23 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Is the Mormon My Brother" is an excellent book., April 15, 2000
This review is from: Is the Mormon My Brother?: Discerning the Differences Between Mormonism and Evangelical Christianity (Paperback)
During the Last decade or so, the LDS Church has been engaged in a campaign to convince the evangelical community that it is orthodox expression of Christianity. "Is the Mormon My Brother" is an honest analysis of this claim---and the answer to this question is a gentle, respectful, but firm "no."
One of the toughest problems that White tackles is getting Mormons to clearly explain the LDS doctrine of God and goodhood. Many Christians who have with dialogued with Mormons know that a Mormon will agree with just about anything about God that an evangelical has to say. The oneness of God, the eternality of God, and the Trinity. In fact, it is very difficult, in a normal conversation to bring out any differences that set Christianity and Mormonism apart. However, if the Christian researchs a bit more, and asks more pointed questions, one soons discovers that LDS doctrine, in spite of the "agreements" that have been expressed over the Doctine of God, one find out that Man can become a God, and God, was one a man, and that there are actually an infinite number of gods in the universe and that every person can become a god. White's book is perhaps one of the best resources available to bring these differences out.
White does a great job of bringing this out, and he does so with extensive use of Mormon primary sources---everything from the Standards Works and early and modern publications from LDS Church authorities such as LDS prophets, and the general assemblies.
Moreover, he also addresses the issues brought about the book "How Wide the Divide" by Blomberg and Robinson, and the use of the Church Fathers (the doctrine of Theosis )by Mormon apologists to argue that the Early Church taught man can become a god.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the book is narrow in scope---the issue of monotheism vs. polytheism. It does not (and does not pretend to) deal with other issues that are also important (Such as the Historicity of the Book of Mormons). However, the book is very complete because it explains its purpose and it fulfills it. It is great if read along with Books such as "Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons" by Ron Rhodes and Marian Bodine and "Mormonism" by Kurt Van Gorden. Thus "Is the Mormon my Brother" is a must for anyone interesting to witnessing to Mormons.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Analysis of Mormon's Not being Christians!,, April 27, 2009
This review is from: Is the Mormon My Brother?: Discerning the Differences Between Mormonism and Evangelical Christianity (Paperback)
Is the Mormon my Brother essentially answers the question of whether Mormons are Christians? Answer NO
This book asks a question and then answers it with facts from the bible which Christians exclusively use versus facts from the more evolved books than the bible which the Mormons exclusively use such as the Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Abraham, Book of Mormon, etc. The book follows a question and answer format like the one used below but the book goes into that and more reasons why Mormons are not Christians. This book is awesome.
If you want to see the websites, COPY/PASTE a few sentences from any of the paragraphs into Google Search and the website should pop up.
Quotes from
www dot irr dot org/mit/is-mormonism-christian dot html
1. Is There More Than One True God?
The Bible teaches and ALL Christians (Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, etc) believe there is only one True and Living God who is an eternal unchanging God -single Creator of all things and apart from Him there are no other Gods. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; 44:6,8; 45:21,22; 46:9; Mark 12:29-34).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Jesus is just one of many Gods. (Book of Abraham 4:3ff), and that we can become gods and goddesses in the celestial kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20; Gospel Principles, p. 245; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 130). It also teaches that those who achieve godhood will have spirit children who will worship and pray to them, just as we worship and pray to God the Father (Gospel Principles, p. 302). In chapters 4 and 5 of the Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith translates his found Egyptian documents saying PLURAL GODS organized and formed the heavens and earth and that THEY (GODS) said Let there be light. Gods (plural) is mentioned well over 40 times and each time the word Gods is capitalized. Essentially it is a rewrite of the Old Testaments Genesis using plural gods.
2. Is The Bible The Unique and Final Word of God?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the Bible is the unique, final and infallible Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1,2; 2 Peter 1:21) and that it will stand forever (1 Peter 1:23-25). God's providential preservation of the text of the Bible was marvelously illustrated in the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, is missing many "plain and precious parts" and does not contain the fullness of the Gospel (Book of Mormon -- 1 Nephi 13:26-29; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 190-191). The Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham and especially the Doctrine and Covenants are more evolved than the bible. The Book of Abraham contained in The Pearl of Great Price (Joseph Smith translated piece) rewrites the genesis portion of the bible Old Testament.
3. Was God Once a Man Like Us?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that God is Spirit (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:15,16), He is not a man (Numbers 23:19; Hosea 11:9; Romans 1:22, 23), and has always (eternally) existed as God -- all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere present (Psalm 90:2; 139:7-10; Isaiah 40:28; Luke 1:37).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that God the Father was once a man like us who progressed to become a God and has a body of flesh and bone (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" from Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-347; Gospel Principles, p. 9; Articles of Faith, p. 430; Mormon Doctrine, p. 321). Indeed, the Mormon Church teaches that God himself has a father, and a grandfather, ad infinitum (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 373; Mormon Doctrine, p. 577).
4. Can a Mortal Man become a God?
All Christians (Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist) believe when you die you go to heaven (if you are judged worthy) and that you are one of God's children NOT his equal.
By contrast Mormons believe mortal man can become a God just like Jesus and Jesus' father, etc. if they follow divine laws and ordinances and gain exaltation. Part of the divine laws is a celestial marriage which is sealed in the Mormon Temple. "We cannot emphasize too strongly that in Mormonism the idea of advancement to godhood is the gospel of the Church" (P93 in Is Mormon my Brother) "The progression of our father in heaven to godhood or exaltation was strictly in accordance with eternal principal "for he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide celestial glory (D&C 88:22). Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant son of our early father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable , by experience through ages of aeons, of evolving into a God. (The First Presidency {Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder Anthon H. Lund}, The Origin of Man, Improvement Era November 1909: 81)
5. Can Mortal Man who Dies Continue to have Children?
All Christians (Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist) believe when you die you may be reunited with your loved ones but you cannot have children.
Mormons believe "By definition, exaltation includes the ability to procreate the family unit throughout eternity. This our Father in heaven has the power to do. His marriage partner is our Mother in heaven. We are their spirit children, born to them in the bonds of celestial heaven. The Lord would have all his children attain exaltation but men must have their agency. Only those who subscribe by ordinance and by faithful adherence to covenant are worth of a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Doctrine and Covenants 132:19
6. Are Jesus and Satan Spirit Brothers?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Jesus is the unique Son of God; he has always existed as God, and is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father (John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 14:9; Colossians 2:9). While never less than God, at the appointed time He laid aside the glory He shared with the Father (John 17:4, 5; Philippians 2:6-11) and was made flesh for our salvation; His incarnation was accomplished through being conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:34-35).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ is our elder brother who progressed to godhood, having first been procreated as a spirit child by Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother; He was later conceived physically through intercourse between Heavenly Father and the virgin Mary (D&C 93:21; Journal of Discourses, 1:50-51; Gospel Principles, p. 11-13; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 129; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 546-547; 742; Ezra Taft Benson, Come unto Christ, p. 4; Robert L. Millet, The Mormon Faith: Understanding Restored Christianity, p. 31). Mormon doctrine affirms that Jesus, all angels, Lucifer, all demons, and all human beings are originally spirit brothers and sisters (Abraham 3:22-27; Moses 4:1-2; Gospel Principles, pp. 17-18; Mormon Doctrine, p. 192).
7. Is God a Trinity?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost are not separate Gods or separate beings, but are distinct Persons within the one Triune Godhead. Throughout the New Testament the Son and the Holy Spirit, as well as the Father are separately identified as and act as God (Son: Mark 2:5-12; John 20:28; Philippians 2:10,11; Holy Spirit: Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 3:17,18; 13:14); yet at the same time the Bible teaches that these three are only one God (see point 1).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577), and that the Son and Holy Ghost are the literal offspring of Heavenly Father and a celestial wife (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 2, p. 649).
8. Was The Sin Of Adam and Eve a Great Evil Or a Great Blessing?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the disobedience of our first parents Adam and Eve was a great evil. Through their fall sin entered the world, bringing all human beings under condemnation and death. Thus we are born with a sinful nature, and will be judged for the sins we commit as individuals. (Ezekiel 18:1-20; Romans 5:12-21).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Adam's sin was "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us" (Gospel Principles, p. 33; Book of Mormon -- 2 Nephi 2:25; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 114-115).
9. Can We Make Ourselves Worthy Before God?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross we are spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1,5) and are powerless to save ourselves. By grace alone, apart from self-righteous works, God forgives our sins and makes us worthy to live in His presence (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6). Our part is only to cling to Christ in heartfelt faith. (However, it is certainly true that without the evidence of changed conduct, a person's testimony of faith in Christ must be questioned; salvation by grace alone through faith, does not mean we can live as we please -- Romans 6:1-4).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that eternal life in the presence of God (which it terms "exaltation in the celestial...
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