Babies; When Baby Kicks Spirit Enters Body
Journal of Discourses 18:258-259; “When the body is prepared, at the proper time, the spirit enters the tabernacle, and all the world of mankind in their reflections and researches must come to this conclusion, for the fact is they can come to no other—that when the mother feels life there is an evidence that the spirit from heaven has entered the tabernacle.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, October 8, 1876
Genesis 2:7; “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Honestly, how many times must someone lie before the people finally say enough is enough???
Baptism for the Dead
D&C 124:29-30; “For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead—For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me.”
1 Cor. 15:29; “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”
Temples in the NT era are not made with hands and baptizing dead people is necromancy.
Baptism for the Dead
Ensign, April 2002, pg. 4; “What a marvelous thing that is that you, an ordinary boy or girl, can stand in the place of some great man or woman who at one time lived upon the earth but who is now powerless to move forward without the blessing that you can give to him or her. … There is no greater blessing that you can have than to stand as a proxy in a great service to those who have gone beyond. And it will be your privilege and your opportunity and your responsibility to live worthy to go to the temple of the Lord and there be baptized in behalf of someone else.”
— Gordon B. Hinckley
Leviticus 18:21; “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
No one except for the Creator of mankind can decide where man goes. The only person who’s stood in the place for others is Jesus when He hung on that cross for all of us.
Baptism for Dead not Necessary
2 Nephi 9:38; “And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.”
Isaiah 64:6; “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Every Mormon should question their faith based upon this verse from the Book of Mormon.
Baptisms for the Dead not Necessary
Moroni 10:26; “And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not.”
John 3:5; “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Posthumous Baptism for President Obama’s Mom
Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, May 6, 2009; “President Barack Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, who died in 1995, was baptized posthumously into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints last year during her son’s campaign, according to Salt Lake City-based researcher Helen Radkey.
The ritual, known as “baptism for the dead,” was done June 4 in the Provo temple, and another LDS temple rite, known as the “endowment,” was performed in the same temple on June 11, said Radkey, who found the record while doing research in the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City.”
2 Thess. 2:10-11; “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
So – did they marry her to Barack’s father or her second husband? How does the “Families are Forever” program work now? And because some of the people involved aren’t white does that make a difference?
Posthumous Baptisms for Murderers
Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, June 3, 2009; “Prominent fundamentalist Mormons, most of whom were excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for practicing polygamy while they were alive, have been posthumously re-baptized in LDS temples, a Salt Lake City researcher says.
Helen Radkey said in a new report that she obtained church records on 20 fundamentalists — from murderer Ervil LeBaron to Joseph Musser to Rulon Jeffs — showing that they’ve been baptized and have had their plural marriages “sealed” for time and eternity by proxy LDS members, one as recently as this year.
Perhaps the most puzzling ordinances, Radkey said, are those that “seal” women to men whom they had divorced, mostly over the polygamy issue…”
Romans 1:28; “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”
Interesting…according to D&C 42:79 murderers can never have forgiveness.
Baptism Mandatory
The Seer, p 255 (1854); “Baptism is just as essential to salvation, as Faith and Repentance. — Without being immersed in water no man can enter into the fulness of Celestial glory… But who in this generation have authority to baptize? Only the Latter-day Saints. Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the “whore of Babylon.” – Orson Pratt
Luke 23:39-43; “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Baptism: No Baptisms for the Dead?
Ask your Mormon friend to explain what Alma meant when he said there’s nothing to save you after you die.
Be sincere! Tell them you’ve read a passage in the Book of Mormon that’s caused you to wonder about the Mormon practice of baptisms for the dead and wanted to get an idea of what this means from a Mormon and not an outsider.
They’ll appreciate being asked for their opinion and it gives them something to think about! This teaching in Alma contradicts everything they do in those temples.
Alma 34:33-35; “…behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. 34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. 35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.”
Baptism, Resurrection, Church; Circa 120 BC
Mosiah 26:2; “They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. 4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5; “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
How could someone believe in Jesus, resurrection of the dead, be baptized and go to church in 120 BC? Does this sound reasonable?
Baptism then Holy Spirit
Cowley’s Talks on Doctrine, pg. 110; “Having shown that faith, repentance and baptism are essential to the remission of sins, let us now consider the reception of the Holy Spirit. That this should follow, and not precede, the birth of the water must be evident to every thoughtful person.”
Acts 2:41; “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
The Holy Spirit doesn’t have to wait on a man-made ordinance to dwell inside a believer.
Articles of Faith, p. 110; “The Establishment of Baptism dates from the time of the earliest history of the race. When the Lord manifested Himself to Adam after the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, He promised the patriarch of the race: “If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son…” – James Talmage
Holman’s Bible Dictionary on Baptism; “At some point close to the time of Jesus, Judaism began a heavy emphasis on ritual washings to cleanse from impurity. This goes back to priestly baths prior to offering sacrifices (Lev. 16:4, 24). Probably shortly prior to the time of Jesus or contemporary with Him, Jews began baptizing Gentile converts, though circumcision still remained the primary entrance rite into Judaism.”
Matthew 3:13-15; “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
For the sake of the argument let’s go ahead and say the Mormon teachings of baptism actually mean washings instituted in the book of Leviticus. That’s roughly a 2,400 year discrepancy. Also notice God is telling Adam to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Yeah, okay…
Baptism; Which Comes First – Holy Ghost or Baptism?
Preach My Gospel, pg 63; “After a person is baptized by water, one or more authorized priesthood holders lay their hands upon the person’s head and confirm the person a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They then confer the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 10:44-48; “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
Baptized into Christ in 158 BC
Mosiah 18:13; “And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.”
Belief
Newsweek, “What Mormons Believe,” September 1, 1980, p. 68; “Mormon doctrine means that ultimately we are not dependent upon God for our existence. And since we can make ourselves as godly as the Father, we don’t feel any jealousy toward him.” BYU Professor James E. Ford
2 Tim. 2:16; “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
Every time I think I’ve found the most blasphemous teaching of the Mormon Church, another rears its ugly head.
Belief in Christ in 551 BC
Jacob 1:8; “Jacob 1:8; “Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.” – 551 BC
Romans 1:30-32; “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
B.H. Roberts’ Assessment of Book of Mormon: Tale by a Child
Studies of the Book of Mormon, by B.H. Roberts, p. 251; “If from all that has gone before in Part 1, the view be taken that the Book of Mormon is merely of human origin… if it be assumed that he is the author of it, then it could be said there is much internal evidence in the book itself to sustain such a view.
“In the first place there is a certain lack of perspective in the things the book relates as history that points quite clearly to an underdeveloped mind as their origin. The narrative proceeds in characteristic disregard of conditions necessary to its reasonableness, as if it were a tale told by a child, with utter disregard for consistency.”
John 6:44; “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Bible
A Bible and the Jews
2 Nephi 29:3-4, 6 “And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. 4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? 6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?”
Luke 24:27; “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Bible vs. Book of Mormon
Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, pg. 15; “Of the four great standard works of the Church—the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—I would particularly urge you to read again and again the Book of Mormon and ponder and apply its teachings. The Book of Mormon was referred to by the Prophet Joseph Smith as “the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man [and woman] would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”” – Ezra Taft Benson
1 John 5:13; “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
It’s blasphemous to lead others away from the Bible. It’s a lie to tell people that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the face of the earth and it’s very telling when the prophets of Mormonism proclaim that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of their religion – obviously Jesus is not.
Bible
Journal of Discourses 2:6-7; “You believe Adam was made of the dust of this earth. This I do not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible; but it is not, to my understanding. You can write that information to the States, if you please—that I have publicly declared that I do not believe that portion of the Bible as the Christian world do. I never did, and I never want to. What is the reason I do not? Because I have come to understanding, and banished from my mind all the baby stories my mother taught me when I was a child..” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, October 23, 1853
2 Timothy 3:13-15; “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
You don’t have to believe the Bible is the word of God. Our Lord doesn’t force anyone to believe in Him even though He gives us ample opportunity to do so; the choice will always be left up to you.
However, when you begin leading others astray and lying to make your point the Bible verse Matthew 18:6 ought to readily be remembered.
Bible Bashing 101
Not My Will, but Thine; “Belief in Deity and in the literal resurrection are usually the first beliefs to be discarded when faith diminishes. Ironically, though we gratefully accept the Bible as the word of God, the very process of its emergence—resulting in a dilution or loss of plain and precious truths—has, alas, led to a slackening or weakening of the Christian faith on the part of some—naturally, with an accompanying diminution of obedience to God’s commandments. Because available Bible sources are not “originals,” however, but represent dated derivations and translations, the “other books” of scripture which have come to us directly are even more to be prized.” – Neal Maxwell
2 Timothy 2:3-4, 15; “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
Bible, Changes Made by Joseph Smith to the
Ensign, December 1972, pg. 61; “Chapter 14 of Genesis, in the King James Version [Gen. 14], contains a brief account of Abraham and Melchizedek; but the new translation of this chapter adds 400 words about the greatness of Melchizedek, giving events of his life and ministry.
In the King James Version, Hebrews 7:1–3 strangely suggests that Melchizedek was a man without father or mother or lineage. This was corrected by the Prophet to say that it was the priesthood of Melchizedek, not the man, that was without lineage. This is certainly an improvement and draws the distinction between the Aaronic Priesthood, which in Old Testament times came down only through the lineage of Aaron, and the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is not confined to a precise lineage.
The Prophet also censored the Song of Solomon by declaring that it was not inspired scripture.” – Robert J. Matthews, Asst. Professor of Ancient Scripture, BYU
Hebrews 7:1-3; “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
There are times when something is so absolutely blasphemous the only thing someone can do is ask Abba for comfort – for me this is one of those times.
Bible has Errors, Book of Mormon does not
The Joseph Smith Translation, p. 12; “…the Book of Mormon remains secure, unchanged and unchangeable, a firm and steady witness of Christ and his doctrine. The Book of Mormon has been, is now, and will forever remain secure in the hands of the servants of the Lord, for which we are immeasurably grateful. But with the Bible it was not and is not so. It is now in the hands of intellectuals and unbelievers and ministers whose delight it is to twist and pervert its doctrines and to spiritualize away the plain meanings of all its important parts. And it once was in the sole and exclusive care and custody of an abominable organization, founded by the devil himself, likened prophetically unto a great whore, whose great aim and purpose was to destroy the souls of men in the name of religion.” – Monte S. Nyman, Charles D. Tate, Jr.
Bible is Eternal
2 Nephi 9:16; “And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away.”
Matthew 5:18; “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
If God’s word cannot pass away why were there almost 4,000 grammatical changes made to the Book of Mormon and why wouldn’t Isaiah 40:8?
Bible, Is it Trustworthy?
“A Bible, A Bible!” pgs. 16-17; “Early in the Prophet’s ministry the Lord instructed him to make a revision, or as he termed it, a “translation” of the Bible. This was not to be a translation in the usual sense, employing a knowledge of biblical languages, use of ancient manuscripts, and the usual procedure and paraphernalia of the scholar, but rather a translation in which Joseph Smith would discern the true intent of the Bible through revelation. It is now known as the Joseph Smith Translation, or JST…A major purpose of the new translation seems to have been the spiritual understanding that came to the Prophet as a result of his effort.” – Robert Millet & Larry Dahl
Hebrews 8:10-11; “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”
2 Timothy 3:13-15; “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
This should be an alarming revelation to each and every Mormon. What is the aversion to having a reliable translation of the Bible or relying upon the original languages?
Bible isn’t True
8th Article of Faith; “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
2 Tim. 3:16; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
In this statement they’ve pulled the rug out from the authoritative nature of Bible, belittling it and advocating a false religion.
Bible; Joseph Smith Translation 1,000x Better than Other Bibles
Ensign, June 1999 pg 15; “In the words of Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Joseph Smith Translation, or Inspired Version, is a thousand times over the best Bible now existing on earth.”” – Andrew C. Skinner
2 Timothy 3:16-17; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Bible; LDS Church doesn’t have to Rely Solely upon the Bible
A Marvelous Work and Wonder, pg 1; “The position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church, will be discussed from the point of view that it is the only Christian church that does not depend entirely upon the Bible for its teachings.”
Galatians 1:6-9; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Bible, Miracle of the
Ensign, May 2007, pg. 82; “Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16). We love the Bible and other scriptures. That may be surprising to some who may not be aware of our belief in the Bible as the revealed word of God. It is one of the pillars of our faith…We do not criticize or belittle anyone’s beliefs…And those who think that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not believe in Jesus Christ or in the Bible should take time to understand the Church, the significance of its name, and the power of its message…I am puzzled by any who would question this Church’s belief in the Bible and our position as Christians. The name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In our last general conference, here in this building, our Church leaders quoted from the Bible nearly 200 times. This Church is organized and functions like the Church that Christ and His Apostles established in the New Testament. Seated on the stand today are the prophet and the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I bear solemn witness that we are true and full believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His revealed word through the Holy Bible. We not only believe the Bible—we strive to follow its precepts and to teach its message.” – M. Russell Ballard
1 John 3:14-15; “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
I’m puzzled that this guy is confused why people think the Mormons don’t believe in the Bible. His statement is a ruse to start talking about another lie.
Bible, Many Errors and Contradictions
Answers to Gospel Questions 2:161; “”No Man Hath Seen God at Any Time”—a Mistranslation. No Bible student today believes that the Bible has come down to us in its perfect and original appearance in the manuscripts. Scribes left out words and phrases, just as we do at times in typing, missing one whole line and thus changing the meaning. Moreover, the scribes added or interpreted according to their own opinions at times. These things are quite generally understood. Therefore we find errors and contradictions in the Bible. There are too many passages which declare very definitely that God did appear, “face to face,” with his ancient servants. Therefore, passages which declare that no man has seen him, must be in error.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.
Psalm 19:7-10; “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
This is the way most Mormons look at the Bible. The statements made by Joseph Fielding Smith show the animosity they have in their hearts towards God and His sacred word.
Bible, Nations Need More than Just a
2 Nephi 29:10; “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.”
Proverbs 30:5-6; “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Why is an Israelite tempting another Israelite to read other works not from God? Did Smith not know Jews don’t use the Bible and especially in 600 BC?
Bible not for Modern Times
Journal of Discourses 2:75-76; “The words contained in this Bible are merely a history of what is gone by; it was never given to guide the servant of God in the course he should pursue, any more than the words and commandments of God, given to a generation under one set of circumstances, would serve for another generation under another set of circumstances…The Bible is not a sufficient guide; it is only the history of the people who lived 1800 years ago. The history of our Church in this day, presents the scenes and transactions of this people—the revelations and words of God to them…” – Orson Hyde, Salt Lake City, October 6, 1854
1 Peter 1:25; “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
So God lied? If God’s words weren’t for the man to use as a guide from God then why did Jesus use it?
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, pg 40; “…the everlasting gospel could not be discovered
through reading the Bible alone… this is the only Christian church in the world that did not have to rely upon the Bible for its organization and government…if we had no Bible we would still have all the needed direction and information through the revelations of the Lord to his servants, the prophets in these latter days.” – LeGrand Richards
1 Corinthians 3:11; “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Bible/Testing the Bible with BoM
Church News, June 20, 1992; “The most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations.” – “Letter Reaffirms Use of King James Version of Bible”, Presidents Benson, Hinckley and Monson
Matthew 5:18; “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Bible; The Measure of Accuracy
“The Bible, as it has been transmitted over the centuries, has suffered the loss of many plain and precious parts…Unfortunately, no original manuscripts of any portion of the Bible are available for comparison to determine the most accurate version. However, the Lord has revealed clearly the doctrines of the gospel in these latter days. The most reliable way to measure the accuracy of any biblical passage is not by comparing different texts, but by comparison with the Book of Mormon and modern-day revelations.” http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/22533/Letter-reaffirms-use-of-King-James-version-of-Bible.html
Acts 17:11; “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Biblical Prophecies about Joseph Smith
The Life of Joseph F. Smith, p. 34; “Second, Joseph was given the “keys of the kingdom” by a succession of heavenly messengers…With those keys, the Prophet Joseph Smith began the work of gathering the Lord’s elect, as he was commanded to do in Doctrine and Covenants 29:7…Malachi also prophesied of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s role as the Lord’s “forerunner” in the latter days, when he recorded the Lord’s words: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1.)” – Joseph Fielding Smith
Malachi 3:1; “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Hmmm…this prophecy is about John the Baptist who would be telling the Israelites the day of salvation was upon them – it has absolutely nothing to do with Joseph Smith, the Mormon Church or the nineteenth century…
Bible vs Another Gospel
“My Words . . . Never Cease,” Ensign, May 2008, 91; “Some Christians, in large measure because of their genuine love for the Bible, have declared that there can be no more authorized scripture beyond the Bible. In thus pronouncing the canon of revelation closed, our friends in some other faiths shut the door on divine expression that we in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold dear: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the ongoing guidance received by God’s anointed prophets and apostles. Imputing no ill will to those who take such a position, nevertheless we respectfully but resolutely reject such an unscriptural characterization of true Christianity.” – Jeffrey R. Holland
John 10:27-28; “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Hebrews 2:1; “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, pg 73; “You may hug up to yourselves the Bible, but, except through faith in it you get revelation for yourself, the Bible will profit you but little. (Hyrum L. Andrus and Helen Mae Andrus, comps., They Knew the Prophet, p. 101)”
1 Peter 1:25; “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
Bible; Woe to Bible Haters
2 Nephi 15:24; “Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, their root shall be rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Psalm 19:7-9; “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”
Bishops are the Judge of Your Worthiness
Young Women Manual 2, Appreciating the Bishop, pg. 41; “The bishop presides over every person in the ward and directs their local church activities. … All of your adolescent life you will be under the direction of the bishop. He will appoint teachers and supervisors to do his work, but he will be very much interested in your progress. Your life here will be constantly weighed by him, for he is the judge of your worthiness … to receive higher ordinances, and to be worthy to go to the Temple.”
Ephesians 1:6-7; “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
The comforting words from the apostle Paul should be shared with the Mormon people before they go in for their temple worthiness interviews. It’d be a great idea to share this passage with the bishops as well!
Birth of Baptism
Ensign, Feb 1994; “Through the birth known as baptism, we are cleansed from sin and we become part of a new family — the family of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
– “The Birth That Is Baptism”
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1994/02/the-birth-that-is-baptism?lang=eng
John 3:5; “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Births of Mormonism & Jesus
Joseph Smith prophesied that Jesus’ birth happened exactly 1,830 years before the formation of the Mormon Church. That wasn’t a problem until…
In recent years it’s been discovered a mistake was made in keeping track of the correct year Jesus was born. Technically you need to add an extra 4-6 yrs to our calendar, making Smith’s prophecy false and not from God!
D&C 20:1; “The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—”
Bishop Duties
www.lifeafter.org; “Another duty of a Bishop is to interview the people for the temple recommends. As of July 2000, a list was compiled of 15 questions every Bishop asks the member. Remember these men are considered the “judge” of these people; they represent God. The questions are as follows: (The Bishops Manual)
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
5 Do you live the law of chastity?
6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?”
1 Corinthians 4:5; “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
These questions are so personal – I cannot imagine anyone but the Lord asking me these things.
Bishop Holds Keys to Cleansing Power
Morality, pg. 108; “For those of you inside the Church there is a way, not entirely painless, but certainly possible. You can stand clean and spotless before Him. Guilt will be gone, and you can be at peace. Go to your bishop. He holds the key to this cleansing power.” – Boyd Packer
1 John 1:7; “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Where in the Bible does it ever say a bishop holds the cleansing power of forgiveness? It’s about the blood!
Bishop Must be Related to Aaron Unless Ordained
D&C 68:18-19; “No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant and the firstborn of Aaron. 19 But, as a high priest of the Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power, under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.”
Titus 1:7-9; “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
So there’s always a way around the rules and if you don’t qualify for something well then, hey, we’ll just have a meeting and pray over you! Good grief.
BLACKS
Blacks & the Church
Race Problems–As They Affect the Church, August 27, 1954, address at CES convention at Brigham Young University; “Think of the Negro, cursed as to the Priesthood. Are we prejudiced against him? Unjustly, sometimes we are accused of having such a prejudice. But what does the mercy of God have for him? This negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a black skin, and possibly being born in darkest Africa if that Negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get a celestial resurrection.” – Mark E. Petersen
Genesis 1:26-27; “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
The Mormon prophet Thomas Monson referred to Mark Petersen as someone who “personified righteousness” and “a giant among men”. How could anyone who says the darker you are the more sinful the behavior, or that the black people will be servants in heaven? How is this godly or righteous?
Imagine Mr. Petersen’s surprise when he died and saw that Jesus probably wasn’t white.
Blacks are Slaves Mentally
Journal of Discourses 5:217; “Elder Hyde inquired the situation of the negro. I replied, they came into the world slaves mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability. The slaves in Washington are more refined than many in high places, and the black boys will take the shine of many of those they brush and wait on.” – Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, September 6, 1856
1 Cor. 12:13; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
So the “negro” has no soul? Where does it say that in the Bible?
Blacks and Whites are Saved
2 Nephi 26:33; “…he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”
Galatians 3:28; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This is an example of how the Mormon Church confuses its members. At the time this was written the Church didn’t like black people. Additionally, this passage of “scripture” supposedly took place around 545 BC. Jews and Gentiles were not alike unto God at this time.
Blacks Neutral in Pre-existence
Conference Reports, CR April 1939, Second Day‑Morning Meeting, pg 59; “PUNISHMENT OF THOSE NOT VALIANT
The negro is an unfortunate man. He has been given a black skin. But that is as nothing compared with that greater handicap that he is not permitted to receive the Priesthood and the ordinances of the temple…
What is the reason for this condition, we ask, and I find it to my satisfaction to think that as spirit children of our Eternal Father they were not valiant in the fight…
I cannot conceive our Father consigning his children to a condition such as that of the negro race, if they had been valiant in the spirit world in that war in heaven…
Somewhere along the line were these spirits, indifferent perhaps, and possibly neutral in the war. We have no definite knowledge concerning this…
I firmly believe that God had something to do with the recording of these events, and having them preserved and handed down to us from generation to generation, that we might read, and reading, profit thereby. We are under direct command of the Lord to search the scriptures, where these things are contained. We have been admonished in this conference so to do.” – George F. Richards
Blacks Not Born Innocent
Way to Perfection, pg. 102; “In the spirit of sympathy, mercy and faith, we will also hope that blessings may eventually be given to our negro brethren, for they are our brethren-children of God-notwithstanding their black covering emblematical of eternal darkness.” – Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith
James 2:1-4; “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
The LDS book used above was written in 1949 by then apostle Joseph Fielding Smith who later became the tenth president/prophet of the Church.
Blacks are Satan’s Representatives after Flood
Gospel Kingdom, pgs. 103; “…And then the devil put on a long face and said, I imagined I had got rid of these fellows; but they are going to have a chance yet that I did not think of. And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham’s wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God.” – John Taylor
Genesis 6:10; “And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
1. Ham’s name means “burnt”.
2. Cain lived circa 3979 BC. Ham lived circa 2440 BC.
3. The Mormons teach that being black is a sin and therefore evil.
4. The Bible clearly states the curse was upon Canaan because of Ham’s behavior, not because of his color (Gen. 9:18-29).
5. The Bible never gives the name of Ham’s wife or her race.
Gospel Kingdom is a collection of thoughts and writings of John Taylor, 3rd prophet of the LDS Church.
God Cursed People with Dark Skin
2 Nephi 5:21; “And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.”
Genesis 4:11, 15; “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”
Another example that the Mormon god hates dark people.
Blacks, Why They Were Accepted into Church
Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 353; “Under these conditions President Spencer W. Kimball began an exhaustive personal study of the scriptures as well as statements of Church leaders since Joseph Smith, and asked other General Authorities to share their personal feelings relative to the longstanding Church policy. Then he began to inquire of the Lord if the time was not right to extend the priesthood blessings to this restricted people. Recalling this period, President Kimball stated, “Day after day, and especially on Saturdays and Sundays when there were no organizations in the temple, I went there when I could be alone.” The result was a revelation on 1 June 1978.”
Romans 12:2; “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Truth: the Mormon Church was being pressured by many to change their racist ways. One example was the NCAA who was threatening to boycott the BYU football team.
Blind Faith
Improvement Era, June 1945; “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan—it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 15:14; “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
In other words no analytical thinking is allowed.
Blind Faith
Ensign, August 1979, pg. 2; “Recently, at the Churchwide fireside meeting held for the women of the Church, Young Women President Elaine Cannon made the following statement: “When the Prophet speaks, … the debate is over” (Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 108). I was impressed by that simple statement, which carries such deep spiritual meaning for all of us.” – N. Eldon Tanner
Matt. 15:8-9, 14-15: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
Oh it carries deep spiritual meaning all right. I love my husband Kirk dearly, but if Kirk began telling me that black is actually white and vice versa, I’d be questioning him and doing some investigating straight away.
Blind Faith
Dialogue, Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 04, Number 1, pg. 92, Spring 1969; “Looking on from the outside, an observer might think Mormons are hopelessly mixed up. If testimony is all that really matters, why worry about the historical evidence? Since an airtight case would fail to convince believing Mormons, they should forget about proofs for the Book of Mormon and replying to the Reverend Mr. Walters and concentrate on their religious experiences and the satisfactions of their group life.
Granted that negative historical evidence would not destroy the faith of the faithful. For those blessed with it, spiritual experience is the most compelling data. Honesty requires that one remain true to it even in the face of other evidence to the contrary. Were a case made against the Book of Mormon, our sense of balance and personal integrity would compel Mormons to hold their beliefs.”
Acts 17:11; “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=5163&REC=13
It is not a sin to read!
Blind Leading the Blind
The Essential Brigham Young, pg 90; “I think these preliminaries will satisfy me, and I feel prepared to take my text; it is the words of Jesus Christ, but where they are in the Bible I cannot tell you now, for I have not taken pains to look at them. I have had so much to do, that I have not read the Bible for many years. I used to be a Bible student; I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it; I knew well enough how it read.” – Brigham Young
Also see Conference Discourse, October 8, 1854
Matthew 15:13-14; “…Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
Blind Obedience
Conference Report, Oct. 1960, Marion Romney, pg, 78; “My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.” Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, “But you don’t need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.””
2 Peter 1:10; “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
My mother-in-law was a great seamstress and one of the lessons I learned from her was to always, always “measure twice, cut once”.
Blind Obedience
July 1972 Ensign, pg. 87, Joseph Fielding Smith; “Now, brethren, I think there is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.”
Prov. 27:17; “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
This statement was an obvious lie – they’ve been misleading the “Saints” since the inception of the Church.
Blind Obedience to God or Man?
Journal of Discourses 9:150; “What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation…” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, January 12, 1862.
Exodus 19:5-6; “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
Now they’re telling the people to investigate what the leaders say…interesting. The Mormons also tell us that they don’t like referring to the Journal of Discourses even though it is quoted by modern prophets.
Blood Atonement
Journal of Discourses 4:220 “I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle’s being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force. This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, February 8, 1857.
1 Thessalonians 4:6 “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”
Killing someone is being a good neighbor?
Blood Atonement
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol.15, No.4, p.96 in electronic files “The doctrine of blood atonement has had a checkered career which by itself could provide a rewarding study of the vagaries of Mormon literalism. Unfortunately, the doctrine appears to be the result of an overly literal interpretation and elaboration of certain scriptures such as Hebrews 9:22 which states that “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Accordingly, the doctrine [blood atonement] asserts that those who commit certain grievous sins such as murder and covenant-breaking place themselves beyond the atoning blood of Christ, and their only hope for salvation is to have their own blood shed as an atoning sacrifice.”
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Leviticus 22:19 “Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.”
First of all the passage in Hebrews should be taken literally. Secondly, the passages of Mormon teachings that have taught about blood atonement should also be taken literally because they were literally taking the lives of people for revenge or to fulfill the false prophecies of Joseph Smith and company.
Blood Atonement Needed for Salvation
Journal of Discourses 4:49-50 “Some have received the Priesthood and a knowledge of the things of God, and still they dishonor the cause of truth…I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed, for water will not do, their sins are of too deep a dye.” – Jedidiah Morgan Grant, Salt Lake City, September 21, 1856
Matthew 7:1-3 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
Blood Atonement: Death to Thieves
Journal of Discourses 1:109 “If you want to know what to do with a thief that you may find stealing, I say kill him on the spot, and never suffer him to commit another iniquity.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, May 8, 1853
Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.”
Ether 8:19 “For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.”
Doctrines of Salvation 1:135 “Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own bloodshed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. This is scriptural doctrine, and is taught in all the standard works of the Church.”
Which one is true?
Blood Changes at Conversion
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 149 “…while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.”
Galatians 3:28-29; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Huh?
Boastful Claims
Arrogance of BY
Journal of Discourses 13:95; “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, January 2, 1870
2 Peter 1:20; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
Every Mormon should know this LDS teaching by heart.
Arrogance of Joseph Smith
History of the Church 6:408-409; “Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”
Deut. 34:10; “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”
Deut. 28:66; “And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.”
At the time of Smith’s boastful speech people had indeed left the fold. As a matter of fact it was an address towards the dissenters of the Church on Sunday, May 26, 1844.
Book of Abraham: Translation Problems in Book of Abraham
Ensign, “I’ve Got a Question”, July 1988, pg 51; “Why doesn’t the translation of the Egyptian papyri found in 1967 match the text of the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price?
The papyri in question are a part of the collection of Egyptian mummies and papyri that the Prophet Joseph Smith bought from Michael Chandler in 1835. After the Prophet’s death, the papyri were lost to the Church. But in 1966, Dr. Aziz S. Atiya, a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Utah, discovered some twenty-two separate papyri fragments in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, which were clearly part of Joseph Smith’s original collection.
…from paleographic and historical considerations, the Book of Breathings papyrus can reliably be dated to around A.D. 60-much too late for Abraham to have written it. Of course, it could be a copy-or a copy of a copy-of the original written by Abraham. However, a second problem arises when one compares the text of the book of Abraham with a translation of the Book of Breathings; they clearly are not the same…” http://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/07/i-have-a-question?lang=eng
Exodus 20:3; “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon: BC 586 Israelites’ Deportation
1 Nephi 1:4; “For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.”
2 Kings 24:8, 10,12, 14,16-17; “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months… 10 ¶ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon…and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. 14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. 16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. 17 ¶ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.”
BC 575 – The end of Zedekiah
2 Kings 25:2, 7; “And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.”
Book of Mormon & 19th Century Hot Topics
Infant Baptisms
Moroni 8:9; “And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.”
Galatians 3:26-27; “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Book of Mormon Absurdities
Absurd Scenarios in Ether
Ether 3:25; “And when the Lord had said these words, he showed unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth which had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them not from his sight, even unto the ends of the earth.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Really? What purpose did this serve and what does it serve for the individual Mormon today?
And the Years Passed Away…
Helaman 11:21; “And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did end in peace. And the seventy and seventh year began in peace; and the church did spread throughout the face of all the land; and the more part of the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, did belong to the church; and they did have exceedingly great peace in the land; and thus ended the seventy and seventh year.”
Romans 12:2; “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Okay, here we go…there are a number of problems within this verse found in the Book of Mormon so we’re looking at each of those issues.
Our prayers for the Mormon people are for what Paul reminded us of in his epistle to the Romans. His words are a timeless reminder of what God will do with us when we turn to Him. Ask yourself if this verse in Helaman is allowing God to transform your mind and is it acceptable and the perfect will of God?
1. The phrase “and it came to pass” in this verse is only one of the 1,427 times it was used in the Book of Mormon (http://lifeafterministry.com/2010/10/21/and-it-came-to-pass). More than twenty percent of the verses in the Book of Mormon contain this phrase.
2. Notice the way they’ve phrased how many years passed away. If this book was originally engraved in brass or gold why would they phrase things this way? It seems like such a waste of space and effort. Does this and the verse related to this subject listed below sound inspired? How would someone hold onto any truth or hope using this verse?
3. The year of this writing in Helaman supposedly took place in 12 BC and they’re using the term “church”. The true Christian church didn’t come about until fifty days after the resurrection of Christ. Now you might say that 42+ years isn’t all that worrisome when we’re dealing with history so long ago, but I say take a look at what Jesus said in Matt. 16:18 when He spoke to Peter and the other apostles telling them that His church would be built upon Him. Why do they have a church therefore in BC 12 when Jesus hadn’t established His church yet?
4. Unfortunately there’s a serious grammar problem throughout the Book of Mormon. The phrase “and the more part of the people” is one of the countless examples I’ve found. Does this sound inspired to you?
4 Nephi 1:6; “And thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty and second, yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away, and also the fifty and first, and the fifty and second; yea, and even until fifty and nine years had passed away.”
Nameless Brother of Jared Sees Jesus 700 years Before Moses Sees God
The Improvement Era, Vol. 13, No. 1, November 1909, pg 78; “More than seven hundred years before Moses was shown the things pertaining to this earth, another great prophet, known to us as the brother of Jared, was similarly favored by the Lord. He was even permitted to behold the spirit-body of the foreordained Savior, prior to His incarnation; and so like the body of a man was His spirit in form and appearance, that the prophet thought he was gazing upon a being of flesh and blood. He first saw the finger and then the entire body
of the Lord— all in the spirit.”
http://ia600706.us.archive.org/3/items/improvementera1301unse/improvementera1301unse.pdf#page=75
Matthew 11:27; “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
They Fell to the Earth
3 Nephi 1:17; “And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.”
Proverbs 12:17; “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.”
“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.” – ESV
Book of Mormon & Isaiah: A Different Christ
The Book of Mormon contains large amounts of Isaiah’s writings. In 2nd Nephi chapters 12-24 you’ll find a rewrite of Isaiah chapters 2-14. With the exception of Nephi inserting a thought of his own here and there this entire passage is identical to the KJV written in 1611.
Ask your Mormon friends how Nephi’s translation of Isaiah is so similar. How did Nephi’s writings translate into 1611 English when he lived circa 550 BC? If he was writing in Reformed Egyptian certainly there must be some variation in sentence structure, punctuation and words.
Why would it be exactly the same unless of course it was taken from the KJV Bible and not the golden plates?
Why didn’t the Lord have Joseph translate the Reformed Egyptian into nineteen century English instead of seventeenth century English? Certainly God keeps up with the times doesn’t He?
Matthew 24:23-24; “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Book of Mormon – Another Testament
Front Cover; Book of Mormon; “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”.
Gal. 1:6-9; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Once again, I am convinced God knew exactly what words to use when He had His apostles write His message to us. I’m also convinced Satan will go out of his way to use God’s word to trick many, many people.
Book of Mormon
D&C 20:9; “Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.”
1 Cor. 15:1-4; “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
The record we need to pay attention to is the record Paul spoke of in his letter to the Corinthians. The first thing he spoke about in the “resurrection chapter” was to be sure we are observing the gospel he preached to them and what they already believed.
Book of Mormon, Accept it or be Damned
Jan. 15, 1842, Times & Seasons 3:658; “…God inspired them to frame the American Constitution…This was also done to prepare the way for the coming forth of the Book of Mormon—the stick of Joseph—that he might lift it up (in connection with the Bible) as an ensign upan [sic] the moantains, [sic] and set it as a sign among the people for the purpose of gathering and uniting the whole house of Israel into one nation upon their own land, and also for the purpose of re-establishing the kingdom of God upon the earth with all its officers, gifts and blessings.”
Mark 13:22; “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”
The American constitution wasn’t written so Joseph Smith could lie to thousands of people. Joseph Smith down to all the other Mormon leaders have taken advantage of the blessings God provided for the people who would call this country home.
Book of Mormon Archaeology
Dialogue, A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 01, Number 1, Spring, 1966, pgs. 148-149;
“Where is Mormon thought on archaeology going? After this rather discouraging display of the lack of progress on the topic is anything happening that is more dynamic and promising? Yes, some things. Increasingly young Latter-day Saints are feeling that it is desirable and respectable to become professionally prepared as archaeologists, at least for the New World, which means they must qualify as anthropologists….As long as Mormons are willing to be fooled by (and pay for) the uninformed, uncritical dribble about archaeology and the scriptures which predominates, the few LDS experts are reluctant even to be identified with the topic…Unfortunately, the Fifteenth Annual Symposium volume displays few encouraging signs. It is relatively harmless, mildly diverting in spots, and no doubt gives comfort to some of its audience, but it is not important.” – John L. Sorensen
1 Timothy 4:1; “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
Wow! Why would you as a Mormon believe the stories about the Book of Mormon when the Mormon experts don’t even believe it?
Book of Mormon Archaeology
Dialogue, op. cit. Summer 1969, pp. 77-78; “The first myth we need to eliminate is that the Book of Mormon archaeology exists…If one is to study the Book of Mormon archaeology, then one must have a corpus of data with which to deal with. We do not…no Book of Mormon location is known with reference to modern topography. Biblical archaeology can be studied because we do know where Jerusalem and Jericho were and are, but we do not know where Zarahemla and Bountiful (nor any location for that matter) were and are…a concentration on geography would be the first order of business, but we have already seen that twenty years of such an approach has left us empty handed.” – Mormon Archaeologist Professor Dee. F. Green.
Titus 3:8-9; “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”
I like to share this info with the missionaries when they come to my door and tell me there is ample evidence proving the Book of Mormon people existed. Sadly, if the Book of Mormon is false then so is the rest of their “religion”.
Book of Mormon Authorship vs. Author of Our Salvation
Studies of the Book of Mormon, pg. 271; ““…There were other Anti-Christs among the Nephites, but they were more military leaders than religious innovators… they are all of one breed and brand; so nearly alike that one mind is the author of them, and that a young and underdeveloped, but piously inclined mind. The evidence I sorrowfully submit, points to Joseph Smith as their creator. It is difficult to believe that they are a product of history, that they came upon the scene separated by long periods of time, and among a race which was the ancestral race of the red man of America.” – B. H. Roberts
Hebrews 5:9; “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
I left Mormonism almost twenty years ago and seeing evidences against Mormonism like this still makes my heart sad.
Book of Mormon, Biblical Prophecies of the
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 158; “According to a prophecy of Joseph in Egypt, preserved in the Book of Mormon (2 Ne. 3:4-21), two sets of records would be kept by two tribes of Israel-one (the Bible) written by the tribe of Judah and the other (Book of Mormon) kept by the tribe of Joseph (2 Ne. 3:12; cf. Ezek. 37:15-19).”
2 Peter 1:20-21; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The Bible wasn’t written by the tribe of Judah in the BC era.
Who or what is the tribe of Joseph?
Book of Mormon Brings Belief in God
“A Book with a Promise,” Ensign, May 2008, 105; “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have the benefit and blessing of living scripture as declared by those sustained as prophets, as well as canonized scripture found in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. . . . Written scripture, especially the Book of Mormon, brings us to believe in God and ‘be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son’ (Jacob 4:11).” – Craig C. Christensen
1 Peter 1:25; “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
Titus 1:13-15; “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
Book of Mormon Challenge
D&C 67:6-8; “Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you; 7 Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true; 8 But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true.”
Isn’t it interesting that the same challenge is made in the Quran –
Sura 10:38-39: “This Koran could not have been forged apart from God; but it is a confirmation of what is before it, and a distinguishing of the Book, wherein is no doubt, from the Lord of all Being. Or do they say, “Why, he has forged it’? Say: ‘Then produce a sura [scripture] like it, and call on whom you can, apart from God, if you speak truly.””
2 Timothy 3:16; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Book of Mormon, Changes Made to
Answers to Gospel Questions 2:200; “Are There Any Vital Changes in the Book of Mormon?
Question: “A minister of one of the churches told my husband that he purchased one of the earliest editions of the Book of Mormon for a thousand dollars and compared it to the later edition and found over a hundred changes. I know that the Book of Mormon was later divided into chapters and verses with references, but were there other changes made? Is the original manuscript of the translation with the Church?”
Answer: It is astonishing to what length the enemies of the Church will go in order to attempt to prove the Book of Mormon false. Instead of reading it prayerfully and asking the Lord for a testimony whether it is true or not, they close their minds against it and, in the bitterness of their souls, seek to destroy it. In this, of course, they will fail. No one can read the book with a prayerful heart and not receive the testimony that it is true. The evidence internally and externally is overwhelming…
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS DIFFICULT TO AVOID There were bound to be some typographical errors in the first edition, and perhaps an omission of a word or two. Those who have published books under the most careful and favorable circumstances, have, to their dismay, found errors, typographical and mechanical, some of which occurred after the final examination of proof has been made. In the case of the Book of Mormon, your attention is called to the fact that the publisher of it was unfriendly to the Church…A careful check of the list of changes submitted by these critics shows there is not one change or addition that is not in full harmony with the original text…but never has any alteration or addition changed a single original thought. ..I am sure that the mistakes or omissions in the first edition were in large measure the fault of the compositor or the printer. Many of these mistakes which were in the first proofs were caught by the Prophet Joseph Smith himself, and he made the corrections…There have been thousands of changes in the Bible in recent years, but people do not seem to complain about that. We have books in our library written by an atheist who treats the Bible in the same spirit which these critics treat the Book of Mormon, but his criticism does not prove the Bible false.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.
1 Corinthians 2:14; “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
1. The question isn’t about any so-called changes to the Bible.
2. There have been almost 4,000 grammatical changes made to the Book of Mormon from its original printing. Grammatical, not typographical so Smith can’t blame that on the printer.
Book of Mormon, Changes Made to
1976 edition of Mosiah 21:28; “And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God….”
1830 edition of Mosiah 21:28; “And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God….”
Mosiah 6:5 – Benjamin died so the 1830 edition is not just a “typo”. The change had been made by 1920 because Mosiah 21:28 has the name of king Mosiah, not Benjamin. And in case you’re wondering…the 1908 edition is the “original” translation of the Book of Mormon the Reformed LDS Church publishes. Their headquarters are in Independence, MO and the book of Mosiah ends at chapter 13.
2 Timothy 2:15-16; “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
There has never been anything bad said about those who study, compare and then decide. In the previous entry the church claimed no changes had ever been made to change the meaning. Here we have proof that they’ve lied again.
Book of Mormon Changes to Nephi’s Writings
1 Nephi 13:40;
1830 Book of Mormon, pg 32’ “…the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world.”
Today’s Book of Mormon; “…the Lamb of God is The Son of the eternal Father, and the savior of the world.”
Book of Mormon Conflicting Messages
2 Nephi 2:22-23; “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. 23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.”
2 Nephi 15:20; “Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Revelation 21:8; “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Book of Mormon Conversion Stories
Alma 36:6-10; “For I went about with the sons of Mosiah, seeking to destroy the church of God; but behold, God sent his holy angel to stop us by the way. 7 And behold, he spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us. 8 But behold, the voice said unto me: Arise. And I arose and stood up, and beheld the angel. 9 And he said unto me: If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God. 10 And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.”
Acts 9:4-9; “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”
My, how similar the stories are eh?
Question: why was Alma seeking to destroy the Church of God in 73 BC when the Christian church hadn’t been established yet?
Book of Mormon Context Change/God or Son of God
We’re looking at another context change in the Book of Mormon. These seemingly small changes are anything but! They’re a great took to use in a discussion with the Mormons to show how they were just typos, but carry with them significant implications!
Today’s Version
1 Nephi 11:32; “And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; 1yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.”
1830 Version
1 Nephi11:32; “And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying, look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting God, was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.”
Book of Mormon Context Change/Nature of Jesus
The Book of Mormon is fraught with changes, discrepancies, contradictions and plagiarisms. Oh, did I mention false prophecies?
Today’s dilemma will show one example of a change made to the BoM text which in turn changed the whole meaning of the message. The passage here is talking about the nature and character of Jesus.
Today’s Version
1 Nephi 11:18; “And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.”
1830 Version
1 Nephi 11:18; “And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God, after the manner of flesh.”
So is Mary the mother of God or the mother of the Son of God?
Galatians 6:7; “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Book of Mormon Decapitations
Ether 8:10-13; “And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish, the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife; wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me to wife, then shall ye say: I will give her if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king. And now Omer was a friend to Akish; wherefore, when Jared had sent for Akish, the daughter of Jared danced before him that she pleased him, insomuch that he desired her to wife. And it came to pass that he said unto Jared: Give her unto me to wife.12 And Jared said unto him: I will give her unto you, if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king.13 And it came to pass that Akish gathered in unto the house of Jared all his kinsfolk, and said unto them: Will ye swear unto me that ye will be faithful unto me in the thing which I shall desire of you?”
Matthew 14:6-9; “But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.”
Note to Reader: Read all of Ether chapter eight and Matthew 14:1-12.
Book of Mormon Evidences
Teachings of Harold B. Lee, pg. 155; “Don’t be concerned over Book of Mormon geography. Some say the Hill Cumorah was in southern Mexico (and someone pushed it down still farther) and not in western New York. Well, if the Lord wanted us to know where it was or where Zarahemla was, He’d have given us latitude and longitude, don’t you think? And why bother our heads trying to discover with archaeological certainty the geographical locations of the cities of the Book of Mormon like Zarahemla? (66-07) The witness of the Book of Mormon is not found in the ruins of Central and South America. They may be outward evidences of a people long since disappeared. The real witness is that which is found in the Book of Mormon itself. The Book of Mormon ought to be to you one of the most prized books you have. (73-21, p. 3) The Book of Mormon is its own best evidence. So far as we are concerned, the best evidence in the world of the truth of the Book of Mormon is the Book of Mormon itself. (72-19).”
Ezek. 13:3; “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”
I still remember the day I found out there was no archaeological evidence of the Book of Mormon. I can still feel the heaviness in my heart from the devastating news. When I took journalism in high school the number one rule the teacher taught was to make sure you have your location and quote correct.
Book of Mormon, Five Reasons for
Especially for Missionaries, vol. 1; “The purpose of the Book of Mormon is fivefold. First, it stands as a second testament or witness for Jesus Christ. Second, it authenticates the Bible. Third, it shows the goodness of God to his children. Fourth, it makes people aware of the promises that God has made to his children. And fifth, it restores to earth many plain and precious truths that have been lost since the fulness of the gospel existed.”
1 Peter 1:25; “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
1. The Bible tells us not to listen to other “testaments”.
2. The Bible stands alone and doesn’t need authentications from other books.
3. The Book of Mormon does not show the goodness of God to his children. The theme of the Book of Mormon can be found in Alma 50:20 – you obey or you’re cut off forever.
4. The Bible already told the people of the promises God made.
5. The last reason for the Book of Mormon actually negates the second reason. Now you’re saying the Bible isn’t true but the Book of Mormon authenticates that?
Book of Mormon: Fullness of the Gospel?
D&C 20:9; “Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4; “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Book of Mormon; God Commanded Jews to Flee to Wilderness?
1 Nephi 17:47; “Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life…”
Jeremiah 42:9-11; “And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him; 10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.” (See vs. 7-22 for full story)
Why would Jews seek to kill other Jews, especially at this time in the history of Jerusalem? The Babylonians were out to kill the Israelites, not their own people!
Book of Mormon god can’t keep promises
Mosiah 27:13; “Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.”
Colossians 2:16-18; “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” [Note: see all of passage Col. 2:16-23.]
Acts 9:2-5; “And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
Again, the Book of Mormon god can’t keep his promises, thus we have a partial promise. This is always the case in the Book of Mormon. He only loves you when you perform. Is this the way you’d raise your kids?
Book of Mormon and Hamlet
Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1; “…whose bourn no traveller returns…”
2 Nephi 1:14; “…from whence no traveler can return.”
Romans 16:17-18; “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Plagiarism, plagiarism, plagiarism…
Book of Mormon Historically Reliable?
Joseph Smith’s History 1:34; “He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.”
Acts 17:11; “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Remember what the choice seer Joseph Smith said? To back his claims we have the official LDS website and it says yes it is an historical account;
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/book-of-mormon
“Latter-day Saints also consider the Book of Mormon to be a record of great ancient-American civilizations.”
However, we see that we have a problem when Mormon apostle Russell Nelson said that it’s not a history book;
Book of Mormon and the Holy Spirit
“Because My Father Read the Book of Mormon”, Ensign, Nov. 2008, pgs. 15-16; “The Book of Mormon is a proof that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Preach My Gospel teaches that ‘the Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is [the] most powerful resource in conversion’ ([2004], 104).” – Marcos A. Aidukatis
Titus 1:15; “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
The Book of Mormon is proof that Joseph Smith was a false prophet and trusting in a spiritual experience is dangerous.
Book of Mormon; How is this Inspired?
3 Nephi 2:4-5; “And thus did pass away the ninety and sixth year; and also the ninety and seventh year; and also the ninety and eighth year; and also the ninety and ninth year; 5 And also an hundred years had passed away…”
4 Nephi 1:6; “And thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty and second, yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away, and also the fifty and first, and the fifty and second; yea, and even until fifty and nine years had passed away.”
Ps. 119:105-107; “105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.”
Book of Mormon; Inspired of God?
Moroni 1:4; “Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord.”
John 8:44; “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Book of Mormon, Keystone to Our Religion
Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov 1986, 4; “There are three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.
The first is that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. This was the Prophet Joseph Smith’s statement. He testified that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon). A keystone is the central stone in an arch. It holds all the other stones in place, and if removed, the arch crumbles.”
2 Peter 2:18-19; “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”
The keystone of a Christian’s life is Jesus. The Book of Mormon has proven itself to be a false word from a false god. Like I’ve said countless times before; take away the Book of Mormon and you have no religion.
Book of Mormon: Latin in the Book of Mormon
Alma 39:3; “And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel.”
Jeremiah 10:11; “Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.”
It may seem odd to use this verse from Jeremiah, but it stands as a reminder of what will happen to the Book of Mormon and the false prophet who authored it.
Joseph Smith claimed that neither Greek nor Latin was found upon the golden or brass plates, yet Isabel is a Latin term coined in the late middle ages.
Book of Mormon Lies
Buy Milk and Honey without Price
2 Nephi 26:25; “Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.”
Isaiah 55:1, 3; “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
Righteousness in Jerusalem?
1 Nephi 17:22; “And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us.”
Jeremiah 2:11-13, 29; “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.”
The Promised Land
2 Nephi 10:20, 22; “…but we have been led to a better land…For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel…”
2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8, 9; “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”
Book of Mormon; Fruit of the Loins
2 Nephi 3:12; “Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.”
2 Timothy 3:16; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Book of Mormon, Man Gets Nearer to God by
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 194; “Perfection of the Book of Mormon – Sunday, 28.—I spent the day in the council with the Twelve Apostles at the house of President Young, conversing with them upon a variety of subjects. Brother Joseph Fielding was present, having been absent four years on a mission to England. I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (November 28, 1841.) —DHC 4:461.”
Matthew 24:35; “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
For the Christian the way we get closer to God is by studying His word, worshipping Him and praising all the things He has done for us.
Book of Mormon, Mark Twain & Chloroform in Print
Roughing It 1872, pgs. 58-59; “All men have heard of the Mormon Bible, but few except the “elect” have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble to read it. I brought away a copy from Salt Lake. The book is a curiosity to me, it is such a pretentious affair, and yet so “slow,” so sleepy; such an insipid mess of inspiration. It is chloroform in print. If Joseph Smith composed this book, the act was a miracle — keeping awake while he did it was, at any rate. If he, according to tradition, merely translated it from certain ancient and mysteriously-engraved plates of copper, which he declares he found under a stone in an out-of-the-way locality, the work of translating was equally a miracle, for the same reason.” – Mark Twain
http://www.lifeafter.org/cametopass.asp; “…you’ll find a list of each time the phrase “and it came to pass” occurs. We found it was used 1,384 times in 1,341 verses. And in case you’re wondering…there are 6,604 verses in the Book of Mormon*. Yeah, that means twenty percent of the verses in the Book of Mormon contains the phrase “and it came to pass”. Maybe Mark Twain was on to something…
For more interesting facts on the words used in the Book of Mormon, see our article on Greek and Latin words in the Book of Mormon here: http://www.lifeafter.org/greeklatin.asp”
2 Timothy 3:7-8; “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”
Thanks to Mark Twain I was inspired to count all the times the phrase “and it came to pass” appears in the Book of Mormon.
The sad part about this is that my mother sits and reads the Book of Mormon when she needs to take her naps and believes she is getting closer to God this way.
Book of Mormon Missionaries…in 90 BC
Alma 23:1-2; “Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their land. 2 Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should not lay their hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into prison; neither should they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor cast them out of their synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should they cast stones at them, but that they should have free access to their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries.”
Jonah 1:1-3; “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.”
Note: It can be argued that OT prophets are “missionaries” for God and Israel’s calling as being God’s chosen people places them in the position of “every member a missionary”.
However, there is no conclusive evidence in the OT where teams of missionaries went abroad to witness of God’s work. The daily life of the Israelites stood as a clear testament to the Gentiles of Whom the Israelites worshipped. It is improbable at best these scenarios would have occurred.
BoM: Most Cunning, Wicked Imposition Ever Penned
Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon (Liverpool, 1851), 1-2; “This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God…. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked…impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions.” – Orson Pratt
Jude 1:3; “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
Book of Mormon New World Temple Building
2 Nephi 5:6, 15-16; “Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. 15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. 16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land. wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.”
1 Kings 5:13-16; “And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 16 Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.”
1 Kings 6:38; “And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.”
Book of Mormon; Not Inspired of God (in other words…)
Alma 40:2; “Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until after the coming of Christ.”
2 Timothy 2:13; “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
Book of Mormon Oddities
Alma 14:21; “And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned?”
John 7:17; “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
Gal. 6:7; “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
How does one go about gnashing their teeth upon someone?
Book of Mormon: Pillar of Fire and Another BoM “Coincidence”
1 Nephi 1:6; “And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.”
Exodus 13:21; “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Alma and Paul
Alma 58:40; “But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.”
Galatians 5:1; “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Nephi & Isaiah
2 Nephi 12:4; “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Isaiah 2:4; “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Nephi & Malachi
1 Nephi 22:15; “For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned.”
Malachi 4:1, 5-6; “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 5 ¶ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Nephi and Matthew
3 Nephi 14:6; “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Matthew 7:6; “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Nephi & Paul
2 Nephi 9:39; “…Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.”
Romans 8:6; “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Nephi & Peter
1 Nephi 22:20; “And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.”
Acts 3:22-23; “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
Deut. 18:15-18; “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
Book of Mormon Plagiarism; Nephi & Peter
3 Nephi 7:8; “And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.”
2 Peter 2:22; “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
Proverbs 26:11; “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”
Book of Mormon Problems
2 Nephi 19:1; “Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations.”
Isaiah 9:1; “But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.”
Does this make sense geographically?
Book of Mormon: Praying for a Witness to the BoM
Whenever a Mormon asks you to pray for a witness that the Book of Mormon is true ask how praying about the BoM will tell you if the Church is true.
Teachings in the Book of Mormon cannot be found in Mormonism. Jesus is God is preached in the book of Mosiah and this clearly doesn’t reflect what’s going on in the Mormon Church.
Mosiah 15:1-4: “And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 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—The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son— And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.”
Book of Mormon Reformed Egyptian
Mormon 9:32; “And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.”
Hosea 2:17; “For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.”
Book of Mormon: Self-fulfilling Prophecy of Joseph in BoM
2 Nephi 3:14-15; “And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise; 15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.”
Deut. 13:1-3; “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Book of Mormon Siblings
1 Nephi 1:1; 2:5; “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.”
www.josephsmith.net says this about Joseph; “Born of Goodly Parents… His other siblings, in order of age… Alvin (b. 1798), Hyrum (b. 1800), Sophronia (b. 1803), Samuel Harrison (b. 1808), Ephraim (b. 1810), William (b. 1811), Katherine (b. 1813), Don Carlos (b. 1816), and Lucy (b. 1821).”
Psalm 58:3; “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”
Just another proof the Book of Mormon is about Joseph Smith, not the people of South America.
Book of Mormon Slings
Alma 17:36, 38; “But Ammon stood forth and began to cast stones at them with his sling; yea, with mighty power he did sling stones amongst them; and thus he slew a certain number of them insomuch that they began to be astonished at his power; nevertheless they were angry because of the slain of their brethren, and they were determined that he should fall; therefore, seeing that they could not hit him with their stones, they came forth with clubs to slay him. 38 Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few.”
1 Samuel 17:50; “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.”
Why are there so many similar stories in the Bible and the Book of Mormon?
Book of Mormon; Stalking Snakes
Ether 9:31-33; “And there came forth poisonous serpents also upon the face of the land, and did poison many people. And it came to pass that their flocks began to flee before the poisonous serpents, towards the land southward, which was called by the Nephites Zarahemla. 32 And it came to pass that there were many of them which did perish by the way; nevertheless, there were some which fled into the land southward. 33 And it came to pass that the Lord did cause the serpents that they should pursue them no more, but that they should hedge up the way that the people could not pass, that whoso should attempt to pass might fall by the poisonous serpents.”
2 Peter 2:1-2; “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
Okay there are a couple of things needing some serious attention here!
Since when did snakes herd people or animals? This is crazy!
According to the website of American Family Physician more than 8,000 people per year are bitten by snakes. Before the invention of antivenom in 1895 the death rate was basically 100%. Since that time roughly 6-8 people in the US die each year from snake bites. http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0401/p1367.html
From the non-essential stats of snakebite deaths we now have an impartial understanding of how common this phenomenon is. And for the record, snakes are ecothermic, which means they rely upon their surroundings to control their body temps. The further north you go, the fewer snakes you’ll encounter as snakes don’t adapt well to cold weather climates. The average snake can slither along at about 3-5 mph.
Book of Mormon Stories before Translation
History of Joseph Smith, by His Mother, pg. 83; “During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them.
On the twenty-second of September, 1824, Joseph again visited the place where he found the plates the year previous; and supposing at this time that the only thing required, in order to possess them until the time for their translation, was to be able to keep the commandments of God—and he firmly believed he could keep every commandment which had been given him—he fully expected to carry them home with him.”
2 Peter 2:1; “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
Again, why is Joseph giving descriptions of these people if he hasn’t translated the plates yet? At this point (1824), Joseph doesn’t even have possession of the plates!
Book of Mormon, Testing of
Approach to the Book of Mormon, pg. 16; “The Book of Mormon can and should be tested. It invites criticism, and the best possible test for its authenticity is provided by its own oft-proclaimed provenance in the Old World.” – Hugh Nibley
2 Peter 1:19-20; “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.”
Bravo! Yes, everyone should test the Book of Mormon! This is the most important thing you can ever do with your very soul!
Book of Mormon; The New World & Jacob’s Olive Trees
Jacob 5:4; “And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive-tree began to decay; and he said: I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not.
Romans 11:17; “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree”
Jacob seemed pretty adamant about vineyards as they show up again and again in the following verses as well: 27, 62, 64 & 6:2.
Just looking at these verses by themselves we aren’t able to see the serious flaws they contain, but there are a lot of problems with Jacob’s teachings.
First of all grafting of trees in the New World didn’t take place until well past the time of Columbus’ arrival. Jacob supposedly lived circa 544 BC.
Secondly, olive trees didn’t make it to the Americas until Antonio de Rivera brought seedlings over in 1560 AD and planted them in Lima, Peru.
Thirdly, grape vines weren’t something the locals were known for cultivating. While grapes were in the Americas, they were gathered at this time in history, not pruned.
Lastly, and most importantly, this vocabulary and teaching is from a New Testament setting. Israelites in the 6th century BC wouldn’t have understood that Gentiles would someday be saved – vs. 74 alludes to this based on what Jacob said in becoming “one body”.
Book of Mormon, Three Witnesses to
Faith, pg. 2; “In the early days of the restoration of the Church, Sidney Rigdon did not retain his membership in the kingdom even though he had, with Joseph Smith, witnessed marvelous signs. Had he not participated in the great vision, and had he not been the recipient of many revelations? Yet despite all these manifestations from our Heavenly Father, he did not remain in the kingdom…Oliver Cowdery saw many signs. He handled the sacred plates; saw John the Baptist; received the higher priesthood from Peter, James, and John; and was the recipient of many great miracles; and yet they could not hold him to the faith.” – Spencer W. Kimball, Also see EM, pg. 1565.
Galatians 5:1; “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
If the original witnesses to the Book of Mormon left the Church, I’d think that would make anyone stop and think about the gravity of this information.
Book of Mormon; Translating the Book of Mormon
An Address to All Believers in Christ, pg 12; “I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine.” – Martin Harris
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg 210; “Little is known about the translation process itself. Few details can be gleaned from comments made by Joseph’s scribes and close associates. Only Joseph Smith knew the actual process, and he declined to describe it in public. At a Church conference in 1831, Hyrum Smith invited the Prophet to explain more fully how the Book of Mormon came forth. Joseph Smith responded that “it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon; and…it was not expedient for him to relate these things” (HC 1:220).”
How very, very sad. While the Church goes about making excuses or worse yet, covering up for Joseph Smith’s translation process, the vast majority of LDS people truly believe Smith was given the supernatural ability to discern the meaning of each engraving upon those plates. Many are unaware that the things he did were a form of divination.
Book of Mormon: Translating the Book of Mormon w/ Hats & Stones
“A Treasured Testament”, Ensign, July 1993, pg 61; “The details of this miraculous method of translation are still not fully known. Yet we do have a few precious insights. David Whitmer wrote: “Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.” (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12.)” – Russell M. Nelson
Galatians 1:8-9; “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Well we have quite the problem here.
If Joseph wasn’t looking at the plates then he wasn’t actually translating them.
Book of Mormon Translation Issues
Another proof the Book of Mormon can’t be a translation from the Nephites who died off circa 421 AD is found in the KJV.
Italicized words in the King James Bible were added by translators for the reader. As languages are translated from one to the other, filler words are sometimes needed because idioms and word meanings don’t translate directly.
Psalm 18:3 is a good example to see how the italicized words help to clear up any confusion:
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
When you read it without the italicized words above the verse reads that I’m going to God to be praised. That’s certainly not the intended meaning of what God wanted to convey!
So today our question is why the Book of Mormon contains the italicized words in the KJV which were added by translators from 1604-1611? Even if the gold and brass plates translated into KJV English from Reformed Egyptian (which is illogical), how did the italicized words make it into the translation as well?
Below are the texts from Mosiah chapter 14 and Isaiah chapter 53 for comparison.
Mosiah 14 |
Isaiah 53 |
1. Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? |
1. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
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2. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. |
2.For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
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3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. |
3.He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
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4. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. |
4.¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
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5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. |
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
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6. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all. |
6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth. |
7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. |
8.He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. |
8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. |
9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
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9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. |
10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
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10. ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. |
11. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. |
11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. |
12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. |
12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
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Book of Mormon True?
3 Nephi 8:1; “And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true…”
Mormon 9:31, 33; “Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him… 33 … if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.”
Psalm 18:30; “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
So is the BoM true or not?
Book of Mormon: True or False?
Pamphlets, Latter-day Tracts, pg. 1; “This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God to man, affecting both the temporal and eternal interests of every people under heaven to the same extent and in the same degree that the message of Noah affected the inhabitants of the old world. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions who will sincerely receive it as the word of God, and will suppose themselves securely built upon the rock of truth until they are plunged with their families into hopeless despair. The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it. Therefore, every soul in all the world is equally interested in ascertaining its truth or falsity.”
Proverbs 30:5-6; “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Amen! It is indeed one of the most wicked, bold, lie ever crafted to deceive millions!
Book of Mormon, Truthfulness not Through Studies
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pg. 47-48; “It never has been the case, nor is it so now, that the studies of the learned will prove the Book of Mormon true or false. The origin, preparation, translation, and verification of the truth of the Book of Mormon have all been retained in the hands of the Lord, and the Lord makes no mistakes…God has built in His own proof system of the Book of Mormon as found in Moroni, chapter 10, and in the testimonies of the Three and the Eight Witnesses and in various sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. We each need to get our own testimony of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost.”
John 6:27-29; “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
This statement by Benson should be carefully paid attention to. The Mormons have indeed set up a proof system as to the truth of the Book of Mormon. When factual information proves you a liar, change the rules.
Book of Mormon, View of the Hebrews
Ethan Smith 1823, View of the Hebrews, pg. 136, 142; “…“I will hiss for them, (or call them,) and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they shall remember me from far countries; and they shall live, and their children, and turn again.”… to stand and behold the banner of salvation now erected for his ancient people…”
Isaiah 7:18; “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.”
Note: Oliver Cowdery’s family attended the church that Ethan Smith pastored in Poultney, Vermont from 1821-1826 during which time Ethan Smith wrote and published his book View of the Hebrews. Cowdery met Joseph Smith on or near April 5-7, 1829.
Book of Mormon Vocabulary
Mosiah 29:19; “And were it not for the interposition of their all-wise Creator, and this because of their sincere repentance, they must unavoidably remain in bondage until now.”
Acts 4:12; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
The etymology of the word “interposition” is from the Middle French in the sixteenth century making it too late to be on the original Reformed Egyptian plates. Not only that, since French actually came from the Latin language this would mean Smith’s work of the Book of Mormon is false.
If this were true for the Nephites, why wouldn’t it have been true for those living anywhere else in the world at any time?
Book of Mormon Vocabulary
Helaman 9:20; “Saying unto him: Thou art confederate; who is this man that hath done this murder? Now tell us, and acknowledge thy fault; saying, Behold here is money; and also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou wilt tell us, and acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made with him.”
1 Thessalonians 1:5; “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”
Again, the Book of Mormon is proven to be a fraud based upon its vocabulary. The term “confederate” is a Latin word derived from the fourteenth century. The lack of an education is only part of poor Joe Smith’s problem in producing sloppy work. The above example is a product of what was going on in the U.S. at the time he was writing it.
Book of Mormon; Weapons of Peace
Alma 24:19; “And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.”
2 Tim. 3:16; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Book of Mormon, Where Did it Come from?
The Book of Mormon, Historicity, and Faith, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol.2, Issue 2, 1993; “I feel we have every reason to believe that the Book of Mormon came through Joseph Smith, not from him. Because certain theological matters were discussed in the nineteenth century does not preclude their revelation or discussion in antiquity.
Unless. Unless we deny one of the most fundamental principles of the Restoration—Christ’s eternal gospel: the knowledge that Christian prophets have taught Christian doctrine and administered Christian ordinances since the days of Adam. “Taking it for granted that the scriptures say what they mean, and mean what they say,” Joseph Smith explained in 1842, “we have sufficient grounds to go on and prove from the Bible [that is, by utilizing the supplementary scriptural resources available through the Restoration] that the gospel has always been the same; the ordinances to fulfill its requirements, the same, and the officers to officiate, the same.”(5)
5 – Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons 3 (1 September 1843): 904; see also HC 2:15–18; 4:208.” – Robert Millet
Isaiah 59:20-21; “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.”
Question: if the gospel’s been preached since the time of Adam why the need for a restoration? The Mormons like to say the gospel is eternal, but deny God’s word endures forever.
Book of Mormon, Which Person Specifically is it About?
Doctrines of Salvation 3:210; “The Book of Mormon is the record of Joseph. It contains the history of the descendants of Joseph on this land, both of Ephraim and of Manasseh. It was in the hands of Ephraim when it was given to Joseph Smith, and it is still in the hands of Ephraim when our missionaries go forth proclaiming its truths to the world, for they also are of Ephraim.” – Joseph Fielding Smith
Hosea 9:11-12; “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!”
1. The Book of Mormon is not about the people of Ephraim and Manasseh.
2. It wasn’t in the hands of Ephraim when Joseph Smith took charge of it. He said he found it in the ground.
3. The people of Ephraim were destroyed, there are no descendants – read Obadiah.
Book of Mormon Witnesses: Did they Die?
Mosiah 8:9, 13; “And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold. 13 Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.”
Colossians 2:8; “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
In the Book of Mosiah you can read an interesting instruction about the person who will see and interpret the golden plates of Mormon.
First, they must be called a seer.
Second, those who see the records without being commanded will surely die.
Why didn’t the three witnesses die? Were they commanded to see them and if so why aren’t they referred to as seers?
D&C 3:12-13 “And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee sight and power to translate, thou deliveredst up that which was sacred into the hands of a wicked man, 13 Who has set at naught the counsels of God, and has broken the most sacred promises which were made before God, and has depended upon his own judgment and boasted in his own wisdom.”
History of the Church 3:228 “God suffered such kind of beings to afflict Job—but it never entered into their hearts that Job would get out of it all. This poor man who professes to be much of a prophet, has no other dumb ass to ride but David Whitmer…”
History of the Church 3:232 “Such characters as McLellin, John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris, are too mean to mention; and we had liked to have forgotten them.”
Matthew 7:15, 18-20 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
If Joseph Smith didn’t like these guys why does the Church still give glowing talks about them in their conferences and write about them in their teaching manuals?
Why should anyone believe the testimony of these fellows when they were all ex-communicated? A couple of them came back but still believed Smith was wrong on several doctrinal points, polygamy included.
If these guys were too mean to mention then why were they allowed back into the Church and not completely renounced?
Book of Mormon: Witnesses’ Testimony
Book of Mormon Intro
From the last sentence of the last paragraph in the intro to the Book of Mormon testimony of the three witnesses it says;
“And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
OLIVER COWDERY
DAVID WHITMER
MARTIN HARRIS”
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370 “I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods.”
Isaiah 43:10-11; “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. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
How could the 3 witnesses be credible if they didn’t believe there’s only one God? By following Smith they’ve condoned his teachings.
How could Joseph Smith be credible if he verified the witnesses’ testimony and deemed it good?
Is there only one god in Mormonism or are there many gods?
Book of Mormon, Writing on the Wall and Aminadi
Alma 10:2; “…and it was the same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.”
Daniel 5:13-16; “Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: 16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
Again, another similar story from the Bible…
Book of Mormon, Wonders of Nature
1825 The Wonders of Nature, pg. 469; “I then requested him to leave me, as my time was short, and I had some preparation to make before I went hence to “that bourne from whence no traveller returns.” – Josiah Priest
2 Nephi 1:14; “…from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.”
Psalm 101:7; “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.”
The Wonders of Nature by Josiah Priest was written in 1825 and Joseph Smith admitted he had read the book.
Book of Mormon, Weight of
Articles of Faith, pg. 237; “The Plates of the Book of Mormon as delivered by the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, according to the description given by the latter-day prophet, were, as far as he knew, of gold, of uniform size, each about seven inches wide by eight inches long, and in thickness a little less than that of ordinary sheet tin. They were fastened together by three rings running through the plates near one edge; together they formed a book nearly six inches in thickness, but not all has been translated, a part having been sealed. Both sides of the plates were engraved with small characters, described by those who examined them as of curious workmanship, with the appearance of ancient origin.” – James Talmage
Luke 11:33-36; “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.”
According to Joseph’s claims of the golden plates, independent reports say the plates should have weighed over 200 pounds. Smith lifting and walking around with these things must have been a feat indeed considering Smith weighed around 185 pounds and was 6’ tall.
To be fair, there are many accounts of other witnesses who claim they weighed roughly 40-60 lbs.
Question, were they really made of gold and whose account is correct? All witnesses publicly admit they never saw the plates, but through a linen frock Smith kept wrapped around his “find”
Book of Mormon Witnesses
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pg. 98; “Six of the original Twelve Apostles selected by Joseph Smith were excommunicated. The Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon left the Church. Three of Joseph Smith’s counselors fell-one even helped plot his death. A natural question that might arise would be that if the Lord knew in advance that these men would fall, as He undoubtedly did, why did He have His prophet call them to such high office? The answer is: to fill the Lord’s purposes. For even the Master followed the will of the Father by selecting Judas. (Title of Liberty, p. 217.)”
Proverbs 19:5; “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.”
Let’s say the BoM witnesses were wrong to denounce Smith and Mormonism. If that’s the case then we see in Proverbs 19:5 that God will take care of them. But, if we look at the evidence we know with certainty the witnesses to the BoM retracted their statements and subsequently left the Church because they found out Joseph Smith was a false prophet. So we see that Smith will be in the category of not being able to escape.
Book of Mormon Zedekiah Contradictions
II Kings 25:7; “And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.”
Heleman 8:21; “And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all—”
Well who’s telling the truth here? And why would the Bible lie about such an event? There’s even further evidence from the Bible that all of Zedekiah’s sons were killed before they plucked his eyes out.
Jeremiah 39:6 “Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.”
Born Again
Mosiah 27:25; “And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters.”
John 3:5-7; “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
How can someone be born again in 100 BC?
Born Again
Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings; “Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols. 3:392)”
John 3:1-16; “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews…For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Whosoever believes is saved, not by ordinances, not by your works…
Born Again
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 162; “Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances.”
John 3:3-6; “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Ordinances are performed in the flesh, not the spirit.
Boy Scouts of America
Church Issues Statement on Boy Scouts of America, 25 April 2013 “For 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong, rewarding relationship with Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
Recently, BSA has been reviewing a possible policy change in its standards for membership and leadership. Now that BSA has finished its review process and has proposed a resolution for consideration, the Church has issued the following statement:
“Over the past several weeks BSA has undertaken the difficult task of reviewing its membership standards policy. In their own words, this undertaking has been ‘the most comprehensive listening exercise in its history.’
“While the Church has not launched any campaign either to effect or prevent a policy change, we have followed the discussion and are satisfied that BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort to address issues that, as they have said, remain ‘among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today.’
“The current BSA proposal constructively addresses a number of important issues that have been part of the ongoing dialogue, including consistent standards for all BSA partners, recognition that Scouting exists to serve and benefit youth rather than Scout leaders, a single standard of moral purity for youth in the program, and a renewed emphasis for Scouts to honor their duty to God.
“We are grateful to BSA for their careful consideration of these issues. We appreciate the positive things contained in this current proposal that will help build and strengthen the moral character and leadership skills of youth as we work together in the future.””
BSA; “The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
For over a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through over a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.”
The subject of scouting is becoming more and more volatile in recent months amongst various people groups who believe the BSA is discriminating against them because of their lifestyles. While I don’t want to get into the disparities they’re going through, I do have a keen interest in what the Mormon Church is doing.
For decades now the Church has been quietly infiltrating this organization – decades. Their overwhelming presence didn’t happen in a vacuum and now that it’s past the point of being ignored, things need to be looked at with an objective eye. Nowadays that’s a long shot.
Brethren – don’t betray
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 156; “O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important Key—that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether in Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to the brethren.”
Psalm 118:8; “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
What’s it going to be like for you when you tell God that you trusted mankind before you did Him?
Brigham Young and the Bible
Unpublished Brigham Young Discourse, LDS General Conference, October 8, 1854; “There are many duties, and callings spoken [of] in the scriptures, and there are many not written. Those, for instance, which are handed out to you by your President as circumstances require. Those imposed by the President of the Church of God, or by the President of any portion of it, are duties necessary to be observed as though they were written in the Bible; but these requirements, duties, callings etc. are changed with the circumstances that surround the people of God…
I think these preliminaries will satisfy me, and I feel prepared to take my text: it is the words of (p. 6) Jesus Christ, but where they are in the Bible I cannot tell you now, for I have not taken the pains to look at them. I have had as much to do, that I have not read the Bible for many years. I used to be a Bible student; I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it, I knew well enough how it read. I have read the Book of Mormon, the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and other revelations of God which [He] has given to his people in latter times; I look at them and contrast the spirit and power of them with my faithfulness. My clerks know how much time I have to read, it is difficult for me to snatch time enough even to eat my breakfast and supper, to say nothing of reading. I tell you my text is in the Bible and reads as follows.”
Deuteronomy 4:28-29; “And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
LDS quote is from the website of http://web.archive.org/web/20061231213130/www.xmission.com/~country/by/100854_2.htm
This is why it’s important to follow God and not man. They change the rules with the blowing of the wind and circumstances surrounding them. Jesus’ yoke is light!
Brigham Young and Joseph Smith; How Great They are
Gospel Standards, pg. 18; “BRIGHAM YOUNG AND JOSEPH SMITH. While we honor Brigham Young as the great statesman, the great pioneer and colonizer, we must not forget that Brigham Young built upon the foundation, and fulfilled the predictions, made by the Prophet Joseph Smith. And Brigham Young, great as he was, on all occasions magnified the Prophet Joseph. I honor and love him for the reverence he gave to the man who was the instrument in the hands of almighty God of restoring the gospel to the earth.—Era, 4:690-691.” – Heber J. Grant
Proverbs 16:18; “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs says it all doesn’t it?
Brigham Young is LDS Dictator
Journal of Discourses 7:19-20; “What do you say, brethren and sisters? Do you not think it best for us to do right, each person individually being led by the dictations of the Holy Spirit, listening diligently to those who are appointed to lead, govern, and dictate this people? You know what I mean by this. President Young is our governor and our dictator. It is for me to walk with him, and for you to walk with those who go before you.” – Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, July 16, 1854
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, November 17th, “My goal is God
Himself … At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.”
I would think the best one to listen to would be the Holy Spirit don’t you? Why should anyone submit themselves to a dictator?
Brigham Young Morphed into Joseph Smith
Chapter 47: “Praise to the Man”: Latter-day Prophets Bear Witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007), 541; “The members of the Twelve called a meeting of the Saints for August 8, 1844, at which Brigham Young, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke. As he did so, an extraordinary event occurred that was witnessed by many Saints. President Young was miraculously made to appear and sound like Joseph Smith. “If Joseph had risen from the dead and again spoken in their hearing,” George Q. Cannon recalled, “the effect could not have been more startling than it was to many present at that meeting. It was the voice of Joseph himself; and not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard; but it seemed in the eyes of the people as though it was the very person of Joseph which stood before them.” –
Ezekiel 2:6-7; “And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”
Unbelievable.
Brigham Will be President of U.S.
Journal of Discourses 5:219; “The Church and kingdom to which we belong will become the kingdom of our God and his Christ, and brother Brigham Young will become President of the United States.” – Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, September 6, 1856
2 Timothy 3:13; “…evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
Mr. Kimball along with countless others were deceived by the likes of Joseph Smith and they in turn spread the lies about God and believed everything the leaders said without checking the word of God.
Brigham’s Uncertainty
Journal of Discourses 16:70; “I do not know that I shall have a wife or child in the resurrection. I have never had any thoughts or reflections upon this, or cared the first thing about it. All that I have had in my mind has been that it was my duty to do the will of God, and to labor to establish his kingdom on the earth. I do not love, serve or fear the Lord for the sake of getting rid of being damned, nor for the sake of getting some great gift or blessing in eternity, but purely because the principles which God has revealed for the salvation of the inhabitants of the earth are pure, holy and exalting in their nature.” – Brigham Young, Logan, Utah, June 28, 1873
Proverbs 30:5-6; “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
If Brigham had just believed God’s word and not tossed it away like a used rag he wouldn’t be unsure!
Brigham’s Words are Scripture
Journal of Discourses 13:95; “I know just as well what to teach this people and just what to say to them and what to do in order to bring them into the celestial kingdom…I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve. The people have the oracles of God continually.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, January 2, 1870
1 Timothy 4:1-2; “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”
I believe Young knew he was lying to the people and purposefully led many astray. There is no Celestial Kingdom, no families are forever, and definitely not a plan of salvation that includes men becoming gods.
Burning in the Bosom
D&C 9:8; “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”
Proverbs 28:26; “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Take a Rolaids if you feel a burning in your chest area and know that God doesn’t cause anyone to have feelings in their chest.
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