I’m speaking specifically to those in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a.k.a. Mormons.

I was raised in this church. I grew up with its teachings. I went through all the motions – getting baptized and confirmed, performing baptisms for the dead in the temple, receiving a patriarchal blessing… but something always felt off. Something about it didn’t sit right with my spirit.

Going through the motions, I came very close to going on a mission, even received my mission call, but I couldn’t go through with it. I knew in my heart that I didn’t believe the things I was about to go teach to others. I hadn’t even gained my own testimony yet. I believed in God and Jesus, but everything that was the religion didn’t sit right with me.

Until now, I never understood why.

The simplest answer, is that it’s based on a lie, a false prophet, a false Christ – something that Jesus warned us about.

Matthew 24:4-5

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Matthew 24:11

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

Matthew 24:24

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Joseph Smith was one of these false prophets.

…

“The First Vision” which the entire religion is based on, sounds entirely too similar to Jesus’ Transfiguration. Here’s both:

Jesus’ Transfiguration (seen by three witnesses):

Mark 9:2-7

“And after six days, Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

(Also seen in Matthew 17:1-5 and mentioned in 2 Peter 1:17-18)

The First Vision of Joseph Smith (seen by only Joseph Smith):

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/first-vision?lang=eng

“When Joseph was 14 years old, he was inspired by James 1:5, which promises, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Joseph determined to pray to know which church he should join and to ask for forgiveness of his sins.

When Joseph knelt to offer up the desires of his heart, a dark power overcame him. It bound his tongue as thick darkness gathered around him. Joseph exerted all his power to call upon God.

He described what happened next:

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

“… When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”¹At the moment the light appeared, Joseph felt delivered from the enemy that had held him bound. Joseph felt great joy and love for several days after.”

They say Joseph Smith “restored” the church, “restored” the gospel. But the prophecy of restoration is that of Elias, a.k.a. John the Baptist.

Matthew 17:10-13

“And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”

Here’s another lie:

In the Mormon religion, you can go to the temple (as a good-standing member) and be sealed to your spouse, sealed to your family, for eternity. You get married and sealed in the temple then, even after death, you get to remain married.

Jesus taught about this:

Luke 20:27-38

“Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, Saying Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.”

Now, two birds with one stone, this is what the Bible (the true Word of God) says about “being sealed”:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

Ephesians 1:12-14

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 4:30

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

…

From the study of His Word, I could go on and on about what doesn’t line up within the religion.

…

2 Corinthians 11:3

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

…

Bottom line – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints…is not a church of Jesus Christ, but of the serpent…a church of the Devil…

You’ve been beguiled.

You’ve been deceived.