Mormon Temple in Rome, happening today

[JeanMichel]

I did a quick internet search. There are about 40 non Catholic churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, etc. in Rome. What’s the big deal???

I have absolutely no idea why this is an issue; me thinks that something begins to stink in Denmark. This begins to look like an unwholesome prejudice. This puny building located where no one goes will hardly impact anything in Rome. In architecture it will not compare to any of the cathedrals; I simply don’t understand why this is being talked about. It is a tempest in a teapot. Please pass me another cookie that I may stop rolling my eyes.

 

[KathleenGee]

flyonthewall,

I just got back from work, interested in seeing the latest responses.

You are contradicting your prophet Joseph Smith who said the Roman Church was an abomination, and the church ceased to exist after the last apostle. I read some of the tenants of Joseph Smith himself, and that was one of them.

To make such statements implies a different understanding of who Christ is. And that would indeed affect the conditions of baptism.

The conviction in the Catholic Church is its mission, not to take the place of God, but to nurture us and guide us closer to Him. Every person is equal before God, and He has no favorites. But He has not left us orphans. The profession of faith is the work of Providence to help bring others closer to God, not to see others as inferior.

To see others as inferior by simply stating the truths of our church is not the spirit of a true Christian…Anyone who thinks himself better than another is proud, and that is the worst sin.

What the Church is about is bringing us closer to Christ in the fullness God can provide through the Word of God drawn from the Oral Tradition of Jesus Christ through His 12 Apostles and the sacraments, the liturgy, the communion of saints, the moral teachings, and spirituality. There has been a common theme for 2,000 years in this, it has always been here for us.

 

[ParkerD]

(2) How does this tie in to LDS temple rituals exactly?

“Washing” and “anointing” are symbolic of being prepared to be worthy through the atonement of Christ to be “in the presence of God” through making covenants of worthiness and through leaving behind the “things of the world” while in the temple, then keeping those covenants of worthiness outside of the temple and thus being “in the world but not of the world.”

(3) Yes, I understand marriage in a holy place. Catholic churches and synagogues are holy places. But they are not temples. There is only one Temple.
I feel as if Mormons have somewhat hijacked the Jewish Temple and somehow tried to make it theirs, then somehow call it Christian. I really don’t get it.

I could see why one might draw that conclusion, but yet Malachi prophesied that “the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple…” in talking about “the day of his coming”. (Malachi 3:1, 2) The New Testament didn’t replace the Old Testament–it contained fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and promises, and certainly left some Old Testament prophecies as yet unfulfilled at the time of the New Testament writings.

If one thinks in terms of a full circle of having been “cast out” of the presence of God (from the garden of Eden) and yet the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple that became the new tabernacle, being the way that God ordained for mankind to symbolically “enter the presence of God” while still living on earth, then one realizes that a temple would be expected in the latter days to fulfill Old Testament prophecies about a covenant people, and it would not be a “hijack” at all but a fulfillment of what the Old Testament was talking about.

(4) You are familiar with the idea of “worthiness” and of “standards for participation”. …(One can certainly commune with God and thus “be with God” outside of temples, even outside of churches–in one’s home, in the mountains, or in any quiet place.) So a temple is a different kind of place than a place to “commune with God” only.

Parker - Entering a Catholic church and partaking of the Eucharist are two different things. All are welcome. There are no secret handshakes.
No, I do not understand keeping someone out of a holy place because of unworthiness. I am sure there are instances when a person is a threat to the safety of others…other than that I don’t believe for one second that God would keep anyone out of His home.

Then it would seem you disagree with Matthew 22:11-13.

It makes sense to me that God would want those on earth to understand that to be able to “abide” His presence or enter into His presence, there is an expectation of worthiness and of preparation. This seems completely consistent with both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is not about the “safety” of others. It is about keeping the place holy through worthiness that is a holy and sanctified place for the presence of God. It is responding to God’s expressed will that a covenant people will keep their covenants, completely.

(5) I absolutely believe it is to draw people in to try and convert them.

The only such kind of case I have heard of was when a young woman told a young man that she would only marry in an LDS temple, and so the young man prepared himself and became LDS and they waited until he could enter the temple. That instance sometimes happens, but it also happens that if the young man was doing it for the sake of marrying the young woman and thus not sincerely, then such a marriage ends up discordantly. It needed to be a case of the young man acting out of total sincerity and complete covenant-making with God, with full intent to keep his covenants.

The LDS leaders would not draw a conclusion that people seeing a lovely building will want to enter that building after it is dedicated as the house of the Lord other than for curiosity. Of course they would understand that people are not so easily drawn into “conversion” that they would be “drawn in” toward seeking “conversion” (wrong word–conversion means heart-felt change) just to get into the lovely building they see from the outside.

People get frustrated from a sense of “exclusion”, yes, but people don’t change their hearts and change their desires just to get inside a building.

 

[ParkerD]

Continuation of reply to Lax16:

(6) Yes, that would be frustrating. That is one reason for the open houses. There is one in Hawaii going on presently, I believe, due to a remodeling and hence the need for a re-dedication coming up in the future. After the temple is dedicated, the worthiness issue becomes absolutely the paramount question.

Who decides that?

The Twelve Apostles decide the worthiness requirements, just as the Twelve did after Christ ascended since He had given them the keys to “bind” and “loose” on earth that meant also binding or loosing in heaven. So the worthiness questions then become standard questions, and those with authority from the apostles ask the questions and search out the sincerity of each respondent in how they answer.

(7) This moves into the use of the “sealing power”, and the ordinances involving sealing families together to their ancestral families in an unbroken line…

When did God reveal this and to whom?

He revealed that there was going to be such a need on the earth, to Malachi (Malachi 4:5,6). He revealed the fullness of the doctrine of sealing ancestral families after Elijah the prophet had returned to a temple on April 3, 1836. The doctrine was revealed “precept upon precept, line upon line” and came as Joseph Smith asked questions in prayer to understand temple covenants and understand the heavenly purposes for the sealing power on earth.

(8) Matthew 22:11-14.

So, Mormons decide in this life who is worthy and who is not?
I thought only God can judge.How many good decent people have been turned away from a family member’s temple wedding because the Mormon church told them they weren’t good enough to attend?

The apostles have been given the keys to preserve the sanctity of temples. God has thus given His authority to mankind to discern worthiness, through having modern apostles called and given such authority.

It is not a question of “good decent people” as to whether they can enter the “house of the Lord”. It is a question of "have they made eternal covenants they understood, intended to keep and have kept and are thus worthy so that the temple is kept as a sanctified and holy place for the “presence of God”?

 

[KathleenGee]

Parker,

We are returning to the Latin phrasing at Mass, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to come under Your roof; just say the words and I shall be healed.’

The Lord says His kingdom is not of this world. The Lord says His kingdom is within, and it is the Pearl of Great Price, that we must protect it and not throw it to those who will profane and reject it.

Have you read St. Justin the Martyr’s explanation of the Roman Mass to the Roman Emperor in 155 AD? It is pretty much reflective of the Mass said around the world, and that the Roman Mass of that time was the one gradually accepted and drawn on throughout the Latin world. The Holy Spirit moves in grace through nature, meaning, it takes people time to acculturate faith, and more time to grow in universality and that is how the primacy of Peter was developed.

 

[KathleenGee]

In essence, the crux of Mormonism’s construct, that faith teachings ended with the last apostle and subsequently the Roman Church is an abomination, is that it believes that the Mormon leadership, 1800 years later had a right to appoint successors. But Mormonism denies the Apostles – actual and chosen witness of Jesus Christ could not appoint their successors.

People should reference ‘Against the Heresies’, by St. Irenaeus, Book 111, Ch 3, link given those debating history here: www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103.htm

And ‘What the Orthodox Concede’, www.philvaz.com/apologetics/num12.htm

People expect human beings to be perfect like Christ. It will never happen. You will always have the bad and scandalous in any social institution. They cause tremendous damage, and Christ said they should have a millstone tied around their neck and dropped into the ocean because they broke people’s faith in Christ and all His love and care.

I note the clip attached to this thread. I hope that people, including the Mormons who will likely use it, will seek historical truth and reason in all its fairness as it speaks for itself so they can come more fully into the truth of Who Jesus is and His church, inspite of all its blemishes.

I think the Mormon Church really needs to bone up on Catholic history in Italy of those who were faithful to Christ, and see the tremendous witness of the communion of saints.

 

[ParkerD]

Parker,

Have you read St. Justin the Martyr’s explanation of the Roman Mass to the Roman Emperor in 155 AD? It is pretty much reflective of the Mass said around the world, and that the Roman Mass of that time was the one gradually accepted and drawn on throughout the Latin world. The Holy Spirit moves in grace through nature, meaning, it takes people time to acculturate faith, and more time to grow in universality and that is how the primacy of Peter was developed.

KathleenGee,
I am supposing that I should respond to your question. I tried reading some of Justin’s writings as translated, and enjoyed one section where he used Isaiah passages a great deal in his writing, and also where he distinguished between God the Father and His Only Begotten Son and noted that the Son was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I didn’t feel like he maintained consistency in some of his writing that I happened to read.

I didn’t read the passage you have asked me about.

When John was told in vision that the church was going to be taken into the wilderness, then it makes sense to me that the authority of the apostleship was taken from the earth–but that doesn’t mean there weren’t good people still who would have taken the gospel teachings and lived by them and taught them to others. It means the pure doctrines could be changed since the guiding influence of apostles with the revelatory charge was no longer around–and it does appear to me that changes from the pure doctrines were indeed introduced, by comparison with the Biblical text, even by the time of Justin and his writings. (But I think you have probably already read about those kinds of issues, so I’m not suggesting going through that conversation again.)

If you’ve ever come across writings of Justin that showed how the gospel impacted his personal life and his relationships in his family (with his wife and children), then I would be interested in reading those kinds of writings, since that is the “real world” gospel–how it impacted his everyday life.

 

[flyonthewall]

flyonthewall,

I just got back from work, interested in seeing the latest responses.

You are contradicting your prophet Joseph Smith who said the Roman Church was an abomination, and the church ceased to exist after the last apostle. I read some of the tenants of Joseph Smith himself, and that was one of them.

Then by all means provide the reference. The quote by JS you cited in a previous post is a blanket statement that singled out no religion. It was the Savior that made the statement, and Joseph repeated it.

To make such statements implies a different understanding of who Christ is. And that would indeed affect the conditions of baptism.

Actually to make such a statement does not imply a different understanding of who Christ is, but to disagree with the way the things of God are administered.

The conviction in the Catholic Church is its mission, not to take the place of God, but to nurture us and guide us closer to Him. Every person is equal before God, and He has no favorites.

Which of course does not agree with scriptures as there were those in the scriptures described as being highly FAVORED of the Lord.

But He has not left us orphans. The profession of faith is the work of Providence to help bring others closer to God, not to see others as inferior.

I’m not sure where you are going as we do not see others as inferior

To see others as inferior by simply stating the truths of our church is not the spirit of a true Christian…Anyone who thinks himself better than another is proud, and that is the worst sin.

Again…not seeing how this applies to the conversation.

What the Church is about is bringing us closer to Christ in the fullness God can provide through the Word of God drawn from the Oral Tradition of Jesus Christ through His 12 Apostles and the sacraments, the liturgy, the communion of saints, the moral teachings, and spirituality. There has been a common theme for 2,000 years in this, it has always been here for us.

And the 3 fold mission of the LDS church is to Preach the Gospel, Perfect the Saints, and Redeem the dead(thru geneology work). All this is done under the direction of Jesus Christ through His divine guidance received directly by His prophets and apostles.
I am glad you find comfort in your faith as I do in mine. If you are not LDS, then be the best you can be.

 

[KathleenGee]

Parker,

Recall in Exodus that Moses was given the precepts on how worship was to be made pleasing to the Lord. The blueprint of the temple, from the outer chambers to the sanctuary with the two angels facing the Mercy Seat, to the duties and function of the priests, and the description of the vestments he was to wear, the whole action and work of liturgy was God given, it was not man made.

At the death of Jesus, the temple veil before the tabernacle was now torn. God was now fully revealed as Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb, as atonement for our sins, and the sole means of our restoration in God. At the Last Supper, Christ directed the Apostles and all future priests, to prepare the Sacred Banquet – the source of the Kingdom of Christ within – and the Pearl of Great Price – to do all in remembrance of Him.

What Christians know as the Pearl of Great Price is very different in how Mormons view it.

And in my reference to St. Justin the Martyr, I said that he described the Roman Mass, whose basic parts are nearly identical to the universal Latin or Roman rite Catholics worship today. The Lord always has described union with Him as coming to the banquet table. This Mass was being celebrated and formed only 60 years after the death of the last apostle. I am over 60 years old and it is true, life passes very quickly.

As we Catholics consider receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, we also share in the same intent as did followers of Christ in those ancient times, the truth of Who Jesus Christ Is, the power of the Holy Spirit to support and guide Christians since the beginning of the Church, and the acknowledgment that it is indeed Jesus Christ Who sustains the Church.

The point if Christ did not set up His church properly and it collapsed after the death of the last apostle, then He made a mistake and subsequently He wasn’t the Son of God. I don’t think Christ made a mistake, blew up His apostles with air, and then deflated them when they died.

St. Justin quoted Malachi who prophesised that a day would come that we would have a perfect sacrifice. God had rejected all the Temple sacrifices of the Jews in the time of Malachi. But then God began to accept the spiritual sacrifices after the Jews were banished from Jerusalem. Their diaspora was not considered the universal sacrifice. Instead the Mass is the ‘perfect and acceptable sacrifice’, because the sacrifice is the Incarnate Word of Jesus Christ, not we sinners.

You ask what is the good he and his family did. I do not know if he was married. He doesn’t have to be married to live a good life, as celibacy, living solely for God, is also considered a virtuous state.

Parker, the good St. Justin was that since he was young, he pursued wisdom – Platonist, Pythagorean, Peripatetic, Stoic, but non gave him truth. In time he met an old Jewish man who told him of the prophets of Israel. This encounter gave him the his direction to Jesus Christ. All his teachings centered around wisdom. He travelled teaching and defending Christianity and earned his place as the first great Christian apologist. He was the first to provide the most complete description of the early Christian Mass.

Considering the effects of the Mass – the only perfect and acceptable sacrifice to the Heavenly Father, and that we come into the union of God with man in the Liturgies of the Word and the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, St. Justin found true Wisdom – Jesus Christ, and his writings have endured for almost 2,000 years, the work of the Holy Spirit Himself.

 

[KathleenGee]

Flyonthewall,

I read the doctrines of Joseph Smith. In a Mormon bookstore across the street from the state temple. Many others can attest to the construct of Mormonism.

The Blessed Mother is considered most highly favored. But the teachings of Christ call us to be humble, to carry our cross, and to endure to the end denying ourselves and allowing the life of Christ drawn from the sacraments to grow in us.

The Lord did not leave us orphans as Mormons imply…It is very clear in the Gospels that Christ left us His Holy Spirit to guide and teach the church.

It is a matter of true doctrine vs false doctrine.

 

[lax16]

“Washing” and “anointing” are symbolic of being prepared to be worthy through the atonement of Christ to be “in the presence of God” through making covenants of worthiness and through leaving behind the “things of the world” while in the temple, then keeping those covenants of worthiness outside of the temple and thus being “in the world but not of the world.”

Hi Parker - But the fonts used by Mormons for baptisms in their temples were used by the priests to wash themselves after offering animal sacrifies (Exodus 30:18-20) so what is the connection here?
The temple was used for animal sacrifices (Leviticus) not baptisms and marriages.
I would say most religions would claim that their churches/synagogues/mosques are places to go to leave behind “things of the world.” That still does not explain the LDS use of temples for their rituals.

I could see why one might draw that conclusion, but yet Malachi prophesied that “the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple…” in talking about “the day of his coming”. (Malachi 3:1, 2) The New Testament didn’t replace the Old Testament–it contained fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and promises, and certainly left some Old Testament prophecies as yet unfulfilled at the time of the New Testament writings.

All was fulfilled through Jesus Christ! What was left that was unfulfilled?

If one thinks in terms of a full circle of having been “cast out” of the presence of God (from the garden of Eden) and yet the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple that became the new tabernacle, being the way that God ordained for mankind to symbolically “enter the presence of God” while still living on earth, then one realizes that a temple would be expected in the latter days to fulfill Old Testament prophecies about a covenant people, and it would not be a “hijack” at all but a fulfillment of what the Old Testament was talking about.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the covenant of the OT, not LDS temple rituals.

(4) You are familiar with the idea of “worthiness” and of “standards for participation”. …(One can certainly commune with God and thus “be with God” outside of temples, even outside of churches–in one’s home, in the mountains, or in any quiet place.) So a temple is a different kind of place than a place to “commune with God” only.

I understand that all religions (well most) have places of worship to be with God. But the Mormons focus on rituals that are not based on Judaism or Christianity. I have read a bit about this since last night. The Mormon temple rituals are very very very similar to Masonic rituals. Unless you are sacrificing animals in your temples (and I am sure you are not!) then there is absolutely no similarities between ancient temple rituals and LDS temple rituals.

Then it would seem you disagree with Matthew 22:11-13.

So you believe these verses are referring to our life here on earth and not to those who will follow Christ into His promise of eternal life?

It makes sense to me that God would want those on earth to understand that to be able to “abide” His presence or enter into His presence, there is an expectation of worthiness and of preparation. This seems completely consistent with both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is not about the “safety” of others. It is about keeping the place holy through worthiness that is a holy and sanctified place for the presence of God. It is responding to God’s expressed will that a covenant people will keep their covenants, completely.

So His presence is only in LDS temples then? He is not present, as you mentioned earlier, in other places?
The preparation to enter from the ancient rituals dealt with cleansing after animal sacrifices! Please stop trying to gloss over this fact!
Parker, why are you/Mormons so focused on the OT and rituals when Christ came to tell us NOT to focus on rituals and told us all to love one another and to take care of each other?
If you told me that you were feeding the hungry and clothing the naked in your temples, I would understand your insistance that Mormons are doing God’s work in the temples.
So far, you have been unable to show how LDS temple rituals tie in with the OT or the NT.

The only such kind of case I have heard of was when a young woman told a young man that she would only marry in an LDS temple, and so the young man prepared himself and became LDS and they waited until he could enter the temple. That instance sometimes happens, but it also happens that if the young man was doing it for the sake of marrying the young woman and thus not sincerely, then such a marriage ends up discordantly. It needed to be a case of the young man acting out of total sincerity and complete covenant-making with God, with full intent to keep his covenants.

The LDS leaders would not draw a conclusion that people seeing a lovely building will want to enter that building after it is dedicated as the house of the Lord other than for curiosity. Of course they would understand that people are not so easily drawn into “conversion” that they would be “drawn in” toward seeking “conversion” (wrong word–conversion means heart-felt change) just to get into the lovely building they see from the outside.

Then why the visitor centers?

People get frustrated from a sense of “exclusion”, yes, but people don’t change their hearts and change their desires just to get inside a building.

People who are living according to God’s plan don’t need to change their hearts or desires. And who in your church has the right to judge another person’s worthiness?
The fact that the LDS church has set up these hoops to jump through is the complete opposite of what Jesus taught.

 

[ParkerD]

Hi Parker - But the fonts used by Mormons for baptisms in their temples were used by the priests to wash themselves after offering animal sacrifies (Exodus 30:18-20) so what is the connection here?
The temple was used for animal sacrifices (Leviticus) not baptisms and marriages.
I would say most religions would claim that their churches/synagogues/mosques are places to go to leave behind “things of the world.” That still does not explain the LDS use of temples for their rituals.

Good day to you (a gorgeous one indeed),

Just a quick note about the “sea” on the twelve oxen as compared with the “lavers” that were used for washing hands and feet. They served different purposes. Here is some of the description in 1 Kings 7:

23 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
24 And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

… 38 Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.
39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

I’ll get back to you about the rest of your post, but wanted to quickly make this note for your clarification about the “sea” resting on the backs of the twelve oxen.

 

[Jessup]

I smell a rodent! First, Mormons are not Christian. Their “baptism” is not Christian. The One God has revealed Who the Christ is, and it is not the same “Jesus” that Joseph Smith wrote of or that Mormons believe in. Any organization that leads away from revealed Truth is something to lament, not to celebrate or tolerate. It is an acceptable and common practice (“holy lies”) to deceive in support of the LDS organization. But, just who is the “deceiver”?

It's funny to see so many people rip on the LDS. and not call them Christian, they are probally the only people that act like decent christians. Most of my friends are LDS, because everyone else in this drug catering state of Florida, is a methhead, coke head pill head or crack head, drunk or prostitute. But, "don't judge them, be victim instead" Mormons are more chrisitian then most people I know; they take care of there own.

 

[Sunstone]

The “celestial” room ? Do Mormons have the slightest idea how much theology Mr. Smith borrowed from his Masonry ?

Pax,
Tim

There are Mormons who are experts in this area. Quite a few Mormons know something about it, but are not experts by any means. A significant minority of Mormons know little or nothing about it.

E. Cecil McGavin’s book “Mormonism and Masonry” has been circultated fairly thoroughly through LDS circles.

 

[SnakeMauler]

I think Mormons are probably right guys. The Bible proves their belief. Look at this quote from the Mormon website:

We also believe that we lived with God as spirits before we were born (Romans 8:16), and that according to His plan of happiness we can come to earth to receive physical bodies in order to learn and grow.

mormon.org/about-us/

In other words, the Bible PROVES that we lived as spirits before we were born. Look:

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”- Romans 8:16

Wow, never looked at things that way. And this also proves that Mormons are right:

youtube.com/watch?v=uFzQheN1kLU

-Snakemauler

 

[Sunstone]

I think Mormons are probably right guys. The Bible proves their belief. Look at this quote from the Mormon website:

mormon.org/about-us/

In other words, the Bible PROVES that we lived as spirits before we were born. Look:

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”- Romans 8:16

Wow, never looked at things that way. And this also proves that Mormons are right:

youtube.com/watch?v=uFzQheN1kLU

-Snakemauler

Mormons who interpret Romans 8 in this fashion usually don’t understand the lack of foundation for such an interpretation.

Some of their misunderstanding comes from their use of the King James Bible in English speaking countries, and of the LDS-specific footnotes. The KJV doesn’t exactly make Paul easy to understand, and the LDS footnotes suggest Mormon theological ideas that are not always biblical.

 

[lax16]

I think Mormons are probably right guys. The Bible proves their belief. Look at this quote from the Mormon website:

mormon.org/about-us/

In other words, the Bible PROVES that we lived as spirits before we were born. Look:

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”- Romans 8:16

Wow, never looked at things that way. And this also proves that Mormons are right:

youtube.com/watch?v=uFzQheN1kLU

-Snakemauler

Wow - again an interpretation from left field to attempt to prove the Mormons right.

Needless to say, you are waaaaaaaaaay off topic.

Do you use sources other than youtube and mormon websites for your bible study?

You would think as a Catholic you would need more proof than that.

 

[SnakeMauler]

Mormons who interpret Romans 8 in this fashion usually don’t understand the lack of foundation for such an interpretation.

Some of their misunderstanding comes from their use of the King James Bible in English speaking countries, and of the LDS-specific footnotes. The KJV doesn’t exactly make Paul easy to understand, and the LDS footnotes suggest Mormon theological ideas that are not always biblical.

Given that the actual Mormon website says it, doesn’t it make it infallible?

 

[Sunstone]

Given that the actual Mormon website says it, doesn’t it make it infallible?

Of course not. Some silly Mormons might hang on every word that comes from officials in Salt Lake, but the truth is Mormon doctrine is mutable. This fact is, I think, the main reason for contradictions in Mormon belief.

Some Mormons are strict about obedient behavior, but Mormonism itself has few checks on belief. There are no creeds and, despite correlation and restrictions on what should be taught in official capacities, there is a longstanding tradition of varied Mormon belief.

 

[lax16]

Given that the actual Mormon website says it, doesn’t it make it infallible?

That depends on which Mormon website - the old or the new teachings?

Are the Father, Son and Holy Ghost One God or Many Gods?

BOOK OF MORMON = One God
PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH = Three Gods

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.” — 2 Nephi 31:21
“I will preach on the plurality of Gods… I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods.” —Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370

Has God Always Existed, Unchangeable from all Eternity?

BOOK OF MORMON: YES PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH: NO
“For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.”—Moroni 8:18

“…the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity…”—Mosiah 3:5
“We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea,…he was once a man like us…”—Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-346

Does God Dwell in the Heart of the Righteous?

BOOK OF MORMON: YES DOCTRINE & COVENANTS: NO
“…because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell….”—Alma 34:36 “…the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.” —Doctrine and Covenants 130:3

Is God the Father a Personage of “Spirit” or an Exalted “Man”?

LECTURES OF FAITH and BOOK OF MORMON = “SPIRIT” DOCTRINE & COVENANTS and JOSEPH SMITH, JR. = “MAN”
“…The Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and fulness…”— Doctrine and Covenants, 1935 edition, Lectures Fifth of Faith, Section V, p. 52-53 (Note: In 1921, The Lectures of Faith section was removed from Doctrine and Covenants)

“Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God…that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.”—Alma 31:15, Book of Mormon **
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s…” —Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22

“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens… I say, if you were to see him to-day, you would see him like a man in form–like yourselves, in all the person, image, and very form as a man.” —Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345

Are There Two or Three Personages Governing the Universe?

LECTURES OF FAITH = TWO JOSEPH SMITH, JR = THREE
“We shall, in this lecture speak of the Godhead: we mean the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things….They are the Father and the Son: The Father being a personage of spirit… The Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, is a personage of tabernacle…And he being the only begotten of the Father…received a fulness of the glory of the Father—possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit.” —Doctrine and Covenants, 1935 edition, Lectures Fifth of Faith, Section V, p. 52-53 (Note: In 1921, This Lectures of Faith section was removed from Doctrine and Covenants) “I will preach on the plurality of Gods…I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods.” —Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370