Mormon Usage of the Bible

by Randy S. Reese, Sr.

While reading the report on the 152nd Semi-annual General Conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints (Mormons), held on October 2-3, 1982, I began to see some very interesting comparisons.

During the 39 talks given, the Bible was quoted 164 times while the Mormon Doctrine was quoted 128 times, this included three quotations from the Gospel of John (Joseph Smith's Inspired Translation).

The Bible was quoted three times more often than the Book of Mormon, although only 15 books of the New Testament, 14 books of the Old Testament, and 8 books from the Book of Mormon were used.

The most quoted book, of Mormon doctrine was the Doctrine and Covenants quoted 64 times, the least being the book of Abraham once.

The most quoted book of the New Testament was the book of Matthew quoted 34 times also the book of Luke 31 times, the least quoted books were Philippians, Titus, and Revelation.

The most quoted book of the Old Testament was the book of Joshua 12 times and the book of Genesis 7 times. The least quoted was the book of Joel once.

I find their use of the Bible most interesting when considering what Apostle Orson Pratt a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had to say in the 1850's concerning the Bible and the book of Matthew:

Many Protestants say they take the Bible as their only rule of faith . . . . What evidence have they that the book of Matthew was inspired of God, or any other of the books of the New Testament? The only evidence they have is tradition .... Can we rely upon it in it's present known corrupted state, as being a faithful record of God's word?. . . What few (manuscripts that, R.R.) have come down to our day have been mutilated, changed and corrupted . . . . Verses and even whole chapters have been added by unknown persons; and we are not certain that all those which we do know were written by inspiration . . . . Who in his right mind, could for a moment, suppose the Bible in its present form to be a perfect guide? 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? (Orson Pratt's Works, The Bible Alone An Insufficient Guide, pp. 44-47).

The Apostle Mark E. Peterson one of the speakers at the conference and also a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had this to say about the reliability of the Bible:

Many insertions were made, some of them `slanted' for selfish purposes, while at times deliberate falsifications and Fabrications were perpetrated" (As Translated Correctly, p. 4). It is evident then that many of the `plain and precious' things were omitted from the Bible by failure to choose all of the authentic books for inclusion, and by deliberate changes deletions and forgeries. . . (p. 14, all italics mine R.R.).

After making such a statement he quotes from the books of Matthew and Luke 11 times during his talk. Is he now saying that it is alright to use some of the books of the Bible?

If the Bible is so corrupt why do they persist in quoting from it? Having been a Mormon for eighteen years, I think I can truthfully say that the Mormon church will use any Bible Scripture that will help them when they find it convenient to use it.

I would like to ask any of my Mormon friends who might read this to open their Bible to 2 Peter 1:3. After reading this Scripture do what the Mormons asked you to do when you joined them, Ask God to open your heart so that you can honestly and earnestly examine the true teaching found in the New Testament, so that you can become a part of the true body of Jesus Christ.

In closing I would like to say I hope that we can successfully teach our friends and neighbors the falseness of Mormonism, before that day described in Mt. 7:21-23, When the Lord will say, "I never knew you depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Guardian of Truth—May 5, 1983 

 

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