BOOK OF MORMON


Mosiah - Chapter 3 Critique

 

Setting: Mosiah records King Benjamin the Jew's 124 BCE message in America.

 

Verses 1-2: AND again my brethren, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come. And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.

Note: The Holy Spirit is not a mere angel of God.

2 Peter 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

Verse 3: And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.

Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the old King James version Holy Bible.

Luke 2:10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."

 

Verse 4: For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy.

Note: The righteousness of mankind is not the basis for favor from God.

Deuteronomy 9:5-6 "It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people."

 

Verse 5: For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the old King James version Holy Bible.

Matthew 11:5 "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them."

 

Verse 6: And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the old King James version Holy Bible.

Mark 1:34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

 

Verse 7: And lo, 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.

Note: The blood of Christ was shed at Calvary not Gethsemane per LDS doctrine.

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.

 

Verse 8: And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

Note: The word "Christ" is derived from Greek and unknown in the Americas at this time.

Webster's Dictionary: from the Greek Christos.

Note: The name "Mary" is derived from Greek and unknown in the Americas at this time.

Webster's Dictionary: from the Greek Mariam.

 

Verse 9: And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

Note: Mormon buildings do not display a cross as LDS doctrine minimizes His death.

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

 

Verse 10: And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

Note: Have you been saved from judgment through faith in Jesus Christ?

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

 

Verse 11: For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

Note: Mormon doctrine proclaims that mankind did not inherit their nature from Adam.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Note: Sin nature is inherited from Adam resulting in eternal death.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Note: Eternal life overcomes eternal death through sincere trust in Jesus Christ.

 

Verse 12: But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: The Mormon church has added to the Christian gospel rules and regulations.

Clergymen, including the well-known Billy Graham, stress the ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST as the world's great need, for upon Him, they say, our salvation depends. Acceptance of JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD is sadly needed even by the clergy-who need also to know that one's salvation demands more than mere acceptance. Faith in Him without conformance to His gospel laws will not achieve the salvation and exaltation that I desire. Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year. Brigham Young University Press, 1960-1966.

Note: The Christian gospel does not include rules and regulations.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

 

Verse 13: And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.

Note: The death of Jesus Christ for your sins was more important than His arrival.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

 

Verse 14: Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses.

Note: Have you escaped the law and been justified by faith in Jesus Christ?

Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

 

Verse 15: And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.

Note: Have you escaped the law and been justified by faith in Jesus Christ?

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

 

Verse 16: And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.

Note: Little children are in sin and need a Savior. Have you heard a baby cry recently?

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

 

Verse 17: And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the old King James version Holy Bible.

Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

 

Verse 18: For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

Note: The Mormon plan of salvation is not Christian.

The plan of salvation is not limited to just the first principles and the temple ceremony. The plan of salvation includes and incorporates the whole transaction-including the grand premortal council, the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement, all of the gospel principles and ordinances, the resurrection, the Judgment, exaltation, and so on. A Bible! A Bible! Salt Lake City, Utah: 1990.

 

Verse 19: For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Note: Have you put off the Mormon natural man through sincere faith in Jesus Christ?

Ephesians 2:8-10 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.

 

Verse 20: And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the old King James version Holy Bible.

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people;

 

Verse 21: And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent.

Note: The Mormon plan of salvation is not Christian.

Will they be saved by baptism alone, or is more required? Can we believe in Christ, repent of our sins, accept baptism, find fellowship with the saints, and then rest secure in the hope of gaining eternal life? In answer we say: Baptism is a beginning; baptism opens a door; baptism charts a course. After baptism comes obedience -- obedience to all of the promises made in the covenant of baptism, obedience to all of the laws and ordinances of the gospel. There is no salvation without baptism, but baptism alone does not save. McConkie, Bruce R. A New Witness for the Articles of Faith. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1985.

 

Verses 22-23: And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee. And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me.

Note: Will you be found blameless by God of Mormon heresies?

1 Corinthians 1:4-8 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.

 

Verse 24: And thus saith the Lord: They shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.

Note: Your words or testimony will indicate your eternal destiny.

Matthew 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Note: Is your testimony of a church based in Utah or of Jesus Christ?

 

Verse 25: And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

Note: Modern Mormons believe that endless torment will have a end.

The endless torment is because God is endless and therefore justice cannot be escaped, instead of the duration of the punishment being endless. Punishment is given only until the demands of justice are met. Harris, Franklin S. Jr. The Book of Mormon: Message and Evidences. 2nd. ed. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1961.

 

Verse 26: Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever.

Note: Modern Mormons believe that endless torment will have a end.

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. In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord has explained what is meant by the terms "endless torment" and "eternal damnation": Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment. Ludlow, Daniel H. A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah: Desert Book, 1976.

 

Verse 27: And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever. Thus hath the Lord commanded me. Amen.

Note: Modern Mormons believe that endless torment will have a end.

"Endless torment," "eternal damnation" are expressions which denote the punishment inflicted by the Endless One, the Eternal One. "Eternal punishment" is contrasted with such punishment as man can inflict on man in time here on earth. Ludlow, Daniel H. A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants, Volumes 1 & 2. Salt Lake City, Utah: Desert Book, 1978.

Note: Christians are saved eternally from endless torment through faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:10-11 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Note: Are you rejoicing in God through Jesus Christ?

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