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

This is part II of The Baha'i Faith: An Introduction for LDS Seekers. Part I is 50 printed pages. If you have no yet read Part I, then please do so NOW

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Below are a series of Questions from LDS Seekers and Readers, and Answers I have provided. This article is about 25 printed pages. There is no copyright.

Q. How could Baha'u'llah be Christ returned when only Jesus is the Christ?

A. The Jews expected Elijah himself to return; to descend from heaven with the same physical body he went up into heaven with, but John the Baptist returned in the spirit and power of Elijah! John the Baptist was a different individual, and he did not descend from heaven but was born from a woman.

Elijah and John had different faces.

Baha'u'llah came in the spirit and power of Christ!

The LORD promised that if Joseph Smith lived until he was 85 he would "see the fact of the Son of Man" (D&C 130). What an absurd thing to say when Joseph Smith had already seen Jesus' face many times!

How can this be explained?

There can only be one answer!

The Face of "the Son of Man" (to be unveiled in 1890-91 when Joseph would be 85 years old) was not to be Jesus' face!

And it wasn't!

Jesus said in His Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard that after the Son came to the Vineyard (the Holy Land) and was killed the Father Himself (the Lord of the Vineyard) would come and prepare the Vineyard for harvest. Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the "Lord of the Vineyard" as Jesus promised in Mark chapter 12. The Faith itself in headquartered in Haifa, Israel, on the northern slopes of Mount Carmel (Hebrew: "Vineyard of God").

Jesus=Jehovah?

Most Latter-day Saints assume that Jesus is Jehovah; the God of the Old Testament. This is what modern Mormon leaders teach them. But Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other early Mormon leaders, who actually made prophecies, had visions, and received 'Thus saith the Lord' revelation, did not believe that Jesus was Jehovah. They believed that Jesus was the Son of Jehovah. In early Mormon Temple ceremonies, "Jesus" and "Jehovah" were two different Beings, played by different actors. After about 1900 this was changed, and only one actor played the part of "Jehovah".

The Book of Mormon itself teaches that "Christ" and "Jesus" are TWO SEPARATE BEINGS! The Book of Mormon says:

"2. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and 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. (Mosiah 15:2-4)

"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)

"17. 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)

Jesus spoke Aramaic, a language akin to Arabic, and whenever Jesus said that the "Son of Man" would come in "the glory of God" He said that the "Son of Man" was coming in "Bahá'u'Alláhu" ("The Glory of God" in Aramaic).

This is ALL now very clear:

1) "Jesus" (the flesh) is the Son

2) "Christ" (the Spirit) is the Father! The Lord told Joseph the Seer, "Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of Truth." (D&C 93:23). Christ is "The Spirit of Truth"!

3) "Christ" is the Spirit that anointed Jesus at His baptism, and left Him at the crucifixion. This is why Jesus cried, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" ("My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken [abandoned] me?" (Matt. 27:46). The Father left Jesus at the Cross; because Jesus had to die alone.

The Book of Mormon identifies who "Christ" is:

Christ (the Father) entered Jesus at His baptism:

4)Christ (the Father) and Jesus (the Son) became "ONE" in "Jesus Christ".

While on earth Jesus said, "The Father is in me, and I am in the Father" (John 10:38). Was this just a metaphor? No. The Father was "in" Jesus 2000 years ago. And Jesus was "in" Baha'u'llah, Who wrote:

"O Jews, if ye be intent on crucifying once again Jesus, the Spirit of God, put Me to death, for He hath once more, in my person, been made manifest unto you." (Gleanings, p.101)

Some Mormons, when they discover that the early Mormon leaders taught that Jesus and Jehovah were two separate Beings, go to their bishops and ask, "Why do we not believe this now?" They are told, "Don't worry about! Just put it out of your mind! Just pay your tithing, attend your meetings, and you'll be blessed!"

But it doesn't 'fit'! How could the early Brethren, who saw Jesus' face, who spoke to Him, who received visions and revelations from Him, be so "ignorant"; while modern Church leaders, who do not have visions, nor make prophecies, nor receive 'Thus saith the Lord' revelations, be able to "correct" Joseph Smith and the other early Church leaders? Everything fits ONLY if one recognizes that the Father and the Son become "ONE" in "Jesus Christ".

Christ=Holy Spirit=Spirit of Truth

Joseph Smith said in 1843 that the Holy Ghost was "now in a state of probation" (i.e. mortal life). Was Joseph Smith the incarnation of the Holy Ghost? He never claimed to be. Baha'u'llah did claim it! He claimed to be "The Spirit of Truth".

The Holy Ghost, or "Spirit of Truth", Who was in Jesus 2000 years ago, has returned and incarnated in the Person of Baha'u'llah; Who was born Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri--the descendant of Persian Kings and of King David.

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 Baha'u'llah, p.12)

A. Read The 1890-91 Prophecies of Joseph Smith FULFILLED in the Baha'i Faith! and decide for yourself!
https://www.angelfire.com/mo/baha/1891.html

An early Mormon Apostle, Lyman Wight, had a vision in 1830:

"And the Spirit fell upon Lyman, and he prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. He said that there were some in the congregation that should live until the Savior should descend from heaven with a shout, with all the holy angels with Him. He said the coming of the Savior should be like the Sun rising in the East, and will cover the whole earth." (History of the Church 1:176)

"But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the East." (History of the Church 5:337)

"In the East the Light of His Revelation hath broken; in the West the signs of His dominion have appeared." (Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p.13)

"In the Holy Books it is recorded that when the Sun of Truth dawns it will appear in the East, and its light will be reflected in the West. Already its dawning has taken place in the East, and its signs are appearing in the West." (Promulgation of Universal Peace 23:2)

"The glory of the God of Israel came by the way of the East." (Ezekiel 43:2)

Q. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Only True Church, so how can the Baha'i Faith be the Only True Church as well? How can there be TWO 'true churches'?

A. The Faith is NOT a "Church"! It has no gospel ordinances. It is an independent World Religion. When Joseph went into the Sacred Grove to pray he was not asking 'What of all the world religions is true?' but 'Which of the contending sects of Christianity is true?' The Baha'i Faith is not a sect of Christianity, nor of Islam!

What is it?

It claims to be the Kingdom of Heaven on earth; the Millennial Kingdom. In the Explanatory of D&C 65 it reads:

"1-2 Keys of the Kingdom of God are committed to man on earth, and the gospel cause shall triumph; 3-6 the millennial kingdom of heaven shall come and join the kingdom of God on earth." (D&C p.122)

The Millennial (1000 year) Kingdom of Heaven shall be established upon the Earth!

The Heavenly (Latin: celestial) Kingdom shall be established upon the Earth!

The Celestial Kingdom shall be established upon the Earth!

Q. But if the Baha'i Faith is the Millennial Kingdom why isn't the Earth experiencing peace? Why isn't the lion lying down with the lamb?

A. Joseph Smith taught that universal peace would not be immediate, but gradual. Baha'is believe that the Cause will be established for 1000 years, then another Revelation shall come. The Baha'i calendar begins with the Islamic year 1260 A.H. (1844 A.D.). For Baha'is, that is the year 1 B.E (Baha'i Era). On April 6, 1845, Brigham Young declared to the Saints in General Conference:

"Know ye not that the Millennium has commenced?" (Times & Seasons 6:12:956)

Baha'u'llah spoke of a "Lesser Peace" and a "Most Great Peace". Some Baha'is believe that the Lesser Peace was established in 1957 with the founding of the European Union. The Most Great Peace is sometime in the future when all nations shall be at peace. Baha'is don't believe that lions will eat grass (they were created to eat meat only) during the Most Great Peace, but that large and strong nations (lions) will not longer subdue small and weak nations (lambs).

Q. But how can Baha'u'llah be Christ returned when so many things have not happened, like Armegeddon, the cleaving of the Mount of Olives, the Battle of Gog and Magog, and the wicked being consumed by fire?

A. Brigham Young said:

"Do you expect that every person will be destroyed from the face of the earth, but the Latter-day Saints? If you do, you will be mistaken. Many of our Elders labor under these erroneous expectations when reading over the sayings of the Apostles and Prophets in regard to the coming of the Son of Man. In one verse the Prophet will be describing the second coming previous to the commencement of the Millennium, and perhaps in the same verse he will describe a scene that will take place after the Millennium, and when the earth will be cleased of all wickedness, after Satan has been let loose a little season, and had another tour upon it, and after it is renovated and becomes sanctified, and is like a sea of glass, as John describes it. Will this be in the Millennium? No. But the order of society will be as it is when Christ comes to reign a thousand years; there will be every sort of sect and party, and every individual following what he supposes to be the best in religion, and in everything else, similar to what it is now." (Journal of Discourses 2:316)

"When the thousand years are ended, and men again begin to deny their God, then will I spare the earth for a little season; and the end shall come, and the heaven and earth shall be consumed and pass away, and there shall be a new heavens and a new earth, for all old things pass away, and all things shall become new, even the heavens and the earth, and the fullness thereof, both men and beasts, and fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea." (D&cC 29:22-4)

A. The last President of the LDS Church to receive revelations was Wilford Woodruff; who received the very last 'Thus Saith the LORD' Revelation in May of 1889. Since that time, no president or apostle of the Church has made any prophecy nor seen any vision nor received any 'Thus Saith the LORD' revelation.

President Woodruff said in 1888 (at the dedication of the Manti Utah Temple):

"We are not going to stop the practice of plural marriage until the coming of the Son of Man." (Journal of John Henry Smith, 21 May 1888, LDS Church Archives)

Baha'i Hand of the Cause (apostle) H. M. Balyuzi wrote:

"In that year, 1890, Baha'u'llah visited Haifa, and pitched His ten 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." (Baha'u'llah~The Word Made Flesh, p.63)

The Jews considered the High Priests of the Temple to be their "revelators"; because they entered the Holy of Holies every year; the very Presence of Jehovah on earth. Yet, Jehovah had not communicated with the High Priests for many generations; because they had changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant.

The Levites (the one authorized Priesthood of God) rejected their Lord!

The Levites were Jehovah's one official Priesthood. They were called Qedeshiym ("saints"). They wore temple robes, and officiated in His Temple.

Yet, the leaders of the Levites, the High Priests, rejected Jesus as their Messiah.

Why?

Because they had not the Spirit of Discernment. They changed the ordinances, and broke the everlasting covenant, and the LORD no longer spoke to them. Yet, they were still His Priesthood! And they still had His authority. But they no longer had the Spirit of Discernment. They were no longer prophets/seers/revelators; although they continued to use those titles, and the people accepted them as such.

Mormons are taught to put total faith and trust in their Priesthood-leaders; especially the three Presiding High Priests of the Church (i.e. The First Presidency). They are taught to depend upon the Prophet [President of the Church], and that is "the only course of safety". But Joseph Smith himself taught:

"President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel--said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or set of men in that state of corruption of the Jewish Church--that righteous persons could only deliber their own souls--applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saitns--said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall--that they were depending on the Prophet--hence were darkened in their minds,...." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.237)

The LORD of course knew that the Latter-day Saints would make the same mistake as the former-day Saints. They would put their total faith and trust into their earthly leaders whom they would follow unquestionably. He told the Saints via Joseph the Seer:

"56 And at that time, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.
57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
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59 For the lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver."
(D&C 45:56-7,9)

Baha means "glory".

The early Brethren foretold that only a few of the Latter~day Saints would inherit Eternal Life. Heber C. Kimball, a counselor to Brigham Young and a man known for his prophecies that came true, declared:

"But the day will come when the Lord will chose a people out of this people upon whom he will bestow his choicest blessings." (Journal of Discourses 11:145)

Baha'is believe that the Baha'i Faith is "the Celestial Glory"; in this life and in the Worlds of God after this life is over.

Baha'u'llah is the "Lord behind the veil". He was the One behind the white veil; whose very Presence the Celestial Room is a type or shadow of.

The LORD told the Saints via to Joseph the Seer:

"This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the Celestial Kingdom." (D&C 88:4-5)

"Seek Me diligently and ye shall find Me." (D&C 88:63)

"The Comforter Whose advent all the Scriptures have promised is now come that He may reveal unto you all the knowledge and wisdom. Seek Him over the entire surface of the earth, haply ye may find Him;...." (The Words of Baha'u'llah, p.12)

Q. How can you say that The Brethren are not inspired of God and don't have the Spirit of Discernment?

A. To be an Apostle of Jesus Christ is to be a witness of His Resurrection. All the apostles (save Judas) saw the risen Lord; as did Paul on the road to Damascus. All the Apostles of the Restoration saw Jesus in the Kirtland Temple, or afterwards, in visions. The very last one who saw Jesus was Wilford Woodruff (4th President of the Church); the very last President of the Church to receive a 'Thus Saith the LORD' revelation (received in 1889, but never published in the D&C). During a Senate Hearing in 1904 President Joseph F. Smith (the nephew of Joseph Smith and 6th President of the Church) was asked if he received any Revelations. He declared:

"I have never pretended nor do I confess to have received revelations. I never said I had a revelation other except so far as God has shown to me that so-called Mormonism is God's divine truth; that is all." (Reed Smoot Hearings 1:483)

Have you ever wondered why the written Revelations to the Church seem to end with D&C section 136?

A few more 'Thus-Saith-The-Lord' revelations did come, but they were never published in the D&C. The very last 'Thus-Saith-The-Lord' revelation to any Mormon president (or apostle) came in May of 1889; to Wilford Woodruff.

The Brethren (leaders of the Church) claim to have the "Spirit of Discernment"; whereby they can discern the intents of the heart of anyone they meet. This is supposedly a "right of office" of a prophet/seer/revelator.

Mark Hofmann Bombings

In 1980 a returned missionary named Mark Hofmann began selling old Mormon documents to the Church. He sold several directly to President Gordon B. Hinckley; the acting President of the Church at that time. On October 15th, 1985, two Members of the Church (Steve Christensen and Kathy Sheets) were blown-up by pipe-bombs. The next day, Mark Hofmann was severly injured by a pipe-bomb. Investigators knew that day that Hofmann was the bomber, and they told this to President Hinckley, who replied to investigators that "had the wrong man" and that Hofmann was "innocent".

Almost two years later Hofmann confessed to the homicides, and to forging the documents; many of which made Joseph Smith and the Church look bad. He was condemned to life in prison. President Hinckley had bought some of these documents directly from Hofmann. None of the Brethren were able to discern Hofmann; even declaring his innocence to law enforcement authorities (who knew he was guilty).

Mark Hofmann showing his first forgery to top Mormon leaders (from left: Mark Hofmann, N. Eldon Tanner, Spencer W. Kimball, Marion G. Romney, Boyd K. Packer, Gordon B. Hinckley--1980 photo)

The Church bought hundreds of Hofmann forgeries; thinking they were authentic. Gordon B. Hinckley bought a number of them directly from Hofmann.

Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote in 1965 a classic piece of Mormon literature titled Mormon Doctrine. In that book, under "Spirits, Discerning of" it reads:

"...the gift of the discerning of spirits is poured out upon presiding officials of God's kingdom; they have it given them to discern all gifts and all spirits, lest any come among the saints and practice deception.... There is no perfect operation of the power of discernment without revelation. Thereby, even 'the thoughts and intents of the heart' are made known...." (Mormon Doctrine, p.197)

Where was the discernment? Where was the Spirit of Discernment that Mormon "prophets/seers/revelators" are said to have--as a right of divine office--to "discern" spirits? They could not discern Mark Hofmann after 6 years of dealing with him and buying his forged documents.

There are many more examples such as this!

*The Brethren could not discern that one of their own, George P. Lee, a Seventy, was molesting young girls. He did that for years while a General Authority. He was later excommunicated and convicted.

*The Brethren could not discern that Paul Dunn, another Seventy and popular speaker to Mormon youth, had lied about his war record and his playing baseball for a major league team. He fabricated stories for decades as a General Authority; only to be exposed by a Mormon professor at BYU. Dunn was later reprimanded and "retired".

*The Brethren could not discern in the early 1980s that tens of thousands of faithful Mormons were being ripped-off by "Mormon" con-men with get-rich-quick scemes! A quarter-of-a-billion dollars were stolen from faithful Latter-day Saints in Utah before the Church publicly warned Members agains such schemes. This was only months after local and national press had exposed such schemes in Utah.

There are many more examples that these!

WHERE was the "discernment"?

Where?

Any man who proclaims to be a Prophet/Seer/Revelator must:

1) Prophesy

2) See visions

3) Revelate

4) Have the Spirit of Discernment

Men who do not prophesy, see visions, or receive revelations, or have the Spirit of Discernment, are not "Prophets/Seer/Revelators". They may be good men, and have divine authority, but they are not "Living Prophets".

Where are the "prophecies" of the current "Living Prophet"? They cannot be found. Where are his "visions" recorded? They cannot be found. Where are his "revelations"? They cannot be found. Any Member of the Church who dares ask such questions are themselves questioned and threatened with disfellowship.

The very last LDS President to receive 'Thus Saith the Lord' revelations was Wilford Woodruff; who was also the last Mormon apostle to see visions of the resurrected Lord.

Mormon leaders have received no 'Thus saith the Lord' revelations, and have made no prophecies, and have had no daytime visions, since 1889.

On the other hand, the prophecies of Baha'u'llah can be found, and all of His prophecies were fulfilled to the letter! You can read His prophecies and there fulfillment in books like The Prisoner and the Kings by William Sears (in paperback or online) at:
http://bahai-library.org/books/prisoner.kings/

But I just CAN'T leave the Church and become a Baha'i because..."

Many Mormons are afraid to investigate the Baha'i Faith because they are afraid of losing their testimonies, or if they join the Faith of losing their Exaltation (which includes Eternal Marriage). They are afraid of losing their wives, or their husbands, or their children who are staunch Mormons. If they live in Utah, they may be afraid of losing their jobs. Some who work for the Church will be afraid of losing their careers.

The Jews were afraid of accepting Christ because they were afraid of losing their Salvation. They thought, "If I become a Christian I'll lose my chances for salvation! I'll be shunned by my family and friends! I will no longer be a Jew or a member of my community!"

This is why Jesus said:

"35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall loe his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. (Mark 8:35)

But Jesus told them that while they thought they were saving their lives, they were actually forefitting eternal life.

Many Jews who felt that Jesus might be the Messiah did not become His followers because they would have offended their families, and perhaps broken their marriages, or lose their busnesses. Jesus said:

"36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain teh whole world, and lose his own soul?"

He will! God understands everything. But you must understand the following:

There is no salvation in rejecting the Savior! Jews who reject Jesus as their Messiah because of "personal reasons" shall not be saved. Period.

There is no exaltation in rejecting the Exalter: The Holy Spirit of Promise that seals one to Eternal Life! Mormons who reject Baha'u'llah as the Holy Spirit of Promise shall not be exalted. Period.

No excuses!

No..."But Lord, I had responsiblities!"

No..."But Lord, I have done many good works in your name!"

No..."But Lord, I was a good person!"

No..."But Lord, I was an active Member of the Church! I payed a full tithe and attending all my meetings! I did my Home Teaching!"

No excuses!

Those who refuse to sacrifice what they hold dear in this life (the "things of this world") shall not inherit Eternal Life.

But...you may not have to lose your wife, or your husband, or your children, or your extended family, or your job! God may indeed "bless" you because you have recognized the Truth, and the Truth will set you FREE!

However, like the Jews of old, Mormons will usually not investigate and pray for themselves about Baha'u'llah, but rather simply put blind faith in their human leaders; thinking they are pleasing God by this. Mormons expect others not to blindly follow their human leaders, but to drop whatever they are doing and read and pray about The Book of Mormon. Yet, most Mormons will follow their human leaders, and not the Holy Spirit by reading or praying about Baha'u'llah.

Why?

They will say, "But WE have the Truth! Why should we bother investigating the Baha'i Faith when we already have all the Truth?"

"The Truth, the Truth, we have the Truth, there can be no more Truth!"

The Jews thought their High Priests were Living Prophets, and they followed their leaders and rejected Jesus as the Christ for the very same reasons that most Mormons will reject the Baha'i Faith.

Attachment

Like the Chosen People (the Jews) of old, the Mormons have become attached to the traditions of their fathers. They have become attached to their extended families in the Church; attached to the traditions and ways of the Church, attached to the social activities of the Church. This "attachment" the Jews had to their rituals and society was a main reason they rejected Jesus, and the reason why their lost the eternal promises, and the Gospel (with all it's promises) were given to other peoples.

Baha'u'llah wrote that a true Seeker of Truth is one who overcomes his or her "attachments" to the things of this world. He wrote:

"But, O my brother, when a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading to the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse and purify his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge, and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy. He must purge his breast, which is the sactuary of the abiding love of the Beloved, of every defilement, and sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to water and clay, from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments. He must so clease his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth. Even as thou dost witness in this day how most of the people, because of such love and hate, are bereft of the immortal Face, have strayed far from the Embodiments of the divine mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roming through the wilderness of oblivion and error. That seeker must at all times put his trust in God, must renounce the peoples of the earth, detach himself from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords." (Book of Certitude, p.192)

That "greater kingdom" has come!

But will the Latter-day Saints make the same mistake as the Levites (former-day saints) or old?

If so, then the promises to them will be given to another people.

Seekers of Truth

Most Mormons, like most people generally, are not Seekers of Truth. They accept whatever religion they are raised in. If a boy is raised in Saudi Arabia he becomes a Muslim, and believes that is the Truth. If a boy is raised in Ireland he becomes a Roman Catholic, and believes that is the Truth. If a boy is raised in Georgia he becomes a Baptist, and believes that is the Truth. If a boy is raised in Greece he become Greek Orthodox, and believes that is the Truth. If a boy is raised in Utah he becomes a Mormon, and believes that is the Truth. Each one believes he alone has the "Truth"; while the others are merely blindly following the traditions of their fathers.

But Baha'is are different. They believe in the "Independent Investigation of Truth". Baha'i parents tell their children not to become Baha'is at age 15 just because they were raised in the Faith, but to become "seekers of Truth"; to examine various churches, faiths, and philosophies, with open minds, and only declare themselves Baha'is only if they have independently come to the conclusion it has the fulness of Truth for mankind today.

The pure-in-heart will accept the Truth; wherever it comes from. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared:

"One of the grand fundamentals of 'Mormonism' is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may." (History of the Church 5:499)

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

No!

The LORD said to the Latter-day Saints via Joseph the Seer "Seek me"! Why?

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"Seek Him over the entire surface of the earth, haply ye may find Him." (The Words of Baha'u'llah, p.12)

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

A. Yes, but not upon the earth (ground). Being of royal Persian blood, He either rode or was carried aloft on a palanquin (covered chair carried aloft on poles by four men) as is the custom in the East. Yes, the "Son of Man" will travel (but not UPON the earth):

"And it shall be said: Who is that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments; yea: from the regions which are not known, clothed in his glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?
And he shall say: I am he who spoke in righteouness, mighty to save.
And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and is garments like him that treadeth the wine-vat." (D&C 133:46-8)

"When the Son of Man shall come in His Glory...then He will sit upon the throne of His Glory...." (Matthew 25:31)

Q. D&C section 130 says that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also, but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Where it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." (v. 22). Doesn't this prove that the Holy Ghost can't be Baha'u'llah because when this revelation was given Baha'u'llah was alive and had a body of flesh and bones?

A. The Holy Ghost is a Spirit. The name "Ghost" means "Spirit". Thus, by definition, the Holy Spirit is always a "Spirit". But that Spirit can incarnate into a human temple. God is "a Spirit" (John 4:24). Yet, Jesus was God! Jesus had "flesh and bone". When the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus at His baptism He became "the Father and the Son"; because the Spirit of Truth is the Father (D&C 93:23)!

One ancient Hebrew Christian writing called The Gospel of the Hebrews it says:

"And it came to pass when the Lord (Jesus) was come up out of the water, the whole fount of the Holy Spirit descended upon him and rested upon him and said to him: My Son, in all the prophets was I waiting for theee that thou shoudest come and I might rest in thee. For thou art my rest; thou art my firstbegotten Son that reigneth forever." (New Testament Apocrypha 1:164)

Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard in Mark chapter 12 explains very well that the Father sent "servants" (prophets) to the Vineyard (Israel), but they were beaten. Then the Lord of the Vineyard sent His only begotten Son, but He was rejected and killed. Then the Lord of the Vineyard comes Himself to the Vineyard, clears out the hirlings, and makes His vineyard ready for harvest. In this parable Jesus is telling His disciples that the Father Himself will come to this earth; specifically, to the "Vineyard of God". In Hebrew, "Carm-El" means "Vineyard of God".

Q. Do Baha'is believe that Jesus was just a Prophet like Muslims do?

A. No. Baha'is believe that Jesus was a Prophet, and a Manifestation of God AND THE SON OF GOD!. Baha'is don't believe the Jesus is the ONLY Son of God. Even Adam is called "the Son of God" (Luke 1:38).

There are 7 Son of God, and they are:

Adam
Enoch
Melchizedek
JESUS
Ali
The Báb
'Abdu'l-Baha

The Son of God are represented by the "Lamb with 7 Eyes" in the Book of Revelations. Baha'u'llah referred to Jesus not only as "the Son" of God but as "the Lord of the Visible and the Invisible" (i.e. the Creator) (Gleanings p.57) as well as "the Lord of all being" (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p.100). 'Abdu'l-Baha referred to Jesus as "the Very Savior of Man."(Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.63)

Baha'is believe everything that Latter-day Saints believe about Jesus, and more.

Q. Do Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is greater than Jesus?

A. No, but They do have different stations. There are three different stations among the Manifestations of God:

1) Father

2) Son

2) Messenger

To understand what Baha'is believe concerning them one must merely read the Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard in Mark chapter 12.

Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the "Lord of the Vineyard". In Hebrew, Carm-El means "Vineyard of God".

Q. How could Baha'u'llah fulfill the prophecies concerning the return of Christ when in fact the signs in the Heavens like the sun becoming black or the moon turning to blood or the stars falling from heaven HAVE NOT yet taken place?

A. They have! Baha'is believe that such signs have literal as well as metaphorical meanings. The literal fulfillments of the signs in Matthew chapter 24 have already taken place! The "Dark Day" in which the Sun became black and the Moon appeared as blood took place on May 8th 1790, and is will-attested by historians. The "Night of the Falling Stars" took place on November 13th 1833. Joseph Smith himself believed that Nov. 13th was the fulfillment of the Matthew 24 signs! In his journal for that day he wrote:

"About 4 o'clock a.m., I was awakened by Brother Davis knocking at my door, and calling me to arise and behold the signs in the heavens. I arose, and, to my great joy, beheld the starts fall from haven like a snow of hailstones; a literal fulfillment of the word of God, as recorded in the Scriptures, and a sure sign that the coming of Christ is close at hand." (History of the Church 1:439)

"About 2 o'clock in the morning, we were called up by the cry of signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment all the firmament seemed involved in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expance had been hurled from its course, and sent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun. Every heart was filled with joy at this majestic display of signs and wonders, showing the near approach of the coming of the Son of Man." (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p.110)

The current popular belief among Mormons that the 'signs in the heavens' have yet to occur contradicts the beliefs of Joseph Smith who believed the signs had already taken place, and this new belief among Mormons (that the signs in the heavens are yet in the future) did not become popular with Mormons until about the 1920s; via the writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, who wrote that blacks were "inferior" and the children of Cain. The great majority of Members are totally unaware that many things they believe today contradict the beliefs and teachings of Joseph Smith.

Q. What do Baha'is think of The Book of Mormon?

A. Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Guardian of the Faith, was once asked if The Book of Mormon was "historical". He replied that "that was a matter for historians to pass upon". The Faith has no "official" position on The Book of Mormon; whether it was historical, or merely a divine parable written by a Seer or perhaps several Seers. Shoghi Effendi did say that Joseph Smith was "a Seer" and that "he had high standards". A religious fraud cannot be a "Seer" and a fraud cannot have "high standards".

Among the several thousand Mormons who have become Baha'is over the last 90 odd years, some believe that The Book of Mormon is historical, and some believe that it is a non-historical "divine parable" (like The Book of Jonah); a parable about white people (the Nephites) and colored people (Lamanites) in the New World; that because of racial pride and the love of wealth the colored peoples (Lamanites) would one day utterly destroy the white people (Nephites) unless the whites repented. The Faith has no official position one way or the other, but allows Believers to hold either view, or no view at all. Baha'is can hold personal opinions on many things as long as they don't try to "force" their personal opinions upon others.

The LDS Church now uses The Book of Mormon as a way to convince people that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. In other words, they ask investigators to read and pray about The Book of Mormon, and if The Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith must be a true Prophet and the Church true as well.

Most Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon must be literal history in order to be true, but this is not so.

Most Mormons are familiar with the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. The book tells the story of the prophet Jonah. The LORD calls him to go and preach to the city of Ninevah (in Assyria); that the LORD will destroy their city. Jonah is affraid he will be killed, so he gets on a ship in order to run away from the LORD, but the LORD causes a storm at sea and Jonah is thrown overbord, and a "great fish" swallows Jonah, then belches him up on shore telling him to finish his mission. So, Jonah goes and preaches to the Ninevites, and, surprisingly, they repent, and the LORD cancels His plans to destroy the city.

Almost all Mormons assume that the story is 100% historical; including the part of Jonah spending three days in the belly of the "great fish" and the fish belching him up on shore and talking to him.

However, Charles Penrose, a Mormon apostle and 1st Counsellor in the First Presidency, wrote in 1921 (while he was in the First Presidency) the following:

"The story [of Jonah] is one of those parables common in the writing of the time....It does not matter whether that is actually the case or not, the purpose and intent of the book are excellent and have several grand lessons. It is of little significance whether Jonah was real individual or one chosen [as a character] by the writer of the book to write what is set forth therein." (quoted in BYU: A House of Faith, 1985 p.50)

Could The Book of Mormon be a non-historical parable as well? Perhaps this is what Shoghi Effendi meant when he wrote that the historicity of The Book of Mormon was "a matter for historians to pass upon". In other words, its historicity was besides the point and should not be a concern of the ordinary reader.

Jesus spoke many parables, and none of them were historically true. Yet, were they not true? Were they not inspired of God? They were!

The LDS Church now uses The Book of Mormon was a "way" to convince people that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet.

But that was never the purpose of The Book of Mormon!

The very purpose of The Book of Mormon is convince people that Jesus is the Christ, and to prepare people spiritually for the coming of Christ in His glory. The Baha'is of all people need no convincing that Jesus is the Christ! And, of all peoples they need no preparation in order to recognize Him when He returns in His Glory.

Again, Baha'is don't view Joseph Smith as a "Prophet" but a "Seer". A Seer and a Prophet are very similar; both have visions and receive divine revelation. But the difference between a Seer and a Prophet in the Baha'i Faith is that a Prophet is infallible while Seers are fallible as any fallen human being.

Baha'is may view The Book of Mormon as....

1) Historical
2) An inspired parable written by a Seer or Seers
3) Have no opinion one way or the other.

A small amount of Baha'is read Ant-Mormon books and believe that Joseph Smith was a fraud, but a fraud cannot be a "Seer" nor can he have "high standards" as Shoghi Effendi wrote. The Universal House of Justice has said that Joseph Smith was "sensitive to spiritual currents". A fraud cannot be senstive to spiritual currents.

Baha'is only consider the Bible, the Qur'an, and the Holy Writings of the Faith as Scripture; because only these books are viewed as infallible guides. However, Baha'is are free to view other books, such as the Bhagavad-Gita, the Sikh writings, and The Book of Mormon, as the writings of inspired Seers.

But they are not viewed as Scripture in the Baha'i Faith.

Q. Why would I wish to give up my Priesthood or give-up the blessings of the Priesthood like Eternal Marriage and the Celestial Kingdom to become a Baha'i?

A. There is no Celestial Kingdom other than the Celestial Kingdom of Baha'u'llah! There is no Eternal Marriage without being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. And there is no Holy Spirit of Promise other than Baha'u'llah!

Most Mormons believe that when they are sealed in the Temple by a Sealer (High Priest) then that means they will be married in Heaven unless unsealed by that very same Priesthood power.

But this is not what Joseph Smith taught!

Joseph Smith taught that the sealings were mere "types and shadows"; meaning symbolic acts of spiritual realities. The Temple Sealings sealed no one, but were types of the TRUE "sealing" that takes place by the Holy Spirit of Promise. He said:

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

Q. But how can the Baha'i Faith be the Celestial Kingdom when that Kingdom is in Heaven on the other side of the veil?

A. Does the Church exist on this side of the veil only? No. The Church exists on both sides of the veil, and so does the Faith! Remember, according to D&C section 65, the the very purpose of the Church is to prepare the way the the Kingdom of Heaven which his to be set up upon the earth.

The Kingdom of Heaven is to be established upon the Earth.

The Heavenly Kingdom is to be established upon the Earth!

The Latin word for Heavenly is Celestial.

Heavenly=Celestial

Baha'u'llah is the GLORY (BAHA) of the Celestial Kingdom. He is the Lord behind the Veil.

Mormons who await a different Celestial Kingdom are like the Jews who reject Jesus as their Messiah, yet pray for the coming of the Messiah every day of their lives.

They missed the mark.

Think of it! The very people the LORD had chosen and prepared had rejected the very One in Whom they prepared for!

Will history repeat itself?

There is no "Celestial Kingdom" other than the Kingdom of Baha'u'llah.

There is no "Holy Spirit of Promise" other than Baha'u'llah.

There is no "Eternal Life" other than the Eternal Life that comes by accepting Him!

There is NO "Eternal Marriage" other than by being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise!

Baha'u'llah is the Holy Spirit of Promise!

He wrote:

"We of a certainty, have had 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)

A. No. They have an Administrative Order, but this is not a Priesthood.

The Priesthood can be likened to a boarding school for boys. The school contains instruction and heavy discipline, but it is not an end in itself. It prepares the way for something else. It prepares the way for manhood, and once a boy becomes a man he leaves the boarding school with tears, with fond memories, but he moves on.

Why?

Because he is now a man. The boarding school has prepared him for greater things. The Church prepares the way for "the greater kingdom." (LDS Bible Dict. p.721).

The Priesthood is a preparation to enter the Celestial Kingdom. The Baha'i Faith is that Kingdom on earth.

That Kingdom exists "on the other side of the veil" (i.e. in the Afterlife) as well; as does the Church.

In the Church men used consecrated oil and placed their hands upon the heads of the sick and their children to give them blessings of health and protection. The Faith has no priesthood, but it does have special prayers that anyone can read for the sick, and for special blessings.

Q. The Baha'is told me that they don't believe in reincarnation, but you claim that 'Abdu'l-Baha is Jesus reincarnated, and that the Elect reincarnate! How is this contradiction explained?

A. The doctrine of reincarnation (as it is believed today) teaches that we all reincarnate many times, and that this is punishment upon the soul, and that our goal is to be "liberated" from the Wheel of Rebirth. This is the essence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Bahá'ís don't believe that all souls reincarnate; just certain "favored souls" which include the WORD of God, the Prophets, and "certain favored souls" sometimes called the "Chosen" or the "Elect".

For the vast great majority of us, we spend only one life on this planet. Other lives on other planets are possible, but we cannot return to this planet anymore than we can return to the womb of our own mothers.

We all have a spirit and a soul, but they are not the same. Our "soul" is our individuality. Our "spirit" is the Divine Spark in all of us. 'Abdu'l-Baha (the Son of Bahá'u'lláh) is NOT the re-incarnation of the SOUL of Jesus, but rather the re-incarnation of the WORD of God. The WORD that was in Jesus.

The WORD of God is the "Lamb with 7 Eyes" in the Book of Revelations. These "eyes" represent 7 Divine Souls. Melchizedek was One of these Divine Souls. So was Jesus. So was Ali. So was 'Abdu'l-Baha. The Menorah (7 poled candle) is a symbol of this.

So, if a Bahá'í says to you "We do not believe in reincarnation" he/she really means "We do not believe in the popular belief regarding reincarnation; that we all have many lifetimes on earth." So "reincarnation" (i.e. what most people think it means) is NOT true! The vast great majority of us have also ONE lifetime on earth.

Q. Will the Baha'is have answers to my questions regarding the Church, Joseph Smith, and the Baha'i Faith?

A. Not likely. Most Baha'is today don't know what Shoghi Effendi said about Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. They've never studied it! Only several Baha'is (one of them a former Mormon) has studied the subject thoroughly, and I am one of them. All the answers we can give you are HERE in this article, and in the other articles I have written:

*The 1890-91 Prophecies of Joseph Smith FULFILLED in the Baha'i Faith.

*The Baha'i Faith: An Introduction for LDS Seekers

Do Mormon Temples Testify of Baha'u'llah?

Read all of these articles completely and you'll find most of the answers to the questions you will have.

If you have a question not already answered, then I suggest you seek the answer yourself via prayer and study.

Q. What does the Faith have to say about abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, women and the priesthood, etc.

A. A "Baha'i" means "one who belongs to Baha'u'llah". To be a Baha'i is to believe that Baha'u'llah is the Spirit of Truth and that His Infallible Pen revealed the Will and Mind of God upon all subjects.

Therefore...

Baha'is "follow" Baha'u'llah; because unlike Mormon apostles, the Pen of Baha'u'llah is considered absolutely infallible; because Baha'u'llah was no mere human, but rather the incarnation of the Spirit of Truth.

Therefore...

Baha'is obey the commands of Baha'u'llah, and Baha'u'llah has written that homosexuality is a sin, and forbidden among Believers.

Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Faith, has written that homosexuality "retards the progress of the soul" in the Afterlife and that abortion is "forbidden in the Cause." The Universal House of Justice has written that there are exceptions to this rule for valid medical reasons, but that abortion for the purpose of getting rid of an unwanted child "is strickly forbidden in the Faith".

Mormons who are Gay or Lesbian will find the same attitude about abortion, extra-marital sex, and homosexuality as they found in the Church. If they cannot abide by the Will and Mind of God, as revealed by the Pen of Baha'u'llah and His appointed successors, then they should look for another spiritual home; perhaps the "Community of Christ" (RLDS) or the "United Church of Christ" or the Unitarians.

There are "gay" and "lesbian" Baha'is who at least claim to remain celebate; for this is what Baha'u'llah commanded since He commanded that LIWAT (homosexual acts by anyone) are "forbidden" and "among satanic deeds". Some have married, and Baha'i marriage is allowed in heterosexual marriages only.

It does not matter whether homosexuality is a genetic, biological, or "learned" behavior! A homosexual orientation is NOT forbidden in the Faith, but LIWAT (homosexual ACTS) ARE forbidden; whether they are done by homosexuals or heterosexuals. As far as political "rights" go, the Faith has nothing against the political rights of Gays and Lesbians, but the Baha'is are forbidden to engage in partisan politics, or to belong to political parties. The only "Party" that Baha'is belong to is the Party of BAHA; which is the Faith itself.

The Faith has no "priesthood". There is an Administration Order called "The A.O." which both men and women belong to. In fact, for reasons unknown, mostly women are members of the Local Spiritual Assemblies (bishoprics), and women can serve on the National Spiritual Assemblies (presiding bishopric over a nation) and women can also be Counsellors (the Baha'i equivolent of a Seventy).

However....

The Governing Body and Supreme Head of the Faith is the Universal House of Justice; a 9-Member Council that only men can serve on. Why? Because Baha'u'llah commanded it that way, and Baha'is believe that He revealed the Will and Mind of God via His Infallible Pen. If Baha'u'llah was fallible then He lied, and a liar cannot be the Spirit of Truth.

But....

Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the Spirit of Truth and that He had "an infallible Pen" and that whatever He wrote is the Will and Mind of God. So Baha'is obey Him.

Q. Why should I break my temple covenants and leave the Church and join the Baha'i Faith?

A. Not to break, but to fulfill! The Jews thought they were breaking Temple covenants if they became Christians, but in reality their Temple did nothing but prepare them for Christ!

The goal of every active Mormon is to enter "The Celestial Kingdom". Mormons believe that the Celestial Kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven, and that it exists only on "the other side of the veil" (in the Afterlife).

But this is not so.

The Celestial Kingdom (like all other kingdoms) exists on both sides of the veil; just like the Church does!

In Mormon Temples, patrons wear white clothing, and they sit in front on an altar, and behind the altar are white veils, and behind each veil stands a high priest who represents "the Lord behind the veil". Every temple patron is taught certain "signs and tokens", and if they correctly give these "signs and tokens" to the high priest behind the veil, then the veil in parted and they may enter the Celestial Room; which symbolically represents the Celestial Kingdom.

The very definition of "signs and tokens" are that they are mere symbols or representations of something else other than themselves! In the Jewish Temple, the blood of animals represented the Blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus) being shed for sin. The "signs and tokens" are mere symbols of something else.

The Babis wore white clothing; the men wore white turbans, and sashes drapped over their right shoulders (Muslims draped them over their left shoulder). Babi women only veiled their faces while praying. The symbol of The Bab was the five-pointed star, and Babis embraced upon 5 points. The flag of The Bab was green; the symbol of the Siyyids (descendants of Muhammad).They prayed in circles instead of in rows like Muslims.

Baha'u'llah sat behind a white veil over the entrance of His apartment, and unveiled His face to the world in 1890, and made His Great Anouncement to the World in 1891.

He who has an ear let him hear. He who has eyes let him see.

The Jews in Jesus' day saw their Priesthood and their Temple rituals as ends in themselves, and not what they really were: signs and tokens to prepare the Pure-in-Heart for the Promised One.

But they followed their leaders, and rejected Him.

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O High Priests! Ears have been given you that they may hearken unto the Mystery of Him Who is Self-Dependent, and eyes that they may behold Him. Wherefore flee ye? The Incomparable Friend is manifest. He speaketh that wherein lieth salvation.***Whatsoever hath been anounced in the Books hath been revealed and made clear. From every direction the signs have been manifested.***O High Priests! The Hand of Omnipotence is stretched forth from hehind the clouds; behold ye with new eyes. The tokens of His majesty and greatness are unveiled!***Ye are the high priests of the Temple.***Say, O high priests! No man's acts shall be acceptable, in this Day, unless he forsaketh mankind and all that men possess, an setteth his face towards the Omnipotent One.***He indeed is a high priest who hath seen the light and hastened into the way leading to the Beloved." (Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, pp.108-9)

Contact Information

If you live in the U.S. (except for Alaska and Hawaii) then there is a toll-free number you can call anytime day or night:

1-800-228-6483

If you don't live in the Continental U.S., and would like free information mailed to you, then go to:

The Bahá'ís have no "missionaries". The Seeker of Truth must "seek out" the Baha'is and go to them. There is a Bahá'í Center somewhere near where you live that has a bookstore and free lending library. The Faith has no one "book" for you to read; nor a set of "Discussions" for you to listen to. I suggest that you contact the Baha'is and go to one of the Public Meetings. I also suggest you get a copy of the book Thief in the Night by William Sears. Every Bahá'í Center has copies of this book.

Today you must make a choice; whether to follow "Prophets" who do not prophesy, "Seers" who do not see visions, and "Revelators" who do not receive revelation, or to become Seekers of Truth and Followers of the Holy Spirit of Promise. The Choice is yours.

You will recognize the Voice of the Spirit of Truth when you hear it...when you hear His prayers being recited by the Friends (Baha'is).

Go in Peace!

DARRICK EVENSON
darrick_evenson@yahoo.com