Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. The second coming of jesus religious studies center. Chris johnson how the book of mormon destroyed mormonism chris johnsons ex mormon conference talk explaining the research that found a connection between the late war 1816 and the book of mormon 1830. Most church members are not angry or emotional about their differences of opinion. Being a pacifist, i was looking for figurative ammunition against the pro war stance i often hear from my conservative friends. He was intimately familiar with the horrors of war. Warfare in the book of mormon book of mormon central. Finally, this book endeavors to expound on the war chapters for the intent that they were given. The odds, so it would seem, do not favor mormon creating a book intended to condemn all war, while simultaneouslyin the book approving of, and even praising, nephite figures who wage it.
According to lds church teachings, the true gospel will be taught in all parts of the world prior to the second coming. It details how the nephites thought it would be better to bury their swords and never kill another person again. As the lds sunday school gospel doctrine curriculum turns in coming weeks to the later chapters of the book of alma and the stories they. Book of mormon charts charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is written to all to the convincing of the jew and gentile that jesus is the christ, the eternal god, mormon tells us this on the title page of the book of mormon. Instead of picketing the book of mormon musical, for example, the mormon church. Alma 4363 the war chapters lds scripture teachings. The lds scriptures declare that the ultimate goal of a mormon is to become a god and procreate for all eternity. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. Wars were important to the people of the book of mormon. Why are there so many war chapters in the book of mormon.
Why geography matters, book of mormon archeological forum, 2004. The grim reality for ancient peoples was that religious, political, and cultural ideologies were frequently enforced through war. Mormons dont use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, or recreational drugs or abuse prescription drugs. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. We see a wonderful pattern that shows up in the book of mormon, including in the book of enos, and that is the profound impact that the teachings of parents have on their children. Indeed, the entire narrative seems to be driven by a cycle of conflict between competing groups. Mormon doctrines and beliefs are centered on jesus christ and heavenly fathers plan for his children. Book of mormon gospel doctrine lesson 25 july 5, 2016. It just changed battlefields, and in these last days, it has once more become a pitched battle for the souls of men. Its title page states that one reason it was written was so that native americans today might know what great things the lord hath done for their fathers. Korihor, an antichrist preaching at the time when alma the younger was high priest over the land, convinced many nephites that they should not believe in jesus christ or his coming atonement.
Nibley, teachings of the book mormon seely 191 this volume is the third installment of a projected four of the transcripts of lectures presented to an honors book of mormon class at brigham young university in 19891990. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. The extended banned mormon cartoon illustrating mormon beliefs. The lamanites came against them for war, but the nephites did nothing and about of them were killed. Wars and destructions were brought upon the nephites because of the contentions, murderings, idolatry, whoredoms, and abominations which were among themselves, while those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the lord were delivered at all times from captivity, death. Destruction via war may come as a result of wickedness or oppression may be heaped upon the righteous for the purposes of teaching humility and demonstrating the power of god.
These heterodox teachings, and many others like them, appear nowhere in the book of mormon. Book of mormon stories the ethics of war and peace. The lord approves of war only as a last means for his saints to defend their families, property, rights, privileges. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. Book of mormon prophecies of christ specific bible prophecies veiled actually nonexistent unless scripture misquoted or prophecies stretched to have two meanings. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy the mormon churchs founder was married to as many as 40 women in the years before his murder in 1844, the church acknowledged in. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints looks on war with the greatest abhorrence, and the teachings of the gospel of jesus christ tell us that we should sue for peace, forgive those who wrong us, and love our enemies. Mary jane woodger is a professor of church history and doctrine at brigham young university. A second serious anomaly is mormon s own engagement in conflict to the very end of his life. The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the apostles and prophets, concerning jesus christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven. The book of mormon is a book saturated with warfare.
Some very good insight can also be found in an old book published way back in 1931 called the way to perfection. Lessons from the war chapters in my book of mormon class, we have been talking about the war chapters, in alma 4356. Could it be that a book written for our day would have to prepare us to survive in a time of wars and rumors. War the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The nephite teachings on war will become apparent only after we understand a.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. It contains prophecies about the last days, and it presents a history that in many ways is similar to our own. I have come across a chapter in the book of mormon that is very interesting. Church members believe that there will be increasingly severe wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other manmade and natural disasters prior to the second coming. Ive never really understood why people sometime struggle getting through these chapters because they are full of stories and examples that we can emulate. The most well known of these was the statement made by bruce r. In fact, pivotal mormon doctrines are flatly refuted by the book of mormon. The title of this blog alludes to the wars described in the book of mormon, but the substance is the ongoing differences of opinion about book of mormon geography and historicity. Mormons hope to become gods of their own worlds procreating endless numbers of children quotes from lds leaders by sandra tanner. Much more than simply reporting these wars like a modern journalist, mormon infused moral and theological. Foundational teachings from the book of mormon, edited by camille fronk olson, brian m. This book shatters the myths that surround the romanticism of war, confounds the war hawks who beat its rhythmic drums, and lays down gods law as outlined in the doctrine and covenants and the book of mormon. Mason stipulates thatif we are careful in our reading and analysiswe will see that the book of mormon text itself undermines its own superficial sanction of.
Nevertheless, there are occassions when even god commands his people to go to war. Luckily, i had a copy of war and peace in our time. Mormonism and native americans meet mormon history. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and teaching. The wars and battles described in the book of mormon include some of the most detailed narratives of the book. The book of mormon recenters the story of jesus on the americas, and the faith, which was founded in the 19th century, also tells the story through a very american lens. Animated by the teachings and examples in the book of mormon, these firm convictions of. Mormon perspectives, a collection of essays which were presented at a conference by the same name at claremont graduate university in march 2011. Christianity believes there is only heaven, but according to mormon beliefs, there are three categories of heavens that are hierarchical based on how good you were as a human being, heaven 1, heaven 2 and heaven 3, these are namely. As is true today, warfare in the ancient world took on ideological importance for both sides of a conflict.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The mormon story is that the nephite military commander and prophet moroni buried a history of his people, written on gold plates, in the hill cumorah in ad 421. Mormonism and racial issuesblacks and the priesthood. Twelve beliefs the mormon church might not want you to. Framing the debate as a war is hyperbole, of course. Warfare in the book of mormon and a defense of the bush doctrine. Enos went to the woods to pray, but was overtaken by a more important purpose.
War and peace in the book of mormon july 7, 2016 by caleb jones, 0 comments, in scripturestudy one challenge in studying scripture is to avoid oversimplification, to see the variety of experiences of those seeking god and gods varieties of grace extended to them. A book of mormon perspective how the war chapters of the book of mormon warn against wars of aggression and the warfare state. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints testify that the book of mormon, published in 1830, is exactly what its title proclaims it to be, another testament of jesus christ. Abraham lincoln and the mormons religious studies center. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. Latent anti mormon bias may seem harmless enoughafter all, mormons are reluctant to call others out on it. The saviors followers overcame satan by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony revelation 12. As the lds sunday school gospel doctrine curriculum turns in coming weeks to the later chapters of the book of alma and the stories they contain about captain moroni, the stripling warriors, along with various wars and war strategies, assassinations, and other accounts of events that unfolded between the nephites and lamanites, we are pleased to host this discussion that aims to assist with inclass experiences.
The doctrine of the second coming of jesus christ is clarified by the book of mormon. Mary jane woodger, abraham lincoln and the mormons, in civil war saints, ed. Teachings about war in the book of mormon mormon matters. What i gleaned from this process is that the book of mormon is full of teachings that coincide with the libertarian philosophy of nonaggression. The book of mormon videos youtube channel is a collection of videos based on accounts from the book of mormon. Readers of the book of mormon encounter war and a lot of it. Chris johnson how the book of mormon destroyed mormonism.
As the lds sunday school gospel doctrine curriculum turns in coming weeks to the later chapters of the book of alma and the stories they contain about captain moroni, the stripling warriors, along with various wars and war strategies, assassinations, and other accounts of events that unfolded between the nephites and lamanites, we are pleased to host this discussion that aims to assist with inclass. Satan and his followers fought against jesus christ and his followers. The book of mormon teaches that war is a result of iniquity. Morgan deane, offensive warfare in the book of mormon and a defense of the bush doctrine, in war and peace in our times. Book of mormon christ is completely accepted in bible he is rejected. Book of mormon, history of warfare in the encyclopedia. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon from gold plates. Mormonism and racial issuesblacks and the priesthoodrepudiated ideasneutral in war in heaven. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Masons central argument is that the apparent approval of defensive war in the book of mormon contradicts christs teachings. This website was created to help lds members reading the book of mormon to focus on and realize the teachings contained in it, instead of just reading the words and assuming their content is in accordance with the readers notion preconceived of what the book teaches. War and peace in the book of mormon navigating discipleship. This cartoon is an excerpt from our film the secret world of mo. For instance, the most pointed refutation of the mormon doctrine that the father, son, and holy ghost are actually three separate gods is found in alma 11.