Introduction:
Many
Scriptures instruct us that, to determine what is true, we should compare
doctrines and practices to the Bible.
2
Timothy 3:16,17 - The Scriptures are inspired by God, instruct us in
righteousness, and provide us to every good work. [2 Tim. 2:15; 1 John 2:3-5]
1 John
4:1,6 - However, there are many false prophets, so we must put them to the
test. We do this by comparing their teachings to the teachings we know are from
God. [Cf. 1 Cor. 1:13]
Galatians
1:8,9 - Any man, even an angel, must teach the same gospel taught by inspired
men. Any who teach different gospels are accursed. See 2 John 9-11.
Acts
17:11,12 - The Bereans were able to determine what was or was not true by
searching the Scriptures daily.
God
intends for us to determine the validity of any doctrine we hear by comparing
it to what we know to be His revelation. If it does not agree, then it cannot
be from God, and those who teach it are not pleasing to God.
True
teachers will encourage listeners to compare their teaching to Scripture. If
teachers belittle Scripture and object when people compare their teachings to
Scripture, you can know those teachers are not from God.
The
purpose of this study is to examine some particular teachings and compare them
to Scripture, as the above passages teach.
*****************************************************
The
doctrines we will examine are those taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints (the Mormons). Mormons claim to agree that the Bible is from
God (Article of Faith #8). We do not accept their claim that their Mormon
"Scriptures" are from God, but we agree that the Bible is from God.
Since Mormons and we agree that the Bible is from God, then we can determine
the truth of Mormon teaching by comparing it to the Bible.
The
goal is not to harm Mormon people but to help them obey the teachings of the
above Scriptures. They need to see whether or not the teachings of their
leaders agree with Scripture.
A
second goal is to help people who talk with Mormons, so they can know the truth
about Mormonism (1 Peter 3:15).
A third
goal is to illustrate the concept of comparing doctrines to the Bible to show
how, by doing this, we can determine truth from error.
Note
that the material in this study has resulted from personal examination
comparing Mormon authorities to the Bible. To avoid misrepresenting Mormon
teaching, we will cite authoritative Mormon literature.
Consider
how Mormon teaching and practice compares to the Bible in the following areas:
Mormon Revelations Compared to the Bible
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
#1. The
Origin of the Church
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
The
Book of Mormon in Mosiah 18:8-30 (note vv 16-18) describes the beginning of the
church in America. V17 says "And they were called the church of God, or
the church of Christ, from that time forward." The footnote says this was
"about B.C. 147."
Mosiah 23:16 says "Alma was their high priest, he being the
founder of their church."
So the Book of Mormon says the "church of Christ" was
founded by Alma in America in 147 BC.
Bible Teaching
=========
The
Bible teaches that the church did not exist until after Jesus died, and that
Jesus was the founder of the church.
Matthew
16:18 - During His public ministry Jesus promised, "I will build my
church." It did not exist then (let alone in 147 BC). But when it did
begin, Jesus would be its founder.
Acts
20:28 - Jesus purchased the church with His blood. So, it could not be His
church till after He died.
Ephesians
1:20-23 - Christ is the Head of His church, which is His body. But He did not
become Head till after His resurrection (v20). Hence, the church could not
function before then, else it would have been a headless body.
1
Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20 - Jesus is the foundation, the chief
cornerstone on which the church is built. The church could not exist, and
people could not become part of it, until the foundation had been laid (Eph.
2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-8). But Christ did not become the chief cornerstone till
after He had been rejected and killed (1 Peter 2:4-8; Acts 4:10,11).
So the
Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible about when the church began and who
founded it. If any church existed in America in 147 BC, it could not have been
the church of Christ. It would have existed 180 years too early to be Jesus'
church. It would have had the wrong founder. It could not have belonged to
Jesus because He had not yet paid for it. It would have been a building without
a foundation and a body without a head.
#2. The
Term "Christian"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
The
Book of Mormon in Alma 46:13-16 (note v15) says that in America, "all
those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of
Christ, or Christians, as they were called, because of their belief in Christ
who should come." Obviously, this was supposed to have occurred before
Christ came. The footnote says this occurred in B.C. 73.
Bible Teaching
=========
Acts
11:26 says, "And the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch." So, the first use of the term "Christian" occurred in
Antioch, many years after Jesus' death. The Book of Mormon contradicts the
Bible in both time and place, for it says the term was used over 100 years
earlier in America.
#3.
Conditions of Forgiveness
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
The
Book of Mormon has people teaching and practicing the gospel steps to salvation
in America years before those doctrines were revealed in the Bible.
2 Nephi
9:23,24 - The necessity of belief in Christ, repentance, and baptism in His
name was taught. The footnote says this was "Between B.C. 559 and
545."
2 Nephi
30:2 - About the same time it was expressly stated that Gentiles who repent would
be God's covenant people, and Jews who do not would be rejected.
2 Nephi
31:5,11-14,17 - Also about the same time is found an express description of
baptism in water, in the Holy Spirit, and in fire.
Mosiah
4:2 - Men cried out for the atoning blood of Christ to forgive their sins
(about 124 BC). As a result, they received a remission of sins (v3).
Mosiah
18:10-17 - Alma baptized people in water in the name of the Lord, so they were
added to the church (about 147 BC).
Alma
39:15-19 - Alma clearly taught the gospel (note vv 15-18). When people
"marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand," Alma
replied, "Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be
made known unto this people as well as unto their children?" We are told
that it is as easy for God to reveal these things at that time "as after
the time of his coming." (Footnote: About B.C. 73) [Cf. 1 Nephi 10:19]
Hence,
the Book of Mormon has the entire plan of salvation, including baptism and
forgiveness by Jesus' blood, taught and actively practiced hundreds of years
before Jesus died to shed His blood. And using the reasoning of Alma 39,
logically the plan should have been known and practiced in every generation
since Adam!
Bible Teaching
=========
The Bible states that these doctrines were not clearly revealed
before the life of Christ.
Matthew
13:17 - Jesus said that many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear
those things that He taught His disciples, but had not seen nor heard them.
1 Peter
1:10-12 says salvation was not ministered to Old Testament prophets. They
predicted it, but did not understand it or participate in it.
Luke
24:47 - After His resurrection, Jesus said repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His name beginning at Jerusalem. Yet the Book of Mormon
has this being preached long before Jesus said it would begin, and in a
completely different place (America).
Ephesians
3:3-6,9,10 - In Paul's day the gospel was revealed to the apostles and
prophets, but in other ages it was not made known to the sons of men. This
mystery had been hid in Christ. This hidden mystery included the fact that
Gentiles would be redeemed by the gospel. Yet the Book of Mormon has all this
made known long before the time the Bible says it was revealed. [Note Rom.
16:25,26; 1 Cor. 2:7-10; Col. 1:25,26.]
Romans
6:3 - As many as are baptized into Christ are baptized into His death. It would
therefore have been impossible to practice gospel baptism prior to Jesus'
death.
Hebrews
9:16,17 - A testament is of force only after the death of the testator. But
baptism, the church, and forgiveness by Jesus' death are all part of His New
Testament. Therefore, none of them could have been in effect before He died.
Again
the Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible, because it has many aspects of
salvation being practiced long before they were truly in effect. Of course, it
would be easy for Joseph Smith to include these things in the Book of Mormon,
if in fact it was first written in his own day, rather than many centuries
earlier as he claimed it had been.
#4.
President and Head of the Church
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
============
Doctrine
and Covenants 107:65,91,92 (cf. 28:6) says that the Mormon Church has a prophet
who serves as President and head of the church, presiding over the whole church
like Moses.
Bible Teaching
=========
Ephesians
1:22,23 - Jesus is Head over all things to His church. What does this leave for
a man to be head over? If a church has a human head who presides over the whole
church, how can it be Jesus' church?
Ephesians
5:22,23 - Christ is head of the church as a husband is head of his wife, and He
is the Savior of the body. Does a body have more than one head? Does the church
have more than one Savior? Can a wife be subject to more than one husband? If
not, then no one but Jesus can serve as head or preside over His church.
2
Corinthians 11:5; 12:11 - Paul was not a whit behind the chiefest apostle. Like
Catholics, Mormons say Peter was the first head of the church. If so, then Paul
was also head of the church, for he was not a whit behind Peter. That would
make two human heads for the church!
The
Mormon Church claims to have restored the true New Testament church. One of its
major arguments to prove this is that it has restored the organization of the
church. But where does the New Testament mention a "president" or
human head who presides over the whole church?
Mormonism has not restored Bible teaching but has again
contradicted it.
#5.
Elders, Bishops, and Deacons
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
Doctrine
and Covenants 107:7,13,15 distinguishes "elders" from
"bishops." In the Mormon Church these are two separate offices in two
separate priesthoods. While a man may hold both offices, the fact is that many
elders are not bishops. An elder and a bishop are two separate offices.
"Elders" in the Mormon Church are often young, unmarried
men, who have no children.
In the Mormon Church, males can become "deacons" as
young as 12 years of age.
Bible Teaching
=========
Mormon
"elders" do not have the qualifications of true elders.
**************************************************
Titus
1:5,6 says, in order to be appointed an elder, one must be "the husband of
one wife" and must have children. Many Mormon "elders" do not
fit the Bible qualifications. (Cf. 1 Tim. 3:2,4.)
In the
Bible "elder" and "bishop" are just two different terms for
the same office.
*****************************************************
1 Peter
5:1,2 - "Elders" (v1) are to "serve as overseers" of the
flock (v2). "Overseers" is the verb form of the Greek word for
"bishop." So elders do the work of bishops.
Acts
20:17,28 - Paul told the "elders" at Ephesus that they were
"overseers" of the flock. "Overseers" is sometimes here
translated "bishops" (ASV) and is the same word elsewhere translated
"bishop" (cf. Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1; etc.). So elders are bishops.
Titus
1:5-7ff - Paul said elders must have the qualifications of bishops. This makes
sense only if both terms refer to the same office.
"Deacons"
in the Bible also had to be married and have children.
****************************************************
1
Timothy 3:8-12 - Deacons should be husbands of one wife, ruling their children
and their own houses well. Are all twelve-year-old Mormon "deacons"
"husbands of one wife? Do they rule their children and their houses well?
Again, Mormon teaching clearly contradicts Bible teaching.
#6.
Priesthood
>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
============
The
Mormon Church believes in a special priesthood.
*******************************************
Doctrine
and Covenants 107 - Sometime after they become Christians, males who meet special
qualifications can become priests by being specially ordained. Some become high
priests. Only special priests have the authority to baptize. Formerly black
people could not serve in the priesthood, but that doctrine was changed in
relatively recent times. (See also Marvelous Work and a Wonder, p. 91f.)
Further,
the church teaches that there are two orders of priests, Aaronic and
Melchizedek
*****************************************************
Each of
these priesthoods contain many men (Doctrine and Covenants 107:1). Smith was
granted both priesthoods - Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, 2:69-72. The
priesthood had to be restored to Smith so men could receive authority to
baptize and so restore the church.
Since
they believe that Smith had to have authority to restore the priesthood in
order to restore the church, it follows that the Mormon doctrine of priesthood
is fundamental to their claim to be the true church. If the Mormon teaching
about priesthood is in error, the whole foundation of their church and their
doctrinal system falls.
Bible Teaching
=========
The New
Testament teaches that all Christians are priests.
***********************************************
The Old Testament had a special priesthood, but in the New Testament
all Christians priests.
1 Peter
2:5,9 - You are a holy priesthood. To whom does this refer? It is those who:
are elect according to Jesus' blood (1:1,2), have faith unto salvation and will
receive the inheritance of heaven (1:3-5,9), are obedient children of the
Father (1:14-17), are redeemed by Jesus' blood (1:18-21), are born again,
having purified their souls by obeying the truth (1:22-25), make up God's
spiritual house (2:5) which is the church (1 Tim. 3:15), believe in Christ
(2:7), are called from darkness to light to be God's special people (2:9,10).
Revelation
1:5,6; 5:9,10 - Those who are washed from their sins in Jesus' blood and
redeemed by His blood have been made priests.
Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15 - All Christians offer sacrifices to
God.
So, the
New Testament teaches that all Christians are priests. Where does it teach the
concept of a special priesthood that includes some Christians but not all
Christians?
The
Aaronic priesthood consisted only of descendants of Aaron, but ceased when
Jesus died.
*****************************************************
Only fleshly descendants of Aaron could be priests after the order
of Aaron.
Any
others who tried to serve as priests should be put to death - Numbers 3:10;
16:39,40; 2 Chron. 26:16-18.
Even
Jesus could not serve as priest according to the law of Moses, because He was
of the tribe of Judah. He could serve as priest only after the law changed -
Hebrews 7:11-14.
Joseph
Smith himself later said in Doctrine and Covenants 107:13-16 that a man cannot
be a bishop in the priesthood of Aaron unless he be a "literal descendant
of Aaron."
Are all
Mormon Aaronic priests descendants of Aaron of the tribe of Levi? Mormons claim
Joseph Smith was of the tribe of Joseph, so how could he have the Aaronic
priesthood? If the Aaronic priesthood is still in existence, then Mormon
priests are not of the proper ancestry and therefore would deserve death!
The Aaronic priesthood ceased when Jesus died and the law was
changed.
Hebrews 8:3; 5:1 - The work of priests was to offer animal
sacrifices. [7:27; 10:11]
Hebrews 10:1-14 - Animal sacrifices ceased when Jesus died,
because they are no longer needed.
Hebrews 7:12 - In order for Jesus to serve as priest, the whole
law was changed.
Many
other Scriptures show that, when Jesus died, the whole Old Testament law was
removed, including the Aaronic priesthood. Hence, there is no such thing as an
Aaronic priesthood with God's approval today. See Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:1-4; 2
Corinthians 3:6-11; Galatians 3:24,25; 5:1-6; Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 2:11-16;
Colossians 2:13-17.
The
only priest we have after the order of Melchizedek is Jesus our High Priest.
*****************************************************
Hebrews
5:1-6 - Jesus was ordained High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, by a
special promise addressed to Him as God's begotten Son (v5).
Hebrews
7:20-25 - Old Testament priests had successors, because they died. Jesus
continues as our priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, having an
unchanging priesthood. Hence, He has no successors.
We need
no priest but Jesus between God and us (1 Tim. 2:5). He is our only High
Priest, and all Christians are priests below Him. To claim some other high
priest today is to exalt men to the position the Bible says belongs only to
Jesus.
The
Mormon claim to be the true church rests on their claim to have authority in
their priesthood. However, we have shown that their priesthood clearly violates
the Scriptures. Therefore, the Mormon Church is not the true church.
#7.
Apostles
>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
Mormonism
teaches there must be 12 apostles living on earth in the church.
*****************************************************
Ephesians
2:20 - The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
Mormons say this means apostles and prophets must be living on earth in order
for the true church to exist (Article of Faith #6).
They
claim that any church which does not have apostles living on earth cannot be
the true church. In order to restore the church in the 1800's, Joseph Smith had
to appoint 12 apostles. When any apostle dies, the Mormon Church replaces him.
Mormonism
also teaches there are four men, having the power of apostles, who will never
die but always live and preach on earth till Jesus returns.
*****************************************************
Doctrine
and Covenants 7:1-3 says John the apostle was given power to live (not die),
tarry, prophesy, and bring souls to Jesus till Jesus comes in glory.
The
Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 28 says Jesus chose 12 "disciples" in
America exactly like the 12 apostles in the Bible. They could teach by
inspiration, baptize, give the Holy Spirit, etc.
Of
these 12 American disciples, three were given power like John to "never
taste of death" (vv 6,7). They would never die but would live in the flesh
till Jesus comes again (vv 7,8,38,40,25). Jails, fire, and wild animals could
not hold or harm them (vv 19-22). They would bring the souls of men to Jesus
while the earth shall stand (v9).
Bible Teaching
=========
Mormon
apostles do not have the qualifications of Bible apostles.
****************************************************
True apostles must be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.
Acts
1:21,22 - The only time that the Bible records a successor was chosen to an
apostle, he had to be an eyewitness of Christ's resurrection. [26:16; 1 Cor.
9:1; 15:8]
1
Corinthians 15:8 - Paul also witnessed Jesus, but he was exceptional
("last of all ... born out of due time") in that He witnessed Jesus
after He had ascended.
Mormon
apostles do not generally claim to be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.
If they did, they would all be like Paul; but that would make them the rule,
not the exception.
True apostles must do the signs of an apostle.
2
Corinthians 12:11,12 - Apostles proved that God had sent them by means of the
signs of an apostle, which are "signs, wonders, and mighty deeds."
The primary purpose of miracles has always been to confirm who God is and who
His messengers are. See Mark 16:20; John 5:36; 20:30,31; Acts 2:22; 14:3;
Hebrews 2:3,4; 1 Kings 18:36-39; Exodus 4:1-9; 7:3-5; 14:30,31.
Mormon
apostles do not do miracles to prove their qualifications (it is claimed that
some have this ability, but they do not do them voluntarily and publicly to
prove their apostleship as New Testament apostles did).
If a
church must have apostles living on earth in order to be Jesus' true church,
then the Mormon Church is not Jesus' true church, since its apostles do not
have the qualifications of true apostles.
However,
the Bible does not say the church must have apostles living on earth.
*****************************************************
Ephesians
2:20 - The work of the apostles pertained to the foundation of the church, but
Jesus is the chief cornerstone. Must Jesus be living on earth in order for the
church to exist? Obviously not, so why must we have apostles and prophets
living on earth in order for the church to exist? We no more need apostles
living on earth today than we need Jesus living on earth today.
Luke
16:29-31 - We "have" apostles and prophets in the church today like
the Jews in Jesus' day "had" Moses and the prophets. We have the
written word, which is the result of the work they did.
Apostles
and prophets were needed at the beginning of the church, but no Scripture says
they need to continue living on earth in order for the church to exist. On the
contrary, Scripture teaches that apostles must be eyewitnesses of the
resurrected Christ. So no one today qualifies. The work of apostles was to
reveal and confirm God's word. This work was completed in the first century and
is no longer needed (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 13:8-11; Jude 3; 2 Timothy
3:16,17; John 20:30,31; James 1:25).
Jesus' church today has no living apostles, because it needs no
living apostles.
But what if there are four apostle/disciples living on earth who
never die?
*****************************************************
Why didn't the true church exist before Smith "restored"
it?
Mormonism
claims that the church was completely removed from the earth because of
apostasy. In his first revelation from God, Smith is supposed to have asked God
"which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join."
He was told "join none of them, for they are all wrong" - Pearl of
Great Price, Joseph Smith 2:18,19. Smith was eventually led to
"restore" the LDS church.
But if
four apostle/disciples were on earth bringing souls to Christ while the world
stands, where were all the souls they converted? Surely the four themselves
would have been in the church on earth. So how can it be that the church was
completely removed from the earth? Why didn't the church exist before Smith
"restored" it? It cannot be said that no one in Smith's day was
receptive to the truth, for hundreds accepted his message when he preached it.
Why hadn't they already received the message of the four apostle/disciples?
Why did God have to give Smith revelations in order to restore the
church?
We are
told that, in order to restore the truth, the priesthood, and the church, Smith
had revelations and messages from the Father and Son, Moroni, John the Baptist,
etc. Why go through all this, if four apostle/disciples were already on earth?
These
four men were supposed to have the truth and priesthood authority to baptize,
etc., till Jesus returns. Why not just send these men to Smith? In fact, why
was Smith needed at all, since these four men were clearly more experienced and
qualified than Smith to teach, baptize, etc.?
Why
does the Mormon Church ordain a successor for the apostle John? And does it
replace the missing American disciples?
The
Mormon Church says it must have 12 apostles living on earth, so they replace
them as they die. The fact these men die proves that the apostle John is not
among them, since he cannot die. But if John is still alive, that makes 13
apostles on the earth, rather than 12.
Further,
the Book of Mormon in 4 Nephi 1:14 says the original twelve American disciples
died and were replaced by other men, except for the three who were to tarry on
earth. Does the Mormon Church today choose replacements for the American
disciples as they die, like the Book of Mormon says, and like they replace the
12 New Testament apostles? If so, do they replace only nine of the 12, like the
Book of Mormon says, since there are still three living on earth?
Furthermore,
if the three American disciples were not to be replaced because they continued
to live, then the same should be true of John the apostle. No successors should
be chosen for him, since he is living on earth. But the fact is that all twelve
Mormon apostles are men who die and are replaced. Hence, the Mormon Church is replacing
John! And either they are not replacing the missing nine American disciples at
all, or else they are replacing the three who should not be replaced!
Anyway
you count, the Mormon Church has either too many apostles or too few. They are
not following the Bible or the Book of Mormon! They are replacing men they
should not be, and they are failing to replace men they should be!
If the
church must follow the teaching of God about apostles in order to be the true
church, then the Mormon Church cannot be the true church. They are not
following either the Bible or the Book of Mormon regarding apostles!
[Note:
In John 21:21-23 Jesus clarified that He was not saying John would live till
Jesus returned. He was only telling Peter this was none of his affair.]
#8. The
Lord's Supper
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
Smith
in Doctrine and Covenants 89:5,6 said regarding the Lord's supper: "...to
offer up your sacraments before him ... this should be wine." [See also 3
Nephi 18:1-9; Moroni 5.]
However,
he also said in Doctrine and Covenants 27:2 that it does not matter what
substance is used.
The Mormon Church today uses water in the communion.
Bible Teaching
=========
Matthew
26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18 - Jesus clearly taught that the element used in
the Lord's supper should be "fruit of the vine."
Once again the Mormon Church teaches and practices different from
the Lord's instructions.
#9.
Polygamy
>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
Mormons,
of course, have historically practiced polygamy, though they do not openly
practice it now because it is illegal. Consider their teaching.
Book of
Mormon clearly condemns polygamy.
*************************************
Jacob
1:15 - The Nephites indulged in "wicked practices, such as like unto David
of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon..."
Jacob
2:23,24,27 - "Grosser crimes" included whoredoms like David, etc.
"Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing
was an abomination before me, saith the Lord." "...hearken to the
word of the Lord: For there shall not be any man among you have save it be one
wife; and concubines he shall have none." (Cf. 3:5; Doctrine and Covenants
49:16; 42:22.)
Hence,
the Book of Mormon explicitly condemned polygamy, quite specifically the
polygamy of David and Solomon.
But Smith later changed his doctrine and condemned any who reject
polygamy!
*****************************************************
Doctrine
and Covenants 132 condones polygamy as an everlasting covenant which, if men
reject, they will be damned (vv 4,6,55,61f)! Hence, the writer of the book of
Jacob will be damned, along with everyone who believes what he wrote in the
Book of Mormon!
Specifically,
Smith then justified David and Solomon, saying that God said: "David also
received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon ... and in nothing did
they sin ... David's wives and concubines were given unto him by me, by the
hand of Nathan, my servant ... and in none of those things did he sin against
me save in the case of Uriah and his wife..." - 132:38,39.
So in
the Book of Mormon Smith has the Lord saying that David and Solomon's many
wives and concubines were an abomination to the Lord. But later in Doctrine and
Covenants Smith has the Lord saying that David and Solomon's many wives were
given to them by the Lord, and in nothing did they sin! Believe it who can!
Bible Teaching
=========
The New Testament expressly condemns plural wives.
Matthew
19:3-9 - Jesus condemned divorce and remarriage as being adultery. He said God
from the beginning intended for one man to be joined to one woman. Subsequent
marriages would be adultery. Under the law, Moses had allowed plural wives
because of the hardness of the people's hearts. But Jesus no longer allows
this. (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31)
Romans
7:2,3 - Man and woman are joined for life. Marriage to another partner while
the first one lives is adultery.
Titus
1:5-7; 1 Timothy 3:2,12 - Specifically elders (bishops) and deacons must be
husbands of one wife! Interestingly, these are the very people that Mormons
believed ought to have more than one wife.
Once again, Smith's revelations contradict both themselves and the
Bible.
#10.
The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mormon Teaching
===========
The
Book of Mormon claims that it corrects errors found in the Bible.
*****************************************************
1 Nephi
13:40 - The Book of Mormon claims that it will make known certain "plain
and precious things which have been taken away" from the Bible.
Doctrine
and Covenants 27:5; 35:12; 20:14,15 - The Bible alone will not save if one
rejects the Book of Mormon!
Mormons
will often try to cite Bible teachings to try to confirm the Book of Mormon and
the Mormon Church. But, when people point out the contradictions between Mormon
"Scriptures" and the Bible, then Mormons began to claim there are
errors in the Bible!
Yet the Book of Mormon admits that it may contain errors!
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1 Nephi
1:3; Jacob 1:2; Ether 5:1 - It was written according to man's knowledge, to the
best of their memory.
1 Nephi
19:6 - If the writer did err, he would excuse himself because of the weakness
of the flesh.
3 Nephi
23:6-13 - Jesus rebuked Nephi for omitting something from the record which he
should have included!
Mormon
8:12,17 - If there are faults in the record, it is the fault of men, but don't
condemn the book anyway, even if it has faults, or you'll be in danger of hell
fire!
Mormon
9:30-34 - Don't condemn the writers of the Book of Mormon for the imperfections
of their record. If they could have written in Hebrew, there would have been no
imperfection; but they couldn't because the plates weren't big enough!
Bible Teaching
=========
The
Bible never admits error of any kind.
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The Bible claims it is from God.
2 Timothy
3:16,17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 1:11,12; 1 Corinthians 14:37. (See
also Eph. 3:3-5; Luke 10:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21.)
The Bible claims its very words were revealed from God.
1
Corinthians 2:10-13 - The Spirit guided men so they received, not just the
ideas from God, but also the words from God.
Deuteronomy
18:18,19 - God put His words in the prophet's mouth, so the prophet spoke (or
wrote) the very words chosen by God Himself.
So
whereas Book of Mormon writers wrote from their own memory what they thought
was sacred, the Bible writers wrote only what God revealed in words that God
Himself guided.
(See 1
Cor. 2:3-5; Matt. 10:19,20; 2 Sam. 23:1,2; Ex. 24:3,4,7; Isa. 51:l6; Jer.
1:5-9.)
It follows that the Bible is infallible.
The message in the Bible cannot possibly be wrong because God does
not make mistakes.
Psalm 119:128 - God's word is always true and right.
Titus 1:2 - God cannot lie or be wrong.
Matthew
22:32 - The Scriptures are so accurate that we can rely even on the tense of
the verbs. [Galatians 3:16]
(Cf.
John 17:17; Psalm 33:4; 19:8; 147:4,5; Rom. 3:4; Job 37:16; Num. 23:19; Heb.
6:18; Deut. 18:20-22).
The Bible claims God would preserve it so it could not be
destroyed.
Psalms
119:160 - The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous
judgments endures forever. [Cf. v152.]
Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of
our God stands forever.
Isaiah
30:8 - Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that
it may be for time to come, forever and ever.
2 John 2 - The truth abides in us and will be with us forever.
1 Peter
1:23-25 - Like the Old Testament, the gospel will not wither and fade like
grass, but will stand forever. [2 Peter 1:12-15; 2 Timothy 3:16,17]
So, the
Book of Mormon admits that it contains imperfections and errors due to the
weakness of the flesh and the language in which it was written. Yet, the Bible
writers said that, in what they wrote, every word is exactly right and true,
and God would preserve it for future generations.
For
more information go to our Bible Instruction web site at
www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study the article on the preservation of the
Bible.
Consider
the consequences to Mormonism.
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Remember,
Mormons claim to believe the Bible, yet they also claim the Bible contains
errors and omissions. The Bible, however, admits no errors but claims
infallibility.
Then
Mormonism says that the errors in the Bible were corrected by a book that
admits it contains errors and imperfections!
Mormons
say the Bible (the Old Testament in particular) omits "plain and precious
things." Yet Jesus repeatedly quoted the Old Testament, citing it as
Divine authority, but never implied anything was wrong with it. No Bible
prophet ever acknowledged the existence of any error in the Bible. But the Book
of Mormon acknowledges that Jesus rebuked a Book of Mormon writer for omitting
what should have been included. So the "precious things" supposedly
omitted from the Bible are supposedly corrected by a book that admits its
authors omitted things!
The
Book of Mormon says it would contain no errors if it could have been written in
Hebrew. Then Mormons say there are many things missing from the Old Testament.
But the OT was written in Hebrew! If Book of Mormon writers would have made no
errors had they written in Hebrew, since the Old Testament was written in
Hebrew, how could it have errors?
Mormons
claim that the Catholic Church removed important teachings from the Bible. This
claim is made with absolutely no textual evidence. We have ancient copies of
the Scriptures from before the time of the Catholic Church, and they confirm
what we have in our Bibles today.
Yet,
the Bible repeatedly condemns Catholic doctrine, just like it does Mormon
doctrine. In fact, Mormonism and Catholicism are often condemned for the very
same errors! If Catholics changed the Bible, why did they leave in it so many
things that condemn their own practice?
So
Mormonism tells us we cannot trust just the Bible because it contains errors,
whereas the Bible itself says it contains no errors. Then they tell us that,
instead of the Bible, we should place our trust in their book, that openly admits
it contains errors! Then they tell us, if we reject their book for its errors
and try to follow only the book that claims it has no errors, that we will be
condemned! Believe it who can.
