Mormonese:
Mormon definitions for biblical terms

If you have ever talked with a Mormon, it does not take long before you realize that you may be using the same words as they are, but they just do not seem to have the same meaning.
In this workshop, we will take a look at the words Mormons use that may sound the same as the words Christians use, but they have a VERY different meaning.
Mormonese

God
Mormons














Biblical Christianity














One of countless gods in existence.
An exalted man from another world who created the earth who's name is "Elohim."
He became a god by following the laws and ordinances of his god on the other world.
He has a body of flesh and bones.
The one and only God in all the universe. First person of the Trinity
Isaiah 44:6,8
“This is what the Lord says—
 Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
THE BIBLE SAYS…

Jesus
Mormons














Literal offspring of God the father.
Spirit brother of Satan.
A god in the Godhead.
He is Jehovah of the O.T. compared to Elohim being the Father.
He was the first spirit child to be born to the Father and Mother gods.
Ordained as the Christ in the pre-existent Grand Council before coming to earth.
Biblical Christianity














Fully God, second person of the Trinity
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
THE BIBLE SAYS…

Biblical Christianity














Mormons














Heavenly Father
Pre-existent father who, with a Heavenly Mother, procreated souls.
Term used when speaking of God.
Separate personage from Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
Personage who answers prayers.
Current “head god.”
One and only God
THE BIBLE SAYS…
Isaiah 43:10
“… Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.

Holy Ghost

Mormons














Biblical Christianity














Third member of the godhead
Unlike God and Jesus, does have body of flesh and bone.
Personage of spirit
Has the form and likeness of a man
Can be in only one place at a time, but his influence can be felt everywhere
Fully God and third person of the Trinity
His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus
THE BIBLE SAYS…
John 15:26
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”

Mormons














Biblical Christianity














Son of God
Children of God

Jesus is the only begotten son of God “in the flesh.”
Jesus was the first born of God, and is our elder brother.
We are born children of God because we are His spirit children.
Jesus and Satan are brothers, both being begotten by the Father.
Jesus is the only Son of God, and equal to the Father.
THE BIBLE SAYS…
John 1:12-13
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
We can BECOME Children of God by following Jesus
1 John 3:1
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

Church
Mormons














Biblical Christianity














The corporate entity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
Physical building where services are held
Body of believers in the true and living God though Jesus
Comprised of saved individuals
Not limited to an earthly structure
THE BIBLE SAYS…
Colossians 1:18
 ”And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Bride of Christ

Mormons














Biblical Christianity














Salvation
Physical resurrection
Everyone, even those who don’t believe in God, will end up in one of the three heavenly kingdoms
Only Mormons who have been married in a temple and live a faithful Mormon-life will go to the highest kingdom
Completed salvation includes obtaining godhood over their own world
Acceptance of, and total surrender to Jesus and His amazing grace
Assurance of a place in heaven
THE BIBLE SAYS…
Romans 5:8-9
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Heaven
Mormons














Biblical Christianity














Divided into three Kingdoms
Celestial
Terrestrial
Telestial
Perfect Mormons
Where the Father resides
Moral people and lukewarm LDS
Holy Ghost and Jesus reside but not the Father
Everyone else
Holy Ghost resides but not Jesus or the Father
Isaiah 66:1 “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.”
Only one Heaven
Dwelling place of God
Christians go to Heaven
John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
THE BIBLE SAYS…

As you can see, Mormons may use the same words as Christians, but the words do not have the same meaning.
When speaking with and witnessing to Mormons, make sure to define your terms, and point out that they do not mean the same thing.
Speak the truth in love.


Ephesians 4:14-15
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Mormonese

Special Thanks
Josh Hess
J.R. Merilatt
Pam Miller
Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (CARM)
Bible verses from: New International Version (NIV) Copyright 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission.