Book of Mormon
Lost Tribes
Mormonism
The Book of Mormon claims to be the history of two distinct people who lived upon the continent of America, the Jaredites and Nephites, it covers a period of about twenty-six centuries. The Jaredites came from the tower of Babel, fought among themselves, divided into North and South America.
The Nephites came from Jerusalem and landed in New York. (This is claimed as the reason so many Jews are in New York.)
Two special and chosen people inhabit America. The Jaredites are the origin of native Indians and the Nephites are Jewish people converted to Christianity.
Story begins with Lehi (wife Sariah) and 4 sons (Laman, Lemuel, Sam, Nephi)
They lived in Jerusalem at the time of Zedkiah, king of Judah
Lehi was told of the destruction of Jerusalem
He invited Ishmael and his family to travel with him
They traveled to the Red Sea – guided by a ball with pointers (compass)
By divine revelation Nephi constructed a ship (people and animals) headed for a “land of promise”
Only Nephi knew how to manage the “compass” – They arrived safely
After the death of Lehi, Nephi took the lead. His brothers rebelled and they divided into many “tribes” and headed in different directions.
Nephi made brass plates which included all the prophecies which God had given concerning the future of his people and the human race.
The Nephites were good “Christians” (Calvinists, Methodists, preaching baptism) hundreds of years before Christ was born.
The plates were passed from Nephi, to Jacob, to his son, Enos. Enos gave the plates to Jarom, his son. Jarom passed them to his son, Omni. Omni gave them to his son, Amaron. Amaron gave them to his brother, Chemish. They went from Chemish, Abinadom, Amaleki, Mosiah, Helorum, Helaman. Along with the plates was delivered the ball (compass) from Nephi.
There was a great battle against the Lamanites in 330 AD. Mormon took North America and the Lamanites took South America.
Moroni, author of the book of Ether, tells of the people of Jared. They escaped the building of the tower of Babel before the confounding of languages. God marched them to the sea, gave them instructions of building of 8 barges, air tight, holes in top (for air) and hole in the bottom (for water). Molten stone, touched by the finger of Jesus became transparent as glass to form 16 windows. Two of these stones were buried with the plates and became the spectacles for Joseph Smith.
How the golden plates with Reformed Egyptian were translated: "I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness, the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery who was his principle scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by the power of any man." David Whitmer
The first 8 points are from How to Study the Bible, by Jim Mittenbrink. This book was written for Russian Christians. This is from the original English text of that book.
Some errors in Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Mormon teaches Christian baptism 550 years before Jesus was born (2 Nephi 9:23). It teaches baptism was necessary to add people to Jesus church at the time 147 years before Jesus birth (Mosiah 18:17). How could people be added to Jesus church when its founder would not be born for 147 years?
The Book of Mormon uses the Greek words, alpha, omega, Timothy and Jonas. Joseph Smith said there were no Greek words on the gold plates from which he claimed to translate the book.
The Book of Mormon refers to 19th century events in the USA such as the republican form of government and Freemasonry.
In 1898 a list of 2000 changes to the Book of Mormon was published. In the last 20 years 3913 changes have been made to the second edition to correct the contradictions (that Smith claimed to translate under the guidance of God). For example in Mosiah chapter six, King Benjamin died, but in 21:28, he is still alive. Later the same contradiction was discovered and changed in Ether 4:1.
God has a body of flesh and bones (Mosiah 7:29). In turn Mormon doctrine does not teach that the Word became flesh (John 1:1) through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit. Rather they teach that Jesus was conceived through a natural conception between God in His flesh body and Mary.
Mormonism denies the existence of pure spirit. The D & C states that spirit is matter. One of the early Mormon apostles (Parley Pratt) said that the Holy Spirit was in a category of magnetism or electricity. He is divine fluid composed of material atoms and particles.
Claims that the Bible is not enough. 2 Nephi 29:2,3,6,10-12
Translation was also inspired. "We believe the Bible to the Word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." Joseph Smith, Articles of Faith, 8
Grammatical and language errors:
"the priests was"
"they was added"
"did not fight.no more"
"I were about to write"
"I have wrote them"
"and this he done"
NOTE: Catechism for Children says, "We ought to consider the fall of our first parents as one of the great steps to eternal exaltation and happiness and one ordered of God." (Page 33)
Joseph Smith was born of an Indian mother with a white father of Jewish ancestry. Both sides of his family rejected him. He was called a “half-breed” and other names.
The entire purpose of the Book of Mormon is an attempt to explain how God guided the Native American Indian to this land. It is an attempt to prove the he was not a half-breed, but in the bloodline of a special race of people.
British-Israelism began in 1723. The idea was taught that the Anglo-Saxon races (Great Britain, western Europe, and the United States) constitute the 10 lost tribes of Israel.
In the USA, the most famous teacher was Herbert W. Armstrong and his Worldwide Church of God. His son, Garner Ted Armstrong, is still trying to carry on this teaching.
Joseph Smith took this idea and worked into it the Native American Indians. He also taught that the 10 tribes of Israel (northern kingdom) migrated to this New World.
Here are some Scriptures that prove this theory to be wrong.
Amos 9:8-9 – I will sift the house of Israel among all nations.
Hosea 3:4 – They will remain without a king, prince, or sacrifice
Polytheism – They believe in many gods. This is needed because of the many religious beliefs of the Indians.
Polygamy – including incest, multiple wives.
Mormons, because of persecution and ridicule, become a tight knit
community, clan, closed group. Jesus was a polygamist – Mary, Martha, and
Mary Magdalene were all his wives. The wedding feast at Cana was one of
his marriages.
Brigham Young, at his death, left 25 wives and 56 children.
God is a man. He has a body of flesh and bones. Adam is God. Eve was one of his wives.
Jesus was not born of a virgin. He was the natural offspring of Adam (God) and Mary.
We become a god in the world to come. “They shall be gods, creating and governing worlds, and peopling them with their offspring. What god was once, we are now; what god is now, we shall be.”
Baptism for the dead. They try to use 1 Corinthians 15:29 as a proof text.