ATTENTION BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS!

Sometime around 600 B.C. according to an ancient account given in the Book of Mormon, Nephi is given the understanding of a dream which his father Lehi had. This dream and its interpretation covers the future history of Lehi’s seed from the time they leave Jerusalem until the regathering and restoration of Israel. In the interpretation the angel explains to Nephi that four generations after the death and resurrection of Christ, the rebellious portion of Lehi’s see (called Lamanites) will destroy the portion which believe in Jesus Christ (known as the Nephites). In the years that follow these Lamanites will dwindle in unbelief, finally bringing the wrath of God upon themselves. God will manifest His wrath by bringing other nations (called Gentiles by the angel) to this land (America) and allowing them to scatter and smite the Lamanites (1 Nephi 3:150). These Gentiles were to carry “forth among them”…“a book” (1 Nephi 3:157). This book is considered by all Book of Mormon believers as the Bible.

According to the angel this “BOOK PROCEEDED FORTH FROM THE MOUTH OF A JEW; AND WHEN IT PROCEEDED FORTH FROM THE MOUTH OF A JEW IT CONTAINED THE PLAINNESS OF THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD, OF WHOM THE TWELVE APOSTLES BEAR RECORD; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God: WHEREFORE, THESE THINGS GO FORTH FROM THE JEWS IN PURITY UNTO THE GENTILES…And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, FROM THE JEWS UNTO THE GENTILES…”(1 Nephi 3:165-167). The angel is telling Nephi that the Bible CONTAINING THE GOSPEL “OF WHOM THE TWELVE APOSTLES BEAR RECORD” WOULD GO TO THE GENTILES FROM THE JEWS AS A BOOK “BY THE HAND OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES.”

But do you realize that only the Old Testament came as “’a book” from the Jews to the Gentiles. The documents that form the New Testament were letters or accounts written by apostles to their converts. They were recognized as divinely authoritative by those for whom they were written, but they did not exist as a collection until much later “Towards the end of the first century, however, we find the beginnings of a movement in this direction.” (“The Books and the Parchments” by F.F. Bruce, Page 105). ”The complete New Testament canon of 27 hooks was closed by the end of the fourth century.” (“Who Says” by Fritz Ridenour, Pago 61).

SO THE BOOK THAT CAME FROM THE JEWS TO THE GENTILES DID HOT CONTAIN “THE GOSPEL…OF WHOM THE TWELVE APOSTLES BEAR RECORD.” The Gentiles added these documents written by the apostles and writers closely associated with the apostles (Mark and Luke) to the “book” which came “from the Jews unto the Gentiles,” after they received it.

THE DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS (supposedly given by an angel) IN THE BOOK OF MORMON CAN IN NO WAY FIT THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE. May God help those who believe in the divinity of the Book of Mormon to discern that these types of mistakes (supposedly made by an angel) reveal that the book IS NOT DIVINE BUT THE PRODUCT OF ONE UNSCHOOLED IN THE FACTS OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.

“BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: BECAUSE MANY FALSE PROPHETS ARE GONE INTO THE WORLD.” (1 John 4:1). May God help us all to discern the true from the false is our prayer.