Is the Bible Project a Gateway to Mormonism?

A Bible Project Discussion: Is the Bible Project a Gateway to LDS Theology?

Too busy to read? Listen to the  10-minute audio here.

https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-ms6ma-d1df07

Q. Is the Bible Project LDS? A: Absolutely not.

Q. Is the Bible Project a gateway to LDS theology? A: Absolutely yes.

Here are just a few reasons from a long list explaining why we say yes.

Gateway # 1. A common view on agency in the “divine council.”  Most folks are aware that Mormons focus on providing bodies for spirit babies sired by their non-orthodox father god Elohim and one of his many wives. These babies then await their respective opportunities to experience free agency in a human body on earth. This doctrine of absolute free agency[1] is the cornerstone of LDS theology and was the supposed source of contention between Jesus and his supposed brother Lucifer (Jesus being the LDS advocate of free agency.) While that scenario by itself should be enough to put off any casual observer of LDS doctrine, LDS roots run far more deeply into errors that often go unnoticed by evangelicals.


We have just cause to be chagrined as we compare the LDS “divine council” with the BP “divine council.”  Both are hosted by a less than all-powerful elohim who remands his decision-making authority to his team of fellow elohim, thus diminishing the sovereignty of our true Yahweh. Both histories argue that a council convened and then divided over the issue of absolute free agency, and both share the same commitment to this doctrine. Both the LDS and the Bible Project fabricated their views and then sought to impose them on obscure scriptures which make no such contentions.


As we dig even deeper, we notice other common ground between Mormons and Gnostics which spills over into our discussion. Mormonism (thanks, as much to Brigham Young as to Joseph Smith), is a variant gnostic expression of a pagan worldview that was progressively embedded into a pseudo Christian worldview. Those views are significant. Far from being simplistic, both pagans and Gnostics had articulate systems, which are now rapidly re-emerging in our postmodern, ephemeral age. Mormonism is well postured for postmodernism. All three false systems (LDS, paganism and Gnosticism) see an eternal, self-originating, self-perpetuating initial creation which functions on inherent laws. In Young’s own words in the Journal of Discourses, “matter is eternal.”[2] Their differences are unified by their mutual commitment to absolute free agency and are separated only by their theodicies or explanations for evil. It should occur that, unlike biblical Christianity, the Bible tells us that the mystery of iniquity is not static, it is in flux, and it is melding (2 Thessalonians 2:7).


Here’s the wrap: We have three world views under consideration, pagan ancient near east religion (ANR), the Bible Project, and Mormonism. In two worldviews, ANR and the Bible Project, heaven and earth were one entity that was subsequently divided, although their theodicies certainly vary[3].

• In all three worldviews, (ANR, LDS, and BP) divine councils were in play. 
• In all three, divine councils are made up of “gods” or divine beings. 
• In all three, absolute free agency is in play. None of these fabrications can be substantiated in the Bible. All require extra-biblical sourcing.

Incidentally, these views are not entirely alien from postmodern theoretical physics in at least one respect.

We are coming full circle. Just as pagan religion accommodates the idea of a single, self-originating, universal point of origin in one’s “theory of everything,” so do postmodern scientists who are even now beginning to allow for the existence of a spiritual realm in spite of protests from the vestigial materialistic scientists of the last century.


The Bible Project is blending and blurring these historically separate and unique worldviews which originate from an imagined divine council. As our engagement in spiritual warfare expands, we can anticipate an even greater assault from Hollywood and other forces that would blur the lines of spirituality and try to connect us with the demon world. It is this very fact that requires us to be crystal clear about our starting points. We must be relentlessly definitive regarding our stand on the supposed divine council or our warfare will be neutralized.


Gateway # 2. Will the real elohim please stand up? So, where would the views of the LDS and the Bible Project (BP) best interface? Is there a gateway? We must look at the first principles of Mormonism. In the LDS world, their Elohim is one of many such gods. He is simply the LDS father-god who pertains to our world. Once a mere created man, he evolved or progressed to his present position as creator and maintainer of our universe, a privilege reserved for gods only. In the BP world, there are also many “divine elohim.” In their words, our Elohim is unique from the other subordinate gods in that He created them.


It is important for the Bible believer to understand that heaven and earth were created uniquely and were not one entity, or even overlapping entities, as the Bible Project insists. Further, they will not be reunited back into one entity, though they will be recreated.

But here is the critical point. The BP is a gateway to Mormonism in this respect. Both groups teach (without biblical justification, the existence of many divine elohim with their own Elohim being unique. This parallel teaching narrows the gap between our disparate views.


Gateway # 3.  Reproduction versus creation. LDS theology logically has not done well explaining the origin of their original god. Something, somewhere, originated and then learned how to create and reproduce. Their immediate Elohim is the result of such reproduction. He’s just ahead of us in the line of exaltation. But, who is his father and the father of his father, and so on? Why would Mormons not worship the ultimate Creator?  In contrast to the LDS, so far as we can determine, the BP does teach the eternal existence of our creator God. But here’s a question this author has yet to see the BP address:


While the Bible declares (Matthew 22:30) that neither angels nor resurrected believers marry that does not dismiss the issue whether the BP gods can reproduce, and if they can do so with humans, as the BP claims in its treatment of the Nephilim. We know that the sons of God cohabited with the daughters of men (Genesis 6) and that is all that we know. We do not know who these sons are.  We have no biblical authority to open speculative doors and begin declaring biblical teachings and history which simply are not there. Were these nephilim demonic hybrids, and were they capable or incapable of reproduction? Be careful, now! The Bible does not go there, and neither should we. According to the BP, these hybrid Nephilim were also divine elohim (albeit rebellious ones). This paints the whole pagan discussion of gods cohabiting with men in a different light and opens the door for some serious intrusion of pagan mythology into biblical theology. As tantalizing as that is it opens a Pandora’s box:


When humans reproduce physically, we are also the products of God’s immediate creation (Psalm 139). God created us uniquely as mankind and individually as persons, regardless of our creationist versus traducianist persuasions[4]. In any case, we cannot separate the issue of reproduction from the issue of creation. God’s creatures are certainly creative, but none are creators. So, exactly, who is doing the reproduction in the BP world? Can those BP elohim (apart from Yahweh) create new, everlasting divine beings through reproduction? Neither pagans nor Gnostics would contest this. This is merely the first of many gaps in BP teaching which opens the floodgates to paganism.

We only raise this point to underscore our contention. The bizarre teachings of the BP are narrowing the gap between biblical considerations and pagan, as well as the quasi pagan LDS tenets. They are opening dangerous options and closing the gap between biblical Christianity and paganism.


Gateway #4. The LDS and the BP views with respect to God. Clearly, Mormonism is polytheistic. Clearly, the Bible Project is trinitarian, at least to date. However, the lines are being blurred when it comes to the question of what constitutes a person of the godhead. In all fairness we have every right to say that the BP has not fully matured its views and pictures the trinity in a manner far removed from orthodox explanations. We are seeing an emergent view surfacing which intimates that the persons of the godhood (Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in particular) are the personalized attributes of God – a discussion that goes far beyond this treatment but is well documented in their videos and our video reviews. The BP treatment of the godhood is far more palpable and far less offensive to the Mormon mind than anything which has been expressed inside orthodox Christianity. Those who wish to investigate this further are urged to watch our Bible Project God video overview here: https://www.internetbiblefellowship.com/expose.html.


Conclusion. The Bible Project is a gateway to LDS heresy. Its divine council parallels the Mormon council in that it features absolute free agency as its cornerstone and portrays a God who remands (rather than relegates) authority to his created beings. It allows for a panoply of gods who can and do cohabit with men in a fashion not unlike pagan mythology. While not LDS, it blurs the essence of the personhood of respective members of the trinity.

For our associated Bible Project expose's visit Jim at StandingTrue.com

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[1]  Absolute free agency is not identical with the so-called Calvinist/Arminian debate over free will. It implies that God has surrendered His sovereign authority over his creatures and is working with them through whatever means to regain it. This is what often separates dominionism from typical millennial theology.

[2] Keep in mind that if matter is eternal it is God. What we call the attributes of God subsequently flow from the creation and ultimately are personified as God. Some Mormons have gone to great ends to obfuscate Young’s views on this matter. The Bible Project views on the personalization of attributes is terrifyingly close to the LDS paradigm.

[3] A theodicy is an explanation for the existence of evil. In most false religion, sin, when and if acknowledged at all, is a subset of the discussion of evil. As an aside, Bible Project observers will notice that its vocabulary stresses evil heavily while treating sin much in the same way as false systems do. Sin is mentioned in BP videos, but only in a minuscule way in contrast with its treatment of evil.

[4] Did God create us and place us all in Adam or does He place our spirits in us at conception, or when we take our first breath? This teacher holds to the first. Mormons and even many evangelicals hold to the third view. By adopting the third view, many absolve themselves from the moral issue associated with abortion on demand.

5 Things About the Mormon (LDS)

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. - Gal 1:11,12

See some of the more noticeable traits in this group. See Section II.

The Mormons, known officially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints represent the largest affiliated grouping of any religion which, while claiming to be Christian, is clearly outside of the mainstream of Christianity. It has officially declared all other Christian expressions to be apostate, and holds firmly to its claim to be the restored Church of Jesus Christ.  LDS (Latter Day Saints) sects, commonly called fundamentalists, exist in a variety of expressions and are known for embracing polygamy, an essential element of early Mormon doctrine1.  

1.) Understand Basic LDS History

Mormonism originated with Joseph Smith during the Second Great Awakening (1790-1840), a period during which America and Britain were particularly fascinated with millennial speculation2.  Joseph Smith’s testified visit of the angel Moroni (in 1820) and the discovery of the golden plates (the Book of Mormon) on the hill Cumorah in New York, set in motion the events which ultimately led the Mormons to the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847 under the leadership of Brigham Young3.

2.) Understand the First Principles of Mormons

Mormonism is a hybridization of pagan and Christian thought in a palpable mix.

A. Pagan thought. From the pagan, or creation based perspective, the core of LDS teaching fits the essential pattern of neo gnosticism4, though Joseph’s Smith’s teachings were not strongly associated with gnosticism until recent years5.

In this respect, Mormons are driven by the twin gnostic dynamics of enlightenment and progression. Therefore, to understand our LDS friends, it helps to have a good grip on Satan’s ultimate theology, or creation based worship. (See our article on that subject.)

1. Enlightenment. For a Mormon, enlightenment is a progressive experience which comes not only through cognitive processes, but through his mystical connection with the universe. Unlike Creator based worshipers, Mormons see matter as being eternal (albeit their view is that matter arose ex nihilo. Smith claimed that the Hebrew “barah” meant only that Elohim organized existing matter.) This is a hotly defended first principle of Mormonism. While the Mormon god, called Elohim (an elevated man), is neither omniscient nor omnipresent, he is able to communicate with men mystically. Nowhere is this more evident in LDS thought than in their reliance on the Doctrine and Covenants’ promise of an affirmative “burning in the bosom for truth seekers.”6

Remember, this notion of a universal mystical connection is at the basis of virtually all false thought and can be traced to early Babylonian, Egyptian, and Gnostic claims.

2.  Progression. No one has refined the notion of progression more dynamically than the Mormon and nothing is more important to him. Again, we have already indicated that a first principle of Satanic theology as expressed in all creation based worship is, “I will be like the most high...” Isaiah 14:14. Satan embraces progression. While Mormons use the term salvation, it connotes exaltation through progression in Mormon thought and has little or nothing to do with the biblical concept of being delivered from the penalty and power of sin in order to be glorified. Glorification, something God does for us once and for all as the end result of our election, can be seen in terms of our past, present and ultimate glorification (Romans 8:29-31). It represents our ultimate freedom from sin. Glorification for the non Mormon is in no way akin to LDS exaltation, which is a reference to the Mormon’s state in the next world.

B. Christian Hybridization. Essential to understanding Mormonism is knowing that the Book of Mormon’s cover declares it is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” We are told that just as the New Testament replaces the dynamics of the Old Testament, so the Book of Mormon is the fruition of New Testament teachings and effectively supersedes it. Non Mormon Bible believers would quickly point out that the New Testament fulfills and completes the Old Testament and in no way contradicts it, whereas the Book of Mormon clearly contradicts both Old and New Testaments. Non Mormons would also point out that this same book claims to have been written hundreds of years before the King James Version of the Bible but quotes its dialect perfectly.  Equally as significant, the other “authorized” scriptures of Mormonism extend the errors of that book exponentially. The only response provided by Mormons is that modern versions of the Bible were clearly corrupted or “incorrectly translated”, though no evidence has ever been presented to establish the accuracy of these claims. Anyone who has ever had an in depth biblical discussion with a Mormon has heard the words “that must not have been translated correctly.”

The issue of hybridization deepens. Because Mormon teaching begins with gnostic first principles, it must redefine virtually every Christian term in order to accommodate the gnostic first principle of progression. Its god must be progressive, its revelations must be progressive, and its view of salvation or exaltation must be seen as a consummate result of progression toward perfection. The salvation which Christ provided is thus reduced little more than making provision for men to return to the path of upward progression (though Christ serves other LDS purposes).  According to Brigham Young, had Adam not exercised his “free will” and sinned, we never would have been able to progress. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches no such thing.

3.) Understand the Millennial Aspect of Mormonism

Like Roman Catholicism and other sects, Mormonism openly declares that it is Israel and it is the absolute inheritor of her promises.  The future Millennium she prophesies relates to her and not to ethnic Israel (now represented by the Navajo, an assumption now refuted by DNA analysis).  A literal interpreter of the Bible is quick to understand that God has not replaced Israel and His Son will one day rule the world from ethnic Israel’s throne. In the interim, Christ is working through His spiritual body and temple, the church, as He continues as a light to the gentiles.
As with Catholicism, this claim to be Israel includes the right to be called Christ’s church on earth. The moment any group makes this claim to temporal authority it also insists that salvation (however defined) can only be secured through Christ’s church, i.e. their church. This, in turn, requires a priesthood.

Again, like the Roman Catholic Church, Mormon replacement theology has led to the establishment of its own priesthoods, the Aaronic (ages 12-18) and the Melchizedekan priesthoods. The latter imbues its qualified men with all the apostolic gifts and privileges and is the basis for ordering all LDS ministry at every level.

Unlike Catholicism where priests carry out their temple ministries within the confines of their church altars, Mormonism places its emphasis on earthly temples where temple work is initiated and performed exclusively. There can be no Mormonism without temples, no temples without a priesthood, and no priesthood without replacement theology.

4.) Understand the LDS Beliefs which Result from these First Principles

The disparate views between Mormonism and biblical Christianity are stunning and cover virtually every area of Bible doctrine. This will be expanded in our second article 5 Tools for Conversing with Mormons. For the sake of brevity, we confine our discussion to three critical areas.

A. The LDS view of God.  The Mormon Elohim was once a man as we are, and has a material body of flesh and bones. He resides along with his many wives near the planet (or star) Kolob. From there spirit babies are produced in order to populate the planets. The scriptures are clear that there is one God, that He is a Spirit and that He is the creator of mankind. (Is. 43:10-11; 44:6, 8; 45:5, 21-22, John 4:24, Genesis 2 and 3.) For more information, see the article 5 Things About the Trinity.

B. The LDS view of Jesus Christ. Though LDS views vary, essential Mormonism sees Jesus as the result of the physical union of Elohim and Mary. He was not virgin born and attained godhood like any other man. Prior to coming to earth, He was the elder brother of Lucifer or Satan.  The Bible asserts that Christ was in the beginning with God and was God, and that He was born of a virgin. (John 1:1-3, Matthew 1:18-21). As an aside, The LDS Journal of Discourses declares that Jesus was married to Mary and Martha because Mary called Him “lord” a word which Mormons declare can also mean husband.  The JOD also tells us that Jesus was the bridegroom at Cana and was  married there so that He would be able to “see his seed,” before He died7.

C. The LDS view of Salvation. As noted earlier, Mormons see salvation as the achievement of celestial exaltation through good works. While Mormons teach that salvation is a gift, they redefine the word gift to mean something we must earn through strict obedience to the law. The Bible offers salvation as a free gift for anyone who will place his trust in Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 4:4-5). See our paper entitled 5 Things our Works Oriented Friends Need to Understand.
Equally important, Mormons deny the substitutionary work of Christ.  His role as Saviour merely provided us with a means to achieve our exaltation.  For a fuller understanding of the doctrine of substitution, see our paper 5 Things About the Substitutionary Work of Christ.

5.) Understand what the LDS Needs to Hear

1. He must not take the witness of men over God’s witness. Our own religious feelings must be second place to what the Bible teaches (2 Peter 1:18-20).  If the LDS scriptures were true revelations from God they would agree with the Bible. The scriptures cannot be broken.

2. He, (along with the whole human race) has enslaved himself to sin and cannot remedy this through works. (Romans 3:10, 23). Our sin separates us from God and no amount of good works can remedy this. Seeking to gain the merits of heaven through our good works only adds to our debt (Rom 4:4-9).

3. A Mormon can know he has eternal life by believing on the Son (John 3:16-18,35).  To have the Son is to have life. To deny this truth is to make God a liar (1 John 5:10-12).

4. A Mormon can become a new creation in Christ, with new life (2 Corinthians 5:17).


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1.The Community of Christ, (formerly called The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), lays claim to the prophesied lineal succession of Joseph Smith, while the Salt Lake City LDS trace their history and doctrines through Brigham Young.  This brief study is devoted to the Salt Lake City Mormons only, and we will refer to them simply as LDS or Mormons.

2. Ironically, these millennial speculations were all varied expressions of replacement theology, handed down by the “church fathers.” See The History of Religion in America, by Hudson, a Scribner publication. Other American sects such as Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventism, and Watchtower, all emerged from this same era of millennial preoccupation.

3. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement

4. Seehttp://www.waltermartin.com/forums/showthread.php?2496-Are-Mormons-Gnostics

5. See also, http://gnosis.org/ahp.htm and http://usminc.org/mormonism.html for typical discussions on the subject.

6. See https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-1-9/section-9-your-bosom-shall-burn-within-you?lang=eng

7. For a full discussion of this see: http://www.mrm.org/jesus-married

Additional Study Resources (Not carte blanc recommendations):
Martin, Walter. The Kingdom of the Cults. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1997.

The Dangers of the Cults (DVD) by David Reagan and Ron Carlson. www.lamblion.com