mormonism #1

THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN

• In our previous studies, we noted that in Matt 16:18-19 Jesus said he would build His church/kingdom. His church/kingdom is not of this world per John 18:36. It is spiritual in nature. He built only one per Eph 1:22-23 & 4:4.

• In Acts 2:47 we noted that on Pentecost in about AD33, the Lord added to the church those being saved who had repented and were baptized according to the gospel preached by Peter on that day.


• The Lord built His church/kingdom in the first century exactly the way He wanted it.

• According to Luke 1:33 there shall be no end to the Lord’s church/kingdom.

• We noted that in the first century there were local churches of Christ per Rom 1:16 and that the same pattern of teaching was taught in every local church (1 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 1:13)


• We also noted that those Colossians who had been baptized (immersed in water – Acts 8:36), were buried and then rose with Him in baptism. They were dead in trespasses, had been quickened or made alive with him and were forgiven of their sins by the Lord Col 2:11-13.

• We noted that upon their obedience to the gospel, the Colossians were translated into the kingdom of His dear Son per Col 1:13


• Since the first century, uninspired men have sought to build their own churches and have regulated them according to their own doctrine and commandments. See Matt 15:9

• John wrote in 2 John 9 that those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have God.

• In John 6:46, the Lord asks why those call Him Lord and don’t do what He says.

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MORMONISM – KNOWN TODAY AS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

• First, some important facts about the Bible• Deut 4:2 You shall not add to the word ….• Prov 30:5-6 …Add thou not unto His words…• Rev 22:18-19 …if any… shall add ….or take away• 2 Pet 1:3 …given ..all things that pertain…• Matt 24:35 ..My words shall not pass away.• 1 Pet 1:25 ..the word of the Lord endureth

forever…

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• Originally established by Joseph Smith, Jr. and others, in the 1820’s and informally organized in north-western New York as the Church of Christ in 1829. Formally organized as a legal entity on April 6, 1830.

• Changed to its current name by a claimed revelation of Joseph Smith Jr in 1838.

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• Solomon Spaulding - Feb 20, 1761-Oct 20, 1816 (See “Who Really Wrote The Book Of Mormon” chapter 3 and 4)

• A Congregationalist preacher who loved stories of adventure and romantic history.

• He had a great interest in knowing the history of the Americas, in particular where the Indians came from and the mounds that were found in the area where he lived.

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• An avid writer, Spaulding wrote his own stories about where he thought the Indians came from and their past history and read them to his friends.

• Rather than becoming known as a “Solomon the Novelist”, he became known by some as “Old Came To Pass”, which was one of his favorite literary phrases, “and it came to pass”.

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• He began writing in earnest having had several business failures and needing a means to support his family.

• His first attempt at a novel was “Manuscript Story”, was experimental and was abandoned upon the criticisms of friends.

• Using what he learned, he began a new novel which he called “A Manuscript Found” and completed it in 1812.

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• In this work he stated that the American continent was colonized by Lehi who sailed from Chaldea and landed near the isthmus of Darien.

• Lehi’s descendants who were called Jaredites, spread to the north and built the cities whose ruins are in Central America.

• Long after this, Nephi, of the tribe of Joseph emigrated to America with a large portion of the ten tribes that Shalmanezer led away from Palestine.

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• Soon after their arrival, this remnant of Joseph were divided into two nations, the Nephites and the Lamanites.

• These two nations made war constantly and in the year A.D. 420 a great battle was fought in western NY resulting in the destruction of both armies.

• Only one man was left, Moroni, the son of Mormon who had the records of the Nephites near Conneaut, Ohio, previously at his death.

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• Sidney Rigdon• Born February 19, 1793 - Died July 14, 1876• Became a Baptist preacher• In 1821 after hearing a debate by Alexander Campbell and

studying all night along with one Adamson Bentley, he began preaching the “restoration of the ancient order”.

• “through the influence of Campbell, Mr. Rigdon was chosen pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh in the latter portion of the year 1821 (Rich., II:47).

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• Rigdon was excommunicated from the Baptist Church on October 11, 1823 for teaching “irregular doctrine”, that he learned from Alexander Campbell. He then began preaching for the Disciples of Christ and continued to do so until he was “converted” to Mormonism in 1830 just 7 months after its founding. See “Who Really Wrote The Book Of Mormon”, 1st Edition, pgs 92-93.

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• Joseph Smith Jr was born Dec 23, 1805. Died June 27, 1844• From: Historical Collections of the State of New York by John

W. Barber & Henry Howe (New York: S. Tuttle, 1841, 1842) pg 580

• Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was born in Royalton, Vt., and removed to Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y., about the year 1820, at an early age, with his parents, who were in quite humble circumstances. He was occasionally employed in Palmyra as a laborer, and bore the reputation of a lazy and ignorant young man. According to the testimony of respectable individuals in that place, Smith and his father were persons of doubtful moral character, addicted to disreputable habits, and moreover extremely superstitious, believing in the existence of witchcraft.

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• They at one time procured a mineral rod, and dug in various places for money. Smith testified that when digging he had seen the pot or chest containing the treasure, but never was fortunate enough to get it into his hands. He placed a singular-looking stone in his hat, and pretended by the light of it to make many wonderful discoveries of gold, silver, and other treasures, deposited in the earth. He commenced his career as the founder of the new sect when about the age of 18 or 19, and appointed a number of meetings in Palmyra, for the purpose of declaring the divine revelations which he said were made to him. He was, however, unable to produce any excitement in the village; but very few had curiosity sufficient to listen to him.

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• Smith claimed that on Sept 21, 1822 the angel Moroni appeared to him and told him where there was a book deposited written on gold plates giving an account of the former inhabitants of North America and also containing the fullness of the everlasting gospel. The place was the Hill Cumorah located in Manchester, New York.

• He was told not to show them to anyone once he obtained them except to those he was told to.

• Smith was told by Moroni that he would return for the plates once Smith had accomplished what was required of him, i.e., translating the plates.

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• On 22 Sept 1827 he said he obtained the plates, the Urim and Thummim and a breastplate at the Hill Cumorah.

• Between 1827 and 1830 Joseph Smith engaged in deceiving those listed as witnesses into thinking he was translating the plates while speaking the English words to his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, who wrote them down. He was in fact reading from the text prepared by Sidney Rigdon, the re-worked A Manuscript Found of Solomon Spaulding. See SidneyRigdon.com, pg 204j, k and l.

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• Between 1812 and 1814 Solomon Spaulding and his family lived in Pittsburg, PA and during this time he took A Manuscript Found to the Patterson Print Shop to have it printed.

• The printer required a preface and title page before printing it and it was a long period before Spaulding delivered it. When he did, the manuscript could not be found. Some time later the manuscript showed up again in the print shop. Solomon Spaulding passed away in 1816

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• Sidney Rigdon spent a lot of time in the Patterson print shop during the time A Manuscript Found was there awaiting printing.

• He was there so much that Patterson’s printer, Silas Engles, complained that he was always hanging around.

• Sometime between 1812 and 1822, Rigdon evidently obtained the manuscript and copied it.

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• Existing records show that Rigdon and Smith were well acquainted before the Book of Mormon was published in April 1830.

• Witnesses who had read Spaulding's manuscript have testified that the book of Mormon contained the same names and story lines as Spaulding’s work.

• Much of the religious portion is word for word from the KJV (over 17,000 verses) and mirrors that which was taught by Alexander Campbell and the Disciples.

• Seven months later, in November 1830, Rigdon was baptized into the Mormon church by Oliver Cowdery.

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• The evidence suggests that Sidney Rigdon possessed the Spaulding manuscript and was involved in re-working it. Joseph Smith then “translated” it to Oliver Cowdery (Smith’s 3rd cousin) into what became the Book of Mormon or The Golden Bible as they called it.

• It must be stated that Rigdon denied to his dying day of having anything to do with writing the Book of Mormon. There is much evidence to the contrary.

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• Mormon teachers (“elders”) rely on a lack of knowledge and faith in God’s word to deceive people into believing Mormon doctrine.

• Note Hosea 4:6 ..my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…

• They claim the bible as one of their guides, but are quick to say there are contradictions in it.

• Their primary sources are the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and Covenants.

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• The Book Of Mormon currently states that it is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”.

• The Pearl of Great Price contains the writings of Joseph Smith Jr. claimed Mormon prophet

• Doctrine and Covenants contain one part called “Lectures of Faith’ and a second part containing 103 “revelations … said to contain items or principles for the regulation of the church ….“

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• Note the following:• Heb 9:15-17 on the New Testament• Gal 1:6-9 on the appearance of an angel• Rev 22:18-19 on adding or taking from God’s

word. See Deut 4:2 and Prov 30:6• 2 Pet 1:3 ..hath given us all things that …• Jude 3 ..the faith once delivered..• Matt 24:35 ..My words shall not pass away..12/6/2014

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• 2 Tim 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

• 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

• 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

• 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. KJV

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• Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. KJV

• John 8:44 Believe• Lk 12:3 & 5 Repent• Matt 10:32 Confess• Mk 16:16 Baptized• John 8:31-32 Continue

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mormonism #1

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