Mormons believe that the book of mormon tells the story of gods dealing with americans. Gospel insights from general authorities and religious educators, provo, ut and salt lake city. Nov 22, 2016 today there are many different churches, but nephi says there are only twoone of god and the other of the devil. In stating that there are save two churches onlythe church of the lamb of god and the church of the devilthe lord is not categorically condemning all who are not members of the church. Christian markham, author of there are save two churches only, volumes i and ii. Lutherans, presbyterians, jehovahs witnesses, unitarians, whatever theyre all the same.
Jan 21, 2016 behold there are save two churches only. Christs church is given a detailed description in the book of mormon. Early christianity and 1 nephi 14 religious studies center. However, if on that piece of paper, there is a second point representing the book of mormon. Apr 21, 2019 in teaching nephi about the events of the last days, and the great division that will occur between those who serve the lamb of god and those who reject him see the lamb of god will work a great and marvelous work, the angel of the lord explains to nephi that ultimately there are only two churches. Early christianity and 1 nephi 14 religious studies. Nor is he, for that matter, ensuring an exaltation to all those who have received the fulness of the gospel. However, thats not to say that the holy ghost is without any body. Book of mormon citys only a letter or two different from. Oct 01, 2010 and then the angel says something completely different. According to wikipedia the community of christ views the book of mormon as an additional witness of jesus christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishing arm, herald house, all of which is inconsistent with a view that the community might have denounced the book in order to win favour with the world. The community of christ has not denounced the book of mormon. There are two churches only april 21, 2019 messages of the book of mormon in teaching nephi about the events of the last days, and the great division that will occur between those who serve the lamb of god and those who reject him see the lamb of god will work a great and marvelous work, the angel of the lord explains to nephi that ultimately there are only two churches.
The book of mormon and the american indian dean helland. Nephi was seeing the beginning and the end of the world, and all events in between including the birth of jesus christ, the apostles, etc. Gardner also explains, the two ways are the way of life and the way of death. Still, the book of mormon must be accepted as a divinelyinspired record, prophetic of the restoration of christs church by joseph smith, despite the two previous churches which had been. Read this weeks knowhy connected with the come follow me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this weeks scripture reading. Behold there are save two churches only, the one is the church of the lamb of god, and the other is the church of the devil, wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the lamb of god belongeth to that great church, wich is the mother of abominations. Jul 14, 2016 according to the book of mormon, its message was going to be preached among the american indians with great power followed by severe judgment on the gentiles. Logically, if the book of mormon is to the mormon what the bible is to the christian, that book ought to be the source of their doctrinal stance in the religious community.
This teaching permeates the book of mormon, and indicates that ultimately, all choices lead us down one of these two paths. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, vol. A two hundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished. Follow book of mormon central on facebook behold there are save two churches only. The book of mormon chapter 8 behold, i speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. The ancient doctrine of the two ways and the book of mormon author noel b.
Mormon missionaries usually try to get prospective converts investigators to read it as soon. Of the three named female characters that are unique to the book of mormon, only two speak any words at all. Christ in the book of mormon book of mormon evidence. The ancient doctrine of the two ways and the book of mormon. Why does the book of mormon say all other churches are of the devil. People often sense an overwhelming array of choices, not only in religion but in every facet of life. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. The mormon religion mormonism, whose followers are known as mormons and latterday saints lds, was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named joseph smith. Shockingjospeh smiths story book of mormon s names and citys are only one or a few letters off of the names of the bible and the citys surrounding jospeh at the time he wrote his fictional book. In the first, oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris affirm that theyve seen the plates from which the book of mormon was translated by. Did the community of christ denounce the book of mormon. By this reasoning, writes hugh nibley, there are never more than save two churches only in the world, and indeed nephis muchcommented remark to that effect 1 nephi 14.
The ancient doctrine of the two ways and the book of. Jul 19, 20 perhaps the world is moving toward the fulfillment of nephis prophecy that in the last days there will be two churches only. These are the church of the lamb of god and the church. Not only did ezra benson urge this upon mormons, their own spiritual founder, joseph smith, jr. He can be in only one place at once in this hes no different from his two superiors in the mormon godhead. For example, after the cataclysmic last battle fought between the nephites and lamanites, hundreds of thousands of men and beasts had allegedly perished, and the ground would have been strewn with weapons and armor. In his vision given in 1 nephi of the book of mormon, nephi was taught that there are only two churches, the church of the lamb of god or the true church, and the church of the devil the false church. An angel tells nephi of the blessings and cursings to fall upon the gentilesthere are only two churches. Book of mormon central, are there really only two churches.
Toward the end of nephis sweeping vision, his angelic guide. Largey, lessons from the zarahemla churches in the book of mormon. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. Perhaps the world is moving toward the fulfillment of nephis prophecy that in the last days there will be two churches only. Apr 25, 20 i would have to say mostly latter day saints. But behold, jesus christ hath shown you unto me, and i know your doing. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. According to the book of mormon, its message was going to be preached among the american indians with great power followed by severe judgment on the gentiles. If they read only the book of moroni, they will encounter 215 references to him in its thirteen and onehalf pages. The awkward part for the mormon church is the total lack of historical and archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. The book of mormon chapter summaries flashcards quizlet. Learn about the book of mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned book of mormon scholars like john w.
Sep 12, 2008 mormons say they have the only true church so what does that mean about your church. Mormon theology typically does not address this contradiction. O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of god. Have we not seen christians and others horrifically massacred throughout history. There are two churches only messages of the book of mormon. This is consistent with the teachings of ancient judeochristian sources, like lehis contemporary jeremiah and the savior himself. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. Learn how nephis two churches and ancient judeochristian doctrine of two ways relate. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. To those who say latterday saints dont respect christ or dont worship him, we need simply point to the book of mormon. Reynolds the bible describes a bifurcated world in which god bids, commands, and teaches the people he has created to follow him in the way of righteousness, and in which the devil leads people into wickedness.
In fact, he has a spiritual body, in the actual shape of a man, with head, torso, and limbs. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1991, 5971. Why does the book of mormon say all other churches are of. Jan 27, 2016 behold there are save two churches only. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. These and many other sources taught that, ultimately, there really is only. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Oct 25, 2014 christs church is given a detailed description in the book of mormon. Reexamining what lds scriptures say about the only true. The book of mormon vs mormonism by richard packham most people mormons and nonmormons alike assume that the mormon religion is based on its holy book, the book of mormon and that by reading that book one can learn what mormonism is all about. There are save but two churches only rational faiths.
In ancient judeochristian thought, however, there were only two ways, of which nephis two churches. Verse speaks of multitudes fighting against the lamb of god. Jul 29, 2019 the book of mormon chapter 8 behold, i speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. Lessons from the zarahemla churches religious studies center. Religious studies center, brigham young university and deseret book, 2003, 11227. I am lds mormon and have read the book of mormon countless times, it is true. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. There are only two churches not three, not four, not 100, not 2 million churches. How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points, the bible and the book of mormon only one only one interpretation of christ doctrines survives the. In stating that there are save two churches only the church of the lamb of god and the church of the devilthe lord is not categorically condemning all who are not members of the church. It is fascinating and rings true, but it is difficult for many to understand. Those who believe in family and in the commitment, responsibility, and sacrifice that goes with them. And then the angel says something completely different. Toward the end of nephis sweeping vision, his angelic guide informs him, there are save two churches only.
He claimed to have received a personal visit from god the father and jesus christ articles of faith, p. The book of mormon not only shows us what the gospel of christ is, but it also shows us what it is not. These and many other sources taught that, ultimately, there really is only two waysone that leads to life, and another that leads to death. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the movement, which mormons used alongside the bible for teaching. But it is not the religions that believe in the book mormon mostly, you need to read it to receive a personal witness it is true. Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. Because i have met protestant preachers mostly baptist and nondenominational who use the book of mormon. He tells nephi that there arent many churches there werent any churches at the time, of course, there are only two churches. There are two churches only april 21, 2019 messages of the book of mormon in teaching nephi about the events of the last days, and the great division that will occur between those who serve the lamb of god and those who reject him see the lamb of god will work a great and marvelous work, the angel of the lord explains to nephi that. How many churches count the book of mormon as part of their cannon. This is what the holy ghost the spirit of god told him personally in this vision. Why does the book of mormon say all other churches are of the.