Mormon Monday: What Do Mormons Believe About the Bible?

Often, people seem to have a misconception about LDS members and the Bible.  They seem to think that just because we have the Book of Mormon (Mormon Monday blog about that here) that we don't think we need the Bible anymore.  They think we have REPLACED the Bible with the Book of Mormon. 

This is simply not true. 

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe the Bible to be the word of God as long as it is translated correctly.  In the last couple centuries, the Bible has undergone a lot of editing.  Translators often changed things that didn't agree with their personal beliefs and that has caused a lot of confusion amongst the different religious sects.  In one site I found, it lists 121 different English version of the Bible.  It's in interesting site.  If you want to look at it.  It shows when the different versions or translations were created.

In the process of translating, some errors are expected.  Some are accidental, some are purposeful.  Regardless, we are humans and we err.  This is why the wording can be so different from Bible to Bible and why we become so confused.  Which translation is correct? 

We believe you can not possibly replace the Bible.  It is the record of Christ's life among the Jews.  His words are sacred and we are so grateful that his followers were able to preserve his words and deeds. 

The Old Testament is equally important to us.  We don't believe the stories in there are symbolic.  We believe they truly occurred.  God can do all things, and we believe there truly was a flood.  We believe that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived and did the things that the Old Testaments says they did.  We love the Bible stories and doctrine.

Currently, we read the King James version.  However, due to many of the translation errors, the version that our church distributes also has a Joseph Smith translation section were Joseph Smith cleared up some of the confusing mistakes that are prevalent through that version of the Bible.  We believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Lord communicated through him to help us more fully understand the Bible.

Many people use the argument, "You can't have more scripture (talking about the Book of Mormon), because The Book of Revelation says that (Revelation 22:18-19) if anyone adds or takes away from this book, they shall be cursed."  Many Christians assume those words are talking about the entire Bible.  What they don't understand, is that originally, the Bible wasn't put together.  It was originally just different books.  The word Bible actually means "the books."  It is only (relatively) recently that al these books were put together in one volume.  If you look at John's actual words, he says:

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

John says, "book of this prophecy," meaning only The Revelation of St. John.  In other words, if anyone changes the words purposefully, that is when the curse that he prophesies would come upon them.

We believe that the Bible and Book of Mormon together teach us about our Savior and clarify the confusing bits of the Bible.  We love the Bible, but if you knew that the Savior had talked to someone else and they had written down the words that He said, wouldn't you want to read those words as well?

That is why we read the Book of Mormon.  It is more of Christ's words to people on a different continent.  God loves all his children, not just the Jews.  He wants all of them to receive eternal life, and Christ is the Savior of all mankind.  Thus, he has more for us to hear, if we will only listen.

As I read the Bible and Book of Mormon together, they both make more sense.  The gospel becomes clear and I realize that God has not left us alone.  He still is trying to speak to us today if only we have ears to hear. 

We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

Mormon Monday: What is the Book of Mormon?

Officially, our church is known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  So why does everyone call us Mormons?

It is because of The Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God loves ALL of his children.  He doesn't just love the Jews or the Israelites, the Catholics or the Protestants, the Christians or the Muslims.  He loves everyone, including those who don't believe in him.

After Christ was resurrected, we believe, and I know this to be true for myself, that Christ also visited his other children in other parts of the world.  He had saved everyone, not just his followers in Jerusalem, so wouldn't He want to show himself to more than just one continent?

The Book of Mormon is an ancient record from the people on the American continent.  It also testifies that Christ is the Savior of the world.  God has said that by "two or three witnesses every word may be established."  Matthew 18:16

The Bible is a marvelous and wonderful book that could never be replaced.  It is the testimony of Jesus Christ's life, and his workings while He was alive on the Earth.  However, it is only one book.  People have translated the same scripture to mean a million different things.  If you have a board and you put a single nail through it, you can spin the board in any number of different directions.  However, if you have a second nail, and you put it through the board, the board cannot go anywhere.  With two sets of scriptures, the scriptures can only have the meaning that God intended for them to have. 

The Book of Mormon is the record of the seed of Joseph of Egypt.  Ezekiel 37: 16-17 They were his descendents that came from Jerusalem to the American continent.  It is their lives, their testimonies, their prophesies, and their accounts of our Savior and his ministry among them.

When their last prophet died, he buried the record in a hill.

Joseph Smith was guided by the Lord to find this record and translated it by the power of God.  He was an unlearned farm boy.  The messages in this book have guided me throughout my life to do good things for others, to improve myself, and to draw closer to God.  As I've read the Book of Mormon and the Bible together, my understanding of the doctrine of Christ has become clearer, and my testimony that Christ was the son of God and did indeed live become stronger. If the Book of Mormon was something evil, I don't think it would bring me closer to God. I think it would drive me further away from him.

There is a promise at the end of the Book of Mormon.  It says: (Moroni 10:4-5)

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

In this promise, we are told that if we read the Book of Mormon and pray with all the sincerity of our hearts to know if it is really a book of scripture and from God, that He will tell you in your heart whether or not it is true.

I have done this experiment.  I have prayed to ask God if The Book of Mormon is from Him.  I testify that I know it is another testament of Jesus Christ.  I have felt the peace of His Spirit as I have read it, and I cannot deny my testimony that this book was translated through the power of God.  I know if you read it, you can find that same testimony.  This book, along with the restored church of God, has brought peace and certainty into my life during these tumultuous days.  I know what my path is, and if I follow it I will be protected no matter what comes.

I wish the same happiness and certainty for you.  That is what the Book of Mormon is and that is what it has brought me. 

Why Do Fireflies Die So Soon?

 

Recently, Grig, his brother, and I watched a very sad movie called Grave of the Fireflies.  It is a Japanese animation about two Japanese children during World War 2.  It is very well done movie (though much better subbed than dubbed), but it is depressing as all get out.  Basically, it shows you what happens to the innocent when others are waging war.  It is about a boy, around twelve or so, and his sister who is about four.  Their mother is killed early on in the movie, and though they are taken in by relatives for a time, they end up on their own.  There is one especially poignant scene where the four-year-old is burying some fireflies, and asks the question, "Why do fireflies die so soon?"

This becomes the theme for the entire movie.  Why is it fair that those who shine so brightly are usually the ones who are extinguished the quickest?

When I worked at the zoo, good kind people would often bring us baby birds that they had 'rescued.'  Usually, they found them in their yards, and seeing no sign of parents, they would pick them up bring them to us.  They would ask us to take care of them, and leave satisfied that they had done a wonderful thing.

Here's the deal though:  Ninety percent of those birds died.

Here's the secret.  Usually when you find a small fledgling on the ground, leave it alone.  The parents are around and they will take care of it.  Or, another animal will eat it and it will have a quick death.  Both of those options are much better than slow starvation at the hands of humans.  There are very few people who can successfully raise a baby bird into an adult.  It requires a lot of time and knowledge.  You need to feed a baby bird every two hours, and you need to feed it the right diet.  You can't feed a baby waxwing bugs.  They eat berries.  Unless you know that, your attempts, though well-intentioned, are futile.  Like those people, who thought they were doing a wonderful thing, how often do we do well-intentioned things that bring sorrow on others.

One of the things I really like about Grave of the Fireflies is that it is Japanese.  During World War 2, we (Americans) were the ones bombing their homes.  In fighting that war, we felt that we were doing what was right, and I still believe that we were.  Otherwise, a lot of other innocent people (Holocaust, anyone?) would have continued to die.  However, in the process, a lot of innocent people who believed that what they were doing was also right were killed by us.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  Why do children suffer when those who cause wars often seem to get off scot-free?

In the Book of Mormon, (Alma 14:11) there is a scene where some very wicked men are burning women and children.  The prophet at the time is being held captive by these wicked men and forced to watch.  His companion desires to use the power of God to save the innocent.  The prophet makes the following reply:

"The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth my hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgements which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day."

The Lord loves all his children, even those that do wickedly.  However, he is a just God.  He can't righteously judge unless they commit sin.  The greatest and most terrible gift God has given mankind if the gift of choice.  God allows us to choose, because then he can justly give us the consequences of our actions.  If we choose good, we are blessed.  If we choose evil, we choose punishment.  

How much sense would it make if you had a child, and before you let them decide something, you gave them a treat and said, "I knew you were going to choose a good thing, so don't bother choosing.  Here's your reward,"?  Or, in the same situation, before your child could act you tell them, "Sorry, I know you were going to choose the wrong thing, so you don't get any treats for a week,"?  Wouldn't the child protest, "But I didn't do anything?"  I know I would.  

Has anyone seen the movie Minority Report?  There are some parts of that movie I don't like, but I really appreciate the main premise.  The storyline is that in the future, the society is built off of stopping crime before it happens.  There are three psychics who can see when someone is about to commit a crime.  Before they can commit it, the police show up and arrest them.  The main character is told he is going to murder someone he's never met, and the police are chasing him.  During the movie, he's trying to find out why he would murder someone he's never met, and if he can choose a different fate.  If someone hasn't committed a crime, how can we punish them?  How do we learn if we're not allowed to choose?

However, sometimes bad things happen and it's no one's fault.  Someone gets sick and dies.  There's an accidental car crash.  Natural disasters occur.  Why do those things happen?  Let me send you to another of my favorite scriptures.  It's in the Bible.  1 Peter 4:12-13:

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Christ suffered everything for us.  Yet, should we expect to partake in his glory without feeling something of what he went through?  Trials are not meant to punish us, but to help us grow.  As we suffer, we can more fully understand what Christ went through.  As we come to know, love, and depend on his grace, we more fully become like him.  Then, when we endure well, we are able to partake of his glory.  

Why do fireflies die so soon?  So they can return in a blaze of glory to our Father in Heaven where He is waiting to welcome them with open arms.  This life is temporary.  If we choose well, we will have peace for the rest of eternity.  Isn't that worth a few trials?