I worked with an LDS (Mormon) guy for about 3 years. His friend sought me out to tell me that my former co-worker is now living and working in Nebraska. I talked with His friend at length and found out that he's sort of a Mormon, but really in name only. He's gone to chapel services only a few times over the last five years it seems, and only because well, his once-in-a-while Mormon wife wants to attend.

I was pretty surprised by how open the guy was. Apparently he sees himself as a Mormon because when he was a kid his mom (now deceased) began taking him to LDS services. His wife's history with Mormonism is very similar to his own.

We had quite a long conversation about spiritual things. He told about me some of his experiences with the LDS organization and that he was largely annoyed with the fact that every time he had questions about any of their beliefs, that all he got from those he asked, (his bishop, etc.) was an admonition to adhere to what the 'church' said, because the 'church' said so. That pretty much ticked this guy off, but his wife had no problem with it.

This gave me an opportunity to discuss with him, some of the many doctrines (teachings) of the LDS organization. I've had some experience with this sort of thing, and usually what you will get from LDS folks when you bring up some of their blasphemous doctrines is flat denial. You see, a lot of Mormon chapel goers have no idea what their cult holds to. They have been raised in the organization and they follow along. I once gave (per his request) a stack of papers detailing Biblical problems with Mormonism, topped with a comprehensive list of false prophecies by Joseph Smith, to an LDS man. He later refused to read them because he considered it anti-Mormon literature. Circular reasoning at its finest. "Show me what's wrong with my cult, but I can't look at it because it's against my cult." I found out that he is still in possession of what I gave him though, so maybe there is hope.

My former co-worker's friend was surprised to hear that there are major doctrines that the LDS organization holds to that are not in the Book of Mormon. His face registered shock when I told him that the LDS organization teaches that "Heavenly Father" is a created being, and that he was once a man like us, living on another planet, who "progressed" to godhood. That's right, the major doctrine of "eternal progression" is nowhere to be found in the Book of Mormon.

I'm not sure if he understood the difference, but I explained to him that Mormonism teaches that Heavenly Father has a flesh and blood body, and that He, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three separate gods, and that that teaching was in opposition to the Book of Mormon as well. He seemed even more surprised to find out that the LDS organization teaches that Heavenly Father descended from heaven and had bodily sex with the Virgin Mary to give entrance to Jesus into this world. I let him know that I could supply him with chapter and verse from LDS sources to support what I was telling him. I told him that including the ones I had named, that I could supply him with a list of at least twenty LDS doctrines being taught that cannot be found in the Book of Mormon.

He was a little quiet for a moment and then he had some questions. He seemed at a loss to understand the Triune nature of God as progressively revealed in the Bible, so I attempted to explain it to him as best I could. I used the old triangle explanation and the light sort of went on, but what really helped him was that silly old egg analogy. You know, the shell is not the yoke, the yoke is not the white, but they all comprise one egg. (laughing here) Not so silly after all, I guess, because this is a huge hurdle for most Mormons.

This all led to an opportunity to share the real Jesus Christ with him. I showed him, using the Ten Commandments, that all of us (including him) have broken God's laws. I shared with him that Jesus is the only one who can restore us to a righteous God, who sits on an unthreatened throne. He now has a lot to think about and I can only lift him up in prayer, hoping that his heart will be drawn to the Lord.

The following list is comprised of twenty things that the LDS organization teaches and holds to that are not in the Book of Mormon. Since the Book of Mormon is their main source of sacred literature, and since it is the foundation of their entire religion, one has to wonder why these things are not to found there. Any strong Mormon could come back with, "Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and these things were revealed to Him by Jesus Christ." The problem with a statement like that is that Joseph Smith made so many ridiculous and false prophecies. Most Mormons are embarrassed by that if they know it, and just choose to put it out of their minds, because to accept that Joseph Smith was a false prophet, is the same thing as throwing out the book that their belief system is built on.

Think about it. The LDS organization is what their life is all about. These nice people help each other. Mormonism is their safety net. Do you think you would likely want to leave it behind if you were in their place? They see leaving the cult as a huge risk for them, and if they think about it they often face ostracism from their spouses and families. That's huge. That is why their eternity has to be made real for them, in the light of Christ's love. Anyway, here's the list.

1. God has a body of flesh and blood and bones. NOT in the BOM.

2. God is married to a heavenly wife and has sex with her, producing spirit babies. NOT in the BOM.

3. God was a man like you and me and progressed to godhood. NOT in the BOM.

4. God and Heavenly Mother had Jesus and Lucifer in heaven, and they are actually brothers. NOT in the BOM.

5. Men can become gods, just like Heavenly Father. NOT in the BOM.

6. Temple participation is required of men to become gods. NOT in the BOM.

7. Jesus' blood doesn't cleanse all sins. NOT in the BOM.

8. You can lose your salvation if you aren't baptized for dead people. NOT in the BOM.

9. There are not only three gods, but an uncountable number of gods. NOT in the BOM.

10. Men must hold the Aaronic or Melchizedek priesthood. NOT in the BOM.

11. Having more than one wife was sanctioned by God. Decidedly NOT in the BOM.

12. You cannot partake of "hot drinks" (tea or coffee). NOT in the BOM.

13. There are "three degrees of glory." NOT in the BOM.

14. The Holy Spirit is a son of God, just like Jesus. NOT in the BOM.

15. To be saved, a man has to have a woman by his side. NOT in the BOM.

16. You must where sacred underwear with Masonic symbols because they have the power to protect you. NOT in the BOM.

17. Official LDS doctrine must go to a vote before the general membership before it is implemented. NOT in the BOM.

18. Black people exist because they are the "seed of Cain" and they were allowed to survive the flood because Satan need a representative race on the earth. NOT in the BOM.

19. The Church of the Firstborn is the highest "attainable" level of the Celestial kingdom, and where the best Mormons can attain godhood. NOT in the BOM.

20. Heavenly Father came down from heaven and had physical intercourse with Mary to father Jesus. NOT in the BOM.

This list is in no way comprehensive, but it may help you to bring into light some things for your Mormon friend to think about. God bless.