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Anyone who has taken "the discussions" with
Mormon Missionaries will have met the challenge of the Book of
Mormon. "Will you pray about this book and ask God if it is true?"
They will have heard Moroni's promise, " …
ask God, the Eternal Father in the name of Christ, if these things
are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real
intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of
it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power
of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
Moroni 10:4-5 This is the experience on which the Mormon
"testimony" is based, the starting point of someone's involvement
in the Mormon Church.
In principle Moroni's promise extends beyond the Book of Mormon,
encompassing "all things" upon which we seek enlightenment. In
practice I doubt you will find a Mormon today who has read, and
prayed about, the Bible. Of course Mormons pray about many
things as they seek that inner affirmation that tells them they
are being led correctly, confirms that the church is true, and
confirms their leader as a living prophet. They don't, however,
pray about the Bible. This is hardly surprising since the Mormon
Church has by-passed God's word in those very missionary discussions
that are meant to teach God's truth.
The whole thrust of the missionary discussions is their account
of apostasy and restoration. The Bible is the book of the apostasy,
the Book of Mormon the instrument of God's restoration of truth
through Joseph Smith. References to the Bible are restricted to
questionable interpretations of texts that a) confirm apostasy
(Acts 20:29-31) [1], and b) confirm Mormon doctrine (John 10:14-16)
[2]. While the Book of Mormon is presented as "Another Testament
of Jesus Christ" and a companion volume to the Bible, in truth
this book of the restoration delivers the final blow to the Bible:
"Thou hast beheld that [when] the book
proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew; …it contained the fulness
of the gospel of the Lord…Wherefore these things go forth from
the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles…And after they go forth by
the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto
the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable
church, which is abominable above all other churches; for behold,
they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which
are plain and most precious…and all this they have done that they
may pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they may blind the
eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men." [3]
The Bible is relegated to only a remnant of truth. A book into
which many errors have crept, whose dependability is confined
to those bits that agree with the words of the Mormon prophets.
No, Mormons don't pray about the Bible. They already "know" that
it has been corrupted in its transmission, altered by profane
and uninspired translators, and misinterpreted by "corrupt professors"
whose creeds are "an abomination in the sight of God" who "draw
near [to God] with their lips, but their hearts are far from [him]."
(Joseph Smith-History 1:19). They know this because the book they
have prayed about has told them so. By the third missionary discussion
the Bible has been effectively dismissed. When you consider that
it is not uncommon for people to receive the first few discussions
within a week or two of meeting the missionaries it is clear that
they waste no time.
By the time the typical Mormon has a Bible in their hands they
know that it is wrong without ever having read it. Now the path
is clear for establishing Mormon authority in its place. Mormons
do read the Bible but their reading is punctuated by commentary
from church leaders through manuals and study guides, magazines
and conference talks, and church meetings. The Bible is never
allowed to speak for itself because it is not reliable. They need
someone to guide them and to teach them what it really means. [4]
Won't you Please Pray about this Book?
If Moroni's promise is to be taken seriously, however, we should
pray about all things that are presented to us as
truth. The Bible should be no exception. Here is a book, that
Jesus and the apostles quoted extensively. It contains the most
comprehensive account we have of the life and ministry of the
Saviour, and the establishment of the church. A book which, contrary
to Mormon claims has been miraculously preserved and extensively
authenticated by archaeological evidence. Written over a period
of 1500 years by more than 40 authors from all walks of life;
written in different places and differing circumstances across
three continents and in three languages; yet written with harmony
and continuity from Genesis to Revelation, telling one story [5].
Any person seeking truth would surely consider a book with such
qualifications. No one would dismiss it on the word of two strangers
whom they have just met. Sadly many do.
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[1] This, and other texts, e.g. Matt.24: 9-11; 1Tim.4: 1-3, cannot
mean a complete falling away from the truth. This would contradict
Jesus' promise in Matt.16: 18.
[2] A misuse of scripture to confirm their claim that Christ visited
America after his resurrection (3 Nephi: 15). Jesus earthly mission
was to the Jews (Matt.15: 24). The other sheep are those outside
Judaism. This reference pictures the future, world-wide, scope
of the Church.
[3] 1 Nephi 13:24-27 cf. Joseph Smith-History 1:18-19. Here is
the true heart attitude of the Mormon Church to Christian Churches.
Christians are portrayed as corrupt and abominable.
[4[ Typically a piece of homely advice to Christians on how to deal with suffering (James 1:5) becomes a key formula for discovering truth much like Moroni's promise. See our book Mormonism, a Gold Plated Religion for more on this.
[5] For an extensive treatment of this see Josh McDowell's, Christianity, A Ready Defence.
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