John 1

The children and I just finished our study of the Book of Revelation.... and all I can say is : " Maranatha.... Come Lord Jesus, Come"! I think we are more excited about His return then ever!!! We all enjoyed our study of the Book of Revelation. This was our first time reading it in our entirety after coming out of the LDS church , and all I can say is "wow", did we miss a lot when we were LDS! For my LDS readers out there, I encourage you to read the Book of Revelation and really pray for God to open your eyes to understand the events that are to come, especially the eminent return of our Lord! It's very exciting!!

Since we finished up Revelation, I was in prayer about what we should be reading next. I also just finished up a personal study on the tabernacle and the Book of Exodus and have been in prayer about what I should be studying for my personal bible study. As I prayed 2 books came to my mind. The Book of John, and Isaiah. Hmmm.......both very fitting , especially at this time of year when we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord.

The kids and I have begun to read the book of John. This is the first book we read when we came out of the LDS church. It was life changing. In the words of my teenage son: " this is the salvation book".... the book that clearly tells us what we need to do to receive life eternal. It's been over a year since we have studied the book of John, so we began again.

Today we read the first chapter of John. By the time we finished the chapter I realized and so did a couple of the older kids, that there are some *key* verses in this chapter, that clearly refute LDS doctrines.

As I prayed about "what" I should share here on this blog today, I was directed to share the following passages from John chapter 1 and compare it with Mormon teachings and Joseph Smith's translation of the same passages.

1. John 1:1 & 2 : " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. "

The WORD in Greek means "logos". It appears 1,200 times in the Bible. Jesus was in the beginning, before the world was created. He was with God, as a distinct member of the Godhead, but also is God, and thus points to the unity of Jesus with God the Father.

Jesus did not become "God" as the LDS church teaches. He has always been God. He did not progress to "becoming" a "god". This is critical because the LDS teach emphatically that Jesus, the Son of God had to come down to earth, and become born, and have a human body, so He could himself become a "god" like God the Father. ( whom they believe has also a body of passions and parts)

John 1:1 & 2 completely refutes that teaching. Jesus has always been God and will always be God. He is perfect in unity with God the Father, but distinct in personage. For further reading on this, please refer to Isaiah 44, where Isaiah clearly teaches that there is NO other God, not before Him or after Him. He has always been God. He did not "evolve" or "progress" to God status.

The LDS also teach erroneous beliefs about the 'trinity'. They teach that Christians believe God, The Son and God the Father and the Holy Spirit are *one* in person . This is not true. John 1:1 emphatically declares that Jesus and God are essentially one in purpose and distinct in personage. The Word was with God, and The Word is God. That is, Jesus -- was with God the Father and Is also God. For my LDS readers, please take note that Christians do not believe that God the Son and God the Father and God the Holy Spirit share one body, and magically appear as the Spirit at some point and then the Son at other times. They are 3 distinct persons in One.

I was taught as a member of the LDS church that the doctrine of the trinity meant just that, 3 beings "mysteriously" appearing as Son or Father or Spirit , depending on the event. This is not the case.

John 1:2 " All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made. "

All things were "created" by Jesus. Nothing was in existence prior to Him creating it. The LDS doctrine teaches that intelligence and "spirits" have always existed, and that Jesus did not create them. This is not what John 1:2 states. This passage clearly states that ALL things were created by the WORD, and the Word is Jesus and Jesus is God.

When an LDS goes to the LDS temple, they watch a movie that depicts the creation of our earth. The movie goes into detail and teaches that Jesus and Michael, ( the archangel for Christians and " Adam" for Mormons) "organized" matter. That is that "matter" already existed. The Bible my friends, clearly refutes that teaching.

Genesis 1:2: And the earth was without form and void.

God the Son, created the earth from nothing. All things, including human intelligence was created by Him. The Bible does not teach that Adam, or "Michael" had any hand in creating our earth. " The world was made by Him". verse 10

John 1:12 " But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

This verse clearly teaches that we "become" sons of God . We are not naturally sons of God. To them that *believe* and *receive* Him become the Sons of God. We must believe Jesus and receive Him to become Sons of God. Paul further explains that we are "adopted" into God's family when we accept our Lord Jesus, and are born again. ( Romans 8:15, 8:23,Galatians 4:5 Ephesians 1:5)

The LDS doctrines teach that "all" humankind are the "spirit sons and daughters of god". That is every person who has ever walked on the face of this earth is the spirit sons or daughter of god and one of his wives. Together they birth "spirit children" who come and inhabit a body here on earth.

The Bible clearly teaches otherwise. We are not naturally God's children. We "become" God's children thru adoption, when we receive & believe on HIS name. John 1:12

John 1:18: " No man hath seen God at anytime, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father , he hath declared him."

No man has seen God in all his essence, because God is Spirit ( John 4:24, 1 Tim 6:16). Although no man has seen God, the Bible does witness that many men have seen God in Jesus Christ. Moses, prayed to see God's presence. God's response was: " And he said, thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see and live." Exodus 33:2o

Many people in the Bible have seen Jesus. As the prencarnate Christ, and as "flesh" dwelt among us. Jesus taught that if we have seen Him we have seen the Father, for the Father and Son are one.

The LDS teach that God the Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in 1820. They teach that God was once a man, who progressed to becoming a "god" ( I say "a god" because of the LDS belief that there are many "gods", but only "one" god for this earth). This teaching clearly contradicts the Bible.

John 1:29: " Behold the Lamb of God , which taketh away the sins of the world".

My dear readers, It is Jesus -- the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Not baptism, as the LDS teach. Baptism, does not wash away our sins. Keeping commandments does not wash away our sins. Oh, my dear LDS readers, it is solely the LAMB of GOD that washes away our sins! We are justified ( forgiven) by His blood. ( Romans 5:9)

These key passages in the first chapter of the book of John clearly tell us many things. Jesus is God and always has been. We are adopted into the family of God, and become His sons & daughters when we receive Christ, no man has seen God the Father at any time, and Jesus is the Lamb of God and thru Him our sins are washed away.

Wow!

Please take note that Joseph Smith, re translated ( or changed) the first chapter of the book of John. You can find the changes he made in the back of the LDS bible under the section labeled " Joseph Smith translation".

Let's take a look at the passages I shared here and compare it to what Joseph Smith wrote:

John 1:1

" In the beginning was the gospel preached thru the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son and the Son was with God, and Son was God. " Joseph Smith states clearly that the Word is not Jesus - but the LDS gospel.

John 1:18

" For the law was after a carnal commandment, to the administration of death, but the gospel was after the power of endless life through Jesus Christ the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father."

This is John 1:18?????? Let's read again what the Bible states as John 1:18:

" No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten of the Son, which is in the bosom of the Father , he hath declared him".

Wow! Big difference!!!

I believe Joseph Smith had to change some key passages from this chapter in order to support the claims he was making.

God's word endures forever my friends, it will not return void.

I implore my LDS readers to please search God's word.

Joseph Smith did change not only these passages , but other passages in the Bible. I will be sharing these changes later here on my blog.

Why you may ask?

The LDS church teaches that the Bible is not trustworthy. It has been mistranslated. They believe Joseph Smith was inspired to change God's word.

They are sincere in their beliefs, but greatly mistaken.

Please pray for the LDS.

Pray that their eyes may be opened and that God may do a great work, using HIS word, which endureth forever ( 1 Peter 1:25) and will stand forever. ( Isaiah 40:8) .

To my LDS friends. You can find these references in your own LDS bibles. The J.Smith translation can be found at the back of your bible behind the Dictionary. Please pray and ask God to help you to understand His word as it was intended to be, not the way Jospeh Smith changed it to be.

The Bible can be trusted.

I will praying that my LDS friends who read this will come to believe that too.

God bless,

gloria