Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
July 13, 1967
NUMBER 10, PAGE 10b

Mormonism And The Sabbath

Arvid McGuire

A year and a half ago, in a local newspaper in Huntsville, Alabama, a letter appeared from a member of the Latter-day Saints Sect. His letter concerned various interpretations concerning Sabbath observance. He contended that direct inspiration from God was necessary for one to have the true position in religion today. Of course, his conclusion was that the Latter-day Saints have the truth on the Sabbath question. The claim for modern-day revelations poses several problems for this position. Let us consider some of them briefly.

(1) The Book of Mormon sanctions spiritual adultery. It teaches that people in our hemisphere established churches of Christ while the Law of Moses was still in force. These churches were established in B. C. 147 and commanded to deep the Law of Moses (Mosiah 13:16). They were commanded to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy (Mos. 18: 23). The apostle Paul taught the Jews were dead to the Law of Moses by the body of Christ. To keep the Law of Moses under the New Covenant is to commit spiritual adultery. It is illustrated by the marriage law. A woman who has a husband is bound to hum as long as he lives. If he dies she is free to be dead to the law by the body of Christ that they might be married to another, even to him who was raised from the dead.

If the church was established in 147 B.C., then Jesus had to die to purchase it with his blood (Acts 20:28). In accomplishing this he fulfilled the Law of Moses and took it out of the way. (Col. 2:14-16).

The Book of Mormon has the church built in 147 B. C. and has its members observing the Law of Moses. A clear-cut case of spiritual adultery! Mormon inspiration has not helped this situation much!

(2) The Book of Mormon establishes the church under the Law of Moses. In 84 B. C. the Book of Mormon declares that there were churches in America; these were under the Law of Moses (Alma 4:4-5). Around 73 B.C. others belonged to the churches of God (Alma 46:14-15). These events were at least 170 years before Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). According to the Book of Mormon the disciples were called Christians in 73 B.C. The Bible declares that "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11: 26).

(3) The Mormon claim of inspiration is a farce. It contradicts the Bible. Jesus sealed the new covenant with his blood. (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:16-17). The church is a product of the new covenant, not of the Law of Moses (Acts 20:28). The Lord did not purchase the church 170 years before he shed his blood. He shed his blood and purchased the church.

How can the Mormon make his claim and substantiate it for his latter-day revelations and at the same time rule out the same claims of other religious sects? How does he discredit the claims of the Seventh-day Adventist for the inspiration of Ellen G. White? Or, the Christian Scientist's claims for the inspiration of Mary Baker Eddy? How can he make his claims and reject all others who make the same claim?

(4) The Bible teaches that revelation is complete. The man of God is completely furnished unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Let every man be content with the Bible the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).