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   Joseph Fielding Smith, the 10th prophet and president of the Mormon Church stated: Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith.  He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen.  There is no middle ground.  If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an imposter cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth.  If his claims and declarations were built upon fraud and deceit, there would appear many errors and contradictions, which would be easy to detect.  The doctrines of false teachers will not stand the test when tried by the accepted standards of measurement, the Scriptures.  (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:188) We should all be ready to accept Mr. Smith's challenge.  Below are some of the questions your Mormon friends might ask when confronted with biblical truth.

   If the Mormon Church is wrong, why is it the fastest growing church today?

   The earth's entire population was outside the Ark during the Great Flood.  Does this mean the world was right and Noah wrong?  If size and numbers indicates truth, then we would have to declare Islam and Catholicism the true church.  The fact that so many false religions grow so rapidly just proves what Jesus said in the book of Matthew.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)

   Why don't Christian churches have apostles and prophets as the foundation of their Church as the Mormon church has?

   Mormonism stands or falls on its foundation of prophetic and apostolic leaders.  The Mormons use Ephesians 2:20 as their scriptural support for believing that their prophets are the foundation of the true church.  It reads: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.  The problem seems to be that they only read half the verse.  We can also refer to I Corinthians 3:11 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  The Bible also tells us that the coming of John the Baptist marked the end of the Old Testament era.  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John (Matthew 11:13).  The law and the prophets were until John...(Luke 16:16)

   Wasn't there a total apostasy of the Church, thereby necessitating its restoration by Joseph Smith?

   To say there was a total apostasy would be to credit Jesus Christ with a gross lie.  Jesus said, Upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (Matthew 16:18)  As Acts 4:11-12 clearly states that rock was Jesus Christ.  I Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times SOME shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.  Indeed some have fallen away, but the gates of hell will not prevail against the church that was founded on Jesus Christ.

   Where do you get your authority?

   The Mormons claims his authority in a human priesthood, but the true believers authority comes from the living Word of God, the Bible:  But as many as received him, to them gave he power (authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  (John 1:12)  For more information on the Mormon view that they hold the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, see Errors in Mormon scripture.

   If the Bible is God's infallible Word, why are there so many versions?

   To argue that the existence of various versions of the Bible is reason enough to mistrust  all of them is just a smokescreen.  Mormons mistrust the Bible because it is the book that refutes their doctrines.  None of the version on the market today support Mormonism - not even Joseph Smith's own translation.  Links: *Manuscript Support for the Bible's Reliability *Lost Books and Latter-Day Revelation- A Response to Mormon Views of the New Testament Canon - Luke Wilson *The Gnostic Gospels- Are They reliable- Douglas Groothuis *Was the New Testament Influenced by Pagan Philosophy-  Ronald Nash

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