Mormons please: Galatians 1:8?

Question

Please, in all sincerity I would like an honest hearted answer...what do you think of the apostle Paul’s warning at Galatians 1:8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”—King James Version.

Answer 1

We do not believe the gospel as revealed to Joseph through God's messenger, the angel Moroni, goes against Paul's teachings.  In fact, we believe them to be the exact same gospel (that is why our Bible and Book of Mormon both have footnotes that reference the other work).

Shneb - Robert Millett is not an apostle or prophet.  He is a BYU professor.  Thus his books are his opinion and do not determine doctrine for the LDS church.

ADD:

Location of Garden of Eden: Genesis 2:11-14 – We believe that the Garden of Eden was in America and that mankind was transported to Mesopotamia during the great flood.  It only makes sense that when Noah and his family were transported by the flood to a new land that they would name the places of their new home with words that were familiar to them.  There are a lot of examples in the bible of God’s people taking names with them and using them multiple times.  For example, Havilah is used as both a place name and given name in the bible (Genesis 10:29).  

The Death of the Soul: Ezekiel 18:4 “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”; Acts 3:23. “that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” – These scriptures are obviously speaking about those that have sinned against God and death is being used to explain that they will be cut off from the Lord.  Death does not always mean an end to existence; it is often used in the scriptures to mean an end to a relationship with God.

Bethlehem vs. Jerusalem – This is actually an easier one.  In Florida, there is a town called Alachua in Alachua County.  Another city in Alachua County is Gainesville.  So a child born in Gainesville is also born in Alachua.  It is the same with the term Jerusalem.  In bible times, Jerusalem described both the city and an area of land that contained the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

The Savior’s Conception: Journal of Discourses are NOT Mormon doctrine.  There are too many inaccuracies in them due to the fact that they were recorded from the memories of people that heard others speak.  So while we might reference them in our own personal study, we have to be very careful in their use as they are not 100% accurate.

New Jerusalem – Most of Revelations is very, Very, VERY interpretive.  We believe the term ‘new Jerusalem’ to be interchangeable with Zion.  Zion is where you make it and where God is.  It is many places that are the same in their relationship with God.

Inspired Writers: Yes, all prophets to have recorded the Bible and the Book of Mormon were inspired by God to write.  But they also wrote according to their own knowledge, otherwise, Isaiah would have known the earth was round, instead of accepting the worldly knowledge of his time that the world was flat. Isaiah 11:23 “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

Mosaic Law – by your reasoning, we shouldn’t follow the Ten Commandments anymore either…  Not all the rules of the Mosaic law were reversed or removed, the Mosaic Law was simply replaced with a higher law, some of which was the same.

2nd ADD:

Interesting... Now I wish I hadn't bothered answering you.  I answered because I took you on faith to be sincere when you said that you would like an honest answer.  But then you attack someone for giving an honest answer?  Why go on teh attack when people gave you the honest answer you were asking for, unless you were never sincere.  Isn't lying against biblical teachings, too?

3rd ADD:

All the members of the LDS church that have answered here have given you an honest answer according to their own faith.  That is all you can expect when dealing with religion, as God has taught us to lean on our faith and not man's knowledge.  To accuse us of not giving you an honest answer simply because our interpretations based on our faith does not agree with your interpretation is attacking us.

Answer 2

We believe in that verse.  There haven't been any angels from heaven preach any other gospel than the gospel of Jesus Christ to any of our leaders.  But nice try. =)

Answer 3

I will ignore the rant and answer the question.

Verses 3 and 4 explain specifically that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are distinct individuals, contrary to the concept of a trinity.  So when Paul next rails against false teachings, maybe he is speaking of those against the doctrine he just mentioned.

Why do you stop at verse 8?  If you go just a little further you will see that Paul has some very harsh words for theologians.  He states that his gospel comes from direct revelation.

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

  12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

I think it's a great scripture.  It's referring to the GOSPEL (i.e., the teachings of the gospel).  If someone preaches something that contradicts the teachings of the gospel, it's not from God.  

I also note that "gospel" in this scripture is NOT referring to the Bible.  The Bible didn't even exist when Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians.

I also note that "gospel" is not CONFINED to the specific books of the Bible.  For one, as I noted above, the Bible didn't even exist yet.  And second, Paul himself wrong other letters to other Christians AFTER he wrote the letter to the Galatians.  Was Paul preaching another gospel when he wrong those later letters?  No.  Why not? Because those later letters didn't contradict the teachings of the gospel.  You have too look at substance to tell if something is a "different gospel."  The mere fact that a teaching is located in the Bible isn't enough to declare it to be a "different gospel."

Answer 5

It's not like it's a prophecy.

After Christ died and the Apostles went out, there were many false things being taught about Christ. In the letter to the Galatians, he is basically saying "What I'm saying is true, don't believe anyone else".

End of story.

Answer 6

I would question why there's 5,000 religions who don't agree with each other just reading the bible -and who all claim you can't change the gospel but they all believe different things and the only religion they take exception with is the LDS and Catholic religions.

I'd also point out the "trinity" is not in the bible.  The LDS Godhead is.  

Answer 7

Your "interpretation" of these verses of the Bible is a perfect example why God has placed prophets upon the earth, in this day and age, as well as in times of old.  Why do you and others, who claim to know the Bible, ignore most of it?

What does Amos 3:7 tell us how God works?   He "reveath his secrets unto his servants the prophets.    Without prophets, scripture is open to private interpretation.     Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets

See  2 Peter  1:10

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Your points, one by one.

Eden:   You said it yourself.  "The exact site is unknown.  but was probably  .."    You do not know where it was.      Yet, in line with Amos 3:7, a prophet revealed its location.

The soul dies.   You shared two verses that you miss intereprete.   Would you like to see MANY other Bible scriptures that say the soul lives on?

I Peter 3:18-20

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in cprison;

  20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Do you see what is happening? Christ is preaching the gospel to thediobedient souls in heaven.......they live on.

1 Peter 4:6

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Why would the gospel be preached to the death, if they cease to exist? Because they don't die, but continue as spirits in the next life.   Its right here, IN THE BIBLE.

Jesus born in Jerusalem.   This anti Mormon point is so oldand shows an utter lack of Near Eastern customs.      The Book of Mormon ancestry comes from "the LAND of Jerasulem"     It is not talkign about the CITY of Jerasulem, by the LAND or area of where Jerasalem is.   400 years later, the prophecy of Christ comes.   Those people in the Book of Mormon times were acquainte with where Jerasulam was, since that is where their ancestors came from.   They would not be aware of where little towns were located.    Not 600 years later and living on another continent.    

Have you not told a friend that you were born in an area and in telling people where you are from you use a common point of referernce?

New Jerasulem.  The verse inRevealtions  you use says that the New Jareasulem will COME DOWN from heaven, not be there.    Come down implies that it will not stay there, but be on earth.      Perhaps it will be placed where latter day prophets have predicted....

Tithing;    If tithing was done away with the Mosaic law, why was tithing in force in Christ's day and after his death?  Its IN THE BIBLE.

Luke 18:12

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And once again, the point about prophets.   If God is seeing his laws not followed, would he not want to reveal it to someone?  Who?  He would reveal it to the person he said he would.   A prophet.

Galatians 1:8.

Why are so many "traditional Christians deviating from the Bible?

Many do not teach about the need for baptism.  Jesus says it is necessary in John 3:3-5.

James teaches in the Bible that works are necessary.   And mere faith without works is dead.  Its in the Bible and in James chapter 2.    Yet a biblical doctrine is not taught. Why?    Deviation?

The Bible talks about the need Christ going personally to the spirits in heaven who were disobedient to preach his gospel.  Why are the disobedient in heaven?  Christ also taught about the need for baptism.    Is that inconsitent.

No, its in the Bible that those that died before baptism need to have baptism performed in their behalf.    Its in theBible i Corinthians 15:29

Perhaps it is traditional Christianity that is deviating, and Christ found the need to restore his correct gospel to the earth again through prophets.  

Acts 3:21

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of arestitution of all things, which God hath bspoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Christ established his church with a specific organization as mentioned in the BIBLE.  

1 Corinthians 12:28

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Ephesians 2:20

  20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Ephesians 3:5

  5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the S

Answer 8

The angel Moroni preached that very same gospel.  Therefore, we stand on firm ground, because the gospel leads us to Jesus Christ,

as the head of the church, our Savior and Redeemer, and the only begotten son of God the Father.

(we also use the KJV) and follow the biblical teachings that most Christians do.  The main difference is that the Holy Priesthood of God

was restored, and the separate and distinct members of the Godhead

were clarified and seen by a prophet of God.

That is what we believe, and nobody can tell you that we don't.

Answer 9

I feel bad for them. They believe that they are honoring God but they are living a lie. I think all we can do is pray that they see the truth for what it is.

Answer 10

I would definitely agree with that scripture.

LDS

Answer 11

In all honesty, I don't believe that's very fair. You could say that about anyone of any religion. Mormons could say that about you or Baptists about Catholics, etc. What one person believes to be the truth with regard to matters of spirituality and faith can differ. Hope that helps.

Answer 12

The apostles established the pure christian religion in which faith through jesus christ would bring salvation. If one did not teach in jesus, refered to here by paul, then his teaching would mislead and ultimately bring god's disfavour.

For example the jews in general did not have faith in christ and they tried to convince their followers of that in defiance of the true teachings which stem from the apostles and their master, jesus.

Answer 13

So you're telling me that all of the Christian churches aren't preaching different teachings one from another? You're telling me that they all preach the same Gospel... some saying that baptism is essential and other saying that it's not... some saying that you must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved and others saying that you must merely verbally confess Jesus as the Christ to be saved... some saying that the gifts of the Spirit are dead and others saying that they aren't... ect. These sound like pretty big differences to me. So big that it's not possible for both to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but one of the two must be an "other gospel."

Many of your so-called "contradictions" between the Book of Mormon and the Bible have already been addressed on Y!A many many times. If you'd like you can go to the search bar and look them up. I should also warn you that there are some verses from the Bible and Book of Mormon that you compare to each other that are purposefully misleading.

For example, you say that the Book of Mormon states that Christ would be born in Jerusalem (as opposed to Bethlehem) when in reality it says that he would be born "at Jerusalem, which is the land of our forefathers", which includes Bethlehem. In fact, I find it interesting that the Bible states that Amaziah "was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David" (2 Kings 14:20) Why is this interesting, you might ask. It is interesting because the city of David is Bethlehem of Christ's day (see Luke 2:4, 1 Samuel 20:6). Both incidences occurred "at" Jerusalem but "in" Bethlehem. Your accusation only further proves the validity of the Book of Mormon and their way of speech during such Biblical times. Joseph Smith knew the Christmas story inside and out. He knew Christ was born in Bethlehem. If he knew that, then why didn't he put it into the Book of Mormon? It is because he wasn't the author of the Book of Mormon.

Furthermore, just because I've got five more minutes on my hands, you say that Matthew 1:20 says that Jesus was begotten by the Holy Spirit, when it actually says "for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." The Book of Mormon also states, "she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God (Alma 7:10). Once again, there are no contradictions. Instead, not only is there a sited source that isn't LDS doctrine (Journal of Discourses), but the information given as to what is inside the given source is misleading, and completely falls. That source does not say that Adam had relations with Mary.

I'm afraid I can't continue due to time limit, but I hope I've been of some help as to some confusion on here. I'm not sure if you were merely passing along information that you once heard, or whether you were purposefully attempting to mislead others, but instead of taking into account that all things you hear are true, I would recommend researching any sources you might be using so as to keep from making the same mistake twice. Thanks for reading my post.

Answer 14

Some critics have charged that Moroni — the resurrected prophet who gave the Book of Mormon plates to Joseph Smith — was really an angel of Satan. They base this charge on two passages in the New Testament:

Critics ask, "If Satan can appear as an angel of light, couldn't he have deceived Joseph Smith by claiming to be Jesus Christ or Moroni or any of the other messengers who appeared to him?"

This is certainly possible in LDS belief, since the Book of Mormon describes two instances where this occurred (2 Nephi 9:9; Alma 30:53). Joseph Smith also briefly described several incidents of this nature associated with the restoration (D&C 128:20; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 214 ). Nevertheless, it appears that Joseph became aware of this tactic early on and taught the members how to recognize this ruse (Teachings, pp. 202, 204, 214, 227)

The Bible also contains a test to enable us to judge or, as John says, to "try spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). If Jesus Christ or Moroni or any of the other messengers who appeared to Joseph Smith failed this test we would know they were ministers of Satan.

John states, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God" (1 John 4:2–3). Joseph Smith likewise taught, "...if I profess to be a witness or teacher, and have not the spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus, I must be a false witness.... [A]ny man who says he is a teacher or preacher of righteousness, and denies the spirit of prophecy, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; and by this key false teacher and impostors may be detected" (Teachings, p. 269).

In the First Vision Jesus Christ was introduced by God the Father as his "Beloved Son" (Joseph Smith—History 1:17). God the Father was, in essence, witnessing that Jesus Christ was his Only Begotten Son just as he had done when Jesus "came in the flesh" and was baptized (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11). In a subsequent appearance Jesus identified himself as "the first and the last...he who liveth...he who was slain" (D&C 110:4). Jesus Christ was testifying that he was the same person who lived in the Holy Land and crucified for our sins. He confirmed that he indeed came "in the flesh" to accomplish the atonement.

The angel Moroni who appeared to Joseph Smith also confirmed that "Jesus Christ was come in the flesh" by quoting Old and New Testament scriptures which were fulfilled with his coming (Joseph Smith—History 1:40). He also stated that his (Moroni's) purpose was to reveal a book "giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent" and containing the "everlasting Gospel...as delivered by the Savior" following his mortal ministry. The stated purpose of the Book of Mormon is in fact to convince both "Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ" (title page); as such, it is subtitled Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints believe it to be a second witness, after the Bible, of Jesus Christ's divine mission. If Moroni were Satan or one of Satan's ministers acting as an instrument of evil, he surely would not have done so much to convince mankind to believe in Christ; it goes counter to Satan's purpose

"Many a pretender to the prophetic office has claimed to entertain angels or to have spoken with God, but who other than Joseph Smith introduced his angels to others? Joseph Smith introduced Moroni to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. He was never alone when priesthood or keys were restored.... He and Sydney Rigdon received the revelation on the degrees of glory together. Together they saw legions of angels, along with the Father and the Son (see D&C 76:21–23). Oliver Cowdery was with Joseph Smith when John the Baptist came to restore the Aaronic Priesthood, and when Peter, James, and John came to restore the Melchizedek Priesthood. Oliver was also with Joseph Smith when Christ came to accept the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, and Moses, Elias, and Elijah restored their keys, powers, and authorities."  

Answer 15

Pretty much what it says, right? Anyone who perverts the gospel or teaches a different gospel shall be accursed.  

Answer 16

There is enough contrast from the Book of Mormon and the Bible that would make you think it'd be easy for Mormons to learn the bible truths. But unfortunately they back up there beliefs with the Book of Mormon which they believe to be inspired. Its sort of like if someone would try to prove the Bible is false to you. There is enough information and PROOF to show that it is True. And because we believe the bible to be inspired by God no matter what anyone says we will continue to believe in the Bible.

I guess the same go for Mormons. Even if the Bible proves the Book of Mormon to be false, they continue to believe because of the teachings they been taught and have been taught that the BoM is also inspired.

Obviously though they are enough contrast that clearly shows its not inspired. Just because a book talks about Jesus doesn't make it inspired.