This table examines the supposed contradictions, presents the scriptures cited in context, and demonstrates that claims on contradiction rest on:
| Number
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Column A: Book of Mormon...
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Column B: "Contrasting" scripture...
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Response and Comments
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1
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One God
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Plural Gods
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- The scriptures in Column A all state that there is "One God" consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Column B scriptures explain the nature of this oneness. Protestant critics do not like the fact that Latter-day Saints reject the nonbiblical Nicene Creed, which teaches a oneness of substance.
- Latter-day Saints believe that God is one, but accept the Biblical witness that this is a oneness of purpose, intent, mind, will, and love, into which believers are invited to participate (see John 17꞉22-23).
To learn more:
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2
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God is a Spirit
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God Has A Body
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- The scriptures in Column A describe missionary efforts to teach the pagan Lamanites about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries begin their efforts by explaining that what the Lamanites called "The Great Spirit" was God. This is not an attempt to give a theological description of God's nature, but to build on common beliefs.
- The God to which the Column A scriptures refer is Jesus Christ. In LDS doctrine, Jesus Christ was a premortal spirit that did not yet have a physical body when the scriptures in Column A were given. Thus, the description of Christ as a Spirit was accurate before His birth.
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3
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God dwells in the heart
- ...35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. 36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell....
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God does not dwell in the heart
- The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse [John 14:23], is a personal appearance; the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false."
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- Column B explains that when Jesus says that He and the Father will "make our abode" with those who "keep my words," this means that the righteous may physically behold them. It targets the false idea that God does not have any physicality, and cannot be seen.
- Column A describes the fact that the spirit of Satan or the Spirit of the Lord (i.e., the Holy Ghost) will "possess" or influence mortals depending upon their choices. The Holy Ghost can dwell in the heart of man, since he is a spirit (see 2 Timothy 1:14 and DC 130꞉22).
- It is telling that the supposed "contradiction" is explained later in section 130, but the critics ignore it.
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4
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One God creates
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Multiple Gods create
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- As discussed in point #1, LDS doctrine sees God as one, but not one in substance. In LDS doctrine, LDS may be properly spoken of as one, or as having more than one person.
- This is not a contradiction; it merely demonstrates that the Latter-day Saints do not accept Nicene trinitarianism.
To learn more
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5
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God Cannot Lie
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God Commands Lying
- ...22 And it came to pass when I was come near to enter into Egypt, the Lord said unto me: Behold, Sarai, thy wife, is a very fair woman to look upon; 23 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see her, they will say—She is his wife; and they will kill you, but they will save her alive; therefore see that ye do on this wise: 24 Let her say unto the Egyptians, she is thy sister, and thy soul shall live. 25 And it came to pass that I, Abraham, told Sarai, my wife, all that the Lord had said unto me—Therefore say unto them, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake, and my soul shall live because of thee.
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COMMENTS 5
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6
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God's Word Unchangeable
- Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.
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God's Word Can Change
- Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord.
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- Column A speaks of "decrees of God"—the commandments which God has given about how to return to him, and the consequences for disobedience. The speaker is the prophet Alma, addressing a sinful son who has left the ministry in pursuit of a harlot.
- Column B notes that humans may be in changing circumstances. Thus, God may give specific commands in one situation, and different commands in a different situation necessary for carrying out His work. God will not force men to obey—if some disobey, then God may need to alter commands. If he tells John to go on a mission, and John refuses, then God may need to "reassign" someone else to carry out John's former task. As the scripture says, the consequences of this will "be answered upon the heads of the rebellious"—there is still a penalty for disobedience, but God's plans cannot be thwarted by mortal disobedience.
- Neither scripture mentions "God's word" (which conservative Protestants would associate with scripture), but this terminology allows the critic to give the misleading impression that the verses are discussing the alteration of scripture, instead of on-going revelation adapted to the good and bad choices which mortals make.
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7
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 7
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8
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 8
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9
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 9
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10
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 10
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11
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 11
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12
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 12
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13
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 13
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14
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 14
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15
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BoM
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OTHER
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Comments 15
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