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January 23, 2020
The Scriptures warn against preaching “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4) and that Satan himself can appear to us as an “angel of light.” Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, said it was an “angel” clothed in light that gave him “another testament”—which has another “gospel” entirely.
Rather than the good news that Jesus paid for our sin, this new “gospel” that the “angel” gave to Smith involves a lifelong labor to earn salvation—a salvation by works and not by faith alone. The Book of Mormon says, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23, emphasis added). Spencer W. Kimball, a Mormon prophet and church president, said:
“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.” (Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 206)
Yet the Bible makes it very clear that salvation has nothing to do with our works: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9). Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Galatians 1:8 says, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Adapted from World Religions in a Nutshell.)