Is Mormonism Defensible Today? A Conversation with Eric Johnson.
Over the past few years, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been releasing a number of essays in response to the biggest challenges to the church (DNA studies, the book of Abraham, plural wives of Joseph Smith, etc.). Do these essays sufficiently answer the challenges? Sean interviews Eric Johnson of the Mormon Research Ministry (mrm.org).
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Joseph Smith wasn’t just a false prophet, he was a purposeful, conniving conman.
Joseph Smith was a complete fraud and cult of personality who bamboozled the local gullible personalities and swayed them in. And now we have this 17 million strong global cult. It's crazy to think about it. Mormonism is a truly an unbelievable kooky religion. The Book of Mormon is like an outline for a stand-up comedy skit.
Before I knew much depth about being Mormon I went through the temple. I left because I had an overwhelming sense of evil in the temple.
Mormonism distorts who God is!
This is so helpful. Sean, please share this with Jenkins, the director of the Chosen. He is doing podcasts with Mormons stating evangelicals and Mormons have more in common than we differ in and we believe in and worship the same Jesus.
all the false religions are facing big problems now that the internet is exposing them
It was Gordon B Heinkly who said it may be a lie, A prophet when my mom started forcing me and my siblings into the church
Every time I hear people trying to talk about doctrine it’s always defensive I’m
Not defensive talking about other faiths I don’t believe?
The idea that we can be like God (or be gods ourselves) is exactly the deception and temptation that Satan put before Adam and Eve. Any idea that we could possibly one day be like God runs counter to everything scripture has revealed to us.
God is unique. No one will, nor can they ever, be like the one true God. Existence and reality itself is founded on the principle of an uncreated creator. THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION THAT CAN ANSWER ORIGINS TYPE OF QUESTIONS . No “multiverse generator”, no “this man became god before this one became god”; because only the Uncreated Creator answers the question of first cause. And therefore, out of necessity, no one will ever be like Him or replace Him. Without the Triune Living God, every else would cease to exist. Anything, and everything, exists because of who God is.
So, the question for mormons is, what is it they don't have to do because of the grace they receive?
The utter rubbish people can believe in. Simple Discernment – what happened to common sense!!! If there was one master con-man – Joseph Smith , hey must have been good to get men to share their wives with him. One horny rascal. Just believing in one's birth belief system is so illogical. Therefore there are over a billon each of muslims and hindus I suppose. Seesh
I usually enjoy your interviews Sean but I think you made a boo boo this time. I'm always suspicious of religious people who slag off other people's beliefs. What is their motivation? What makes them so sure their own beliefs are perfect? I'm hoping (in the interests of fairness) you'll have someone on who can either rebut or put in context Johnson's claims.
God bless Eric and so many other ex-mormons like Sandra Tanner. Looking forward to meeting them — if not in this life, Heaven will be so wonderful with them
As a Christian I am humbled by the zeal of the missionary movement of the Mormon Church.
We will have to answer for our malaise
Sean what if I need help and want to have a conversation with you, how could I get in touch with you. I’ve been a member my entire life and so has my wife and our 7 children….
The problem is not that the church has no answers but that these answers are so convoluted, unintentionally hilarious, irrelevant and (always) disagree with experts. What I can't understand are those who finally realize, "Oh, the LDS has a questionable past and BOM has errors, contradictions, anachronisms, bad history, bad science and is obviously written by man" . They they say, "So I'll be a Christian with the BIble that is guilty of the same things." LOL
Pew conducted a religious survey of all groups. of the 32 questions, atheists scored highest (21), Mormons (20) and white Christians (16). This ignorance allows Christians to "mix it up" – combine the two Creation stories, the contradictory Ten Commandments, the contradictory Nativities, the contradictory Gospels, the contradictory Resurrections. They accept the unhistorical "Acts" over the actual writings of Paul. In other words, ignorance makes faith easier which is probably a good thing in that few would go to the trouble of learning the basics of even their own religion.
As the years pass, member's views about the Church and their historical claims continue to evolve.
Eric Johnson on another video said to come here to see if he got anything wrong because he is so accurate and knowledgeable. His first display ignorance comes up at 2 minutes and 4 seconds. The topics he mentions as "weren't talked about or known". The church was making many films and cassette tape sets that could be borrowed from chapels covering all these topics. If the first thing he states isn't true, his 40 years of research is a hilarious story.
5 minutes in he has multiple extremely simple things wrong, 40 years……………. just wow.
This is just like Satan to cause confusion .
It's so strange, but when I woke up I looked around and realized the members of the LDS Church are under some trance.
I was raised Catholic, and at the age of 31 the Holy Spirit showed me the truth as I was studying the Book of Mormon and literally told me that it was true and that I needed to get baptized.
I was hoping for a genuine Mormon discussion, but it looks to be just another Mormon bashing session.
Eric’s mic is from 1981
Good points. There is definitely a difference between (1) Salvation ("free gift – for everyone" regardless of belief or actions) and (2) Exhalation – blessing for those do their best (3 kingdoms as per bible, etc). Many get these concepts confused. Good thing (as per LDS faith) everyone on whole world (that ever lived) – will get a chance for the better option (due to agency, faith, good works + ordinances). Its a matter of God gives you what you really want. All the prophets of old had to make sacrifices (Abraham, Moses, etc) We must be willing to make personal sacrifices too and bear our own crosses, so to speak. A great scripture is "We will send them down and prove them in "all things".) In the end we get what we really want. (But all are given – or will be given that chance)! I don't know of an other philosophy, religion other than the "Fairness + justice" of God that would give it to all His children (and not just for a particular region). Of course unless that is taught through God's true church (which is another way to say it). Anyway interesting video and food for thought.
9:45 The Bible plainly teaches grace is God's enabling power to keep His commandments and overcome hardship, yet Eric Johnson repeatedly denies this truth. He is the one who changed the definition of grace along with his false teachers from the 16th century.
"But he said to me, “ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness .” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
" I thank him who has given me strength , Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus ." – 1 Timothy 1:12-14 (ESV)
These passages plainly prove grace is God's power that enabled Paul to overcome hardship, temptation, and to have faith and love God. Johnson does not teach the gospel of Christ; rather, he teaches the false gospel of Luther and Calvin.
Everyone who was born and raised in the faith of Mormonism …. ?? Always heard and came to a understanding that if the Mormon Church Wasn't TRUE ?? Then No CHURCH was PERIOD … so why look anywhere else …. many would just give up with this Pre-programmed idea in their BRAIN …. I know because I was one of these .. and just couldn't believe that the LDS CHURCH wasn't TRUE .. After my mission , I spent 8yrs trying to prove the BoM true .. Like Thomas Stuart Ferguson … It just had to be … And Then JESUS began to reveal Himself to me and the true GOSPEL ….. I was BORN AGAIN .. filled with the HS and seeing the truth for the first time in my life in the Bible … Thank You JESUS ….. That was 35+ yrs ago ..
My teenage best friends were Mormons. I was Christian. We had friendly arguments centered on the Bible in which we always concluded that the other was being deceived by Satan. I was a big nerd ,not cool enough for my Christian peers . I am so thankful for my very humble, kindhearted, Mormon friends. I pray for those who leave LDS and that they won’t give up on Jesus. They need to be convinced that there is One God in three persons. Not an easy concept. It’s something they will have to experience through the Spirit.
The people who are polligimists aren't Mormons. They were excommunicated from the church! They have they're own church. It is a different name.
Jesus Christ is capable of defending his own church. He did it when concerned Christians were killing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He can do it when concerned Christians are just telling lies.
The reason I left the Mormon church is that they believe in a different God or Jesus. They are not a Christian religion. I was shocked, I was deceived, and left immediately.