Fullness Of The Gospel?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints claims to be the only church on earth to contain the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Other churches are said to have a portion of truth but to be lacking in it’s fullness. In an Ensign article Boyd K. Packer explained the Church’s position on this issue by comparing the gospel preached by non-Mormons to using a single key on a piano while the LDS Church is said to have the ability to play a symphony.

“The gospel might be likened to the keyboard of a piano—a full keyboard with a selection of keys on which one who is trained can play a variety without limits; a ballad to express love, a march to rally, a melody to soothe, and a hymn to inspire; an endless variety to suit every mood and satisfy every need. How shortsighted it is, then, to choose a single key and endlessly tap out the monotony of a single note, or even two or three notes, when the full keyboard of limitless harmony can be played. How disappointing when the fullness of the gospel, the whole keyboard, is here upon the earth, that many churches tap on a single key. The note they stress may be essential to a complete harmony of religious experience, but it is, nonetheless, not all there is. It isn’t the fullness.” Boyd K. Packer, “The Only True and Living Church,” Ensign, Dec 1971, 40

There are many doctrines unique to the LDS Faith - modern temple worship, sealings, eternal families and potential for godhood to name just a few. Being the only church to hold these beliefs and believing they are central to God’s plan for mankind, it is easy to see why Mormons lay claim to the gospel’s fullness. For example, Christians believe marriage is for this life only and does not exist in heaven. A believing Mormon may look at this as an incomplete belief as they believe one can be married “for time and all eternity” in the Temple. Thus making the marriage covenant carry on into Heaven.

While I understand the Mormon position, I find there are many problems with their claim. For starters it is contradicted by their own scriptures. The introduction to The Book of Mormon says it ”contains, as does The Bible, the fullness of the everlasting Gospel.” By their own admission The Bible contains the fullness of the gospel yet neither it nor The Book of Mormon contain any of the unique doctrines of the Mormon Church. Virtually every single unique Mormon doctrine was introduced by Joseph Smith years after he published The Book of Mormon. This provokes some puzzling questions and problems for the LDS Church. If The Bible and The Book of Mormon contain the fullness of the gospel why are none of the unique Mormon doctrines contained in them? Are these doctrines not part of the gospel’s fullness? If so why do we need them and what is it that all other churches are missing which leave them lacking in fullness? Lastly, if I can lay hold to the gospel’s fullness from The Bible alone why do I even need the Mormon Church and why do they preach one must accept their gospel either in this life or vicariously in the spirit world to enter the Celestial Kingdom/Heaven?

While I disagree with many LDS doctrines, we do agree upon one thing… The Bible contains the fullness of the good news (Gospel) of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us..

Jesus Christ is the one and only True God, our Savior. He died for our sins, was resurrected on the third day and has ascended to His throne in Heaven. He alone has provided reconciliation with God. Once we accept Him as our Savior and enter into a relationship with Him we can approach the throne of grace with confidence realizing our salvation is assured.

We don’t need a man-made church to get to Heaven. We have our way… Jesus Christ alone. All praise be to Him.

Darrell

Tags: Christian, Christianity, Fullness of the Gospel, LDS, Mormon, Mormonism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

This entry was posted by Darrell on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 at 8:37 pm and is filed under Mormonism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Darrell

Comments

http://www.musingsonmormonism.blogspot.com gloria

The fullness of the good news or gospel lies in Jesus. He is the new & everlasting covenant. Not temple marriage. I agree whole heartedly with you, darrell. He is all we need.

Praising Him!

gloria
http://geochristian.wordpress.com/ Kevin N

When I look at Mormonism, there is no “burning in the bosom” that would make me consider it, but there is an awfully strong burning in my brain that tells me that it simply isn’t true. I’ll stick with Biblical Christianity and continue to reject Mormonism for the following reasons:
–The Jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible
–The God of Mormonism is not the God of the Bible
–There is no 1st century evidence for Mormon practices such as temple worship
–There was no great apostasy. The church has always needed reformation, but has never needed restoration
–There is no evidence whatsoever that the events described in the Book of Mormon actually occurred. The Christian Scriptures (OT and NT) on the other hand, are firmly grounded in history
–I like wine and beer (I just thought I’d throw that one in)

So… I’ll give a hearty “Amen” to the fullness of the gospel being found in the Bible.
http://geochristian.wordpress.com/ Kevin N

It doesn’t help to be able to play a masterpiece on the piano if you are playing the wrong song.
http://geochristian.wordpress.com/ Kevin N

I wish to refine my wording a little bit: I’ll give a hearty “Amen” to the fullness of the gospel being found in Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Bible.
jm

Darrell,

Great Gospel. I feel this is the mormon’s biggest stumbling block. They can’t see that the prophet’s of the the old testament along with the laws, comandment’s (which were to make us better people) and prophesy’s were to point to the coming of Jesus. And the new testament points to the saving Grace that come’s through Jesus Christ alone. Now thats the FULLNESS of the Gospel.

God Bless jm
Cindy

Remarkably well-stated…thanks!
Joshua

Every church on the earth today contains truths; some more than others, but none the less, they all are correct in something. However, without the perspectives provided by the Book of Mormon, many of the truths in the Bible are difficult to find. Just as the Old Testament and the New Testament contain different parts of a whole truth, the Book of Mormon (Another Testament) contains more truths. This doesn’t mean that the Bible doesn’t contain the fullness of the gospel, but without the Book of Mormon, the fullness can not be understood. They must be used together for the whole truth. Another issue is that the Bible is translated by scholars. This means there are flaws. There are limited understandings by the monks who translated it while the Book of Mormon was translated by direct revelation and assistance from God the Father. Therefore, it is completely accurate. If the Bible was completely accurate, then more of the truths revealed in the Book of Mormon would be visible there also. Another thing is that Joseph Smith did not suddenly make up the unique doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the interpretations of the scriptures which prove those doctrines were revealed to him when the time is right. The LDS church believes nothing that can not be proven with scripture. Certainly people interpret scriptures differently, and this is how false doctrines come about, but the Holy Spirit will reveal the correct interpretations if we desire and ask of God for the answers we need.
Darrell

Joshua,

If the Book of Mormon is so needed to understand the Bible and if it restored and clarified truth that is missing or not understood from the Bible, why isn’t the bulk of Mormonism contained in the Book of Mormon? 99% of doctrines that are unique to Mormonism are NO-WHERE to be found in the BOM. In fact, the Book of Mormon, in and of itself, could be said to be a rather orthodox book. For example, it teaches there is ONE and ONE God alone who has always been God, it does not teach the heretical view that God was once a man, nor does it teach the heresy of Eternal Progression. While it is a book of fiction, it could easily be seen as a book of fiction whose teachings are very consistent with orthodox theology. Mormonism only goes astray with its extra-biblical and extra-Book of Mormon teachings.

Help me to understand where you are coming from. Exactly what teachings do you believe the Book of Mormon clarifies or brings to the table that are absent from the Bible as interpreted in light of “the faith once for all delivered to the Saints?”
Varanflorin

good job standing up for the truth!!!
Mmcguire52

I am not a Mormon, but I am a Book of Mormon believer. Apparently you don’t know what the Book of Mormon is about.
1. The Jesus in the Book of Mormon is the same Jesus as crucified by the Jews in Jerusalem.
2. Their is only one God. He is omnipotent.
3. Their was an Apostacy as spoken of by Charles Wesley, Roger Williams and others. In the Dark Ages the churh went into the Apostacy. Then the Church went into a reformation period. During those days the preisthood authority was taken from the earth. Joseph Smith received the plates and later the preisthood authority was restored to the earth.
We do not qaccept the Doctrin &Covenants or any temple ordinances. The temple will be built in the new Jerusalem. The Choice Seer will convince the Seed of Joseph of the truth of the words they will receive when He comes in the last days. He will come in great power and authority likened unto Moses.
Therefore what I say is true ask of God of the truthfulness of my words and he will reveal it unto you.
t.eggleston09

Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Gospel.
Mmcguire52

True the fulness of the Gospel is through the acceptance of Jesus christ into your life, for he died for our sins tht we may have redemption for our sins and be saved. Through his word in the Gospels we shall find the fulness The Book Of Mormon has the fulness of mthe Gospel in it the Bible has many mplain and precious things removed from the books. That is the reason for the Book Of Mormon to make plain of that which was removed from the books. We are to repent and be baptized, and follow his commandments which he gave unto us to follow.

Tough Questions Answered

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