Bible Study for Mormons
Clearly the previous two lessons teach that God's church will continue to have prophets and the prophetic gift right down to the time when Jesus comes. We have seen that the Bible gives us tests by which to determine if a person who claims to speak for God is a genuine prophet with a divinely ordained ministry and message or whether he or she is a false prophet whose inspiration and message comes from another source than God. Let's apply these Bible tests to Joseph Smith candidly, honestly, and in all sincerity. After all, the apostle Paul urges us, "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21.
Mormons themselves have stated that Joseph Smith was "either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. there is no middle ground." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 188, italics in original). Let us take up the challenge!
TEST #1 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
In the book, Meeting the Mormon Challenge with Love, by Elder Leon Cornforth, is the following on page 112:
"In this book, I will be examining several major doctrines of the Mormon Church and comparing them with what the Bible teaches. I love the Mormon people and readily recognize the many admirable qualitites of their lifestyle and moral values. However, I must say sincerely that I believe the unbiased person who compares Mormon doctrine with the Holy Bible will find in a number of cases that Mormon beliefs cannot be harmonized with the plain teachings of God's Word. Since we will be looking at these areas in more detail in later chapters of this book, here I will briefly point out only one very important discrepancy between what the Bible teaches and what Joseph Smith has taught--the matter of which day is God's Sabbath day, on which His people are to worship. God's Word is too plain on this subject to be misunderstood."
By the way, I highly recommend Elder Cornforth's book which may be ordered at his website: http://www.circlecbooks.com/ . We ought to accept Elder Cornforth's challenge, too, and compare the teachings of Mormonism to the Bible, and see if it cannot be harmonized. However, we can rest assured that God does have an end-time last day church with a prophet, for we know that the last day church has the Spirit of Prophecy as we have already discovered in the first two lessons. Now let us discover what else Elder Cornforth says about the doctrine of the Sabbath. I will be using his book as a reference in these studies on Testing the Prophet, and in the following study, "Testing the Endtime Prophet."
First let us ask the question: What is written in the Ten
Commandments concerning the Sabbath?
Exodus 20:8-11
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the ______________ _________ is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the _______________ __________: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11
Looking at the calendar, we can see that Sunday is the first day of the week, and that Saturday is the seventh day of the week. And there is no evidence anywhere in God's Word to indicate that He has since changed His holy day of rest from the seventh day to the first day. The Biblical Sabbath began at sundown on our Friday evening, and ended at sundown on our Saturday evening. See Leviticus 23:32. Jews to this day keep the Sabbath during those hours, and they have been keeping track of the day since God orally gave and wrote down His Ten Commandment law. The Sabbath, the proper name for the seventh-day of the week, existed from the creation of the world, being the seventh day of God's rest from the beginning of Creation week. See Genesis 2:1-3, and compare with Exodus 20:8-11 above.
So there is no argument that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath according to the Holy Bible. Jesus Himself recognized the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath day, and claimed to be Lord of the Sabbath day. It is the true Lord's Day. See Luke 4:16, and Mark 2:27, 28. Also Jesus' followers recognized the seventh day as the Sabbath, and kept it holy by doing no work on that day. See Luke 23:54-24:1; Acts 17:2, 18:3, 4.
So what did Joseph Smith, Jr., say, if anything regarding the Sabbath? "Remember that on this, the Lord's day [meaning Sunday, since it was on a Sunday that he made this statement], thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High." Doctrine and Covenants, 59:12
This revelation is cited by Brigham H. Roberts, one of Mormonism's prominent defenders, as specific evidence that Sunday, the first day of the week, is the Lord's holy Sabbath and the day on which faithful Latter-day Saints should worship. In a brochure titled, The Lord's Day, Roberts says: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...in this last dispensation has the warrant of God's word by direct revelation that the first day of the week is a day of public worship and thanksgiving, a holy Sabbath unto the Lord."
He then quotes the revelation of Joseph Smith, Jr. from Doctrines and Covenants, 59:8-13 and concludes: "This is in clear allusion to the first day of the week, and thus the matter is set at rest....The observance of that day comes to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by direct appointment of the Lord by revelation to the head of the Church in the present new dispensation of the gospel."
In regards to this, Elder Cornforth says the following on page 113: "The line is thus drawn: shall we accept the Word of God or shall we accept the word of Joseph Smith, Jr.? The Bible test is that if a "prophet" does not speak in harmony with the Ten Commandment law, he is not a true prophet." What of this, fellow reader? But lets go on to the next test.
TEST #2 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matthew 7:15, 16.
Was Joseph Smith "a ravening wolf?" We have learned that a prophet is growing in his relationship with the Father and His Son, and in this growing process learns from the mistakes he makes, just as all of us do. He is a human being and cannot claim to be perfect and without sin. But notwithstanding his imperfections which he must overcome, his or her life will give evidence of an ongoing or growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. A true prophet will reflect the principles of Jesus in his or her life. How does Joseph Smith appear when this test is applied to his life?
Elder Cornforth notes on page 113, "By his own testimony Joseph Smith was naturally combative, not unwilling to attack his opponents physically." Then he quotes the following--
"Josiah Butterfield came to my house and insulted me so outrageously that I kicked him out of the house, across the yard, and into the street." History of the Church, vol. 5, page 316.
"Bagby called me a liar, and picked up a stone to throw at me, which so enraged me that I followed him a few steps, and struck him two or three times. Esquire Daniel H. Wells stepped between us and succeeded in separating us....I met him [Walter Bagby], and he gave me some abusive language, taking up a stone to throw at me: I seized him by the throat to choke him off." Ibid., page 524
Continuing with Elder Cornforth's remarks, "Contemporaries of Joseph Smith picture him as a man of great physical strength who did not accept opposition or rebuke easily. Several contemporary accounts exist of Smith challenging opponents with physical violence and at times following up his chalenge with action--boxing the ears, kicking, thrashings, and blows to the head.
"When the Latter-day Saints estabished a community at Nauvoo in Illinois, Joseph Smith assumed all power, becoming mayor, militia leader, political boss, and spiritual guardian all in one. Mixing politics with religion, the Mormon community soon became embroiled in controversy with non-Mormons living in the area. The Nauvoo City Council passed this interesting ordinance while Joseph Smith was mayor" and then Cornforth quotes the following:
"If any person or persons shall come with process, demand, or requisition,...to arrest said Joseph Smith, he or they so offending shall be subject to be arrested by any officer of the city, with or without process, and tried by the Municipal Court, upon testimony, and, if found guilty, sentenced to imprisonment in the city prison for life." History of the Church, vol. 6, page 105.
Cornforth continues with the following statement and quotes: "Smith's writings show him to be a man of large ego--claiming power akin to that of God Himself. He said:
'I combat the errors of ages, I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority; I cut the gordian knot of powers, and I solve mathematical problems of universities, with truth--diamond truth; and God is my 'right hand man.' History of the Church, vol. 6, page 78.
'God made Aaron to be the mouth piece for the children of Israel, and He will make me be God to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don't like it, you must lump it.' Ibid., vol. 6, pages 319-320.
"Contrast such statements with the attitude of the prophets of the Bible. At times they spoke fearlessly for God, even challenging kings on the throne. Yet they never claimed personal power to dictate the lives of God's people. Nor did they physically attack those who opposed them. I ask you, in all sincerity, is such fruit--the fruit we see in Joseph Smith's life--the fruit one would expect of a genuine prophet of God?
"The antagonism between the Mormon community in Illinois, led by Joseph Smith, and its non-Mormon neighbors resulted in violence. When the anti-Mormon newspaper, the Nauvoo Expositor began to publish material unfavorable to the Mormons, Joseph Smith eventually ordered the Expositor's press to be destroyed and copies of the paper to be burned. This was done, and Smith was arrested. He was released, but later arrested again and jailed with his brother Hyrum in Carthage, Illinois. On June 27, 1844, a mob attacked the jail and murdered Joseph and Hyrum. The account of his death in History of the Church, vol. 7, pages 100, 102, 103, relates that Smith died returning the gunfire of his enemies with a pistol given him by a member of the church. Before being killed himself, Smith wounded several of his attackers, two of whom later died.
"Jesus said that we would be able to determine a false prophet from a true prophet by his or her fruit. When we look at the 'fruit' borne in the personal life of Joseph Smith, what do we see? We must admit that the fruit brought to view is far different from the fruit we would exprect to see in the life, not only of one whom God has chosen to communicate with His people as a prophet, but far different from the lifestyle that Jesus' Sermon on the Mount holds up as the standard for Christians in all ages." [Cornforth, pp.114-115.]
Was Joseph Smith a controlling man, not making room for people to be free-moral agents even in his own Church? His attitude did not reflect the character of Jesus Christ, who does not force us or whip us, but invites us, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Christ doesn't add to our burdens, but lifts our burdens with His yoke. He doesn't force us into submission to His will. Yet, He will help us come out from a load of sin, of worries, or troubles, to seek strength and power from Him to do His will, so that we can bear life's burdens. A true prophet of God, speaks God's words of comfort and assurance to the burdened soul, and speaks rebuke in love to the wise soul that will accept the rebuke and turn from sin to follow Him. Jesus was steadfast in truth and righteousness in His own life and example, and He bids us to follow Him, as sheep who follow the Good Shepherd. The wolf is a destroyer, and has no interest in preserving the life of the sheep. Joseph Smith was far from Christ's example as I see it, from examining his personal life and attitude towards others. What about the next test?
TEST #3 "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him." Jeremiah 28:9
Has Joseph Smith made any false prophecies? From page 115, Cornforth states, "In 1835 Joseph Smith prophesied that the Lord's coming was only a few decades in the future. Specifically, he predicted that the Lord would come in fixty-six years," and he quotes this source:
"President Smith then stated...it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh--even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." History of the Church, vol. 2, page 182.
Cornforth continues on page 116, "Needless to say, this prophecy did not come to pass. Fifty-six years from 1835 would be 1891. Clearly, the Lord did not appear at that time--now more than one hundred years in the past.
"Joseph Smith likewise prophesied in a 'revelation' given through him September 22, 23, 1832, that the New Jerusalem would be built in western Missouri and within the New Jerusalem would be erected a temple during the lifetime of those hearing his revelation. Here is the revelation as given in Doctrine and Covenants:
'A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high. Yeah, the word of the Lord concerning his church in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be in the city of New Jerusalem. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased. Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.'" Doctrine and Covenants, 84:1-5.
So did this house get built as predicted? Cornforth states, "This revelation, given in 1832, plainly declares that in western Missouri, the Mormon people would build a temple within a city called the New Jerusalem--and that this temple would be built before all those making up that generation should have died. Was such a city built? and was a temple erected during the lifetimes of those who were alive when this revelation was given in 1832?
"The answer is, No! Such a city and temple were never built--either in the lifetimes of those living in 1832 nor at any time since. In 1980, 148 years after this prophecy was given, I personally viewed the "temple lot" in Jackson County Missouri. It is still barren. If this were a genuine prophecy from the Lord, would not the temple have been built ere this?"
Well, if the Mormon church decided today to build that city and temple in that spot, it still would not fulfill the prophecy. It never happened in that generation as predicted! Continuing, "Mormon leaders at the time understood Joseph Smith's revelation to mean exactly what it said. Even when the Mormon people were driven out of Jackson County in western Missouri, they believed on the basis of this revelation, that they would return to build the city and temple. In 1847, after the Mormons had settled in Utah, Brigham Young stated: 'As the Lord lives, we will build up Jackson County [Missouri] in this generation (cries of amen)...and we will be better off with regard to temporal things.' Times and Seasons, vol. 6, page 956.
"There is no credible explanation for this revelation except that it simply failed to come true." Cornforth, pp. 116-117.
Other prophecies were made about the Civil War which Smith predicted in the name of the Lord would end in a general, worldwide conflagration accompanied by earthquakes, famine, and plagues [Doctrine and Covenants, 87:1-3, 6] which Elder Cornforth quotes and comments on in his book on pages 117-118, that did not come true. The failed prophecies of Jesus' coming in fifty-six years, of building the New Jerusalem and temple in Jackson County Missouri, of the Civil War--all three of these simply did not come true! "There is no way to avoid the fact that these predictions have failed. Thus, the conclusion is that when we apply this Bible test to Joseph Smith--that the predictions and prophecies of a genuine prophet will come true--we find that he fails the test."
TEST #4 "Hereby know ye the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." 1 John 4:2
What is Joseph Smith, Jr's teaching regarding Jesus Christ? The following paragraphs are quoted again from Elder Cornforth's book, pp. 118, 119. It would be well to check out his references to be sure that they are accurate.
"We saw that this test involves more than simply accepting the historical reality of Jesus' birth as a human being. It involves acknowledging in one's teachings and in one's life all that the Bible affirms about Jesus as the divine Son of God, our Saviour and Lord. What does Joseph Smith's teachings and attitude toward Jesus tell us about his role as a prophet when we apply this test?
"Smith seems to teach in Doctrine and Covenants, that Jesus became the Son of God gradually as He received "fulness" from the Father. He also seems to teach that human beings, like Jesus, are also potentially sons of God in the same sense as Jesus. Here is how Smith puts it:
"'He [Jesus] received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; and thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first....If you keep my commandments you shall receive of his [the Father's] fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace....All those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn. Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth.' Doctrine and Covenants, 93:13, 14, 20, 22, 23.
"It isn't clear exactly what Smith means by this, however later Mormon writers have defined the church's attitude toward Jesus more plainly. James Talmadge says:
'Among the spirit-children of Elohim the firstborn was and is Jehovah or Jesus Christ to whom all others are juniors....Jesus Christ is not the Father of the spirits who have taken or yet shall take bodies upon this earth, for He is one of them. He is The Son as they are sons and daughter of Elohim.' Articles of Faith, pages 471-473.
"Thus, for Mormons, the only real difference between Jesus and human beings is that Christ was the first born of Elohim's children, whereas we, in our pre-existent spirit state, were 'born' later. The difference between Jesus and us, therefore, is merely one of degree--not an intrinsic difference of nature."
I will interject here and say, that in later lessons, we will find out what the Bible teaches on the Nature of God and the Nature of Man, for without this understanding we have no idea what "Son of God" and "Son of Man" means!
Continuing, "Mormon theology also teaches that the goal of mankind is to progress to the point of attaining godhood. Therefore, the divinity of Jesus is not unique; it is the same as that which human beings can attain. His incarnation is not unique; it is no different than that of human beings who were also pre-existent spirits before being incarnated on this earth.
"All this is directly in conflict with the clear teaching of the Bible that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. The Bible presents a Jesus who is divine in His nature just as is the Father and Holy Spirit. 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.' John 1:1, 2, 14.
"Mormon theology teaches that Jesus was conceived and born into our world as a human just as every other child has been conceived and born--that is, that God the Father had sexual intercourse with Mary in order to produce a body for Jesus Christ. Joseph Fielding Smith says:
'Our Father in Heaven is the Father of Jesus Christ, both in the spirit and in the flesh....Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God.' Doctrines of Salvation, I, page 18.
"Thus when we apply this test of a true prophet regarding his or her attitude toward Christ, we find that Joseph Smith and those who have built on his teachings, hold a view of Jesus that is widely different from the view presented in the Scriptures [which we will study in a future lesson from the Bible itself to know the truth].
"We have compared the life and teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. to the four Bible tests of a true prophet of God. We have found that he has failed to pass all four. Thus, I say in all sincerity that after looking at the evidence, the only conclusion I can reach is that Joseph Smith, Jr., does not measure up. He fails the tests, and we must reject his claim to be a true prophet of God."
But the Bible says that there will be a true endtime prophet, for that is one of the signs of the last day church in Revelation 12:17 and 19:10. So which endtime prophet meets all four of the tests? That is the subject of the next study, "Testing the Endtime Prophet."