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==Contents==

==Contents==

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ <ref>http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents</ref> is divided up into many sections or parts, including a [[Title Page (Book of Mormon)|Title Page]], [[Introduction (Book of Mormon)|Introduction]], [[The Testimony of Three Witnesses (Book of Mormon)|The Testimony of Three Witnesses]], [[The Testimony of Eight Witnesses (Book of Mormon)|The Testimony of Eight Witnesses]], the [[Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Book of Mormon)|Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith]], [[A Brief Explanation about The Book of Mormon]], and the following main parts or divisions commonly referred to as "books," as in "The Book of Moroni," followed by the common abbreviation in parentheses:  

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ <ref>http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents</ref> is divided up into many sections or parts, including a Title Page, Introduction, The Testimony of Three Witnesses, The Testimony of Eight Witnesses, the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, A Brief Explanation about The Book of Mormon, and the following main parts or divisions commonly referred to as "books," as in "The Book of Moroni," followed by the common abbreviation in parentheses: [[First Nephi]] (1 Ne.), Second Nephi (2 Ne.), Jacob (Jacob), Enos (Enos),  Jarom (Jarom), Omni (Omni), Words of Mormon (W of M), Mosiah (Mosiah), Alma (Alma), Helaman (Hel.), Third Nephi (3 Ne.),  Fourth Nephi (4 Ne.), Mormon (Morm.), Ether (Ether),  Moroni (Moro.).

*[[First Nephi]] (1 Ne.)

*[[Second Nephi]] (2 Ne.)

*[[Jacob (Book of Mormon)|Jacob]] (Jacob)

*[[Enos (Book of Mormon)|Enos]] (Enos)

*[[Jarom (Book of Mormon)|Jarom]] (Jarom)

*[[Omni (Book of Mormon)|Omni]] (Omni)

*[[Words of Mormon]] (W of M)

*[[Mosiah (Book of Mormon)|Mosiah]] (Mosiah)

*[[Alma (Book of Mormon)|Alma]] (Alma)

*[[Helaman (Book of Mormon)|Helaman]] (Hel.)

*[[Third Nephi]] (3 Ne.)

*[[Fourth Nephi]] (4 Ne.)

*[[Mormon (Book of Mormon)|Mormon]] (Morm.)

*[[Ether (Book of Mormon)|Ether]] (Ether)

*[[Moroni (Book of Mormon)|Moroni]] (Moro.).

The first sentence of the Introduction is quite self-explanatory: "The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel." <ref>http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/introduction</ref>

The first sentence of the Introduction is quite self-explanatory: "The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel." <ref>http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/introduction</ref>

==Other denominations==

==Other denominations==

The Book of Mormon is accepted as Scripture by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and by other Latter-day Saints denominations, the largest of which, the [[Community of Christ]] (est. 1860), publishes its own versions of the Book of Mormon with different chapter and verse divisions and one with "modernized" language. Other Christian denominations, Catholic and Protestant, reject the Book of Mormon, considering it to be neither inspired nor ancient.

The Book of Mormon is accepted as Scripture by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and by other Latter-day Saints denominations, the largest of which, the [[Community of Christ]] (est. 1860), publishes its own versions of the Book of Mormon with different chapter and verse divisions and one with "modernized" language. Other Christian denominations, Catholic and Protestant, reject the Book of Mormon, considering it to be neither inspired nor ancient.

== Polygamy ==

== Polygamy ==

How the change in doctrine to the acceptance of polygamy came about is explained by a letter written by Oliver Cowdery and dated January 21, 1838. Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, wrote the following about an conversation he had with Joseph Smith sometime in the early or mid-1830s:<blockquote>When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger’s was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself.<ref>Letter written by Oliver Cowdery and recorded by his brother Warren Cowdery; see photograph in Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "The Mormon Kingdom" (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1968), vol. 1 p. 27.</ref></blockquote>

How the change in doctrine to the acceptance of polygamy came about is explained by a letter written by Oliver Cowdery and dated January 21, 1838. Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, wrote the following about an conversation he had with Joseph Smith sometime in the early or mid-1830s:<blockquote>When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger’s was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself.<ref>Letter written by Oliver Cowdery and recorded by his brother Warren Cowdery; see photograph in Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "The Mormon Kingdom" (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1968), vol. 1 p. 27.</ref></blockquote>

Having been caught in adultery, Smith’s eventual recourse was, not to repent, but to declare that God gave him the extra wives. This explanation was formalized in a “revelation” supposedly given on July 12, 1843, by which time Smith had acquired many plural wives. He probably did not realize that, in justifying his actions by declaring a divine revelation, he was following in the footsteps of Muhammad, the great false prophet of Islam. In surah (chapter) 4, verse 3 of the Qur’an, a man is allowed to have up to four wives and no more. For Muhammad, however, this eventually became too restrictive, and so he received a new revelation that he, as a prophet (but no one else) was allowed to have as many wives as he wanted (surah 33:50). The original revelation was countermanded or “abrogated” by the later revelation. Since this revoking and replacing happened so many times with Muhammad’s prophecies, the dogma of abrogation, where Allah contradicts and replaces what he said previously, has become an important doctrine of Muslim theology.  

Having been caught in adultery, Smith’s eventual recourse was, not to repent, but to declare that God gave him the extra wives. This explanation was formalized in a “revelation” supposedly given on July 12, 1843, by which time Smith had acquired many plural wives. He probably did not realize that, in justifying his actions by declaring a divine revelation, he was following in the footsteps of Muhammad, the false prophet of Islam. In surah (chapter) 4, verse 3 of the Qur’an, a man is allowed to have up to four wives and no more. For Muhammad, however, this eventually became too restrictive, and so he received a new revelation that he, as a prophet (but no one else) was allowed to have as many wives as he wanted (surah 33:50). The original revelation was countermanded or “abrogated” by the later revelation. Since this revoking and replacing happened so many times with Muhammad’s prophecies, the dogma of abrogation, where Allah contradicts and replaces what he said previously, has become an important doctrine of Muslim theology.  

The same principle (abrogation) became operative in the LDS Church and continues to this day, so that the President of the Church, who supposedly has the authority of a prophet, seer, and revelator, can change any doctrine and the faithful are obliged to accept his authority to do so without question and without pointing out the inconsistencies with past doctrine. Thus polygamy, declared against the will of God in the Book of Mormon, became not only accepted but a virtue in the LDS church. The “revelation” that authorized the practice of polygamy among Latter-day Saints during the 19th Century is recorded in the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], section 132. John Taylor, third President of the Mormon Church, declared:<blockquote>We are not ashamed here in this great metropolis of America * * * to declare that we are polygamists. We are not ashamed to proclaim to this great nation, to rulers and people, to the president, senators, legislators, judges; to high and low, rich and poor, priests and people, that we are firm, conscientious believers in polygamy, and that it is part and parcel of our religious creed.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45303/45303-h/45303-h.htm#imgpg236jos ''The Life of John Taylor, Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints''] by B.H. Roberts (Salt Lake City, 1892), 355.</ref></blockquote> Instead of a sin against God (Book of Mormon), polygamy became an essential virtue. Brigham Young, Second President of the LDS Church, declared “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."<ref>''Journal of Discourses'' Vol. 2, p. 269.</ref> And, in the ''Millennial Star'': "The order of plurality of wives is an everlasting and ceaseless order, designed to exalt the choicest men and women to the most superlative excellence, dominion, and glory.”<ref>''Millennial Star'', Vol. 15, p. 226.</ref> Joseph Smith’s revelation about polygamy declared “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory . . .”<ref>''Doctrines and Covenants'', section 132.</ref> Sin had become a virtue, and virtue a sin.  

The same principle (abrogation) became operative in the LDS Church and continues to this day, so that the President of the Church, who supposedly has the authority of a prophet, seer, and revelator, can change any doctrine and the faithful are obliged to accept his authority to do so without question and without pointing out the inconsistencies with past doctrine. Thus polygamy, declared against the will of God in the Book of Mormon, became not only accepted but a virtue in the LDS church. The “revelation” that authorized the practice of polygamy among Latter-day Saints during the 19th Century is recorded in the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], section 132. John Taylor, third President of the Mormon Church, declared:<blockquote>We are not ashamed here in this great metropolis of America * * * to declare that we are polygamists. We are not ashamed to proclaim to this great nation, to rulers and people, to the president, senators, legislators, judges; to high and low, rich and poor, priests and people, that we are firm, conscientious believers in polygamy, and that it is part and parcel of our religious creed.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45303/45303-h/45303-h.htm#imgpg236jos ''The Life of John Taylor, Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints''] by B.H. Roberts (Salt Lake City, 1892), 355.</ref></blockquote> Instead of a sin against God (Book of Mormon), polygamy became an essential virtue. Brigham Young, Second President of the LDS Church, declared “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."<ref>''Journal of Discourses'' Vol. 2, p. 269.</ref> And, in the ''Millennial Star'': "The order of plurality of wives is an everlasting and ceaseless order, designed to exalt the choicest men and women to the most superlative excellence, dominion, and glory.”<ref>''Millennial Star'', Vol. 15, p. 226.</ref> Joseph Smith’s revelation about polygamy declared “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory . . .”<ref>''Doctrines and Covenants'', section 132.</ref> Sin had become a virtue, and virtue a sin.  

Succumbing to political pressure, however, the leadership of the LDS church eventually abrogated the “everlasting covenant” in which “if ye abide not that covenant, then ye are damned.” Polygamy reverted to its previous status as a sin: “Any who pretend or assume to engage in plural marriage in this day, when the one holding the keys has withdrawn the power by which they are performed, are guilty of gross wickedness. They are living in adultery, have already sold their souls to the devil, and (whether their acts are based on ignorance or lust or both) they will be damned in eternity.”<ref>Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 1958 ed., pp. 522–23.</ref> These reversals in doctrine show that Mormons are not expected to regard as their final authority the Book of Mormon or the Bible, but the changing doctrines of their leaders, whom they are expected to follow without question and especially without pointing out the inconsistency of Mormon doctrine over the years. As Jesus said, <blockquote>Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’ (Mark 7:6, 7, ESV).</blockquote>

Succumbing to political pressure, however, the leadership of the LDS church eventually abrogated the “everlasting covenant” in which “if ye abide not that covenant, then ye are damned.” Polygamy reverted to its previous status as a sin: “Any who pretend or assume to engage in plural marriage in this day, when the one holding the keys has withdrawn the power by which they are performed, are guilty of gross wickedness. They are living in adultery, have already sold their souls to the devil, and (whether their acts are based on ignorance or lust or both) they will be damned in eternity.”<ref>Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 1958 ed., pp. 522–23.</ref> These reversals in doctrine show that Mormons are not expected to regard as their final authority the Book of Mormon or the Bible, but the changing doctrines of their leaders, whom they are expected to follow without question and especially without pointing out the inconsistency of Mormon doctrine over the years. As Jesus said, <blockquote>Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’ (Mark 7:6, 7, ESV).</blockquote>

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==