Without adding to the accepted doctrines in the Bible, would it be so awful to believe that God speaks to His children outside of Israel, in other places of the world?
And maybe they wrote it down?
And if it basically says all the same stuff as the Bible, where is the offense?
If it has some beautiful stories of people repenting and being born again, and of missionaries working miracles and experiencing incredible outpourings of the spirit, where is the offense?
Can Christians not read or appreciate ANY memoir outside the Bible?
No supplements are allowed??
…When they only back up what the Bible says?
(I really hope supplementary materials are okay, because that is what spurred my entire conversion to Christianity!)
Look, I know Christians are really concerned and protective about Mormon doctrines they added to the Bible.
But those things aren’t in the Book of Mormon.
None of the weird Mormon stuff is in there.
It was all invented later on.
Christians are so ready to bash this beautiful book without ever even reading it, or finding out about it.
That’s not fair.
And that’s not Christlike.
If your beloved Grandfather passed away and you went to his funeral, where you met a new person who told new stories about Grandpa you’ve never heard before….
Would that be interesting?
Would that be cool?
Or would you strike at him and run from the room in pure indignation, offended that someone added to the stories you already knew about your grandpa?
(Credit to Jeffrey Holland for that awesome analogy.)
“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
I wrote recently about how the Christian idea of salvation needs to be expanded with more grace for those who have lived without knowing the gospel.
We can start by considering the idea that maybe some “sheep” outside of Israel did know about the gospel.
From Christ himself.
I believe Jesus loves all of us equally and has visited many nations throughout history — such as the Native American legends of the “Great Spirit,” which anthropologists have also identified in Asian cultures and other countries as well — and offered them grace, and called them to repentance, and invited them to be born again.
We have all been invited to be born again, in His beautiful, equitable love.
Here’s a compilation of dozens of stories of the “White God” visiting various tribes on the American continent. It is common folklore in almost every nation. And no, He didn’t add anything, and He didn’t contradict the Bible. It’s similar stuff but to a different audience …. His other sheep.
Further, what about the Gentile wise men who somehow knew prophesies that baby Jesus was royalty? Who told them? And what did they do with this information once they returned home? I highly doubt they kept this wonderful news to themselves….. I think there were other sheep in other places.
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Disclaimer: This does not mean I condone Mormonism, the “restoration,” or that I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet.
But even if the Book of Mormon was made up, I still contend it’s a beautiful book that testifies of Christ. It has brought millions of people to Christ. It does not contradict the Bible. It supplements and supports the messages and missions of those key players in the ancient church and writers of the Bible.
You Christians might want to check it out. Just sayin’…..
Just don’t join that big church that claims it as their own. Please. They have strayed far from its teachings.
“The Book of Mormon is not a book of scripture to me, but it is a highly Christian book. So all I’m saying is evangelicals and Protestants should not be afraid of it.”
Thank you Steve.
He also says to Evangelical, engage the text of the Book of Mormon; it will arm you to defend your position against Mormons.
…Like I’ve been saying all along! This is a Protestant book, not an LDS book! Read it and see.
And please join with me in the effort to wake up Mormons to this fact. If they love the Book of Mormon, they will give up their love of the false prophets in their church.
All I Possess 