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 Hey Mike,
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to tell me your opinion. I appreciate it. One last question. You seem to strongly believe the book of mormon is a true record. If it's so true, why is the LDS church the only church that believes it to be the word of God, like it says in their 8th article of faith, and the only church that teaches from it?
Answer Hi M,
Glad to answer your questions. Yes, I absolutely believe in the Book of Mormon as scripture. I had a very profound and powerful witness from God it is true... as well, this belief, is backed up by Biblical prophecies, internal Hebraic evidences, and the harmonious teachings it has with the Bible.
The LDS Utah faction may profess the Book of Mormon but only marginally follows it. There are some 100 factions that exist today that broke off from the original Church of Christ (as Joseph Smith named it in 1830) and the LDS church. Most are small and obscure and a few downright wacky (such as the offshoots that still promote polygamy). The Utah faction is by far the largest. There was a Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who not long ago changed their name to the Community of Christ and has since forsaken the Book of Mormon. About the 3rd largest is the Church of Jesus Christ, then the church I belong to the Church of Christ (also known as the Temple Lot or Hedrickites), and other smaller groups. Our group has around 4000 or 5000 members and is rapidly growing in 3rd world nations.
The Utah LDS faction does profess the Book of Mormon and Bible and claim to be "Christian" but this is only true in part. They accept many teachings such as the past practice of polygamy, Celestial Marriage, Baptism for the Dead, the 1st Presidency, a changing God, and other doctrines that are not only utterly absent from the Book of Mormon but the Book of Mormon even teaches against those things... sometimes stongly so. When you confront them about these contradictions they say "we have the living Prophet and trust in him" and ignore the teachings of their own books. Whenever a group ignores the teachings of God and blindly follows a man, regardless of how outrageous his teachings are, they in effect become a cult following and who knows where it will end up. Even true prophets like Moses have made mistakes and it would be a great error to trust in them as if they were a God in of themselves.
Many have a hard time grasping that the Book of Mormon does not represent Utah LDSism. Yet the same can be true about many other churches that profess the Bible, yet poorly follow it. It is not uncommon for apostates to not follow their own books.
