Most church members are not angry or emotional about their differences of opinion. War and peace in the book of mormon navigating discipleship. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. 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 doctrines and beliefs are centered on jesus christ and heavenly fathers plan for his children. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths.
Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Mormonism and racial issuesblacks and the priesthoodrepudiated ideasneutral in war in heaven. The doctrine of the second coming of jesus christ is clarified by the book of mormon. I have come across a chapter in the book of mormon that is very interesting.
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. 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. 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. A second serious anomaly is mormon s own engagement in conflict to the very end of his life. Nevertheless, there are occassions when even god commands his people to go to war. Alma 4363 the war chapters lds scripture teachings. The wars and battles described in the book of mormon include some of the most detailed narratives of the book. He was intimately familiar with the horrors of war. 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. Much more than simply reporting these wars like a modern journalist, mormon infused moral and theological.
Joseph smith translated the book of mormon from gold plates. 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. Morgan deane, offensive warfare in the book of mormon and a defense of the bush doctrine, in war and peace in our times. The extended banned mormon cartoon illustrating mormon beliefs. The health laws of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints are, perhaps, the most noticeable thing about the church and its members. Warfare in the book of mormon book of mormon central.
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. 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. 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. Mormonism and native americans meet mormon history. War the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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. 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. The grim reality for ancient peoples was that religious, political, and cultural ideologies were frequently enforced through war. The book of mormon videos youtube channel is a collection of videos based on accounts from the book of mormon. Church members believe that there will be increasingly severe wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other manmade and natural disasters prior to the second coming. The lds scriptures declare that the ultimate goal of a mormon is to become a god and procreate for all eternity. Framing the debate as a war is hyperbole, of course. Twelve beliefs the mormon church might not want you to.
Ive never really understood why people sometime struggle getting through these chapters because they are full of stories and examples that we can emulate. Wars were important to the people of the book of mormon. Abraham lincoln and the mormons religious studies center. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The lamanites came against them for war, but the nephites did nothing and about of them were killed. 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. 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. 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. Luckily, i had a copy of war and peace in our time. Mormons dont use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, or recreational drugs or abuse prescription drugs. As is true today, warfare in the ancient world took on ideological importance for both sides of a conflict. Book of mormon gospel doctrine lesson 25 july 5, 2016. In fact, pivotal mormon doctrines are flatly refuted by the book of mormon. The second coming of jesus religious studies center.
Finally, this book endeavors to expound on the war chapters for the intent that they were given. Mormon perspectives, a collection of essays which were presented at a conference by the same name at claremont graduate university in march 2011. 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. Lessons from the war chapters in my book of mormon class, we have been talking about the war chapters, in alma 4356. What i gleaned from this process is that the book of mormon is full of teachings that coincide with the libertarian philosophy of nonaggression. 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. 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. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Book of mormon, history of warfare in the encyclopedia. The nephite teachings on war will become apparent only after we understand a.
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. Mary jane woodger is a professor of church history and doctrine at brigham young university. These essays reveal how the scriptures, prophetic teachings, history, culture, rituals, and. 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. It details how the nephites thought it would be better to bury their swords and never kill another person again. Chris johnson how the book of mormon destroyed mormonism. The book of mormon teaches that war is a result of iniquity. Mormons hope to become gods of their own worlds procreating endless numbers of children quotes from lds leaders by sandra tanner. Readers of the book of mormon encounter war and a lot of it. It just changed battlefields, and in these last days, it has once more become a pitched battle for the souls of men. How can the book of mormon provide peace and meaning to those. Could it be that a book written for our day would have to prepare us to survive in a time of wars and rumors. Book of mormon prophecies of christ specific bible prophecies veiled actually nonexistent unless scripture misquoted or prophecies stretched to have two meanings.
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. 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. Masons central argument is that the apparent approval of defensive war in the book of mormon contradicts christs teachings. A book of mormon perspective how the war chapters of the book of mormon warn against wars of aggression and the warfare state. These heterodox teachings, and many others like them, appear nowhere in the book of mormon. Animated by the teachings and examples in the book of mormon, these firm convictions of. Mormonism and racial issuesblacks and the priesthood. The source of this uniquely mormon doctrine has its roots in the mormon scriptures. This cartoon is an excerpt from our film the secret world of mo. 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. Warfare in the book of mormon and a defense of the bush doctrine.
The lord approves of war only as a last means for his saints to defend their families, property, rights, privileges. 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. 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. Why are there so many war chapters in the book of mormon. Latent anti mormon bias may seem harmless enoughafter all, mormons are reluctant to call others out on it. 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. 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 book of mormon is a book saturated with warfare.
Teachings about war in the book of mormon mormon matters. 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. Being a pacifist, i was looking for figurative ammunition against the pro war stance i often hear from my conservative friends. According to lds church teachings, the true gospel will be taught in all parts of the world prior to the second coming. Book of mormon christ is completely accepted in bible he is rejected. It contains prophecies about the last days, and it presents a history that in many ways is similar to our own. Foundational teachings from the book of mormon, edited by camille fronk olson, brian m. Mary jane woodger, abraham lincoln and the mormons, in civil war saints, ed. The most well known of these was the statement made by bruce r. Book of mormon stories the ethics of war and peace. 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. Why geography matters, book of mormon archeological forum, 2004. 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. Some very good insight can also be found in an old book published way back in 1931 called the way to perfection.
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