Mormon Dilemma 78

12 October

Twelve Nephite Apostles

Latter-day Prophets & the D&C 1:101; After Jesus had been crucified and had ascended unto his Father, he visited his “other sheep” in America, known as the Nephites, and there chose twelve disciples and organized his Church, as he had done among the Jews, an account of which is given in some detail in Third Nephi of the Book of Mormon. [3 Nephi 15:11-24.] (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, 1950, pp. 51-52.)

Isaiah 30:1-2; Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

John 10:16; “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.

The Bible tells us that the “other sheep” are the Gentiles.  Why would Jesus be visiting with the Jews if He’d already told them everything? 

Strong’s Concordance says this about the words “other sheep”;

The Greek word for other is “allos”.  This is a primary word meaning “else, that is, different or more”.  The Greek word for sheep is “probaton” which means sheep, either literally or figuratively.

The passage in Isaiah is another example that the story in the Book of Mormon of the Israelites leaving Jerusalem and sailing over to America is a bad idea and not true.  God told them (His children, the Israelites) to stay put and not leave.

These types of teachings in the Church are what make me sad.  The outright lies cause confusion in the minds of the average Mormon – my mother comes to mind.  So many times in the Bible Jesus told His disciples about the other sheep and it’s only logical this means the Gentiles. But the lies of Joseph Smith and others down the line have totally warped the simplistic truth.

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One Response to “Mormon Dilemma 78”

  1. shematwater October 19, 2011 at 7:16 pm #

    First of all, Isaiah is not telling the Israelites to “stay put.” He was condemning them for seeking protection in an alliance with Egypt rather than in reliance of God. More to the point, they seek that alliance without first getting permission from God.
    “That walk to go down into Egypt, AND HAVE NOT ASKED AT MY MOUTH.”

    So, the idea of God commanding some Israelites to leave Jerusalem is not a bad idea, and does not contradict this passage in Isaiah. In fact, it supports it, for they did not leave before asking God whether they should or not, but were commanded to by God, and are thus not part of the apostate Israel that sought after the strength of Egypt without first consulting God.

    As to the “Other Sheep,” it is not logical that it is the Gentiles. Going off the Strong’s Concordance we know that this passage mean more or different sheep. This would indicate more of the faithful, or more of the chosen seed, for they are the sheep of God, and he is the Shepherd of Israel. The Gentiles were not a part of that seed, and thus would not have been considered sheep.
    The other problem is that Christ says that he is going to bring these other sheep. “Them also I must bring,” indicating a personal visitation to a group outside of the Israel, which he did not do during his mortal ministry.

    From the verse we really know two things
    1. Christ was going to these other sheep.
    2. The other sheep were already a part of his fold.

    This does not fit the gentiles.

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