Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Is Mormonism Truly Christianity?

Search your feelings to know the truth? 
The Mormon way isn't Christ's way

There is so much loud debate. So many people trying to prove that Mormonism is true or it is not. Archaeological studies, DNA studies etc. 

All of this bickering is to tip the scale of the "feeling" war that is being waged. Is this good? Well I am glad people are willing to research, to fight, and to prove the Book of Mormon is wrong. I'm a recovering Christian who recently left the Mormon faith so I'm studying a lot. One really interesting youtube video done by Chris Johnson a couple years ago provides more evidence as to where Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon was pilfered from. He has a great study comparing the text of the Book of Mormon to The First Book of Napoleon and The Late War and how it influenced Joseph Smith's writing of the Book of Mormon. You can view it on youtube at.


Or go to his website. http://askreality.com/hidden-in-plain-sight/ I look forward to digging into the books he references in his talk.

But should our decisions to believe be influenced by these studies?
Mormonism encourages you to pray and let your spirit tell you if the Book of Mormon is true. Anti-Mormons yell, "LOOK AT THE FACTS!" All of this is just creating a "game of war" environment for our hearts and minds. It becomes confusing and turbulent. Is this Christian? Not really. 

Don't get me wrong, I love the work that Chris Johnson has done. It further shows that the Book of Mormon is an adaptation of many other influencing books. Also shows that this indeed could be inspired, but not necessarily by God. And Joe boy himself admits that he was led by an angel of light. 

Should we then as people seeking God's truth listen to the Anti-Mormons and be swayed by them? Or the Pro-Mormons? Should we not listen to any of these loud voices? I will tell you one thing, if you are still a believer in Mormonism, that does not mean you can't hear God's voice. I was told that when I was still a Mormon believer. The Anti-Mormons will say that your faculties are impaired because you are listening to a different Jesus. I know this to be a false argument because it limits God's power. He can speak to whomever he wants. 

Listen to God. All these studies by men are good, and bad at the same time. Even the ones that support your current beliefs are bad. Why? Because you are listening to men. Heck even if you are a Mormon believer, the Doctrine in Covenants tells you not to trust in the arms of flesh. In essence don't listen to men. So that being said, lets look at an example that neither side can deny. An example of listening to God's truth. 

Both sides believe the Bible is true. Lets take an example from the King James Bible of what we are to do. Mormon's say, listen to your feelings and your spirit inside you to know if the Book of Mormon is true? right? What did Jesus Christ do?


Matthew 4:1-11King James Version (KJV)


4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.



What do you think Jesus was feeling? Ask yourself, as a man, what would YOU be feeling? I'm hungry, I want food. I'll prove to the devil I am the Son of God hah! look, stones are bread devil! Do any of us doubt that Jesus could have done that? How many of us if given that same dare from one of our friends or acquaintances KNOWING that we could indeed prove the power we have, wouldn't do it? 

Again being on top of a temple pinnacle what do you think Jesus might feel as a man? I myself am scared witless of heights! If I can command angels to save me, why wouldn't I?! God loves me and doesn't want me harmed. What would you be feeling if you were in Jesus's shoes? 

Lastly how many of us desire power, glory or even just simple security knowing that we will live in comfort and acceptance and will be able to provide for our loved ones? These were offered Jesus. If your boss or a powerful business man you know offered you money and security if you did something he wanted, or did NOT do anything about something? How many of us have sat and said nothing when we should have stood to our feet in front of our friends and business associates and said, "no, I will not be a part of this and you shouldn't either." That is a terrifying feeling to risk ridicule, loss of acceptance, or even your job.

And lastly, did Jesus search his spirit wondering if any of this was okay? No. What is the keyword in EVERY response from Jesus? It is written. It is written. Not I feel that would be wrong, I feel God won't like that. Jesus knew what the word of God was. He didn't listen to his feelings, didn't even consult his feelings! He held fast to the written word of God.

While I love the studies, and am a man that loves a good argument, as a Christian we are to hold fast to the written word of God. I know what you are thinking now. "But Jake! The Book of Mormon IS the written word of God!" Well as a Mormon you've got some tough work before you if you still believe that. Also note that Satan himself in tempting Jesus used "it is written", do you think he is beyond writing his own Bible?

Instead of turning to the studies and the "war of words" and listening to men who want to sway those "feelings" inside you to determine if the Book of Mormon IS the written word of God, I pray that you will turn instead to the uncontested word of God. The Bible. Neither side, Pro or Anti Mormon can contest that the Bible IS the word of God. Jesus Christ himself clung to it. That should be your guide as well. And please don't pick up a "interpretation" of the Bible. Get a King James Version. It's a bit harder with the old English, but it's all there. 

If you are a Mormon and know your Book of Mormon you can find the similar but altered Bible verses. Do they agree? Do they match? Study both of these, use my sidebyside blog links to help you find comparable verses. Use the Bible as your baseline. As the cornerstone of your faith. If the Book of Mormon is truly inspired by the same God of the Bible, they will both be the same. Because God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  



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