The Bible and Another Gospel

13 January

In the January 2011 edition of the Ensign I came across an article entitled “The Scriptures Teach and Testify of Jesus Christ”.

What I found interesting in this article is the manipulative way the Church goes about confusing its members.  At the onset of this article it says “The main purpose of the scriptures is to testify of Christ, helping us come unto Him and receive eternal life (see John 5:39).

Now to the outsider this sounds great, but what you need to know if you’re a novice to the ways of the Church is that they only believe the Bible “as far as it is translated correctly”.  And as a heads up for you, there’s no list of what is and isn’t approved of in the Bible. Apparently John 5:39 has their seal of approval because it’s been used in their article this time.

Further into their message they do give a list of what “approved” scripture is for the LDS Church.  Now here is the catch and I want people to pay close attention to the way they’ve worded the following:

“Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accept the following as scripture…”

Members are allowed to “vote” on what is accepted as scripture and what isn’t.  It’s generally accepted that when the prophet of the Church gives a new teaching or revelation at a General Conference these are God’s words to the people’s ears and then the people will corporately vote to accept this into their beliefs.

Who is going to object to anything when a huge collection of members are gathered together and they’re all voting affirmatively this particular revelation or teaching will be accepted?  I’ve known a couple of people who’ve actually stood up and left a General Conference because they didn’t want to vote yes, but those are rare indeed.

So when this article states members accept the following as scripture you need to understand it’s actually the leadership that accepts it as scripture, not necessarily all the members.  Now let’s find out what they accept as scripture…

1. The Bible is a collection of sacred writings containing God’s revelations to ancient prophets in the Holy Land. Our eighth article of faith states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.”

2. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ contains God’s revelations to ancient prophets in the Americas. It contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (see D&C 20:9).

3. The Doctrine and Covenants is a book of revelations regarding the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, given to modern prophets beginning with Joseph Smith.

4. The Pearl of Great Price contains additional revelations from God to Moses, Abraham, and Joseph Smith.

5. God continues to reveal truths to living prophets through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. These truths are considered scripture (see D&C 68:4). They come to us primarily through general conference, held the first weekend in April and October, when members throughout the world hear addresses from our prophet and other Church leaders.

I’m sure you noticed in their first two qualifications of what makes scripture how they tore down the importance of God’s word and then put the Book of Mormon up on a pedestal of glory by saying it contains the fullness of the gospel.  Oddly enough the fullness of the Mormon gospel doesn’t exist in the Book of Mormon.  You can only find the fullness of the Mormon gospel in the new teachings they come up with, or the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

In an article (They Shall Grow Together: The Relationship Between the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Joseph Smith Translation”) written by Jason Sears which appeared on the website of the BYU Religious Center, it stated the same montage we’ve seen here in this article in the Ensign.  The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel, etc.

What concerns me about this is the underlying tone and message being sent out by the leadership to low-lying members. 

The above article stated while the Bible is true, it’s also imperfect and contains many errors.  Now how can it be true if it’s incomplete, has errors and is imperfect?

The Bible emphatically declares it can be used for doctrinal reproof, teaching and edifying (2 Timothy 3:16), is eternal (Isaiah 40:8), promises the return of Jesus (Titus 2:13), it contains God’s revelation of Himself to man (Genesis 1:1, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 43:10-11), demonstrates His love and provision for us through His Son (John 3:16), promises redemption (Romans 10:9) and even told us He loved us first (1 John 4:19).

Ironically the verse they used in the Ensign article tells them to search the scriptures for in them they will find life (John 5:39), but how can they do this when their leaders have told them they aren’t complete or have been mistranslated?  The lies they’ve been fed are poison and have held them captive for 180 years!

The dictionary defines true this way;

“Being in accordance with the actual state or conditions; conforming to reality or fact; not false; genuine; authentic; sincere; not deceitful; firm in allegiance; loyal; faithful; steadfast; being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something”.

Does the Bible still hold true to this standard if it’s not complete or if it’s been mistranslated?  Of course not, so how could it be true?  The truth is that the scriptures of the LDS Church are false from the get-go.  The next time you have the opportunity to speak to a Mormon ask them which biblical scripture has been tainted or left out and exactly who was it that did such a thing?  I would also ask them if they’ve had the opportunity to see any of the copies of scripture written by the scribes who copied them from the original text, i.e. the Dead Sea Scrolls.  They’re even online now!

The Mormon Church preaches “another gospel” of another christ which is exactly what Jesus Christ warned us about in Matthew 24:23-26!

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

The christ of Mormonism declares that another prophet has arisen (Joseph Smith) who has shown many signs and wonders.  That christ has indeed deceived the elect as they wandered into the deserts of Utah and into their secret temple chambers.  We’re here to remind the people – believe it not!  Also see what Paul had to say in Galatians 1:6-9!

Jesus truthfully declared that no one goes to the Father but through Him in John 14:6 and we’re praying the Mormon people would open their hearts to understand that a temple recommend from Salt Lake City isn’t what will save them.

Come alongside us in prayer and support in our outreach!

With Love in Christ,

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18

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