THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Six Teachings of Mormon “Prophet” Brigham Young in the Light of Scripture
By Loren Franck
To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Joseph Smith is synonymous with Mormonism. He founded the ultralegalistic religion in April 1830, later generating three books of pseudo scripture: the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
The 2008 Deseret News Church Almanac claims there are some 13 million Mormons. Less than half are active in church activities, and even fewer hold faithfully to all the church’s ever-changing doctrines.
But to non-Mormons, Brigham Young, who succeeded Smith as LDS church president from 1847–1877, best reflects Mormonism. During his three-decade tenure as “prophet, seer and revelator” for Latter-day Saints, he gave countless sermons, taught innumerable doctrines, and offered extremely colorful counsel.
Like other false prophets, though, who tailor their aberrant teachings to appear legitimate, Young mingled his manmade philosophies with scripture. In fact, he brashly challenged Christianity to “take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test" (Journal of Discourses 16:46, 47).
So let’s briefly accept Young’s challenge here with six of his teachings. Two are good, two are bad, and two are downright ugly. Overall, as you’ll see when comparing the last four of Young’s tenets to the Bible, “the religion of the Latter-Day Saints” fails the test.
THE GOOD
1. Preeminence of the Atonement
Brigham Young
The Bible
The atonement of Jesus Christ, including his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, is God’s greatest earthly work on behalf of mankind. It’s fundamental to Christianity (1 Corinthians 15:12–19).
•
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; by which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (1 Peter 3:18–20).
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; by which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (1 Peter 3:18–20).•“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1, 2).
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1, 2).•“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly . . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6, 8).
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly . . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6, 8).2. The Bible as Scripture
Brigham Young
“We consider the Bible . . . as a guide . . . pointing to a certain destination. This is a true doctrine, which we boldly advance. If you will follow the doctrines, and be guided by the precepts of that book, it will direct you where you may see as you are seen, where you may converse with Jesus Christ, have the visitation of angels, have dreams, visions, and revelations, and understand and know God for yourselve”
(Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 126).
The Bible
•“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7, 8).
“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7, 8).•“ . . . In us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other” (1 Corinthians 4:6).
“ . . . In us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other” (1 Corinthians 4:6).THE BAD
3. Death “on the spot” for Interracial Marriage
Brigham Young
“Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so. The nations of the earth have transgressed every law that God has given them . . . ” (Journal of Discourses 10:110).
The Bible
Before Christ “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26), he revealed various parameters of marriage among the children of Israel. For example, when they first entered the Promised Land, they were forbidden to marry anyone from the nations they expelled (Deuteronomy 7:1–6). But the Bible never teaches “death on the spot” for marriage to someone of African descent, especially during the New Testament era. The idea results from Brigham Young’s racism. The Bible teaches that believers are one in Christ and doesn’t restrict interracial marriage—as long as the husbands and wives are Christians.
•“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul . . . ” (Acts 4:32).
“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul . . . ” (Acts 4:32).•“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:27–29).
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:27–29).•“Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:16).
“Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:16).4. Only Polygamists Become Gods
Brigham Young
“The only men who become Gods, even the Sons [sic] of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had the blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them” (Journal of Discourses 11:269).
The Bible
Two basic Bible truths are germane here. First, men can’t become Gods. Second, nobody needs polygamy to please God. To agree with Young on these two points is an acceptance of false doctrine. The Bible affirms that marital status is irrelevant to salvation. What is relevant, however, is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you believe or disbelieve in him as Lord? Do you trust or doubt him as Savior?
•“ . . . Whoever believes will in [Christ] have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15, 16).
“ . . . Whoever believes will in [Christ] have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15, 16).•“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). •“ . . . Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
“ . . . Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).THE UGLY
5. Adam is God
Brigham Young
“Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true” (Journal of Discourses 5:332, italics added). "How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me—namely that Adam is our father and God" (Deseret News, June 18, 1873, p. 308, italics added).
The Bible
Mormonism’s Adam-God doctrine is among its most heretical teachings. It’s also one of the most preposterous, especially in light of scripture. The Bible says there’s only one God, and that he created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden.
•“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).•“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).•“This is eternal life, that they may know You [the Father], the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3, italics added; also see John 5:44; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25).
“This is eternal life, that they may know You [the Father], the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3, italics added; also see John 5:44; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25).6. Blood Atonement
Brigham Young
“There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out; and the judgments of the Almighty will come, sooner or later, and every man and woman will have to atone for breaking their covenants”
(Journal of Discourses 3:247)
The Bible
Only Christ’s can pay for a man’s sins. Certain animals in Old Testament times sacrificed to atone for one’s sins, but as the New Testament reveals, this was purely symbolic (Hebrews 9:1–28; 10:8–12). In fact, the Bible confirms, “Now where there is forgiveness of [sin], there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18). Jesus paid it all.
•“ . . . If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7–9, italics added).
“ . . . If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7–9, italics added).•“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13, 14 NIV, italics added).
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13, 14 NIV, italics added).•“ . . . From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5).
“ . . . From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5).Loren Franck is a BYU graduate and former Mormon missionary. He received eternal life by grace alone though faith alone in Jesus Christ alone in 2001. Now president and executive director of Global Christian Outreach, he lives in Los Angeles.
©2012 Global Christian Outreach, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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When you’re ready to improve your life, empowerment is paramount.
Empowerment is especially important in your relationship with God. For instance, you need God-given power to understand Christ’s saving truths, to separate yourself from Mormonism and other religious cults, to receive forgiveness of all your sins, and to possess the gift of eternal life. Speaking of Christ’s loving outreach to “those in opposition,” Paul wrote, “ . . . God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25, 26).
When God grants repentance to unbelievers, plus through the Bible and Holy Spirit escorts them to the truth, they obtain God’s power to escape the adversary.
How to obtain that power? Ask God for it. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,” Jesus instructed, “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). Paul explained the process in these words: “For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:11–13 ESV).
With the Lord’s help, you have power to leave the Mormon church—or any other manmade religion. You have the power to avoid their meetings, to stop tithing, and to quit obeying their leaders. You can stop believing their foolish, damning doctrines and begin to believe in Jesus as revealed in the Bible. Paul said you can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved—no tithing, no temple, no Mormon “prophet.”
You don’t need religion or its leaders. All you need is a new life in Christ. And with God on your side, you have the power to receive it.
—Loren Franck
THE TEACHINGS OF BRIGHAM YOUNG
Scripture? Or Mere Opinion?
Brigham Young was LDS church president from 1847 until his death 30 years later. Nicknamed “the Lion of the Lord,” he’s been one of Mormonism’s most outspoken leaders. However, he’s also among the church’s most controversial. Sandra Tanner, cofounder and president of Utah Lighthouse Ministry, has said, “If the Mormons ever had any truth at all, they lost it with Brigham Young.” History has proven her correct.
Let’s see what Young said about his sermons to the Latter-day Saints.
“I know just as well what to teach this people and just what to say to them and what to do in order to bring them into the celestial kingdom, as I know the road to my office. It is just as plain and easy. The Lord is in our midst. He teaches the people continually. I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve” (Journal of Discourses 13:95).
“Brother Hyde referred to a few who complained about not getting revelations. I will make a statement here that has been brought against me as a crime, perhaps, or as a fault in my life . . . that Brigham Young has said ‘when he sends forth his discourses to the world they may call them Scripture.’ I say now, when they are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible, and if you want to read revelation read the sayings of him who knows the mind of God” (Journal of Discourses 13:264).
—Loren Franck
“The moment the atonement of the Savior is done away, that moment, at one sweep, the hopes of salvation entertained by the Christian world are destroyed, the foundation of their faith is taken away, and there is nothing left for them to stand upon. When it is gone, all the revelations God ever gave to the Jewish nation, to the Gentiles, and to us are rendered valueless, and all hope is taken from us at one sweep” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 27).
Brigham Young
Unlike Mormons, Christians believe that the Bible is God’s only book of scripture. All other alleged scriptures, whatever the source, are counterfeit and worthless regarding one’s standing with God. Biblical teachings are sufficient for man to become reconciled to God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Although various translations of the Bible are available, its original manuscripts remain perfect, its doctrines pure.
•“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”(2 Timothy 3:16).
The consummate teacher, our Savior Jesus Christ
