ChristadelphianBooksOnline
Rick O'Connor
The Things Of The Kingdom And The Things Of The Name
The Bible: The Only Source Of Authority

MORMONISM

“Authority in the ‘Church’”

2 Timothy 3

The fundamental authority rests with God alone and what He has written. John 10:34-36 - what the Bible says cannot be contradicted.

2 Peter 3:14-16 - Two significant statements:


2 Timothy 3:14-17 - the Scriptures that were available when Timothy was a child was the Old Testament from God’s inspiration and able to enlighten for salvation. The teachings of the Old Testament on their own can save. The New Testament is an explanation of the substance of the Old Testament, compare Luke 24:13-27 (N.B. v27). Nothing since has altered the doctrine of the Old Testament because God hasn’t changed nor made mistakes.

Acts 26:22 - Paul’s words were only an explanation of the message of the prophets alone. Anything said in the name of God must accord with Old Testament teaching.

Revelation 22:18-19 announces the end of Divine revelation and determines any teaching not in accordance with Bible teaching stands accursed.

Deuteronomy 4:2 - The law given through Moses was fixed and finished when Moses died. Nobody can add quantitatively to the Scriptures - nor can anyone add a concept that the Scriptures don’t support (2 Peter 3:16).

(1 Chronicles 29:29 - other writings have come from God - but they have not been included in the Bible because they were not necessary for salvation.)

The Old Testament canon was settled 3 centuries BC. “The Changing World of Mormonism” - Tanner - a consideration was made of a number of extracts. God makes no mistakes; only men make mistakes.

Hebrews 7:7-13 - to abolish the law and Aaronic priesthood Christ came - it was correct in itself. Galatians 3:16-19 - though the law came later it didn’t change the promises. Vv23-25 the law had a specific purpose and a limited duration. Galatians 4:1-5 - the Levitican priests were mortal men - but in Christ there is an undying priest who cannot sin.

Examples of Doctrinal Contradictions: Within the Mormon Sacred Books and Between Them and The Bible

The Godhead
The Book of Mormon pronounces the Godhead to be One God, whereas Doctrine and Covenants declares it to consist of a vast number of Gods:

Mormon:

Alma 11: 26
 “And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God. And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No. Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things? And he said: An angel hath made them known unto me”.

But contrast:         Doctrine and Covenants:

Sec. 132:19
 “And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed... (132:20) Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; and therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them”.

Sec. 132:37
“Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods”.

The Bible’s doctrine of the Godhead, however, is that there is BUT ONE GOD, THE FATHER, beside whom there is, and will be, no other:

John 17:1,3
 “These words spake Jesus... and said, Father: This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”.

1 Corinthians 8:4,6
 “There is none other God but one... For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many and lords many), but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him”.

The Book of Mormon pronounces the Godhead to be unchangeable, as does Doctrine and Covenants, which then nonetheless goes on to declare doctrine that represents God as changeable. In addition, the Book of Abraham, printed in the Pearl of Great Price, asserts the existence of a number of Gods active in creation.

Mormon:

Moroni 8:18
 “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity”.

Doctrine and Covenants:

Sec. 20:17
 “By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God...

But contrast:         Doctrine and Covenants:

Sec. 132:19
 “And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed... (132:20) Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; and therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.”

And: Book of Abraham:

Sec. 3:15; 4:3,10,25; 5:8
 “And the Lord said unto me: Abraham, I show these things unto thee before ye go into Egypt, that ye may declare all these words...”And they (the Gods) said: “Let there be light... And the Gods pronounced the dry land, earth... And the Gods organised the earth to bring forth the beasts after their kind... And the Gods planted a garden in Eden...”

In refreshing contrast, the Bible is clear and emphatic that Yahweh, the God of Israel and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, is omnipotent and supreme:

Isaiah 43:10
 11         “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord ... that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Yahweh; and beside me there is no saviour.”

Isaiah 44:6
 “Thus saith Yahweh the King of Israel, and his redeemer Yahweh of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

The Book of Mormon pronounces the Godhead to be Almighty and Omnipotent, whereas Doctrine and Covenants exhibits it as limited, and able to be entered by men with whom the Deity must then share power and glory.

Mormon:

Mosiah 11:23
 “...The Lord the Almighty God”.

But contrast:         Doctrine and Covenants:

Sec. 132:19
 “And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed... (132:20) Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; and therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.”

By contrast, the Bible teaches that God, the Father, is supreme in power and glory and is the only source of both:

Revelation 19:6
 “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”.


Romans 13:1
 “...For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”.


2 Corinthians 6:17-18
 “...I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”.


Isaiah 48:11-13
 “...I will not give my glory unto another. Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens.”

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