An encounter with the New Heaven and New Earth (Shincheonji).

Imagine a man claiming that he alone can understand the book of Revelation.  Imagine that God had left us in the dark all these years.  Imagine someone suggesting that the Bible is not adequate for our Christina maturity, that we needed his interpretations.  Imagine a church that believes no other church has the truth.  You actually don't have to imagine.  This is the cult of the New Heaven and the New Earth (Shincheonji).  It is dangerous and it is targeting Christian students in Ireland.

Like all cults its methods are underhand.  You might get someone who invites you to a Bible study, not telling you that they think that your church is totally deficient.  Like every distortion of Christianity they don't believe that the Bible is enough.  You could even end up in a Zoom Bible study where you are surrounded by other seekers, who you think are just like yourself, but are actually planted there in order to give credibility to the cult's teaching.

A few months ago I was asked for coffee by a nice young man.  Normally when someone asks to meet me for coffee they get to the point fairly quickly, they have a reason for wanting to talk.  But I couldn't figure out why this guy wanted to meet.

Eventually we talked about church and faith.  He said that he had encountered a church that preached the Bible in a way that he had not encountered before.  He said that he felt that preachers today depend too much on commentaries.  I actually wondered what he understood what a biblical commentary is - the commentaries I glean from are just the help of people who may be able to show me how the text is illuminated by the whole teaching of the Bible, how the original languages help us understand its meaning etc.

It was noticeable that this young man was vague about what his church was in.  Then I heard him refer to 'The New Heaven and The New Earth'.  I knew this to be a cult with roots in Korea.  He fed me the unlikely story that its leader had been foretold in the book of Revelation.  But why has no-one noticed that such a person was to come?  He explained that just as Jesus' first coming had been misunderstood, so was their leader's coming.  The fatal flaw in such reasoning is that no-one denies that the Old Testament prophesied the coming of the Messiah, they had just pushed their own political agenda on him.  I suggested that it was inconsistent to say that we should not be reading the Bible alongside respected commentaries and then claim that we cannot understand the Bible without the teaching of a particular cult leader.

Why is this dangerous?  Like all cults they will separate you from church family and biological family.  They will tell you that the Bible is not sufficient without the accompaniment of their teaching.   They teach things that are clearly untrue.  

The thing that scares me about this cult is that I now know three people who have got entangled in it (thankfully one has left).  They are all young adults and nice people.  While this cult is so obviously off the mark it seems to be targeting young Christians and it will be targeting Christian Unions this term.  Beware!

    

Four evidences that Jesus is God the Son (for sharing with Jehovah’s Witnesses)

The JWs use the New World translation (NWT).  This is a version that is considered flawed by leading Bible translators.  However, in order to connect with the Witnesses, I take references from it.

Below is a tract to share with Jehovah's Witnesses,  Please feel free to adapt it and use it.  I don't intend on getting involved in long discussions with the Witnesses (that tends to entrench people in their views).  But gentle talk to those working in Limerick and ask them to read this.

Four evidences that Jesus is God the Son (for sharing with Jehovah’s Witnesses)

1.      John’s Gospel (beginning, middle and end)

John 1:1 (NWT): ‘the was a god’.  In original no definite article.  Yet it is not necessary to translate Greek nouns that have no definite article with an indefinite article.  If John had meant a god/godlike etc. he could have used the adjective ‘theios’.  Julius Mantley says, ‘99% of the scholars of the world who have helped translate the Bible are in disagreement with the Jehovah Witnesses.’

John 8:58 (NWT): ‘before Abraham was, I have been’ [Greek: ‘ego eimi’].  Septuagint [Greek version of OT] of Exodus 3:14: ‘ego eimi’.

John 20:28 (NWT): “My Lord and my God!”  (Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for making this claim).

2.      Examples from the synoptics (Matthew, Mark of Luke)

Matthew 14:26-27 (NWT): ‘when they saw him walking on the sea … at once Jesus spoke to the, saying, Take courage! It is I’ [ego eimi] …’  Who walks on the water?  Job 9:8 (NWT): ‘he treads the high waters of the sea’.  More literal translation includes ‘who alone’.  Also see Psalm 77:19. 

Mark 2:7 (NWT): ‘who can forgive sins except one, God?’  Yet Jesus forgives sins.

Luke 8:25 (NWT): ‘Who really is this?  For he orders the winds and the water, and they obey him.’  Who commands the winds and the waves?  Psalm 107:25 (NWT): ‘He calms the windstorm; the waves of the sea grow quiet.’

3.      From the writings of Paul

Romans 8:13 (NWT): ‘for everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.’  This is just a wrong translation.  The Greek manuscripts don’t have Jehovah here, they have ‘kuriou’ meaning ‘Lord’.  Read the context and you will see that the one being called on in Jesus.  This is also a quote from Joel 2:32 where the text refers to Jehovah.  In other words, as he does elsewhere, the apostle Paul has no problem using a verse referring to Jehovah and applying it to Jesus.

Philippians 2:10 (NWT): ‘so in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow’.  Who will every knee bow to?  Isaiah 45:23 (NWT): ‘to me every knee will bend’.

4.      From the book of Revelation

 In the book of Revelation John gets over excited and attempts to worship the angel.  However, the angel replies, ‘Do not do that … Worship God!’ (Rev. 22:9, NWT).  God alone is to be worshipped.  Yet in that same book of Revelation we see that Jesus is the object of worship (see Revelation 5:9-14).

Dear Friend

I am not sure that you are allowed read anything that critically examines the teaching of the Jehovah Witnesses.  That in itself should be a cause for you to be concerned.  I know that if you question the organisation you may be shunned.  I do not want to make your life difficult.  These evidences I have presented to you are just some of many.  I have taken them from the New World Translation, even though I believe it is a very biased translation.  If you would like to find freedom in Christ and examine other errors of the Watch Tower (including changes in doctrines and prophecies) then feel free to contact me confidentially.

Paul Ritchie (083 401 7116).

The Baptists and the Mosque

I got talking to someone who lived in Cahirvaven at the time when the Baptist Church was being built there.  He said that the movement of the Baptists to the area caused a stir, including from the 'altar' of the local Catholic Church.  I asked him to clarify, 'did the priest want the people to object to our planning permission?'  He suggested that he did.  But the priest's real complaint was along the lines 'what has happened that these sort would move into our area?'  The shocking thing was that such an attitude existed as recently as 1993.

But it is not only Catholics who are guilty of such prejudice and a sense of religious/cultural entitlement.  I lived in County Armagh at a time when the Muslims were looking for planning permission for a Mosque in Portadown (2003).  Many Protestants objected to the idea of such a building being built.  The attitude was 'this is our country not theirs' and the more illogical of people said 'we wouldn't be allowed build our churches in their countries so why should they be allowed build theirs here' (an interesting twist on 'do onto others as you would have them do to you').

I gladly believe in the separation of church and state.  I hate the linking of religion with nationality.  I think that the gospel can thrive where there is true tolerance.  And I fear that our increasingly secular state is becoming increasingly intolerant of religious opinions just as a religious state was intolerant of all dissenters.

Reasoning with Atheists (part 3) 'Has Science disproved the existence of God?'

A numbers of years ago a girl told me about her younger brother. He had gone to his parents and said, ‘you know the way you told me about the tooth-fairy, and it was you; you told me about Santa and it was you; are you God?’

Professor Richard Dawkins suggests that belief in God is similar to belief in the tooth-fairy and Santa. It is merely a childish thing that should be left behind by people who are capable of evidence-based thinking. In 2003 he said, on BBC radio four’s Thought for the Day, humanity ‘can leave the cry-baby phase, and finally come of age.’

A man called Alister McGrath disagrees. He traces his belief in the opposite direction to that Dawkins suggests should be the case. He went from being an atheist to believing Christianity. Having gained a doctorate in molecular biology in Oxford, and intending to spend his life in scientific research, he changed direction and is now Professor of Historical Theology in Oxford. The American scientist Professor Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project, has received numerous awards and honours. He also went from an atheistic world-view to a Christian one.

In his debate with John Lennox, Richard Dawkins says that, ‘it has to be admitted that science grew out of a religious tradition.’ As one friend pointed out to me, ‘science arose in the West, shortly after the Reformation, when a Christian world-view was widely accepted—the reasoning seemed to be, if this world is made by God, and I am made by God, then my mind ought to be able to some extent to examine His world and discover something of its order and mechanism.’ It is interesting that probably the greatest scientist who ever lived, Sir Isaac Newton, said, ‘a little knowledge leads away from God, but much knowledge leads towards him.’

Science has its limits. To start with, science is limited to what we might call the material world. But God is not contained in the material world. The Bible says that God is spirit (John 4:24a). He is not found in physical form. This means that we can’t bring him into a laboratory and measure him. Science can’t prove that a non-material divine being doesn’t exist

Take the miracle of Jesus being raised from the dead. Each of the gospels says that the tomb was empty, and the Apostle Paul says that the risen Jesus appeared to more than five hundred people (1 Cor. 15:6). A scientist could observe that this does not normally happen. But only if the scientist makes the assumption that God does not exist and never does extra-ordinary things can it be said that this could not have happened. But science can’t prove that God does not exist. So if the New Testament is a reliable source (a topic for another occasion) there is no definitive reason for discounting its claims.

Science can not prove that God does not exist, but Christians believe that it does show God in action. We believe in a God who upholds and sustains creation. He is involved in every movement in the universe. Because the Bible clearly points to a God of order and faithfulness, rather than one of chaos, it comes as no surprise that science shows so many pictures of regular predictable action—what might be called the laws of nature.

John Polkinghorne was formerly Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge. He resigned his chair to become an Anglican minister. He believes that science compliments a belief in God, claiming that as scientists study the universe it becomes evident that there needed to be an intricate and delicate balance for the emergence of life. A balance that can’t just be attributed to chance!

Answers in Genesis - Reasoning with atheists (part 2)

When I was just starting out as a Methodist Minister my superintendent asked me to lead an Alpha Course. This was not an easy task as the person in whose home this was taking place was a vocal sceptic. It was also difficult because the other person helping with the course was a Christian whose opinions on Genesis differed than mine.

I believe that Genesis is a part of God’s Word. Therefore it is trustworthy and true. However, I am not convinced that the opening chapters need to be read as a historical description of six literal days of creation. My friend in the Alpha course was very certain that the opening chapter of Genesis did recount 144 hours of activity. What resulted was that those on the course had to witness the two of us debating something that is not at the core of the gospel.

My current position on the beginning of Genesis is somewhat that of an agnostic. Perhaps God did create over a short period on time in recent history, although the general scientific opinion would disagree; or maybe God created over a long period of time a very long time ago in history.

Two things I would say to Christians. Firstly, don’t assume that just because someone believes in six-day creationism means that they are not intellectually credible. Scientist and Methodist minster David Wilkinson (while not a six-day creationist) explains that there is a tendency amongst scientists and theologians to ascribe young earth creationism to a small group of fundamentalists who refuse to open their minds. He points out that this is not the case, given that the American Institute for Creation Research and the smaller British Creation Resources Trust have a number of powerful scientists among their numbers. Secondly, it should not be assumed that those who do not ascribe to six-day creationism have no respect for the Bible—conservative evangelicals like Tim Keller and J. I. Packer believe that God’s creation involved certain processes of evolution.
 

While believing that there are symbolic elements in the accounts found in the early chapters of Genesis, I do think that there was a historic Adam and Eve. The reason for this is because of the Apostle Paul’s argument in Romans. Such an opinion does not need to ne incompatible with contemporary scientific theory. As John Stott highlights, ‘All human beings share the same anatomy, physiology and chemistry, and the same genes ... This homogeneity of the human species is best explained by positing our descent from a common ancestor.’ ‘Genetic evidence indicates’, writes Dr. Christopher Stringer of London's Natural History Museum, ‘that all living people are closely related and share a recent common ancestor.’

Genesis does teach the fact that there was a beginning—Aristotelian thought hypothesised an eternal cosmos. (Richard Dawkins is not too impressed with the fact that the Bible gets this right, given that there were only two options). Genesis also points to the fact that the cosmos is created with order—Whitehead's thesis states ‘that human beings become scientific because they expected law in nature; and they expected law in nature because they believed in a lawgiver.’ Thirdly, Genesis gives a credible explanation for the nature of humankind—that we are both noble, being created ‘in the image of God’ and fallen, and so prone to doing what is evil.

Reasoning with Atheists (part 1)

In September 2011 a number of people from our church went to Lisdownvarna for the annual match-making festival. We were not there to find partners but to do some street evangelism. I must admit I have very limited experience in this form of outreach. When we arrived some people from Ennis Christian Fellowship had set up a sketch-board. A couple of the more competent evangelists spoke using the board whereas most of the rest of us handed out tracts. 

 

Amongst the various reactions we received were some people who have clearly being influenced by the thinking of the ‘new-atheists’. There is a vocal atheism led by such public figures as Richard Dawkins. One person made a passing reference to Santa clause. I think his point was that what we believed was as ridiculous, immature and naïve as believing in Santa. It is assumed by such people that a little bit of education would clear up any lingering beliefs. It throws such people when they find out that many Christians actually have thought through some of the issues they would raise.

 
I was frustrated that the opportunity to respond was so brief in street work. As someone gives you just a second of their attention what could you say in response? I was left flat-footed. Perhaps it would be somewhat naff, but maybe a quick response would be to point out that it takes a lot of faith to be an atheist. After-all the atheist looks the vastness of the cosmos and has to believe that there is no creator; they have to look at the beauty of a nature and believe there is no designer; and they have to look at the complexity of the human body and believe that no mind stands behind its design. 

 
Apparently there are different concepts about the term ‘faith’. The word translated ‘faith’ in the New Testament is one that can also be translated ‘belief’ or ‘trust’, and does not imply a lack of reason for believing. Another understanding of faith comes from Immanuel Kant and involves suspending reason. Atheists often assume that Christians are people who have taken a blind leap in the dark. Yet they are the ones who have a system of belief that seems to involve giving no explanation for the origin of matter. On the other hand John Lennox (Professor of Mathematics at Oxford) declares

'My faith in God and Christ as the Son of God is no delusion. It is rational and evidence-based. Part of the evidence is objective, some of it comes from science, some comes from history; and, some is subjective, coming from experience.'

It is always assumed that Christians are the ones who have to be on the defensive. There are questions that we will be asked, and we should seek to give reasonable answers. But when it comes to our conversations with atheists there are questions that we can ask. Perhaps we need to spend more time thinking of leading questions to ask friends who are atheists and seeking to get them to give justifications for their belief!

Understanding Mormonism

Some time ago I was stuck in traffic on O’Connell Street in Limerick.  As I looked out at the people on the pavement I noticed two well-dressed young men approaching people looking to talk with them.  A little further down the street I lowered my window to hear what they were saying.  They were Americans, and they were bravely continuing in their work despite the fact that everyone they approached ignored them.  No doubt they were Mormons.

All I knew about the Mormons was that their church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; they had a book called The Book of Mormon, which they claim supplements the Bible; and, there was some strange notion about God coming from another planet.

Can I say from the outset that there is much to be admired about this group of people?  They encourage family values and their missionary zeal is to be admired.  Mormons have a history of being persecuted for their beliefs and I would not want to write anything that would contribute towards treating them disrespectfully.

In this blog I want to look at Mormon belief so that we will be better equipped for sharing our faith with Mormons.

The origins of Mormonism

Joseph Smith junior (1805-1844) claimed that when he was fourteen he had a vision in which the Father and the Son appeared to him. He asked them which denomination he should join and they told him to join none of the existing denominations as they were all wrong and corrupt.

Smith claimed that when he was seventeen, he saw an angel called Moroni at his bedside.  Moroni apparently told him about a book written on golden plates by former inhabitants of the American continent.  Four years later Smith dug up the plates and began translating their ‘Reformed Egyptian.’  Interestingly, Mormons claim that the 'stick of Joseph', in Ezekiel 37, is the Book of Mormon.  However, the context (verse 22) shows that the sticks of this chapter or the Old Testament nations of Israel and Judah.

The Book of Mormon covers the history of two civilisations, the most important of which arrived in America from the Middle East around 600 BC.  These Jewish people are reported to have become two great nations, the Nephites and the Lamanites.  It is claimed that most of the Book of Mormon was put down on gold plates by Mormon, commander and chief of the Nephites.  The Book of Mormon also contains an account of a visit Jesus Christ is said to have made to America following his death and resurrection.  The Book of Mormon claims to be have been originally completed around A.D. 400, yet it contains large sections of the King James Version, which was translated in 1611.

According to the Book of Mormon the Nephite and the Lamanite nations that had huge populations and lived in large fortified cities, apparently the warring between these nations culminated in a conflict in A.D. 385 at Hill Cumorah in which hundred of thousands of people were killed.  Mormon was the man who wrote down the histories of these people, and his son became the angel who delivered this book to Joseph Smith.  The Smithsonian Institute states that ‘Smithsonian archaeologists see no direct connection between the archaeology of the New World and the subject matter of the book [of Mormon].’

As well as The Book of Mormon Smith claimed to receive further revelations in the 1830s and 1840s which were published under the title The Book of Commandments (later being released as Doctrines and Covenants). 

A fourth scripture, the Pearl of Great Price, was translated (in part) from papyri fragments, which Smith bought from a travelling lecturer in 1835.  He claimed that the Egyptian hieroglyphics on the parchment were a record of writings of Abraham.  The 'Book of Abraham' became a part of the Pearl of Great Price.  These papyri fragments turned up in 1967 and were given to the church.  However, Egyptologists showed that the papyri contained nothing more than an Egyptian funeral text with instructions to embalmers.

Not only do Mormons hold to these added Scriptures, they also believe that the presidents/prophets of the church give infallible revelations to the church right up to this day.

Smith and his followers were treated dreadfully by certain non-Mormons.  They were driven into Illinois, where Smith established the thriving city of Nauvoo.  It was here that he came up with his ideas on polygamy, the origin and destiny of the human race and the sacred temple ordinances.  Smith claimed that John the Baptist descended from heaven in a cloud of light and ordained him and an early convert, Oliver Cowdery, to the Aaronic priesthood.  Later he claims that the apostles Peter, James and John came to ordain them to the Melchizedek priesthood. 

Tensions between Mormons and non-Mormons increased when The Nauvoo Expositor published stories concerning the Mormon practice of polygamy.  As mayor of Nauvoo, Smith ordered the destruction of the newspaper.  He ended up in jail in nearby Carthage, Illinois, awaiting trial.  A crowd of two hundred attacked the building and a battle ensued.  Smith died in this battle.

The Mormon Understanding of God

According to Mormon teaching, God the Father, once lived on another planet, and had many wives.  He himself had a father.  Eventually, he, his wives, and his children died and were subsequently resurrected.  He progressed to where he reached godhood.  He was then given the space to create his own heaven, where he and his wives would sexually procreate children in spirit-form.  The first born was Jesus.  The second born was Lucifer.  All people who have ever inhabited the earth were first born in spirit form in heaven.  In other words they believe that the devil was Jesus' brother, and both of them are our older brothers.

Mormons teach that ‘Jehovah’ (Yahweh, LORD) in the Old Testament is exclusively referring to Jesus.  It is taught that Jesus was conceived by an act of physical sex between God the Father and Mary.  It is believed that Jesus was married to both Mary and Martha.   Mormons believe that they also were, in their pre-mortal existence, are spirit children of God the Father and Mary.  Unlike everybody else, Jesus is considered to have been a god before talking on a mortal body—even though the Book of Mormon (Abraham 3:25) says that taking on a physical body is a prerequisite to eternal progression.

The Mormon Understanding of Humanity

According to Mormonism  God the Father and his wives sexually procreate children in spirit-form.  Therefore all people who live pre-existed.  When the Father chose Jesus to be the Saviour of the World his brother Lucifer was angered and rebelled.  There was a war in heaven.  Those who joined with the devil remain merely spiritual beings.  Those who sided with God were allowed to be physically born.  So the fact that we exist on this earth shows that we got it right in our previous existence.  However there is a racist tone at this point, it is believed that people are born black because they fought less valiantly in the war in heaven..

The Mormon Understanding of Salvation
Not only do Mormons believe that there are many gods, they also believe that we can become gods.  They limit the work of the cross to that of enabling people to have a resurrected body.  A resurrected body is needed so that people can continue there journey to godhood after this life.  Mormonism opposes the doctrine of justification by grace through faith.  It is essentially a religion of good works.

Linked to this life of religious works is a restored priesthood and temple.  Mormons believe that in May 1829 Joseph Smith and his friend Oliver Cowdery were conferred into the priesthood of Aaron at the instruction of John the Baptist. However, this is not possible given that the Aaronic priesthood was limited to descendants of Aaron (cf. Hebrews 7:14). Smith claims that some time later Peter, James and John conferred the Melchizedek priesthood on him.  The Book of Hebrews (chapters 5-8) relates the Melchizedek priesthood to Christ alone. The point is simply that, like Melchizedek, Jesus combined the role of priest and king. The Book of Hebrews points out that those things seen in the priesthood were fulfilled in Jesus. Therefore there is no longer a need for a set aside priesthood. Indeed, you will not find any reference to a special category of priests (apart from the priesthood of all believers) in the New Testament.  It is worth asking Mormons why, if they have a restored temple and priesthood, are the functions and practices of these so different to those seen in the Old Testament.

Mormon Heavens

Mormons believe in three levels of heaven: telestial, terrestrial and celestial and that while most of humankind will enter one of these levels of heaven eternal life in celestial heaven is for Mormons only.  Interestingly, the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints taught that no-one can attain the fullness of the blessings of the celestial heaven if they are not married.  Mormons have two forms of marriage, there are those that end at death and there are those preformed in the temple that go on for eternity.

Some of the more unusual teachings of the Mormons

In the Journal of Discourses (July 24^th, 1870) Brigham Young said that the sun and moon were inhabited.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints doesn't deny that there have been changes to the book of Mormon (there have been over 3,900 changes).  Their magazine Ensign defends these changes saying that most of them are related to such things as grammar, misspellings or style. However, the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims that after Smith had finished translating the Book of Mormon he heard a voice that told him the translation was correct.  Example of changes include 1 Nephi 11:21, 11:32 and 13:40 where the person described has been changed from a description of the Father to the Son, and Mosiah 21:28 the name of King Benjamin has been changed to King Mosiah (this is related to the fact that from the chronology of the Book of Mormon king Benjamin would have been dead at this time).

Mormons believe that prior to the fall Adam and Eve were unable to have children.  Therefore the Fall is actually seen as a good thing because spirit-children need bodies before they can progress towards godhood.

Mormons abstain from tea, coffee and alcohol.

Mormons believe that Jesus was married to both Mary and Martha.

It is claimed that such total apostasy occurred some time after the death of the apostles and that the church was then restored at the time of Joseph Smith.  This would seem to contradict the promises of Jesus -  who said that he would build his church, and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it (Matt. 28:20) and that he would be with his disciples to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Similarly, the apostle Paul speaks of the glory of Jesus in the church throughout all generations (Ephesians 3:21).

Mormons claim that the Bible has been thoroughly corrupted.

In History of the Church we are told that Joseph Smith prophesied that the United States government would be overthrown in the 1800s.

Sharing you faith with Mormons

Because Mormons believe that the Bible is corrupted conversation could be frustrating.  For example we could point out that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit rather than the Father (Matthew 1:18) but they believe that this verse hase been altered

Be aware that Mormons will appeal to some of the most confusing verses of the Bible to back up their claims.  For example they practice 'baptism of the dead' for ansestor who were not Mormons, because the process of good works and rituals goes beyond this life.  1 Corinthians 15 refers to this baptism of the dead, and while scholars have apparently offered many explantations for what it is, no evangelical would understand it as a Mormon does.  There is no harm when facing a question that you are unsure about in saying, 'I don't have an answer to that now, but will you let me go away and look into it and come back to you?'

It is good to be certain of some of the centralities of our faith.  For example, we can point the Mormon to the uniqueness of God (e.g. Isaiah 45), the truth of justification by grace through faith (e.g. Romans 1-5, Ephesians 2:1-8) and the fact that the Bible only speaks of two destinations for those who have died.

As in sharing your faith with anyone, remember the importance of prayer and the fact that people are only put on the defensive if you are in any way agressive.  The apostle Peter tells us to give an account of what we believe with gentlesness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Some verses from the Book of Mormon to highlight
Remember that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints believes that its presidents/apostles have a revelatory authority on a par with Scripture.  Therefore there is a credibility problem with the whole Mormon belief system when it can be shown that there is disagreement between the church's current teaching and that found in The Book of Mormon.

Mormons believe that there is a plurality of gods.  However, in The Book of Morman a man called Amulek, who says that he cannot say anything contray to God's Spirit claims that there is not more than one God (Alma 11:28-29).

Moriah 7:45 sounds as if Joseph Smith lifted in directly from the King James Version of 1 Cor. 13:4.

Elder Bruce McConkie explains that 'as each of these persons is a God [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] it is evident, from that standpoint alone that a plurality of Gods exists.'  Yet 2 Nephi speaks of the 'Father' 'Son' and 'Holy Ghost' 'which is one God, without end.'

Some verses of Scripture to point out to Mormons
Former President, Spencer W. Kimball, made the following comment to a group: 'Brethern 225,000 of you are here tonight.  I suppose 225,000 of you may become gods.'  But in Isaiah 43:10 God states, 'Before me no god was formed [Mormons believe that God the Father had a father, who had a father etc.], nor will there be one after me [Mormons believe that there was a time when the Son did not exist, and that faithful Mormons may become gods].'

'Hear, O Israel: The LORD [Yahweh/Jehovah, who the Mormons wrongly exclusively associate with the Son] our God [Elohim, who the Mormons wrongly associate exclusively with the Father], the LORD is one' (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Mormonism is basically a work-based religion.  So it is important to be clear on such passages as Ephesians 2:1-10.

Mormons believe that the Father impregnated Mary, but Luke (1:34-35) teaches that Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Mormons teach that the path towards ultimate salvation continues after this life, and that the dead can be initiated by baptism for the dead.  However, the author of Hebrews teaches, 'man is destined to die once, and after that face judgement' (Hebrews 9:27).