Why Christians challenge the authenticity of The Book of Mormon
The reason that Christians challenge The Book of Mormon and any other
foreign doctrine to the Bible is because Biblically we are commanded to
do so. Allow me to show you passages that state this.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast to that
which is good."
Acts 17:10-11 "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and
Silas by night unto Berea: who coming hither went into the synagogue of
the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so."
As the Bereans challenged or tested what Paul and Silas preached, so do
we test The Book of Mormon. We seek to validate whether the things stated
in The Book of Mormon are of God. If the Mormon church is the "True Church"
close examination of the facts will either substantiate it's claims or
expose it's falsehoods. Let me also quote several Latter Day Saints that
agree with testing Mormon doctrine.
"...no person should rest satisfied with the conjectures or opinions
of others, he should use every exertion himself to become acquainted with
the nature of the message -of the Book of Mormon- he should carefully
examine the evidences...he should seek to acquire..knowledge as to whether
it be of God or not. Without such an investigation...he cannot safely
judge without greatly hazarding his future and eternal welfare."(Orson
Pratt, Orson Pratt's Works [Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press,
1945], 107)
"This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the
most important messages ever sent from God.... If false, it is one of
the most cunning, wicked...impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated
to deceive and ruin millions."(Orson Pratt, Orson Pratt's Works
[Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1945], 107.)
By closely examining the facts surrounding The Book of Mormon and Joseph
Smith using the Bible as the measure of truth, each one of us can know
for certain if these are of divine origin. I believe it is of great value
to discuss these things and investigate the truthfulness of them as does
John Taylor quoted below from the Journal of Discourses.
"Some people will say Oh, don't talk about it. I think a full, free
talk is frequently of great use we want nothing secret or underhanded,
and for one I want no association with things that cannot be talked about
and will not bear investigation." (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses
20:264)
Many people have taken the time to test Joseph Smith to see if what he
said was true, as the Bible says we should. If he lied and was a deceiver
he also would be considered a false prophet. The Bible clearly gives the
test to know if someone is a false prophet. Below are several scriptural
examples of how we can know if someone is truly speaking from God or is
indeed a false prophet.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - "But the prophet, which shall presume
to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or
that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD
hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the
thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath
not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt
not be afraid of him."
Deuteronomy 13:3 - "If there arise among you a prophet, or a
dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or
the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go
after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou
shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams:
for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your
God with all your heart and with all your soul."
I hope that by now you can see that it is very important that Christians
be weary of being led astray by false prophets and doctrines that are
not from God. You should not feel personally attacked because we seek
to confirm or deny the LDS claims through God's Word. Instead, you should
join together with us and closely examine The Book of Mormon and more
importantly Joseph Smith. Our spiritual destiny lies in our ability to
discern the truth today. The LDS apostle Bruce McConkie made my point
very clearly.
"Conversely, if Joseph Smith was not called of God, if he was a fraud
and an impostor, if he was a false prophet -- then Mormonism, as the restored
gospel is often called, is itself a fraud and a delusion. In that event
we as a people are in as dark, as benighted, and as fallen a state as
the rest of mankind. And thus the issue is squarely put. Joseph Smith
either was a prophet or he was not. He was either a revealer of Christ
and God and their saving truths or he was not. His work on earth was either
for good or for ill. There is no middle ground, no gray area, no room
for compromise." (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles
of Faith , Pg.13)
"If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead the
people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his
doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be
made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth. If his claims
and declarations were built upon fraud and deceit, there would appear
many errors and contradictions which would be easy to detect." (Joseph
F. Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 188)
I invite you to browse our Web Site and openly discuss these issues. If
you are genuinely interested in seeking out the truth knowing full well
that you will be uncomfortable in doing so, please stop by for a visit.
We would be very happy to share the information that we have found and
allow you to make your own decision based on what the Bible says. Finally,
I would like to remind you of the last two quotes regarding Joseph Smith.
If indeed, after examining Joseph Smiths prophecies even one is shown
to be untrue, he was not a prophet of God according to The Holy Bible.
If this leader, was indeed a deceiver the Bible defines the end result
of the people that choose to follow him.
Isaiah 9:15-16 - "The ancient and honourable, he is the head;
and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of
this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed."
