Mormonism

How Mormonism Began — Brief Summary

Mormonism began in the early 1800s in New York through Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith's early life — Joseph Smith was born in Vermont in 1805 and grew up in western New York during a period of intense religious revival often called the Second Great Awakening.

First Vision — 1820 — According to Smith's later accounts, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in a grove near his home. Smith said he was told that existing churches were in error.

Moroni — 1823 — Smith reported that an angel named Moroni appeared to him and told him about an ancient record buried in a nearby hill. Smith identified the record as written on gold plates.

Translation of the plates — Smith claimed that he translated the plates by divine power. The resulting book became the Book of Mormon, published in 1830.

The Church organized — 1830 — Smith organized what became the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830.

Further revelations — Smith subsequently claimed additional revelations concerning God, Jesus Christ, priesthood authority, baptism, temples, eternal marriage, and the nature of salvation. These became the foundation of later LDS theology.

Move westward — Conflict with surrounding communities led the Mormon movement from New York to Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. After Joseph Smith was killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, Brigham Young eventually led the largest Mormon group west to what became Utah.

The key issue

The movement's origin is particularly significant because Mormonism claims that God restored the true gospel through Joseph Smith after an alleged period of apostasy.

That claim can be compared directly with the New Testament's teaching that the apostolic gospel had already been delivered and was not to be replaced by a later revelation:

Key text: Galatians 1:8–9

Galatians 1:8–9 CSB

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!” — Galatians 1:8 (CSB)

1. Opening: Why Does Doctrine Matter?

Start with a simple question:

“If two religions both use the Bible, talk about Jesus, believe in God, and call themselves Christian, how do we determine whether they actually believe the same gospel?”

Read:

Galatians 1:6–9

2 Corinthians 11:3–4

1 John 4:1

Central principle: Christianity is not defined simply by using Christian vocabulary. We must compare teaching with the revelation God has given in Scripture.

2. Who Is God?

Biblical Christianity

There is one eternal God who exists as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 6:4 — “The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

Matthew 28:19 CSB

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

2 Corinthians 13:13 CSB

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

John 1:1 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Acts 5:3–4 CSB

3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”

The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. Yet there is only one God.

Mormonism

Mormonism teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate beings rather than one God in the biblical sense. It also teaches that God the Father was once a mortal man who progressed to godhood.

This creates a fundamentally different understanding of God.

Teaching question

Ask: “If God was once a man who became God, what does that do to the biblical teaching that God is eternal and uniquely God?”

Read:

Psalm 90:2 CSB

2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.

Isaiah 43:10 CSB

10 “You are my witnesses”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me.

3. Who Is Jesus?

This is one of the most important sections of the lesson.

Biblical Christianity

Jesus Christ is:

Eternal

Fully God

Fully man

Creator

The second Person of the Trinity

Not a created being

Read:

John 1:1–3 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

If everything created came through Christ, Christ Himself cannot be part of the created order.

Read also:

John 8:58 CSB

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 10:30 CSB

30 I and the Father are one.”

Colossians 1:15–17 CSB

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

Colossians 2:9 CSB

9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Hebrews 1:8 CSB

8 but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

Mormonism

Mormon teaching identifies Jesus as the premortal spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. The female counterpart to the heavenly father.

Jesus is divine and also the spirit brother of Satan, but Mormon theology does not understand His deity in the same way historic Christianity does.

Mormonism also teaches a heavenly family structure in which humans and Christ existed as spirit beings before mortal life.

This is a form of Arianism refuted by the council of Nicea in AD 325

Key question

Is Jesus the eternal Creator—or one of many heavenly beings who existed before mortality?

That is not a minor difference.

4. What Is Humanity?

Biblical Christianity

Human beings are created by God.

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”

We do not begin as heavenly beings.

We are creatures created by God.

Mormonism

Mormonism teaches that human beings existed as premortal spirit children of Heavenly Father.

This produces a radically different understanding of human identity.

Compare

Biblical Christianity

God creates humanity

Humans are creatures

God is eternally God

Humans do not become gods

Mormonism

Humans existed as premortal spirits

Humans are spirit children of Heavenly Father

God progressed to godhood

Exaltation can involve becoming gods

5. Can Human Beings Become Gods?

This is an especially important Mormon doctrine to examine.

Mormonism

Mormonism teaches exaltation, in which faithful believers can ultimately become gods.

This is sometimes summarized by the Mormon teaching:

“As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be.”

Biblical Christianity

Scripture never teaches that redeemed human beings become gods.

Instead:

Isaiah 43:10 CSB

10 “You are my witnesses”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me.

Isaiah 44:6 CSB

6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.

The distinction between Creator and creature remains throughout Scripture.

6. What Is the Gospel?

This is where the comparison becomes most important.

Biblical Christianity

The gospel is:

Humanity is sinful → Christ died for our sins → Christ physically rose from the dead → salvation is received through faith in Christ.

Read:

1 Corinthians 15:1–4

Paul summarizes the gospel:

Christ died for our sins.

He was buried.

He was raised on the third day.

Salvation

Ephesians 2:8–9

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works.”

Romans 10:9

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

7. Salvation in Mormonism

Mormonism uses words such as:

Grace

Faith

Salvation

Jesus

Atonement

But these terms don't necessarily have the same meanings as they do in historic Christianity.

Mormonism distinguishes between different aspects of salvation and teaches that exaltation requires faithfulness, obedience, ordinances, covenants, and perseverance.

Important Mormon ordinances include:

Baptism

Confirmation

Temple ordinances

Endowment -

the Endowment is a temple ceremony in which participants receive religious instruction, make covenants with God, and are given symbolic clothing and rituals that, according to LDS teaching, prepare them for greater spiritual blessings and ultimately exaltation.

Eternal marriage

Biblical comparison

Read:

Titus 3:5

“He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy.”

And:

Romans 11:6 CSB

6 Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

The biblical gospel does not present eternal life as something achieved through temple ordinances and human performance.

8. What Is the Authority?

This is another major dividing line.

Biblical Christianity

The Bible is God's authoritative revelation.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Mormonism

Mormonism accepts additional authoritative writings, including:

The Book of Mormon

Doctrine and Covenants

Pearl of Great Price

Prophetic authority of the LDS Church

This raises a critical biblical question.

Read Galatians 1:8

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!”

Joseph Smith claimed that his revelations came through an angelic visitation.

9. The Book of Mormon

Mormonism teaches that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

The biblical question is not:

“Does the Book of Mormon mention Jesus?”

It does.

The question is:

“Is this revelation consistent with the revelation God has already given?”

Scripture repeatedly warns against accepting a contradictory revelation.

Deuteronomy 13:1–5 CSB

1 “If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, 2 and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let’s follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let’s worship them,’ 3 do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul. 4 You must follow the Lord your God and fear him. You must keep his commands and listen to him; you must worship him and remain faithful to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has urged rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the place of slavery, to turn you from the way the Lord your God has commanded you to walk. You must purge the evil from you.

Isaiah 8:20 CSB

20 Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.

Galatians 1:8–9 CSB

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

1 John 4:1 CSB

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

10. The Trinity vs. Mormon Godhead

Put this on the board:

Biblical Christianity

ONE GOD

Father Son Holy Spirit

Three distinct Persons One divine being

Mormonism

THREE DISTINCT BEINGS

Father Son Holy Ghost

Distinct beings united in purpose.

Discussion question:

“Is changing the nature of doctrinal difference—or does it change the identity of the God being worshiped?”

11. The Most Important Comparison

Have students fill this out:

Question Biblical Christianity Mormonism How many gods? OneMultiple divine beingsWho is God?Eternal CreatorFather progressed to godhoodTrinity?One God, three PersonsThree separate beingsWho is Jesus?Eternal God the SonPremortal divine spirit beingWas Jesus created?NoSpirit offspring in Mormon theologyHumanityCreated by GodPremortal spirit childrenCan humans become gods?NoYes, exaltationFinal authorityScriptureBible + additional LDS scriptures + prophetsSalvationGrace through faith in ChristFaith, grace, obedience, ordinances, covenantsTemple ordinances required?NoEssential to exaltationGospelChrist's death, burial and resurrectionBroader Mormon plan of salvation/exaltation

12. Why the Differences Matter

Don't teach students simply to say:

“Mormons are wrong.”

Teach them to ask:

1. Who is God?

Isaiah 43:10

2. Who is Jesus?

John 1:1–3

3. What is the gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:1–4

4. How are we saved?

Ephesians 2:8–9

5. What is our authority?

2 Timothy 3:16–17

6. Can another revelation change the gospel?

Galatians 1:8–9

These questions allow students to evaluate Mormonism from Scripture rather than merely from competing religious claims.

13. How Should Christians Respond to Mormons?

This is crucial for an apologetics lesson.

We aren't teaching students how to win an argument.

We're teaching them how to speak truth about Christ.

Be gracious

Colossians 4:5–6

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”

Be prepared

1 Peter 3:15

“Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for the hope that is in you.”

Speak truth

Ephesians 4:15

“Speaking the truth in love…”

Love the person

The Mormon missionary standing at your door is not the enemy.

The Christian's goal is not to defeat the missionary.

The goal is to faithfully proclaim the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

14. Closing Illustration

Put two statements on the screen:

Mormonism asks:

“How can I become exalted?”

The Gospel asks:

“How can a sinful person be reconciled to the holy God?”

Then read:

2 Corinthians 5:21

“He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The answer isn't becoming a god.

The answer is being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

Final takeaway

Have students memorize:

Different God → Different Jesus → Different Gospel → Different Religion

And finish with Galatians 1:8–9.

The central issue isn't whether Mormonism uses the name Jesus.

The central issue is whether the Jesus proclaimed is the Jesus revealed in Scripture and whether the gospel being proclaimed is the gospel delivered by the apostles.