Non-LDS - Read the BoM??

[silverwings_88]

For all those Catholics who have read the BoM, what do you think of the book, and are there any favourite passages?

I found it abit inconsistent with Greek words intersparsed with texts which are supposed to be of reformed Egyptian (whatever that is) and of other Semitic languages, but I think all in all, it was an inspiring text to read, despite the contentions and many battles which occurred. Those notorious “And it came to pass” phrasings were annoying, but when one became familiar with them, it was not a bother at all.

Without the Doctrine and Covenants and other LDS Scriptures, the Book of Mormon is very uplifting as a story (and it is nice to think that maybe my ancestors were descended by Hagoth )

Here’s my favourite passage:

**“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

**2 Nephi 31:20

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

Moroni 7:46-47

 

[JohnnyR]

silverwings_88,

I have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon.

My least favorite section in the BOM is Moroni 8 (see link below) which reveals that “Infant baptism is an evil abomination”

scriptures.lds.org/moro/8

 

[Brad_Haas]

(ok, in case anyone catches it, I’m cheating on this post and copying some stuff from the blog entry I wrote when I finished the BoM)

I read the book. To be perfectly blunt, I don’t think it was anything to shout about. It has four basic recurring motifs: wars are fought; the Israelites grow wicked, a prophet comes forth, and they repent (usually); prophecies are made of Joseph Smith; and things happen that were cribbed from the Bible.

The first three should be self-explanatory, and as for the last one, a lot of the stories seem to be adapted from the Bible. For example, the Jaredites survive the great flood in boats built per God’s command. The daughter of a bad guy dances for a king in order to have the head of the bad guy’s enemy.

Far more prevalent than plot lines from the Bible are simple statements or verses taken from the Bible and preached (without citation), quoted (i.e., with citation), or adapted a bit. For example, the verses quoted in the first post can be found in Paul’s letters. 3 Nephi 11:39-40 is just like Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 7:24-25. I would be very surprised if you picked two chapters from the BoM and did not find such an occurrence.

There’s quite a bit of one-upsmanship that goes on as well. The prophets are often saved by miracles more spectacular than Biblical ones. The wars are bigger. The good people are better; the evil are worse. More people see and feel Christ’s wounds when He comes to them. And so it goes.

I don’t think the book is diabolically inspired (in spite of all the evidence of plausibilities LDS apologists cite and say “How could he have known that?!”). Nor is it divinely inspired. It seems to me to be the product of an active imagination, a good memory of written material, and whatever it was that convinced Smith he was a prophet.

 

[JohnnyR]

I view the Book of Mormon as a “great sign and wonder” that can come from a false prophet to deceive many, even the very elect (Matt 24:24)

Matt 24
[11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

 

[arthra]

I have to be honest here … a Mormon friend requested I read the Book of Mormon and I’m about half way through it. It’s been a little difficult the past week or so to get back to it but so far I find it to be the weakest testimony and evidence of Scripture. There’s a kind of compass that leads the chosen people and a submersible ships that glow under water and a lot of “And it came to pass…” repeatedly. I find the narratives very stilted and rather flat and not as inspiring as the Bible. But that’s only my own view folks.

• Art

 

[Tmaque]

silverwings_88:

For all those Catholics who have read the BoM, what do you think of the book, and are there any favourite passages?

I found it abit inconsistent with Greek words intersparsed with texts which are supposed to be of reformed Egyptian (whatever that is) and of other Semitic languages, but I think all in all, it was an inspiring text to read, despite the contentions and many battles which occurred. Those notorious “And it came to pass” phrasings were annoying, but when one became familiar with them, it was not a bother at all.

Without the Doctrine and Covenants and other LDS Scriptures, the Book of Mormon is very uplifting as a story (and it is nice to think that maybe my ancestors were descended by Hagoth )

Here’s my favourite passage:

**“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

**2 Nephi 31:20

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

Moroni 7:46-47

It’s no wonder you liked Moroni 7. Verses 44-46 are clearly taken from 1 Corinthians 13, which is one of my favorite chapters in the NT.

 

[chic_for_Christ]

I have read the Book of Mormon and particulary I dont have much to say about it. Its great if you believe in it but for me I will stick to my guns and stick with the Catholic Bible that way it has all the books instead of some of the Bibles now adays the Catholic Bible doesnt leave out any books

 

[silverwings_88]

chic for Christ:

I have read the Book of Mormon and particulary I dont have much to say about it. Its great if you believe in it but for me I will stick to my guns and stick with the Catholic Bible that way it has all the books instead of some of the Bibles now adays the Catholic Bible doesnt leave out any books

LOL Don’t judge a book by its cover.

I AM a Catholic of the Latin rite. (and a revert too… RCIA 2005 ) I HAVE read all of the Bible. However, I think it is good for us to open up our minds to other sources of Wisdom, however heretical they may be.

This doesn’t mean to believe in everything or discredit all there is in the world, but rather to take of what is good and apply it. What is that verse in the Bible? I’m sure you know it.

By the way…

2 Nephi 9:29

"But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."

 

[silverwings_88]

arthra:

I have to be honest here … a Mormon friend requested I read the Book of Mormon and I’m about half way through it. It’s been a little difficult the past week or so to get back to it but so far I find it to be the weakest testimony and evidence of Scripture. There’s a kind of compass that leads the chosen people and a submersible ships that glow under water and a lot of “And it came to pass…” repeatedly. I find the narratives very stilted and rather flat and not as inspiring as the Bible. But that’s only my own view folks.

• Art

I would have to agree. Sometimes I wonder if Joseph was a great writer for his time or what…

But in regards to Tmaque, what I love, is even though charity is the archaic word for love, I love how they always refer to charity as the “pure love of Christ.”

Perhaps the only parts I loved were King Benjamin’s address in Mosiah, Enos and his cry to repentance, and when that group… the Anti-Lehi-Nephites?? or whatnot give up their swords and rather died without retaliation in battle…

 

[flameburns623]

The Book of Mormon is a difficult read and if one is reasonably familiar with the Bible it seems too obvious an effort at plagiarism. Not to mention it’s complete lack of literary merit. The Qu’ran is pretty tepid stuff too, at least in any translation I’ve ever read. Hard to believe people consider it to be ‘great literature’. Buddhist and Hindu scripture are much better reading, as are many of the Baha’i writings.
Just my opinion.