g. Heb. 9.27: «And as it is appointed unto man

once to die, but after this the judgment.»

7 Can Human Beings Become Gods?

This teaching cannot be found anywhere in the

Bible and has absolutely no foundation.

11

8 Apostles, Ordinations, The True Church,

Sealing ... - or Jesus?

When I look at this heading I think of the creed of

your church, particularly point three: To be saved

we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and

follow the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

That is according to your church. But the Bible

also says something different here:

Eph. 2: 8-9:

For by grace are ye saved through faith and that

not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works

lest any man should boast.»

Rom. 3: 23-24:

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of

God - being justified freely by his grace by the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus.»

People are not saved because they belong to a

certain denomination or church, because they

fulfill certain laws or decrees or because they

have gone through certain rites.

If you, dear reader should one day stand before

God, it would mean that you could not qualify for

eternal life:

12

because of membership in your church

nor baptism or sealing nor good works (tithing

etc.)

nor regular attendance of churchservices

nor...

You do no quaify because of anything, but a life

yielded to Jesus Christ.

13

Summary

These few statements make it plain that the

teaching of your church is not divine but human.

Dear Reader, you should now decide to make a

new start! The Bible tells us that our sins separate

us from God so that we cannot have a relationship

with Him and are lost eternally. Read Is. 59:1-3

and 1 Cor. 2:14.

Although we have become guilty before God, He

in His grace and love sacrificed His only Son for

us. The Bible says: «For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoe-

ver believes in him, should not perish but have

everlasting liefe.» John 3:16

I would like to encourage you to the following:

1. Pray to God and confess your sins to Him.

Accept by faith the death of Jesus for yourself

and thank God for it. Jesus will come to live in

you.

John 1:12 states:

«As many as received him to them gave he the

power to become the sons of God, even to

those who believe on his name.»

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2. Speak to a biblebelieving Christian, who can

counsel you or talk to the person who handed

you this tract.

3. You can also order a free Biblestudy course to

help you with your start of the Christian life of

faith.

4. Write to me regardles whether you want to

criticise or have questions or problems you

would like answered.

My address is:

15

Vom selben Verfasser sind zur Zeit lieferbar:

0. Ein Wort an Jehovas Zeugen

1. Ein Wort an Neuapostolische, Mormo-

nen und Mitglieder der Vereinigungs-

kirche

77036 Ein Wort an Mitglieder der Vereini-

gungskirche

818509 Nur in Jesus ist das Heil

811039 Wer hat recht?

77028 Ein Leben ohne.Probleme

85831 Ein Wort an Katholiken

0. Ein Wort an Mitglieder aller Glaubens-

gemeinschaften

1. Ein Wort an Mormonen

2. Ein Wort an Mormonen (in Englisch)

3. Ein Wort an Mitglieder der Neuapostoli-

schen Kirche

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A word directed to Mormons - What I would like to tell you...