Questions for your Priesthood Leader
On Sunday November 28th, 1841 Joseph Smith stated: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
In Doctrine and Covenants Section 20 verses 8 and 9 it states: “And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon; which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile and to the Jews also;”
So in light of those two statements why are the following doctrines not found in the Book of Mormon?
- God has a body of flesh and bones.
- God is an exalted man.
- God is a product of eternal progression.
- Men can become gods.
- There is no eternal hell and punishment.
- Pre-existing spirits of men.
- Marriage for eternity.
- Polygamy is acceptable to God. See Jacob 2:24-33. Compare D&C Section 132.
- Three degrees of glory.
- The whole Plan of Eternal Progression.
- A mother in heaven.
- New Testament era “Melchizedek Priesthood” with offices of Elder, Seventy (which has been discontinued in Stakes now) and High Priests.
- New Testament era “Aaronic Priesthood” with the offices of Deacon, Teacher and Priest.
- Church organization with Stakes and Wards, a First Presidency and President of the Church, Stake Presidents and Ward Bishops.
- Baptisms, washing and anointings, endowments and sealings for the dead, in other words, a second chance for salvation.
- Why has the Mormon Church made over 4,000 changes in the Book of Mormon?
- The French language was developed from Celtic and Latin at about 800 A.D. How does the Mormon Church account for the word “adieu” being found in the Book of Mormon?
- There are 17 full chapters from the Book of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah. In a close comparison of chapter 53 of Isaiah and the 14th chapter of Mosiah one will find that all the italicized words in Isaiah are word for word copied in Mosiah. Those italicized words were added by the King James translators in 1611 for clarification and easier reading in English. How does the LDS Church explain their presence if Joseph Smith didn’t copy out of the Bible?
- According to Mormonism there was a “great apostasy” after Jesus’ original 12 apostles were killed, the priesthood authority was lost. In addition they also teach that if there is one priesthood holder alive on earth, the priesthood power still functions through that man. According to the Book of Mormon there are three Nephite Apostles still alive in the world today.If that is the case the priesthood authority was not lost or those Nephite Apostles had no priesthood authority to begin with. Why did Joseph Smith claim to restore something that was still here?
- In Mormon Temples there are dressing rooms where members change into their temple clothes. Each changing booth has lockers with keys. If each member that is “worthy” to go to the temple has passed two recommend interviews as to their honesty and worthiness, why are there locks on the lockers and the temple states they will not be responsible for stolen property?
- Why in 1987 was it necessary to send out a 92 question survey to help make the decision to change the temple ceremony so it would be more palatable to new converts in April of 1990?
- Why is the Mormon Temple Ceremony so similar to the Masonic Ceremony?
- At age 8 the Mormon Church considers youngsters old enough to join by baptism. How then can it be that several years later they are not old enough to make the decision to leave?
- Mormonism teaches that children are born sinless and do not commit sins until after age 8. Why are they then baptized for “the remission of sins?”
- When a new adult member is baptized all of their sins are “washed away.” Now, being sinless, why do they have to wait one year to be eligible (worthy) to go to the temple?
- The church’s 2nd Article of Faith states: “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.” Why in the “washing and anointing” ceremony in the temple are patrons, “washed to be clean of the sins of this generation”?
- The 13th Article of Faith states: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men;…” Why don’t the Mormon missionaries explain the real reason they are out trying to convert people? Such as; all other churches are wrong and apostate; and salvation only comes through the Mormon Church; and husbands and wives can become gods and goddesses?
- And in conjunction with the above 13th Article of Faith, why did the church allow the change in policy towards allowing blacks to have the priesthood, be called a “revelation” when in fact it was voted in by the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve?
- Again in conjunction with the 13th Article of Faith, why was it necessary for Gordon B. Hinckley to not be truthful during an interview, when asked if the church taught that God was once a man, and that men can become gods, as taught in church lesson manuals? Is he just using the “unspoken” term of “lying for the Lord”?
- If “The glory of God is intelligence” why would Gordon B. Hinckley state to students at BYU: “Don’t be counted among those who have studied themselves out of the Church”?
- Spencer W. Kimball taught that Mormons can’t be saved without their dead. If researching one’s genealogies is so important, why do 1 Timothy and Titus in the New Testament teach Christians that they are “unprofitable”, “vain” and “foolish”?
- If the office and authority of Prophet is in succession and Brigham Young taught that Adam was God for 25 years, why did Spencer W. Kimball state in General Conference on October 2, 1976, : “We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities on past generations. Such, for instance, the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine.” Which of these two men is a false prophet, Brigham or Spencer?
- In History of the Church written by Joseph Smith and dated 1829, he stated, “He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni;” In the Pearl of Great Price printed in England in 1851 the very same thing is stated, “…and that his name was Nephi.” Then in 1892 in the Temple Souvenir Album produced for the dedication of the Salt Lake City Temple on page 8 is a picture of the angel on the East Center Tower of the temple and his name is Gabriel. Which angel is it?
- According to the 8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church, they “…believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as translated correctly.” With all the church translators, “scholars” at BYU and FARMS and a “living Prophet and Apostles”, why haven’t they corrected the errors in the Bible? The Hebrew and Greek texts are available from several sources.
- Throughout the Old Testament, there was only one High Priest at any given time and they were from the Levitical Priesthood.
Why do the Mormons have thousands of High Priests today after the order of Melchizedek? That priesthood belongs to Christ alone. - In connection with #21 above, throughout the Bible a man had to be a descendant of Aaron to be able to function as a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. Also they had to be adult men. Why do young Mormon men, not from the tribe of Levi and the house of Aaron, 12-18 years old function in this priesthood?
- During the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s the Mormon Church adamantly claimed that they were not Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish, but were Mormons. Now they claim to be Christian. If that is the case why do they proselytize (to convert from one belief or faith to another) instead of evangelize (to share the good news of the biblical gospel) as Christians do?
- Why is it that Mormons are buried in the same ceremonial clothes that they were married in?