Why Dont Christians Accept the Book of Mormon as Valid? (Jesus, Earth)

[madhatter85]

Originally Posted by sojourner

That's pretty scary theology in that post. And it has nothig to do with the topic at hand. I will say that, if the BOM propagates the kind of theology as found in your linked post, it's no wonder that most of us don't view it as "valid."

you still have yet to support your claims that the terinitarian view is even supported biblically when i have provided evidence to the contrary, biblically.

It is impossible for Jesus Christ and God to be the same personage.

Jesus Christ prays to the Father as in Mark 14, why would he pray to himself?

36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

This actually supports my claim that Jesus Christ and God's will may vary at times even when they are united in purpose.

Why in Matthew 3 does it say:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

just for a couple refrences.

[athanasius]

The Biggest reason why Catholics and most Christians do not believe in the book of Mormon is because it claimed to be another testament or public revelation from God. We Catholics hold to private revelations(for personal sanctification only) but no new doctrines can be taught. All Public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle, John according to Apostolic Tradition which we believe is the oral word of God. So we believe the book of Mormon contradicts Gods word to put it bluntly. We also do not believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet because he gave new public doctrinal revelation. That is the simplest way to put it. Interestingly enough last month I attended a Mormon worship service. I attend the sacrament service and the second service which was a doctrinal study. Very nice men and women. They love god with all their heart and even give two years of their life up to him for missionary work. We Christians can learn something from their zeal and love of Jesus and family. They are good people.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by athanasius

The Biggest reason why Catholics and most Christians do not believe in the book of Mormon is because it claimed to be another testament or public revelation from God.

Actually, a "testament" is nothing more than a record in which someone testifies or witnesses to the truthfulness of something he knows to be true. We have four of them in the Bible alone: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each of them is an account of the life of Christ. Each of them is from a different perspective and not all of them touch on the same events as the others. I don't see many Christians tearing Luke's account of the Annunciation to Mary or of Mary's visit to Elizabeth, just because Matthew, Mark and James don't mention them. Given the fact that the vast majority of the events in the Book of Mormon supposedly happened on the other side of the world and were unknown prior to 1829, it's hard to conclude, as you have, that they cannot be considered scriptural.

We Catholics hold to private revelations(for personal sanctification only) but no new doctrines can be taught.

First off, you're looking at the Book of Mormon as if it were a nineteenth-century revelation, which it isn't. Suppose another of Paul's epistles were to be discovered in the Holy Land and that Christian scholars (Catholic, Protestant, LDS, etc.) all agreed that it was not a fraud, but Paul's actual letter to the Laodiceans (as mentioned in Colossians 4:16). Would you consider it to be "new doctrine" just because it was discovered in the twenty-first century?

All Public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle, John according to Apostolic Tradition which we believe is the oral word of God.

And how long did it take Apostolic tradition to determine that God was through talking?

So we believe the book of Mormon contradicts Gods word to put it bluntly.

That's pretty blunt, all right. Would you give an example of something in the Book of Mormon that contradicts God's word? Or are you saying that it contradicts God's word merely by its existance?

We also do not believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet because he gave new public doctrinal revelation. That is the simplest way to put it.

Again, when did God say that He would never again have anything to say to the Church as a whole? And why did Jesus prophesy that the prophets He would send would be rejected, if He never intended to send them in the first place?

Interestingly enough last month I attended a Mormon worship service. I attend the sacrament service and the second service which was a doctrinal study. Very nice men and women. They love god with all their heart and even give two years of their life up to him for missionary work. We Christians can learn something from their zeal and love of Jesus and family. They are good people.

Yeah, we're a pretty decent lot, aside from the fact that we try to deceive people into thinking we're Christians. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed your experience at the LDS worship service. I'm actually going to an Advent Mass the day after tomorrow with my son's Catholic girlfriend (whom I want desperately for him to marry). She's coming to the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert with us in the morning, and then we're going to mass with her in the evening. I think we're all looking forward to the exchange.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

That's pretty blunt, all right. Would you give an example of something in the Book of Mormon that contradicts God's word?

Well, there IS that bit about alcohol being sinful! We are discussing that in a different thread.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

Well, there IS that bit about alcohol being sinful! We are discussing that in a different thread.

The Doctrine and Covenants is not part of the Book of Mormon.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

The Doctrine and Covenants is not part of the Book of Mormon.

Ah... and so my ignorance is showing yet once more! My bad! I was actually poking a bit of fun at you, rather than trying to make a serious challange!

The real issue to me, as I think I have stated earlier, is not that we DISAGREE, but that we agree MORE than we disagree. We argue over some of this doctrine as if it REALLY mattered!

In the first century, there was a RAGING debate on circumcision in the church. Both sides were quite passionate about WHO was right. In the end, I think that this little bit of legalism was defeated only to be replaced by MORE legalisms through out the Kingdom of God. What is truly important?

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. NIV

Amen brother Paul! Amen!

I have no problem in calling Mormons my brothers and sisters. This is especially true when I see them LOVING others in sacrificial ways. Why don't Christians accept the BOM??? There are many who do, and they are often also called "LDS" or "Mormons". You are my brothers and sisters in the faith, even if you don't drink!

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by madhatter85

Jesus Christ prays to the Father as in Mark 14, why would he pray to himself?

It's not a sign of mental illness to talk to yourself. You only have to worry if you answer back!

Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! NIV

But then how does the trinity (I personally don't use that term since it's not in scriptures) violate the scriptures or the BOM? I don't get it. The word here, phusis, means to "have the form of" or "have the attributes of". By my very nature I am a human.