Letter to a Mormon Family

Dear Ken and Debby,

I have had to die to myself in order to write you this letter because it would hurt me to badly to still be the selfish kid who wants nothing in this world but his girlfriend Rosemary. I truly believe it was the Lord Jesus Christ who helped me write this difficult letter. It is quite obvious what this letter is all about , because Rosemary and I have come to a point in our relationship that we cannot seem to get past. In fact, the anticipation of this crisis has practically transformed my personality into a grumpy, stressed out jerk. I apologize if I haven't seemed my self lately, but I really haven't been. I know Rosemary has noticed because I just don't seem to be fun guy she fell in love with. The truth is that the reality of our relationship has really taken its toll on me as of late.

Well, I finally feel like I've come to a point in my investigation of the Mormon Church that I cannot go beyond, the Book of Mormon. In all of our many discussions thus far, I can't remember one that didn't end with, "Read the Book of Mormon, because if it it's true, then everything about the Mormon Church is true. Consequently, if it isn't true, then the Mormon Church isn't true." The reason I have stopped asking questions lately and stopped watching your movies or reading your articles is because I was doing just that. I've been reading the Book of Mormon since Spring Break in Mexico.

It is an amazing book, and I'd like to share with you now the questions, comments, and concerns I have about it. However, it is vital that you don't merely skim over this paper or else you will have lost its value and my message to you. It is written and intended that you both sit down with your Book of Mormon and go through it one question at a time. If it takes you until next Christmas, then so be it, although I highly doubt that it will. I've structured many of the questions so that you have to read the verse in the B of M in order to understand it. Furthermore, I have tried to keep it out of the first person so that you hopefully never feel I'm directing the questions at you personally.

Let me start by saying that I was totally encouraged by how clear the gospel was spelled out in the Book of Mormon. To clarify my understanding of the gospel, let me start out by walking through what I consider the 6 major points in the gospel. I also believe that these are the same 6 points emphasized in the Bible. I would encourage you to look at least at the first couple verses in each group.

I. MAN IS A SINNER AND SEPARATED FROM GOD

2 Nephi 2:21; Mosiah 3:19, 4:5, 14:6 (Identical to Isaiah 53:6?); Alma 5:7, 9:30, 12:22, 26:17, 34:9, 42:14; Moroni 10:25

II. THE LAW DOES NOT SAVE

2 Nephi 2:5, 2:7, 25:25, 25:27; Mosiah 3:15, 13:27; Alma 34:13-14; Ether 12:11

III. WORKS DO NOT SAVE; IT IS A GIFT

2 Nephi 2:4, 26:25, 26:27; Ether 12:8, 12:33 (See John 6:28-29)

IV. SALVATION COMES BY JESUS CHRIST

2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 3:12, 3:13, 3:16, 3:21, 4:7-8, 15:9, 16:13, 16:14, 16:15, 18:20; Alma 5:15, 7:13, 7:14

V. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Mosiah 5:7, 27:24, 27:25, 27:26, 27:28; Alma 7:14

VI. NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

2 Nephi 26:11; Alma 5:28, 5:31, 5:33, 34:31, 34:33, 34:35

Here are some other subjects that the Book of Mormon clearly teaches, but that current Mormon theology does not.

ONE GOD

The B of M teaches monotheism (one God). The LDS today teach polytheism (many gods---The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit, eventually us as well, etc.)

Read these carefully and ask yourself if these don't sound a little bit different than what your taught or how you talk about God.

Title Page of B of M ("Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God."); The Testimony of Three Witnesses page, the last line; 2 Nephi 11:7 in two places; 2 Nephi 19:6; 2 Nephi 26:12; 2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 7:27; Mosiah 13:34; Mosiah 15:1-5; Mosiah 16:15; Alma 11: 26-35, 38-40 Alma 11: 44; Alma 18: 24-28; Ether 3:14

HELL

The B of M teaches hell is forever. The description in these verses does not sound like a lower level of "heaven," but rather a miserable place of torture. Notice also the type of people who deserve this and will end up there- --evil sinners or are they just ordinary unbelievers?

1 Nephi 14:3; 1 Nephi 15:35; 2 Nephi 28:16; 2 Nephi 28:22, 23; Jacob 7:18; Alma 26:19, 20; Helaman 12:26; 3 Nephi 27:11, 17; Ether 14:25

SECRET SOCIETIES

The Book of Mormon teaches against secret societies, but the LDS temple ceremonies and those who participate in them would make up a secret society. If you argue that that it isn't a secret society, then you should ask any other person in the world that isn't LDS. Please read what it says about them and compare.

I Nephi 20:16; 2 Nephi 9:9; 2 Nephi 28:9; Alma 37:22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; Mormon 8:27; Mormon 8:40; Ether 8:14-16, 18, And 22; Ether 11:22; Ether 14:8,10

OTHER CHURCHES

The following versus show how the LDS puts down all other churches. I have heard it asked by some of my Mormon friends why everyone picks on the Mormons? Perhaps this is why.

I Nephi 13:5,6, And 8; I Nephi 13:26, 28; I Nephi 13:32; I Nephi 14:9, 10; I Nephi 14:17

Upon reading the Book of Mormon for the third time, I feel like I at least started to digest some of it. I would plead with you that you go through each of these verses carefully, don't skip any, and at least think about and challenge what I've said. Just think, if you reach the end of the list and nothing has pricked your side with doubt, then you will be that much more familiar with the book and that much more convicted of its truth.

It has obviously come to the point where we must be totally honest with each other, so I pray that nothing I say will offend or upset you personally, I'm simply trying to give you an explanation for my decision.

I've tried my hardest to word each question objectively so that it talks about the Mormon Church, and never you personally.

The verses I have taken note of are ones that stuck out to me as either errors, contradictions with the Bible, ridiculous statements, changes, absurdities, or copied versus from the KJV of the Bible.
Before I get into the text itself, there are a few things that don't make sense to me:

1. Notice the subtitle, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." I know what a testament is---it is a covenant-and I know what the first two are:

The Old Testament- -God promised a Messiah to come and redeem the world, and
The New Testament- -God promised eternal life to those who believe in His son.

But I do not know what the third one is. Do you? Again, Testament does not mean testimony, but rather covenant.

2. On the first page of the Book of Mormon, Moroni's challenge is quoted from Moroni 10:3-5. Notice the word "Eternal," and then ask yourself how it is that God was once a man. Eternity goes both ways, future and past.

3. Go to the title page and notice the "Translated By" because this was stated as "Author and Proprietor" in the original 1830 edition. These clearly mean different things. Although it shouldn't matter where I obtained an 1830 addition of the B of M, I'm sure you curious. My best Christian friend in High School, Heather Johnston, dated a Mormon boy for over a year. This boy's father gave her the book to use during her Religious Studies class at Colorado U. I borrowed it from her. I can get you xeroxed copies if you would like. Let me know.

4. Next, go to the page of the Testimonies of Eight Witnesses. It seems strange that God asked them to testify of the book prior to them having seen it. Also, notice the "seen" and "hefted." Then go to II Nephi 27: 12,13. The tour at Temple Square in SLC furthermore said the plates weighed in excess of 230 lbs. Of the eight witnesses, you said the first five apostasized because the persecution was so strong, which leaves the remaining three as members of the Smith family. Family cannot legally testify (according to Tom Armour) and this document is not dated either. Again, Mr. Armour said any legal document must be dated.

You are probably totally discouraged with me at this point, but I must go on, and I beg you to bear with me. You must think I am just nit-picking wherever I can, but I'm not, these points really seemed important to me. It may seem like I have totally removed my faith from all of this, but I haven't, I'm simply reading the B of M like I read my Bible. Furthermore, I'll say it again, I would never be able to live with myself if I wasn't thorough.

Please read each verse after you read my comment or question, that is the most important part by far. Otherwise, you will not understand my question. I've only listed the ones I felt to be the most significant. Please fill free to flip through my B of M because there are another couple hundred questions in there written in the margins.

I NEPHI

I Nephi (Chapter 1)---Notice how many times "I" and "my" are used in the first three verses here. It is so different from the Bible. It is hard to find the author of many of the Old Testament books. Half of the Old Testament never even gives us a clue about the authorship. Also notice how Nephi brags about being highly favored of the Lord, having great knowledge, and of his high birth. So different from the biblical writers.

I Nephi 1:2---I underlined "Language of the Egyptians." The Jews hated the Egyptians and would never have written their sacred records in Egyptian. It would have been an affront to God. The principle language of the Jews was Hebrew.

I Nephi 1:6---The "pillar of fire" sounds like right out of Exodus. These expressions from the Bible are too numerous to mention all of them. And I'm sure there are plenty I wouldn't catch.

I Nephi 1:7,12---The "overcome with the Spirit" makes me wonder what spirit? Note the date at the bottom of the page and then look up John 7:39.

I Nephi 2:5---The name "Sam" is not a Hebrew name. It sounds more like a Yankee name.

I Nephi 2:8---It says a "river...emptied into the Red Sea." No river then or now empties into the Red Sea. A river is a river. Look for yourself.

Also this was quite a trip, from Jerusalem to the Red Sea, to make in just three days by foot.
I Nephi 2:14---Again they are being "filled with the Spirit." See John 7:39 and the date at the bottom of the page.

I Nephi 3:10---I marked "Land of Jerusalem" because there was no such place. A land of Judea, yes.

I Nephi 3:19---"Language of our father." These folks were Jews---not Egyptians, remember.

I Nephi 4:19,21---Here he cuts off another man's head and puts on the dead man's garments and no one seems to notice anything amiss. Did the man not bleed?

I Nephi 4:26---The word "Church" is not found until the New Testament. See the date at the bottom of the page. The word is Greek as well and Joseph Smith staunchly claimed there was no Greek on the plates. (See Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 299) I bought this book.
I Nephi 5:16-Nephi "did discover the genealogy of his fathers." Why did he not know? He supposedly had lived in Jerusalem all his life and genealogy was public record. Every Jew knew who his fathers were.

I Nephi 11: 21,32---The words "even the Son" and "the Son of God" have been added since the 1830 version of The Book of Mormon.

I Nephi 12:9---There are countless number of these examples. "Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel" is an Old Testament time period prophecy given in New Testament wording as in Luke 22:30.

I Nephi 13:26---The phrase "have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb" is odd when you note the date at the bottom of the page.

I Nephi 13:39---Here the author seems to think the Bible is translated correctly. Why do the LDS question it today? The words "the Son of" have been added since the original 1830 edition.

I Nephi 14:23---This scene is indeed strange. God never showed visions to one prophet and then expected another prophet to record it for the Bible.

I Nephi 17:2---I wonder about the "raw meat." Jews were forbidden to eat raw meat. See Exodus 12:9. Why in the world would they want to eat it raw anyway?

I Nephi 17:35---This verse seems to contradict the Bible. The "he that is righteous is favored of God" does not agree with Romans 3:10.

I Nephi 19:2---This Nephi is some smart fellow. he did not know that the Lord would later command him to make these plates. But lucky for him he had been making them.
Notice "more part" which is sprinkled throughout the whole Book of Mormon. That is very poor English.

I Nephi 19:10---It says here there would be three DAYS of darkness at the time of Jesus' death. This is a false prophesy for in the Bible it says there were only three HOURS of darkness. See Luke 23:44

I Nephi 20:1---Notice this chapter is copied from Isaiah 48. "Out of the waters of baptism" has been added since the original 1830 edition. Do they figure no one reads the book closely enough to notice these significant changes?

I Nephi 20:8---I underlined the "transgressor from the womb." I wonder why the LDS wait until their children are eight years old to baptize them if they believe that baptism is essential and they are transgressors from the womb?

I Nephi 22:15---The words "stubble" and "the day cometh that they must be burned." This is quoting Malachi 4:1. Note the date at the bottom of the page. This date is about 100 years before Malachi was born and here he is being quoted.

I Nephi 22:20---This is probably about the worst mistake in the whole book. The author says he is quoting Moses and then goes on to quote Peter's paraphrase. The author should have used Deuteronomy 18:15-18, but he copies from Acts 3:22. Notice the date at the bottom of the page. Peter had not even been born as yet.

I Nephi 22:21---The "was" is in the wrong tense if the date at the bottom of the page is correct.

Again, there are numerous other questions I have in I Nephi, but I left them in the book. Please keep reading the versus from the Book of Mormon.

II NEPHI

II Nephi 2:25---"Adam fell that man might be..." See the LDS Articles of Faith. Number 2 says Adam transgressed.

II Nephi 3:3---I underlined "for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed." This is a false prophecy. These were the Nephites who were annihilated according to the tale.

II Nephi 3---The prophesy in this chapter telling of Joseph Smith is most enlightening. Joseph must have been a wicked black-skinned Lamanite because the white and delightsome righteous Nephites were all killed off.

II Nephi 3:14---History bears out that this was a false prophesy. The men who did destroy this so-called "prophet" were not confounded.

II Nephi 5:15,16---Here is one of many anachronisms. The "steel" is a dead give away. There was no steel in this period of history. Note the date at the bottom of the page. No trace of anything of steel has ever been found from this date on the American or any other continent.

II Nephi 5:16---This is taking place a few years after these folks supposedly left Jerusalem, so there could not have been over 30 to 50 people, and many of these would be children and yet they build a temple that was like Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. It took seven years, over 150,000 workers and 30,000 overseers to do in Jerusalem?

II Nephi 5:26---Jacob and Joseph had been born while their folks were in the wilderness less than thirty years past, (see verse 28), and here they are being made priests. The Jewish law forbade a man from being a priest until he reached the age of thirty. These men were from the wrong tribe to be priests as well.

II Nephi 6:17---Again God is promising to deliver his "covenant people" here-but read on. This is a false prophesy.

II Nephi 8---This whole chapter is copied from Isaiah 51. Even the italicized words that were added later to the King James Version for clarification, are found here.

II Nephi 9:8, 9---Here it tells us that the "devil" can "transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light." Joseph Smith wrote in his first Doctrine and Covenants, that an "angel of light" was who gave him the golden plates. Of course this has been deleted in later editions.

II Nephi 9:38---The words "those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face and remain in their sins" seems to contradict the LDS' practice of baptism for the dead. See Hebrews 9:27 as well.

II Nephi 10:3---"Christ...should be his name" is incorrect. Christ is a title-not a name. His name is Jesus.

II Nephi 13-22---These chapters are copied straight from Isaiah 3-12.

II Nephi 22:2---JEHOVAH is the Mormon Jesus, but her it speaks of God.

II Nephi 23---This is chapter 13 of Isaiah. It was this chapter that I marked all the italicized words from the KJV Bible. As you know, these words were not in the original text, but added for clearer understanding when the Bible was translated into English. So it would have been impossible for these italicized words to have been on the golden plates.

II Nephi 25:1---"Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand."

This is the zinger. Why in the world then did the writer quote over fifteen chapters of Isaiah, up to this point (he quotes more later), if he thought it was too hard for the people to understand?

II Nephi 25:23---The "after all we can do" is not what the Bible states in Ephesians 2:8,9. Besides, are any of us really doing all we can do??

II Nephi 26:32, 33--Here it tells us "God hath commanded that men should not murder" and also that "none of these iniquities come of the Lord." Look back at I Nephi 4:10. Who's spirit was telling them to kill Laban?

At the end of verse 33 is says "ye denieth none...black and white." Why did the Mormons deny the Blacks the priesthood until a new revelation was given in 1978??

II Nephi 27:12---It says that only three witnesses would see the gold plates. Why did eight more say they did?

II Nephi 27:23---"I am the same yesterday, today, and forever" is copied right from Hebrews 13:8, and certainly challenges the LDS doctrine that God was once a man.

II Nephi 28:14---The "followers of Christ" does not square with the date at the bottom of the page.

II Nephi 29:3---"Bible" is a Greek word that wasn't even used at this time period. Again, remember that Joseph Smith said denied that there were any Greek words on the plates he translated.

II Nephi 29:6---Here the author calls anyone who believes the Bible, the perfect complete revelation from God, a fool. See Hebrews 1:1,2; Revelation 22:18,19; I Peter 1:23-25; and II Peter 1:21.

II Nephi 30:6---"White" was in the original, but has recently been changed to read "pure." Pure is not white, and white is not pure, and if you think so then read Mosiah 18:5 and substitute the word white for pure. If it did mean the same thing, then why did it need to be changed? Again, I think the 1978 revelation allowing blacks into the priesthood may have had something to do with it.

Also, it should be noted that there is never any indication that changes have been made. That really isn't very honest.

II Nephi 31:3---I underlined "he speaketh unto men according to their language." Why then were they to write in reformed Egyptian. They probably did not understand it and surely the ones who would receive the plates would not understand it either.

II Nephi 31:6---At the bottom of the page it says it was between 559 and 545 before Christ, and in verse 6 it says Christ was baptized. Six centuries before His birth.

II Nephi 31:7-10---Notice all the words in the past tense and the date at the bottom of the page. "he was, he showeth, he humbleth, after he was, descended, showeth, having set," and "he said."

II Nephi 33:6---Here Jesus is supposed to have redeemed Nephi from Hell between 559 and 545 B.C.

JACOB

Jacob 1:15---Here it calls a "wicked practice" that of having "many wives." In addition, if polygamy should be practiced it would have involved incest as there were no other women besides sisters, first cousins or daughters.

Jacob 2:24, 26, 27, 31, and 33---All these verses forbid having more than one wife. However, the Doctrine and Covenants commands polygamy. These are good verses to show that the Book of Mormon does not teach Mormonism.

Jacob 4:1---The phrase "I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates" is most questionable when you read such verses like 4 Nephi 1:6 and chapter after chapter of Isaiah.

Jacob 4:5---Tells us they "believed in Christ" (note the date at the bottom of the page) and yet they "keep the law of Moses." The author shows he didn't have the slightest idea what he was talking about. With Christ, we don't need the law. That was His whole purpose for coming.

Jacob 4:9---The phrase "to speak and man was created" seems to contradict the Bible. See Genesis 2:7 where it says God formed man out of the dust of the ground. He did not just speak and man appeared. He could have, but that is not what Scripture sates happened.

Jacob 7:1---Here a man named Sherem appears. He was not a Lamanite because he was not black. He was not a Nephite or the people would have known him. This was only 50 to 75 years since the people arrived in the new land. Was not the land they came to supposedly uninhabited? So, where did this fellow come from?

Jacob 7:27---I know the word "adieu" is a French word. Besides not having anything but reformed Egyptian on the plates, French did not develop from Latin until approximately 700 A.D.

ENOS

Enos 1:8---Here is an exceptionally questionable statement. This fellow is allegedly saved, "Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen."

Enos 1:20---Here only a generation from being raised in "Christian" families, these people have become "wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people." Is this really feasible.

Enos 1:27---I have underlined Paul's words, "mortal shall put on immortality" from I Corinthians 15:53. There are hundreds of these borrowed phrases in the Book of Mormon, most of which have not even been noted.

JAROM

Jarom 1:8---Notice the anachronisms here in this one verse. The "machinery," the "iron" and the "steel." Are these materials out of date?

WORDS OF MORMON

Words Of Mormon---This book sounds like an excuse for Joseph having let the first 116 pages get away from him?

Words Of Mormon vs. 4---"as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled," is simply not true. I've already pointed out a number of prophesies that failed to occur.

Words Of Mormon vs. 7---Mormon said, "I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things." He is correct. Why then does Moroni 10:3-5 teach that man can know all things?

Words Of Mormon vs. 18---The word "faculty" is much too modern to have been used in 130 B.C.

MOSIAH

Mosiah 1:2 and 1:4---Again notice the "language of his fathers" and the language of the Egyptians." The language of the Jews was mostly Hebrew and the Egyptians were their enemies. Lehi would not have been taught Egyptian. There is no logical reason why he would of been.

Mosiah 2:3---I have underlined "the firstling of their flocks" and "burnt offerings." Firstlings were never used for burnt offerings-they were a peace offering. See Exodus 13:2, 12 and 22.

Mosiah 3:5---The "Lord Omnipotent who reigneth" could have been copied from Revelation 19:6. The "who was, and is from eternity to all eternity" does not square with the LDS teaching that God was once a man.

Also, the "healing the sick, raising the dead," "causing the lame to walk," "blind to receive their sight" and "all manner of diseases" sound amazingly like Matthew 10:8, 11:5 and 10:1.

Mosiah 3:8---Here about 124 B.C. they give Mary's name. She was only referred to as "a virgin" in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Mosiah 3:11---This statement directly contradicts the LDS' Articles of Faith that says men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression. Here we find "his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam."

Mosiah 3:12---Here is a beautiful and true statement. "Salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." No word of law, ordinances or other requirements found here.

Mosiah 5:15---There are two phrases that I underlined. The first is "steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works" from 1 Corinthians 15:58. The second is "created all things in heaven and in earth" (Colossians 1:16) which disagrees with the temple ceremony. In the temple it is portrayed that Jesus (a.k.a. Jehovah) and Michael perform the job of creation. I have lots of Mormon friends.

Mosiah 7:27---The words "Christ was the God, the Father of all things," "take upon him the image of man" and "God should come down among the children of men and take upon him flesh" really does not agree with present Mormon theology. The question of gods with bodies again arises.

Mosiah 11:2---This verse really makes problems for explaining how God one day would reverse Himself and command polygamy.

Mosiah 11:11---The "seats" for the "high priests" disturbs me. They are talking about inside the temples (plural). I thought there was only one high priest at a time. Also one temple. And the temple at Jerusalem never had seats for the high priests. The priest did his work standing, showing the never-ending task. Only when Christ became the perfect sacrifice did he ascent to the Father and sit down. The task was done. Once for all.

Mosiah 13:34---The words "God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of a man" makes me wonder how he would take upon himself something he already had, if he was a man?

Mosiah 15:10---Note the word "soul" which they are saying was an offering for sin. The Bible teaches it was the BODY and the BLOOD.

Mosiah 15:15-18---Here the author is borrowing from Isaiah 52:7, but repeats himself and slightly changes the wording.

Mosiah 15:29-31---These verses are from Isaiah 52:8-10. Even though Isaiah was so hard to understand, it seems the writer borrows liberally from him anyway as well as from many other Biblical writers.

Mosiah 16:11--Notice the "endless damnation" which most Mormons do not believe to be so.
Mosiah 18:20-This is an interesting verse. It is not done by the Mormons and note the date at the bottom of the page which makes the "had redeemed" in the wrong tense. I can't recall the topics in this verse ever being preached at church when I have gone with you.

Mosiah 18:26---Note the "priest were not to depend on the people for their support" disagrees with the Old Testament priestly system. See also 1 Corinthians 9:13-and then look up D & C 42:71-73.

Mosiah 21:28---Here is one of the most difficult mistakes to deal with in the Book of Mormon. The name "Mosiah" was "Benjamin" in the original 1830 edition (look it up if you don't believe me). But a few chapters back (Chapter 6:5) Benjamin had died. Apparently before the next edition was printed someone noticed the blunder and corrected it.

Mosiah 23:16---Here is a verse that the LDS Missionaries simply could not even attempt to explain. It states "Alma" was "being the founder of their church." In Matthew 16:18 Christ said He would build His Church. If Christ's Church was already founded why would He say He was going to found it? So the church that Alma founded could not have been one and the same as Christ's church. Besides, it is between 145 and 121 B.C. when Alma instituted his church. Church was not even a concept until Christ got here.

Mosiah 24:4---This situation is strange. Here these people who are cousins, from the same roots, in just a few years, and without God confounding their language, did not speak the same language.
Mosiah 27---Take note of the similarities between the conversion of Alma (found in this chapter) and that of the Apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9).

Mosiah 27:13---I found the "This is my church" and "I will establish it" rather confusing as well as contradicting. In addition, if you believe Mosiah 23:16 Alma had already established it.
The words "save it is the transgression of my people" is adding to the Word of God, as is recorded in Matthew 16:18.

Mosiah 27:31---Before Paul was born, his words are being quoted from Philippians 2:10, 11, "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess before him."

Mosiah 29:14---Modern words, like "faculties," really argue against the fact that this is an ancient manuscript.

Mosiah 29:39---Here it says "according to the law" and yet it speaks of the "liberty which had been granted to them." The writer did not understand that Christ fulfilled the law and the prophets.

ALMA

This book is filled with quotes from the New Testament, many way before the author was even born. I haven't written many of them down here, but you can look through my copy of the B of M if you're curious.

Alma 1:7---Even Alma makes the same mistake with the Greek anachronism "church."

Alma 3:7---Does the story about "God set a mark upon" these people, remind you of Genesis 4:15.

Alma 5:3---Here is another misplacement. There was no office of "high priest" in the "church of God."

Alma 5:19---The "pure heart and clean hands" sounds like Psalms 24:4. The "image of God engraven upon your countenances" should leave one puzzled. The image of God engraved on their faces? This is odd. What does God's image look like and how do you engrave on a person's face?
Alma 7:10-"Jerusalem" is said to be the place of Jesus' birth. See Matthew 2:1. My Bible tells me Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Is this the same Jesus?

The "conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost" does not agree with Bruce McConkies's statement in his book, Mormon Doctrine. He states Jesus was conceived just like you and me. The only difference is that Mary's sexual union was with God the Father.

Alma 10:5---This fellow Amulek is quite confused. Notice he "never had known much of the ways of the Lord," and then in the same statement he states, "I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power."

Alma 11:38,39---Here it says "the Son of God the Very Eternal Father" which Mormonism does not teach. This also rules out God having a father or grandfather.

Alma 13:1---Here is a bizarre statement. The "cite your minds forward to the time when" is most confusing. Why would you look forward to something that had already happened? The "gave" is also in the past tense.

Alma 13:14---The statement "who took upon him the high priesthood forever" leaves me to wonder why the LDS have high priests? It appears from this verse, and the writer of Hebrews fully agrees, that the job is filled.

Alma 13:14-19---Does not agree with Hebrews 7. There are endless errors here.

Alma 13:18,19---These verses contain numerous errors concerning Melchizedek. Examine carefully the "prince" and "his father and "many after him." Thy all contradict the Bible. Look at Hebrews 7:2,3.

Alma 13:20---This is a huge mistake here. The "Behold the scriptures are before you: if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction" is a warning, but how did they have the scriptures before them? They had not as yet been written. This could not have been the Old Testament because they are talking about Christ.

Alma 18:2,28---It appears that they admit God is a spirit, and not a glorified physical man.

Alma 19:10---This verse has been borrowed and modified from the biblical account recorded at
Luke 7:9. However, what The Book of Mormon proposes is that Jesus plagiarized His declaration from Ammon, being that Ammon allegedly spoke these words nearly a century before Christ. This would make Jesus' words most trifling. (See John 7:46.)

Alma 19:29---Mark the "who saved me." Note the date at the bottom of the page. How could Jesus save him before he had died if the Mormons say to be saved is to be resurrected? Was this man resurrected prior to his dying? Note the tense of the "saved" again.

Alma 22:10---The words "he created" does not agree with current Mormon thought-that God only organized things..

Alma 23:17---Here they are "no more called Lamanites." Through the years they are, then they are not, then they are again. Talk about confusion. It does not tell us if they turn black to white to black again.

Alma 24:10---Here these people are forgiven of "murders" which today is one of the unforgivable sins of Mormonism. When did God change His mind about this?

Alma 24:11---This verse says that with just repentance and faith in God you can be saved---with no baptism. An LDS cannot today according to their teaching.

Alma 24:19---Note the "weapons of peace." The definition of a WEAPON does not compute with PEACE.

Alma 26:9---The "dearly beloved us" is a classic example of the poor grammar within the book. It almost seems like an attempt to sound more ancient or Biblical.

Alma 29:4---This verse has been altered since the original 1830 edition. The phrase, "Yea, decreath unto them decrees which are unalterable," has been removed. This is a doctrinal change since the god of Mormonism does alter his decrees. Why wasn't this change or any other change ever footnoted? Don't they think that someone will at least notice the change?

Alma 29:11---The word "church" will just not go away. Very much like God's church-it would not go away.

Alma 29:13---The are two items to be noted here. If God had established his church, why did Alma need to do it again? And, secondly, the "hath called me by a holy calling" appears to be taken from 2 Timothy 1:9.

Alma 30:2---This verse speaks of "continual peace." The year was 74 B.C., according to the date listed at the bottom of the page. A few pages forward in Alma 35:13, which according to the date at the bottom of this page, was two years later, war started. So "continual peace" must be two years.

Alma 30:23---I marked the words "foolish ordinances" because today the LDS obey laws and ordinances. (Garments, hot drinks, etc.)

Alma 30:44---These people again demonstrate their superiority in every way. They knew that the "planets which move in their regular form," when others did not learn this for centuries.

Alma 30:53---I have underlined the phrase "behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel." It can happen. See also Galatians 1:8.

Alma 30:58---One may wonder how a person can be converted again. To be converted is to do an about face. If you do another about face-you would be headed back in your original unconverted direction.

Alma 31:15---This verse tells us God is Spirit. The Bible also declares that God is Spirit (John 4:24). Mormonism, however, now teaches that God has a spirit and a physical body. The biblical Jesus taught that God is Spirit. Do you believe Jesus?

Alma 34:33---here we are instructed that no labor can be performed after death---it must be done in this life. Yet the Mormons teach we can do work for those who have died.

Alma 34:35---The same idea is set forth. The final state of the wicked is quite clear. Baptism for the dead is of no avail.

Alma 36:17---I have underlined the "a" Son of God? There is only one Son of God. Christians are adopted sons and daughters.

Alma 36:18---Here the author asks the reader to believe someone is crying out "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me" seventy three years before Jesus was born.

Alma 37:33--Here they are told to preach Jesus Christ. Why do the LDS not do this today? Why has so much been added?

Alma 38:9---This verse states that there is no other way to be saved except in and through Christ. Why can't the LDS believe this? And incidentally, saved does not mean resurrected.

Alma 38:15---This verse is rather strange in that the writer bids his son a fond "farewell" and yet the next few chapters seem to be add-ons or something.

Alma 40:13---Matthew 8:12 is repeated in the words "these shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth."

Alma 41:8---"Now the decrees of God are unalterable." This makes one wonder about the numerous changes in The Book of Mormon, polygamy and Blacks partaking of the priesthood.

Alma 42:13,14---I have marked the words "descendants of the priests of Noah" and "were as numerous, nearly as were the Nephites" because this is only around 55 years since these few men and twenty-four women got together (see Alma 19:26). The Nephites were said to number about 10 to 100 thousand. Amazing how fast they multiplied.?

Alma 44:12-16---In these verses a ridiculous incident unfolds, Zerahemnah gets scalped and then gets upset.

Alma 46:16---Here it is once again claimed that these people were called "Christians." The Bible tells us that "They were first called Christians in Antioch" (See Acts 11:26). Here in Alma they are being called "Christians" in 73 B.C. They both can't be first.

Alma 46:21---This verse shows that the author of the Book of Mormon really didn't know the Bible very well. The people are supposedly to rent their garments as a covenant. In Leviticus 21:10, it forbids Priests from tearing their garments. Tearing one's garment was an act showing grief or sorrow---not the sealing of a covenant.

Alma 47:9-20---And it came to pass that each of these (except verses 17 and 19) begin with the redundant "it came to pass."

Alma 48:10---Again, how can these people call themselves "Christians" before Jesus was even born?

Alma 56:56---Mark the "not one soul of them fallen to the earth" as it is absurd. This was a 12-year war and amazingly not one was killed. The striplings were fighting the older men experienced in war.

Alma 57:35---Here it is stated that "Blessed is the name of our God." No where in the Bible is God's name given as "blessed or happy.

Alma---The words "stand fast in the liberty wherewith God has made them free" is from Galatians 5:1.

Alma---I think the words "the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also," appears to be from Matthew 23:26.

Alma 61:14---I cannot help but notice the order-church first then the Redeemer our God. The church is made up of men-and men should never come before God.

In the whole book of Alma, almost every chapter, are accounts of perpetual wars and implausible battles. If this work was inspired, what is the purpose of the recounting of so much conflict and combat? Nowhere in the bible are wars detailed at length the way they are in Alma.

HELAMAN

Helaman 3:16---I marked the words at the end of the verse, "becoming Lamanites." These people were in a constant state of flux. How could they keep their genealogies if one year they were Lamanites and the next year Nephites? Did their skin change color each time their names did?

Helaman 3:26---I noted the "tens of thousands" because with this many people it is unbelievable that they left no trace of their civilization. The Inca and Mayan civilizations left much evidence-why did not these people?

Helaman 3:29---This verse speaks of a "gulf of misery." This surely is not the gulf the Lord spoke of in Luke 16:26 as that was a gulf that no man can cross over.

Helaman 5:9---Again we find a Biblical statement concerning salvation. It states that "there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ." Why teach otherwise; why all the laws and temple works?

Helaman 6:25---Here is one of the many verses that forbids "secret oaths and covenants" which would bring the people unto destruction. Today the LDS perform secret oaths and make secret covenants in their temples. I am a follower of Christ, and none of my LDS friends will talk about it with me. If it is so wonderful, shouldn't it be used as a lure.

Helaman 8:14---The "lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up" are Jesus' words from John 3:14 and quoted between 23 and 20 B.C.

Helaman 9:21---More New Testament words, "O ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart" comes from Luke 24:25. Also, "how long the Lord your God will suffer you" sounds like Mark 9:19.

Helaman 10:8---This is clearly an error. It was the veil that was rent in twain when Christ died-not the temple.

Helaman 12:24---The phrase, "grace according to their works," contradicts itself. Grace is unmerited favor. If you work for it you have merited it. A bit ambiguous perhaps?

Helaman 14:2,3---This is an example of trying to outdo the Bible. Read all the signs and wonders which are taking place a Christ's birth and then compare them to the biblical account.

Helaman 14:12---Read this verse and tell me who he is spoken about-the Father or the Son?

Helaman 14:13---I marked the words, "his merit," because this is not what Mormonism teaches today. It is by your own merits.

Helaman 14:27---This is a false prophecy.

Helaman 16:6,10---The bad grammar of "more parts" continues to be used by the different "authors" of The Book of Mormon.

III NEPHI

III Nephi 2---In the introduction it states the "Lamanites became white and are called Nephites." Never before or since in history do we have cases of skins changing color.

III Nephi 5:7---This verse is rather clumsy especially when they have to be selective of their words for lack of space on the plates.

III Nephi 8---In the introduction it states "attest the crucifixion of Christ---Many people are destroyed." The question is why? Jesus said, "I come that they might have life" (see John 10:10). Saints arose in the land of the Bible at His death. See Matthew 27:52,53.

III Nephi 8:25---It said earlier the "more wick part" of the people were destroyed and here it speaks of the "mothers" and "children" who were destroyed. Am I suppose to believe that the "mothers" and "children" were the "most wicked" ones in the city?

III Nephi 9:15---There is no question of who caused all this misery. It was the Jesus in the Book of Mormon. 70,000 to 90,000 people destroyed is unbelievable.

Also, note that the "I am in the Father, and the Father in me" is from John 10:38. Further, the Bible leads me to believe Christ would first come as the servant, and not in judgment-but the Book of Mormon sure makes it appear to be judgment.

III Nephi 9:17---The word "become" seems to question the pre-existence theory.

III Nephi 11:12---This simply contradicts the Bible.

III Nephi 11:14,15---Here a multitude passes by and thrusts their hands into Jesus' side and feels the prints of the nails in his hands and feet. Do you realize how many hours that would take?

III Nephi 11:17---It says "they did worship him." Jesus accepted worship because He is God.

III Nephi 11:25---Notice the "name" (singular). Denotes one God.

III Nephi 11:27---John 14:11 and 10:30 are repeated here. It does say one God. And not only one in purpose.

III Nephi 11:34---Again we have the words of the Bible. Mark 16:16 is quoted, "And whoso believeth not in me and is not baptized, shall be damned."

III Nephi 11:36---Again, we find the three gods myth dispelled. "For the Father, and I and the Holy Ghost are one" clearly demonstrates the doctrine of the Godhead.

III Nephi 12---This chapter is copied from Matthew 5 of the KJV of the Bible.

III Nephi 12:34,36--These verses again condemn oath swearing which is done in the LDS temple ceremonies.

III Nephi 13---This chapter is copied from Matthew 6.

III Nephi 17:1---I marked the words "my time is at hand," because biblically speaking Jesus' time was at His crucifixion.

III Nephi 18:7---I marked the word "shown" because Jesus did more than show his body-He GAVE it!

III Nephi 18:9---The Lord's Supper, which I assume this is supposed to be, was not to fill physical needs, it was a token.

III Nephi 18:39---This verse raises some further questions. If he "ascended into heaven" and the disciples "did bear record that he ascended again", then he would have had to descend again. This does not meet the biblical accounts of the Second Coming. See Acts 1:11. Every eye did not see him (Revelation 1:7)---just these people that no one can prove existed.

III Nephi 19:15---A new twist with a new problem. This verse tells us, "Jesus came and stood in their midst." So it appears that he had to descend again-a third time. It seems Mormons always have to go one better: the Bible has one God, Mormonism has three (actually millions more), the Bible has one heaven, Mormonism has three, the Bible has a Second Coming, Mormonism has two.

III Nephi 20:1---Jesus here "commanded the multitude that they should cease to pray" and then countermands with "commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts." In addition to being awkward, this also disputes I Thessalonians 5:17.

III Nephi 20:23-26---These verses are from Acts 3:21-26. This is supposedly Moses speaking and he mentions "Samuel" who did not live until several hundred years after Moses.

III Nephi 21:2-7---These six verses are all one sentence. In the 1830 edition, this sentence contained over 340 words. "Father" is used 8 times, "Gentile" 5 times, "shall come forth" 4 times, "that and "which" 20 times, and "me," "I" and "my" over 11 times. This Jesus is a lot more expressive in his statements than the Jesus in the Bible.

III Nephi 24---This chapter is copied from Malachi 3 from the KJV of the Bible.

III Nephi 25---This chapter is copied from Malachi 4.

III Nephi 25:2---The author copied this verse incorrectly. The "Son of Righteousness" is "Sun" in the Bible (Malachi 4:2).

III Nephi 28:1-8---These verses tell of three Nephites who never died. This seems to call in question the "Total Apostasy" of the church theory as taught by the Mormons.

IV NEPHI

IV Nephi 1:6---This verse takes 57 words to say that 59 years had passed. Compare this to the style of writing found in the Bible. It simply does not compare.

IV Nephi 1:12---Here stated is the fact that the people no longer performed the "ordinances of the law of Moses." Thus, why do the LDS place such emphasis on ordinances today?

IV Nephi 1:17---More confusion. This verse claims that "neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites." What has happened to those three Nephites we just read about (3 Nephi 28:1-8)?
And where did all the Indians go?

IV Nephi 1:20---Here they show up again.

MORMON

Mormon 7---In the introduction of this chapter it states, "All who believe the Bible will also believe The Book of Mormon." This is emphatically not true! There are millions who believe the Bible that do not believe The Book of Mormon. Further, Mormons today qualify their belief in the Bible by stating "as far as it is translated correctly" (Pearl of Great Price, page 64.)

Mormon 8:12---The "imperfections which are in it" is a give away. If the book was written under inspiration, and translated by the power of God-there would be no errors. Not a one! The Bible doesn't qualify itself like this.

Mormon 8:17---Matthew 5:22 is quoted in the phrase, "shall be in danger of hell fire." Most Mormons do not even believe in a hell.

Mormon 8:30---Again Matthew is quoted (24:6,7) with the words, "wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places."

Mormon 8:32---The words, "for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins" describes a corrupt and wicked church. Perhaps the Mormons, who do not allow one to go to the temple (and work their way to the Celestial heaven) if their tithes are not paid , should take careful note.

Mormon 9:9---The "do we not read" in this verse presents the problem as to from what were they reading? Since it had not been written prior to Christ's alleged visit to the American continent, he could not have brought the text with him.

Mormon 9:19---The words, "he changeth not" have been added since the original 1830 edition. I wonder why? The LDS today believe that God was once a man. That is quite a change.

Mormon 9:32,33---I have underlined the word, "Altered by us," "the Hebrew hath been altered by us also" and "if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record." These phrases are straw men in an attempt to excuse all the errors in the book. Again, if-as it is claimed-it had been inspired, and an angel preserved and then delivered it, and then supervised the work, and if it was translated by the power of God, there would be no mistakes.

ETHER

Ether 1---In the introduction there is a statement which clearly contradicts the Bible. It says, "the language of the Jaredites is not confounded at the Tower of Babel." Genesis 11:9 states that the Lord DID confound the language of all the earth.

Ether 1:1---Moroni proceeds to give an account of the people who were destroyed. Again it is foreign to Scriptural records. We did not need the accounts of the inhabitants of Jericho, Sodom or Gomorrah.

Ether 1:43---This is a false prophecy. These folks were destroyed.

Ether 2:2, 3---These people not only, like Noah, gathered up animals to take in their water-going vessel, but also took "fish" and "bees" and "seeds of every kind.

Ether 2:16-25---It appears that when the Lord gave the instructions He forgot about the need for ventilation and lights.

Ether 3:13---Mark the phrase "the Lord showed himself unto him," for this too disagrees with the Bible. See Exodus 33:20.

Ether 3:14---This verse makes it appear that the Father and the Son are one and the same. Also I have marked the "shall become" because it disparages the LDS concept of pre-existence.

Ether 3:26---Why would the Lord have His word written so no one could read or interpret? His Word is for man's good and God does not confuse man in order to keep him from knowing and accepting Him.

Ether 4:18--I have underlined "my gospel" which is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. This is not the gospel that Mormonism teaches. I also underlined the words, "for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and the signs shall follow them that believe in my name," as it is taken from Mark 16:16,17. Incidentally, the final eleven verses of Mark's Gospel are not found in the older texts and appear to have been added by a well-meaning scribe. This is another clear indication that Joseph Smith had access to and copies from a KJV of the Bible. (It was noted in my KJV Bible that these last 11 verses were added long after the early transcripts of Mark.)

Ether 6:5---If the "furious wind" was really so furious it would have been a much shorter trip than 344 days. They couldn't' of gone more than 10 miles a day. This is a long journey to go with holes in the top and bottom of the vessel, and with no fresh water.

Ether 8:16---Consider the words, "these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness." Temple ceremony?

Ether 9:1---The beginning of this verse is ridiculous. It seems that Moroni got somewhat carried away with his pet words and phrases as he writes, "Therefore, behold, it came to pass."

Ether 9:18---here the reader is instructed that they had "swine" for food. Remember these people were supposedly Jews. Faithful Jew do no eat swine.

Ether 9:23---Coriantum allegedly built all these "mighty cities" of which no trace has ever been found. So much for the claims of LDS archaeology.

Ether 10:33---The reader is again instructed that "oaths" are bad. Why then are they sanctioned today in the LDS temple ceremonies?

Ether 15 :29-31---Here is one of the most nonsensical stories I have ever read. Read it very carefully and imagine the sequence of events in you head.

MORONI

Moroni 5:1---Jesus is supposed to have told them to use "wine," or fruit of the vine, which represents the blood of Christ, for their sacrament. Why is this not done today? Mormons use water. Jesus said use wine or fruit of the vine. They have watered down the precious blood of Jesus

Moroni 7:22---Here the reader is informed that God is "from everlasting to everlasting." How could He have been once a man who worked His way to Godhood?

Moroni 8:18---This verse can be used to show the Mormon missionary why you need not pray about the Book of Mormon. If he does not believe this part, about God being unchanging, from his own scripture, why does he believe Moroni 10:5? We cannot pick and choose which verses we will and will not believe. It is either all from God or none at all.

Moroni 10:5---The "all" has already been explained. No man knows or can know the truth of all things.

Moroni 10:26---I have marked the words "for if they die in their sins and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God." Why then do Mormons baptize for the dead?

Spending the last 4 to 5 months with this book has been a long and exhausting journey. I've cried more than I've ever cried about anything. I've heard it said many times before that I have to "want it to be true" and that I must search its pages "with an open heart." I've never wanted something to be true this bad in my life. Consider for a moment, from my perspective, what is at stake. I could easily write 20 more pages about how much Rosemary has added to my life, and another 20 about how much her family has added to my life. Do you think for a moment I ever stopped wishing it was true? C'mon. Rosemary is all my dreams personified, and then some. Her family is quite easily the most wonderful blend of people I have ever known. I wanted this to be true in the worst way.

But somewhere inside me, I always knew I had to be true to myself and believe it was true for me, and not it's consequences. No matter how wonderful your life might seem, you can't live in it if your heart isn't leading. I feel like now my prayers have been answered to know whether or not this book is true.

There were many things I noticed as I read my Book of Mormon. I noticed the utter confusion. How could this book possibly be an added witness to the Bible, as you claim, when it disagrees with it, and calls men fools who believe the Bible.

I noticed too, that The Book of Mormon contains very little Mormon doctrine, and it disagrees with many present Mormon teachings. I found also how much was copied from the Bible---there are even hundreds more I wrote in my book, but didn't write down here---and there are hundreds of places I did not point out for lack of my own biblical knowledge.

Further I discovered some pretty ridiculous, absurd, and senseless statements. It does have Greek words in it despite Joseph Smith's claim that it did not. The whole Book of Mormon, from the way it was allegedly given, supposedly translated, its contents, the need for constant revision, changes, and deletions point to the fact that God must have failed when He presented this work. However, I do not believe He did fail, I believe He got it right the first time when He gave us the Bible.

Truly, no further revelation unto salvation is needed. Remember that "God is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Unfortunately, I still feel like there are some major issues I need to address. It has been said repeatedly in our discussions that Mormons are Christians because of the centrality of Christ in the Mormon faith. Furthermore, it has been said that because they emphatically believe in Christ, use His name in their official church title and believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, which testify repeatedly of the reality of Christ and the truth of His teachings-they are Christians. Christians are those who accept Christ as their Savior, and LDS do indeed.

There are three things that have always stuck with me and I've never expressed them:

1. From the perspective of a Mormon the LDS religion must seem centered on Christ. You all speak of Christ constantly, testify warmly of his being the Son of God and your Savior and Lord, and fervently believe that you are obeying his commandments. However, Mormonism stands or falls on the authority of Joseph Smith, and although he is honored by Mormons as the greatest prophet of all, it is still true that from a Mormon perspective Christ is at-or near-the center of their religious experience, and doctrine.

Christians believe that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven needed to get saved. Mormons claim to believe this, but in actuality they don't. If you don't believe in Joseph Smith, then you cannot be a Mormon, and if you can't be a Mormon, then you can't get married in the temple, and if your not married in the temple, then you cannot and will not be saved to the "highest degree of heaven." So basically, without Joseph Smith, the Celestial Kingdom would be empty. No matter how you look at this, it is true. It is like one long algorithm.

2. It is not enough simply to center a religion on the name of Christ. The followers must believe in Christ himself-the real Jesus Christ, the one that is God. It is possible to follow fervently but mistakenly someone who "preacheth another Jesus" (2 Cor. 11:4 KJV). There are many obscure cults that center on someone they call Christ (Waco, TX), but who in fact is not. I'm not comparing you with a cult, I'm just trying to emphasize that we appear to center our lives on the same man by name, but not in reality. I pointed that out numerous times in the Book of Mormon.

3. Mormonism appears to believe in a much different Christ than the one called Jesus in the Bible. I am not referring to minor differences of interpretation about Christ, but of critical differences which determine one's entire experience of Christ.

Mormons, for example, are instructed not to worship Jesus Christ. According to Mormonism, since the Father "Elohim" is Christ's God and is supreme over him, we---like Christ---should worship only the Father, although we are to do so in the name of Christ. This line of reasoning is the only mere justification I can find for calling Mormonism a monotheistic religion. Polytheism is the worship of, not mere belief in, many gods; Mormons believe in many Gods but worship only one, God the Father.

By contrast, Christians-following the example of Christ's disciples and God's angels-worship Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:17; Heb 1:6), giving Him the same honor they give the Father (John 5:23). This makes sense when they confess to believe in biblical monotheism, or belief in but one God (e.g.- Deut. 4:35,39; Isa. 43:10;44:6-8; 45:21-22; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; Eph. 4:6; Tim. 2:5; James 2:19); Christians confess that Jesus Christ is "the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20 KJV; see also Isa. 9:6; John 1:1; 20:28; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 pet. 1:1). In fact, the Mormon prohibition of worshipping Christ is very unbiblical, even on the basis of their own understanding of who He is. The Bible commands that JEHOVAH, "the LORD your God," alone be worshipped (Deut. 6:13; Matt. 4:10). Mormons say they believe that Jesus is Jehovah, the Lord, the God of Israel; yet they refuse to worship Him. Here is a substantial problem with the Mormon attitude toward Christ that illustrates the non-Christian foundation of Mormon doctrine.

Perhaps the thing that has been the hardest thing for me to deal with is this big question over authority and priesthood. I've been lead to believe that I could never be an adequate husband for Rosemary without the supernatural power of the Melchizedek priesthood because I would not be able to bless my children or take my wife to the celestial kingdom. Well, that is a little hard on the ego of a boy prepared and willing to pour out his life for a girl in order to adequately make her happy and safe for her whole life while growing with her to prepare for her next life. It is a real mighty position that Mormon elders claim to have, and one I found absolutely no justification for in the Bible, or in the Book of Mormon for that matter.

No one is yet to show me, missionaries included, from the Bible where it states that the "authority" to preach the gospel, to baptize, and to offer the sacraments, comes from being a member of the Melchizedek priesthood. In fact, no one can show me in the New Testament where anyone but Jesus Christ ever held the Melchizedek priesthood. The missionaries were programmed to use Heb. 5:4, but that backfired because verses 5-10 tell us that God called Jesus, and no one else, to the honor of holding the Melchizedek priesthood. They then hurried to John 15:16 and claimed that Jesus laid hands on His disciples and ordained them. This is where he gave them the Melchizedek priesthood. The word "ordained" means to appoint. The verse tells us that Jesus appointed His disciples to go and bring forth fruit. John 15:16 does not even mention the Melchizedek priesthood, nor does it say that Jesus laid hands upon them. In the book of Acts there are several Scriptures which make mention of the laying on of hands for the ordination to service, but none speak of an ordination to the Melchizedek priesthood. Surely, if it is as important today as Mormons claim it is, Jesus would not have failed to at least mention it once. Furthermore, just because a King appoints one of his soldiers to being a knight, that does not mysteriously mean the knight is a King simply because he was ordained by a King.

In order for Peter, James, and John to give the priesthood to Joseph Smith, they would have first had to posses it. Again, where in the New Testament does it say that anyone but Jesus ever held such a title. Turn to Hebrews 7:1-3. This passage tells us what the qualifications are for a Melchizedek priest. Let us determine whether you (or anyone in your church) meet these qualifications. The name Melchizedek means "King of Righteousness." Who is the King of Righteousness? Look at verse 3. Melchizedek was "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but make like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually." There was no record of who Melchizedek's parents were, and he possessed no genealogy. There is no record of his birth or death. He was "make like unto the Son of God." His priesthood was continuing and everlasting.

Do you know who your father and mother are? Do you know when you were born? Do you have a genealogy?

In addition, Hebrews 7:26 gives further qualifications of a Melchizedek priest. "For such a high priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens..." Are you holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens?

The obvious answer to these questions is no, and the obvious conclusion can be made. Mormons do not posses the Melchizedek priesthood nor the authority that goes along with it. The true authority to act for God comes by Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit in John 1:12-13 and Acts 1:8, and the correct priesthood of all believers is in 1 Pet. 2:9-10.
I will bless my children with the Lord's blessing and I will raise them in the Lord's arms, and I'll do it with the power of the Holy Spirit given to me as a free gift for my faith in Jesus.

I'm sure that this paper has been nothing but a joke to you so far, but I want to challenge you to something. For your whole life, you have been looking out the same window and hearing the same birds every day. To see or hear anything else at this point is either a shock, or just something very fake and made up that you're positive isn't true. Give it a try. Really think about it. Many of those glaring mistakes in the Book of Mormon are real. There is no explanation. You've always said to me that there is no way that Joseph Smith could have written this book without a high school education. Well, after reading it, I'm totally convinced that he didn't have even a high school education. Ken, you could write a better story that was more consistent with the Bible in probably one week. I've also heard you say that a false prophet, and a false religion could never produce fruit like Rosemary, like your family, or like the Mormon community. I'm the first to admit that the Mormon Church is full of truth. The plan of salvation is clearly given in the Book of Mormon and many of it's teachings are wonderful. The parts that are true or the parts that are consistent with the Bible. In fact, the fundamental problems with it don't even get noticed unless you read between the lines and find out more. Teaching morality, family values, high standards, well-roundedness, and raising your children surrounded by other people teaching the same thing produces good fruit. There is clearly a lot of truth in Mormonism. But if the foundations of the church aren't true, think how badly Satan has Mormons fooled in thinking that all is well
I'm very serious, the Great Deceiver is craftier than we can even imagine. You owe it to yourself to prove every thing I have written so far to be wrong (And then look inside my B of M and you'll see just as many that I didn't have time to write down here.) Find out that it isn't so.

If you're still reading at this point, I'm sure your either very angry with me or you feel desperately sorry for me because I seem to be so lost. In either case, I want you to know that I love you both. I love all of you, and to be honest, you're the greatest people in my life right now. Be happy for me that my soul is at rest and I am content in my Savior's arms. I may very well have just lost the only girl that is totally perfect for me, but at least I haven't lost myself. I believe in myself, and my convictions. I know them to be true. I'm sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am who I want to be and I know why I make the decisions I do. We owe it to ourselves to get to this point in our lives so that we can commit ourselves 100% to something, it can be anything. For me, I'm committed to my Savior who died for me and gave up His life so that I might have life forever. There is no greater cause to be committed to than this. I want to be dependent on Christ alone and used as a vessel for His work here on earth. And if I ever forget why I'm striving to be good, why I feel pressured to give people the gospel, or why I have to say no to the worlds temptations, I pray that I will remember the death of my best friend. He suffered on my behalf, His back looked like a plowed field and His eyes stung of our spit, and He did it for me. There is no greater motivation than this. There never has been and there never will be.

As I come to the end of this letter, the obvious question looms over me like a dark storm cloud. To get to the point, I want to marry your daughter and take care of her with all my heart and soul. I want to marry her for no other reason than this: I love her more than I have ever loved anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. She has given me butterfly's so deep and so true, I've let them lead my life for the last year and a half. She's perfect. I know it and you know it.

Unfortunately, I also believe that we are perfect, and thus the reality of losing her really hurts. I'll never fully understand why we can't be together when everything between us is so perfect. Hum, I use that word Perfect a lot. I'm sure it makes our Heavenly Father the most sad to see His children torn apart by differences in His Church. It may very well, break my heart for a long time, but like I've said, I must be true to myself. I haven't rejected the Book of Mormon and the Mormon Church because I'm stubborn like so many people believe, I've rejected it because I've studied it and measured it up against the Bible which I know to be true. Anything other than that sort of test is a waste of time because personal revelations, opinions, beliefs, and theologies have been argued since the beginning of conversation. I pray that my study has been thorough and sincere because there is too much at stake to fake it. I could never live with myself knowing that I lost Rosemary because I didn't have the strength to really search for an answer.

I am somewhat at a crossroads, and I'm really struggling trying to pick a road to travel. In each direction there is treasure in store for me and treasure I'm leaving behind. I guess it is part of growing up, and it is a test in my life that has taught me some hard lessons, but ones of the greatest value. Your convictions are what make you who you are, so if you change them, you had better make sure you believe in the changes. Also, your heart is a very powerful part of your life and yet it is more sensitive than you can imagine. There must be a balance between protecting it and letting it chase the butterflies.

I'll close by asking you for one last thing. I need your help. I don't need your help in easing my pain, let me deal with that. I'm not sure I can handle seeing Rosemary get hurt as bad as this might hurt. That is going to kill me. I'm open to suggestions about how I talk to her about this. Please talk to me before you talk to her about it, I think it should be between her and I. I don't know what else to do.

Please help me help Rosemary.

I love you both like best friends,

Justin Armour
Stanford University
December 1993
(by permission)

Back to Lambert Dolphin's Library