I noticed the above video from Kelly Powers, in which he again engages in his favourite activity of Mormon bashing and anti-Mormonism! His comments contain too many inconsistencies, which would be a bit tedious to discuss in detail; so I will confine it to a few main highlights. In this video he again focuses on the LDS doctrine of the Melchizedek Priesthood, claiming that it is not biblical (which I had previously discussed in an earlier blog post here; therefore it is not necessary to discuss it in detail again in this post). His main argument is that the LDS doctrine of the priesthood is not taught in the Bible—which is not a reasonable argument. It may not be directly taught in the Bible; but it does not contradict what is in the Bible either; that is the main point. The LDS doctrine of the origin of the Melchizedek Priesthood is taught in the following passage of LDS scripture:
Doctrine and Covenants 84:
6 And the sons of Moses, according to the Holy [Melchizedek] Priesthood which he [Moses] received under the hand of his father-in-law, Jethro;
7 And Jethro received it under the hand of Caleb;
8 And Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu;
9 And Elihu under the hand of Jeremy;
10 And Jeremy under the hand of Gad;
11 And Gad under the hand of Esaias;
12 And Esaias received it under the hand of God.
13 Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham, and was blessed of him—
14 Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah;
15 And from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers;
16 And from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother; who received the [Melchizedek] priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man—
17 Which [Melchizedek] priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.
18 And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the [Melchizedek] priesthood, which is after the holiest order of God.
19 And this greater [Melchizedek] priesthood administereth the gospel, and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the [Melchizedek] priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this [higher priesthood], no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy [Melchizedek] Priesthood also;
26 And the lesser [Aaronic] priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
That is what the Lord has revealed in modern LDS scripture about the role of the Priesthood—in both ancient biblical times, well as in modern times—and there is no contradiction between that and what is taught in the Bible. It simply tells us more about it. More information is not the same as “contradiction”. Kelly Powers likes to portray that as some kind of “contradiction”, which of course it is not.
He has also pointed out to verse 22 above: “For without this [higher priesthood], no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live”; arguing that it contradicts the Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision, where God the Father and the Son appeared to young Joseph in a vision in the grove, in response to his prayers, before he had received the priesthood. That is not a valid argument either. That scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 84:22, refers to seeing God in an ecclesiastical capacity, as a church officer, administering officially in the affairs of the church. Joseph Smith was an exception to that rule. He was not acting in an official capacity, as a church officer, when he went to the woods to inquire of the Lord to know which church was right, and which one to join. He was a young, 14 year old farm boy, wanting to know for himself which church was true. Kelly has also quoted the following verses:
Galatians 1:
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Arguing that the LDS Church is, or teaches “another gospel”! Not correct. The LDS Church teaches the true gospel, the same that was taught by Paul. It is his perverse Evangelical heresy that is “another gospel”. The following verses from modern LDS scripture will give him something more to think about:
Doctrine and Covenants 68:
8 Go ye into all the world, preach the [restored] gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
9 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:
74 Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am.
75 And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it.
Doctrine and Covenants 112:
28 But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my [restored] gospel unto every creature who has not received it;
29 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
30 For unto you, the Twelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times,
Doctrine and Covenants 1:
2 For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.
3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.
4 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.
5 And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.
6 Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth.
Someday he will learn and know for himself that Mormonism is true, Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and he established by revelation God’s true Church. He can know that truth now, be converted, and be saved; or wait until judgement day, be informed, and condemned. The choice is his.
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