The Trinity in the Book of Mormon?
June 5th, 2011I’m re-posting this article that I originally posted in a forum. Please note that I have nothing against LDS members and think highly of them in the areas of family support and membership care. Some Churches would do well by following from their examples especially in the areas of local ministry. Some facets of their religion I might agree with but other areas I find fault. Unfortunately all religion is tainted by the acts of men.
The subject of the Trinity is of great importance to the foundation of mainstream Christian beliefs and it is what separates Christianity from other so called cults. In this short essay, I’m not choosing sides nor stating that their beliefs are wrong. But for Protestants, I believe the Trinity provides a great topic to discuss with Mormons that helps to exposes some of their church issues. Mormon believe that the Father and the Son are two separate gods and are two completely separate beings, as given through a vision of their founder Joseph Smith. They also believe that by being a good Mormon, they too can also become a god; this is obviously a separate discussion.
First one must remember that Mormons, who prefer to be called Latter Day Saints (LDS), believe that the Bible has been corrupted by the early Church. Because of this they place more significance on the book of Mormon. I will admit that there is some merit to this accusation as the major passage which support the Trinity in the New Testament. 1 John 5:7-8 is known to be a possible forgery as it only appears in the Latin Vulgate and a few very late Greek manuscripts. Not surprisingly their own book of Mormon, which was heavily influence by the Bible, conflicts with their current beliefs. The book of Mormon actually has more “trinitarian like” language that the Bible itself. Because of this, when talking about the Trinity I believe it is helpful to first start out with their own book of Mormon and then move to the Bible and show how they both say the same thing.
I personally believe that if one studies the book of Mormon and what it says about God while using the Bible as a foundation it’s obvious to see that the book of Mormon supports the Trinity. When it references the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being one, LDS will say that they are one in purpose. But one must remember the historical context in which the book was written and the cultural upbringing of the transcriber which was protestantism. It a logical conclusion that the three being one would be the familiar Trinity that Joseph Smith would have known as a child and generally accepted by the multitude at the time.
It becomes really interesting to teach the Trinity from the book of Mormon to show how distorted their church beliefs have become. Through my findings I’ve seen that many LDS members know very little about what their church actually believes. It isn’t until their lives become so engrained within the church that the information becomes known, but by then to leave the church would be life shattering with the fears of being excommunicated. I personally believe that everyone should challenge their faith and beliefs; by doing so you will either strengthen your faith with answers or come to a new conclusions.
The following is all from the book of Mormon with one verse from the D&C. In my discussions with members of the LDS, they have often reference the word ‘one’ to mean one in purpose.
The source for the book of Mormon: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents
Verses to Argue in the book of Mormon & the Doctrine of Covenants supporting the Trinity (Do not confuse these with the Bible):
Alma 11:26-29 & 38-39
26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?
27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
29 And he answered, No.
…
38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal
Father?
39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of
heaven and of earth, and ball things which in them are; he is the
beginning and the end, the first and the last;
3 Nephi 11:24-27 & 36
24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them
by name, saying:
25 Having aauthority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
26 And then shall ye aimmerse them in the water, and come forth again
out of the water.
27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold,
verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost
are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father
and I are one.
(Mormon will often argue that they mean one in purpose, but with the
Bible we understand the truth)
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will
bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and
the Holy Ghost are one.
Alma 11: 44
44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both
bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous;
and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but
every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in
the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ
the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal
God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or
whether they be evil.
3 Ne. 28: 10
10 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit
down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as
the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am,
and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;
Morm. 7: 7
7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he
that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given
unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing
ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the
Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of
happiness which hath no end.
D&C 20: 28
28 Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal,
without end. Amen.
Ether 3:14
14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to
redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the
Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they
who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my
daughters.
Please note although we have posted this text, our website does NOT support the either the book of Mormon or the Doctrine of Covenants. Yet we do feel that they can be useful tools when trying to reach a Mormon. Please remember that challenging ones faith is not for the faint of heart, you must truly know your beliefs and have a solid foundation. My personal experience in 1998 after debating the Mormon beliefs tested my own beliefs and left me spiritually distraught for quite some time. To see how easily a group of people can become so easily brain washed into believing a religion can cause one to question one’s own faith and beliefs if a strong foundation is not set. Before questioning others, first question yourself.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
