Elder Ballard--"Hooked On A Feeling"

Scientific proof may not make people believe that the Book of Mormon is true. But it might get rid of a bunch of doubts.

Elder Ballard tries once again to finagle the truth, and apologize for the fact that the BOM has no basis whatsoever in the truth.

YES or NO--Are Mormons Christians?

Once again, we find Elder Ballard at a loss to answer, in plain, straightforward terms, a simple question. Here he is as he ducks and dodges saying what he can't bring himself to say:

• OK, so the LDS church uses the name of Jesus Christ in the title of their organization. That makes them "Christian," right? Well, if you believe that followers of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society worship Jehovah. After all, they call themselves "Jehovah's Witnesses."
• And just which Jesus do you follow? The one who was one with the Father since eternity past, who was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit? Or the one who "progressed to Godhood" in some pre-mortal existence, was Lucifer's brother, and was conceived by literal, physical, sexual intercourse between Mary and Heavenly Father? If you don't know the real Jesus, you follow a false gospel, and you are lost. Sorry, that's just how it is.
• Yeah, yeah, yeah, the whole "restoration" nonsense. Nothing more to see here. Move on.
• He's the center of our "future dreams and aspirations." Um, Mr. Ballard, sir? Jesus is the center of everything! He is not just someone we call on to make our lives here on earth a little more comfortable. He is the one we worship, and call out to for forgiveness from our sins. Which brings me to the next point.
• "Willingness to know what His teachings are, and keep His commandments." What about "repentance" or "being dead to sin" or "taking up our cross and following Him"? I guess the good Elder just couldn't squeeze any of that stuff into this PR video.

Mormons are like Christians because...um...uhhh

Let's give Elder Ballard another chance to show how Mormon beliefs are similar to true Christian beliefs. Which is kinda like trying to explain how a refrigerator is similar to a Lamborghini.

Like a duck is different from a Dodge

Good ol' Elder Ballard could have gone on and on about how Mormon beliefs differ from the truth. But, he only had time for three. And they are...



Well, these beliefs are wrong. Nothing needed to be "restored," those "additional scriptures" were invented by Joseph Smith, and we are not all "spirit children" of God.

He could have also mentioned:

• Mormons believe God the Father had to "progress" to be the God He is now.
• Christians believe He has always been the God He is now.



• Mormons believe there are many "Gods."
• Christians believe there is only one God.



• Mormons believe Jesus and Lucifer are "spirit brothers."
• Christians believe that all things were created by Christ, and this includes the angels (one of which was Lucifer).



• Mormons believe that Joseph Smith was a "prophet of God."
• Anybody who has studied enough knows that Joseph Smith was a fraud.



• Mormons believe the Bible is only to be trusted "as far as it is correctly translated" (8th Article of Faith).
• Christians believe that we still have the perfect written word of God (and contrary to Elder Ballard's assertion, nothing had to be "restored").



• Early Mormons believed that you had to have a bunch of wives in order to get to the highest heaven (The Celestial Kingdom. And don't think they wouldn't like to be able to do that again).
• Christians believe that polygamy is a sin. Besides, you only need to repent of your sins and trust Christ as your Savior in order to go to Heaven (of which there is only one).



• Mormons believe that Brigham Young was a "prophet of God."
• The Mountain Meadows Massacre showed that Brigham Young was a cold-blooded murderer.



• Mormons believe that Joseph Smith had the "gift of translation."
• The Kinderhook Plates showed this was a lie.



• Mormons believe that only the "worst" sinners will go to Hell.
• Christians believe that anyone who does not trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will spend eternity in Hell.

Well, I guess we'd better let Elder Ballard get started on that next video where he discusses these issues. What, you don't think he will? What, you think the LDS church has something to hide?

[/sarc]

But do you worship Him?

A video showing you the great semantical gymnastics a Mormon elder will put himself through to keep from answering a question fully and truthfully. The word we are looking for Elder Ballard to use is "worship." See if you can hear it anywhere in his response.



We ask you again, Elder Ballard, Do you worship Jesus Christ?