This may seem like a silly question, but can anyone tell me what comprises “the Gospel” according to Mormonism?
I ask because I recently came across a video on You Tube titled “Sharing the Gospel with Elder Hartman Rector Jr., A Missionary Tool.” In this video Mr. Rector, emeritus General Authority of the LDS Church, talks about Doctrine & Covenants 33:7-10 wherein readers are told that the field is white and ready to harvest, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mr. Rector explains that Latter-day Saints are “their access in” to the kingdom of heaven for people not yet members of the Church. Mormons must “open their mouths” to reap the harvest. “[I]t doesn’t make any difference [what you say],” Mr. Rector instructs, “as long as you talk about the Church.”
From there Mr. Rector provides some ideas of what Latter-day Saints might say when they open their mouths. He says to ask questions: “By the way, do you like to read? If I would send you a book that contains the actual account of the visit of the Lord Jesus Christ to America, would you read it?” Ostensibly, 97.5 percent of the people who are asked this question say yes.
Mr. Rector suggests another technique that involves the use of a coin imprinted with the images of the prophet Moroni on one side and Joseph Smith on the other. Again, Latter-day Saints are to ask if the person they’re talking with would be willing to receive and read the Book of Mormon (though Mr. Rector does not say to call the book by its title). Using this approach, 90 percent agree to receive the Book of Mormon and willingly provide their names and addresses to a complete stranger.
Latter-day Saints are told to write in the book before they send it, “Something simple like…If you will read this book and apply the promise on page 529 it will change your life, as it has changed mine.”
Okay, well it could be that the person who posted this video attached a poorly chosen title to it, yet at least to that Mormon’s understanding, Mr. Rector is explaining how to share the Gospel. In the entire 6 minutes and 55 seconds that the video runs, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is never mentioned. The Atonement of Christ is never mentioned. Man’s need of a Savior is never mentioned. In fact, Jesus Christ Himself is only mentioned in relation to being a main character in the Book of Mormon. Exactly what “Gospel” are these people sharing? Not the Gospel Paul preached, at least not directly.
The “Gospel” is “The central message of the Christian church to the world, centered on God’s provision of salvation for the world in Jesus Christ” (Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms).
A “Gospel” without Christ at its center is foreign to me. What is this Mormon “Gospel” that Latter-day Saints are told to share without even talking about salvation and what Christ has done for us?
RickB,
I never said I taught every Sunday- I said I speak frequently in church.
I never got upset- simply tried to stick to the one question for which I entered this thread- I challenged you when you said the BOM contradicts the Bible, and I simply asked you to show me where. I am now assuming your response is not coming anytime soon.
So, as far as your question and challenge to list teachings of the church found in the BOM, fine I will provide you with a brief list:
1. God is our Father
2. Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of God
3. Christ is the only means of salvation and only hope.
4. Pre-earth life
5. Each person falls, just like Adam and Eve, and is lost and without hope outside of the Atonement of Jesus Christ
6. To be saved, man must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of sins, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and endure to the end.
7. After this earthly life, man goes to the spirit world until the resurrection.
8. All mankind will be resurrected and be judged by Christ.
Again, this is a brief list. The atonement is explained dozens of times more plainly than anywhere else in scripture.
The fundamentals of faith in Christ, repentance and the need for humble service to God are expounded countless times.
I am guessing that you are licking your chops waiting to ask where the temple ordinances are explained.
What critics who make this shallow argument need to understand is that the BOM is consistent with the Bible in NOT detailing those ordinances. And there is reason for that- the same reason LDS do not discuss them in detail outside the temple today. There is great consistency in that.
But the tabloid-like curiosity of the typical EV critic never seems to think any deeper than the most basic-knee jerk response in hearing from somebody else who actually read the book that those ordinances are not found there.
Again- I can add plenty to the list above about the destiny of America, Jerusalem, and the House of Israel.
OJ, It might take me a few days, but unlike some people I know, Janet for example, I do not dodge questions or act as if they were never asked of me. I told you I was out of town and am in college and have a project due on Monday. So I will provide you with the information.
Also unlike some people, I am telling you, why I am slow in giving you this info. So it’s like this, If I tell you openly and do not do it, then you have evidence that I did not keep my word and you can go back and prove it and call me a liar.
Otherwise, I am “forced” to put my money where my mouth is since I openly said something. But on the other hand, when LDS say something but then do not do what they said, I am more than happy to return the favor and show or remind them of what they said, yet did not do. Rick b
For one of the better explanations (I have read) of the ‘I said you were gods’ from Psalm 82 and it’s use by Jesus in John 10 go here:
http://www.nd.edu/~jneyrey1/Gods.html
I take the time to post this, to show that the Trinity, Ex-nihilo, & the Virgin Birth as expounded upon midway between the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) and the death of John the Apostle (circa 90 A. D.) Tertullian the Roman lived from about 160 to 230 A.D.
Tertullian from: Apologetic (c. 200)
Tertullian (On the Trinity) from ‘Against Praxeas’: XXV (c. 200)
Tertullian on angels, prayer & sacred writings from Apologetic (cont.)
Tertullian was a defender of the necessity of apostolicity. In his Prescription Against Heretics, he explicitly challenges heretics to produce evidence of the apostolic succession of their communities. “Let them produce the original records of their churches; let them unfold the roll of their bishops, running down in due succession from the beginning in such a manner that [that first bishop of theirs] bishop shall be able to show for his ordainer and predecessor some one of the apostles or of apostolic men, — a man, moreover, who continued steadfast with the apostles. For this is the manner in which the apostolic churches transmit their registers: as the church of Smyrna, which records that Polycarp was placed therein by John; as also the church of Rome, which makes Clement to have been ordained in like manner by Peter. In exactly the same way the other churches likewise exhibit (their several worthies), whom, as having been appointed to their episcopal places by apostles, they regard as transmitters of the apostolic seed.” (The Prescription against Heretics: Chapter 32)
Hello OJ,
Well here is the deal on me posting the problems I see as contradictions in the BoM verses the Bible.
Their are so many that you could not give honest answers or you guys might not even try to answer them since this post is been pushed down and getting long.
So What I did was, I wrote up a topic with the contradictions I see, there are so many that it will be in 2 parts. I sent it to Sharon Monday night asking her if she could post it. I do not know if or when she will, if she does not then we will take it from their.
If she posts it, then my plan is too do a 2 part topic on the D and C since I read that and it is chock full of problems, then I want to do the Pearl. So maybe 5 parts total, because you guys are following and teaching a false gospel that is leading millions to eternal damnation for all of eternity. Rick b
Hello OJ, Sharon wrote me and said guest topics take a lot to get posted, she suggested I post it on my blog and provide a link, so here you go.
http://mormonismreviewed.blogspot.com/