Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
A False Christ and a Deceptive Gospel
Introduction: The Most Polished Deception
Of all the belief systems that claim allegiance to “Jesus Christ,” few appear more Christian in name, language, and culture than Mormonism—the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). They speak of God, of Jesus, of faith, of prophets, of scripture, and of salvation. They use the King James Bible, baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and even wear clean-cut suits that seem to reflect traditional Christian piety. But beneath the surface lies a gospel altogether foreign to the Word of God, a different Jesus, and a salvation not of grace—but of human effort, exaltation, and eternal deception.
Mormonism is not a misunderstood denomination within Christianity. It is a completely separate religion, one that has adopted Christian terminology while redefining every foundational doctrine. The Jesus they teach is not the Jesus of Scripture. The gospel they preach is not the gospel of grace. The God they proclaim is not the one true God revealed in Christ.
This series exists to uncover this deception—not in anger, but in anguish. Not to tear down people, but to tear down lies that keep souls from the true gospel. This is for every Latter-day Saint who believes they’re following Jesus while unknowingly rejecting His divinity, His sufficiency, and His Word.
Let us begin with what lies at the heart of Mormonism: their false Jesus.
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1. The Mormon Jesus: A Created Christ
The most damning deception of Mormonism is its redefinition of Jesus Christ—not merely a theological distortion, but a complete replacement of the eternal, uncreated Son of God with a lesser, created being.
The Biblical Jesus: Eternal God, Not a Created Being
In biblical Christianity, Jesus Christ is eternally God. He is not a creature—He is the Creator. The apostle John writes:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
— John 1:1–3 (ESV)
Paul affirms this in Colossians:
“For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
— Colossians 1:16–17 (ESV)
Jesus is not a created being—He is the One through whom creation itself was brought into existence. He is eternally begotten of the Father, of the same essence and substance. He is the second Person of the Trinity, equal in power and glory to the Father and the Spirit.
The Mormon Jesus: A Spirit Child of a Fleshly God
In Mormonism, however, Jesus is not eternal in the divine sense. According to LDS doctrine:
• God the Father (whom they call “Heavenly Father” or Elohim) is an exalted man with a physical body.
• Jesus is the firstborn spirit child of this Heavenly Father and his wife in a pre-mortal existence.
• Lucifer (Satan) is also a spirit child of this same Father, making Jesus and Satan literal spirit brothers.
The LDS manual Gospel Principles states:
“Jesus is the firstborn of Heavenly Father’s spirit children.”
— Gospel Principles, Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior
This makes Jesus a created being, born in the spiritual realm as one of many offspring of an embodied god. He is exalted not because He is God by nature, but because He was chosen and obedient.
This is heresy. It strips Christ of His eternal divinity, reduces Him to a glorified sibling among spirit children, and places Him in a created hierarchy that resembles pagan myth more than biblical truth.
The Danger of a Different Jesus
The apostle Paul warns with striking clarity:
“For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed… or if you accept a different gospel… you put up with it readily enough.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV)
Mormonism preaches another Jesus—one who is not eternal God, one who is not co-equal with the Father, one who had to earn His godhood rather than possessing it by nature.
This is not a minor disagreement—it is a gospel-altering, soul-endangering lie.
To believe in a created Christ is to trust in one who cannot save.
Only the eternal, divine, incarnate Son of God—the Alpha and the Omega—can offer eternal life. The Mormon Jesus is not Him.
2. The Book of Mormon vs. the Bible: Irreconcilable Revelations
Mormonism is founded upon the claim that the Bible is not enough. According to LDS doctrine, the Bible has been corrupted over time, essential truths have been lost, and a “restoration” of the gospel was necessary through additional scriptures. The result of this claim is the elevation of extra-biblical books—especially the Book of Mormon—to the level of divine authority. But these writings do not supplement the Bible—they contradict it, distort it, and displace it.
The LDS Standard Works
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds to four primary volumes of scripture, referred to collectively as the “Standard Works”:
1. The Holy Bible (King James Version only)
2. The Book of Mormon – Claimed to be “another testament of Jesus Christ.”
3. Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) – A collection of modern revelations and church laws primarily from Joseph Smith.
4. The Pearl of Great Price – Additional writings including the Book of Moses, Book of Abraham, and Joseph Smith’s history and translations.
While Mormons give lip service to the Bible, their functional authority lies primarily in these additional works, particularly the Book of Mormon, which they believe to be “the most correct of any book on earth.”
Joseph Smith himself claimed:
“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth… and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book.”
— History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 461
This belief immediately places the Book of Mormon in superiority over the Bible, even though it emerged in the 19th century through highly questionable means and has no historical, linguistic, or archaeological credibility.
The Biblical Warnings Against Adding to God’s Word
Scripture itself warns repeatedly and severely against the addition of revelation beyond what God has already given:
“Every word of God proves true… Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.”
— Proverbs 30:5–6 (ESV)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.”
— Revelation 22:18 (ESV)
Mormonism violates these warnings directly. It doesn’t merely comment on Scripture—it claims new scripture, with new doctrines, and a new gospel. It introduces teachings never once found in the Old or New Testament—such as celestial marriage, godhood through exaltation, and the preexistence of human spirits—all through “revelations” claimed by Joseph Smith and successive LDS prophets.
Contradictions and Doctrinal Conflicts
Let us now examine some of the direct contradictions between the Book of Mormon and the Bible:
1. God’s Nature
• Book of Mormon (Alma 11:44): “Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit… which is one Eternal God.”
• Yet later LDS teaching (in Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price) asserts that God the Father has a physical body and that the Godhead consists of three separate beings—a view in direct opposition to biblical monotheism and the doctrine of the Trinity.
2. Salvation
• Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 25:23): “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
• The Bible says the exact opposite:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
3. The Priesthood
• The LDS church claims a restored Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood through Joseph Smith.
• The Bible teaches that Christ is the final and eternal High Priest:
“He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever… He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him.”
— Hebrews 7:24–25 (ESV)
4. The Sufficiency of Christ
• Mormonism teaches that through temple rites, ordinances, and continued obedience, one can become a god.
• The Bible teaches that Christ alone is God, and our goal is not to be gods but to glorify God:
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
— Exodus 20:3 (ESV)
Fabricated Origins and Scholarly Discrediting
The Book of Mormon claims to be a translation of ancient golden plates written in “Reformed Egyptian”—a language that does not exist anywhere in the history of linguistics. No archaeological evidence supports its civilizations, events, or geography. Every serious historian and archaeologist—Christian and secular alike—has found the Book of Mormon entirely unreliable as an ancient document.
By contrast, the Bible is rooted in real geography, real history, and real prophecy. It has survived millennia of scrutiny and proven consistent with archaeological and manuscript evidence across thousands of fragments and copies.
The Final Verdict
The Bible stands alone as the infallible, sufficient, God-breathed Word of truth.
Mormon scripture is not the fulfillment of God’s Word—it is a replacement of it, created to support a false gospel and sustain a false prophet.
To follow the Book of Mormon is to walk away from the Word of God and into spiritual delusion.
3. The Mormon View of Salvation: A Works-Based System
Salvation is the heart of every religion. But the difference between biblical Christianity and Mormonism on this issue is not one of minor theological nuance—it is the difference between divine grace and human achievement, between the true gospel and a false one. Where Christianity proclaims salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, Mormonism offers a tiered system of salvation rooted in ordinances, obedience, and exaltation to godhood.
This section will explore that system, expose its fatal errors, and demonstrate why the biblical gospel leaves no room for self-salvation.
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The Biblical Gospel: Christ Alone, Grace Alone
Scripture is crystal clear on how salvation is obtained:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy…”
— Titus 3:4–5 (ESV)
The biblical message is stunningly beautiful and profoundly humbling: we cannot earn salvation. It is freely given to sinners who repent and trust in Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins on the cross and rose again. The entire work of redemption is God’s work, not man’s.
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The Mormon “Plan of Salvation”
In stark contrast, Mormonism teaches a multi-step system of progression, rooted in both belief and performance. LDS doctrine distinguishes between general salvation and exaltation:
1. General Salvation (Immortality)
• Through Christ’s resurrection, all people will be raised from the dead and receive immortality.
• This is considered a free gift to everyone, regardless of faith or obedience.
2. Individual Salvation (Exaltation)
• This is the highest level of salvation, attainable only through complete adherence to LDS teachings.
• It includes:
• Baptism into the LDS Church
• Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost through Mormon priesthood authority
• Temple endowments and covenants
• Eternal marriage (sealing)
• Obedience to all commandments
• Those who qualify may eventually be exalted to godhood, ruling their own worlds as divine beings—just as Heavenly Father allegedly did before them.
This is not biblical salvation—it is a man-made hierarchy of merit and ritual, where Christ’s sacrifice is merely a starting point rather than a completed work.
As LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie once wrote:
“Salvation in the kingdom of God is available only to those who keep the commandments and obey all the ordinances of the gospel.”
— Mormon Doctrine, p. 670
This is works-based salvation, and it directly contradicts the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Grace Plus Works? The Fatal Distortion
LDS leaders frequently claim that Mormons believe in grace—but only “after all we can do.” This phrase comes from the Book of Mormon:
“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
— 2 Nephi 25:23
This is not grace. True grace is not dependent on performance. Paul writes:
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
— Romans 11:6 (ESV)
Mormonism’s approach does not preserve grace—it destroys it. It suggests that human effort is necessary to unlock God’s mercy. That the cross of Christ is insufficient without human help. That God’s gift comes only after man earns it.
This is not Christianity. It is Galatian heresy reborn:
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
— Galatians 3:3 (ESV)
Paul called down a curse on those who would distort the gospel in this way:
“If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
— Galatians 1:9 (ESV)
The Mormon gospel—of ordinances, performance, and exaltation—is a different gospel, and by Scripture’s own words, it brings a curse, not salvation.
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Heavenly Rewards vs. Heavenly Levels
The LDS church teaches that there are three degrees of heavenly glory:
1. Celestial Kingdom – For the faithful who received all ordinances and obeyed the gospel fully. Here, the most righteous may become gods themselves.
2. Terrestrial Kingdom – For honorable people who rejected the LDS gospel in mortality but accepted it in the afterlife.
3. Telestial Kingdom – For the wicked who rejected the gospel entirely.
In biblical Christianity, there is no such graduated afterlife. The Bible speaks clearly of two destinies:
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
— Matthew 25:46 (ESV)
Mormonism’s tiered heaven reflects a humanistic system of ranks and rewards—not the holiness of God nor the finality of judgment found in Scripture.
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Conclusion: Trusting in Christ or in Yourself?
The fundamental question every Mormon must answer is this:
Is Jesus enough?
Is His life, death, and resurrection sufficient to save you? Or do you believe you must complete what Christ began?
Mormonism says you must finish the work.
Jesus said “It is finished.”
“For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
— Hebrews 10:14 (ESV)
To follow the Mormon plan of salvation is to reject the gospel of Jesus Christ in favor of a false system of self-exaltation.
Only Christ saves. Not Christ plus temples. Not Christ plus ordinances. Not Christ plus marriage or missions or merit.
Christ alone.
4. The Trinity: Mormons and the Denial of the One True God
The foundation of Christianity is not simply that God exists, but who God is. At the center of that revelation is the mystery and majesty of the Trinity—one eternal God who exists in three co-equal, co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is not a man-made construct, nor an optional doctrine. It is the only way God has revealed Himself throughout Scripture.
Mormonism not only denies the Trinity, but replaces it with a polytheistic and anthropomorphicunderstanding of God—one that directly contradicts the historic, biblical, and apostolic witness. This section will lay bare the theological chasm between the God of the Bible and the gods of Mormonism.
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The Biblical Revelation of the Triune God
The doctrine of the Trinity is rooted deeply in Scripture. Though the word “Trinity” does not appear, the concept permeates both Testaments. From the opening pages of Genesis to the closing words of Revelation, we are confronted with a God who is one in essence and three in personhood.
God Is One
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
— Deuteronomy 6:4 (ESV)
The Father Is God
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Romans 1:7 (ESV)
The Son Is God
“In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.”
— John 1:1 (ESV)
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
— John 8:58 (ESV)
The Spirit Is God
“Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?… You have not lied to man but to God.”
— Acts 5:3–4 (ESV)
Three Persons, One Name
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
— Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
This triune identity of God is not abstract theology—it is the core of the gospel itself. Without the eternal Son, there is no Incarnation. Without the eternal Spirit, there is no regeneration. Without the eternal Father, there is no sending of the Son. Each person is distinct, yet fully God, and fully united in essence.
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The Mormon View: Three Separate Gods with Physical Bodies
In stark contradiction, Mormonism teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, each a god in their own right. They are not one essence but three distinct gods, united in purpose but not in nature.
LDS Apostle James Talmage writes:
“The Godhead consists of three separate and distinct beings, united in purpose, in plan, and in all the attributes of perfection… The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.”
— Articles of Faith, p. 35
Joseph Smith himself said:
“I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage, and the Holy Ghost a distinct personage and a Spirit. These three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods.”
— History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 474
This is not Christianity. It is tritheism—a belief in three gods—and worse, it is anthropomorphic tritheism, where the Father and Son are seen as glorified men with literal bodies of flesh and bone.
This is a direct rejection of John 4:24:
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
And it stands in opposition to Isaiah 43:10:
“Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me.”
Mormonism does not simply misunderstand God—it replaces Him.
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The Eternality of God vs. the Evolution of God
Mormonism teaches that God the Father was once a man who progressed to godhood. This teaching, known as the doctrine of eternal progression, was made explicit by Joseph Smith:
“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man… You have got to learn how to be gods yourselves.”
— Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345–346
According to this doctrine, God is not eternally God, but a being who became God. This makes God a product of time, not the Creator of time. It turns deity into a status, not a nature. And it reduces the holy, unchanging, eternal God of Scripture into a glorified version of humanity.
Contrast this with the words of Scripture:
“From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
— Psalm 90:2 (ESV)
“I the Lord do not change.”
— Malachi 3:6 (ESV)
“Before the mountains were brought forth… You are God.”
— Psalm 90:2 (ESV)
The God of the Bible is not progressing—He is perfect. He is not exalted—He is exalted above all. He is not man—He is holy, holy, holy.
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The Consequence of Denying the True God
To deny the Trinity is not a small error—it is to deny God Himself.
“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
— 1 John 2:23 (ESV)
“Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
— John 5:23 (ESV)
Mormonism denies the unity of the Godhead. It denies the eternal deity of Christ. It rejects the spiritual nature of God and replaces Him with a god made in man’s image. This is not ignorance—it is idolatry. And no idolater will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).
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Conclusion: Worshiping the True God
True salvation begins with knowing the true God.
Jesus said:
“And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
— John 17:3 (ESV)
The Mormon God is not the God of Scripture. He is not the Creator, not the Eternal, not the Trinity.
To follow Him is to build your faith on a different foundation and to place your trust in a different god.
But the true God is not far. He has revealed Himself fully in His Word, and He invites all who are deceived to turn from the lie and come to the truth.
5. Prophecies and Revelations: The Authority of Mormon Scripture
Every religious system ultimately stands or falls on its source of truth. Christianity is grounded in the inspired, inerrant, and sufficient Word of God—the Bible. It is through Scripture alone that God has revealed Himself, His will, and His redemptive plan. In contrast, Mormonism introduces additional books, new revelations, and an ever-changing foundation of truth that contradicts, undermines, and distorts the Bible at every turn.
This section will examine the canon of LDS scripture, the nature of prophetic authority in Mormonism, and the grave consequences of building doctrine on revelations not from God.
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The Expanding Canon of Mormonism
Unlike Christianity, which affirms the Bible as the closed and completed revelation of God (Jude 3, Revelation 22:18–19), Mormonism claims that God continues to speak through modern prophetsand that divine revelation did not end with the apostles.
The LDS Church holds to four primary sources of scripture:
1. The Bible – accepted only “insofar as it is translated correctly.”
2. The Book of Mormon – considered “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”
3. The Doctrine and Covenants – a collection of modern revelations, mostly from Joseph Smith.
4. The Pearl of Great Price – containing additional writings such as the Book of Abraham and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.
These additional books are not supplemental—they are foundational. They define LDS doctrine, theology, and practice, and they often contradict the Bible in direct and irreconcilable ways.
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The Book of Mormon: Another Testament or Another Gospel?
Joseph Smith claimed the Book of Mormon to be “the most correct book on earth” and that “a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book.” However, it contains numerous historical, archaeological, linguistic, and theological problems—but more importantly, it preaches a different gospel.
Though it contains Christian terminology, the Book of Mormon presents a theology of works, a view of Jesus that is inconsistent with biblical revelation, and a narrative that contradicts history and Scripture alike.
Paul warned explicitly:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
— Galatians 1:8 (ESV)
LDS doctrine claims that an angel named Moroni revealed golden plates to Joseph Smith. Whether by intention or deception, this aligns exactly with Paul’s warning. The gospel of Mormonism is not a continuation of the biblical gospel, but a corruption of it.
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Doctrinal Contradictions and Inconsistencies
The “standard works” of the LDS Church often contradict one another and, more crucially, contradict the Bible.
Examples:
• The Book of Mormon teaches monotheism (e.g., 2 Nephi 31:21), while later LDS teachings promote polytheism and exaltation to godhood (Doctrine & Covenants 132).
• The Book of Abraham (in the Pearl of Great Price) teaches that God lives on a planet near a star called Kolob—a doctrine found nowhere in the Bible and rooted in ancient pagan cosmology.
• The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible alters key verses to align with LDS doctrine, undermining the reliability and authority of the biblical text.
Furthermore, prophetic authority in Mormonism is fluid and contradictory. Joseph Smith taught doctrines later denied by Brigham Young, who in turn was contradicted by later prophets. This lack of consistency reveals the man-made nature of LDS “revelation.”
God’s Word is not unstable:
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
— Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
“Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”
— Psalm 119:89 (ESV)
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The Sufficiency and Finality of God’s Word
Biblical Christianity affirms that the canon is closed. Revelation ends with a solemn warning:
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.”
— Revelation 22:18 (ESV)
Though this passage speaks of Revelation specifically, the principle applies to all Scripture. The Bible is not insufficient or incomplete. It is fully able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” and thoroughly equip us for “every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15–17).
Mormonism claims that the Bible is only correct “insofar as it is translated correctly”—a vague caveat that gives LDS leaders the authority to override Scripture when it contradicts their teachings. In effect, the Bible is not the authority in Mormonism. The LDS Church is.
This is no small issue. It strikes at the very heart of divine revelation. If God’s Word is not sufficient, then we are left to wander in the shifting opinions of man. But if it is—then every other so-called revelation must be judged by it and found wanting.
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Conclusion: Trust the Word, Not the Imitation
The Bible is not one voice among many—it is the only voice of the God who saves. The prophets and apostles wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The Scriptures are God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). They are not bound by culture, corrupted by translation, or eclipsed by later revelation. They are truth.
Mormon scriptures, though cloaked in religious language, are man-made inventions, born of deception, ambition, and error. They add to God’s Word, subtract from God’s glory, and distort God’s gospel.
To accept these writings is to reject the very foundation of the Christian faith.
6. The Plan of Salvation: A Distorted Path to God
At the heart of every religion lies a fundamental question: How can man be made right with God? In biblical Christianity, the answer is clear, glorious, and singular—by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Yet in Mormonism, this divine simplicity is obscured by a complex, man-centered plan of salvation that adds layers of performance, hierarchy, and eternal progression foreign to the gospel of Christ.
This section will walk through the LDS “Plan of Salvation,” expose its theological errors, and contrast it with the biblical doctrine of salvation. We will see how this alternate gospel distorts the cross, redefines grace, and ultimately leads people away from God rather than to Him.
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The Structure of the LDS Plan of Salvation
The LDS Church teaches a multi-phase plan that predates mortality and continues into eternity. Their Plan of Salvation includes:
1. Pre-Mortal Existence – All humans existed as spirit children of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother before being born.
2. Earthly Life – Mortality is a test to choose right over wrong and progress spiritually.
3. Spirit World – After death, spirits either go to paradise or spirit prison to await resurrection.
4. Resurrection and Judgment – Everyone will be resurrected and judged by their works.
5. Degrees of Glory – Eternal destinations are based on obedience and spiritual progress:
• Celestial Kingdom (highest) – Reserved for faithful LDS members.
• Terrestrial Kingdom – For honorable people who did not accept the LDS gospel.
• Telestial Kingdom – For the wicked and unrepentant.
• Outer Darkness – For “sons of perdition,” those who fully reject the LDS gospel.
This system offers a salvation that is graded, earned, and stratified, fundamentally opposing the biblical teaching of salvation by grace.
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The Pre-Mortal Fallacy: A Denial of Divine Creation
LDS theology begins with a pre-mortal existence in which every soul is said to have lived with God as His literal offspring. This contradicts Scripture. The Bible declares that we are created by God—not born of Him in eternity past:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”
— Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
This does not mean Jeremiah existed before he was formed, but that God foreknew him. God is eternal; man is created. There is no eternal lineage of spirits birthed in heaven, nor is there a “Heavenly Mother.” These ideas reflect pagan mythology, not Christian theology.
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Salvation Through Obedience: A Gospel of Works
The LDS gospel teaches that salvation is not only a gift but a reward for obedience. Their second Article of Faith states:
“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”
This denies the biblical doctrine of original sin, which clearly states that in Adam all died(Romans 5:12–19). It also undermines the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice by presenting humanity as fundamentally innocent and capable of choosing righteousness apart from divine grace.
Further, the Book of Mormon explicitly teaches salvation by works:
“…for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
— 2 Nephi 25:23
This stands in sharp contradiction to the Word of God:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
Mormonism turns salvation into a ladder of performance, not a cross of redemption. The very essence of grace is destroyed when man becomes his own co-savior.
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The Three Degrees of Glory: A Distortion of Heaven
Nowhere in Scripture does God reveal a three-tiered heaven where human merit determines placement. This concept, drawn from a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:40–41, injects an eternal caste system into eternity, cheapening the finished work of Christ and creating false hope for those who reject Him.
The Bible is unequivocal:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
— John 3:36 (ESV)
There are only two outcomes: eternal life through Christ, or eternal judgment without Him.
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Exaltation: Becoming a God
Perhaps the most blasphemous element of LDS soteriology is the doctrine of exaltation—the belief that faithful Mormons can become gods themselves and rule over their own worlds, just as Heavenly Father did.
Joseph Smith declared:
“As man now is, God once was: as God now is, man may be.”
This teaching is idolatry wrapped in theology. It contradicts Isaiah 43:10, where God states:
“Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me.”
— Isaiah 43:10 (ESV)
The lie Satan told in the garden—“you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5)—is repackaged and sold as a reward for faithfulness. Yet it is the original deception that led to mankind’s fall.
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True Salvation: Grace Alone, Not Eternal Progression
The gospel of Christ is not about eternal progress toward godhood. It is about being rescued from sin, reconciled to God, and sealed forever in His grace. Jesus said:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
— John 14:6 (ESV)
There is no plan B. There is no post-mortem redemption. There is no kingdom for those who reject Him. There is only Christ—crucified, risen, and reigning.
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Conclusion: A Different Plan, A Different Gospel
The Mormon Plan of Salvation may appear orderly, uplifting, and hopeful. But it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a system built on false revelations, works-based righteousness, and human glorification.
God’s plan is simple, sovereign, and sure:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 6:23 (ESV)
Let no man—even a prophet, even an angel—preach another way. For there is none.
7. The True Gospel vs. the LDS Gospel: Eternity Hangs in the Balance
There is no greater deception than the distortion of the gospel. And no greater consequence than believing the wrong one.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to honor Jesus Christ. They bear His name. They speak of His atonement. They reference His resurrection. But the gospel they preach is not His. The Jesus they follow is not the eternal Son of God revealed in Scripture. And the path of salvation they promote is not the narrow road that leads to life—but a wide, man-centered system cloaked in moral language and religious tradition.
In this final section, we will bring all prior truths together and weigh them against the Word of God. Because eternity is not a gamble we can afford to lose. And no one can be saved by a gospel that cannot save.
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Another Gospel, Another Christ
The Apostle Paul sounded the alarm in Galatians 1 with unrelenting force:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
— Galatians 1:8 (ESV)
Joseph Smith claimed he received his gospel from an angel—Moroni—who delivered golden plates that would become the Book of Mormon. Paul’s words are not merely relevant here; they are prophetic.
This “other gospel” preached by Mormonism includes:
• A created Jesus who is the spirit brother of Lucifer.
• A redefined Trinity—three separate gods, not one.
• A salvation earned by works, temple ordinances, and priesthood rituals.
• A promise of exaltation to godhood, echoing the serpent’s lie in Eden.
This gospel is not new. It is the repackaging of ancient heresies—Arianism, Gnosticism, and Pelagianism—revived under the guise of modern revelation. But the result is always the same: a rejection of Christ as He truly is, and a false assurance that damns instead of delivers.
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The Gospel of Grace: God’s Only Way
The true gospel is stunningly simple and unfathomably deep:
1. Man is dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1–3).
2. Christ died as our substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21).
3. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).
4. Those who believe are declared righteous, adopted as sons, and sealed by the Spirit (Romans 8:14–17).
There is no second chance after death. There is no progression to deity. There is no outer ring of heaven for those who rejected Jesus.
There is Christ—or there is condemnation.
“Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
— John 3:18 (ESV)
This is not harsh. This is hope—because the God who is holy also came near in love. He took on flesh. He bore wrath. He conquered death. And He now offers eternal life to anyone—not who earns it—but who receives it by faith.
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The Tragedy of a False Assurance
One of the gravest dangers in Mormonism is not overt hostility to Jesus—but the illusion of salvation. Its followers are often sincere, moral, and devout. They speak of Christ. They serve their church. They sacrifice deeply.
But sincerity cannot save if the object of faith is false.
You can build a beautiful house on the sand—but when the storm comes, it will fall.
Jesus warned:
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord…’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me.’”
— Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV)
This is not a warning for atheists or agnostics. It’s for the religious. For those who used His name, but did not know His truth. And it is precisely where the LDS gospel leads.
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One Gospel. One Lord. One Hope.
To all who are trapped in the system of Mormonism—there is good news.
You do not need a temple to draw near to God.
You do not need a bishop’s approval to be forgiven.
You do not need priesthood authority to receive the Spirit.
You do not need celestial marriage to gain eternal life.
You do not need exaltation to be with God.
You need only Jesus—the true, eternal, uncreated Son of God.
Come to Him. Believe in Him. Rest in Him.
Because He is enough.
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A Final Word to the Reader
To every reader who has walked through this series: my heart is not to condemn, but to reveal. My aim is not to wound, but to awaken. The stakes are too high to remain silent. And the deception is too strong to leave unchallenged.
This series exists to proclaim that there is only one gospel, one true Christ, and one way to the Father. Not through the system of men. Not through a church headquartered in Salt Lake City. But through the crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth—the King of Glory and the only Savior of the world.
So test all things. Weigh every doctrine by the Word of God. And flee from every gospel that adds to His finished work. For in Him, and in Him alone, is eternal life.
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV)
This is the gospel. And it will never change.
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Clifton B. Davy
Founder, United In Word