Monica Thompson asks: Hi. My question is about the book of Mormon. Is the book of Mormon credible in comparison with the Bible? Does it help us understand the Bible better? Thanks.

Hi Monica.

Thanks for the question. While the Bible is widely accepted due to its support of historical accuracy and evidence, the book of Mormon is to be accepted by a simple feeling of a "burning in the bosom". Something that people might feel when watching a romantic movie, or maybe even Peter Pan.

According to the Mormon founder (prophet) Joseph Smith, the angel Moroni supposedly visited him and showed him the location of some golden plates that contained the "fullness of the everlasting gospel". These plates were supposedly written some 1400 years earlier in "reformed hieroglyphics". Joseph Smith also found a pair of magic glasses that he used to translate the "reformed hieroglyphics" into English.

While Joseph Smith, referred to the book of Mormon as the most correct book on earth, the book is plagued with quite a few flaws and major contradictions to the Bible. Therefore, using the book of Mormon in order to understand the Bible better is not a possibility.

First, the book of Mormon denounces the biblical doctrine of the Trinity (Ether 3:14).

Secondly, while the Bible is replete with accurate archeological evidence, the book of Mormon cannot say the same. There is no archeological evidence for a language such as "reformed hieroglyphics". There is no archeological support for the lands that they claim, such as "the land of Moron" (Ether 7:6). There is no archeological support for the notion that the Nephites, Lamanites, and Jaredites came to the Americas. Instead, Archeology shows that the book of Mormon is nothing more than a good fictional writing.

Thirdly, while Smith claims that these plates were translated directly "by the power of God", the book of Mormon had to be corrected a few hundred times due to Joseph's misspellings and horrible grammar.

Lastly (and probably the biggest debunk), while the book of Mormon supposedly predates the Bible by more than a thousand years, it contains whole sections of the King James Version of the Bible.

Therefore, it is important to understand that while Mormons tell you that the book of Mormon is the "most correct book on earth", and that it helps readers understand the Bible better, the book of Mormon came to existence in the very way that Apostle Paul warned us about, while telling us to condemn such things.

Galatians 1:7-8 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

Hope this helps and God bless you.

Comments:

Monica Thompson: Thanks. Yeah, some Mormons came over and they were pretty convincing, but they definitely didn't explain this. Thanks.

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: Glad to help. God bless you, Monica.

Terry Holland: Hey mate! I had read some of it and they have some pretty funny things. There was something there about a guy who got his head cut off, but he was struggling to catch his breath. How can you try to catch your breath when your head is missing? God bless mates!

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: God bless you, Terry. The passage you allude is Ether 15:31 by the way.

Elsa Reyes: Hi. But do they believe in Jesus Christ? They came to my house and talked to us about Jesus. They go by the name Jesus Christ latter-day saints.

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: Hi there Elsa. According to Mormons, everyone who accepts Mormonism will eventually become a god. They also teach that Jesus and Satan are half-brothers. So, while they might believe in the figure of Jesus, they definitely do not teach the Jesus we are presented in the Bible.

Elsa Reyes: That's horrible! The half-brother of Satan?

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: Next time they return, ask them. They will tell you as little as possible.

Galatians 1:7-8

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!"