Book of Mormon presents a violent destructive Jesus at time of crucifixion [Vanity]

Colofornian | March 15, 2013 | Colofornian

[Colofornian]

Mormon leaders have written an italicized intro to each chapter within the Book of Mormon.

With Easter approaching, it's interesting what the Latter-day Saint “snapshot” is of the crucified Jesus – per the Book of Mormon.

If you have a Book of Mormon, you can turn to 3 Nephi chapters 8 and 9 and read the Mormon leader intro to these two chapters:

Chapter 8: Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest to the crucifixion of Christ – Many people are destroyed – Darkness covers the land for three days—Those who remain bemoan their fate.

Chapter 9: In the darkness the voice of Christ proclaims the destruction of many people and cities for their wickedness...

Now we need to note something here: The Bible does proclaim an earthquake occurring upon Jesus' death. But it wasn't a scene of destruction; in fact, just the opposite:

”The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

The Bible knows of no massive destruction accompanying the crucifixion -- or of a Jesus voice pronouncing the destruction of many people and cities! This is pure myth, introduced by Mormons in the Book of Mormon.

So...what kind of massive “Gospel destruction” does this “restored Mormon gospel” present? What kind of a violent Mormon jesus is this?

When the Mormon jesus dies, he unleashes punishment and levels 16 cities, killing an estimated 70,000- 90,000 people (see 3 Nephi 8 and 3 Nephi 9).

Yes, there was judgment on the cross!
Yes, it was terrible!
But the real Jesus absorbed all of that judgment and terror -- our very sins -- there on the cross!

Perhaps too many LDS & RLDS alike ONLY see the Book of Mormon Easter judgment upon people! The week that followed the Book of Mormon jesus’ resurrection, was a terrible 4 days or so!

No wonder many Mormons want to stay away from the cross and what immediately happened according to the Joseph Smith version of events:
* No-Cross Protocol ["New" Mormon tradition]
* Sunstone speaker attempts to explain LDS 'aversion' to cross [published by Mormon church owned Mormon Times]

The Biblical Jesus came to be our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30); the Book of Mormon jesus came to search for mere human-produced righteousness (3 Nephi 9:11)
The Biblical Jesus came to see that they would have life (John 10:10); the Book of Mormon jesus came to bring down destruction (3 Nephi 9:12) and ensure that people would "howl" in that destruction (3 Nephi 8:23)
The Biblical Jesus came to ensure people would have abundant life (John 10:10); the Book of Mormon jesus came to ensure people would be in "continual...mourning" (3 Nephi 8:23)
The Biblical Jesus came to be the Light of the world (John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5); the Book of Mormon jesus came to yield complete darkness for three days (3 Nephi 8:23)

And this is on the up & up (if you know what I mean by "up"):

Mormon version of Jesus speaking post-resurrection:
city Zarahemla: I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof [3 Nephi 9:3; cf. 3 Nephi 8:8, 24)
city Moroni: I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned. [3 Nephi 9:4; cf. 3 Nephi 8:9]
city Moronihah: have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them. (3 Nephi 9:5)
city Gilgal: have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth; [3 Nephi 9:6]
cities Onihah, Mocum, and Jerusalem: waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them. [3 Nephi 9:7]
cities Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Jacob, and Gimgimno: all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them. [3 Nephi 9:8]
city Jacobugath: have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them. [3 Nephi 9:9]
cities Laman, Josh, Gad, Kishkumen: have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations. [3 Nephi 9:10]

In the true gospel Jesus is entombed.
In the Mormon “restored gospel", the mass of people in Moronihah is the emphasis of entombment, having been covered with an entire mountain by the Mormon jesus! (3 Nephi 8:10)
On Easter week! The other cities were all either sunk by the Mormon jesus, or horrifically burned to death, plus for added emphasis, ”many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land...” (3 Nephi 9:12)

The true gospel: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Bible, Mark 2:17)

The Mormon Easter version of this: 11 And because they did cast them all out, that there were NONE RIGHTEOUS AMONG THEM, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them. [3 Nephi 9:11]
Now if the destruction of all these Book of Mormon “cities” wasn’t enough of an “Easter tale” for Smith, here’s what he said went on in immediate days following Jesus’ resurrection:
3 Nephi 9:12:
12 And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land…
3 Nephi 8:
6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.
11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.
12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;
13 And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
15 And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain.
16 And there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.
17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.
19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours—and then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.
20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;
21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.
24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla…

I'm sorry, but Jesus didn't come to make people "howl" in their own destruction (3 Nephi 8:23)...that wasn't his purpose in coming the first time!

Jesus said: I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

THE 'EASTER JESUS' OF THE BOOK OF MORMON VS. THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE

Questions Distinguishing 'Mormon' Jesus from Jesus of Bible	Mormon 'Jesus'?	Based upon what Lds 'scripture'	Jesus of Bible?	Relevant Scriptures
1. Is Jesus but one 'savior'-'redeemer' among many?	YES and NO (Lds contradicts themselves)	LDS: NO: D&C 76:1, 1832; changed 1834 in D&C 103:9 & expanded to save the dead in 1841-1842 (D&C 124; D&C 128:1-3, 17-18...esp. v. 18); also Lds cite Obadiah 21 in the Old Testament as some sort of "justification" for applying "saviors" (plural) to themselves -- alleged "saviors" of mankind via baptisms for the dead!	NO	"THE Savior" in 1 John 4:14 and John 4:42, not saviors plural; also, in 1 Cor. 15:29 which Mormons have hijacked as their own -- the apostle Paul says "they" -- not "we" -- practiced baptism for the dead; also Obadiah 21 has NOTHING to do with baptizing the dead!
2. Were our sins 'atoned' for in the Garden of Gethesemane?	Lds say YES	Lds misinterpret blood sweat in garden of Gethsemane as Jesus was praying as having "effect of atonement" (see official Lds magazine Ensign, for example: June 2007, p. 15)	NO	Col. 1:20; also Jesus never said "pick up your 'garden' and follow me" but said, "pick up your 'CROSS' and follow me"
3. Was Jesus quite violent at the point of His death?	YES	3 Nephi 8:8-->3 Nephi 9:12, esp. 8:23; 9:12, Book of Mormon	NO	Jesus became sin (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24) and became a curse (Gal. 3:13) on behalf of all, absorbing God's wrath on our behalf
4. Did Jesus really die for our personal sins or our rebellious nature?	NOTHING CONCLUSIVE: Lds "scriptures" are all over the map on this one: Mormonism teaches that (a) children have no sin nature & "cannot sin until they begin to become accountable" (D&C 29:47) -- even tho the Lds Pearl of Great Price teaches that children are conceived in sin (Moses 6:55), which "jives" more with Psalm 51:5 and 58:3; (b) yet the Book of Mormon teaches that men have a "carnal and fallen state" and that unless "they become new creatures...unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Mosiah 27:26)...adding in v. 25 & elsewhere in the BoM that they "must be born again"; but apparently that was all past tense in the pre-incarnational years of Jesus Christ, because Joseph Smith taught how Jesus redeemed men from the fall, making men "innocent before God" (D&C 93:38)...so men are "innocent" before God? (Oh, sure, that explains today's world "nicely")	Article of Faith 2: "All men will be punished for own sin."	BOTH	1 John 1:7-9; Romans 5:8-9
5. Is Christ's powerful atoning blood diluded to 'anemic' levels?	YES	Even tho a few Mormon "scriptures" emphasize the cleansing power of Christ's blood (see, for example Alma 7:14; D&C 76:41; Moses 6:59), Mormonism roots this in law-keeping (D&C 76:52)	NO	1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; Rev. 5:9; Rev. 7:14; Heb. 13:12; Heb. 10:19; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5:9

[Colofornian]

From the article: Mormon leaders have written an italicized intro to each chapter within the Book of Mormon. With Easter approaching, it's interesting what the Latter-day Saint “snapshot” is of the crucified Jesus – per the Book of Mormon. If you have a Book of Mormon, you can turn to 3 Nephi chapters 8 and 9 and read the Mormon leader intro to these two chapters: Chapter 8: Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest to the crucifixion of Christ – Many people are destroyed – Darkness covers the land for three days—Those who remain bemoan their fate. Chapter 9: In the darkness the voice of Christ proclaims the destruction of many people and cities for their wickedness...Now we need to note something here: The Bible does proclaim an earthquake occurring upon Jesus' death. But it wasn't a scene of destruction; in fact, just the opposite: ”The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” The Bible knows of no massive destruction accompanying the crucifixion -- or of a Jesus voice pronouncing the destruction of many people and cities! This is pure myth, introduced by Mormons in the Book of Mormon. So...what kind of massive “Gospel destruction” does this “restored Mormon gospel” present? What kind of a violent Mormon jesus is this? When the Mormon jesus dies, he unleashes punishment and levels 16 cities, killing an estimated 70,000- 90,000 people (see 3 Nephi 8 and 3 Nephi 9).

[stuartcr]

another good one, kudos

[SkyDancer]

Get rid of all those “and it came to pass” and the BOM would just be a few pages. Good post too!

[svcw]

Wow, just wow.

[dragonblustar]

Sounds like the Muslim version of Jesus, when he returns and coverts to Islam then goes around killing the non Muslims.

[Alex Murphy]

The Bible knows of no massive destruction accompanying the crucifixion -- or of a Jesus voice pronouncing the destruction of many people and cities! This is pure myth, introduced by Mormons in the Book of Mormon. So...what kind of massive “Gospel destruction” does this “restored Mormon gospel” present? What kind of a violent Mormon jesus is this? When the Mormon jesus dies, he unleashes punishment and levels 16 cities, killing an estimated 70,000- 90,000 people (see 3 Nephi 8 and 3 Nephi 9).

[freedomlover]

There is a full page painting in a BOM that I saw in someone’s house once that shows a Mormon Jesus walking towards the viewer with fire and destruction behind him. I cant seem to find it online I may have to scan it.

I asked a Mormon about this and they were very evasive.

“But they’re such nice people.” On the street that is. Pull back the curtain and see what they tell their kids about you the unbeliever or worse still one who has left the cult.

[Normandy]

I’m not one to rejoice in the destruction on anyone, but I don’t see what is recorded in the Book of Mormon being any different in character to what is recorded in the Bible.

In Genesis God sent floods upon the earth to destroy those who he considered wicked enough to be taken from the earth.

Also, looking to the future, Revelation tells us that Jesus will cleanse the earth again:

Revelation 19: 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

12. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.

13. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

14. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

15. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

16. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

[ejonesie22]

So I guess you say the same about good Muslims or Hindus or Buddhist, because their”good deeds” are Christan too, but such standards...

[ejonesie22]

Don’t forget the poster added "the Catholics". Sheesh, how many times do we have to explain this.

Wait, that is not the point, is it “repeat the lie often enough”...

Hum...

Makes on wonder about the posters intent and agenda...

[svcw]

You are correct.
I was just so confused as to what Shiners had to do with mormonism.

[Colofornian]

I’m not one to rejoice in the destruction on anyone, but I don’t see what is recorded in the Book of Mormon being any different in character to what is recorded in the Bible.

(But that's just it...none of these alleged whirlwinds & tempests & floods & mud massacres mentioned @ the time of Jesus' crucifixion are mentioned in the Bible...right?)

Beyond that...yes, there is a time to kill...but @ Jesus crucifixion, that wasn't the time...

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

If you come along with some purported "revelation" Normandy...that says that when Jesus was asked by his mother to produce wine for the wedding...that He instead laid waste to all the drunkards present...I don't think you'd have either that "timing" down right...nor have a genuine revelation!

[MHGinTN]

The first little difference, Normandy, is one of the books is authored by God speaking through His chosen scribes, the other is authored by someone else pushing the imagination of a conman dictating to ‘a scribe’. The usual Mormon/LDS effort to conflate the two is impossible for folks like you to acknowledge, but non-Mormon Christians sense it immediately as God’s Spirit within pricks their spirit.

[MHGinTN]

Good behavior is not an indication of Christ within. I have known some very good Hindus, and at least one very fine agnostic who's life was lived in an exemplary fashion. And it goes without saying that even those with Christ within can and do fail to live up to the family name, but they have a Savior to Whom they return for spiritual cleansing and rejuvenation. As you possibly know, however, the evidence of continuous failing is a strong sign that Christ is not within that soul. And deception, such as claiming to worship a false christ, and denial of Biblical truth, are sure signs of such a lost soul.

Here's something borrowed from Freeper William Clark, illustrating how one can have faith in 'a' Christ but not the true Savior Christ:

"I always like to use the analogy of Jim Caviezel [In Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of The Christ']. Like the Mormon Jesus, he dressed the part, spoke the same words (in the original language, no less), and was referred to as Jesus Christ within a specific context, but it makes all the difference in the world whether one worships and depends upon him for their salvation or the genuine article."

Just to avoid contention, are Christians ordered to be just fine with LDS blasphemies and heretical teaching from Mormonism which are antithetical to Christianity?

[Boogieman]

Yes, that’s pretty much the image that Mormons have painted me of what they think Jesus is like. They seem offended that Jesus might have been a meek, unassuming man; they really want a buff, manly Jesus ready to kick butt. The fact is, Jesus will kick many butts, but He doesn’t need any muscles to it, besides the one in His tongue.

[svcw]

Yep, mormonism does portray their jesus as buff physically but insufficient to save.
As, mormonism teaches that mormons must work for their salvation.