MORMONISM

MORMONISM“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it.”

MORMONISM“I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”

Joseph SmithHistory of the Church

vol. 6, p. 408-409

MORMONISMTactics in conversing with and

evangelizing members of the LDS church

Using the BOM Using the Scriptures

MORMONISMUsing the BOM

1. Changes in the BOM2. Plagiarism in the BOM3. Biblical teachings found in the BOM that contradict present-day Mormon beliefs

MORMONISM1. Since its original publication in 1830, the BOM has undergone over 4,000 changes- many of which include major doctrinal changes.

Verse 1830 Version Today’s Version

1 Nephi 11:21

“And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the eternal Father”

“And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the son of the eternal Father”

Verse 1830 Version Today’s Version

Mosiah 21:28

“King Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings”

“King Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings”

Verse 1830 Version Today’s Version

2 Nephi 12:9

“And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself not”

“And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not”

Verse 1830 Version Today’s Version

1 Nephi 20:1

“O house of Jacob, which are called out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord“

“O house of Jacob, which are called out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, which swear by the name of the Lord"

Verse 1830 Version Today’s Version

2 Nephi 30:6

“and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people”

“and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and delightsome people”

MORMONISM2. The BOM contains over 27,000 words taken directly out of the King James Version of the Bible, including whole chapters lifted out of Isaiah (even the italicized words were copied).

MORMONISM2. If the BOM contains events that took place between 600 B.C. And 421 A.D., how could it contain extensive quotations from a version of the Bible that was not penned until 1611 A.D.?

MORMONISM3. Several teachings found in the BOM are not followed in present-day Mormonism, but are very similar to doctrines found within the Scriptures.

Doctrine BOM reference

Only one God2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 15:1-5; Alma 11:28-29

God is unchangingAlma 41:8; 3 Nephi 24:6; Mormon 9:9,19; Moroni

8:18

God is a spirit Alma 18:24-28, 22:9-11

Jesus Christ is God2 Nephi 10:3; Mosiah

13:34-35, 15:1-5

Polygamy condemned

Jacob 1:15, 2:23-31, 3:5; Mosiah 11:2-4; Ether

10:5-7

MORMONISMConclusion:One could argue that the BOM does not truly represent modern-day Mormonism!

MORMONISMUsing the Scriptures

1. Basic tactics2. Scripture passages

MORMONISM1. Basic tactics

“respect people, inspect ideas” no spiritual “chip on the shoulder” ask questions more, make statements less include the “why” of biblical Christianity, not just the “what”

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the invitation to examine2 Corinthians 13:5

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the issue of relying on the Mormon “testimony”

Proverbs 14:12Jeremiah 17:9

Isaiah 40:8

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the absence of a “great falling away”

Matthew 16:18Matthew 28:18-20

Ephesians 3:21

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the marks of a true prophetDeuteronomy 18:20-22

Galatians 1:8-9Ephesians 2:20

(context of James 1:5)

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the sufficiency of the Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:15Revelation 22:18-19

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the truth about the person of God

Numbers 23:19Hosea 11:9Psalm 90:2John 4:24

MORMONISM2. Scripture passages

the truth about salvationRomans 3:28

Galatians 2:16Ephesians 2:8-9

Titus 3:5