Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are often criticized for not being Christian. The critics claim that we believe in "another" Jesus, or the devil portraying himself as a messenger of light. I find it hard to accept that the following scriptures quoted from the Book of Mormon could be the work of the grand deceiver.
Christ’s Image, by Heinrich Hofmann
And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
(Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:26)
Ascension of Jesus, Andrei Rublev, 1408, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
(Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 33:10)
Panneau du Christ et de l'abbé Ména, VIIIe s. ap. J.-C. monastère de Baouit (peinture à la cire et à la détrempe sur bois de figuier) musée du Louvre (Paris, France)
And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection,
(Book of Mormon, Mormon 9:13)
Boy Jesus in the Temple (Christ in the Temple), by Heinrich Hofmann
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
(Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:33)
Jesus, the Christ, Mosaics at Ravenna
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
(Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:26)
Christ Taking Leave of HIs Mother, Albrecht Durer, 1511, British Museum, London, UK
Just as artists around the world in different time periods have interpreted Jesus in different ways, using a variety of materials and media, so likewise have Christians of various denominations and sects viewed and interpreted Him in a number of varying ways. Do members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in "another" Jesus? No, it is the same Jesus. Our perspective is just a little different from other Christians. We firmly believe and testify that He is indeed the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the way, the truth, and the life, and no-one can go unto the Father but by Him.
A replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue in the Salt Lake North Visitors’ Center.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. (11th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Joseph Smith was a fraud, the story of the golden plates was a hoax, and The Book of Mormon is a grand forgery. That is what critics of the Church believe. Is everything we believe about the Book of Mormon a lie and a deception?
Lets begin with the man Joseph Smith. He describes his upbringing and background in his own words as follows:
I was born in the town of Charon [Sharon] in the of Vermont North America on the twenty third day of December AD 1805 of goodly Parents who spared no pains to instruct me in christian religion[.] at the age of about ten years my Father Joseph Smith Seignior moved to Palmyra Ontario County in the State of New York and being in indigent circumstances were obliged to labour hard for the support of a large Family having nine chilldren and as it required their exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the Family therefore we were deprived of the bennifit of an education suffice it to say I was mearly instruct tid in reading and writing and the ground of Arithmatic which const[it]uted my whole lite rary acquirements. http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/history-circa-summer-1832?p=1
Here is an image of the manuscript for that same paragraph written in his own hand:
Joseph's family were primarily farmers working and living off of the land. At age 21, he claimed to have recovered a set of golden plates under the direction of an angel named Moroni. In early 1829, a school teacher named Oliver Cowdery who was boarding with Joseph's parents learned of the plates and sought out Joseph who at that time was living in Pennsylvania with his wife Emma. Oliver offered to serve as scribe while Joseph dictated the translation of the golden plates. The process began in earnest on April 7, 1829 and was completed roughly three months later. It's estimated that Oliver wrote down the text at the rate of some 3,500–4,000 words per day. There were also a few other people who filled in as scribe from time to time including Emma Smith.
Several persons were eyewitnesses to the method by which Smith dictated over six hundred manuscript pages to his scribes. And in less than a year after the completion of the translation, the work was published and accepted by believers as authoritative scripture.
(The Book of Mormon : the earliest text / edited by Royal Skousen, Introduction, viii)
If the Book of Mormon is a forgery produced through fakery and deception, then I challenge anyone to explain how it was accomplished, with or without accomplices, by a poorly educated farmboy from rural New York state.
The search for truth has led millions of people to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, there are some who leave the Church they once loved.
One might ask, “If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”
Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.
Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church.
-- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct 2013
There are indeed many reasons why members leave the church and abandon their faith. In my experience, I've known those who separate themselves from the Church because of bad behavior, spiritual apathy, looking for an excuse not to live the commandments, or searching for an easy out. If God doesn't exist then the commandments are not enforceable and there is no sin in doing anything contrary to them. They therefore seek to justify their behavior by dismissing what we in the church consider to be sin and evil. Instead they are lead by human conscience and the greater good. Unfortunately, when sin is eliminated from the equation, so is righteousness. Goodness becomes a relative term subject to interpretation, revision, and alteration. The line between good and bad becomes a large gray area. This is not how it should be.
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:11 - 13)
No-one should be forced nor coerced to believe in God and His commandments. The truth, however, is that the existence of God is not dependent on our faith in Him. He exists whether we believe in Him or not. And, if He exists, then His commandments are in force whether we accept them or not. We are, of course, free to choose to believe them or not. We are not, however, free to choose the consequences of our choices. If in this life it seems that our choice to disregard the commandments has no undesirable results, and in many cases a person can lead a blissful and happy life without heeding the commandments of God, they may find after death that they have become ineligible for great and eternal blessings. It is especially unfortunate for those who once believed and now choose to set those things aside.
But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!
O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:27 - 28)
These scriptures teach us that not only does God exist, but an opposing force we know to be Satan, or the devil, also exists. He is the one who entices people into throwing away their faith and their God.
O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally–minded is death, and to be spiritually–minded is life eternal.
O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:39 - 41)
There is comfort in knowing that there is a God in Heaven who loves every individual even when they sin and ignore the commandments. He sent His Son to atone for our transgressions and to prepare the way to return to Him and receive immortality and eternal life.
And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:26 - 27)
If anyone has been offended by something in church that was said or not said, done or not done, or if there are things you have done that would make you feel ashamed if you acknowledged a belief in God, for a moment, try to set those hurt feelings aside and allow the good message of the Gospel to have a little place in your heart.
Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words
(Book of Mormon | Alma 32:26 - 27)
I have tasted of the blessings of the Gospel of our Savior. His arms of mercy are open and the invitation is extended to all to come unto Him, or to come back unto Him if you have gone away, and partake of those sweet blessings.
