The Bible and the book of Mormon? Why the difference?

Question

If Joseph Smith was given a new testament to share with the world because the bible was tainted with human error, why didn't he simply fix the errors?

Answer 1

I think this is an interesting question.

Let's compare the two books:

The Bible:
Written by a number of prophets and apostles.
Subject to review by the writers' contemporaries in their lifetimes.
Subject to translation review by any number of scholars and language experts throughout history.
Archaeologically proven to be accurate transmissions of the original texts, either through more ancient copies being found (Old Testament) or through the sheer number of extremely early copies known to exist (New Testament.)
Specific stories, sites, and locations verified by archaeological discovery.

Book of Mormon:
Subject to review by no one.
Translated only by Joseph Smith. Others who testified to the accuracy of the translation were present during the work, but were not able to view the original materials and were separated from Smith and the manuscripts by a partition.
Original manuscripts are lost; they are subject to review or verification by no one. Translation or content cannot be verified.
Archaeologically unverifiable as no other early copies of the work have ever been discovered.
Archaeologically unverified in content; no site or cities mentioned in the book have ever been discovered.

That's a huge difference, isn't it?

To my Mormon friends ... I get comments that say I'm taking liberties with these answers. Please, if you feel that that is the case, take the time to let me know exactly where I have erred. The information I have posted is not my interpretation, it is simply factual in nature.

Answer 2

Kelly's answer above is very good. I thought I'd add just a bit.

Why two copies of the same doctrine, you ask.

Well, it comes down to basic human nature. When you hear something from one source, you're more likely to dismiss it as rumor, myth, or someones personal opinion. But when you hear it from multiple sources, you are more likely to give credence to the idea. This is why much of the teaching in the LDS faith is done in pairs or more. Our missionaries, home teachers, visiting teachers, witnesses of the gold plates & angels, etc all teach in pairs.

EDIT:
For people that claim Rev. 22:18-19 (no adding or taking away) to be the reason the Book of Mormon cannot be true, please actually study your scriptures. Of all the arguements against my faith, I find this one the most frustrating because it shows how many people simply parrot others in their bigotry instead of actually studying & learning for themselves.

The book of Revelation was written prior to some of the other biblical books, and prior the Bible being assembled into a collection of texts. Therefore, this verse can only apply to the Book of Revelation, and not the Bible as a whole (some of which was unwritten and none of which was yet assembled together into 'the Bible'). While the traditional date of the book of Revelation is A.D. 95 or 96 (primarily based on a statement by Irenaeus), most scholars now date it as early as A.D. 68 or 69. The Gospel of John is generally dated A.D. 95-100.

Other scriptures (such as Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, and Proverbs 30:6) likewise forbid additions; were the critics' arguments to be self-consistent, they would have to then discard everything in the New Testament and much of the Old, since these verses predate "other scripture" added by God through later prophets.

Answer 3

He actually started to, with the Joseph Smith translation, which includes some verses with corrections that help explain a lot of inconsistencies, such showing that Pharoah in the time of Moses hardened his own heart instead of reading that God supposedly did so. One thing he also fixed was the discrepancy between whether or not it was 1 angel or 2 angels who were present at the tomb after Jesus Christ was resurrected. For the law of witnesses, it came out as being 2 angels. Actually, what the entire Book of Mormon proves is that the Bible is meant as a preparation for Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world, because all true prophets testify of Jesus Christ. That might sound like I'm dissing other religions, but I'm not. I am giving honor to those who did their best to preserve the books of the Bible and other types records.

Answer 4

We believe that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It stands hand in hand with the Bible - the bible teaches in the mouth of 2 or 3 witness shall all things be established - well the Bible is one (or 2) of those witnesses and The Book of Mormon is another.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God so far as it is translated correctly.

After translating the Book of Mormon, Jospeh Smith did indeed correct the errors made by the translations of the Bible - remember that is was the religious leaders at the time of the nicean creed who decided what was actually included in the bible and it was done to appease the Men there - not God. We do not use the Inspired translation because the manuscript is owned by the Community of Christ (formally known as the Re-organised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints) - we do however have the most important extracts of it in the footnotes and appendix of our KJV Bible.

Answer 5

The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ.

If all that he had done was correct biblical errors, then the LDS church would be no different than any of the protestant churches.

Joseph Smith was a prophet. He was called of the Lord, as was Aaron. Subsequently, the church was restored, apostles were called, revelation was received, the priesthood authority was bestowed, and so much more.

Answer 6

The Book of Mormon supports the Bible and vice versa. If you have a copy read Mormon Chapter 7, and 2 Nephi chapter 29.


Esther-
Gal. 1:8. Yes, anti books do use that one a lot.
Are you concerned about the angel Moroni declaring the gospel? Or are you concerned about "another gospel?"

If it is an angel in the latter days declaring the gospel...read Revelation 14:6-7
"I saw another ANGEL, flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting GOSPEL to preach unto them that dwell on the earth...." -There's your angel preaching the gospel.
If it is "another gospel," that's an even more simple answer. It is NOT another gospel. It's the same one That Jesus and his apostles preached. If you do not agree it is because you have not read the answers that have been given already thousands of times.

Best Wishes,
Rusty

Answer 7

Good question, Super G. I would like to answer your question, but first, let me ask you another question: Do you believe God loves all people? Or, do you believe that God only loved the people in the ancient Middle East, and therefore only spoke to them?

If you are like me, and every other Christian, you probably believe that God loves all people. But then we are left to wonder: if God loves all people, wouldn't he want everyone to have the word of God? Wouldn't He reveal the same gospel revealed to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses to all people throughout the history of the world? Don't we as Christians and believers of the Bible believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is important to every living soul's salvation? If so, why would God be selective and reveal that ever important Gospel
only to those people living in the ancient Middle East?

Let's say then, Super G, that God does love everybody, and called and spoke to prophets not only in the ancient Middle East, but also called and spoke to prophets among the ancient inhabitants of the American Continent (because He does love everybody, right?). Could you, as a Christian, say that there is absolutely no way that God would speak to these people?

Let us then continue. These prophets in ancient America would have taught this Gospel (the same exact Gospel contained in the Bible) to the inhabitants of the land. They would have also been commanded, just like the ancient Bible prophets, to write the things that they were taught, and then compiled in a book containing the word of God spoken to the ancient Americans.

Super G, if this were true, wouldn't this book have an incredible value to us Christians? Wouldn't you want a book like this that you could read along with the Bible to add clarification to your understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

That is what the Book of Mormon is. The Book of Mormon is an ancient record kept by prophets of God living in the land of America between the years 600 BC and 400 AD. It contains, along with the Bible, the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within its pages are wonderful words such as these:

"And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."

I love the Bible and the Book of Mormon, because together, they teach that God loves all people, and because He loves all people, He provided for us a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. The Book of Mormon does not take anything away from the message of the Bible, but only confirms the beautiful truths that will lead us all to salvation.

Answer 8

He fixed quite a few of them, and that's one of the reasons he was martyred. It's obvious that most people outside the church do not believe anything Joseph Smith had to say on the subject - because of some of the comments you read in this section. One of our basic tenets is "We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated; We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God." If you read the King James Version of the Bible that LDS people carry, you will see the corrections highlighted in the footnotes, and in special sections. All of them add to the knowledge that God wants us to have, and none take away anything that would lead you back to Him.

Answer 9

The Bible is the word of God.

The myth that the Bible contains errors is no different than the myth that Joseph Smith received a second testament from Christ. The book of mormon contains the errors, not the Bible.

Answer 10

Out of the mouth of two witnesses shall the truth be established. The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel knew that the proof of the gospel would come forth at a time when it was most needed. The Book of Mormon proves the Bible, it does not replace it.

Isaiah 29:11 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 amarvellous 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.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.