And Because That I Have Spoken One Word Ye Need Not Suppose That I Cannot Speak Another

Alan C. Miner

Nephi quotes the Lord as saying to those in the last days:

And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written."

It is interesting how some people can hold so tightly to perceived teachings received anciently by revelation to the Lord's servants, and yet deny the possibility of that same revelatory process to men in the Latter-days. Although it is not the intention of this commentary to "go on the negative" and personally attack or disparage other peoples ideas, yet because of the Lord's words of warning here in 2 Nephi concerning the reasoning of men in the latter-days, I will relate the following story by Fred Collier:

I used to go to the state fair and when I went, I would always visit the anti-Mormon exhibits. On one occasion I got talking to a Baptist who was attending Bible school in preparation for the ministry. When he started talking about Salvation by Grace, insisting as they generally do, that works are not a necessary factor in the Plan of Salvation, I asked him--inasmuch as the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have confessed Jesus--why is it that you would deny them Salvation?

His answer was that "Mormons do not believe in the right theological Jesus--they are polytheists and no polytheist can be saved!" In other words Mormons have an extra task put upon them--all the other "Christians" can believe in any one of a thousand different and contradictory doctrines, but they are all saved in a pile regardless--but the Mormons must believe in true theology or they will be damned--in other words, only Mormons must have works!

In the process of our discussion I asked him whether or not he thought the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be heirs of Salvation and he answered that they would. I then began to point out to him, that in keeping with the archaeological and historical discoveries of this century, most "Christian" scholars have now come to the conclusion that the Patriarchs were Polytheists--even the Bible bears witness of it--and it is now regarded as a fact--and no honest scholar will deny it!

Much to my surprise, the gentleman to whom I was speaking acknowledged the truth of what I had said . . . "Well then," I asked, "how can you consistently deny Salvation to the Mormons on the grounds that they are Polytheists, and still believe that the Patriarchs will receive Salvation, even though by your own admission, they also were polytheists?"

"Well," he said, rather chagrined, "because today we have the Bible, but the Patriarchs did not!"

This is an incredible revelation! The Bible tells us that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob received personal visitations from God . . . they knew God personally, for they had seen Him face to face. What is incredible is that the "Christians" . . . believe that they are more favored than the Patriarchs because they have the book that tells the story. After all, with a Bible in your hand, who needs God or revelation!

It would seem that the "Christians" have converted to a new form of "Idolatry"--"Bible-worship," as they call it! They have virtually replaced God with the Bible--a god composed of wood pulp and ink--covered with black cowhide leather, and pages that are lined with Gold--set high upon the podium before the people, where all can both see and worship! How truly did the Book of Mormon prophesy of them--"A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible"! (2 Nephi 29:3, 6) (Fred C. Collier, "Doctrine of the Priesthood: New Light on the Ancient Hebrew/Christian Doctrine on Deity," Part 1., pp. 13-15)

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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