First off, I believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same church that was organized by Christ as described in the New Testament.  It's restoration prior to Christ return was promised by Peter as he wrote, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."  (Acts 3:19-21)

You mentioned "the Mormon Bible". Let me just correct your phrasing here. The Book of Mormon does not replace the Bible at all.  It compliments the Bible in stating that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  In fact, its official name is "The Book of Mormon, Another testament of Jesus Christ".

We use the Bible consistently in our scriptural study and to validate the restoration of the Lord's doctrines, organization, authority and ordinances such as baptism and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.  There is nothing about our faith contradictory to these sacred writings.  I do believe, as the Bible teaches, that "...no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."   (2 Peter 1:20 - 21)

There are some simple facts that must be acknowledged.  One is that that the Bible itself mentions some writings of prophets that are missing.  Another is that, the Bible has been translated from the original language 16 or more times.  When translation takes place, the words are converted to thoughts and ideas and than are then produced in the new language.  There is no way that the translator's interpretation could not enter into the equation unless that translator was "moved by the Holy Ghost".  History tells us that these translators were not, nor did they claim to be, prophets or recipients of any particular divine revelation.  It is without a doubt that their personal interpretations influenced the meanings of the scriptures and that there are possible misunderstandings.  This is possibly why there are over 1000 different Christian denominations all teaching their own version of Christianity and all using the same Bible.  This merely emphasizes the need for divine guidance in our time, the need for prophets, divine revelation, the Holy Ghost and answers to our own personal prayers.  James wrote,  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  (James 1:5)

The prophet, Jacob, gave a prophetic blessing in the Bible to his son Joseph saying, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall....  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren".  (Genesis 49:22-26)  This migration to the "utmost bound of the everlasting hills" of a branch of Joseph was predicted to be recorded by Ezekiel as he wrote, "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:  And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."   (Ezekiel 37:16-17)

A Prophet named Lehi, who was a  contemporary with the Prophet Jeremiah, was commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem to the land of "everlasting hills" (Rockies, Guadalupe's, Andes).  They kept the record predicted by Ezekiel.  It is the Book of Mormon. The Bible is the record of the Jews mentioned by Ezekiel.

Christ, in the Bible, talks of other followers whom he was going to visit when he said, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."  (John 10:16)  These other followers were that branch of Joseph's descendants as the Book of Mormon (the "Stick of Joseph") includes the account of the resurrected Jesus Christ appearing to them.  (See 3 Nephi 11)

Why the Bible does not mention the Book of Mormon is a question we are often asked.  The truth is that there is a reference to these people and their record, but we must keep in mind that they left Jerusalem and any scriptural reference in the Bible of these people would not, of course, be included in the record kept by those in and around Jerusalem, because they departed that area of the world.

I sincerely hope this helps you understand our position.

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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