The Book of Mormon Chapter 9 Critique
Setting: Moroni calls upon
those who do not believe in Christ to repent—He proclaims a God of
miracles, who gives revelations and pours out gifts and signs upon the
faithful—Miracles cease because of unbelief—Signs follow those who
believe—Men are exhorted to be wise and keep the commandments. About
A.D. 401–421.
Verses 1-2: And now, I speak
also concerning those who do not believe in Christ. Behold, will ye
believe in the day of your visitation—behold, when the Lord shall come,
yea, even that great day when the earth shall be rolled together as a
scroll, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, yea, in that
great day when ye shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God—then
will ye say that there is no God?
Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the Old King James Bible.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be
burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verses 3-4: Then will ye longer
deny the Christ, or can ye behold the Lamb of God? Do ye suppose that
ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye
suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your
souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused
his laws? Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to
dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your
filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in
hell.
Note: There is no misery in the presence of a loving God.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verses 5-6: For behold, when ye
shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory
of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of
unquenchable fire upon you. O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the
Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps
ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed
by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day.
Note: You do not need to be white to go to heaven.
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God
by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and
have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the
earth.” Revelation 5:9-10.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verses 7-8: And again I speak
unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done
away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor
healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;
Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the
gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does
not understand them.
Note: The Christian Gospel is only about Jesus Christ.
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, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then
by the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 9: For do we not read
that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is
no variableness neither shadow of changing?
Note: In the Holy Bible we do read that Jesus Christ does not change.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8.
Verse 10: And now, if ye have
imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is
shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who
is not a God of miracles.
Note: In the Holy Bible we do read that God does not change.
“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachi 3:6.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was fascinated with miracles.
Verse 11: But behold, I will
show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the
heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
Note: In God, Jews had salvation and praised Him for it.
The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is
my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Exodus 15:2.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was fascinated with miracles.
Verse 12: Behold, he created
Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man
came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus
Christ came the redemption of man.
Note: In Jesus Christ Christians have salvation and we praise Him for it.
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep,
we should live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 13: And because of the
redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back
into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are
redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the
resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless
sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God
when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and
great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed
from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death.
Note: Redemption comes through faith in Jesus Christ not the resurrection.
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.
Galatians 3:13-14.
Note: Sidney Rigdon did not understand that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 14: And then cometh the
judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he
that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be
righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is
unhappy shall be unhappy still.
Note: Redemption comes through faith in Jesus Christ not through works.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by
the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Note: Sidney Rigdon plariarized the Old King James Bible.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let
him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous
still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:11
Verses 15-16: And now, O all ye
that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I
would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken?
Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not
ceased to be a God of miracles. Behold, are not the things that God
hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the
marvelous works of God?
Note: Have you placed your sincere belief in Jesus Christ?
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29.
Note: The founders of the LDS church never did the work of God.
Verses 17-20: Who shall say
that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth
should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of
the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought? And
who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And
there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God
of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto
you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not
to be God, and is a God of miracles. And the reason why he ceaseth to
do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in
unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom
they should trust.
Note: Christian preaching will be centered on Jesus Christ.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no
effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1
Corinthians 1:17-18.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was fascinated with miracles.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 21: Behold, I say unto
you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he
shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and
this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
Note: God will not fulfill every prayer request.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3.
Verses 22-24: For behold, thus
said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry,
yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; And he
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth
not shall be damned; And these signs shall follow them that believe—in
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it
shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall
recover;
Note: Sidney Rigdon plariarized the Old King James Bible.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow
those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will
speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink
anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on
the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18.
Note: Sidney Rigdon copied a portion of scripture that was a later addition.
The majority of scholars believe that verses 9-20 were not part of the
original text, and were an addition by later Christians. Textual
critics have identified two distinct endings—the "Longer Ending" (vv.
9-20) and the "Shorter Ending," which appear together in six Greek
manuscripts, and in dozens of Ethiopic copies. The "Shorter Ending,"
with slight variations, runs as follows: "But they reported briefly to
Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this,
Jesus himself (appeared to them and) sent out by means of them, from
east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal
salvation." Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 25: And whosoever shall
believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my
words, even unto the ends of the earth.
Note: Christians are confirmed to the end for salvation.
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was
given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by
Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ
was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly
waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also
confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
Verse 26: And now, behold, who
can stand against the works of the Lord? Who can deny his sayings? Who
will rise up against the almighty power of the Lord? Who will despise
the works of the Lord? Who will despise the children of Christ? Behold,
all ye who are despisers of the works of the Lord, for ye shall wonder
and perish.
Note: The works of Jesus Christ was evidence of Him being the Messiah.
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had
opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit
of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel
to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lord.” Luke 4:17-19.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 27: O then despise not,
and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the
Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in
need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and
come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling before him.
Note: Cult members will quote Philippians 2:12 but not verse 13.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to
do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed that you were saved by your works.
Verse 28: Be wise in the days
of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that
ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that
ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and
living God.
Note: Cults never teach sincere belief for salvation.
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in
the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who
believe. These things command and teach. 1 Timothy 4:10-11.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed that you were saved by your works.
Verse 29:
See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye partake not of the
sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do all things in
worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the
living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the end, ye will in nowise
be cast out.
Note: Cults never teach sincere belief for salvation.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God,
through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. Romans
3:21-22.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed that you were saved by your works.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verses 30-32: Behold,
I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye
shall have my words. Condemn me not because of mine imperfection,
neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have
written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made
manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise
than we have been. And now, behold, we have written this record
according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us
the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according
to our manner of speech.
Note: Reformed Egyptian is not a written language.
The traditions of indigenous Mesoamerican literature extend back to the
oldest-attested forms of early writing in the Mesoamerican region,
which date from around the mid-1st millennium BCE. Many of the
pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica are known to have been literate
societies, who produced a number of Mesoamerican writing systems of
varying degrees of complexity and completeness. Mesoamerican writing
systems arose independently from other writing systems in the world,
and their development represents one of the very few such origins in
the history of writing. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Note: The Book of Mormon is filled with imperfections.
Verses 33-35: And if our plates
had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the
Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in
Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record. But
the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none
other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people
knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the
interpretation thereof. And these things are written that we may rid
our garments of the blood of our brethren, who have dwindled in
unbelief.
Note: Pre-Columbian natives did not write on plates.
Mayan was usually written in blocks arranged in columns two blocks
wide, read as follows: Maya inscriptions were most often written in
columns two glyphs wide, with each such column read left to right, top
to bottom. Within each block, glyphs were arranged top-to-bottom and
left-to-right, superficially rather like Korean Hangul syllabic blocks.
However, in the case of Mayan, each block tended to correspond to a
noun or verb phrase such as his green headband. Also, glyphs were
sometimes conflated, where an element of one glyph would replace part
of a second. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Verse 36: And behold, these
things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their
restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of
all the saints who have dwelt in the land.
Note: Israel will awaken spiritually after the Church age.
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this
mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in
part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come
in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer
will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Romans
11:25-27.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
Verse 37: And may the Lord
Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to
their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath
made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through
faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Note: Israel will awaken spiritually after the Church age.
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is
also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better
promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place
would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them,
He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them,
says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their
mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his
brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least
of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember
no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to
vanish away. Hebrews 8:6-13.
Note: Greek was unknown in pagan Pre-Columbian America.
Christ comes from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed one."
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