Question for Mormons, Bible or Book of Mormons?

Question

Just a few questions to Mormons. I’m just trying to understand your reasoning about the things below. Also if the Bible’s teachings conflict with the Book of Mormon, which one do you believe? The Bible or the Book of Mormons?

Thanks a lot.


“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens,” stated Joseph Smith. “You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, . . . the same as all Gods have done before you.” Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow said: “As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become.”


Says the LDS magazine Ensign: “We look upon what Adam and Eve did with great appreciation rather than with disdain.”



Adam: Jesus’ helper in the creation. Brigham Young stated: “Our father Adam came into the garden of Eden . . . and brought Eve, one of his wives. . . . He is our Father and our God.” (Journal of Discourses, Volume I, page 50, 1854 Edition) After his sin, Adam became earth’s first Christian. (The Pearl of

There actually contradictions between the Bible and the teachings of the Mormons, I think.

Romans 5:12 states “as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin”. This is talking about Adam, who through him, his descendants inherited sin, which causes death. Why would you appreciate that act of sinning by Adam?

Also, there’s no mention of Adam being God himself in the Bible. The “Our Father “ in the Bible is not Adam but God the Father, Jehovah (YHWH). Jesus literal physical father is Joseph and not Adam according to the Bible.


The only offer of godhood ever recorded in the Bible was the empty promise by Satan the Devil in the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:5) - 5 For God knows that in the very day of YOUR eating from it YOUR eyes are bound to be opened and YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad.

Answer 1

Interesting answers.

I don't see how anyone can say that those quotes don't contradict the Bible which says there was, is and always will be ONE God.

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

God says he owns all heavens, so there is no heaven they can be God of:
Psalms 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Answer 2

Old testament New Testament Another Testament The Book of Mormon settles every question Christianity is divided on - for example: The role of baptism. Who does it. How. What is to be said. Who is to be baptized. When are they supposed to be baptized. The relationship of Jesus to God and the Holy Ghost in the Godhead The relationship between faith, works, mercy, grace, justice, repentance Covenants regarding the house of israel in the last days How the sacrament/eucharist/communion is to be administered - how, by who, when, what is to be said - things that have been lost for centuries with the death of the apostles - and that are hinted in the bible, but aren't answered therein. Its translation of the book of Isaiah differs from the bible, but is the same as the Dead Sea Scrolls translations of the same. It makes known the covenants of God regarding Christianity on the American Continent, or the covenants regarding the land its self, as well as contains prophesies regarding the American Revolution, the discovery of the Americas, the Savior's birth, and the building up of the Lord's Kingdom in the last days, and various warnings regarding the corruptions of governments before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ - it is an amazing book! This and many more things are what are in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This is why the book is so valuable to Christianity.

Answer 3

I'm going to pretend that you are honestly asking and not trolling. Trolling is so tedious and normally I'm pretty flippant with trolls. But I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and give you an honest answer.

Bible or Book of Mormon (not "Mormons)-we read both! They do not contradict each other. They testify of each other.

Ensign quote: This is correct. Without their transgression, they would have remained in a state of innocence and we, the human race, would not exist.

While it is true that they introduced both sin and death into the world, this was necessary for mankind to fully experience mortality.

We do not believe that we are punished for Adam's transgression. By that logic, mortality itself would be a punishment.

We are allowed to CHOOSE sin or righteousness. However, human nature, being what it is, mankind sins. And mankind dies. Enter the need for a Saviour. By the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are saved both from our sins and from physical death.

Brigham Young and the "Adam-God theory"...we do not teach that at this time. Why is it in the Journal of Discourses? I don't know. But I DO know that official Church position on it is that we do not believe that God the Father and Adam were/are the same individual. So your second point, I am completely in agreement. Adam and YHWH were NOT the same person.

Answer 4

I agree with your first quote. Jesus Himself taught that "we are gods". CS Lewis agreed with that assessment (read The Great Divorce). I believe that we are literal children of God and as Jesus promised, we can inherit what the Father has.

I appreciate what Adam and Eve did. They knew there would be consequences of their transgression, but they also knew that they could not "multiply and replenish the Earth" without partaking of the "forbidden fruit". Of course I'm thankful for the opportunity to live. Aren't you?

I don't fully understand Brigham Young's Adam-God theory. It isn't church doctrine, so I haven't spent alot of time studying it. I don't believe that Adam is God.

I haven't found any contradictions between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I have found contradictions between the way other churches interpret parts of the Bible and the way my church interprest those parts of the Bible. But like others have said, you get a dozen people to interpret a verse and you'll get a dozen different meanings. That's why continuing revelation from God is so important. God spoke to people through prophets and apostles in ancient times. He continues to do so today.

Answer 5

Haha, it's a common misconception that we don't believe what the Bible says. I know that's not what you were saying, but I'm just stating a fact.

Think about it, if Adam hadn't eaten the fruit, then wouldn't he still be in there? Wouldn't we still be not living? It doesn't make sense how you mourn for his transgression. If we're to obtain happiness, true happiness, than shouldn't we need to know sorrow? You don't know light if you don't know darkness. That's why it was important for Adam to eat the fruit. If Satan really wanted to destroy God's plan, he would've let them sit in there for eternity.

We DO NOT believe that Adam is God the Father. I have no idea where this random accusation comes from. Adam is Michael the Archeangel. He is also the father of man, because he was the first man. It's all logical. Don't overthink it.

Answer 6

What seems like contradiction to you is actually a discrepancy in definition of God and what His Plan of Salvation is all about. We, the LDS, have a different perspective on God and His plan for us due to modern, continuing revelation to His prophets on the earth today. God is an office in the priesthood heirarchy that God the Father attained to a long time ago. He became and is our God today. Jesus was granted the status of God before the earth was created so that He could be the God of this world under the direction of His Father, the Eternal God. Adam also attained unto the status of Godhood and as our mortal progenitor, we are responsible to him as well as to Christ and God the Father. As for Eve, she as well as Adam, were selected in the premortal existence to be our chosen progenitors. Is it possible that Adam could have had other wives before he was sent here by God to be our first parents? Yes, it is possible. We don't know about any of that except to say that it would be consistent with God's pattern of operation.
As for our becoming like God, that is also consistent with scripture and God's plan. He tells us to be perfect as He and the Father are perfect. It says that we will be joint heirs with Christ in all that the Father hath. That is becoming like God, like He is. We must acquire godly attributes or else be left out of His Kingdom in the end. As we become more like Him, His glory is magnified by our glory. By the same token He passed this way before us and His God is yet above Him in the grand scheme of things.
There is no conflict, merely a redefining of what is meant by the terms God, Heaven, Salvation, etc. If you can open your mind to a broader concept of the scriptures, you will see how it all fits together.

Answer 7

i like the ans. that the LDS members are giving here. GLAD to know so many are responding!!.i went to LDS a lot when living in Ariz. & later after moving to Ark..i was very inpressed w/a lot of their believes. after reading BOM i thought the BOM enhanced and supporrted the Bible.you will never hear one put other faiths down as do the most common ones.they live by a much higher moral than other Christian s..THEY ARE NOT A CULT!!!!..i lived in Phx.they had beautifull pagants for Easter & Christmas.on the temple grounds..there would be picketing around the perimiter .. as a result it caused people to check into their believes and investigate the church. when they did ,a lot of people joined.. so the picketers were a good thing for the church. i would challange you to sincerely investigate w/an open mind. you'll be surpised what you learn!!!--you may even join someday!!! they are a very beautiful bunch of people.. they take care of their own ---a Mornam will never go hungery!!! AND they are self supportive, NO BISHOP or any official getts a salery . NO HIGH PAID PEARCHERS IN THAT CHURCH..they all work just like anyone else..

Answer 8

If you add in the doctrine of pre-mortal life, there is no contradiction - the Fall was necessary to help all of God's children progress spiritually on this earth by learning the difference between good and evil. Adam was the father of the human race. Also, Spencer W. Kimball clarified and corrected Brigham Young's other statement. Isn't it nice that we have ongoing revelation to help clarify points of doctrine rather than sticking to a static group of statements from the 19th century, or the 6th century?

Answer 9

What do you do when one verse from the bible seems to contradict another? Do you immediately disavow the entire book? Or do you seek an understanding of context, of translation errors and of prophetic interpretations? Ther eare such places that exist within the bible itself. This is evidenced by the number of different Christian faiths that interpret things differently. How do you view baptism? As so essential to salvation as to condemn an innocent infant who dies without receiving it? or as a personal choice and covenant htt must be made of one's own accord? How do you view the ressurrection? As literal or figurative? Not only does the Book of Mormon clarify such difficult concepts to resolve, it does so in such a way as to bring to seemingly conflicting bible verses to accordance.

Adam is not God, he is our physical father. God is the Father of our spirits. Our bodies are an essential part of salvation, because there is to be a literal ressurrection. Our spirits are eternal and we will forever be able to learn and grow. The doctrine of both ressurrection and eternal growth are made possible by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. These things do not conflict with bible teachings.

Answer 10

well first i find it interesting that all the quotes you gave were not from the book of mormon. they are intrepreted doctrine from either prophets or just talks given. Prophetic statements or magazine talks/articles are not cannonized scripture. So to have your question be that the bible and the bofm contradict- you would need some actual verses from the book of mormon that contradict.
Now doctrinal differences (which are some of the thigs you quoted)-are not contradictive, but actually basic scriptural truths in detail. Every doctrine is based on scripture- in both the bible and book of mormon. Every contraversal doctrine can be backed by a biblical passage. It's just in further detail- thats the beauty of having the book of mormon- it makes the biblical verses that might have otherwise been somewhat over looked more power, because things might be explained in more detail in the book of mormon on the same subject. the same goes for modern day prophets. they help us to clear up things that might have otherwise been lost in translation or cultural and time differences.
i think that scott nailed it on the head on your misunderstanding on how we view adam and the "fall" and senator made some great points as well.
basically anything out of context can be contradictive if you want it to be- heck there bible verses that contradict with themselves (ie: man is saved by grace alone vs. grace without works is dead) why do you think there are so many denominations? because there are different interpretations of the same scripture- and because the bible does have some of it's own contradictions when taken out of context.
***seriously though- my challenge to you is to actually find book of mormon verses (in context) that contradict with bible verses. I mean that is what your question is about isn't it?

***GODHOOD RECORDED IN THE BIBLE(i'm not yelling just wanted to make sure you saw it) :)...
Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev. 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
1 john 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Romans 8:17-19
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal. 4:1 NOW I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

**we don't believe that we become God- but that we become LIKE God- and that we will be heirs to Him.