Do mormons really believe what the Bible says?

Question

They say the book of mormon teaches the same as the Bible. But what about all these contradictions? The Bible teaches you cant mix light with darkness.

The Bible plainly states that the gospel, with its inclusion of Gentiles, was not fully revealed until after Christ's death.

Eph. 3:3-7 Paul writes "by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister ...... (See also Col. 1:26; 1 Peter 1: 1-12; Romans 16:25-26)

However, the Book of Mormon maintains that this knowledge was had in 545 B.C.

2 Nephi 25:19 "For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh... his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ... (v.23) For we labor... to persuade... our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

2 Nephi 26:12 "And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus in the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;"

2 Nephi 30:2 "For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off,"

2 Nephi 31:17 "For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and the Holy Ghost."


During Jesus' ministry He spoke of His church as something in the future.
Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

After Christ's resurrection and the day of Pentecost we read "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

However, the Book of Mormon claims the Christian church was established as early as 147 B.C.

Mosiah 18:17 "And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward."


The Bible says believers were first called Christians after Paul's ministry in Antioch.
Acts 11:26 "And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

However, the Book of Mormon claims people were known by this title as early as 73 B.C.

Alma 46:15 "...yea, all those who were true believes in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come."


The Holy Ghost was bestowed on the Christians at the time of Pentecost.
Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father unto you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

Acts 2:1-4 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,..."

Yet the Book of Mormon claims that people received the gift of the Holy Ghost as early as 545 B.C.

2 Nephi 31:12-13 "...the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me... Wherefore, my beloved brethren,... by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost;..."


In the Old Testament the only ones who could be priests were the descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Israel.
Numbers 3:9-10 "And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death" (See also Numbers 8:6-26).

However, the Book of Mormon story claims that descendants of the tribe of Manasseh (Alma 10:3) were made priests.

2 Nephi 5:26 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people."


The Old Testament teaches that the first born of the flocks were to be given automatically to the Lord. Sacrifices were to be made from their remaining animals.
Exodus 13:12 "That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's" (See also Ex. 13:2; 22:29-30; Numbers 3:13; 18:15-18; 2 Sam. 24:24).

Deuteronomy 12:6 "And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks."

The Book of Mormon claims that the Nephites were keeping the law of Moses. However, the Nephites broke the law of Moses by using the first of the flocks for burnt offerings. These should have already been given to the Lord as tithing.

Mosiah 2:3 "And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses."


The Bible states that all of King Zedekiah's sons were killed.
Jeremiah 39:6 "Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes."

Contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon claims that one son of King Zedekiah escaped destruction and came to the Americas.

Heleman 6:10 "the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north" (See also Heleman 8:21).


The Bible prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

However, the Book of Mormon said he would be born at Jerusalem.

Alma 7: 10 "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin..."

Answer 1

In your first accusation, you forgot one very very important note. Nephi was copying the Book of Isaiah when he wrote that. So really what you're saying is how dare Isaiah contridict Paul.

Your second accusation: You're taking the Book of Mormon out of context. Remember that Abraham knew of Christ. Isaiah knew of Christ. Prophecies of Christ are actually as old as time itself. So did the people of the Book of Mormon. Since the Book of Mormon is a translated text, Joseph Smith used the words "Chruch of Christ" when he read the name of the church described. But in reality, it's the same church that was established about Christ in the Old Testiment.

Third accusation: Once again, you fail to realize the Book of Mormon is a translated text, translated centuries after the Bible. When referring to the people who chose to follow Christ, Joseph Smith decided to use "Christian" to translate whatever word they used.

Fourth accusation: Luke 24:49 isn't about the Holy Ghost. So that one is trash. And your verse in Acts really doesn't proove anything.

Fifth accusation: You're mixing up the calling of priests with the power of the priesthood. Don't do it. It would take me forever to explain and I don't think you'll understand even if I did.

Sixth accusation (If you can even call it that): Um... you gave offerings to the Lord via burning them. Never mind.

Seventh accusation (My personal favorite): Archelogy actually has evidence supporting the Book of Mormon over the BIble in this case.

Eighth: Bethlaham is a hamlet IN Jerusalam. Sorry kid. Doesn't hold water.

Answer 2

We believe the Bible to be the word of God. It is viewed as scripture in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Where a problem happens is in the translations of the Bible. There are several hundred translations, and with literary work that is translated that many times, some of the original meaning can be subject to alternations, changes, etc. If you compare the original Hebrew and then Greek translations with many modern day English ones, you can obvious see changes that have occurred. Mormons feel that some errors have occurred over the centuries where some doctrine has been omitted, and some added. An example is found in Amos 7:3 The current KJV reads: "The Lord repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD." The Lord is perfect. He has no need for repentence. Another example is the differences of what happened to Judas after he betrayed Jesus. Matthew says Judas want out and hanged himself. But in Acts it says Judas fell down and his bowells came out. Matthew 27: 3 ¶ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. Obviously there have been changes as there are two differing descriptions of what happened to Judas. Mormons believe the Bible to be true. Its just that there are errors. That is why we believe the Book of Mormon is necessary. To help clarify misinterpretations. To know about Joseph Smiths prayer to God and his visitation to Joseph, why not ask God himself if it were true. God teaches us in the Bible, if we lack wisdom about something, to ask him (See James 1:5). If we do so with real intent, and in humility, God will answer that prayer. I have done so, and have received a "witness" that it did indeed happen as Joseph testified.

Answer 3

Do you know that the Book of Mormon takes place at the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD? from the Bible?

Do you know that back then, they didn't have mass communications like we do now? No way for them to get in contact with each other.

Do you know that God can do whatever He wants as far as planting His gospel to whomever He wishes? So if He wants to give it to this people and not that people, He can?

And you are right, the Bible says IN Bethlehem and the Book of Mormon says AT Jerusalem. Bethlehem is about five miles from Jerusalem. So, it can be said to be in the "land of Jerusalem" or AT Jerusalem. But, it does not say, as most anti-Mormons say, that He was born IN Jerusalem. He was born AT Jerusalem. Not IN.

Answer 4

Yes, Mormons really believe in the bible. I read in everyday. I am reading the New Testament this year. My son is studying the Old Testament this year in seminary. And I use it every Sunday in Sunday school.



PS. Bethlehem was in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a territory.

Answer 5

You really like long questions don't you?
You could take the Old Testament and compare it to the New Testament and find several contradictions. Would that make the New Testament incorrect? No.
Same with the Book of Mormon.

Answer 6

The same as Catholics do.They place extra-biblical writings above Scripture.They do say they believe the Bible.But when cornered over false doctrine they either tell you that you are a basher;or that they don't believe their religion teaches what you say it does.Doesn't matter how much proof you throw their way.I've found both those religionists tough nuts to crack.I plant the seeds and Let God reach them.

Answer 7

Mormons believe the bible...but they believe their bible, the Book of Mormon is a new book actually written by God on gold tablets, hidden under a rock until a well known con artist found them, translated them with a magic stone into the Book of Mormon, and then God came down himself and took the tablets back up to heaven.
Complete garbage!!!!

Answer 8

Mormonism is not Christian because their teachings do not agree with the Bible.
http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm