Now going to 'THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES', also on the first few pages in the Book of Mormon, right before they start numbering the pages. In the last sentence it says, "And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen"
It says, "...which is one God. Amen" And it doesn't say anything about one in purpose.
Continuing on, going to 2 Nephi Chapter 11, verse 7 (that's page 73,74 in my Book of Mormon), "For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God then we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.
Interesting to say the least.
Now let's go to 2 Nephi 26:12 (page 93 in mine) which says, "And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;
Once again, "Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;" How can he be eternally God based on the beliefs in Mormonism that you must work your way to Godhood.
Now we go to 2 Nephi 31:21 (page 105) "And now, behold, my brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen."
Once again, not in purpose but is one God. Please explain.
Okay, going to Mosiah 7:27 (page 149), "And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth-"
Why??? if God is already flesh and blood. Why?? Why??
From here we go to Mosiah 13:34 (page 162) which says, "Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?"
Basically the same question as before,'If he was already in the form of a man based on Mormon doctrine, why does he take the form of a man?'
Also the very next page, Mosiah 15:1-5 (page 163 in my Book of Mormon),
" 1 And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that you should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.
2 And because he dwelleth in the flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son-
3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and the Son-
4 And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and earth.
5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people."
This is a pretty clear quote, the Son is the Father in the Book of Mormon, he is only called the Son because of the flesh.
That's a pretty weird statement based on the Mormon beliefs today.
Anyway, let's do a few more, going to Mosiah 16:15 (page 166), it says, "Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very eternal Father. Amen"
Who did the Book of Mormon say has been eternally the Father,--'Jesus Christ'. How can this be in Mormonism?
Now going to Alma 11:26-33 (pages 223,224), reading:
"And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?
And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
And he answered, No.
Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things?
And he said: An angel hath made them known unto me.
And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is it the Son of God?
And he said unto him, Yea."
Now let's drop down to verse 38,39 and continue reading,:
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?
And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;"
And jumping down to the middle of verse 44,
"..and shall be brought and araigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, which is one eternal God,....."
Joseph Smith said, "I told the brethren 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 (doctrines) than any other book." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 194)
Based on that quote from Joseph Smith where are these major doctrines of Mormonism found in the Book of Mormon?
(1) Celestial marriage for time and eternity (called the crowning gospel ordinance required for Godhood). Celestial marriage makes Gods in eternity (according to Mormonism). Gospel Through the Ages, pgs. 118,120 by Milton R. Hunter and Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2 ,pg. 62 by Joseph Fielding Smith.
(2) Baptism for the dead (called the most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel). Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 128:18
(3) That God was once a man as we are now and is an exalted man. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith,pg.345.
(4) That God has a body of flesh and bones. Doctrine and Covenants, Sec.130:22.
(5) That men can become Gods. Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 346.
(6) The Mormon doctrine of the plurality of wives. Ibid. pg. 370
(7) The Mormon doctrine that the Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three Gods. Ibid. pg. 370
(8) The Mormon doctrine of the plurality of wives. Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 132:61,62.
(9) The Mormon doctrine of Pre-existence. Mormon Doctrine, pg. 589, by Bruce R. McConkie.
(10) The Mormon doctrine of three degrees of glory. Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 76:96-98.
The Book of Mormon is supposed to contain the fullness of the everlasting gospel. (Check Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 27:5 and 135:3). And according to 'Doctrines of Salvation' by Joseph Fielding Smith, Vol. 1, pg. 160, "By fullness of the gospel is meant all the ordinances and principles that pertain to exaltation in the celestial kingdom."
So why aren't these teachings that I just quoted in the Book of Mormon? And in many cases the Book of Mormon teaches just the opposite of the major beliefs in Mormonism and I hope to show that a lot deeper as the weeks go by if the Lord tarries. Jesus Christ loves you so much, he gave you a choice- heaven or hell. He does not want you to stay in bondage to a legalistic, religious system, He wants to set you free.
Jehovah Elohim Almighty said, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour." Isa. 43:10,11