Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
August 29, 1957
NUMBER 17, PAGE 3

A Mormon's-Eye View Of The Bible

Robert H. West, Oceanside, California

The religious system generally known as "Mormonism" has made a favorable impression upon credulous humanity by its claim to adhere to and teach the Bible as the word of God. This claim is essential to the very existence of this system. For without it the overshadowing infamy of polygamy would soon utterly destroy Mormonism or at the very least discourage its spread. But this claim is wholly false. It is nothing more than a guise designed to waive the careful investigation of the public at large. It is the purpose of this article, therefore, to expose this falsehood and bring to light how Mormonism actually views the Bible.

There is no higher authority in Mormonism than the Book of Mormon. Let us read an enlightening passage from this volume.

"And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the foundation of a great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb, many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away;

Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God." — 1 Nephi 13:26,28.

This "great and abominable church" spoken of here is allegedly the Roman Catholic Church. Everyone that has a passing knowledge of the Bible knows that the latest major manuscript of the Bible is dated approximately two hundred years prior to the existence of the Roman Catholic Church. But aside from this obvious error, the point pertinent here is that from the Mormon's viewpoint the Bible has lost many "plain and precious" teachings and covenants. But this is not all.

Mr. Orson Pratt was one of the greatest scholars of Mormonism and also was one of the "twelve living apostles." In his book, "Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon," page 218, he said,

"Verses and even whole chapters have been added by unknown persons and even we do not know the authors of some whole books. Who knows that even one verse of the whole Bible has escaped pollution so as to convey the same sense now that it did in the original?"

This type of reasoning is what we would expect to hear from an atheist or skeptic rather than from one who claims to be an inspired apostle of our Lord. But the most amazing thing in this quotation is the last sentence.

Especially is it so when we recall how the young Mormon "elders" enter our homes and point out some obscure text in the Bible and insist they know what it means.

Mr. Pratt declared that the Bible is so garbled that it is doubtful if even one verse has escaped pollution! How, then, can these young men be so positive in their interpretation of certain passages in the Bible? My friends, they are not positive! As stated before, this is merely a deceptive means by which they are enabled to sow their false doctrine in the homes of uninformed mankind. But there is even more.

Brigham Young was the famous leader of the Mormon church and founder of Salt Lake City, Utah. His name and words are still hallowed by the adherents of Mormonism. Listen to his words in a discourse delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, October 23, 1853:

"You believe Adam was made of the dust of the earth. This I do not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible; but it is not, to my understanding. You can write that information to the States, if you please — that I have publicly declared that I do not believe that portion of the Bible as the Christian world do. I never did, and I never want to. What is the reason I do not? Because I have come to understanding, and banished from my mind all the baby stories my mother taught me when I was a child." — Journal of Discourses, volume II, page 6.

Do Mormons believe this was merely Brigham's opinion? Listen again to Mr. George A. Smith in the Tabernacle, October 7, 1853:

"In the commencement of my remarks, I will say, that the people almost universally do not realize the importance of listening to the voice of God through His servant Brigham . . . When God places a man on the earth to be His mouth, he says this or that is the law, and this is the thing for the people to obey." — Journal of Discourses, volume I, page 192, 193.

There is much more that could be presented but this should suffice to show the absurdity of the claim of Mormonism to believe and teach the Bible as the word of God. Only a system designed by Satan himself would dare promulgate such utterances concerning the Bible. Therefore, "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."