Mormons argue that the Book of Mormon is correct about the birthplace of Jesus, being Jerusalem. For they say that Bethlehem is in Jerusalem, however, it is in reality south of Jerusalem, roughly 6.2 miles away. This is why the prophecy of Jesus’s birth was specific to the town of Bethlehem in Micah, chapter 5. We will look at that verse and also when it is quoted by the priests and scribes of King Herod in Matthew, chapter 2. It is in this chapter that the three wise men went to Jerusalem looking for the king of the Jews that was to be born. The star had been leading them so far as Jerusalem, but it hadn’t stopped there as they would find out. Therefore, given word that Bethlehem was the place where Jesus would be born, both the wise men and King Herod’s men went there. The wise men to worship the baby Jesus, and Herod’s men to kill our Lord as a baby. Now, below is that map of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, along with false prophesy of the Book of Mormon about Jesus’s birth and the correct one in the Bible…
“But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.” (Alma 7:9,10)
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” (Matthew 2:1-8)
Now that you have seen the contradiction when it comes to Jesus’s birth in the Book of Mormon, when compared to the Bible, it is up to you how you want to respond. You can hate me for exposing what is false, or appreciate what I have done by helping people come to know the truth of God. From this message, persecution will come from the Mormon community. I will get a lot of backlash for attempting to lead people out of their church and to Christianity. But my response to all Mormons is this… You are welcome to come and join us at our services. There are many wonderful Bible-believing churches out there, and Calvary Chapel is one of them. The fact of the matter is that being part of a specific denomination or non-denominational church will not save you. Jesus is saving people out of every church building, the exception are places where a false gospel is taught and the whole community is lost because of it. The truth of the matter is that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem two thousand years ago. He died for sins, was buried, and rose from the grave. Praise God. Amen.
