3As Christians, we lift up the cross. It is essential to the gospel of Jesus and vital to understand its importance. The Bible teaches that we are saved through the blood of Jesus, that was spilt on the cross. However, the LDS faith also teaches that before Jesus’s Birth, the Book of Mormon people were forgiven by the blood of Jesus. In 124 B.C, they said, “O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ.” Source: Mosiah 4:1-3. Two problems here. Jesus hadn’t died on the cross yet and His name was never mentioned in the Old Testament time frame. Can you also see the conflict here? Mormons read the Book of Mormon but cannot see the issue? This can be a problem when reading other books are more important than the Bible. Joseph Smith must not have been very studious with the Bible, when he wrote that in. 3Christians know that forgiveness, through the blood of Jesus, happened on the cross of Jesus. Not before His birth. Just think about this logically. If you read the Bible, you will see why this is very wrong and how this could not have happened at all before Christ came to earth. The whole purpose of Jesus coming to this world was to pay the price for our sins. Speaking of His birth, it is recorded, 2“she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” For so many years, people waited for a Savior. Jesus is that Savior and we now have free access to Him and His mercy. The cross gives us hope for a new day. Through His mercy, we are covered by His blood. Not before Jesus came but because He did and died for us, our sins can be covered.
The Bible teaches that the blood of Jesus is vital to our salvation. Our sins can be covered, because of the cross. Because of Jesus died for us, we can be forgiven and be found worthy. Before Christ came to earth, it was a different story. Things happened much differently. People that lived before Christ (B.C.), looked for the Lord God to save them. High priests would do burnt offerings for the people’s sins. 1They made alters and did animal sacrifices. There was no forgiveness by the blood of Jesus but a sin offering, through the blood of the animal. When Jesus came, He was the last sacrifice for sins. He is the Lamb of God. After Jesus died on the cross, the doors were opened for forgiveness, by His blood. The Book of Mormon teaching is contrary to God. If it was in line with the Bible, there would be a burnt offering for their sins, before Christ was born. And then forgiveness by the blood of Jesus, after the cross of Jesus. Can you now see why the Book of Moron is false? If you think about it clearly, it’s teaching does not make any sense at all. It goes against the core principles of Jesus and the cross. For this reason, I declare to the world that the Book of Mormon is a fraud. I was once Mormon but evidence, like this, is enough to show me the truth of God. If you are a Mormon, how do you refute these verses in Mosiah 4, from your book? I pray that your heart is open. Read the Bible and don’t be so fast as to accept truth from other books but compare the teachings. The Bible should be held up higher than all books for it is the Word of God. The truth of God will set you free.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, will you open the eyes of the blind? Will you help those that are lost see the truth of God? Your truth is plain to those that seek You. I know this for You have unfolded to me Your mysteries. There was a veil over my face but it is lifted. I was blind but can now see. I once put my trust in man but You have awakened my soul to trust in You. Thank You for leading me out of darkness and into Your light. For many years I thought the truth was before me. I would not accept anything but what my church taught me. I would lift it up and cast aside anything contrary. But Lord, You saw how closed minded I was. I needed something to help me think clearly. In sin, You can came to me. My heart was finally open and You rescued me. Your mercy and forgiveness is real, for I have felt it. I have hope because of You. You have taken my hand and led me on Your path. You have set me on a course, while helping me leave false teachings behind. It is better to live for You then to live for men that don’t save. I will continue to compare teachings to the Bible. Your Words are true and are a delight to my soul. I love You. I praise Your holy Name. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Leviticus 17:1-11 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying,
3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
2Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
31 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Nephi was told the name of Jesus Christ in the fifth century BC. Do you believe in prophecy? This is the same way Isaiah or others could predict his birth. Prophets knew, but the name was lost among the people because of apostasy.
Second point, even though they had various offering for sin, ultimately all human beings will confess the Christ and be atoned through him. This includes people who lived before christ and in cultures where burned offerings were not available. Ultimately burned offerings are ineffective at removing sin. They only symbolized the future sacrifice of Christ.
So no, there is no problem here. The Book of Mormon teaches an infinite atonement, not one that only works for people after 30AD who know about it.
Let’s discuss your points Christopher.
1. You say Nephi was able to know the name of Jesus B.C. I do believe in prophesy, but do you believe in the Bible? Name one instance in the Old Testament where the name Jesus or Christ was mentioned. The thing is, you won’t find any verses. Jesus was prophesied of a ton but never his birth name was revealed. His given birth name was not lost but first spoken of by the angel Gabriel. Read the Bible and you will know this to be true.
2. You say that people in the Old Testament time frame had various forms of offerings for sin. So your point is that the Book of Mormon people could be practicing something different. However, this is wrong too, since the book says that the people came from Jerusalem. People in Jeruselum only did animal sacrifices on alters, before Christ. Therefore, this sin offering would have been carried over to the Book of Mormon people.
3. Here is my third point. Jesus had not paid the price for our sins until the cross. This happened aprpoximately 30 years after his birth. So any repentence through His blood, before Christ could never have happened. Jesus was the last sacrifice for sin. No longer were animal sacrifices necessary. Your book is not in line with the Bible. If it was, then those people, 124 B.C. would have been doing animal sacrifices for sin.
I truly challenge you to give up reading the Book of Mormon for a year and just read the plain and simple King James Bible. I am not talking about the Bible you have but the uncorrupted version of the KJV, without the JST footnotes. Do this and God’s Word will speak truth to your heart and mind. Open your heart to God and His truths will become known. I was once Mormon until the Lord opened my eyes to His truth. The veil has been lifted. Seek the Lord’s face and you will be blessed. God bless you.
-Paul