19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? (Matt. Alma 11:27-39, 44; 2 Nephi 31:21; Mormon 7:7; 3 Nephi11:27; Testimony of Three Witnesses; . This section documents some of the many contradictions in the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the years. This is not a contradiction; it merely demonstrates that the Latter-day Saints do not accept Nicene trinitarianism. Jim, There are also many contradictions within the Bible itself. In short, the audience in the first case is further along in the process than the audience in the second. Thus, there may be errors of perspective on doctrine and not doctrine itself in the scriptures. The scriptures are clear that without baptism, no one may be saved (. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants/Criticism/Alleged contradictions, The Joseph Smith Translation and Ancient Texts of the Bible, https://www.friktech.com/rel/passover.htm, https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-many-angels-at-the-tomb-of-jesus/, How the Bible Came to Be: Part 2, The Word Is Preserved, Can a Man See God? Jesus declared that "heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away" (Mark 13:31; see also Matthew 5:18), and promised His disciples who were to pen the New Testament that the Holy Ghost "shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26); Jesus further promised the apostles that they would "bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (John 15:16). FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It tells of the Jaredites, people from the Tower of Babel who came to Central America but perished because of their own immorality. Book of Mormon. Having this method in line will help you to recognize when two, seemingly contradictory accounts can either not be contradictory at all or both be equally right even if mentioning two different things. The critics are careful to omit the verse of scripture that explains this apparent contradiction. It also describes some Jews who fled persecution in Jerusalem and came to America led by a man called Nephi. The Doctrine and Covenants explains how God remains merciful and just as he judges those who have not fully accepted Christ's gospel by their works. The speaker is the prophet Alma, addressing a sinful son who has left the ministry in pursuit of a harlot. Bible - Not limited to certain ones in heaven - no mention of parenthood or temple marriage but is given to ALL Christians. But a few books later, Jeremiah insists that if the people repent, "the Lord will . The young man in the long white garment may just be a description of an angel that Mark decided to give. Suggested reading for any interested. As we have seen, none of these paired scriptures contradict each other. Copyright 1999 Institute for Religious Research. [NOTE: See our article, Mormonism and Black Skin, for an documented and expanded look at the LDS views both delineated in the LDS scriptures and by way of sermon or statements by LDS General Authorities (LDS Presidents, Apostles, etc.) That said, Latter-day Saints tend to hold the scriptures with a high degree of authority. Such symbols, however, are of little use in establishing a literal geographic location in either the Old or New World. Book of Mormon. Biblical Contradictions - American Atheists In contrast, it is clear from the Bible that only one individual at a time occupied the office of high priest under the Old Testament dispensation (see, for example Leviticus 21:10; Matthew 26:3; Hebrews 8:6-7). Guidelines for use of articles | Site Map | Contact Us | My Account | Terms of service. A dispensation is ended when the general populace apostatizes or rebels against God. For another resource on this subject and many others, see Millard J. Erickson's Christian Theology, in his section on original sin. Thus, God may give specific commands in one situation, and different commands in a different situation necessary for carrying out His work. Scripture may contain paradox that is useful for our instruction. Question: Does Lehi contradict Jeremiah 27 and prove himself a false prophet? Revelation may "contradict" itself and change as we fulfill those moral goods and then have other moral goods that we must meet. The Book of Mormon Vs The Bible - Christian Research Institute (Rom 1:16; Heb 9:28; Eph 2:8-9). The subsequent verses of 2 Nephi 31 explain this clearly: 18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. It does not purchase forgivenessbut, if offered in the proper spirit, it will transform us from the type of people who will not seek Christ's atonement with humility into those who will. Bible - We are in spiritual rebellion until conversion. After the period of apostasy, God has called prophets anew. LDS - from mortal death only - not sinful rebellion or spiritual death. See Early Teachings of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, which Contradict Present- day LDS Theology See Early Teachings of Joseph Smith. Thus, he remains outside of Jeremiahs instruction from God via revelation to submit and be slaves to Babylon. Thus, it is proper to speak of "God" in a singular sense, but Latter-day Saints also recognize that there is more than one divine personfor example, the Father and the Son. The Book of Mormon teaches that the disobedience of Adam and Eve in eating the forbidden fruit was necessary so that they could have children and bring joy to mankind (2 Nephi 2:23-25). Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away . The people described in the Book of Mormon operated multiple temples (Alma 16:13; 23:2; 26:29). (Acts 2:47) However, the Book of Mormon claims the Christian church was established as early as 147 B.C. Column A insist that the. In this case of David/Elhanan, perhaps we can just take the disagreement and find it to be an interesting aspect of the Bible. It may become the responsibility of Latter-day Saints from time to time to defend the high authority of scripture. The table is also misleading, since Latter-day Saints use the term "saved" in a variety of ways, and would not regard most of those discussed in the Column B as "saved" in the same sense discussed in Column A. This list is illustrative only, not exhaustive. How can this be the case? Seven Contradictions Between the Book of Mormon and the Bible Critics generally cite any of a number of passages from Matthew 5-7 from the King James Version and Joseph Smith Translation and 3 Nephi 12-14 from the Book of Mormon. The scriptures in Column A describe missionary efforts to teach the pagan Lamanites about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 27:5-8 notes: With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. He also read a book in vision that said that Jerusalem should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon (1 Nephi 1:13). The Holy Ghost. The laws of Moses are an everlasting covenant, for a thousand generations, always and forever. Jeremiah 27 contains Jeremiahs pleas before the kings of Israel to not fight back against Babylon. We do not just commit sins - we are basically sinful. The King James Bible and the Joseph Smith Translation Here are the 4 most common areas that people claim contradictions in: 1. (Num 23:19). Bible - Salvation is not universal but based on belief of each individual. The Book of Mormon contradicts Itself! Scripture Can Still Be Instructive and Valuable as Scripture Even When it Contains Contradictions. (The mention in Luke 3:2 of Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests is not a real exception in Christs time Israel was under the domination of the Romans, who intervened to change the high priest at will. None of these says anything about a pre-existence. Further insights about how to understand contradictions/tensions will come as one understands how the biblical authors constructed narratives and thought about history. 7. Well first, as already mentioned, we have covenanted to defend the faith. Mormon 8:32; Church Members Who Tithe Will Not Burn. The Egyptian language was a very corrupt language from idol [] Its important to keep in mind exactly what Jeremiah is responding to. It is our sacred duty as Latter-day Saints to defend the faith. The totals obtained from each book is as follows: (a) 29,818 (Ezra) (b) 31,089 (Nehemiah) 23.How many singers accompanied the assembly? Post date: October 3, 2011. Galatians 1:6-9, Revelation 22:18-19, 2 Peter 1:3, and Jude 3). Some of them are substantial doctrines that define key doctrines; others are factual contradictions that may or may not have much in the way of doctrinal consequence, but beg the question: Is the Book of Mormon really the "most correct of any book on earth"? Challenge #1: How can Mormons believe that God the Father has a body when the Bible says God is pure spirit? The baptism is an outward sign of our repentance and determination to keep God's commandments, and this willingness to covenant with Jesus allows us (as the first case notes) to "receiveof the Spirit of Christ," which begins the process of remitting our sins. If we accept the Bible as our measuring stick for spiritual truth, the Book of Mormon must be rejected. Julie M. Smith, ed.. An msn.com poll listed Solomon as the fifth richest person to ever live. Answer When Mormon missionaries (properly called Latter Day Saints or simply "LDS") come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the Book of Mormon and tell you about its author, Joseph Smith. Its authenticity has been proven through time and aligns with historical events. In contrast, the Bible specifically declares that Adams transgression was a sinful act of rebellion that unleashed the power of sin and death in Gods perfect world (Romans 5:12; 8:20-21). In fact, a Bible believer would expect there to be contradictions between the two, since the Bible never gives any legitimacy to the Book of Mormon, but actually condemns it (cf. Had he not taken this sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him. numbers do not add up to anything close. Book of Mormon: Contradictions - Skeptic's Annotated Bible Are ye not much better than they? Lesson 7: The Book of Mormon and the Bible - The Church of Jesus Christ One of the glorious messages of the Restored Gospel is that the heavens are still open and God still speaks to his children through living prophets. with child of the Holy Ghost." The first three rivers are related to the lands of Havilah, Ethiopia, and Assyria (see. [email protected], The Necessity of the Incarnation of God the Son. Two of the best books on this subject are Philips Longs The Art of Biblical History and Robert Alters The Art of Biblical Narrative. Yet, it would be unjust for God to impose identical punishment on the vast range of human sins. LDS - Universal gift - ability to live forever but not Eternal Life. Those with less spiritual knowledge may be forgiven of murder following sincere repentance (. Mormonism is based on earning righteousness for salvation. Question: Why are there discrepancies between translations in the Book of Mormon, King James Bible and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible? Is it not reasonable, therefore, to make the Bible the standard for judging the Book of Mormon, and not the other way around? 25, 2017, msn.com). Contradictions Between the Book of Mormon and the Bible and (2) How did such English get into the Book of Mormon text? David can report this event to his parents as if only he went to the store: "Oh, this afternoon I went to Wal-Mart." The Bible has no flaws or contradictions in its original manuscripts. So, his target audience is those who have perhaps not yet "desire[d] to be baptized." When we have been baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which purifies us as if by fire, as sin and evil are burned out of us, and we walk in newness of life, following Jesus. Alma says that man's body was created after the image of God. They don't need to fret about every historical controversy about scripture. Latter-day Saints do not believe in the doctrine of Scriptural Inerrancy where the scriptures must be completely historically accurate, contain no theological tensions, and have no contradictions. Theres a Difference Between a Contradiction and a Paradox, 11. LDS - We are all literal spirit children of God. Repentance requires that we appreciate that we have not kept all of God's commandments, and we regret not doing so. Sometimes, our best thinking and tools do not allow us to know what is the most important moral good to achieve and how to structure our behavior nor or in the future as well as individually or communally to achieve that good. Moses is based upon the Bible narrative of Genesis. Bible - says Mary was ". God will not force men to obeyif some disobey, then God may need to alter commands. Scriptures in column A show the "default" command to practice monogamy, which God may alter according to His plan and circumstance as described in column B. And whereas the Bible is organically linked to the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ by extensive surviving manuscript evidence going back as far as A.D. 125-30, the Book of Mormon is wholly lacking in any such evidences of ancient origin. Some of the seeming contradictions in scripture may be termed historical contradictions. This is not unique or unusual in scripture -- even the Bible. Bible - Same Greek word used for Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit (I Cor 3:16 and 6:19). We become resolved to keep God's commandments from henceforth, and the first commandment which we can obey is to choose baptism. (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1). to A.D. 400. Difference or Contradiction? - Ligonier Ministries We, as Latter-day Saints, can pay attention to this work in our efforts to learn everything we can from and about scripture. This decision to repent and follow Jesus will ultimately lead to forgiveness, and the baptism of fire and the purging out of sin that comes with the receipt of the Holy Ghost (after baptism). Abraham misled the Egyptians by not disclosing all the facts. Lehi told his contemporaries of this way out of destruction via repentance, but, according to Nephis account of Lehis ministry, Lehi was mocked and his people sought to take away his life (1 Nephi 1:20). In some cases, the essential argument being made by critics may have merit and, in others, may not. CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE BIBLE 2/22/87 The following quotes examine what Mormon theology teaches as opposed to what Christianity teaches. Contradictions in the Bible and Book of Mormon Bible Contradictions Explained: 4 Reasons the | Zondervan Academic So, the concept of "spirit" used by the Lamanites is not (as the critics assume) the same as the "spirit" of Nicene trinitarianism. They need clear communication in knowing how to do that. (2) The Book of Mormon teaches that the disobedience of Adam and Eve in eating the forbidden fruit was necessary so that they could have children and bring joy to mankind (2 Nephi 2:23-25). compare verses of scripture which are not speaking about identical issues; read Protestant terminology or theology into LDS scripture. Doctrine & Covenants 19:67, 1012 states: Prior to this time, Joseph Smith's revelations seem to indicate that "endless punishment" might refer to something like eternal torment in a burning hell. Might not the Bereans have said in reply, thats not the way we find it in our Bible. Bible - All redeemed will be in God's presence. Question How should Christians view the Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon focuses the new or potential Christian on the absolute necessity of accepting Christ and His gospel. You can make as long of a list of "contradictions between the Bible and the Bible," you know. You also need to understand how Latter-day Saints understand the nature of prophetic revelation: how it will be given to us, when it will be given to us, and on what subjects. This isn't an issue. Doctrine and Covenants. Bible - Christ brought end to Aaronic priesthood and is the ONLY High Priest after manner of Melchizedek. In contrast, Jesus exhibited full confidence in the scripture's completeness and preservation down to His time (Mark 13:31; Matthew 5:18). One says God is spirit . The Lord is indeed bound by a moral law that is factual. Latter-day Saint scripture/Supposed contradictions - FAIR Contradictions Between Bible and Book of Mormon 2 Timothy 3:7; " Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. The broad outlines of the Bible, Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham, and Book of Moses can be trusted as historically plausible.[13]. Additionally, there are times where more emphasis needs to be placed one moral end over others. The Bible came first, not the Book of Mormon. Their work can be found in commentaries and other scholarly publications on the scriptures. Similarly, scriptural authors may be writing from a historical perspective. Good works are a result, not the basis, of a right relationship with God (Ephesians 2:10). Jeremiah is responding to the wickedness of Israel and the city Jerusalem. Please, pray for the Mormon people won't you? Question: Are there obvious contradictions between the Book of Mormon (James 1:13-14). Such people lose their chance for exaltation in LDS doctrine (see. All rights reserved. The critics omit the scripture from the Book of Mormon that describe the problem: Priestcraft is a problem of attitude, and can happen whether one is paid or not. And most of Mormon doctrine actually comes, not even from the Book of Mormon, but from the Doctrine and Covenants, . The Book of Mormon teaches that about 600 years before Christ, a Nephite prophet predicted that "many plain and precious parts" (1 Nephi 13:26-28) would be removed from the Bible. In cases like these where contradictions arise because of the pitfalls of uncovering accurate history, we can elect to rely on the earliest account and the one with the least amount of bias. Joseph Smith had different purposes in mind when bringing forth the Book of Mormon and the Joseph smith Translation. (Matt 1:21). (Rev. In contrast, the Bible teaches that apart from Christ we are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1,5) and unable to do anything to merit forgiveness and eternal life. #InstaxChallenge #theologytok #bibletok, TikTok, March 27, 2022. ON THE NATURE OF GOD'S BEING: This criticism assumes creation out of nothing, Column A scriptures speak of those who have had the opportunity to accept the gospel in this life, and have rejected it. Holy Ghost is a separate man with a spiritual body - 3 totally separate Gods. For example, Brigham Young's teaching that Deacons in the Church of . There is no Biblical support for the view that Adam and Eve could only fulfill the command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28) by disobeying Gods command regarding the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). Book of Mormon references to the fulfillment of this prophecy, however, use wording that could be understood to mean the three days of darkness was only in the Americas, stating that the three days of darkness would be "over the face of the land." 5. Both boys are equally right. The darkness then would extend over the ocean to the islands and reach as far as Israel in the Middle East. This article will outline principles and procedures for reconciling perceived contradictions in scripture. Some people claim that the passages appear to be two different stories and any number of theories exist as to their origin or relationship. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Book Of Mormon The Book of Mormon was written by Joseph Smith in March 1830. The Book of Mormon contradicts ITSELF and the Bible! The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. Latter-day Saints may consider whether this principle will be useful for them in defending the high authority of scripture. Adam in America . One God: Plural Gods: Book of Mormon: Alma 11:27-39, 44; 2 Nephi 31:21; Mormon 7:7; 3 Nephi 11:27 Testimony of the three witnesses: Doctrine and Covenants: Section 121:32; 132:18-20, 37: In contrast, the Bible in Psalm 51:5 clearly teaches . An earlier prophecy in 1 Nephi 19:10 implies the three days of darkness will be more than regional in scope for it says this sign will be "unto those who inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel." Column A is addressed to those who have not yet accepted and covenanted with Christ"ye Gentiles." Background Reading Russell M. Nelson, "Scriptural Witnesses," Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 43-46. (II Tim 1:10), LDS - Divided into three kingdoms - Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial - place for almost everyone (misuse of I Cor 15:40-41), Bible - Only mentions two conditions - everlasting punishment or life eternal. Frank Daniels, "When was the Passover? As verse 8 of chapter 27 of Jeremiah says: Further, any prophet claiming otherwise should not be listened to. "Hey, prophet, I need you to write about the importance of charity." 9. Departing from the King James Version, i.e., the translation familiar to those who would become the Book of Mormon's first readers, would have been a stumbling block in achieving its purpose. One could assume the opposite: that Elhanan was credited with the death of Goliath wrongly but not for a nefarious purpose. Of course, this is not to say that the scriptures are infallible. Indeed, Elder Uchtdorf uses many scriptures that contradict Solomon's view. Latter-day Saints believe that God is one, but accept the Biblical witness that this is a oneness of purpose, intent, mind, will, and love, into which believers are invited to participate (see. Churches described in column A offer forgiveness and absolution with no change in behavior or character. When we study the Book of Mormon, our understanding of the doctrines in the Bible is clarified. Although there are many more contradictions and factual errors in the Book of Mormon (and in the other LDS scripture) than seven, they sufficiently and objectively demonstrate that the Book of Mormon is untrustworthy patently contradicting Gods revelation contained in the biblical content. With apostasies, knowledge about God can be lost from others. We live in a day when consistency of thought is demeaned by many people, and individuals maintain that contradiction is the hallmark of truth, particularly in r The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. Copyright 1997-2023 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If we affirm every possible contradiction/tension in scripture, how does that affect the reliability of scripture? Supposed contradictionMultiple versus single creators? The experience begins before baptism, leads us to baptism, and is the fulfillment of the promises and covenants of baptism, which must then be persisted in as we "endure to the end.". In contrast, the Bible teaches that God made of one blood all nations of men (Acts 17:26, KJV), that in Christ distinctions of ethnicity, gender and social class are erased (Galatians 3:28), and that God condemns favoritism (James 2:1). Parallel passages from the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible sometimes disagree not only with the King James Version of the Bible, but also with each other. (I Cor 15:46). (3 Nephi 8:3ff; 10:9). Latter-day Saints claim that the Book of Mormon helps interpret the Bible. Scripture Reference Guide - Bible & Book of Mormon Contradictions Salvation is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5-6), not by grace plus works. comparing two verses which are speaking about different things, reading Protestant meanings into scriptural terminology. What is an issue is making seeing the flaws our first instinct. Amen."[25]. The second scripture in column A reflects this, since the religious community described had just escaped a wicked society in which a king and his hand-picked priests had used religion for gain and the satisfaction of their lusts, not teaching of the truth. Solomon was wrong, my dear brothers and sisterslife is not vanity. To the contrary, it can be full of purpose, meaning, and peace. (Rom. Question: Do Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 and 2 Nephi 31:17 or 3 Nephi 12:2 contradict one another regarding the order in which one receives baptism and a remission of sins? Doctrine & Covenants 84:2122 reads "And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." 1. Criticism of the Book of Mormon - Wikipedia A volume built on this insight has been created for Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible! This revelation shows us that what we know about the afterlife though is likely contingent upon what will motivate us to repent and to turn to God. In contrast, the Bible in Psalm 51:5 clearly teaches that we have a sinful nature from birth: "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (NIV). LDS - believe only LDS have authority to baptize, ordain, etc - have two-part system of priesthood - Melchizedek and Aaronic. However, this would make the earlier prophecies of 1 Nephi and Helaman internally contradictory with later BOM references, since their phrasing of "the isles of the sea those who are of the house of Israel" and "the whole face of the whole earth" is difficult to understand as merely a localized time of darkness. There Seems to be Historical Contradictions in Scripture, There Seems to Be Theological Tensions/Contradictions in Scripture, 1. Further revelation from modern prophets may resolve other contradictions in scripture, 12.