166 lines
7.9 KiB
Plaintext
166 lines
7.9 KiB
Plaintext
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Divine Truths in the Book of Mormon
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Anyone visited by a Mormon Missionary has heard the Elder's
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testimony concerning the Book of Mormon: That he knows this book is
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the Word of God and that the founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph
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Smith, Jr., translated it by the gift and power of God. Further, the
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propsect is encouraged sincerely to study the Book of Mormon and "The
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divine truths it contains."
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The Book of Mormon indeed does contain a number of "divine truths",
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first set forth in the Bible, the most important of which are:
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1. GOD IS SPIRIT
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Alma 18:28 (p. 242) - "Believest, thou that this Great Spirit, who
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is God, created all things".
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2. TRINITARIAN VIEW OF GOD
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3 Nephi 11:27 (p. 422) - "Verily I say unto you, that the Father and
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the Son and the Holy Ghost are one." In addition, three close
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associates of Joseph Smith who gave testimony of the authenticity
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of the Book of Mormon, close with words: "And the honor be to the
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Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, WHICH IS ONE GOD.
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Amen." (emphasis added) This endorsement is found in the front of
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every Book of Mormon and further documents the Book of Mormon's
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acknowledgement of the triune nature of God.
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3. GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE
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Moroni 8:18 (p. 517) - "For I know that God is not a partial God,
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neither a changeable being; but he is unchangable from all eternity
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to all eternity."
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4. NO SALVATION AFTER DEATH
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Mosiah 3:25 (p. 141) - "And if they be evil they are consigned to an
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awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them
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to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and
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endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they
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have drunk damnation to their own souls."
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5. ONLY TWO DESTINATIONS AFTER DEATH
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Mosiah 16:11 (p. 166) - "If they be good, to the resurrection of
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endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection
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of endless damnation."
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6. SALVATION BY CHRIST"S WORK - NOT MAN'S
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Helaman 5:9 (p. 369) - "...remember that there is no other way nor
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means whereby mn can be saved, only through the atoning blood of
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Jesus Christ, who shall come, yea, remember that he cometh to
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redeem the world."
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The Book of Mormon also emphasizes the need for spiritual rebirth.
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For example Alma 5:14 states "And now behold, I ask of you, my
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brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye
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recieved his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this
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mighty change in your hearts?"
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Much of the major theology set forth in the Book of Mormon is indeed
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in harmony with orthodox Christianity. However, many who are visited
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by the LDS Missionaries are unaware that the present theology of the
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Mormon Church is very different from their own Book of Mormon.
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Further, not only are today's major doctrines different, they are in
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total opposition with this work of Joseph Smith, Jr., for which he
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claimed divine inspiration.
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Mormon theology is not contained in, but rather contradicted by the
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Book of Mormon. The members of the Mormon Church now turn to newer
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publications and revelations for their beliefs. A brief examination
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of some of these will document the contradictions.
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1. Mormonism today teaches "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as
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tangible as man's" (Doctrine & Covenants 130:22).
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2. Joseph Smith, later in his life, flatly denied the Trinity: "Many
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men say there is one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are
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one God! I saw that is a strange God anyhow - three in one, and one
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in three!" He further concludes that the Father, Son and the Holy
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Ghost are not one God, but rather three Gods (History of the Church
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6:474, 476).
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3. The LDS Church no longer adheres to the unchangeable nature of God,
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but rather states: "God himself was once as we are now and is an
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exalted man...We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all
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eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you
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may see". (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
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4. Bruce R. McConkie announces on page 73 of his work, 'Mormon
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Doctrine': "The Lord has ordained baptism for the dead as the means
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whereby all his worthy children of all ages can become heirs of
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salvation in his kingdom."
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5. Mormonism today informs its members that all mankind will occupy
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one of three heavenly kingdoms. The highest is the Celestial Kingdom
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(which itself contains various levels). This kingdom is reserved for
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all faithful Mormons and could lead to Godhood for the male members
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there. The middle Kingdom, the Terrestial Kingdom, is for those who
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did not accept the gosple according to Mormonism, but who lived an
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honorable life. The lowest or Telestial Kingdom sill contain murders,
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adulters, liars and thieves. (Doctrine & Covenants section 76). Hell
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in Mormonism is usually thought to be only a temporary state of
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suffering, which can be terminated through self-atonement. In
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summary, all will be resurrected and recieve some degree of glory,
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according to Mormonism.
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6. Mormons believe not in the infinite atonement of Christ, but rather
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that "redemption from personal sins can only be obtained through
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obedience to the requirements of the Gospel, AND A LIFE OF GOOD
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WORKS." (emphasis added) (Talmage, Articles of Faith pgs. 478-479)
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These changes and contradictions contained within these easily
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available LDS Scriptures leave no doubt as to the human, man made
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origin of Mormonism.
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While Mormons regard the Bible as the Word of God however, the Bible
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is actually placed lower and superseded by their other Scriptures,
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which in addition to the Book of Mormon include the Doctrine &
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Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. This devaluation of the Bible
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is found within the LDS Articles of Faith, in the Pearl of Great
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Price, where it is stated that Mormons "believe the Bible in so far as
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it is correctly translated."
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God's word, the Bible, has definitely stood the test of time, where
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as in its short existance the Book of Mormon has not. The Bible, has
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been used by and confirmed by archeology, - the Book of Mormon has
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not. The Bible, has through recent ancient manuscript discoveries,
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been demonstrated to have been transmitted and translated accurately,
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where the Book of Mormon contains nearly 4000 textual changes from the
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first edition in 1830 to the present editions used today, and has
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recieved further changes in the new 1981 "Triple Combination" edition.
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The presence of "Divine Truths" within the Book of Mormon is merely
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a result of Joseph Smith, Jr. incorporating much of the Bible into his
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work. (see 'The use of the Bible in the Book of Mormon by H. Michael
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Marquardt). Thus, the Book of Mormon must be regarded as fiction, not
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as inspired Scripture.
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Changes within Mormonism and the Book of Mormon make it clear that
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Mormonism is not from God. God's word does not change. Jesus Christ
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is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and His Word
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shall never pass away (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35). The Jesus Christ
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who shed his blood on Calvary's cross to save you is not the Jesus of
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present-day Mormonism. Jesus invites all people to experience a
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spiritual rebirth and to recieve the free gift of eternal life by
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trusting in him alone for salvation.
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Write to us and let us share with you more information concerning
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our Risen Saviour Jesus Christ and how you can recieve Him.
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PERSONAL FREEDOM OUTREACH
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Route 3 Weir Lake Rd., Kunkletown, PA. 18058 (215) 381-3661
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P.O. Box 26062, Saint Louis, MO. 63136 (314) 388-2648
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P.O. Box 30073, Phoenix, AZ. 85046 (602)867-0538
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P.O. Box 15081, Santa Ana, CA. 92705 (714) 832-9385
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For more information see below:
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This file has been brought to you by the ministry of the;
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Southern Maryland Christian Information Service BBS, (SMCIS)
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(301) 862-3160 HST
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P.O. Box 463
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California, MD 20619
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Sysop: Buggs Bugnon
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