Posted on 07/06/2009 9:35:49 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
Ellis T. Rasmussen, professor emeritus of Religious Education at Brigham Young University.
The best support for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Lord has exhorted us to seek that kind of witness not only of the entire Book of Mormon, but also of its parts. When Moroni, the last author in the Book of Mormon, gave the promise of spiritual confirmation, he spoke especially of particulars:
“When ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moro. 10:4–5; italics added.)
The essence of the witness of the Holy Ghost is the witness of the book itself. Great concepts impressively written bear within them a witness of validity and divine origin more convincing than any clues that external evidences can provide, however helpful they may be. Such is the case with the Book of Mormon.
Attempts to prove or disprove the book’s authenticity by focusing on Joseph Smith’s description of how he obtained the gold plates, or on anthropological and archaeological evidence, though interesting, can be only marginally successful. Reconstructing history is difficult at best. The evidence is always incomplete—a clay inscription and a bit of pottery here, or a journal entry and a newspaper account there—so any picture that researchers develop will be, by nature, fragmentary. That picture will change as new information becomes available.
In contrast to the indecisive nature of external evidence, the Lord has provided a way to obtain decisive support for the book’s authenticity—“the Spirit of truth … will guide [us] into all truth.” (John 16:13.) This search is of necessity an individual matter. No matter how many millions have found the gospel and the scriptures true, and no matter how many people have joyfully lived the commandments, each new candidate must gain his own testimony. The Spirit’s witness comes only after individual effort and sincere seeking.
God the Father has set up a system of witnesses for the Book of Mormon. The book openly claims that it is the word of God. Joseph Smith and eleven other witnesses also testified of the book. The Bible itself serves as a witness of the Book of Mormon, and to this is added the witness of the Father himself through the Holy Ghost.
Furthermore, the individual parts of the ancient record—the doctrines, teachings, prophecies, and narratives—carry within them a spirit of authenticity. For me, this internal evidence has been, next to the witness of the Holy Spirit, the most convincing. From the many in the book, I’ve chosen seven key concepts that I feel are especially moving:
The intent of the Book of Mormon authors is to bring us to Christ. Nephi, the young prophetic author of the first books in the record, stated this clearly:
“The fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” (1 Ne. 6:4; see also 2 Ne. 26:33.)
Moroni, the last person mentioned in the record, writes, “Again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ. … Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness.” (Moro. 10:30, 32.)
Without a single exception, every prophet between the two teaches us about Christ in some way, and nearly every page of the book contains some reference to him. The overriding intention of the book fits fully the intention of authentic scripture.
Nephi teaches that the condescension of God—the gift of the Savior’s ministry and the saving sacrifice of the Atonement—demonstrates God’s love. In one revelation, an angel asked Nephi, “Knowest thou the condescension of God?” (1 Ne. 11:16.) One meaning of the word—patronizing someone—has a negative connotation, but the other meaning is quite positive: “to waive dignity or superiority voluntarily and assume equality with an inferior.” (Random House Dictionary of the English Language, 1971 unabridged edition.)
To the angel’s question, Nephi replied that he knew that God loved his children but that he didn’t know the meaning of all things. He had just been shown in vision the town of Nazareth, and in it he had seen a beautiful virgin. After the angel’s question, Nephi saw her again with a baby in her arms.
The angel identified the baby as the Lamb of God, the Son of the Eternal Father, equating the gift of Jesus with the love of God. Then the angel declared, “Look and behold the condescension of God!” and Nephi saw the Redeemer of the world teaching the gospel and offering himself as a sacrifice. (See 1 Ne. 11:17–33.)
Eight chapters later, Nephi wrote again of Jesus’ sacrifice:
“The world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men. …
“[He] yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos.” (1 Ne. 19:9–10.)
This is a moving statement of divine condescension, of how God lovingly came to earth and accepted persecution, crucifixion, and suffering so great he bled from every pore. The concept of God’s condescension, unique to the Book of Mormon, is a powerful witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon identifies the roles of “the Holy Messiah.” The Old Testament prophets spoke often of a divinely appointed future king, of a Davidic branch with great power, and of a suffering servant who would save Israel. Despite the many Messianic prophecies, the use of different titles for the Messiah has caused confusion over who the Messiah was to be and what he was to do.
The Book of Mormon, however, is explicit about the name of the deliverer—Messiah and Christ are synonymous terms—and his work. Lehi, for example, taught his son Jacob that “redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah.” He went on to talk of the Messiah’s grace and truth, his sacrifice and mercy, and his intercession for all. (See 2 Ne. 2:6–10.)
In addition to this teaching, other Book of Mormon prophets discuss why Christ’s sacrifice had to be infinite in its outreach (see 2 Ne. 9:7; 2 Ne. 25:16); how man would always be subject to the devil—carnal, sensual, and devilish—without the Atonement (see 2 Ne. 9:8–9; Mosiah 16:3; Alma 42:9–10); and what relationship the Mosaic law has to the Atonement (see Mosiah 3:15).
These teachings clarify the role of the Messiah, and their insights bear within them the stamp of divine authenticity.
The Book of Mormon views the Bible as a great religious heritage from the Jews. The band of Lehi that fled Jerusalem took with them a copy of the Law and the Prophets of brass plates. So valuable was the record that they risked their lives to obtain it. Even 450 years after the time of Lehi, King Benjamin spoke of the importance of these plates:
“I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at the present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.” (Mosiah 1:3.)
Nephi also saw in vision the effect the Bible would have in the future. He saw that the Bible would “go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God” and that his peoples’ record and the Bible would verify each other and become established as one. (1 Ne. 13:25, 40–41.)
At a later time, Nephi prophesied that most would not acknowledge or thank the Jews for their record:
“What thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? … Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
“O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them.” (2 Ne. 29:4–5.)
These are but a few samples from the Book of Mormon on the worth of the Bible, a theme whose validity rings true and which can easily be tested.
The Book of Mormon prophesiesof its role as a companion witness with the Bible. When the Book of Mormon was first published in 1830, it boldly declared on its title page that its purpose was “the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” Many felt then that the claim was presumptuous, yet the millions of readers who have since believed in Christ because of the Book of Mormon have proved that the purpose was valid.
The role of the Book of Mormon as a companion witness of Christ was explained to Nephi by an angel. Nephi learned that the scriptures of his descendants would “come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. …
“And the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of [Nephi’s] seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one.” (1 Ne. 13:35, 41.)
The Book of Mormon performs a complementary role with the Bible, declaring that the “whole meaning of the law of Moses” is to point our souls to Christ, our divine Redeemer. (See Alma 34:13–14.)
In our day, when billions of people do not know the gospel of the Lamb of God, and when many doubt the Bible and the divinity of Jesus, a second witness of the Savior is sorely needed so mankind can know the truth and obtain the blessings of the gospel. This witness is provided by the Book of Mormon and serves as one more mark of its truth and authenticity.
The Book of Mormon is full of valuable warnings and admonitions about the last days. Oftentimes the warnings are detailed and clearer than those in the Bible. One example is a warning in 2 Nephi 27, [2 Ne. 27] the Book of Mormon rendering of Isaiah 29. [Isa. 29] Many readers of Isaiah 29 have difficulty understanding who is being warned and what the warning is. Nephi’s account, however, is a clear warning to the people who fight against Zion—the people of the Lord in the last days. It follows a chiastic realignment of phrasing:
a “In the last days … all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews … will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations.
b “They shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts” with great catastrophes.
c “All nations that fight against Zion … shall be as a dream of a night vision; … even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty.
c1 “Or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint … ; yea, even so shall … the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.
b1 “All ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry [apparently because of the catastrophes].
a1 “Ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink.” (2 Ne. 27:1–4.)
Through study and prayer, a critical reader may test such statements of warning and admonition. In this area of scripture, too, the Book of Mormon bears witness that it is valid, valuable, realistic, and authentic.
The authors of the Book of Mormon are deeply concerned with the welfare of individual souls. The word soul in the Book of Mormon most frequently denotes the eternal self. Worship centers in the soul, and the devil seeks to cheat the souls of men. If one yields to the devil but later repents, it is the soul that is racked with torment until repentance takes place. When communication comes from heaven, it pierces the very souls of men and women.
In his farewell address, Nephi urges his people to adopt a way of life that will be good for the welfare of their souls: “I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” (2 Ne. 32:9; italics added.)
These seven points are only a brief sampling of the internal evidences that the Book of Mormon is true and authentic scripture. But the real burden of proof of its authenticity lies with each reader. In each instance of doctrine, in each narrative passage, in each great character of the Book of Mormon, the Lord has challenged us to ask the Father in the name of Christ whether these things are true, and he will manifest the truth unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Go whine to the Mod, again. It is glaringly apparent that your faith is based in your church.
Mine is placed solely in Jesus. Your arrogant assertions are a personal attack on MY faith. Mine is found is Scripture, as revealed by His Holy Spirit. I don't expect you to understand that, ONLY TO MAKE YOUR ASSERTIONS OF FACTS, NOT IN EVIDENCE...
I owe you nothing, except the message of Christ, crucified, buried ,and resurrected to open the door for ALL who believe... and that includes me and you!
Romans 8: 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
No more making the thread "about" individual posters.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
>> The best support for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. <<
And how are we to discern spirits? Which is not to say that the feelings of Mormons towards their faith are evil spirits, necessarily; the religion creates all sorts of structures to inspire normal earthly spirits towards the religion. But if Mormonism relies on the Holy Spirit, why the shunning of other Christians? Why must Mormon converts be completely isolated, spiritually, from their families. Thus, the Mormon church coopts normal feelings unto itself, and proclaims the redirected bonds as the Holy Spirit. Evidence is objective.
Is that Bill Maher from Politically Incorrect in the bathtub?
Fascinatingly, you quote Lech Walesa.
Why is it that while the Poles and Lithuanians brought about Revolution against their Soviet oppressors, the Estonians and Latvians were caught up pretty much simply along for the ride?
Why is it that while the Hungarians and Czecks revolted, the East Germans whine about how they’d like to go back to the Soviet days?
Hypocrisy? Do you know the meaning of the word? What portion of the collection plate does YOUR pastor keep? Yes, the Vatican is impressive; it is the See of a billion Catholics. Should it not be? How funny that mad monk was, who slandered Rome, while appealing to his local princes that they could take over the church properties and avoid funding the war against Islam, to talk about excesses of wealth. Or John Calvin, whose canton became synonymous with outrageous wealth, because he preached that we can disregard the biblical prohibitions against usury.
These men glorify themselves; the Vatican was built to give glory to God.
Your diabolical error which proves you are no Christian is your assertion that Mary is dead. The Saints are alive, in Heaven, watching the events below, and giving praise and worship to God. If you ever opened up your bible, you would recognize the Hail Mary.
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Mary’s response was:
“My soul magnifies the Lord.”
Think about that one. She doesn’t say, “My soul is magnified by the Lord,” as you might think. She says, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Do you know what that means? By her soul, we see the greatness of the Lord! (Sometimes, this is translated as “glorifies,” since “magnify” tends to refer to optics, nowadays.)
She goes on to say, “For behold, henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed.”
Notice that she doesn’t say, “will” call me blessed. She says “shall.” In other words, she is issuing a command.
Don’t misunderstand me: Mary’s glory is not her own. The same prayer gives the glory to God. She praises God “for He has done great things for me.” But this notion that she is supposed to be regarded as just another dead Christian directly contradicts the bible.
Mary had only one child, Jesus. Or was Jesus telling Mary to disown her other children when he said, “Here is THE son of yours” about John on the cross? Her only Son was dying on the cross, so he put her in the care of his beloved disciple. The article which I translate as “the” implies that there are no other. Yet you insist that James, et al are Jesus’ brothers?
The word translated commonly as “brother,” in fact, also refers to those cousins who are sons of an uncle.
Some biblical scholars have tried to take a “middle road” and interpret that James is a brother of Jesus, by a different mother, using Joseph’s legendary old age to suggest that Joseph was a widower. But, in fact, we know that James, Judas, Joses are brothers, and “of Clopus,” which is actually their hometown, not their father.
My Bible is wide open, FRiend. You are making a judgment that only God can make. Be very careful about claiming to be that arbiter.
Mary is dead. Your church wishes to elevate her. I do not. She has only one role in Scripture, a "chosen vessel". Jesus (God) also chose a clay pot to change the water into wine. Do you pray to that pot as well? It would have the same effect.
She's dead, Jim, along with "the saints". I have already quoted Jesus response to Mary's appearance later in His life. Maybe you should be the one studying God's Word. You're making a mockery of His plans, with these boasts, unfounded in Scripture...
Revelations 20: 1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. -Love, John
Not any evidences for the veracity of the Book of Mormon. Yes.
Comparing protestantism with mormonism is a silly endeavor. The differences are far too many and too great.
Of course, one could find “similarities” with any church, if one were willing to accept shallow comparisons.
This was originally posted in the Religion thread, where it belongs.
BTW, it seems that some of you have highjacked this thread away from the original topic which had to do with mormonism. I'd appreciate your taking your discussion to a thread that has to do with the topic you are discussing. Thanks.
It is an insult to our Lord to equalize Mary with God the Father. I know all about who Catholics are, and I challenge the main point of worshipping Mary, a created being, to be equal with God, the Creator of the Universe. You can twist around one little word in Scripture all you want — and you can even talk about the history of the Catholic church. But that doesn’t change the truth of God’s word — that Mary was chosen to give birth to Jesus as a WOMAN, which makes the gospel so miraculous. She then went on to marry Joseph, and have other children by him. Whether she DID have other children or not (which you are seeming to make a big point of), does not change the truth that Mary was flesh and blood and NOT part of the Godhead. We do not worship Mary. No where in Scripture are we instructed to do so. Jesus is Lord, and we worship Him and Him alone. It is insulting and erroneous to insinuate that we are obligated to lift Mary, the mother of Christ, up to the level of our Lord and Savior.
Mary does not sit on any throne in heaven. She was flesh and blood like you and I. She did not participate in the act of obedience as she did, to have humans worship her in such a way. I’m not sorry about saying so. And I know what FreeRepublic is all about. It is supposed to be about a free exchange of ideas. This one I am proposing is shared by thousands of FReepers — they just might not have the courage to state it so clearly in this forum.
FOUR???
EVERYTHING???
I stated that in error if you read further. The number really is 7. :)
Who is Spaulding?
Meaning that what the church they came from taught them about their interpation of Catholism. All the anti Catholic bias they were raised with, that sort of thing.
And just what THEOLOGY is ADDED/REMOVED by the 'missing' books?
Are your logic skills similar to your MATH ones?
10 * 66 = 660
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