In 1990 Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer delivered an address at the LDS General Conference priesthood meeting. His topic was about the wonderful work they performed by publishing their new edition of their scriptures ten years earlier.
You can find our response below in red font. If you’d like to read his speech in full click here.
I wouldn’t have entertained the idea of looking into this talk had it not been for a couple of lies Mr. Packer shot off right from the get-go. As I read further into the diatribe he spewed off, I felt no choice but to share it with our readers. This talk is a representation of how the average Mormon defends the Church today.
Ensign, ‘The Library of the Lord,’ May 1990; “Early in the eighties, after ten years of intense work by a veritable army of volunteers, the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible was published. This was followed by new editions of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Early manuscripts had become available, making possible the correction of many printer errors.”
So…if they fixed some typos, what’s the deal with the grammar problem it’s still plagued with today in 2015? One example reads –
Words of Mormon 1:7; “And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.”
What does ‘it whispereth me’ mean?
“The subtitle “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” was added to the Book of Mormon. Two revelations were added to the Doctrine and Covenants, the book that will never be closed.”
If God can arbitrarily decide to change His mind about something, does it ever make you wonder what might come tomorrow?
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.”
Paul’s warning serves as a standing reminder to always be on guard and while it’s a popular passage for ex-Mormons to use, I never tire of the reassurance it brings.
Like Paul, I’m surprised too. I was surprised the first time I read his words that perfectly described ‘another gospel’, aka, ‘another testament’. How brazen of the Church!
Ask your Mormon friends/loved ones for their opinion of having an open canon like their Doctrine and Covenants they hold dear. What would Joseph Smith think of no polygamy and blacks being allowed into the priesthood?
‘The subject “Jesus Christ” in the topical guide takes eighteen pages of small print just to list the references. It is the most comprehensive compilation of scriptural information on the mission and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ that has ever been assembled in the history of the world.’
Wow. I feel so embarrassed for them whenever they say stuff like this…ugh…
Apparently they’ve never looked inside a library, let alone the books it carries.
‘The revelation on the priesthood came just in time to be bound into the new editions of the scriptures, evidence of direction from beyond the veil.’
Actually, that revelation in 1978 came just in time to deflect major lawsuits from multiple entities who were ready to sue and/or ban them from sports, businesses, et al.
‘When completed, these translations will extend the number of possible readers of the scriptures in their native tongue by an additional 2,254,000,000 people—half the world population. And other translations will follow.’
Half the world eh? How ‘bout just getting your numbers correct for the amount of people who are actually active Mormon. Instead of the 15 million they claim are Mormons today, the number of active members of the LDS Church today is closer to 4 or 5 million. Not sure why they’d need that many copies of the BoM when they don’t have that many people who’ll volunteer to read it.
‘In the Old Testament course, you learn of the Creation and fall of man, the foundation for the temple endowment. You learn what a prophet is. You become familiar with such words as obedience, sacrifice, covenant, Aaronic, Melchizedek, and priesthood.
The whole basis for Judaic-Christian law, indeed for Islam, is taught to you…’
Why?
Why would you want to say such a thing?
Why would you want the teachings of Islam in your sacred canon?
Are they aware the Koran doesn’t contain Judeo-Christian teachings?
And finally, they had to make a point to lie about Christianity.
‘In seminary you learn to know the Old Testament. Now almost abandoned by the Christian world, it remains to us a testament of Jesus Christ.’ – Boyd K. Packer
I’ve not been inside a Christian church that’s abandoned the Old Testament. Indeed, if you study the New Testament and believe in its precepts, it only stands to reason you’d believe in an teach from the Old Testament as well. The OT stands as the foundation for the NT so we’re not sure why this man would lie like this…unless of course he just didn’t care.
In our changeable world, it’s great to know that the Triune God of the Bible does not change.
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
8
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever
Praise God & amen! 🙂