I don't really comment on video's but felt impressed to tell you as a life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints and as a former missionary for the church I really enjoy your video's. In 2003 to 2005 I went door to door teaching people about our church and we ran into many pastors who were not welcoming, or flat out rude. Thank you for not only looking with an open mind but being respectful. I love my savior and I love the gospel, again thank you and I will be looking forward to seeing your video after reading The Book of Mormon.
@Benjamin Rightsell Thank you for sharing your experience. I am wondering, how you think the pastors and people felt when you presented the lesson regarding Joseph Smith's first vision. It's that section in the Pearl of Great Price (Joseph Smith - History 1:19 and the surrounding verses) where paraphrased it says, "All the churches are wrong, all the creeds are an abomination, and all the professors are corrupt." Who started the conflict?
@K D Truthfully I will probably never have an answer that will suffice the bulk of people who do not have the same beliefs as we LDS do but what I can say is in verse 8 of Joseph smith History it states, "but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong." I believe that he meant that at the time there was such a debate amongst the different denominations that they were all caught up in being right as apposed to teaching the word of God. going back to verse 19, the end says, “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” At that time in history, our country was going through what was known as the great religious revival, not only did we have many different denominations but we also have splinter groups of the different churches all with there own interpretation of the bible. I don't know if that answers your question or not but I hope that helps. I am always willing to share any information.
@@benjaminrightsell6904 You didn't answer my question. You stated in your original post, "...we ran into many pastors who were not welcoming, or flat out rude." I asked you, "Who started the conflict?" I pointed out Joseph Smith- History 1:17-19 in the Pearl of Great Price condemns all churches. On your mission, Ben, you would have presented this information to every person who participated in your lessons. How many people was that during your two-year mission? I could also point out the Book of Mormon scriptures (i.e. 1 Nephi 13:26-29 and 1 Nephi 14:9-17, etc.) which describe the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches as the "mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil...she is the whore of all the earth...the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth..." or your Church's pre-1990 Temple ceremonies which had a scene that included the following dialogue- "LUCIFER:: Do you preach the orthodox religion? SECTARIAN MINISTER: Yes, that is what I preach. LUCIFER:: If you will preach your orthodox religion to these people, and convert them, I will pay you well." Surely, these things that your Church portrayed (the pre-1990 temple ceremony) and still teaches from your Scriptures are very rude and offensive messages. I would love to hear your response.
I’m LDS and I appreciate learning about YOUR beliefs (similarities and differences as a fellow Christian) from your perspective in such a non confrontational way. Why has it been so hard to ask each other honest questions with sincere curiosity and intent to understand in the past? Thanks for being an instrument of change.
I love watching these videos to learn more about the pastor's beliefs. It has helped me to find the common ground with my friends of other faiths. He is so respectful and open to others beliefs.
Take your time to watch a conversation between a Christian and a LDS TEST OF A PROPHET:The Bible vs.joseph smith th-cam.com/video/FrqkaKz_SSg/w-d-xo.html&feature=share And th-cam.com/video/G1mFdO1wB08/w-d-xo.html
Love your sincere inquiry and questions. Don’t read or learn “about” the book, read the book. That will answer many of your questions. And there are many scholarly offerings about evidence for the book, but like the Bible, none of that proves that Jesus is the Christ or the many miracles that happened. Ultimately in both cases, both of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we must rely on faith and the Holy Spirit to reveal truth.
@Darren Albertson - DigitalDust I agree with you. There are certain things in the Bible or the Book of Mormon that need to be believed by faith. We cannot scientifically prove that Jesus opened the eyes of the blind or the deaf. If He did, those people are dead and we can't interview them, so this is a problem for both books. However, this doesn't place both books equally in the same problem. The Bible has manuscript evidence and archeological evidence to support that it is trustworthy in its testable claims. First, the manuscript evidence (contrary to Mormon claims) provides great reason to trust that the Bible that we have today hasn't been changed throughout the millennia. The common way that it is described is to compare the Bible to a box that has a 1000-piece puzzle in it. We actually have 1010 pieces in the box. We can tell which pieces don't belong because they aren't in the earliest manuscripts (i.e. the long ending of Mark 16:9-20, the woman caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11, the Comma Johanneum in 1 John 5:7, etc.)The idea that designing priests and other evil people changed and corrupted the words of the books of the Bible is laughable. It would be impossible to do this in a whole sale manner due to the way that the books of the New Testament were sent out. Furthermore, it would have to have occurred very early on for it to happen, but the apostles would still have been alive at this time. Second, the archeological evidence for the Bible is amazing. You can go to museums all around the world or to Israel itself and see artifacts that support the existence of the people(s), the places, and other things mentioned in the Bible. The Book of Mormon has nothing remotely approaching this. First, in regards to the manuscripts, there have been around 4000 substantive changes to the Book of Mormon since the 1830 edition. These are not just spelling mistakes, but the addition of words to correct doctrinal beliefs. For instance, the 1830 version in 1 Nephi 11:21 says, "And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the eternal Father". Today's version says, "And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the son of the eternal Father". The same types of changes were made in 1 Nephi 11:32 and 13:40. In Mosiah 21:28, the 1830 version said, "...King Benjamin had a gift from God..." where as today's version says, "...King Mosiah had a gift from God...". Regarding archeology, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints admits this is not the way to test to see if the Book of Mormon is trustworthy. This can be seen in the following quote, "Since the record contains spiritual lessons, the reader would need to have a spiritual experience in order to secure the verification of its validity. The formula for gaining that testimony is found in Moroni 10:4-5 [Moro. 10:4-5] from the record itself. Proof of the Book of Mormon thus remains within the spiritual realm and not from studying archaeology." ( www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1975/03/q-and-a-questions-and-answers/is-there-anything-that-has-been-found-among-the-archaeological-evidences-that-would-sustain-or-support-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng In closing, I would like to point out that the majority of the miracles in the Bible need to be believed by faith. However, the most important miracles, those of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the creation of the universe, God has kindly left us ample evidences to believe. The archeological and manuscript evidences just provide us with further proofs that the Bible is the Word of God.
Tad Callister makes A Case for the Book of Mormon in his book called… A Case for the Book of Mormon. It is well worth a read. He lists several evidences but focuses on the importance of faith and the power of the Spirit to identify truth.
I found your videos by total accident yesterday. I've watched 2 of them. I'm a retired Christian Pastor who spent much of my 20s and 30s working with Latter Day Saints. I confess I was not very charitable to them, nor they with me. Perhaps sometime I'll share that with you. I really appreciate your approach. Your kindness and open heartedness are all over the videos. Thank you for them. You, are in my prayers.
My grandfather was a Baptist minister in the 1920s and 1930s. During the great depression, he moved his family from Oklahoma to New Mexico for a better opportunity for them. During one time when he was preaching a tent meeting in west-central NM, a man "paid" my grandfather (in the Depression there was not a lot of cash, so food or books were often given as payment to preachers) by giving him a copy of the Book of Mormon. It was later learned that the man who gave this to him was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but he heard that this was a book about Jesus, so he gave it to the preacher. My Grandfather sat that book on his shelf for 5 years before he ever read it- and during a snowed-in period he felt impressed to just read this book. He read the entire day and through the night- telling my grandmother the next morning that it was true - and asked her to read it. He began asking around where he could find more information and heard that there were some "Mormons over in Arizona"- so as soon as there was a thaw he headed to Eagar and Springerville Arizona to find the "Mormon Preacher". He had an open mind to receive more light and truth- he never lost his love for the Bible and was a powerful teacher of it, but added to his understanding by also embracing the Book of Mormon. I love to read other religious texts and have a great deal of respect for all of these efforts to gain greater understanding of other faith traditions. Good for you for your open respect, even when you do not fully agree. I respect that a great deal.
I really enjoy your videos, I love watching your journey in finding the truth, about the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. I have been a member my whole life, but at the age of 16 wasn't sure if what my parents had taught me was what I believed so I fell inactive, it wasn't til I had my 2 sons that I knew I had an obligation to teach them who they were and where they came from. So I set out to going to different Christian churches, Baptist, prodistant, and Lutheran to name a few. I felt that the God I knew was there, but didn't feel the comfort I had always felt when I attended my church as a child. So I still didn't really know that returning to my church was what I needed to do, although I prayed about it often. One day i was 18yrs old now, two elders from the church of Jesus Christ came knocking at my door and I decided to let them in and I decided to take the lessons from them, and they challenged me to read the Book of Mormon, I knew the Bible was true, as I had studied it in the other churches I had attended as well as in my childhood I recalled alot of the stories, but it was when I opened the Book of Mormon and actually read it and prayed about it, that I actually knew where I needed to take my children to teach them who they are and where they came from, and what their purpose was here on earth, as well as learn of the Savior and his Beautiful Antonement and gave them a stong foundation. As well I gained a new testimony for the gosple and I felt at home ones again. I believe you will find your answers when you decide to open the Book of Mormon and read it. Also, do your research on Joseph Smith and the witnesses and pray about that. I hope this helps.
Joseph Smith made it very clear that the Book of Mormon was meant to be taken as fiction. In fact, the Book of Mormon is false starting with page one. I Nephi 1, 600 B.C., has a prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. If you know anything about the history of the nation of Israel, you will know that Jerusalem was already under siege in 600 B.C.. In fact, the first deportation had already occurred six years prior. Also, I Nephi 1, talks about the language of 'Reformed Egyptian,' a language that has never existed. (Egyptians speak Arabic.) The Jews would not be speaking any 'Egyptian' the language of their captors from hundreds of years prior. ********** Imagine finding gold plates written in 600 B.C. with the Gettysburg Address in them? Now imagine gold plates from 600 B.C with word for word quotes from people who hadn't even been born yet? Pretty amazing! *** The Book of Acts records the apostle Peter paraphrasing Moses (Deut. 18:18-19) during his sermon at Pentecost. This happened around 60 A.D. In the Book of Mormon, around 580 B.C., Nephi claims to also quote from Moses, but instead he quotes Peter's paraphrasing of Moses verbatim, 640 years before Peter gave his sermon. *** Apostle Peter (60 A.D.) Holy Bible For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. - Acts 3:22-23 Book of Mormon 580 B.C. ...the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people. - 1 Nephi 22:20 **************** Alma chapter 5 plagiarizes John the Baptist about 80 years before he was born. John the Baptist (30 A.D.) Holy Bible And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. - Matthew 3:10 Book of Mormon 83 B.C. And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire... - Alma 5:52 ********************** Mosiah chapter 16 plagiarizes the apostle Paul 200 years before he wrote his firsts epistle to the church at Corinth. Apostle Paul (55 A.D.) Holy Bible For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Book of Mormon 148 B.C. Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption... - Mosiah 16:10 ************************ 2 Nephi plagiarizes the apostle Paul 600 years before he wrote his epistle to the church at Rome. Apostle Paul (68 A.D.) Holy Bible For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. - Romans 8:6 Book of Mormon 555 B. C. ...to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal. - 2 Nephi 9:39
@@tiffanykintzer1768 The Bible contradicts everything that the LDS church teaches. It tells us about the true and living God, the true Christ, who was God in the flesh and the true gospel. I Cor. 15 *********** ** We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. - Article of Faith #3 Book of Mormon For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also 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 25:23 "One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation," (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206). The Bible Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. *********** Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247). I John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ********** Good works are necessary for salvation (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 92). The Bible Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, *********** There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188). The Bible Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6 *********** "This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts," (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697). The Bible Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. *********** There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Mormon Doctrine, p.670). The Bible And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12
Ok, I just spent 20 minutes reading the comments on this video. There is a general consensus that pastor Jeff is respectful. As a Later-Day Saint, it is very refreshing to experience this type of etiquette from another Christian, pastor or not. I hadn't seen his other videos yet, but plan on it. By scrolling through the titles, I can surmise he's diving deep, which is great. I have been studying the anti-Mormon literature since 1979 and am very well read in this subject. I was mostly just curious about what others think and talk about. It took me on a journey of deep gospel study that has served to strengthen my testimony. I can tell from this video that pastor Jeff is also well versed in anti-Mormon literature as he brings up these talking points often as he pauses the video to make comments. Someone on this thread warned to beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing, referring to Pastor Jeff. He may be correct, but I would ask everyone to take a page from Pastor Jeff himself and also be respectful. As he draws his own conclusions, right or wrong, it would behoove us all to remain respectful. It would be very easy to fall into the trap of judging him. It makes sense that he's carefully helping people know Jesus, which is awesome, albeit under the guise of exploring the teachings of the church. But just for the sake of the possibility of him being truly interested in just knowing more about the church, regardless of having no interest in belonging to it, let's give him our attention. I hope that he will take the time to answer the questions he poses, such as in this video stating that there aren't any historical sites in America that he's aware of that back up the Book of Mormon. Well, you have seen this video so you are aware of you tube and how to navigate it. Type in Wayne May as a starting point to hundreds of documented sites. I can talk for hours on the subjects, but let's leave it at that. One more example, he stated that Christ fulfilled all and so no more revelation is to be had. Well, does that mean we discard the entire new testament as all of it was written after the death of Christ? The book of revelation was a revelation John received from the Lord long after His death and told to record. So, good point, Christ did fulfill all the Father had Him do, but terminating revelation was not one of them. That is not biblical. In fact, it's anti-biblical. I encourage everyone to keep watching and let Pastor Jeff speak for himself. If he's after truth, hell find it. If he's thinly veiling anti-Mormonism as an attempt to seek for truth, we'll all find that out too. After one video, I like him and I plan on watching the rest. I anticipate he'll engage in respectful dialogue to the questions he's posing here. It should be great. Enjoy.
Very.. interesting. Thank you for this comment. I haven’t read any of that literature. But that was the question I posed to him. If he actually sincerely asks… is he ready for the answer?
I'm curious to what you've found as you've read anti-Mormon literature. Every time I hear one of the arguments made, I can immediately turn that around and make the same argument against Christianity - which is counter productive and might turn a person away from God. (Which does tend to happen to LDS people who fall away). But it's also to prove the point to myself that the argument made is not very well thought out.
There are three basic forms of anti statements. The most common is a half truth interwoven with a half lie. It's easy to take the bait because you recognize part of what is being said. It's a deliberate trap. Then there's the out right full lie. Again, total deception. These are ineffective on active members but effective on investigators because they don't know any better. The third type is true, but then a false narrative is interjected. These are fairly effective on everyone. When shown side by side with the full truth, all types are easily revealed as false. The best thing for anyone to do to find all truth is read and study the scriptures. Read is not synonymous with study. The Lord is light and all that seek truth will find Him.
I am also very versed on mormon history and theology and I can say that it is some of the most reprehensible, offensive, and anti-biblical heresies I have ever heard.
Hello Saints: well done. I believe you are truly acting in good faith here, which suggests you are open to dialogue, and willing to seek an understanding. Not necessarily looking to believe, but at least understand the premise. For this, I am very grateful. Other commenters have duly noted how Christ’s reference to “other sheep” that would hear His words, could only apply to a remnant of the house of Israel, not to the preaching of the apostles. This follows precisely with Christ’s methodology to only preach, himself, to the House of Israel in person while on the earth. I find no logical inconsistency here. I would also comment that your question about how the origins of the Bible differ from the origins of the book of Mormon should not cause you concern simply because the mechanisms were different. The origins of what we know today as “the Bible” were an exercise in trial and error, work and rework, adding and subtracting over the course of many centuries, and finally settled upon not by apostles and prophets, but by scholars and politicians. This is not to belittle the Bible in any way, but simply to state that the emergence of the Bible as a “book” of scripture was a very messy process. Hence, just because God worked through an unlearned boy prophet to bring the Book of Mormon to the world should not suggest that the origin of the Bible as a compiled book was somehow a pristine and unsullied process, and the process of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is suspect. You may not believe the account, but you can’t dismiss the process as unreasonable or inconsistent. One more thought. The supposition that the Book of Mormon was written for the people of the Americas as the Bible was written for the ancient inhabitants of the Middle East is not how I would categorize either volume. The people of the ancient Americas didn’t have the Book of Mormon, and the people of the ancient world didn’t have the Bible. Both had bits and pieces, here and there, tablets, scrolls, plates and sticks. The general public couldn’t read at that time, by and large, so most everyone had no access to most scripture except through word of mouth. The books of today’s Bible were preserved, and I’d argue many more prophetic writings were lost, in an effort to testify of the divinity of Christ. The Book of Mormon was brought forward specifically in our day to reinforce that Bible-centric testimony. In fact, there are references in the Book of Mormon stating that the book was written by ancient prophets for our day, to testify of Christ and of the Bible. If the book was meant specifically for our day, it suggests a mechanism was needed to bring it forth directly from an ancient language to our day. That was the process of divine translation undertaken by Joseph Smith. Strange? Yes, absolutely. Discredited simply because it was brought forth using a different mechanism than the Bible? No. Do we know the mechanism Moses used to translate and compile the ancient accounts in Genesis from records thousands of years before him? Did Adam or Enoch or Noah speak Egyptian, the language Moses grew up with? I’m guessing no. How did he do it? Many evangelicals believe Moses received most of Genesis by direct revelation from God, which believers in the Book of Mormon would equate to Joseph Smith divinely receiving the translation of the golden plates directly from God. Anyway, I’ll stop there. Great job. Loved listening. Thanks again.
THANK YOU for being respectful and for your insights. This is what Christian dialog should sound like. I love your videos and your simple straightforward thoughts and impressions.
I am so grateful for your thoughtful, kind and sincere approach. I feel the spirit working to teach both a member of the LDS church and those not of the LDS faith. This spiritual journey we are all on together should always be approached in this way. Thank you!
Take your time to watch a conversation between a Christian and a LDS TEST OF A PROPHET:The Bible vs.joseph smith th-cam.com/video/FrqkaKz_SSg/w-d-xo.html&feature=share And th-cam.com/video/G1mFdO1wB08/w-d-xo.html
I am LDS. I find it interesting when I talk with non-LDS about the Book of Mormon and they quote Revelation where it says we can’t add or subtract from “this book”. Most people believe that refers to the whole Bible. But as you know, the Book of Revelation was written about 90-100 AD. The Bible wasn’t compiled for another 200 years. And one other thought I will throw out there. Who are we to tell God when or where He can talk to people? If He wants to teach His word to more people, He certainly has the right. Thanks for your questions and perspective.
Loved Larry Chessman comments As a life long LDS member I have viewed your presentations with sadness. I fear your motive is negative. It is true that the book of Revelation was not added to our Bible until years later . God can reveal His will to us anytime anywhere. Why you say The Book of Mormon does not support and agree with the Bible , leads me to wonder why you want to discredit our faith. In your visit to an LDS book store you didn't mention the many books and paintings of Jesus also on display and kept saying, " in a Christian book store", you were in a Christian book store! In our church we never try to tear down another church, ever, we would hope you would follow the Saviors teaching to love your neighbor ad your self. I am disappointed in your so called honesty.
I'm going to be a bit pedantic, but The Bible didn't exist till centuries after the first Council of Nicaea, which itself was centuries after John's Revelation. The priests who made up the Council of Nicaea (and their 'descendants') established what was 'canon' to Christendom, and what they declared 'canon' was what made up The Bible centuries later, but until that point, John's Revelation was one book among many.
@@sandrabarbera3789 You said, "In our church we never try to tear down another church, ever..." Really? As a professed follower of Jesus Christ, I assume that you believe that Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6). I think you would agree with Him that we should also be truthful (John 8:32, 36). Sandra, God values honesty. The Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi chapters 13 and 14 and the Pearl of Great Price in Joseph Smith History 1:;17-19 "tear down" all churches. Please go re-read those passages. I look forward to your response. P.S. If you want, I can add quotes from your prophets (Brigham Young) and your apostles (Orson Pratt, Bruce R. McConkie, George Q. Cannon, etc.) for some pretty strong "tear down" comments they made about other churches.
@Larry Cheesman In the JST, Joseph Smith did add to and take away from the book of Revelation. He changed it. Why isn't that brought up in these discussions?
I was in exactly the same situation as this Pastor so was my uncle a Methodist Minister. We both found each other as Latter Day Saints at church one day.
@@charlesmendeley9823 it doesn’t. The BOM doesn’t even make sense geographically or genetically. The anachronisms on top of Joseph smith’s very weak credibility and the smith family’s involvement in folk magic, it’s clearly just a piece of entertaining fiction. Very Similar to the story of “the view hebrews”written 7 years before the BOM in Oliver cowdery’s hometown. The list goes on and on
@@charlesmendeley9823 'the arguments that convince' (or the ones that matter) come down to personal revelation from the Spirit of God. always, people who have received the words of the prophets have been invited to pray to God and to receive a personal witness through the Holy Ghost of the truth. It's not by deductive reasoning or physical evidence or trying to poke holes at characters or context. This is why there are some, like Jannes and Jambres, who are 'ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth'. Paul explained very clearly that one can only understand spiritual things through the spirit, and yet, the world is still full of those who think you can 'figure it out' by deductive reasoning or internet searches. it's like trying to figure out nuclear science by studying a foreign language-- it's not God's method or pattern. Jesus Christ himself confirmed as much in his answer to Simon Peter, that it was God's revelation to him through the spirit that helped him to find and follow truth. Moroni invites all readers of the Book of Mormon to read, ponder, and pray with a sincere heart and real intent, that the truthfulness of these things will be made manifest to sincere seekers of truth by the Holy Spirit.
@@nailpolishqueen1919 reading it by the Spirit is a way you can know for yourself. Couldn’t Satan inspire people to write fictional work to distract or confuse people from truth? It’s possible. He is an enemy to God, enemy of the truth and salvation of man. He hates Priesthood power, so he hates the restored gospel. He’s here to distract our dissuade through faults of man. Try reading it. ❤ know for yourself. -- I never understood how people could reject Jesus as their Savior, walking the Earth and performing miracles before their eyes. Seeing people reject the Book of Mormon without opening it up prayerfully for themselves shows not only is “Christians” rejecting Christ easy, it’s still happening today.
I’m really enjoying this channel. As a Christian, your approach seems to foster a safe environment for both Mormons and Christians to have an open dialog about what we believe and what questions we have for each other.
@@lauramaher6762 Did the Apostle Paul consider the Judaizers Christian? All they did was add circumcision to the list of faith and repentance (Acts 20:21). He said they were under a curse (Galatians 3:10) and that they were preaching a false gospel by adding this one thing (Galatians 1:6-9). How much more would the Apostle Paul have to say about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? The Heavenly Father of the LDS faith is not the Heavenly Father of the Bible, the Jesus of the LDS faith is not the Jesus of the Bible, the Holy Spirit of the LDS faith is not the Holy Spirit of the Bible, and the gospel of the LDS faith is not the gospel of the Bible. (2 Corinthians 11:3,4). Laura, if you read the Bible, and let the Bible interpret the Bible (not understand it through the lenses of your other scriptures), you will never come to a LDS understanding of Heavenly Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or the gospel. I pray that you will take me up on my challenge. Philippians 3:4-11. Laura, if you gain Jesus and lose everything else, you have lost nothing and you have gained everything. No church died for your sins or my sins; no church rose again to give you or me eternal/everlasting life. Laura, turn to the Jesus of the Bible (John 5:39-40 and John 6:66-69).
You are really inspired to investigate about the LDS church. I am also a member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day- Saints and I appreciate you because you are not biased as other sects who did it just for the purpose of persecution in our church. Keep it up.
@@emmamaputi6672 restored church of jesus christ of latter day saints sorry if I come across dumb but is that a break off from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints .. I have heard of flds and Kingston clan however not you however I am in Leeds England UK
You are a breath of fresh air. I am LDS and served a mission back in 85 in the bible belt. I had the opportunity to teach (and be taught) by an old Catholic priest for over 6 months in one of my areas. We both kept a similar tone in dealing with each other that you are taking with these videos. Neither of us 'converted' to the other's faith but it was a very rewarding and faith promoting experience for both of us. You actually bring back some great memories for ME. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I am enjoying watching your experience.
@@hrv4908 Watch his videos. Listen carefully. Scott H. is spot on. He delights in his own ignorance, and refuses to dip a single toe into actual knowledge of the restoration. He acts like he knows everything about the bible and uses his flawed understanding to attack the book of Mormon. In another video, he shows just how flawed his understanding is concerning the Godhead.
@@hrv4908 He is sincere in the thought that he wants to convert latter-day saints away from the gospel. No latter-day saint should pay him any mind but to remind him to repent and actually read for himself, not play his games. As I said...Scott is right.
I love the positivity and neutrality of your videos. I’m new in the church as my husband was born into the LDS community. I’m learning so much and so far I feel the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a wonderful church.
"Reformed Egyptian" isn't exactly its own language. What Hugh Nibley and other scholars have surmised is Lehi's family knew of a way to use Egyptian characters to write Hebrew words, a sort of reverse transliteration. Then they could write in a language they knew, but use a writing system that took up less space on metal plates. (From what I've read, archeologists have discovered such examples of "reformed" Egyptian in the Middle East.) But this would have become a prophetic burden once they got to the New World, because if they ever merged with another people group, anyone wanting to record on the Plates would have to learn a second language! There are indications throughout the text that the people the Nephites encountered in ancient America spoke different languages than them. For example, in Jacob 7, Sherem (who Jacob suggests is NOT a Nephite) is marked as being expert in their speech, which would be an odd thing to say if everyone spoke the same language; and Omni mentions that the Mulekites' language, which would also have started out as Hebrew, had become corrupted over the generations since they left Jerusalem. All these points, considered together, may explain the way Moroni complained about clumsy hands and ineffective writing skills (Ether 12) and make it plausible they were writing in a language other than their own vernacular. There are not many archeological connections to Book of Mormon events and places, for a few important reasons. The most important perhaps being the Americas lacked that persistence of living memory you would find in the Holy Land, because ALL THE NEPHITES WERE WIPED OUT IN 400 AD. Moroni, the prophet-cum-angel mentioned in the video, was the last one, which is why he buried the Plates instead of handing them down further. As a result, there are many competing theories as to the geography where the events of the Book of Mormon took place, including larger and smaller areas of Central America, the Finger Lakes region of New England, and even some involving the Midwest's Cahokia mound-builders. But due to the Book of Mormon's being written by an insular people among a larger population using an even-to-them dead language, it will probably be quite hard to spot and prove any connections that ARE found. The most promising discoveries I've heard about involve the places Nephi describes along his family's journey from Jerusalem to the Indian Ocean (1 Nephi 16 & 17) - excavations have uncovered Nahom in Saudi Arabia and a promising site for the land Bountiful on the coast of Yemen. But since we have no idea where Lehi's family subsequently landed in the Americas, the trail goes cold. The bottom line is, as Nibley writes in his book "Since Cumorah", any "evidence" that has so far come to light will strengthen the believer, but will not be enough to convince the skeptic. That leaves our faith, prayers, and seeking personal revelation as the main way to "prove" the truth of the book, through the visitation of the Holy Ghost, who will teach us all things and testify of all truth (John 14, Moroni 10). Your scriptural objections are important ones. Do you mind if I comment on them? John 10:16 - The reason we have this interpretation of "other sheep" is not quite in a vacuum - there's a parallel passage in the Book of Mormon that gives this meaning (3 Nephi 15:21-24). But I will offer as Bible-based support for the "other sheep" NOT being the Gentiles, Jesus' declaration that His ONLY mission was to the House of Israel (Matthew 15:24), as well as the Lord's promise to Ezekiel that He will gather Israel out from among the heathen, and there will be no separate "home" and "away" nations, but that they will be under one King, and they will be His people, and He their God (Ezekiel 37:21-23). The Book of Mormon people's identity as scattered Israel, lost and dispersed among the heathen nations, neatly fits the bill in my opinion - Christ "gathered" them spiritually when He visited them after His Jerusalem ministry, and will gather them physically as part of His promises about the House of Israel in the Last Days. Galatians 1:8 - I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of the Christology of the Book of Mormon. It teaches that Jesus is (I'm cherry-picking passages) the Christ, the Messiah and Redeemer, the Eternal God, the Creator of all things, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. One passage even declares Him to be "both the Father and the Son", which strikes some Protestant readers as sounding oddly Catholic! As far as I can tell in my study of the subject, the Book of Mormon agrees with a Biblical understanding of Jesus' origin, identity, and mission, but I'll say up front it does NOT agree with Creedal post-New Testament Christianity's understanding. Does this then constitute "another gospel", like many say, or (as we claim) another instance of the same, original Gospel? I'll be interested in your take on this. To be fair to your study, much of our understanding of the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comes from /additional/ Restoration scripture, found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. And of course it's greatly informed by Joseph Smith's own theophany when as a teenager he was visited by the Father and the Son, both embodied, as well as many other angels - an event we refer to as the "First Vision". As a distillation of our overall understanding of who Jesus is, Jeffrey R. Holland (one of our Apostles) gave an address on this topic back in 2007 that he titled "The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent". I recommend it. You seem like you have an even keel, as well as being genuinely respectful and curious. Thank you for making these videos. I'm subscribing now, and can't wait for what you put out next!
Have you watched the “Patterns of Evidence” documentaries? They’re from a guy who isn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but if I remember correctly, the one about the books of Moses talks about how Joseph of Egypt may have (basically) invented the alphabet by taking some of the Egyptian hieroglyphs and using them to sound out paleohebrew words, like using the one that looks like waves as an ‘M’ sound to write “mayim” for water, etc. I thought it was pretty interesting since, to me, that could be considered a type of “reformed Egyptian.”
@@charlesmendeley9823; The Bible mentioned “unicorn”. Does that mean it was a flying horse that left rainbow colors in its wake?🦄🌈It might’ve been a wild ox, Bos primigenius now extinct. It could also refer to the rhino🦏
Fun stuff. I appreciate hearing your perspective and beliefs. Makes me feel like I’m on my LDS mission again. I believe your heavenly parents are proud of the work you are doing to help their children here on earth become more like Christ. Keep up the good work Pastor!
I'm glad you have questions and I'm especially excited that you have the desire to learn for yourself. I'm looking forward to hearing about your experience of reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. May God bless you in your journey!
Pretty certain his journey with the BofM has reached its end. While very respectful of it, it’s clear the flaws of the book and it’s origins outweigh the good.
I was born and raised in Thailand as a Buddhism ☸️ and I converted into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint was more than thirty years ago 😅😅😅🙏🙏🙏 Yes, I have been studying about God’s from many denominations before I am running into the LDS Missionaries In Bangkok and I am totally interested in learning about the Book of Mormon as a another testimony of the lord Jesus Christ🙏 It’s great to know that the lord Jesus Christ love all of his children as my English is not that good so I can’t not express my feelings and understanding about his ❤️ love and kindness for his children so I am invited you to reading and study so will understand and falling in love with my savior❤️😘 since I understand the plan of salvation and the purpose of life as gods plan for his children so I am focusing on the iron rods from the dream of Lehi 🙏 and trying my best to endure everything till the end of my life so I can partake the fruits of life 🙏
I find it very fascinating that bhuddist and Mormons both believe in temples, garments, serving missions and the power of prayers. Also baptisms just in different ways. This is why my dad (whos bhuddist) says both are the same.
Jeff, the light and love of Jesus Christ shines through you. You are a great witness of Him. Thanks for avoiding contention and inspiring honest seeking and learning. As I watch your channel I feel the love of God stir in my heart. I am grateful for you.
I like how open minded you are and how you are very respectful even when you disagree with things that we believe. It's a very refreshing thing to see. I'm glad you are sharing your discovery of the church with the internet.
I go along with you totally, Jocelyn Smith, on this!! Yes, I like how he presents everything and is so respectful and open minded! I am glad that you, brother, I forgotten your name, are doing this!
There are 20 Lost Books written about in The Bible that are not included - in the Bible. When King James had the Aramaic Egyptian, Hebrew and Greek Scriptures to create the Bible. Because they were not yet found. Just like numerous other scriptures, were only recently found.
I thought this video was very well done. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I appreciate the fact that this gentleman is actually thoughtful about his investigation. One comment I will make about archaeological evidence. Middle Eastern archaeology has been going on for centuries. Ancient American Archaeology is still in its infancy. Also the cities in the Middle East generally keep their same names unlike what has happened in ancient America. Also we're still learning the language of ancient America. I don't base my faith on physical evidence if I did I'd be sorely disappointed. One thing we know about science is that it is constantly changing. What we thought we knew yesterday is different today.
I think you should just pray about it with an open heart, with no fear about the book. With full purpose in your heart God will give you the answers you need.
I love this, because as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I know we get a lot of criticism and "wrongful" judgement but we can fall into the same trap of bias and not truly seeking to understand others and what they believe just because we have our own personal beliefs. Thank you for making this!
Hello Saints: This is the second of your videos that I’ve watched. The first was your visit the General Conference. I have to say that as a Latter Day Saint I really appreciate your open curiosity about the church and your respectful attitude when asking questions. You do the most effective thing a person looking for answers can do: you actually ask the people you’re curious about! In this video, and the General Conference video filmed 6 months apart, you mention that you haven’t read the Book of Mormon yet. I strongly suggest that you do because it would answer A LOT of your questions (and probably spark some new ones too). For instance, when you told us your interpretation of the scripture in John where Christ says he has other sheep not of this fold. You were spot on, Christ was telling the Jews he was teaching at the time that the message was not exclusively for them but would include the Gentiles as well. And the reason we make the connection that we do is because in the Book of Mormon when Jesus is teaching the people in the Americas he specifically mentions having told the people in Jerusalem about having other sheep and them not getting it. You mentioned how much extra-biblical evidence there is out there supporting the biblical narrative and asked if there was anything similar for the Book of Mormon. Short answer:YES!! And more showing up all the time. An excellent source (free on line at www.pdfdrive.com) would be a series of books by Hugh Nibley, professor emeritus at BYU, who taught an in depth class on the Book of Mormon at BYU for years. The books”Teachings of the Book of Mormon” parts 1-4 are basically just his class lectures printed in book form and talk all about archeological evidence along with exploring the cultural and linguistic links between the Bible and Book of Mormon. Including an explanation of what they mean by “reformed Egyptian “ and how we have hundreds of examples of it in places all over Israel and the Middle East.
I'm a Latter-day Saint and this is the second video of yours that I've watched. I have to say, it's so REFRESHING to see someone investigate the LDS Church respectfully and factually without tearing it down in the process! I'll check out more of your videos. Thank you!
@@mrzulcan4290 Why not? I watch lots of pro-LDS and anti-LDS videos. Just interested in what the critics are saying! Plus, I think his videos are aimed at LDS members. The name of his channel is "Hello, Saints!", not "Hello, people investigating The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!"
…he knows very little about the LDS church. He hasn’t read the Book of Mormon yet or done additional research on the lack of evidence… I’m really looking forward to his video on the reformed Egyptian and maybe even the process in which Joseph Smith translated the BOM with his head buried in his hat to peer into his magical (treasureless) seer stone. I’m also looking forward to his video about polygamy and Joseph sending husbands/fathers on missions so he could marry and have sex with their wives and daughters. I was a member since I was 8… didn’t appreciate the church hiding/white washing it’s history, shaming or excommunicating it’s members for asking questions or speaking truth. The LDS corporation is very interested indeed! Looking forward to his future videos!
@@ashleyowens2497 hey ashley, ok i mean i hear you, i've been in church since i was a child too...but you're approach is not just misrepresenting our church but any church...if you apply the same skeptical lense to any faith tradition, you will have similar results... i amnot sure if you still have faith in any tradition? is your approach consistent with other traditions? are you still a part of our tradition? sounds like you know for certain what you accuse the church of? how can you be so sure that you are correct? is the faith position you currently believe in (religious or not) immune from similar scrutiny?
I like many others in the comments am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am beyond impressed and grateful for this honest review. Thanks for giving your honest opinion while being so respectful, open, and courteous to the beliefs of others. This is evidence to me that even with different beliefs we can be kind and loving and support others as they try to follow Jesus. I can tell you truly practice what you preach as a pastor striving to be loving and kind to all people! Thank you!
Speaking to LDS members, I found that they believe the book of Mormon derives from the passage in Ezekiel and the two sticks. That the two sticks are translated as papyrus, this is incorrect according to the translation, history and the time when God spoke to Ezekiel and the two sticks.
The reason why we interpret John 10:16 the way we do comes from the Book of Mormon itself. The book of mormon explains a few passages in the bible that Nephi and the people who emigrated had. Eventually, in the visit of Christ to the americas, he gives the sermon of the mount again (slightly tailored to them, but otherwise it's almost word for word), then after that, he explains that they were the sheep he spoke of to his disciples. He also mentions that there's yet another group of sheep that are neither the Jews, nor the ancient americas people that he would visit as well. We know nothing of this other group of "other sheep", though I have read traditions in eastern orthodox christianity of them having stories of resurrected Jesus visiting them. Which fits what the book of mormon says very well. But, yes, ultimately it is only through the book of mormon that we understand the passage the way we do. I was for almost all my schooling years in a private christian school and high school (There's no clear analog to middle school in my country) and I was very heavily exposed to evangelical christianity as well as my own family's beliefs. At some point I was very confused since I hadn't truly learned what to pick from where (my parents weren't inactive, but didn't do a great effort at teaching the gospel as they should have), so naturally as a teenager I started doubting if the book of mormon was something I should take seriously or not. Ultimately, what lead me to believe in it's validity was a prayer I did as a teenager to know if it was true or not, to which I received the answer that it was true. So even if we use scriptural parallels to point to the validity of the book of mormon, the book of mormon to me is valid because God spoke to me and told me it was valid, not because of interpreted passages. That experience (and others, down the line) has been my anchor in many crisis of faith I've had.
@@mrjuvy49 you sound like a reddit atheist claiming christianity is a hoax and denying people's beliefs in their faces. Who are you to say my experiences are valid or not? Go learn some manners and basic human decency.
Learning about each other's beliefs to gain understanding, regardless of whether or not we share those beliefs, is so important. It builds bridges and moves us from an us-them mentality to the realization that we are all "us". Thank you for being part of that sharing and building of bridges.💗
Love what you’re doing. Great approach. I’m also learning about mormonism and speaking with missionaries in town. I haven’t really unfolded my findings with them yet. Just listening and asking questions so far. They’re so young. They’re just kids and this is all they know. I hope I can be patient and follow the Lords lead in speaking with them. God bless you bro. I’ll pray for you. Keep up the good work.
I had a chance to attend a LDS church one time. The service itself did not talk about salvation or Jesus. What was talked about, storing up for a year against disaster and youth camp. Prayers were not sent up to God through Jesus but through the Profit. In the Sunday School part, again, no teaching of Jesus or the Book of Mormon, but why caffeine should be avoided. I found it all disconcerting be in a church and nothing being said about my Savior. Later, as I lay in my bed, I felt a presence above me and got a distinct message never to have dealings with the LDS again. When I was visited by the missionary's, I didn't let them in and told them why. They didn't believe me. I said if they believe Smith could be visited why not me? I got incredible looks from both of them. I just shut my door. They way laid my son and tried to talk to him but my brother was coming to visit and seen what was happening and stepped in to stop them. I thank God for His intervention.
14:56 these questions are actually addressed directly in the text of the Book of Mormon. Basically, if God was to stop giving revelation, then that would indicate a change in God. Since God cannot change, He is obligated to continue giving revelation to those of His children who will receive it. Amos chapter 3 verse seven states that “for God will do nothing save he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”. This verse also explains the necessity to have a prophet whenever there is a church of God upon the Earth.
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Dear Pastor Jeff McCullough, I am a Vietnamese member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like other Christian traditions, we trust in God and endure joyfully in Christ Jesus under the restrictions of local government and society. We believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life (see John 3:16 and 3 Nephi 27:13-22). Who do Latter-day Saints think Jesus Christ is? We believe He is the Christ, the Son of Living God (Matthew 16:15-18 and Alma 5:48). What is the gospel that Latter-day Saints believe? We Latter-day Saints understand and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ as follows: 1. Faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:1-32 & Ether 12:3-22) 2. Repentance. It is through the grace and the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness and salvation. It is through His grace, our appreciation leads us to choose repentance and do our part with righteous desires to obey His commandments (Luke 15:7; Acts 3:19; and Alma 12:33-34). 3. Baptism (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 2 Nephi 31:4-5) 4. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Moroni 10:8-19) 5. Enduring to the end. We believe it is the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit who comforts us, guides us, and confirms to us the eternal truth throughout our lives. The gifts of the Holy Spirit enables us to live a purposeful and fruitful Christian life in service to God and others. We do these things not solely for our own salvation but because of our genuine love for God and fellowmen after we have already put our trust in Him first. Salvation comes through God's grace, merits, and His faithfulness to us (Joshua 24:14-15; and 2 Nephi 31:15-20). For your information, Nephi, Alma, Ether, Moroni are references from the Book of Mormon. If you have time, please also watch a conference talk/sermon given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland titled "The Only True God & Jesus Christ Whom He Has Sent" th-cam.com/video/QtEQ8Tjr2EI/w-d-xo.html
I'm a Latter Day Saint an I absolutely respect you and enjoy hearing from you. You are an amazing pastor. We can all unite together to make the world a better place.
As i understand , as a LDS person… the bible was not written for JUST the people of the old world and the Book of Mormon as not written for JUST the Americas. They are both teachings given to ALL of the world. They were written and recorded by Prophets just in different parts of the world. They are not meant to be taken seperately but rather together as teachings of Jesus while he walked on the earth.
Thank you for being so respectful! That is so appreciated, especially with something I personally hold so dear. I love hearing others’ testimonies of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, and that same spirit I feel when I read the Bible, I feel when I read the Book of Mormon. It has brought me closer to Jesus Christ in many ways, primarily by inspiring me to better follow His example and giving me the strength to do so. As I read it, I feel strength against temptation. I feel the desire to be the best friend, daughter, sister, spouse, and mother I can be. I learn more about what Jesus has done for me personally, and how I can better follow Him daily. These countless experiences, as well as countless daily prayers, have given me a sure witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Thank you again for talking with respect about something that has had such an impact on my life for good.
Still looking forward for the updates on your reading of the Book of Mormon. Based on my experience, I felt an expansion of my knowledge and perspective of everything. Just like in our time today, we watch movies that has the main story or plot but then spin-off series were released to expand the story. This analogy is comparable to the Bible and Book of Mormon. You will find some a lot of great stories from the book and especially precious doctrines that has been previously thought from the Bible. But most importantly, you will learn more about the Savior Jesus Christ on this book.
If we know that God is "the same yesterday, today and forever" and He provided prophets and revelations to His children in the past, why would He not continue to do so today? I also keep thinking of the pharisies who were so laser focused on the Torah and what they had been taught that many of them couldn't see the beautiful things happening right in front of them. An open mind, an open heart and open communication with The Creator. That's how we draw closer to Him and His continued teaching. ❤️ I love your videos! Thank you for sharing your perspective!
I'm a Latter Day Saint and have been for the past 3 to 4 years, and watching this was actually cool. I didn't feel that you were putting us down in any way. I've read the Book of Mormon and asked God if it was true and I received my answer in the form of a dream😇 I really Loved watching this👍
Job 7:13-15 and 1 John 4:1-3 are two passages that I would suggest you check out because Satan is very clever in his deceptions. God will not reveal something to a person that blatantly contradicts His written Word or is already established in said Word (i.e. no 'new' revelations). I say this in love, urging you to look to the truth and authority of the Bible over the demonically-inspired book of Mormon.
@@angelt.5276 I've read the Book of Mormon and testify that it's TRUE. I believe the Bie to be true as long as it is translated correctly. I received many revelations of my own as well as the revelation that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the only true church on Earth. And yeah thank you for your message. Stay safe👍
@@teokotaingatae5862 I have a question: how can both the Bible and the book of Mormon be true when the Bible clearly teaches a completely different message from Mormonism?
@@angelt.5276 I dont believe that's True, I'm reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon and they Both testify of Jesus Christ. I used to hate the Idea of another book outside of the Bible, but after being given many copies over the years I finally read it with my Beautiful Wife😇 It truly testifies of Jesus Christ, and His Ministry to His other sheep. I dont want to get into any debates and stuff, I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true and dont feel like getting into any type of debates to prove it, sorry. But yeah until you read The Book of Mormon and ponder its teachings, you will never understand. And yeah thank you very much for your message👍 you take care now
@@teokotaingatae5862 The Jesus of the Bible (the true living, risen King) is very different from the Jesus of Mormonism. I encourage you to look at the differences for yourself because Jesus is God, and He is the only way to the Father. We can't work our way to heaven, it's only through Jesus Christ (our Creator God) that we can find forgiveness and salvation.
One major problem they are missing is that when God had a new revelation for His people like a new covenant or new canon it came with great miracles so people would know it was Him. I don't think tablets made in a garage count.
as a Latter Day Saint we are taught to pray and ask God what we are reading is true. this is one of the beautiful things about our religion. I love every question you ask in this video. as you read the Book of Mormon you will find those answer.
He has not read it. If you watch all his videos, he thinks we are wrong and is only seeing from that view. You can see his errr at 4:30 when he puts in his own understanding rather than search for the very words the Lord gives for their meaning.
So admire your openness and honesty dear Pastor. There are a few evidences, one being rock artifacts in southern Arabian peninsula (see 1 Nephi 16:34) with lettering NHM..mentioned in that area where Lehi's family turned in a more easterly direction that Joseph Smith could never known about, but those things don't impress upon the mind, heart, and soul like sincere reading..so kudos to you Sir for being willing to read the Book of Mormon. I have come to know thru that same Holy Ghost, the Bible & and Book of Mormon are indeed the Word of God.
Thanks for sharing your videos and how respectful you are even when you don’t agree. We need more of this. We will have a better world if we focus on the things that we have in common more than our differences, even with those that have different believes.
I like your reaction to the BOM. Just want to add though that the warming in book of revelation that we cannot add or deduct the scriptures refers only to the book of revelation not the whole bible. Remember when these revelations was received by john the revelator still there was no bible canonized as we have today which means the warning that we cannot add or deduct clearly refers only to the book of revelations not the whole bible which consist of many books. And moreover moses in the book Deuteronomy had given the same warning if we interpret the same way as what you did then we are suppose to have only old testament upto that book. Here's the ref. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deut. 4:2.). Good luck to your channel I know as a vlogger you want views only from LDS members without upsetting them. God bless.
I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. I believe it comes down to a choice I have made to believe, despite doubts or questions that creep in. I dismiss these doubts and remind myself that I do not understand all things, but one day I will. I believe that it's not fear or shame, but opportunities and privileges that God offers us. He showers his love and blessings on us all. He loves us all. He just wants us to keep his commandments because they bring more happiness to us as individuals, as communities, and as a world. These laws help us to become more like God and his son Jesus Christ so we can live like them and in their presence. Learning and practicing being unselfish is challenging. Even within the highest degree of heaven there are degrees. This is simply because to live like God, we need to be like him.... basically unselfish...because unselfish people make heaven what it is. Obedience is an opportunity he offers us..for even on earth if we want to live a certain kind of life and have the privileges associated with that lifestyle, we must be able to live the rules and do the things that will allow us that privilege. For instance, when I obey rules of my community and strive to be kind, I am privileged to enjoy better relationships in my community and with my neighbors. God's heaven is available to all according to what laws and habits we have practiced until we can abide the laws of that kingdom or degree. Such laws as honesty, charity, faith, hope, humility, gratitude..... developing these Christlike characteristics takes a lifetime and even growth beyond this life. Becoming like him is an amazing, challenging journey that takes much practice, daily repentance, humility and much hope, faith and belief. Yet, even the lowest degree in heaven is as they say most wonderful and Christ can certainly visit there. But, to live in the higher degrees, our character must be developed to a point where we can abide the laws of that kingdom....otherwise it would not be heaven if we lived among people who were not honest, kind, unselfish, believing, positive, filled with faith to do good things, grateful, charitable, temperate, patient, forgiving, helpful, etc. He asks "what desirest thou?,". Then he gives us agency to choose what kingdom we'd like to be in, by how we strive to live our lives, and only with his grace can we overcome the self-centered, natural man., Relying wholely on our Savior who is mighty to save.
Loving this! Thank you for taking your time to listen and respectfully share your thoughts and concerns. Short answer: YES, the Book of Mormon (as does the Doctrine & Covenants) clearly teaches that Jesus is GOD, born to the Virgin Mary and Latter-Day Saints believe that Jesus is the GOD of the Old Testament. He is the Creator. He is Eternal. He was God *before* he “made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men.” (Doctrine & Covenants 93:4) LONGER answer: Here are a couple of verses from the Book of Mormon that speaks directly to your concern about our belief about Jesus being God... King Benjamin is speaking... (he was the King and also the Prophet ... about 124 BC). “ ...For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, *the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,* and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles... And lo, *he cometh unto his own* that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him. . . . And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men. For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned. But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Mosiah 3: 5, 9-11) "...he said unto them that *Christ was the God, the Father of all things,* and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that *God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth*..." Mosiah 7:27 "...my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death. And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But *there is a God, and he is Christ,* and he cometh in the fulness of his own time. 2 Nephi 11:5-7 "... for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that *life which is in Christ,* and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must *bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul,* and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out." 2 Nephi 25: 25-29 “I am *Alpha and Omega,* Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, *the beginning and the end*, the Redeemer of the world ... For behold, *I, God* have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, *even God, the greatest of all,* to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.” (Doctrine & Covenants 19) Jesus is God _and_ He is the Savior and Redeemer. Both God _and_ Lamb of God. Jesus is God (God the Son) _and_ He gives Glory to His Father - (God the Father.) Christ is God the Father, in that we are born again through His atoning blood. “...ye shall be called *the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you,* for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are *born of him*, and have become his sons and his daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ. (Book of Mormon - Mosiah 5:7-8) We follow Christ by praying to Heavenly Father as that is how He taught us to pray -- He is always leading people to the Father. I hope this clarifies this false concern that we don’t believe that Jesus Christ is indeed God. It is *NOT* our belief that he became a God _after_ his mortal journey. There are many more verses to site, but this is a good start.
@Francine Platt Thank you for your well-reasoned and articulate reply. However, I think there is some misunderstanding in your reply. You are correct that the LDS faith does teach that before coming to earth as a baby, Jesus existed as the Jehovah of the Old Testament. (He is not to be confused with Elohim who in the LDS faith is the name of Heavenly Father). Hence, the LDS faith does teach that Jesus was a god before coming to this world. However, the LDS faith has a different understanding from Historic/Biblical Christianity of what the word "eternal" means. The LDS faith does not teach that Jesus has always been God (or a god) nor do they teach that Heavenly Father has always been God or a god. I am sure you will recognize the following couplet from Lorenzo Snow, "As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” Joseph Smith stated something very similar in his King Follett sermon. What the LDS faith teaches is that matter is eternal and that all of us (Heavenly Father, Jesus, you, me, etc.) existed as intelligences eternally. Heavenly Father progressed to godhood before Jesus did. This is what the LDS faith teaches, but it is not what the Bible teaches. Psalm 90:2 says, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
I am excited to see more thoughts and reactions as you dive into the Book of Mormon. Don’t let you standing on this channel or as a pastor get in the way of praying and reading about the truthfulness with real intent. Love what you do!
If you are looking for archeological or other types of physical evidence is support of the Book of Mormon try viewing Book of Mormon archeology videos by Professor Wayne May or by Rod Meldrum. These can be found on TH-cam. You can also find more about Latter-Day Saint perspectives on the Bible by watching Jared Halvorsen's "Unshaken" podcast on TH-cam.
As a former member of the LDS church, the LDS church claims they believe the Bible , but I don’t see that, and it’s one of the reasons that I left. Look into the claims they make about it and how they over-emphasize the BOM. The “Prophet” Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (the introduction to the Book of Mormon). Then the LDS doctrine states that they believe the Bible to be the word of God “…wherein it is translated correctly.” First, Joseph Smith said that “plain and precious truths” were removed from the Bible. And that the BOM is the “most correct book” In other words it’s not full of translation errors as one will find in any Bible translation. How can the Church say essentially that the Bible has had precious truths removed and at the same time they believe it is the word of God where it’s translated correctly? Additionally, the LDS church uses the KJV of the Bible. It is full of translation errors. And seeing how they claim to be the only true church on the face of the earth, wouldn’t they have put out the most correct translation of the Bible after being “the only true church being in existence for 190+years? Yet, they haven’t, another emphasis that the Bible isn’t important. Finally, Gordon B Hinckley and other “prophets” have encouraged the members to read the Bom daily, but they study the NT in gospel doctrines class once every four years. The Bible profoundly contradicts what’s in the D & C and other Mormon scripture.
Agree many years ago I attended as a teenager. All I ever heard about was Joseph Smith. They slobber over this guy. I think Smith was the David Koresh of the 1900s just my opinion of course
Loving these videos! It's great to get perspective on what others think when they hear some of this for the first time. @4:45 I would challenge that interpretation of that passage in John. When Jesus was teaching His disciples in Jerusalem, He never actually clarifies who He was referring to by His 'other sheep.' The idea He was referring to the non-Jewish nations surrounding Judea would be an interpretation. #agreetodisagree? The idea that He was actually referring to people in the Americas and elsewhere obviously hinges on whether or not the Book of Mormon is true/the word of God. An FYI: When Christ miraculously appeared to and visited with the people in the Americas after His resurrection, the Book of Mormon records that He taught them many of the same things He taught the Jews. He also specifically mentions His words in that passage of John. He explains that because His disciples in Jerusalem thought He meant the "Gentiles" (aka non-Jews who lived in the nations around them), they didn't ask for clarification. They assumed who He was referring to. This is why the Jews knew nothing of the people that The Book of Mormon records. At 6:20, that's not QUITE right. Yes we believe Christ and Heavenly Father have spoken to different nations/people at different times and that they have recorded those things into sacred texts. However, we believe that sacred writings from God speak of things that are universally true - so holy scripture should be consistent regardless of audience or time. As far as interpretation goes, that's another thing entirely. Another point - the Book of Mormon actually says that it was written for OUR day - the final days before Christ's miraculous Second Coming or Rapture. The prophet Mormon is the one who compiled the writings that we have today as the Book of Mormon and he says in his writings that not only did he see our day and the events leading up to the Rapture, but he was directed by Christ to compile those writings specifically for believers in our day. Other prophets in the Book of Mormon also had visions of our day and have specific warnings and things to say in order for us to be spiritually prepared. Some who had visions of the last days actually are commanded stop themselves from revealing more, saying that that is for other prophets like John the Revelator to speak of. 12:00 This is always an interesting question. Yes, there are evidences that corroborate *some things in the Book of Mormon. For example, the Hopewell Indians who lived during the time of the Book of Mormon built structures that heavily reference Judaic ordinances and culture. Keep in mind that while the Book of Mormon is specific on a timeframe, it's NOT specific on *location other than taking place in the "Americas." There are a few theories as to where the Book of Mormon took place among Latter-day Saints. One is that it took place in North America, another is Central America. Some believe both Central and upper South America. But just like the Bible, the only way readers can know the truth and veracity of The Book of Mormon is to read it, think about it and ask God for personal revelation that it's true. In its final passages, Moroni son of Mormon, makes this challenge directly to the reader with a corresponding promise.
2 Nephi Ch 29 3 And because my words shall hiss forth-many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. 4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? 5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people. 6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? 7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the bsles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? 8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two enations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
@TJ I am sorry to point this out, but your FYI explanation doesn't make any sense. The Jews in the time of Jesus would NEVER have thought that Jesus was talking about the Gentiles. You need to go back and re-read the book of Acts. Read chapter ten and specifically verse 28 will show you what Jews (like the Apostle Peter) thought about Gentiles. It took an unforgettable and shocking vision from God to change Peter's mindset about Gentiles. If you read Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 and onwards, you will see the Apostle Paul's Holy Spirit inspired interpretation of the two flocks. The two flocks are believing Jews and believing Gentiles under one shepherd, Jesus Christ. In Christ, the two become one (Galatians 3:26-29 and Colossians 3:11). Jesus's three year ministry was almost exclusively to the Jews (Matthew 15:21-28, John 4:7-42). However, in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and in His final words before His ascension (Acts 1:8), Jesus tells the disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. In this action, we see the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:18. Yet, it still took the Apostles and initial disciples (all of who were Jewish) some time before they could fully appreciate and understand that the Gospel was for Jew and Gentile.
Thank you for these videos. Having grown up for 41 years in the LDS faith and recently deconstructing things, it's cool to hear the common interpretation of some of these thoughts and ideas instead of the interpretations I was given while growing in the LDS faith.
The Book of Mormon was written by prophets who lived in Ancient America, however, it was written for our day. Nephi tells us to “liken the scriptures to our day.” The best way to answer your questions about The Book of Mormon is to read it!☺️
14:16 Re: Galatians 1:8 We believe The Book of Mormon is another testament of the same gospel taught in the Bible, and teaches about the same Jesus Christ. It's great that you are planning to read The Book of Mormon. As it says in both the Introduction & the last chapter of the book, "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true." "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."
Hey Jeff! One resource that might be fun for you is Book of Mormon Central. They've got a bunch of videos on YT and a website. There's a lot of great information on there. One story you may have come across in the BOM is the story of Nephi killing Laban. One of Central's videos addresses how Nephi was within his rights to accomplish that task. Just one example.
Thanks for the recommendation, Danny. I’ll look into it. At some point this summer I will be recording a series of videos where I read through the BOM book by book and give my thoughts. Sounds like a resource like this could be helpful. Thanks for watching and for your kind comments!
I'm LDS... Love your work brother. Just keep doing what you do, It's refreshing. God bless brother. U should organise a sit down with our Prophet and chat about whatever you feel inspired to talk about. 🙏❤️
I think the missionaries and local leaders can handle his questions, in fact, most active members can answer his questions because these questions have come up many times. For example, BofM teaches that Christ is the God of the OT, The BofM Jesus is the same as the Bible Jesus and yes, there are many archeological findings that substantiate a civilization that could be from the BofM era. The Pastor is doing a great job. The only thing that is holding him back is his intent which will prevent him from receiving a witness of the truth as described by Moroni who says "we must pray with real intent" if we are to find the truth. Individuals who don't study and pray with real intent will not receive a witness from the Holy Ghost. The Pastor is very genuine and respectful, perhaps he is doing all of this research with the intent to convert if he finds it true. If the intent is there, Pastor will become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I'm glad you are getting your sources "straight from the horses mouth" if you will. This makes sure you get all the facts correct. One comment about the Galatians scripture. It also says in Deuteronomy 4:2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” That was written long before the New Testament was even thought of. So does that mean anything written after Deuteronomy is scrapped because it was "an addition" to it? The Bible as an actual collection of books wasn't put together until long after the Apostles were gone. Any scripture like this isn't referencing the Bible as it didn't even exist until long after. The Bible also has many different versions that say some different things because when it was translated by man, it wasn't translated 100% correct. As I'm sure people know, when you translate one language to another, sometimes, things aren't quite right and so the translator does his/her best to get it correct, but some information is lost. A good example of this is in Amos 7:3 (King James version) "The Lord repented for this: It shall not be, saith the Lord". As we all know, the Lord is perfect and doesn't need to repent. At this point, there are so many different versions of the Bible out there that it is tough to interpret it correctly. Any interpretation any gets from someone else came from another person or institution. This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe in the importance of a Prophet and glad that the Book of Mormon exists because it clarifies and goes along with the Bible (collection of books).
@DT TV... there's a lot in this response that is really helpful. Gives me a lot to think about and follow up on. Actually gives me an idea for a video. Thank you!!
@@HelloSaints Now that I read through all I put again, it is a lot to unpack and apologize. I think my brain just had a lot to react to and I just kept typing...lol
@@markkrispin6944 So did the ancient Israelites not need a prophet in their day because as the House of Israel they had a direct connection (relationship) with God? Certainly they did not need false prophets... but surely they had true prophets! Did early Christians not need the apostles because they had a direct relationship with God? Does not the fact that we are told to beware false prophets in the last days imply that there may be true prophets? Heaven forbid that our hubris would be such that we tell God whether or not He can call a prophet!
At about 6:25 of this video you mention that the LDS hold that the Bible was “for” the people in and around the Mediterranean, and that the Book of Mormon was “for” the people in the Americas. You are close, but the wording here matters. Simply replace the word “for” with the word “about” and you will be accurate. The LDS believe ALL scriptures are “for” all people, but “about” specific people.
I hate to say this but... the Church of Latter Day Saints is very likely to be behind this TH-cam channel. I'm all for a respectful dialogue regarding Mormonism from a Christian's perspective, and I can tell from the comments that this kind of open, unbiased, and peaceful dialogue is so refreshing to hear, but the incredibly well done video style, the lack of the Pastor's "deep" personal reactions to Mormonism (they seem rather oddly vague, and there's little to zero actual light criticism or modest disagreements from him) the fact that he opens up very little about his past or who he even is as a Pastor, that this is a brand new channel with such high quality graphics (cover photos, editing) that came out of nowhere with no content, and lastly the fact that the Mormon church is willing to use very practical methods "modern day marketing" of reaching people (such as rebranding the Church from Mormonism to Latter Day Saints) leads me to believe that this video isn't 100% as organic & honest as it's making itself out to be. In fact, if the church of LDS or a set of Mormons were the original people behind this TH-cam channel (not saying the Pastor in these videos isn't actually a Christian Pastor, he very well may be), but that's deceptive and at best, by not disclosing if there are Mormons behind the camera & behind the scenes, it's not genuine or honest. What do you guys think? Just remember to be wise guys! Part of me is also leading me to think that Mormon churches are having their members comment on this video... interesting.
One thing is certain, if a pastor of a church goes to the LDS general conference on a weekend, he is not a true Shepherd. He did this on one video. What kind of a pastor leaves his sheep on a Sunday of all things. It does seem that the LDS church is behind this. The wool on the wolves clothing sure is thick. Also, a true Christian is should be shocked and appalled at what the LDS church teaches. It is blasphemy and morally offensive. It is hard to respectful, though necessary. To be sure, you wouldn't let someone make fun of your mother and not at least say something.
Started loving this channel.. I'm a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints.. and I love how you respect our religion.. your question will be answer if you read the book of Mormon.. where it came from and when..
Thank you for your respectful and kind approach to exploring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I'm a member, and stumbled upon your videos a few weeks back. I appreciate how you are willing to openly see things from our perspective and try to understand where we're coming from. As Christians, I think it's wonderful to come together and learn from one another. I'm excited to watch your video reactions as you read the Book of Mormon, as you mentioned. I've read the Old Testament and New Testament each many times, and taken religious courses on them throughout my life, and the Book of Mormon is, as it says, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ", not a replacement in any way. I love the Bible. I love the Book of Mormon. I love Christ. All these texts point me to Him.
I really enjoyed this! I was born and raised in a Pentecostal church and 2 years ago I was baptized in the LDS church. I'm now in the process of leaving the LDS church as I've struggled with 2 years of questions and confusion. This is very good information and so well done. I appreciate the way you're approaching this and I look forward to more videos!
I would say there was some reason, a feeling or impression, or experience that lead you to be baptized. You felt it was an important commitment at the time, I would not take that lightly. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and have had and continue to have questions about things, but I've also had experiences, impressions, and reassurances that I cannot deny or simply put aside. Reach out to someone in your ward and share those concerns you have, read the scriptures and read/listen to the most recent words of the prophet. Showing a sincere and consistent effort to seek the truth; then the Lord can communicate with you. The change required can be significant, and requires patience and persistance. Even Christ's disciples, who were constantly with him, took years to change and have their questions addressed. And you may not get full answers to the questions you have but I know we can get enough to persit. Just as Joseph of Egypt did while waiting to be delivered from his circumstances.
Mark, I see it differently and we can leave it at that. My reply was meant for 'Simply Blended' and my intent was saying that if they had a desire to join and made a covenant with God, that it's worth choosing faith and trust rather than simply letting it go without saying you gave it your all. You can listen to many wise people in the world, from finance, business, and elsewhere that would give the same council; to not give up on something you felt committed to just because things become difficult for a period of time. In my mind the parable of the sower is a good analogy. If someone nourishes a seed of faith with patience and diligence and it doesn't grow then you have your answer about that seed's value, but just casting it out without nourishing it doesn't tell you anything about the seed. I also agree with you about thinking for yourself. That is a core belief of the church I belong to as well. Its founding was based on someone seeking their own revelation and guidance after studying it out in their mind and being confused about the differing voices. The person we refer to as a prophet today encourages the same, "You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true." My voice and opinion is no better than yours, and I hope that comes across in what I've tried to write here. It's up to the individual to establish a relationship with God and learn that for themselves. One last item that may be of interest to you, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints over the last several years has re-emphasized the idea of the gospel being centered in the home and supported by the Church. Just the opposite of what I would expect an organization to do if they were trying to gain greater control over their members.
@@markkrispin6944 This will be my last comment on this because I'm not trying to change your feelings at all, just state my experience, which has been different from yours. My experience is from being a member of the church, studying and analyzing the scriptures and words from the leaders of my faith for literally a life-time. You can claim that I'm 'not thinking for myself' but I know what I've thought and felt from my experiences. And they have lead ME to choose to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and to choose to follow its leaders. I think the 'fruits' of the church speak for themselves, humanitarian aid across the globe, a focus on leading people to Christ and strengthening families, and the members themselves of which you talk about. So from my experience and study (both inside the church and without) is the church, of which we claim Christ is the head, leads me to be more like Him. To strive to love as He does and serve as He does. I gather you are a great person as well, and have a strong faith in God, and that you too are striving for the same things. I'd love to hear more about how you have been strengthening your faith, and we can leave feelings regarding my church aside, since really our focus should be on the Savior.
@@thecoletrain3187 agree with you!! I've gone through alot of questions and even feeling like leaving myself...but, I remember receiving the answer to my prayers on whether getting baptized into the LDS church, now almost 30 years ago, was correct..I remember the response, so powerful and clear I received...for that reason and also so much more I understand, love I stay in the faith ❤!
You should read a book called “They Saw Our Day” by Lance Richardson. This may answer some of your questions regarding evidence that corroborates the Book of Mormon. The author of the book spent years searching out and interviewing people from various Native American tribes about their histories and beliefs. It is fascinating, and many of the stories he heard coincide very closely to what is written in the Book of Mormon. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was truly amazed at how their stories parallel stories in the B of M. We believe that the Native American people are remnants of the people from B of M times and Mr. Robinson’s book gave me even more reason to believe that is so. Thanks for your video! I really enjoyed it!
As a Latter-Day Saint, Every Time I have a discussion with a Christian brother of mine they always bring this scripture up. (Galatians 1:8) As I pray on this scripture I do feel Paul was warning us but not from Joseph Smith but from Mohammed. What I mean is, Mohammed reveals in the Quran that Jesus was a great prophet but NOT the son of GOD. That would be a different gospel. Latter-Day Saints believe HE is the son of GOD. I love when your faiths look at our beliefs with an open mind. It’s ok to disagree but let’s not bash other religions. GOD loves all his children. We need to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ and love one another and be open minded to everyone beliefs. 🙏🏽✝️
@@peter10562 Accuracy is what works for me. In LDS beliefs, Jesus is just one of billions of sons. The Bible teaches that He is the only begotten Son of God.
@@truthbebold4009 I like results. The results from 1830 to 2022 are powerful. The teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is so perfect and worldwide. To understand the importance of the atonement of Jesus Christ is astronomical. Mind blowing. Joseph Smith proclaimed “No unhallowed hand can’t stop the work from progressing.” Looks like he was right. 🙏🏽 I see how you can get lost in the “Many Gods and Many Savior” teaching but if you understand that Heavenly Father will always be our Father and the Savior will always be our Savior you will have more of a personal relationship like that.
As a former member of the church and now a born again Christian, this is a very well done surface level examination of the Book of Mormon. Having myself read the book of Mormon and the Bible, I think it is helpful to outline the differences between the two. I’m enjoying your channel greatly, and really hope you read and react to the CES letters produced by the LDS church. Those will be eye openers.
The CES letters were not produced by the church. There is also a lot of inconsistencies and misinformation mixed in with the accurate information. Research broadly if you look into these.
@@davidgillis950 Yes, agreed. The CES Letter was written by someone who found a lot on misinformation online and compiled them together with the intent to tear people down. Every point in it has been refuted, either because it was stretched or twisted in the letter, or because it was outright false reasoning. The Reply to the CES Letter on the website The Canonizer would be better to read because it contains the CES Letter and all the reasons why it wasn't made well.
My favorite biblical reference to the Book of Mormon "stick of Joseph" and the Bible "stick of Judah" literally becoming one in our hand and is found in Ezekiel 37 when it talks about Isreal being gathered and restored to their lands in the last days: 12....Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. 15 ¶ The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18 ¶ And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
Ezekiel explains what the 'stick of Joseph' is. It is not the Holy Bible. Ezekiel was speaking to the nation of Israel at that time, not Latter day Saints. The Bible did not exist at that time. Ezekiel 37:15-17 does not refer to scrolls or books but to the eventual national unification of the children of Israel. The claim of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints refutes its own contention in a very basic way. The passage in Ezekiel can not apply to the Book of Mormon which, because it claims to be the record of Israelites and allegedly concentrates on the descendants of a family of the tribe of Manasseh and is not inclusive of all the northern tribes. The Book of Mormon is not an historical record of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but the alleged historical record of the ancestors of the American Indians. Neither the Latter-day Saints as a group nor the people depicted in the Book of Mormon can fulfill the biblically explained prophecy. No amount of genetic testing or DNA sampling will show the Jewish people and the Latter-day Saints to be of the same ancestry. The Latter-day Saints are simply not of Israelite origins. Manasseh is not mentioned. The people in the Book of Mormon were from the tribe of Manasseh, not Ephraim. Ezekiel 37 5 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. HERE IS THE EXPLANATION 18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. 20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. 21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. _______________ We are told that the two nations (Judah and Israel) will no longer be divided. The old divisions of north and south will be abolished and the nation will be united in God’s hand. No mention is made of two separate records or scrolls being joined together but of Ephraim and the other tribes of Israel joining Judah to become one nation. The stick representing Judah and the stick representing the northern tribes of Israel become one when held end to end in the prophet’s hand. Thus, will the tribes of Israel that the sticks represent become one in actuality. Ezekiel 37:15-17 makes no reference to two separate records being kept, one for Judah and one for Joseph. Furthermore, there is no promise made of a national unification of Jews and Latter-day Saints taking place in North America or anywhere else. For all their assertions and genealogical research, the Latter-day Saints are not descendants of Joseph and can never join Judah in fulfillment of a nonexistent prophecy. Jews and Mormons will never be united as one nation.
Pastor Jeff, thanks for your fair and kind presentation. I’m glad you’re open-minded about reading the BoM. Please consider the promise the prophet Moroni recorded in the last chapter that those who read and pray about it can know of its truthfulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
nothing should be added or taken away from the Bible. Nothing in the extra books of Mormonism is acceptable. not only that, but LDS Church rejects the Jesus Christ of Christian orthodoxy in that they believe that God the Father is greater than Jesus. (which is heresy) thank you for your video. Don't get sucked in by the 'nice people' at LDS...
You also come off as earnest in your efforts. Love this part of you! I am a Latter-day saint who has never known any other faith as my way of worship. Discovery of truth is exhilarating so may I just add that as you read the Book of Mormon that you not skip the title page, and witness testimonies, nor an understanding of Lehi's descent from the 12 tribes. Where he fits in the times of 1st and 2nd Kings is helpful, but Lehi's son will help you understand this in the 1st book of the text. One of the things that I have always loved about the Book of Mormon is understanding how many hands were in the recording and translation processes. If you track lineage from the early pages, then it will unfold these thoughts to you very well. You'll love 3rd Nephi to determine if this Christ is the same as the New Testament Christ! And finally, don't forget to pray. It is the wish of the book's primary collaborators Mormon and Moroni (father and son). Read their challenge to all readers in Moroni 10: 3 - 5. So excited for you! Some of Paul's thoughts ring so clear in these pages; and since you quoted him, I think you'll love reading some common themes in the pages of this book. I just love Galatians for the fruits of the spirit. Understanding those fruits is a very poignant part of reading the Book of Mormon. Okay, I'll stop before my anticipations get the better of me. May God speed!
As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I totally appreciate this video. You were very respectful and answering with curiosity and respect while also telling us why it’s strange and different from what you believe. It’s helpful for me to know as I talk to others what might be the difficulty and understanding and excepting the book of Mormon. Thank you so much
Your channel is fascinating! I grew up in a blended family where half of my family was LDS and the other half Protestants and I never took a side until my boyfriend at the time came to faith and started digging in… almost exactly as you are and at the time the internet wasn’t full of ex Mormon garbage so he did personal digging and deep dives with pastors. We even went to both kinds of services and he is now a pastor of our church. Needless to say your channel is going to be really helpful for those wondering how to discover the truth…. It’s fun to watch you learn all of this. Thank you for documenting it
It's not that there is no archeological evidence, there are just very few people who would understand archeological finds in support of the book of Mormon.
Great video as always! Most of my thoughts have been covered more or less in various comments. I just have one thing to add. You talked about the Book of Mormon being scripture written for the ancient american people. In the same way that the Old and New testaments were originally written for the contemporary followers of God. While true that the Book of Mormon contains sermons and revelations that were given to the people living at the time, it is important to realize that Mormon’s inspired compilation of those revelations and stories were intended for our days. Most people in the Book of Mormon never even read the specific compilation we have today.
You can't go by Galatians. Or the last verse in Revelations since the Book of Revelations is not even sealed as the angle of God told John not to seal up the book of the prophecy of this book (meaning John's Book) So that means prophets of God can when God commands add more to the cannon.... Because Paul had died before John was updated by God as to what would happen with the everlasting gospel in the last days after Jesus and the Apostle's death. Now John The Revelator also had an Angle of Heaven come down from heaven and personally appear to him and that angle had revealed to John about his earthly Origins that he used to be a man among the prophets of God before becoming an angle (Rev 22:8 is the big bombshell to the Christian world about Angles of God being once humans beings on earth before becoming transformed into new creatures to become Angles to God or become a exalted Lord and King unto God. Paul talked to the saints about winning a crown from God. Well Rev Chapter 5 shows the results of the righteous saints now wearing crowns of eternal life given to them from God and are no longer saints but are now Lords and Kings unto God.. This angle had also told John how the everlasting gospel was going to be preached by God in the last days. An angle of heaven would be sent down by God in the last days to preach the everlasting gospel to all the World....Rev 14:7 before the Second Coming... So the kingdom of God would be restored back to earth by Angelic Ministry of Heaven. Paul was not talking about in the last days when he warned the Galatian Saints about following another gospel, following another angle. He was talking specifically to the Galatian Saint Audience of that time because the Galatians were in a state of Apostasy for some of the Galatians had been seduced by deceiving false spirits. For Paul also followed Angles of Heaven who had instructed him to go into places but these had tangible bodies of flesh and bone. And John also had an Angle of Heaven come down to him and tell him that an angle would come down in the last days to preach the everlasting gospel to all the world sent by God.. That angle would again restore back the gospel to the earth to fulfill the prophecy of 'A Time of Restitution of all Things (Acts 3:21) and also all the other prophecies.. That is why Isaiah wrote. The Lord will again bring Zion.' Isaiah 52:8 And In Zion shall salvation of the Lord be found. "Zion shall be redeemed with Judgement and her CONVERTS with Righteousness. Isaiah 1:27 Who are these converts? Its talking about the Latter-day Saints converts in the last days in the Kingdom of Zion.. 'For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.. The inhabitants of Zion will be called TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (isaiah 61:3) The Lord is going to judge us by our works and our thoughts (Jeremiah 17:10). Not by how much we confess with our lips. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves'' Paul said to make it very clear that the gospel is about the saints living God's laws in their own personal lives. Jesus rebuked the seven churches in Revelations for lip service in not keeping all his Father's Commandments and being slothful and lukewarm with him and his Father.. See also Matthew Chapter 25 which makes it clear God will ask for an accounting of actions and works in the day of judgement.. The Saints in Zion teach that Heaven is all full of fire and everlasting burning where no unclean thing can dwell in because God comes from the glory of the kingdom of the Sun. Isaiah 33:14-15....Otherwise If you take Paul's words literally then John would be condemned for having an Angle of Heaven come down from heaven and giving him revelation from God to tell John that God would send down another angle of heaven in the last days to preach the everlasting gospel to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people. For John said this Angle that God would send down in the last days would have the everlasting gospel not another gospel but this angle would have the everlasting gospel. And this guy called Joseph Smith which Jeremiah saw in vision Jer 3:21-24 when this happens, Zion would then be established by that man God had picked and we will consider these things in the last days in a day and a time where the Whirlwinds will all be everywhere (which is happening right now with all the hurricanes and tornadoes appearing all over the world in countries they don't normally appear in because the weather has gone all haywire. ) For God will raise up a great storm in the future. See Jeremiah 25:32 So an unlearned man will be picked out to read this record but he won't read the sealed portion of the book, but read the unsealed portion of it. He will have power given to him by God that God had hid up to bring to pass the covenant promises he made with Abraham through the blessings given by God to Joseph of Egypt where truth would spring forth from out of the earth, (blessings of the earth beneath) (The Book of Mormon), and blessings from heaven above (revelation once more on the earth again from God servants his prophets (Amos 3:7). When the people read the book and they become converted to the true knowledge of God they will stop murmuring against Zion and then learn Doctrine. The Bible had more than just one single person to translate it to distribute it out to the whole world, But In Isaiah 29 it only mentions one man to bring forth this sealed book of scripture. .And you also have this prophecy in Isaiah 2:2-3. that the Law of God will come forth from out of Zion and also from Jersualem in the last days.. Now if the Bible had all the truth in it. Then the law of God would be in every single nation of the world by now, but according to this prophecy that we have of Isaiah, and Amos and Micah they both tell us that the Lord will roar from out of Zion in the last days and also from Jersualem The Lord is going to do his speaking in the last days from Zion and from Jerusalem, hes going to speak from two locations on the planet to every nation. The Prophet Daniel also had the two members of the Godhead come down and personally visit him (Daniel Chapter 10), and one of the Lords picked Daniel up off the ground with his hands and set him to his feet. So one of them already had a glorified body of flesh and bones to pick Daniel up with. This wasn't Jesus because Jehovah didn't even have a body of flesh and bones in the period of time that Daniel had lived in. For Jehovah had not yet been born on the earth with a body of flesh and bones as Jesus Christ yet. So this was another Lord another member of the Godhead. Jesus was already standing by his Apostles while Peter, James, and John went up into the cloud to enter into the cloud at the Mount of Transfiguration to meet with God the Father who spoke to them from out of the cloud, they would have seen learnt the truth of Hebrews 1:3 that God the Father is a perfected man, and his son Jesus Christ was made in the same image and likeness also of The Father. And this was BEFORE Jesus Christ was even resurrected.... So that mystery of the Father would then be revealed in 1830 when God the Father and his Son came down again and appeared to Joseph Smith in the woods showing him their resurrected glorified bodies to reveal the mystery of the Father.. Then they would reveal their true identity to him. That's why when you read in Revelations 3:21 about saints inheriting thrones, and becoming joint heirs with Christ and with God and that God the Father has a throne, and his Son Jesus Christ the Lamb of God also has a throne inherited from the Father, and that the Son of God is on the right hand of the Father, (seated in power and authority with all the heavenly kings seated all around them) The spirits of men had already lived with God before they were even born down on earth (Eccl 12:7). Confirming of the Pre-existence of spirits with God. So today God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ are both Glorified Resurrected Immortal Tangible Perfected Beings of flesh and bone (John 20:17). Jesus had not yet returned back up to his Father in Heaven because for the three days during his death he was busy preaching the gospel to all the dead in the spirit world (1 Peter 3:18-19). It is the Bible Christians who don't have a very clear understanding of what kind of being God is for God and his Son both come from the Kingdom of the Glory of the Sun, so they have got glorified bodies brighter than the brightness of the noonday sun.. Stephen saw the truth when the heavens opened up to him and he saw the Son by the right hand of the Father when he saw them as two resurrected beings when they parted the veil and showed themselves both to him. (Acts 7:56).. Paul also prayed and kneeled to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:21. The Christians mistake the Lamb of God for God the Father. They think God the Father and Jesus are both the same guy That is incorrect. They are two separate beings. One of them sent the other down to this earth to get a resurrected body so he could then rejoin back again with his Father in heaven to inherit the same body that the Father has........ But as I said, Jesus dwells in the Father's Presence and is one with the Father because the Spirit that comes from God the Father is Omnipresent that is why Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus and they are united as one in unity and harmony with their spirit and wills but physically they are two separate tangible resurrected beings. The Latter-day Saints have been teaching the truth about who God is
Great video Pastor Jeff! Your video is 4 months old now as I write this so maybe your questions have been addressed already. But for what it's worth here's my two cents. Does the Book of Mormon speak of the same Jesus Christ? Absolutely it does. If you haven't done so already I recommend reading 1 Nephi 11, Mosiah 3, Mosiah 15, Alma 7, and of course 3 Nephi 11-30. These chapters among *many* others testify that Jesus is the divine Son of God in every sense. He is the very God of Israel come in the flesh for our redemption and resurrection. Is there external evidence for the historicity of the Book of Mormon? Yes there is, and it is increasing every year. But first let me ask you this. Do you believe in the Bible just because of external evidences? Would you believe it in the absence of such things, if it came down to only the scriptural text and the Spirit of God? I'll just name two remarkable evidences and leave the rest for you as "homework." 1. Nahom. The Book of Mormon record in the beginning indicates that the family of Lehi took a certain route south of Jerusalem along the coast of the Red Sea, and eventually cut eastward to the coast of Southern Arabia. Along the way one of their party named Ishmael unfortunately died. He was buried, Nephi says, in a place called Nahom. (Most of the time when their journeys they assign their own names to various landmarks, but this one he indicates already had a name.) Nahom has been located. 2. Chiasmus. This is a Hebrew style of poetry consisting of an inverted parallelism. It wasn't identified in western studies until long after the Book of Mormon had gone to press, but the book is absolutely covered in it. The shining example of this is the entire chapter of Alma 36. Well this comment is long enough by now so I'll call it quits. Thank you again for your honest and open-minded investigation.
President Hinckley, the prophet and revelator of the Mormon church, has publicly declared that the Jesus of Mormonism and traditional Christianity are not the same. "In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.'" (LDS Church News Week ending June 20, 1998, p. 7). In Mormonism, Jesus is a creation, the product of relations between god and his goddess wife who used to be people from another world (McConkie, Bruce, Mormon Doctrine, p. 192, 321, 516, 589). Jesus is the literal spirit brother of the devil and you and I (McConkie, p. 192, 589). Also, in Mormon theology, God has a body of flesh and bones (Doctrine & Covenants 130:22) as does his wife, and together they produce spirit offspring in heaven who inhabit human bodies on earth. The Mormon Jesus The literal son of god and his goddess wife begotten in the pre-existence. The brother of all spirits born in heaven in the premortal existence. One of 3 gods in the godhead. The Trinity is three separate gods. First one to receive a spirit body. Atoned for sin on the cross and in the garden of Gethsemane. The Christian Jesus Not the literal son of god and his goddess wife. Not the brother of all spirits born in heaven in a premortal existence. Not one of 3 gods in the godhead. The Trinity is 3 persons in one God. Was always spirit from eternity. Atoned for sin on the cross alone. This brief comparison should help you see the difference between the two view of Christ. Jesus cannot be both the literal sexually begotten son of god and not the literal sexually begotten son. He cannot be both one of 3 gods and not one of 3 gods. They are different. The apostle Paul warned of people like president Hinckley and others who would preach another Jesus. II Corinthians 11 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. Please think about this. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.
@@jlewis8145 I'm sure you mean well but you're wrong in your fundamental assumptions, and uncharitable in your description of our beliefs. President Hinckley was saying that the traditional Jesus (i.e., the one taught by the creeds of men) is not the same as the Jesus found in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. And that is an accurate assessment. The question is not whether there's a difference, but why the creeds have it so wrong. The real Jesus is, well, REAL. He's no philosophical abstraction. He's not some high-pitched theological idol. He has a tangible, physical resurrected body with parts, and form, and emotions. His Father, too, is a real Person. Jesus said He was a Man. "The testimony of two men is true," meaning Himself and the Father. He often called himself "the Son of Man" - because our Father is the very Man of Holiness. Jesus said that He so resembled the Father that to see one was to see the other. The Jesus of the Bible and Book of Mormon speaks to men in all lands and times where they are willing to listen. It is man who closes his ears, not God who closes His mouth.
Many years ago, I read a book called, 'He Walked the Americas'. In this book an archeologist shared traditions and stories passed down from ancient people all across the Americas. These stories describe a white prophet or God. Who, to the author, could have been Jesus Christ. After watching this video, I may see if I can buy that book and read it again.
@A Clawson, you know that Jesus lived in the Middle East. He would definitely not be described as white. The pictures that you see of him in your church are culturally biased.
The most critical error in the video and theology of the LDS church is the last part of the video: "Through living the teachings found in the book of Mormon and the Holy Bible they can find peace in this life and salvation in the life to come" The Holy Bible never teaches salvation through obedience to scripture. The law is there to expose our sin and inability to be perfect no matter how hard we try. We need Jesus Christ, the only perfectly obedient one, and His payment for our sin in order to be saved. Jesus Christ is the only one who is able to save, and it is only in His righteousness we can stand before a Holy God.
A verse I came across in my reading: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," Rev. 14:6. With the text in Gal. 1:8, I've always wondered if that warning only applies to an angel preaching a different gospel, not to a different interpretation of the gospel.
The Book of Mormon is the trumpet or shofar blowing to warn the world and prepare it for Christ’s return. For 200 years it has been “blowing”. Moroni has a trumpet on the book. He is blowing the Shofar.
I don’t believe the angel in Revelation is preaching a different Gospel. I think he is preaching THE Gospel. Therefore I wouldn’t connect it to the Galatian verse at all.
I love the Book of Mormon! I find that treating it as scripture does influence some interpretations of Biblical passages, but not the essential ones. As a pastor yourself, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the assertion that the Book of Mormon teaches Biblical Christianity, regardless of how the LDS church interprets it.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints read and study the King James Bible. It's that simple. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ -- just as the New Testament is different volume of scripture that adds value to the Old Testament.
@Aleph Newell Not the essential ones?!? Is the gospel an essential one? Compare 2 Nephi 25:23 and Moroni 10:32 with Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 4:1-8, Galatians 3:1-9, and Romans 11:6.
@@KD-bn8uq thanks for pointing out a blind spot of mine. I did not word my comment well. (To the people of TH-cam) The Book of Mormon was given by God, in part, to teach the true points of the doctrine of Christ which are found only in a fractured form in the Bible, but greatly clarified in the Book of Mormon. The “essential” Biblical passages still agree with the doctrine of Christ taught in the BoM, but the complete doctrine of Christ is so hard to piece together in the Bible that we have all these denominations preaching competing “gospels” based in pet scriptures in the Bible. No properly interpreted “essential” Bible verse is contradicted by the Book of Mormon.
@@EduardoNewell You are welcome. Please feel free to point out or challenge anything that I write. Aleph, do you know how many denominations there are that believe in and follow the Book of Mormon? There are around one hundred denominations that fall under what is known as the Latter Day Saint movement. Do they all preach the same thing or are they all "preaching competing 'gospels' based in pet scriptures in the" Book of Mormon? The Community of Christ formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the second largest denomination. It was established by Joseph Smith's eldest son Joseph Smith III. Another denomination, the "Church of Christ (Temple Lot)" Mormons in Independence, Missouri own the land that Joseph Smith In Doctrine and Covenants Section 84 prophesied that the Temple would be built on during that generation. Section 84:1-5 appears to be the type of false prophesy which is condemned in Deuteronomy 18:20-22. Aleph, you state that, "The Book of Mormon was given by. God...". This is your presupposition which is fine. We all have presuppositions. I presuppose that the Bible is the Word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presupposes this too, but they add an addendum, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." Aleph, I am sure that you will agree with me that the Bible (specifically the Old Testament) is the oldest of God's revelations. I am also sure that you will agree with me that the New Testament authors (eg.. Hebrews 4:12), apostles (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Peter 1:22-25, etc.), and Jesus (Matthew chapters 4:1-10, 15:1-9, Matthew 22:23-46, John 5:39-40, 17:17, etc.) completely affirm the Old Testament. In fact, it would be blasphemous for them to think that the Old Testament had been changed or corrupted. Aleph, don't you find it interesting that the Book of Mormon goes against this pattern? In 1 Nephi chapter 13, the Book of Mormon makes the claim that "plain and precious things have been taken from" the Bible, and it claims that you can know the Book of Mormon is true by praying about it (Moroni 10:4,5) and receiving a "feeling" (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8). I can't accept either of these claims for a few reasons. First, the Old Testament tells us not to trust our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) nor are we to follow a way that "feels" right to us (Proverbs 14:12). Second, the Old and the New Testaments provide many ways to test if a person or a book claims to speak for God (Deuteronomy 13:1-11, Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Isaiah 8:20, 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15, Galatians 1:6-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1, etc.). None of these tell the reader to pray to find out if a person or a book claims to speak for God. James 1:5 in context is telling the believers to pray for wisdom when they are going through trials and tribulations (James 1:2,3). Third, God tells us in Psalm 138:2 that He "hast magnified thy word above all thy name." If God were to allow His word to be corrupted, then men could accuse God of lying (Romans 3:4). For instance, let's say that "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14) was allowed to be changed to "Thou shalt commit adultery". When an adulterous man died and faced God at Judgment Day and was condemned for committing adultery, he could say to God, "You lied". Your book said I should commit adultery. If God allowed His word to be corrupted, people could mimic Satan and say, "Yea, hath God said..." (Genesis 3:1). Do you see what happens to God's character if He allows His Word to be corrupted? His character is maligned. We have a saying where I am from, "A man is only as good as his word." If this is true for men, how much more true is it for God (John 17:17)? Aleph, I could continue on (and I will if you reply), but it is getting late and I need to go to bed.
@@KD-bn8uq I see your point. It is based on the presupposition that the Bible is the (inerrant?) word of God. How do you come to this presupposition in the first place? At what point do your beliefs not come down to presuppositions based on your reasoning combined with the spirit of God? I believe God ultimately gives us his word through the Holy Ghost, which is spiritual, and is captured in part (sometimes low resolution, sometimes high resolution) in scripture. The scriptures are an invitation for us to go to God directly. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…and it shall be given him.” James 1:5 We plant the seed of faith by experimenting on words we hear that stir our spirit and then look for the fruits. If good fruit comes of it, then it is of God. If better fruit comes from better seeds, then those are more especially from God. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17 “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:17-20 I think we are accountable to follow the good fruit that God has given to us. What that is specifically is between us and God. But we must be careful not to murmur or reject when he gives more of his word to us, whatever the form.
First of all, thank you for your video here. You state your position clear in comparison to Latter-day Saint theology without belittling or disparaging our faith. Having said that, I would also state a few things you might have missed or didn’t quite get. God said in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall all my word be established. We believe the Bible to be the first witness and the Book of Mormon to be the second. Some may ask,” why do we need the Book of Mormon if the Bible contains all that we need for salvation?” If you take a single point, you can draw a infinite number of straight lines through that single point. However, if you take two single points, you can only draw one single straight line through them both. The Bible is a single point or witness. We have seen a plethora of religions (many thousands of straight lines) drawn through that single point, each claiming they have the truth. A second point(the Book of Mormon) was necessary to establish that single line, interpretation or truth to fulfill Paul’s teaching that the church bring us into a unity of the faith. Secondly- Jesus was not reincarnated as you assumed because the Book of Mormon teaches he visited the America’s having a body of flesh and bone. We learn in the New Testament that Christ was resurrected and appeared to many, whom they felt Christ’s body and that it was flesh and bone. Christ declared himself that he wasn’t a spirit but had a body of flesh and bone. He even ate to show his physicality. Why would he appear differently to the people in the America’s. Understand that when Jesus appears to them, he descends from heaven, being introduced by the Father as His Son. The people heard Gods voice and saw Jesus in his glory descend upon them. Healed their sick, gave sight to the blind, blessed their children and wept because of his love for them. Called 12 apostles and ordained them, organizing his church among them. Last thing. There is documentary out that appears to be loved by the Christian community called,”Patterns of Evidence”. This same pattern can be applied to the Book of Mormon in my opinion. The pattern is there with no specific scientific proof. The place called Nahom being the closest bullseye.
I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a returned missionary, I served in Sierra Leone from 2011-2013. I’ve seen a few of your videos and love your approach to learning of this restored gospel. There is scriptural evidence in the Bible about the Book of Mormon, such as Ezekiel 37:16-20. Some of the questions you posed in this video can be answered by reading the Book of Mormon. Remember, just as in James 1:5 and Moroni 10:4-5, pray and ask god with real intent and an open heart and by the power of the Holy Spirit you may know the truth of all things. Also, fun fact, the Nephites and Lamanites are among the principle ancestors of the people of the First Nations, but not the only ones. The Jewish civilization is far, far older than the Nephite civilization, which only lasted about a thousand years between 600 bc to 412 ad. The nephites themselves found ruins and written records of a far older civilization that was destroyed close to their arrival to the land. Their record exists as an abridgment in the Book of Mormon called The Book of Ether, where it is revealed they originated from the time of the Tower of Babel referenced in Genesis (also why the video said the Book of Mormon contained thousands of years of scriptures, because Mormon included the Jaredite record in Ether.)
I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and here are some of the things that we believe. Don’t just take my word for it, read the Book of Mormon yourself and make your own conclusion, I testify that if you read with faith and ask God he will reveal that’s these things that are written are true.The connection between the Bible and Book of Mormon. They are both talking about the inhabitants of the land and Gods dealings with his people around the world. The Bible is in the old world while the Book of Mormon is in the new world or the Americas. The Book of Mormon is a continuation of the Bible, descendants of Gods people in Jerusalem from the Old Testament. In the Book of Mormon it talks about Lehi sending his sons Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi to go get the brass plates and tells them that it is the history of their fathers who are of the house of Joseph so it definitely connects a continuation of the Bible. In the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi is told by the lord to leave Jerusalem and take a few possessions and his family into the wilderness in around 600 BC. Years later they built a boat, heading to the promised land the new world in the Americas.
Ha, looking at the comments maybe you’re already overwhelmed by the interest of Latter-day Saints. Thanks for your respectful approach. I hope you discover that although we are different, we’re on a similar mission and we can be brothers. I also hope you include God in this journey. Best of luck in this project and your ministry.
Pay attention to your feelings during your reading. Be aware of the view that other people have of this book. I mean, would be hard to anyone believe in christ studying the new testament guided by opinion of Caifas, or Herodes. Keep your mind clean from thoughts that other people have putted into it.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. The key words here are 'preach any other gospel.' Find out for yourself. Read the book and find out for yourself if it preaches any other gospel. Don't condemn it before you have read it.
I don't really comment on video's but felt impressed to tell you as a life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints and as a former missionary for the church I really enjoy your video's. In 2003 to 2005 I went door to door teaching people about our church and we ran into many pastors who were not welcoming, or flat out rude. Thank you for not only looking with an open mind but being respectful. I love my savior and I love the gospel, again thank you and I will be looking forward to seeing your video after reading The Book of Mormon.
Same!!
France 1993-1995
I think The Book of Mormon is a big fantasy history and not like The Holy Bible; Gods Word.
@Benjamin Rightsell Thank you for sharing your experience. I am wondering, how you think the pastors and people felt when you presented the lesson regarding Joseph Smith's first vision. It's that section in the Pearl of Great Price (Joseph Smith - History 1:19 and the surrounding verses) where paraphrased it says, "All the churches are wrong, all the creeds are an abomination, and all the professors are corrupt." Who started the conflict?
@K D Truthfully I will probably never have an answer that will suffice the bulk of people who do not have the same beliefs as we LDS do but what I can say is in verse 8 of Joseph smith History it states,
"but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong."
I believe that he meant that at the time there was such a debate amongst the different denominations that they were all caught up in being right as apposed to teaching the word of God. going back to verse 19, the end says,
“they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
At that time in history, our country was going through what was known as the great religious revival, not only did we have many different denominations but we also have splinter groups of the different churches all with there own interpretation of the bible. I don't know if that answers your question or not but I hope that helps. I am always willing to share any information.
@@benjaminrightsell6904 You didn't answer my question. You stated in your original post, "...we ran into many pastors who were not welcoming, or flat out rude." I asked you, "Who started the conflict?" I pointed out Joseph Smith- History 1:17-19 in the Pearl of Great Price condemns all churches. On your mission, Ben, you would have presented this information to every person who participated in your lessons. How many people was that during your two-year mission? I could also point out the Book of Mormon scriptures (i.e. 1 Nephi 13:26-29 and 1 Nephi 14:9-17, etc.) which describe the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches as the "mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil...she is the whore of all the earth...the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth..." or your Church's pre-1990 Temple ceremonies which had a scene that included the following dialogue- "LUCIFER:: Do you preach the orthodox religion? SECTARIAN MINISTER: Yes, that is what I preach. LUCIFER:: If you will preach your orthodox religion to these people, and convert them, I will pay you well." Surely, these things that your Church portrayed (the pre-1990 temple ceremony) and still teaches from your Scriptures are very rude and offensive messages. I would love to hear your response.
I’m LDS and I appreciate learning about YOUR
beliefs (similarities and differences as a fellow Christian) from your perspective in such a non confrontational way. Why has it been so hard to ask each other honest questions with sincere curiosity and intent to understand in the past? Thanks for being an instrument of change.
I love watching these videos to learn more about the pastor's beliefs. It has helped me to find the common ground with my friends of other faiths. He is so respectful and open to others beliefs.
sherijoerickson
What are the similarties in the Christian Gospel and the LDS Gospel?
Take your time to watch a conversation between a Christian and a LDS
TEST OF A PROPHET:The Bible vs.joseph smith
th-cam.com/video/FrqkaKz_SSg/w-d-xo.html&feature=share
And
th-cam.com/video/G1mFdO1wB08/w-d-xo.html
Love your sincere inquiry and questions. Don’t read or learn “about” the book, read the book. That will answer many of your questions. And there are many scholarly offerings about evidence for the book, but like the Bible, none of that proves that Jesus is the Christ or the many miracles that happened. Ultimately in both cases, both of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we must rely on faith and the Holy Spirit to reveal truth.
@Darren Albertson - DigitalDust I agree with you. There are certain things in the Bible or the Book of Mormon that need to be believed by faith. We cannot scientifically prove that Jesus opened the eyes of the blind or the deaf. If He did, those people are dead and we can't interview them, so this is a problem for both books. However, this doesn't place both books equally in the same problem. The Bible has manuscript evidence and archeological evidence to support that it is trustworthy in its testable claims. First, the manuscript evidence (contrary to Mormon claims) provides great reason to trust that the Bible that we have today hasn't been changed throughout the millennia. The common way that it is described is to compare the Bible to a box that has a 1000-piece puzzle in it. We actually have 1010 pieces in the box. We can tell which pieces don't belong because they aren't in the earliest manuscripts (i.e. the long ending of Mark 16:9-20, the woman caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11, the Comma Johanneum in 1 John 5:7, etc.)The idea that designing priests and other evil people changed and corrupted the words of the books of the Bible is laughable. It would be impossible to do this in a whole sale manner due to the way that the books of the New Testament were sent out. Furthermore, it would have to have occurred very early on for it to happen, but the apostles would still have been alive at this time. Second, the archeological evidence for the Bible is amazing. You can go to museums all around the world or to Israel itself and see artifacts that support the existence of the people(s), the places, and other things mentioned in the Bible. The Book of Mormon has nothing remotely approaching this. First, in regards to the manuscripts, there have been around 4000 substantive changes to the Book of Mormon since the 1830 edition. These are not just spelling mistakes, but the addition of words to correct doctrinal beliefs. For instance, the 1830 version in 1 Nephi 11:21 says, "And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the eternal Father". Today's version says, "And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the son of the eternal Father". The same types of changes were made in 1 Nephi 11:32 and 13:40. In Mosiah 21:28, the 1830 version said, "...King Benjamin had a gift from God..." where as today's version says, "...King Mosiah had a gift from God...". Regarding archeology, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints admits this is not the way to test to see if the Book of Mormon is trustworthy. This can be seen in the following quote, "Since the record contains spiritual lessons, the reader would need to have a spiritual experience in order to secure the verification of its validity. The formula for gaining that testimony is found in Moroni 10:4-5 [Moro. 10:4-5] from the record itself. Proof of the Book of Mormon thus remains within the spiritual realm and not from studying archaeology." ( www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1975/03/q-and-a-questions-and-answers/is-there-anything-that-has-been-found-among-the-archaeological-evidences-that-would-sustain-or-support-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng
In closing, I would like to point out that the majority of the miracles in the Bible need to be believed by faith. However, the most important miracles, those of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the creation of the universe, God has kindly left us ample evidences to believe. The archeological and manuscript evidences just provide us with further proofs that the Bible is the Word of God.
Please provide some of these scholarly offerings proving the historical veracity of the Book of Mormon.
Tad Callister makes A Case for the Book of Mormon in his book called…
A Case for the Book of Mormon. It is well worth a read. He lists several evidences but focuses on the importance of faith and the power of the Spirit to identify truth.
@@PhilippedeHerte there are no archaeological evidence's for the Book of Mormon period.
@@erinegbert1137 there are no archaeological evidence's for the Book of Mormon period.
I found your videos by total accident yesterday. I've watched 2 of them. I'm a retired Christian Pastor who spent much of my 20s and 30s working with Latter Day Saints. I confess I was not very charitable to them, nor they with me. Perhaps sometime I'll share that with you. I really appreciate your approach. Your kindness and open heartedness are all over the videos. Thank you for them. You, are in my prayers.
My grandfather was a Baptist minister in the 1920s and 1930s. During the great depression, he moved his family from Oklahoma to New Mexico for a better opportunity for them. During one time when he was preaching a tent meeting in west-central NM, a man "paid" my grandfather (in the Depression there was not a lot of cash, so food or books were often given as payment to preachers) by giving him a copy of the Book of Mormon. It was later learned that the man who gave this to him was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but he heard that this was a book about Jesus, so he gave it to the preacher.
My Grandfather sat that book on his shelf for 5 years before he ever read it- and during a snowed-in period he felt impressed to just read this book. He read the entire day and through the night- telling my grandmother the next morning that it was true - and asked her to read it. He began asking around where he could find more information and heard that there were some "Mormons over in Arizona"- so as soon as there was a thaw he headed to Eagar and Springerville Arizona to find the "Mormon Preacher".
He had an open mind to receive more light and truth- he never lost his love for the Bible and was a powerful teacher of it, but added to his understanding by also embracing the Book of Mormon. I love to read other religious texts and have a great deal of respect for all of these efforts to gain greater understanding of other faith traditions. Good for you for your open respect, even when you do not fully agree. I respect that a great deal.
I really enjoy your videos, I love watching your journey in finding the truth, about the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. I have been a member my whole life, but at the age of 16 wasn't sure if what my parents had taught me was what I believed so I fell inactive, it wasn't til I had my 2 sons that I knew I had an obligation to teach them who they were and where they came from. So I set out to going to different Christian churches, Baptist, prodistant, and Lutheran to name a few. I felt that the God I knew was there, but didn't feel the comfort I had always felt when I attended my church as a child. So I still didn't really know that returning to my church was what I needed to do, although I prayed about it often. One day i was 18yrs old now, two elders from the church of Jesus Christ came knocking at my door and I decided to let them in and I decided to take the lessons from them, and they challenged me to read the Book of Mormon, I knew the Bible was true, as I had studied it in the other churches I had attended as well as in my childhood I recalled alot of the stories, but it was when I opened the Book of Mormon and actually read it and prayed about it, that I actually knew where I needed to take my children to teach them who they are and where they came from, and what their purpose was here on earth, as well as learn of the Savior and his Beautiful Antonement and gave them a stong foundation. As well I gained a new testimony for the gosple and I felt at home ones again. I believe you will find your answers when you decide to open the Book of Mormon and read it. Also, do your research on Joseph Smith and the witnesses and pray about that. I hope this helps.
Joseph Smith made it very clear that the Book of Mormon was meant to be taken as fiction. In fact, the Book of Mormon is false starting with page one. I Nephi 1, 600 B.C., has a prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. If you know anything about the history of the nation of Israel, you will know that Jerusalem was already under siege in 600 B.C.. In fact, the first deportation had already occurred six years prior.
Also, I Nephi 1, talks about the language of 'Reformed Egyptian,' a language that has never existed. (Egyptians speak Arabic.) The Jews would not be speaking any 'Egyptian' the language of their captors from hundreds of years prior.
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Imagine finding gold plates written in 600 B.C. with the Gettysburg Address in them? Now imagine gold plates from 600 B.C with word for word quotes from people who hadn't even been born yet? Pretty amazing!
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The Book of Acts records the apostle Peter paraphrasing Moses (Deut. 18:18-19) during his sermon at Pentecost. This happened around 60 A.D.
In the Book of Mormon, around 580 B.C., Nephi claims to also quote from Moses, but instead he quotes Peter's paraphrasing of Moses verbatim, 640 years before Peter gave his sermon.
***
Apostle Peter (60 A.D.)
Holy Bible For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
- Acts 3:22-23
Book of Mormon 580 B.C.
...the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.
- 1 Nephi 22:20
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Alma chapter 5 plagiarizes John the Baptist about 80 years before he was born.
John the Baptist (30 A.D.)
Holy Bible And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- Matthew 3:10
Book of Mormon 83 B.C.
And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire...
- Alma 5:52
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Mosiah chapter 16 plagiarizes the apostle Paul 200 years before he wrote his firsts epistle to the church at Corinth.
Apostle Paul (55 A.D.)
Holy Bible For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:53
Book of Mormon 148 B.C.
Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption...
- Mosiah 16:10
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2 Nephi plagiarizes the apostle Paul 600 years before he wrote his epistle to the church at Rome.
Apostle Paul (68 A.D.)
Holy Bible For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- Romans 8:6
Book of Mormon 555 B. C.
...to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.
- 2 Nephi 9:39
@@tiffanykintzer1768 The Bible contradicts everything that the LDS church teaches. It tells us about the true and living God, the true Christ, who was God in the flesh and the true gospel. I Cor. 15 *********** ** We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
- Article of Faith #3
Book of Mormon For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also 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 25:23
"One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation," (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).
The Bible
Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
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Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247).
I John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
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Good works are necessary for salvation (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 92).
The Bible
Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
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There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188).
The Bible
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
- John 14:6
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"This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts," (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697).
The Bible
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
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There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Mormon Doctrine, p.670).
The Bible
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.
- Acts 4:12
God does not tell us to have an OPEN mind, we are to be SINGLE minded. the bom has nothing to do with the bible.
@@jlewis8145 What about James 2:20-26?
Ok, I just spent 20 minutes reading the comments on this video. There is a general consensus that pastor Jeff is respectful. As a Later-Day Saint, it is very refreshing to experience this type of etiquette from another Christian, pastor or not. I hadn't seen his other videos yet, but plan on it. By scrolling through the titles, I can surmise he's diving deep, which is great. I have been studying the anti-Mormon literature since 1979 and am very well read in this subject. I was mostly just curious about what others think and talk about. It took me on a journey of deep gospel study that has served to strengthen my testimony. I can tell from this video that pastor Jeff is also well versed in anti-Mormon literature as he brings up these talking points often as he pauses the video to make comments. Someone on this thread warned to beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing, referring to Pastor Jeff. He may be correct, but I would ask everyone to take a page from Pastor Jeff himself and also be respectful. As he draws his own conclusions, right or wrong, it would behoove us all to remain respectful. It would be very easy to fall into the trap of judging him. It makes sense that he's carefully helping people know Jesus, which is awesome, albeit under the guise of exploring the teachings of the church. But just for the sake of the possibility of him being truly interested in just knowing more about the church, regardless of having no interest in belonging to it, let's give him our attention. I hope that he will take the time to answer the questions he poses, such as in this video stating that there aren't any historical sites in America that he's aware of that back up the Book of Mormon. Well, you have seen this video so you are aware of you tube and how to navigate it. Type in Wayne May as a starting point to hundreds of documented sites. I can talk for hours on the subjects, but let's leave it at that. One more example, he stated that Christ fulfilled all and so no more revelation is to be had. Well, does that mean we discard the entire new testament as all of it was written after the death of Christ? The book of revelation was a revelation John received from the Lord long after His death and told to record. So, good point, Christ did fulfill all the Father had Him do, but terminating revelation was not one of them. That is not biblical. In fact, it's anti-biblical. I encourage everyone to keep watching and let Pastor Jeff speak for himself. If he's after truth, hell find it. If he's thinly veiling anti-Mormonism as an attempt to seek for truth, we'll all find that out too. After one video, I like him and I plan on watching the rest. I anticipate he'll engage in respectful dialogue to the questions he's posing here. It should be great. Enjoy.
If you're interested in a quick snapshot of the history of the Bible, th-cam.com/video/H4u474ZYQeY/w-d-xo.html
Very.. interesting. Thank you for this comment.
I haven’t read any of that literature.
But that was the question I posed to him.
If he actually sincerely asks… is he ready for the answer?
I'm curious to what you've found as you've read anti-Mormon literature. Every time I hear one of the arguments made, I can immediately turn that around and make the same argument against Christianity - which is counter productive and might turn a person away from God. (Which does tend to happen to LDS people who fall away). But it's also to prove the point to myself that the argument made is not very well thought out.
There are three basic forms of anti statements. The most common is a half truth interwoven with a half lie. It's easy to take the bait because you recognize part of what is being said. It's a deliberate trap. Then there's the out right full lie. Again, total deception. These are ineffective on active members but effective on investigators because they don't know any better. The third type is true, but then a false narrative is interjected. These are fairly effective on everyone. When shown side by side with the full truth, all types are easily revealed as false. The best thing for anyone to do to find all truth is read and study the scriptures. Read is not synonymous with study. The Lord is light and all that seek truth will find Him.
I am also very versed on mormon history and theology and I can say that it is some of the most reprehensible, offensive, and anti-biblical heresies I have ever heard.
Hello Saints: well done. I believe you are truly acting in good faith here, which suggests you are open to dialogue, and willing to seek an understanding. Not necessarily looking to believe, but at least understand the premise. For this, I am very grateful.
Other commenters have duly noted how Christ’s reference to “other sheep” that would hear His words, could only apply to a remnant of the house of Israel, not to the preaching of the apostles. This follows precisely with Christ’s methodology to only preach, himself, to the House of Israel in person while on the earth. I find no logical inconsistency here.
I would also comment that your question about how the origins of the Bible differ from the origins of the book of Mormon should not cause you concern simply because the mechanisms were different. The origins of what we know today as “the Bible” were an exercise in trial and error, work and rework, adding and subtracting over the course of many centuries, and finally settled upon not by apostles and prophets, but by scholars and politicians. This is not to belittle the Bible in any way, but simply to state that the emergence of the Bible as a “book” of scripture was a very messy process. Hence, just because God worked through an unlearned boy prophet to bring the Book of Mormon to the world should not suggest that the origin of the Bible as a compiled book was somehow a pristine and unsullied process, and the process of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is suspect. You may not believe the account, but you can’t dismiss the process as unreasonable or inconsistent.
One more thought. The supposition that the Book of Mormon was written for the people of the Americas as the Bible was written for the ancient inhabitants of the Middle East is not how I would categorize either volume. The people of the ancient Americas didn’t have the Book of Mormon, and the people of the ancient world didn’t have the Bible. Both had bits and pieces, here and there, tablets, scrolls, plates and sticks. The general public couldn’t read at that time, by and large, so most everyone had no access to most scripture except through word of mouth. The books of today’s Bible were preserved, and I’d argue many more prophetic writings were lost, in an effort to testify of the divinity of Christ. The Book of Mormon was brought forward specifically in our day to reinforce that Bible-centric testimony. In fact, there are references in the Book of Mormon stating that the book was written by ancient prophets for our day, to testify of Christ and of the Bible. If the book was meant specifically for our day, it suggests a mechanism was needed to bring it forth directly from an ancient language to our day. That was the process of divine translation undertaken by Joseph Smith. Strange? Yes, absolutely. Discredited simply because it was brought forth using a different mechanism than the Bible? No. Do we know the mechanism Moses used to translate and compile the ancient accounts in Genesis from records thousands of years before him? Did Adam or Enoch or Noah speak Egyptian, the language Moses grew up with? I’m guessing no. How did he do it? Many evangelicals believe Moses received most of Genesis by direct revelation from God, which believers in the Book of Mormon would equate to Joseph Smith divinely receiving the translation of the golden plates directly from God.
Anyway, I’ll stop there. Great job. Loved listening. Thanks again.
That comment was well thought out and articulated. Thank you
Wonderful response, GMS!!! Thank you very much!
Sorry GMS, I had not seen your response until after I posted. Well done!!
Thank you for saying what I was thinking.
Great job thanks .
THANK YOU for being respectful and for your insights. This is what Christian dialog should sound like. I love your videos and your simple straightforward thoughts and impressions.
I am so grateful for your thoughtful, kind and sincere approach. I feel the spirit working to teach both a member of the LDS church and those not of the LDS faith. This spiritual journey we are all on together should always be approached in this way. Thank you!
Take your time to watch a conversation between a Christian and a LDS
TEST OF A PROPHET:The Bible vs.joseph smith
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And
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I am LDS. I find it interesting when I talk with non-LDS about the Book of Mormon and they quote Revelation where it says we can’t add or subtract from “this book”. Most people believe that refers to the whole Bible. But as you know, the Book of Revelation was written about 90-100 AD. The Bible wasn’t compiled for another 200 years. And one other thought I will throw out there. Who are we to tell God when or where He can talk to people? If He wants to teach His word to more people, He certainly has the right. Thanks for your questions and perspective.
Loved Larry Chessman comments As a life long LDS member I have viewed your presentations with sadness. I fear your motive is negative. It is true that the book of Revelation was not added to our Bible until years later . God can reveal His will to us anytime anywhere. Why you say The Book of Mormon does not support and agree with the Bible , leads me to wonder why you want to discredit our faith. In your visit to an LDS book store you didn't mention the many books and paintings of Jesus also on display and kept saying, " in a Christian book store", you were in a Christian book store! In our church we never try to tear down another church, ever, we would hope you would follow the Saviors teaching to love your neighbor ad your self. I am disappointed in your so called honesty.
💯
I'm going to be a bit pedantic, but The Bible didn't exist till centuries after the first Council of Nicaea, which itself was centuries after John's Revelation. The priests who made up the Council of Nicaea (and their 'descendants') established what was 'canon' to Christendom, and what they declared 'canon' was what made up The Bible centuries later, but until that point, John's Revelation was one book among many.
@@sandrabarbera3789 You said, "In our church we never try to tear down another church, ever..." Really? As a professed follower of Jesus Christ, I assume that you believe that Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6). I think you would agree with Him that we should also be truthful (John 8:32, 36). Sandra, God values honesty. The Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi chapters 13 and 14 and the Pearl of Great Price in Joseph Smith History 1:;17-19 "tear down" all churches. Please go re-read those passages. I look forward to your response. P.S. If you want, I can add quotes from your prophets (Brigham Young) and your apostles (Orson Pratt, Bruce R. McConkie, George Q. Cannon, etc.) for some pretty strong "tear down" comments they made about other churches.
@Larry Cheesman In the JST, Joseph Smith did add to and take away from the book of Revelation. He changed it. Why isn't that brought up in these discussions?
I was in exactly the same situation as this Pastor so was my uncle a Methodist Minister. We both found each other as Latter Day Saints at church one day.
How beautiful are the feet of those who establish peace!
@@charlesmendeley9823 it doesn’t. The BOM doesn’t even make sense geographically or genetically. The anachronisms on top of Joseph smith’s very weak credibility and the smith family’s involvement in folk magic, it’s clearly just a piece of entertaining fiction. Very Similar to the story of “the view hebrews”written 7 years before the BOM in Oliver cowdery’s hometown. The list goes on and on
@@charlesmendeley9823 'the arguments that convince' (or the ones that matter) come down to personal revelation from the Spirit of God. always, people who have received the words of the prophets have been invited to pray to God and to receive a personal witness through the Holy Ghost of the truth. It's not by deductive reasoning or physical evidence or trying to poke holes at characters or context. This is why there are some, like Jannes and Jambres, who are 'ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth'. Paul explained very clearly that one can only understand spiritual things through the spirit, and yet, the world is still full of those who think you can 'figure it out' by deductive reasoning or internet searches. it's like trying to figure out nuclear science by studying a foreign language-- it's not God's method or pattern. Jesus Christ himself confirmed as much in his answer to Simon Peter, that it was God's revelation to him through the spirit that helped him to find and follow truth. Moroni invites all readers of the Book of Mormon to read, ponder, and pray with a sincere heart and real intent, that the truthfulness of these things will be made manifest to sincere seekers of truth by the Holy Spirit.
@@nailpolishqueen1919 reading it by the Spirit is a way you can know for yourself.
Couldn’t Satan inspire people to write fictional work to distract or confuse people from truth? It’s possible.
He is an enemy to God, enemy of the truth and salvation of man. He hates Priesthood power, so he hates the restored gospel. He’s here to distract our dissuade through faults of man.
Try reading it. ❤ know for yourself.
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I never understood how people could reject Jesus as their Savior, walking the Earth and performing miracles before their eyes. Seeing people reject the Book of Mormon without opening it up prayerfully for themselves shows not only is “Christians” rejecting Christ easy, it’s still happening today.
@@nailpolishqueen1919 I thought these misconceptions, or outright mis-truths, were dispelled years ago. But kudos to you for resuscitating them.
Love the sweatshirt! Glad to hear you are gonna read the Book of Mormon and give your reaction. Excited for those and more videos!
Yes, I love your sweatshirt also! Ditto on everything Tristan is saying here!
I’m really enjoying this channel. As a Christian, your approach seems to foster a safe environment for both Mormons and Christians to have an open dialog about what we believe and what questions we have for each other.
Just wanted to say real quick - members of the church are Christian. Not “mormons” AND Christians - just different Christians :)
@@lauramaher6762 Did the Apostle Paul consider the Judaizers Christian? All they did was add circumcision to the list of faith and repentance (Acts 20:21). He said they were under a curse (Galatians 3:10) and that they were preaching a false gospel by adding this one thing (Galatians 1:6-9). How much more would the Apostle Paul have to say about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? The Heavenly Father of the LDS faith is not the Heavenly Father of the Bible, the Jesus of the LDS faith is not the Jesus of the Bible, the Holy Spirit of the LDS faith is not the Holy Spirit of the Bible, and the gospel of the LDS faith is not the gospel of the Bible. (2 Corinthians 11:3,4). Laura, if you read the Bible, and let the Bible interpret the Bible (not understand it through the lenses of your other scriptures), you will never come to a LDS understanding of Heavenly Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or the gospel. I pray that you will take me up on my challenge. Philippians 3:4-11. Laura, if you gain Jesus and lose everything else, you have lost nothing and you have gained everything. No church died for your sins or my sins; no church rose again to give you or me eternal/everlasting life. Laura, turn to the Jesus of the Bible (John 5:39-40 and John 6:66-69).
Mormons ARE Christians.
You are really inspired to investigate about the LDS church. I am also a member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day- Saints and I appreciate you because you are not biased as other sects who did it just for the purpose of persecution in our church. Keep it up.
@@emmamaputi6672 restored church of jesus christ of latter day saints sorry if I come across dumb but is that a break off from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints .. I have heard of flds and Kingston clan however not you however I am in Leeds England UK
You are a breath of fresh air. I am LDS and served a mission back in 85 in the bible belt. I had the opportunity to teach (and be taught) by an old Catholic priest for over 6 months in one of my areas. We both kept a similar tone in dealing with each other that you are taking with these videos. Neither of us 'converted' to the other's faith but it was a very rewarding and faith promoting experience for both of us. You actually bring back some great memories for ME. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I am enjoying watching your experience.
@@DrScottWH And you know this how? By their fruits ye shall know them. As of now, his fruits have not been bitter or bad.
@@DrScottWH Let's give him a chance. If he's not sincere or who he says he is, God's judgement will be upon him.
@@hrv4908 Watch his videos. Listen carefully. Scott H. is spot on. He delights in his own ignorance, and refuses to dip a single toe into actual knowledge of the restoration. He acts like he knows everything about the bible and uses his flawed understanding to attack the book of Mormon. In another video, he shows just how flawed his understanding is concerning the Godhead.
@@karlshaner2453 I have seen some of his videos. If he's insincere, like I said, he'll be judged accordingly.
@@hrv4908 He is sincere in the thought that he wants to convert latter-day saints away from the gospel. No latter-day saint should pay him any mind but to remind him to repent and actually read for himself, not play his games. As I said...Scott is right.
I love the positivity and neutrality of your videos. I’m new in the church as my husband was born into the LDS community. I’m learning so much and so far I feel the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a wonderful church.
"Reformed Egyptian" isn't exactly its own language. What Hugh Nibley and other scholars have surmised is Lehi's family knew of a way to use Egyptian characters to write Hebrew words, a sort of reverse transliteration. Then they could write in a language they knew, but use a writing system that took up less space on metal plates. (From what I've read, archeologists have discovered such examples of "reformed" Egyptian in the Middle East.) But this would have become a prophetic burden once they got to the New World, because if they ever merged with another people group, anyone wanting to record on the Plates would have to learn a second language!
There are indications throughout the text that the people the Nephites encountered in ancient America spoke different languages than them. For example, in Jacob 7, Sherem (who Jacob suggests is NOT a Nephite) is marked as being expert in their speech, which would be an odd thing to say if everyone spoke the same language; and Omni mentions that the Mulekites' language, which would also have started out as Hebrew, had become corrupted over the generations since they left Jerusalem. All these points, considered together, may explain the way Moroni complained about clumsy hands and ineffective writing skills (Ether 12) and make it plausible they were writing in a language other than their own vernacular.
There are not many archeological connections to Book of Mormon events and places, for a few important reasons. The most important perhaps being the Americas lacked that persistence of living memory you would find in the Holy Land, because ALL THE NEPHITES WERE WIPED OUT IN 400 AD. Moroni, the prophet-cum-angel mentioned in the video, was the last one, which is why he buried the Plates instead of handing them down further. As a result, there are many competing theories as to the geography where the events of the Book of Mormon took place, including larger and smaller areas of Central America, the Finger Lakes region of New England, and even some involving the Midwest's Cahokia mound-builders. But due to the Book of Mormon's being written by an insular people among a larger population using an even-to-them dead language, it will probably be quite hard to spot and prove any connections that ARE found. The most promising discoveries I've heard about involve the places Nephi describes along his family's journey from Jerusalem to the Indian Ocean (1 Nephi 16 & 17) - excavations have uncovered Nahom in Saudi Arabia and a promising site for the land Bountiful on the coast of Yemen. But since we have no idea where Lehi's family subsequently landed in the Americas, the trail goes cold.
The bottom line is, as Nibley writes in his book "Since Cumorah", any "evidence" that has so far come to light will strengthen the believer, but will not be enough to convince the skeptic. That leaves our faith, prayers, and seeking personal revelation as the main way to "prove" the truth of the book, through the visitation of the Holy Ghost, who will teach us all things and testify of all truth (John 14, Moroni 10).
Your scriptural objections are important ones. Do you mind if I comment on them?
John 10:16 - The reason we have this interpretation of "other sheep" is not quite in a vacuum - there's a parallel passage in the Book of Mormon that gives this meaning (3 Nephi 15:21-24). But I will offer as Bible-based support for the "other sheep" NOT being the Gentiles, Jesus' declaration that His ONLY mission was to the House of Israel (Matthew 15:24), as well as the Lord's promise to Ezekiel that He will gather Israel out from among the heathen, and there will be no separate "home" and "away" nations, but that they will be under one King, and they will be His people, and He their God (Ezekiel 37:21-23). The Book of Mormon people's identity as scattered Israel, lost and dispersed among the heathen nations, neatly fits the bill in my opinion - Christ "gathered" them spiritually when He visited them after His Jerusalem ministry, and will gather them physically as part of His promises about the House of Israel in the Last Days.
Galatians 1:8 - I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of the Christology of the Book of Mormon. It teaches that Jesus is (I'm cherry-picking passages) the Christ, the Messiah and Redeemer, the Eternal God, the Creator of all things, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. One passage even declares Him to be "both the Father and the Son", which strikes some Protestant readers as sounding oddly Catholic! As far as I can tell in my study of the subject, the Book of Mormon agrees with a Biblical understanding of Jesus' origin, identity, and mission, but I'll say up front it does NOT agree with Creedal post-New Testament Christianity's understanding. Does this then constitute "another gospel", like many say, or (as we claim) another instance of the same, original Gospel? I'll be interested in your take on this.
To be fair to your study, much of our understanding of the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comes from /additional/ Restoration scripture, found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. And of course it's greatly informed by Joseph Smith's own theophany when as a teenager he was visited by the Father and the Son, both embodied, as well as many other angels - an event we refer to as the "First Vision". As a distillation of our overall understanding of who Jesus is, Jeffrey R. Holland (one of our Apostles) gave an address on this topic back in 2007 that he titled "The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent". I recommend it.
You seem like you have an even keel, as well as being genuinely respectful and curious. Thank you for making these videos. I'm subscribing now, and can't wait for what you put out next!
Have you watched the “Patterns of Evidence” documentaries? They’re from a guy who isn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but if I remember correctly, the one about the books of Moses talks about how Joseph of Egypt may have (basically) invented the alphabet by taking some of the Egyptian hieroglyphs and using them to sound out paleohebrew words, like using the one that looks like waves as an ‘M’ sound to write “mayim” for water, etc. I thought it was pretty interesting since, to me, that could be considered a type of “reformed Egyptian.”
@@TofuTal like a secretary taking notes with shorthand, using symbols for the sounds of words to be transcribed later back into the known language.
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@@charlesmendeley9823; The Bible mentioned “unicorn”. Does that mean it was a flying horse that left rainbow colors in its wake?🦄🌈It might’ve been a wild ox, Bos primigenius now extinct. It could also refer to the rhino🦏
Fun stuff. I appreciate hearing your perspective and beliefs. Makes me feel like I’m on my LDS mission again. I believe your heavenly parents are proud of the work you are doing to help their children here on earth become more like Christ. Keep up the good work Pastor!
Mormonism is demonic
I'm glad you have questions and I'm especially excited that you have the desire to learn for yourself. I'm looking forward to hearing about your experience of reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. May God bless you in your journey!
Pretty certain his journey with the BofM has reached its end. While very respectful of it, it’s clear the flaws of the book and it’s origins outweigh the good.
I was born and raised in Thailand as a Buddhism ☸️ and I converted into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint was more than thirty years ago 😅😅😅🙏🙏🙏
Yes, I have been studying about God’s from many denominations before I am running into the LDS Missionaries In Bangkok and I am totally interested in learning about the Book of Mormon as a another testimony of the lord Jesus Christ🙏 It’s great to know that the lord Jesus Christ love all of his children as my English is not that good so I can’t not express my feelings and understanding about his ❤️ love and kindness for his children so I am invited you to reading and study so will understand and falling in love with my savior❤️😘 since I understand the plan of salvation and the purpose of life as gods plan for his children so I am focusing on the iron rods from the dream of Lehi 🙏 and trying my best to endure everything till the end of my life so I can partake the fruits of life 🙏
Beautifully said brother!
@@TheMullerator Thank you very much for your kindness and support 🙏🙏🙏
ขอบคุณมากครับ🙏🙏
Language is no barrier when the spirit is present.
My sisters are half Thai. Such a warm and welcoming people. God is good every day.
I find it very fascinating that bhuddist and Mormons both believe in temples, garments, serving missions and the power of prayers. Also baptisms just in different ways. This is why my dad (whos bhuddist) says both are the same.
Jeff, the light and love of Jesus Christ shines through you. You are a great witness of Him. Thanks for avoiding contention and inspiring honest seeking and learning. As I watch your channel I feel the love of God stir in my heart. I am grateful for you.
I like how open minded you are and how you are very respectful even when you disagree with things that we believe. It's a very refreshing thing to see. I'm glad you are sharing your discovery of the church with the internet.
I go along with you totally, Jocelyn Smith, on this!! Yes, I like how he presents everything and is so respectful and open minded! I am glad that you, brother, I forgotten your name, are doing this!
There are 20 Lost Books written about in The Bible that are not included - in the Bible. When King James had the Aramaic Egyptian, Hebrew and Greek Scriptures to create the Bible. Because they were not yet found. Just like numerous other scriptures, were only recently found.
@5D Ranch Exactly. this channel is for no other purpose than to lead people away from the truth. He has no interest at all of learning it.
I thought this video was very well done. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I appreciate the fact that this gentleman is actually thoughtful about his investigation. One comment I will make about archaeological evidence. Middle Eastern archaeology has been going on for centuries. Ancient American Archaeology is still in its infancy. Also the cities in the Middle East generally keep their same names unlike what has happened in ancient America. Also we're still learning the language of ancient America. I don't base my faith on physical evidence if I did I'd be sorely disappointed. One thing we know about science is that it is constantly changing. What we thought we knew yesterday is different today.
There is no evidence
And the entire book is full of problems. You can believe it’s scripture all you like. But it is not an ancient text
I think you should just pray about it with an open heart, with no fear about the book. With full purpose in your heart God will give you the answers you need.
How about reading it and with an open heart ask God if it's true?
Go Wayne May and rod meldrums you tube channels on the Book of Mormon archeology in North America it’s very interesting. Yes there is proof!
I love your sincerity and genuine curiosity! You motivate me to want to learn more about both the Book of Mormon AND the Bible. Fascinating study.
Thank you for your insightful and honest presentation. As the missionaries say "Pray about it with an open heart."
I love this, because as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I know we get a lot of criticism and "wrongful" judgement but we can fall into the same trap of bias and not truly seeking to understand others and what they believe just because we have our own personal beliefs. Thank you for making this!
Hello Saints: This is the second of your videos that I’ve watched. The first was your visit the General Conference. I have to say that as a Latter Day Saint I really appreciate your open curiosity about the church and your respectful attitude when asking questions. You do the most effective thing a person looking for answers can do: you actually ask the people you’re curious about!
In this video, and the General Conference video filmed 6 months apart, you mention that you haven’t read the Book of Mormon yet. I strongly suggest that you do because it would answer A LOT of your questions (and probably spark some new ones too). For instance, when you told us your interpretation of the scripture in John where Christ says he has other sheep not of this fold. You were spot on, Christ was telling the Jews he was teaching at the time that the message was not exclusively for them but would include the Gentiles as well. And the reason we make the connection that we do is because in the Book of Mormon when Jesus is teaching the people in the Americas he specifically mentions having told the people in Jerusalem about having other sheep and them not getting it.
You mentioned how much extra-biblical evidence there is out there supporting the biblical narrative and asked if there was anything similar for the Book of Mormon. Short answer:YES!! And more showing up all the time. An excellent source (free on line at www.pdfdrive.com) would be a series of books by Hugh Nibley, professor emeritus at BYU, who taught an in depth class on the Book of Mormon at BYU for years. The books”Teachings of the Book of Mormon” parts 1-4 are basically just his class lectures printed in book form and talk all about archeological evidence along with exploring the cultural and linguistic links between the Bible and Book of Mormon. Including an explanation of what they mean by “reformed Egyptian “ and how we have hundreds of examples of it in places all over Israel and the Middle East.
I'm a Latter-day Saint and this is the second video of yours that I've watched. I have to say, it's so REFRESHING to see someone investigate the LDS Church respectfully and factually without tearing it down in the process! I'll check out more of your videos. Thank you!
No, he isn't.
Why would you waste your time watching this video if you are a member?
@@mrzulcan4290 Why not? I watch lots of pro-LDS and anti-LDS videos. Just interested in what the critics are saying!
Plus, I think his videos are aimed at LDS members. The name of his channel is "Hello, Saints!", not "Hello, people investigating The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!"
…he knows very little about the LDS church. He hasn’t read the Book of Mormon yet or done additional research on the lack of evidence… I’m really looking forward to his video on the reformed Egyptian and maybe even the process in which Joseph Smith translated the BOM with his head buried in his hat to peer into his magical (treasureless) seer stone. I’m also looking forward to his video about polygamy and Joseph sending husbands/fathers on missions so he could marry and have sex with their wives and daughters.
I was a member since I was 8… didn’t appreciate the church hiding/white washing it’s history, shaming or excommunicating it’s members for asking questions or speaking truth. The LDS corporation is very interested indeed! Looking forward to his future videos!
@@ashleyowens2497 hey ashley, ok i mean i hear you, i've been in church since i was a child too...but you're approach is not just misrepresenting our church but any church...if you apply the same skeptical lense to any faith tradition, you will have similar results...
i amnot sure if you still have faith in any tradition?
is your approach consistent with other traditions?
are you still a part of our tradition?
sounds like you know for certain what you accuse the church of?
how can you be so sure that you are correct?
is the faith position you currently believe in (religious or not) immune from similar scrutiny?
I like many others in the comments am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am beyond impressed and grateful for this honest review. Thanks for giving your honest opinion while being so respectful, open, and courteous to the beliefs of others. This is evidence to me that even with different beliefs we can be kind and loving and support others as they try to follow Jesus. I can tell you truly practice what you preach as a pastor striving to be loving and kind to all people! Thank you!
Speaking to LDS members, I found that they believe the book of Mormon derives from the passage in Ezekiel and the two sticks. That the two sticks are translated as papyrus, this is incorrect according to the translation, history and the time when God spoke to Ezekiel and the two sticks.
So refreshing to listen to an honest assessment with a good heart. Well done sir!
The reason why we interpret John 10:16 the way we do comes from the Book of Mormon itself. The book of mormon explains a few passages in the bible that Nephi and the people who emigrated had. Eventually, in the visit of Christ to the americas, he gives the sermon of the mount again (slightly tailored to them, but otherwise it's almost word for word), then after that, he explains that they were the sheep he spoke of to his disciples. He also mentions that there's yet another group of sheep that are neither the Jews, nor the ancient americas people that he would visit as well.
We know nothing of this other group of "other sheep", though I have read traditions in eastern orthodox christianity of them having stories of resurrected Jesus visiting them. Which fits what the book of mormon says very well.
But, yes, ultimately it is only through the book of mormon that we understand the passage the way we do. I was for almost all my schooling years in a private christian school and high school (There's no clear analog to middle school in my country) and I was very heavily exposed to evangelical christianity as well as my own family's beliefs. At some point I was very confused since I hadn't truly learned what to pick from where (my parents weren't inactive, but didn't do a great effort at teaching the gospel as they should have), so naturally as a teenager I started doubting if the book of mormon was something I should take seriously or not.
Ultimately, what lead me to believe in it's validity was a prayer I did as a teenager to know if it was true or not, to which I received the answer that it was true. So even if we use scriptural parallels to point to the validity of the book of mormon, the book of mormon to me is valid because God spoke to me and told me it was valid, not because of interpreted passages. That experience (and others, down the line) has been my anchor in many crisis of faith I've had.
DID NOT HAPPEN
@@mrjuvy49 you sound like a reddit atheist claiming christianity is a hoax and denying people's beliefs in their faces.
Who are you to say my experiences are valid or not? Go learn some manners and basic human decency.
Learning about each other's beliefs to gain understanding, regardless of whether or not we share those beliefs, is so important. It builds bridges and moves us from an us-them mentality to the realization that we are all "us". Thank you for being part of that sharing and building of bridges.💗
Love what you’re doing. Great approach. I’m also learning about mormonism and speaking with missionaries in town. I haven’t really unfolded my findings with them yet. Just listening and asking questions so far. They’re so young. They’re just kids and this is all they know. I hope I can be patient and follow the Lords lead in speaking with them. God bless you bro. I’ll pray for you. Keep up the good work.
I had a chance to attend a LDS church one time. The service itself did not talk about salvation or Jesus. What was talked about, storing up for a year against disaster and youth camp.
Prayers were not sent up to God through Jesus but through the Profit.
In the Sunday School part, again, no teaching of Jesus or the Book of Mormon, but why caffeine should be avoided.
I found it all disconcerting be in a church and nothing being said about my Savior.
Later, as I lay in my bed, I felt a presence above me and got a distinct message never to have dealings with the LDS again.
When I was visited by the missionary's, I didn't let them in and told them why. They didn't believe me. I said if they believe Smith could be visited why not me?
I got incredible looks from both of them.
I just shut my door.
They way laid my son and tried to talk to him but my brother was coming to visit and seen what was happening and stepped in to stop them.
I thank God for His intervention.
14:56 these questions are actually addressed directly in the text of the Book of Mormon. Basically, if God was to stop giving revelation, then that would indicate a change in God. Since God cannot change, He is obligated to continue giving revelation to those of His children who will receive it. Amos chapter 3 verse seven states that “for God will do nothing save he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”. This verse also explains the necessity to have a prophet whenever there is a church of God upon the Earth.
Dear Pastor Jeff McCullough, I am a Vietnamese member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like other Christian traditions, we trust in God and endure joyfully in Christ Jesus under the restrictions of local government and society. We believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life (see John 3:16 and 3 Nephi 27:13-22). Who do Latter-day Saints think Jesus Christ is? We believe He is the Christ, the Son of Living God (Matthew 16:15-18 and Alma 5:48). What is the gospel that Latter-day Saints believe? We Latter-day Saints understand and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ as follows:
1. Faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:1-32 & Ether 12:3-22)
2. Repentance. It is through the grace and the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness and salvation. It is through His grace, our appreciation leads us to choose repentance and do our part with righteous desires to obey His commandments (Luke 15:7; Acts 3:19; and Alma 12:33-34).
3. Baptism (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 2 Nephi 31:4-5)
4. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Moroni 10:8-19)
5. Enduring to the end. We believe it is the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit who comforts us, guides us, and confirms to us the eternal truth throughout our lives. The gifts of the Holy Spirit enables us to live a purposeful and fruitful Christian life in service to God and others. We do these things not solely for our own salvation but because of our genuine love for God and fellowmen after we have already put our trust in Him first. Salvation comes through God's grace, merits, and His faithfulness to us (Joshua 24:14-15; and 2 Nephi 31:15-20).
For your information, Nephi, Alma, Ether, Moroni are references from the Book of Mormon.
If you have time, please also watch a conference talk/sermon given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland titled "The Only True God & Jesus Christ Whom He Has Sent"
th-cam.com/video/QtEQ8Tjr2EI/w-d-xo.html
I'm a Latter Day Saint an I absolutely respect you and enjoy hearing from you. You are an amazing pastor. We can all unite together to make the world a better place.
And thank you for using the correct name of the church :)
As i understand , as a LDS person… the bible was not written for JUST the people of the old world and the Book of Mormon as not written for JUST the Americas. They are both teachings given to ALL of the world. They were written and recorded by Prophets just in different parts of the world. They are not meant to be taken seperately but rather together as teachings of Jesus while he walked on the earth.
Seems every denomination wants to prove they are the one to follow. Simplified-believe in Jesus, forgive others, love others.
I'm absolutely loving this journey. Every video has me going "Ohhhhhh" and "Wow! Okay!"
Thank you for being so respectful! That is so appreciated, especially with something I personally hold so dear. I love hearing others’ testimonies of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, and that same spirit I feel when I read the Bible, I feel when I read the Book of Mormon. It has brought me closer to Jesus Christ in many ways, primarily by inspiring me to better follow His example and giving me the strength to do so. As I read it, I feel strength against temptation. I feel the desire to be the best friend, daughter, sister, spouse, and mother I can be. I learn more about what Jesus has done for me personally, and how I can better follow Him daily.
These countless experiences, as well as countless daily prayers, have given me a sure witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Thank you again for talking with respect about something that has had such an impact on my life for good.
Still looking forward for the updates on your reading of the Book of Mormon. Based on my experience, I felt an expansion of my knowledge and perspective of everything. Just like in our time today, we watch movies that has the main story or plot but then spin-off series were released to expand the story. This analogy is comparable to the Bible and Book of Mormon. You will find some a lot of great stories from the book and especially precious doctrines that has been previously thought from the Bible. But most importantly, you will learn more about the Savior Jesus Christ on this book.
…we’re using the same name, but are we talking about the same Jesus? That pastor Jeff is the heart and center of the Mormon-Christian question.
If we know that God is "the same yesterday, today and forever" and He provided prophets and revelations to His children in the past, why would He not continue to do so today?
I also keep thinking of the pharisies who were so laser focused on the Torah and what they had been taught that many of them couldn't see the beautiful things happening right in front of them. An open mind, an open heart and open communication with The Creator. That's how we draw closer to Him and His continued teaching. ❤️
I love your videos! Thank you for sharing your perspective!
I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing your honest experiences as you seek to understand other's understandings.
I'm a Latter Day Saint and have been for the past 3 to 4 years, and watching this was actually cool. I didn't feel that you were putting us down in any way. I've read the Book of Mormon and asked God if it was true and I received my answer in the form of a dream😇 I really Loved watching this👍
Job 7:13-15 and 1 John 4:1-3 are two passages that I would suggest you check out because Satan is very clever in his deceptions. God will not reveal something to a person that blatantly contradicts His written Word or is already established in said Word (i.e. no 'new' revelations). I say this in love, urging you to look to the truth and authority of the Bible over the demonically-inspired book of Mormon.
@@angelt.5276 I've read the Book of Mormon and testify that it's TRUE. I believe the Bie to be true as long as it is translated correctly. I received many revelations of my own as well as the revelation that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the only true church on Earth. And yeah thank you for your message. Stay safe👍
@@teokotaingatae5862 I have a question: how can both the Bible and the book of Mormon be true when the Bible clearly teaches a completely different message from Mormonism?
@@angelt.5276 I dont believe that's True, I'm reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon and they Both testify of Jesus Christ. I used to hate the Idea of another book outside of the Bible, but after being given many copies over the years I finally read it with my Beautiful Wife😇 It truly testifies of Jesus Christ, and His Ministry to His other sheep. I dont want to get into any debates and stuff, I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true and dont feel like getting into any type of debates to prove it, sorry. But yeah until you read The Book of Mormon and ponder its teachings, you will never understand. And yeah thank you very much for your message👍 you take care now
@@teokotaingatae5862 The Jesus of the Bible (the true living, risen King) is very different from the Jesus of Mormonism. I encourage you to look at the differences for yourself because Jesus is God, and He is the only way to the Father. We can't work our way to heaven, it's only through Jesus Christ (our Creator God) that we can find forgiveness and salvation.
This is fascinating. Thanks for digging into it! Excited for more to come!
One major problem they are missing is that when God had a new revelation for His people like a new covenant or new canon it came with great miracles so people would know it was Him. I don't think tablets made in a garage count.
as a Latter Day Saint we are taught to pray and ask God what we are reading is true. this is one of the beautiful things about our religion. I love every question you ask in this video. as you read the Book of Mormon you will find those answer.
He has not read it. If you watch all his videos, he thinks we are wrong and is only seeing from that view. You can see his errr at 4:30 when he puts in his own understanding rather than search for the very words the Lord gives for their meaning.
So admire your openness and honesty dear Pastor. There are a few evidences, one being rock artifacts in southern Arabian peninsula (see 1 Nephi 16:34) with lettering NHM..mentioned in that area where Lehi's family turned in a more easterly direction that Joseph Smith could never known about, but those things don't impress upon the mind, heart, and soul like sincere reading..so kudos to you Sir for being willing to read the Book of Mormon. I have come to know thru that same Holy Ghost, the Bible & and Book of Mormon are indeed the Word of God.
Thanks for sharing your videos and how respectful you are even when you don’t agree. We need more of this. We will have a better world if we focus on the things that we have in common more than our differences, even with those that have different believes.
So sad to learn that some people believe that the Bible isn't enough.The Word is alive. It stands alone!
Why would we want to reject anything that God gives us? Isn't it more sad if God gives us more of His word, and people say it's too much?
I like your reaction to the BOM. Just want to add though that the warming in book of revelation that we cannot add or deduct the scriptures refers only to the book of revelation not the whole bible. Remember when these revelations was received by john the revelator still there was no bible canonized as we have today which means the warning that we cannot add or deduct clearly refers only to the book of revelations not the whole bible which consist of many books. And moreover moses in the book Deuteronomy had given the same warning if we interpret the same way as what you did then we are suppose to have only old testament upto that book. Here's the ref.
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deut. 4:2.). Good luck to your channel I know as a vlogger you want views only from LDS members without upsetting them. God bless.
I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. I believe it comes down to a choice I have made to believe, despite doubts or questions that creep in. I dismiss these doubts and remind myself that I do not understand all things, but one day I will. I believe that it's not fear or shame, but opportunities and privileges that God offers us. He showers his love and blessings on us all. He loves us all. He just wants us to keep his commandments because they bring more happiness to us as individuals, as communities, and as a world. These laws help us to become more like God and his son Jesus Christ so we can live like them and in their presence. Learning and practicing being unselfish is challenging. Even within the highest degree of heaven there are degrees. This is simply because to live like God, we need to be like him.... basically unselfish...because unselfish people make heaven what it is. Obedience is an opportunity he offers us..for even on earth if we want to live a certain kind of life and have the privileges associated with that lifestyle, we must be able to live the rules and do the things that will allow us that privilege. For instance, when I obey rules of my community and strive to be kind, I am privileged to enjoy better relationships in my community and with my neighbors. God's heaven is available to all according to what laws and habits we have practiced until we can abide the laws of that kingdom or degree. Such laws as honesty, charity, faith, hope, humility, gratitude..... developing these Christlike characteristics takes a lifetime and even growth beyond this life. Becoming like him is an amazing, challenging journey that takes much practice, daily repentance, humility and much hope, faith and belief. Yet, even the lowest degree in heaven is as they say most wonderful and Christ can certainly visit there. But, to live in the higher degrees, our character must be developed to a point where we can abide the laws of that kingdom....otherwise it would not be heaven if we lived among people who were not honest, kind, unselfish, believing, positive, filled with faith to do good things, grateful, charitable, temperate, patient, forgiving, helpful, etc. He asks "what desirest thou?,". Then he gives us agency to choose what kingdom we'd like to be in, by how we strive to live our lives, and only with his grace can we overcome the self-centered, natural man., Relying wholely on our Savior who is mighty to save.
I’m excited to see your responses to reading the actual book
Loving this! Thank you for taking your time to listen and respectfully share your thoughts and concerns. Short answer: YES, the Book of Mormon (as does the Doctrine & Covenants) clearly teaches that Jesus is GOD, born to the Virgin Mary and Latter-Day Saints believe that Jesus is the GOD of the Old Testament. He is the Creator. He is Eternal. He was God *before* he “made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men.” (Doctrine & Covenants 93:4)
LONGER answer:
Here are a couple of verses from the Book of Mormon that speaks directly to your concern about our belief about Jesus being God... King Benjamin is speaking... (he was the King and also the Prophet ... about 124 BC).
“ ...For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, *the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,* and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles... And lo, *he cometh unto his own* that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him. . . . And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men. For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned. But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Mosiah 3: 5, 9-11)
"...he said unto them that *Christ was the God, the Father of all things,* and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that *God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth*..." Mosiah 7:27
"...my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death. And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But *there is a God, and he is Christ,* and he cometh in the fulness of his own time. 2 Nephi 11:5-7
"... for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that *life which is in Christ,* and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must *bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul,* and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out." 2 Nephi 25: 25-29
“I am *Alpha and Omega,* Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, *the beginning and the end*, the Redeemer of the world ... For behold, *I, God* have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, *even God, the greatest of all,* to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.” (Doctrine & Covenants 19)
Jesus is God _and_ He is the Savior and Redeemer. Both God _and_ Lamb of God. Jesus is God (God the Son) _and_ He gives Glory to His Father - (God the Father.)
Christ is God the Father, in that we are born again through His atoning blood. “...ye shall be called *the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you,* for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are *born of him*, and have become his sons and his daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ. (Book of Mormon - Mosiah 5:7-8)
We follow Christ by praying to Heavenly Father as that is how He taught us to pray -- He is always leading people to the Father.
I hope this clarifies this false concern that we don’t believe that Jesus Christ is indeed God. It is *NOT* our belief that he became a God _after_ his mortal journey.
There are many more verses to site, but this is a good start.
@Francine Platt Thank you for your well-reasoned and articulate reply. However, I think there is some misunderstanding in your reply. You are correct that the LDS faith does teach that before coming to earth as a baby, Jesus existed as the Jehovah of the Old Testament. (He is not to be confused with Elohim who in the LDS faith is the name of Heavenly Father). Hence, the LDS faith does teach that Jesus was a god before coming to this world. However, the LDS faith has a different understanding from Historic/Biblical Christianity of what the word "eternal" means. The LDS faith does not teach that Jesus has always been God (or a god) nor do they teach that Heavenly Father has always been God or a god. I am sure you will recognize the following couplet from Lorenzo Snow, "As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” Joseph Smith stated something very similar in his King Follett sermon. What the LDS faith teaches is that matter is eternal and that all of us (Heavenly Father, Jesus, you, me, etc.) existed as intelligences eternally. Heavenly Father progressed to godhood before Jesus did. This is what the LDS faith teaches, but it is not what the Bible teaches. Psalm 90:2 says, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
I am excited to see more thoughts and reactions as you dive into the Book of Mormon. Don’t let you standing on this channel or as a pastor get in the way of praying and reading about the truthfulness with real intent. Love what you do!
If you are looking for archeological or other types of physical evidence is support of the Book of Mormon try viewing Book of Mormon archeology videos by Professor Wayne May or by Rod Meldrum. These can be found on TH-cam. You can also find more about Latter-Day Saint perspectives on the Bible by watching Jared Halvorsen's "Unshaken" podcast on TH-cam.
As a former member of the LDS church, the LDS church claims they believe the Bible , but I don’t see that, and it’s one of the reasons that I left. Look into the claims they make about it and how they over-emphasize the BOM. The “Prophet” Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (the introduction to the Book of Mormon).
Then the LDS doctrine states that they believe the Bible to be the word of God “…wherein it is translated correctly.”
First, Joseph Smith said that “plain and precious truths” were removed from the Bible. And that the BOM is the “most correct book” In other words it’s not full of translation errors as one will find in any Bible translation. How can the Church say essentially that the Bible has had precious truths removed and at the same time they believe it is the word of God where it’s translated correctly?
Additionally, the LDS church uses the KJV of the Bible. It is full of translation errors. And seeing how they claim to be the only true church on the face of the earth, wouldn’t they have put out the most correct translation of the Bible after being “the only true church being in existence for 190+years? Yet, they haven’t, another emphasis that the Bible isn’t important. Finally, Gordon B Hinckley and other “prophets” have encouraged the members to read the Bom daily, but they study the NT in gospel doctrines class once every four years. The Bible profoundly contradicts what’s in the D & C and other Mormon scripture.
Agree many years ago I attended as a teenager. All I ever heard about was Joseph Smith. They slobber over this guy. I think Smith was the David Koresh of the 1900s just my opinion of course
The best way to learn about the Book of Mormon is to read it and talk to the missionaries.
and ask God if it is rue
Loving these videos! It's great to get perspective on what others think when they hear some of this for the first time. @4:45 I would challenge that interpretation of that passage in John. When Jesus was teaching His disciples in Jerusalem, He never actually clarifies who He was referring to by His 'other sheep.' The idea He was referring to the non-Jewish nations surrounding Judea would be an interpretation. #agreetodisagree? The idea that He was actually referring to people in the Americas and elsewhere obviously hinges on whether or not the Book of Mormon is true/the word of God.
An FYI: When Christ miraculously appeared to and visited with the people in the Americas after His resurrection, the Book of Mormon records that He taught them many of the same things He taught the Jews. He also specifically mentions His words in that passage of John. He explains that because His disciples in Jerusalem thought He meant the "Gentiles" (aka non-Jews who lived in the nations around them), they didn't ask for clarification. They assumed who He was referring to. This is why the Jews knew nothing of the people that The Book of Mormon records.
At 6:20, that's not QUITE right. Yes we believe Christ and Heavenly Father have spoken to different nations/people at different times and that they have recorded those things into sacred texts. However, we believe that sacred writings from God speak of things that are universally true - so holy scripture should be consistent regardless of audience or time. As far as interpretation goes, that's another thing entirely. Another point - the Book of Mormon actually says that it was written for OUR day - the final days before Christ's miraculous Second Coming or Rapture. The prophet Mormon is the one who compiled the writings that we have today as the Book of Mormon and he says in his writings that not only did he see our day and the events leading up to the Rapture, but he was directed by Christ to compile those writings specifically for believers in our day. Other prophets in the Book of Mormon also had visions of our day and have specific warnings and things to say in order for us to be spiritually prepared. Some who had visions of the last days actually are commanded stop themselves from revealing more, saying that that is for other prophets like John the Revelator to speak of.
12:00 This is always an interesting question. Yes, there are evidences that corroborate *some things in the Book of Mormon. For example, the Hopewell Indians who lived during the time of the Book of Mormon built structures that heavily reference Judaic ordinances and culture. Keep in mind that while the Book of Mormon is specific on a timeframe, it's NOT specific on *location other than taking place in the "Americas." There are a few theories as to where the Book of Mormon took place among Latter-day Saints. One is that it took place in North America, another is Central America. Some believe both Central and upper South America. But just like the Bible, the only way readers can know the truth and veracity of The Book of Mormon is to read it, think about it and ask God for personal revelation that it's true. In its final passages, Moroni son of Mormon, makes this challenge directly to the reader with a corresponding promise.
2 Nephi Ch 29
3 And because my words shall hiss forth-many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the bsles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two enations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
@TJ I am sorry to point this out, but your FYI explanation doesn't make any sense. The Jews in the time of Jesus would NEVER have thought that Jesus was talking about the Gentiles. You need to go back and re-read the book of Acts. Read chapter ten and specifically verse 28 will show you what Jews (like the Apostle Peter) thought about Gentiles. It took an unforgettable and shocking vision from God to change Peter's mindset about Gentiles. If you read Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 and onwards, you will see the Apostle Paul's Holy Spirit inspired interpretation of the two flocks. The two flocks are believing Jews and believing Gentiles under one shepherd, Jesus Christ. In Christ, the two become one (Galatians 3:26-29 and Colossians 3:11). Jesus's three year ministry was almost exclusively to the Jews (Matthew 15:21-28, John 4:7-42). However, in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and in His final words before His ascension (Acts 1:8), Jesus tells the disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. In this action, we see the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:18. Yet, it still took the Apostles and initial disciples (all of who were Jewish) some time before they could fully appreciate and understand that the Gospel was for Jew and Gentile.
Thank you for these videos. Having grown up for 41 years in the LDS faith and recently deconstructing things, it's cool to hear the common interpretation of some of these thoughts and ideas instead of the interpretations I was given while growing in the LDS faith.
The Book of Mormon was written by prophets who lived in Ancient America, however, it was written for our day. Nephi tells us to “liken the scriptures to our day.” The best way to answer your questions about The Book of Mormon is to read it!☺️
14:16 Re: Galatians 1:8
We believe The Book of Mormon is another testament of the same gospel taught in the Bible, and teaches about the same Jesus Christ.
It's great that you are planning to read The Book of Mormon.
As it says in both the Introduction & the last chapter of the book, "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true."
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."
Hey Jeff! One resource that might be fun for you is Book of Mormon Central. They've got a bunch of videos on YT and a website. There's a lot of great information on there. One story you may have come across in the BOM is the story of Nephi killing Laban. One of Central's videos addresses how Nephi was within his rights to accomplish that task. Just one example.
Thanks for the recommendation, Danny. I’ll look into it. At some point this summer I will be recording a series of videos where I read through the BOM book by book and give my thoughts. Sounds like a resource like this could be helpful. Thanks for watching and for your kind comments!
I'm LDS... Love your work brother. Just keep doing what you do, It's refreshing. God bless brother.
U should organise a sit down with our Prophet and chat about whatever you feel inspired to talk about. 🙏❤️
I think the missionaries and local leaders can handle his questions, in fact, most active members can answer his questions because these questions have come up many times. For example, BofM teaches that Christ is the God of the OT, The BofM Jesus is the same as the Bible Jesus and yes, there are many archeological findings that substantiate a civilization that could be from the BofM era. The Pastor is doing a great job. The only thing that is holding him back is his intent which will prevent him from receiving a witness of the truth as described by Moroni who says "we must pray with real intent" if we are to find the truth. Individuals who don't study and pray with real intent will not receive a witness from the Holy Ghost. The Pastor is very genuine and respectful, perhaps he is doing all of this research with the intent to convert if he finds it true. If the intent is there, Pastor will become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I'm glad you are getting your sources "straight from the horses mouth" if you will. This makes sure you get all the facts correct.
One comment about the Galatians scripture. It also says in Deuteronomy 4:2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” That was written long before the New Testament was even thought of. So does that mean anything written after Deuteronomy is scrapped because it was "an addition" to it? The Bible as an actual collection of books wasn't put together until long after the Apostles were gone. Any scripture like this isn't referencing the Bible as it didn't even exist until long after.
The Bible also has many different versions that say some different things because when it was translated by man, it wasn't translated 100% correct. As I'm sure people know, when you translate one language to another, sometimes, things aren't quite right and so the translator does his/her best to get it correct, but some information is lost. A good example of this is in Amos 7:3 (King James version) "The Lord repented for this: It shall not be, saith the Lord". As we all know, the Lord is perfect and doesn't need to repent. At this point, there are so many different versions of the Bible out there that it is tough to interpret it correctly. Any interpretation any gets from someone else came from another person or institution.
This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe in the importance of a Prophet and glad that the Book of Mormon exists because it clarifies and goes along with the Bible (collection of books).
@DT TV... there's a lot in this response that is really helpful. Gives me a lot to think about and follow up on. Actually gives me an idea for a video. Thank you!!
@@HelloSaints Now that I read through all I put again, it is a lot to unpack and apologize. I think my brain just had a lot to react to and I just kept typing...lol
an interesting thing is that revelations was also written before other NT books
@@markkrispin6944 part of that fullness is prophets :)
@@markkrispin6944 So did the ancient Israelites not need a prophet in their day because as the House of Israel they had a direct connection (relationship) with God? Certainly they did not need false prophets... but surely they had true prophets! Did early Christians not need the apostles because they had a direct relationship with God? Does not the fact that we are told to beware false prophets in the last days imply that there may be true prophets? Heaven forbid that our hubris would be such that we tell God whether or not He can call a prophet!
At about 6:25 of this video you mention that the LDS hold that the Bible was “for” the people in and around the Mediterranean, and that the Book of Mormon was “for” the people in the Americas. You are close, but the wording here matters. Simply replace the word “for” with the word “about” and you will be accurate. The LDS believe ALL scriptures are “for” all people, but “about” specific people.
I hate to say this but... the Church of Latter Day Saints is very likely to be behind this TH-cam channel. I'm all for a respectful dialogue regarding Mormonism from a Christian's perspective, and I can tell from the comments that this kind of open, unbiased, and peaceful dialogue is so refreshing to hear, but the incredibly well done video style, the lack of the Pastor's "deep" personal reactions to Mormonism (they seem rather oddly vague, and there's little to zero actual light criticism or modest disagreements from him) the fact that he opens up very little about his past or who he even is as a Pastor, that this is a brand new channel with such high quality graphics (cover photos, editing) that came out of nowhere with no content, and lastly the fact that the Mormon church is willing to use very practical methods "modern day marketing" of reaching people (such as rebranding the Church from Mormonism to Latter Day Saints) leads me to believe that this video isn't 100% as organic & honest as it's making itself out to be. In fact, if the church of LDS or a set of Mormons were the original people behind this TH-cam channel (not saying the Pastor in these videos isn't actually a Christian Pastor, he very well may be), but that's deceptive and at best, by not disclosing if there are Mormons behind the camera & behind the scenes, it's not genuine or honest. What do you guys think? Just remember to be wise guys! Part of me is also leading me to think that Mormon churches are having their members comment on this video... interesting.
One thing is certain, if a pastor of a church goes to the LDS general conference on a weekend, he is not a true Shepherd. He did this on one video. What kind of a pastor leaves his sheep on a Sunday of all things.
It does seem that the LDS church is behind this.
The wool on the wolves clothing sure is thick.
Also, a true Christian is should be shocked and appalled at what the LDS church teaches. It is blasphemy and morally offensive. It is hard to respectful, though necessary. To be sure, you wouldn't let someone make fun of your mother and not at least say something.
Started loving this channel.. I'm a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints.. and I love how you respect our religion.. your question will be answer if you read the book of Mormon.. where it came from and when..
Thank you for your respectful and kind approach to exploring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I'm a member, and stumbled upon your videos a few weeks back. I appreciate how you are willing to openly see things from our perspective and try to understand where we're coming from. As Christians, I think it's wonderful to come together and learn from one another. I'm excited to watch your video reactions as you read the Book of Mormon, as you mentioned.
I've read the Old Testament and New Testament each many times, and taken religious courses on them throughout my life, and the Book of Mormon is, as it says, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ", not a replacement in any way. I love the Bible. I love the Book of Mormon. I love Christ. All these texts point me to Him.
I really enjoyed this! I was born and raised in a Pentecostal church and 2 years ago I was baptized in the LDS church. I'm now in the process of leaving the LDS church as I've struggled with 2 years of questions and confusion. This is very good information and so well done. I appreciate the way you're approaching this and I look forward to more videos!
I would say there was some reason, a feeling or impression, or experience that lead you to be baptized. You felt it was an important commitment at the time, I would not take that lightly. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and have had and continue to have questions about things, but I've also had experiences, impressions, and reassurances that I cannot deny or simply put aside.
Reach out to someone in your ward and share those concerns you have, read the scriptures and read/listen to the most recent words of the prophet. Showing a sincere and consistent effort to seek the truth; then the Lord can communicate with you.
The change required can be significant, and requires patience and persistance. Even Christ's disciples, who were constantly with him, took years to change and have their questions addressed. And you may not get full answers to the questions you have but I know we can get enough to persit. Just as Joseph of Egypt did while waiting to be delivered from his circumstances.
We need you, brother. 🕊
Mark, I see it differently and we can leave it at that. My reply was meant for 'Simply Blended' and my intent was saying that if they had a desire to join and made a covenant with God, that it's worth choosing faith and trust rather than simply letting it go without saying you gave it your all.
You can listen to many wise people in the world, from finance, business, and elsewhere that would give the same council; to not give up on something you felt committed to just because things become difficult for a period of time.
In my mind the parable of the sower is a good analogy. If someone nourishes a seed of faith with patience and diligence and it doesn't grow then you have your answer about that seed's value, but just casting it out without nourishing it doesn't tell you anything about the seed.
I also agree with you about thinking for yourself.
That is a core belief of the church I belong to as well. Its founding was based on someone seeking their own revelation and guidance after studying it out in their mind and being confused about the differing voices. The person we refer to as a prophet today encourages the same, "You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true."
My voice and opinion is no better than yours, and I hope that comes across in what I've tried to write here. It's up to the individual to establish a relationship with God and learn that for themselves.
One last item that may be of interest to you, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints over the last several years has re-emphasized the idea of the gospel being centered in the home and supported by the Church. Just the opposite of what I would expect an organization to do if they were trying to gain greater control over their members.
@@markkrispin6944 This will be my last comment on this because I'm not trying to change your feelings at all, just state my experience, which has been different from yours.
My experience is from being a member of the church, studying and analyzing the scriptures and words from the leaders of my faith for literally a life-time. You can claim that I'm 'not thinking for myself' but I know what I've thought and felt from my experiences. And they have lead ME to choose to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and to choose to follow its leaders.
I think the 'fruits' of the church speak for themselves, humanitarian aid across the globe, a focus on leading people to Christ and strengthening families, and the members themselves of which you talk about.
So from my experience and study (both inside the church and without) is the church, of which we claim Christ is the head, leads me to be more like Him. To strive to love as He does and serve as He does.
I gather you are a great person as well, and have a strong faith in God, and that you too are striving for the same things. I'd love to hear more about how you have been strengthening your faith, and we can leave feelings regarding my church aside, since really our focus should be on the Savior.
@@thecoletrain3187 agree with you!! I've gone through alot of questions and even feeling like leaving myself...but, I remember receiving the answer to my prayers on whether getting baptized into the LDS church, now almost 30 years ago, was correct..I remember the response, so powerful and clear I received...for that reason and also so much more I understand, love I stay in the faith ❤!
Excited to see your reaction to reading The Book of Mormon. Thank you for these videos!
Book of Mormon Central is a great online resource on all sorts of questions about the Book of Mormon, it's historicity, relation to the Bible, etc.
You should read a book called “They Saw Our Day” by Lance Richardson. This may answer some of your questions regarding evidence that corroborates the Book of Mormon. The author of the book spent years searching out and interviewing people from various Native American tribes about their histories and beliefs. It is fascinating, and many of the stories he heard coincide very closely to what is written in the Book of Mormon. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was truly amazed at how their stories parallel stories in the B of M. We believe that the Native American people are remnants of the people from B of M times and Mr. Robinson’s book gave me even more reason to believe that is so. Thanks for your video! I really enjoyed it!
As a Latter-Day Saint, Every Time I have a discussion with a Christian brother of mine they always bring this scripture up. (Galatians 1:8)
As I pray on this scripture I do feel Paul was warning us but not from Joseph Smith but from Mohammed. What I mean is, Mohammed reveals in the Quran that Jesus was a great prophet but NOT the son of GOD. That would be a different gospel.
Latter-Day Saints believe HE is the son of GOD.
I love when your faiths look at our beliefs with an open mind. It’s ok to disagree but let’s not bash other religions. GOD loves all his children. We need to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ and love one another and be open minded to everyone beliefs. 🙏🏽✝️
Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that he is A son of God as opposed to THE Son of God in LDS beliefs?
@@truthbebold4009 whatever works for you. 👍🏽 As long as Jesus Christ is the center of that worship. He is the one we listen to. ✝️🙏🏽
@@peter10562 Accuracy is what works for me. In LDS beliefs, Jesus is just one of billions of sons. The Bible teaches that He is the only begotten Son of God.
@@truthbebold4009 I like results. The results from 1830 to 2022 are powerful. The teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is so perfect and worldwide. To understand the importance of the atonement of Jesus Christ is astronomical. Mind blowing. Joseph Smith proclaimed “No unhallowed hand can’t stop the work from progressing.” Looks like he was right. 🙏🏽
I see how you can get lost in the “Many Gods and Many Savior” teaching but if you understand that Heavenly Father will always be our Father and the Savior will always be our Savior you will have more of a personal relationship like that.
@@peter10562 Which results are you referring to? Membership numbers?
As a former member of the church and now a born again Christian, this is a very well done surface level examination of the Book of Mormon. Having myself read the book of Mormon and the Bible, I think it is helpful to outline the differences between the two. I’m enjoying your channel greatly, and really hope you read and react to the CES letters produced by the LDS church. Those will be eye openers.
The CES letters were not produced by the church. There is also a lot of inconsistencies and misinformation mixed in with the accurate information. Research broadly if you look into these.
@@davidgillis950 Yes, agreed. The CES Letter was written by someone who found a lot on misinformation online and compiled them together with the intent to tear people down. Every point in it has been refuted, either because it was stretched or twisted in the letter, or because it was outright false reasoning. The Reply to the CES Letter on the website The Canonizer would be better to read because it contains the CES Letter and all the reasons why it wasn't made well.
And don't forgot "Letter to My Wife" in addition to CES Letters
I appreciate your open mindedness and good faith questions about the Book of Mormon.
My favorite biblical reference to the Book of Mormon "stick of Joseph" and the Bible "stick of Judah" literally becoming one in our hand and is found in Ezekiel 37 when it talks about Isreal being gathered and restored to their lands in the last days:
12....Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.
15 ¶ The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 ¶ And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
Ezekiel explains what the 'stick of Joseph' is. It is not the Holy Bible.
Ezekiel was speaking to the nation of Israel at that time, not Latter day Saints.
The Bible did not exist at that time.
Ezekiel 37:15-17 does not refer to scrolls or books but to the eventual national unification of the children of Israel. The claim of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints refutes its own contention in a very basic way.
The passage in Ezekiel can not apply to the Book of Mormon which, because it claims to be the record of Israelites and allegedly concentrates on the descendants of a family of the tribe of Manasseh and is not inclusive of all the northern tribes.
The Book of Mormon is not an historical record of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but the alleged historical record of the ancestors of the American Indians. Neither the Latter-day Saints as a group nor the people depicted in the Book of Mormon can fulfill the biblically explained prophecy. No amount of genetic testing or DNA sampling will show the Jewish people and the Latter-day Saints to be of the same ancestry. The Latter-day Saints are simply not of Israelite origins.
Manasseh is not mentioned.
The people in the Book of Mormon were from the tribe of Manasseh, not Ephraim.
Ezekiel 37
5 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
HERE IS THE EXPLANATION
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
_______________
We are told that the two nations (Judah and Israel) will no longer be divided. The old divisions of north and south will be abolished and the nation will be united in God’s hand. No mention is made of two separate records or scrolls being joined together but of Ephraim and the other tribes of Israel joining Judah to become one nation. The stick representing Judah and the stick representing the northern tribes of Israel become one when held end to end in the prophet’s hand. Thus, will the tribes of Israel that the sticks represent become one in actuality.
Ezekiel 37:15-17 makes no reference to two separate records being kept, one for Judah and one for Joseph. Furthermore, there is no promise made of a national unification of Jews and Latter-day Saints taking place in North America or anywhere else. For all their assertions and genealogical research, the Latter-day Saints are not descendants of Joseph and can never join Judah in fulfillment of a nonexistent prophecy. Jews and Mormons will never be united as one nation.
Pastor Jeff, thanks for your fair and kind presentation. I’m glad you’re open-minded about reading the BoM. Please consider the promise the prophet Moroni recorded in the last chapter that those who read and pray about it can know of its truthfulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
nothing should be added or taken away from the Bible. Nothing in the extra books of Mormonism is acceptable.
not only that, but LDS Church rejects the Jesus Christ of Christian orthodoxy in that they believe that God the Father is greater than Jesus.
(which is heresy)
thank you for your video. Don't get sucked in by the 'nice people' at LDS...
You also come off as earnest in your efforts. Love this part of you! I am a Latter-day saint who has never known any other faith as my way of worship. Discovery of truth is exhilarating so may I just add that as you read the Book of Mormon that you not skip the title page, and witness testimonies, nor an understanding of Lehi's descent from the 12 tribes. Where he fits in the times of 1st and 2nd Kings is helpful, but Lehi's son will help you understand this in the 1st book of the text. One of the things that I have always loved about the Book of Mormon is understanding how many hands were in the recording and translation processes. If you track lineage from the early pages, then it will unfold these thoughts to you very well. You'll love 3rd Nephi to determine if this Christ is the same as the New Testament Christ! And finally, don't forget to pray. It is the wish of the book's primary collaborators Mormon and Moroni (father and son). Read their challenge to all readers in Moroni 10: 3 - 5. So excited for you! Some of Paul's thoughts ring so clear in these pages; and since you quoted him, I think you'll love reading some common themes in the pages of this book. I just love Galatians for the fruits of the spirit. Understanding those fruits is a very poignant part of reading the Book of Mormon. Okay, I'll stop before my anticipations get the better of me. May God speed!
As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I totally appreciate this video. You were very respectful and answering with curiosity and respect while also telling us why it’s strange and different from what you believe. It’s helpful for me to know as I talk to others what might be the difficulty and understanding and excepting the book of Mormon. Thank you so much
Your channel is fascinating! I grew up in a blended family where half of my family was LDS and the other half Protestants and I never took a side until my boyfriend at the time came to faith and started digging in… almost exactly as you are and at the time the internet wasn’t full of ex Mormon garbage so he did personal digging and deep dives with pastors. We even went to both kinds of services and he is now a pastor of our church. Needless to say your channel is going to be really helpful for those wondering how to discover the truth…. It’s fun to watch you learn all of this. Thank you for documenting it
He’s my husband now too haha 😂
It's not that there is no archeological evidence, there are just very few people who would understand archeological finds in support of the book of Mormon.
Great video as always! Most of my thoughts have been covered more or less in various comments. I just have one thing to add.
You talked about the Book of Mormon being scripture written for the ancient american people. In the same way that the Old and New testaments were originally written for the contemporary followers of God.
While true that the Book of Mormon contains sermons and revelations that were given to the people living at the time, it is important to realize that Mormon’s inspired compilation of those revelations and stories were intended for our days. Most people in the Book of Mormon never even read the specific compilation we have today.
You can't go by Galatians. Or the last verse in Revelations since the Book of Revelations is not even sealed as the angle of God told John not to seal up the book of the prophecy of this book (meaning John's Book) So that means prophets of God can when God commands add more to the cannon.... Because Paul had died before John was updated by God as to what would happen with the everlasting gospel in the last days after Jesus and the Apostle's death. Now John The Revelator also had an Angle of Heaven come down from heaven and personally appear to him and that angle had revealed to John about his earthly Origins that he used to be a man among the prophets of God before becoming an angle (Rev 22:8 is the big bombshell to the Christian world about Angles of God being once humans beings on earth before becoming transformed into new creatures to become Angles to God or become a exalted Lord and King unto God. Paul talked to the saints about winning a crown from God. Well Rev Chapter 5 shows the results of the righteous saints now wearing crowns of eternal life given to them from God and are no longer saints but are now Lords and Kings unto God..
This angle had also told John how the everlasting gospel was going to be preached by God in the last days. An angle of heaven would be sent down by God in the last days to preach the everlasting gospel to all the World....Rev 14:7 before the Second Coming... So the kingdom of God would be restored back to earth by Angelic Ministry of Heaven. Paul was not talking about in the last days when he warned the Galatian Saints about following another gospel, following another angle. He was talking specifically to the Galatian Saint Audience of that time because the Galatians were in a state of Apostasy for some of the Galatians had been seduced by deceiving false spirits. For Paul also followed Angles of Heaven who had instructed him to go into places but these had tangible bodies of flesh and bone. And John also had an Angle of Heaven come down to him and tell him that an angle would come down in the last days to preach the everlasting gospel to all the world sent by God.. That angle would again restore back the gospel to the earth to fulfill the prophecy of 'A Time of Restitution of all Things (Acts 3:21) and also all the other prophecies..
That is why Isaiah wrote. The Lord will again bring Zion.' Isaiah 52:8 And In Zion shall salvation of the Lord be found. "Zion shall be redeemed with Judgement and her CONVERTS with Righteousness. Isaiah 1:27 Who are these converts? Its talking about the Latter-day Saints converts in the last days in the Kingdom of Zion.. 'For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem..
The inhabitants of Zion will be called TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (isaiah 61:3) The Lord is going to judge us by our works and our thoughts (Jeremiah 17:10). Not by how much we confess with our lips. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves'' Paul said to make it very clear that the gospel is about the saints living God's laws in their own personal lives. Jesus rebuked the seven churches in Revelations for lip service in not keeping all his Father's Commandments and being slothful and lukewarm with him and his Father.. See also Matthew Chapter 25 which makes it clear God will ask for an accounting of actions and works in
the day of judgement..
The Saints in Zion teach that Heaven is all full of fire and everlasting burning where no unclean thing can dwell in because God comes from the glory of the kingdom of the Sun. Isaiah 33:14-15....Otherwise If you take Paul's words literally then John would be condemned for having an Angle of Heaven come down from heaven and giving him revelation from God to tell John that God would send down another angle of heaven in the last days to preach the everlasting gospel to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people. For John said this Angle that God would send down in the last days would have the everlasting gospel not another gospel but this angle would have the everlasting gospel.
And this guy called Joseph Smith which Jeremiah saw in vision Jer 3:21-24 when this happens, Zion would then be established by that man God had picked and we will consider these things in the last days in a day and a time where the Whirlwinds will all be everywhere (which is happening right now with all the hurricanes and tornadoes appearing all over the world in countries they don't normally appear in because the weather has gone all haywire. ) For God will raise up a great storm in the future. See Jeremiah 25:32
So an unlearned man will be picked out to read this record but he won't read the sealed portion of the book, but read the unsealed portion of it. He will have power given to him by God that God had hid up to bring to pass the covenant promises he made with Abraham through the blessings given by God to Joseph of Egypt where truth would spring forth from out of the earth, (blessings of the earth beneath) (The Book of Mormon), and blessings from heaven above (revelation once more on the earth again from God servants his prophets (Amos 3:7).
When the people read the book and they become converted to the true knowledge of God they will stop murmuring against Zion and then learn Doctrine. The Bible had more than just one single person to translate it to distribute it out to the whole world, But In Isaiah 29 it only mentions one man to bring forth this sealed book of scripture. .And you also have this prophecy in Isaiah 2:2-3. that the Law of God will come forth from out of Zion and also from Jersualem in the last days.. Now if the Bible had all the truth in it. Then the law of God would be in every single nation of the world by now, but according to this prophecy that we have of Isaiah, and Amos and Micah they both tell us that the Lord will roar from out of Zion in the last days and also from Jersualem The Lord is going to do his speaking in the last days from Zion and from Jerusalem, hes going to speak from two locations on the planet to every nation.
The Prophet Daniel also had the two members of the Godhead come down and personally visit him (Daniel Chapter 10), and one of the Lords picked Daniel up off the ground with his hands and set him to his feet. So one of them already had a glorified body of flesh and bones to pick Daniel up with. This wasn't Jesus because Jehovah didn't even have a body of flesh and bones in the period of time that Daniel had lived in. For Jehovah had not yet been born on the earth with a body of flesh and bones as Jesus Christ yet. So this was another Lord another member of the Godhead.
Jesus was already standing by his Apostles while Peter, James, and John went up into the cloud to enter into the cloud at the Mount of Transfiguration to meet with God the Father who spoke to them from out of the cloud, they would have seen learnt the truth of Hebrews 1:3 that God the Father is a perfected man, and his son Jesus Christ was made in the same image and likeness also of The Father. And this was BEFORE Jesus Christ was even resurrected.... So that mystery of the Father would then be revealed in 1830 when God the Father and his Son came down again and appeared to Joseph Smith in the woods showing him their resurrected glorified bodies to reveal the mystery of the Father.. Then they would reveal their true identity to him.
That's why when you read in Revelations 3:21 about saints inheriting thrones, and becoming joint heirs with Christ and with God and that God the Father has a throne, and his Son Jesus Christ the Lamb of God also has a throne inherited from the Father, and that the Son of God is on the right hand of the Father, (seated in power and authority with all the heavenly kings seated all around them)
The spirits of men had already lived with God before they were even born down on earth (Eccl 12:7). Confirming of the Pre-existence of spirits with God.
So today God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ are both Glorified Resurrected Immortal Tangible Perfected Beings of flesh and bone (John 20:17). Jesus had not yet returned back up to his Father in Heaven because for the three days during his death he was busy preaching the gospel to all the dead in the spirit world (1 Peter 3:18-19).
It is the Bible Christians who don't have a very clear understanding of what kind of being God is for God and his Son both come from the Kingdom of the Glory of the Sun, so they have got glorified bodies brighter than the brightness of the noonday sun.. Stephen saw the truth when the heavens opened up to him and he saw the Son by the right hand of the Father when he saw them as two resurrected beings when they parted the veil and showed themselves both to him. (Acts 7:56).. Paul also prayed and kneeled to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:21.
The Christians mistake the Lamb of God for God the Father. They think God the Father and Jesus are both the same guy That is incorrect. They are two separate beings. One of them sent the other down to this earth to get a resurrected body so he could then rejoin back again with his Father in heaven to inherit the same body that the Father has........ But as I said, Jesus dwells in the Father's Presence and is one with the Father because the Spirit that comes from God the Father is Omnipresent that is why Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus and they are united as one in unity and harmony with their spirit and wills but physically they are two separate tangible resurrected beings.
The Latter-day Saints have been teaching the truth about who God is
Great video Pastor Jeff! Your video is 4 months old now as I write this so maybe your questions have been addressed already. But for what it's worth here's my two cents.
Does the Book of Mormon speak of the same Jesus Christ?
Absolutely it does. If you haven't done so already I recommend reading 1 Nephi 11, Mosiah 3, Mosiah 15, Alma 7, and of course 3 Nephi 11-30. These chapters among *many* others testify that Jesus is the divine Son of God in every sense. He is the very God of Israel come in the flesh for our redemption and resurrection.
Is there external evidence for the historicity of the Book of Mormon?
Yes there is, and it is increasing every year. But first let me ask you this. Do you believe in the Bible just because of external evidences? Would you believe it in the absence of such things, if it came down to only the scriptural text and the Spirit of God?
I'll just name two remarkable evidences and leave the rest for you as "homework."
1. Nahom. The Book of Mormon record in the beginning indicates that the family of Lehi took a certain route south of Jerusalem along the coast of the Red Sea, and eventually cut eastward to the coast of Southern Arabia. Along the way one of their party named Ishmael unfortunately died. He was buried, Nephi says, in a place called Nahom. (Most of the time when their journeys they assign their own names to various landmarks, but this one he indicates already had a name.)
Nahom has been located.
2. Chiasmus. This is a Hebrew style of poetry consisting of an inverted parallelism. It wasn't identified in western studies until long after the Book of Mormon had gone to press, but the book is absolutely covered in it. The shining example of this is the entire chapter of Alma 36.
Well this comment is long enough by now so I'll call it quits. Thank you again for your honest and open-minded investigation.
President Hinckley, the prophet and revelator of the Mormon church, has publicly declared that the Jesus of Mormonism and traditional Christianity are not the same.
"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.'" (LDS Church News Week ending June 20, 1998, p. 7).
In Mormonism, Jesus is a creation, the product of relations between god and his goddess wife who used to be people from another world (McConkie, Bruce, Mormon Doctrine, p. 192, 321, 516, 589). Jesus is the literal spirit brother of the devil and you and I (McConkie, p. 192, 589). Also, in Mormon theology, God has a body of flesh and bones (Doctrine & Covenants 130:22) as does his wife, and together they produce spirit offspring in heaven who inhabit human bodies on earth.
The Mormon Jesus
The literal son of god and his goddess wife begotten in the pre-existence.
The brother of all spirits born in heaven in the premortal existence.
One of 3 gods in the godhead.
The Trinity is three separate gods.
First one to receive a spirit body.
Atoned for sin on the cross and in the garden of Gethsemane.
The Christian Jesus
Not the literal son of god and his goddess wife.
Not the brother of all spirits born in heaven in a premortal existence.
Not one of 3 gods in the godhead.
The Trinity is 3 persons in one God.
Was always spirit from eternity.
Atoned for sin on the cross alone.
This brief comparison should help you see the difference between the two view of Christ. Jesus cannot be both the literal sexually begotten son of god and not the literal sexually begotten son. He cannot be both one of 3 gods and not one of 3 gods. They are different.
The apostle Paul warned of people like president Hinckley and others who would preach another Jesus.
II Corinthians 11 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
Please think about this.
Eternity is a long time to be wrong.
@@jlewis8145 I'm sure you mean well but you're wrong in your fundamental assumptions, and uncharitable in your description of our beliefs.
President Hinckley was saying that the traditional Jesus (i.e., the one taught by the creeds of men) is not the same as the Jesus found in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. And that is an accurate assessment. The question is not whether there's a difference, but why the creeds have it so wrong.
The real Jesus is, well, REAL. He's no philosophical abstraction. He's not some high-pitched theological idol. He has a tangible, physical resurrected body with parts, and form, and emotions.
His Father, too, is a real Person. Jesus said He was a Man. "The testimony of two men is true," meaning Himself and the Father. He often called himself "the Son of Man" - because our Father is the very Man of Holiness. Jesus said that He so resembled the Father that to see one was to see the other.
The Jesus of the Bible and Book of Mormon speaks to men in all lands and times where they are willing to listen. It is man who closes his ears, not God who closes His mouth.
Many years ago, I read a book called, 'He Walked the Americas'. In this book an archeologist shared traditions and stories passed down from ancient people all across the Americas. These stories describe a white prophet or God. Who, to the author, could have been Jesus Christ. After watching this video, I may see if I can buy that book and read it again.
@A Clawson, you know that Jesus lived in the Middle East. He would definitely not be described as white. The pictures that you see of him in your church are culturally biased.
The most critical error in the video and theology of the LDS church is the last part of the video: "Through living the teachings found in the book of Mormon and the Holy Bible they can find peace in this life and salvation in the life to come"
The Holy Bible never teaches salvation through obedience to scripture. The law is there to expose our sin and inability to be perfect no matter how hard we try. We need Jesus Christ, the only perfectly obedient one, and His payment for our sin in order to be saved. Jesus Christ is the only one who is able to save, and it is only in His righteousness we can stand before a Holy God.
A verse I came across in my reading: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," Rev. 14:6. With the text in Gal. 1:8, I've always wondered if that warning only applies to an angel preaching a different gospel, not to a different interpretation of the gospel.
The Book of Mormon is the trumpet or shofar blowing to warn the world and prepare it for Christ’s return. For 200 years it has been “blowing”. Moroni has a trumpet on the book. He is blowing the Shofar.
I don’t believe the angel in Revelation is preaching a different Gospel. I think he is preaching THE Gospel. Therefore I wouldn’t connect it to the Galatian verse at all.
@@KnuttyEntertainment that passage isn't about Joseph Smith...it's about Joseph in Genesis. :)
@@KnuttyEntertainment You know? I watched the video...we will just disagree that the Biblle doesn't teach about the Mormon religion.
I love the Book of Mormon! I find that treating it as scripture does influence some interpretations of Biblical passages, but not the essential ones. As a pastor yourself, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the assertion that the Book of Mormon teaches Biblical Christianity, regardless of how the LDS church interprets it.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints read and study the King James Bible. It's that simple. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ -- just as the New Testament is different volume of scripture that adds value to the Old Testament.
@Aleph Newell Not the essential ones?!? Is the gospel an essential one? Compare 2 Nephi 25:23 and Moroni 10:32 with Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 4:1-8, Galatians 3:1-9, and Romans 11:6.
@@KD-bn8uq thanks for pointing out a blind spot of mine. I did not word my comment well. (To the people of TH-cam) The Book of Mormon was given by God, in part, to teach the true points of the doctrine of Christ which are found only in a fractured form in the Bible, but greatly clarified in the Book of Mormon. The “essential” Biblical passages still agree with the doctrine of Christ taught in the BoM, but the complete doctrine of Christ is so hard to piece together in the Bible that we have all these denominations preaching competing “gospels” based in pet scriptures in the Bible.
No properly interpreted “essential” Bible verse is contradicted by the Book of Mormon.
@@EduardoNewell You are welcome. Please feel free to point out or challenge anything that I write. Aleph, do you know how many denominations there are that believe in and follow the Book of Mormon? There are around one hundred denominations that fall under what is known as the Latter Day Saint movement. Do they all preach the same thing or are they all "preaching competing 'gospels' based in pet scriptures in the" Book of Mormon? The Community of Christ formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the second largest denomination. It was established by Joseph Smith's eldest son Joseph Smith III. Another denomination, the "Church of Christ (Temple Lot)" Mormons in Independence, Missouri own the land that Joseph Smith In Doctrine and Covenants Section 84 prophesied that the Temple would be built on during that generation. Section 84:1-5 appears to be the type of false prophesy which is condemned in Deuteronomy 18:20-22. Aleph, you state that, "The Book of Mormon was given by. God...". This is your presupposition which is fine. We all have presuppositions. I presuppose that the Bible is the Word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presupposes this too, but they add an addendum, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." Aleph, I am sure that you will agree with me that the Bible (specifically the Old Testament) is the oldest of God's revelations. I am also sure that you will agree with me that the New Testament authors (eg.. Hebrews 4:12), apostles (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Peter 1:22-25, etc.), and Jesus (Matthew chapters 4:1-10, 15:1-9, Matthew 22:23-46, John 5:39-40, 17:17, etc.) completely affirm the Old Testament. In fact, it would be blasphemous for them to think that the Old Testament had been changed or corrupted. Aleph, don't you find it interesting that the Book of Mormon goes against this pattern? In 1 Nephi chapter 13, the Book of Mormon makes the claim that "plain and precious things have been taken from" the Bible, and it claims that you can know the Book of Mormon is true by praying about it (Moroni 10:4,5) and receiving a "feeling" (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8). I can't accept either of these claims for a few reasons. First, the Old Testament tells us not to trust our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) nor are we to follow a way that "feels" right to us (Proverbs 14:12). Second, the Old and the New Testaments provide many ways to test if a person or a book claims to speak for God (Deuteronomy 13:1-11, Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Isaiah 8:20, 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15, Galatians 1:6-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1, etc.). None of these tell the reader to pray to find out if a person or a book claims to speak for God. James 1:5 in context is telling the believers to pray for wisdom when they are going through trials and tribulations (James 1:2,3). Third, God tells us in Psalm 138:2 that He "hast magnified thy word above all thy name." If God were to allow His word to be corrupted, then men could accuse God of lying (Romans 3:4). For instance, let's say that "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14) was allowed to be changed to "Thou shalt commit adultery". When an adulterous man died and faced God at Judgment Day and was condemned for committing adultery, he could say to God, "You lied". Your book said I should commit adultery. If God allowed His word to be corrupted, people could mimic Satan and say, "Yea, hath God said..." (Genesis 3:1). Do you see what happens to God's character if He allows His Word to be corrupted? His character is maligned. We have a saying where I am from, "A man is only as good as his word." If this is true for men, how much more true is it for God (John 17:17)? Aleph, I could continue on (and I will if you reply), but it is getting late and I need to go to bed.
@@KD-bn8uq I see your point. It is based on the presupposition that the Bible is the (inerrant?) word of God. How do you come to this presupposition in the first place? At what point do your beliefs not come down to presuppositions based on your reasoning combined with the spirit of God?
I believe God ultimately gives us his word through the Holy Ghost, which is spiritual, and is captured in part (sometimes low resolution, sometimes high resolution) in scripture. The scriptures are an invitation for us to go to God directly. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
We plant the seed of faith by experimenting on words we hear that stir our spirit and then look for the fruits. If good fruit comes of it, then it is of God. If better fruit comes from better seeds, then those are more especially from God. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:17-20
I think we are accountable to follow the good fruit that God has given to us. What that is specifically is between us and God. But we must be careful not to murmur or reject when he gives more of his word to us, whatever the form.
First of all, thank you for your video here. You state your position clear in comparison to Latter-day Saint theology without belittling or disparaging our faith. Having said that, I would also state a few things you might have missed or didn’t quite get.
God said in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall all my word be established. We believe the Bible to be the first witness and the Book of Mormon to be the second. Some may ask,” why do we need the Book of Mormon if the Bible contains all that we need for salvation?” If you take a single point, you can draw a infinite number of straight lines through that single point. However, if you take two single points, you can only draw one single straight line through them both. The Bible is a single point or witness. We have seen a plethora of religions (many thousands of straight lines) drawn through that single point, each claiming they have the truth. A second point(the Book of Mormon) was necessary to establish that single line, interpretation or truth to fulfill Paul’s teaching that the church bring us into a unity of the faith.
Secondly- Jesus was not reincarnated as you assumed because the Book of Mormon teaches he visited the America’s having a body of flesh and bone. We learn in the New Testament that Christ was resurrected and appeared to many, whom they felt Christ’s body and that it was flesh and bone. Christ declared himself that he wasn’t a spirit but had a body of flesh and bone. He even ate to show his physicality. Why would he appear differently to the people in the America’s. Understand that when Jesus appears to them, he descends from heaven, being introduced by the Father as His Son. The people heard Gods voice and saw Jesus in his glory descend upon them. Healed their sick, gave sight to the blind, blessed their children and wept because of his love for them. Called 12 apostles and ordained them, organizing his church among them.
Last thing. There is documentary out that appears to be loved by the Christian community called,”Patterns of Evidence”. This same pattern can be applied to the Book of Mormon in my opinion. The pattern is there with no specific scientific proof. The place called Nahom being the closest bullseye.
Great job! God bless you in your journey of scriptural and historical research. I will continue to follow.
I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a returned missionary, I served in Sierra Leone from 2011-2013. I’ve seen a few of your videos and love your approach to learning of this restored gospel. There is scriptural evidence in the Bible about the Book of Mormon, such as Ezekiel 37:16-20. Some of the questions you posed in this video can be answered by reading the Book of Mormon. Remember, just as in James 1:5 and Moroni 10:4-5, pray and ask god with real intent and an open heart and by the power of the Holy Spirit you may know the truth of all things.
Also, fun fact, the Nephites and Lamanites are among the principle ancestors of the people of the First Nations, but not the only ones. The Jewish civilization is far, far older than the Nephite civilization, which only lasted about a thousand years between 600 bc to 412 ad. The nephites themselves found ruins and written records of a far older civilization that was destroyed close to their arrival to the land. Their record exists as an abridgment in the Book of Mormon called The Book of Ether, where it is revealed they originated from the time of the Tower of Babel referenced in Genesis (also why the video said the Book of Mormon contained thousands of years of scriptures, because Mormon included the Jaredite record in Ether.)
I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and here are some of the things that we believe. Don’t just take my word for it, read the Book of Mormon yourself and make your own conclusion, I testify that if you read with faith and ask God he will reveal that’s these things that are written are true.The connection between the Bible and Book of Mormon. They are both talking about the inhabitants of the land and Gods dealings with his people around the world. The Bible is in the old world while the Book of Mormon is in the new world or the Americas. The Book of Mormon is a continuation of the Bible, descendants of Gods people in Jerusalem from the Old Testament. In the Book of Mormon it talks about Lehi sending his sons Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi to go get the brass plates and tells them that it is the history of their fathers who are of the house of Joseph so it definitely connects a continuation of the Bible. In the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi is told by the lord to leave Jerusalem and take a few possessions and his family into the wilderness in around 600 BC. Years later they built a boat, heading to the promised land the new world in the Americas.
In the old testiment it also refers of A prophet Lehi who was during the time they were killing all the prophets but never tells how he died.
Ha, looking at the comments maybe you’re already overwhelmed by the interest of Latter-day Saints. Thanks for your respectful approach. I hope you discover that although we are different, we’re on a similar mission and we can be brothers. I also hope you include God in this journey. Best of luck in this project and your ministry.
You caught on to a lot of important information really fast, especially in relation to the Book of Mormon being translated by power of God.
Pay attention to your feelings during your reading.
Be aware of the view that other people have of this book. I mean, would be hard to anyone believe in christ studying the new testament guided by opinion of Caifas, or Herodes. Keep your mind clean from thoughts that other people have putted into it.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The key words here are 'preach any other gospel.' Find out for yourself. Read the book and find out for yourself if it preaches any other gospel. Don't condemn it before you have read it.