Tag: Prophecy

The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon, Part 3: A Contrast of Prophetic Messages

On By Dave MallinakIn Apologetic, Gospel Conversations, Mormonism

Prophecy is central to the LDS church. From the time of Joseph Smith to the present, the title for every president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been “prophet, seer, and revelator.” Most members of the church believe that the word of the current prophet takes precedence over the words of former prophets. As I am told repeatedly, “That’s why we have a living prophet.”

The faith of most church members is rooted in a unique revelation that their church is the true church. These members believe their church’s departure from Biblical Christianity is justified, not because they can prove that “all Christian churches are apostate” or that Joseph Smith restored the gospel, but because they have a personal testimony that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. This personal revelation, often described as a spiritual witness, is a cornerstone of their faith. So, the church relies on special revelation for every claim it makes, and the people depend on revelation (rather than objective reasons) for believing these special revelations. We could argue that the church hangs entirely on prophecy – the prophecies of the Book of Mormon as revealed by Joseph Smith, the living prophet, and the personal revelation received by the faithful.

The Apostle Paul gives a rule for handling prophecies and a prophetic word.

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (I Corinthians 14:32)

Likewise, John teaches us,

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (I John 4:1)

This aligns with the noble Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). The Bible, as the authoritative voice of God, serves as the litmus test for any prophetic word. All revelations must be measured against this standard. Testing prophetic words with the Bible is not just a suggestion but a necessity for maintaining the truth and ensuring that the church’s teachings agree with the divine word.

Our examination of the Book of Mormon centers on a desire to hold it up to the standard of God’s Word. We have already pointed out several contrasts between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Here is another: the Book of Mormon doesn’t handle prophecy like the Bible. Let me demonstrate.

A Contrast of Prophetic Messages

The Book of Mormon has several notable prophecies in it. Consider this example from I Nephi 10:7-11.

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Subjective Truth vs Objective Truth: Some Thoughts for the LDS

On By Dave MallinakIn Apologetic, Gospel Conversations

One of the most attractive features of the LDS church is the encouragement members get to pursue revelations. In the early days of the church, this might have been its most popular custom. However, after a short time with this arrangement, Joseph Smith recognized its dangers.

In September 1830 Joseph and Emma Smith moved from Harmony, Pennsylvania, to Fayette, New York. When they arrived, they found that some Saints were being deceived by claims of false revelations: “To our great grief, … we soon found that Satan had been lying in wait to deceive, and seeking whom he might devour. [1]

In response, Smith received a revelation that placed a limit on the revelations that might be received by members of the church.

But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses. And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church. [2] (D&C 8:2-3)

The church still encourages revelations. In fact, the church insists that if you haven’t received a revelation, you haven’t received the Holy Ghost. As Harold B. Lee taught,

Any Latter-day Saint who has been baptized and who has had hands laid upon him from those officiating, commanding him to receive the Holy Ghost, and who has not received a revelation of the spirit of the Holy Ghost, has not received the gift of the Holy Ghost to which he is entitled. [3]

But these revelations are subject to the teachings of the church. As Elder Gerald N. Lund insisted in a 1997 devotional address at BYU,

Revelation from God does not contradict gospel principles or go contrary to established Church policy and procedure.

When there is new doctrine or new procedures to come forth, you will get it in one of three ways:

a. A formal press conference will be called by the leaders of the Church, at which an official announcement will be made.

b. It will be announced through the Church News, the Ensign, or other official Church communications.

c. It will be announced in general conference by those in authority.

Otherwise, we should be very wary about accepting it, and we should not share it with others. [4]

Over many years of life and ministry in Utah, I have heard many accounts of personal revelations. One man told me about personal conversations with George Washington and Ben Franklin. Politicians tell voters they received a direct impulse from the Spirit that led them to run for office. John Hyrum Koyle received a visit from the Angel Moroni. According to Koyle’s account,

the messenger showed him in vision a massive depository of gold ore in the hills near his home. He was also told that the mine would produce financial relief, in the form of gold coins, after a future economic collapse. The sacred treasure would benefit the people by keeping alive the local economy during the financial crisis and other devastating calamities. [5]

Thus, Koyle founded a mining operation and established the Dream Mine. Other members of the church (such as the Lafferty brothers and Brian David Mitchell) have had revelations that led them to commit heinous crimes. Thankfully, this kind of “revelation” is not common among the members of the church.

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The Birth of Jesus a Threat to Tyrants

On By Dave MallinakIn Merry Christmas, Politics

Herod the Great was a usurper. He had no right to the throne of Israel. Herod was an Edomite, though he converted to Judaism. He was a brilliant politician, builder, fabulously wealthy, and desperately wicked. He died of a combination of kidney disease and venereal disease and was nearly insane at the end of his life. He guarded his throne with a ferocity that cost many their lives, including two of his sons – Alexander and Aristobulus – and his wife, Mariamne. Part of his madness was the result of his guilt for ordering her execution.

Because he knew his unpopularity with the Jewish people, Herod ordered the execution, upon his death, of prominent chief priests and rulers of Israel so the people wouldn’t celebrate his death. He stands in Scripture for tyrannical power.

Matthew sets forth the royal claims of Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s Messiah King. He describes the threat Herod felt when he heard the news that Israel now had a Born King. When the wise men entered Jerusalem, they didn’t ask, “Where is the one who will become king of the Jews.” They asked, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews?” As Herod was a usurper, the claim was not lost on him.

It would be incorrect to mollify Herod with suggestions that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. Matthew lays out a clear case for Jesus Christ to be Israel’s eternal king. Jesus came to dethrone tyrants like Herod. The prophets foretold the same.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)

No surprise: when Herod heard of the birth of one with a legitimate claim to David’s throne, he was troubled. Matthew excels at understatement. Herod immediately started plotting how he might find this baby and kill it. After all, killing babies has always been the practice of evil tyrants.

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