An Examination of Mormon Texts

An Examination of Mormon Texts Problem Issues to Discuss When Speaking with Mormons Jude 3-4 Galatians 1:6-9

Three Problems • The Book of Mormon cannot be “another testament” because it simply is not true. • The Book of Mormon cannot compare with the Bible because the Book of Mormon cannot possibly be God’s word. • The whole Mormon religion cannot stand because it is based on the false claims of the Book of Mormon.

First Thessalonians 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Doctrines and Covenants • They were supposedly given to Smith by the Mormon God in order that he might write them down for the benefit of all the people (D&C 1:17-28). • It was originally published as The Book of Commandments in 1833. • Smith claimed that they were written down perfectly as God directed him. • 2000 changes were made to it (including the title of it) just two years later.

Problem #1-- D&C132 • D&C132 is all about “plural marriage.” • “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then ye are damned; for no one can reject this covenant and permitted to enter into my glory” (132:4). • D&C132:15-28 discusses the eternal marriage covenant sealed by God. • D&C132:29-50 discuss how polygamy is not a sin to those who God has given the command to take “many wives and concubines.” • D&C132:51-56 discusses Emma Smith’s responsibility to this covenant.

Problem #1-- D&C132 • The Two Manifestos (1890 and 1904) • Woodruff and Joseph Fielding Smith both taught and practices polygamy until their deaths. • Smith believed, practiced, and taught polygamy from D&C132. • Smith was married to at least 30 different women at the same time. • Nancy Winchester was 14 or 15 years old. • Eleven of them were already married. • All but five of them came before D&C132 was made public.

Problem #1-- D&C132 • In the 1835 to 1844 editions of the D&C contained D&C101which explained marriage. • It has since been replaced by D&C132. • “In as much as this church of Christ has been reproached by fornication and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife, and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again” (D&C101, p251 of the 1835 edition).

Problem #1-- D&C132 • Polygamy was publicly denounced by Smith and the Mormon Church between 1835 and 1844. • Yet, polygamy was practiced by Smith and other Mormon leaders secretly since 1831 and publicly since 1852 and has been a part of the Mormon scriptures since 1871. • D&C132 contradicts other D&C’s.

Problem #1-- D&C132 • D&C132 contradicts the BoM. • “And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father. For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness” (Mosaiah 11:1-2).

Problem #1-- D&C132 • D&C132 contradicts the BoM. • “And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow heard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son” (Jacob 1:15).

Problem #1-- D&C132 • D&C132 contradicts the BoM. • “Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none. For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord.” (Jacob 2:24-28).

Problem #1-- D&C132 • D&C132 contradicts the New Testament. • Monogamy was the original plan (Gen. 2:18-25). • This is the only plan we are to follow today according to Jesus (Matthew 19:4-6; First Corinthians 7:2). • The New Testament teaches the exact opposite of what D&C132 teaches, namely that one will NOT be damned if they do NOT engage in this sexual immorality, but they WILL be damned if they do (Revelation 21:8).

Problem #1-- D&C132 • Mormon presidents, apostles, and prophets all taught the necessity of polygamy in The Journal of Discourses. • Volume 3, page 266 • Volume 5, page 203 • Volume 11, page 239, 269 • Volume 13, page 166 • Volume 17, pages 224-225 • Volume 25, page 21 • Volume 26, page 115

Problem #2– D&C107 • “There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood” (D&C107:1). • D&C107:2-10 explains the Melchizedek priesthood in the Mormon Church. • D&C107:13-21 explains the inferiority of the Aaronic priesthood which is simultaneously in effect with the Melchizedek priesthood. • It continues to discuss the Quorum of Twelve and “The Seventy” in the Mormon Church.

Problem #2– D&C107 • This organization does not match the organization found in the New Testament. • Jesus is the Head of the Body, aka the Church (Ephesians 1:22). • Elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1). • All Christians are a “royal priesthood” (First Peter 2:9).

Problem #2– D&C107 • There is no way for a Jew to prove their lineage after the Temple and its records were destroyed in 70AD. • There is no way to prove Levitical ancestry. • Granted, Smith claimed that he was visited by John the Baptist and the Aaronic priesthood was confirmed upon him (Joseph Smith 1832 History, p1). • However, he still wasn’t a Levite and the Old Law was already done away with (Col. 2:14).

Problem #2– D&C107 • Smith claimed that the Melchizedek priesthood was “restored” to him in 1831 by the apostles, Peter, James and John. • Psalm 110 prophesied that the Messiah would be a “priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (110:4). • Hebrews 4:14-5:11 and 7:1-10 shows how Jesus is the only One who could possibly be a priest after Melchizedek.

Problem #3– D&C87 • God’s TEST for us to use in determining the authenticity of a prophet. • Deuteronomy 18:20-22 • If someone said they were from God and what they prophesied about came true, then they were from God. • If someone said they were from God and what they prophesied about did NOT come true, they were to be put to death.

Problem #3– D&C87 • Joseph Smith claimed to prophesy about the things of God. • He said Jesus would return in 1891 (History of the Church, vol.2, p.182). • It is reported that Smith prophesied that there were Quakers living on the moon who lived to be 1000 years old (The Young Woman’s Journal, vol.3, pgs.263-264). • D&C87 is another one of those prophecies.

Problem #3– D&C87 • In D&C87, Smith “prophesied” that “The Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States shall call upon other nations, even the nation of Great Britain” (87:3). • The Civil War did not turn into a World War as Smith prophesied it would. • Other failed prophecies that are a part of the D&C are 45, 57, 84, 97, 104, 105, 111, 112, 121, 130, and 117.

Problem #3– D&C87 • “A prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such.” • The Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith, section 5, 1842-1843, pg.278 • The “fulfilled” prophesies of Smith. • D&C29:8 • Joseph Smith- History 1:33 • Smith, 1902, 6:319 • And D&C87????

Conclusion • The D&C often contradicts itself, other Mormon scriptures, and most importantly, the Bible. • The organization of the Mormon Church does not match the organization of the True Church of Jesus Christ. • Smith is a failed and false prophet and should not be listened to by anyone. • The D&C just cannot be “from God.”

Book Sources • “Three Standard Works” andJournal of Discourses • What Do Mormons Believeby Rex E Lee • No Man Knows My Historyby Fawn M Brodie • The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testamentedited by Thomas E Wayment • Under the Banner of Heavenby Jon Krakauer • Handbook of Biblical Evidencesby Ankerberg and Weldon • Mormonism Exposedby GB Hancock • The God Makersby Decker and Hunt • The Truth about the God Makersby Sharffs • Historical Atlas of Ancient Americaby Bancroft and Hunt

Book Sources • Becoming Godsby Richard Abanes • Mormonism 101by Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson • One Nation Under Godsby Richard Abanes • Mormon Polygamy: A Historyby Richard S Van Wagoner • 10 Questions and Answers on Mormonismby Rose Publishing • Mormon Doctrineby Bruce McConkie • Evidences and Reconciliationsby John Widtsoe

Internet Sources • Christian Research and Counsel www.crcmin.org • Living Hope Ministries www.lhvm.org • Mormonwiki www.mormonwiki.org • Mormons in Transition www.irr.org/mit • Utah Lighthouse Ministries www.utlm.org • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Official Website www.lds.org • FAIRLDS www.fairlds.org • FARMS www.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu • Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry www.carm.org • 20 Truths about Mormonism www.20truths.info • Testing Mormonism www.bibletruths.org • Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica www.mormonmesoamerica.com

Video Sources • The Bible vs The Book of Mormon (lhvm) • DNA vs The Book of Mormon (lhvm) • Mormonism’s Greatest Problems (tid) • The Lost Book of Abraham (irr)* • Lifting the Veil of Polygamy (lhvm)**

An Examination of Mormon Texts