Little wonder that mormons accept the book of mormon based on a burning in the bosom rather than on history and evidence. A burning bosom is an essential part of personal revelation. Maybe you dont think it is necessary because you know the church is true. This matches the revelatory pattern later explained to oliver cowdery when he attempted to participate in the translation process of the book of mormon. Part 15 mormonisms false escape clause burning in bosom.
Should a testimony of the book of mormon always come with a. Mormon missionaries often claim that one can know that the book of mormon is true by praying about the book of mormon and feeling an inner experience, sometimes described as a burning in the bosom, which they claim is the testimony of the holy spirit. Is the testimony of the holy spirit burning in the bosom in the bible. Mormanity a blog for those interested in the church of. Mormons and the burning in the bosom revised july 21, 2010 mormons will point to their experience of the burning in the bosom. Its also used in the new testament, describing the time when the resurrected jesus walked along the road. He said he would try the faith of the people and if they were willing to accept the lesser things i. To understand the draw of mormonism, evangelicals should read the works of latterday saints who explain why they love their religion. Mormon prescribed pepcid ac for severe burning in bosom. As they approached the village to which they were going, jesus acted as if he were going farther. Lds believers will argue that if you do get a burning in the bosom or a special feeling when reading the book of mormon, that this feeling would confirm that the book of mormon is true.
I know that joseph smith was a prophet of god, that the book of mormon is what it says that it is, that there is a living prophet on the earth today, and that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is gods one true church. An examination of the lds claims to receiving a burning in their bosom, as a testimony that the book of mormon and the lds church are true. Posted in burning in the bosom, mormon dilemmas, tagged bible, book of mormon, burning in the bosom, doctrine and covenants, false doctrines, heart is evil, jesus, mormonism, salvation, trusting in your heart on 10082011 4 comments. But what if you felt no burning on your chest after youve prayed about the book of. Adapted from hank hanegraaff, the bible answer book nashville. How do you know that your burning in the bosom regarding the book of mormon or lds church in general isnt one of the latter two.
Based on the examples above, that feeling can be friendship, truth, virtue, desire, love, grief, loyalty, patriotism, spiritual need, or anger. It does say that the holy ghost will reveal it to you. Small and simple spiritual impressions usually come through sincerely reading and pondering the book of mormon. Oaks said that a burning bosom signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. I love mormons friendly debates about the mormon faith. Your bosom is your innermost self, so a burning in your bosom is something you feel deep inside.
Joseph smith taught that some revelations are of god, some are of satan, and others happen when a person really really wants something to happen. I had not read the bofm before, so i figured i should do this before going and testing the promise. I suggest you compare what mormonism teaches to the bible. Yet that is not how the witnesses to the translation described it. Perhaps the feeling described most often when discussing a testimony is a burning in the bosom. First off crown, it does not say anything in the book of mormon about burning in the bosom. Burning in the bosom and translating the book of mormon in doctrine and. Is the burning in the bosom that mormons use to discern. So getting a positive test for the book of mormon is not a legitimate test for the entire religion of mormonism.
The mormon testimony mormons claim that a personal feeling, a burning in the bosom, which is interpreted to be a manifestation of the holy ghost, is. The burning in the bosom in mormonism as a method of determining truth. Their testimony of the holy spirit and burning in the bosom is from the devil and deceitful. Top 10 teachings of mormonism not supported by the book of. The book of mormon is set in north america in the first century. Should a testimony of the book of mormon always come with. To pray about something like the book of mormon the lds bible or bowing before a mary statue can allow the devil to give you an experience that will deceive you. Maybe youve read the book of mormon and felt a burning in your bosom. Burning in the bosom and translating the book of mormon in doctrine and covenants 9. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship 18. Of course, this method of translation is as occultic as it gets. A confirmation of the book of mormon does not just come with a fuzzy feeling it also comes with truly knowing.
A burning in the bosom after praying about the book of mormon is not the testimony of the holy spirit, as the lds people like to say think. Well, were letting the book speak for itself and here it is showing joseph smith lying to the people once again. Criticism of mormonismvideosearch for the truth dvd. The experience of an internal feeling that mormons often describe as a burning convinces them that the book of mormon is the word of god, that joseph smith was a prophet of god, and that the lds church is the true church of god today. Following some discussion, i asked, if evidence shows the book of mormon false and your prayers say it is true, which one will you follow. Burning in chest do not pray about the book of mormon evidence. And beginning with moses and all the prophets, he jesus explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself. Citing a passage in the book of mormon itself, mormons promise that you can have the same inner assurance they call it the burning in the bosom if you simply pray to god about it. Maybe you know for a fact you cannot be swayed because of your testimony to the truth of mormonism, the book of mormon, and joseph smith. After reading the book, mostly, i said an earnest prayer and waited. The way to zero in on what the scriptures are actually teaching is to compare scripture with scripture, honoring all three areas of context. But what if you felt no burning on your chest after youve prayed about the book of mormon. Before i get flamed i would like to point out three of the more glaring anachronistic errors. As you know not everyone is open to the common burning in the bosom.
The best advice for when you dont get a burning in the. Elevation emotion is a result of the hormone oxytocin being released from the brain creating feelings in your chest of joy, warmth and peace. They believe god will give confirmation of its truthfulness by a burning in the bosom. Mormons tell you to pray to know the book of mormon is true. One of the foundations of mormonism is its insistence that a person seek the truth by praying for a private, special revelation from the holy spirit. James writes, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of god, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him jas. Mormon missionaries argue that this passage supports the notion that prospective converts should pray for direct. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god and not by man david whitmer, an address to all believers in christ concord, ca.
There was no greek or latin upon the plates from which i, through the grace of god, translated the book of mormon let the language of that book speak for itself. Book of mormon greek and latin word chart life after. Regardless of what the bible says, the mormon church says that the burning bosom is the correct way of receiving and knowing the truth, or even the only way. When you read the book of mormon is the burning in the bosom you feel the holy ghost or is it, what psychologists define as elevation emotion. Again, if its the most correct of any book on earth, why didnt god make this teaching more clear to the ancient americans and everyone who is encouraged to read the book of mormon to gain a burning in the bosom.
Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faith. This is very important to remember and to tell others about. For years many of us have read about the burning in the bosom in doctrine and covenants 9. The book of mormon is silent on the teaching that marriage is a requirement for a person to gain celestial glory. Mormons and the burning in the bosom revised restore. Someone wrote in to comment about another article i wrote called mormon lifestyles. Burning in the bosom this article came about because of an email i received last month november 2008. Early christians experienced similar feelings to a burning in the bosom. The burning in the bosom test is a deception because the book of mormon does not even teach most of the unique, unbiblical doctrines of mormonism.
Praying about the book of mormon book of mormon research. If a mormon was asked this question the standard answer is for you to pray over the book of mormon to see if it is true. Rather, it shows us the importance of going back to the scriptures as the. Long ago in a galaxy far, far away, at least it seems from here, i was called to go on a mission. What if i am asked to pray about the book of mormon.
Why you shouldnt ask god if the book of mormon is true. The shepard of hermas, which was once considered scripture, reads there are two angels with a manone of righteousness, and the other of iniquity. When i read the book of mormon a number of years ago there were some beautiful passages i read about jesus. The person who wrote in kept telling me they feel that my. Burning in the bosom is a feeling of peace and assurance, supposedly given by the holy ghost, to confirm the truthfulness of the book of mormon. In the end, its also the evidence itself, and the nature of the evidence, that requires it. Though the principle of studying something out in ones mind and seeking confirmation through the burning of the bosom or a stupor of thought was given to oliver cowdery to use in translating the book of mormon, this process of receiving revelation can be of value to all saints. I felt a burning in my bosom when i read the book of mormon.
What they receive is sometimes called a burning in the bosom as a confirmation of truth. In other words, there is something wrong with me, not the book of mormon. Consequently, this passage in luke in no way supports the idea that we should pray and seek a burning in our bosom that confirms the truthfulness of the book of mormon. The mormon idea that a burning in the bosom can provide spiritual confirmation of something actually comes from doctrine and covenants 9. The experience of an internal feeling that mormons often describe as a burning convinces them that the book of mormon is the word of god.
Burning in the bosom truth in love ministry witnessing. A burning in the bosom from such would not be the testimony of the holy spirit, as the latter day saint people like to saythink. I know that the burning in the bosom is real because i have experienced it. Justin martyr wrote in his book dialogue with trypho, of his conversion that he was. Burning in the bosom and translating the book of mormon in doctrine and covenants 9 spencer, stan. Join her as she scrapbooks, does her visiting teaching, and mothers her brood of six boys, brayden, jayden, hayden, kayden, payden, and trayden. The book of mormon department of christian defense. How did the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
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