Frank Jamerson
The Articles of Faith published by the LDS church says, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints recognizes two orders of Priesthood, the lesser called the Aaronic, the greater known as the Melchizedek order” (p. 204). Since several Mormons have called and one wrote two ten inch square ads trying to defend the doctrine of the LDS church, I am going to print the articles that we have put in the Courier Journal and a letter that I sent responding to the two ads.
Their doctrine on Priesthoods is not taught in the Bible and contradicts what the Bible says about the two priesthoods. The Levitical (or Aaronic) priesthood was held by Jews who were from the tribe of Levi (Num. 18:1,2; Dt. 10:8). When Jeroboam appointed priests not from the tribe of Levi, he sinned 1 Kgs. 12:29-31). Jesus Himself could not have been an Aaronic priest because He was not from the right tribe (Heb. 7:14; 8:4), but Mormons who are not even Jews claim this priesthood.
There was only one man who held the priesthood of Melchizedek, and he was “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” (Heb. 7:3). The fact that God did not reveal his father, mother, birth nor death made him typical of Him who is truly without beginning or end—Jesus Christ. He is like Melchizedek “who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:16,17). Christ has no assistants and no successors in this priesthood!
In a sense, every Christian is a priest (not after the order of Aaron or Melchizedek), because each has been washed from his sins and offers himself as a living sacrifice (Rev. 1:5,6; 1 Pet. 2:2-5; Rom. 12:1,2). Everyone in the kingdom of Christ is a priest.
Here are three are ads that have been published in the Courier Journal (a weekly newspaper).
Is The Book of Mormon from God?
Mormons attack the Bible by saying “the great and abominable church” removed precious truths. Their “Articles of Faith” lists 18 books missing from the Bible ( p. 501). The Book of Mormon claims its purpose was to make known things removed from the Bible (1 Nephi 13:26,40). None of the 18 books in their list is included in the B. of M., so it was a complete failure in this mission. Jesus promised the apostles the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:13). If Jesus kept His word and the Holy Spirit accomplished His mission, all truth was revealed before the death of the apostles. That message was once delivered (Jude 3) and abides forever (1 Pet. 1:25). The only reason to attack the Bible is they have a different “revelation” they want you to accept.
Did the Bible Predict the Book of Mormon?
Mormons teach that Ezekiel prophesied the coming of the Book of Mormon. They claim “the stick of Judah” is the Bible and “the stick of Ephraim” is the Book of Mormon (Ezek. 37:16). Notice the context. Ezekiel was to write on both sticks and God gave him the meaning. He was to join them in his hand and this would show that Israel and Judah would become one nation and one king would rule them (Ezek. 37:19-22). God would make a “covenant of peace” under the rule of David (Ezek. 37:24). This refers to the Covenant of Shepherd-King Jesus (Heb. 13:20,21). Jesus was raised to sit on David’s throne (Acts 2:29-36), and His blood dedicated the New Testament (Mt. 26:28). Ezekiel’s prophecy has nothing to do with the Book of Mormon.
Does the Book of Mormon contradict the Bible?
Yes! The book of Alma (claiming to describe events in 73 B.C.) says: “And those who were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.” The Bible, describing events in about 41 A.D., says “and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Paul wrote the Corinthians that to be “of Paul” two things would have been necessary – Paul crucified and baptism in his name. To be “of Christ” two things are also essential – Christ crucified and baptism in His name (1 Cor. 1:13-16). Neither of these things could have happened in 73 B.C., therefore they could not have been Christians.
Does emotion establish truth?
While I was working in Romania, there were calls and two large articles affirming that we should follow James 1:5 and ask God to confirm the Book of Mormon. First, this is a misuse of the passage. It was written to believers (Jas. 1:2) and they were to pray for wisdom in applying the truth they had received. Second, Scripture is our guide (2 Tim. 3:16,17), not our emotion. Muslims feel the Koran is God’s word. Christian Scientists feel Mrs. Eddy’s writings are from God. If emotion is the final authority, then everyone who feels right is right! The Bereans “searched the Scriptures” to determine the truth (Acts 17:11). Jesus told His apostles the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all truth” (Jn. 16:13). If that is true, the gospel they preached is for all nations (Mt. 28:18-20) and there are no new revelations.
(The following letter was sent to the Courier-Journal to answer the two ads and letter by Mr. Rodocker.)
The Editor:
A letter and two large ads were published by Mr. Rodocker while I was out of the country (working in Romania), so I would like to briefly reply to some of his statements.
He said that my teaching against doctrines that are contrary to God’s word is not following the example of Jesus. Matthew quoted Jesus as saying, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt. 15:9). That is the example I am following. Matthew 23 contains some of the sharpest rebukes against religious leaders that you will read anywhere.
Mr. Rodocker was responding to three short articles: (1) Jesus promised the apostles all truth would be revealed to them (Jn. 16:13), therefore no new truth could be given after the death of the apostles, which would exclude the Book of Mormon; (2) Their use of Ezek. 37. God told Ezekiel that the two sticks (representing Judah and Israel) would become “one nation,” not one Book; (3) I showed followers of Christ were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26), not in 73 B.C., as the Book of Mormon teaches. In his letter and two large ads, Mr. Rodocker did not answer either message I presented, he just attacked the messenger and gave his personal testimony. That does not change the facts I set forth in the articles.
He also misused James 1:5 to prove that we should pray for God to give us the feeling that the Book of Mormon is true. That passage was written to brethren, encouraging them to ask for wisdom in applying what God had revealed. He believes the LDS church is right, and all others wrong, because it has apostles and priesthoods. First, Jesus promised His apostles they would sit on thrones and judge His people (Lk. 22:30). They judge through the word they revealed (Lk. 10:16). There was only one successor to an apostle – Matthias, who took the place of Judas. The qualifications were: (1) accompany Jesus since His baptism and (2) be an eye-witness of the resurrection (Acts 1:22-26). There are no qualifiers today; only false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13). Second, the Levitical priesthood has been changed (Heb. 7:11,12). Jesus could not have been a Levitical priest, because He was not from the tribe of Levi (Heb. 7:14; 8:4). There was only one Melchizedek in the Old Testament and he was a priest and a king (Gen. 14:18-20). There is only one Melchizedek priest and king today – Jesus Christ, who had no beginning and no end; He has an endless life (Heb. 7:1-3,14-17). There are no qualifiers on earth today!
I have not criticized the good works nor the moral lives of Mormons. That is not the issue, but living a good life and being moral did not save Cornelius (Acts 10:1-3; 11:14), and it does not make a person’s doctrine right. Mr. Rodocker said the book of Mormon was given for the American continent. I wonder if God gave another book for South America and the other continents? The truth is that the Gospel of Christ (revealed through the New Testament writers) was given to “all the world” (Mk. 16:15,16).