Beliefs > Question & Answer > Modern Day Revelation

Question

Perfection, Bible translated correctly, Angel?

Response

In answer to your questions, let me try and clarify. I am sorry that you are uncomfortable with our belief that we can grow ever closer to our Father in Heaven until we finally become like him, but I am not uncomfortable restating our belief in just those words. Here are two quotations that state that other great men where deemed perfect by God. The first place that we read that is in Genesis chapter 6 verse 9, which says, "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." In Job, chapter 1 verse 1 you will notice the following, "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and eschewed evil." And followed by verse 8 of that same chapter, "… hast though considered by servant Job that there is none like him and he is a perfect and upright man…" One of my favorite scriptures on this subject is found in Matthew chapter 5 verse 48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect." In fact, Meredith, if you will also see Luke chapter 6 verse 40, John chapter 17 verse 23, 2nd Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11, Colossians chapter 4 verse 12, I Peter chapter 5, verse 10, and I John chapter 3 verse 2, all of these verses indicate that we can become perfect and become like he is. You will note that I John chapter 3 verse 2 specifically says that "… and it doth not yet appear what we shall be what, but we know when he shall appear, we shall be like him, or we shall see him as he is." We have this promise that if we live lives free of sin, repent of all transgressions, live Christ-centered lives, and have charity towards all men, that in the end we can be perfected. I suspect that most of us will not obtain such perfection in our lifetime, in spite of the Lord’s and his apostles’ lovely invitations to us, but in striving to do so, over our lifetimes, we surely do come ever closer to that possibility. Your second question deals with our belief that the bible is the word of God as long as it is translated correctly. Please do not be offended by that, because as one looks at the variances over the centuries in the various translated versions of the Bible, there are in fact differences. The Bible when it was originally compiled at 900 AD, was written in Greek. Following that came a translation in Latin. In the 1500’s came the King James Version. In present day, we have the New World edition of the Bible. While all of these versions contain similar messages, there are some differences in translation. We simply state therefore, that if there are any of these translations that do not agree with that which was said originally by the Lord himself or his apostles, that there has been a few plain and precious things omitted from the scriptures. Your third concern is my comment that if the Bible differed from the LDS religion, then I would have to go with the LDS doctrine. Here is why. In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John in chapter 14 verse 6, said, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell within the earth…" As we all know, the book of Revelations contains John’s prophecies of the latter days of the earth, and as we can see from his own words, he saw that in the last days an angel would come down from Heaven, and would present to us the everlasting gospel. This gospel would be preached to those who dwell on the earth. If the Bible in itself has the entire "everlasting gospel," what should we think about this particular prophecy? It is our belief that the angel spoken of is that same angel who directed the Prophet Joseph Smith to the plates of gold from which he was given the ability to translate the Book of Mormon, and that in the Book of Mormon is all of the everlasting gospel; the fullness of everything that God wants his people to know in these days. It is no more inconsistent to think that God would bless the people on the earth in these days with such information than was to realize that in the days of Moses, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, (just to name a few,) they were given that portion of the gospel which they needed for that time. Then, later came John the Baptist, the Savior himself, and his apostles who gave us more of the gospel. The bringing forth of the Book of Mormon is in fact consistent with the way that God has dealt with his people through the ages. It is vital that in these days we have the benefit of the additional insights and wisdom of the Book of Mormon, which, when coupled with the great teachings of the Bible, testify of all the truths that Jesus has taught and clarifies some things that are not clear in the Bible. You must realize that I do not take the word of a prophet over the word of Jesus. The words of Jesus to all of the prophets are what we believe. Just as you do. The words of the Lord throughout all of the ages to the prophets of all the ages were still his words, even though verbalized to us by the prophets and the apostles. It is true that the Book of Mormon is the word of God to us through those prophets, and I invite you to read it. If you do so with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is both my belief and my knowledge that by the power of the Holy Ghost you may come to know the truth of all of these things. Sincerely, Donny Osmond See related multimedia presentations

Search Again                           
   

Member Log In Email: Password: Password Reminder Not yet a member of Donny.com? It's easy, and it's free! Register for your free account now!