WAS A “RESTORATION” OF THE GOSPEL NECESSARY?

mormon.org ^ | 2009 | mormon.org

[svcw]

“Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”—History of the Church, Volume 1, p. XL

According to LDS Scripture, the Apostle John (D&C 7) and the three Nephites (3 Nephi 28) never died. So, how could Gospel “authority” have left the earth, needing “restoration”?

“…in the latter times some shall depart from the faith…”—1 Timothy 4:1

If only “some” would depart from the faith, how could a “complete apostasy” have occurred? Did Jesus fail to preserve His Church against the gates of hell?

“I will build MY church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” —Matthew 16:18

“...that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once [for all time] delivered unto the saints.” —Jude 3

“...but though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” —Galatians 1:9

[trisham]

Right. I've seen the "defense" here. It's so very Christian the way some treat Mormons and Catholics here. Read the post above where someone implies that I am actually a Mormon, pretending to be a Catholic.

It's heartwarming. A real defense of Christ.

[greyfoxx39]

You have to watch the clock, and then watch for the disruptors to jump in and start attacking...don’t take the TROLL bait.

[svcw]

Honestly Nana when you read lds doctrine you have to wonder is there anyone they don't disdain?

[Elsie]

There’s nothing more ugly and vicious than an anti-Mormon.

I guess we're Number One then!

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The Flying Inmans!

More Vicious and Ugly than ever!!

[Elsie]

 

Honestly Nana when you read lds doctrine you have to wonder is there anyone they don't disdain?

 

They seem to like MUSLIMS!

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“I Will Be a Second Mohammed”

In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim, “I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’ ”[1] 

It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking—and troubling—parallels. Consider the following.

• Mohammed and Joseph Smith both had humble beginnings. Neither had formal religious connections or upbringing, and both were relatively uneducated. Both founded new religions by creating their own scriptures. In fact, followers of both prophets claim these scriptures are miracles since their authors were the most simple and uneducated of men.[2]

• Both prophets claim of having angel visitations, and of receiving divine revelation to restore pure religion to the earth again. Mohammed was told that both Jews and Christians had long since corrupted their scriptures and religion. In like manner, Joseph Smith was told that all of Christianity had become corrupt, and that consequently the Bible itself was no longer reliable. In both cases, this corruption required a complete restoration of both scripture and religion. Nothing which preceded either prophet could be relied upon any longer. Both prophets claim they were used of God to restore eternal truths which once existed on earth, but had been lost due to human corruption.

• Both prophets created new scripture which borrowed heavily from the Bible, but with a substantially new “spin.” In his Koran, Mohammed appropriates a number of Biblical themes and characters—but he changes the complete sense of many passages, claiming to “correct” the Bible. In so doing he changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place. In like manner, Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon, much of which is plagiarized directly from the King James Bible. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon claims that this same Bible has been substantially corrupted and is therefore unreliable. In addition, Joseph Smith went so far as to actually create his own version of the Bible itself, the “Inspired Version,” in which he both adds and deletes significant portions of text, claiming he is “correcting” it. In so doing he also changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place.

• As a part of their new scriptural “spin,” both prophets saw themselves as prophesied in scripture, and both saw themselves as a continuation of a long line of Biblical prophets. Mohammed saw himself as a continuation of the ministry of Moses and Jesus. Joseph Smith saw himself as a successor to Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph and Moses. Joseph Smith actually wrote himself into his own version of the Bible—by name.

• Both prophets held up their own scripture as superior to the Bible. Mohammed claimed that the Koran was a perfect copy of the original which was in heaven. The Koran is therefore held to be absolutely perfect, far superior to the Bible and superceding it. In like manner, Joseph Smith also made the following claim. “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 its precepts, than by any other book.”[3]

• Despite their claim that the Bible was corrupt, both prophets admonished their followers to adhere to its teachings. An obvious contradiction, this led to selective acceptance of some portions and wholesale rejection of others. As a result, the Bible is accepted by both groups of followers only to the extent that it agrees with their prophet’s own superior revelation.

• Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith taught that true salvation was to be found only in their respective religions. Those who would not accept their message were considered “infidels,” pagans or Gentiles. In so doing, both prophets became the enemy of genuine Christianity, and have led many people away from the Christ of the Bible.

• Both prophets encountered fierce opposition to their new religions and had to flee from town to town because of threats on their lives. Both retaliated to this opposition by forming their own militias. Both ultimately set up their own towns as model societies.

• Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith left unclear instructions about their successors. The majority of Mohammed’s followers, Sunni Muslims, believe they were to elect their new leader, whereas the minority, Shiite Muslims, believe Mohammed’s son was to be their next leader. Similarly, the majority of Joseph Smith’s followers, Mormons, believed their next prophet should have been the existing leader of their quorum of twelve apostles, whereas the minority, RLDS, believed Joseph Smith’s own son should have been their next prophet. Differences on this issue, and many others, have created substantial tension between these rival groups of each prophet.

• Mohammed taught that Jesus was just another of a long line of human prophets, of which he was the last. He taught that he was superior to Christ and superceded Him. In comparison, Joseph Smith also made the following claim.

“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”[4] In light of these parallels, perhaps Joseph Smith’s claim to be a second Mohammed unwittingly became his most genuine prophecy of all.

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[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”

[2] John Ankerberg & John Weldon, The Facts on Islam, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998), pp.8–9. Eric Johnson, Joseph Smith  & Muhammed, (El Cajon, CA: Mormonism Research Ministry, 1998), pp. 6–7.

[3] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.4, pp.461.

[4] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.6, pp.408–409.

[Tennessee Nana]

I guess we remind the anti-Christians of this man...

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Isaih 53:5

[Tennessee Nana]

Yeppers ...

the mormons latest kiss up is to the Moslems...

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Ah the same ol’ witnesses for Christ showing up. Ah it warms a persons heart. Armed with the 4 spiritual laws. 1. sharp tongues 2. loveless witnesses 3. mob mentality 4.
ignorance. You must feel right at home.

[greyfoxx39]

the mormons latest kiss up is to the Moslems...

I bet you ain't seen nuthin' yet in that regard...now that Obama has shown he has the power, the Salt Lake leadership is probably burning up the phone lines to the White House and to Howie Mandell, 'cause they want to get in on "Deal or no Deal".

Watch for the announcement at mormontimes.

[svcw]

Right-o mundo.
There have been many articles posted in the last six months or so that demonstrate their partnering for this or that.
Since muslims do not partner with Jews and Christians for any reason ...... makes you ponder, doesn't it?

[reaganaut]

If you read my posts you WILL see a defense of Christ, and experiences from when I was LDS.

Even some of the LDS admit I tend to be very ‘fair’.

No matter what they say Mormons are NOT Christians, they have a different Christ.

[reaganaut]

Roger, Inman 57, out! ;)

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Right-o mundo. There have been many articles posted in the last six months or so that demonstrate their partnering for this or that. Since muslims do not partner with Jews and Christians for any reason ...... makes you ponder, doesn't it?

Says the person who would rather vote for Barak O'bama than Mitt Romney. Yawn...

[svcw]

From the LA Times: U.S. Muslims share friendship, similar values with Mormons
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/02/local/me-morlims2

[Invincibly Ignorant]

If you read my posts you WILL see a defense of Christ, and experiences from when I was LDS. Even some of the LDS admit I tend to be very ‘fair’. No matter what they say Mormons are NOT Christians, they have a different Christ.

you seem self delusional.

[Tennessee Nana]

There was a thread a month or two about the Moslems sitting on the front row at a big mormon conflab of some kind...

Chummy city...

The article was from a Utah newspaper...

DNews Mormon times ???

FOUR pages of warm and fuzzy so it must have been by a MORMON reporter...

[greyfoxx39]

;)

[Invincibly Ignorant]

fyi Trish. This Christ loving person just F bombed me in private email.

[svcw]

Was it this one:

"When I am around Mormons, I feel like I'm around Muslims almost. Not just like we both don't drink alcochol," said Khaled Rashad.

http://mormontimes.com/around_church/worldwide_church/?id=7947

[svcw]

Why didn’t this come up as a link.............
http://mormontimes.com/around_church/worldwide_church/?id=7947