What you are about to read is my opinion on the subject of Mormonism. I believe that the Bible speaks clearly on this particular subject; God’s word is the only authority that we need refer to for His will and purpose for man. For this reason I have used many scriptural references to justify my thesis.
Sometime ago I was challenged to read the Book of Mormon and pray to God for a sign that it was true. I did experience the heartburn (burning of the bosom) that came from reading the book. But, My prayers also contain a request for wisdom and knowledge. Which helped me to discern man's writings from God's writings. I really only have just four reasons for not believing Mormonism and they are based their own writings. The following of only a few but ample exhibits for not believing the book of Mormons or Mormonism.
1. Today's Book of Mormon has 3913 changes from the original 1830 Book of Mormon publication. If the plates were translated into modern speech by Joseph Smith through the power of God, attested to by divine affirmation and was first published in 1830 as the Book of Mormon, why are there so many changes? Changes range from small portions to the deletion of whole sections in the book. Was the one who rewrote the Book of Mormon greater than Joseph Smith, was he given greater translation power than Joseph Smith when he straightened out the book into its modern form?
2. False Prophecies, I'll Quote just a few:
A. "D&C Section 84 verse 4 -5, 31 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city" "New Jerusalem" "shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house. Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses--for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed." This prophecy can never come true. Joseph Smith says twice that his generation, the one now dead and buried, would build the New Jerusalem beginning with the temple. The temple was never completed much less the city and that generation is gone. Does this make Joseph Smith a false prophet? In my book it does. Mormon leaders are slick and have a way of covering their tracks. One Mormon doctrine says "a prophet is only a prophet when he speaks as a prophet." What does that mean? That means, if I say something that turns out to be false then I wasn't speaking as a prophet at the time. The Bible says to put such a person to death and not listen to him.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. (NIV)
B. D&C Section 97 10-17 Repeats the same false prophecy as Section 84
C. D&C Section 114 David W. Patten was told that he would go on a mission for God, the next spring. He died six months after this prophecy. So that prophecy could never come true. Could God not see six months in the future or was Joseph just not a prophet when he said that? The God I believe in knows the future. So were does that leave Joseph (Deut 18:20-22)?
D. Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 1:20-27 Black people could not hold the priesthood until 1 June 1978. Black people are the sons of Cain. Of course when the black Mormons were protesting in Salt Lake City, LDS President Kimball had a convenient revelation 1 June 1978, that Blacks could be in the priesthood. Why is their such a big distinction between black and whites in Mormonism? Because the Mormons teach that at Star Base Kolob Lucifer led one third of the spirits in rebellion and fought against his brother, Jesus. Those spirits went to earth as demons. The spirits that were neutral were sent to the earth and born with black skin. Those that fought for Jesus are born white and delightsome. The Bible teaches all Christians regardless of race are priests and Christ is the High Priest.
E. "You see some classes of the human race that are black, uncoth, uncomely, disagreeable, and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed to mankind". "Blacks shall never hold the priesthood." Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses Volume 7 Page 290; 9 Oct 1859. As stated above this bigoted prophecy was made void in June 1978 by Church President Kimball. Which prophet is the true prophet or are the prophecies, prophecies of convenience. Therefore, I am saying they are made up and not true. Not true because they do not meet the standard of consistency and fulfillment.
F. "26 years will not pass until the Elders of this Church are thought of as Kings on their Throne." Brigham Young Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 40; 31 Aug 1856. Never came true.
G. "Brigham Young will be President", Herbert C Kimball, Journal of Discourses Volume 5 Page 126; 6 Sept 1856. I don't remember having to learn about him in my government class. This prophecy like so many others never came true.
H. "Jews can never be Christians." Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 2 Page 142 12 Dec 1854. Not true. Were not the 12+ Apostles Jews and were they not Christians? Was there not a Church at Jerusalem?
I. "God promised in 1832 that this generation then living would not pass until they returned to Jackson County and built the city of Zion". Orison Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Volume 13 Page 362; 5 May 1870. This, too, will never come true and Joseph Smith prophesied this one several times.
3. The Books Contridicts itself. Here are only a few examples:
A. In the Introduction to The Book of Mormon, paragraph 4, it states that the once human, now angelic, "Moroni" is a resurrected being. I ask, "How is this possible when one takes into consideration the idea that Moroni died after Christ's resurrection (when many of the saints who had died appeared unto many--Matt. 27:52,53) and another resurrection has not yet taken place"?
B. 1 Nephi 1:9-10; 11:29, 34-36; 12:7-10; 13:41--The Book of Mormon author only knows of 12 apostles, just as we find in the Bible, not a perpetual succession of 12 offices as is currently enjoyed (first-class! complete with bodyguards) by the current "true church" leaders. The Nephite versions of the twelve are called the twelve "disciples" or "ministers" in The Book of Mormon. Note that Judas' office was forfeited by his apostasy, Paul was dubbed the "apostle (lit. Gr.: sent-out one) to the Gentiles (goyim)," and other apostles mentioned in the Bible were congregational-level apostles, i.e., they were "sent-out" from their local congregations. In other words, they were missionaries. Interestingly, Mormonism tells its missionaries that they have the same power and authority that the Quorum of the Twelve does, but that they don't have the "keys of the priesthood" necessary to be authorized to give orders to the Mormon church members.
C. 1 Nephi 11:13--There is no evidence that a region by the name of Nazareth was in existence at the time of "Nephi," so we wonder why he was not as specific in his other prophecies, understanding that he supposedly had the capability to provide proper names.
D. 1 Nephi 19:4--If "Nephi" wrote about these wars on his other plates before they even transpired, then we wonder why "Mormon" did not use this as a source when working on the abridgment. It would have been very "sacred" and faith-promoting if "Mormon" had written something to the effect of ". . .and this war was prophesied about by Nephi and recorded in his other plates." "Mormon," interestingly, never does this.
E. 1 Nephi 19:10--There have not been any modern-day discoveries of fragments or remnants of the records of "Zenock"(Enoch preceded by a "Z"), "Neum"(Nahum?), & "Zenos"(Enos preceded by a "Z"). This is especially the case in light of the Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi Library, the survival of the Epistle of Barnabas and The Shepherd of Hermas as found in the Codex Sinaiticus, and a whole host of surviving literature which could be considered as much less important than these Book of Mormon sources. If these writings were found contained in the Brass plates, then they should have been widely-accepted among those same persons who preserved the Hebrew-Chaldee Scriptures.
F. 2 Nephi 31:8--The "most perfect book," The Book of Mormon, states that the Holy Ghost descended in the "form" of a dove, yet, in The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the supposed translator of the record states, on pages 275 & 276, "[John the Baptist] had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of the dove. "Why is it that neither The Book of Mormon, 'the most perfect book,' nor the prophet who translated the record revealed this to us earlier, when The Book of Mormon was first published, and why have later revisions also not taught this 'truth.' The Bible teaches the 'form of a dove,' so does The Book of Mormon. Why the sudden change, Joseph?"
G. Enos 1:22--God provides more than one prophet at a time, even from ground-level membership, when it will take more than one to declare the warning. Not so with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You will not see (because they've been or --and ) sounding the voice of warning to the disobedient Church. Why not? Though it goes against the model provided by the Early(true) Church, Mormons are told they can only prophesy for those they are responsible for (subordinates as a result of a higher calling, and family). Through control, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(and his counselors, when he is incapacitated) monopolize the prophecy "market." They will not permit God to work through one of their members to call the whole Church to repentance. Is this the kind of "stiff-necked" "Enos" is writing about? It is very interesting that verse 23 shows that these prophets and their messages were necessary to keep the people in the fear of "the Lord." It is a pity they are not found in the Mormon Church.
H. Omni 1:20--The description of this record contradicts the description offered in Mosiah 21:27.
I. Words of Mormon 1:15--Why would false Christs pop up at this time, in the days of "King Benjamin," when they knew that the Christ was to come 600 years after "Lehi"'s departure from Jerusalem? In the first century, false Christs popped up because people expected the Messiah at that time(thanks to Daniel's prophecy and 1 Enoch), and after Jesus died, some of his disciples expected his return in the first century. False Christs rarely attain popularity now because we all expect him to come from heaven. Yet, in the orthodox Jewish community Rabbi Schneerson recently proved to be a false Messiah when he died without leaving a son to carry on. This community has not been expecting the Messiah to come from heaven, but, like most faithful Jews, they have been expecting the Messiah to come. This is how Rabbi Schneerson was able to obtain this identity amongst them, by their expectation. So, how was it that the false Christs in King Benjamin's day had enough of a leg to stand on that they were even worth mentioning as something more than crackpots? The evidence shows that this is just another example of how The Book of Mormon takes New Testament types of phenomenon and puts them in a "Before Christ" setting.
J. Mosiah 3:11--We are left to ask, "Why then is baptism for the dead needed?"
K. Mosiah 18:13--When I had become a District Leader of missionaries I had a Sister missionary call me up and offer me a real stumper. She asked, "Where did 'Alma' get his priesthood authority?" Certainly not from the wicked "King Noah," who appointed(ordained) him. He did not get it from "Abinadi," nor from the other wicked and apostate priests of Noah. The answer is: You do not need a priesthood to receive authority from God. Look at verse 13, where did his authority come from? It came from "the Spirit of the Lord." Therefore, do we need a priesthood of Aaron or Melchizedek to perform God's will? No, we only need the Holy Spirit. As Christians we are priests.
L. Mosiah 18:14,15--This is a bogus baptism, according to Mormon and Christian doctrine. Notice that they both descend below the water, yet it is "Helam" who is being named and baptized. "Alma"'s name is never mentioned, though all Mormon baptisms state the name of the person being baptized. According to Mormon doctrine, the priesthood can only be used to help others. I could not give myself a blessing when I was sick; instead, I had to seek out another priesthood holder to bless me. Likewise, I could not baptize myself; someone else had to baptize me. In addition, the instruction to "go out and make disciples, baptizing them" was given only to those who had already been baptized, themselves. When Joseph Smith was baptized he needed Oliver Cowdery to do it. In that case, the authority to baptize came before their own baptism, which is fine and dandy if it was really John the Baptist who appeared to them and instructed them to do so. Joseph did not baptize himself. Why didn't John the Baptist do the baptizing? He must have been resurrected at Christ's resurrection(see Doctrine & Covenants 129). On top of this big mess, the form of the baptism itself is much too Christian in form(except for "Alma"'s self-immersion) for us to believe that this took place approximately 200 years before Christ's birth.
M. Mosiah 25:19; 27:1--Where in heaven's name did "Mosiah," a king, get the priesthood authority to grant "Alma," our priesthood-less prophet/baptist, the authority to do this? Was this a simple governmental sanction? Not from the looks of the last couple lines of verse 19.
And, in chapter 27, where did "Mosiah" get his own priests? Were these the same ones "Alma" supposedly ordained? If so, why didn't "Alma" consult with these priests? If these priests are "Mosiah"'s own collection, where did he get the priesthood authority to ordain his own?
N. Mosiah 25:21--Apparently, these priests and teachers did not teach by the Spirit, rather they taught by relying on an oral tradition(and this in spite of the idea that they had received the Spirit when baptized by "Alma"). Shall the Mormons then slam on other denominations for doing the same?
O. Mosiah 25:22--It looks like "Alma" has already forgotten the words of "Abinadi" which had such a profound effect on him, for in the Church he supervises(or does the king?). They do not preach the Ten Commandments or the Law of Moses(in fact, though the Torah is sacred, you will find a very shallow understanding of the Torah in The Book of Mormon, even though they had a copy of it on the brass plates, which incidentally were supposedly in a book form--funny, I thought scrolls were not rendered obsolete until the Early Christians invented the Codex/book around the beginning of the 2nd or 3rd century).
P. Mosiah 26:27--"Departing into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" goes against the Mormon doctrine of salvation for all with no Hell(Hades). If The Book of Mormon is supposedly written in "plainness and simplicity," why then this confusing passage, in light of the "greater" revealed "truth" of The Doctrine and Covenants?
Q. Alma 1:29--Where did the silk come from? Were they importing silk-worms from China? No. I believe they would have mentioned it if they were engaging in trade with such a distant land. And think of all of the "sacred" missionary opportunities such an exchange would have provided!
R. Alma 3:14-17--Where are these words?
S. Alma 10:2--Why is there no record of this sacred thing?
T. Alma 11:28,29--These two verses go against today's doctrine in Mormonism. One of the things this body of doctrine states is that the Godhead is made up of three separate personages who are one in purpose. According to Mormon doctrine their names are Elohim(actually the Hebrew word for "God" or "gods," a title, but in this case it is supposed to be the name of God the Father), Jehovah(actually the anglicized form of the Divine Name belonging to Elohim, but in this case the pre-existent name of Jesus), and God the Holy Ghost/Spirit. And, we cannot go on without mentioning that Mormonism believes in the existence of a multiplicity of gods whose power is equal to or greater than that of our Father(though in some other universe).
U. Alma 11:35,38,39--These verses show that The Book of Mormon teaches the traditional Trinitarian doctrine of the Godhead. Mormon doctrine, since at least the latter portion of Joseph Smith's life, has denounced the Trinity doctrine, while at the same time asserting that "Jesus" and "Jehovah" are one and the same(perhaps the two gods possessing those names are only one god, after all--"the god of this world"!). Having learned indepth about Mormon and Jehovah's Witness religion, I have learned that the Witnesses deny the Trinitarian doctrine of God, while the Mormons have a "confused" idea about the Trinity.
V. Alma 16:13--How is it possible that the "Nephites" had synagogues which were built after the manner of the Jews when this verse was recorded around 78 B.C.? Did they preserve on brass or gold architectural blueprints of the synagogues "Lehi" had left behind? Did the design get passed down by a written description in the Brass Plates? An oral tradition which would have been corrupted over time, much like a rumour handed from one person to another? What would have been the motivation for inscribing such details? And would not the design of the "Nephite" synagogues have evolved over time by the introduction of new revelation or aesthetic evolution? And how would the writer have known that the mentioned synagogues resembled then current designs in Judea? By revelation? If so, he could have recorded for us all kinds of juicy tidbits of faraway happenings.
W. Alma 20:23--Doesn't this sound too much like the oath given to Herodias' daughter, Salome, by King Herod?
X. Alma 32:17-21--According to this, many Mormons do not have faith, for they themselves testify that they have been given a sign from heaven, the burning in the bosom of the Holy Ghost, thus gaining a sure knowledge of God. In a Mormon testimony meeting you will hear members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say, "I know my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. I know Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I know The Book of Mormon is a true book. I know that Joseph Smith was, and is, a true prophet of God. And, I know President Howard W. Hunter[now dead] is a true prophet, seer, and revelator for this Church, here in these latter-days." According to these verses, these people are in serious jeopardy. Biblically speaking, this is especially so, especially when one considers Hebrew 11:6, ". . . for without faith it is impossible to please [God]. . . ." These verses say that if you know, you do not have faith. What happens to those who do not have faith?
Y. Alma 36:10,16; 38:8--"Alma" did not have the use of his mouth and hands for 3 days and 3 nights. Elsewhere, either in the Book of Mormon or some other LDS book, I remember it saying it was either 2 or 4 days. If you find it, let me know; otherwise, I will try to look for it, and provide you the reference.
Z. Alma 36:23--How could "Alma" have been born of God when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that fateful Pentecost had not even happened yet?
AA. Alma 36:22; 1 Nephi 1:8--Methought I saw? They weren't sure whether they had seen God or not? If they weren't sure whether they had seen God or not, then they also weren't sure whether it was Satan and his angels appearing to them or not (assuming there is any truth at all to The Book of Mormon record).
BB. Alma 37:23--If I remember correctly, Gazelem is a code name for Joseph Smith and it is used elsewhere in either Mormon records or scriptures. This verse is an encoded prophecy about Joseph Smith and his "Seer stone," the same stone with which he would go looking for treasure and the same stone with which he started translating the Golden Plates of The Book of Mormon while holding it in his hat. Notice that this verse is interjected haphazardly and out-of-context, for it was the Urim and the Thummim, two stones, that were being talked about in verse 21 and later in verse 24. See also Mosiah 8:13, where the connection is made between the possession of these "looking glass" stones called the Urim and the Thummim (which, humourously, were supposedly used like lenses in a pair of glasses) and the term "seer." What puzzles me is why Joseph would have used his "seer stone" to initially translate the Golden Plates, when he had received the Urim and the Thummim, along with the breastplate of righteousness, at the same time he supposedly received the Golden Plates. I pity the Latter-day Saints who cannot find it in themselves to admit to the very questionable roots of their denomination [I, by the way, am still an official member, in full standing, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though not for long. I would not mind it at all if they excommunicated me from their church. In my heart, I am a non-denominational believer in YaHushua as the Anointed One].
CC. Alma 42:28--And who would do this evil to him? God? His holy angels?
DD. Alma 43:46--Why is there no previous record of this "sacred" teaching, which was given to them by "the Lord"?
EE. Alma 55:18,19; 1 Nephi 4:7-30--If "Moroni" did not slay the "Lamanites" in their drunkenness because he did not delight in murder or bloodshed, can we then say that "Nephi" killed "Laban" because he did delight in murder and bloodshed? I think we can. I knew of a number of people[at most two, and now I can only remember the identity of one of them] investigating the Mormon Church who had big problems with the slaying of "Laban" in his unconscious state. Also, where did all of the blood go which must have come from the beheading of "Laban"? Apparently, it did not spill onto the armor or clothing which "Nephi" donned or "Zoram" would have noticed it. Maybe the author of The Book of Mormon forgot about this small, but gory, detail.
FF. Alma 60:1--"Moroni" sends a letter to the governor, "Pahoran," in the city of "Zarahemla"; Alma 61:1--Moroni soon receives a reply to his letter from "Pahoran," yet in the letter we are told that he had to flee to the land of "Gideon"(verse 5). How then did the letter from "Moroni" get to him so quickly, much less at all, understanding that the letter had a destination of "Zarahemla," the capital, where the new government of rebels was based? Would not the letter have been intercepted? Was the messenger prepared to make an additional trek to the land of "Gideon" through war-torn country? And then how did "Pahoran's" reply come so soon, given all of this information? This is obviously another mistake committed by the real author(s) of The Book of Mormon.
GG. Alma 60:33--"The Lord" said the governors needed to repent when they hadn't even done anything wrong. See Alma 61:4. Do we have a false prophet here, or a false god? Who is the source of this "perfect" "inspiration"?
HH. Alma 61:20--What the supposedly omniscient Mormon "Lord" actually said in Alma 60:33 was, "Unless Pahoran, the governor, and his buddies repent, you shall go and slay them." This is quite different from what "Pahoran" is considering doing. He is not planning on slaying himself and making war with his buddies is he?
II. Helaman 5:36-39--Is this a hybrid of Stephen's experience and Paul's?
JJ. Helaman 6:14--Why is it that "Mormon" did not include these "sacred" things in his abridgement?
KK. Helaman 6:19--If they were not found, then how did "Mormon" know? No "thus saith the Lord" is found here!
LL. Helaman 7:10-14--Why did "Nephi" need to pray on the top of a tower, where everyone could see him? Wasn't this similar to the apostate form of worship committed by the "Zoramites" in Alma 31:12-23?
MM. Helaman 10:7--Here a power which was given to the apostles during Christ's ministry is given to "Nephi" before Christ is even born!
NN. Helaman 13:17-20--Perhaps this is what Joseph Smith used as an excuse when he was not able to locate buried treasure for his clients while using his "seer stone."
OO. Helaman 13:25-26--Compare Matthew 23:30-32 and Acts 7:51-52.
PP. Helaman 14:5; 3 Nephi 1:21--Would this be seen in both hemispheres at the same time?
QQ. Helaman 15:17--Would not "the Lord" have said, ". . . as surely as I liveth . . ."?
RR. 3 Nephi 3:12,16--Was this governor also a prophet?
SS. 3 Nephi 7:24-26--Though it is fuzzy, verse 25 makes it clear that the remission of sins came before baptism, not during, as is currently believed and taught in the Mormon Church.
TT. 3 Nephi 8:1--Miracles in the name of Jesus could only be performed by "holy" men? I seem to remember a New Testament story where some men were performing miracles using the name of Jesus. It does not say they were holy or ordained for the task, yet Jesus says, in so many words, "Leave 'em alone." (Mark 9:38-40)
UU. 3 Nephi 11:15--That was a good number of people to come up, one by one. See 3 Nephi 17:25. Let's see. . . if we gave each person a very brief 10 seconds to touch the wounds in his hands and feet(would you be satisfied with only 10 seconds, especially if you were one of the mentioned children?) it would have taken 6 hours, 56 minutes, and 40 seconds for each person to have had the experience. A more realistic 20 seconds per person(enough time for you?) would have taken 13 hours, 53 minutes, and 20 seconds. Now that is a miracle! Personally, I wouldn't be satisfied with 20 seconds in the presence of a woman I loved, much less the saviour. Obviously, when you are spouting off lies, inspired by the father of the lie, to a scribe who is waiting for more words to come, you don't have time to "do the math."
VV. 3 Nephi 17:10--You can thank one of my Zone Leaders for this one. He was quite willing to offer it to me, a missionary who he probably knew was having testimony problems with the Church. He claimed that it did not shake his testimony. Ask a knowledgeable Latter-day Saint who they believe they should worship and pray to, Heavenly Father or Jesus, then ask them why these people worshipped and prayed to Jesus. Notice that in 3 Nephi 18:19,21,23,24 and 19:6 Christ and his apostles command them to pray to the Father in His name. See 3 Nephi 19:18,22,24,25, & 30. Notice that Jesus does not rebuke the disciples or the people for praying to Him, and all this after they had been commanded to pray to the Father! Why not? Because The Book of Mormon teaches the Trinity doctrine of the Godhead. Now some are for the Trinity and some are against it, but it does not matter, as regards the purposes of this article. Mormonism has denounced the Trinity doctrine for well over a hundred years, all the while claiming to have a true prophet guiding them. If The Book of Mormon is wrong to teach the Trinity then Mormonism is a false religion, for it is founded on the idea that they have received The Book of Mormon as true scripture from God. If the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is wrong to attack the Trinity doctrine then Mormonism is still a false religion because they have denied a basic doctrine found in their own scriptures.
WW. 3 Nephi 18:28-30--This smacks of transubstantiation, a doctrine Mormonism attacks. Another contradiction in their teachings?
XX. 3 Nephi 20:3,4--Notice in verse 3 that the bread is blessed, but in verse 4 it is not.
YY. 3 Nephi 24:1--Notice that here it is the Father that gave these words to Malachi, not Jehovah, who is Jesus, according to Mormon doctrine. Remember that Mormonism teaches the two are separate personages.
4. Conclusion:
I believe the bible is complete and needs no further revelations other than what the first century church had. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I believe that as a Christian I am obligated to know what and why I believe what I believe. 2Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
The bible also warns use that there will be a time of apostasy when men for various reasons will teach false doctrines. Galatians 1:6-9 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Here Paul covers all of the bases. He in verses 8 and 9 he says that if WE meaning himself or another apostle, an ANGEL or heavenly messenger and lastly he covers MAN meaning man or women. What Gospel is he talking about?
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 defines the gospel as the death, burial, resurrection and appearance of Jesus Christ. Verse 2 says there that the gospel saves unless they don't have faith.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as [4] to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. So why do we need anything else?
The Spirit prophesied in a warning recorded in Timothy that a general apostasy would occur. Looking around you would have to say that he was right. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Here the Bible teaches that false teachers will teach a feel good perverted gospel. They will teach what people want to hear. We have a lot of that to day. I don't see the first century church being a touchy, feely, emotion driven church.
Sometimes it's because men put traditions above the Gospel Jesus said this is unexpectable. Matthew 15:8-9 THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 "BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'''
Over and over the bible warns us not to listen to fables or listen to those who teach something other than what was being taught by the apostles. The warning is curious because apparently at that time people were teaching fables and myths as gospel truth. As I look objectively at Mormonism I see a fable that became a religion.
1 Timothy 4:7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
1 Timothy 1:3-6 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
Mormonism can be characterized as Scottish Rite Masonry practiced as a religion. Like all organizations follow the money will reveal the truth. It appears that the dirty secret behind Mormonism was to sell the book. Many of the failed prophecies were related to the marketing of the book of Mormons. The Bible holds no value in Mormonism. I have not used the Bible to make my point in sections 1 through 3. When the Bible conflicts with the Book of Mormon, Mormons will say it isn't interpreted incorrectly. Therefore, as shown above Mormon doctrine contradicts itself and, in my opinion, not inspired by God.
Let me close by saying Mormons people are good people. Unfortunately they are very misled. Their religion is fleshly and not spiritual. It caters to the lust of the flesh (sexual) promising that if you are a good Mormon you will be able to have Celestial Sex with your many wives. It caters to the pride of life telling them that you will be the god of your own planet. The Jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of Mormonism is the brother of Lucifer. The God of Mormonism is not the God of the Bible. The Mormon God lives on Kolob with his many spirit wives and producing spirit babies to inhabit human babies on earth.
Therefore, I cannot believe in Mormonism. I cannot believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet or a Christian. I also believe that if you truly search out your own salvation with meekness and fear as I have, you couldn't be a Mormon either.
I hope this has been a blessing to you and fill free to comment.at http://randy9-cowboycommentary.blogspot.com/