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Mormonism Examined (Part 1) (Editor’s
Note: Dillion Riecke has been studying with a person holding to the Mormon
doctrine. He emailed me with his thoughts and asked for my help. Below is what
he sent and some points that I added to the study (see italics). Hope this
proves useful in your studies. – D.T.)
Man has never had the right to change the word of God. In
addition to Revelation 22.18-19 we read in Deuteronomy 4.2 "You shall not
add to the word which I commanded you, nor take from it, that you may keep the
commandments of the Lord your God which I commanded you." While Revelation
22.18-19 applies directly to the writings in Revelation the idea applies to all
the word of God. No one has the right to add to or subtract from God's
word. This may lead to the question of how do we know if someone is adding to or
revealing God’s word. Deuteronomy 18 tells us that a true prophet of God will
always know future events while a false prophet will not. Therefore, if a person
could foretell events then their message would be from God. If a person falsely
foretold events then their message would be false. The reason we accept the
writings of Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and other prophets in the Bible
is because they correctly foretold the future and could forth tell the word of
God. According to the Mormons the word of God was lost or
perverted until Joseph Smith found the tablets of gold and translated the
Book of Mormon. We are to believe that the Bible is the perverted word and the
BOM (Book of Mormon) is really the word of God. Where are the tablets of gold
that Joseph Smith found? What proofs do they offer that the Bible has been
perverted? When was it perverted? It is easy to make such allegations, but where
is the proof? In order to prove their claim, they will have to come up with
earlier manuscripts of the Bible that teach
differently from what we currently have. Keep in mind that Jude 3 tells
us to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to
the saints." Once for all means there will be no later day revelations.
Once I pay off my car I don't have to pay it off again. Their claims
directly contradicts Jude 3. 2 Peter 1.3 "His divine power has given to us
all things that pertain to life and godliness." What more could Joseph
Smith give us than what has already been given to us? The heart of the matter is the Mormons claim their book is
a "later day revelation" of Jesus Christ. However, the Hebrew writer
makes a point in Hebrews 9.16 that once the testator dies there can not be
another testament. We know this to be true. Once a person dies, their testament
becomes valid, but a dead person can not give a new will or testament. The
Mormons want to give lip service to the Bible, but they really reject it as
being from Christ. They say the BOM is another testament of Jesus, but they
don't accept the first testament (The Bible). Here are some questions to ask a Mormon. ●They claim that the
BOM is the same as the Bible. If so then why do we have the BOM? ●If the Bible has been
perverted, then why not just fix the Bible instead of give us a different
revelation of Jesus Christ? ●The Law of Christ was
ratified by His blood. What or whose blood was the BOM ratified by? 2.
The belief in Mormonism, that you can get baptized (acting as a proxy) for a
dead person who was not baptized, thus saving them is completely insane. Does
the Bible give us the authority to get baptized in someone's place while they're
alive? No, I don't believe so. So why is that restriction lifted once they are
dead? My logic is that we are here on this earth to prove ourselves worthy to be
in Heaven by doing the things God has asked of us and it is our responsibility
to do what we need to do to achieve that. (I'm not certain about this 100% but)
I believe that doing what the Bible says (while very much required) is indirect
in achieving salvation, as the point in actually doing that and the reason
behind it and the person's own faith in doing what the Bible says is what's
important; thus, it does no good to go through the motions of doing these things
for someone else (even if they did believe). We are here on earth as a test of
OUR soul and not a test of seeing if others want us to go to Heaven. This
very concept is mentioned in 1 Corinthians. Here are a few translations of 1
Corinthians 15:29 King James Version: New International
Version: "Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized
for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for
them?" New American Standard Bible: - text from http://www.BibleGateway.com/ You make some really good points above. One person can not offer obedience
to God on behalf of another. Ezekiel 18.20 "The soul who sins shall die.
The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of
the son. The righteous of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the
wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." We can not give or
transfer our righteousness to another person. Each of us will give account for
what we have done in this body, 2 Corinthians 5.10. Mormons use 1 Corinthians 15 to prove their practice of "baptism for
the dead." Verse 29 "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for
the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the
dead?" (NKJV). The context of this verse is very important. The Christians
at Corinthian had been baptized in to Christ, 1 Corinthians 12.13. There were
some that were now questioning the resurrection of Christ. Such lead Paul to
make this statement, "For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not
risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins!" (1 Corinthians 15.16-17). The resurrection of Christ is the very
cornerstone of Christianity. If He rose from the grave then we have hope in our
resurrection. If he is still in the grave then we will likewise die and remain
in the grave. Therefore, if you accept the idea that Jesus is still in the
grave; then why be baptized into Him?! There would be no reason. That is the
point Paul is making in 1 Corinthians 15.29. —more next week— |