When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first…
The reason for the return of the unclean spirit to the “house from which I came” is because even for a demon, home is where the heart is. They are also “creatures of habit.” Pattern recognition is noteworthy, simply because information retrieved from memory is applied to a stimulus or the event of receiving new information. So, because we can recognize patterns between Islam and Mormonism, it seems that because of such, it is not out of the question to state that there must be a common source, in this case, a source fueled by evil for the purpose of deceit… the exact agenda of Satan.
With such an understanding established, I want to look at seven more tracks in the snow that help us hunt down and identify the common source.
Succession Crisis
First, we find in both Mormonism and Islam, a succession crisis. The succession crisis in Islam is one where after the founder, Muhammad, had died, the event ultimately began a question of who was to take the place in such leadership, and because of differing opinions, it resulted in disunity. There are more than two, but the major divisions of Islam that did not exist before the time Muhammad died, are Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. These come from a disagreement on exactly who should rightfully occupy the caliphate (successor) and lead the Muslim world. The Sunni’s maintain that Muhammad never named a successor while living, so some thought that it should go to his father-in-law and closest companion, Abu Bakr. The Shia (Shiite) Muslims, on the other hand claim that Muhammad indeed named a successor in his lifetime, Ali ibn Abi Talib (Shiite means, “followers” in Arabic, which is coupled in such with the name of the supposed caliphate, Ali), who was the son-in-law and cousin of Muhammad. Whether it was father-in-law or son-in-law of Muhammad is historically up for grabs, so to speak. Several different schools and branches trickle down through history from each of these.
In Mormonism, we find something quite similar. It appears that all those who would have been a no-brainer in the succession to Joseph Smith died, such as his brother Hyram (and arguably others who might be considered, who died shortly after his death), so this placed some pause in the succession.
Joseph Smith died June 27th of 1844, and on August 8th of the same year, there was a meeting where people cast their vote as to who would lead.
From the LDS website:
Reassured that Joseph’s mantle had fallen to Brigham Young, they voted overwhelmingly to sustain the Twelve Apostles as the Church’s leaders. During the next three years, Sidney Rigdon, James J. Strang, and other figures formed their own movements, each drawing away some Church members.[1]
Aside from Brigham Young, Sidney Rigdon was also claiming the title of leadership of the church was the other candidate in this meeting. It is interesting to note that he and “other figures formed their own movements” were drawing away some of the LDS church members. Rigdon moved to Pennsylvania, where his influence can still be found. These are often referred to as “Rigdonites” or, “Bickertonites” named after Sidney Rigdon and William Bickerton.[2] Though, like The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, they also do not refer to themselves as Rigdonites or Bickertonites, but as “The Church of Jesus Christ” which is to be distinguished from The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, yet another product of Joseph Smith. Not only these, but the fundamentalist Mormon church (FLDS) as well as the “Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints” (Community of Christ) also trickled down from Mormon history.
The focus of the succession crises of both Mormonism and Islam exist because of the death of their founders. The succession crisis in each of these do not alone point to evil spiritual activity, but if we continue, as suggested, a pattern can be recognized.
Comparing these to Christianity, Jesus is and always will be the head of the church (See Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18).
Taqiyya
Both religions have at least a form of taqiyya… Taqiyya is the idea that a person can conceal his beliefs in order to win converts. Islam specifically addresses this in the Quran in multiple verses:
Believers should not take disbelievers as guardians instead of the believers—and whoever does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah—unless it is a precaution against their tyranny. And Allah warns you about Himself. And to Allah is the final return.[3]
And…
Whoever disbelieves in Allah after their belief—not those who are forced while their hearts are firm in faith, but those who embrace disbelief wholeheartedly—they will be condemned by Allah and suffer a tremendous punishment.[4]
The first reference warns a Muslim to not take guardians who are unbelievers in Islam, unless… it is a precaution against their tyranny… In other words, if a Christian is in disagreement with Islam, the Muslim can befriend the Christian over friending other Muslims. This not only assists the Muslim in winning converts through deception, but also protects the reputation of Islam in a false sense.
The second reference above reveals at least one difference between Christianity and Islam. The Muslim, according to this verse, when pressured to say that he believes in Jesus Christ alone as savior, for example, is permitted to do so, as long as they are still true to Islam in their heart. So, the Quran teaches people to have a lack of integrity. In the Bible on the other hand, Jesus says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”[5] There is a very clear difference on how a Muslim should respond and how a Christian should respond.
In Mormonism, we again find something strangely familiar… Brigham Young University professor Dr. Robert Millet says,
President Moyle said, ‘Boy, whenever a person asks me an antagonistic question, I never answer that question, but rather, I answer the question they should have asked.’ That’s why I group this under, ‘Answer the Right Question.’
For example, if a person out of the blue that I don’t know from Adam walks up to me and says, ‘So, you’re a Latter-day Saint?’
‘uh huh’
‘Tell me, you folks believe that man can become like God?’
See, how do I respond… this is a total stranger, I don’t know what he knows about the church… It may not be the smartest thing in the world to say, ‘Yeah, yeah, let me quote the Lorenzo Snow couplet for you and then I’m going to get the teachings of the prophet and I’m going to read the King Follet discourse.’ That may not be our best approach.
It might be a much wiser approach to say, ‘Well, that’s an interesting question. It is asked frequently, but you know, let me begin this way… In the spring of 1820, there was a young man, named Joseph Smith Jr., who was concerned about the subject of religion and wanted to know which church to join…
What did I just do? I just answered the question he should have asked. Now what’s the question he should have asked? ‘How do I know what you have to say is true?’ or, ‘What should I know to investigate your message properly?’ … ‘How should we begin our study of Mormonism?’
That would have been the right question, you see? So, what I’m going to do is I’m going to answer the question they should have asked.
Now, let me say it another way… the world may not know this, but the issue isn’t Adam-God, the issue isn’t Mountain Meadows Massacre, the issue isn’t plural marriage… the issue facing the religious world today is, was Joseph Smith called of God. And that’s the single most important issue to determine. They’re going to find that out in only one way, by learning a little bit and by praying a lot.
…We never provide meat, when milk will do.[6]
Anyone who is familiar with witnessing to Mormons knows that they dumb their beliefs down in order to not seem like they have such wild beliefs. But, anyone can examine their scriptures to know what they believe. For instance, the Lorenzo Snow couplet referenced above by Professor Millet goes like this:
“As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become.”[7]
Mormons frequently deny and are taught to deny to non-members of the church the doctrine of exaltation, even though their scriptures (mostly Doctrine and Covenants) blatantly teach it. It is clear why they are taught to do so in the lecture by Millet above.
Both Religions are Essentially Restoration Movements
The Quran teaches that Abraham was a monotheist who was neither Jewish nor Christian, and that this (unitarian monotheism) is the faith that Muslims must follow: “The Jews and Christians each say, ‘Follow our faith to be ˹rightly˺ guided.’ Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ ‘No! We follow the faith of Abraham, the upright—who was not a polytheist.’”[8] In case anyone questioned what Muhammad thought about what Abraham believed, “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he submitted in all uprightness and was not a polytheist.”[9] Muhammad apparently thought that Christians were polytheists, and the unitarian monotheistic faith of Abraham is what he intended to restore to the world:
O People of the Book! Do not go to extremes regarding your faith; say nothing about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger of Allah and the fulfilment of His Word through Mary and a spirit ˹created by a command˺ from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers and do not say, “Trinity.” Stop!—for your own good. Allah is only One God. Glory be to Him! He is far above having a son! To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And Allah is sufficient as a Trustee of Affairs.[10]
Mormonism is also a restoration movement, often bragging about how it is the restored gospel. Mormonism, like Islam, teaches that there was a “Great Apostasy” in falling away from first truths, so to speak, and seeks to correct such an apostasy. In 1 Nephi 13:26-29 we observe:
And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.
And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.
Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.
And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.[11]
Again, in Joseph Smith’s History, we find:
My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”[12]
On the other hand, Jesus is not a restorationist, but clearly states in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Both Religions have Prohibitions Against Evil Consumables
 |
| The Tomb of St. Mark in Venice, Italy |
Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, and swine; what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah; what is killed by strangling, beating, a fall, or by being gored to death; what is partly eaten by a predator unless you slaughter it; and what is sacrificed on altars. You are also forbidden to draw lots for decisions. This is all evil. Today the disbelievers have given up all hope of ˹undermining˺ your faith. So do not fear them; fear Me! Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger—not intending to sin—then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[13]
The first sentence in this verse in the Quran reveals the prohibition against pork products. There are more prohibitions for Muslims as we can see, but pork products are historically the ones to receive the most attention. In the following Surah, as in the one above, the blessing comes through obedience in shunning that which is forbidden.
Similarly, the “Prophet” Joseph Smith supposedly received the Word of Wisdom as a revelation from God in 1833. This is found in Doctrine and Covenants section 89, and we will specifically look at verses 4-9.
Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.[14]
This Word of Wisdom is the reason Mormons do not drink coffee (see again verse 9 above). This section (89) goes on to say,
And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.[15]
Notice that by not drinking coffee, Mormons shall “run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.” This sounds a lot like Isaiah 40:31: “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” So according to Joseph Smith, if Mormons don’t drink coffee, they will receive the same blessings as Christians whose hope is in the Lord.
Some might argue that the Old Testament also had controlled diets which is true, but the reason for this was not because such things were evil as is in the case in Mormonism and Islam, but because the Jews were simply to be different set apart from everyone else (The Laws were based on God's command, not on the food's moral character: See Leviticus 20:25). We know this is the case because in the New Testament, we find that dietary restrictions have been lifted (See Mark 7:15, 19; and Romans 14:14).
Warmonger Personalities
Many have heard of the Quranic verses that discuss warfare (often in gross detail), but in case someone hasn’t, allow me to list a few:
Surah 2:191 “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.”
Surah 2:216 “Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, you know not.”
Surah 5:33 “The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom…”
Surah 8:12 “When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.”
Surah 8:39 “And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah.”
Surah 8:65 “Exhort the believers to fight.”
Surah 9:5 “Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Surah 9:13–14 “Now Allah hath more right that ye should fear Him, if ye are believers. Fight them!”
Surah 9:29 “Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.”
Surah 9:111 “Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain.”
Surah 9:123 “O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).”
Surah 47:4 “Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens.”
Muhammad not only was a warmonger himself, but taught others to be the same. Comparatively, the majority of prophets mentioned in the Bible are not saturated in warfare. The question is, what are the chances that these two, Muhammad and Joseph Smith, who have so many similar recognizable patterns and are also both saturated in warfare?
Joseph Smith, many will argue, was not a warmonger, but consider the following. Former University of California History professor and psychobiographer, Fawn M. Brodie, writes about a speech from Joseph Smith that was not included in the multi-volume “History of the Church” but that this speech was based upon the accounts of seven men who were there.[16] She writes,
As Joseph neared the end of his speech, all the pent-up hatred that he had so long suppressed broke forth with unexpected violence. “If the people will let us alone,” he cried, “we will preach the gospel in peace. But if they come on to molest us, we will establish our religion by the sword. We will trample down our enemies and make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcorn [Quran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—Joseph Smith or the Sword!’”[17]
Shocking as it may sound for some, one also finds mentioning of sympathy for Islam throughout Mormon history. For a few of these, see footnote (18).[18] Now, further consider Smith’s actions regarding a publisher that he disagreed with, from a source partnering with Brigham Young University.
The Nauvoo Expositor was the newspaper voice of apostates determined to destroy the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the spring of 1844. During the last few months of Joseph Smith’s life, an opposition party of disgruntled members, apostates, and excommunicants coalesced into a dissenting church. The principals claimed to believe in the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the gospel, but rejected what they termed Nauvoo innovations, notably plural marriage.… Nauvoo residents were incensed at what they saw as its sensational, yellow-journalistic claims about Nauvoo religion, politics, and morality. They were also struck with sharp foreboding. Francis Higbee, one of the proprietors of the newspaper, set an ominous tone when he described Joseph Smith as “the biggest villain that goes unhung.…” As mayor of Nauvoo, Joseph Smith summoned the city council. Following fourteen hours of deliberation in three different sessions, the council resolved on Monday, June 10, about 6:30 p.m., that the newspaper and its printing office were “a public nuisance” and instructed the mayor “to remove it without delay.” Joseph Smith promptly ordered the city marshal to destroy the press and burn all copies of the paper. At 8:00 p.m. the marshal carried out the mayor’s orders (HC 6:432-49).[19]
The Nauvoo Expositor “Apostates” believed in the Book of Mormon, but disagreed that men can become gods, which is what Mormonism teaches. So, as the mayor of Nauvoo, Joseph Smith had the whole printing press burned down and every copy produced also burned because he did not like what they said about his teaching of “the restoration of the gospel” and plural marriage.[20]
In our final examination of Joseph Smith which continues to reveal his warmonger personality, consider the 8th governor of Illinois’ recording the historical account of Joseph Smiths death, which was published posthumously in 1854:
An attempt was made to break open the door but Joe Smith being armed with a six barrelled pistol furnished by his friends fired several times as the door was bursted open and wounded three of the assailants At the same time several shots were fired into the room by some of which John Taylor received four wounds and Hiram Smith [Joseph’s brother] was instantly killed. Joe Smith now attempted to escape by jumping out of the second story window, but the fall so stunned him that he was unable to rise and being placed in a sitting posture by the conspirators below they despatched him with four balls shot through his body.[21]
Smith praised and promised to adopt the warmonger personality of Muhammad, burned down an entire printing press, and shot at people in a gunfight before dying himself in the same gunfight.
Both Borrowed and/or Plagiarized Ideas and Practices from Other Religions
We have already discussed dietary laws, not even mentioning that halal is very similar in many ways to kosher procedures, but there are several other points of interest immediately applicable as well.
Purity Rituals for instance, are an excellent place to begin. Wudu (ritual washing), in Islam, is heavily adapted from Netilat yadayim which refers to the traditional Jewish ritual of ceremonial handwashing.
O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks.[22]
This sounds quite similar to the priestly requirement found in Exodus 30, “…Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it…”[23]
Mormons do not hide the fact that they borrow ritual washing and anointing that they in part, refer to as the initiatory ordinances, from the Old Testament:
“The endowment is received in two parts. In the first part, a person receives preliminary ordinances called the initiatory. The initiatory ordinances include being symbolically washed and anointed, as well as instruction on wearing the temple garment (see Exodus 29:4–9). It also includes special blessings related to the person’s divine potential.”[24]
Exodus 29:4-9 reads as follows:
Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred emblem to the turban. Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. Bring his sons and dress them in tunics and fasten caps on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons. The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.
These are just a few examples, and to save time I won’t bring it up here, but we could also discuss full-body purification (baptism), which both Islam and Mormonism have adopted as purity procedures.
Muslims Fast from Dawn to Dusk for One Month, Mormons Fast from Dusk to Dusk Once a Month
The first explicit mentioning of fasting is found in Exodus 34:28 where Moses went “without eating bread or drinking water” and receives the Ten Commandments. Fasting is mentioned all throughout the Old and New Testament. For a specific example, Isaiah 58:6-7 reads,
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?[25]
From the LDS website we learn:
In the Church today, one Sabbath day each month is set aside for the purpose of fasting. Members of the Church go without food and water for two consecutive meals in a 24-hour period and then contribute the money that would have been spent for that food to those in need (see Alma 34:28).[26]
Alma 34:28 reads,
And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.[27]
From the Quran:
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.
˹Fast a˺ prescribed number of days. But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person ˹for every day not fasted˺. But whoever volunteers to give more, it is better for them. And to fast is better for you, if only you knew.
Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.[28]
That the practice of fasting has been borrowed from the Bible in both of these false religions is clear. We could go on to discuss veneration of temples (Utah and Kaaba), pilgrimages (even unofficial), the connections of Mormonism and Islam to Freemasonry, migratory celebration days (Pioneer Day and Al-Hijra), biblical plagiarisms, and several others, but let’s continue on.
Detailed Doctrines and Lifestyles do not Come from Their “Facebooks”
The Facebooks, as I like to think of the Quran and the Book of Mormon, since narcissism is so prevalent on the social media platform where people often delete what they feel makes them look bad, is arguably why there was a massive controversy over removing narcissism as a diagnosis in the DSM-V before it was published in 2013.
The content of the Quran and the Book of Mormon do not contain the all the detailed things we hear of because this goes along with their application and use of taqiyya. In other words, the ability to point to a bland book as the standard, seems to better cohere (the use of taqiyya and the more bland readings found in the Quran and the Book of Mormon versus the Hadiths and the Doctrine and Covenants), at least at face value. They can always dumb things down in the Quran or the Book of Mormon to a much lesser degree than what is found in the Hadiths and the Doctrine and Covenants by applying taqiyya.
The death penalty for apostasy in Islam for instance is not mentioned in the Quran, but in the Hadiths (Sahih al-Bukhari 6922). The Quran tells readers to pray, but the specifics of five times a day come from the Hadiths (Sahih al-Bukhari 349). The full standard shahada is not found in the Quran, but in the Hadiths (Sahih Muslim 8; et al.). For a final example, circumcision is not found in the Quran, but where else, the Hadiths (Sahih Muslim 257).
Similarly, we have already discussed the abstaining from “hot drinks,” which are not discussed in the Book of Mormon, but also, the Book of Mormon does not explicitly contain the doctrine of exaltation, which is the doctrine that teaches that men can become gods, this doctrine is found in their second “sacred” text, The Doctrine and Covenants(Section 132), which arguably functions much like the Hadiths in this manner. Celestial marriage is also completely absent in the Book of Mormon, but such belief is taught in the Doctrine and Covenants (sections 131-132).
The three degrees of glory (Sections 76; 131), the baptisms for the dead (Sections 124, 127-128), and the priesthood structure (Section 107), are all found in the Doctrine and Covenants. At this point, I do not even feel the need to mention the things that are found in the Pearl of Great Price that are not found in the Book of Mormon, since we have already seen that a considerable amount of doctrines do not come from the Book of Mormon.
The point in all of this is that if a Muslim were to only use the Quran as his religious guide, or a Mormon used only the Book of Mormon as his religious guide, then such a person would look, behave, and believe very differently from those who practice their religions from beyond their Facebooks.
As discussed in Part One, these comparisons though far from exhaustive, are definitely enough to see the same tracks in the snow, and recognize the “personality” of the demon behind all of this deception. What other similarities not mentioned that you have recognized between Islam and Mormonism?
For more, see my book on Mormonism:
https://www.amazon.com/Mormonism-Refuting-Fundamental-Apologetics-Latter-Day/dp/1662885377/
[1] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/succession-of-church-leadership?lang=eng#note17.
[3] Quran, Surah 3:28.
[4] Quran, Surah 16:106.
[5] Matthew 10:32-33.
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CWwMgAtZOA; begin at 25:50.
[7] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-5-the-grand-destiny-of-the-faithful?lang=eng.
[8] Quran, Surah 2:135.
[9] Quran, Surah 3:67.
[10] Quran, Surah 4:172.
[11] Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 13:26-29.
[12] Joseph Smith, History 1:18-19.
[13] Quran, Surah 5:3. Emphasis added.
[14] D&C, 89:4-9. Emphasis added.
[15] D&C 89:18-20.
[16] Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Vintage Books), 1995, 229.
[17] Ibid. 230-231.
[18] An early member of the presiding governing body of the Latter-day Saints, George Q. Cannon, is recorded in the journal of discourses: “I believe myself that Mohamed, whom the Christians deride and call a false prophet and stigmatize with great many epithets—I believe that he was a man raised up by the Almighty, and inspired to a certain extent by him to effect the reforms which he did in his land, and in the nations surrounding. He attacked idolatry, and restored the great and crowning idea that there is but one God. He taught that idea to his people, and reclaimed them from polytheism and from the heathenish practices into which they had fallen. I believe many men were inspired who lived after him and before him, who, nevertheless, did not have the holy priesthood, but were led by the spirit of God to strive for a better condition of affairs and to live a pure and higher life than those by whom they were surrounded were living. But while this was the case, it was the spirit of God that did it.”
Again, we find more sympathies toward Islam from the first Quorum of the Seventy: “Elder Carlos E. Asay of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only brought the personal greetings of the leadership of the Church to the conference but shared his own experiences during his years in Lebanon and Syria. He reported that his life among the Muslims had a sanctifying influence and stimulated a spiritual renewal. He emphasized ways in which Mormon consideration of Islam must acknowledge the hand of God. In these remarks, he echoed the welcoming tone that had been provided on behalf of Brigham Young University President Jeffrey R. Holland by Noel B. Reynolds, associate academic vice-president for religious instruction. Reynolds told the Muslims in attendance that "there are many important elements of Mormon thought in which we would feel closer to the followers of Muhammad than to the contemporary Christian culture in which we have been located since our beginnings.”
For more like this, see this link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/08/a-latter-day-saint-perspective-on-muhammad?lang=eng.
[19] Daniel H. Ludlow, Encyclopedia of Mormonism: the history, scripture, doctrine and procedure of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992). Nauvoo Expositor; https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/EoM/id/3984; emphasis added. 107 Nauvoo Expositor. Public Domain. https://archive.org/details/Nauvoo Expositor1844.
[20] For more on this, see my book, Mormonism: Impossible, beginning on page 68.
[21] Thomas Ford, History of Illinois from its commencement as a state in 1818 TO 1847 (Chicago: SC GRIGGS & CO 1854), 354.
[22] Quran, Surah 5:6.
[23] Exodus 30:19. For more details, see Exodus 30:17-33.
[24] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/27-temple-ordinances-for-the-living?lang=eng.
[25] Isaiah 58:6-7. Emphasis mine. Consider also, Zechariah 8:19: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.’”
[26] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/fasting-and-fast-offerings?lang=eng. Emphasis added.
[27] Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, Alma 34:28.
[28] Quran, Surah 2:183-185.
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