Bible and Book of Mormon Authenticate Each Other
Ensign, Nov. 2007, 43; “Scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the Book of Mormon was ‘written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also’ (Mormon 7:9). Each book refers to the other. Each book stands as evidence that God lives and speaks to His children by revelation to His prophets.
Love for the Book of Mormon expands one’s love for the Bible and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible. We are indebted to martyrs who gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. It establishes the everlasting nature of the gospel and of the plan of happiness. The Book of Mormon restores and underscores biblical doctrines such as tithing, the temple, the Sabbath day, and the priesthood.” – Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses”
Hebrews 4:12; “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
It hurt my selfish pride the first time I heard someone tell me that God didn’t need me. The friend of mine who shared this precious truth gave me a great gift indeed! As I went about explaining what I had to do for God he interrupted me to say that God didn’t need me and that God didn’t need anyone.
Love me yes, need me, no. If God needed me then what kind of God is that? Would He need someone else’s help at the time I call on Him for help? What if that person was unavailable or unwilling?
I was convicted of my sin to the very core.
That scenario so many years ago is what I think of when I read the Mormon passage above. God’s word doesn’t need outside help from other books to convict someone’s heart.
The author of Hebrews clearly announces to God’s children that His word is capable and sufficient. God’s redeeming work through the Holy Spirit inside of each believer alongside His holy inspired word does the job needed to bring us to our knees.
Moreover, the Bible is clear when it warns us to not listen to another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
The canon is closed.
Also see Revelation 22:17-18; “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
God doesn’t need anyone, but what has that got to do with anything?
As to Paul’s words in Hebrews, I couldn’t agree more. The power of God’s words in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, or as spoken by any of his appointed ministers is quick and powerful; just as quick and power as the Bible is.
Your basic argument in this is the assumption that these other books do not contain the words of God. The problem is that your argument doesn’t really need this assumption to be true; you are simply assuming that it does.
A lot of assumptions here.
As to the canon being closed, I find it interesting that you quote Revelation, considering that it was written before any of John’s epistles or his gospel, as is likely the first book of the New Testament to be written. If this passage is to say that the canon is closed then we must reject all the rest of the New Testament as being “other books” from which his word gets outside help.