The Bible and Mormonism

19 October

In January of 1972 I sat on a platform in front of my local Mormon ward.  I was receiving the prayers and “laying on of hands” for the “gift of the Holy Ghost” and becoming a member of the LDS Church.  Twenty four hours earlier I had been washed in the baptismal font of the Stake building to receive a remission of my sins.  I was eight years old.

The remarkable point to this whole scenario is the real gift I received from the Church that changed my life forever and what was to become the beginning of the end for me and Mormonism.

After all the perfunctory prayers were over and done with the bishopric handed me a King James Bible.  While hearing the directions telling me to go home and read it, I also heard the snickers coming from those in the audience and saw the winking eye of one of the men standing around me.

I had no idea they weren’t serious so I did just what I was told.  Other than my salvation, it was the best gift anyone’s ever given to me.

I had no idea my beloved church and heritage didn’t believe any of the things they were encroaching upon my young mind, nor did I realize that the Church considered the Bible to be less than the authoritative voice of God.

I sat for hours on my bed in my brown and gold wallpapered bedroom reading about the travels of Jesus.  I imagined myself walking alongside Him and could almost feel the heat of the desert sand cake his holy feet.  I remember wondering how those feet felt then compared to the nails being driven in them just a few short years later.

As I’ve said many times before, that Bible came alive to me during those dark days of my Mormon childhood.  When I tried to approach my teachers or leaders in the ward to ask questions I was repeatedly told that someday I’d find out and not to worry about it now.  My main focus was to be on learning how to become a good wife and mommy.

The Mormons have been taught the Bible wasn’t translated correctly, yet when pressed for any reputable examples, I’ve yet to find anyone who can pinpoint an exact verse or passage that’s been corrupted.  In their 8th Article of Faith it says; “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”

By this statement they’ve undermined the authoritative position of God’s word while exalting the Book of Mormon.  They believe the Bible is only worthy of use when the leaders have quoted from it at their convenience.

I didn’t know how to use the Bible in any type of study when I was a Mormon and have since learned I wasn’t alone.  I had never heard of a concordance, lexicon or bible dictionary; I didn’t even know there were such things written.  No one had ever taught me to use the back of the Bible to look up subject matters in order to find what you wanted to study.  I didn’t know they made Bibles in other versions outside of the KJV and had never heard of anything like the Thompson Bible chain, a bible commentary or NASB center column references for other verses.

After my exodus I felt like I had stepped out of the dark ages and I’m sure you can see why!  I had traveled all over the world, lived in many places and been to university, yet didn’t know to employ these simple things right in my own hand.  Many times I felt frustrated, shocked and even embarrassed by my lack of knowing the most simple of things.

The one thing I’m most grateful for as I mentioned before is that I had my Bible.  From it I learned Christ was more powerful than what I knew Him to be and that nowhere in its writings did it say I had to be eternally pregnant.  I was never able to find that I could become a goddess or that Joseph Smith had been promised to the latter-day people.  Those things are what I knew about the Bible.

As I began my new life in Christianity, I found that the Bible is all we ever need!  God has provided for His children and won’t lead them astray.  If the Mormon people would spend half the time in their bibles that they do trying to work their way to salvation they’d run, not walk, away from this false religion as fast as they could.

The Bible is a collection of letters written by more than forty authors over the course of 1,500 years.  They lived on three different continents and in many cases had never met each other.  Their written works came from the very breath of God into their minds and onto paper.  It would be nothing short of miraculous to replicate the writings or scenarios they lived in.  It was written in three different languages; Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. And to date, His very thoughts have been translated into nearly 2,500 languages.

The Bible doesn’t contradict itself and in fact has been used by millions throughout millennia to lead people to Him.  The God of the Bible is so much more than the non powerful god of Mormonism.

If God couldn’t make sure His word was kept pure then why would you place your trust in that type of god?  The Mormon people have bought into the lie that God was silent for 1,800 years while people on earth went about corrupting his teachings.  If God couldn’t keep his teachings pure then what else can’t he do?  What about saving you from hell?  These are just a couple of the questions I hope the Mormons would ask themselves.

Below is the chart I use in my power point presentation at the classes I teach on Mormonism.  As you’ll clearly see, the LDS Church has gone out of its way to undermine His holy word and desecrate all that is good from God.

If you’re a Mormon we want you to know that we pray for you all the time and hope to hear from you!  We pray you will come to know this awesome God of the Bible that loves you so much and that you’ll find freedom for your tired soul.

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18  …

Bible

Christian Mormon
Gal. 1:6-9; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Joseph Smith Translation, pgs. 12-13; “But the Book of Mormon remains secure, unchanged and unchangeable…But with the Bible it was not and is not so…it once was in the sole and exclusive care and custody of an abominable organization, founded by the devil himself, likened prophetically unto a great whore…Where the Bible is concerned, things get a little sticky. Of course we believe it…but there is the reservation about parts not being translated correctly…”
Hebrews 12:1; “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Gospel Standards, pg. 22; “We are not dependent upon the testimony of men who lived many hundreds of years ago. We have the testimony that is given to us from the Prophet Joseph Smith,”
Acts 17:11; “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Journal of Discourses 2:82; “Have you ever read your Bibles? …I have not read it for some time, but looked more to Him who rules on high…I have memorized it in English, German, and Hebrew, still I do not profess to be very familiar with it now, yet the sentiments and spirit of it are in my heart…” – Orson Pratt, apostle
Matthew 5:18;“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” 2 Nephi 9:16; “And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away.
2 Tim. 3:16;“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 8th Article of Faith; “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
Proverbs 30:5-6;“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” 2 Nephi 29:10;“Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.”
1 Peter 1:25;“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” Journal of Discourses 2:75-76; The words contained in this Bible are merely a history of what is gone by; it was never given to guide the servant of God in the course he should pursue…The Bible is not a sufficient guide; it is only the history of the people who lived 1800 years ago. The history of our Church in this day, presents the scenes and transactions of this people—the revelations and words of God to them…” – Orson Hyde, Salt Lake City, October 6, 1854

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