Is Glenn Beck Saved? (A Short Review of Mormonism)

Glenn Beck is one of the most popular political commentators in the United States. Between his TV show, and nationally syndicated talk-radio show, Beck reaches millions of Americans every day with his commentary about politics. Glenn Beck is also a convert to the Mormon faith, joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1999 along with his wife and children. However, his recent comments regarding God, salvation, and the Gospel on his TV show have caused some evangelical Christians to contemplate the salvation of Glenn Beck, even as a member of the Mormon Church.

We know that it’s the desire of political conservatives, constitutionalists, and Christians to take back America and stop the socialistic trends in this country. We are grateful for Glenn Beck and others like him who are standing behind the constitution and foundational basis of this country. Every evangelical Christian should support them in these goals. However, in sharing this common goal and desire we must be careful to not cross the line and become undiscerning in our theology and assessment of those who may only be masking as Evangelical Christians or “transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Although Glenn Beck (a Mormon), and others like Sean Hannity (a devout Catholic) and Bill O’ Reilly (a Catholic), who claim to be conservative, Catholic, Christians, we must be careful to not lump Mormons and Catholics in the same mold as fundamental Evangelical Christianity, which firmly embraces Jesus Christ as God, salvation without any church traditions, Mary, and human works, and a once-and-for-all justification before God through faith alone, in Christ alone (Rom. 5:1; 8:33-34).

Glenn Beck professes to be a Mormon. So, a better question to ask is this; can a Mormon be saved? The answer is simple. If a professing Mormon believes wholeheartedly in Mormon doctrine he definitely cannot be saved. The same is true of Roman Catholics. If they embrace Catholic Doctrine for their salvation, then they can’t be saved. In short, the cults who are steeped in their anti-biblical belief systems cannot be saved (2 Pet. 2:1-3). This is because the Mormons, like all other cults, reject the deity of Jesus Christ and the work of Jesus Christ alone to bring them salvation and acceptance before God (John 8:24). They place faith in a false Christ and are dependent upon their human merits and works to ultimately give them acceptance before God.

When church traditions and pagan beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation are embraced and believed, then that person cannot be saved (2 Pet. 3:16). No person who rejects Christ’s person (who He claimed to be) and work (what He did on the cross and resurrection) and the way of faith in Christ for salvation can enter Heaven (Acts 16:31; John 14:6; 1 John 2:18).

Consider Mormonism. Mormons use similar Christian terminology or vocabulary but have different definitions than evangelical Christianity for the meaning of Christian words. Their view of God, salvation, and Jesus Christ are a perfect example of using Christian vocabulary but denying the Biblical meanings and understanding of these words.

What Mormons Actually Believe

1. About the Father:

Mormons believe that God the Father was once a man (an exalted or glorified man) who continually progressed to become a god.

"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s..." (Doctrine & Coven. 130:22).

“God is in the form of a man” (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3.)

"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
Mormons do not believe the Father was the eternal and only God and yet the Bible declares that God was never a man and there is only one God.

Hosea 11:9 states: “I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.”
Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Isaiah 44:8 declares: “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”
Isaiah 45:5: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.”
Isaiah 46:9: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.”
In Isaiah 43:10 God declares:
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
2. About the Trinity:

Mormons believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. This is a rejection of the oneness of the Godhead and the vital doctrine of the Trinity.

The Mormon Church teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577), and that the Son and Holy Ghost are the literal offspring of the Heavenly Father and a celestial wife (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 2, p. 649).

The Bible refutes the idea that there are three separate gods. There is only one God, and He exists in a Trinity.

1. The Father is called God (“God the Father” – 1 Pet. 1:2).

2. The Son is called God (“My Lord and my God” – John 20:28). The Father
said to the son “Thy throne, O God is forever” (Heb. 1:8).

3. The Holy Spirit is said to be God (Acts 5:3-4).

The members of the Godhead are never called “a god” but God! God is one God and He exists in a Trinity.

There is only one God - not three different gods.

Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (not three gods).
3. About other gods:

Mormons believe there are many other gods that exist and we too will someday become a god. The Mormon Church teaches that there are many gods and that we can become gods and goddesses in the celestial kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20; Gospel Principles, p. 245; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 130). It also teaches that those who achieve godhood will have spirit children who will worship and pray to them, just as we worship and pray to God the Father (Gospel Principles, p. 302).

In fact, this is how Mormons view salvation in the next life of Heaven. Satan sold Eve in the Garden of Eden – “Ye shall be as gods” (Gen. 3:5). Satan has been selling this false teaching since the beginning of the human race. Exodus 20:3 says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Why? Because there are no other true gods!

4. About Jesus Christ:

Mormons teach that Jesus was created as a spirit child by the Father and Mother in Heaven. Jesus is not the One, true, and eternal God. This is a major defection in Mormon Theology and becomes the sure sign of a cult.

John 8:58
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

John 10:30-33
“I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.”
Hebrews 1:8
“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”

In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Mormon Church, who say Latter-day Saints do not believe in the traditional Christ. Hinckley agrees with their assessment when saying: “No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages” (LDS Church News, June 20, 1998, p. 7).

The Bible also says that Jesus was the creator of everything.

John 1:3
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Colossians 1:16 says this of Christ:
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”

Like all cults, Mormonism rejects this Biblical truth.
“Jesus being the literal son of exalted human gods obviously did not create all things either. For example, He did not create the planet He was born on as a spirit child” (Gospel Principles, 17-20 [1997 edition]; and 27-29).

Jesus was not a created spirit. He was and always will be the eternal and unchangeable God. He was the Creator and Designer of the universe for the simple reason that He shares the same existence with the eternal and true God.

The Mormon Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible! They have “another Jesus” and “another gospel” (2 Cor. 11:4).

4. About Salvation:

The Mormon way of salvation is not based on grace but on human merit and good works. If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670.)

The third of the Mormon Articles of Faith contains the core of the Mormon doctrine of Salvation: “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Article 3 of “The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints,” Pearl of Great Price, p. 60).

The Mormon church concludes: “We accept Christ's atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all of the commandments," (Gospel Principles, Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, pg. 68.)

For a Mormon to achieve salvation they must do the following:

 Believe in Jesus Christ (their version of Jesus Christ).
 Be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands by a person with priesthood authority.
 Endure the tests of their life on earth.
 Follow the teachings of Christ and his Apostles.
 Keep God's commandments.
 Repent of their sins.
 Undo any wrongs they may commit.
 Treat other people in the way they would want to be treated.

The Mormon fourth Article of Faith declares: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Mormons view salvation as an ongoing process. For Bible believing Christians, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not just the first of several things that God requires for men to be saved and have eternal life with Him, but it is all that He requires. Texts like John 3:15-18, 36; 5:24; 6:47; Romans 1:16-17; 3:19-28; 10:9-10; I John 5:10-13 make this abundantly clear. It’s faith alone in Christ alone!

Jesus said in John 3:36:
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Jesus also said in John 6:47:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
But the Book of Mormon teaches otherwise:
"We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23).

The Mormon view of salvation involves exaltation in the next life in the form of a god. Exaltation, according to an official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publication, "is eternal life, the kind of life that God lives. He lives in great glory. He is perfect. He possesses all knowledge and all wisdom. He is the father of spirit children. He is a creator. We can become gods like our Heavenly Father. This is exaltation" (Gospel Principles, Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1978, revised 1986, 289).

What Mormons Won’t Tell You!

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they believe your Church is wrong, your Christian creeds are abomination to God, and your pastor is a hireling of Satan.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that there is salvation only in their church - all others are wrong.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they consider the Bible to be untrustworthy and full of errors.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that Jesus' death on the cross only partially saves the believer.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they intend to be gods themselves some day, and are helping to earn their exaltation to godhood by talking to you.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that the virgin Mary really wasn't a virgin at all but had sexual relations with their heavenly father to produce the Mormon version of Jesus Christ.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that the "heavenly father" they ask you to pray to with them, is really an exalted man that lives on a planet near the star base Kolob, and is not the Heavenly Father of the Bible at all.

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that their Prophet Joseph Smith (their founding prophet) prophesied falsely many times. For example, he foretold the second coming of Christ for 1891. The Bible teaches that one false prophecy puts the prophet under death sentence. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that Joseph Smith taught that there were inhabitants on the moon, and Brigham Young taught there were inhabitants on the sun as well!

Back to Beck!
If Glenn Beck believes this anti-biblical doctrine, then he cannot be a saved, Evangelical Christian, who places faith in the Jesus Christ of Scripture, and one who embraces the true God of the Bible. Of course, Glenn Beck could be Mormon in name only and not necessarily embrace their theology and practice. There are undoubtedly some Catholics like this as well. However, let’s not be emotionally charged and naïve in our understanding about Mormonism and the cults, even while we desire to see America return to her historic roots and foundation.

1 John 4:1 declares:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Demonic spirits are deceptive and mask the truth behind Christian vocabulary and the veneer of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Don’t forget about the old “angel of light” routine that Satan masquerades before us. Those who present a different Jesus, a different Gospel, a different plan and concept of salvation, and a different God are not of God, whether they are on the left, middle, or right wing of conservative politics. Political ambitions and correctness should not override truth, discernment, and fundamental Christianity.

I am thankful for men like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’ Reilly. We should pray for these men, so they would embrace the true way of salvation, through Christ alone (not through Mary, Mormonism, and many church traditions), and that they would follow the complete truth of the Bible, instead of cultic errors. We should also pray that God will use them as a hinge to bring our beloved country back to her historic roots of true liberty and freedom. I am grateful for freedom fighters and all those who sacrifice their time and lives to maintain the liberties, which God and the original founders established for this country.

We can support those who are defending the constitution without supporting their religious background and teachings. I can pray for these men and support Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’ Reilly, who are Freedom Fighters, but no fundamental Bible Christian can support and overlook their ecclesiastical (church) associations. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 that we are to “prove all things” and “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Ignorance of spiritual truth and ignoring error leads to confusion and compromise (Rev. 2:20). And remember this: “Error often rides on the back of truth.” We should remain discerning (Heb. 5:14) while we fight for the freedoms of this country and remember that no Mormons signed the Declaration of Independence!

Mormon heritage is traced back to 1820, some 18 centuries after the foundation of Biblical Christianity, and it’s based upon a 14-year old boy receiving Golden Plates by an angel! Beck seems to be a careful historian on many issues. Since this is the case, he should raise his eyebrows at the claims of Mormon Doctrine which replaces the historic Christian doctrines about the eternal nature and uniqueness of God the Father, Jesus Christ as the only true God, and salvation through Christ alone (not the Mormon Church teachings and traditions). He also should realize that there is only one true Bible and it’s not the Mormon Bible.

The “other testament” of Mormonism has heavily plagiarized the King James Bible, which was printed over two hundred years prior to the foundation of Mormonism. Solemn warning is given to never add to the Bible and create “another testament” (Rev. 22:18) of false teachings.

And yet, the Mormon Church Declares:
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. . ." (8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church).

"Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God." (1 Nephi 13:28).

In short, the Mormon church believes the Book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible! Beware of the counterfeits!

So what about Beck’s salvation? We don’t know what is happening in Glenn Beck’s life. Perhaps evangelical, Bible-believing Christians have actually pointed Glenn Beck to the true Christ of the Bible and Christianity. He has had contact with many of them. If this is the case, God will sooner or later lead him out of the Mormon Church. He will refer to himself as only a Christian – not a Mormon. He will also repudiate apostate Mormon doctrine (Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6; 14). Ultimately, we will leave the answer to the question of Glenn Beck’s salvation with God.

2 Timothy 2:19 declares:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

A more personal question for you today is this: “Are you saved?” How can you know that you are going to Heaven? The Bible says that you have sinned (Rom. 3:23 - “All have sinned”), are separated from God (“enemies” - Rom. 5:8), and will be sentenced to hell for your sins (Rom. 6:23 - “the wages of sin is death”). But the Bible also promises you can live in God’s presence forever by believing in His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16), who died on the cross in your place, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-3) to give you eternal life (John 6:47).

Will you believe in Christ today, by taking a step of faith, and personally rely on Christ, the Christ of the Bible, to be your Savior?

John 1:12,
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Believing in Jesus Christ for salvation from hell (Acts 16:31) and the free gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23), involves a personal response of faith, on the part of the sinner. When you know and understand who Jesus Christ is and place your faith in what He has done for you, it’s then you can be saved.

A Letter Sent to Mormon Elders

Below is a letter I sent to some Mormons to whom I had witnessed. After three hours of witnessing, their eyes were still blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

You men want me to believe that one vision given to a 14-year-old boy in up-state New York, back in 1820, a boy who was directed by an angel Moroni to golden plates, in order to translate the Book of Mormon (with the help of magical stones), has wiped out 18 centuries of historical Christianity! I can’t buy it!

Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This means that Jesus would not allow the original and only true church to completely apostatize. Instead, He would be with the true church until the end of the age.
Jesus has not turned His saints over to the Mormon church. Since this is true, then what is the Mormon church? Who are you guys? You can’t be the true church! You must be wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15; 2 Cor. 11:14-15).

There is only one eternal God called the Father (not many gods) that has always existed. He is called “the everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6). Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Isaiah 44:6, “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:8, “Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”

You have a different god and father! You have a god and father that are not eternal but a father who also had a father. Your father is not the Father of the Bible. Your father can’t forgive sin and give you eternal life!

Jesus Christ shares the same existence as the one eternal God. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:3 says this: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is not a god (one of many gods) but the one and only “mighty God” (Isa. 9:6), “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15) who is Creator of everything.

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16). Jesus is not a spirit-brother of Lucifer (Satan) but the Creator of Satan (Ezekiel 28:13-14). Jesus is not my elder brother – He is “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus can’t be your brother and God!

You have “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4). Galatians 1:8, “But though we, or an angel (like Moroni) from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Another Jesus cannot save you from hell and give you eternal life. Your god and Jesus can’t forgive sin and give you eternal life!

Your 3rd article of Faith says: “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

This is false. Salvation from hell and eternal life comes to us only through Jesus Christ without man’s obedience. Salvation is a free gift “for the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). We receive this free gift by placing faith in the true Jesus Christ of the Bible who is the eternal God (Galatians 3:26 - “by faith in Christ Jesus”). Salvation from “the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:45), the promise of eternal life (Titus 3:7), and justification (legal acquittal in God’s sight) are granted to us by grace “without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28) or any good works (Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation, eternal life, and justification come to us by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone.

You can “know” that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13) and be saved from hell only through the true Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4) which teaches that Jesus Christ (the only true God) died on the cross (paying sin’s penalty of judgment on our behalf) and rose again from the grave (proving that the Father had accepted His sacrificial payment for sin and giving us the promise of eternal life).

You claim to place faith in a Jesus that is not the Jesus presented in the Bible, or the Jesus who died on the cross, and seek to merit eternal life by your good works. You have “another gospel” (Gal. 1:8) that damns not only you, but other people to hell (Matt. 7:13-14). Jesus asked, “How shall ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33).

Summary: You have a different Father, a different Jesus, a different Gospel, and a different testament (with no manuscript or archeological evidence to support it). You also present different doctrine that is “contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10) presented in the Bible (which is supported by 6,000 manuscripts of antiquity and thousands of archeological finds proving its authenticity).

This can mean only one thing. You are not part of true evangelical Christianity. You are imposters and “antichrists” who are actually against the true Jesus Christ presented in the Bible (1 John 2:18). You are “not of God” (1 John 4:1-3) and are found to be liars (1 John 2:22) by rejecting the true Jesus Christ, who shares the same existence with the Father, as the only true and eternal God, and who has come into this world to be our only Savior (Acts 4:12).

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6). As a friend, I tell you the truth. Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32, 36).

In Christ (the Christ of the Bible),

Pastor Kelly Sensenig

Do you know the Christ of Holy Scriptures?

What is Sin?

The Apostasy of the Religious Right - The Manhattan Declaration


Just a note: As of late, Glenn Beck's personal views on salvation seem to have changed and have come to contradict the basic Mormon Theology. It would seem that Glenn is broadening his views and sincerely seeking the TRUTH of God as the Bible clearly teaches. It is our deepest desire that Glenn would come to a saving relationship to the Christ of the Holy Scriptures and our prayers are to that end.