Wolves in Sheep's Clothing (5)

Matthew 7:15 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Church (?) of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Founder — Joseph Smith Jr.

Date — 1830

Headquarters — Salt Lake City, Utah

Largest offshoot — RLDS — Independence, Missouri

Current Leader — President Russell M. Nelson

Nelson became the oldest LDS president in history in 2023 @ 98

The term president is interchangeable with prophet for the LDS.

Membership Comparison

1998 Membership — 10.35 million

vs.

2024 Membership — 17.5 million

1998 Missionaries — 58,583

vs.

2024 Missionaries — 74,127

SBC Membership (U.S. only)

1998 Membership — 15.85 million

vs.

2024 Membership — 12.9 million

(14.525 million before Covid)

Unique Terms

Local “churches” — Wards

Stake — group of wards in a local area

How did it all begin?

Smith had his “first vision”, the year 1820.

Mormonism hinges on this “first vision”. (There are a minimum of 6 contradictory versions of this vision).

Background — This is not on your handout—

Smith reported to have a vision when he was 15 years old… the year 1820.

Smith reported that there was a great revival that broke out during this year in his home town of Palmyra, NY.

Smith said the revivals were are a varied group of denominations...Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, etc...

Because the experience was so great, Smith said he became confused as to which one to join.

Soon after the revival meetings, Smith began to study the Scriptures for insight.

Smith read James 1:5

James 1:5 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Smith understood this to mean he could seek from God which church was correct.

Does this sound familiar? Sort of like the Samaritan Woman at the well.

John 4:20 ESV

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

The following is the official “First Vision” in Joseph Smith’s own words:

So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

Issues with the first vision:

The revivals took place from 1824-1825 in this region, not 1820.

The vision, as recorded by the LDS, has been changed...

Earlier versions spoke of no evil attack.

Another version had no mention of God/Jesus only angels.

Another said there was only one divine person.

Another said there were many divine persons.