What has The Book of Mormon presented to potential proselytized converts? While indeed the Book of Mormon has MANY problems from a theological angle -- not too much addressed on this thread (nevermind all the actual historical, sociological, geographical & archaeological issues it has), the reality is...
...that a potential convert (outsider) to the faith could review the Book of Mormon...
...and come away thinking, "Hey, this matches up to Christianity!"
* 2 destinations post hell;
* only one God;
* Jesus is God (not simply Jesus is a god);
* God is a spirit;
* salvation only attained in THIS life;
* eternal punishment as eternal as the life of the soul;
* Jesus is to be worshipped and prayed to DIRECTLY;
* God doesn't change & never has;
* God isn't a glorified man;
* Etc.
But in this way the Book of Mormon serves only to be a "come on" to the unsuspecting. All of this is like the "lead come-on ad" of a used-car salesman...to get you in the door. The hook. They are drawn in by Lds missionaries who don't show them what's in the Doctrine & Covenants or Pearl of Great Price. No, for that would unveil their eyes as to the reality of what Mormons really believe:
* There are many gods;
* you can become one of them;
* God the Father is a glorified man;
* He has a body of flesh & bones;
* salvation? Oh, we've got an after life prison-release system;
* 3 degrees of glory;
* Hell? Oh, you're only "damned up" temporarily -- don't worry, our genealogists & proxy ritualists will find a way to "get you out."
For all that is made out about the "integrity" of Mormons, this shoots that very idea straight in the heart!
It's not "integrity" to "baitswitch" people.
It's not "integrity" to convey to outsiders that Mormons believe one thing, when either that was a long time ago or the "prophet"'s revealed yet another take on the subject.
So shame on you Lds Missionaries.
Shame on your former Lds missionaries.
Like the soldiers in Germany who claimed, "we only did what we were told to do" is no excuse. Culpability extends to all around.
But let me also give you the Good News of Jesus Christ: Jesus knows how much so many of you Mormons have been hoodwinked. Deceived. Lied to by your leaders; by your general authorities.
I mean, here they tell you to your face not to pray to Jesus directly. Yet the supposed Nephite disciples did it repeatedly in just one chapter (3 Nephi 19!). Here, an apostle told BYU students NOT to directly worship the Holy Ghost, or Jesus Christ. Yet Jesus is repeatedly worshiped in the Book of Mormon (see also Holy Ghost worshiped in Mormon 7:7).
And here, Lds haven't been told about all the changes in the D&C & Book of Mormon (see the textual changes since the 1830 version just in 1 Nephi 11:18, 21; 1 Nephi 13:40; Mosiah 21:28; 1 Nephi 20:1; Alma 46:19; Alma 29:4; Alma 37:21, 24; Mormon 7:7 alone!!!)
And just think of all the questions you've had about Book of Mormon passages -- that when you brought them to your leaders -- they just glossed right over them. Perhaps they encouraged you to simply "pray about it."
Well, you know what, if you have indeed prayed about these passages, then this thread is one of the answers to that prayer. This thread is meant to give you hope. Too many Mormons have left Mormonism for atheism and agnosticism.
It's time to "count the cost" of being a disciple for Jesus Christ. It's time to come forward out of the Mormon closet and into the broader world. There's a lurker here to whom I am speaking. Jesus knows who you are. (I don't). But the time has come.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." -- Jesus, Luke 14:26
"All men will hate you because of me." -- Jesus, Luke 21:17
27"ALL THINGS have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -- Jesus, Matthew 11:27-30
That is interesting on so many different levels.
"Our God" as opposed to the Jewish God or the Moslem God or the Mormon God or the Catholic God. Tribalism on display here folks.
"likes to work in sevens" superstition, numerology, anthropomorphizing God, etc. take your pick : )
Freud might have been on to something.