How can Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon,
if the
Holy Bible is the only authoritative, inspired word of God?
For starters, most devout LDS people have a spiritual affirmation about the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon--They have humbled themselves, setting aside pride
and prejudices, sincerely seeking God’s will in their lives with an open mind, exercised
their faith in Him, and asked in prayer (often more than once) if the Book of Mormon is
true...And, one way or another, they have received a yes answer.
Many Mormons add education and personal study to their testimony of the Book of
Mormon. A sample of mine is below:
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is just as capable, and willing, to
reveal His will to us now as He was in ancient times. He, in his infinite power and love,
is concerned about the salvation of ALL peoples on ALL continents in ALL eras of time.
The problem is us--our unwillingness to listen, believe and obey, AND our quickness to
bend His words to suit our own agendas.
NOTE: This section is divided into two parts: 1) Quotes from "Gospel Principles", a book
published by the LDS Church. These quotes address the apostasy from the Primitive
Church, and the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2) My opinion on this topic, based on personal
Bible study. My opinion addresses Biblical history, New Testament evidence of prophets
who existed after the time of Jesus, writings of historians who lived during the Great
Apostasy, and God's love for all mankind.
Part 1
"The Church of Jesus Christ was a carefully organized unit. It was compared to a
perfectly formed building which was "built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20)....The New
Testament shows that this Church organization was intended to continue....(see Acts
1:23-26)....Jesus Christ had set a pattern for twelve apostles to govern the Church. It
seemed clear that the organization was to continue as he had established it....Throughout
history, evil men have tried to destroy the work of God. This happened while the
apostles were still alive and supervising the young, growing Church. Some of the
members taught ideas from their old pagan or Jewish beliefs instead of the simple truths
taught by Jesus. In addition to this there was persecution from outside the Church....One
by one, the apostles were killed. Because of the persecution, surviving apostles could not
meet to choose and ordain men to replace those who were dead. Eventually, local
priesthood leaders were the only ones who had authority to direct the various, scattered
branches of the Church. The perfect organization of the Church no longer existed, and
confusion resulted. More and more error crept into Church doctrine, and soon the
destruction of the Church was complete. The period of time when the true Church no
longer existed on earth is called the Great Apostasy. Soon pagan beliefs dominated the
thinking of those called "Christians." The Roman emperor adopted..."Christianity" as the
state religion. This church was very different from the church Jesus organized....The
emperor chose his own leaders and called them by the same titles used by priesthood
leaders in the true Church of Christ. Church officers were given honor and
wealth....There were no apostles or other priesthood leaders with power from God and no
spiritual gifts. The prophet Isaiah had foreseen that this condition would come
about....(Isaiah 24:5)....God had foreseen what would happen, and he had prepared for the
gospel to be restored. The apostle Peter spoke of this to the Jews....(Acts 19-21). John
the Revelator had also foreseen the time when the gospel would be restored....(Revelation
14:6)....When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, he established his church, the only true
church. He organized his church so that the truths of the gospel could be taught to all
people and the ordinances of the gospel could be administered correctly with authority.
Using this organization, Christ could bring the blessings of salvation to mankind. After
the Savior ascended to heaven, men changed the ordinances and doctrines that he and his
apostles had established....Men organized different churches. Each church claimed to be
true but they taught conflicting doctrines. There was much confusion and contention
over religion. The Lord had foreseen these conditions....(Amos 8:11-12)....The Savior
promised that he would restore his church in the latter days. He said: "I will proceed to
do a marvelous work and a wonder among this people, even a marvelous work and a
wonder" (Isaiah 29:14). For many years people lived in spiritual darkness. About 1700
years after Christ, people were becoming more and more interested in knowing the truth
about God and religion. Some of them could see that the gospel Jesus taught was no
longer on the earth. Some recognized that there was no revelation and no true authority
and that the church Christ organized did not exist on the earth. The time had arrive for
the true Church of Jesus Christ to be restored to the earth. The Lord was about to do a
"marvelous work and a wonder" and restore his church....In the Spring of 1820, one of
the most important events in the history of mankind occurred....As a young boy, Joseph
Smith wanted to know which of all the churches was the true church of Christ. He went
into the woods near his home and prayed humbly and intently to his Heavenly Father,
asking which church he should join. On that morning, a miraculous thing happened.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. The Savior told him that he
should not join any church, because the true church was not on the earth....Beginning
with this event, there was once more direct revelation from the heavens. The Lord had
chosen a new prophet....Joseph was to be the one to help restore the true gospel of Jesus
Christ." (Gospel Principles, pages 95-104)
"The Bible does not tell us everything concerning the priesthood or the organization
and government of the Church. However, enough of the Bible has been preserved to
show the beauty and perfection of the Church organization. The apostles were
commanded to go into all the world and preach. They could not stay in any one city to
supervise new converts. Therefore, local priesthood leaders were called and ordained,
and the Apostles presided over them. The apostles visited and wrote letters to the leaders
in various branches. Thus, our New Testament contains letters written by the apostles
Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude giving counsel and instruction to the local priesthood
leaders..." (Gospel Principles, page 96)
"On April 6, 1830, the Savior again directed the organization of his church on the
earth (see D&C 20:1)....The Church of Jesus Christ today teaches the same principles and
performs the same ordinances as were performed in the days of Jesus. The first
principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance,
baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. These
precious truths were returned in their fullness when the Church was restored to the earth.
Through the gift and power of God, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, which
contains the plain and precious truths of the gospel. Many other revelations followed and
have been recorded as scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great
Price." (Gospel Principles, pages 106-108)
Part 2 (My opinion from Bible study. This is not official LDS
doctrine.)
God is a loving and all-powerful God, concerned with the salvation of all mankind.
He is the same today, yesterday, and forever. God can, and will, reveal His words to
whomever He will, wherever He will, whenever He will.
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are
written in this book:" (Rev. 22:18, KJV)
When the Book of Mormon is looked at as "additional scripture", non-Mormons
often use Rev. 22:18 as a rebuttal. It is conveniently located near the end of the Bible. It
is a verse they use to assert that the Holy Bible is the only authoritative, inspired word of
God, that there are no other scriptures, and that there will never be any other
scripture.
If we look at such views, with knowledge of Biblical history, we can see them a bit
more clearly. The Holy Bible, as the book we use today, was not agreed upon until the
fourth century. Athanasius (A.D. 293-373), the bishop of Alexandria, publicly listed as
authoritative scripture the same 27 books that are in the present New Testament. Even
then, scholars like Origen questioned the authority of such books as James, Hebrews,
and 2 Peter--books which today are such an essential part of the Bible. Other books
cherished and often used by early Christians were not included on Athanasius's
list--among them books such as the Epistle of Barnabas, 1 Clement, and the Shepherd of
Hermas. Athanasius's list was accepted by some as canonical, while others debated it.
The Council of Carthage, in A.D. 397, after much debate and disagreement, ratified as
New Testament canon the same 27 books. Those men also decreed that no other books
should be read in churches as divine scripture. (If the debates had went another
direction, we could be clinging to New Testament quotes from the Epistle of
Barnabas...and ignorant to the value of James.)
The question of canonicity also pertained to the Old Testament scriptures. Hence,
the Apocrypha, which was reaffirmed by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent in
1546. It is still a part of the Catholic scriptures.
The Book of Revelation, and the other books of the New Testament, were written
hundreds of years before the Bible was assembled. Thus, in Rev. 22:18, John
was referring to his individual Book of Revelation, not the Bible, because the Bible (as a
book in itself) did not yet exist.
The earliest Christians used many books, both old and
new, as scripture--And many of those texts were decreed "not useful" by a Council of
men who lived hundreds of years after Christ. The Bible we use today contains only a
fraction of what the earliest Christians used as scripture. When Christ taught His Gospel,
it was pure and without contradiction. Over time, Christ's words became subject to many
different interpretations, and a "falling away" occurred (predicted by Jesus, seen by His Apostles, and written about by historians of that
time.) To get a closer, more accurate view of the doctrines practiced by the "Primitive
Church", it is useful to read those early texts. When studying such texts, one should
be wary of the interpretations, interpolations, and precepts of men that were mingled with
God's words. Nevertheless, who are we to whine and complain about receiving
more of God's word, even if it was not included on Athanasius's list (later known as the
New Testament)?
The Bible contains clues to "missing scriptures" in both the Old and New
Testaments. For example, in the Old Testament there are references to the Book of the
Covenant (Exo. 24:4-7), the Book of the Wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14), the Book of
Jasher (Josh. 10:13 and 2 Sam. 1:18), a Book of Statutes (1 Sam 10:25), and the Sayings
of the Seers (2 Chron. 33:19). Those are just a few examples of at least 11 books of
"missing scripture" mentioned in the Old Testament (KJV). Examples from the New
Testament are missing epistles of Paul (1 Cor. 5:9, Eph 3:3-4, Col. 4:16), a missing
epistle of Jude (Jude 3), and prophecies of Enoch (Jude 14). Also note Matthew's
mention of Nazareth as the abode of Jesus, in Matthew 2:23: "...that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." When considered
with the fact that no such saying of the prophets is found in any of the Old Testament
books, it is further evidence of lost scripture.
"For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21, KJV)
This is yet another verse, used in mainstream Christian literature, to assert that the
Holy Bible is the only authoritative, inspired word of God, that there are no other
scriptures, and that there will never be any other scripture. This verse refers to prophecy
that came to men in old times. It does not mention a definite book, nor a specific body of
scripture. It does affirm the holiness of God's words as spoken by His prophets. It does
not limit His words to a specific time or body of literature.
”And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain
prophet, named Agabus.” (Acts 21:10, KJV)
YES! There were prophets after Christ... So often I hear that there were
no more prophets after Christ, and that prophets were not needed after Christ. Yet, the
New Testament, several times over, states the existence and blessings of prophecy and
prophets after Christ. As there were prophets before Christ, and prophets after Christ, so
can prophets exist in modern times. If we do not see it, it is because we have distanced
ourselves from God. God is always there, always open, always ready to love and guide
us. It is us, through our own pride, blindness and prejudice, who move away from
Him.
God’s goodness, love and mercy is unchanging, being the same yesterday, today and
tomorrow. As there were prophets before Christ, and prophets after Christ, so can
prophets exist in modern times. Why are we so quick to turn away from these glad
tidings? We should be praising God for His goodness, love and mercy. Why,
why, why are we so quick to throw His blessings away???
This brings me to the next verse...
”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
are sent to gather thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37,
KJV)
The more things change, the more they stay the same. We, today, are no different
than the ancient Jews. The Bible is full of examples of how, when something was near at
hand, God sent prophets to the people. God sent such prophets among the people to warn
them, to stir them to repentance and righteousness, to gather them under His protection.
Time and time again, the prophets were rejected by the majority -- ridiculed, beaten, and
even murdered. Many of those people claimed to believe the prophets who came
generations before...But they would not see the mercy and warnings from God given
during their own era. Many of us, today, are no different.
The Second Coming of Christ is at hand. The signs are all around us, growing more
profound with each passing year. Once again, God, in His infinite love, wisdom and
mercy, has sent His prophets to warn and gather whoever will listen. Once again, the
fullness of the gospel of Christ is upon the earth. ...Once again, just like in ancient times,
many people reject the prophets, mercy and warnings from God given during their own
era... Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Come unto the fullness of the gospel
of Jesus Christ, and receive the fullness of God’s blessings.
”And the Lord shall scatter you among all nations, and ye shall be few in number
among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you...But if from thence thou shalt seek
the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy
soul” (Deut. 4:27-29, KJV)
”But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto
the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24, KJV)
”And other sheep I
have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and
there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16, KJV)
God has not forgotten His ancient covenant people, Israel. Even as He scattered
them abroad, His love went out to them, and He prepared ways through which they could
come unto Christ and know Him. God dealt with the Jews, and they wrote about it. God
also dealt with the other scattered tribes of Israel, and they wrote about it. God, in His
infinite love and mercy, sent Christ to teach and preach among the Israelites scattered to
the Americas. And they wrote about it. It’s the record we now call the Book of Mormon.
God is omnipotent. He created all mankind, He loves all mankind, and He
remembers all mankind--of all races, of all areas of the world, of all eras of time. He
rules in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, and He brings forth His word to all
peoples, even to all nations, throughout history. (Mark 16:15, John 10:16, Acts 2:37-39,
Gal. 3:7-9, Heb 4:2, 1 Peter 4:6.) He wanted all people in olden times to know Him and
come unto Him. Therefore, He proclaimed His word to them through His holy prophets.
He equally wants us, in modern times, to know Him and come unto Him. And He gives
us equal opportunity to do so: "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh
receiveth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matt. 7:7-8)" "If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering....(James 1:5&6)"
"For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.....For he that diligently seeketh shall
find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy
Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in time of old as in times
to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (1 Nephi 10:18-19)"
[Bold type added by me.]
If a loving God, who wants all mankind to know Him and come unto Him,
was powerful enough to speak to prophets in the ancient Middle East, then He was also
powerful enough to share His words with prophets in other parts of the ancient world.
And if the ancient Middle East prophets recorded His words as "scripture" to teach the
people, the prophets in other parts of the world also recorded His words for the same
purpose. And if a loving, unchanging God was powerful enough to choose and speak
through His prophets of old, then He is powerful enough to choose and speak through His
prophets in modern times -- IF we are willing to listen...
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