Mormon Beliefs » book of mormon

Is Mormonism True: Fruits of Mormonism

lds9999 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:42:55 +0000

If you read the earlier post about the 17 points of the true church, you noticed that the last point was a bit vague in saying merely, “By their fruits ye shall know them. (Matt 7:20).” We also discussed this passage in an earlier post referring to Jesus’ method to discern between true and false prophets. This brings us to the question–what are the fruits of Mormonism?

The obvious first answer is the Book of Mormon. The line of logic is clear–if the Book of Mormon is the word of God, then Joseph Smith was a divinely-called prophet, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By similar logic, if the Book of Mormon is not the word of God, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not the true church of Christ.

Knowing that, does it make more sense why Mormon missionaries are always trying to get people to read the Book of Mormon? Everything depends on it! There is no middle ground–either the LDS Church is all it purports to be or else it’s just another Christian denomination with some false teachings. With such weight relying on this book, one would think that every religious (and non-religious) person in the world would be anxious to read the Book of Mormon and find out whether it’s true or not. Instead, most rely on the word of their preacher or pastor and never even read a page. What a tragedy.

What was the last book you read? Was it one that could ultimately answer the question of salvation? If not, I’d encourage you to read the Book of Mormon. And as I have encouraged countless times already on here, find out for yourself whether it’s true by praying and asking God.

Crazy Mormon Belief: More Scripture

lds9999 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:42:51 +0000

Ok, so what’s the deal with Mormons having more scripture than the Bible? Haven’t they ever read Revelation 22:18:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

That seems pretty clear to me! But wait a second, let’s think through this for a minute. John wrote the book of Revelation that is quoted above. Many mainstream Christian scholars now acknowledge that Revelation was likely not the last book of the Bible that was written. Actually, it was probably the first one John wrote, even before the Gospel of John. Does that mean that John will have the plagues of God added to him?

I guess I should also mention that the Bible wasn’t compiled at the time John wrote that in Revelation and wouldn’t be for a long time. Does that mean that John was just writing that for the Book of Revelation and not for the entire Bible then?

Ok, so maybe this isn’t a crazy belief that the Mormons have. Of course John won’t have any plagues added to him, because YES, John was just referring to the Book of Revelation when he wrote that and not the entire Bible. Therefore, this scripture does not rule out further scripture.

Still not convinced, huh? What if we take a look at Deuteronomy 4:2:

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

When you compare that scripture with the one in Revelation, there are a lot of similarities. In fact, it sounds like the same warning. But it’s obvious to all Biblical readers that the one in Deuteronomy is referring only to that book of scripture and not the Bible up to that point (or else the rest of the Bible would be null and void).

In the Book of Mormon, in 2 Nephi Chapter 29, the Lord reveals:

Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles
of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

So, what are the key takeaways then? First, nothing in the Bible precludes there being additional scripture if the Lord so commands. Second, the Lord loves and has guided His children in all parts of the world, not just Jerusalem. As a result, this “crazy Mormon belief” of having additional scripture isn’t so crazy after all!

Angel Moroni on Mormon Temples

lds9999 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:35:33 +0000

One of the most common questions I receive about LDS Temples is “What is the statue on top?” I have heard many guesses, perhaps the most common being Angel Gabriel, but few non-LDS people know that is in fact the angel Moroni.

Why is the angel Moroni on Latter-day Saint temples? The primary reason is because of his tremendous significance in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the preparation of the prophet Joseph Smith, and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in its fulness to the earth.

After being placed on the Salt Lake Temple after its completion in 1893, the statue of the angel Moroni has since been placed on many other LDS temples. It has become an unofficial symbol for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is recognized throughout the world.

Latter-day Saints consider Revelation 14:6 to be a reference to the Angel Moroni when John recorded, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

Others Saw the Angel Moroni

lds9999 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:34:26 +0000

Though we know the most about Joseph Smith’s visits from the angel Moroni, other early Latter-day Saints also shared their experiences. For example:

The Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon–Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris–recorded their experience in their testimony which is now printed in the beginning of the Book of Mormon.

Who else saw the angel Moroni?

Emma Smith (Joseph’s wife)
Hyrum Smith (Joseph’s brother)
John Taylor (3rd president of the Church)
Heber C. Kimball (apostle)
Luke S. Johnson (apostle)
Zera Pulsipher (missionary)
John and Rhoda Greene (missionary)
Oliver Granger (missionary)
W.W. Phelps (leader and songwriter)
Lucy Harris (wife of witness Martin Harris)
Harrison Burgess

Angel Moroni Visits Joseph Smith Each Year

lds9999 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:33:07 +0000

Interestingly, Joseph Smith was not permitted to remove the golden plates in 1823 after his initial visits from the angel Moroni. Instead, the Lord intended to prepare him further.

Each year on September 22, Joseph Smith returned to the same place where he would receive instruction from the angel Moroni. In his own words, Joseph describes:

Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days.

What an amazing preparation, receiving instruction from an angel of the Lord. Such preparation was necessary for Joseph Smith to fulfill his divine calling as a prophet in the latter-days and to help restore the Church of Jesus Christ once again upon the earth.

Finally, in his annual visit with Moroni in 1827, Joseph Smith was permitted to receive the plates and begin translating.

Angel Moroni Visits Joseph Smith

lds9999 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:26:49 +0000

In 1823, as Joseph Smith prayed for forgiveness for his sins, he experienced a visit from a heavenly messenger. Joseph Smith said:

While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.

In this initial visit, Moroni explained who he was and that he was sent by God. He then continued to explain that there was a book, written on golden plates, that contained the fulness of the gospel and that God desired Joseph Smith to translate them and had prepared the means to do so. He continued to quote key scriptures from the Bible, including from the third and fourth chapters of Malachi, the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, the third chapter of Acts, the second chapter of Joel, etc. During this visit, Joseph Smith saw a vision in his mind of the location of the golden plates so that he could find them.

After delivering this message, the angel Moroni left and Joseph was pondering about the event when the angel Moroni appeared again and repeated the same message. After leaving once again, Moroni then appeared a third time and repeated the message a final time.

The next day, Joseph Smith visited the area that he had seen in vision and located the golden plates.

Who is Moroni?

lds9999 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:24:01 +0000

According to the “Words of Mormon” in the Book of Mormon, the prophet Mormon writes that he was preparing to give the plates ot his son Moroni in approximately 385 A.D.:

And now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites. And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people.

After witnessing and recording the destruction of the Nephite people (in the final book of the Book of Mormon), Moroni wanders for a number of years by himself. Finally, before Moroni died, he buried the plates in the Hill Cumorah under the direction of the Lord in preparation for the coming forth of the Book of Mormon nearly 1400 years later.

Moroni gave his final testimony at the end of the Book of Mormon:

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. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

Many people outside of the LDS faith aren’t quite sure how to say the name Moroni (More-Own-Eye).