This post is essentially a continuation of an earlier message that I had posted on my blog nearly three months ago dealing with the same topic by the same folks, which can be seen here; so I am going to be brief; because much of what I need to say here was already said there.
In the above video hosted by the Thoughtful Faith channel, Hayden Carroll is responding to an Evangelical Christian apologist by the name of Frank Turek who, typically, is opposed Mormonism, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and in response to it, Hayden Carroll focuses again on Sola Scriptura; and on the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture—which is totally irrelevant to the discussion; because as mentioned earlier, LDS theology and doctrine is very much Sola Scriptura; and adheres fully to the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture. The only difference is that Latter-day Saints have a lot more scripture than traditional Christianity does. We have the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, in addition to the Bible in our canon of scripture. But strictly speaking, the theology and doctrine of the LDS Church is 💯derived from that scriptural canon—i.e. it is Sola Scriptura; and adheres 💯to the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture—for the reasons explained in the above mentioned post.
In the above video, Frank Turek demonstrates a far better understanding of the Bible than Hayden Carroll does. He quotes John 10:35: “… and the scripture cannot be broken” as biblical proof-text for the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture; which of course is absolutely correct, and supportive of the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture—and which Hayden Carroll rejects. And of course, there are lots of other Bible verses that support the infallibility and the inerrancy of scripture, such as the following:
Matthew 4:
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 5:
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 22:
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Matthew 24:
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
John 5:
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
• • •
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John 17:
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
1 Thessalonians 2:
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
2 Timothy 3:
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 1:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 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.
Psalm 119:
89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
Proverbs 30:
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Isaiah 40:
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
But the strongest biblical proof-text for the inerrancy and infallibility of scripture is probably John 10:35, as Frank Turek has pointed out. Here it is once again, quoted in context:
John 10:
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
That is as strong an affirmation of the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture as there can be—expressed by none other than Jesus Christ himself. Thus to summarize, Frank Turek is absolutely correct in his affirmation of the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture; and LDS theology and doctrine is also 💯Sola Scriptura, and adheres 💯to the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture—the only difference being that Latter-day Saints have a lot more scripture than traditional Christianity does.
Frank Turek is definitely incorrect in his rejection of the restoration of the gospel, and in his rejection of modern LDS scripture. The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price are the word of God, they are scripture—every bit as much as the Bible is—and therefore equally infallible and inerrant. But the best way to refute his accusations is not to focus on Sola Scriptura, or on the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture—which both sides equally affirm.
These folks don’t know how to defend LDS theology and doctrine against the critics. They think they are defending and supporting it, when in fact they are discrediting and denigrating it. It is embarrassing. LDS Church has no objection whatsoever to Sola Scriptura, nor to the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture. We just have a lot more scripture than Frank Turek and his ilk claim to have. What sets the LDS Church apart from traditional Christianity is belief in the restoration of the gospel in the last days, by revelation and ministration of angels, including modern day prophets and Apostles, and restoration of priesthood authority and keys, and new scripture added to the canon. What differentiates them is not Sola Scriptura, nor belief in the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture.
