Book of Mormon?

Question

Why does the book of Mormon speak of beleivers becoming and calling themselves Christians when the particular passage (Mosiah 4:2) was supposedly written in 124 years before Jesus born in Bethlehem. According to Mormonism. Jesus was supposed to have appeared to the native Americans after his death in Asia, not before.

Answer 1

I see no issue with someone objectively stating their opinions if they are based on a rational analysis of the issues. One can carefully study the doctrines and theologies of the Mormon beliefs (see sources below), and can then form their own conclusions. I have carefully studied Mormonism, met with many Mormons here in Arizona, am friends with Mormons, and have read all of materials held sacred by Mormons for over ten years.

In the final analysis, I have found the non-Christian religions, such as Mormonism, to be philosophically indefensible, being internally incoherent or undermining human reason and experience.

If you are confident enough in your own beliefs, then you will have no problem with reading some other analyses of your faith, such as the items shown below.

Mormonism Summary:
http://www.carm.org/lds/nutshell.htm

Is Mormonism Christian?:
Mormons deny the following statement: There is ONE God who eternally exists in three different persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are fully God, all of whom are equal. That denial alone is enough to assert that Mormons are not Christians. There are many more Mormon doctrines that are contrary to Christian beliefs, e.g., that we existed as spirit beings before we were born on this earth or that God’s final revelation given to the forty authors of the bible is incomplete. Either a few million Mormons are Christians and the billion plus Christians are not, or Mormonism is a heretical system of beliefs. No single orthodox Christian denomination recognizes Mormonism as a Christian belief system. See also: http://www.carm.org/lds/lds_christian.htm

More information about Mormonism…

Doctrinal Writings of Mormon Leaders:
http://www.carm.org/lds/lds_doctrines.htm

For those wanting to go deeper:
http://www.mormonchallenge.com/ref_compare.htm
http://www.exmormon.org/
http://www.mormoninformation.com/
http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm
http://www.mrm.org/

There are many members of heretical religious groups that have staked their eternal souls on their beliefs without searching the scriptures and reviewing the doctrinal writings of church leaders to satisfy themselves that what they have been told is sufficiently rational and worth believing. Don’t let yourself be one of these persons. Mormons must ask their stake and ward leadership about the things that they have read above. Observe if these leaders are willing to enter into an honest and frank discussion about these matters versus telling them to avoid readings outside of your own faith. If they do the latter, such a dismissal of honest inquiry should be an alarm bell.

Answer 2

Question: "Why does the book of Mormon speak of believers becoming and calling themselves Christians when the particular passage (Mosiah 4:2) was supposedly written in 124 years before Jesus born in Bethlehem."
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Since the days of Adam, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was taught to the Saints (whether you want to call them Christians or Saints is irrelevant). The point is that they were the true followers of Christ, being led by a living prophet of the day, who had the authority of God.

But the ordinances and teachings were based on the Law of Moses, which pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ. Other than these things, the Gospel of Jesus Christ today is the same gospel preached to our first parents after they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.

Now, when translating the records that make up the Book of Mormon today, Joseph Smith obviously used the word "Christians" to describe the true followers of Christ, who they were taught would come in the Meridian of Time and suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, be murdered, and be resurrected -- thus fulfilling the Lord's role as our Savior, as well as the role of Redeemer for those who will repent and obey his commandments, which are found among his Saints (or in other words, his true authorized followers) today.

The question you SHOULD be asking is: Where are Jesus Christ's true, authorized followers today?

Answer 3

For an explanation you have to read the book as a whole, not just pieces that are easy to pick out. The Book of Mormon and the Bible teach of revelation to prophets. Some of the prophets in the Book of Mormon where shown a vision of Christ and his birth and told of his ministry before it happened. See 2 Nephi 25:19
"For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

Answer 4

Good, that you read the Book of Mormon. Now we have two records. The first is the Bible, which was corrupted during the apostasy by false teachers and priests, and the second is the Book of Mormon that came forth uncorrupted In the last days, the purpose of "which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever-- And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations."

This is a promise from Jesus Himself. If you want His support, this is the time to seek it. In (James 1:5) "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally" Is it so hard to kneel in humble prayer to ask God Himself to know the truth? I don't think so! Either way, everybody has the right to do as he desires. One man can deceive another, and it was for this reason that I wrote. Who better than Him to ask? Maybe one day He will ask you: "Did you trust on me and on my promises? If you didn't, then why didn't you ask of me?"

I pray to the Lord that you can at least have respect for the opinion of other's. But I firmly respect the opinions of everybody and believe in the saying: "Two different opinions must not divide two sons of God."

So let's respect each other.

Answer 5

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It says so right on the cover. The Old testament, in the Bible, is also a testament of Jesus Christ.
All the Prophets in the Book Of Mormon,wrote passages for their descendents, US.

It doesn't matter when people lived on the earth, if you believe in Christ, you are a Christian. If you believed in Him in ancient times you were a Christian, if you believe in Him now you are a christian.
A Christian is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, regardless of when they lived.

I know that the Book Of Mormon is true, as is the Bible. I have read it several times and applied the promise and I have gotten the same answer every time. I urge you to continue reading.After you read it, pray and ask Him, You to can find out for yourself, if you haven't already. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

If you are not LDS, and want to know more you can either contact the missionaries in your area, ask a member, attend meetings next Sunday or go online to
http://www.mormon.org.

Answer 6

That's a great question.

In the New Testament, John teaches us that Jesus was alive since before the world was created and in fact was the creator.

His teachings were around whenever there was a prophet on the earth. While it's true that many of these teachings were lost from books like the Old Testament, fortunately there are other records that testify of Christ and contain his teachings such as the Book of Mormon.

Answer 7

Christ is eternal. He was before the world and He will be after the world. God's plan for us was revealed to His prophets from Adam on down throughout the history of man. Thus, all followers of that plan knew of Christ and called themselves Christian accordingly. For the prophets of the Book of Mormon to know about Christ, and to call themselves Christian is not a shock or an anachronism, it is logical reality.
Open your minds and your hearts to the wonderful message of the Book of Mormon.

Answer 8

Jesus did not appear in the flesh in Mosiah 4:2 read it again. Just as many Christians believe in Christ without ever seeing him so did the audience of king Benjamin.

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1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.
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Answer 9

previous testomony New testomony yet another testomony The e book of Mormon settles each question Christianity is divided on - working example: The function of baptism. Who does it. How. what's to be mentioned. who's to be baptized. whilst are they meant to be baptized. the courting of Jesus to God and the Holy Ghost in the Godhead the courting between faith, works, mercy, grace, justice, repentance Covenants with reference to the domicile of israel in the final days How the sacrament/eucharist/communion is to be administered - how, by making use of who, whilst, what's to be mentioned - issues that have been lost for hundreds of years with the dying of the apostles - and that are hinted in the bible, yet are not spoke back therein. Its translation of the e book of Isaiah differs from the bible, yet is the comparable because of the fact the ineffective Sea Scrolls translations of the comparable. It makes universal the covenants of God concerning Christianity on the american Continent, or the covenants with reference to the land its self, to boot as contains prophesies with reference to the american Revolution, the invention of the Americas, the Savior's delivery, and the improve of the Lord's Kingdom in the final days, and distinctive warnings with reference to the corruptions of governments till now the 2d Coming of Jesus Christ - this is a terrific e book! This and lots of extra issues are what are in the e book of Mormon: yet another testomony of Jesus Christ. this is the reason the e book is so effectual to Christianity.

Answer 10

It might have been the word closest to the actual translation, but the actual translation would nt have made sense.

Or, it could be that the writers f the Book of Mormon had a bigger "in" with God. He is the one that told them they were "Christians".

Answer 11

Christ the Holy Messiah's advent to the world was predicted for hundreds of years prior to his birth. Those that believed in him and had a testimony of his divinity, even prior to his birth. could in all logic, be called "Christians." If the prophets in the day we teaching and revealing the the Messiah would come, and that he would be called the Christ, it makes perfect logic that they, then, could call themselves "Christian."