The Final Mormon Theological Controversy The Trust of the Final Mormon Destiny
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- April 10, 2023
The troubled history of Mormonism as it exists in the 21st century is very similar to double birth and the use of a computer-generated document fraudulently presented as a genuine copy of, say, a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other public document. originally created on paper and scanned electronically into a PDF document. Such an illegal computer-generated document, a pure fraud, is cunningly created by its creator on surface layers composed of other previously created documents that existed before the fraudulently created document. For Mormonism officially began in 1830, but its real origins began in the minds of Joseph Smith, Jr., his mother, Lucy McSmith, his father, Joseph Smith, Sr., his brother, Hyrum Smith, and probably of his third cousin, Oliver Cowdery, about 1820. Joseph Smith, Jr., the fourteen-year-old son of a bankrupt farmer in Palmyra, New York, is said to have independently decided that year to pray to his deity to be led to church was done.which he should join. According to the story told by the boy Smith, when he was fifteen years old he went to a wooded area near his father's farm and supposedly prayed. This supposedly happened in the spring of 1820 and Joseph Smith Jr. He first came out of the forest to tell some people, first his mother, father and brother, that he had received a vision in which an angel came to him and instructed him not to join any of the existing Christian churches. In Lucy Mack Smith's biography of her son Joseph Smith Jr. wrote: "Joseph told her that in his first vision there appeared to him an angel named Nephi." This was actually the first of seven versions of what Joseph Smith Jr. he called his "first vision" from 1820 to 1843. In fact, there was an eighth version of the "vision story" that was selected by his successor Brigham Young in 1848 from the seven very different versions of Joseph Smith Jr. after his lynching and death, which is the version that the LDS considers The current official "missionary version" of the Church used
Very little is known of the historical record of Joseph Smith Sr.'s family activities in the years immediately following 1820, other than testimony from neighbors in Palmyra, New York, that Joseph Sr. and Joseph Jr. stone found by Joseph Smith Jr. while digging a water well. The Smiths introduced themselves to their neighbors as possessing the occult means of locating buried treasure through "folk magic and sorcery" through the use of the white oval "gazing stone". From the testimonies of prominent men in the Palmyra community between the 1820s and 1830s and beyond, and from journals and diaries of prominent men and women who knew and were associated with the Smith family, the recorded facts reveal that Joseph Smith Jr. began wearing a Jupiter amulet around his neck in about 1819, which he continued to wear until his fatal lynching in 1844. Neighbors and friends who wrote about Joseph Smith Jr. he explained that Joseph used the amulet to gain mystical power while using the "soothsayer's stone" to find buried treasure. According to existing records, young Joseph Smith and his father were not credited with finding buried treasure, but according to Manchester County, New York court records, Joseph Smith Jr. money to find buried treasure in your land. According to the court record, available online. Smith was charged, tried, convicted of criminal fraud and fined for committing the crime.
Then suddenly, in 1823, came the story, supposedly told only by Joseph Smith Jr., that another angel named Moroni appeared to him in his bedroom on his family's farm as he slept. Again, young Smith is said to have told his mother, father, and brother about the angel, and Lucy McSmith later wrote that the angel Nephi appeared to her son again. It is said that Joseph Smith Jr. He had nothing to do with his third cousin, Oliver Cowdery, until about 1828, although Cowdery was living and working as a schoolmaster in another town not more than 45 miles from Palmyra. However, this is unreliable due to the sudden and close relationship the two young people later assumed and the fact that Joseph Smith Jr. not having publicized his family relationship with Cowdery. According to Smith, who was eighteen at the time, the second angel told him of the gold plates buried on top of a hill not far from the family farm, and that it would be some time before he obtained the gold plates, which would come from from an original 588-page book, "The Book of Mormon", about the Hebrew (Jewish) origin of Native Americans, an original theory that a Protestant minister, Ethan Smith (no relation to Joseph Smith, Jr.), had devised independently five years earlier in 1825, and about which E. Smith wrote a book that Joseph Smith Jr. had in his possession entitled A View of the Jews. Around 1925, Mormon scholar and General Authority B. H. Roberts formally examined the striking similarity of Ethan Smith's book to the 1830 edition of the "Book of Mormon" and concluded that, for the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith Jr. A view of the Jews".
In addition to reports of "money mining" and a conviction for criminal fraud in the years following Smith's alleged first vision in 1820, it is also recorded that the young Smith formally joined the Methodist Church in Palmyra, New York, and became romantically involved with Emma . Hale, who eventually became his wife in 1827. Between the time Joseph Smith Jr. He is said to have been visited by the second angel in 1823, and in the year of his marriage in 1827, the very gifted and resourceful young man had four years of association with his mother, father, brother and third cousin, Oliver. Cowdery, to develop on paper a plausible account of the discovery, recovery, and supposed translation of the golden plates which he was supposed to have been allowed to possess by the second angel shortly after his marriage. He also had time to work primarily with his highly educated and experienced cousin, Oliver, to prepare and write a draft of what would become publicly known as the "Book of Mormon" in 1830. Oliver Country's level of education and profound abilities he is deductive, intuitive, and scholarly, which probably placed him among the top fifteen percent of the nation's most intelligent men at that time in history, enabled him to become a successful practicing attorney. and the charm and charismatic influence of Joseph Smith Jr. for other people, his proven ability to read and write well and his access to and use of public library collections in the cities of Palmyra and Manchester all promote contraband. men conspired from 1823 to after 1828 to write and complete the first and last drafts of the "Book of Mormon" in 1830. However, in the official official history of the Mormon Church, written by devout members of the Mormon hierarchy after the Lynching and Death of Joseph Smith Jr. Written in 1844, the dubious official version of the events of 1820-1830 appears to be Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery were complete strangers when they are said to have met sometime in 1828. when Cowdery, according to the Mormon version, received Joseph Smith Jr. dishes; who did not actually see the anatomical eyes of the three alleged witnesses who claimed to have seen the plates. These supposed witnesses swore they saw the gold plates with their "spiritual eyes," whatever that means.
What happened after April 6, 1830, after the "Book of Mormon" was published earlier that year, and when the Mormon Church was formally organized on that date, is essentially a matter of consistent historical record, clearly serving to speak specifically against of . they establish the theological, doctrinal, and historical claims of the Mormon Church hierarchy. The first black layer of fraud was the essentially Trinitarian "Book of Mormon" in which Joseph Smith Jr. He placed part of the Christian theology contained in the New Testament. that is, the nature of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Most notably, the original 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon identifies God as the traditional Trinity. In the unaltered original version of 1830, 1 Nephi 11:18-21 reads:
"And the angel said to me: Behold the Lamb of God, the Eternal Father! And I answered him and said: Yes, it is the love of God that is poured out in the hearts of the children of men; therefore it is the most desirable of all. And spake with me, saying: Yea, and most joyful for the soul. And after he had said these words, he said to me: Look! And I looked and saw the Son of God walking among the children of men; and I saw many falling down in the his feet and worship him".
Instead, the very different 1 Nephi 11:18-21 from the current 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon reads:
"And he said to me: Behold, the virgin whom you see is the mother of the Son of God, according to the flesh. And it happened that I saw that at that time the angel said to me: Behold! And I saw and saw again a virgin holding a child in her arms. And the angel said to me: Behold the Lamb of God, the Son of the Eternal Father! Do you know the meaning of the tree your father saw?'
The 1981 edition, "The Book of Mormon," was grammatically and textually changed to reflect changes in Mormon theology that occurred after 1830, particularly after 1835. By February 1835, the unity of God the Father and Jesus Christ had changed radically. the radical change that took place in what Joseph Smith Jr. made in 1835 from his "first vision" of 1820. That year, the 29-year-old Smith changed his story so that instead of an angel named Nephi, two distinct personalities, God the Father and Jesus the Son, appeared to him in the forest , in tangible bodies of flesh and bones. This carnal distinction between God the Father and God the Son necessitated a textual change in 1 Nephi 11:18-21 of the original edition of 1830. Joseph Smith Jr. they traced these necessary changes to what he called "continuing revelation," though reasonable Christians could clearly see that it was actually based on basic pragmatism. However, the essential composition of Trinitarian orthodoxy from the original 1830 edition throughout the Book of Mormon could not have been substantially changed in its later editions without obvious contradictions. Therefore, the unity and spiritual nature of the Godhead was preserved from the original 1830 version in the verses found in Alma 18:24-28, as shown below:
“And Ammon began to speak to him boldly, saying to him: Do you believe that there is a God? And he answered and said to him: I do not know what this means. And then Amon said: Do you believe there is a Great Spirit? And she said yes. And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said to him again: Do you believe that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things in heaven and on earth? And he said: Yes, I believe that He created everything on earth. but I do not know the heavens. And Ammon said to him: Heaven is a place where God dwells and all his holy angels."
Other passages, such as Alma 11:44 below, reveal the original Trinitarian focus of the "Book of Mormon." This pragmatic reconstruction of Mormon theology was developed by Dr. Thomas G. Alexander, currently Lemuel Redd Emeritus Professor of Western History at Brigham Young University, in his 1980 Sunstone publication, The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine. I spoke with Dr. Alexander via email and in a phone call, telling me that the official newspapers of the LDS Church refused to publish his long, scholarly essay on doctrinal grounds and that he was telling the truth about desired changes in Mormon theology and published doctrine in favor of of the common Church of Mormons.
“Now this restoration will come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, male and female, wicked and righteous. And not a hair of their head shall perish. but all shall be restored to their perfect form as they now are or in the body, and shall be taken and brought before the judgment of Christ the Son, and of God the Father, and of the Holy Spirit, who is the eternal God, judged according to his works, whether they are good or bad."
Furthermore, the revelatory verses in Mosiah 15:1-4 show even more clearly the unity of the Father and the Son Jesus as God, according to the Trinitarian theology of the King James Version of the Bible, which Joseph Smith Jr. ...in his "Book of Mormon."
"And then Abinadi said to them: I want you to understand that God himself will come down among the sons of men and redeem his people. And because he dwells in the flesh, he will be called the Son of God, and having submitted the flesh to the will of the Father, he is both the Father and the Son—the Father, because he was conceived by the power of God? and the son because of the flesh. Thus the Father and the Son are made - and they are one God, yes, the Eternal Father of heaven and earth."
How can anyone reading this in conjunction with the other verses cited derive any conception of the Godhead other than a triune unity in essence from reading the preceding? Additionally, 2 Nephi 31:21 succinctly explains the undivided Trinity of God:
“...And now, behold, this is the teaching of Christ, and the only true teaching of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, who is one God without end. Amen."
Therefore, the clarity of the apparent changes made to the first 1830 edition of the 19th century "Book of Mormon" to accommodate a very marked change in Mormon theology, by the same erroneous and deceitful men who wrote it together, cannot be ignored . .
But the fatal contradiction, secretly made by 19th-century Mormon leaders who subtly replaced Trinitarian monotheism with pagan polytheism, came in 1835, when Joseph Smith approved and canonized the "Lectures on the Faith" to be published in Mormonism. School of the Prophets. in 1835 in Kirtland, Ohio. The ambiguity of Joseph Smith Jr., which represented his purely human efforts, is seen in his attempt to confirm the Trinitarian theology of the Book of Mormon in the Lectures on Faith, while at the same time preparing for it by his deceitful methods and in disguise. production of the book of Abraham from the Joseph Smith papyri to introduce polytheism to the Mormon people. The capital G multitude of Mormon gods was first introduced in Smith's fraudulent Book of Abraham in 1838, while the 1835 Lectures on Faith became the entire doctrinal section of Joseph Smith Jr.'s 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. had supported the statement that "God has neither beginning nor end," contradicting Smith's King Follett Sermon of 1844, which states: "God the Father began as a mortal man on earth—as a planet." Furthermore, the LDS "Doctrine and Covenants" as they are currently recognized in the 21st century – until 1925, their later conversion to pagan polytheism was tacitly settled.
The true real history of Mormonism was first explained in the classic biography and history of Joseph Smith Jr. by ex-Mormon Fawn Brodie in her book No Man Knows My History. Brody was the niece of Mormon prophet David O. McKay and spent the first thirty years of her life within the confines of active Mormonism until she became convinced that Mormonism was a fraudulent religion and not Christian. The modern world Mormon missionary scheme was developed in its original canned form around 1950 to effectively conceal from mainstream Christianity all the real relevant facts about the true theology of Mormonism, a theology infused in the spirit of Joseph Smith Jr. 1844, refined under theocratic rule and the rule of subsequent Mormon prophets, Brigham Young and Lorenzo Snow, in the Mormon theocracy of the Utah Territory from 1851 to the late 1890s, and later smuggled into an imported necessary facade created by the Mormon hierarchy made its debut in Christian America. when Utah Territory was admitted as a state of the Union on January 4, 1896.
Now, 121 years later, if you, a Christian who believes in the sacred truth and reliability of the Bible, open the door of your home to two or more men or women (teenagers or much older) who are the If you represent the Mormon Church (LDS), you can be sure that these particular men are Mormon elders (holders of the Mormon Melchizedek Priesthood) and that both men and women have taken a blood vow in a Mormon temple (today there are 155 active Mormon temples in worldwide) to do everything humanly possible to advance the financial interests and social, political and ecclesiastical influence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah . These men or women knocking on your door are full-time Mormon missionaries from a standing worldwide force of approximately 90,000 young Mormon agents, ages 18 to 25, who currently spend two full years of their lives preaching to them somewhere in people . the civilized world Mormonism. Each young full-time Mormon missionary will be smartly dressed in white shirts and ties and will wear a small black badge with white lettering identifying them as "elders" in the Mormon Church. The young women will wear similar badges identifying them as "sisters". There are also elderly couples, men, senior Mormon "elders" and their spouses who spend two years, usually at their own expense, preaching the Mormon gospel full-time.
These new full-time Mormon missionaries, especially the tens of thousands of them across the United States, are, at first glance, extremely persuasive in maneuvering you into their smile, getting you to accept and believe that they are the one and only. represent. Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer of the world, and His "restored" Gospel. As for the elderly couples, in their missionary centers they are taught to portray the behavior of their grandparent in order to gain the Christian's trust. In fact, the first words out of their mouths, young and old, when you open the door to greet them are likely to be the "true" representation of Jesus. Their main goal is for you to be so impressed by their seemingly "Christian" behavior that you feel emotionally invested and compelled to invite them into your living room, offer them seats, and allow them to stare ahead of you for a future period. Present six written, memorized, and rehearsed segments of Mormon theology, doctrine, and history, referred to as "talks," lasting approximately four to six weeks.
We hope you have already received a copy of an official LDS (Mormon) document titled “Lesson 21—Man May Become Like God” from the LDS Melchizedek 39 Lessons from 1984 via mail, email, or directly from a Christian friend. the Priesthood, "Search these Commandments." This particular document was proclaimed and glorified in vain by the LDS First Presidency of 1984, consisting of Mormon prophet, seer, and revelator Spencer W. Kimball and his three counselor Mormon apostles, N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney, and Gordon B. . Hinckley , as canonical LDS theology, scripture, doctrine, and commandments, meaning that the entire theological substance of "Lesson 21—Man Can Become Like God" has been considered canonical LDS theology, scripture, and doctrine, and becomes the moment when it was first accepted as such by the Mormon hierarchy over the centuries. Lesson 21 is a condensed paraphrase of Joseph Smith Jr.'s King Follett Discourse. 1844 and its last official publication in the 20th century.
In their six prepared talks, these missionaries, young and old, will tell you a fabricated fraudulent story about the origin and rise of the Mormon Church on the missing Earth 19 "restored" by Joseph Smith, Jr. In 1830. They will tell you anything but the real truth about Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, and other great figures responsible for the origin of Mormonism. and only for an essentially Mormon Trinitarian theology said to be revealed in the 19th century Apocrypha, the "Book of Mormon" said to have been translated by Smith. They will swear to you that the theology and doctrine contained in the "Book of Mormon" is the official theology and doctrine of Mormonism and the cornerstone of the Mormon Church as it now exists.
Hopefully, however, you have already read Lesson 21—Man Can Become Like God and you know and recognize the truth about the true canonical theology of Mormonism and are ready to ask these Mormon agents a very important question during the their first fraudulent presentation, or Discussion; a question that these elders or sisters will most likely answer incorrectly. Your question is, "What is your ultimate destiny as worthy elders and sisters of the Mormon Church?" I know for a fact that 10 out of 10 of these young Mormon missionaries, men and women, will answer this question. They will tell you that your final destination is to be in heaven with God. How do I know? Well, I have been one of those frantic missionaries for over twenty years of my life, doing part-time for twenty years what these full-time missionaries do for two years. During those years, from about 1970 to about 1990, I worked closely with hundreds of these full-time missionaries sitting with them in the homes of Christians and bringing these six deceptive conversations to hundreds of future Mormons. I must have heard this question from Mormon Christian researchers at least a hundred times.
And, of course, when a young, teenage Mormon missionary says he just wants to go to heaven to be with God, the ignorant Christian researcher assumes that such a humble desire is doctrinally Christian accordingly, the Bible is the goal. every man who professes to be a devout Baptist, Methodist, or Lutheran. However, if you have read Lesson 21, you know that the ultimate destiny of a Mormon elder is not to be humble in heaven with Jesus, worshiping at His feet, but rather to be so "great" as the Mormons to be God the Father , with a capital G, becoming Mormon Father God, with a capital G. Yay! This is supposed to be the final fate of all worthy Mormon elders such as Joseph Smith Jr. theology in the Book of Mormon.
Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow gained notoriety in Mormon circles in the late 1890s for creating the perfect poetic verse to describe man's mortal ascension to Mormon godhood with a capital G. He wrote, “As man is, once was God, and as God is, man can become.' Indeed, before his death, he composed a poem that did not reach the heights of American poetic eminence, but ascended into the dark realm of LDS theological literature, highly revered by devout Mormons as their mantra for their ritual polytheism and paganism. . heavenly heavenly fatherhood derived from the Mormon Father-Mother Deity, with a capital G. You see, a Mormon god-father, according to the theology of Joseph Smith, Jr., cannot create anything without the help of his Goddess-Consort. It's almost like a dramatic setting from Greek mythology. It follows Snow's poem as it presents itself as the essence of "Lesson 21".
You weren't overly bold
Is this how human fate unfolds?
To awaken a desire so high, to encourage,
How much ambition does it inspire?
“However, it is not a ghost we are watching
Man's ultimatum in the struggle of life.
This royal road has long been trodden
Of the righteous, each a god now:
"As Abraham, Isaac, Jacob also,
First babies, then men - they became gods.
As man is now, so was our God.
As God is, so may man be...
Which reveals the fate of man.
In one of the well-known Mormon hymns, "Come, Let Us Be Renewed," the third verse is written as the words of Jesus to a devout Mormon who has reached exaltation, or the highest level of Mormon heaven, solely through his mortal works. . In the words of this verse, the poet and songwriter has Jesus offer His throne to the worthy Mormon, which is certainly not what true Christians want in their relationship with God, and what Jesus certainly will not do . True Christians want to be in heaven with Jesus and worship his heavenly throne through his divine grace, but never sit on Jesus' throne. In the Mormon temple, men and women who receive their ritual "endowments" are told that in embryo they are capital-G gods and that they will eventually mature into capital-G gods and goddesses and inherit thrones, principalities, and powers, so that they can eventually create their own saviors, just like Jesus Christ. However, according to the apostle John in the book of Revelation, Jesus will never cede his throne to anyone. Please note the following verse from the Mormon song:
“I fought my way through.
I have finished the work you gave me to do.'
Oh, may all receive from their Lord the glad word:
"Well done and conscientious.
Come into my joy and sit on my throne.
Enter into my joy and sit on my throne."
In the only scripture of the New Testament of the Holy Bible, in Revelation 4:10, the words of the Apostle John Jesus are very clear and understandable and the hostile pagan theology and teachings of Mormonism are contrasted with the Christian truth.
"The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, Lord, receive glory and honor.' and rendering; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Therefore, the final contradiction, which has existed in Mormon theology since 1835, is clearly seen to be the final fate of all purebred Mormon elders and their wives, as summarized in "Lesson 21 - Man Can Become Like Gods." Transformation of Mormon human elders and their spouses into Father Gods and Mother Goddesses, with a capital G.
FAQs
Why is the Book of Mormon so controversial? ›
While extolling the musical for its originality, most reviewers also make reference to the play's over-the-top blasphemous and offensive language. Dealing with parody and satire is always a tricky thing for churches. We can easily appear thin-skinned or defensive, and churches sometimes are.
Are there inconsistencies in the Book of Mormon? ›The content found within the book has also been questioned. Scholars have pointed out a number of anachronisms within the text, and general archaeological or genetic evidence has not supported the book's statements about the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Is Nephi mentioned in the Bible? ›"Nephi" is not found in the King James Bible but is found in the Apocrypha as a place name. The Apocrypha are part of the Catholic collection of scriptures (which was available in Joseph's day) but is not included in the Protestant scriptures such as the King James Version Bible.
Does the Bible support the Book of Mormon? ›The Bible and Book of Mormon support each other
Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. Each book supports the other's teachings. Both describe God's interactions with people in a different area of the world and teach the same principles.
We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh (John 3:16). We accept the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament that refer directly and powerfully to the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all humankind. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the fulfillment of those prophecies.
Do Mormons believe that Jesus is the Son of God? ›Like most Christians, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Creator of the World. However, Mormons hold the unique belief that God the Father and Jesus Christ are two distinct beings.
How truthful is the Book of Mormon? ›The dominant and widely accepted view among Latter Day Saints is that the Book of Mormon is a true and accurate account of these ancient American civilizations whose religious history it documents.
What percentage of the Book of Mormon is from the Bible? ›In total, approximately 30 percent of the Book of Isaiah is quoted in the Book of Mormon (one source counts 478 verses in the Book of Mormon which are quoted from Isaiah). The Book of Mormon also quotes from the KJV of other books.
What was removed from the Book of Mormon? ›In 1921, the LDS Church removed the "Lectures on Faith" portion of the book, with an explanation that the lectures "were never presented to nor accepted by the Church as being otherwise than theological lectures or lessons".
Why is the Book of Mormon so different from the Bible? ›The significant difference between the Bible and the Book of Mormon is the period and place of writing. The Bible is the works of the prophets and historians based in the Middle East, and it covers ancient years of history starting from God's creation of the world until about AD100.
How is Mormonism different from Christianity? ›
With respect to scripture, Mormons differ from traditional Christian groups in that they accept extra books in their canon. In addition to the King James Version of the Bible, they add the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
Is the angel Moroni mentioned in the Bible? ›Because of his instrumentality in the restoration of the gospel, Moroni is commonly identified by Latter Day Saints as the angel mentioned in Revelation 14:6, "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."
Were the Nephites real? ›According to the Book of Mormon, Bountiful was one of the first areas settled by the Nephites, ancient people who supposedly sailed from Israel to the Americas around 600 B.C.E.
Are the Three Nephites still on earth? ›If so, what are they doing? Yes, the Savior granted to John the Beloved and the Three Nephites their desire to tarry on the earth. What they're doing is bringing souls unto the Lord until He comes again (see D&C 7:2; 3 Nephi 28:9).
Where does the Bible speak of the Book of Mormon? ›Ask a student to read 2 Nephi 3:11–12. (It may be helpful to clarify that these verses are part of a prophecy by Joseph of Egypt. In these verses Joseph mentioned two books—the book written by the descendants of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, and the book written by the descendants of Judah is the Bible.)
Why did God give us the Book of Mormon? ›A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon). It testifies of Christ by affirming the reality of His life, mission, and power. It teaches true doctrine concerning Christ's Atonement—the foundation for the plan of salvation.
What religion is most similar to Mormonism? ›Similarities. Mormonism and Islam each believe in a life after death: belief in the Last Judgment and an Afterlife is one of the Six Articles of Belief of Islam; it also forms an essential element of the Mormon belief system.
What does Jesus look like to Mormons? ›Wrote church founder Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in reporting their 1836 vision of Jesus in the Kirtland Temple: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun.”
Do Mormons believe Jesus died on the cross? ›The role of Jesus
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ took upon himself the sins of everyone who ever lived or will live on this earth. Because Jesus died on the cross was buried and rose on the third day, everybody, no matter what their beliefs or righteousness, will be resurrected.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unequivocally affirm themselves to be Christians. They worship God the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
Do Mormons think they are Christians? ›
Mormons consider themselves Christians, but many Christians don't recognize Mormonism as an official denomination. Mormons believe in the crucifixion, resurrection and divinity of Jesus Christ.
What do Mormons think God's name is? ›In the endowment ceremony, introduced by Smith in 1842, the name "Elohim" is used to refer to God the Father. "Jehovah" is used to refer to the pre-mortal Jesus. In public sermons later in Smith's life, he began to describe what he thought was the true nature of the Godhead in much greater detail.
What is the one true church in the Book of Mormon? ›It is our firm conviction that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, as the revelations state, “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.” (D&C 1:30.)
What does the Catholic Church say about Mormonism? ›The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize the Mormons, formally known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because of differences over doctrinal issues.
What religion does the Book of Mormon belong to? ›Book of Mormon | |
---|---|
Religion | Latter Day Saint movement |
Language | English |
Period | 19th century |
Chapters | First Nephi Second Nephi Book of Jacob Book of Enos Book of Jarom Book of Omni Words of Mormon Book of Mosiah Book of Alma Book of Helaman Third Nephi Fourth Nephi Book of Mormon Book of Ether Book of Moroni |
The Manuscript's History
The original Book of Mormon manuscript (of which only 28% survives) is one of the most important and sacred artifacts in the possession of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Latter-day Saints believe families can be together after this life. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen relationships with all family members, both those who are alive and those who have died. Visitors use computers in the Church's Family History Library to access information about their ancestors.
What version of the King James Bible do Mormons use? ›English-language King James Version edition
The LDS Church published its first edition of the Bible in English in 1979. The text of the Bible is that of the Authorized King James Version. Both the Old and New Testaments are included, but the Apocrypha is not.
The Book of Mormon is full of teachings about the Resurrection. Here are just a few of the truths we can learn: Jesus Christ was the first to rise (see 2 Nephi 2:8). Lehi taught that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected and to receive a glorified, perfected body.
Do Mormons still believe in lamanites? ›Proposed modern descendants
Historically, Mormons have identified the Lamanites as the primary ancestors of the North American Native Americans. Some publications of the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have accepted that position.
What happened to the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon? ›
These pages, which had not been copied, were lost by Smith's scribe, Martin Harris, during the summer of 1828 and are presumed to have been destroyed. Smith completed the Book of Mormon without retranslating the Book of Lehi, replacing it with what he said was an abridgment taken from the Plates of Nephi.
Why do Mormons not believe in the Trinity? ›Like many Christians, we believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. However, we don't believe in the traditional concept of the Trinity. We believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings who are one in purpose.
Is the Book of Mormon inspired by God? ›There are several explanations as to the origin of the Book of Mormon. Adherents to the Latter Day Saint movement view the book as a work of divinely inspired scripture.
Has the LDS Church changed the Book of Mormon? ›Since the 1837 version, the Church has published five additional major editions of the Book of Mormon, all of which included slight changes to improve the clarity of the text. The Church's Scripture Committee is responsible for overseeing the editing process.
What do Mormons believe about the afterlife? ›Members believe that after the resurrection and judgement many will meet the requirements to achieve exaltation or the highest level of salvation in the celestial kingdom wherein they will eternally live in God's presence, continue as families, become gods, create worlds, and have spirit children over which they will ...
What do Mormons think of Christians? ›The Mormon view
Mormons believe that conventional Christian churches have lost the authority of God. They believe that conventional Christian beliefs are a mixture of the truth and of errors that have been added over the centuries.
The Church is a true and living church because the Lord guides us through living prophets and apostles.
What did Jesus say to the Nephites? ›When Jesus spoke to the Nephites, he acknowledged that his own received him not, but said, “As many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh” (3 Nephi 9:17).
Are Nephites Native Americans? ›The Mormon religion teaches that whites (Nephites) are the original inhabitants of America, not Indians. The white Nephites were a peaceful and loving race who lived in this paradise called America.
What does the Bible say about Nephi? ›Exodus. In the narrative of the Book of Nephi, Nephi and his family left Jerusalem, traveled to the Red Sea, and then journeyed three days further into the wilderness, stopping in a valley by a river near the Red Sea. Lehi then sent his four sons (Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi) back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates.
What ethnicity was Joseph Smith? ›
Childhood. Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, the fifth of eleven children born to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. Through modern DNA testing of Smith's relatives, it's likely that the Smith family were of Irish descent originally.
How much of the American population is Mormon? ›Mormons make up 1.7% of the American adult population, a proportion that is comparable in size to the U.S. Jewish population.
What percent of LDS leave the church? ›Some can also become apatheist. A Pew Research report corroborated this, finding in 2015 that 36% of those born Mormon left the religion, with 21% of born Mormons (58% of ex-Mormons) now unaffiliated, 6% evangelical Protestant, and 9% converting to other Protestant, Catholic, or a non-Christian faith.
Does the Bible confirm the Book of Mormon? ›The Bible and Book of Mormon support each other
Both describe God's interactions with people in a different area of the world and teach the same principles. The Book of Mormon confirms what the Bible says about Jesus Christ and clarifies many other Christian doctrines.
Modern approach and conclusions. There is a broad consensus among archaeologists that the archaeological record does not substantiate the Book of Mormon account, and in most ways directly contradicts it.
How historically accurate is the Book of Mormon? ›The dominant and widely accepted view among Latter Day Saints is that the Book of Mormon is a true and accurate account of these ancient American civilizations whose religious history it documents.
Why does God want us to pray LDS? ›We need to pray to ask our Heavenly Father for strength to live the gospel. We should pray so we can keep on the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. We must pray to God, the author of all righteousness, so we may be righteous in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Do Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God? ›As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “we believe … the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” (A of F 1:8.) God has so declared it, so have its writers, so have its witnesses, and so do all those who have read it and received a personal revelation from God as to its truthfulness.
Who do Mormons say Jesus is? ›The Book of Mormon establishes clearly that “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations” (Book of Mormon title page; 2 Nephi 26:12). At the heart of the doctrine restored through Joseph Smith is the doctrine of the Christ.
How do Mormons differ from Christians? ›From this viewpoint, Mormonism can be seen to diverge from traditional Christianity in four areas: its views on scripture, the nature of God and the deification of believers; the deity of Christ and the trinity, and finally, salvation.
What percentage of Utah is Mormon? ›
The Mormon population in the United States varies greatly from state to state. Utah has the highest concentration of Mormon adherents, with 66% of the population identifying as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Do Mormons wear crosses? ›But even when the use of the cross is divorced from anti-Catholicism, Mormons, as a whole, still do not generally use the cross as an outward symbol of their faith.
What role does Jesus play in the Mormon religion? ›Mormons regard Jesus Christ as the central figure of their faith, and the perfect example of how they should live their lives. Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead and a separate being from God the Father and the Holy Ghost. Mormons believe that: Jesus Christ is the first-born spirit child of God.
Why is the Book of Mormon not in the Bible? ›The Bible is the works of the prophets and historians based in the Middle East, and it covers ancient years of history starting from God's creation of the world until about AD100. On the other hand, the Book of Mormon was primarily written in the Americas.
Do Mormons believe in being born again? ›It is spiritual rebirth through Jesus Christ that is the context of my witness of Him. It was Jesus who stated that entry into the kingdom of God requires that one be born again—born of water and of the Spirit (see John 3:3–5).
Do Mormons believe Jesus came to America? ›After Jesus' resurrection, according to the Book of Mormon, he visited America. In fact, America plays a special role in Mormonism. Mormons believe that when Jesus returns to Earth, he will first go to Jerusalem and then to Missouri.
What deity do Mormons worship? ›Mormons, more properly referred to as Latter-day Saints or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, worship God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Is the chosen a Mormon production? ›The text with the photo said: “This is not an anti-Christian show produced by Mormons. Be very careful about this show.” Then came the “The Chosen” team's correction: “They happen to be correct in the first sentence…we're not anti-Christian, we're not produced by Mormons,” “The Chosen's” producers wrote.
Do Mormons think Jesus is God? ›Who do Mormons believe Jesus Christ is? Like most Christians, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Creator of the World. However, Mormons hold the unique belief that God the Father and Jesus Christ are two distinct beings.
What is the real name of God LDS? ›Jehovah is the name of God, and devout Jews, out of reverence for Him, never say His name. Instead they substitute Adonai, a Hebrew title meaning “Lord.” 2 So whenever they speak of Him or read aloud His name from scripture, they substitute Adonai (Lord).
Do LDS pray in Jesus name? ›
Partially because prayer is considered to be a conversation with God, personal prayers are not memorized, and "vain repetitions" are discouraged. Nonetheless, prayers do have a general form: they are addressed to God the Father and offered in the name of Jesus Christ.
What anachronisms are in the Book of Mormon? ›The word "cimiter" is considered an anachronism since the word was never used by the Hebrews (from which some of the Book of Mormon peoples came) or any other civilization prior to 450 AD and because metal swords are not found in the Americas in the Book of Mormon timeframe.
Why don t Mormons follow the Bible? ›[28] Because they believe that the church fell into apostasy after the death of the apostles, they believe that the trinity is a belief that is based on Christian tradition but not based on the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Do Mormons believe in the Bible or the Book of Mormon? ›Mormons believe in the Old and New Testaments, and the LDS Church uses the Authorized King James Version as its official scriptural text of the Bible. While Mormons believe in the general accuracy of the modern day text of the Bible, they also believe that it is incomplete and that errors have been introduced.
Why do we need the Book of Mormon if we have the Bible? ›The Book of Mormon adds a second witness to the Bible as a testimony of Christ. Elder Mark E. Petersen (1900–84) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, “The chief reason we have the Book of Mormon is that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall all things be established.
Do Mormons still believe in Lamanites? ›Proposed modern descendants
Historically, Mormons have identified the Lamanites as the primary ancestors of the North American Native Americans. Some publications of the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have accepted that position.