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 Dear Michael, If Mormans believe that the Bible is "only as true as it is translated correctly"
Then why do you believe in it at all, if you dont know what parts are and are not translated correctly.
This seems like a recipe for disaster.
Jeff OR USA
Answer Hi Jeff,
I will be happy to answer your questions, I apologize for taking so long, I've been on the road for 2 weeks. Please note that I am ex-LDS and belong to the original Church of Christ that believes in the Book of Mormon.
Your point is valid... it can be dangerous ground to treat scripture as questionable based on the thought that it might not be translated correctly. Many reject Biblical truths and accept patently false doctrines in the name of this. Really all important doctrines of the Bible are repeated over and over again so there is no excuse to reject these doctrines. I like the saying "Scripture proves scripture" and this holds true for either the Bible or the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon mirrors the same identical doctrines as the Bible teaches. Paul teaches that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established so then we know anything important for us will be repeated and it is.
Nevertheless there are translational errors in the Bible... and even a few mistakes found in the Book of Mormon as well. You may say "What!?" but it is true. After all if the old King James Bible was perfectly translated, why then all of the many other translations available today such as the NIV, Amplified, NASB etc etc. if the original was flawless? If the Bible is flawless which version is the flawless one? I've seen internet wars go on over which version was the best one. It seemed to me that many consider the Bible the embodiment of God Himself and thus God cannot have any flaws, not realizing that the Bible is a tool given to us by God, but that God is far bigger than just the tool.
Case in point, the passage in the Bible about Easter.
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Yet we know the Jews did not practice Easter, they did not recognize Christ and Herod was certainly not a Christian and would not practice a Christian holiday whatsoever. It was not until 100s of years later when Rome had pagaized early Christianity that the holiday of Easter (and Christmas) were practiced. Jesus promoted no holidays on his behalf, rather He instituted the Sacrament to remember Him by. Vine's Bible dictionary states that the word was a mistranslation from the original Greek word "Pasha" which meant "Passover". This makes much more sense because the Jews did practice the passover. So where did the word Easter come from? It turns out when Roman Catholocism invaded the European countries they merged with pagan world religions, one of which was called Astarte. In the Old Testament it was called Ashtoreth. This was a Canaanite sensual goddess, and the people basically worshipped this goddess by erecting temples of prostitution. Some of the symbols of this religion were the fertility symbols of the bunny and eggs. The word Easter comes from variations of the same goddess in different lands and languages. The same goddess was also known as Isis, Aphrodites (hence the word aphrodesiac), Diana, Ishtar (pronounced Eastar), Ostre and Easter (hence the word estrogen). Catholics today still worship Astarte in the form of the statue of the virgin Mary.
As you can see, the Bible does have certain mistranlations, or in most other cases, just poorly or awkwardly translated if not mistranslated outright. However all key doctrines such as faith, repentence, charity, baptism, laying of hands, eternal judgment etc. are are repeatedly taught over and over again in plain English so we are without excuse and have no cause to reject the Bible.
On the other hand Utah Mormons not only reject much of the Bible but the Book of Mormon also! They practice many false doctrines such as their past practice of polygamy, the current practices of Celestial Marriage, Baptism for the Dead, the 1st Presidency, a Changing God, etc. etc. that are not only utterly absent from the Book of Mormon but CONDEMNED by it! The very reason why I left the Utah faction is BECAUSE I believe in the Book of Mormon. Really the Book of Mormon helped me believe in the Bible moreso because it teaches the very same doctrines... even in sublte ways that Joseph Smith could not have possibly known about.
I hopes this helps answer your question. Feel free to ask other questions if you like.
