The name Lucifer (not *really* just another name for Satan) does not appear in the Hebrew texts of Isaiah, a mistranslation spread by the KJV, and popularized by Milton.

Some information on this topic with specific regard to Mormon belief can be found here…
http://www.lds-mormon.com/lucifer.shtml
To me, this raises credibility issues for the Book of Mormon, and consequently, the doctrines following it.

Concerning the existence of Satan:
Duality (good vs evil, light vs dark) was not present in western cultures until influenced by the east (china, india, etc). Not even the Hebrews of the Old Testament taught of a supernatural creature that defies God’s will. Modern Jews have no such belief either.

Anyhow, I won’t bore you with research any longer. Best of luck in your search for the truth.

Ron, you are mistaken, the Book of Mormon does not make frequent mention of Lucifer. In fact there is only one reference to Satan as Lucifer in the Book of Mormon. It’s just another name for Satan. As for your research, your questions about the Bible are interesting, I’ll have to do some research to give you a better response, but for now here is this link for the LDS Bible Dictionary’s definition of Satan:

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/d/35

You’ll notice that the definition recognizes the Hebrew and Greek meanings of the word. I think that while you are right the word Satan does mean other things, that doesn’t mean Satan doesn’t exist. All names have meanings, and the meaning behind the name Satan seems to match his purpose.

http://sanscolour.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/who-made-the-devil/

I’ll put my cards out up front to make this a bit easier.

I’m an atheist (though I was raised Christian) with a solid literary appreciation with the Bible. Most of what I know about the Book of Mormon is through rumor. Most recently, I have researched the topic of Lucifer, and the essential non-existence of that character as we know it today (Shameless link to my own Blog post .) While I am not a religious individual myself, I do sincerely respect the beliefs of others.

Thank you for your time.

Regarding Mary’s conception, you are confused about our doctrine. “He shall be born of Mary, … she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God” That is what we believe, just like you.

As for the Trinity, the Trinity is a belief that many Christian churches hold, but that doesn’t mean that it is necessary for someone to believe in the trinity to be Christian. The concept of the trinity comes from the Council of Nicea, it was something that a bunch of men voted for. I think that revelation comes by other means and not by man voting upon what is and what is not doctrine. I may not be a “Nicean” but I am a Christian.

The concept of the Trinity is not in the Bible. We believe that the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings who are one in purpose. But we believe in all three.

As for progressing to become Gods, ya it’s a difference in theology, we believe we can progress and become Gods. We believe we will continue to grow after this life. How does that make us un Christian? I believe that Christ is a divine being. Our belief that we can continue to progress in no way belittles Christ’s role. Without the atonement we would not be able to repent and return to live with our Heavenly Father.

To be a Christian church a church must teach of Christ. They must believe in him and that’s what my church does. Yes we believe different doctrinal things, but that makes us “not Catholic” or “not Protestant” Our belief in Christ is what makes us Christian

Throughout your comment you mention “biblically founded churches” and you define that as a church which does not believe in additional testaments. Joseph Smith was reading in the Bible, in James more specifically, he read “if any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God” This was when there were many different churches popping up on the East coast of the US, Joseph wasn’t sure which church to join, so he prayed about it. His answer was that none of them were right. That he was to bring back the true church which had been lost by apostasy.

Our doctrine is found in the bible. Yes we have the additional testament of Christ. But how does that falsify our belief in the Bible? The principles of the LDS church are founded within the Bible. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ. If, as my church believes, Christ came to the Americas and taught the people there and visited them, would that somehow change the Bible? Christ didn’t teach the people in the America’s different things, he taught them the same concepts.

So for example the principle of baptism: Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. He taught that it was necessary for salvation. In the Book of Mormon when he comes to the Americas he teaches them that same principle of baptism. Christ wanted the people in the Americas to know the truth too.

The doctrine of my church is found in the Bible, it is also found in the Book of Mormon. And some our doctrine comes from continuing revelation. We believe God continues to talk to a prophet today to give us council.

I ask you to find something in the Book of Mormon that you do not believe. A principle found in there, a direct quote that is contrary to the teachings in the Bible. I don’t think you’ll find one. The principles you attack from my faith are found in the Bible, they are our interpretations of the Bible. Which is how all Christian churches differ, it comes from the different interpretations of the Bible.

The LDS church believes that as man now is, God once was and as God now is man may be. Bible believing Christian churches do not believe or teach this. We believe that God was always God and that he is never changing, therefore there is not progression. We also believe that when man dies he does not have the chance to become like God, that kind of thinking is what got Lucifer kicked out of Heaven. We believe that we will spend eternity with our God worshiping Him.

The LDS church also teaches that Mary was impregnated by God himself, not by the act of the Holy Ghost passing over her, which is what we believe. We also believe in the Trinity which you’ve already said the LDS church does not believe in and the Trinity is one of the most important beliefs in the Christian church.

These are some very important beliefs of Bible believing Christian churches (once again I mean only the Bible not additional testaments) and Mormon doctrine just does not agree with them. You may argue that there are different denominations within Christianity which don’t believe the same. Yes that is true to a point, but the basic foundations of Christian churches from different denominations, such as those I have mentioned are the same, and to be considered a Christian church you must believe in them as well.