MORMON GETHSEMANE DOCTRINE

Note: Mormons say Gethsemane is where Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the world.

For Latter-day Saints, Gethsemane was the scene of Jesus' greatest agony (1), even surpassing that which he suffered on the cross (2), an understanding supported by Mark's description of Jesus' experience (3) (Mark 14:33-39). According to Luke 22:43-44, Jesus' anguish (4) was so deep that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground," an observation that harmonizes with the view that Jesus suffered (5) most in Gethsemane during his Atonement. Even though these verses are missing (6) revelation (7) (e.g., D&C 19:18). The evidence for Jesus' extreme agony in Gethsemane is buttressed by a prophecy in the (8) Book of Mormon and a statement by the resurrected Savior recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. About 125 B.C., a Book of Mormon king, Benjamin, recounted in an important address a prophecy of the coming messiah spoken to him by an angel during the previous night. Concerning the Messiah's mortal experience, the angel declared that "he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people" (9) (Mosiah 3:7). The Doctrine and Covenants gives the following poignant words of the resurrected Jesus: "Behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit" (10) (D&C 19:16, 18). Modern LDS leaders have emphasized that Jesus' most challenging experience (11) came in Gethsemane. Speaking in a general conference of the Church in 1982, Marion G. Romney, a member of the First Presidency, observed that Jesus suffered "the pains of all men, which he did, principally, in Gethsemane, the scene of his (12) great agony" (Ensign 12 [May 1982]:6). Church President Ezra Taft Benson wrote that "it was in Gethsemane that Jesus took on Himself the sins of the world, in Gethsemane that His pain was equivalent to the (13) in some of the earliest extant manuscripts of Luke's gospel, their content is confirmed in modern cumulative burden of all, in Gethsemane that He descended below all things so that all could repent and come to Him" (Benson, p. 7). Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow, editor, 1992, pages 541-542.

 

Note: Mormons say Jesus Christ shed His blood in Gethsemane.

Jesus endured all the hardships and pains of his ministry, and shed his (14) own blood in Gethsemane in the great spiritual struggle of sin, law, mercy, and justice. He permitted his own execution by Roman soldiers and completed every part of his assigned task. Behold the Messiah, Robert J. Matthews, 1994.

 

Note: Mormons say Adam appeared to Jesus Christ in Gethsemane to strengthen Him.

If this angel was Adam (15) (and there seems to be no reason to doubt it), here was the Messiah in the Garden of Gethsemane in his greatest of all trials, shedding his blood to (16) redeem mankind from the effects of Adam's transgression in the Garden of Eden and also from the results of each person's own sins. There appeared from heaven to strengthen him the very person of Adam (17) himself - he who brought mortality and blood and death and sin into the world. The parallel issue is unmistakable! The plan of salvation to which both (18) Adam and Jesus subscribed in the premortal world was being worked out in the world of Adam's (19) posterity. Each had fulfilled his foreordained part, and now the two principals (20) were together as Jesus triumphed over sin and mortality. The Man Adam, Joseph McConkie, Editor, 1990, page 84.

 

(1) The scene of Jesus' greatest agony was where he died.

Mark 15:33-34 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

 

(2) The cross surpasses Gethsemane since that is where He died.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

 

(3) Jesus Christ death on the cross finished the Atonement.

John 19:30-31 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

 

(4) Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross that brings peace with God the Father.

Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

 

(5) The Atonement is centered upon the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.

Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

 

(6) The Gospel of Luke has more information than Matthew and Mark.

For his accounts of Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem (chapters 20-21), and of the passion and resurrection (chapters 22-24), Luke again draws on Mark. Added to the Markan narrative, however, are Jesus' last words to his disciples (22:21-38), his words on the way to the cross (23:28-31), the words of the two crucified criminals (23:39-43), the appearances of the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus and in Jerusalem (24:13-49), and Jesus' ascension (24:50-53).

Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 16, page 253.

 

(7) Modern Mormon revelation will lead to destruction now and eternally.

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Note: Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, died at 38 years old in a gun battle.

 

(8) The Book of Mormon has no basis in fact.

The Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian Institution has never used the Book of Mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Smithsonian archeologists see no direct connection between the archeology of the New World and the subject matter of the book. September 1997

 

(9) The Book of Mormon has no basis in fact.

National Geographic Society: I referred your inquiry to Dr. George Stuart, the staff Archaeologist of the National Geographic Society. He informed me that neither the Society nor any other institution of equal prestige has ever used the Book of Mormon in locating archaeological sites. Although many Mormon sources claim that the Book of Mormon has been substantiated by archaeological findings, this claim has not been scientifically substantiated. However, several locations in the Bible have. August 1998

 

(10) Jesus Christ suffered for our sins after Gethsemane.

1 Peter 2:22-24 Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

 

(11) Jesus Christ was agonizing in Gethsemane due to His forthcoming death on the cross.

Hebrews 5:6-8 As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek"; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

 

(12) The scene of Jesus' greatest agony was where he died.

Psalm 22:1-18 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!" But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God. Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

 

(13) The Mormons are teaching a false gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

(14) Jesus Christ shed His blood after Gethsemane.

Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

John 19:34-35 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

 

(15) Adam was a human being not an angel.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

 

(16) True Christians are redeemed through faith by the death of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 

(17) Adam was a human being not an angel.

Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

 

(18) Death and Adam is not the plan of salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

 

(19) True Christians identify with Jesus Christ for eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

 

(20) Adam was a human being not an angel.

1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.

 

Final Note: 1 Timothy 1:1-4 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia; remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

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