For Mormons: If Joseph Smith was a prophet, what was he sent for? What did he ADD to Christianity?

Question

I'm not terribly familiar with the teachings of the Mormons, but I do believe in a prophet, just not the one you do.

But when God sends a prophet he usually has a crucial purpose. What was that purpose?

And is there any Biblical support, such as prophecy, for Joseph Smith being sent?

So what truths did he restore exactly, and what were their significance?

For instance, the fact that Christmas originated in pagan holidays may be true, but of what significance is it in the grand scheme of things?

C M, I like how you disallowed e-mail contact to prevent me from answering your points. Way to go.

Answer 1

Seeing as you have not received an answer from another active member of my faith, here it goes. (And I'm giving you a star so my other LDS friends can answer this one.) The purpose of Joseph Smith was to restore the full truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. Something that was necessary before Christ could return. This is exactly what he did. For more information, check out the links below:

Answer 2

Joseph Smith was a prophet to prophet to restore the church to its bearings. He translated a work by the power of God of peoples in the Americas who witness the resurrected Jesus.
He fulfilled prophecies in the bible

Malachi 4:
5 ¶ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the Fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.


He recieved revelation on the three degrees of glory, was commanded to make Temples, baptism for the dead, celestial marriage, and many more wonders he was commanded to do. The restorations of the Aaronic and Melchizadec Priesthoods.

As for biblical support...You're a modern day pharasee...
The new and everlasting covenant is here.

Answer 3

In Amos 3:7 it says, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

From this we can assume that either God went through periods of inactivity (not likely) or that He's always had prophets on the earth.

So who was Prophesying in God's name when Joseph Smith was a boy? A lot of people were preaching religion and some we undoubtedly claiming to prohesy in God's name. So what was it that made Joseph Smith a person that so many were eager to oppose?

Seer stones and gold hunting were nothing new to that time and place - many were doing it. There was a lot of religious "fervor" going on so J.S. was not out of step in that way. Could it be that he said he said, "I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! "?

So this is a fifteen year old boy who claims to have see the Father and the Son and they spoke to him. Most people would dismiss such a claim by anyone, let alone a fifteen year old, So that's not a valid reason to hunt him down and kill him. Maybe it would make more sense if he had said that he himself was God or that he was Christ - but he didn't.

It makes sense then, to concur that there was an opposition not so much to Joseph Smith but to God's purpose. Certainly the Presbyterians or Methodists, or any of the other religions would openly and deliberately attampt to confound God, so that only leaves God's greatest adversary - Satan, working through mortal men and women.

You're right in your premise that, "when God sends a prophet he usually has a crucial purpose." The purpose was to restore Christ's church and the priesthood authority to act in God's name that had been taken away during the Great Apostasy.

You say that you believe in prophet(s). You probably don't think twice about Enoch or Noah or Moses. Why wouldn't there be a prophet on the earth in these modern times? Is God finished with us? Or maybe He's lost his power? Maybe we're so smart we don't need Him anymore?

Moses heard the voice of God and saw a burning bush. He was "slow of speech", but yet we (Christians and Jews) take this as gospel. Enoch was also slow of speech. Thay were just men in their minds but not in God's. Why wouldn't God call someone who was "just a man" to prophesy in His name in this day and age?

He does and he has been since the gospel and the priesthood authority was restored. Today there are 15 men - The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles and three in the First Presidency who are called by priesthood authority as "prophets, seers, and revelators."

And if you truly want to know, you can do as Joseph Smith did and follow James 1 -
"5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Answer 4

As I understand it, Joseph Smith brought the Book of Mormon back to mankind, and re-established the "true" church, as it was set out in the Bible.

Now, if you believe he did those things, I would say that was pretty darn crucial!

As far as actual Biblical prophecy concerning the coming of Smith.... I know that there are passages that Mormons use to show that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, but I'm afraid I can't quote any for you.

Answer 5

He became stated as of God. "would not the bible say no longer something could be further? would not it say prophecy will quit?" No and no. in actuality it says the different. you would be relating, the 1st question, Revelation 22:18-19. you will see Deuteronomy says something like Revelation 22 says. If people use their same thought for Revelation 22 on all scriptures that say something comparable then something previous Deuteronomy may be seen incorrect via those people's theories. as properly what i discussed already, their thought on Revelation 22 has a considerable flaw: "God shall upload unto him the plagues that are written in this e book" i comprehend somewhat lots approximately Joseph Smith's historic previous and he had no plagues upon him. considering that no plagues have been introduced forth, as Revelation says might ensue and it particularly isn't any longer conditional the two, then there isn't any violation. Revelation 22:18-19 are relating Revelation on my own and it became written previously John and probable the letters of Paul. As for the 2d question, the Bible says that after there's a time without visions (revelations/prophecies) the generations might perish. In different words there'll continually be extra prophecies. We LDS-Christians comprehend God would not substitute and different Christians declare to have faith that besides. in spite of the shown fact that, collectively as different Christians declare to have faith God would not substitute, in addition they say He has no want for prophets anymore. considering that he's often used prophets and if He did no longer use them anymore that should mean he differences.

Answer 6

First to bring us additional scripture. The Book of Mormon was brought forth in fulfillment of prophesy.

Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Second to end the age of apostasy. The church had become a political institution for centuries and lost its authority. He restored the priesthood to the earth. He restored the plain and simple truths in the scriptures.

Third he began the process to build Zion, the Kingdom of God on the earth.

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands,

Fourth to bring to pass the salvation of the dead. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Christ went and opened missionary work to those who died without the Gospel. Joseph Smith started the temples where their ordinances could be performed.

There are other accomplishments that Joseph acheived as a prophet, but these are some significant ones.

Answer 7

There are many passages in the Bible pointing to the fact that a prophet would be called in the last days, and that there would be revelations and visions and a Restoration of the gospel in its fullness.

Answer 8

Just so everyone understands:

First, I'm not LDS. I'm not a Mormon.

Second, I've read all the other answers.

Third, I am a Bible believing Christian.

All the extra stuff they claim Joseph Smith revealed is contrary to the written Word of God, contrary to what Jesus taught.

The only passage of the Bible which talks about Joseph Smith also talks about Mohammed. And that's a warning against someone who is preaching another gospel. A fake or a false gospel.

Mohammed and Joseph Smith both claimed they got their message from an angel which is exactly what we are warned against in Galatians chapter one, verses 6 thru 10.

Galatians 1:6-10 (New International Version)

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Jesus taught that marriage was between one man and one woman.

Jesus taught there would be no more sexual relationships in heaven.

All that new stuff, related to sex is the new stuff Joseph Smith introduced.

D & C 132 says a man can't enter into the highest level of the celestial kingdom unless he practices multiple marriage and it goes onto say that anyone who stops this practice will be condomed.

If Joseph Smith is really a prophet of God . . .

then Jesus must have lied to us

then the current leaders of LDS are lying when they said stop the practice of multiple marriage.

Therefore we know that the LDS group is a false cult and we need to heed the warnings in Galatains chapter one.

I've also given you a link to D & C chapter 132, all Mormons and non Mormons need to read this. It reveals more false teaching which in contrary to the Word of God.

Pastor Art

Answer 9

True nature of the Godhead
Priesthood Authority
Ceiling Authority "Celestial marriage"

to name 3

D

Answer 10

To restore his original gospel, and restore the priesthood to the Earth.