Argument Tracker

LDS apologists and some critics debate whether the concept of consubstantiality (homoousios - the Father and Son being of the same substance) is found in Scripture. Critics claim it is implicit; LDS r

Protestant critics argue from the principle of sola scriptura that the Bible is the complete, sufficient, and final word of God, and that no additional scripture (such as the Book of Mormon, Doctrine

Critics argue that the LDS system of temple recommend interviews, tithing requirements, Word of Wisdom compliance, and callings constitutes a works-based religion that contradicts the New Testament go

Critics argue that Latter-day Saints cannot be considered Christians because they reject the Nicene Creed's definition of God, believe in additional scripture, and hold to doctrines (like exaltation,

Critics argue that the gates of hell did not prevail against Christ's church (Matthew 16:18), so a total apostasy is impossible. Catholics and Orthodox Christians point to apostolic succession as proo

Critics argue that the LDS doctrine that humans can become gods is blasphemous and unbiblical. They contend this was the original temptation of Satan ('ye shall be as gods') and that the creature-crea

Critics argue that the canon is closed, that the office of apostle was unique to the foundation of the church, and that ongoing prophetic revelation is unnecessary because the Bible contains everythin

Critics charge that LDS theology is polytheistic because it teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, that humans can become gods, and that God the Father was once a man

Critics point to Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage -- including sealings to women already married to other men and to a young woman just shy of 15 years old -- as evidence of moral corruption

Eastern Orthodox Christians argue that their unbroken chain of apostolic succession from the original apostles proves the church was never fully lost, making the LDS Restoration unnecessary. They clai

This is an LDS position that critics push back on: Joseph Smith reported that God told him all churches' creeds were an abomination. Critics argue this is arrogant, historically ignorant, and dismissi

This is a frequent LDS counter-argument: critics who insist Mormons must believe the Trinity often cannot themselves explain it coherently, resorting to 'it is a mystery' when pressed on how three per

Critics argue that God created everything from nothing (ex nihilo), which is the historic Christian teaching. LDS theology that God organized pre-existing matter and that human spirits are co-eternal

Critics argue that God the Father cannot have a physical body because John 1:18 says 'no man has seen God,' John 4:24 says 'God is spirit,' and classical theology teaches God is immaterial, immutable,

Critics argue that if LDS prophets can be wrong on major doctrinal matters (as admitted with the priesthood ban, Adam-God theory, etc.), then there is no reliable way to distinguish when they are spea

Critics argue that the Jesus of LDS theology is fundamentally different from the Jesus of orthodox Christianity: the LDS Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer, a separate being from the Father, and o

Critics argue that the 129-year ban preventing Black men of African descent from holding the priesthood or participating in temple ordinances proves that LDS prophets can lead the church into grave er

Critics argue that the LDS refusal to affirm biblical inerrancy creates a theological system with no stable foundation. If neither scriptures nor prophets are infallible, then there is 'flex in the jo

Critics point out that no archaeological evidence has been found for Book of Mormon civilizations, cities, or peoples. Unlike the Bible, which has extensive archaeological corroboration of places, peo

Critics cite Revelation 22:18-19 as proof that no scripture can be added after the Bible, thereby disqualifying the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as fraudulent addit

Protestant critics argue that water baptism is not required for salvation, citing the thief on the cross who was saved without baptism, Paul's statement that Christ sent him 'not to baptize but to pre

Atheist and anti-religious critics argue that there is no empirical evidence for God's existence, that religion is a human construct for social control, and that the universe can be explained without

This is actually an LDS counter-argument frequently raised: if God created everything from nothing (ex nihilo) and has perfect foreknowledge, then free will is impossible because God knowingly created

Critics argue that Moroni's promise (pray about the Book of Mormon and receive a spiritual confirmation) is an unreliable epistemological method because people in every religion receive similar spirit

Catholic apologist Joe Heschmeyer and others argue that if the LDS God is not the ground of all being but merely the highest being in a series, then LDS theology lacks a true God in the philosophical

Critics label the LDS church a cult based on characteristics like demanding obedience to leaders, discouraging members from reading critical material, controlling information, requiring significant fi

LDS apologists frequently raise the existence of 40,000+ Protestant denominations as evidence that sola scriptura fails as a principle — if the Bible alone were sufficient, there would not be thousand

Some critics (particularly Reformed Protestants) argue that God sovereignly chooses who will be saved through unconditional election. If God does not choose to regenerate a person, that person cannot

Critics argue that the LDS teaching of three degrees of glory (celestial, terrestrial, telestial kingdoms) is not taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches only heaven and hell as final destinations, and

Traditional Christians argue that the doctrine of original sin -- that all humans inherit Adam's sinful nature and guilt -- is biblical and essential to understanding salvation. The LDS view that the

Critics argue that passages in the Book of Mormon, particularly Mosiah 15:1-4, teach modalism — the heretical view that God is one person manifesting in different modes (Father, Son, Spirit) rather th

LDS apologists turn the sola scriptura argument back on Protestants by asking how they know the 66 books are the correct canon. The Bible does not contain a table of contents, and the canon was determ

Some evangelical critics, most notably Pastor Mark Driscoll, characterize Mormonism as fundamentally demonic -- not merely misguided but actively inspired by evil spiritual forces. This view holds tha

Critics argue that the LDS practice of baptism for the dead has no biblical support. The single reference in 1 Corinthians 15:29 is ambiguous and Paul does not endorse the practice; he merely referenc

Critics argue the Book of Mormon reflects 19th-century Protestant theological concerns rather than ancient Israelite or Mesoamerican thought. They point to themes like opposition in all things, the re

Critics argue that Brigham Young's teachings, particularly the priesthood and temple ban on Black members of African descent, the Adam-God theory, and blood atonement, prove he was a false prophet. If

Critics argue that the LDS church's history of changing its doctrines (polygamy, priesthood ban, temple ceremony alterations, Word of Wisdom enforcement, etc.) proves it is not led by genuine revelati

Critics argue that the LDS claim to restored Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood through angelic visitation is unverifiable and was retrofitted into LDS history years after the claimed events. They als

This argument cuts multiple ways: Protestants claim the Bible is self-interpreting, Catholics claim magisterial authority, Orthodox claim conciliar authority, and LDS claim prophetic authority. Each s

Critics argue that the LDS church has systematically hidden or sanitized embarrassing historical facts from its members, including the details of Joseph Smith's polygamy, the seer stone translation me

Critics argue that the rediscovery of the Joseph Smith Papyri proved that the Book of Abraham is not a translation of the Egyptian papyri Joseph Smith claimed to translate. Egyptologists have identifi

Critics present the LDS teaching that Jesus and Lucifer are both spirit children of Heavenly Father as a shocking and blasphemous doctrine that diminishes Christ's divine nature by making him a siblin

Critics use Deuteronomy 13 and 18 as a 'test' for true prophets, arguing that if a prophet teaches people to follow other gods or makes predictions that do not come true, they are a false prophet. The

Critics argue Joseph Smith was a product of the Second Great Awakening and the Burned-over District, drawing on Campbellite restorationism, Masonic rituals, folk magic, and readily available theologic

While this is an argument the LDS channel makes against Catholicism, it responds to the Catholic claim that their dogmas (papal infallibility, bodily assumption of Mary, universal papal jurisdiction)

While this is primarily an LDS argument, it responds to the anti-LDS criticism that the LDS God is too anthropomorphic. The channel argues that classical theism's 'perfect being theology' -- which def

This is actually an LDS argument AGAINST creedal Christianity: if God creates persons ex nihilo with perfect foreknowledge that some will end up in eternal hell, and he was free not to create them, th

Critics argue that the Word of Wisdom's prohibition on alcohol and coffee contradicts biblical freedom since Jesus turned water into wine, Paul told Timothy to drink wine, and the Bible nowhere prohib

Former members and critics argue that the LDS church's massive financial reserves (estimated $100+ billion), commercial investments, and relatively modest charitable giving compared to its wealth demo

Classical theists argue that God is impassible (cannot suffer or be affected by external forces) and that the LDS concept of a God who weeps, grieves, and has passions is philosophically incoherent. D

Oneness Pentecostals argue that God is one person who manifests in different modes (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) rather than three persons. They criticize both Trinitarian and LDS formulations, arguing t

Critics cite Deuteronomy 18:22 as a test for true prophets -- if a prophecy does not come to pass, the prophet is false. They point to Joseph Smith's prophecies about building a temple in his lifetime

The channel identifies a pattern where prominent ex-Mormon content creators (Johnny Harris, Alyssa Grenfell, Mormon Stories) and viral interviews spread misinformation about LDS beliefs and practices

Progressive and ex-Mormon critics argue that the LDS Church's patriarchal structure -- male-only priesthood, emphasis on women as mothers, hierarchical male leadership -- is inherently oppressive to w

This is actually an LDS argument responding to the claim that the early church always believed in the co-equal Trinity. The channel argues that the earliest church fathers were subordinationists who b

Critics argue that Joseph Smith lacked the credentials of a biblical prophet. He used folk magic (seer stones), was involved in treasure digging, had limited education, and produced religious texts by

Catholic and Orthodox critics appeal to divine simplicity — the doctrine that God has no parts and that all of God's attributes are identical to his essence — to argue against the LDS view of God as a

Some Protestant critics argue for the doctrine of eternal security — that once a person is genuinely saved, they cannot lose their salvation. They cite 1 John 5:13 ('that ye may know that ye have eter

Critics argue Joseph Smith's understanding of God evolved dramatically over time — from something resembling modalism in the early Book of Mormon, to a more trinitarian view in early revelations, to t

Critics claim that the witnesses to the Book of Mormon golden plates recanted their testimonies, that many left the church, and that the plates were never independently verified or translated. They ar

Critics argue that the LDS church's stance on homosexuality, which prohibits same-sex relationships and historically excluded children of same-sex couples from baptism, demonstrates institutional bigo

Critics argue that Joseph Smith died in a gunfight at Carthage Jail, firing a smuggled pistol at his attackers, which disqualifies his death as genuine martyrdom. A true martyr submits peacefully to d

Critics argue that the LDS interpretation of Ezekiel 37 (the two sticks becoming one) as prophesying the Book of Mormon joining the Bible is a misreading. In context, the sticks represent the divided

Critics point out that Joseph Smith became a Mason shortly before introducing the temple endowment ceremony, and that the endowment contains numerous elements borrowed from Masonic ritual, including h

Critics argue that the Adam-God theory taught by Brigham Young -- that Adam was actually God the Father -- was not merely a speculative theory but an official doctrine taught with the highest authorit

Catholic apologists argue that LDS theology suffers from a fundamental lack of philosophical depth, relying on naive scriptural literalism rather than the sophisticated philosophical theology develope

Ex-Mormon critics describe a church culture that creates intense shame around normal human experiences, particularly sexuality. They argue that the emphasis on purity, worthiness interviews with bisho

While not anti-LDS per se, the channel addresses the atheist argument that free will is an illusion under materialism/physicalism. If all events are determined by prior physical causes, then human cho

The classic problem of evil is raised as a challenge to theism generally and LDS theology specifically. If God is omnipotent and perfectly good, why does he allow suffering? While this applies to all

Critics cite Matthew 22:30 ('in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels') as proof that there is no eternal marriage or sealing ordinance. They argue Jesus d

In exchanges with street preachers, the question of assurance of salvation is raised: if someone can appear saved, bear good fruit, and then later fall away (proving they were 'never truly saved'), th

Matt Slick of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) presents systematic arguments against LDS theology, particularly focusing on the nature of God, the impossibility of an infinite re

Catholic apologist Joe Heschmeyer argued that apologetic arguments for the Book of Mormon's divine origin -- its complexity, the speed of its dictation, its alleged prophetic content -- are structural

Critics point out that Joseph Smith became a Freemason shortly before introducing the temple endowment ceremony and that the endowment contains significant Masonic elements including handshakes, signs

The channel addresses concerns that critical theory and social justice ideology are being imported into LDS institutions like BYU, where professors reinterpret Book of Mormon concepts like 'iniquity'

Critics point to the Danites -- a militant group operating under Joseph Smith's leadership in Missouri -- as evidence that Smith was willing to use violence and intimidation against dissenters and ene