BOOK OF MORMON: A LETTER TO A MORMON MISSIONARY

 

 

Hi…

You had asked me what I think of the Book of Mormon. Here’s what I found. There were few gross contradictions, although there are many extra-biblical additions.

While there are many minor copy errors in the Bible, there is no evidence of systematic deletions, as alleged in 1 Nephi 13. We can say this confidently because we have almost 5,000 ancient NT Greek manuscripts and fragments. In addition to this, we have 25,000 ancient manuscripts from other languages. From this wealth of evidence, we can safely say that our new testament (along with the Old) is highly reliable.

·       1 Nephi 13:26-28 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men. Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and a precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.

While Mormons claim that, “we are also Christians,” this Book teaches that we are “that great and abominable church.” Therefore, isn’t your claim that “we are also Christians,” misleading?

The next two passages are very problematic for the Christian who believes that salvation and God’s grace do not depend upon our performance (obedience) as a means for us to earn grace:

·       2 Nephi 25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Chris and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

·       Moroni 10:32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

These two passages claim that we have to earn grace to be saved, which would give us a basis to boast—something contrary to the Bible:

Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Titus 3:3–5 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…

These two passages show that we have a consistently lower regard for man and a much higher regard for God than do the Mormons, which aligns you with all the other cults. Seeing ourselves as far more needy than Mormons humbles us and frees us from trying to prove that we are better than we really are. It enables us to accept who we really are—sinners in desperate need of our Savior Jesus, who has become everything for us:

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

One last problem—Racism:

·       2 Nephi 5:21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

I am aware that Mormonism has recanted here. However, doesn’t this mean that the Book of Mormon cannot be trusted? Perhaps other part will soon be recanted?