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APOLOGETICS |
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Mormon Scripture: The Articles of
Faith Part XXIV By
Marvin W.
Cowan |
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The tenth LDS Article of Faith states,
"We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in
the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New
Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent;
that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and,
that the earth will be renewed and receive its
paradisiacal glory." In this Article, LDS leaders and
scripture define Christian terms with meanings which are
foreign to historic Christianity. For example, Mormons
believe "the literal gathering of Israel" will bring the
"ten lost tribes" and Book of Mormon "Lamanites"
together in America, while the tribe of Judah will be
gathered to the area around Jerusalem. They also believe
when the "lost ten tribes" of Israel left the land of
their captivity they went to an undisclosed location in
the "frozen north" from whence they will return to Zion
in America as Elder George Reynolds wrote on pages 10-11
of Are We of Israel?
At the semi-annual LDS conference on
October 8, 1916, Mormon Apostle James E. Talmage said,
"The (lost ten) tribes shall…be brought forth as hath
been predicted: and I say unto you there are those
now living—aye, some here present—who shall
live to read the records of the Lost Tribes of Israel,
which shall be made one with the record of the Jews, or
the Holy Bible, and the record of the Nephites, or the
Book of Mormon, even as the Lord hath predicted;
and those records... shall tell of the visit of the
resurrected Christ to them, after he had manifested
Himself to the Nephites upon this continent" (Articles
of Faith by Talmage, p. 513). His prediction was
based upon 3 Nephi 16:1-4 and 17:4 in the Book of
Mormon, which says Christ would appear to the lost
tribes of Israel and they would record His visit in a
new book of scripture. Talmage said that Christ would
visit the lost tribes of Israel in the North Country and
they would record His visit in a book of scripture and
bring it with them to Zion in America in the last days
where it would be joined with the Bible and the Book
of Mormon. Talmage also said that some who heard him
speak in 1916 would live to read that new scripture.
Talmage’s message was given 87 years ago and the "lost
tribes" still haven’t arrived in "Zion." So, even if
they wrote a book of scripture, it isn’t available to
read which means this was a false prophecy.
Joseph Smith said he received a
revelation on September 22 and 23, 1832, about Zion and
a temple to be built there. It says,
A
revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph
Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united their
hearts and lifted their voices on high. Yea, the word
of the Lord concerning his church, established in the
last days for the restoration of his people, as he has
spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the
gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion,
which shall be the city of New
Jerusalem. Which city shall be built, beginning
at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of
the Lord, in the western boundaries of the
State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of
Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was
well pleased. Verily this is the word of the Lord,
that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the
gathering of the saints, beginning at this
place, even the place of the temple, which
temple shall be reared in this generation. For
verily this generation shall not all pass away
until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a
cloud shall rest upon it which cloud shall be even the
glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house (Doctrine
& Covenants, Sec. 84:1-4).
The italicized words in this Mormon
scripture mention things which the generation living in
1832 were to see or do. Mormons did begin
"gathering" in Missouri where they tried to build a city
and even laid the cornerstone for a temple. But,
conflict with the people of Missouri forced them to move
and abandon their plans. The generation living in 1832
has been dead for over 100 years, but none of these
things have been done, so this is a false prophecy.
Joseph Fielding Smith, the tenth LDS
Prophet said,
In the day
of regeneration, when all things are made new, there
will be three great cities that will be holy.
One will be the Jerusalem of old which shall be
rebuilt according to the prophecy of Ezekiel. One will
be the city of Zion, or Enoch, which was taken from
the earth when Enoch was translated and which
will be restored; and the city Zion, or New Jerusalem,
which is to be built by the seed of Joseph on this the
American continent (Answers to Gospel Questions,
vol. 2, p. 105).
LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie further
explains on pages 854-855 of Mormon Doctrine,
Enoch built
a city that was called the City of Holiness, even
Zion. This Zion, in process of time, after 365
years, was taken up to heaven…for God received it up
into his own bosom…It is this City of Zion which is to
return in the last days, probably shortly after the
ushering in of the millennial era…The Mount Zion
spoken of (in Rev. 14:1-5) is identified by latter-day
revelation as the New Jerusalem to be built in
Jackson County, Missouri (D. & C. 84:1-4).
The only "city of Enoch" in the Bible was
built by Cain and named for his son, Enoch (Gen.
4:17). Neither that city nor any other city in the Bible
was translated or caught up to God. Enoch, the son of
Jared, who was translated, never built a city
(Gen. 5:18-24). The Apostle John "saw the holy city, New
Jerusalem coming down or descending from God out
of heaven" (Rev. 21:2 & 10). The Bible does not teach
that heavenly Jerusalem will be built by mortals or that
it will be located in Missouri! If Mormon revelation is
wrong about these things, could it also be wrong about
things which affect one’s eternal destiny?
Next time we will discuss Christ’s return
and reign on the renewed earth. More LDS views on this
subject can be read in The Restoration of All Things
by Joseph Fielding Smith. |
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