https://www.quora.com/What-do-Protestants-and-Catholics-think-of-Mormons/answer/James-Hough-1

[AngelaMarie]

(From the link that Loki provide from FairMormon. Even FairMormon concedes there are more accurate translations.)

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the Authorized (King James) Version as its official Bible. So, why does the Church insist on using the Authorized (“King James”) Version as its official Bible, even though more modern translations are easier to read, are more accurate, and include more recent manuscript discoveries? Some reasons include:

• historical continuity with the restoration, since the KJV was used by the first generation of prophets and Church members
• Church leaders feel the benefits of standardization avoid, for example, unprofitable disputes about which member’s Bible is a “better” translation
• theologically, the Church disagrees with some modern trends in some Biblical translations (e.g., removing references to priesthood offices not embraced by some denominations, gender-neutral language when referring to God, etc.)

However, there is nothing in Church policy or official Church teaching that forbids Latter-day Saints from reading other Bible translations in their personal study. Many do so."

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Yes, and to Tradition and Early Church teaching…we have so much to reinforce our wonderful beliefs!
There has to be an authority. But, alas, people argue against it.

 

[ColorMomma]

Our Catholic Bible is older than the KJV. We also have all the books, but the KJV is missing some. Using Mormon accepted sources is problematic because theirs is a house built of cards.

 

[lokisuperfan]

The LDS argue that whenever the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are implied (or even directly stated) to be One God, that they are not in fact literally One God, but rather One God in purpose and motives. They use the part in the Bible (somewhere in Acts, I think) that talks about Pentecost to support this. I can’t remember why, but I’ll go dig it out if you’re are really interested to know.

 

[Crocus]

That’s not necessary. I just wanted to confirm you see there is a difference in their interpretation, against what Catholics and Protestants say about God.

 

[Pattylt]

Thank you! I had no idea there were so many! The only denominations I knew of were Mormons and JW’s…I guess I’ve led a sheltered life.

Most on that list, I assume, are very small? I’ll look into some you’ve listed. I wonder if some are a single church or just a few churches… interesting!

 

[gazelam]

gazelam:

The New Testament itself is far from any doctrine of the Trinity or of a triune God who is three co-equal Persons of One Nature. (William J. Hill, The Three-Personed God (Washington DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1982), 27.)

Why don’t you quote the rest of the paragraph of Mr. Hill where he affirms the trinity and it’s acceptance by very early Catholics?

The question was where is the doctrine of the Trinity found in the Bible. I responded using a quote from a Catholic scholar. I would expect a Catholic scholar to personally believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, but that detail does not answer the question.

 

[gazelam]

Your interpretation of John is incorrect and disregards the many other scriptural references that describe the Trinity. Your interpretation also flies in the face of centuries of tradition and the commonly accepted norms of the Holy Trinity by the earliest Christians. It appears you are grasping at straws.

Please share how my interpretation is incorrect and disregards many other scriptural references

You are cherry picking quotes out of context.

Please provide what you believe to be the correct context.

 

[ColorMomma]

Other posters have done that already. I already gave you the article with the scriptural references.

 

[gazelam]

In the OT, God is constantly and consistently pulling the Hebrews, His people, away from polytheism. They are constantly and consistently falling into and practicing polytheistic worship. Until finally, post exile, we have the Shema, and God’s people are monotheistic in their worship of God.

“Hear O’ Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One“

Many believe that a better translation for the Shema is:

“Hear O’ Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord Alone“

(Please note that I am neither a Hebrew scholar, nor do I play one on TV!)

For a fuller explanation see http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Puzzling_Passages/LordAlone.html

The bottom line is that the shema does not attempt to explain the number of gods, but rather that the Israelites made a covenant with God and God alone.

 

[gazelam]

The LDS argue that whenever the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are implied (or even directly stated) to be One God, that they are not in fact literally One God, but rather One God in purpose and motives. They use the part in the Bible (somewhere in Acts, I think) that talks about Pentecost to support this. I can’t remember why, but I’ll go dig it out if you’re are really interested to know.

Perhaps you’re referring to the account of Stephen who was stoned.

Acts 7:56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Here are several verses that describe more that one person as being “one”.

Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.

1 Corinthians 3:8,9 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

I hope this helps…

 

[gazelam]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people[c] did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us , and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:1-14

This is not the God of Mormonism. As Mormons have said, they believe flesh will become another God.

John 1 supports latter-day Saint doctrine nicely.

In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God [the Father], and the Word [Christ] was God [the Son].

This verse also refutes the doctrine of the Trinity since the Word is with God - meaning that the Word and God are two separate beings.

 

[humbleseeker]

In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God [the Father], and the Word [Christ] was God [the Son].

How did you determine the two different identities of God? Why the switch?

 

[Stephen168]

You have to use the KJV of the Bible when arguing about the CoJCoLDS. Otherwise you can’t prove that’s the God they believe in if it doesn’t say it in the version of the Bible they use.

The Jehovah Witnesses have their own Bible that has changed John 1:1 to read “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.” to fit their theology. I don’t think the Mormons have done this.

All versions tell us that Christ was God, not a god, and God became flesh. As Mormons have said, they believe flesh, Christ, become another God. The opposite of what the Apostle John is telling us.

 

[Stephen168]

In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God [the Father], and the Word [Christ] was God [the Son].

This verse also refutes the doctrine of the Trinity since the Word is with God - meaning that the Word and God are two separate beings.

God the Father is the uncreated creator (Genesis 1:3, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 33:9, 2 Maccabees 7:28) who created from his Word. This is the Judeo-Christian God.

The Mormon god is a creation, a man. The Mormon god lived in a world created by someone/something else. The Mormon god is not found in the bible.

God’s Word became flesh (John 1:1-14). Jesus Christ, the Word, the Son, was the only begotten son of the Father (John 3:16); he was God when he was born. He did not become God by living a sinless life. We partake in the divine nature (2Peter3:4) by adoption (Galatians 4:5, Romans 8:23, Ephesians 1:5).

St. John:

In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God [the Trinity], and the Word [Christ] was God [the Trinity].

He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

And the Word became flesh.

The one triune God, the uncreated creator, created with his Word.
My thoughts and my words are me, and they with me.
This is the oneness of Christ to the Father; they are the same being.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Many believe…weasel words. Many believe the earth is flat. Many believe the philosophy of a brain in a vat. Many believe Joseph Smith is a prophet. Many believe a lot of things that are empirically false.

The Covenant is with God alone because there is one God. Certainly no one, except maybe you, has ever argued that the Shema has underlying Mormon polyethistc themes of plural gods with one major god that is deserving of worship and adoration. All other gods minor in comparison, in the fashion of a pyramid scheme.

                                  God the Father
                                       / \
                                      Jesus
                                    /       \
                                  Holy Ghost
                                 /             \
                              ———————————
                              | After 2nd coming |
                              ———————————
                            /                       \
                              Mormon prophets
                          /                            \
                           All other Mormon men
                       /                                  \
                              Heavenly Mother
                    /                                        \
                              Mormon women

 

[RebeccaJ]

The other gods that the Hebrews believed in and worshipped had names, like Ba’al or Ashera. Basically the Mormon interpretation of the golden calf incident is that they were onto something in their belief of other gods, just had a huge lack of understanding or of the hierarchy of the Mormon pantheon. Hello, only the top god is worshipped.

I have read some so-called Mormon “scholars” believe the goddess Ashera was a name used in ancient times for the Mormon Heavenly Mother.

 

[AngelaMarie]

I have read some so-called Mormon “scholars” believe the goddess Ashera was a name used in ancient times for the Mormon Heavenly Mother.

low whistle
Ok that is just …
Reminds me of the strange theories Hugh Nibley had

 

[Horton]

Gazelam you quoted a statement the author used in a slightly facetious way. In reading the rest of the paragraph (linked below) one can see Mr. Hill in no way denies the trinity. Now maybe you only had access to the one quote and had no idea how to find the paragraph in full or possibly you were able to find it in full, realized it’s meaning, knew it would refute what you claimed it said and chose not to reveal it here. Either way I’ve come to the rescue.

In the link go to page 26 and find the sentence and read the whole paragraph. Mr Hill, a Catholic scholar does not refute the trinity as @Gazelam claims.

The Three-personed God: The Trinity as a Mystery of Salvation - William J. Hill - Google Books

 

[Horton]

The question was where is the doctrine of the Trinity found in the Bible. I responded using a quote from a Catholic scholar. I would expect a Catholic scholar to personally believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, but that detail does not answer the question.

As far as the trinity being found in the bible: Luke 2: 31-35, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34, Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, try these for a start.