Mormonism Exposed (Hancock)/Chapter 7
We are not controlled in the least by a spirit of vindictive ness in what we have to say in these articles. As the claims of Mormonism, as what has been presented abundantly shows, antagonize the claims of the Bible, we could not clear ourself in the sight of God, meet our obligations to truth, nor do justice to our fellow creatures were we not in earnest. When it comes to the discussion of issues that involve the glory of God and the eternal interests of man the fear of man is not before our eyes. We have no party interest to serve, but write wholly in behalf of truth. We firmly believe the propositions embodied in the heading of which we write. Believing those propositions we can have no feeling toward the originators of Mormonism except one of mingled pity and contempt. It is evident, whatever else they may have believed, they certainly did not believe in a just judgment to come. As to the Book of Mormon, its claims place it on a level with the Koran. If it had no claims but that of a novel we could think more of it, but then one possessed of a refined literary taste could not have patience to read it. Its uncouth, illiterate, bunglesome manner would place it in the lowest grade. It gives evidence of being designed as a bait for the unwary, unthinking, reckless part of humanity. For such a book to claim to be given by the inspiration of heaven—to claim superiority over the Bible—to claim, hence, to be the proper guide for a man, in view of his present and eternal interests, is enough to make the demons blush and hang their heads in shame, if there could be blushes and shame in the infernal regions. But impudence and falsehood are the chief characteristics of those religions. That such are really the characteristics of Mormonism has been, and will be abundantly shown.
The book of Mormon submits as the basis of its claims as base a falsehood as it would be possible to utter, namely, that the New Testament does not contain the gospel of Jesus Christ. According to the book of Mormon, the people with whom it had its origin, and who are introduced to us as the especial favorites of heaven, began their career in lying, deception, robbery and murder, and ended the same in rapine and cannibalism. Lehi, the father of the Nephites and Lamanites, we are told was a Jew, born and raised in the city of Jerusalem, born of "goodly parents," and, of course, trained strictly in the righteousness of the law of Moses. This man, we are assured, was so upright in life that he was despised by the wicked Jews. Such a man, of course, carefully taught his children all the precepts of the law. But in a dream he was commanded to leave Jerusalem. Being obedient he left Jerusalem, he left his inheritance, his gold, his silver, and his precious things and went three days journey into the wilderness. There he built an altar and worshipped. But the Lord now reminded him that he had no copy of the law, nor family record. It was necessary that he should have these, not only that they might teach their descendants the law, but also preserve the language of their forefathers. One Laban, a prominent man, a drunken, wicked wretch, but, of course, a member of the church, had Lehi's family record, and the Jewish Scriptures, engraven on brass plates, and in the language of the Jewish fathers, that is the Egyptian language! How the learned world have been fooled! Laban did not want to give up his record, and there was, of course, no way by the use of riches to have them copied. They must have Laban's records though he has to be murdered in order to get them. Nephi was a beardless youth, but he was sufficient for the undertaking. Starting to Laban's residence he found the man in a drunken stupor. With the sword of his victim he decapitated him. The man being dead he stripped him, and put the clothing on himself, every whit of them, and so dressed in Laban's clothes and armed with his sword he went to the residence. He assuming Laban's voice gave command. The faithful servant, as a faithful servant would do, scrutinized him closely. He saw that it was Laban's clothes and sword, and of course, he could not tell the boyish face from the bearded face of his master. The clothes were not even stained, much less clotted with blood! We are, hence, to understand that Laban's body was a bloodless one! They cross the ocean, and in a few days two men and a few boys built a temple like unto the one that Solomon built, and some boys of the tribe of Joseph were duly consecrated to the priesthood according to the laws of Moses. Wonderful people, and wonderful respect for the law of Moses. They that credit such as being from heaven need not talk about the credulity of any religious people under the sun.
With this digression we now return to our line of thought. The claims of Mormonism must all rest upon the claims of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. If Smith was an inspired man of God Mormonism is true. Upon the other hand, if Smith was an imposter Mormonism is false. As we have seen, the claims of the Bible are involved; for if Smith was a true prophet Jesus Christ was not. This is putting the matter in strong terms, and gives us the whole issue in a nutshell.
I know that Mormonism claims to honor Christ. But, whilst it would embrace with its left hand, and give the professed kiss of affection, with the right hand the concealed dagger would be used, and it would give the fatal stab under the fifth rib. We are told in the New Testament that Jesus said that Paul was His chosen vessel (messenger) to the Gentile world: In His chosen ministry Christ claimed to execute the will of God. If, therefore, Paul was a false prophet he was an imposter. This being so, Christ was not the true Messiah, and as a consequence the New Testament is a fraud. But, as we have seen, Paul testified that prophecies would cease when perfection in Christ should be reached. With the completion of the arrangement in Christ, and the giving of the perfect will of God as revealed in the New Testament, perfection for the people of God was reached, otherwise Paul was a false prophet. Paul was, however, a true prophet. Therefore, with the completion of the New Testament perfection was reached, and with the completion of that book all miraculous endowments ceased.
We now invite attention to the following: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."—I. Cor. 12: 28. Of this ministry and its specific purpose, Paul speaks more fully in the Ephesian epistle. There he says that after Christ had ascended upon high He gave certain gifts. He says: "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers." These were given for a specific purpose, and for a specified time. They were given, hence, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Thus we are told the purpose for which the ministry that Christ established in His church was given. To this ministry belonged certain gifts, essential to their work. Paul says: "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues." These gifts, be it remembered, belonged to the New Testament ministry. That the apostles constituted that ministry is affirmed in the following: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me worthy, putting me into the ministry." Christ put Paul into the apostleship. Therefore, ministry and apostleship were, by inspiration, interchangeable terms. The seven deacons were chosen that the apostles might give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. As helps in this ministry the Lord gave prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The miraculous endowments belonged to this ministry. So long, hence, as this ministry continued miracles continued. If this ministry was to be perpetual, miracles would necessarily be perpetual. If however, this ministry was for a specified time, then it would cease and miracles would disappear. If we ask for the purpose of these apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, Paul says: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." If we ask, How long was this special ministry to continue? Paul says: "Till we all come in (into) the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." See Eph. 4: 8–13.
The work of the apostolic ministry was to prepare for all to have the one faith—to possess the necessary knowledge in order to eternal life—to come, hence, to the manhood in Christ. Coming to this, perfection in Christ would be reached. With this the work of that special ministry was done and would be no longer called for. With the cessation of this ministry miracles were to cease. If the apostolic ministry did not accomplish the purpose for which it was given it was a failure. This being the case the New Testament is not true. The New Testament, however, is true; the apostolic ministry accomplished the work for which it was given, and as a consequence there has not been a ministry as a special class, in the church of Christ since the apostles' day. There being no demand for a special ministry in the church of Christ since the apostles' day there has been no call for miracle working power. No miracle working power, hence, has been given since the apostolic ministry completed its work. As that ministry perfected the work for which it was given, and as perfection cannot be supplemented there was none appointed to take the place of those that constituted that ministry. They had no successors. The apostles were witnesses for Jesus Christ. One to be such must be a man that had seen Jesus Christ after His resurrection. Paul says that he was the last of all to be blessed with that privilege; the last, hence, to be placed in that ministry. All modern orders of ministry are humanly constituted, and as God never authorized them he has no special favors for them.