Latter Day Saints #2

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #2

Introduction: In the first lesson we looked at Joseph Smith and the formation of the LDS. Smith claimed to be a prophet of God and was to restore the Church of Christ upon earth. In this lesson we want to understand more about their doctrine. Keep in mind we have the responsibility to defend the truth, 2 Peter 2.1-2; 3.17-18. This does not mean we have to understand every facet of false doctrine of every religious group but we must be able to refute false doctrine with the truth. Sadly many are teaching false doctrine and causing others to be lost; some have been deceived by the BOM.

I) The Bible Verses the BOM

A) The Bible

1. Inspired by God, 2 Timothy 3.16-17. As such it by definition must be true

2. Complete, 2 Peter 1.2-3 this leaves no room for additional revelations

3. Eternal, 1 Peter 1.23-25

B) The Book of Mormon

1. Claims to be the “real truth”

a. “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” Introduction to the Book of Mormon

b. “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 word of God” (Articles of Faith, #8)

2. ”Another revelation of Jesus Christ” as stated on the front of the Book of Mormon

a. Only one law can be in effect at a time, Romans 7.2-3 so either we have the Law of Christ as stated in the Bible or the BOM

b. Which is in effect today? It will be the last testament, therefore, the Bible is the Old Law and BOM is the new law.

C) Which is it?

1. Once the testator dies, there cannot be another testament, Hebrews 9.16

2. The Bible has numerous manuscripts, and copies to prove its accuracy. What manuscripts does the BOM have?

3. The Law of Christ was ratified by the blood of Christ. What or who’s blood was the BOM ratified by?

D) Questions to ask LDS

1. If the Book of Mormon is the same as the Bible, why do we have it?

2. If BOM is revealing something different then the Bible is wrong or the BOM is wrong, which is it? Revelation 22.18-19

3. Why not just fix the Bible instead of giving us “another revelation of Jesus Christ’?

II) A Closer Look at the BOM

A) Plagiarism

1. One-eighteen of the BOM is identical, word for word, to the 1611 KJV of the Bible, with 1 Corinthians 13 and Isaiah 53 quoted in full.

2. Even part of Shakespeare’s writings are in the BOM.

a. Jacob 7.27 ends with “Brethren, adieu” which is French.

B) Mistakes

1. From 1830 to 1964 there has been 3913 changes to the BOM

2. From 1964 to 1981 there were 200 changes

a. Ex. 1830 edition, Mosiah 21.28 the name of the king was Benjamin, now it is “Mosiah”

b. Ex. 2 Nephi 30.6 in 1974 reads “they shall be a white and delightsome people” the 1990 version reads “as many as believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people”

C) Other Problems with BOM

1. Christ was born in Jerusalem ( Alma 7.10); the Bible teaches He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5.2, Matthew 2.1)

2. BOM says there was darkness over the earth for 3 days (Helaman 14.10, 27); the Bible says it was for 3 h ours (Luke 23.44)

3. BOM says the church began in 147 B.C. (footnote at Mosiah 18.17); Bible teaches around A.D. 33 in Acts 2.

4. BOM says believers were called Christians in 73 BC (footnote of Alma 46.14); the Bible says it was at Antioch , around 41 A.D. in Acts 11.26

III) Key Doctrines of LDS

A) Baptism for the dead

1. A member of the Church can be baptized in place of someone else. 1 Corinthians 15.29

a. This is to be done in the temple

2. Answer: the context goes up to verse 12. Some were denying the resurrection of Jesus. The basis of our hope is in the resurrection of Jesus; He is the 1^st fruits of those that will come from the grave, v. 20. Our baptism is compared to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in Romans 6.3-4.

B) Restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods.

1. Joseph Smith claimed to have been of the tribe of Levi. The says the priesthoods of Jews and Gentiles have been restored.

2. Answer: The priesthood of Melchizedek was first and then followed by the Levitical priesthood, Hebrews 7.11-14, 24.

a. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah and not Levitical, He did not re-establish the Levitical priesthood for today.

b. 1 Peter 2.5,9 all Christians are priest today.

C) Multiple marriages

1. Jacob had Hagar, David had many wives, etc. given as proof that God wanted man to have multiple wives.

2. Distinction in marriages:

a. Marriages not sealed by the Holy Spirit end at death

b. Marriages sealed by the Holy Spirit are for eternity. These are “spiritual marriages” and conducted in the temple.

3. Answer:

a. Matthew 19.6 gives God’s intention from the very beginning

b. 1 Corinthians 7.1-2 teaches that a man is to have his own wife and a wife her own husband. Nothing about wives.

c. Matthew 19.9 condemns adultery

d. Marriages do not continue on the other side of the grave, Luke 20.34-36

D) God was at one time a man and evolved into God; we will one day also be as God

1. There are countless gods of other worlds, God is limited by His human characteristics, and he had to work his way up to being God.

2. Jesus said God is a spirit, John 4.24; there is only one God and He is eternal by nature, Exodus 3.14; Isaiah 43.10

Conclusion: There are at least three different groups of Mormons. LDS is the main line group and do not practice multiple marriages. FLDS do practice multiple marriages and number around 10,000 in the U.S. The Restored LDS is the group that followed in the lineage of Joseph Smith.

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