“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” (I Corinthians 15:3-8)
This is the Excerpt from “Love Affair” where I made that statement:
At the library in Las Vegas I had noticed a group of young men wearing white shirts with name tags. The tags had “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” on them. One day I was sitting by one of them while using the computer. I asked him if I could ask him a question. He said yes.
I said, “Do you study from the Bible or from the Book of Mormon?”
He said, “Both.”
Then he said, “Do you want a Book of Mormon?”
I said, “Sure.” I thought he was going to tell me how to download the book. He gave me the actual blue cover book.
He continued, “Like any book the first thing you want to do is read the Introduction” and read the first sentence of it to me which states:
“The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible.”
Here we go again. Then he stressed to read it with an open mind. It sounded like he has already decided my mind is closed. You do not have to have an open mind to read Truth. Truth is what opens our mind.
The Book of Mormon is setup like the Bible. It has books and chapters like the Bible. The footnotes refer to verses in the Bible. He led me to the right place because there was enough error in the Introduction and the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith that I do not need to read the rest of the book. The way he obtained the information is in error, which tells me the information is in error too.
First of all it states in the Introduction, “the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection.” The Bible clearly states Jesus was only on earth forty days after His Resurrection. He spent those forty days with His Disciples so He could not have been with the Nephites:
“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey” (Acts 1:3-4, 10, 12)
Secondly it states, “On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him.” It states in the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, “he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni;” Only Jesus and angels are in the Presence of God:
“And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” (Luke 1:19)
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
God used angels to deliver his Message before the Holy Spirit:
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)
The Word of God clearly states that no one that has died or “a glorified resurrected being” can come to Earth:
“And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” (Luke 16:26)
It was Moses and Elias in Jesus’ Glory:
“And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30-31)
Third the Introduction states, “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth.” The Bible is a Book. That just belittled the Bible. That just stated the Bible is not correct.
The last thing I want to comment on in the Introduction is it states, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Kingdom once again established on the earth.” God only has one Church, Christianity. It is the Lord’s Kingdom on Earth.
On front of the Book of Mormon it states, “Another testament of Jesus Christ.” God put four testaments of Jesus Christ in the Bible. They are called The Gospels. If God wanted another one He would have had it put it in the Bible. God only operate in One, which includes the One Bible.
The Book of Mormon is the reason people do not consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christians and think they are a cult. The book they think makes them special is an idol. If they do not denounce the Book of Mormon it will bring God’s Judgment. If they operate out of the Bible too why didn’t the young man offer me a Bible too?
LINING THINGS UP TO THE WORD OF GOD IS HOW WE KNOW WHETHER IT IS TRUTH OR NOT.
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (I Corinthians 3:13)
THE “FIRE” IS THE BIBLE.
“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)
CHRISTIANITY!!! IF YOU ARE USING ANOTHER BOOK BESIDES THE BIBLE IT WILL BRING GOD’S JUDGMENT ON YOU.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:” (Colossians 3:5-6)
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (I John 5:21)
WHAT IDOLS DO YOU HAVE?