BOOK OF MORMON
Critique of 1 Nephi
CONCLUSION
The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Mormons has in recent years
tried to blend in as another denomination of Christendom. It is through subtle
marketing ploys that many new members of the LDS church have come from the
churches of Christendom. Once new members have been hooked by
"family" activities, it is difficult for them to investigate and
discover the inconsistencies of the LDS church.
The
inconsistencies of the LDS church begin with the Book of Mormon and continue
through their various other writings. It was through the BOM that Joseph Smith
was able to provide for his family and set himself up as prophet of a church
that exploited people sexually and materially. Many people of the 19th century
saw these inconsistencies and pointed them out. As opposition grew, Joseph
Smith and later Brigham Young continually moved the church west to be outside
of the American civilization. It was in the territory of Utah that the church
was sheltered from the critics within the American civilization. Through this
sheltering from civilization and the distraction of the American civil war, the
LDS church had time to plant deep roots in Utah and grow without hindrance.
As
the American civilization moved west during the 19th and 20th centuries, major
new prophecies were needed to make the LDS church more acceptable to the outside
world. A prophecy against polygamy allowed Utah to become a state in 1890. In
June 1978, black men were allowed to hold the Mormon priesthood office thereby
fending off complaints of racism. With the advent of the Internet and the 21st
century, more changes in fundamental LDS doctrines will be needed for the LDS
church to remain within the boundaries of normalcy.
Future
major changes will center on the LDS church emphasizing the family and family
activities instead of their scriptures. Almost everyone can identify with
family activities as being good and healthy for parents and children alike. In
the years ahead, the LDS church will have to make major decisions on their
scriptures. The BOM may be revised for the poor language, geographical problems,
and obvious plagiarism of the Holy Bible. It would be wise to hold on to your
older editions as the LDS church is forced into new prophecies and revisions.
Another area that the LDS church must change is its' secret temple rituals that
are being exposed by the Internet information highway.
In
contrast, true Christianity does not have to change its doctrines with the
passing of time. The Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible is the same yesterday,
today, and forever. He is the rock that Christians throughout the last 2000
years have placed their faith in for eternal life. The Christian eternity is
one of being in the glorious presence of God not of self-indulgence. False
religions will always present its' followers with a self-centered eternity of
pleasure. This self-centered eternity of pleasure is always earned through the
works mandated by these false religions. Eternity with God is a free gift that
cannot be earned through the mandates of a religion. The apostle Paul summed it
up as such: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not
of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Jesus
Christ is a real person who redeemed you through His death to be with Him
throughout eternity if you will sincerely believe it. Fall in love with Jesus
Christ of the Holy Bible and I will see you in the glorious beyond.
August
2002