Book of mormon church is the effort of arlin ewald nusbaum to shine the light on how different church was in the holy book of mormon compared with how it is today in mormonism. Some people believe the book of mormon is a new revelation from god given to joseph smith. Book of mormon peoples, guided by the brass plates and revelation which their religious leaders earnestly sought, did likewise. And there are also many other things which jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, i suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be writt. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the book of mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. And we talk of christ, we rejoice in christ, we preach of christ, we prophesy of christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of. Isaiah certainly from the brass plates influenced book of mormon religious thought and practice. Since its beginning in the 1820s, the latter day saint movement has proclaimed itself to be. Discover the basic beliefs and values of the religion of mormonism from a christian perspective, and learn how it differs from christianity. The book of mormons most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. How broad should the ecumenical tent of christianity extend. Jackson, the beginnings of christianity in the book of mormon, in the book of mormon. Latterday saints do not accept the creeds of postnew testament christianity.
The book of mormon is mormonism a form of christianity. Critical voices are nothing new to the mormon church. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. They had part of the gospel, but i had the fullness of it. Throughout high school, mormon friends of mine began drifting into the world of partying. Mormons recognize it as divinely inspired and equal in authority to the bible, but others have reason to doubt its claims. Top 10 teachings of mormonism not supported by the book of. They teach that the bible is often mistranslated and unreliable. The bible and history attest to the apostasy of the. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe. The book of mormon says many plain and precious things were lost from original christianity 1 nephi. Ive just got back from going to see the new london production of the book of mormon. Prior to joseph smith forming a church in 1830, the way early believers in the holy book of mormon did church was how it was in the holy book of mormon. Mormons believe that the bible and true doctrine were corrupted during this span, and believe that todays lds church is nearly identical to the original church.
Because the mormon church claims to be the only true christian church, the handbook presents a comparison between mormonism and christianity. How i escaped the mormon temple christianity today. The book of mormon contains an account of this visit, including the very words spoken by jesus. Ten questions to ask the mormons christianity today. The independent book of mormon religion news service. Three california researchers have suffered some setbacks in their attempt to prove that the book of mormon has an origin other than the one taught by the 3. As a sixthgeneration mormon girl, i believed that the mormon church was the one true church of god. The leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds arent happy with this book. But there are reasons for this, i believe, that dont have to do with the reality of whether or not mormons should be seen as christians. The mormon church, founded by joseph smith, is officially known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, or the lds church.
He also explains the many differences in the two faiths. How should christians respond to the popularity of. The authorized edition is based on the original printers manuscript and the 1837 second edition or kirtland edition of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is remarkably christfocused, and presents a godhead resembling the trinity. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Translation in other christian traditions today means an attempt by scholars to get back to the the earliest, cleanest and simplest texts of important writings. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon, tells it in official church writings, the. Our mission is to inspire greater knowledge of the book of mormon. On a friday in january 2006, at home in alpine, utah, i received a phone call from my third son, micah, that changed my life. According to the latter day saints mormons, mormonism and christianity are identical. The book begins with a visitation of mormon history including joseph smiths visions, brigham youngs moses like journey to utah, and parley pratt my opinion was a little colored as i recently saw the broadway show the book of mormon. I believe in jesus christ as my savior and redeemer.
James walker, a former fourth generation mormon, tells his story of conversion from mormonism to biblical christianity. Three california researchers have suffered some setbacks in their attempt to prove that the book of mormon has an origin other than the one taught. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. Tenth president joseph fielding smith is cited in an official church manual as saying. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. Frequent short essays published on our website, and via memes, podcasts, and videos on social. Finally, it may be that the use of king james language for passages shared by the bible and the book of mormon allows the book of mormon to highlight those areas in which the book of mormons original texts were genuinely different from the textual tradition of the old worlds which gave us the holy bible of today. The groups verifiable history begins in upper new york state in the year 1830 with the publication of the book of mormon by joseph smith, jr. The name was later changed to the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of mormon was published. The essenes, as the dead sea scrolls revealed, practiced baptism by immersion before christ. Learn about the savior, jesus christ, and how the basic beliefs of his gospel can enrich our lives. Just today, i was reading in the book of mormonwhich states on the cover another testament of jesus christ 2 nephi chapter 25 verse 26. The book of mormon likewise teaches, yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of.
Scholars today have varying theories about the true authorship of the book of mormon, but most conclude that smith composed the book himself, possibly with the help of oliver cowdery and sidney rigdon, drawing from information and publications available in his time, including the king james bible, the wonders of nature, and view of the hebrews. Modalism in the book of mormon mormonism research ministry. A sixthgeneration mormon meets a bornagain christian. The community of christ views the book of mormon as an additional witness of jesus christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishing arm, herald house. Today, mormons use the book of mormon in much the same way that christians use and study the bible. Mormonism today mormon church refers to the church of christ restored in the latter days. The issue is a critical one for the latterday saints. Most christian book stores contain scores of titles that. Mormon apostle orson pratt wrote in 1851, the book of mormon claims to be a divinely inspired record.
I looked down on christians who followed the bible. Yet later teachings by joseph smith deny the trinity and claim that god the father has both. God the father and jesus appeared to joseph smith in 1820, calling him to restore the church of christ. Were the book of mormon christians more like calvinists or. Mormonism rejects christian orthodoxy as the very argument for its own existence, and it clearly identifies historic christianity as a false faith. By age six, i was convinced that having a temple marriage and faithfully obeying mormon laws would qualify me to spend eternity in the highest heaventhe celestial kingdom. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday. A contemporary observer of mormon public relations is not going to hear this logic presented directly, but it is the very logic and message of the book of mormon and the structure of mormon thought. The book of mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of. Free book of mormon meet with missionaries find a church email get a book of mormon. First things first, this question tries to compare modern christianity with old testament christianity. Latterday saints do not believe scripture consists of the holy bible alone but have an expanded canon of scripture that includes the book of mormon, the doctrine and covenants, and the pearl of great price. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. The intrigue has come from the fact that latterday saints lds are so similar and yet so different.
As a sixthgeneration mormon girl, i believed that the mormon. Although the term mormon has been used for religious discrimination, most latter day saints do not object to the term. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Mormonism vs christianity difference and comparison diffen. And it would not surprise any of you, then, today, that the book of mormon reintroduced this very important doctrine, and this is perhaps the most wellknown. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Webb, a former restoration movementturned disciples of christturned lutheranturnedroman catholic, has produced a. The book of mormon, a musical by the creators of south park about missionaries from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, is winning crowds over much like actual mormon missionaries, re. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. Today, the lds church is most prevalent in the united states, latin america, canada, europe, the. Historically, mormons spent many years being persecuted by other christians, and it was natural that once forced out west to utah, an insularity developed, as well as a pride in being a peculiar people who did christianity very. However, traditional christianity regards mormonism as a departure from christianity, or a corruption of it. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints, better known as the mormon church.
You may be wondering why a christian would go to see such a thing, but yeeees changing the subject in the same manner as a mormon asked why joseph smith wouldnt let anyone else see the original golden plates on which the. My family and i loved living in zion, the result of a decision that. A mormon who holds that work is efficacious for their dead relatives cannot find any support in the book of mormon for these temple practices. They have issued what reporter bob mims of the salt lake tribune describes as a clear, if muted. Mormons, while holding that the bible is a part of the canon of scripture, add to it several mormon works. The beginnings of christianity in the book of mormon. The book of mormon and the urantia book because there is a passage in mormonisms book of mormon regarding a greater record to come that will contain the mysteries of the universe, the greater teachings of jesus, the more full story of adameve and the garden of eden, etc. Christianity christians hold that the bible is the sole infallible authority for life and faith. At the very last verse from the gospel of john, we read. And when ye shall receive these things, i would exhort you that ye would ask god, the eternal. The book of mormon does not advocate the temple work as promoted in mormonism. When mormon or latterday saints or lds missionaries present the book of mormon, they explain that feelings prompted by the holy ghost and prayer will help a person to accept it as truth.
First, mormons believe the most correct book on the face of the earth is the book of mormon. Book of mormon central is designed and built by people who love the book of mormon. Thus the lds contends that the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. His book mormon christianity did a wonderful job of describing mormon beliefs accurately, something that is rare in books about mormons written by nonmormons, and i appreciate that greatly. Seriously, if you dont like bad language, just dontevenbother. The book of mormon is crude, offensive and shocking. They have issued what reporter bob mims of the salt lake. Lisa grew up in a place known for its religious significance. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would. If you want recommendation about a book that should not be purchased for the reader to learn more about mormonism, then let me tell you one you dont need. Jesus christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
924 1482 165 469 1202 1372 636 748 28 594 6 849 847 656 1004 462 276 91 567 71 681 1159 575 486 292 557 15 358 1268 1166 776 719 1457 933