Life After Ministry

 April 20 — Book of Mormon on Facebook Marketplace. The other day, I was on Facebook Marketplace and noticed members of the Mormon Church were offering to send people copies of the Book of Mormon. Along with sending them the book, they also want people to message them and talk to them about the Church.

Many people just shared a picture of the book, and others posted a message in the description. These are just a few comments in the description.

(I’m only using the first name of the individual.)

“The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. A companion to the Bible to testify of Christ!  It is the record of the people in the ancient Americas in 600BC to 400AD. It helps answer questions of the soul and helps us get closer to Jesus Christ. If you want it, me and my companion will personally deliver it and teach about it! “- Benjamin

“This book has brought me so much peace and joy. I know that with the Book of Mormon and the Bible together we have the fullness of the Gospel. Want to learn more?! I can help!” – Kensely

“FREEEEEEE Book of Mormon!!!! It’s all about Jesus Christ! It helps us to make a covenant with God” – Zaylie

“This Book has brought me SO much Joy and peace in this life and a perspective on eternity and I know it will do the same for you too” – Mathew

“This book has changed my life and brought me so much peace and joy in this crazy world!! Message me if you would like one:)🤎” – Amy

“This is a nice book to read, it’s free. Need it gone asap!´-Levi

I find Levi’s comment funny; he likes the book but wants it out of his sight asap.  Zaylie, on the other hand, sounds very enthusiastic about the Book of Mormon.

So many people said this book has changed their lives and brought them joy and peace. I had to ask one of them why they felt this way, so I messaged one of them. I’ll let you know how that goes.

As I read their comments, I wondered what was motivating them to do this. Why is the Book of Mormon so special to them, and why, if they’re Christians, aren’t they as enthusiastic about the Bible and sharing how it has changed their lives?

The Bible is rarely mentioned in Mormonism. When it is, it usually doesn’t stand on its own but is mentioned alongside the Book of Mormon. The Bible is never referred to as a way for people to come to know Jesus. It’s the Book of Mormon they view as infallible. The Bible can only be trusted as far as it’s translated correctly.

The 8^th Article of Faith states-

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.

The Church advertises the Book of Mormon as a companion to the Bible. For a Christian, it’s odd to hear anything being referred to as a companion to the Bible. Church members are taught to believe that the Book of Mormon helps them to learn more about Jesus and his “restored gospel”. The thing is, the Book of Mormon doesn’t say a whole lot about the teachings of Mormonism.

As a Mormon, I was taught that I had to study the Bible with the other Mormon scriptures. The Bible was fine on its own, but if I wanted to know anything about Jesus or the things he taught, I needed the Book of Mormon to truly understand “the gospel”.

These are just a few quotes from Mormon leaders about the Bible and the importance of the Book of Mormon.

Dallin H. Oaks said –

“The Book of Mormon is Christ-centered. That is its essential feature, and that is the reason we are commanded to study it continually. We must use the Book of Mormon to bring us to Christ.” (BYU devotional June 6, 1993)

 Elder D. Todd Christofferson said –

“Use the Book of Mormon to help people have spiritual experiences, especially a witness from the Holy Ghost that the book itself is the word of God. When you teach the gospel using the Book of Mormon, your teaching will resonate with power and clarity in the heart and mind.” (Seminar for New Mission Leaders, June 23, 2023

In the April 2007 General Conference, M. Russel Ballard referred to the Bible as a “miracle,”. However, it didn’t take long for him to mention the Church and give the bible credit for leading people to Mormonism.

“How grateful we should be for the Holy Bible. In it we learn not only of the life and teachings and doctrines of Christ, we learn of His Church and of His priesthood and of the organization which He established and named the Church of Jesus Christ in those former days. We believe in that Church, and we believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that same Church, restored to earth, complete, with the same organization and the same priesthood.

Without the Bible, we would not know of His Church then, nor would we have the fulness of His gospel now.”

In the October 2011 General Conference, Elder Tad R. Callister said –

“Together with the Bible, the Book of Mormon is an indispensable witness of the doctrines of Christ and His divinity. Together with the Bible, it “teach[es] all men that they should do good” (2 Nephi 33:10). And together with the Bible, it brings us to “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” That is why the Book of Mormon is so crucial in our lives.”

I wonder why Mormons bother carrying around the Bible if they don’t believe it’s as credible as the Book of Mormon. I’ve read the Book of Mormon. I don’t see how it helps to answer questions you may have or give you a perspective on eternity, nor do I see how it can bring peace and joy to someone.

Mormons rely heavily on their feelings. When you’re given the Book of Mormon, they will ask you to pray and ask if it’s true. You’re supposed to get a “feeling” of its truthfulness from the Holy Spirit. If you don’t get that “burning in the bosom”, then you just didn’t pray hard enough, or you didn’t truly want to know if it was true or not.

I pray for Mormons to look to the Bible in the same regard they look to the Book of Mormon. I hope they will come to know the real Jesus by reading his Word.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes melissa@lifeafter.org

References:

Another Testament of Jesus Christ – Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Christofferson – Church News

Elder M. Russell Ballard – The Miracle of the Holy Bible – April 2007

Elder Tad R. Callister – The Book of Mormon- a Book from God