WHO ARE THE MORMONS?

PART 2        (CULTS EXPOSED) 

5. What is the Book of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon contains the purported stories of three different groups who sailed to the Americas. The Jaredites (Book of Ether) came to the New World at the time of the tower of Babel. The Mulekites came to America from Jerusalem in 586 BC. The major group was the family of Lehi. Two of his sons, Nephi and Laman, became the leaders of the Nephites and Lamanites.

The last battle between the two groups, in 421 AD, wiped out almost all of the Nephites. Moroni, the last surviving Nephite, buried the records of his civilization in the Hill Cumorah. Hundreds of years later, Joseph Smith was directed to the spot by Moroni (some records say Nephi), now a resurrected being who had become an angel. Smith then "translated" the record and published it in 1830 under the title "The Book of Mormon."

6. What is the Doctrine and Covenants?

The Doctrine and Covenants contains 138 sections and two Official Declarations. The first 135 sections contain Joseph Smith’s revelations from 1823 to 1844, section 136 is a revelation by President Brigham Young in 1847, section 138 is one by President Joseph F. Smith in 1918. Declaration No. 1 is dated 1890 and is refered to as "The Manifesto" which declared an end to the practice of polygamy. Declaration No. 2 is dated 1978 and declared that "all worthy male members" could now hold the priesthood and participate in the temple ceremonies. This ended the LDS Church priesthood ban on Negroes.

7. What is the Pearl of Great Price?

The Pearl of Great Price contains the following:

1. THE BOOK OF MOSES �?"An extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet, June 1830—February 1831."

2. THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM �?"A Translation of some ancient Records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt."

3. JOSEPH SMITH �?MATTHEW. "An extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1831: Matthew 23:39 and chapter 24."

4. JOSEPH SMITH �?HISTORY. "EXTRACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET. History of the Church, Vol.1, Chapters 1-5."

5. THE ARTICLES OF FAITH. A list of 13 specific beliefs of the LDS Church written in 1842.

8. What is the Journal of Discourses?

    The Journal of Discourses is a 26 volume compilation of LDS presidents and apostles sermons, covering about 35 years. There were several men who were officially assigned by the LDS Church to record the talks. Volume one of the series contains a letter from the LDS First Presidency (Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards), dated June 1, 1853, authorizing the publishing of the sermons:

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