#1 Nephi 5:1-22

[mindfulldsliving]

Empowering Faith: Transformative Insights from 1 Nephi 5:1-22

1 Nephi 5:1-22 provides profound spiritual insights, emphasizing the enduring relevance of faith, comfort, gratitude, obedience, and the preservation of relationships. It highlights the transformative power of faith in overcoming spiritual breaking points

Spiritual Insights from 1 Nephi 5:1-22 Overview of 1 Nephi 5:1-22 1 Nephi 5:1-22 offers profound spiritual insights and reveals the significance of Lehi’s genealogy, emphasizing their importance to biblical prophecies. For instance, the prophecy that the plates of brass should never perish has been fulfilled, underscoring the divine preservation of these sacred records. Moreover, the plates of…

[wisdomfish]

Mormonism cannot lead you to heaven because it departs from the sufficiency of the Bible.

The LDS faith teaches that the Book of Mormon is sacred Scripture, being “another testament of Jesus Christ.” It possesses equal, if not greater, authority as the Bible, and is, therefore, the word of God. Mormonism holds that Joseph Smith discovered the Book of Mormon as a teenager in its original form in Manchester, New York on a hill called Cumorah. The book was recorded on gold plates long ago in an ancient Egyptian-type language. In 1823, Joseph Smith claimed to have been directed by the angel, Moroni, to discover and translate the contents, which became the Book of Mormon.

Mormonism teaches that Smith was a prophet like Moses and Isaiah, chosen by God to restore the true Church of Jesus Christ using the text from the plates.

The content of the Book of Mormon rejects the idea that the Bible alone is the sufficient word of God: “Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible” (2 Nephi 29:6).

Along with the Book of Mormon and the Bible, Mormonism affirms the canonicity of two other works, The Doctrine and Covenants, and Joseph Smith’s work, The Pearl of Great Price. New revelation is also permitted, which, similar to papal authority in Roman Catholicism, can arise from the Prophet, or President of the Church.

This violates the clear teaching of the sufficiency of Scripture: “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar” (Prov 30:5-6; cf. Deut. 4:2, 2 Pet. 1:3, Rev. 22:18-19). Since it imposes an entire book onto the word of God, the LDS faith is on extraordinarily shaky ground.

~ Eric Davis

[bookoformon]

2 Nephi 7. "The Foreign Fire."

Jacob continues reading from Isaiah: Isaiah speaks messianically—The Messiah will have the tongue of the learned—He will give His back to the smiters—He will not be confounded—Compare Isaiah 50. About 559–545 B.C.

The Messiah and King Messiah are not persons. The are the tendencies of God that are not built into humanity but must be learned as our culture advances and improves. Messiah is a divine stratagem designed to bring about a final and lasting peace on earth that mimics the one in the Blessed Realm noble souls find after death.

Were the King Messiah to be one person as we have seen the pack would overwhelm Him and the world would not benefit. Thus our sages say we will all have to all learn at once:

1 aYea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bbill of your mother’s cdivorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my dcreditors have I esold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

2 Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I acalled, yea, there was none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I bdry up the csea, I make their drivers a wilderness and their efish to stink because the waters are dried up, and they die because of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with ablackness, and I make bsackcloth their covering.

4 The Lord God hath given me the atongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house of Israel. When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning. He waketh mine ear to hear as the learned.

5 The Lord God hath opened mine aear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

6 I gave my back to the asmiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from bshame and spitting.

7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be aashamed.

8 And the Lord is near, and he ajustifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will bsmite him with the strength of my mouth.

9 For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall acondemn me, behold, all they shall bwax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.

10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the avoice of his servant, that bwalketh in darkness and hath no light?

11 Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of ayour fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. bThis shall ye have of mine hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Commentaries From Outorah:

Isaiah 50: The Light of Messiah Against Foreign Fire

​Introduction: The previous portion of the scroll of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) concludes with the enemies of Israel (ethnic, religious) devouring themselves and Israel being reminded that HaShem is her Mashiach (Messiah). Isaiah 49 gives important detail concerning the Servant and His identity and sets the stage for greater illumination as to Who He is and what role He will play in the continued purposes of God for Israel and for all humanity. Verses 1 - 3 of the present chapter are a continuation of the message of 49:22-26, addressed to those exiles who felt that HaShem had finally abandoned them. The primary theme of chapter 50 is God’s unbroken covenant with Israel (ethnic, religious), and an assurance that her captivity is temporary. Isa 50:1  Koh amar Thus says HaShem (YHVH: Mercy), Where is zeh it, seifer the book, document (gett) of the keriytut divorcement of imechem your mother, asher who I have shilachtiyah sent away? or which of minoshaiy My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Lo hein Behold, pay attention, ba’avonoteiychem for your perversity (depravity, guilt) you were sold, u’vefisheiychem and for your rebellion (transgression) shulechah imechem your mother was sent away. “Thus says the Lord, ‘Where is the bill of divorcement, which I gave to your congregation, that she is cast off? Or who is the man, who has a debt against me, unto whom I sold you? Behold, for your sins ye were sold, and for your rebellion your congregation was put away.’” -Targum Yonatan (2nd Century CE) This chapter opens with the Divine Name YHVH, which is subsequently proclaimed 7 times, 4 of those times it’s accompanied by Adonay. There is a strong theme of Mercy (YHVH) and Lordship (Adonay). The attributes of God as Merciful Master and Judge are intrinsically linked to His Salvation. In response to the claim of captive Israel, “HaShem has forsaken me and my lord has forgotten me.” Hashem asks for evidence that He has forsaken and forgotten her. “Where is the gett (divorce document) of your mother, who I have (supposedly) sent away?” This is in direct reference to the Torah (Law of Moses) which requires a man who sends away his wife to give her a bill of divorce (Deut. 24:1). In fact, Israel has no such evidence against HaShem because He has not divorced her, nor has He sent her away. At first glance this verse seems to contradict the later prophecy of Jeremiah 3:8. However, as Iben Ezra rightly notes: “The latter (Jer.3:8) refers to the kingdom of the ten tribes, which will never again be established; comp. She shall no more rise (Amos 5:2); but Isaiah speaks of the kingdom of the house of David which will be restored by Messiah.” -Iben Ezra Commentary on the Scroll of Isaiah All things are established by two witnesses, thus, in the present case a second example is offered to refute the false assumption of the people of Israel. “To which of My creditors have I sold you?” (Exodus 21:7) This is a rhetorical question with a poignant answer. God is in debt to no one! Therefore, He has not sold Israel (His daughter). This truth is followed by the sobering words, “For your own perversity you were sold, and it’s your rebellion that caused your mother to be sent away.” In other words, “You sold yourselves into bondage, and wilfully left your husband without a bill of divorce, because you were unconcerned with the moral obligation of the Torah.”

[73ironath]

LOOKING BEYOND THE MARK

If another terms are to be used for "looking beyond the mark", skipping, light mindedness, commonizing will be suitable. These looking beyond the mark some have applied for Christ, truth and revelations.

Our FATHER has always been in the business of making things plain and simple which we want to know or plan for us and even the warnings of dangers. This he does constantly because he loves us, desired our progress and need us gain the potentials He possess. But because we feel we are learned, proud and need not counsel from Him, he does provide these conditions for us as he did unto the Jews . Jacob 4:14

Anything that happens to us in life or in spirit, we should seek the spirit to fine tuned the true meaning. And of course, having the gift of the Holy Ghost will give us the perfect meaning of deeper "marks."

One of the looking beyond the mark many of are involved in are the lost scriptures the Bible made mentioned of - Joshua 10:13; 1 Samuel 10:25; 1 chronicles 29:29; 2 chronicles 9:29; 1 conrithians 5:9; Ephesians 3:3; Jude 1:3...

Having a knowledge of these books will make us to discard from our minds that the Bible is complete and the ideas of "you shall not add nor subtract as commonly quoted from Revelation 22:18-19.

This looking beyond the mark the Lord has foreseen of the Gentiles when the book of Mormon shall come forth. They shall say: "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible and there cannot be anymore Bible" 2 Nephi 29:3.

The Lord being provoked of our comment then said:

O fools ... have ye obtain a Bible save from the Jews? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God...? 2 Nephi 29.

Above all marks we look beyond, is the Saviour, Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice, true priesthood power and authority to perform ordinances of salvation, marriages, worship, teach pure doctrines.

When we focus on the MARK and be humble to learn, having the spirit, the many things we can't understand of our lives and of the Lord will give way.

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[wyldwon]

While I long for the day when the Savior returns and His peace fills the earth and Satan is bound, it strengthens me to know that through my own efforts to have a relationship with my Savior, I can have that peace now. My choices have a direct correlation to the power that Satan has over me. I am not powerless against Satan. I choose repentance. I choose the Savior. My efforts are recognized by the Savior and His enabling atonement will help me every moment of every day.

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy taught that we can overcome Satan’s power in our lives by choosing to live righteously:

“When we are righteous, Satan has no power over us. A prophecy about the Millennium teaches us that ‘because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness’ (1 Nephi 22:26). This scripture is speaking about the condition that will exist in the world when the people as a whole live in righteousness, but the principle can be true today for us individually. … Individually we can be free from any power the adversary would like to have over us by living righteously. He only gains power as we allow it by our choices” (Paul V. Johnson, “Free to Choose Liberty or Captivity” [Brigham Young University devotional, Nov. 6, 2012], 5–6, speeches.byu.edu).

[haya-haya-iamthatiam]

Why Do The Catholic And Christian Parishioners Look The Other Way When T... All Praises to the Highest!! Haya Haya!! I am that I am!! Selah!! and May Peace be with you Family!! 2 Ne 2:2 "...he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain". Most members of the church are all too familiar with this principle. It seems if there is one concept that is well appreciated it is this one-that the trials and tribulations of mortality serve God's purpose because they become the refining fire which purifies the soul and gives us experience. Some of the better quotes on this subject are included, Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord." (DC 98:3)."If thou art called to pass through tribulation...if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (DC 122:5-7)My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. (DC 121:7-8)  (DC 98:3).2 Nephi 8:25  "Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem (Y'arashelum); loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion (Sion). 2 Nephi 6:11 "Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the lord (Ishii Eloha) will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance." 1 Nephi 13:9 "And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, (The Highest), and bring them down into captivity." Mormon 8:38, "O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God (Anokeseed)? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ (Yahawashi)? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of the endless happiness than the misery which never dies-because of the praise of the world?"   Wisdom OF Solomon 2: 22-24 "They didn’t know of God’s secret plan. They didn’t hope for the reward that holiness brings. They didn’t consider the prize they would win if they kept their whole beings free from stain. 23God created humans to live forever. He made them as a perfect representation of his own unique identity. 24Death entered the universe only through the devil’s envy. Those who belong to the devil’s party experience death.""I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church. And the angel said unto me, “Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayed the saints of God, yea, and tortured them and bindeth them down, and yoked them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.” What is the Great and Abominable Church? www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/18/03/2012/what-is-the-great-and-abominable-church/ www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/18/03/20…Jeremiah 16:12 "And ye have done worse than your fathers Not only committed the same sins, but greater, or, however, attended with more aggravating circumstances; they were wilfully and impudently done, and obstinately persisted in; and therefore deserving of the great evil of punishment pronounced against them."  All Praises to the Most High!! Haya Haya!! I am that I am!! Selah!! and May Peace be with you Family!! Sources: 1. kingjamesbibleonline.com 2 Timothy 1:8 2 Timothy 1:8 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”King James Version (KJV)2.) Book of Mormon 2 Nephi, Doctrine and Coveneant 83: "This revelation was received as the Prophet sat in council with his brethren." Se'lah and so be it fam! 

[awideplace]

I just found out a girl i follow is "lds" what is that? There is a latter day saint church in my town but are they mormans? Why do people have to be apart of a denomination? it just seems confusing and divisive, isn't there only one bible?

LDS = Latter Day Saints = Mormons.

Mormonism is a cult. Yes, there is only one Bible - the inspired word of God. This is also why Roman Catholicism is so wrong - we are not to add human teaching/"revelation" to Scripture. LDS breakdown:

The following from this link: The Mormon religion (Mormonism), whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter-day Saints (LDS), was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ (Articles of Faith, p. 35) who told him that all churches and their creeds were an abomination (1 Nephi 13:28; Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith – History 1:18, 19). Joseph Smith then set out to "restore true Christianity" and claimed his church to be the “only true church on earth” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670; 1 Nephi 14:10). The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. Christians do not have a reason to believe that the Bible is untrue or inadequate. To truly believe in and trust God means to believe in His Word, and all Scripture is inspired by God, which means it comes from Him (2 Timothy 3:16).

Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, not just one: 1) the Bible “as far as it is translated correctly” (8th Article of Faith). Which verses are considered incorrectly translated is not always made clear. 2) The Book of Mormon, which was “translated” by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most correct book” on earth and that a person can get closer to God by following its precepts “than by any other book” (History of the Church 4:461). 3) Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the “Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored.” 4) The Pearl of Great Price, which is considered by Mormons to “clarify” doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible (Articles of Faith, p. 182–185) and adds its own information about the earth’s creation.

Mormons believe the following about God: He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321) but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345). They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ—although this teaching has been abandoned by modern Mormon leaders. 

In contrast, Christians know this about God: there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6–8). He always has existed and always will exist (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). He was not created but is the Creator (Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). He is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him (Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25). God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9). He is Spirit (John 4:24), and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).

Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348). Where mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this life (2 Nephi 25:23; Articles of Faith, p.79). 

In contrast, the Bible tells us that after death we go to heaven or hell based on whether or not we had faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. To be absent from our bodies means, as believers, we are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6–8). Unbelievers are sent to hell or the place of the dead (Luke 16:22–23). When Jesus comes the second time, we will receive resurrected, glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50–54). There will be a new heaven and new earth for believers (Revelation 21:1), and unbelievers will be thrown into an everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15). There is no second chance for redemption after death (Hebrews 9:27).

Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115; Mormon Doctrine, p. 547). Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god (Doctrine and Covenants 132:20; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345–354). Mormonism teaches that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697). 

Contrary to this, Christians historically have taught that no one can achieve the status of God—only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2). We can only be made holy in God’s sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), is the only one ever to have lived a sinless life, and now has the highest place of honor in heaven (Hebrews 7:26). Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only man who existed before physical birth (John 1:1–8; 8:56). Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, God raised Him from the dead, and one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6–11). Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to heaven by our own works and that only by faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26). We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God’s infinite love and grace have allowed us a way out. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Clearly, there is only one way to receive salvation and that is to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3). Receiving salvation is not done by works but by faith (Romans 1:17; 3:28). We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Although Mormons are usually friendly, loving, and kind people, they are deceived by a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation.

(Editor’s note: many of the references in our articles on Mormonism are Mormon publications, such as Mormon Doctrine, Articles of Faith, Doctrines of Salvation, History of the Church, Doctrine and Covenants, and so forth. Others are from the Book of Mormon itself, e.g., books such as 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, and Alma.)

[nerdygaymormon]

How many women are named in the book of Mormon? All I'm remembering right now is Isabel

I’m sad to say that there’s only 6!

Biblical Women Named in the Book of Mormon

Eve gets mentioned twice. First she’s mentioned along with Adam (see 1 Ne. 5:10–11). Second in a passage about the forbidden fruit, being kicked out of Eden, which ends with the moral “Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy” (see 2 Ne. 2:18–25).

Mary is named twice as the mother of Christ (Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10.) Plus twice she is talked about but not by name  (1 Ne. 11:14–21,  Alma 19:13.)

Sarah, wife of Abraham, is mentioned once (2 Ne. 8:2.)

Non-Biblical Women Named in the Book of Mormon

Sariah is the first, she’s the wife of Lehi and mother of Nephi. It seems that Lehi wouldn’t be successful without her and that she had a job of trying to temper him  (1 Ne. 5:1–9)

Isabel, who you mentioned, is the first Lamanite woman to be discussed in the Book of Mormon. She’s described as a harlot (Alma 39:3–4, 11). 

And finally, Abish, who is a servant to a Lamanite queen and has a role in helping Ammon convert a large group of Lamanites. (by the way, the Faithful Feminist podcast joined the Beyond the Block podcast this past week for episode 60 titled Transgressive Heroes and they discuss Abish at the 37 minute mark and it’s really good)

Individual Women in the Book of Mormon without Name

The unnamed wife of Nephi, she is distraught and tries to save her husband’s life (1 Ne. 18:19) and she may have been the daughter of Ishmael who earlier had pleaded for Nephi’s life (1 Ne. 7:19 )

A maidservant of Morianton who was beat by him. She escaped and ran to Moroni’s camp with information that helped Moroni defeat Morianton’s plans (Alma 50:31–36)

Three different Lamanite queens get a spot. The first being the queen to King Lamoni and Abish was her servant (Alma 19:1–11; Alma 19:28–30)

The second queen is wife to Lamoni’s father (Alma 22:19–23)

The third is a widowed Lamanite queen whose husband was killed because Amalickiah, a Nephite, ordered him killed. Amalickiah tries to get her to marry him as a way to lend credibility to him as the new Lamanite king (See Alma 47:32–35). She was widowed again when the Teancum killed the sleeping Amalickiah. (Alma 51:34)

The only Jaredite woman identified is a daughter of Jared. To help her dad get to be king, she agrees to marry Akish if he kills her grandfather (Ether 8:8–12.) She was quite influential in that she got her father & her husband both to create secret combinations (Ether 8:16–18). Akish later has her father murdered and imprisons their son (Ether 9:4–7)

Groups of Women in the Book of Mormon

Nephi had sisters (2 Ne. 5:6)

The daughters of Ishmael

The 24 Lamanite young women kidnapped by the priests of King Noah, and who later married them (Mosiah 20:1–5; Mosiah 23:33–34)

The Ammonite mothers of Helaman’s 2,000 young warriors (Alma 56:47–48)

Women as part of the General Population

Beyond these specific groups, there are times when women are mentioned as part of a larger group of people. For example, 5,400 men, their wives and children migrated north from Zarahemla or Hagoth’s boats included women and children on board. 

[calvinistwoman]

PREFACE: Unless otherwise stated, all quotes regarding LDS Doctrine will be taken from the following:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics

So in response to a post i saw regarding the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (aka: the Mormon Church), I wanted to make a super quick post about the differences between LDS doctrine and Biblical doctrine. Obviously, I am a Christian and I disagree with a lot of LDS doctrine. I just wanted to outline some major differences since, as you can see in this post, Mormons often refer to themselves as Christians. “Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unequivocally affirm themselves to be Christians.” (Under Topic: Are Mormons Christian?)

This is in no way meant to belittle anyone’s beliefs, and it’s my apologies if I misrepresent anyone.

(also I know this post talks a little about Jehovah’s Witnesses as well... but I really don’t know as much about them so I don’t feel qualified to speak on that.)

Firstly, I want to say that I do not believe Mormons are Christians. I will back up this statement in a moment. I don’t say it because I dislike Mormons or anything. I say it because when you look at the Biblical parameters for what a Christian is, it’s clear that Mormons do not meet the qualifications. While every single Mormon I've ever met has been extremely kind and obviously devoted to their beliefs, I can not count them as brothers and sisters in Christ. And here’s why...

We have different Scriptures. I am starting here because every disagreement stems from this point. The Christian view of scripture is that the Bible is the Word of God. It is complete and infallible. We stand on the authority of the Bible as being perfect and unchanging. This differs from the LDS view. Yes, the LDS church hold to the Bible as one of their scriptures, however they also add the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, as well as the word of the prophet. All these constitute the words of God. “to claim that the Bible is the sole and final word of God—more specifically, the final written word of God—is to claim more for the Bible than it claims for itself.” (Under Topic: Are Mormons Christian?)

Second, we have different Gods. I know, you’re thinking... “What? No way. They seem so similar.” And they really do when you look at them broadly. Be both believe in God the father, His Son Jesus Christ and His redemptive plan, and the Holy Spirit who indwells us and helps us. So what’s the difference? There are actually a lot of differences. You know how a lot of atheists will say “Yeah Jesus was real, he was just a good teacher.” Well it’s sort of like that. We both believe in the same historical person, but that’s where it ends. It’s a bit like comparing the real Abraham Lincoln to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. They’re both talking about the same guy....sort of.

So how do we view the Godhead, and how are these views contradictory? 

LDS - I 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 idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. (King Follett Discourse)

Christian - Isaiah 43:10 I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

LDS - God and Jesus Christ are glorified, physical beings and that each member of the Godhead is a separate being.

Christian - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are one God in three persons. God is also a spirit, not a man. But for our sake, Christ took on flesh and bone to bare our sins.

(Under Topic: God the Father)

LDS - We are all literally children of God, spiritually begotten in the premortal life.

Christian - We are created beings, made by God for His glory.

LDS - His work and glory is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”

Christian - God’s ultimate aim is to put all things under His subjection and to receive all the praise, honor, and glory due Him.

(Under Topic: Holy Ghost.)

LDS -  Through His power, we are sanctified as we repent, receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, and remain true to our covenants

Christian - Sanctification is a work of the Spirit making us more like Christ.

LDS -  All honest seekers of the truth can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, leading them to Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Christian - The indwelling of the Spirit is a mark of a true believer. It happens as a result of the hearing of the gospel and a faith in Jesus Christ.

(Under Topic: Jesus Christ)

LDS -  As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His ‘other sheep’ (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised ‘dispensation of the fulness of times’ (Ephesians 1:10).

Christian - I mean we would just reject this entirely. We also understand the “other sheep” to mean gentiles, not ancient Americans. 

Thirdly, we have a different view of the atonement. This makes sense as we have different views of God, and different sources for truth.

(Under Topic: Salvation)

 To be cleansed from sin through the Savior’s Atonement, an individual must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 2:37–38). Those who have been baptized and have received the Holy Ghost through the proper priesthood authority have been conditionally saved from sin. In this sense, salvation is conditional, depending on an individual’s continuing in faithfulness, or enduring to the end in keeping the commandments of God (see 2 Peter 2:20–22).

(Under Topic: Gospel)

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).

The Savior has promised that if we endure to the end, faithfully living the gospel, He will hold us guiltless before the Father at the Final Judgment (see 3 Nephi 27:16).

2 Nephi 25:23 “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

Articles of Faith 1:3 - We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

As you can see, this is very different from the Biblical Gospel which is by grace, freely given to all who believe. It’s very man-centered and works-based. It relies on several conditions to get and then maintain salvation. 

Fourthly, the LDS church and their scriptures have a different view of the fall.

“Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

“And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:10–11).

This almost makes it sound like the fall was a good thing. As though Adam and Eve were happy, and the sin was a blessing. But the Biblical reality is that the sin brought about pain and death. Yes, the fall is apart of God’s redemptive plan, but we should never view it as good. We should view it the way God did.

Gen. 2:16-19 To the woman he said,“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow  you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

God did not view the fall lightly. He cursed mankind, and the world with us. 

I could go on, but it’s clear that we hold very different views. To claim that both these views stem from the same religion seems illogical. They contradict each other constantly. 

Again... as people, I have no issues with Mormons. They are genuinely some of the kindest people I have ever met. But it is a sad reality that they believe in a false God, a false Gospel, and that they ultimately have no hope in their religion. If you have any questions about anything I’ve said here, go ahead and send me a message. 

[woodedcove]

Check Your Source

I wonder how many people who believe in God still believe that there is also a devil. And if they do, do they recognize when he might be working on them? There is so much anger and hatred in the world today that I feel the need to remember that there is one who loves to encourage these negative emotions in us and it isn’t God.

What helps me is to recognize who may be influencing some of my thoughts and feelings. Certain thoughts and feelings are more likely to be from God, such as charitable thoughts. A thought or desire to do something for someone, to help someone or to be kind to someone, without receiving anything in return, is a thought I can trust has come from God. He is the one that inspires charity, love, kindness, selflessness, and caring.

Thoughts of hope, faith, willingness to try, or feelings of humility or joy are also from God. Indeed, Paul wrote, “but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...” (Gal 5:22-23)

Moroni wrote some of the words his father, Mormon, had spoken which further clarified the way to tell if something is from God. He wrote:

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge, for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

"But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.” (Moroni 7:16-17)

Something revelatory for me was realizing that Satan cannot do good. Some seem to think that he could or would do something good to lead a person to something bad, but that isn't the case. The Savior told us that a house divided against itself can not stand (Matthew 12:25). Satan not only has no desire to lead someone to do good, but he can’t lead someone to do good. Not if he wants to achieve his goal. His goal is to make us miserable like himself and ultimately he wants to destroy us. Why on earth would he take the chance of leading us towards something good if it might lead to our salvation? Doing good invites the Spirit of God. If Satan led us towards doing something good he would lose power over us. It is not his desire nor is it in his nature to lead us to do good.

The same is true of our Savior. He would never lead us to do something that would risk our salvation. His whole desire is to save us and give us the marvelous gift of eternal life! Then why would he lead us to contend with our neighbor, rage at the TV news, or argue over political candidates, religious beliefs, or anything else? Why would he inspire us to put others down, call them names or belittle them? The answer is: the Lord wouldn’t. The Lord would never lead us to treat our neighbor with less love and respect than we would hope to receive ourselves. He would never instill in us a feeling of envy or jealousy. He would never fill our hearts with rage, fear, or discouragement. And He would most certainly never invoke the kind of pride that demands one to be acknowledged as the one that is right no matter what. No. The Lord would never do this. But Satan would. The Savior said in 3 Nephi 11:29

“For Verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

“Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.”

I have to wonder what would happen if everyone stopped and thought about who was influencing their angry thoughts and feelings? We want to think that all our thoughts and feelings are all our own. But how many times have you had a thought go through your head and then wondered “where did that come from”? Satan is clever and often speaks in our own voice. But remember his only purpose is to stir up contention, hatred, and every other negative thought or feeling so that he can lead us down to becoming miserable, even like himself.

I know that there is also the temptation to feel justified in our anger, because someone did something to us, or because we feel that we’re the ones that are right and it’s the other person that is wrong. But in 3 Nephi 6:13 Mormon wrote:

“Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.”

The word “railing”, as used in this sense, means “to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings.” It also has many synonyms. Some of them are: berate, chastise, chew out, lecture, rag, rant, ream, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, and upbraid. And the reason some would return “railing for railing”? Pride!

So the next time we feel a set of emotions rise up in us, or we have a train of thought running through our minds, do as the Lord has told us to do. “Look unto Me in every thought, ...” and then let us ask ourselves, “does this lead me to think of Christ and to believe in Him. Or does it take me further away from Him? If it is taking us further away, then it comes from the wrong source and we should drop those thoughts and run away as fast as we can!

One last thing: please understand, I have not written these words so they can be used as a weapon against someone that is deemed to be an enemy or at fault in any way. I have written them to be used as a guide for self-examination. The Lord has told us not to judge those around us. Why? I have found that when I am willing to honestly examine myself, I will see that I have been guilty of the same, or at least a very similar, sin. This makes sense when you think of it. Otherwise, how would it be fair for us to receive the same judgment with which we have judged? As the old saying goes: It takes one to know one. Instead, let us practice the wise Proverb, " A soft answer turneth away wrath ..." (Proverbs 15:1) Perhaps if we do this there will be a lot less anger and hatred in the world.

The beautiful photos for this post are provided by my Sweetheart, Dave Hogan

[nottskyler]

Dear President Oaks,

We are all one in the body of Christ and it is very clear that your responsibility in guiding the body of Christ is to listen to the pain signals given from other parts of the body of Christ. As a faithful LGBT member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I want to say your words at the press release caused a lot of pain and the LGBT portion of the body of Christ pleads with you to stop and listen.

You say you don’t know why people are LGBT or other queer identities. You speak as if we are dysfunctional parts of the body, but we aren’t. Arms are different from elbows which are different from wrists and fingers, and even fingers differ one from another. Luckily in a Church that relies heavily on personal revelation, you don’t have to figure out our place on your own. You can listen to what the spirit has testified in our hearts and learn how it applies to the running of Christ’s Church. The first thing many of us did when we discovered we weren’t cis or hetero was fall to our knees and ask Gd why, and He responded. Here are the truths that I learned in turning to Gd:

1) Gd loves me and made me this way. There is nothing wrong with me. His purpose is to bring to pass my immortality and eternal life and making me bi and trans was an essential part of my journey to have a change of heart and get to know Gd (which is eternal life according to John 17:3).

2) There are philosophies of men that have snuck into the teachings of the Church when it comes to marriage and gender and Gd has sent more LGBT individuals in our time to helps us root out these lies so we can more fully enjoy the fruits of the Gospel.

3) Gd is not a respecter of persons. As long as someone has faith, Gd will reveal Himself to them and truths that are important to their life. This means there is something we can learn from everyone (Alma 32:23). 

4) The Church is not meant to be perfect. If all we had to do was blindly follow our leaders, we would never learn the traits required to be even as Gd is. Corrections and changes in the Church are necessary to learn repentance and how to get answers on our own.

5) Gender is eternal. Even though there was nothing in my gender expression that was outside what is acceptable for women in our society, there was a dissonance caused by the mismatch of my spirit and body. It testifies to me that I am without beginning or end just like Gd.

6) The reason Gd does anything is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). That means that He allows me and others to believe things that are not true as long as it leads us to Him. Also, mistakes that we make are important because it creates holes that need to be made perfect through Christ’s atonement. Without those mistakes, there would be no space for Him to come in and heal.

7) Gd wants me to live up to my potential and privilege as a member of His restored Church. President Uchtdorf’s parable about the man on the cruise eating cans of beans in his cabin has always struck an uncomfortable chord with me until I realized it was because I was like that man. Denying my eternal identity and living in the closet was keeping me from being who Gd wants and needs me to be. “Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). The apostles have always made it clear that the joy is for this life as well as in the next. I have to be true to my eternal identity in order to live up to my mortal potential and privilege.

8) Christ stands with the marginalized. Every minute I spend among LGBT individuals, listening to their stories and feeling their pain, Gd testifies to me that He is with them and that I am more like Christ for being among them as Christ would, helping share their burdens and sharing the hope and love that Gd has given me.

9) Spiritual laws are eternal and unchanging and ignorance will not save me from the natural effects of breaking them. I was in despair that kept growing more and more as time went on. I knew from Moroni 10:22 that meant I was doing something wrong. I did everything to be the perfect Mormon girl and repented of every small act and the despair was never lifted. It wasn’t until I accepted my eternal identity and began living my life as a man that it has begun to go away. I have a long way ahead on my transition, but I trust that the seed will continue to grow as it has so far and continue to dispel the cloud of doom. It taught me that even though I was unaware that I was living contrary to my eternal gender, I was not immune to the temporal consequences of my actions.

I know “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), but Gd’s LGB children have been wandering in the spiritual desert for over 40 years since informing you of their pain and inability to come to the same truth as you. In the Temple we learn that anyone who is listening can hear Gd’s words as the command is passed down the line. We heard Gd tell you that the time of excluding His LGB children is up. He told you to treat homosexual relationships the same as you treat heterosexual relationships and we hurt when we heard you added your own exclusions. Gd isn’t telling you to start performing gay marriages in the Temple, He is telling you to stop asking LGB members to live a different law of chastity than the one given in the temple, “which is that the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve only have sexual relations with those to whom they are legally and lawfully married according to Gd’s law”.

Discussion about being trans has not been as prevalent or pervasive as the LGB discussion in the Church because, up until your ill-informed announcement, the Church was more friendly towards trans individuals than LGB individuals. The Church allows members to socially transition and take hormones to help them manage the dissonance from their spirit-body mismatch. In fact, I’ve heard many positive stories where Church leaders allowed trans individuals to attend meetings that best matched their gender identity and how it unified and strengthened the ward. Trans individuals have pointed to the line in the Family: A Proclamation since it was released where it declares that gender is eternal to express their feelings as a trans individual. They testify more vehemently than anyone else that gender is important and that it is eternal. And now you point to the line and declare that those who most strongly support it are wrong and that the flesh is more indicative of a spiritual truth than knowledge that is spiritually obtained? (1 Corinthians 2:14)

I am grateful that Gd led me on this journey before you decided to speak your personal beliefs as if they were from Gd because I am one who does their best to listen and obey the counsel of Gd’s apostles and prophets. It would have made me question the office and authority that Gd gave you, likely leading me to leave the Church like so many others, instead of treating this as a mystery of Gd that hasn’t been revealed that I could discover for myself because He can’t wait to share His truths to those who earnestly seek them. I found the truth and I know it is true as easily as I can tell the day time from the night (Moroni 7:15-17). Living as trans has brought me closer to Christ. It has given me the strength to not deny Him to my fellow man. It has filled me with His love and given me the capacity to share it with others and invite them to Christ.

I invite you to listen to the pain messages from the trans portion of Christ’s body, especially because your careless words are going to make the suffering a lot worse for us. If you wish to stop the worst of the pain, I recommend requiring Church leaders to use living names and pronouns for trans people at Church and in Church associated gatherings, encouraging trans individuals to attend gendered meetings and activities that match their gender identity most closely, when they legally change their name and pronouns their records need to indicate the change (FTM, MTF, MTN, and FTN are acceptable), and there should be no punishment for seeking surgery as treatment for gender dysphoria. These policies would ease the pain of trans members of Christ’s restored Church and increase their capacity to help build up the Kingdom of Gd on earth.

Gd has a place in His plan for His LGBT children. We ask that you take a step of faith and love and let us participate without restrictions that you wouldn’t place on a cis and straight member of the Church. We want to marry and not be punished for it, we want to be recognized by our living name and pronouns as any individual wishes to be, we want to seek treatment to mental illness without judgment and punishment, we want to be treated as equal members without restrictions because being LGBT is not a choice. The choice we have is whether we will be who Gd created us to be or suffer the depression and despair that comes from breaking eternal laws. We can wait for revelation for understanding our place in the eternities and priesthood and temple ordinances, but don’t ask us to suffer not being treated as equals, not being treated with common decency, facing judgment instead of love from family members and ward members who justify their behavior by saying they are simply doing what the prophets tell them. Please stop feeding the hate and encouraging them to persecute us. Please love us the way the Savior would.

Sincerely,

Skyler

[bookofmormondaily]

1 Nephi 5:21-22

“21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children.

22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.”

[bookoformon]

4 Nephi 1, Part 5. "The Bicentennial."

Party politics and class warfare are a discouraged by the Book of Mormon and practically every gourd with a brain inside it. The idea called Ahab, "the daddy brothers", AKA the fraternity, has always caused societies to plunge into darkness, just like ours is doing at this time because of Mike Johnson and his Republican Party.

Prosperity comes from industriousness across a nation. It is the feedstock of Shabbat, which are conditions in which everyone in a society gets to work and everyone gets to eat.

Shabbat is a religious principal but it underpins a culture where the people not the Party are the central rachis. When was the last time you heard or saw a Republican wringing his hands over the happiness and prosperity of the people or do they worry about other things?

We might very well be the maker of our own monster, however. People like Mike Johnson and Marjorie Taylor Green a sea hag if I ever saw one, did not just show up one day, they were elected, and now we are stuck with them unless they are arrested as they should be or they are voted out which is the less desirable of the options.

For this to happen, America must grow a conscience and vote using it, not on the basis of propaganda. Conscience separates savage man from the urban man and we don't seem to know the difference anymore. Fortunately, we have religion which challenges us to think about cultivating one anyway.

22 And it came to pass that two hundred years had passed away; and the second generation had all passed away save it were a few.

23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.

24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.

25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.

26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ.

The Values in Gematria pertain to the changing of the years, which grow fom 200 after the BOC to 201.

v. 22: 200 years: The Value in Gematria is 9425, טדב‎ה‎ , tadav, "the double cell."

v. 24: 201 years: The Value in Gematria is 1420, אדבאֶפֶס‎, "the courtesy font."

The problems began when the generation that towed the line regarding all the graces and manners one is supposed to show other persons began to die off and a more spoiled one took its place. Relaxing the rules is never a good idea and many kingdoms and nations have lost their places in the world as a result, and America is experiencing plenty of tumult because of it.

We are not heeding the Decrees, we are allowing too many rules and laws to be broken and everyone on this planet is biting their nails, waiting, horrified of what is going to happen next.

[73ironath]

LOOKING BEYOND THE MARK

If another terms are to be used for "looking beyond the mark", skipping, light mindedness, commonizing will be suitable. These looking beyond the mark some have applied for Christ, truth and revelations.

Our FATHER has always been in the business of making things plain and simple which we want to know or plan for us and even the warnings of dangers. This he does constantly because he loves us, desired our progress and need us gain the potentials He possess. But because we feel we are learned, proud and need not counsel from Him, he does provide these conditions for us as he did unto the Jews . Jacob 4:14

Anything that happens to us in life or in spirit, we should seek the spirit to fine tuned the true meaning. And of course, having the gift of the Holy Ghost will give us the perfect meaning of deeper "marks."

One of the looking beyond the mark many of are involved in are the lost scriptures the Bible made mentioned of - Joshua 10:13; 1 Samuel 10:25; 1 chronicles 29:29; 2 chronicles 9:29; 1 conrithians 5:9; Ephesians 3:3; Jude 1:3...

Having a knowledge of these books will make us to discard from our minds that the Bible is complete and the ideas of "you shall not add nor subtract as commonly quoted from Revelation 22:18-19.

This looking beyond the mark the Lord has foreseen of the Gentiles when the book of Mormon shall come forth. They shall say: "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible and there cannot be anymore Bible" 2 Nephi 29:3.

The Lord being provoked of our comment then said:

O fools ... have ye obtain a Bible save from the Jews? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God...? 2 Nephi 29.

Above all marks we look beyond, is the Saviour, Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice, true priesthood power and authority to perform ordinances of salvation, marriages, worship, teach pure doctrines.

When we focus on the MARK and be humble to learn, having the spirit, the many things we can't understand of our lives and of the Lord will give way.

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[wisdomfish]

Mormonism cannot lead you to heaven because it departs from the sufficiency of the Bible.

The LDS faith teaches that the Book of Mormon is sacred Scripture, being “another testament of Jesus Christ.” It possesses equal, if not greater, authority as the Bible, and is, therefore, the word of God. Mormonism holds that Joseph Smith discovered the Book of Mormon as a teenager in its original form in Manchester, New York on a hill called Cumorah. The book was recorded on gold plates long ago in an ancient Egyptian-type language. In 1823, Joseph Smith claimed to have been directed by the angel, Moroni, to discover and translate the contents, which became the Book of Mormon.

Mormonism teaches that Smith was a prophet like Moses and Isaiah, chosen by God to restore the true Church of Jesus Christ using the text from the plates.

The content of the Book of Mormon rejects the idea that the Bible alone is the sufficient word of God: “Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible” (2 Nephi 29:6).

Along with the Book of Mormon and the Bible, Mormonism affirms the canonicity of two other works, The Doctrine and Covenants, and Joseph Smith’s work, The Pearl of Great Price. New revelation is also permitted, which, similar to papal authority in Roman Catholicism, can arise from the Prophet, or President of the Church.

This violates the clear teaching of the sufficiency of Scripture: “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar” (Prov 30:5-6; cf. Deut. 4:2, 2 Pet. 1:3, Rev. 22:18-19). Since it imposes an entire book onto the word of God, the LDS faith is on extraordinarily shaky ground.

~ Eric Davis

[churchsideblog]

And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us. And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

~1 Nephi 5:20-22