An Examination of Mormon Texts

1
An Examination of Mormon Texts

• Problem Issues to Discuss When Speaking with
  Mormons
• Jude 3-4
• Galatians 16-9

2
Three Problems

• The Book of Mormon cannot be another testament
  because it simply is not true.
• The Book of Mormon cannot compare with the Bible
  because the Book of Mormon cannot possibly be
  Gods word.
• The whole Mormon religion cannot stand because it
  is based on the false claims of the Book of
  Mormon.

3
First Thessalonians 521

• Test all things hold fast what is good.

4
Doctrines and Covenants

• They were supposedly given to Smith by the Mormon
  God in order that he might write them down for
  the benefit of all the people (DC 117-28).
• It was originally published as The Book of
  Commandments in 1833.
• Smith claimed that they were written down
  perfectly as God directed him.
• 2000 changes were made to it (including the title
  of it) just two years later.

5
Problem 1-- DC132

• DC132 is all about plural marriage.
• For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an
  everlasting covenant and if ye abide not that
  covenant, then ye are damned for no one can
  reject this covenant and permitted to enter into
  my glory (1324).
• DC13215-28 discusses the eternal marriage
  covenant sealed by God.
• DC13229-50 discuss how polygamy is not a sin to
  those who God has given the command to take many
  wives and concubines.
• DC13251-56 discusses Emma Smiths
  responsibility to this covenant.

6
Problem 1-- DC132

• The Two Manifestos (1890 and 1904)
• Woodruff and Joseph Fielding Smith both taught
  and practices polygamy until their deaths.
• Smith believed, practiced, and taught polygamy
  from DC132.
• Smith was married to at least 30 different women
  at the same time.
• Nancy Winchester was 14 or 15 years old.
• Eleven of them were already married.
• All but five of them came before DC132 was made
  public.

7
Problem 1-- DC132

• In the 1835 to 1844 editions of the DC contained
  DC101which explained marriage.
• It has since been replaced by DC132.
• In as much as this church of Christ has been
  reproached by fornication and polygamy we
  declare that we believe, that one man should have
  one wife, and one woman, but one husband, except
  in the case of death, when either is at liberty
  to marry again (DC101, p251 of the 1835
  edition).

8
Problem 1-- DC132

• Polygamy was publicly denounced by Smith and the
  Mormon Church between 1835 and 1844.
• Yet, polygamy was practiced by Smith and other
  Mormon leaders secretly since 1831 and publicly
  since 1852 and has been a part of the Mormon
  scriptures since 1871.
• DC132 contradicts other DCs.

9
Problem 1-- DC132

• DC132 contradicts the BoM.
• And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred
  the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons therefore
  Noah began to reign in his stead and he did not
  walk in the ways of his father. For behold, he
  did not keep the commandments of God, but he did
  walk after the desires of his own heart. And he
  had many wives and concubines. And he did cause
  his people to commit sin, and do which was
  abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and
  they did commit whoredoms and all manner of
  wickedness (Mosaiah 111-2).

10
Problem 1-- DC132

• DC132 contradicts the BoM.
• And now it came to pass that the people of
  Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began
  to grow heard in their hearts, and indulge
  themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as
  like unto David of old desiring many wives and
  concubines, and also Solomon, his son (Jacob
  115).

11
Problem 1-- DC132

• DC132 contradicts the BoM.
• Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives
  and concubines, which thing was abominable before
  me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the
  Lord, I have led this people forth out of the
  land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that
  I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from
  the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I
  the Lord God will not suffer that this people
  shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my
  brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the
  Lord For there shall not any man among you have
  save it be one wife and concubines he shall have
  none. For I, the Lord God, delight in the
  chastity of women. And whoredoms are an
  abomination before me thus saith the Lord.
  (Jacob 224-28).

12
Problem 1-- DC132

• DC132 contradicts the New Testament.
• Monogamy was the original plan (Gen. 218-25).
• This is the only plan we are to follow today
  according to Jesus (Matthew 194-6
  First Corinthians 72).
• The New Testament teaches the exact opposite of
  what DC132 teaches, namely that one will NOT be
  damned if they do NOT engage in this sexual
  immorality, but they WILL be damned if they do
  (Revelation 218).

13
Problem 1-- DC132

• Mormon presidents, apostles, and prophets all
  taught the necessity of polygamy in The
  Journal of Discourses.
• Volume 3, page 266
• Volume 5, page 203
• Volume 11, page 239, 269
• Volume 13, page 166
• Volume 17, pages 224-225
• Volume 25, page 21
• Volume 26, page 115

14
Problem 2 DC107

• There are, in the church, two priesthoods,
  namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including
  the Levitical Priesthood (DC1071).
• DC1072-10 explains the Melchizedek priesthood
  in the Mormon Church.
• DC10713-21 explains the inferiority of the
  Aaronic priesthood which is simultaneously in
  effect with the Melchizedek priesthood.
• It continues to discuss the Quorum of Twelve and
  The Seventy in the Mormon Church.

15
Problem 2 DC107

• This organization does not match the organization
  found in the New Testament.
• Jesus is the Head of the Body, aka the Church
  (Ephesians 122).
• Elders and deacons (Philippians 11).
• All Christians are a royal priesthood
  (First Peter 29).

16
Problem 2 DC107

• There is no way for a Jew to prove their lineage
  after the Temple and its records were destroyed
  in 70AD.
• There is no way to prove Levitical ancestry.
• Granted, Smith claimed that he was visited by
  John the Baptist and the Aaronic priesthood was
  confirmed upon him (Joseph Smith 1832 History,
  p1).
• However, he still wasnt a Levite and the Old Law
  was already done away with (Col. 214).

17
Problem 2 DC107

• Smith claimed that the Melchizedek priesthood was
  restored to him in 1831 by the apostles, Peter,
  James and John.
• Psalm 110 prophesied that the Messiah would be a
  priest forever according to the order of
  Melchizedek (1104).
• Hebrews 414-511 and 71-10 shows how Jesus is
  the only One who could possibly be a priest after
  Melchizedek.

18
Problem 3 DC87

• Gods TEST for us to use in determining the
  authenticity of a prophet.
• Deuteronomy 1820-22
• If someone said they were from God and what they
  prophesied about came true, then they were from
  God.
• If someone said they were from God and what they
  prophesied about did NOT come true, they were to
  be put to death.

19
Problem 3 DC87

• Joseph Smith claimed to prophesy about the things
  of God.
• He said Jesus would return in 1891 (History of
  the Church, vol.2, p.182).
• It is reported that Smith prophesied that there
  were Quakers living on the moon who lived to be
  1000 years old (The Young Womans Journal, vol.3,
  pgs.263-264).
• DC87 is another one of those prophecies.

20
Problem 3 DC87

• In DC87, Smith prophesied that The Southern
  States shall be divided against the Northern
  States, and the Southern States shall call upon
  other nations, even the nation of Great Britain
  (873).
• The Civil War did not turn into a World War as
  Smith prophesied it would.
• Other failed prophecies that are a part of the
  DC are 45, 57, 84, 97, 104, 105, 111, 112, 121,
  130, and 117.

21
Problem 3 DC87

• A prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as
  such.
• The Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith,
  section 5, 1842-1843, pg.278
• The fulfilled prophesies of Smith.
• DC298
• Joseph Smith- History 133
• Smith, 1902, 6319
• And DC87????

22
Conclusion

• The DC often contradicts itself, other Mormon
  scriptures, and most importantly, the Bible.
• The organization of the Mormon Church does not
  match the organization of the True Church of
  Jesus Christ.
• Smith is a failed and false prophet and should
  not be listened to by anyone.
• The DC just cannot be from God.

23
Book Sources

• Three Standard Works and Journal of Discourses
• What Do Mormons Believe by Rex E Lee
• No Man Knows My History by Fawn M Brodie
• The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New
  Testament edited by Thomas E Wayment
• Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
• Handbook of Biblical Evidences by Ankerberg and
  Weldon
• Mormonism Exposed by GB Hancock
• The God Makers by Decker and Hunt
• The Truth about the God Makers by Sharffs
• Historical Atlas of Ancient America by Bancroft
  and Hunt

24
Book Sources

• Becoming Gods by Richard Abanes
• Mormonism 101 by Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson
• One Nation Under Gods by Richard Abanes
• Mormon Polygamy A History by Richard S Van
  Wagoner
• 10 Questions and Answers on Mormonism by Rose
  Publishing
• Mormon Doctrine by Bruce McConkie
• Evidences and Reconciliations by John Widtsoe

25
Internet Sources

• Christian Research and Counsel www.crcmin.org
• Living Hope Ministries www.lhvm.org
• Mormonwiki www.mormonwiki.org
• Mormons in Transition www.irr.org/mit
• Utah Lighthouse Ministries www.utlm.org
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
  Official Website www.lds.org
• FAIRLDS www.fairlds.org
• FARMS www.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu
• Christian Apologetics Research Ministry
  www.carm.org
• 20 Truths about Mormonism www.20truths.info
• Testing Mormonism www.bibletruths.org
• Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica www.mormonmesoameric
  a.com

26
Video Sources

• The Bible vs The Book of Mormon (lhvm)
• DNA vs The Book of Mormon (lhvm)
• Mormonisms Greatest Problems (tid)
• The Lost Book of Abraham (irr)
• Lifting the Veil of Polygamy (lhvm)