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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism Unmasked/Chapter 9
Response to claims made in "Chapter 9: By Whose Authority?"
| Chapter 8: Jesus Is Coming Again | A FAIR Analysis of: Mormonism Unmasked A work by author: R. Philip Roberts
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Chapter 10: Meeting the Mormon Challenge |
138
Claim
The author claims that "The priesthood of the Old Testament was brought to an end with the death of Christ.
Author's source(s)
Hebrews 7:11-12
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
138
Claim
The author states that "God set the minimum age of the Aaronic Priesthood at twenty-five."
Author's source(s)
Numbers 8:23-25
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
138-139
Claim
The author states that "the only Christian priesthood mentioned in the New Testament is the spiritual priesthood of every believer."
Author's source(s)
1 Peter 2:5-9
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
139
Claim
The author states that "Mormon high priests do not offer any sacrifices, so they are not following the Old Testament pattern."
Author's source(s)
Hebrews 5:1
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
139
Claim
The author states that "the New Testament mentions Jewish priests, but an office of priest is never mentioned in the Christian church."
Author's source(s)
None provided.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
140
Claim
The author claims that 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 refers to "various ministries or gifts in the early church" and that it is "not listing specific offices of the priesthood."
Author's source(s)
1 Corinthians 12:28
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
140
Claim
The author states that "Paul lists apostles first and prophets second, indicating their order of importance." He states that in Mormonism that the apostles "serve under" the prophet, which he claims is a "reversal of the biblical order."
Author's source(s)
1 Corinthians 12:28
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
140
Claim
The author states that the only men who could be chosen as apostles were those who were an "eyewitness to the full ministry of Jesus, including his resurrection," and states that "the New Testament offers no evidence that others were later chosen to take the place of anyone else in the twelve."
Author's source(s)
None provided
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
140
Claim
The First Presidency plus the twelve apostles is equal to 15 apostles. The author states that this is not the same as Jesus' twelve apostles. The author states that that Mormonism has "too many apostles."
Author's source(s)
None provided.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
141
Claim
The author claims that "bishop is not a separate office in the church but one of the elders."
Author's source(s)
1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:7
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
141
Claim
The author states that a deacon cannot be a 12-year-old boy, but must be mature men and "the husbands of one wife."
Author's source(s)
1 Timothy 3:8-12
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
141
Claim
The author states that "Teachers" must be "mature Christians" that are "able to teach others" rather than teenagers.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
141
Claim
The author states the the LDS Church "does not have any pastors," and states that it is "inconsistent for Mormons to insist the words apostles and teachers are specific offices of the priesthood while denying that pastor or evangelist are priesthood offices."
Author's source(s)
Ephesians 4:11
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
141
Claim
The author states that "Evangelist" and "Patriarch" are not the same.
Author's source(s)
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, 108, 170.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
142-143
Claim
The author claims that the Bible justifies a paid ministry.
Author's source(s)
Numbers 35:7; Josh. 21:191; Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14; 2 Corinthians 11:8; Phil. 4:16, 18.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
143
Claim
The author claims that "Many of the Mormons are not aware that their apostles receive a salary."
Author's source(s)
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Response
- After making a biblical case for having a paid ministry, the author is now complaining that top church leaders receive a living allowance.
144
Claim
The author complains that Church finances are not made public.
Author's source(s)
Not provided.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
145
Claim
The author claims that baptism does not need to be done "by someone holding a special priesthood," and that it is simply "a symbol of one's identification with Christ and is not a necessary requirement for salvation."
Author's source(s)
Acts 16:30-34
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
145
Claim
The author states that "Joseph Smith supposedly restored the original temple ceremony of the Old Testament."
Author's source(s)
Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 780-1.
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
147
Claim
The author states that Paul condemned "endless genealogies" and that this contradicts the idea of performing temple marriages for the dead.
Author's source(s)
Timothy 1:4; Titus 3:9
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
147
Claim
The author claims that Paul was not advocating the practice of baptism for the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:29, and that he was only emphasizing resurrection.
Author's source(s)
1 Corinthains 15:29
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
148
Claim
The author claims that temples became unnecessary after Christ and that they were replaced by the atonement of Christ.
Author's source(s)
Hebrews
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources