Unveiling Mormonism PursueGOD Podcasts

In 1842 Joseph Smith published 13 articles of faith for his new Mormon church. In this episode we talk about the first article, which is all about God. How does it compare to biblical Christianity?
Find the official LDS Article of Faith at their website here. 
LDS:“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
This sounds trinitarianLDS:Father has a body of flesh and bones, D&C 130:22.I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory, JS—H 1:17.ordained in … the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods, D&C 121:32.
AC: We believe in a sovereign, triune God. By His power He spoke the world into existence. God alone is self-determined, self-governed, and self-sufficient. He is eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each possesses all the attributes of deity. All are equal in power and glory. (Rom. 1:18-20; John 1:18; 1 Cor. 2:16; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; Isa. 46:10).
AC: We believe Jesus Christ was, is, and always will be the Son of God. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many signs and wonders, died on a cross, and rose from the dead in a glorified body. He ascended to the right hand of God the Father where He continually makes intercession for His people. At the appointed time He will come again to earth to consummate God’s plan in salvation history. (Matt. 1:20-23; John 1:1,2; Rom. 3:24, 25; Rom. 8:34; Phil 2:5-10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 1:1-3; Heb. 7:25).
LDS:Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father, Alma 11:38.called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first, D&C 93:14.
AC: We believe in the Holy Spirit’s effective role in God’s plan for His Kingdom. Without the influence of the Holy Spirit no one can participate in Kingdom Life. The Spirit’s first (and necessary) work is in conversion: to enlighten sinners and awaken them to their need for a Savior. At the point of salvation the Holy Spirit immediately indwells believers and begins empowering them to live to please God. The Spirit also gives them a new identity, assuring them of their proper standing with God. (John 14:16,17,26; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Gal. 5:22-26; Eph. 1:13-14).
LDS: my Spirit shall be in your hearts, D&C 84:88.Holy Ghost … is a personage of Spirit, D&C 130:22.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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In this bonus episode, Bo and KD continue their discussion on Mormonism and women. They explore the cultural aspects of Mormonism as it relates to women, including the recitation of the Young Women's theme, the concept of exaltation, and the pressure on women to find a worthy husband. They also discuss the emphasis on modesty and the challenges of dressing in a way that is garment-appropriate. The conversation highlights the control and judgment that can arise from these cultural expectations.
Takeaways:
The pressure to find a worthy husband and the fear of not being able to achieve exaltation can create anxiety and control in Mormon women.The emphasis on modesty and the requirement to wear garments can lead to judgment and policing of women's clothing choices. In Mormonism, women are expected to prioritize having children, and infertility can be a source of judgment and unsolicited advice.Leaving the Mormon church can be particularly difficult for women, as it is seen as breaking up the eternal family.It is important to prioritize God above all else and recognize that being part of God's family is more important than the Mormon concept of an eternal family.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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In this episode Bryan, Bo, and KD discuss the Mormon perspective on the fall of Adam and Eve and how it shapes their view of women. They contrast this with the biblical view that emphasizes the equality and value of both men and women as image bearers of God. The conversation also touches on the Mormon belief in becoming gods and the role of women in Mormonism.
Mormonism has a different interpretation of the fall and the role of women compared to biblical Christianity.The biblical view emphasizes the equality and value of both men and women as image bearers of God.Toxic masculinity and controlling behavior from husbands and a desire for control and subversion from wives are the result of the curse.Jesus is the solution to this hostility, as he crushed Satan's head and overcame sin and death.In biblical Christianity, there is no difference between men and women at the foot of the cross, and all believers have access to God through Jesus.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD explore the question that skeptics and scoffers love to use to stump Christians: If God is good, why does evil exist? At first blush this paradox seems impossible to answer. But take a second look at the Bible and you’ll not just make sense of this difficult question, you’ll find an answer that can change your eternity.
Takeaways:
Mormonism and Christianity have different understandings of God, Satan, and the nature of evil.Evil is not just external, but also resides within each person.Evil exists because people exist. Sin is what broke the world, and God is being patient with people to give them a chance to repent.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD talk about how the Mormon church claims to have prophets who speak authoritatively for God. But is that really a thing anymore? If not, how do we hear from God? This podcast explores the answer to that question. They discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments, the concept of worthiness in Mormonism, and the differences between capital P prophets and lowercase p prophets. They emphasize that every believer now has the Holy Spirit and that the Bible is God's authoritative Word. They also talk about the closed canon and the importance of testing everything against God's Word.
Takeaways:
There are two different types of prophets: a capital “P” prophet who speaks authoritatively for God, and a lowercase “p” prophet who speaks what God has already spoken. The canon of Scripture is closed, meaning that God is not going to speak authoritatively through prophets anymore.The Bible is God's authoritative word and does not need to be supplemented with new revelation from prophets.The gift of prophecy in the local church is about reminding people of what God has already spoken, not bringing new revelation.Believers should test everything against God's Word and hold on to what is good.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD explore the differences between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, focusing on textual and historical evidence. They discuss how the Book of Mormon lacks archaeological evidence and contains anachronisms, while the Bible has extensive evidence supporting its accuracy and reliability. They emphasize that the Bible tells one unified story, written by multiple authors over 1500 years, yet remaining consistent. They also address the reliability of Bible translations, explaining that translations are accurate and reliable, and the Joseph Smith Translation cannot be considered a true translation. They conclude by highlighting the power and inspiration of the Bible as the Word of God.
Takeaways:
Mormons believe the Bible is the word of God, but it is not infallible and has errors.The Bible is ranked below the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price in Mormon canon.Christians believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible, meaning that divine inspiration extends to the very words themselves and all parts of the Bible.The Book of Mormon lacks archaeological evidence and contains anachronisms, while the Bible has extensive evidence supporting its accuracy and reliability.The Bible tells one unified story, written by multiple authors over 1500 years, yet remaining consistent.Translations of the Bible are accurate and reliable, and the Joseph Smith Translation cannot be considered a true translation.The Bible is the Word of God and can be trusted.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
Mentioned in this episode:
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