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You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Restorationism > Latter-day Saints > BOM and LDS
Expert: Michael Kelley - 11/6/2009
Question
What is the practise in LDS that is contrary to the Book of Mormon?
Answer
Hi Segbenu,
I will be happy to answer your question. Please note that I am ex-LDS and belong to the Church of Christ that believes in the Bible and Book of Mormon.
What are some of the doctrines that the LDS have practiced in the past or currently practice that are contrary to what the BoM (Book of Mormon) teaches? There are many. Many LDS doctrines are simply not even mentioned in the BoM. Other doctrines are either indirectly or directly opposed by plainly worded passages in the BoM. Some examples are:
Past Practices:
1. Polygamy. The BoM bitterly condemns this practice, no exceptions, no excuses. The LDS say God justified Abraham, Jacob, David and others doing this if He had commanded them, yet there are no passages in the Bible of God ever commanding them to do this and in every single case it brought them sorrow and grief.
Jacob 2:24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
Jacob 2:27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
Jacob 3:5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.
2. Racism. The LDS during Brigham Young's days until the 1970s forbid people of African decent of holding any priesthood or political office. Young is even recorded in the Journal of Discourses that any persons caught in an inter-racial relationship were to be put to death on the spot.
2 Ne. 26: 33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
Current Doctrines practiced by the LDS today that are absent or opposed by the BoM:
1. Baptism for the Dead. The LDS believe that vicarious baptisms for the dead can somehow help save them. The BoM teaches that once you die you cannot repent or change your fate in the afterlife. It also teaches that the innocent such as the truly ignorant or infants and children are automatically saved by grace alone and to suppose otherwise is a solemn mockery to God.
Alma 34: 34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
Moroni 8:9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
Moroni 8:22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing— 23 But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
2. Celestial Marriage, Plural Gods. The LDS believe that by being sealed in their temples, Celestial Marriage, they will be sealed as husband and wife in the afterlife. They will also be "as Gods" eternally procreating spirit children and rule over their own worlds. The BoM never mentions this and the Bible opposes the idea.
Alma 33: 1 Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.
Luke 20: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in cmarriage:
3. Placing man (First President) as the head of the church instead of Christ. The LDS have what they believe to be a Prophet-Seer-Revelator at the head of their church yet he does not possess the seer stones, and has Papal like authority. It is through this figurehead that so many of the false doctrines including the ones I already mentioned, came through. The BoM and Bible states that Christ is the head of the church and that 12 Apostles are selected as overseers (not Lords). Placing trust in man is a form of idolotry that inevitably leads to deception and false doctrines.
2 Ne. 26: 29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
2 Ne. 28: 31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
4. There are many other lesser false doctrines that the LDS still espouse such as having secretive temples, High Priests (Jesus was the last one), altering the sacrament and words used for the baptism, changing many revelations and scriptures from their originals, believing in a Changing God and on and on. I have only scratched the surface and covered the core doctrines that the BoM not once mentions and often bitterly condemns.
Feel free to ask for follow up or more depth on a particular subject if you life.
God Bless,
Mike
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