Chapter 17 (BOMC)

If there is a smoking gun for the Book of Mormon being false, it comes from 2 Nephi, chapter 9. It reads, “and assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.” (2 Nephi 9:16) This one verse is a rip-off of four different verses in the New Testament portion of the Bible. Joseph Smith took one verse out of Matthew and three additional verses from Revelation.  He then combined them into one verse. Those verses from the Bible are found below...

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:11)

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:11)

Looking at the verse in 2 Nephi, chapter 9, it appears that Joseph Smith believed in the lake of fire early on in life. How the wicked would be cast into the lake of fire and be tormented day and night. Even the smoke of their torment would ascend into heaven forever and ever. Although this is Biblical and sounds good in the Book of Mormon, it is still plagiarism. This chapter in the Book of Mormon was supposedly written around 559-545 B.C. Which is long before Jesus ever came to earth. Joseph Smith thought that by including references to the New Testament in his book, he could make it appear more like the Bible. However, this con man has been apprehended in the act. Be cautious when placing your trust in Joseph Smith. He is a false prophet. Lastly, it is interesting how this book teaches an eternal lake of fire for the wicked. I say this since the Mormon church does not teach this. But why do they go against their own book’s teachings?

Many verses in the Book of Mormon either contradict the Bible or their own teachings. For example, a verse in Jacob, chapter 6, talks about a real lake of fire for the wicked.  How people will suffer for eternity. It reads, “and according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment.” (Jacob 6:10) This one teaching in the Book of Mormon is often overlooked, as it is looked at metaphorically. This is simply because baptisms for the dead are important to Mormons.  However, all this temple work does not help people receive a second chance after death. They refuse to accept this verse and prefer to believe that people can escape this punishment.  Through doing rituals for the deceased in their temples, they believe that people will escape hell and the lake of fire. I often wonder why Mormons deny the teachings in their own Book of Mormon.  This book teaches the trinity (2 Nephi 31:21; Mormon 7:7), worshipping Jesus (2 Nephi 25:29), and the lake of fire (Jacob 6:10; Mosiah 5:5; Alma 34:34,35). All this said, and the LDS people do not even subscribe to these beliefs.

The truth is, when the lake of fire is spoken of in the Bible, it is a real thing.  Those who are unsaved go to hell when they die.  Jesus even spoke about hell more than anyone else. He said, “wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” (Matthew 18:8,9) How people will be cast into the lake of fire after they are judged and found guilty. It is written, “but the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) If a church says you can have a second chance to go to heaven when you die, run from it as fast as you can. This teaching is from the pit of hell.

Those who are LDS hate it when we bring up hell and the lake of fire. What is so odd, however, is how their own Book of Mormon teaches about these two places in detail. One such place comes from Mosiah, chapter 5. These people are making a commitment to God, where if they fall away, they will be forever separated from Him.  This is where they will suffer in a place of endless torment. It is written, “and we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.” (Mosiah 5:5) So what does this mean? According to this book, those who are saved keep God’s commands. Those who do not are cast off into a lake of fire.  This is where baptisms for the dead can do nothing to help them. Mormons are also incapable of keeping all their covenants with God in their temples.  So, we see this book and Mormon doctrines colliding with one another.

According to the Bible, those who are unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire. They will be tormented in this place forever, as smoke ascends up into heaven. They will have no rest in this awful place. It is written, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:9-12) As believers in Jesus, we are overcomers. On the other hand, Mormons are relying on their own merits to go to heaven. They have made up a god that fits their belief system. Therefore, it will be a wake-up call when people wake up in hell.

It is interesting that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is all about their temples.  Saving dead people through baptisms for the dead is what they are all about, even though it goes against the teachings in their Book of Mormon.  The book speaks of no second chances, and that if we were evil in this life, our spirits are sealed to the devil in the next. It reads, “ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.” (Alma 34:34,35) Wow! Mormons must hate these verses if they believe in baptisms for the dead.

Christians are correct about the following verse in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15.  It reads, “else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29) Paul is simply asking why certain individuals were doing baptisms for dead people. They didn’t believe in the resurrection but still they did these works for the dead. (See 1 Corinthians 15:12 for details) This was questioned and not accepted in the church.  The same can be said in the Book of Mormon, which is very interesting. Lastly, baptisms for the dead was spoken against in Paul the apostles time, so it is today also.  This is a false practice!  After death comes judgment. There are no second chances after death according to the Bible. John wrote, “he that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7,8) Therefore, we need to consider living for Jesus in this life, for there are real consequences in the next. Amen.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people in all the world will come to know You as their Lord and Savior. Time is ticking, and we don’t know when this life will end. We also do not know when You will return, Jesus. Many people prioritize instant gratification before You.  People try everything under the sun in order for the flesh to feel a certain way.  Where the right way is to have the Holy Spirit lead us.  Only then can we fulfill everything our heart truly needs not desires. If people learned to listen to You and do Your will, they would be so much happier in this life. Lord, I give You thanks for giving me boldness.  I am able to share the gospel with others and not feel overwhelmed, burdened, or intimidated by people. All the butterflies are over because Your Spirit is with me. I should have died many times, but You have kept me going long enough to fulfill Your will on this earth. God, I don’t know when my life will end, but when it does, You will take me safely home. I love You. Amen.