DaveH: > That is what Glenn wants you to think about > the BofM. However, he taking a few passages > and then spinning them to make it sound like the > BofM "denys the validity of the Bible". Quite the > contrary.
Dave, I think the Book of Mormon speaks deceptively about the Bible. If the book of Mormon came right out and denied the Bible, it would never have been accepted in its day. There probably would be no Mormonism today. However, by showing alliance with the Bible, but then within it, after people have begun to accept it, then it teaches the inadequacies of the Bible to stand by itself, then it creates that deception whereby people are led to believe as you do that the Bible is an arbitrary collection of books, created by men with many mistakes in translation and transmission. DaveH wrote: > The BofM quotes much material from Bible sources. > It states on its title page that it is a second witness of > Christ, the Bible being the first witness. How do you explain that the original title page of the 1830 edition that Joseph Smith first published did not have anything indicating that it was a "second witness" of Christ? Furthermore, the original title page says that Joseph Smith was the author and proprietor of the work. DaveH wrote: > Nephi devotes > an entire chapter to explaining that the Lord has revealed > his will to people other than the Jews. I'll quote it....... ********* 2 Nephi 29 [1] But behold, there shall be many -- at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; [2] And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel; [3] And because my words shall hiss forth -- many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. [4] But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? [5] O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people. [6] Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? [7] Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? [8] Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. [9] And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. [10] Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. [11] For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. [12] For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. [13] And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. [14] And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever. ********* I find it very difficult to understand how anyone reading the above passage accepts that it was written around 550 B.C. To believe such a notion, a person absolutely must believe that the Book of Mormon had much greater prophets than those who wrote the Bible. Nowhere do we find this kind of insight into the 19th century mindset, unless, of course, we accept the idea that it was not authored in 550 B.C., but rather in the early 19th century. Dave, unlike Blaine, you tend to place the Book of Mormon prophets at a similar level to the Biblical prophets. Surely you must see the problem with doing that. Where in the Bible do we see such foresight as what you quote above? It seems much more likely that Joseph Smith authored those words, which would be more concordant with the original title page of the Book of Mormon, which said, "By Joseph Smith, Junior, Author and Proprietor." Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
