A CATHOLIC REFUTATION 

OF 

MORMON DOCTRINE

Galatians 1:8-9: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

Mormons claim that Joseph Smith was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ near his home in New York in 1820. Joseph Smith relates that he is told that the world has been living in a total apostasy from the gospel.

Integrity of the Church

Matthew 16:19-20: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 28:19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
John 14:16-18, 26: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. "I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 16:13: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

These verses show that God protects the Church from total apostasy that Mormons claim happened some time in the early Church. Mormons will nevertheless try and support their claim with Scripture to claim this apostacy, yet no text in Sacred Scripture ever mentions a "total Apostacy" in fact in no text that they mention is the word "all" ever found!

Church is The Mystical Body of Christ

Examining the Nature of the Church enables us to have a profound understanding of the Mystical Body of Christ.

The most striking words with regards to the doctrine of the Mystical body can be found in the book of Acts as we read (Acts 9:1-5) "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" Andhe said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting..."

We note that Christ said to Saul, that he (Saul) was accentually guilty of persecuting Christ Himself, since to persecute the Church is to persecute Christ as the Church is indeed his mystical body. If one-steps on your foot does not your mouth cry out? In like manner is it with Christ and his Church. We are his members, who with the angels and saints of heaven make us the mystical body of Christ. As St. Paul put " "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." - 1 Cor 12:12-14

In Sacred Scripture we find a great number of metaphors are employed precisely in order to affirm and clarify this doctrine of the Mystical body in order allow us to obtain a greater insight into both the nature and meaning of the Church and the implication it ought to have on us.

Christ is greater than Satan

1 John 4:4 (Christ is greater than Satan): Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Don't deny that individual Christians will succumb to immorality and heresy. The wheat and the tares will continue to coexist in the Church until the end. (Matt. 13:24-43, 47-50)

Acts 5:38-39 (Mormons may try to use this passage, but it actually backfires on them): So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

Apostolic Authority

Transmission of that Apostolic authority and office

Acts 1:20, 25: For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'His office let another take.' And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place." (see verses 15-26 for context - the Apostles elect an apostolic successor to Judas)

1 Timothy 4:14: Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you.

2 Tim. 1:6: Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;

The Church is the pillar and bulkwark of truth and protected by God

1 Timothy 3:15: If I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Matthew 12:29: Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. (also Mark 3:27)

(Jesus is the strong man protecting his house, the Church)

Use early Christian writers. We have records and teachings of many, many heresies, but not Mormonism. There is no evidence of the Church with Mormon doctrines.

Was a Great Apostasy foretold?

A quick look at Amos 8:11-12:

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.

This apostasy was in Israel, not in Church (not after NT time), and it wasn't total and could never be total!

Amos 9:8-10: Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground; except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," says the LORD. "For lo, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, 'Evil shall not overtake or meet us.'

Biblical Evidences against a total apostasy

Daniel 7:13-14: I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Total apostasy impossible for even one generation.

Matthew 18:15-18: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The true Church must be there always.
John 17:20-21: "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jesus Christ's prayer and protection extends to not only the Apostles, but all generations of believers. If we think our prayers to be efficacious before God, how much more the words of Christ Himself, who is God!
Who are the "other sheep" mentioned in John 10:16?
Mormons claim that this refers to the Nephite people of the North American continent whom (they say) Christ visited, and not the Gentiles mentioned in the New Testament. However, Matthew 15:21-28 reveals that the "other sheep" WERE in fact the Gentiles:
Matthew 15:21-28: And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Baptism and Original Sin
Contrary to Mormon belief, original sin IS a reality, and baptism IS necessary to remove the stain. The following verses bear this out:
Gen. 3:16-24; John 3: 5, Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Gal. 3.27, Mk 16:15
Baptism for the Dead?
The Mormons actually perform baptism on the dead! Mormons use 1 Corinthians 15:29 as evidence that the early Christians practiced baptism for the dead., which is not only ridiculous and absurd but again there is no historical evidence in any form (i.e. written or oral) for such an erroneous claim! However if we look at the text quoted by the Mormons and put it in context, we find that it reveals that St. Paul is not talking about Christians here, but pagans.
That is why he uses the pronoun 'they' (not 'we') in verse 29. He is basically saying that even the pagans believe in life after death, that is why theyperform this ritual. It is important to explain the context of this passage to Mormons, who perform this practice daily in their temples.
Additionally, this point highlights another contradiction in Mormon teaching. Look at Alma 34:34-35 in the book of Mormon. Baptism for the dead cannot be reconciled with this verse. In fact, this doctrine is mentioned NOWHERE in the Book of Mormon (yet Doctrine and Covenants (another Mormon scripture) section 20:9 declares the Book of Mormon to be 'the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews too', while in section 128:17 it calls baptism for the dead 'this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel'. If it isnīt even MENTIONED in the Book of Mormon, how can the Book of Mormon be 'the fullness of the gospel'?
Living Prophets?
Mormons get the notion of prophets wrong by thinking they continue to receive revelation. However, revelation has reached its fulfillment in Jesus Christ: Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill" (Cf. Also Matt.11: 13, Luke 16:16, Heb. 1:1-2, 1 Peter 1:10-12).
A prophet is one who prophesies in some way the first coming of the Messiah, who is Christ, the Son of God. Nor for this reason can any one be given (in the strict sense) the title of Apostle, since this is reserved to those who were called directly by Christ, either during his earthly mission or after his ascension (in the case of St. Paul). For this reason the Mormon's notion of a prophet is devoid of reality and consistency, essentially it a subjective notion which any person can use to qualify themselves a "self appointed prophet" just as Joseph Smith did and unfortunately by this act has lead many astray unto the broad road to destruction and eternal damnation.
The Divinity of Christ

The Fact that Christ is God is not only clear from the words of Christ as we shall prove, yet it is best seen from the fact that Christ Himself claims Divine attributes which belong to God alone, these attributes that Christ claims no man can claim without committing the sin of blasphemy unless he were truly God!

Christ is Creator - JOHN 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made". (Cf. Also JOHN 1:10 , 1 CORINTHIANS 8:6 , EPHESIANS 3:9, COLOSSIANS 1:16, HEBREWS 1:2, HEBREWS 1:10, REVELATION 3:14).

Christ is Eternal & Unreated -

JOHN 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself"

JOHN 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

(Cf. Also Apoc 1:17-18; 22:13, JOHN 4:34, JOHN 6:29, JOHN 6:32-33, JOHN 6:62, JOHN 7:16, JOHN 7:28-29 JOHN 8:16, JOHN 8:23, JOHN 8:29, JOHN 8:42, JOHN 17:5, JOHN 17:24).

Jesus is Adored and Worship as God -

MATTHEW 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, . . .

(Cf. Also MATTHEW 9:18, MATTHEW 14:33, MATTHEW 15:25, MATTHEW 20:20, MATTHEW 28:9 MATTHEW 28:17, MARK 5:6, LUKE 24:52, JOHN 9:38, JOHN 20:28, MATTHEW 2:2, MATTHEW 2:11, PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11, HEBREWS 1:6, APOC 5:8; 4:10, 7:11, 5:12-14, 4:9, Rom 11:33, Col 2:6-7).

Christ is Omnipotent (All Powerful)

MATTHEW 28:18 . . . All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

(Cf. Also MATTHEW 11:27, JOHN 2:19, JOHN 5:19-21, JOHN 6:40, JOHN 10:17-18, APOC 1:18 ; 3:7, JOHN 3:35, JOHN 13:3, PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21, COLOSSIANS 1:17, HEBREWS 1:3, 1 PETER 3:22, APOC 19:15)

Christ Claimed to be Omniscient (All Knowing)

MATTHEW 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

(Cf Also MATTHEW 22:18, MATTHEW 26:46, MARK 2:8, MARK 5:30, LUKE 22:10-13, JOHN 5:42, JOHN 6:64, JOHN 13:10-11, MATTHEW 12:25, MATTHEW 13:54, LUKE 2:47, LUKE 6:8, LUKE 9:47, JOHN 2:24-25, JOHN 4:29, JOHN 7:15, JOHN 13:1, JOHN 16:30, JOHN 18:4, JOHN 21:17, COLOSSIANS 2:3, APOC 2:23).

{Additionally, there are many other verses illustrating that Jesus knew the future perfectly (e.g., Mt 12:40, 16:21, 17:9,11-12,22-23, 20:18-19, 21:39, 24:2, 26:2,12,21,31-34,54 Mk 8:31, 9:31, 10:32-34, 14:9,18,27-30,42,49, Lk 9:22,44, 11:30, 12:50, 17:25, 18:31-33, 22:15,21-22,32,34,37, Jn 2:19, 3:14, 10:11,15,17-18, 12:32-34, 13:18-21, 14:19, 15:13, 16:20, 18:11, 21:18-19}

Christ Claimed to be Omnipresent (Present Everywhere)

MATTHEW 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"

(Cf Also MATTHEW 28:20, EPHESIANS 1:23, COLOSSIANS 3:11).

Christ forgives sins in His Own Name

MARK 2:5-10 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (6) But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, (7) Why doth this {man} thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? (8) And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? (9) Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, {Thy} sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (10) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) . . .

(Cf Also LUKE 5:20, LUKE 7:47-50, MATTHEW 26:28, LUKE 24:47, JOHN 1:29, ACTS 5:31;10:43; 13:38; 26:18, 1 JOHN 1:7, 1 JOHN 2:1-2, 1 JOHN 2:12, APOC 1:5, Rom 3:25, 4:25, 5:9-11,18, 2 Cor 5:19, Gal 1:4, Eph 1:7, 2:13-18, 5:2, Col 1:14,21-22, 1 Tim 2:5-6, Titus 2:14, Heb 1:3, 2:17, 9:14-15,26, Heb 10:10,13,18-19, 12:24, 13:12,20, 1 Pet 1:18-19, 2:24, 3:18, 1 Jn 3:5, 4:10, 5:9).

Christ claims to be sinless and Perfect

JOHN 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? . . .

(Cf Also JOHN 7:18, APOC 3:7, MARK 1:24, LUKE 1:35 ACTS 3:14, ACTS 13:35, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21, HEBREWS 4:15, HEBREWS 7:26, HEBREWS 9:14, 1 PETER 1:19, 1 PETER 2:22, 1 JOHN 3:5).

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