AboutMichael Kelley Expertise For a different viewpoint on Mormonism for your questions, try me. I am a staunch believer in the Book of Mormon and belong to another church (the Church of Christ)that is set up identically to the Biblical church. If there are things about traditional Mormonism that trouble you or you have questions about, just ask and you might find the answers from the Book of Mormon to be quite surprising. I have been studying the scriptures diligently for 16 years under the school of hard knocks... I may not have all of the answers but will sure go find them if I don`t. I`m strongest on Biblical and Book of Mormon doctrines, and am also somewhat familiar with Mormon history and archaeology.
Question how are you brother Michael, i wonder, why you go to Mormon ? when people say Mormon is not truth , what do you thing ?Last , have you ever compare Mormon with regular church ? thank you
God bless you :)
Answer Greetings Cheong,
I will be happy to answer your questions. Please note I am ex-LDS and belong to the Church of Christ that believes in the Bible and Book of Mormon (BoM).
Why do I go to a Mormon based church? Because of the truth. The Bible foretells of the coming of the BoM (especially in Isaiah 29 and other places) and teaches the very same principles of the Gospel of Christ as the Bible does. Really I do not go to a "Mormon" church but a Christian church. The ancient prophet named Mormon was a devout Christian who compiled many books from other authors and put them together into one work which was called the Book of Mormon. It covers the event where Jesus visited the ancient native Americans on this land (the Americas) which Jesus alluded to in the Bible where He said He had other sheep that He was to go see and that they would "Hear His voice" meaning He was to visit them in person. The Bible makes no mention of Jesus visiting any others than the Jews so this could not mean the Romans or other Gentiles... only the lost tribes of Israel. The BoM also teaches all of the fundamental doctrines of Christ that the Bible teaches, only more clearly because it was translated only once.
How do we compare to other churches? That depends.... most people aren't aware of it but there are many "Mormon" based churches, not just the large Utah based "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" commonly called the LDS. The LDS are very different from most Bible only churches. They used to practice polygamy and racial discrimination. They currently practice other doctrines such as Celestial Marriage, Baptism for the Dead, the 1st Presidency, a Changing God, Man becoming Gods and many other lesser doctrines that other churches do not believe in and find objectionable. Ironically the BoM (Book of Mormon) not once teaches ANY of these doctrines, and even strongly opposes some of them, especially polygamy which it describes as an abomination and whoredom to God with no exception. The Church of Christ has never practiced polygamy or racism and also strongly rejects these other false doctrines. In many ways the Church of Christ is similar to many Bible only churches, I would guess the 7th Day Adventists would be very similar to us, only we worship on Sundays and of course believe in the BoM as gospel, equal to the Bible. The Adventists even understand some of the Biblical prophecies similar to us in expecting a Restoration in the early 1800s like we do.
If we are so similar to some Bible only churches, why the need for the BoM and the Restoration to begin with? In the Bible it is said several times that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. That is why the BoM was sent, to establish to the truth of the first (the Bible) and to restore the Church of Christ that had dwindled through apostasy during the dark ages through Catholocism. Many knew of the apostasy and is why many churches split off from Catholicism to form the many Protestant and other churches today. However these efforts have fallen short thus requiring the bringing forth of the BoM which teaches the true Christian gospel in great plainness.
Unfornately many errors entered in the early Mormon church, and after the death of Joseph Smith it split into many factions, with Brigham Young taking many to Utah to begin the polygamist faction that has grown the fastest. The Church of Christ hasn't grown near as fast (you can sell a lie but can't give away the truth to many) and has some 10,000 members worldwide. Jesus did foretell in both the Bible and BoM that His church would be few in number while many would take the wide path that leads to destruction. It is unfortunate and tragic, but this prophecy does seem to be fulfilled. Even more unfortunate many assume the LDS obtained their doctrines from the Book of Mormon which couldn't be farther from the truth, the BoM opposes their doctrines. Anybody who takes the time and read it for themselves will find it only teaches the same beautiful gospel that the Bible teaches... the same fundamental gospel that Jesus taught.
