Since I’ve found so many serious errors in the LDS church doctrines, I’m taking another month to examine them. For example, Mormons have a different belief about Baptism than what the Bible teaches. In Doctrine and Covenants section 19:31, and in many other places in their scriptures, it says, “And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.”
They base this doctrine on Acts 2:38 which reads, “Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'”
This remission of sins happens when people repent, giving control of their lives over to Jesus. Baptism is a believer’s first act of obedience and has no bearing on their salvation.
If baptism was part of salvation, what would have happened to the believing thief on the cross? Luke 23:43 (KJV) says, “And Jesus said unto him, ‘Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.'” How could he be in paradise if being baptized is part of the salvation process?
And as some Christian denominations believe, Mormons say baptism is part of joining a church. Doctrine and Covenants says in Section 20:37, “And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits,and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.”
Mormons believe they’re the only true church so that means they’re baptized into the only church of Christ. I’ve proven in past posts that their doctrines are aberrant and that they’re the ones who aren’t real Christians. No matter how high-sounding LDS words are, the truth is that they mean different things to those members.
More of these interesting facts will be included in my next book called You Think You’re Going to Heaven? Just as their are “knock-offs” of high end products, the Devil has counterfeit denominations and religions which seem to be Christian but aren’t so. I wish people would take time to examine the “fruits” of these groups and to study the way the Bareans did.
Bruce Atchison - author 