13 Shocking Similarities between Islam and Mormonism

13 Shocking Similarities between Islam and Mormonism

You may have heard me say this before, but for the benefit of this post, I’ll say it again: there are some SHOCKING similarities between Islam and Mormonism. And apparently, I’m not the first one to come to this conclusion. Kinda makes you wonder where the (false) prophet, Joseph Smith, REALLY got his stuff from huh? But let’s just jump straight to the truth about these two great deceptions that are Islam and Mormonism. Diving in.

1) Angelic Deception

Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith claim to have been called to create their respective faiths through a divine or angelic deception. This alone is basis to disqualify both religions because the words and nature of the deities or angels do not align with the Word of God.

Muhammad claimed that the Angel Gabriel came to him.

Read! In the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is Most Bountiful. He, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not. (Qur’an 96:1-5)

Nowhere in the Bible does God come on the scene demanding things, especially not from those He is specifically calling to serve Him. There’s a saying that says,

God guides; the devil drives.

Muhammad was driven.

Joseph Smith claimed that Elohim (Father God) and Jesus...or just Jesus...or a host of angels...or a single angel [Moroni] appeared to him. Seriously, if he couldn’t even get his story straight, how could anyone honestly be expected to believe him?

I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! (BYU.edu)
As he prayed that evening that he might know his standing before God, an angel appeared at his bedside, saying that he had been sent from the presence of God and that his name was Moroni. He explained “that God had a work for [Joseph] to do; and that [his] name should be had for good and evil among all nations” (JS-H l:33). (BYU.edu)

I think my friend Jennifer LeClaire says it best.

It grieves me to see how many people point to angels in false prophetic revelation. Angelic encounters can certainly be authentic, but too many people in the Body of Christ as claiming angelic revelations outside the boundaries of Scripture. And it is dangerous. Paul warned, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). (The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel pg. 78)

I will add some further words of the Apostle Paul.

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Everything that glitters ain’t gold.

2) Christianity is Wrong

These angels of light deceived both Muhammad and Smith into believing that no sects of Christianity were right. The visitor(s) that supposedly came to Smith told him all other Christian sects were an “abomination.” So why then would God allow the people before them--including those Christ preached to in Abraham’s bosom and the Pit of Hell during His descension into the earth between his death and resurrection--to all be wrong and die in their sins, never knowing the “true” Gospel? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob always left Himself a witness, even creation itself. At least the Mormons one-upped the Muslims on this one with their baptisms of the dead.

3) Prophetic Call

Both Muhammad and Smith were said to be called as the one true prophet of God. Only, they weren’t. It follows that if the visages they saw were 1) demonic apparitions, 2) imagined/hallucinated, or 3) made up (take your pick), then no supposed calling could be given them. None save a conning call to false prophecy.

And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.” (Jeremiah 14:14)
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

4) Christian Counterfeit

While Islam certainly did not start out as a Christian counterfeit, it certainly is being presented by many these days as one. Ever heard the term “Chrislam”? If you’ve ever read Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle, you’ve seen the danger--even in the imagined world of Narnia--of combining the true God with a false one. How much more so in the real world?

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)

Mormonism is also and more so guilty of being a Christian counterfeit which leads me to my next point...

5) Intentionally Misleading

Everything from the expensive LDS commercials to the wording of the Mormon Missionary propaganda in recent years is INTENTIONALLY done to make unsuspecting individuals THINK Mormonism is Christianity. Just look at the change of methods this cult has displayed over the years.

Christians--those poor miserable priests Brigham was speaking about--some of them are the biggest whoremasters there are on earth.
What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing…. [S]o far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest of fools; they know neither God nor the things of God.
O, blush for modern Christianity !--a pious name for Atheism.

to…

“Mormonism is Christianity; Christianity is Mormonism; they are one and the same, they are not to be distinguished from each other in the minutest detail.” (LDS apostle Bruce McConkie)

*all four quotes from Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family: A Guide to Ten Non-Christians Groups Out to Convert Your Loved Ones by Richard Abanes.

6) Belief in the Bible’s Fallibility

The Bible tells us that It is the infallible Word of God. In fact, it’s the Word made flesh.

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven… (Psalm 18:30)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-2, 14)

Yet even with all this, Muhammad and Smith--and their followers--insist the the Word of God is fallible, full of error.

The Muslims believe that we Christians have corrupted the Bible. Mormons believe “the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” So basically, they don’t believe the Bible.

Believing in the Bible isn’t something that is done on a percentage basis like grades in college. There’s no, “I believe 30%, 57%, or 89% of the Bible.” It’s pass or fail, either you believe it or you don’t. Anything else is a direct or indirect attempt to undermine and discredit the Word of God.

7) Polygamy Based on Abrahamic Model

I’ve sadly actually found myself saying this quite a few times recently: just because a thing is in the Bible, does NOT mean that God approved of it. Now hear me out before you stone me.

Murder is in the Bible, but God never approved of it. Incest and rape are in the Bible, but God never approved of it. Witchcraft and divination are in the Bible, but God NEVER EVER approved of it. And so it is with polygamy.

God never approved of sin, but He used its entrance into the world as a reason to send His Son, redeem us from our sin-sick state, and thus, return custodianship of the earth to humanity.

Similarly, God never approved of polygamy, yet He allowed it to serve His purposes since it was done. But never once does the Bible favour polygamy. Never once does the Bible show polygamy in a positive light. Neither does any biblical model (godly pattern) or instruction for marriage display/condone polygamy. In fact, you see the dangers of polygamy from the violent, raping, usurping, murdering direct offspring of David to the anti-bliss of sister-wives like Rachel and Leah as well as Hannah and Peninnah not to mention the problem in the Middle-East we are STILL dealing with thanks to the polygamy Sarah introduced into her marriage with Abraham. Polygamy is NOT of God.

Polygamy in the Bible is a product of the societal norms of ancient times. Nothing more.

8) Heavenly Reward

The sexual appetite of these cult founders is completely out of order!! In fact, it’s often a trait you see in many founders of cults, big or small. In this particular situation, both Muslims and Mormons (men) are promised eternal, ethereal sex.

We all know about the Muslims who get their mansion with their 70 regenerate virgins. Here, the Mormons one-upped them again. Instead of a mansion, the Mormons get planets. Instead of only 70 virgins, you get countless goddess-wives. Instead of being single, you get to stay married to your wife and your family remains intact and you can have sex and babies and babies and sex for all the length of eternity. The only real difference is that if you’re not a good little Muslim, you don’t get your mansion (at least mansions are in the Bible) while not-good-enough little Mormons get castrated upon entrance into Heaven. All that striving for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

But the “funny” part is, Jesus ENTIRELY refuted the concept of marriage and sex in the afterlife. And trust me, even though I wish He was wrong about this one, I can’t twist His words to suit my fancies!

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:30)

9) Strict Dress Codes

I don’t go around spouting “modest is hottest” or any of those annoying cliches, but I do believe in appropriate coverage. Especially in certain environments like, I dunno, church. But forcing women to dress drably or covering them completely is not a sign of piety, but of male domination and hatred of women.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the hijabs and burkas Muslim women are expected to wear. And I know you’ve also heard about the super secret “magical” underwear (garments) Mormons are supposed to wear AT.ALL.TIMES.

Let me tell you something: the only thing you should do at all times is 1) bless the Lord and 2) pray!

These special Mormon garments--reeeeally ugly I might add--are meant to be a guide for dressing. If what you wear shows (i.e. the top of the camisole or the tip of the “biker shorts”) your garments, then you’re not covered up enough. This is obviously MUCH more problematic for the women than it is for the men.

And by the way, I know a lot of Latina women down in Miami who have a VERY Latina way of dressing who are A LOT more Holy Ghost-filled and sanctified than some of the holiness preaching saints with the skirts down to their ankles. Jezebel is not confined to a certain clothing type.

10) Dealing with Radical/Other Beliefs

Muslims ostracize those “infidels” who turn from the faith. Like in the God is Not Dead movie, many are thrown out of their homes and in Islamic nations, they could even lose their rights as a citizen. Also, Islam beheads people who are infidels. Just watch the recent news. Need I say more?

Mormonism also absolutely ostracizes those who leave their faith. And what I’ve noticed in my own experiences as well as in the testimonies of others is that if someone leaves the LDS Church, that person’s character is most likely attacked. False witness is borne. Slanderous accusations loosed. Reputations destroyed. They try to discredit the witnesses against the LDS Church in hopes that no one will believe in or follow them.

11) Militant Nature

While contemporary Mormonism does not display violent tendencies as a whole, the founders sure as heck were militant just as the Muslims were and are. Joseph Smith had his own personal militia of 2,000 men known as the Nauvoo Legion. And I don’t think I need to go into detail about the Islamic armies that have stretched from the time of Muhammad to the time of the Crusades (and also the reason for them *ehem* Mr. President!!) to modern-day including ISIS/ISIL and other jihadists.

In fact, some of the vows of both religions reflect this violent nature.

You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will pray and never cease to pray to Almighty God to avenge the blood of the prophets [Joseph and Hyrum Smith] upon this nation[America], and that you will teach the same to your children and to your children's children unto the third and fourth generation. (Oath of Vengeance, Nauvoo Endowment)
I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their fingers. (Quran 8:12)

Those oaths are scary enough as it is, but not nearly as scary as the next similarity...

12) Religious Bloodshed

We all know thanks to the not-so-random terrorist attacks, honour killings, and beheadings, that Muslims believe absolutely in killing people. After all, who needs salvation if you can just cut off someone else’s head to get into Heaven?? But maybe because we’re more used to Muslim attacks, it seems all the more harrowing to realise that Mormons too believe in shedding blood and I’m not talkin’ ‘bout no paper cuts!!

Similar to honour killings, Mormons are given free reign to practice blood atonement on those they feel are traitors to the faith.

…[B]lood atonement, which teaches that some sins were not dealt with through Christ’s death. For these sins, said [Brigham] Young, a person must be executed and have his or her own blood spilled. (Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family pg. 187)

This obvious act of violence is actually stated to be an act of love, to save the victim’s eternal soul. And guess what? It still happens.

Just let that sink in.

In one interview, a young woman who questioned the LDS faith stated that her own father had given her name along with that of her husband’s name, brother-in-law, and little niece to the Mormon authorities and all of the relatives she listed were shot dead. She went on to say that she absolutely believed that if something were to happen to her or her family, then the LDS Church was behind it. She didn’t lie. Shortly after the interview was live, she was found in her home, shot to death.

Look, I don’t care what reason you have. If you seek someone out who has done nothing dangerous to you and KILL them, it doesn’t matter if you chop off their head or blow them up, use a shotgun to shoot them or a knife to slit their throat on an altar, you are a MURDERER.

God does not now, nor has He ever, required human sacrifice for the atonement of sins. In the Old Testament, under the Law, animals were ritually slaughtered at His command. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, no other sacrifice was needed. His was the ultimate sacrifice. He was the Ultimate Passover Lamb. And when He said “It is finished!” on the cross, it was. And that blood covers everything from little white lies to mass murder. The blood of Jesus covers it all. All we need do is receive it.

13) Prophets Trump Jesus

While there may be more similarities I am unaware of, I’ll leave off with this one. Muslims and Mormons both believe their prophets were greater than Jesus the Christ

Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet and revere Him as such, but they also believe that “Allah has no son.” But Muhammad is the greatest prophet.

Mormons believe that Smith also shed his blood for the remission of their sins. They put him on the same level and greater than Jesus. Like, for real. But then, what could be so special about Jesus if he is just one god among many, like Jo Smith, born to the Heavenly Father and a Celestial Mother? Even Lucifer received that undue honour in Mormonism. And on the Day of Judgement, it will be God the Father, Jesus, and--not the Holy Spirit--but Joseph Smith judging us all. But because of the “revelation” of Mormonism, Joey thought he deserved to trump Jesus. The utter arrogance is disgusting.

Just read this narcissist’s words:

[The Lord] will make me be god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be [a] mouth[piece] for me; and if you don’t like it, you must lump it….I have more to boast of than ever any man had, I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did. I boast that no man ever did such work as I. (Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family pg. 185)

When I first purposed to write this post, I thought there were about, maybe, five similarities between Islam and Mormonism. But the amount I came up with is simply staggering! I don’t care how whitewashed (pun intended) a religion is, would you REALLY want to join a religion--even if they do profess to be Christian--that shares so much with Islam? Like Islam, Mormonism is more than just a religion; it’s a way of life; it’s seeps into every area of your life; dominates every area of your life. Neither of these counterfeits lines up with the Scripture. And to borrow the words of the Apostle Paul, “from such, RUN AWAY!!!"

SEE ALSO:

  1. Ex-Mormon Shares Testimony: 'Jesus Was All I Needed'
  2. Salvation is a FREE GIFT: An Ex-Mormon Missionary's Testimony of Freedom
  3. Are Mormons Christians? Part I
  4. Are Mormons Christians? Part II
  5. Are Mormons Christians? Part III
Pride and Prejudice: Racism in the Mormon Church

Pride and Prejudice: Racism in the Mormon Church

Cults & Deliverance: The Truth about Mormonism

Cults & Deliverance: The Truth about Mormonism