The Book Of Mormon, The Keystone Of Their Religion

In the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they say that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of their religion. Even in this Book’s introduction page it says it was well, “concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Book Of Mormon Introduction) Notice that they even say that this book is the most correct book on earth, even trumping the Bible. Are these words from God? No. Who would want people to think their book is more correct than the Bible? Satan would. If only I could reach these people for the Lord’s sake and help them see this. God is not happy with these people now doubting His Word, the Bible.

But is it true that a belief in the Book of Mormon has caused Mormons to doubt the Bible and trust more in their Book of Mormon over it? It sure has. I’ve talked to thousands of Mormons over the years and the majority of them would happily find contradictions in the Bible, while saying that their Book of Mormon has none. They even go so far as to say that parts of the Bible cannot be trusted, since they believe that portions of the Bible were taken out that would explain it more fully. And so we learn from the Mormon people that they only believe in the Bible as far as it is translated correctly. But even then we ask if they believe in the King James Bible as the most correct translation and the majority say no, and go to the Joseph Smith translation as the most correct one. But what is this translation they speak of?

On the website, byu.edu, it says the following. “Joseph Smith, the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made a “new translation” of the Bible, using the text of the King James Version (KJV). This work differs from the KJV in at least 3,410 verses and consists of additions, deletions, rearrangements, and other alterations that cause it to vary not only from the KJV but from other biblical texts. Changes range from minor details to fully reconstituted chapters. This article presents statements by Joseph Smith telling why he made a Bible translation, gives information relating to the development and production of the work, examines a number of the significant variants, and considers some doctrinal results and historical implications.” (Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST))

So what really happened is that Joseph Smith added to, deleted from, rearranged, and altered the King James Bible in order to write his own. These changes included verses from the Book of Revelation. Here is just one example. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having twelve horns and twelve eyes, which are the twelve servants of God, sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:6 – Joseph Smith Translation) This is in comparison to the King James Version Bible that reads, “and I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:6 – KJV)

There is a warning from God for anyone that adds to or takes away from this prophecy in Revelation. “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: 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.” (Revelation 22:18,19) What does this mean? It means that Joseph Smith’s name has been removed from the Book of Life. It is written, “whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) Therefore, Joseph is currently in hell awaiting judgment. As the Bible says, the outcome will be the lake of fire. This man has caused millions of people to go astray. God’s wrath is upon him. Amen.