Mormonism #1

THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
• In our previous studies, we noted that in Matt
16:18-19 Jesus said he would build His
church/kingdom. His church/kingdom is not of
this world per John 18:36. It is spiritual in
nature. He built only one per Eph 1:22-23 & 4:4.
• In Acts 2:47 we noted that on Pentecost in about
AD33, the Lord added to the church those being
saved who had repented and were baptized
according to the gospel preached by Peter on
that day.

• The Lord built His church/kingdom in the first
century exactly the way He wanted it.
• According to Luke 1:33 there shall be no end
to the Lord’s church/kingdom.
• We noted that in the first century there were
local churches of Christ per Rom 1:16 and
that the same pattern of teaching was taught
in every local church (1 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 1:13)

• We also noted that those Colossians who had
been baptized (immersed in water – Acts 8:36),
were buried and then rose with Him in baptism.
They were dead in trespasses, had been
quickened or made alive with him and were
forgiven of their sins by the Lord Col 2:11-13.
• We noted that upon their obedience to the
gospel, the Colossians were translated into the
kingdom of His dear Son per Col 1:13

• Since the first century, uninspired men have
sought to build their own churches and have
regulated them according to their own
doctrine and commandments. See Matt 15:9
• John wrote in 2 John 9 that those who do not
abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have
God.
• In John 6:46, the Lord asks why those call
Him Lord and don’t do what He says.

MORMONISM – KNOWN TODAY AS THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
• First, some important facts about the Bible
• Deut 4:2 You shall not add to the word ….
• Prov 30:5-6 …Add thou not unto His words…
• Rev 22:18-19 …if any… shall add ….or take away
• 2 Pet 1:3 …given ..all things that pertain…
• Matt 24:35 ..My words shall not pass away.
• 1 Pet 1:25 ..the word of the Lord endureth
forever…
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• Originally established by Joseph Smith, Jr.
and others, in the 1820’s and informally
organized in north-western New York as the
Church of Christ in 1829. Formally organized
as a legal entity on April 6, 1830.
• Changed to its current name by a claimed
revelation of Joseph Smith Jr in 1838.
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• Solomon Spaulding - Feb 20, 1761-Oct 20,
1816 (See “Who Really Wrote The Book Of
Mormon” chapter 3 and 4)
• A Congregationalist preacher who loved
stories of adventure and romantic history.
• He had a great interest in knowing the history
of the Americas, in particular where the
Indians came from and the mounds that were
found in the area where he lived.
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• An avid writer, Spaulding wrote his own
stories about where he thought the Indians
came from and their past history and read
them to his friends.
• Rather than becoming known as a “Solomon
the Novelist”, he became known by some as
“Old Came To Pass”, which was one of his
favorite literary phrases, “and it came to
pass”.
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• He began writing in earnest having had
several business failures and needing a
means to support his family.
• His first attempt at a novel was “Manuscript
Story”, was experimental and was
abandoned upon the criticisms of friends.
• Using what he learned, he began a new novel
which he called “A Manuscript Found” and
completed it in 1812.
12/6/2014 9

• In this work he stated that the American
continent was colonized by Lehi who sailed from
Chaldea and landed near the isthmus of Darien.
• Lehi’s descendants who were called Jaredites,
spread to the north and built the cities whose
ruins are in Central America.
• Long after this, Nephi, of the tribe of Joseph
emigrated to America with a large portion of the
ten tribes that Shalmanezer led away from
Palestine.
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• Soon after their arrival, this remnant of Joseph
were divided into two nations, the Nephites and
the Lamanites.
• These two nations made war constantly and in
the year A.D. 420 a great battle was fought in
western NY resulting in the destruction of both
armies.
• Only one man was left, Moroni, the son of
Mormon who had the records of the Nephites
near Conneaut, Ohio, previously at his death.
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• Sidney Rigdon
• Born February 19, 1793 - Died July 14, 1876
• Became a Baptist preacher
• In 1821 after hearing a debate by Alexander Campbell
and studying all night along with one Adamson Bentley,
he began preaching the “restoration of the ancient
order”.
• “through the influence of Campbell, Mr. Rigdon was
chosen pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
in the latter portion of the year 1821 (Rich., II:47).
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• Rigdon was excommunicated from the
Baptist Church on October 11, 1823 for
teaching “irregular doctrine”, that he learned
from Alexander Campbell. He then began
preaching for the Disciples of Christ and
continued to do so until he was “converted”
to Mormonism in 1830 just 7 months after its
founding. See “Who Really Wrote The Book
Of Mormon”, 1st Edition, pgs 92-93.
12/6/2014 13

• Joseph Smith Jr was born Dec 23, 1805. Died June 27, 1844
• From: Historical Collections of the State of New York by John
W. Barber & Henry Howe
(New York: S. Tuttle, 1841, 1842) pg 580
• Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was born in Royalton, Vt., and
removed to Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y., about the year 1820, at an
early age, with his parents, who were in quite humble circumstances. He
was occasionally employed in Palmyra as a laborer, and bore the
reputation of a lazy and ignorant young man. According to the testimony
of respectable individuals in that place, Smith and his father were
persons of doubtful moral character, addicted to disreputable habits, and
moreover extremely superstitious, believing in the existence of
witchcraft.
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• They at one time procured a mineral rod, and dug in
various places for money. Smith testified that when
digging he had seen the pot or chest containing the
treasure, but never was fortunate enough to get it into his
hands. He placed a singular-looking stone in his hat, and
pretended by the light of it to make many wonderful
discoveries of gold, silver, and other treasures, deposited
in the earth. He commenced his career as the founder of
the new sect when about the age of 18 or 19, and
appointed a number of meetings in Palmyra, for the
purpose of declaring the divine revelations which he said
were made to him. He was, however, unable to produce
any excitement in the village; but very few had curiosity
sufficient to listen to him.
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• Smith claimed that on Sept 21, 1822 the angel Moroni
appeared to him and told him where there was a
book deposited written on gold plates giving an
account of the former inhabitants of North America
and also containing the fullness of the everlasting
gospel. The place was the Hill Cumorah located in
Manchester, New York.
• He was told not to show them to anyone once he
obtained them except to those he was told to.
• Smith was told by Moroni that he would return for
the plates once Smith had accomplished what was
required of him, i.e., translating the plates.
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• On 22 Sept 1827 he said he obtained the plates, the
Urim and Thummim and a breastplate at the Hill
Cumorah.
• Between 1827 and 1830 Joseph Smith engaged in
deceiving those listed as witnesses into thinking he
was translating the plates while speaking the English
words to his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, who wrote them
down. He was in fact reading from the text prepared
by Sidney Rigdon, the re-worked A Manuscript Found
of Solomon Spaulding. See SidneyRigdon.com, pg
204j, k and l.
12/6/2014 17

• Between 1812 and 1814 Solomon Spaulding and
his family lived in Pittsburg, PA and during this
time he took A Manuscript Found to the
Patterson Print Shop to have it printed.
• The printer required a preface and title page
before printing it and it was a long period before
Spaulding delivered it. When he did, the
manuscript could not be found. Some time later
the manuscript showed up again in the print
shop. Solomon Spaulding passed away in 1816
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• Sidney Rigdon spent a lot of time in the
Patterson print shop during the time A
Manuscript Found was there awaiting printing.
• He was there so much that Patterson’s printer,
Silas Engles, complained that he was always
hanging around.
• Sometime between 1812 and 1822, Rigdon
evidently obtained the manuscript and copied it.
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• Existing records show that Rigdon and Smith were
well acquainted before the Book of Mormon was
published in April 1830.
• Witnesses who had read Spaulding's manuscript have
testified that the book of Mormon contained the
same names and story lines as Spaulding’s work.
• Much of the religious portion is word for word from
the KJV (over 17,000 verses) and mirrors that which
was taught by Alexander Campbell and the Disciples.
• Seven months later, in November 1830, Rigdon was
baptized into the Mormon church by Oliver Cowdery.
12/6/2014 20

• The evidence suggests that Sidney Rigdon
possessed the Spaulding manuscript and was
involved in re-working it. Joseph Smith then
“translated” it to Oliver Cowdery (Smith’s 3rd
cousin) into what became the Book of Mormon
or The Golden Bible as they called it.
• It must be stated that Rigdon denied to his dying
day of having anything to do with writing the
Book of Mormon. There is much evidence to the
contrary.
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• Mormon teachers (“elders”) rely on a lack of
knowledge and faith in God’s word to deceive
people into believing Mormon doctrine.
• Note Hosea 4:6 ..my people are destroyed for a
lack of knowledge…
• They claim the bible as one of their guides, but
are quick to say there are contradictions in it.
• Their primary sources are the Book of Mormon,
The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and
Covenants.
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• The Book Of Mormon currently states that it
is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”.
• The Pearl of Great Price contains the writings
of Joseph Smith Jr. claimed Mormon prophet
• Doctrine and Covenants contain one part
called “Lectures of Faith’ and a second part
containing 103 “revelations … said to contain
items or principles for the regulation of the
church ….“
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• Note the following:
• Heb 9:15-17 on the New Testament
• Gal 1:6-9 on the appearance of an angel
• Rev 22:18-19 on adding or taking from God’s
word. See Deut 4:2 and Prov 30:6
• 2 Pet 1:3 ..hath given us all things that …
• Jude 3 ..the faith once delivered..
• Matt 24:35 ..My words shall not pass away..
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• 2 Tim 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and
the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
• 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine.
• 3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
• 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables. KJV
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• Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. KJV
• John 8:44 Believe
• Lk 12:3 & 5 Repent
• Matt 10:32 Confess
• Mk 16:16 Baptized
• John 8:31-32 Continue
12/6/2014 26

Mormonism #1

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