Mormon Doctrine

You may read and believe what you please as to what is found written in the Bible. Adam was made from the dust of an earth but not from the dust of this earth...

When our Father Adam came into the garden of Eden he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve one of his wives with him (Journal of Discourses).ⁱⁱ

I believe that the declaration make in these scriptures is literally true. God has made His children like Himself to stand erect, and has endowed them with intelligence and power and dominion over all His works, and given them the same attributes which He Himself possesses. He created men, as we create our children;; for their is no other process of creation in Heaven or on earth, in the earth, or under the earth, or in all the eternities, that is, that were, or that ever will be (Milton Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages: 99).

Biblical Doctrine

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul...

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Genesis 2:7,21-23, emphasis added).

Mormon Doctrine

And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days (Journal of Discourses volume 1: 50).ⁱⁱⁱ

Our Father Adam...He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken—he is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do (Journal of Discourses: 50, emphasis in original).

Biblical Doctrine

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7).

Mormon Doctrine

The Lord ordained marriage between male and female as a law through which spirits should come here and take tabernacles, and enter into the second state of existence. The Lord himself solemnized the first marriage pertaining to this globe, and pertaining to flesh and bones here upon this earth. I do not say pertaining to mortality for when the first marriage was celebrated, no mortality was here. The first marriage that we have any account of, was between two immortal beings (Joseph Smith, The Way to Perfection: 248).

Biblical Doctrine

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16).

Mormon Doctrine

Now there was a reason for the translation of Elijah. Men are not preserved in that manner unless there is a reason for it. Moses was likewise taken up, though the scriptures say that the Lord buried him upon the mountain. Of course the writer of that wrote according to his understanding; but Moses, like Elijah, was taken up without tasting death (Joseph Smith, Doctrines of Salvation volume 2: 107).

Biblical Doctrine

So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor (Deuteronomy 34:5-6).

Mormon Doctrine

And behold he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers (Book of Alma 7:10, emphasis added).

Biblical Doctrine

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2, emphasis added).

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king...And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel (Matthew 2:1,6).

Mormon Doctrine

Following the great council in heaven at which Lucifer and his hosts revolted against the gospel plan of salvation as laid down by God the Father and Advocated by His Only Begotten Son, Adam—who was known as Michael the Archangel... (Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, 67).

Biblical Doctrine

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

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth...

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him... (John 1:1, 14, 18).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Mormon Doctrine

Now, remember from this time forth and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost (Journal of Discourses volume 1: 50-51, emphasis added).

Biblical Doctrine

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20).

Mormon Doctrine

But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold in that day that he shall suffer death the sun will be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you;and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of the land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise from the dead (Helaman 14:14, emphasis added).

Biblical Doctrine

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour (Matthew 27:45).

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (Mark 15:33).

Mormon Doctrine

The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in this day, and to him has given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth and then in heaven.

Biblical Doctrine

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God...

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, names Nazareth (Luke 1:19-26).

Mormon Doctrine

We are living in the dispensation of the fullness of times into which all things are to be gathered, and all things are to be restored since the beginning. Even this earth is to be restored to the condition which prevailed before Adam's transgression. Now in the nature of things, the law of sacrifice will have to be restored, or all things which were decreed by the Lord would not be restored. It will be necessary, therefore, for the sons of Levi, who offered the blood sacrifices anciently in Israel, to offer such a sacrifice again to round out and complete, this ordinance in this dispensation. Sacrifice by the shedding of blood was instituted in the days of Adam and of necessity will have to be restored.

The sacrifice of animals will be done to complete the restoration (Joseph Smith, Doctrines of Salvation: 94).

Biblical Doctrine

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building:

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:11-14)?

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepare for me:

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy wi11 of God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein: which is offered by the Law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once and for a11 (Hebrews 10:4-10).

The Bottom Line

As we have read, Joseph Fielding Smith claims that animal sacrifices will be restored to the earth. But God says He has no pleasure in sacrifices. We are sanctified through the sacrifice of Christ.

Mormon Doctrine

Therefore, as the soul could never die... (Alma 42:9, Book of Mormon).

Biblical Doctrine

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).

Mormon Doctrine

There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones...

When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, give him your hand, and request him to shake hands with you. If he be an angel, he will do so, and you will feel his hand (Doctrines and Covenants 129: 1,4,5).

Biblical Doctrine

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: Handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

But to which of the angels said he at any time. Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot stool?

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:13-14).

The Bottom Line

Mormons say angels are resurrected beings having flesh and bones, whereas the Scriptures say they are spirits, not having flesh and bones.

Mormon Doctrine

The church offers the knowledge to men that the almighty has been a man also that is to say, God our Father is a man in form like ourselves...He is a resurrected, glorified, exalted being with a body of flesh and bones. Spirit courses through his veins instead of blood, because he is no longer mortal. He understands man because he was once like us. Through the eternal ages he progressed until he became a God (Dr. Sidney Sperry, The Improvement Era, August 1947).ⁱ

I will go back to the beginning before the world was to show what kind of a being God is, what sort of a being was God in the beginning...God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man...we have imagined supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea...He was once a man like us: yea that God Himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ Himself did...

Here then is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely by going from one small degree to another...

What did Jesus do? Why I do the things I saw my Father do... My Father worked out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that he may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt him in glory. He will take a higher exaltation, and 1 will take his place (Joseph Smith in a sermon on April 7, 1844).

Biblical Doctrine

The Bottom Line

Mormon Doctrine

The Glory that Christ received was that of Godhood; therefore. for men to receive the same glory they also shall become Gods. In fact, when the church leaders during the early period of Mormondom searched the scriptures more carefully, it became very clear to them that the ultimate goal of eternal progression is to receive eternal life—i.e., to become as God is. For this cause the Gospel of Jesus Christ was instituted before the foundation of the world and revealed to mankind from age to age-by a gracious Heavenly Father. Of course it is generally understood that a vast majority of the children of our Heavenly Parents will not obey the Gospel principles and ordinances to the degree requisite to finally exalt themselves unto Godhood. But the possibility is that there are many individuals who will attain the desired goal. For example, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have entered into their exaltation according to the promises,and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are Gods (Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, 106).

Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my 1aw, as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are Gods (Doctrines and Covenants 132:37).

Biblical Doctrine

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God...Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any (Isaiah 44:6, 8).

For I am God and not man (Hosea 11:9).

Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me (Isaiah 43:10).

Mormon Doctrine

And now, behold if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden, and all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; And they must have remained forever and had no end.

And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:22-23).

And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. And Eve his wife heard all these things and was glad saying: were it not for our transgression we never should have seed and never should have known good and evil and the joy of our redemption and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient (Moses 5:10-11).

Biblical Doctrine

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne oh God is forever and ever: A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of

Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity (Hebrews 1:8-9).

So God created man in his own image. In the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth (Genesis 1:27-28).

The Bottom Line

Mormon doctrine says that if they had remained innocent they would have had no joy, for they knew no misery. Also, they were doing no good for they knew no sin. Does misery bring joy, or does good come from sin? Hebrews 1:9 tells us that whatever God hates does not bring joy. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply before sin ever entered into their hearts. Would God give a command that could not be obeyed without sinning?

Mormon Doctrine

And also John the son of Zacharias which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the Spirit of Elias:

Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first Priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron (Doctrine and Covenants 27:7-8).

Biblical Doctrine

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish (Psalm 146:4).

The Bottom Line

Doctrine on death is varied and confusing. Mormonism is not the only religion that is mistaken on the nature of death and the state of the dead. To find out more, read our articles on death.

Mormon Doctrine

...it is borne in mind that at this time the new law of marriage for the Church — marriage for eternity, including plurality of wives under some circumstances— was being introduced by the Prophet, it is very likely that the following article was written with a view of applying the principles here expounded to the conditions created by introducing said marriage system (Official History of the Church, volume 5: 134-136).

No marriages in heaven for the unrighteous. This is the only answer our Lord could have given to these unbelievers. It is in full accord with the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, wherein the Lord says that "when they (those of this world who do not keep the whole law) are of out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are appointed angels in heaven; which angels are ministering servants to minister for those who are worthy of a far more and an exceeding and an eternal weight of Glory. For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not Gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.

The answers are exactly the same and apply to those who may be worthy of some salvation, not withstanding their rejection of the eternal marriage covenant. There will be no marrying, neither giving in marriage among those who reject the truth of the everlasting gospel. That privilege is confined to those who keep the commandments of the Lord in their fulness, and who are obedient to the laws of God (Doctrines of Salvation: 73).

Biblical Doctrine

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven (Matthew 22:30 NKJV).

The Bottom Line

According to Joseph Smith, there will be marriage in heaven for those who keep God's commands. However, Scripture clearly says that there will be no marriage in the resurrection.

Mormon Doctrine

And the Lord appeared unto them and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the Archangel (Doctrines and Covenants 107:54).

But, behold verily I say unto you, before the earth shall pass away, Michael mine Archanqel shall sound his trump, and then shall all the dead awake, for their graves shall be opened, and they shall come forth yea even all (Doctrines and Covenants 29:26).

Biblical Doctrine

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The Bottom Line

According to the Mormon religion, Adam calls forth the sleeping saints, but we know form the Bible that it is Christ Himself who calls His people from the grave.

Mormon Doctrine

It is well understood that the ordinances of the Gospel, such as baptism and the laying on of hands, pertain to this life, therefore those who have died without the Gospel, cannot act in their own behalf. Someone in mortal 1ife must act for them. Neither can those who have received the resurrection officiate and stand for themselves, for they, too, belong to another life.Therefore mortals have to be saviors on Mount Zion, acting by proxy for the dead. If the dead could do this work for themselves, when they repent and receive the Gospel, then those who are now living would not be required to officiate and labor as proxies for them (The Way to Perfection: 32, emphasis added).

Biblical Doctrine

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him (Psalm 49:7).

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

The Bottom Line

Christ is the only one who can save us. We must all choose for ourselves whether we will accept His offer of grace.

Mormon Doctrine

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;

But I, the Lord God, spake, and there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word (Moses 3:5-7).

Biblical Doctrine

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:42-46).

The Bottom Line

The Bible is very plain in saying the spiritual body does not exist until after "the resurrection of the dead." It is therefore completely impossible for anyone on Earth to have had a spiritual body before being born into this world.

Mormon Doctrine

The principles of truth and goodness, and of eternal lives and the power of God are from eternity to eternity.The principles of falsehood and wickedness, the power of the devil and the power of death are also from eternity to eternity. These two powers have ever existed and always will exist in all the eternities that are yet to come (John Widstoe, Discourses of Brigham Young: 1, emphasis added).

Biblical Doctrine

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21: 4).

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more (Ezekiel 28:12-19, emphasis added).

The Bottom Line

When God created the earth and everything in it, He called His handiwork "good." Sin has not always existed, and will one day be extinguished by Christ's power.