The "Baptist Version of The Book of Mormon" by Lynn Ridenhour
An interesting little article. The author is a Baptist minister, certainly a man of only modest authority. Still, the article is interesting, and brings forward a great deal of common ground between the LDS Church and Protestantism - if that's what you're here to find.
And now, a teaser, to get you interested:
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Im a licensed Southern Baptist minister and I embrace the Book of Mormon.
That is, I believe the truths recorded in it. No, Im not a convert to the Mormon faith, nor am I a member of any particular "spin-off" restoration group such as the RLDS (Reorganized Latter-day Saints), Hedrikites, or Strangites. Im still a Baptist minister. To be exact, Im "charismatic Baptist." That is, I still embrace the "born again" experience. I still believe youre saved by grace. By the shed blood of Christ. Salvation is by faith alone in His finished work on Calvary. I still believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. I believe and embrace those cardinal doctrines of Protestantism.
And you know what?
I still believe the Book of Mormon too!
I know. I can hear you now. "
A charismatic Baptist minister who believes the Book of Mormon?! Impossible. Thats like a Protestant Pope
" No, its not. Its not a contradiction.
The two go hand in hand, really--Protestant doctrine and the Book of Mormon. Theyre not at odds. The Book of Mormon is filled with Protestant cardinal doctrines, believe it or not. In fact, I discovered, the Book of Mormon is more "Baptist" than the Baptist hymnal in places. I know thats hard to believe, but its so. I read the Book from cover to cover and found as a Baptist minister, there is absolutely nothing in it that contradicts the Bible.
For example, the book uplifts the blood of Christ (Mosiah 1:118), declares that salvation is only by Gods grace (2 Nephi 7:42), defends the grand theme of salvation (Mosiah 1:108), and proclaims that salvation comes only through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ (Mosiah 3:8,9). Other themes such as repentance, atonement by Christs blood, redemption, and forgiveness run like a scarlet thread through the book as well (Alma 3:86, Helaman 2:71, Alma 13:13, Mosiah 2:3,4). Thus, our "tongue n cheek" title, The Baptist Version of the Book of Mormon. Im telling you, the grand themes of Protestantism are found recorded through and through. From cover to cover.