Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Plurality of gods and eternal progression — God the Father was once a mortal man who became God, humans can be exalted to godhood, and the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate beings/gods united in purpose (denial of the Trinity and of classical monotheism).

Their basis
Lorenzo Snow's couplet, 'As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be.' D&C 130:22 (the Father 'has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's'). They cite Ps 82:6 / John 10:34 ('ye are gods'), Acts 17:29 (we are God's 'offspring'), Rom 8:17 (heirs, joint-heirs with Christ), 2 Pet 1:4 ('partakers of the divine nature'), and John 17:21-22 (that believers be 'one' as Father and Son are one — read as separate beings unified in purpose).

Scripture answers
Scripture states God has always been God and is utterly unique: 'Before me no god was formed, neither shall there be after me' (Isa 43:10); 'I am the first and the last, and beside me there is no God' (Isa 44:6,8; 45:5). 'From everlasting to everlasting, you are God' (Ps 90:2) — never a man who became God. 'God is not a man' (Num 23:19); 'God is spirit' (John 4:24, not flesh and bones). Being adopted as sons and sharing His holiness (Rom 8:17; 2 Pet 1:4) is real glory, but it is never becoming a god who is worshiped — the creature/Creator line is permanent (Rom 1:25).

Isa 43:10Isa 44:6Isa 44:8Isa 45:5Deut 6:4Ps 90:2Num 23:19John 4:24Mal 3:6

In fairness: They rightly hold that humans bear God's image and are destined for astonishing glory as His children (Rom 8:17; 1 John 3:2), and Ps 82 / 2 Pet 1:4 are genuine texts about that exalted dignity. The early church did speak of 'theosis' — being made like God by participation in His life. But every strand of Scripture also holds an unbridgeable line: God alone is God, uncreated and eternal, and we are forever His creatures.

Additional scripture and the Restoration — the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price are inspired scripture alongside the Bible, because the true church fell into a 'Great Apostasy' and was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, with continuing revelation through a living prophet.

Their basis
8th Article of Faith (the Bible is God's word 'as far as it is translated correctly'; the Book of Mormon likewise). Joseph Smith's First Vision, prompted by James 1:5 ('if any lack wisdom, let him ask of God'). Amos 3:7 ('the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets'). Ezek 37:15-17 (the sticks of Judah and Joseph joined, read as Bible + Book of Mormon).

Scripture answers
The gospel was 'once for all delivered to the saints' (Jude 3); anyone — even an angel — preaching another gospel is accursed (Gal 1:8-9). Do not add to or take from God's words (Deut 4:2; Prov 30:5-6; Rev 22:18-19). Test every claim by the settled word: 'to the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word...there is no light in them' (Isa 8:20). And Christ promised His church would never be totally overcome — 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matt 16:18) — so a total apostasy requiring a new revelation contradicts His own word.

Jude 1:3Gal 1:8Gal 1:9Deut 4:2Prov 30:5Prov 30:6Isa 8:20Matt 16:18

In fairness: They rightly love a God who still speaks and rightly warn that Scripture must be handled carefully (translation and copying really do involve human hands) — and Amos 3:7 genuinely shows God works through prophets. The point of difference is not whether God speaks, but whether the apostolic gospel is complete and closed. Jude 3 and Gal 1 say the deposit is finished; nothing may be added to it as equal authority.

The nature of Jesus — Jesus is the pre-existent firstborn spirit-child of the Father (and of a Heavenly Mother), the elder spirit-brother of all humans and of Lucifer, who possesses/attained divinity; not the eternal, uncreated God of one being with the Father.

Their basis
LDS teaching that all people pre-existed as spirit children of God; Jesus is 'the firstborn' of these spirits, hence Col 1:15 ('the firstborn of all creation'). They cite Job 38:7 ('the sons of God shouted for joy') and Heb 1:6 ('firstbegotten') as showing Jesus is chief among the spirit-sons.

Scripture answers
Jesus is the eternal, uncreated God through whom everything was made: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...all things were made through him' (John 1:1-3). 'By him all things were created...he is before all things' (Col 1:16-17) — the Maker of all cannot Himself be a creature. He claimed eternal, pre-Abrahamic self-existence: 'Before Abraham was, I am' (John 8:58; cf. John 17:5). His origins are 'from of old, from everlasting' (Micah 5:2); Thomas worshiped Him as 'My Lord and my God' (John 20:28), and in Him 'the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily' (Col 2:9). He is unchanging (Heb 13:8). 'Firstborn' means supreme heir with the rights of preeminence (Ps 89:27), not first-created — proven because Col 1:16 immediately calls Him the Creator of all.

John 1:1John 1:3John 8:58Col 1:16Col 1:17John 17:5Micah 5:2John 20:28Col 2:9Heb 13:8Ps 89:27

In fairness: 'Firstborn' really is biblical language for Jesus (Col 1:15; Heb 1:6), so raising the question is fair — it simply must be read the way Scripture itself uses the word (rank and inheritance, Ps 89:27), not as birth-order among creatures, since the very same passage names Him Creator of everything.

Salvation by grace plus works — one is saved by grace 'after all we can do'; exaltation to the highest heaven requires faith plus obedience, LDS ordinances (baptism, temple endowment, celestial marriage), and continuing works, including baptism for the dead.

Their basis
2 Nephi 25:23 ('it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do'). James 2:24 ('by works a man is justified, and not by faith only'). 1 Cor 15:29 (baptism 'for the dead'). 1 Cor 15:40-41 (celestial, terrestrial 'glories') read as degrees/kingdoms of exaltation.

Scripture answers
Salvation is a gift received by grace through faith, explicitly not by works: 'By grace you have been saved through faith...not a result of works, so that no one may boast' (Eph 2:8-9). 'A person is justified by faith apart from works of the law' (Rom 3:28; cf. Rom 4:4-5; Gal 2:16). 'Not because of works done by us...but according to his own mercy he saved us' (Titus 3:5). Grace and works are mutually exclusive as the ground: 'if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works' (Rom 11:6). Christ's atonement is finished and complete: 'It is finished' (John 19:30); 'by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified' (Heb 10:14). James 2 describes faith that proves itself real by works — works are the fruit of salvation, never its price.

Eph 2:8Eph 2:9Rom 3:28Rom 4:4Rom 4:5Gal 2:16Titus 3:5Rom 11:6John 19:30Heb 10:14

In fairness: James really does teach that true faith produces works (James 2:17,26), and LDS devotion to holiness, sacrifice, family, and service is sincere and often puts casual Christians to shame. The gospel does not oppose good works — it opposes trusting them to save. The dividing issue is whether works are the fruit of a salvation already given by grace (Scripture) or a co-payment for exaltation (LDS). 'After all we can do' quietly reverses the finished work of the cross.