Articles of Faith

I will add some pertinent comments.

1] We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

In Mormon theology, these constitute three Gods in one Godhead.

2] We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3] We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

There are various definitions of the what it means to be saved.

4] We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph Smith also has another first principle. This is from page 305 of Gospel Principles: This is the way our Heavenly Father became God. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God.... He was once a man like us; ... God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-46)

5] We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6] We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

The LDS Church has introduced new offices like Quorum, Seventies, and Aaronic Priests.

7] We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8] We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9] We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10] We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

Let's examine some other LDS teachings about the New Jerusalem.

Religion 430-431 - Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual

Page 97:

"Zion will be established by the Lord's covenant people in this dispensation, the last dispensation before the Second Coming of Christ".

"The center place for the latter-day Zion is Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. The latter-day Zion will be called the New Jerusalem".

"The great latter-day Zion and the City of Enoch will merge in the latter days".

Page 100:

"The Savior will make several appearances before His Second Coming to all the world. Christ will appear at Adam-ondi-Ahman. The Savior will appear to those in the New Jerusalem in America. The Savior will appear to the Jews in Jerusalem. The Lord will appear in glory to all mankind".

Page 101:

"Before any of his appearances, there is to be a secret appearance to selected members of his Church. He will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living".

"His first appearance will be to the righteous saints who have gathered to New Jerusalem. In this place of refuge they will be safe from the wrath of the Lord, which will be poured out without measure on all nations".

Pages 104-105:

"When Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he learned that America is the land of Zion which was given to Joseph and his children and that on this land the City Zion, or New Jerusalem, is to be built. He also learned that Jerusalem in Palestine is to be rebuilt and become a holy city. These two cities, one in the land of Zion and one in Palestine, are to become capitals for the kingdom of God during the millennium".

Gospel Fundamentals

Page 187 - The Second Coming of Christ:

"Jesus said we will know He is coming soon when His Church has built a city called the New Jerusalem. Jesus said He will rule in that city, and righteous people will live there. He has told us where this city will be built. It will be in the state of Missouri, in the United States."

Gospel Principles

Page 268:

"Near the time of the coming of Jesus, the faithful Saints will build a righteous city, a city of God, called the New Jerusalem. Jesus Christ himself will rule there. (See 3 Nephi 21:23-25). The Lord said the city will be built in the state of Missouri in the United States (see D&C 84:3-4)."

Who will build this New Jerusalem?

In 3 Nephi 21:23-25, the New Jerusalem is built up by the remnant of Jacob (Jews) and whichever Gentiles (non-Jews) repent and are gathered in and numbered among this remnant of Jacob...

The account of Ether 13:6-8 gives a slightly different rendition. the New Jerusalem is built up unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph (the seed of one of the sons of Jacob) before the coming of Jesus and before the earth passes away ...

11] We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Jesus is the Almighty God according to scriptures.

12] We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13] We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

One cannot believe all things in the Book of Mormon after reading the Bible. Check out these differences.

Strangely enough, some Latter-day Saints are known to say "If ye believe that ye will believe this also" (Mormon 7:9)-meaning if you believe the record that came from the Jews (the Bible), you'll also believe the Book of Mormon".

Another closely related promise is: "If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words", given in 2 Nephi 33:10.

This is obviously not true. Many who believe the Bible do not believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God. The differences are obvious. Several LDS teachings are not even found in the Book of Mormon, considered to be the keystone of their religion.

The Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith even started rewriting parts of the Bible. Entire sections have been added and notable parts of the New Testament, including the Book of Revelation, have been altered; changing the meaning entirely. He even wrote himself into an Old Tesstament prophecy. What a sneaky fellow he was.