Foundation of the Book of Mormon Series

Questionable Teachings  

This time around in our section of Questionable Teachings we’re making it somewhat easy!   Here’s a list of teachings or events in the Book of Mormon that are totally outlandish, impossible or contradictory to other teachings within Mormonism.  I’m certain you’ll be wondering what Smith must have been thinking just as much as I have.

This list would be good to print out and just keep as a handy reference for when you’d like to ask your Mormon friend/loved one a quick question. I always like to ask them for their opinions about different things because in Mormonism you’re not allowed an opinion; remember as a Mormon you’re there to follow, not question.

Ishmael & family gave thanks unto their god in a tent of Nephi’s father – 1 Nephi 7:22 (These are Israelites, why are they hanging out with Ishmael?)

Nephi believes in the Son of God in 600 BC – 1 Nephi 11:6

Fair & white virgin is mother of Son of God after the flesh (600 BC) – 1 Nephi 11:13

Gentiles were white and delightsome – 1 Nephi 13:15

World destruction at crucifixion worse than Bible accounts – 1 Nephi 12: 1-5

Satan is “preparator” of hell – 1 Nephi 15:35

Nephi & brothers (Israelites) take Ishmael’s daughters to wife – 1 Nephi 16:7

Nephi only person with a bow to kill food – 1 Nephi 16:18

Magic 8 Ball theory – Compass has messages from God that change when you change the direction the ball faces – 1 Nephi 16:29-30

Raw meat – 1 Nephi 17:2 – Verse 3 & 11 says they obeyed the commandments of the Lord and ate raw meat (Exodus 12:9 says not to eat raw meat)

Still small voice speaks to men – 1 Nephi 17:45

Family lifted up to exceeding rudeness… – 1 Nephi 18:9

Excuses for mistakes in BoM – 1 Nephi 19:6

Nephites a cursed people – 2 Nephi 1:7;

Adam fell that man might be – 2 Nephi 2:25

Smith is great in God’s eyes & great like Moses – 2 Nephi 3:8, 12 Gates of hell – 2 Nephi 4:32

Satan an angel of light 2 Nephi 9:9

Temple as good as Solomon’s even though they didn’t have supplies – 2 Nephi 5:16

Nephi’s brothers turned into Lamanites – 2 Nephi 5:21-23

Nephi didn’t teach children the way of the Jews – 2 Nephi 25:6-8

Changes in doctrine – 2 Nephi 30:6; “pure and delightsome” vs. “white & delightsome”

A “restoration” for Jesus’ people (does this mean the Gentiles?) – 2 Nephi 30:8

Jesus’ baptism takes away sin of world – 2 Nephi 31:4

Jesus baptized in 559 BC – 2 Nephi 31:8

Be baptized and follow the Son who was baptized (it’s 559 BC) – 2 Nephi 31:13

Repent & be baptized – 2 Nephi 31:17

Saved thru Jesus – 2 N 31:19

Jesus redeemed my soul from hell – 2 Nephi 33:6 (559 BC)

Will see many souls at judgment seat – 2 Nephi 33:7, 10

“Which I considered” is not inspired – Jacob 1:2

Seek ye first the kingdom of God – Jacob 2:18

No polygamy – Jacob 2:24

Lamanites more holy than Nephites-fear their skin will be whiter – Jacob 3:8

Complaints about writing scripture and difficulty – Jacob 4:1-2

Obeyed Law of Moses but believed in Christ – Jacob 4:5 (544-421 BC)

Mountains and seas obeyed Jacob thru spirit of prophecy & Jesus – Jacob 4:6

(544-421 BC)

God spoke & created earth – Jacob 4:10

Be reconciled thru atonement of Jesus – Jacob 4:11

The Lord isn’t sure they’ll be saved – Jacob 5:53-54, 60

Sherem tried to overthrow doctrine of Christ – Jacob 7:2 (544-421 BC)

“Brethren, adieu.” – Jacob 7:27 – French not a language yet.

“And many of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat”, why is this a problem when they were doing the same thing earlier in 1^st Nephi? – Enos 1:20

“…place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.” – Enos 1:27

“have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest” – Jarom 1:4

Gift of speaking w/ tongues – Omni 1:25

The gift of teaching Egyptian – Moisah 1:4

“for I am also of the dust…” – Mosiah 2:25

“…to its mother earth…” – Mosiah 2:26

Glad tidings of great joy in 124 BC – Mosiah 3:3-6-8, 9

Kids can’t sin – Mosiah 3:16

Remission of sins by faith in Jesus in124 BC – Mosiah 4:3-12

Children of Christ thru belief in him in 124 BC – Mosiah 5:7

“and behold, it is because of our iniquities and abominations that he has brought us into bondage.” – Mosiah 7:20

“had many wives and concubines…people to commit sin..” – Mosiah 11:2

Ten commandments – Mosiah 13:12

God dwelleth in the flesh – Mosiah 15:2

Fair daughters enticed Lamanites – Mosiah 19:13-4

Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess in Christ, 120 BC – Mosiah 27:31

Alma in charge of everything in the church in 91 BC – Mosiah 29:42

Not to mingle w/ Lamanites – Alma 3:8

People saved by Jesus in 83 BC – Alma 5:10-3

Garments cleansed by blood – Alma 5:22

Gathering to pray for the lost – Alma 6:6

Jesus born in Jerusalem – Alma 7:10

Baptized into repentance – Alma 7:14

Faith, hope, charity, love 83 BC – Alma 7:24

Lord appeared to Alma – Alma 8:14

Gifts of the Spirit – Alma 9:21

He blessed me and my women – Alma 10:11

God can’t save people in their sins – Alma 11:34

Alma & Amulek knew thoughts of Zeezrom – Alma 12:7

Adam & Eve miserable if they hadn’t sinned – Alma 12:26

Cite your minds forward to things you’ve already done – Alma 13:1, 16

Melchezidek reigned under his father – Alma 13:18, (19 says many were before him)

People told Jesus would appear to them after resurrection – Alma 16:20 (78 BC)

Ammon took cut off arms of enemies to king – Alma 17:39

Ammon knew thoughts of king – Alma 18:16

No greater faith than that of the queen – Alma 19:10

Preached in synagogues and saw people saved in 90 BC – Alma 21:16-17

Forgiveness of murder – Alma 24:10, 26 (murder not forgiven in D&C 42:18)

Weapons of peace – Alma 24:19

Moses’ law fulfilled – Alma 34:13-20 (74 BC)

God resides in man – Alma 34:35 (God doesn’t reside in man JD 1:51)

Worship in spirit & in truth – Alma 34:38

God would cease to be God – Alma 42:13, 22, 25

Worship God in spirit & in truth – Alma 43:10

Zarahemna scalped yet lived – Alma 44:13-6

He waved the rent part of his coat in air – Alma 46:19

Only one person died in battle – Alma 62:26

People not saved in their sins – Helaman 5:10

Nephites read Jeremiah’s words of Jerusalem – Helaman 8:20

Whatsoever loosed on earth…Helaman 10:7-9

Oh how great the nothingness of men…Helaman 12:7

Our great Eternal Head – Helaman 13:39

He will bring man back into presence of God – Helaman 14:17

Lamanites turned white – 3 Nephi 2:15-16

“…armies began to come down and to sally forth from the hills…” – 3 Nephi 4:1

“And he did minister many things unto them …” – 3 Nephi 7:17

“…and we know our record to be true…” – 3 Nephi 8:2

Death & destruction over earth at crucifixion – 3 Nephi 8:4-25

Broken spirit, contrite heart for salvation – 3 Nephi 9:20

Multitude touched Jesus after resurrection – 3 Nephi 11:15

Beatitudes – 3 Nephi 12:2-11 (check rest of Jesus’ teaching w/ rest of 3 Nephi 12 & into 13)

Judge not lest ye be judged – 3 Nephi 14:1

Jesus is the one who gave the Law – 3 Nephi 15:5-10

Jesus & disciples were white – 3 Nephi 19:30

God tests faith by not talking to the people – 3 Nephi 26:10-2

Everybody got saved – 4 Nephi 1:2

No Lamanites or other ites – 4 Nephi 1:17

Lamanites sent epistle to warn of battle – Mormon 3:4

Without calling upon that “Being” who created them – Mormon 5:2

Invitation to fight at Cumorah – Mormon 6:2

Trinity teaching – Mormon 7:7

Pardon all the mistakes in the BoM – Mormon 8:12

“…happy to dwell with that holy “Being”…” – Mormon 9:3

The righteous are pure, fair and white – Mormon 9:6

Explanation of reformed Egyptian – Mormon 9:32-5

Everyone’s language confounded but Jared & friends – Ether 1:35-7

God leaves when you sin – Ether 2:15

VERY confusing verse…Ether had no faith because he saw Jesus’ finger behind the veil – Ether 3:19

Orihah had 31 kids – Ether 7:2

Headless Shiz got up on elbows to breath – Ether 15:31

Don’t condemn BoM because of mistakes – Mormon 8:12

Will you be happy to dwell with that holy “Being” & rest of v. 4 – Mormon 9:3, 4

God doesn’t change – Mormon 9:9

By faith the Law of Moses was given – Ether 12:11

By faith the 3 disciples didn’t die – Ether 12:17

Wanted to write more but was forbidden – Ether 13:13

The curse of the vanishing tools – Ether 14:1

Kids can’t sin; Jesus takes away Law of circumcision – Moroni 8:8

God doesn’t change – Moroni 8:18

Not inspired, Moroni writes what he seems is good – Moroni 10:1

Can’t be saved after death – Moroni 10:26

Moroni doesn’t lie – Moroni 10:26-7

God’s word will hiss forth – Moroni 10:28