BOOK OF MORMON
Mosiah - Chapter 16 Critique
Setting: The record of Zeniff continues with Abinadi preaching to king Noah in 148 BCE America per Mormon calculations.
Verse 1: AND now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.
Note: The eternal judgment of God is a basic Christian doctrine.
Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Verse 2: And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
Note: Modern Mormons do not believe in eternal judgment of God.
However, after paying the last farthing, murderers will reside in the Telestial Kingdom and thus be saved in the kingdom of God. Although the sin of murder is unforgivable as far as the atonement of Christ is concerned, the repentant murderer can still qualify for salvation in the Telestial Kingdom. Thus the sin of murder is different from the sin against the Holy Ghost and sexual sin. Book of Mormon Symposium Series. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988-1995.
Verse 3: For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
Note: Modern Mormons do not believe that sin originated with Adam.
We refuse to believe, with some churches of Christendom, that the Biblical account of the Fall of man records the corruption of human nature or to accept the doctrine of original sin. Brown, Hugh B. The Abundant Life. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1965
Verse 4: Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
Note: Modern Mormons do not believe in eternal judgment of God.
The false doctrine that the punishment to be visited upon erring souls is endless, that every sentence for sin is of Interminable duration, must be regarded as one of the most pernicious results of misapprehension of scripture. It is but a dogma of unauthorized and erring sectaries, at once unscriptural, unreasonable, and revolting to one who loves mercy and honors justice. True, the scriptures speak of everlasting burnings, eternal damnation, and the vengeance of eternal fire, as characteristics of the judgment provided for the wicked; yet in no instance is there justification for the inference that the individual sinner will have to suffer the wrath of offended justice forever and ever. Talmage, James E. A Study of the Articles of Faith. 12th ed., rev. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1978.
Note: eternal defined: having infinite duration or everlasting. Webster's Dictionary.
Verse 5: But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.
Note: Modern Mormons do not believe in eternal judgment of God.
The major Christian churches that believe in a place called hell refer to it as a place of endless burnings and punishment. The leaders of these churches evidently get this belief partially from their interpretation of such scriptures as Luke 16:28 (where hell is referred to as a "place of torment") and from Matthew 13:42 (where hell is referred to as a "furnace of fire," where there will be "wailing and gnashing of teeth"). However, the exact wording that hell is a place "where people are continually burning but are never consumed" is not found in the scriptures; largely this concept comes from false interpretations by men. Ludlow, Daniel H. A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah: Desert Book, 1976.
Verse 6: And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
Note: The word "Christ" was unknown in B.C.E. America.
Christ: from old English Crist, from Latin Christus, from Greek Christos. Webster's Dictionary.
Verse 7: And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
Note: Sidney Rigdon borrowed from the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
Verse 8: But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
Note: Sidney Rigdon borrowed from the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
1 Corinthians 15:55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
Verse 9: He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
Note: Is your testimony of Jesus Christ or a bogus church based in Utah?
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Verse 10: Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil--
Note: Sidney Rigdon borrowed from the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
Verse 11: If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation--
Note: Modern Mormons do not believe in eternal judgment of God.
All the laws of God are eternal, but in meting out punishment to men in mortality, he has not declared that there is no opportunity for forgiveness even in the life to come. The Savior said, [Matt. 12:21-32 quoted]. This shows that the Savior taught that sins -- all sins, in fact, which were not unto death -- could be forgiven in the world to come. Ludlow, Daniel H. A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants, Volumes 1 & 2. Salt Lake City, Utah: Desert Book, 1978.
Verse 12: Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.
Note: Have you called on the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance for grace?
1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 13: And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?
Note: Modern Mormons believe that they are saved only after their best efforts or works.
Yes, it is 'by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.' (2 Ne. 25:23.) "What is meant by 'after all we can do'? 'After all we can do' includes extending our best effort. 'After all we can do' includes living His commandments." LDS Church News, Deseret News. 2/3/96. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Publishing Company.
Verse 14: Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come--
Note: They never taught animal sacrifices as being symbolic of the Lamb of God.
1 Kings 9:25 Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the LORD, and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the temple.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Verse 15: Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father. Amen.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was confused about the persons of the Trinity.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
Note: Do you love Jesus Christ or a bogus church based in Utah?