History

The Mormon faith is founded upon they’re so called Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont. In 1820 being only 14-15 years old, Joseph claimed to have a vision telling him that all Churches were in error and that he should join none of them. He had a second vision in 1823 in which a messenger named Moroni appeared unto him, telling him the location of a book which was written upon golden plates. Smith found the plates at a site known as the hill Cumorah, but he was not allowed to remove them at that time. Finally, he says, on September 21st, 1823, he was given the plates by the heavenly messenger. Smith began to translate the plates and on March 26,1830, with the financial help of a farmer names Martin Harris, he published the Book of Morman. 

The Latter Day Saints Church was organized in April of 1830. Some of Smith’s followers went to Kirtland, Ohio, where a Temple was built. Later, Mormons moved onward to Independence, Missouri. Smith received a revelation that Jackson County (Independence, Missouri) was the land of promise and the place for the city of Zion; however, he and his followers were not well received and they moved to Far West, Missouri, and them to a community in Illinois which they called Nauvoo.

Smith found himself getting into trouble starting with the Nauvoo Exposotor, an anti-Morman paper. Smith then ordered his men to destroy the paper and burn every issue of the paper that could be found. When the owner’s of the paper took this information to the Governor Smith was arrested. He was later released and then shortly there after wa re-arrested along with his his brother Hyrum, and was taken to the county jail in Carthage, Illinois. On June 27, 1884, a mob attacked the jail and killed both Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The opponents of Mormonism thus did themselves a great disservice, since now Smith became a martyred hero in his believer’s eyes.

After this, the Mormons split up. The group that followed Brigham Young went on to Salt Lake City, Utah. The smaller group, known as the Reorganized Mormons, went back to Independence, Missouri.

Doctrinal Beliefs

• There are many God’s, and a faithful Morman man can eventually become a God. Ephesians 4:6, Matthew 28:19, and Exodus 20:1-7. 
• The Bible was only the first revelation so we need the book of Morman. Revelations 22:18-19, and John 12:48. 
• Salvation is the resurrection of the dead. John 5:28-29, and Revelation 20:11-15.
• One can be baptized for the dead to save them. Romans 10:14-17, Romans 14:12, Mark 16:15-16, and Acts 2:38.
• Water is to be used as the blood in the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:29, and Mark 14:22-25.
• God’s people should be called Latter Day Saints. Acts 11:26, I Peter 4:16.
• Marriage is eternal. Romans 7:2-3, Matthew 22:23-33.
• Christ will reign on Earth for 1,000 years. II Peter 3:10, and I Thessalonians 4:16-18.
• The Church would fall and there would be a need for restoring it to a new faith. Daniel 2:44, and Hebrews 12:28.
• Prophets exist today. II Peter 1:3.

The claim is often made by the Mormons that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are completely compatible, that is that there are no contradictions. Let us see if such is true. 

1. Priests of Aaron or Joseph?

(1) The Bible affirms that only those of Aaron's descent were to be priests (Numbers 3:10). 
(2) The Book of Mormon states in 2 Nephi 5:26, "I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests . . .." These supposed men were descendants of Levi (1 Nephi 18:7) who was of the tribe of Joseph (1 Nephi 6:14). It seems that Mormonism also "walks in the ways of Jereboam" (cf. 1 Kings 12:31). 

2. Complete or Not?

(1) The Bible claims to be the complete (Jude 3) and all sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:3) Word of God. 

(2) The Book of Mormon ridicules one who would make such a claim (2 Nephi 29:3) and denies that it contains all of God's written revelation to man (2 Nephi 29:6,10). It even unbelievably attributes the origin of the Bible to the Jews (2 Nephi 29:6)! 

3. Beginning in Jerusalem or Not?

(1) The Bible in Luke 24:46-47 states very clearly that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Such was fulfilled in Acts 2. 

(2) The Book of Mormon has this occurring in 2 Nephi 31:11-17 which claims to be between B.C. 559 and 545 and thousands of miles away from Jerusalem! 

4. "Will Build" or "Already There"!

(1) The Bible records that the Lord plainly affirmed while upon this earth, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18), a prophecy fulfilled in Acts 2. It is clear the Lord did not consider the church then in existence. 

(2) The Book of Mormon states, "they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward.." (Mosiah 18:17). This supposedly occurred about B.C. 147! 

5. Jerusalem or Bethlehem?

(1) The Bible tells us that Jesus was to be and was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). 

(2) The Book of Mormon says "he shall be born of Mary at Jerusalem" (Alma 7:10). Lest they say that Jerusalem is an area and not a city, in 1 Nephi 1:4 their own works call it a city. 

6. First in Antioch or In the America's?

(1) The Bible affirms that the "disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). 

(2) The Book of Mormon misses that by several thousand miles and nearly 100 years in having believers in Christ called Christians in 73 B.C. (Alma 46:15). 

7. Zedekiah's Sons Slain or Not?

(1) The Bible tells us in 2 Kings 25:7 "they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes." 

(2) The Book of Mormon has one supposed son of Zedekiah (Mulek) living and in the America's (Heleman 8:21). 

8. 3 Days or 3 Hours?

(1) The Bible records in Mark 15:33 that at Jesus' crucifixion there was darkness for 3 hours. 

(2) The Book of Mormon has darkness for 3 days (3 Nephi 8:20-23). 

9. "Until" or Go For Visits?

(1) The Bible tells us in Acts 2:34-35 and 3:20-21 that Jesus is to remain in heaven after his ascension "until" his foes are made his footstool, and "until the times of restitution." 

(2) The Book of Mormon has him appearing in the America's after his ascension (3 Nephi 10:18-19). 

More could be said about how the Book of Mormon does not agree with the Bible, but this is sufficient to show that one cannot take both as being the Word of God. 

The Book of Mormon vs The Book of Mormon

One of the several proofs of the Bible is its unity; there are no contradictions within it. Such cannot be said of the Book of Mormon. 

1. By Prophecy or not?

(1) On the title page of the Book of Mormon we find the claim that it was "Written by way of commandment and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation," and even "the interpretation thereof by the gift of God." Unbelievably in the very next paragraph we find the statement, "And now if there are faults they are the mistakes of men!" It even gets worse after that. 

(2) You cannot even go past verse 3 of the first book without finding a like problem. Instead of upholding the claim of prophecy and inspiration we find the following statement in regard to the record contained in the Book of Mormon: ."..I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge" (1 Nephi 1:3) 

(3) Again in the same book in chapter 19 we find Nephi told to make a record. Of his ability to do this he says, "Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old . . ." (1 Nephi 19:6) 

(4) In spite of the claim of being interpreted "by the gift of God" there have been well over 3,000 changes in the book. Is this the "spirit of prophecy and of revelation" of which we are told in the title page? 

2. Baptism essential or not?

(1) In 3 Nephi 11:33,3 we find the teaching that baptism is essential to one's salvation, ."..whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned." 

(2) Just a few chapters earlier we read of those that "should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received remission of their sins" (3 Nephi 7:25) 

3. Flesh and blood or Spirit?

(1) Alma 22:9-11 teaches that God is a Spirit. 

(2) Ether 3:9 (and also Doctrine and Covenants 130:22) teaches that He is flesh and blood! 
 
 
 
 

Copyright 2001 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others. www.christianlibrary.org