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The Translation of the Plates
1) The plates that were translated into the Book of Mormon were supposedly buried in the earth
from the year 420 A.D. until September 1823, when Joseph Smith discovered them in the "Hill
Cumorah". What is the problem with this? The Book of Mormon, a faithful rendering of the
plates, contains extensive quotations from the Bible in the King James Version! The KJV was
translated in 1611. The Book of Mormon contains modern phrases and ideas that could not have
been known to its supposed author in 420 A.D. It puts the words of Jesus (though often twisted)
into the mouths of men alleged to have lived centuries before Christ. It was not only written in a
poor imitation of Biblical style; it also undermines the Bible by declaring it insufficient, by
adding to and changing many Biblical passages, "by divine revelation." For such reasons as these
it could hardly have been revealed by an angel. Additionally, it's story of the ancient inhabitants
of America, the supposed ancestors of the "Latter-Day Saints" contains twelve historical errors.
The "Need" for Sin
2) Adam ate of the forbidden fruit to procreate with Eve after she had sinned. Mormon doctrine teaches that Adam had no choice but to disobey God. If he had no choice but to disobey God, doesn't that give Mormons today the option of not obeying God due to having no other choice? Do any of us know more than God?
The Salvation of Children Without Faith
3) Since the forbidden fruit "had" to be eaten in order to procreate, the fall of mankind didn't really happen. Consequently, children are born without sin. "Wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me (Christ), that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me . . . And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism." - The Book of Mormon
Here's a quote from Mormon John Taylor. It is found in "The Mediation and Atonement," pages 170, 177, 178. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches as a doctrine founded on reason, justice and Scripture, that all children are innocent in the sight of God, and that, until they reach an age of personal responsibility, baptism is not requisite or proper in their behalf; that, in short, they are saved through the atonement of Christ. To a degree, children are born heirs to the good or evil natures of their parents . . . but through Christ's atonement they are all redeemed from the curse of this fallen state; the debt, which comes to them as a legacy, is paid for them, and thus they are left free . . ."
Salvation by Works
4) While Christians believe in salvation by faith, not by works, Mormons believe otherwise. "The Special or Individual Effect of the Atonement makes it possible for any and every soul to obtain absolution from the dread effect of personal sins, through the mediation of Christ; but such saving intercession is to be invoked by individual effort as manifested through faith, repentance, and continued works of righteousness. The laws under which individual salvation is obtainable have been prescribed by Christ . . . Now, that the blessing of redemption from individual sins, while free for all to attain, is never the less conditioned on individual effort, as is plainly declared as is the truth of unconditional redemption from the effects of the Fall . . ." - Mormon James E. Talmadge, "The Articles of Faith, 5th edition, Salt Lake City, 1909.
Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."
(The Chaos of Cults by Van Baalen was one resource used in this study.)
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