MORMONISM
BRIEF HISTORY:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church, was organized on April 6, 1830, at Fayette, New York, with six members by Joseph Smith, Jr.
Smith, following in the footsteps of his father as a roving water witch, became known as “Peep-stone Joe” because he claimed to have miraculously discovered a “peep-stone”. At the age of fourteen he began to have visions and revelation. Being perplexed about the religious confusion of his day and the many conflicting denominations and their varied interpretations of the Scriptures, he said he received in the woods one day a vision of a great light. Instructions from God were not to join any of the sects, because God was about to restore the ancient gospel that had not been represented in its fullness by any of the churches existing at the time.
According to his statement, three years later he had a night vision in which Moroni, an angel, appeared before him and revealed to him the hiding place of certain plates of gold on which was inscribed the gospel. He was instructed by the angel to visit this place on the same date each year. September 22, 1827, he was permitted to receive the plates, at age 21. He then translated the records, dictating the translation to Oliver Cowdery and others who wrote it down. It was completed in 1829 and placed in the hands of a printer in August 1829. In the same year, on May 15, Smith and Cowdery said that an angel (John the Baptist) appeared to them and conferred upon them the Aaronic priesthood and commanded them to baptize each other by immersion. Later, three, glorious personages (Peter, James and John) conferred the Melchizedek priesthood upon them and gave them the apostleship. These events were followed by the organization of the church at Fayette, April 6, 1830, witch all its ancient gifts and powers.
Headquarters of various churches that began to form was established in 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio. They met with rigid opposition in many areas, and were expelled from the state of Missouri in the winter of 1838-39. Then they settled at Nauvoo, Illinois, but again hostility developed and Joseph Smith and his brother were killed at nearby
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Carthage, Illinois by a mob, June 27, 1844. Joseph Smith was shot to death in a jail, where he had been lodged on a charge of treason.
After Smith’s death, Mormons split into several divisions. In 1847, the Council of Twelve near Omaha, Nebraska, elected Brigham Young as President of the church. The main body of followers emigrated westward and settled in Utah. There have been various divisions, and today two main bodies exist. The “Reorganized” branch has headquarters at Independence, Missouri. This group rejects polygamy and the name Mormon; they do their own publishing. The branch that settled westward erected a magnificent Temple at Salt Lake City, and there situated the church headquarters. They claim three books to be inspired: The Pearl of Great Price, Doctrines and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon. Six temples have been erected in the U.S.S, the largest having been constructed on a 25 acre plot in Los Angeles at a cost of six million dollars.
Mormon Tradition
Word of God
• God revelations of truth to Joseph Smith.
Considered to the Word of God, the Book of Mormon is held as a companion book to the Bible. As stated by Joseph Smith in Article 8 of the “Articles Faith”: “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 work of God.” In addressing the 12 apostles, Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by ANY other book” (A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, p. 273)
A Mormon apostle, Orson Pratt, said: “The nature of the Book of Mormon is such that, if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it.” (Orson Pratt,
• The Faith Was Once Delivered
The question now before us is whether revelation was complete and perfect in the 1st century or if there was still a vacuum or void left after the New Testament was given which was to be filled by a latter revelation.
Jude 3: “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED unto the saints.” THE faith, not just any faith; not gradually being given through 2,000 years or given in part in the first century to be delivered again in the 19th century! ONCE DELIVERED. (Greek word here is “hapax,” defined in Thayer’s Lexicon as: “once, one time … never need repetition,” also, “once for all”). The same word is employed in these verses: 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:26-28; 1
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, p. 124)
The Book of Mormon is the word of God; then it is to be accepted with equal authority . . . yea with GREATER authority, since it is not only the word of God, but translated into the English language by the power of God.
Peter 3:18
• The curse of heaven rests upon any man or angel or apostle who preaches any other gospel than that revealed in the New Testament (Galatians 1:8-9). Man is not to add to the words of the prophecy of this book as we read in Revelation 22:18-19, nor to “go onwards and abide not in the teaching of Christ” as we read at 2 John 9. Notice: “Seeing that his divine power HATH GRANTED unto us ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) We must conclude that since the divine power did not grant them the Book of Mormon, that it therefore does not “pertain unto life and godliness!”
• “Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, FURNISHED COMPLETELY UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) There is no room for later revelations; no vacuum; no need.
• The man is a fool who says the Bible is sufficient and that it contains all of God’s revealed truth, according to the Book of Mormon.
“And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel; and because my words shall hiss forth – many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. . . . Thou fool, that shall
• Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32.
• “Every good work” is recorded in the Bible, the Scriptures available in the first century (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• The gospel was never “lost,” hence absurd to speak of restoring its revelation. “My words shall never pass away,” said Jesus (Matthew 24:35). What is new is not true; what is true is not new.
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
say: a Bible, we have a Bible and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? . . . Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need NOT SUPPOSE THAT IT CONTAINS ALL MY WORDS; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written . . . for out of the books which SHALL BE WRITTEN, I will judge the world . . . For behold, I shall speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it” (2 Nephi 29:2, 3, 6, 10-12). Further, 2 Nephi 28:29 says “WO be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more the word of God, for we have enough!”
• Translation of the Book of Mormon was “By the gift and power of God”, hence not subject to human error.
a. “The prophet, scanning through the Urim and Thummim, the golden pages would appear in lieu of the strange characters thereon, their equivalent in English words. These he would repeat and a scribe, separated from by a veil or curtain would write them down. Until the writing was CORRECT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, the words last given would remain before the eyes of the translater and not disappear. But, on the necessary corrections, being made, they would immediately pass away and
• Fables and false prophets to be avoided. 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Josephy Smith was a base impostor, and the Book of Mormon a colossal fraud!
• All liars shall be punished. Colossian 3:9; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15.
• Men today should preach the same things taught in first century. 2 Timothy 2:2.
There is only conclusion: The translation into the English language was absolutely perfect, and the ONLY flaws must be typographical or printer’s errors. It is an undisputed fact, however, that there are even in the current editions many grammatical, historical, and literary errors which cannot be attributed as typographical!
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be exceeded by others” (Brigham H, Roberts, The History of the Church, page 28).
b. “I will give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness, the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated BY THE GIFT AND POWER OF GOD, AND NOT BY THE POWER OF ANY MAN” (David Whitmer, An address To All Believers in Christ, pp. 17f).
c. “The prophet possessed a seer stone which he was able to translate with as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone. By the aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the prophet and written by Martin Harris and when finished he would say, “Written,” and if correctly written that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place. But, if not correctly written, it remained until corrected, so that the translation was JUST AS IT WAS ENGRAVEN ON
Notice: “The book passed into a fluid condition and assumed a different FORM with every edition. In 1842, an edition appeared bearing on its title page the announcement, ‘Carefully revised by the translator,’ and such corrections have continued and accumulated so that ‘a comparison of the latest Salt Lake edition with the first has shown more than three thousand changes’.” (J. H. Snowden, The Truth About Mormonism, p. 69).
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
THE PLATES PRECISELY IN THE LANGUAGE THEN USED” (Martin Harris, The Myth of the Manuscripts Found, p. 91).
d. “And we know that they (the golden plates) have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true”
(Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer,
and Martin Harris, Testimony of the
Three Witnesses, in Book of
Mormon preface.
• Characters were of an ancient language.
• The Egyptian hieroglyphics in 1833 had not been fully deciphered, and there was no way of proving Smith’s work. However, in 1861 Smith’s translation was showed to a scholar named Theodule Deveria of Paris, who declared the work was “entirely incorrect.” So also attest eight other distinguished scholars in Egyptian lore (Snowden, Ibid., pp. 76-79)
• Prove all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
• Some grammatical and language blunders and absurdities in the Book of Mormon:
1830 Edition
p. 193 “the priests was”
p.192 “they was added”
P. 290 “they did not fight against God no more”
p. 351 “that all might see the writing he had wrote upon the rent”
p. 506 “I have wrote them” “I were about to write” “that to teach baptism unto they”
p. 582 “this thing had ought not to be”
• God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
p. 224 “and this he done”
1949 Edition
2 Nephi 33:4 – “the words…it”
Words of Mormon 1:2 – “it supposeth me”
Moroni 9:5 – “it seemeth me”
I Nephi 6:2 – “we are a descendant of Joseph”
Alma 13:1 – “I would cite your mind forward to the time when the Lord God gave”
Alma 14:6 – “his soul began to be harrowed up”
Alma 24:17 – “they did bury them up deep in the earth”
Helaman 9:6 – “ Now, Immediately when the judge had been murdered – he being stabbed by his brother by a garb of secrecy” (a strange weapon!)
Ether 2:17 – “ the length thereof was the length of a tree” (see verses 16-25)
Ether 3:1 – “the brother of Jared . . . did molten” (adjective should be replaced by the verb, melt)
• Does this sound like the product of the “gift and power of God?” GOD IS NO SUCH IGNORAMUS!
• Book of Mormon refutes any claim to inspiration.
I Nephi 1:3 – “ I make it according to MY knowledge”
Nephi wrote what his knowledge led him to write and only what “I think it to be sacred” (I Nephi 19:6). Hear him again: “And now if I do err” (I Nephi 19:6).
Now let hear Jacob: “I should write . . . which I considered to be most precious” (Jacob 1:2). He concludes saying, “I have written according to the best of my knowledge” (Jacob 7:26). What they thought was true according to their knowledge, if they do not err!!!!
Also see 3 Nephi 8:1-2 and Mormon
• Those who “oppose themselves” should be corrected and instructed. 2 Timothy 2:25. The writers of the Book of Mormon claim they are inspired in one place, and not inspired in another.
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
8:12 – “if there was no mistake made this man,” and “because of the imperfections which are in it (this record).” They wrote “according to my memory” (Ether 5:1)
• Some contradictions between the Book of Mormon and the Bible:
a. I Nephi 19:10 - Darkness at Jesus’ death
b. Jesus born at Jerusalem – Alma 7:10
c. Disciples called Christians first 73 B.C. – Alma 46:13-14
d. Church of Christ build about 147 B.C – Mosiah 18:17
e. Mysteries unfolded 600 B.C. – I Nephi 10:19
f. Seer is greater than a prophet. – Mosiah 8:15
g. The Lord’s Supper is a common meal to “fill” the participants – 3 Nephi 18:8. Followers of Book of Mormon do not obey it, for they take water and bread – 3 Nephi 18:13.
h. Priests outside the tribe of Levi – 2 Nephi 5:26. (Yet, 2 Nephi 5:10 says they kept the Law of Moses “in all things.”)
i. Men have authority in the church – Mosiah 26:8, 37
j. Melchizedek has a father – Alma 13:18
• Matthew 27:45
• Matthew 2:1. In Bethlehem, about 7miles out of Jerusalem
• Acts 11:26. First in Antioch about 45 A.D.
• Matthew 16:18. 33 A.D.
• Ephesians 3:4-5; Matthew 13:17. Not until days of apostles, first century A.D.
• 1 Samuel 9:9. Same.
• 1 Corinthians 11:20-22. The meal was separate from the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:26-29
• Numbers 3:9; 10. Hebrews 8:4.
• Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18. Christ has all authority in the church.
• Hebrews 7:3. He has none.
• The fall of Adam and Eve was “one of the great steps to eternal exaltation and happiness and one ordered of God.” Catechism for Children, p.33
• Genes 3:19; Romans 5:12-18; Romans 6:1-2. Disobedience to God’s law has never been His desire for “order.”
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
• Joseph Smith contradicts himself on doctrine of polygamy.
a. Polygamy of David and Solomon “which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.” Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:24.
b. God gave David all his wives and concubines “by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets . . . “He sinned in none of these things except in the case of Uriah and his wife. Doctrines and Covenants, 132:39
• Sinners and false teachers “oppose themselves.”
• Polygamy is a command to obey and if disobeyed, damnation is the penalty. The Seer, Vol. 1, p. 158. Doctrines and Covenants, 132:3, 4, 6, 61, 62.
• Man is to cleave to his wife, not wifes. Genesis 2:18-25.
• Man has one wife, Ephesians 5:23-33, the same as Christ has one church.
• Elders must the husband of one wife. 1Timothy 3:2.
• Lamech, a murderer, originated in polygamy. Genesis 4:19-24
• There are many gods, “a general assembly, quorum or grand council of the gods, with their president at their head, constitute the designing and creating power.” Key of Theology, p. 52
• Only one God. Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; 14:25-26; 16:7-10.
• Doctrine of God:
a. God in heaven “has flesh and bones. The father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” Doctrines and Covenants, 130:22.
b. He has sex and marries and
• God is spirit. John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 15:50
A spirit has not flesh and bones. Luke 24:39
• God is omnipresent. Psa. 139:7-11; Acts 17:28; 1 Corinthians 3:16
• God’s only marriage relationship was
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
multiples His species. “God, angels, and men all of one great species, one race, one great family.” Key of Theology, p. 41, 52. The Seer, Vol 1. P. 37.
c. Adam is God, and Eve was “one of his wifes.” Pearl of Great Price, p. 60. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 50.
d. “God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man.” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3, sermons by Joseph Smith.
spiritual, with Israel. Jeremiah 3:14.
• No marriage after death. Mark 12:25
• Adam is not God, but was created by Him. Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25; 3:8-11, 19; Exodus 20:1-3.
• Christ was like us only from his fleshly aspect after he came to earth. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23
• Doctrine of Christ:
a. Christ is Adam’s son by natural generation. “He was not begotten by the Holy Spirit. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family.” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50, sermon by Brigham Young
b. Jesus was a polygamist. “. . . there were several holy women that greatly ‘loved Jesus, such as Mary and Martha her sister, and Mary Magdalene; and Jesus greatly loved them . . . if all the acts of Jesus were written, we, no doubt, should learn that these beloved women were His wives.” The Seer, Vol. 1, p. 158-159.
• Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23.
• Christ is the one husband and head of his one bride, the church. John 3:29; Romans 7:4; Ephesians 5:23-33
• Doctrine of The Holy Spirit:
Not a person, but ethereal substance, pure and refined.
• Holy Spirit is a person, one the three persons in the godhead. Matthew 28:19; John 14:15-17; 16:13-14; Acts 5:3-4; 8:29; 10:19-20.
• He is not a mysterious “it,” but a personal “He”.
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
• Doctrine of Apostles:
a. Twelve apostles were appointed by David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery:
T.B Marsh, Parley Pratt, D.W. Patter, Luke Johnson, Brigham Young, Wm. Smith, H.C. Kimball Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, John Boynton, Wm. M’Lellin, Lyman Johnson.
b. They maintain an apostleship in the church
• Those claiming apostleship tried and “found them liars.” Revelation 2:2.
• Apostles had to be eyewitness of the Lord “from the baptism of John.” Acts 1:25. Saul was “the last of all” chosen as apostle who “saw the Lord.” Acts 9:6; 22:17-21; 1 Corinthians 15:8.
• Apostles cannot exist today because none can do the signs of an apostle, and none living today has seen the Lord.
• Doctrine of Salvation:
a. Salvation is the resurrection from the dead. Doctrines and Covenants, 88:16.
b. Salvation consists of 3 degrees: highest or celestial, terrestrial (deceived, etc.), and those who did not accept Mormonism, liars, sorcerers, etc. Doctrines and Covenants, 76:51-112
• Both good and bad will be resurrected. John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15.
• Universal salvation is not taught in the Scriptures. Matthew 25.
• Matthew 25:46. Only eternal life or eternal punishment.
• Revelation 22:4.
• Baptism for the Dead:
The Saints can be baptized for those who have died. Doctrines and Covenants, 124:28 Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 7-8, Joseph Smith
• Man must be baptized by his own faith and volition. Romans 6:3-4, 17-18; Acts 2:27-38.
• A man is “dead in sin” before he is baptized, hence is baptized for the old dead self. See 1 Corinthians 15:29. Responsible only for deeds done in own body. 2 Corinthians 5:10.
• There is no second change after death. Luke 16:19-31; Acts 17:31
• “Every point that confesses that Joseph Smith is a prophet . . . and that the Book of Mormon is true is of God, and every spirit that does not is of “Antichrist.” Millenial Star, Vol 5, p. 116, by Brigham Young.
• Confess Christ, not Joseph Smith. Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10-9-10.
• Many false prophets. Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1
BRIEF HISTORY:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church, was organized on April 6, 1830, at Fayette, New York, with six members by Joseph Smith, Jr.
Smith, following in the footsteps of his father as a roving water witch, became known as “Peep-stone Joe” because he claimed to have miraculously discovered a “peep-stone”. At the age of fourteen he began to have visions and revelation. Being perplexed about the religious confusion of his day and the many conflicting denominations and their varied interpretations of the Scriptures, he said he received in the woods one day a vision of a great light. Instructions from God were not to join any of the sects, because God was about to restore the ancient gospel that had not been represented in its fullness by any of the churches existing at the time.
According to his statement, three years later he had a night vision in which Moroni, an angel, appeared before him and revealed to him the hiding place of certain plates of gold on which was inscribed the gospel. He was instructed by the angel to visit this place on the same date each year. September 22, 1827, he was permitted to receive the plates, at age 21. He then translated the records, dictating the translation to Oliver Cowdery and others who wrote it down. It was completed in 1829 and placed in the hands of a printer in August 1829. In the same year, on May 15, Smith and Cowdery said that an angel (John the Baptist) appeared to them and conferred upon them the Aaronic priesthood and commanded them to baptize each other by immersion. Later, three, glorious personages (Peter, James and John) conferred the Melchizedek priesthood upon them and gave them the apostleship. These events were followed by the organization of the church at Fayette, April 6, 1830, witch all its ancient gifts and powers.
Headquarters of various churches that began to form was established in 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio. They met with rigid opposition in many areas, and were expelled from the state of Missouri in the winter of 1838-39. Then they settled at Nauvoo, Illinois, but again hostility developed and Joseph Smith and his brother were killed at nearby
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Carthage, Illinois by a mob, June 27, 1844. Joseph Smith was shot to death in a jail, where he had been lodged on a charge of treason.
After Smith’s death, Mormons split into several divisions. In 1847, the Council of Twelve near Omaha, Nebraska, elected Brigham Young as President of the church. The main body of followers emigrated westward and settled in Utah. There have been various divisions, and today two main bodies exist. The “Reorganized” branch has headquarters at Independence, Missouri. This group rejects polygamy and the name Mormon; they do their own publishing. The branch that settled westward erected a magnificent Temple at Salt Lake City, and there situated the church headquarters. They claim three books to be inspired: The Pearl of Great Price, Doctrines and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon. Six temples have been erected in the U.S.S, the largest having been constructed on a 25 acre plot in Los Angeles at a cost of six million dollars.
Mormon Tradition
Word of God
• God revelations of truth to Joseph Smith.
Considered to the Word of God, the Book of Mormon is held as a companion book to the Bible. As stated by Joseph Smith in Article 8 of the “Articles Faith”: “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 work of God.” In addressing the 12 apostles, Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by ANY other book” (A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, p. 273)
A Mormon apostle, Orson Pratt, said: “The nature of the Book of Mormon is such that, if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it.” (Orson Pratt,
• The Faith Was Once Delivered
The question now before us is whether revelation was complete and perfect in the 1st century or if there was still a vacuum or void left after the New Testament was given which was to be filled by a latter revelation.
Jude 3: “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED unto the saints.” THE faith, not just any faith; not gradually being given through 2,000 years or given in part in the first century to be delivered again in the 19th century! ONCE DELIVERED. (Greek word here is “hapax,” defined in Thayer’s Lexicon as: “once, one time … never need repetition,” also, “once for all”). The same word is employed in these verses: 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:26-28; 1
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, p. 124)
The Book of Mormon is the word of God; then it is to be accepted with equal authority . . . yea with GREATER authority, since it is not only the word of God, but translated into the English language by the power of God.
Peter 3:18
• The curse of heaven rests upon any man or angel or apostle who preaches any other gospel than that revealed in the New Testament (Galatians 1:8-9). Man is not to add to the words of the prophecy of this book as we read in Revelation 22:18-19, nor to “go onwards and abide not in the teaching of Christ” as we read at 2 John 9. Notice: “Seeing that his divine power HATH GRANTED unto us ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) We must conclude that since the divine power did not grant them the Book of Mormon, that it therefore does not “pertain unto life and godliness!”
• “Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, FURNISHED COMPLETELY UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) There is no room for later revelations; no vacuum; no need.
• The man is a fool who says the Bible is sufficient and that it contains all of God’s revealed truth, according to the Book of Mormon.
“And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel; and because my words shall hiss forth – many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. . . . Thou fool, that shall
• Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32.
• “Every good work” is recorded in the Bible, the Scriptures available in the first century (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• The gospel was never “lost,” hence absurd to speak of restoring its revelation. “My words shall never pass away,” said Jesus (Matthew 24:35). What is new is not true; what is true is not new.
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Mormon Tradition
Word of God
say: a Bible, we have a Bible and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? . . . Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need NOT SUPPOSE THAT IT CONTAINS ALL MY WORDS; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written . . . for out of the books which SHALL BE WRITTEN, I will judge the world . . . For behold, I shall speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it” (2 Nephi 29:2, 3, 6, 10-12). Further, 2 Nephi 28:29 says “WO be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more the word of God, for we have enough!”
• Translation of the Book of Mormon was “By the gift and power of God”, hence not subject to human error.
a. “The prophet, scanning through the Urim and Thummim, the golden pages would appear in lieu of the strange characters thereon, their equivalent in English words. These he would repeat and a scribe, separated from by a veil or curtain would write them down. Until the writing was CORRECT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, the words last given would remain before the eyes of the translater and not disappear. But, on the necessary corrections, being made, they would immediately pass away and
• Fables and false prophets to be avoided. 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Josephy Smith was a base impostor, and the Book of Mormon a colossal fraud!
• All liars shall be punished. Colossian 3:9; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15.
• Men today should preach the same things taught in first century. 2 Timothy 2:2.
There is only conclusion: The translation into the English language was absolutely perfect, and the ONLY flaws must be typographical or printer’s errors. It is an undisputed fact, however, that there are even in the current editions many grammatical, historical, and literary errors which cannot be attributed as typographical!
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be exceeded by others” (Brigham H, Roberts, The History of the Church, page 28).
b. “I will give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness, the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated BY THE GIFT AND POWER OF GOD, AND NOT BY THE POWER OF ANY MAN” (David Whitmer, An address To All Believers in Christ, pp. 17f).
c. “The prophet possessed a seer stone which he was able to translate with as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone. By the aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the prophet and written by Martin Harris and when finished he would say, “Written,” and if correctly written that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place. But, if not correctly written, it remained until corrected, so that the translation was JUST AS IT WAS ENGRAVEN ON
Notice: “The book passed into a fluid condition and assumed a different FORM with every edition. In 1842, an edition appeared bearing on its title page the announcement, ‘Carefully revised by the translator,’ and such corrections have continued and accumulated so that ‘a comparison of the latest Salt Lake edition with the first has shown more than three thousand changes’.” (J. H. Snowden, The Truth About Mormonism, p. 69).
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THE PLATES PRECISELY IN THE LANGUAGE THEN USED” (Martin Harris, The Myth of the Manuscripts Found, p. 91).
d. “And we know that they (the golden plates) have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true”
(Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer,
and Martin Harris, Testimony of the
Three Witnesses, in Book of
Mormon preface.
• Characters were of an ancient language.
• The Egyptian hieroglyphics in 1833 had not been fully deciphered, and there was no way of proving Smith’s work. However, in 1861 Smith’s translation was showed to a scholar named Theodule Deveria of Paris, who declared the work was “entirely incorrect.” So also attest eight other distinguished scholars in Egyptian lore (Snowden, Ibid., pp. 76-79)
• Prove all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
• Some grammatical and language blunders and absurdities in the Book of Mormon:
1830 Edition
p. 193 “the priests was”
p.192 “they was added”
P. 290 “they did not fight against God no more”
p. 351 “that all might see the writing he had wrote upon the rent”
p. 506 “I have wrote them” “I were about to write” “that to teach baptism unto they”
p. 582 “this thing had ought not to be”
• God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33
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p. 224 “and this he done”
1949 Edition
2 Nephi 33:4 – “the words…it”
Words of Mormon 1:2 – “it supposeth me”
Moroni 9:5 – “it seemeth me”
I Nephi 6:2 – “we are a descendant of Joseph”
Alma 13:1 – “I would cite your mind forward to the time when the Lord God gave”
Alma 14:6 – “his soul began to be harrowed up”
Alma 24:17 – “they did bury them up deep in the earth”
Helaman 9:6 – “ Now, Immediately when the judge had been murdered – he being stabbed by his brother by a garb of secrecy” (a strange weapon!)
Ether 2:17 – “ the length thereof was the length of a tree” (see verses 16-25)
Ether 3:1 – “the brother of Jared . . . did molten” (adjective should be replaced by the verb, melt)
• Does this sound like the product of the “gift and power of God?” GOD IS NO SUCH IGNORAMUS!
• Book of Mormon refutes any claim to inspiration.
I Nephi 1:3 – “ I make it according to MY knowledge”
Nephi wrote what his knowledge led him to write and only what “I think it to be sacred” (I Nephi 19:6). Hear him again: “And now if I do err” (I Nephi 19:6).
Now let hear Jacob: “I should write . . . which I considered to be most precious” (Jacob 1:2). He concludes saying, “I have written according to the best of my knowledge” (Jacob 7:26). What they thought was true according to their knowledge, if they do not err!!!!
Also see 3 Nephi 8:1-2 and Mormon
• Those who “oppose themselves” should be corrected and instructed. 2 Timothy 2:25. The writers of the Book of Mormon claim they are inspired in one place, and not inspired in another.
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8:12 – “if there was no mistake made this man,” and “because of the imperfections which are in it (this record).” They wrote “according to my memory” (Ether 5:1)
• Some contradictions between the Book of Mormon and the Bible:
a. I Nephi 19:10 - Darkness at Jesus’ death
b. Jesus born at Jerusalem – Alma 7:10
c. Disciples called Christians first 73 B.C. – Alma 46:13-14
d. Church of Christ build about 147 B.C – Mosiah 18:17
e. Mysteries unfolded 600 B.C. – I Nephi 10:19
f. Seer is greater than a prophet. – Mosiah 8:15
g. The Lord’s Supper is a common meal to “fill” the participants – 3 Nephi 18:8. Followers of Book of Mormon do not obey it, for they take water and bread – 3 Nephi 18:13.
h. Priests outside the tribe of Levi – 2 Nephi 5:26. (Yet, 2 Nephi 5:10 says they kept the Law of Moses “in all things.”)
i. Men have authority in the church – Mosiah 26:8, 37
j. Melchizedek has a father – Alma 13:18
• Matthew 27:45
• Matthew 2:1. In Bethlehem, about 7miles out of Jerusalem
• Acts 11:26. First in Antioch about 45 A.D.
• Matthew 16:18. 33 A.D.
• Ephesians 3:4-5; Matthew 13:17. Not until days of apostles, first century A.D.
• 1 Samuel 9:9. Same.
• 1 Corinthians 11:20-22. The meal was separate from the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:26-29
• Numbers 3:9; 10. Hebrews 8:4.
• Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18. Christ has all authority in the church.
• Hebrews 7:3. He has none.
• The fall of Adam and Eve was “one of the great steps to eternal exaltation and happiness and one ordered of God.” Catechism for Children, p.33
• Genes 3:19; Romans 5:12-18; Romans 6:1-2. Disobedience to God’s law has never been His desire for “order.”
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• Joseph Smith contradicts himself on doctrine of polygamy.
a. Polygamy of David and Solomon “which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.” Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:24.
b. God gave David all his wives and concubines “by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets . . . “He sinned in none of these things except in the case of Uriah and his wife. Doctrines and Covenants, 132:39
• Sinners and false teachers “oppose themselves.”
• Polygamy is a command to obey and if disobeyed, damnation is the penalty. The Seer, Vol. 1, p. 158. Doctrines and Covenants, 132:3, 4, 6, 61, 62.
• Man is to cleave to his wife, not wifes. Genesis 2:18-25.
• Man has one wife, Ephesians 5:23-33, the same as Christ has one church.
• Elders must the husband of one wife. 1Timothy 3:2.
• Lamech, a murderer, originated in polygamy. Genesis 4:19-24
• There are many gods, “a general assembly, quorum or grand council of the gods, with their president at their head, constitute the designing and creating power.” Key of Theology, p. 52
• Only one God. Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; 14:25-26; 16:7-10.
• Doctrine of God:
a. God in heaven “has flesh and bones. The father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” Doctrines and Covenants, 130:22.
b. He has sex and marries and
• God is spirit. John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 15:50
A spirit has not flesh and bones. Luke 24:39
• God is omnipresent. Psa. 139:7-11; Acts 17:28; 1 Corinthians 3:16
• God’s only marriage relationship was
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multiples His species. “God, angels, and men all of one great species, one race, one great family.” Key of Theology, p. 41, 52. The Seer, Vol 1. P. 37.
c. Adam is God, and Eve was “one of his wifes.” Pearl of Great Price, p. 60. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 50.
d. “God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man.” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3, sermons by Joseph Smith.
spiritual, with Israel. Jeremiah 3:14.
• No marriage after death. Mark 12:25
• Adam is not God, but was created by Him. Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25; 3:8-11, 19; Exodus 20:1-3.
• Christ was like us only from his fleshly aspect after he came to earth. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23
• Doctrine of Christ:
a. Christ is Adam’s son by natural generation. “He was not begotten by the Holy Spirit. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family.” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50, sermon by Brigham Young
b. Jesus was a polygamist. “. . . there were several holy women that greatly ‘loved Jesus, such as Mary and Martha her sister, and Mary Magdalene; and Jesus greatly loved them . . . if all the acts of Jesus were written, we, no doubt, should learn that these beloved women were His wives.” The Seer, Vol. 1, p. 158-159.
• Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23.
• Christ is the one husband and head of his one bride, the church. John 3:29; Romans 7:4; Ephesians 5:23-33
• Doctrine of The Holy Spirit:
Not a person, but ethereal substance, pure and refined.
• Holy Spirit is a person, one the three persons in the godhead. Matthew 28:19; John 14:15-17; 16:13-14; Acts 5:3-4; 8:29; 10:19-20.
• He is not a mysterious “it,” but a personal “He”.
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• Doctrine of Apostles:
a. Twelve apostles were appointed by David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery:
T.B Marsh, Parley Pratt, D.W. Patter, Luke Johnson, Brigham Young, Wm. Smith, H.C. Kimball Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, John Boynton, Wm. M’Lellin, Lyman Johnson.
b. They maintain an apostleship in the church
• Those claiming apostleship tried and “found them liars.” Revelation 2:2.
• Apostles had to be eyewitness of the Lord “from the baptism of John.” Acts 1:25. Saul was “the last of all” chosen as apostle who “saw the Lord.” Acts 9:6; 22:17-21; 1 Corinthians 15:8.
• Apostles cannot exist today because none can do the signs of an apostle, and none living today has seen the Lord.
• Doctrine of Salvation:
a. Salvation is the resurrection from the dead. Doctrines and Covenants, 88:16.
b. Salvation consists of 3 degrees: highest or celestial, terrestrial (deceived, etc.), and those who did not accept Mormonism, liars, sorcerers, etc. Doctrines and Covenants, 76:51-112
• Both good and bad will be resurrected. John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15.
• Universal salvation is not taught in the Scriptures. Matthew 25.
• Matthew 25:46. Only eternal life or eternal punishment.
• Revelation 22:4.
• Baptism for the Dead:
The Saints can be baptized for those who have died. Doctrines and Covenants, 124:28 Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 7-8, Joseph Smith
• Man must be baptized by his own faith and volition. Romans 6:3-4, 17-18; Acts 2:27-38.
• A man is “dead in sin” before he is baptized, hence is baptized for the old dead self. See 1 Corinthians 15:29. Responsible only for deeds done in own body. 2 Corinthians 5:10.
• There is no second change after death. Luke 16:19-31; Acts 17:31
• “Every point that confesses that Joseph Smith is a prophet . . . and that the Book of Mormon is true is of God, and every spirit that does not is of “Antichrist.” Millenial Star, Vol 5, p. 116, by Brigham Young.
• Confess Christ, not Joseph Smith. Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10-9-10.
• Many false prophets. Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1