"What's Your Motivation?"

(Photo by Rob Sivulka)

This past week I have spent a few days witnessing at the open house for the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple of the LDS (Mormon) Church with my friend Rob Sivulka. Rob runs the MormonInfo.org/JosephLied.com web site. We both have been asked by different people, “what’s your motivation?” The person asking is usually a Mormon and seems sincere. At first, I usually reply with a simple one word answer, “Jesus.” Of course, the LDS person usually responds that they too believe in Jesus. It is true that the Mormon believes in a Jesus, but is their Jesus the same Jesus of the Bible? If the person worships the Jesus which is taught by the Mormon leaders, then, sadly, they believe in a Jesus that is a creation of their Heavenly Father. One major difference is that Mormons worship a Jesus that was a spirit brother of Lucifer (1). This is not Biblical. The Bible clearly illustrates that Jesus is God the Creator. A few Bible verses to share with the LDS to illustrate that Jesus cannot possibly be a spirit brother of Lucifer/Satan, but the Creator of ALL things are Colossians 1:15–17:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Jesus is clearly the Creator of Lucifer/Satan. Jesus is God. He made this claim throughout His ministry on Earth. (Mark 14:61–62; John 5:18, 20; 8:58; 10:30–33).

This is only one example that explains that Jesus of Mormonism is not the same Jesus of Bible believing Christians. I wish I could say that pointing out the differences causes the Mormon to drop to their knees and begin praising and following the true Jesus of the Bible, but I have yet to see this happen. However, I believe that seeds have been planted. I may not see the harvest in this life, but I rejoice in the hope that I will one day see the fruits of my labor in Heaven. This is why I will continue to share Jesus with the Mormons and the lost. This is what motivates me.

(1) How can Jesus and Lucifer be spirit brothers when their characters and purposes are so utterly opposed? https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/1986/06/i-have-a-question/how-can-jesus-and-lucifer-be-spirit-brothers-when-their-characters-and-purposes-are-so-utterly-opposed?lang=eng

See also:

Are Mormons Christians? 7 Major Differences in Critical Theology by Alicia Purdy

Is Jesus Christ the Spirit Brother of Satan? by Hank Hanegraaff

Preexistence/Premortality (Mormonism Research Ministry)

Regrets, I Used To Have A Few

I am two months away from my 53rd birthday. I have been looking back on my accomplishments and failures throughout my life. I used to have moments of regret. I used to regret that I had ever joined the Mormon church. I used to regret I left college my senior year to serve an unsuccessful mission in OK for said church. I used to regret I never returned to graduate from college. I used to regret I spent many hours serving in a church in which I lost a testimony. However, I lost those regrets a long time ago. I now look upon these regrets as great achievements. If I had never become a Mormon, I would never have visited OK. I would never have had my 2 daughters, 2 sons and helped raise my step-daughter. My two daughters and oldest son are now wonderful adults. My step-daughter, who I am blessed to have had in my life since she was 5, is in high school. I have no doubt that she too will be a wonderful adult. My youngest son will finish kindergarten in May. I would never have met my wife and best friend, if I had never been Mormon. My first marriage may have been a failure, but my second marriage has brought me much happiness and purpose. The greatest success in my life has been due to past failures. My greats success has been following Jesus. It wasn’t until I met my second wife that Jesus became my center. When Jesus became first in my life, what I deemed as failures became stepping stones towards true meaning for my life. Regrets, I used to have a few, but Jesus changed my perspective. For this, I am eternally blessed.