Bible Study with the LDS

By Bobby Long

All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Tim. 3:16 ------------For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. 2Cor. 11:4 ------------But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8 ------------1) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor. 15:1-4

THE GOSPEL:
God Demands RIGHTEOUSNESS: [20] For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:20 KJV) Man is NOT RIGHTEOUS: [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Rom 3:10 KJV) SIN leads to DEATH: [23] For the wages of sin [is] death; (Rom. 6:23a KJV) God made a way for LIFE: but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23b KJV) God added humanity to His Diety and walked among us. 100 man / 100 deity: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 KJV) The sinless Christ became our sin so that we could share in HIS righteous: [21] For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Cr 5:21 KJV) CHRIST DIED for US: [8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8 KJV) REPENT AND BELIEVE: [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mar 1:15 KJV) THE GOSPEL COST GOD EVERYTHING, YET IT IS SIMPLE: [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2Cr 11:3 KJV) THE GOSPEL: [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Cr 15:1-4 KJV) OUR SALVATION IS DUE SOLE TO THE GIFT OF GOD: [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Eph 2:8 KJV)

First Of All:
I have nothing against Joseph Smith and Brigham Young as people, my criticism is against the system of theology that they said God gave them. We dont what to argue with people, I want to discuss the system. Its a pretty sorry state when a group of intelligent people cant get together and sit down and objectively discuss the person of Jesus Christ without getting personal and nasty.

Q: What does this statement mean to you concerning the Bible?

Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latterday Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test. Journal of Discourses, Vol.16, p.46, Brigham Young, May 18, 1873. There is no clash in the principles revealed in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants; and there would be no clash between any of the doctrines taught by Joseph the Prophet and by the brethren now, if all would live in a way to be governed by the Spirit of the Lord. All do not live so as to have the Spirit of the Lord with them all the time, and the result is that some get out of the way. (Brigham Young: Journal of Discourses, Vol.5, p.329, Brigham Young, October 7, 1857) Some, in their curiosity, will say, "But you Mormons have another Bible! Do you believe in the Old and New Testaments?" I answer we do believe in the Old and New Testaments, and we have also another book, called the Book of Mormon. What are the doctrines of the Book of Mormon? The same as those of the Bible. (Journal of Discourses, Vol.13, p.174 p.175, Brigham Young, May 29, 1870)

Would it be a fair to say that?

1. Brigham Young invited comparison of the Bible and BM to see if the BM stands the test? __Yes __ No 2. We should find no clash in principles or doctrine between the Bible and the BM? __Yes __ No 3. We should find no clash in principles or doctrine between the Bible and the D&C? __Yes __ No 4. Should there be any clash in principles between the Bible and anything Brigham Young or Joseph Smith said? __Yes __ No 5. Did God inspire the Bible? __Yes __ No 6. Does God ever lie? __Yes __ No

What do the following passages say concerning the Bible?

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And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matt: 24:35 Mar. 13:31 Luke 21:33 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Rev. 3:8 Q: From the passages above, who is responsible for the preservation of Scripture? __ Man ___ God Q: What does preservation mean? Would you agree that it means that it is kept safe and the teachings would be the same today as it was the day it was preserved? __ Yes ___ No Q: Has God ever failed? __ Yes ___ No Q: Did Jesus lie when he said, "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go forth and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" John 15:16 Q: ___ Yes ___ No: Where the NT writers delusional when they wrote, 2 Tim. 2:2 "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Do you accept the Bible as the infallible Word of God? Do you accept it totally as it is written? Do you read Greek / Hebrew? __Yes __Yes __Yes __ No __ No __ No

I understand the Mormons recognized 4 books with equal validity: Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price The Bible in so far as it is correct translated (KJV) Did God inspire the Bible? __Yes Does God ever lie? __Yes Can we rely upon God at all times? __Yes __ No __ No __ No

Q. Which is the oldest Revelation? (BIBLE) Then, if God doesnt lie, and will always tell us the truth from beginning to end, then we should test the more recent revelations by the oldest right? As a matter of fact, Brigham encourages that doesnt he? __Yes __ No God says His word is true because he tells the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10) Re-establishment of Israel Deut. 28:64, Luke 19:43-44 The destruction of Tyre Eze. 26. Sidon (Ezekiel 28:22-23); Samaria (Hosea 13:16 & Micah 1:6); Gaza-Ashkelon (Amos 1:8; Jeremiah 47:5; Zephaniah 2:4); Moab-Ammon (Ezekiel 25:3-4; Jeremiah 48:47 & 49:6); Petra-Edom (Isaiah 34:6-15; Jeremiah 49:17-18; Ezekiel 25:13-14 & 35:57); Thebes-Memphis (Ezekiel 30:13-15); Nineveh (Nahum 1:8-10; 2:6; 3:10; 3:13; 3:19);

Lets Look at the Bible and see how the Book of Mormon compares.. We can and should do that according to Brigham. Notice the Bible is the standard, the Book of Mormon is the tested. Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latterday Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test. Journal of Discourses, Vol.16, p.46, Brigham Young, May 18, 1873. These are the reason we dont believe the Mormons are Christians. And the Mormons really shouldnt be surprise or upset because: President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints do not believe in the traditional Christ. No, I dont. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. Church News, June 20, 1998, p. 7 If youre a Christian like me because you believe in Jesus Christ, why does your Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and other leaders admit that you believe in a different Jesus from the one that I trust in for my salvation? How would you feel if I claimed to be Mormon, but I decided not to accept the Book of Mormon as Scripture or Joseph Smith as a Prophet? Why, then, do you judge me for claiming that Mormonism is not Christian due to its rejection of the historic Christian beliefs concerning Jesus Christ and Salvation? =========================================================

The Basic Premise and Foundation of Mormonism:

The entire theology of Mormonism comes down to the truthfulness of one man; JOSEPH SMITH. If Joseph did not tell the truth or if the what Joseph said is contradictory to the Bible which is the oldest Revelation, then the structure of Mormonism crumbles to the ground. If Joseph Smith is found to be a false prophet then the precepts of Mormonism are false and should not be trusted. So when we examine the claims and doctrines of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon they are either in line with the Bible or they are not. If they are not then we have a contradiction and one must either except the Bible or the word of Joseph Smith. 1 Thessalonians 5:21: Prove all things; hold fast to what is good. Moroni 10:4-5: 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. This is a self-fulfilling prayer. To believe the Book of Mormon, you have to accept and believe the promise of Moroni 5:21. If you believe Moroni then you have already accepted the Book of Mormon as true. Praying this prayer only signifies that you have already accepted the Book as truth The promise of Moroni 5:21 states that if everyone prayed this prayer, then those who pray sincerely in faith (already believing that it is the truth when the truth is what we are praying about) will receive a testimony, while those who are insincere will not receive that response. Since it is impossible to know who is sincere and who is not it is impossible to know which responses are to be trusted. The testimony proves nothing about the validity of the truth of something. It only speaks to the sincerity of the person that believes. But remember, one can be sincere about a belief and be sincerely wrong. The true test of truth must be Holy Scripture. The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings. Jer. 17:9-10 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11 He that trusteth his own heart is a fool. Prov. 28:26

There are many deceiving spirits that will lie to the heart of man. 1 Timothy 4:1 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1Ti 4:1 KJV) 1 John 4:1 [1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1Jo 4:1 KJV) Gal 1:8 [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8 KJV) II Cor. 11:14 [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2Cr 11:14 KJV) Testing for Truth: Consistency: Does the oldest Revelations that we know are from God match up with the revelations that are hot off the press..

Is Jerusalem a LAND or a CITY? Where was Jesus Born?

In Alma 7:10 it says, 10 And behold, he shall be aborn of Mary, at bJerusalem which is the cland of our forefathers, she being a dvirgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and econceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. In the Book of Mormon, Jerusalem is a land, but the Bible and history shows that Jerusalem is a city in the land given to Judah. The Bible says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. [1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (Mat 2:1 KJV) [2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. (Mic 5:2 KJV) Please Explain?

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When were Christians Called Christians?

We call ourselves Christians because we follow the Biblical Christ. The Bible teaches that, [26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Act 11:26 KJV) However, the Book of Mormon calls believers Christians and claims that it was written in 73BC? 15 And those who did belong to the church were afaithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ btook upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or cChristians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come. Alma 46:15 Please Explain:

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Was the Fall of Adam a Good Thing?

When Adam fell, it brought sin and suffering in to the world. [12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Rom 5:12 KJV) [5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psa 51:5 KJV) [17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; [18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return. (Gen 3:17-19 KJV) These verses bring up several points: In the Book of Mormon, it says this, 25 aAdam bfell that men might be; and men care, that they might have djoy. 2 Nephi 2:25 The Bible states that Adam sinned and the fall resulted. Yet Brigham says that Adam is the God, the Almighty Father, and the only God with whom we have to do. If this is the case then the Mormon God not only is capable of SINNING, but did it ON PURPOSE. "Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken -- He is our Father, and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Brigham Young: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 50- scan in file).

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The Bible proclaims God as HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, PURE, INCAPABLE OF SINNING, UNEQUALED, and ALL POWERFUL, yet the Mormon Gods actions brought sin upon the entire race of mankind, caused the earth to be cursed. Not only that, but if Adam is the true God of the Bible and The Book of Mormon, then He is not ALL POWERFUL because He was Judged by another and he was a spirit that took on a body. But the Bible says, And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Ex. 3:14 [interpreted: Self-Existent One] 25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Isa. 40:25 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Cor. 15:46 Please Explain:
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How was Jesus BEGOTTEN?

In Mormon Theology, Jesus was a product of sexual relations with Adam-God and Mary and was NOT begotten by the Holy Spirit. "Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken He is our Father, and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Brigham Young: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 50- scan in file). "Now remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost" Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p.51- scan in file). The birth of the Savior was a s natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of a natural action. He partook of flesh and blook- was gegotten of his Father, as we are of our fathers. (Herbert C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses; 8:211) Christ is the Son of Man, meaning that his Father (the eternal God) is a Holy Man. In the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is the name of God. (Bruce McConkie; Mormon Doctrine: Pg. 742) Jesus was not the son of any mortal man. His biological father was God, the Father. As Son of God, Jesus represents the Father and acts as his agent in all things. (Joseph F. Smith. The Restoration of All Things. Pg. 61) Mary told the story most beautifully when she said that an angel of the Lord caem to her and told her that she had found favor in the sight of God and had come to be worthy of the fulfillment of the promises heretofore made, to become the virgin mother of the Redeemer of the world. She afterwards, referring to the event, said: God hath done wonderful things unto me. And the Holy Ghost came upon her, is the story, and she came into the presence of the highest. No man or woman can live mortality and survive the presence of the Hightest except by the sustaining power of the Holy Ghost. So it came upon her to prepare her for admittance into the divine presence, and the power of the Highest, who is the Father, was present, and overshadowed her, and the holy Child that was born of her was called the Son of God. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p. 472-473)

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But the Bible plainly states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit. Matt. 1:18- Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matt. 1:20- But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Luke 1:35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Not only that, but Brigham contradicts The Book of Mormon. In Alma it says, Book of Mormon: "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, ... she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God." Alma 7:10 Brigham Young: "Now remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost" Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p.51- scan in file). Joseph F. Smith: They tell us that the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost. I challenge that statement. The book of Mormon teaches No Such Thing! Neither does the Bible! (Joseph Fielding Smith, 10th Prophet of the Mormon Church. Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1:18)

QUESTION: Which is right? The Book of Mormon or Brigham Young? Joseph Smith taught that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on eartha man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461)

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Was Brigham a False Prophet?

If not, please explain why he was not?

Was Joseph F. Smith a False Prophet?

If not, please explain why he was not?

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SALVATION BY GRACE. AFTER ALL WE CAN DO?

In 2 Nephi, it says that Faith + Works = Salvation: 2 NEPHI 25:23: for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. But the Bible plainly states that, EPHESIAHS 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faithNot of works, lest any man should boast. Questions: How do you know that you have done all you can do?

Cant one always do more?

If you can do more, then youve not done all you can do?

How do you square this teaching with 1 John 5:13 which says, These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue to] believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

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Book of Mormon: ALMA 5:27-31: Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life. Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless. And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved! Spencer W. Kimball (12th Prophet of LDS Church; The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 163-165) There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of the sin. He saving power does not extend to him who merely wants to change his life. Nor is repentance, complete when one merely tries to abandon sin. To try is weak. To do the best I can is not strong. We mist always to better than we can.. Question: Are you keeping yourself blameless before God? Have you been sufficiently humble? Are stripped away of all pride and envy? Are you guiltless or sinless? Have you ever mocked your brother? If you can not answer these by saying YES then you are NOT prepared to meet God. Trying is not good enough.. A TOTAL abandonment of sin is required.

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Moroni 10:32: Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. Gods grace is not sufficient for you UNTIL you have first denied yourself of ALL ungodliness. Have you denied yourself of ALL ungodliness?

1 NEPHI 3:7: for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

If the LORD gives no commandment that the children of men cannot keep then we should be able to keep ALL the ten commandments ALL the days of our life if we want.. If we do not keep all the commandments and fail in them more than once even after we repent, then that would mean that the repentance that we thought as sincere in our heart was really not. For if it were, we would not have committed that sin again; correct? Do not Murder? Remember thou, Jesus said, if you have ever been angry with your brother without a cause or called him a fool you have committed murder in your heart (Matt. 5: 21-22) Do not commit Adultery? Remember: Jesus said that if you look at a woman with lust, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart (Matt. 5:27-28) Honor your father and mother? Do not steal? Do not covet? Have you ever been angry with another even after repenting of the same sin? Have you ever looked at the opposite sex with lust? Have you ever disrespected you mother or father in word or deed? Have you ever stolen anything? Paperclip, time, etc.. Have you ever wanted something that someone else has or been jealous?

Do not lie? remember: Revelation 21:8 warns: all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

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ALMA 45:16: for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 25:15: Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come. Since the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, what have you done to eradicate sin in your life? If you have not fully repented by putting an end to sin and keeping Gods commandments continually, how can you claim to be forgiven by the God? ALMA 34:32: For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. Since this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God, how can you claim that you have time after death to eradicate sin in your life? DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 58:43: By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sinsbehold, he will confess them and forsake them. At Sacrament meeting each week, do you renew your covenants to keep Gods commandments? Since you are continually breaking Gods commandments, doesnt this make you an unrepentant covenant breaker? After all, if you truly did repent the first time by forsaking your sins, you wouldnt need to continually repent again and again, would you? Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 148 DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 82:7: And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God. Have you ever repeated a sin after asking for forgiveness? What do your Scriptures say happens to the soul who continually sins? How can you be forgiven if you are held accountable for your former sins? Since you have not stopped sinning, would it be safe to say that you have procrastinated the day of your repentance?

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ALMA 34:33-35: And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. CONCLUSION:

What does this Book of Mormon Scripture say happens to the person who procrastinates the day of his repentance until death? Since the same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that you go out of this life will have power to possess your body in the eternal world, how can you repent (i.e., stop sinning) and be forgiven after you die? If after death, you are subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his, can you see why Alma 11:37 says that the Jesus of Mormonism cannot save you in your sins?
ALMA 11:37: And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.

Since ye cannot be saved in your sins, and you have already admitted that you have not repented of ALL of your sins because you have not stopped breaking the commandments, how can the Jesus of Mormonism save you?

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This is not my interpretation.. If you discount it as such then you much repent because your CHURCH LEADERSHIP has said the same thing: Those who receive forgiveness and then repeat the sin are held accountable for their former sins. Gospel Principles, 1995ed, p. 253 Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness for our sins through sincere and complete repentance. Abandonment of Sin. Although confession is an essential element of repentance, it is not enough. The Lord has said, By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sinsbehold, he will confess them and forsake them (D&C 58:43). Maintain an unyielding, permanent resolve that you will never repeat the transgression. When you keep this commitment, you will never experience the pain of that sin again. True to the Faith A Gospel Reference, 2004, pp. 70, 134-135 ROMANS 11:6: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Is Jesus sufficient or is He just a necessary step for salvation? If Jesus is sufficient, why do we need to add works to His saving grace? Can you see how believing that you must do all you can do for salvation is a disgrace to God because you are saying that His gift (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9) of Jesus Christ is insufficient to save you to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25)? JAMES 2:10: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Since we cannot keep the whole law, can you see why salvation has to be granted by grace alone apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28; 4:4-5), and why God cannot accept your filthy rags of pride to merit Celestial glory (Isaiah 64:6; Philippians 3:9; Ephesians 2:9)? JAMES 2:17-18: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. The context of James 2 is contrasting the difference between a dead faith that cannot save and a living faith that is evidenced (i.e., shown) by works. Just as a fruit tree is proved alive by its fruit, so true living faith will be proved alive by the fruit of Christian works (John 13:34-35). These works will indeed shew that the true living faith that justifies a person is alive within the heart. Rewards given in Heaven are not done to merit a higher level of eternal life. Rather, these rewards are given to be thrown down at the feet of Jesus in gratitude and worship because He is the only One who is worthy (Luke 17:9-10; Revelation 4:10-11).

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The Law and Commandments were given in order to lead us to Christ: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Gal. 3:24.. When we come to the realization that we cannot keep the law and any trying on our part is futile, then we look to the one that did keep the law (Jesus Christ). The only way that we be just-asif-we-never-sinned is to appropriate the finished work of Jesus on the cross to our lives by FAITH. Not of works.

============================================

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The Book of Mormon says that many things were taken away from scripture,
1 NEPHI 13:28: many plain and precious things taken away from the book But the Bibles says that the Word of God would never pass away.. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matt: 24:35 Mar. 13:31 Luke 21:33 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Rev. 3:8 ============================================

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There are some other issues that I have with the Book of Mormon that I really cant understand. From what I understand, the Book of Mormon tells a historical record of Gold Plates that were discovered in upstate New York by young Joseph Smith. He was given 2 stones to translate the plates from Reformed Egyptian to English. He placed the plates in a hat, the placed the stones over the plates to read the inscriptions. Mr. Oliver Cowdery was the scribe that took down each letter that was called out by Smith, who was behind a curtain. After Smith would spell out a word he would ask Cowdery to state it back to him to ensure accuracy. This record tells the Ancient American record of two Jewish families. The First Migration 2250 BC = Jared and family, and a Second Migration 600 BC = Lehi and family which became 2 Nations: Nephites and Lamanites. In 385 AD Lamanites killed all Nephites and became Principal ancestors of Native Americans. This has many problems. Archeological Record is extinct: 600 B.C. 421 A.D. Steel (1 Nephi 4:9 ) and Copper (Mosiah 8:10) Did not Exist at the Time Compass (1 Nephi 18:21 ) 1800 Years Before the Compass was Invented Cimeter - Curved Sword (Enos 1:20) Unknown in 500 B.C. Cow, Horse, Ox, Ass, Goat (1 Nephi 18:25) Not Here Before 1492 Nephite Coins (Alma 11) No seons, ezroms, senums, ontis found Q: Are there any other secular or religious classical / ancient writings that indicate that there ever were the Nephites, Laminites, City of Boutiful, etc? ___ Yes ___ No Have any LDS Archeologist found ANY indication of Iron smelting during 421AD? ____ Yes ___ No Has the Hill Cumorah been excavated at all? ____ Yes ____ No

Have any chariots, shields, weaponry from the 2 million people that died at Cumorah been found? ____ Yes ___ No Did you know that.. An LDS Archeologist (Dr. Matheny) says that, overall assessment is that archaeology offers no support for the Book of Mormon as history: "I would say in evaluating the Book of Mormon that it has no place in the World whatsoever." ___ Yes ____ No

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MINOR ERRORS????? 1981 Edition says: About this edition: Some minor errors in the text have been perpetuated .This edition contains corrections that seem appropriate. 1 NEPHI 13:40: 1830: the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father 1981: the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father MOSIAH 21:28: 1830: that king Benjamin had a gift from God. 1981: that king Mosiah had a gift from God. NOTE: At Mosiah 6 King Benjamin died, replaced by Mosiah 2 NEPHI 30:6: 1978: they shall be a white and delightsome people 1981: they shall be a pure and delightsome people ALMA 29:4: Underlined words deleted in all editions 18401980 allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills QUESTIONS TO THE MORMON: Joseph Smith taught that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on eartha man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461) ? Which Book of Mormon is most correct? 1830 or Current? ? Why would any corrections be needed if Smith repeated back to Cromwell EVERY letter of EVERY word to ensure accuracy? Remember, this was suppose to be a DIRECT revelation from the ACTUAL GOLD PLATES ? What are the precepts taught in the Book of Mormon that are not found in any other book? ? Where does the Book of Mormon teach the following LDS doctrines? God has a body of flesh and bones God is married in heaven There are many Gods Temple participation is necessary for exaltation 3 Nephi 11:39-40: Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine.and whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil. Galatians 1:8 says, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

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JOSEPH THE PROPHET, SCRIBE, AND TEACHER

When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 1976, p. 365 QUESTION: Do you believe that any person claiming to be a prophet is a true prophet? ______ Y/N QUESTION: What should be the test?

DEUTERONOMY 18:20-22: But the prophet .shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously.
Did Joseph Smith teach of other gods? Did Joseph Smiths prophecies come true? Joseph Smiths God is an exhalted man. God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted manI am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that ideaHe was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did. Teachings of the ProphetJoseph Smith, pp. 345-346 The Biblical God is Eternal, Self-Existing Spirit JOHN 4:24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. HOSEA 11:9: I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee. ISAIAH 43:10-11: Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

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Joseph Smith even contradicts his own Book? ALMA 31:15: we believe that thou art God... that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever. (c.f. Alma 18:26-28; 22:9-11) MORONI 8:18: For I know that God is not a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.

Joseph Smith Taught that God is NOT Omnipresent: Some would have us believe that God is present everywhere. It is not so.Brigham Young, 1859, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 345 It has been said, therefore, that God is everywhere present; but this does not mean that the actual person of any one member of the Godhead can be physically present in more than one place at one time.plainly, however, His person cannot be in more than one place at any one time.James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith, (1890), 1966ed., p. 43 God is NOT a Spirit but an exhalted man of flesh and bone: The greatest heresy found in Christendom is that God is a spirit, an essence that fills immensity.Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p. 77 God is NOT All Powerful Yet, if we accept the great law of eternal progression, we must accept the fact that there was a time when Deity was much less powerful than He is today.Seventy Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, 1945, p. 114 God NOT All Knowing and Changes God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end.Apostle Wilford Woodruff (who would eventually become 4th Prophet), 1857, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 120 God is not Soveriegn and NOT all Powerful Elohim is God simply because all of these intelligences honor and sustain Him as such.if He should ever do anything to violate the confidence or sense of justice of these intelligences, they would promptly withdraw their support, and the power of God would disintegrate.BYU Professor W. Cleon Skousen, The First 2000 Years, p. 355

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The Bible teaches that,

God is not a man and is spirit: HOSEA 11:9: I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee. NUMBERS 23:19: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. ROMANS 1:22-23: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.

There is only ONE true God by nature (you can make a god out of anything): ISAIAH 43:10-11: Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. God has always been God: PSALM 90:2: Before the mountain were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. HABAKKUK 1:12: Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One?. God Does not Change: MALACHI 3:6: For I am the LORD, I change not. JAMES 1:17: Every good giftcometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. I KINGS 8:39: give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest: (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) God is Sovereign "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV) thing too hard for me?"

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There is ONE God and We (by nature) Cannot be God: Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. Isa. 43:10

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. Gal. 4:8 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: Deut. 6:4

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PLEASE EXPLAIN: Book of Mormon: One God Alma 11: 27-31 27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. 28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? 29 And he answered, No. 30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things? 31 And he said: An aangel hath made them known unto me. 2 Nephi 31:21 21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; and there is bnone other way nor c name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the ddoctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the eFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is fone God, without end. Amen. Mormon 7:7 7 And he hath brought to pass the aredemption of the bworld, whereby he that is found cguiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to ddwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the echoirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are fone God, in a state of ghappiness which hath no end. Nephi 11:27 27 And after this manner shall ye abaptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are bone; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. Doctrine and Covenants: Plurality of Gods Sections 121:32; 32 According to that which was aordained in the midst of the bCouncil of the Eternal cGod of all other gods before this dworld was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal epresence and into his immortal frest. 132:20, 37 20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be bgods, because they have call power, and the angels are subject unto them. 37 Abraham received aconcubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and b Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their cexaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods. ==================================

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Book of Mormon: God is a Spirit Alma 18:26-28 26 And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a aGreat Spirit? 27 And he said, Yea. 28 And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth? Alma 22:8-11 8 And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God. 9 And the king said: Is God that aGreat Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? 10 And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he acreated all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? 11 And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will abelieve thy words.

D&C: God has a Body Section 130:22 22 The aFather has a bbody of flesh and bones as tangible as mans; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of cSpirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not ddwell in us. ======================================= Book of Mormon: God dwells in the heart Alma 34:36 36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in aunholy temples, but in the b hearts of the crighteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the dblood of the Lamb. D&C: God does not dwell in the heart Section 130:3 3 John 14:23The aappearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal b appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son cdwell in a mans heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false. =======================================

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Book of Mormon: Gods Word Unchangable Alma 41:8 8 Now, the decrees of God are aunalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that bwhosoever will may cwalk therein and be saved. D&C: Gods word can Change Section: 56:4-6 4 Wherefore I, the Lord, command and arevoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the brebellious, saith the Lord. 5 Wherefore, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants aThomas B. Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey speedily to the land of Missouri, and my servant Selah J. Griffin shall also go with him. 6 For behold, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants aSelah J. Griffin and Newel Knight, in consequence of the bstiffneckedness of my people which are in Thompson, and their rebellions. ===================================== Book of Mormon: Church started in 147BC Mosiah 18:17 17 And they were called the church of God, or the achurch of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church. Bible: Church started in 33 AD Mt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Acts 2 ===================================== Bible says God is spirit without flesh and bone John 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Book of Mormon says that God has a body of flesh and bone D&C 130:22 The aFather has a bbody of flesh and bones as tangible as mans; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of cSpirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not ddwell in us.

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JOSEPH THE PROPHET?

When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 1976, p. 365

What do these following statements indicate?

Note that the prophecies and promises which are in the D&C "shall all be fulfilled." If even one remains unfulfilled, then this also is a false prophecy. D&C 1:37 "I say now, when they [his discourses] are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible . . . " (Brigham Young: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 264; see also page 95.) Deut. 18:20- But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. Deut. 18:22: When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Would it be safe to say that if Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, or any of the LDS Prophets were wrong in any prophecy, then they would be considered a false prophet and worthy of death? ___Yes __No Would it be safe to say that Brigham Young stated that what ever he wrote and approved is as trustworthy as the Bible and should be seen as inspired from God and infallible? __ Yes __ No If this is the case then please explain how the following prophecies came to pass: MORMON DEBTS WILL BE PAID: April 23, 1834. D&C 104: 78-83. God's promise to deliver the Saints from their debts. "It is my will that you shall pay all your debts." The Lord will soften the hearts of their creditors. FULFILLED?: Joseph Smith and other prominent Mormons had to flee Kirtland to avoid their creditors, leaving debts of thousands of dollars unpaid. Smith ultimately filed bankruptcy.

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FAR WEST TEMPLE: April 26, 1838. D&C 115. Revelation concerning the city of Far West, Missouri, and the building of a temple there. God commands the temple to be built; the church will be gathered to Zion (Missouri), which will be "for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm." Work on the temple is to commence in the summer of 1838, with construction to begin April 26, 1839, with work to continue "diligently until it shall be finished, from the corner stone thereof unto the top thereof, until there shall not anything remain that is not finished." (v. 12) Verse 17: "I say unto you, it is my will that the city of Far West should be built up speedily by the gathering of my saints." FULFILLED?: The temple cornerstone was laid, but no more work was ever done and the temple is still not completed. Far West was abandoned by the Mormons soon after this revelation. It would appear that the building of the Far West temple was not the work of God, since God's work cannot be frustrated (see D&C 3:3). Sept 22-23, 1832. D&C 84:2-5, 31 Zion will be built with its temple at Independence, "in this generation". This generation shall not all pass away until the temple will be built upon the spot. Orson Pratt in 1870 reiterated the prophecy (JD 9:71, 10:344, 13:362) and insisted that it will come to pass within the generation living in 1832. Dec 16, 1833. D&C 101:17-20 Zion (Missouri) shall not be moved out of its place; the Saints will receive their inheritance there, and there is no other place than Missouri appointed by God for the gathering of the Saints.

QUESTIONS:
Is Zion in now in Independence MO? ___ Yes ___ No Is there any one living now that was alive in 1832 [that would make them 166 years old)? ___ Yes ___ No Please read D&C 1:37 and tell what that means? ___ Yes ___ No Please read Deut. 18:20 and tell me what that means? ___ Yes ___ No According to Brigham Young, what is he himself calling himself?____________________ Note that the prophecies and promises which are in the D&C "shall all be fulfilled." If even one remains unfulfilled, then this also is a false prophecy. D&C 1:37

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Joseph received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and that they would sell the copy-right of the Book of Mormon they failed entirely to sell the copy-right, returning without any money We asked Joseph how it was that he had received a revelation from the Lord for some brethren to go to Toronto and sell the copy-right, and the brethren had utterly failed in their undertaking. Joseph did not know how it was, so he enquired of the Lord about it, and behold the following revelation came through the stone: Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil. So we see that the revelation to go to Toronto and sell the copy-right was not of God, but was of the devil or of the heart of man. David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, p. 31

If Joseph Smith couldnt tell which of his revelations were of God and which ones were of the Devil, how do you know which revelations of Joseph Smith to believe? Do you really want to place your eternal destiny in a man who didnt know where his revelations where coming from? Do you really want to place your eternal destiny in a man who, by his own definition, is a false prophet and should be rejected? If you are wrong about the person, nature, and work of Jesus Christ, you are wrong enough to loose your eternal soul

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THE PRIESTHOOD
Does Mormonism Restore the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods?
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained... that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins... And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. Hebrews 5:1, 3-4

QUESTION:

What Tribe are you from? Manasseh / Ephraim / Judah / Levi / Dan / Benjamin / Joseph Smith claimed that he was of the tribe of Ephraim.
Please explain the following to me?

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QUESTION: Since Jesus couldnt even hold the Aaronic Priesthood, how can you hold it? 11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. Heb. 7:11-14 * Jesus was of the tribe of Judah not Levi. Jesus has no right to the Aaronic Priesthood. QUESTION: I also have another question that really bothers me, doesnt the Book of Mormon declare a curse on anyone with Egyptian blood? ABRAHAM 1:21-22, 26-27 (The Pearl of Great Price): Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth. From this descent sprang all the Egyptians, and thus the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the landPharaoh, being a righteous man his fathercursed him as pertaining to the Priesthood. Now, Pharaoh being of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood GENESIS 41: 50-52 And unto Joseph were born two sons which Asenath the daughter of Potiphera priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manassehand the name of the second called he Ephraim. QUESTION: Ephraim and Manassehs mother was not only the Egyptian daughter of a high ranking official to Pharaoh, but Potipherah was a priest of the city of On just north of Memphis Egypt, which was the center of sun-worship (Ra). How can you have the blood of an Egyptian Priest and NOT be disqualified from the Aaronic Priesthood? Not only that but, Joseph Smith HIMSELF declared that he was of the lineage of Ephraim which by according to Abraham 1, negates Joseph as being a Priest..

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QUESTION: HEBREWS 7: 1, 3-4, 26-27 Are you without father or mother? _____ QUESTION: Are you also without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life? _____ QUESTION: Are you holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens? ______ QUESTION: If you CANNOT say yes to all the above questions, then how can you hold the Melchizedek Priesthood if Jesus was the only one ever qualified to hold that priesthood by virtue of a holy, harmless, undefiled, sinless, eternal life? QUESTION: There can be only one high priest at a time according to the law, so does that mean Jesus DEAD? Jesus is not Dead because He lives forever, and because of this, He is still the High Priest and still holds the office and will forever hold that office, thus disqualifying anyone elses claim to that office. QUESTION: MORONI 10:32: Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. Have you denied yourself of all ungodliness? Since Jesus grace is not sufficient for you until you have cleared all ungodliness out of your life, how can you be perfect in Christ? How can you receive His grace for salvation, if you havent stopped sinning and are not walking blameless before God, being sufficiently humble, stripped of pride and envy? Can you honestly say you have done all you can do for salvation?

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EXPLAIN: Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one. Moroni 10:32 says that GRACE is not an option until you have rid yourself of all unrighteousness, and Rom.3:10 says that there is none righteous.

This means your not going to make it !!!

There is good news.. Josephs theology was wrong.. WILL YOU ALLOW ME TO SHARE WITH YOU THE TRUE JESUS OF SCIPTURE? PLEASE, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU HOW THE REAL JESUS CAME, WAS CRUCIFIED, BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?

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The Christian Authority: Jesus is THE HIGH PRIEST. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1 Tim. 2:5 Heb 3:1). "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," Heb 4:14-16). Joseph Smith was not blameless, he had to have surgery on a bad leg.
5

In the first ten verses of Hebrews five, the inspired writer shows that in every respect, Jesus Christ is qualified to be High Priest. And, in fact, God had put Christ in this position. God had said: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek," (see Psa. 110:4; Heb. 5:6). [After making this affirmation, the writer went into a discussion about the condition his readers were in; they were "dull of hearing," see 5:11-6:19. He returns to his teaching concerning Melchizedek in chapter seven.] Thus, the primary affirmation of this section of the Hebrew epistle is: Jesus became high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedeck. It means that Christ was not a High Priest, as in Aaron and the Levitical order (according to the law of Moses). The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ -- the writer is affirming -- is of a higher order! Christ was and is a High Priest like Melchizedek; not like Aaron or Levi. Note the following: 1. Melchizedek's position as High Priest was not dependent on ancestry... neither was Christ's. (7:14). 2. Melchizedek was not in a succession of many priests... neither is Christ. (7:3). 3. Melchizedek's priesthood was higher than and separate from the Levitical order... so is Christ's. (7:4-7). 4. Melchizedek was priest and king... so is Christ! (See Zech. 6:9-15). 5. Melchizedek received tribute from Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation; this shows the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood above the Levitical (which came out of the loins of Abraham). {See Gen. 14:18-20 with Heb. 7:4}.

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All of this was set up, executed and revealed by God, for the purpose of convincing the Jews their old Levitical priesthood was now history. The broader point of application was: Their old law was now abrogated. For the Levitical priesthood and the old law were bound together; one was a subordinate part of the other. Thus it followed -- if the priesthood is changed, "there is made of necessity a change also of the law," (Heb. 7:12). For us what does this mean? It means that the law of Moses is not binding today. And it means that we have a high priest (access to God)! "For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's; for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Heb. 7:26-27). "Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them," (Heb. 7:25).

"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" 1 Pet 2:5-9

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==================================================== The Mormons teach a complete and universal apostasy from the true Gospel and this was to have taken place from 70AD and not be restored until 1830. My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join.I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt. Joseph SmithHistory 1:18-19 Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. History of the Church, vol. 1, p. XL However, the Bible states that, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matt: 24:35 Mar. 13:31 Luke 21:33 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Rev. 3:8 "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go forth and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" John 15:16 2 Tim. 2:2 "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

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It is my understanding from reading Joseph Smiths first account of the vision from History of Joseph Smith The Prophet - History of the Church, Vol. 1, Chapter 1 - 5, that he states this: 15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. 16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destructionnot to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any beingjust at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. 17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the otherthis is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! 18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)and which I should join. 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. JOSEPH SMITHHISTORY. EXTRACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET. History of the Church, Vol. 1, Chapters 1-5 In other words: 1 NO Church had it right They were ALL WRONG 2 ALL Creeds were an abomination 3 ALL Teachers were corrupt. The Church was without a witness on this earth from 70 AD to 1830 when Joseph came along. If God cannot fail and he says that His words would not pass away, and the gates of hell would not prevail against the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, then please EXPLAIN how could there have been a UNIVERSAL APOSTACY in which GOD WAS WITHOUT A WITNESS from 70AD to 1830s?

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UNIVERSAL APOSTACY Lets discuss what this really means Help me to understand where I might be wrong. DID THE EARLY CHURCH FALL INTO TOTAL APOSTASY? The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the true Church was divinely established by Jesus and could never and will never disappear from the earth Matthew 16:18; And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. John 15:16; Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 17:11; And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]. Christians acknowledge that there have been times of corruption and apostasy within the Church, but believe there has always been a remnant that held fast to the biblical essentials. By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that there was a great and total apostasy of the Church as established by Jesus Christ; this state of apostasy "still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" of the Mormon Church (Gospel Principles, pp. 105-106; Mormon Doctrine, p. 44).

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What would this mean? JESUS WAS A LIAR: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). According to Mormon teaching, the Christian Church, though established by Jesus Christ Himself and His hand-picked apostles, fell into total apostasy almost immediately. How interesting, then, that a century-and-a-half after the "Restoration," the LDS Church is presented as virtually impervious to spiritual ruin. For instance, one of the LDS Church's major instructional books, Gospel Principles (copyright by the Corporation of the First President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), assures us that "The Lord will never allow the president of the Church to teach us false doctrine." Joseph even states that he himself TRUMPS Jesus when he writes: o "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet" (History of the Church, 6:408409)
This assertion raises an important question:

o if God is now able to guarantee the perpetual integrity of this "Restored Church" by protecting its spiritual leaders from error, why could He not do so in the first century?
"I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go forth and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" John 15:16 Greek: meno = "endure, continue

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THIS APOSTACY WOULD MEAN THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS WERE LIARS I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, and has not denied my name. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation (Revelation 3:8,10). The last New Testament book, Revelation was written about A.D. 95 by which time, according to Brigham Young University professors Hugh Nibley, Robert Matthew's, and Stephen Robinson the work of the apostates who corrupted the New Testament is supposed to have been in full swing. However, John records Christ's personal commendations of the churches at Smyrna (Rev. 2:9-11) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Philadelphia (3:7-13) for standing fast against immorality and false doctrine. Jesus tells the congregation at Philadelphia: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS WERE INADEQUATE IN THEIR INSTRUCTION?

2 Tim. 2:2 "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." If universal apostasy immediately followed the apostles, either these inspired instructions were inadequate, or the apostles themselves failed to follow them. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen. Matt. 28:18-20 Heb. 13:5- [Let your] conduct [be] without covetousness; [be] content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." HEBREWS 12:28: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
THE DISCIPLES OF THE APOSTLES WERE APOSTATE? Ignatius Polycarp disciple of John the Baptist Iraneus True knowledge is [that which consists in] the doctrine of the apostles, and the ancient constitution of the Church throughout all the world, and the distinctive manifestation of the body of Christ according to the succession of bishops, by which they have handed down that Church which exists in every place, and has come even unto us, being guarded and preserved, without any forging of Scriptures, by a very complete system of doctrine, and neither receiving addition nor [suffering] curtailment [in the truths which she believes] These are men that endured through some of the most horrendous persecution the Christian church as ever seen by many of the most Godless Roman Emperors the World has ever seen. Not to Mention: Martin Luther, Zwingli, Knox, Wesley, Calvin,

If Joseph Smith Jr. is right, then ALL the early reformers are dead wrong. And it is the same tenets that we teach.

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This First Vision was written less than 200 years ago and has already undergone at least THREE conflicting story revisions. The first account mentions only Jesus appearing and does not include God the Father Some have an angel appearing and others have multiple angels appearing. The OFFICIAL story by the LDS church has God the Father appearing with Jesus o Since this vision is dated prior to Smiths ordination to the Priesthood, this would conflict with HIS OWN WRITINGS in D&C 84:21,22 without the authority of the Priesthood, no man can see the face of the God even the Father, and live.

1827- a spirit appeared to Joseph telling him of a record on gold plates at age 17. 1827- an angel appears to Joseph telling him he has been chosen to be a prophet and bring forth a record on golden plates at age 18. 1830 and angel tells Joseph were to find a secret treasure and he returns there once a year for several years before obtaining the plates. 1832- Jesus Christ appears to Joseph at age 15. 1834- An angel appears to Joseph in his bedroom at age 17 1835- Two personages appears to Joseph in a grove at age 14 1835- Many angels appears to Joseph in a grove at age 14 1838- God the Father and Jesus appears to Joseph in a grove at age 14 1844- Two unidentified personages appear to Joseph at age 14

Furthermore, about 1832 Joseph Smith, Jr. began an account of the origin of the Mormon Church (the only one written in his own hand) that contradicts the official First Vision story he dictated some six years later. The account was never finished. (See the text in BYU Studies, Spring 1969, pp. 278ff.) In this version Joseph presents himself between the ages of 12 and 15 as being a committed and perceptive reader of the Bible. He claims that his study of the Scriptures led him to understand that all of the denominations were wrong. He wrote: "By searching the Scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament." Six years later, when he set forth his official First Vision story, he decided that he never had reached the firm conclusion that all churches were wrong from his study of the Bible. Instead, he claimed that it was during a vision of the Father and the Son that he first learned this information. He presented this as coming as a great surprise, for he added parenthetically -- "for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong." That statement even contradicted what Joseph had said a few paragraphs earlier in the same account. There he claimed that "I often said to myself ...Who of all these parties are right; or are they all wrong together?"

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Although the former statement appears in the original manuscript (see BYU Studies above, pg. 290), Even without those words, however, the 1838 official account is in conflict with the 1832 version. In the 1832 account it is his Bible reading that stirs him to seek God, While in the 1838 story it is a non-existent revival that motivates him. In the 1832 version he claims to have seen ONLY Christ, While in the 1838 rendition both the Father and the Son appear. In the 1832 account he already knows all the churches are wrong, While in the 1838 story it is the dual deities who first inform him of this.

Different people may have different views of the same event, but when one person tells contradictory stories about ONE event, he completely loses his credibility.

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QUESTION: If Joseph Smiths First Vision is true, why did he give contradicting accounts of it?

QUESTION: If it is true that God told Joseph that all the creeds of the churches were an abomination to Him, what is so abominable about the Apostles Creed? I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell [i.e., the grave, Acts 2:27, KJV]; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic [unified] Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN. Apostles Creed, 542 A.D. QUESTION: If not all of the creeds of Christendom were abominable when Joseph Smith received his First Vision, how could God have authored it?

QUESTION: Since Joseph Smith admitted that some revelations are of the Devil, how do we know he wasnt deceived by Satan when he received his vision? In Joseph Smiths translation of Exodus 33:20, he states: And no sinful man hath at any time, neither shall there be any sinful man at any time, that shall see my face and live. Since no man would ever at any time see God the Fathers face, how can Joseph claim to have seen the Father at his First Vision? Not only that but Adam-God could not have looked upon His OWN Face!

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QUESTION: Are you standing before God wearing your own selfrighteousness garment of pride, or are you clothed in the wedding garment provided by the KING? ISAIAH 64:6: But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. [menstrual clothes] God is not impressed with our works ROMANS 10:2-4: For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. QUESTION: Do you know for certain if you were to die today, you would have eternal life with God? 1 JOHN 5:11-13: God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life. 22And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matt. 22: 1-13

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THE GOSPEL:
God Demands RIGHTEOUSNESS: [20] For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:20 KJV) Man is NOT RIGHTEOUS: [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Rom 3:10 KJV) SIN leads to DEATH: [23] For the wages of sin [is] death; (Rom. 6:23a KJV) God made a way for LIFE: but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23b KJV) God added humanity to His Diety and walked among us. 100 man / 100 deity: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 KJV) The sinless Christ became our sin so that we could share in HIS righteous: [21] For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Cr 5:21 KJV) CHRIST DIED for US: [8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8 KJV) REPENT AND BELIEVE: [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mar 1:15 KJV) THE GOSPEL COST GOD EVERYTHING, YET IT IS SIMPLE: [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2Cr 11:3 KJV) THE GOSPEL: [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Cr 15:1-4 KJV) OUR SALVATION IS DUE SOLE TO THE GIFT OF GOD: [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Eph 2:8 KJV) Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

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Taken from BYU;s Website.. Joseph the Seer.. So The Lord reveals to Joseph over 116 pages of the Book of Lehi which Joseph painstakingly interprets and faithfully writes down as scripture. The Lord allows Martin Harris to show the manuscripts to his wife and friends. Apparently somehow, the 116 pages are lost by Joseph or Martin and the Lord say, dont re-translate because they have fallen into the hands of evil men.. . When: July 1828 Where: Harmony Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, USA (Joseph Smith Jr. home site) Who: Joseph Smith What: After serving as Josephs scribe for a little while, Martin Harris asked for permission to show the 116-page manuscript to his wife and other family members. After inquiring of the Lord several times, Martin Harris was finally granted permission to show the manuscript to his wife, his brother, his father and mother, and his wifes sister. Source: D&C 3; First published as chapter 2 in the Book of Commandments in 1833; see also History of the Church 1: 21-23

When: Summer 1828 Where: Harmony Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, USA (Joseph Smith Jr. home site) Who: Joseph Smith What: The Lord lets Joseph know that the lost 116 pages (Book of Lehi) have been found by evil men, and he is instructed to not translate those pages again. Source: D&C 10; First published as chapter 9 in the Book of Commandments; see also History of the Church 1: 20-23 Just a thought, maybe Joseph didnt really want to translate the book again because he forgot what he wrote the first time and a translation would no doubt have to be EXACTLY as it was the first time or the two could be compared and found false. It is interesting that the God gave the revelation to Joseph to write down then decide, ah well, they didnt need that book anyway.. Scripture has fallen into the hands of evil men before and God was more that powerful enough to preserve it.. Why didnt He with the book of Lehi if it were important enough to reveal the first time.

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