A few of the world's 6 million Bahá'ís

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"As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them." (D&C 128:19)

Dear Latter-day Saint Seeker of Truth,

Greetings, and welcome to one of the most important articles YOU will EVER read!

This article will will testify that...

*Joseph Smith was a true Seer who had true visions and whose prophecies were all fulfilled!

*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Only True Church of all the Christian churches in the world.

*Jesus is the virgin-born Son of God and very Savior of man.

*The Christ-Spirit Who dwelt in Jesus for three years (from His baptism until His crucifixion) has returned, and dwelt in the Person of Bahá'u'lláh ("bah-hah-ool-law"); the Spirit of Truth and Founder of the Bahá'í Faith.

*Mormon prophecies and hopes concerning the Second Advent of Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth already been fulfilled!

Don't believe it?

Please don't judge until you read more. This article is about 50 printed pages. There is no copyright! You are free to print and make copies.

You will find this article one of the most interesting you'll ever read! You will not be disappointed!

The Millennial Kingdom

Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") expect Christ to return "in the clouds of heaven" and inaugurate His 1000-year Millennial Reign on earth; called "The Millennial Kingdom". The 6 million Bahá'ís ("bah-highz") in the world today, the followers of Bahá'u'lláh ("Bah-HAH-oo-LAH"), believe that Christ has already returned and established His 1000-year dispensation on earth; otherwise known as "The Bahá'í Faith".

The Bahá'í Faith is an independent World Religion established in over 200 countries. Bahá'ís believe they have been called by God to establish The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth; otherwise known as the New Jerusalem or the Millennial Kingdom of God. Bahá'ís believe in the following Manifestations of God: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, Muhammad, The Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'ís accept Jesus as the Only Begotten Son of God, and they believe that Bahá'u'lláh is The Spirit of Truth Who was promised by Jesus to come teach us all things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you unto all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me..." (John 16:13-14)

"Verily, He Who is the Spirit of Truth is now come to guide you unto all truth. He speaketh not as prompted by His own Self, but as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Say, this is the One Who hath glorified the Son and hath exalted His Cause." (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p.12)

Most Latter-day Saints believe that the "Celestial Kingdom" is on the other side of the veil (i.e. in the Spirit-World). It is! But, like the Church, it exists on both sides of the veil!

Many Bahá'ís (like Shoghi Effendi~the late Guardian of the Faith) accept Joseph Smith as a true Seer; an ordinary human being who received visions, the visitation of angels, and Divine Revelation from God. In the Bahá'í Faith (like in Islam) a "Prophet" is infallible, but "Seers" are fallible human beings who nevertheless receive divine communications.

The Holy Ghost Incarnate

Many Latter-day Saints are awaiting the incarnation of the Holy Ghost; when He shall come to earth and take upon Himself a body--like Jesus did. Bahá'ís are not waiting; for they know that He has already come to earth, lived His sinless life, and ascended back to heaven! Joseph Smith said in 1843 that the Holy Ghost was then in "a state of probation"; which means living an earthly life in mortality (1 Nephi 10:21,2 Nephi 2:2,30; 33:9, Mormon 9:28). Apostle Franklin R. Richards reported:

"Joseph Smith also said that the Holy Ghost is now in a state of Probation which, if He should perform in righteousness, He may pass through the same or similar course of things that the Son has." (Words of Joseph Smith, p.245)

The moment Joseph the Seer made that statement, and on the other side of the globe, lived a Man named Mirza Husayn-Alí Núrí ("Prince Husayn-Alí of Núr Province") in Persia (now Írán). In 1845 He was given the title of BAHÁ'U'LLÁH; which in Arabic means "The Glory of God".

The surname of Bahá'u'lláh was "Núrí" which means "of Light".

He had "Light" for a "covering", or family name.

He claimed to be the "Spirit of Truth".

Joseph Smith never claimed to be the Holy Ghost incarnate. But Bahá'u'lláh did.

The Millennial Kingdom

The Mission of Yeh'o'shuah (Jesus) was to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins and iniquities of all mankind. The Mission of Bahá'u'lláh was to establish The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth; otherwise known as "The Millennial Kingdom".

Bahá'ís believe that the Millennial Kingdom will be based upon the 12 Bahá'í Principles for World Unity; symbolically the "12 Gates" of the New Jerusalem.

The Bahá'í Faith is NOT a "Church"! It is an Independent World Religion! It is a Holy Kingdom!

The Church prepares the way for the Millennial Kingdom. Mormon Apostle James E. Talmage wrote:

"The Kingdom of God is the Church established by divine authority upon the earth; this institution asserts no claim to temporal rule over the nations; its sceptre of power is that of the Holy Priesthood, to be used in the preaching of the gospel and in administering its ordinances for the salvation of mankind living and dead." (Jesus the Christ, p.788)

"Do you believe that Kingdom of Heaven has been already set up upon the earth? I do not. I know that the Kingdom of God is a preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven, which is yet to come.***The Kingdom of God is the Church of Christ; the Kingdom of Heaven is that system of government and administration which is operative in heaven, and which we pray may some day prevail on earth. The Kingdom of Heaven will be established when the King shall come, and come He shall, in power and might and glory, to take dominion in and over and throughout the earth." (Conference Reports, 6 April 1917, p.65)

The Latin name for "Heaven" is Celes. The Latin name for "Heavenly" is Celestial. The Kingdom of Heaven is The Celestial Kingdom! And, like the Church, it exists on both sides of the veil! It exists in this world, and in the world to come.

The 1890-91 Prophecies of Joseph Smith

Joseph the Seer prophecied on several occassions that the "Son of Man" would unveil His Face in the years 1890-91 (this is discussed in detail in The 1890-91 Prophecies of Joseph Smith). On the 6th of April 1843, he told the Saints:

"Were I going to prophesy, I would say that the end would not come in 1844,5, or 6, or in forty years. There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death til Christ comes. I was once praying earnestly upon this subject, and a voice said unto me, 'My son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years of age, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man.' I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this; and I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live to that time, He could make His appearance. But I do not say whether He will make his appearance or I shall go where He is. I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written-the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven til I am eighty-five years old--48 years hence or about 1890.***But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the East." (History of the Church 4:336-7)

"In that year, 1890, Bahá'u'lláh visited Haifa and pitched His tent on Mount Carmel. to the Mountain of God came the Lord of Hosts, and the prophecies of old as well as His own emphatic promise were fulfilled." (Bahá'u'lláh~The Word Made Flesh, p.63)

Bahá'u'lláh wrote in 1890:

"The Voice of the Son of Man is calling aloud from the sacred veil: 'Here am I, here am I, O God, My God!' The Father hath come, and that which ye were promised in the Kingdom of God is fulfilled." (The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p.105)

Before 1308 A.H. (1890-91 A.D.) Bahá'u'lláh secluded Himself in a room where the windows and entrance were covered by white veils. Those who wished to see Him had to say certain things and make certain jestures in order to pass through a white veil over the entrance of His room and enter His Presence. Bahá'u'lláh referred to Himself during this period of seclusion as "He Who sheltereth Himself behind curtains." (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p.85)

The room of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji

Bahá'u'lláh referred to His religion as:

*The Bahá'í Faith
*The Cause of God
*The Straight Path
*The Crimson Ark
*The Way of God
*The City of New Jerusalem
*The Kingdom of the Father
*The Celestial Kingdom

He wrote:

"We of a certainty, have no intent in the Celestial Kingdom but to exalt His Cause and glorify His praise; sufficient unto Me is God for a Protector." (Kitab-i-Aqdas, p.82)

Most Mormons believe that the Celestial Kingdom means the Presence of God the Father in the Afterlife. This is true. However, the Celestial Kingdom, like the Church, exists on both sides of the veil (i.e. in this World and the Hereafter).

In D&C section 65, the Holy Ghost told Joseph the Seer that the Church was a preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven that would meet the Church on the Earth:

"5 Call upon the Lord that his kingdom [the Church] may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of His glory, to meet the Kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.
6 Wherefore, may the Kingdom of God go forth, that the Kingdom of Heaven may come." (D&C 65:5-6)

"It is a preparation for the greater kingdom~the celestial or heavenly kingdom" (LDS Bible Dict., p.721)

"Blessed is the soul that hath been raised to life through My quickening breath and hath gained admittance into My Heavenly Kingdom." (Lawh-i-Aqdas 24:10)

The Holy Ghost said to Joseph the Seer:

"Seek me dilligently, and ye shall find me." (D&C 88:63)

"Seek Him over the entire earth, haply ye may find Him." (Words of Bahá'u'lláh, p.12)

The Seer Joseph Smith

The Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith was Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (1897-1957); the greatgrandson of both The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh; the Founders of the Bahá'í Faith. He believed that Joseph Smith was a "Seer"; meaning an ordinary human being who was blessed by God with visions and divine revelations.

The Third Guardian of the Faith, Joel B. Marangella, Head of the Orthodox Bahá'í Community, has declared that Joseph Smith was an inspired Seer who prophesied of Bahá'u'lláh.

In Islam, there are three kinds of people who receive Divine Revelation:

*Razúls (Major Prophets) Bahá'iacute;&s call Them "Manifestations of God". They are Divine Human Reflections of the Attributes and Names of God. They do not commit any sins; major nor minor.

*N´bís (Minor Prophets) These men can commit minor sins, but not major ones.

*Muhaddaths (Seers) like David (the author of the Pslams), Anna the Prophetess (who saw Jesus' face in the Temple), the 12 Imams (Divinely-guided Leaders) of Shiah Islam, and others. Both men and women! These may commit both major and minor sins.

In Islam, "Prophets" are not considered ordinary human beings because the former are sinless, and the latter are capable of only _minor_ sins. These alone are called "Prophets".

Muhaddaths are not called "Prophets", but they are called "Seers". This is because they are considered ordinary sinful human beings (like the rest of us) who nevertheless are given visions and revelations by God.

Shoghi Effendi was once asked about Joseph Smith, and he replied:

"Joseph Smith was a Seer, not a Prophet; neither major nor minor. He had a high standard, but the Bahá'ís have a higher standard coupled with God's power that comes direct from God for this age." (Memories of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.117)

Even though the Seers are not called "Prophets" in the Bahá'í Faith, they are still considered inspired of God with visions and revelation.

A Brief History of the Bahá'í Faith

The Prophet Muhammad lived in Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia, around 620 A.D. He prayed in a cave in a hill for months every year for 15 years seeking God. One day He saw an angel standing in the air above Him, and the angel said "Recite!" Muhammed said, "What shall I recite?" The angel said, "Recite!" Muhammad left the cave, but outside, everywhere he looked, He saw the angel standing upon the horizon. The angel was Gabriel; who told Muhammad to recite Verses of God that the angel would inspire Him with. These inspired poems became known as the "Recitation", or in Arabic, the Qur'an ("khoor'rhan"); the Holy Book of Islam. Today, there are over 1 billion Muslims ("moose-lemz") on earth. Their holy city is Mecca; where Muslim men make pilgrimages.

Joseph Smith believed that Muhammad was a true Prophet. This is from George Hinckle, a close friend of Joseph Smith and commander of the Mormon Militia in Missouri:

"I have heard Joseph Smith Jr. say that he believed Muhammad was a good man, that he was a true Prophet." (Correspondance and Orders, 1841, p.128)

"About 600 years after Christ a Prophet arose in Arabia, by the name of Muhammad." (Journal of Discourses 3:28)

The Báb

In 1844, a descendant of Muhammad living in Shiraz, Iran, named Siyyid Alí Muhammad Shirazí declared He was the promised Mahdi. He attracted many followers, but the Mullas (Orthodox clergymen) believed Him to be a heretic and a false mahdi. They ordered that He be put to death for heresy and treason. They told Him the time had come, and He asked to to wait until He had finished His last epistle. They ignored this request, and they took Him out and suspended Him from robes, and an Armenian Christian regiment of 750 rifles was called in to execute Him; because the Mullas did not wish The Báb to be executed by Muslims (and thus fulfill the prophecy of Muhammad that Muslims would kill the Mahdi). They fired, and when the smoke cleared (this was before smokeless rifles) The Báb had vanished. The 750 bullets had severed His ropes! The crowd that gathered started shouting "Miracle, a miracle!" but then the Mullas went among them with pieces of the severed ropes and said, "It is NO miracle! The bullets severed His ropes! This is no miracle!" He was found back in His cell, finishing His last epistle to His disciples. The Armenians considered it a miracle, and utterly refused to fire at The Báb again. A Muslim regiment had to be brought in. They fired, and He was killed. He remains were taken by The Bábis (who later became Bahá'ís) and eventually entombed in a sepulchre called "The Shrine of The Báb" on the northern slopes of Mount Carmel; in the city of Haifa, Israel.

The Shrine of The Báb at the Bahá'í World Centre (Haifa)

Bahá'u'lláh ("The Glory of God")

One of the main disciples of The Báb was Prince Husayn-Ali of Núr; a Persian nobleman Who was known as "The Father of the Poor" because of His great charity and concern for the poor and the outcast. The Báb gave all of His disciples a ring with a white stone it it (containing the Most Sacred Name), and He also gave His disciples a new name based upon the qualities of that disciple. He gave Husayn Ali the new name of Bahá'u'lláh; which means in Arabic "The Glory of God". The Báb wrote that One greater than Himself would come; as greater as was Jesus greater than John the Baptist. He told His disciples to wait for "He Whom God Would Make Manifest". In His last epistle, everytime The Báb wrote a "B" and an "H" He used red ink. Otherwise He used black ink. This was a sign, and a token.

After The Báb was martyred Bahá'u'lláh was also sentenced to be executed, but because He was royality the sentence was overturned, and He was sent to the Black Pit of Tehran; a dark and foul dungeon, for four months. Relatives in high places arranged for His release and banishment out of Iran. He went first to Baghdad, then to Adrianople, Turkey, and finally to the Turkish prison city of Akka, in Syria (now Israel).

While in Baghdad anti-Bahá'í Mullas (Muslim clergymen) directed anti-Bahá'í mobs to burn the house of Bahá'u'lláh. All of His clothes were in the house. He spent all of His money helping the poor. So, the Bahá'í women took the only cloth they had (red-dyed) and made Him a new wardrobe.

Also while in Iraq, Bahá'u'lláh spent two years in Kurdistan teaching the Dervishes (Muslim monks). In return, they gave Him a Dervish turban to wear. From then on, Bahá'u'lláh wore only His red robes and His Dervish turban.

Sara Ryan Bloomfield, and early British Bahá'í, wrote of an 8th century Muslim Seer in India:

"It is related that an account is given of an Indian Muslim, a holy man of the eighth century A.D., who, speaking of the 'Great Day of God' to come, uttered these words:

'In that day the Holy One will be found abiding in a land called Karkh. He will walk beside a river, wearing the dervish turban, and wrapped in a red robe. He will be teaching His followers on the banks of the river. Would that I might be priviledged to enter His Presence, and to shed my life-blood in His Path.'

"The red robe which Bahá'u'lláh wore when He was teaching His followers on the banks of the River Tigris was made of some pieces of Persian Tirmih. Karkh is the name of the district of Baghdad in which the Holy One [Bahá'u'lláh] dwelt." (The Chosen Highway, p.243)

In a revelation to Joseph the Seer we read:

"46 And it shall be said: "Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments; yea, from the regions which are not know, clothed in his glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?
47 And he shall say: I am he who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
48 And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth the wine vat, and so great shall be the glory of his presence, tha the sun shall hide his face in shame, and the moon shall withold its light; and the stars shall be hurled from their places."
(D&C 133:46-9, RLDS D&C 108:9)

Bahá'u'lláh wrote 100 books, and thousands of epistles from that apartment. In the year 1890 He began to allow visitors (other than His own family and certain chosen disciples) to come see Him. In April of 1890 the first foreigner came and saw His Face, and published this account in 1891. (for his account read The 1890-91 Prophecies of Joseph Smith)

The German Templers

In the mid 19th century a Protestant Seer in Germany named Christoph Hoffmann was given visions that the Son of Man would appear in the Holy Land on Mount Carmel; near the Cave of Elijah. Christoph gathered a following of Protestant monks he called "Templers" and headed for the Holy Land. In 1868 (the very year Bahá'u'lláh was exiled to Akka) the Templers landed in the Holy Land and built a small colony in what is now Haifa, Israel. Over the doors and windows of their houses they wrote in German "Der Herr ist nahe" ("The Lord is Near").

The red-roofed stone houses of the Templer Colony as they appeared in 1875. It was built in the 1870s on either side of what is now Ben Gurion Street, Haifa, Israel

In 1887 the first LDS missionaries of the Turkish Mission (Turkey then controlled the Holy Land) to Palestine converted a number of German Templars to the Church, and they formed the Haifa Branch of the Turkish Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These German and Armenian Latter-day Saints lived in the German Colony; at the base of Mount Carmel on either side of what is now "Ben Gurion" Street in Haifa.

The Shrine of The Báb overlooks Ben Gurion Street. All the houses with red roofs are German Colony homes that were built in the 1870s. By the 1890s many of these homes housed German and Armenian Latter-day Saints of the Haifa Branch.

In 1890 Bahá'u'lláh went to Mount Carmel and pitched His tent on that mountain, near the German Templar colony. In the year 1891, near the Cave of Elijah, He recited with a booming voice the Tablet of Carmel which says in part:

"Call out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: he that was hidden from mortal eyes is come!" (Bahá'u'lláh~The Word Made Flesh, p.64)

The Shrine of The Báb (built on the Sacred Spot where Bahá'u'lláh recited The Tablet of Carmel three times during 1890-91) at night overlooking Ben Gurion Street in Haifa

Joseph the Seer wanted to leave the Church in the hands of his brother Hyrum, and travel to the Holy Land, to Mount Carmel, and prophesied in the name of the Lord that "if" he be allowed to live he would "drink white wine" with Orson Hyde in the Holy Land (Diary of Joseph Smith, 20 Jan. 1843, LDS Church Archives). There he would await until he was 85 years old (1890-91) and "behold the Face" of "the Son of Man" (D&C section 130).

Both Joseph the Seer and his brother Hyrum were assassinated in Carthage, Illinois, in June of 1844.

Bahá'u'lláh hid His Face and true identify from all but Believers until the Muslim year 1308 A.H. (1890-91 A.D.). Then He came out from behind His white-veiled sanctuary, and proclaimed to all the World His true station. Bahá'u'lláh wrote in 1891:

"Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face and hear the voice, of the Promised One.
***
The Voice of the Son of Man is calling aloud from the sacred veil: 'Here am I, here am I, My God!' The Father hath come, and that which ye were promised in the Kingdom of God is fulfilled." (The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p.104,5)

Bahá'u'lláh....

*Claimed to be the Holy Ghost incarnate (The Spirit of Truth).

*Was made a red wardrobe of red Persian drapes after His wardrobe was burned in Baghdad in 1863.

*Was exiled to Turkey and then in 1868 to the prison-city of Akka, Israel when He wrote (as a prisoner-for-life of the Sultan of Turkey):

"Fear not. These doors shall be opened. My tent shall be pitched on Mount Carmel, and the utmost joy shall be realized." (Bahá'u'lláh and The New Era, p.34)

*Hid His true identify and Face, and lived in a room whose windows and door was covered by white veils, until the Muslim year 1308 A.D. (1890-91).

*Recited the Tablet of Carmel three times during 1890-91 on Mount Carmel; facing the German Templer Colony which included the Haifa Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (part of the Turkish Mission).

*Claimed to be the "Son of Man".

*Was living a mortal probation in 1843 when Joseph Smith said "the Holy Ghost is now in a state of probation".

*Was the heir to the Throne of David; a direct descendant of King David of Israel via the 7th century Jewish Exilarch in Iraq, Bostanai, who had married the Persian princess Da'ra.

All just mere coincidences?

The chances for Bahá'u'lláh to fulfill all these prophecies by mere chance is astronomical; billions to 1!

'Abdu'l-Baha

The eldest Son of Bahá'u'lláh was Abbas Effendi (Arabic: "Sir Lion"); Who took the title of 'Abdu'l-Baha ("ob-duhl-bah-hah"); which in Arabic means "The Servant of Glory". He was the secretary of His Father, and the Interpreter of the Faith. 'Abdu'l-Baha spent much of His time caring for the sick and dying of Akka; similar to what Mother Teresa did many decades later. He would clean and feed those sick and dying even their own families were afraid to touch or be near. When American and British Bahá'ís (most of them wealthy) came to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in Akka He personally served them, but He served their servants (who were often black) first. When they asked what they could do to serve God (expecting Him to ask for money~which they were more than willing to give Him), He told them to wash and feed the sick, diseased, and dying in Akka; because to serve them~the most lowly of people~ was to serve God.

'Abdu'l-Baha taught Bahá'ís to love and respect all people; no matter their religion, skin-color, caste, or stations in life. From the days of Brigham Young until the late 1960s Mormon leaders taught that black skin was a "sign" of a curse by God. At that time Mormon leaders taught "Negroes" were "inferior" to whites, and white Mormons were forbidden to marry blacks or to have close social contacts with them. Black Mormons were not then allowed the Priesthood (not before 1978), nor the higher ordinances of the Temple. For Mormons at that time, a black skin was a "sign" of God's curse. But 'Abdu'l-Baha did not believe this. He taught that black skin was the body protecting the skin from the harsh rays of the Sun. Today, science has confirmed this. Science has explained racial differences as adaptations of the human body to various conditions of heat, cold, ultraviolet light, etc. 'Abdu'l-Baha preached against the belief that blacks were inferior to whites, and He even encouraged interracial marriage. 'Abdu'l-Baha said:

"Praise be to God, the hearts of the friends [Bahá'ís] are united and linked together, whether they be from the east or the west, from north or from south, whether they be German, French, Japanese, American, and whether they pertain to the white, the black, the red, the yellow or the brown race. Variations of color, or land and of race are of no importance in the Bahá'í Faith; on the contrary, Bahá'í unity overcomes them all and doeth away with all these fancies and imaginations." (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'-Baha, pp.112-3)

'Abdu'l-Baha with European Bahá'ís

Sir Abdu'l-Baha Abbas

In 1920, after the British had conquered Palestine from the Turks, 'Abdu'l-Baha was knighted Sir Abbas Effendi by the British Crown; because of His care and work with the poor and dying in Akka and around northern Palestine.

Comes to Salt Lake City

In 1912 'Abdu'l-Baha traveled from Haifa to Europe and the United States. While in Paris and London He spoke to many famous scientists and humanitarians, and spoke before large gatherings of people. Wealthy Bahá'ís in England paid for a firstclass ticket for His trip to America, but He sold the ticket and gave the money to the poor; purchasing Himself more modest accomodations on a different ship. His firstclass ticket had been on a new luxury ship named Titanic.

'Abdu'l-Baha visited New York City and Chicago. In September of 1912 He traveled to Salt Lake City, and sat in on the National Irrigation Conference in the Tabernacle, and He visited Temple Square. He knocked on the front door (the East Entrance) of the Salt Lake Temple, but, needless to say, He wasn't let in. He knocked, but nobody answered.

The Latter-day Saints paid little attention to the funny old man in strange Eastern clothing. The Saints believed that long before Jesus returned they would take their hand-cards back to Jackson County and build the City of New Jerusalem. They believed that Jesus would appear in a cloudy sky with thousands of angels blowing trumbets, spitting out fire-balls upon the wicked.

One artists' interpretation of the popular Mormon belief concerning Jesus' return in the glory of His Father.

'Abdu'l-Baha attended the Utah State Fair for an afternoon. He stayed at the Kenyon Hotel. Later, He was asked how He liked Salt Lake City. He replied:

"This Salt Lake City is beautiful, but it is spiritually dead." (Interview of Sachiro Fujita, Bahá'í Online Library)

"I see it full of Bahá'ís." (Mahmud's Diary, chapter 6, Bahá'í Online Library)

At that time of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to Salt Lake City there was a Mormon woman named Xorol Richards. She had a dream that Jesus was coming to Salt Lake City, but only she would recognize Him. In her dream Jesus' youthful face turned into that of a kind old man. A photo of 'Abdu'l-Baha was printed in the Salt Lake Tribune on Sept. 29th, 1912. She saw it and immediately recognized the face as the one she had seen in her dream. She believed He was the Lord reincarnated (as did many early American and British Bahá'ís). She was the first Mormon to become a Bahá'í. She later wrote that she told of her prophetic dream to her cousin Legrand Richards (later an LDS apostle) who (according to Xorol) also believed, but purportedly told her, "The Latter-day Saints are not ready for this truth. They won't be ready for a long, long time!"

Many early American and British Bahá'ís believed that 'Abdu'l-Baha was the reincarnation of the soul of Jesus. They wrote of Him: Lou Getsinger (early American Bahá'í)

"Abbas is the heir and Master of the Kingdom; He was on earth 1900 years ago as the Nazarene." (Notes at Acca, p.24)

"He is the Son of God, the only Door, the Lord of Mankind." (Sacred Mysteries, p.74)

"He has come again in the Kingdom of His Father." (Before Abraham Was I Am, p.46)

"The Báb had announced that the Father had come, and that Father was Bahá'u'lláh. 'Abdu'l-Baha was Jesus Christ." (The Bahá'í Faith: Its History and Teachings, 1974, pp.193-194)

Christ-Spirit. The Christ-Spirit had overshadowed The Báb for 7 lunar years and later Bahá'u'lláh for 40 lunar years. Who was He then? Bahá'u'lláh wrote of Him:

"A WORD which God hath adorned with the ornament of His own self, and made It Sovereign over all that is therein." (World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p.135)

'Abdu'l-Baha as a young man

'Abdu'l-Baha in later years

Joseph the Seer wrote:

1. WHEN the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves. (D&C 130:1)

Mormons interpret D&C 130:1 differently. They believe when the Savior appears He will appear flying in the sky in front of thousands of angels blowing trumpets. He will be a "man like ourselves" only in that He will be male. In all other respects, He will not be like ourselves at all.

Latter-day Saints believe that when Jesus returns He will "come down from Heaven" which they believe to mean He will descend from the sky!

This is why the Jews rejected Jesus when He came the first time. They expected the Messiah to descend from Heaven. Jesus said He did descend from Heaven:

"I came down from Heaven." (John 6:38)

41 the Jews then murmured at him because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven, 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it that he saith, I came down from heaven? (John 6:41-42)

"For when Christ appeared, He came from heaven, although He was outwardly born from teh womb of Mary. For He said: "No man hath ascended into heaven, but he that came down from heaven'. He aid: "I cam down from heaven and likewise I will go up to heaven.' By 'heaven' is not meant this infinite phenomenal space, but 'heaven' signifies the world of the divine kingdom which is the supreme station and seat of the Sun of Truth." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.192)

Jesus came down from Heaven through the womb in His first advent. He would come down from Heaven through the womb for His second advent as well.

Wilford Woodruff, the very last President of the Church to receive a "Thus Saith the Lord" revelation, was standing behind the pulpit in the Mormon Tabernacle in General Conference on April 6th, 1889, and uttered the very last prophecy of any LDS President or Apostle. He told those sitting in the Tabernacle that many of them would "stand in the flesh when the Lord Jesus visits the Zion of God here in the mountains of Israel." (Conference Report, April 1898, p.57)

The "Zion of God" referred specifically to the Salt Lake Temple. For "Zion" means in Hebrew "holy monument in stone".

The very last vision that any President of the Church received was that of Joseph F. Smith, who had a vision in 1916, and is recorded as D&C section 139 in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Why has no President or Apostle of the Church made one prophecy, had one supernatural vision, or received even one "Thus saith the LORD" revelation since that time?

The answer is simple.

Xorol Richards recognized 'Abdu'l-Baha when He came to Salt Lake City, and to the Zion of God (the Salt Lake Temple). For years she tried to approach Church leaders and tell them. Finally, she was given an interview with one of the Counselors to President Joseph F. Smith. She told them what she knew to be the truth. They rejected it. Without inquiring of the LORD, they rejected it out-of-hand. Jesus would descend from the sky, with thousands of angels in tow (they thought). After the Great Rejection, all supernatural communication between the LORD and the "Living Prophets" of the Church ceased forever.

But still today the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are sustained as "Prophets/Seers/Revelators". Does that mean they prophesy/see visions/receive revelations? No! The titles of "Prophet/Seer/Revelator" have been reinterpreted to mean this:

"Prophet"=not one who prophesies as Joseph Smith did, but one who speaks with divine authority.

"Seer"=not one who has sees supernatural "visions" as Joseph Smith did, but one who, like the president of university, has a "vision" of where he wants to lead his institution in the future.

"Revelator"=not one who revelates by receiving "Thus saith the LORD" Revelations as Joseph Smith did, but one who "revelates" or "reveals" to the Members what he thinks the LORD wants them to do.

The LORD came down from Heaven, in the glory of His Father, suddenly, to His Holy Temple (Zion of God), but He was rejected of men, and these men were the leaders of His Church.

Just as His own people (the Jews) and priesthood-leaders (the High Priests) rejected Him the first time, so His own people (the Church) and priesthood-leaders (The Brethren) would reject Him the second time.

History truly repeats itself.

Bahá'ís do NOT believe that 'Abdu'l-Baha is "Christ". The Christ-Spirit overshadowed The Báb for 7 lunar years and Bahá'u'lláh for 40 lunar years. 'Abdu'l-Baha was not a Manifestation of God, but rather the 7th and last incarnation of the WORD of God. He was the Perfect and Sinless Exemplar, and Bahá'ís keep a photo of Him in their homes and places of worship.

Shoghi Effendi

In 1920 'Abdu'l-Baha died, but before He died He appointed His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, to be His successor, and the Guardian of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi was the great-grandson of both Bahá'u'lláh and The Báb. As the Guardian of the Faith from 1921 to 1957 he wrote thousands of epistles guiding the Bahá'ís on just about every issue and question, and these "Lights of Guidance" still guide the Bahá'ís today. The Guardian had no children, but he appointed Charles Mason Remey to be the President of the International Bahá'í Council (IBC). He wanted Remey to Head the Faith after his passing.

Though not considered even a lesser prophet by Bahá'ís, Shoghi Effendi was "under the shadow" of Bahá'u'lláh, the Spirit of Truth. He accurately predicted the Second World War, race riots in America, and the Internet (among other things); long before these things were realities. His thousands of letters to the Bahá'ís during his years as Guardian still guide them today.

Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957)

The Universal House of Justice

Shoghi Effendi died in 1957. After his death the Hands of the Cause (Baha'i apostles) ruled the Faith until 1963; when the first Universal House of Justice was elected.

The Members of the "House" (as it is called) are not "prophets". They are ordinary men who are elected every 5 years by delegates from the National Spiritual Assemblies all over the world. They are "under the shadow" of Bahá'u'lláh; meaning they are guided by the Holy Spirit. One needs not be a "prophet" to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The "House" refers not to a building, but to the coucil of 9 Members. Baha'u'llah referred to them as the Rijal (Arabic: Distinguished Gentlemen).

The Universal House of Justice (1963 photo)

The Purpose of the Bahá'í Faith

The purpose of the Bahá'í Faith is fivefold:

1) To establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth; known as the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh.

2) To save Humanity from the Final Doom (self-extinction).

3) To teach Humanity all things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven and Eternal Life.

4) To establish World Peace, Justice, and Equality for all internationally via a Universal Brotherhood.

5) To prepare the souls of mankind for the Afterlife journey through the Worlds of God.

The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh is to last for 1000 solar years (i.e. from 1863A.D. until 2863A.D.). Then a new Manifestation of God will come.

Many Mormons today (especially in North America) find themselves in comfort, peace, security, justice, and prosperity. But many of God's children on this world live in misery, war, conflict, insecurity, injustice, and poverty. The designs of men are upon their own riches, and their own glory; and the masses of people suffer!

The purpose of the Bahá'í Faith is to bring about a universal brotherhood in which differences of class, race, the extremes of poverty of wealth, social and economic injustices, will eventually disappear and the Earth will be changed into a virtual Garden of Eden.

Bahá'ís are not content with practicing religion merely to "bless" their own selves or merely their own families, but they believe that "true religion" should be about blessing the entire human race!

Joseph the Seer said:

"Love is one of the leading characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the world, anxious to bless the whole human family." (The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p.481)

Bahá'u'lláh wrote:

"Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self." (Gleanings, XLIII)

Joseph the Seer said:

"The designs of God, on the other hand, has been to promote the universal good of the universal world; to establish peace and good will among men; to promote the principles of eternal truth; to bring about a state of things that shall unite man to his fellow man; to cause the world to 'beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into prunning hooks, to make the nations of the earth dwell in peace, and to bring about the millennial glory, when the earth shall yield its increase, resume its paradisean glory, and became as the garden of the Lord." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.248)

"The mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of peace. It aims to prepare the peoples of the world for the second coming of Christ, and for the inauguration of that blessed day when the millennium shall come and Christ shall reign as King of kings, standing at the head of the universal brotherhood." (The Improvement Era 23:473)

"To be a Bahá'í simply means to love all the world; to love all humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood. ('Abdu'l-Baha in Longdon, p.122)

"By this means the nations and peoples now divergent in religion will be brought into unity, imitations will be forsaken and a universal brotherhood in the reality itself will be established." (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.142)

Basic Bahá'í Beliefs

Manifestations of God

GOD (as pure MIND) is unknowable and unreachable. But He manifests Himself via certain Perfect Men known as "Manifestations of God". In the Adamic Cycle of Revelation (i.e. since Adam) the Manifestations of God include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, Muhammad, The Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh not to count many Others.

The Manifestations of God have different stations. Jesus was the Manifestation of the Son. Bahá'u'lláh was the Manifestation of the Father.

Bahá'u'lláh is the Manifestation of GOD in the station of the Father. Thus, He is "God the Father", or our Heavenly Father in the flesh.

Other Manifestations of God will appear; the next is due after 2863 A.D.

Pre-Existence of the Spirit

The Bahá'í Faith teaches that mortal life is a "test", and that we shall journey back to the Presence of God. 'Abdu'l-Baha taught that our spirits once existed in the Pre-Existence:

"The spirit is independent of the body, and in relation to it the spirit is an essential pre-existence." (Some Answered Questions, p.322)

"When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam--from their loins--their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves (saying): 'Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?' They said: "Yea! we do testify!" Lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "of this we were never mindful". (Qur'an 7:172)

'Abdu'l-Baha taught that our spirits (not to be confused with our souls) are pre-existent.

Eternal Marriage

'Abdu'l-Baha also taught the doctrine of Eternal Marriage; that Bahá'ís who are faithful and who reach a certain spiritual station are united in this world and in all the Worlds of God:

"In a true Bahá'í marriage the two parties must become fully united both spiritually and physically, so that they may attain eternal union throughout all the worlds of God, and improve the spiritual life of each other." (Bahá'í World Faith, p.372)

"Their purpose must be this: to become loving companions and comrades and at one with each other for time and eternity...." (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.86)

Marriage Can Be Forever is a popular Bahá'í publication

Exaltation

Bahá'ís believe that there is one God (ALLÁH), Who has many Names and Attributes. Below God there exists the "Concourse on High" which includes the Manifestations of God, the Prophets, the Seers , and the "Saints" (holy ones).

Mormons believe that faithful LDS men and women may become "gods" and "goddesses" if they "keep the commandments", attend all their meetings, are morally clean, and follow Church leaders.

For Mormons, to be "exalted" means to achieve "Eternal Life"; which does not mean "living forever" but "God life"; the kind of life God has. It means to become a "god" or a "goddess"; to be married forever and have children eternally; to create worlds and govern those worlds.

Bahá'ís believe that they may become "Immortals"; members of the Concourse on High. Bahá'ís believe that faithful Bahá'í couples are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (Bahá'u'lláh) and are married throughout all the Worlds of God. As "Immortals" they will have the same kind of life as did Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; as is described in the Qur'an (the Holy Book of Islám).

The Báb wrote in His Book of Five Modes:

"In the Name of God, Very God!
God attained Godhood.
Say, God is Very God above all that is made god--
He is High God, God Divine.
You are exalted, O God.
You bestow divinity [Godhood] on whom You choose,
and withdraw it from whom You choose.
You are God of Divinities.
Say, You, God, You are Very God of Very Gods." (Kitab-i-Panj Sha'n, v.1)

"Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereighty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty. The movement of My Pen is stilled when it attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so exalted a station." (Gleanings, p.155)

The Bahá'í belief about Exaltation is essentially the same as is believed by the Súfís (Muslim mystics). The Súfís ("soo-feez") believe that the spirit is part of One Spirit; that our spirits are "parts" of God which are separate from the One (like photons are "part" of the Sun but separate from the Sun). Súfís believe that if one "extinguishes" one's Ego (Self) then, at death, nothing is left but the spirit; which is divine. They see the Ego as "Satan" and the spirit as "Divine. Thus, if the ego is extinguished completely, then all that is left of the individual is the spirit; which is God. The great Súfí philosopher Janayd of Baghdad (d. 910 A.D.) wrote:

"Whatever attains to True Being is absorbed into God and becomes God." (The Súfí Mystery, 1980, p.175)

Our spirits are separated from God because of "self" (ego). Once the ego/self is "extinguished" then there is nothing that separates our spirit (photon) from God (the Sun) anymore, and the two again become ONE.

Súfís call the extinction of the ego "Fa'na" ("to blow out"). Fa'na is the Arabic equivalent for the Sanskrit word Nirvana. Joseph the Seer once said that the true Name of God is Ahman, and that the Sons Ahman "are the greatest parts of God" and that angels are "the next greater parts of God" (Journal of Discourses 2:342).

This means that we are spirits clothed with mortal bodies, and all spirits are "parts" of One MIND that is called ALLÁH in the Qur'án.

In the Qur'án, the Holy Book of Islam, the greatest Name of God is ar-RAHMAN (the Compassionate, the Merciful). Every Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an begins:

"In the Name of God, ar-RAHMAN."

The Bahá'í Faith does not teach in reincarnation; that we live many lives on earth. However, with that said, the Faith does teach that we all journey "through the Worlds of God. What are these "Worlds"?

A Bahá'í woman named Sarah Bloomfield once asked 'Abdu'l-Baha if she could return to earth to "help" others (she was a founder of Feed the Children and did not wish to spend eternity in Heaven thinking of starving children on earth). 'Abdu'l-Baha replied:

"Why should you wish to return here? In My Father's House are many manions--many worlds! Why should you desire to come back to this particular planet.?" (The Chosen Highway 3:3)

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

Of course, the Christ-Spirit is not bound by such laws, and It can return to this world as many times as It wishes. This does not apply to the WORD of God, which is the Lamb of God with 7 Eyes; meaning the WORD of God would incarnate 7 times.

The "Sleeping Prophet" Egdar Cayse wrote that the Divine WORD incarnated as Adam, Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph (viceroy of Egypt), and Jesus, and would incarnate twice more.

The cousin-in-law of Muhammad was Alí ibn Talib. He was the first Imám of Shia Islám (there were 12 Imáms in all who were the Guardians of the Muhammadan Revelation). Alí claimed that He was the incarnation of the Kalimat'u'llah ("Word of God"). He said about Jesus:

"I am He, and He is Me." (Kitab-i-Kashf, p.8)

In Revelation 5:6 it speaks of the Lamb of God with 7 horns and 7 eyes; meaning that the Word would incarnate on earth in 7 incarnations. These are not Manifestations, but incarnations of the Word; symbolized by the Menorah.

Christians believe that sin entered the world because of Adam, and Jesus came to pay the price for sin; to pay the debt of Adam (one paying the debt of another). Edgar Cayse taught that Adam was Jesus in a previous incarnation; paying for His own transgresson. Paul calls Jesus "the second Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Mormons believe that Adam and Jesus cannot possibly be the same being; since Adam is Michael the Archangel and Jesus is the Son of God; indeed the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Baha'is believe that the 7 Archangels are the 7 souls (incarnations) of the Lamb of God.

The Holy Ghost told Joseph the Seer:

24 This is eternal lives--to know the only ture God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent." (D&C 132:24)

One of Joseph Smith's plural wives, Eliza Snow, said that Joseph Smith taught her that "eternal lives" meant many lifetimes on other planets (Diary of Orson F. Whitney, June 8, 1889). William Clayton, Joseph Smith's secretary, apparently believed that resurrection was accomplished "by literal rebirth thourgh a woman". (Sunstone, Dec. 1991, p.35). Clayton was Joseph Smith's confidant and was told things that most Mormons were never told.

Mormons today do not believe in reincarnation; not on this world, and not on other worlds. But Brigham Young taught that faithful Mormons will become Adams and Eves on other worlds; which means they will live more mortal probations than this one alone (if they are Exalted). Again, Mormons today no longer believe this, because The Brethren no longer teach this.

The Brethren teach today that faithful Latter-day Saints will be exalted; meaning they will become "gods" and "goddesses" that create and rule their own rules. Church President Spencer W. Kimball taught that this process would take "eons" of time, but most Mormons today believe they will be exalted as soon as they are resurrected, or perhaps they will be raised, appear before Christ to be judged, then exalted. Brigham Young did not teach this. He taught that the faithful would die and go to Paradise, and be given a "choice" of remaining in Paradise or having mortal childen (by eating the forbidden fruit). If they ate the fruit they would "fall" from Paradise to a earthly planet where they would live another mortal probation, have children, and die and be buried, and this process would repeat itself. Mormons today no longer believe this. They believe that if they are "worthy" (i.e. righteous) and do everything The Brethren (Church leaders) tell them then they will die, go to Paradise, and then be resurrected, judged, and then become "gods" and "goddesses" creating and rulings worlds.

What Latter-day Saints believe today is often very different from what Joseph Smith and Brigham Young taught. Why is this? It is because Church leaders have changed doctrines over time. This process is continuing today. The rank-and-file Mormon is not told any of this. They are simply told "Trust the Brethren and obey them, this is the only course of safety!"

And faithful Mormons do just that. They believe that by following The Brethren they are following the Father and Jesus; because The Brethren are Their official representatives on Earth.

The LORD promised the faithful who had "the Holy Spirit as their Guide" that they would receive "crowns of eternal lives in the eternal worlds." (D&C 132:55).

Mormons believe that they are using the Holy Spirit as their Guide if they follow "The Brethren" (Church leaders). Since The Brethren are led by the Holy Spirit, they reason, then to follow them is to follow the Holy Spirit.

Bahá'ís believe that the Holy Spirit is Bahá'u'lláh. He is our Guide; not a group of fallible men. Bahá'u'lláh was not a fallible man, but an infallible God-Man.

Bahá'ís do not believe in "reincarnation" because the term means "to live many lives on this planet". We have only one life on this planet! We cannot return to this planet any more than we can return to our mother's wombs. Other lives on other planets is called the "Journey through the Worlds of God".

The Lamb of God did not "reincarnate"; rather, the Lamb of God (with 7 eyes) is one Spirit with 7 souls. We have only 1 spirit and 1 soul.

Therefore, if you ask a Bahá'í "Do you believe in reincarnation?" they will say, "No, we don't!" This is true, because reincarnation is the wrong term and means many lives on this planet. But we don't have many lives on this planet! We have only one life on this planet! But, as 'Abdu'l-Baha said, "In My Father's House are many mansions--many worlds". Bahá'ís use the term The Journey Through the Worlds of God or the Arc of Ascent.

9 Basic Duties

The 9 sacred duties of Bahá'ís are:

1) Worshipping only the One God.

2) Reciting the Daily Obligatory Prayer.

3) Fasting for 19-days per year (during the daylight hours of the Bahá'í month of Ala).

4) Teaching others the Faith.

5) Tithing one's income (about 2%).

6) Obeying the Living Guardian

7) Observing the 9 Holy Days.

8) Keeping the Holy Laws.

9) Pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines at least once during one's lifetime (if health and finances permit).

Forbidden Practices

Bahá'ís are forbidden to drink alcohol, to use illicit drugs, or to practice polygamy, liwat (homosexual acts), adultery, or fornication. Abortion is absolutely forbidden unless to save the physical life of the mother. Birth-control measures which do not abort a conceptus are permitted. Bahá'ís are forbidden to gossip (backbite); which is considered akin to murder. Bahá'ís are forbidden to take part in partisan politics, political aggitation, protests, or violence outside of immediate self-defense. Smoking and divorce are allowed, but greatly discouraged. Eating meat is allowed, or vegitarianism is highly recommended. Bahá'ís who divorce must wait one full year before they can date or marry again; in the hopes the couple will reconcile if possible.

It is not enough for a Bahá'í just to say "I believe" and then "pick-and-choose" which Laws to keep and which to ignore. The twin duties of all Bahá'ís are:

1) To recognize and accept Bahá'u'lláh as the Messenger of God.

2) To obey His laws and ordinances.

To do one without the other is to be a Hypocrite and not a Bahá'í.

Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Faith, wrote:

"To follow Bahá'u'lláh does not mean accepting some of His teaching and rejecting the rest. Allegiance to His Cause must be uncompromising and whole-hearted." (Directives of the Guardian, p.65)

The Bahá'í calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days each; with 4 (5 during leap years) Intercalendar days in which is celebrated. Bahá'ís also have 9 Holy Days. Every 19 days Bahá'ís meet for Feast; an evening when a local Bahá'í Community (like a Ward) meets for common prayer, consultation, the reading of Scriptures, and a communal feast. Most Bahá'í Communities also have Sunday schools and social activities.

Temple Rituals

Bahá'ís do not have secret Temple rituals as does the Church. However, the Bahá'ís do have Pilgrimage rituals where they visit a Holy Shrine and perform certain ritual acts such as ablutions (washing the face, hands, and feet) and proscribed prayers. These are not secret, but only Bahá'ís on Pilgrimage are allowed to perform them at the Holy Shrines.

Mormons believe that the Temple Endowment Ceremony reveals to them the "signs and tokens" that allow them, after death, to by-pass the angel-sentinels and enter the Celestial Kingdom, and if they can reach the Celestial Kingdom they will be crowned with "glory" and be Exalted. The "signs and tokens" are so sacred that they are not revealed or discussed outside of LDS Temples.

There are startling parallels between the symbols in the Temple Endowment ritual and Bábí and Bahá'í symbols! Many believe this is no mere coincidence, but that the Temple Endowment "testifies" of the ministries of The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. The Reader can judge for his or herself by reading:

Why would the Temple Endowment "testify" of The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh? Again, Orthodox Bahá'ís believe that Joseph Smith was a true SEER. Bahá'u'lláh identified His Cause as "the Celestial Kingdom" on earth. Perhaps Joseph Smith was given those "signs and tokens" so that the pure-in-heart among endowed Latter-day Saints would be given "symbolic clues" of the Celestial Kingdom on Earth.

Mormons believe that the Celestial Kingdom is the Kingdom of the Father, the Kingdom of the highest glory, "even, the glory of God" (D&C 76:70).

Bahá'u'lláh claimed to be the Manifestation of God the Father on earth. Yeh'o'shuah (Jesus) was the Manifestation of God the Son on earth. Bahá'u'lláh means "The Glory of God" in Arabic.

Mormon and Bahá'í Differences

While there are many similarities between Mormon and Bahá'í beliefs, there are also a few striking differences. For example:

God an Exalted Man

Joseph Smith taught in his Lectures on Faith that God was a "personage of Spirit" (p.53) Who was omnipresent (existed everywhere) (p.12).

The Lectures on Faith was once part of the Book of Doctrine & Covenant. In fact, the Lectures were the "Doctrine" in "Doctrine & Covenants". However, by 1921, the LDS Church leaders were teaching that God was an "Exalted Man"; so they removed the Lectures from the Book of Doctrine & Covenants.

Joseph Smith also taught that Jehovah was the Father of Jesus (Documentary History of the Church 5:94,127). John Taylor, an apostle of Joseph Smith and 3rd President of the Church, wrote this hymn:

"As in the heavens They all agree. The record is given there by Three.
Jehovah, God the Father, is One.
Another is His Eternal Son.
The Spirit does with Them agree.
The Witnesses in heaven are Three.
(Sacred Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1891, p.295)

In the 26 volumes of The Journal of Discourses, the record of Mormon presidents and apostles given in General Conferences, there are 256 references to "Jehovah" and all but 1 refers to God the Father (The Development of the Mormon Jehovah Doctrine, Sunstone 9:2).

Joseph Smith used "Elohim" and "Jehovah" interchangeably to mean the Father of Jesus.

Today, the LDS Church teaches that Jehovah and Jesus are the same Being; that Elohim is "God the Father" and that Jehovah is "God the Son" (Jesus).

This is not the only thing that Church leaders have changed over time.

Bahá'ís believe that God (ALLÁH) is not an Exalted Man, but rather an Unknowable Spirit that fills the immensity of space. The "Father" on the other hand is not ALLÁH, but rather Jehovah (just as Joseph Smith taught); Who is One of the Names & Attributes of God. The Qur'an (Holy Book of Islam) lists 95 Names of ALLÁH. These Names are also Attributes. "Jehovah" means "The Self-Sufficient"; One of the Name/Attributes of ALLÁH in the Qur'an.

The Jews never said "Jehovah". The Name was considered too sacred to pronounce. So, they called God by either "Adonai" ("my lord") or "El" ("mighty"). Jesus said:

"The Spirit of the Lord [ADONAI] is upon me [Jesus], because he [Adonai] hath anointed me [Jesus] to preach the gospel to the poor; he [ADONAI] hath sent me [Jesus] to heal the broken-hearted." (Luke 4:18)

"Eli Eli, lema sabachthani? (Aramaic) My El, My El, why has thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46)

"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"

This explains why some verses in the Doctrine and Covenants say that Jesus was the Son of Jehovah (D&C 109:4,10,14,22,24,29,34,42,56,68). Yet another section (D&C 110) has the "voice of Jehovah" saying He was Jesus! This too is true. Jesus is the Angel/Voice of Jehovah.

There is no contradiction once you understand that Jehovah was not Jesus, but He was in Jesus, as the Son declared:

"The Father is in me, and I am in the Father." (John 14:10)

"And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him." (D&C 93:17)

Bahá'ís believe that Jesus was saying this:

"The Father, Who is the Christ-Spirit, entered my body when John the Baptist baptized Me. He dwells in Me, and I in Him; because we are ONE."

"O Jews! If ye be intent upon crucifying Jesus, the Spirit of God, then put Me to death, for He hath once more, in My Person, been made manifest unto you." (Gleanings, p.101)

"The Kingdom of God circleth around Him and it is because of His love that I adorned the Cross with my body. Verily, I arise from the dead to complete my mention of His name amongst men. O People of the Gospel! Do not mention my name when you have turned away from my Father, the All-Glorious!" (Revealed on the Day of Ridwan)

"Look, if you reject my Father Who has come as Bahá'u'lláh, don't even have my name on your lips! It was for His love that I was crucified."

"According to the days of thy coming out of Egypt will I shew him marvelous things." (Micah 7:15)

Mormons believe that Jesus is the Christ. This is true. Bahá'ís also believe. But Mormons believe that Christ is only Jesus; meaning that the Christ-Spirit and Jesus' spirit/soul is the same thing.

On ther other hand, Bahá'ís believe that the Christ-Spirit is the Father; just as The Book of Mormon teaches. The Christ-Spirit took possession of Jesus' body at His baptism; when John the Baptist saw a dove landing upon Him as He came out of the waters of the Jordan.

Bahá'ís believe that the Christ-Spirit is the Father of the Heavens and the Earth (i.e. Creator of the Cosmos). Jesus was the sinless vessal that "held" the Christ-Spirit from His baptism until just before His death on the Cross. The Christ-Spirit left Jesus, and this is why Jesus exclaimed:

"My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken [abandoned] me?" (Matthew 27:46)

This is what The Book of Mormon teaches in the Book of Mosiah, chapter 15!

2. And because he dwelleth in the flesh he shall be called the Son of God, having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son--
3. The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and the Son--
4. And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.
5. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God,.... (Mosiah 15:2-5)

They do not!

Verse 5 of Mosiah chapter 15 says that the "flesh" (Jesus) became subject to the Spirit (Father) and they were One God. Mormons do not believe that. They believe that God the Father is not a Spirit but an Exalted resurrected Man. They believe that Christ is not a Spirit, but Christ is Jesus and Jesus alone.

The Book of Mormon also says:

9. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son.
(Mormon 9:12)

14. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. (Ether 3:14)

Mormons don't believe this today! They are taught that the Father did not dwell in Jesus, but merely gave Jesus His "authority" to act in His name (i.e. "divine investiture of authority"). But the Book of Doctrine & Covenants says of Jesus:

17. And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him. (D&C 93:17)

The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that Christ is the Father, the Creator of the the Cosmos:

Another title for the Christ-Spirit is The Spirit of Truth.

The Christ-Spirit that dwelt in Jesus was not the soul/spirit of Jesus, but another Spirit Who entered Him at His baptism and possessed His body just as the spirit of Elijah possessed John.

Bahá'u'lláh is not the reincarnation of Jesus, but was possessed by the Christ-Spirit for forty lunar years; from 1853 until His death in 1892. A lunar year is equactly 12 full-moons, or 355 days long.

Most Latter-day Saints, like most Christians in general, believe that Jesus will return in the clouds of the sky, spitting fire-balls out on the wicked, with armies of angels blowing trumpets.

This is what the Jews believed how the Messiah would come. When He came as a mortal man, who hungered, thirsted, got tired, sat on the ground instead of a throne, worked for a living, had no armies, they crucified their Lord between two thieves!

Why? Simple. Jesus came as a man like themselves; not a heavenly conquerer with angelic armies in tow! He hadn't come as they expected Him to! He just couldn't be the Messiah!

Bahá'ís believed that Bahá'u'lláh was possessed by the Christ-Spirit (The Father of all things) for forty lunar years in the same way that John the Baptist was "possessed" by the spirit of Elijah. In the New English Bible, it says that John the Baptists was "possessed by the spirit and power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17).

Bahá'ís believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the "Father" and the "Spirit of Truth"; because this is Whom He claimed to be.

Mormons today think that the "Father" and the "Spirit of Truth" are two separate Beings (God the Father and Holy Ghost). But the LORD said to Joseph the Seer:

"Ye were in the beginning with the Father, that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of Truth." (D&C 93:23)

For Mormons "God" and "The Father" are the same Being; hence God the Father has a body of flesh and bones, and is an Exalted Man.

For Bahá'ís "God" and "The Father" are not the same Being. God is ALLÁH: Who is pure Spirit. Bahá'ís believe this:

Joseph the Seer taught:

2a There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things--
2b They are the Father and the Son: the Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power, possessing all perfection and fulness.
2d The Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made or fashioned like unto men....
2j And He being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the Father--possessing the same mind with the Father;
2k which Mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son. (Lectures on Faith Section 5)

73 They surely disbelieve who say: "Lo! ALLÁH is third of three"; when (in fact) there is no God except the ONE GOD" (5:73)

28 Now Zeezrom said: "Is there more than one God?"
29 And he [Amulek] answered, "No". (Alma 11:28-29)

Bahá'ís believe what The Book of Mormon teaches on this suject; there is ONE GOD and ONE alone. The One God is Pure MIND. The "gods" refer not to partners or associates of God, or other entities besides the One God, but to all who become the ONE MIND.

Remember, we are spirits in mortal bodies. Our egos separate our spirits from the ONE SPIRIT of which our spirits are separated "parts" like photons (sub-atomic light particles) are cast-off "parts" of the Sun.

Today, Mormons do not believe what Joseph Smith taught about the Godhead in the Lectures on Faith; which was part of LDS Scripture (the D&C) until 1921, when Church leaders removed it. Today, Mormons are taught this:

Mormons used to be taught that the Holy Ghost will "someday come down and get a body" and perform some mission, but that teaching is rarely heard today.

What Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon taught about God is not believed today by Latter-day Saints. Why? Because The Brethren believe they know better! They've changed Church doctrines over time.

Christ (Spirit) and Jesus (flesh) became "one" in "Jesus Christ". This is what The Book of Mormon clearly teaches.

The Father is Bahá'u'lláh; Who does indeed have a body of flesh and bones, and is indeed an Exalted Man. Bahá'u'lláh is not "GOD" but rather a Manifestation of God; which means an incarnation of a Name/Attribute of God.

Mormons believe that God the Father has a Father, and God's Father has a Father, and His Father had a Father, and so-on into infinity.

Bahá'ís don't believe that. They believe that GOD is ALLÁH, and that ALLÁH does not beget nor is He begotten. He has always existed as GOD. His Names/Attributes have likewise always existed.

Negroes are Cursed Descendants of Cain

Joseph Smith was a great advocate for the rights of blacks. He called for the ending of slavery, and a "national equalization" of blacks with whites. Some feel this was one reason why he was assassinated in June, 1844. He was not a racist, but was quite advanced for his time. He had at least two black men ordained Elders: Elijah Abel and Walker Lewis. He had Elijah Abel ordained a Seventy (just under Apostle), and black Mormons in his day could receive any office or any Temple Ordinance any other Mormon could.

However, later LDS Church presidents and apostles did not share his views.

From 1852 until 1978 the LDS Church taught as official doctrine that Negroes (black Africans) were the "accursed" descendant of Cain. The Church taught that when Cain killed Abel, the Lord put a "mark" upon him; which was "a black skin, a flat nose, and kinky hair"(Brigham Young--Journal of Discourses 7:290). Cain married his sister, and their children became Negroes; the beginning of the Negro race.

The Church also taught that some spirits were "less valiant" in the pre-existant War in Heaven. As punishment, God sent them to the lineage (bloodline) of Cain (i.e. as Negroes).

Every LDS Church President from Brigham Young (1850s) to Spencer W. Kimball (1970s) taught this as "official doctrine". This is why black Mormons could not become priesthood-holders or enter Mormon Temple to get married or take out their Endowments before June, 1978.

In June 1978, LDS President Spencer W. Kimball "lifted" the priesthood-ban and temple-ban and allowed black men the priesthood and all blacks the temple rites of Endowment and Sealings. Why? Because he had discovered that 85% of all white Brasilian Mormons had at least one Negro ancestor. Kimball had a choice: either end the Priesthood-ban or defrok 85% of white Mormon Brazilian priesthood-holders. He chose the former. But President Kimball did not repudiate the Curse of Cain doctrine.

Today, the LDS Church Public Affairs office tells non-mormons who inquire:

"We don't know why black people were banned the priesthood and temple ordinances before 1978! The Lord never told us!"

Why is the Church now denying it ever taught that Negroes were the "cursed" descendant of Cain? If you've read George Orwell's book 1984 then you already know the reason. In the book, the Party, in order to retain power, changes its history. Whatever the Party "says" is "truth" is "truth". Whoever controls the present controls the past (i.e. rewrites the history books), and whoever controls the past, controls the future. Orwell wrote:

"The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth." (1984, chap.7)

When Mormons inquire about the Curse of Cain legacy, they are told "See your bishop!" and their bishops tell them something like this:

"Don't worry about it! Just pay your tithing, attend your meetings, follow The Brethren, and you'll be blessed."

"DON'T QUESTION THE BRETHREN!!!"

All Presidents of the Church from Brigham Young until Spencer W. Kimball taught, as official Church doctrine, that Negroes were the "cursed" descendants of Cain, and this is why they were excluded from the Priesthood and from the higher ordinances of Mormon Temples until June, 1978. Today, the Church denies it ever taught these things. When asked why blacks were denied the Priesthood and Temple-ordinances before 1978, the reply is always: "Golly, we don't know!"

Most Latter-day Saints born near or after 1978 are unaware of the Curse of Cain doctrine, and are only vaguely aware that blacks were nor ordained before 1978. Many will honestly "think" the Church never taught such things.

"The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." (1984, chap.7)

Most Bible scholars will tell you that the "Cainites" are not Negroes, but rather the Kenites; a group of Semitic (Arab) wandering blacksmiths in Syria and Saudi Arabia. They still exist today, and have a "mark" on their foreheads which is a warning that if anyone kills a Kenite, his death would be avenged seven-fold. The Kenites today are called the "Sleb".

7 Sleb (Kenite) men with 1 Sleb woman (c.1930)

Black Africans (Negroes) are not Cainites. The Kenites (Cainites) are a tribe of wandering Semitic blacksmiths who had a "mark of protection" on their foreheads. Moses' father-in-law (Jethro) was a Kenite! According to the Doctine & Covenants (section 84) Moses got his priesthood from Jethro (D&C 84:6)!

The "Mark of Cain" was not a black skin and negroid features as Mormon leaders taught for 150 years (and now deny ever teaching), but rather a tribal protection mark (a cross) on the forehead which can still be seen today on the foreheads of the Sleb. The Mark is a warning: "Kill a Sleb and 7 more will avenge his death!"

The Conception of Jesus

Joseph Smith taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin, and that the "Father" was a Personage of Spirit; while the Son was a Personage of tabernacle(Lectures on Faith p.53).

The Lectures on Faith were once part of the Doctrine & Covenants, and considered divinely inspired Scripture, but they were removed from the D&C in 1921.

The only Mormons schooled in theology today are Seminary teachers (who teach LDS religion classes to Mormon high school children) and Institute of Religion instructors (who teach LDS religion classes to Mormon college students). If you ask them about the Lectures on Faith, why it was removed, they will tell you something like this:

"Well, Joseph Smith was uneducated and didn't understand theology as well as we do today. The Lectures on Faith were not Revelation; only lectures."

The Book of Mormon teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin before and after the conception of Jesus (1 Nephi 11:20).

However, for many decades, from 1916 until 1972 and beyond, the LDS Church leaders taught that God the Father came down as a man to His spirit-daughter Mary and had sexual intercourse with her in order to conceive Jesus; just as a man conceives a child with a woman.

The last time this was openly taught by the Church was in a Church Manual published in 1972 in a Family Home Evening manual; although one can still hear it being taught occassionally in Sunday School, or in Seminary or Institute.

The last LDS Church leader to teach that God the Father "came down and joined" with Mary as a physical act of intimacy was Elder Bruce R. McConkie; author of the book Mormon Doctrine. The LDS Church does not still actively teach this doctrine (probably mainly because of public image concerns), but has not repudiated it either.

The Bahá'ís, on the other hand, think that such a doctrine is utter blasphemy! They don't believe that God is a man with a body of flesh and bone (to begin with), and they believe that Mary was a literal virgin both before and after the conception of Jesus. This is how the Qur'an (the Holy Book of Islám which Bahá'ís accept as the infallible Word of God) says on the subject:

"God forbid that He Himself should beget a son (in the manner men do)! When He decreeth a thing He need only say 'BE!' and it is (created)." (Qur'an 19:35)

First Vision of Joseph Smith (1820)

Bahá'ís believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the Manifestation of the Father on earth, and Yeh'o'shuah (Jesus) was the Manifestation of the Son on earth.

Bahá'ís do not believe that GOD (ALLÁH) is an Exalted Man with a body of flesh and bone. They believe He is an Divine Spirit that can only be known via His Manifestations on earth. However, the Names/Attributes of God can become God-Men. One of Them (The Self-Sufficient) became incarnate as Bahá'u'lláh. Another became incarnate as Yeh'o'shuah whom we know today as "Jesus".

The Story of Adam and Eve

In the days of Joseph Smith, it was believed that many prophets existed on earth before Adam, and that the earth was as populated before the time of Adam as it had been before the time of Noah. Hyrum Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith, wrote:

"There were prophets before Adam, and Joseph has the Spirit of all the prophets." (Millennial Star 23:406)

"There were prophets before, and Joseph has the Spirit of all the Prophets". (Documentary History of the Church 6:346)

Because its teachings had changed, but it didn't want Members to know that. That might "confuse" them. The Brethren don't wish you to be "confused". If confused you may ask questions, and they simply want you to obey them; without thought and without question.

Bahá'ís believe as did Joseph and Hyrum Smith and other early Church leaders (who actually prophesied, saw visions, and received "Thus saith the Lord" revelations); that there were peoples and prophets before Adam.

Adam was not the "first man" on earth, but the first of a new race of men; the Adamites.

Brigham Young taught that Adam and Eve came from another planet with celestial bodies, partook of material fruit, and the spirit in their veins became blood (Journal of L. John Nuttall, BYU Special Collections, Feb. 7, 1877). The nephew of Joseph Smith, Joseph F. Smith (6th President of the Church) taught that Adam was not made of clay but was born of a woman:

"Man was born of a woman; Christ, the Savior, was born of a woman, and Adam our earthly parent, was also born of a woman into this world." (Deseret Weekly News, Dec. 17, 1913)

Today, the Church leaders teach:

*Adam was the first man and Eve was the first woman on earth.

*There were no pre-Adamites.

*Adam was made of clay, and Eve from one of Adam's ribs.

Joseph the Seer said on April 6th, 1842 the following:

"There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes." (History of the Church 5:336)

Was Joseph Smith wrong? Or did Christ come as Joseph prophesied (in 1890-91)?

Other doctrines taught by LDS Church leaders after the death of Joseph the Seer have been:

*Adam is the father of our spirits (Taught by Brigham Young in Journal of Discourses 1:50-51 and many other places).

*The Lost Tribes live at the north pole (Taught by LDS apostle Orson Pratt in 1875 JD 18:24).

*Mankind will never reach the Moon. (Taught by Joseph Fielding Smith, grand-nephew of Joseph Smith and 10th Church President, in Answers to Gospel Questions 2:19)

All these doctrines were preached by LDS Presidents long after Joseph Smith was dead. Most Mormons today don't know of these doctrines because the Church has abandoned them over time; just as the Church is now abandoning the Curse of Cain doctrine and the doctrine that God the Father "joined" with Mary to conceive Jesus.

Why did Church doctrines change so much after the death of Joseph Smith?

The only answer is that Joseph Smith was a true Seer who prophesied/saw/revelated, but The Brethren of today are not.

Why not?

Maybe for the same reason that the LORD no longer spoke to the High Priests in Jesus' day; because they rejected their LORD when He came to them.

A few successors, like Brigham Young, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, did receive a few additional "Thus Saith the LORD" Revelations; the very last one being received in Novemeber of 1889.

Worldly "Blessings" vs. Treasures in Heaven

Why don't Church Presidents prophesy, see visions, or receive revelations today?

Mormons are not allowed to ask such questions. If they do, they are told:

"Don't worry about it. Just pay your tithing, attend your meetings, follow the Brethren, and you'll be blessed!"

Many Latter-day Saints base their testimony of the Church on how God has "blessed" them with an attractive spouse, healthy well-behaved children, job promotions, safety in travel, or even wealth (as if non-mormons do not have attractive spouses, healthy well-behaved children, job promotions, safety in travel, or wealth!).

The Church today promises faithful Latter-day Saints earthly rewards as well as heavenly glories much as the gurus of India; who promise their disciples material gain as well as heavenly gain. This is why the temples of India are packed full every day, and if you ask a Hindu if he has been "blessed" he will gladly point to his wife, his healthy well-behaved children, to examples of divine protection in travel, to job promotions, success in business, and even to "wealth" as a "sign" that Ganesh (the Elephant-headed god) or some other Hindu god had "blessed" him in return for sacrifices to that god in its temple.

Ganesh: a popular Hindu god who dispenses "blessings" upon his worshippers. There are thousands of Ganesh Temples throughout India.

But in the days of Joseph the Seer "blessings" were considered "divine knowledge" of "the mysteries of God" (1 Nephi 1:1) and not material earthly rewards. Most of the people who were Latter-day Saints in the days of Joseph Smith would have been much better off materially had they never joined the Church. Most of them lost homes, lost jobs, lost wives or children, because of anti-Mormon persecution. Jesus never promised His disciples creature comforts and material wealth and health. He said "In the world ye shall have tribulation!" (John 16:33). Jesus never promised "smooth going" but just the opposite! Jesus told His disciples they would have hardships; trials, tribulations, persecution, etc. He did not promise "heath and wealth" as does the modern LDS Church. Jesus promised His disciples that if they followed Him they would have tribulation (great troubles) on earth, but "treasures in heaven"(Matthew 6:20).

Many Latter-day Saints have turned the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the "Gospel of Blessings". So too do "Fundamentalist Mormons" (polygamists) who think that they have "The Truth" because they have beautiful wives, healthy children, protection in travel, success in business or career. To them these are "signs" they they are walking in the Light and their respective groups are true. They too say, "If I wasn't in the Truth, why would God bless me as He has?"

Latter-day Saints who think they are receiving material "blessings" by being active in the Church are as superstitious as the Ganesh-worshippers in India. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was never about "earthly gain" (material blessings), but about the Golden Rule (doing under others as ye would have them do unto you) and about storing up "treasures in heaven".

Killing the Messenger

Most Latter-day Saints believe that if the Church is true, then the current leaders of the Church ("The Brethren") must be inspired prophets/seers/revelators!

But this is not so. The Church can be "true" without the current leadership of the Church being "true" as well.

Christianity was still "true" when the ancient Church went into Apostasy, and was led by men who claimed divine inspiration, but had none. False leaders don't make a religion false. If they did, then Jesus' religion was "false" from the Great Apostasy until the Restoration. But Jesus' religion was never false; only it's leaders were.

Many faithful Latter-day Saints DO NOT want to hear that Church teachings have changed! They don't want to hear that Church leaders have rewritten history! It bothers them. It angers them. They'be been raised to believe that "The Brethren" would never lie to them, and that The Brethren are the closest men to God on earth. Many of them will get angry, and will want to strike out; NOT at those who have lied to them, but at anyone who reveals these truths to them. However, the sincere Seeker of Truth will swallow his pride and accept whatever is the truth; no matter the consequences.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians:

"Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 1:16)

Truth (reality) is not subject to our personal appetites, wants, whims, and fancies. It is independent of us and our "needs" or desires. The Seeker of Truth knows this instinctively. But most people are not Seekers of Truth. Most religious people are "Sheep". If they are born Catholic, they will die Catholic. If they are born in Rome, they will be Catholic and believe that is the truth. If they are born in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, they will be Sunni Muslim, and believe that is the truth. If they are born in Tihran, Iran, they will be Shia Muslim, and believe that is the truth. IF they are born in Macon, Georgia, they will be Southern Baptist, and believe that is the truth. If they are born in Bangkok they will be Buddhist, and believe that is the truth. If they are born in Salt Lake City, to Mormon parents, then they will be Mormons, and believe that is the truth. Each one say to themselves; "The Truth, the Truth, I have the Truth! There can be no more Truth!"

Bahá'ís believe in "the Independent Investigation of Truth"; which means that our religion should not be determined by where we are born, or what family we belong to. Truth is "independent" of all of us, and everyone should "seek" the Truth for themselves. This is why Bahá'í children don't "automatically" become Bahá'ís; as Mormon children automatically become Mormon at age 8. Mormon children are "told" what they believe; just as Catholic children, or Jewish children, or Muslim children, or Buddhist children etc.

Many LDS missionaries are told by people "I'm a Presbyterian. I'm comfortable with that. I don't want to become a Mormon!" Many Mormons tell Bahá'ís, "I'm LDS. I'm comfortable with that. I don't want to become a Bahá'í!" But Truth is not a question of "comfort" or "ease". Jesus' disciples suffered horribly. They would have been much more comfortable just going with the crowd. But why did they follow Jesus? Because they knew instinctively that only HE had the words of Eternal Life. They wanted Eternal Life, and only Jesus (as the Manifestation of God at that time) could give them that.

The "news" that the Bahá'ís have for the Latter-day Saints is primarily GOOD! But we have some bad news too.

We have "good news" and "bad news".

The good news is: God lives! Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Son of God! Joseph Smith was truly inspired of God! We can be "exalted". Eternal marriage is a true teaching! The Spirit of Truth has come to teach us all things and His living representative on Earth today is Joel B. Marangella!

The bad news is: The Church has changed its doctrines and history, and is trying to cover it up. The Brethren are not prophets/seers/revelators as they claim. Gordon B. Hinckley is not a "Living Prophet". He is not a prophet/seer/revelator at all. He never was. He makes no prophesies, sees no visions, and receives no "Thus Saith the LORD" revelations.

God's one sole representative on earth is Joel B. Marangella. Is he a Prophet? No, he is not a "Prophet" lesser of otherwise. But he is the living Guardian of the Cause of God.

The teachings of the Seer Joseph Smith and the those of the Bahá'í Faith agree.

The Church has changed its doctrines and history. Church leaders have tried to rewrite Church history. They have denied teaching certain things in the past, but in fact the Church did teach such things, as official doctrine, for many decades. But the Truth is eternal; it never changes.

Try asking your bishop why the Church is rewriting its history. He will tell you:

"Don't worry about it! Just pay your tithing, attend your meetings, follow The Brethren, and you'll be blessed!"

"DON'T QUESTION THE BRETHREN!!!"

"Good Members of the Church don't have questions! They just obey!"

How To Be Sealed Unto Eternal Life

Most Mormons are told from birth that to be Exalted (to achieve Eternal Life) they must:

*Be active in the Church
*Obey the Brethren (Church leaders)
*Keep the Word of Wisdom (no smoking, drinking, etc.)
*Be morally clean
*Serve a mission if called
*Pay your tithing and offerings (10% and more of one's income before taxes)
*Take out your Endowments (i.e. go through the Temple Endowment Ceremony) and visit the Temple often.
*Do work for the dead (i.e. do you genealogy and submit it to the Church and make sure Temple Work is done on behalf of the dead such as baptisms, endowments, and sealings for the dead).

If a Latter-day Saint does all that faithfully until the end of their life, they will, upon death, enter the Celestial Kingdom and be crowned with "glory".

But Joseph Smith did not teach that!

Joseph the Seer taught that achieving Eternal Life was simple (but not easy). All one had to do to be crowned with Eternal Glory was to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Joseph said:

"Obtain that Holy Spirit of Promise~then you can be sealed to Eternal Life." (Words of Joseph Smith, p.15)

The Temple Sealings do not seal you anymore than the blood of goats and bulls cleanses you from sin! The Jewish Temple Ordinances were merely "signs and tokens" of the Blood of Jesus; the only blood that cleanses from sin. In the same manner, the LDS Temple Ordinances are merely "signs and tokens" of The Báb and entering the Celestial Kingdom of Bahá'u'lláh (the One Who sat behind the white veils)!

Don't believe it? You will! Read:

Do Mormon Temples Testify of Baha'u'llah?
www.angelfire.com/mo/baha/temples.html

Bahá'u'lláh is the Holy Spirit of Promise!

Obtaining Eternal Life is simple (but not easy). How can you obtain it? How can you be Exalted and be married throughout the Worlds of God?

Simple.

Bahá'u'lláh, the Spirit of Truth Who came to teach us all things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, tells us how:

"The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His Laws Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the World of Creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained to all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astry, though he be the author of every good deed. It behooveth every one who reacheth this sublime station, this summit of transcendant glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inspearable. Neither is acceptable without the other." (Kitab-i-Aqdas, p.19)

1) Recognize (accept) Bahá'u'lláh as the Manifestation of God.

2) Obey His Laws.

That is how you enter His Celestial Kingdom.

Who was Bahá'u'lláh?

He was the Christ-Spirit (Father) in the body of Prince Husein-Alí of Núr; a direct descendant of King David of Israel. The Christ-Spirit is Jehovah; the Self-Subsistant. He has infinitely more "authority" than did Joseph Smith, or "The Brethren" of today. He performed mighty miracles, and made startling prophecies that came to pass. Can anyone compare Him to a man or set of fallible men who prophesy not, see not, and revelate not; who change Church doctrine and history in order to be more popular with the World?

Bahá'u'lláh is JEHOVAH (The Name/Attribute of ALLÁH: "Self-Sufficient")! His Son is Jesus; the Angel (Messenger/Voice) of JEHOVAH. Bahá'u'lláh is the Holy Spirit of Promise Who seals us to Eternal Life!

Jesus said:

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you unto all truth:
14 for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. He shall glorify me. (John 16:13-14)

"Verily, He Who is the Spirit of Truth is now come to guide you unto all truth. He speaketh not as prompted by His own self, but as bidden by Him Who is the Sall-Wise. Say, this is the One Who hath glorified the Son, and hath exalted His Cause." (Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh, p.12)

Do not rest your faith on the arm-of-flesh; upon sinful fallible men! Put your faith in the Holy Spirit of Promise! Be of the ten virgins with oil in their lamps; who have taken the Holy Spirit as their Guide!

Bahá'u'lláh is the promised Spirit of Truth, and HE is the One Who leads us to Eternal Life!

Some Latter-day Saints believe they are so "worthy" (righteous) that they will be Exalted in any case. This is a false hope. Many Latter-day Saints beleive that if they only "follow the Living Prophet" they will get their worlds and wives in heaven, and wealth and success on earth. This is pure superstition!

No matter how "worthy" you think you may be, you "worthiness" won't get you Eternal Life. No matter how many "good deeds" you have performed, you cannot "exalt youself" into the Celestial Kingdom!

The Jews were taught by their fallible human leaders (their Priesthood-leaders) that to be saved they needed to obey their leaders and observe 643 laws, and go to the Temple, and pay their tithing, and observe food and drink laws, and then "maybe" they would be saved. The priesthood-leaders of the Jews put upon them a difficult burden, and a heavy yoke!

They were wrong. Jesus said:

"My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)

Most of the Jews rejected that. They obeyed their human priesthood-leaders, and eternally lost their chance for salvation. They choose to follow their priesthood-leaders who lived in glorious homes, and sat in the high places in the Temple; instead of a "man" who had nowhere to lay His head, and who had a rang-tang no'er-do-well group of fisherman as followers.

The very Priesthood-leaders of God's only priesthood rejected their Messiah when He came 2000 years ago! To them He was just one false messiah among many! Just another "Nut" in a great crowd of "messiahs" who were constantly were riding into Jerusalem on the backs on donkeys! They rejected and crucified Him as one "false christ" among many. The very ones who should have recognized Him first, rejected Him.

And the rank-and-file followed their leaders! Blindly! The blind followed the blind, and both fell into the ditch (Hell).

Please don't let history repeat itself again. You do not need to go to Church 3 hours a week and go through the Temple Endowment once a month, pay a full-tithe, attend various meetings, obey your bishop and stake president, and blindly obey "The Brethren" in order to obtain Eternal Life!

All you must do is to obtain Eternal Life is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and remain there. That is how you obtain the Holy Spirit of Promise and be sealed to Eternal Life.

There is no Celestial Kingdom, in this world or in all the eternities, other than the Heavenly Kingdom of Bahá'u'lláh; Who wrote:

"Followers of the Gospel, behold the gates of Heaven are flung open. He that had ascended into it is now come. Give ear to His voice calling aloud over land and sea, announcing to all mankind the advent of this Revelation--A Revelation through the agency of which the Tongue of Grandeur is now proclaiming: Lo, the Spirit of Truth is come, the sacred pledge hath been fulfilled, for He, the Promised One, is come!" (Words of Bahá'u'lláh, p.104)

"Blessed is the soul that hath been raised to life through My quickening breath and hath gained admittance into My Heavenly Kingdom."~Bahá'u'lláh

Questions from LDS Seekers

Here is a list of questions for Readers that have already been answered:

Q. Why are you trying to destroy the Church?
Q. How can you say that Joseph Smith prophesied of Bahá'u'lláh when you don't believe in him anymore?
Q. How could Bahá'u'lláh be Christ returned when only Jesus is the Christ?
Q. How could Bahá'u'lláh be the fulfillment of Joseph Smith's 1890-91 prophecies?
Q. How can there be TWO TRUE CHURCHES?
Q. If the Bahá'í Faith is the Millennial Kingdom why isn't the Earth experiencing peace?
Q. How can Bahá'u'lláh be Christ returned when so many things have not happened, like Armageddon, etc.?
Q. Why haven't The Brethren told us that Bahá'u'lláh is Christ returned?
Q. How can you say that The Brethren are not inspired of God and don't have the Spirit of Discenment?
Q. D&C 49:22 says that the Son of Man won't be a woman nor a man travelling on the Earth. Did Bahá'u'lláh travel?
Q. How can Bahá'u'lláh be the Holy Ghost incarnate when D&C 130 says that the Holy Ghost is a Personage of Spirit?
Q. Do Bahá'ís believe that Bahá'u'lláh was greater than Jesus?
Q. How could Bahá'u'lláh be Christ returned when the signs in the heavens have no taken place?
Q. What do Bahá'ís think of The Book of Mormon?
Q. How could the Bahá'í Faith be the Celestial Kingdom when that Kingdom is on the other side of the veil?
Q. Do Bahá'ís have the Melchizedek Priesthood?
Q. Why should I break my Temple Covenants and leave the Church to become a Bahá'í?
Q. Why are you lying by saying the Church used to teach that black people were cursed?
Q. Why are you lying by saying the Church is now denying it ever taught the Curse of Cain doctrine?
Q. Why should I give up my chances for godhood and eternal marriage to become a Bahá'í?
Q. How can you say that the Church is not true when I have a testimony it IS true?
Q. How can you say that Gordon B. Hinckley is NOT a Prophet of God when I have a testimony he IS a living Prophet of God?
Q. How does one become a Bahá'í?

All of these questions are answered online at:

www.angelfire.com/mo/baha/mormonquestions.html

My Testimony

I bear you my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, that Bahá'u'lláh is the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit of Promise Who seals us to Eternal Life, that Joseph Smith was a true SEER who prophesied of Bahá'u'lláh, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Only True Church among all the churches of Christianity, and that the Bahá'í Faith is the promised and prophesied (D&C sec. 65) Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. I say this in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Darrick Evenson
Superintendant
Orthodox Bahá'ís of Utah

The Liberals are pro-choice, tolerant of gays and lesbians, are emphasize World Peace and Race Unity. You can contact them at 1-800-228-6483.

The Conservatives are pro-life, do not accept unrepentant gays or lesbians, and emphazie Jesus Christ as Savior and Bahá'u'lláh as the Spirit of Truth. You can contact them by sending an email to:
darrick_evenson@yahoo.com

Darrick Evenson is a former Mormon Elder, missionary, and apologist; the author of "The Gainsayers" (1989) and "Black Mormons & The Priesthood-ban" (2005). He became a Bahá'í in 1994. This articles is NOT copyrighted! Everyone is free to make and distribute copies.

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