There are so many religions out there...many believe to be "the only true church". Mormonism is certainly one that makes this claim. But, at the very surface of the LDS Church, the flaws are quickly apparent with the existence of the Book of Mormon and it's claim to be "Another Testament".
We shall see....
Biblical Scripture squashes that possibility immediately in Galatians 1:7-9.
Well, let's take a look.
Gal 1:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
First, we would need to prove the gospel taught by Protestant Christianity is the original gospel Paul is referring to, and also prove the LDS Church is a perverted gospel. Unfortunately, since neither of us have a time machine, all we have is the teachings of the Bible ALONE as a criteria. If the gospel of Mormonism passes this test, then clearly a possibility exists.
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.
Ironically, in verse 12, Paul says "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." illustrating that the gospel can be taught by revelation. This opens up many possibilities, not squashing them.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Again, this statement is only good as the claim of the gospel they received. Nothing is squashed or determined from this statement. It merely begs the question "What is the gospel [they] have received?"
"Testament" is also a word for "Covenant". This is what Christianity teaches for Mormons trying to understand where Christians are coming from...perhaps you'll understand the absurdity of the possibility of the very claim of "Another Testament":
Rather than assuming Mormons don't know what "Testament" means, it might be important to identify the reasons why Mormons consider the Book of Mormon another covenant, and address them directly.
In 1982, the phrase “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” was added as a subtitle to the Book of Mormon. Some may wonder what it means that the Book of Mormon is “Another Testament” and why this additional description is so important. This article shows how the Book of Mormon acts as another...
knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org
The Born Again experience is a death sentence.
Very true!
Omni 1: 26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and
offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved
when a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ, their old self dies and is crucified with Christ. They are buried with Christ. Then they are raised to new life in Christ because of His Resurrection and become a new self.
Yes. Isnt it wonderful?
Mosiah 27: 25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God
The entire nature of a believer is righteous, Holy, and blameless....none of this has anything to do with what we are doing, but rather, by the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Yep.
Alma 5: 26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? 27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
Believers are partakers of the divine nature and seated in Heavenly places. A new believer is no longer of this world and becomes an eternal creature...all because of the finished work of Jesus Christ....absolutely nothing to do with what we are doing.
Faith in God's Grace, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Yes. It's by God's power we are able to act in righteousness at all.
Moroni 10:
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
The true Church is spiritual, not a building with walls and a ceiling.
By their fruits they are known. Foundation of the Church is apostles and prophets, Christ being the chief cornerstone. There is one Lord, one faith, and baptism.
Christ lives in every born again believer.
True, and yet men have agency to choose that spirit which is in them.
This has never been lost...Jesus didn't fail in His mission, as the LDS Church would insist. Jesus said "it is finished". There is no wiggle room.
Huh? Please reference any LDS source that says Christ failed. Christ's work to pay for our sins was finished on the cross.
Salvation is a gift, which, by definition, is not something one earns. Born again believers are Holy, righteous, and blameless because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Yes. Of course.
Alma 5: 10 And now I ask of you on what conditions are they saved? Yea, what grounds had they to hope for salvation? What is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea, and also the chains of hell? 11 Behold, I can tell you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them? 12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
I wonder if Mormons here have ever wondered how born again believers are consistent in their beliefs despite not likely attending the same church building on a weekly basis. It's because the true Church is spiritual! Born again believers ARE the Church.
I don't spend my time wondering about the beliefs of others. I trust God will lead them according to His will. His elect will hear his voice, and follow in His footsteps.
No LDS Apostles mentioned in Revelations 21:9-27
