On facebook last night I posted that as a Christian I could not justify voting for Romney or Obama because they are both members of cults - Mormanism and black liberation theology. I had some gal lay into me telling me that I shouldn't judge other religions, that she knows some people who have converted to and from Mormanism and they all believe in the same Christ that other Christians do. I tried to explain why Mormanism is not Christian and she got a bit nasty with me even going so far as to tell me I must be a member of the Westboro Baptist Church.
I posted a listing of the Mormon teaching/doctrines and all she did was tell me how I could not be a Christian because all Bible based religions are Christian. I finally asked her if she was a Mormon and she told me it was none of my business. Then she made a mistake - she told me that her "gift of discernment" let her know that I was part of Westboro and that she would not talk to such a hateful person who talked bad about other religions. I said, well I can see why you are upset... the phrase you just used tells me that you are a mormon. She quit responding to my posts and she and another female with a Jewish last name (don't know if she was Jewish or not but....) started posting to each other and from that I learned that I am probably a felon, an insane fool, no doubt a WBC member and a threat to her and they were going to report me. I didn't know I had so many traits so I guess I should be thankful for the two of them informing me of the extra ones. LOL
Gordon B. Hinckley, prior President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1995-2008), said: "The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and witnesses of His divinity, His life, and His Atonement.”
Mormons believe, revere and love the Holy Bible. We see it as a powerful, important, and sacred holy record which serves as the bedrock of all Christianity. The Bible is rich in history, doctrine, stories, sermons and testimonies, all of which witness that Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of our Heavenly Father. The Bible is the word of God and came from the writings of holy men of God as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost (see 2 Peter 1:20-21). Through the same process we have additional Holy Scripture, including the Book of Mormon, which supports and exalts the Bible.
To the Christian world the most well-known collection of scriptures is the Holy Bible. In addition to the Bible, Latter-day Saints accept the following books as scripture:
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a record of God’s dealings with the inhabitants of ancient America (2000 BC – 400 AD).
The Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the Church of Jesus Christ in the last days (1830 AD – 1978 AD).
The Pearl of Great Price, a selection of revelations, translations, and writings of Joseph Smith.
There is no reason to limit God in how much scripture or how much revelation He can generate. As it says in the Book of Mormon, God has spoken continually to men since the beginning of time and has caused them to write about the information they have received. Joseph Smith did the following: He obeyed God and refused to deny that he had seen God and Christ, thereby bringing terrible persecution upon himself. He purified himself and prepared himself to be a tool in God’s hands. God wanted to restore the gospel in its purity in preparation for the Second Coming, with the authority that had been lost when the apostles were martyred. Joseph agreed to help with the work no matter the personal cost.
Joseph was led to a buried record engraved on brass plates. The record was of a lost branch of Israelites. They had prophets, and Christ visited them after His resurrection. (Christ then went on to visit the Ten Lost Tribes, and they too have written the account. We will receive their records when they return.) Joseph translated the record, and it was called the Book of Mormon. It testifies that Christ lived, was crucified and resurrected, and that He is the Son of God. At the beginning, Joseph used the ancient Urim and Thummim as an aid for translation. After awhile, he didn’t need them anymore.
Joseph Smith established God’s truths as he received them; he established a city in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Joseph and his brothers Hyrum and Samuel were martyred for their beliefs. Joseph knew he was about to be killed, but he went like a lamb to the slaughter to seal his testimony with his blood. Would he have done so for a false book? For fanciful visions?
It testifies that Christ lived, was crucified and resurrected, and that He is the Son of God. At the beginning, Joseph used the ancient Urim and Thummim as an aid for translation. After awhile, he didn’t need them anymore.
I have seen a actual front page of the very first publication.
It says "Author and Propriator, Joseph Smith"
The next publication of the Book from then out says "Translated by Joseph Smith"
Making fun of Joseph Smith, originator (or whatever you want to call it) of Mormonism, has only limited effect in terms of debunking a religion.
I have long harbored the suspicion that Moses was either not a Hebrew at all but an Egyptian who, having somehow failed to attain success in Egyptian society, re-invented himself as a Hebrew somehow miraculously preserved and prepared to foment a slave uprising. Or that he was a Hebrew and the story that he had somehow been a powerful Egyptian as well and gave it all up for the good of his people was a bit of hype.
Some people harbor doubts that Jesus actually lived, but that religion was begun by a collection of poorly educated ne're-do-wells. Also some doubts about Mohammed, who seems to have been a semi-literate (if that!) desert bandit. And there are more examples.
Incidentally, you'll notice that Americans have been so intimated and propagandized by Arab/Muslim element that many of them speak of the founder of Islamd as "the prophet Mohammed' ... yet they still won't speak of the founder of Mormonism as "the prophet Joseph Smith".