Also, concerning “ baptism for the dead” without which their complex multi-million-dollar genealogical pro gram and at least two-thirds of their temple activity would be meaning less, they state: “ The glories to be revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlast ing gospel, namely, the baptism for the dead . . .” Notwithstanding the importance of this Mormon doctrine, no mention of it is made in the Book o f Mormon, the Book which is sup posed to contain the “ fulness” of the everlasting gospel. Practically all of the “ gospel” of Mormonism was in troduced several years after the Book of Mormon was printed. Although we have mentioned spe cifically these two “ Mormon gospel” teachings, the following list reveals that many others vital to Mormon ism are found wanting in the Book o f Mormon: The Mormon church organization upon which they place so much em phasis, cannot be found in the Book of Mormon. The Mormon so-called “Melchize- dek priesthood order” cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon so-called “ Aaronic priesthood order” cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine of the plu rality o f gods cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine that God is an exalted man cannot be found in the Book of Mormon. The Mormon doctrine that men may become gods cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine o f the “ three degrees of glory” cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine o f the plu rality o f wives cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine of “ the Word o f Wisdom” cannot be found in the Book of Mormon. The Mormon doctrine o f “ Pre-ex istence” cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine of “ Eternal Progression” cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon. The Mormon doctrine of “ a heav enly mother” cannot be found in the Book of Mormon. In short, if all the above named doctrines were removed from the “ Mormon gospel,” the M o rm on church would cease to exist, yet not one of these basic and important doc trines is found in the so-called “ ever lasting gospel in its fulness” — the Book of Mormon 1 be
CULTS CRITIQUE
REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF
b y B e t t y B r u e c h e r t
“ FULNESS” or Foolishness?
THY YOUTH —Ecclesiastes 12.1
The following article appeared in the May-June, 1968 issue of the pub lication o f the Utah Christian Tract Society, of La Mesa, Calif., of which Mr. Arthur Budvarson, convert from Mormonism, is President. It is used with permission. I N A RECENT ADDRESS at the Salt Lake City Mormon Conference, a high official o f the Mormon church stated that the Book o f Mormon was a true account of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants o f the Ameri can continent and that it contained “ the fulness of the everlasting gos pel . . He also said, “ Joseph Smith, the founder o f Mormonism, declared that the Book o f Mormon was ‘the keystone o f our religion’ meaning that the whole structure o f restored truth stands or falls depending on its truth or falsity.” Three o f Joseph Smith’s so-called “ revelations,” all dated in the year of 1830, declared that the Book of Mor mon contains the “ everlasting gospel in its fulness.” I f the Book of Mormon really con tains the “ everlasting gospel in its fulness” then it is clearly apparent that nothing else pertaining to the gospel is necessary. The Mormon church would have no need for the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, or so-called “ modern-day revelation.” It is sim ply impossible to add to fulness. In the light o f the above state ments, it is astonishing to discover that only an infinitesimal quantity of the “ Mormon gospel” can be traced in the Book of Mormon. For example, regarding the M o rm o n church’s teaching o f “ celestial mar riage” we read, “ The crowning gos pel ordinance requisite for Godhood is celestial marriage . . . thus we see that celestial marriage is the crown ing gospel ordinance.” Although this is one of the major doctrines o f the Mormon gospel and is basic to their “ exaltation,” it cannot be found in the Book o f Mormon.
HOLY HfHI.R
There is no book of guidance, no textbook for the young, that can equal the Great Textbook of the Ages — the Book that gives us rules for living that will never be superseded, that will never pass away. There are no Bibles made with more care and skill than the Bibles made in Cambridge, wheretheprintingof Bibles has been a responsibility of fine craftsmen since the sixteenth century.
AT ALL BOOKSTORES
DECEMBER, 1968
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