"This is a great document to read and use with your LDS friends/family/missionaries. What makes it especially impactful is the credibility of the author. If you're not familiar with LDS teaching and witnessing, it's a great teaching tool on some of the LDS quandaries. If you're already familiar, it's a great review. Take a read!"
-Kim Jones
Tri-Grace Ministries, Associate Director
The “32 Questions” Feared by the LDS (Mormon) Church
By William Schnoebelen
Explanatory note: Back in 1984, I was an elder in the LDS Church and held a temple recommend. I had been to
the temple many times and had been an elders’ quorum president in Milwaukee II Ward. Due to reading both
the Book of Mormon and the Bible (King James LDS edition) through many times, I began to find all sorts of
problems with consistency between the Book of Mormon, the Bible AND current LDS doctrine, which I knew
pretty well (I had been a teacher in the LDS Church Institute of Religion).
The other factor that caused me to question was the differences between the current Book of Mormon and the
first edition. When going to the Salt Lake temple for our endowments in 1981, I had purchased a facsimile
edition of the original Book of Mormon published by the Church at the Deseret Book Store. The differences
were literally LEGION and they rattled me. Gradually, I began to put together a list of questions for my local
ward leadership. Finally, when they came to “home teach” us, I presented them with the questions – which had
grown to 32 in number by then. Pathetically, they had no answers for any of them. With the exception of
question four, all are presented with the original source documentation. In there was no DNA testing but the
differences, ethnically between Jews and Native peoples were still profound. It made no sense. So here are the
questions. If you are LDS, please repent and LEAVE the Church and come to the Messiah in saving faith!
1. If the Book of Mormon is the “most correct book ever written,”1 why were there more than 3,900
changes between the first few editions, many quite significant?2 For example, the first Book of
Mormon3 references King Benjamin on p.200.4 Later on, the name is changed to Mosiah. The names are
not even remotely similar!
2. LDS Doctrine (and Scripture5) teaches that there is a plurality (more than one) God. The Book of
Mormon says there is only ONE God in several places.6
3. The Book of Mormon teaches that God is a Spirit.7 Mormon theology and scripture teaches that He is a
glorified resurrected man with a body, parts and passions.8
4. A central claim of the Book of Mormon is that Native Americans are descended from Jewish people
who came over to the New World during the time of Jeremiah the prophet and the fall of Jerusalem. But
DNA testing proves conclusively that Native Americans have none of the genetic markers for Jews.9
5. Why does the Book of Mormon (which was supposedly finished around 421 AD) quote quite extensively
from the King James Bible, which was produced in 1611 – over a thousand years later? It even quotes
verbatim the italicized words that the King James translators added to the Hebrew and Greek text for
clarity of reading. Those words were NOT in Isaiah or Matthew in 400 AD. Explain this!
6. The Book of Mormon claims a huge battle was fought on Hill Cumorah10 between the good Nephites
and the evil Lamanites – we are talking hundreds of thousands of warriors! Many of the Lamanites had
armor and swords. Since the 1830’s the LDS church has claimed that they KNEW exactly where Hill
2 See downloadable article from our website at www.withoneaccord.org on “Significant Changes in the Book of
Mormon.
3 Special Anniversary Facsimile Edition of the original 1830 Book of Mormon, published by the LDS Church in
1980.
4 There were no verse numbers in the original edition of the Book of Mormon.
5 Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 121:32; 132: 18-20, 37
6 Testimony of the Three Witnesses, 2 Nephi 31:21, 3 Nephi 11:27, Alma 11:27-39 and Mormon 7:7
7 Alma 18:26-28 and 22:8-11
8 D&C 130:22
9 See the DVD, “DNA vs. the Book of Mormon,” available at www.withoneaccord.org.
10 Mormon 6:2 and following
Cumorah was - near Palmyra in rural New York State. In spite of this, and MANY archaeological digs
by Church archaeologists, NO evidence (bones, armor, arrowheads, etc.) has ever been found around
Cumorah. In the light of other archeology in the Holy Land, where evidence of Bible truth has proved
itself, this is quite damning for the Book of Mormon.
7. The Book of Mormon, in agreement with the Bible, says that the Word of God cannot change.11
However, both LDS practice and scripture say His Word CAN change.12
8. The Book of Mormon, again agreeing with Bible, says the Almighty cannot lie.13 However, in the Pearl
of Great Price, the Mormon “god” commands lying.14
9. Adam is said to have been in America.15 But the Pearl of Great Price, another LDS “scripture,” says that
Adam was in the Old World.16
10. Mormons are taught the “Law of Eternal Progression.” This states that God changes or evolves –
succinctly put in the following aphorism: “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.”
However, the Book of Mormon contradicts this by saying God never changes.17 This is echoed is
Mormon 9:9-10 as well.18
11. Mormons are taught a system of salvation by works, not faith. Yet the Book of Mormon teaches we are
saved by faith.19
12. Mormons tend to seriously discount the power of the saving blood of Yah’shua20 (Jesus). They even
carry this to the point of using water rather than red wine or grape juice in their communion service,
because it resembles blood. One Mormon apostle, Orson Pratt, said it had no more power than the
“blood of a dead dog.” Yet the Book of Mormon teaches that we can be saved “only through the atoning
blood of Jesus Christ.”21
13. Though Mormons have a complex, three-tiered system of salvation, involving things like temple work,
endowments, wearing of the temple garment, tithing, genealogy work, etc.; yet the Book of Mormon
teaches that, “…he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”22
14. Mormons are taught that they must baptize their dead ancestors in order for their departed loved ones to
be saved. However, the Book of Mormon makes it clear that the state of the soul at death is fixed and
there is no redemption after that.23 Please explain this paradox!
15. Mormons are taught that there are three levels of heaven and that almost all people except the most
wicked will make it to one of them. But the Book of Mormon denies this, and teaches an essentially
Biblical view of heaven and hell where only those who accept the Messiah are saved.24 What’s the deal?
16. Polygamy or plural marriage is commanded as necessary for salvation in the Mormon Doctrine and
Covenants scripture.25 Yet the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy (??).26 How can this be?
12 D&C Section 56:4-5
13 Ether 3:12, 2 Nephi 9:34
14 Book of Abraham 2:22-25
15 D&C 107:53 and 117:8
16 Book of Moses 3:8, 10-15
17 3 Nephi 24:6
18 For a third witness, see Moroni 8:18
19 Mosiah 5:7
20 Yah’shua is the Hebrew way of saying “Jesus.” Of course, I did not know this in 1984, but since getting
saved and growing in the Scriptures, I have been using His Hebrew name out of respect for more than a decade.
21 Helaman 5:9
22 Mormon 9:24
23 Mosiah 2:36-39, Alma 34:32-35
24 1 Nephi 15:35; 2 Nephi 28:22; Mosiah 16:11, 27:31; Alma 41:4-8, 42:16
25 D&C 132:1, 37-39 and 61.
26 Mosiah 11:2, Jacob 1:15, 2:24 and 3:5
3
17. A central feature of the “sacred” LDS temple rite is (Masonic-like) oaths that the temple patrons must
take, before being initiated into the gnostic, occult rites of Temple Mormonism.27 However, the idea of
secret societies and oaths is condemned in the Book of Mormon.28
18. The Book of Mormon teaches that the heathen can be saved without baptism.29 Yet, elsewhere Mormons
are taught the absolute necessity for their dead ancestors to be baptized in the temple in order for them to
be saved.30
19. Any zoologist or archaeologist will tell you that there is no evidence of horses being in the New World
prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 1500’s. Yet, the Book of Mormon speaks numerous times of
horses in their supposed pre-Columbian civilization.31
20. Scimitars (misspelled “cimeters”) in the Book of Mormon are featured in several passages.32 This is
amazing, because the Book of Mormon is set from before the time of Messiah to 421 AD. The scimitar
was actually unknown until it was invented around the 9th century in the Ottoman Empire. How did this
9th century weapon from the Middle East get into the 4th century New World?
21. LDS doctrine denies that there is a Trinity of one Deity in three Persons. However, in the Book of
Mormon “Testimony of the Three Witnesses,” we are told that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are “one
God.” Both cannot be true. Please explain this?
22. Mormons deny that Yah’shua (Jesus) is God, but say He is only the Son of God. Yet the Book of
Mormon tells us that He IS God.33 Which is correct?
23. The Book of Mormon teaches that murder can be forgiven.34 Later LDS scripture (Doctrine and
Covenants) contradicts this.35 Please explain!
24. There is a serious “anatomical problem” with a sword battle in the Book of Ether (a book IN the Book of
Mormon). The hero, Coriantumr, smites off the head of the bad guy, Shiz. The verse following declares,
“And it came to pass that after he had smitten off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his on his
hands and fell; and after that he had struggled for breath, he died.” 36 Now, the question is, Shiz was
decapitated. How did he raise up on his hands and breathe his last? Also, which HALF of him breathed
his last? This is a ridiculous statement for a supposed scripture, it makes no sense.
25. Once again, Mormon leaders deny Yah’shua (Jesus) is God. They say He is only the Son of God and the
elder brother of Lucifer. Yet, why does the Book of Mormon say He IS God?37 Is the Book of Mormon
wrong, or are LDS leaders heretics?
26. In the same vein, Mosiah 13:34 says, “God Himself should come down among the children of men…”
This contradicts LDS theology. Please explain the contradiction?
27. BOTH the unity of the Trinity AND the deity of Messiah are affirmed in Mosiah 15:1-5. If it is the most
correct book ever written, why does it contradict the teachings of Joseph Smith and other LDS
leaders?
28. Since Joseph Smith and his account of his “First Vision,”38 Mormon leaders have affirmed that the
Father and the Son are two distinct personages. Yet the Book of Mormon speaks of “Christ the Lord
who is the very eternal Father.”39 How is this possible?
28 2 Nephi 9:9, 26:22; Alma 34:36 and 37:23-31; Mormon 8:27
29 2 Nephi 9:22-26, Mosiah 15:24-27 and Moroni 8:22-23
30 D&C 128:5 and 17-18
31 Alma 20:6, Ether 9:19 and elsewhere.
32 Alma 27:29, 44:8 and Enos 1:20
33 2 Nephi 11:7
34 3 Nephi 30:2
35 D&C 42:18
36 Ether 15:31
37 Mosiah 7:27
38 Joseph Smith-History 1:17-19
39 Mosiah 16:15
4
29. Mormons are taught that there is plurality of gods, and that – indeed – they can become gods!40
However, the Book of Mormon plainly tells us that there is only ONE God!41 Yet another contradiction?
30. The LDS Church mounts a huge genealogy program and encourages all members to baptize their dead.
This is based on the belief that dead people can repent and come to salvation. The Book of Mormon
contradicts this and says that this life is the time “for men to prepare to meet God.”42
31. As above, Mormons are taught that there are three separate gods in the Godhead. BUT, 3 Nephi 11:27 in
the Book of Mormon has “Jesus” quoting the gospel of John - even though John’s gospel was not
written until 50 some years after the events supposedly happening in the Book of Mormon. In any
event, “Jesus” says that He and the Father are one! Explain these two contradictions.
32. For decades, the LDS church taught that white skin was a sign of divine favor and that dark skin (either
Native Americans or Africans) was a sign of a curse from God, either for sins in this life or for sins in
the pre-existent state.43 It was further taught that if Lamanites (Native Americans) would repent and
become LDS, their skin would become white. Many hundreds of Native peoples have – unfortunately –
become Mormons over the years. Yet no one’s skin has ever turned color. Because of this quandary, a
change was made (one of THOUSANDS) in the Book of Mormon. In the older Book of Mormon
editions, its says that the Indians “shall be a white and delightsome people.”44 However, in recent
editions since the early eighties, the phrase was changed to “pure and delightsome people.” If the Book
of Mormon was correct before, why was it changed? Smith supposedly translated it with the “gift and
power of God.”45 How COULD there be errors?
40 D&C 132:20
41 Alma 11:26-32
42 Alma 34:32
43 Mormons are taught that all souls lived in a pre-existent state in heaven. Until the 1970’s, they were taught
that African people were cursed with a dark skin in this life because of a lack of valiance in the pre-existence.
Thus, for most of the Church’s history, Africans could not go to the temple or African men could not hold the
priesthood. This was changed by “revelation” in 1978 because the IRS was breathing down the Church’s neck
for being racist and violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
44 2 Nephi 30:6
45 D&C 135:3
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