We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon. The sermon at the temple and the sermon on the mount, by john w. The sermon on the mount as contained in both the bible and the book of mormon is the lords blueprint for perfection. Sam oneal is the coauthor of bible stories you may have forgotten and the bible answer book. Feb 28, 2019 the definitive lds work on the sermon at the temple and its relationship to covenant making people, including temple covenants, is john w. The sermon on the mount and third nephi religious studies center. The jst, like the book of mormon, makes it clear that the message now known as the sermon on the mount was directed to the. Some have argued that the similarities between the sermon on the mount in the new testament and the sermon at the temple in. Both the king james version of the bible and the book of mormon have an account of christ visiting people and providing instruction.
The sermon on the mount one of the most beautiful sections of the gospels is the sermon delivered by jesus on a mountain beside the city of capernaum. It is easy to see this threechapter sermon as an undigested lump sitting there like a doctrinal island with no connection to the teachings that follow. The book of mormon includes mistranslated biblical passages that were later changed in joseph smiths translation of the bible. Oct 06, 2016 during christs visit to the peoples of the book of mormon, he presented teachings to them that closely resemble what he taught in the sermon on the mount, as recorded in the gospel of matthew matthew 57. The book of mormon and the problem of the sermon on the mount sidney b. The parallel texts reveal differences that are primarily specific to the sermon recorded in the book of mormon. The book of mormon agrees with the textus receptus not the original text and includes the later phrase by them of old time. The book of mormon shows just how important the sermon on the mount is.
In the book of mormon, christ visits the inhabitants of what we now know as the americas. Oct 08, 20 here i will begin the first of an expected threepart article examining what the book of mormon actually does with the sermon on the mount. Why did jesus deliver a version of the sermon on the mount at the. The king james bible and the book of mormon its obvious even to the casual reader that the book of mormon, in its original 1830 translation, is written in the language of the king james version bible hereafter kjv. Differences between 3rd nephi and the sermon on the mount ever since the publication of the book of mormon, one of the standard criticisms raised by those seeking to discredit the book has been the assertion that it plagiarizes the king james version of the bible, and the chief instance of alleged plagiarism is the sermon on the mount. During christs visit to the peoples of the book of mormon, he presented teachings to them that closely resemble what he taught in the sermon on the mount, as recorded in the gospel of matthew matthew 57. During that appearance, jesus repeated a sermon that he gave during his mortal life, the sermon which has come to be known as the sermon on the mount, which. The heavy use of the bible in the book of mormon raises some difficult questions about the authenticity of the book of mormon as a translation of ancient historical documents.
In new testament palestine, jesus gave the sermon on a mount. At heart it means to be entirely practical, as the science of the name would indicate. The sermon on the mount is recorded in chapters 57 in the book of matthew. The book of mormon is a book that claims to tell the history of 3 groups of people from ancient america, two groups, the nephites and the lamanites, that came from the city of jerusalem around 600bc before the babylonians destroyed the city. It is the lengthiest quote of the saviors words given in the entire bible and covers chapters 57 of matthew. These book of mormon verses should match the inspired jst version instead of the incorrect kjv version that joseph later fixed. Welch, offers, for the first time, a thorough latterday saint interpretation of jesus famous sermon. Also, the book of mormon account does not contain the references to selfmutilation found in matthew 5. Welchs use of the terms illuminating in 1998 and light in 2009 are not coincidental.
Jesus teaches his followers essential christian traits, such as kindness, forgiveness, and love. The sermon at the temple and the sermon on the mount neal a. The sermon of the mount is one of the great and precious things that was mutilated from the record of the jew by the great and abominable church of the devil or those who translated it without proper authority. Mark twain quipped that the book of mormon contains passages smouched from the new testament and no credit given. Elder hollands insights on how the book of mormon can deepen.
For example, in 3 nephi 1214, the book of mormon presents jesus preaching the sermon on the mount, no more than about a year after his resurrection, nearly verbatim as. Welchs, the sermon at the temple and the sermon on the mount salt lake city. The book of mormon is a book that claims to tell the history of 3 groups of people from ancient america, two groups, the nephites and the lamanites, that came from the city of jerusalem around 600bc before the. Dec 07, 2014 the book of mormon only appears once in this work, at the end of the final chapter as another example of the sermon on the mount in a temple setting. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1985, 163200. A dissertation for the doctor of philosophy programme in biblical studies at the south african theological seminary october 2014. In the sermon jesus gave to the book of mormon peoples, it is recorded that jesus said, they shall be filled with the holy ghost. The book of mormon only appears once in this work, at the end of the final chapter as another example of the sermon on the mount in a temple setting. Mar 06, 2012 the heavy use of the bible in the book of mormon raises some difficult questions about the authenticity of the book of mormon as a translation of ancient historical documents. The book of mormon gives sheds light on the true meaning of jesus m ost controversial sermon. Ever since the publication of the book of mormon, one of the standard criticisms raised by those seeking to discredit the book has been the assertion that it plagiarizes the king james version of the bible, and the chief instance of alleged plagiarism is the sermon on the mount in 3 nephi 1214.
Why did jesus deliver a version of the sermon on the mount. During christs visit in the book of mormon, he presented teachings that closely resemble what he taught in the sermon on the mount, as recorded in the gospel of matthew. The book of mormon shows that the sermon was intended as part of a scriptural tool for the gathering of israel in the last days. The book of mormon clearly indicates changes in intended audience for different parts of the sermon, identifying which instructions apply only to fulltime ministers. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Welch, a byu professor of law, admits that the best early manuscripts lack tois archaiois in matthew 5. Cloward, the sermon on the mount in the jst and the book of mormon, in the joseph smith translation. In fact, it is for that belief we are called, mormons. The main reason that the sermon on the mount has remained a sealed text for most readers is the problem of discerning what holds it all together. Differences between 3rd nephi and the sermon on the mount.
One of the points of theology that set members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons apart from the rest of the christian world is our belief in the book of mormon another testament of jesus christ. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. Does the book of mormon contradict joseph smiths translation. Elder hollands insights on how the book of mormon can. The fact that parallel accounts appear in the book of mormon 3 ne. Lamb, who characterized the book of mormon as verbose, blundering, stupid, 2 viewed 3 nephi 1214 as a mere duplication of the sermon on the mount word for word and saw no excuse for. Jesus delivered this message near the beginning of his ministry and it is the longest of jesus sermons recorded in the new testament. Why did jesus deliver a version of the sermon on the mount at. The book of mormon and the problem of the sermon on the mount. Aug 21, 2012 in his sermon on the mount, jesus teaches his disciples what it means to be a compassionate follower of his gospel. Ces letter mismatches verses here is how the sermon on the mount compares between the kjv bible. As an undergraduate classics major at byu, frederick became interested in studying book of mormon intertextuality.
Aug 24, 2018 the sermon on the mount is recorded in chapters 57 in the book of matthew. Here i will begin the first of an expected threepart article examining what the book of mormon actually does with the sermon on the mount. Various explanations may account for this similarity. While the sermon at the temple contributes to our understanding of the sermon on the mount in several ways, the most important for me is how it unlocks the ageold mystery of the unity of the sermon. The book of mormon reveals details regarding a vitally important ordinanceritual. Both the king james version of the bible and the book of mormon have an account of christ visiting people and. I am particularly appreciative of those that are taught about the atonement, but i knew there were many cases of other sermons. In this episode of the lds perspectives podcast, laura harris hales interviews scholar nicholas nick j. During christs visit to the peoples of the book of mormon. The sermon at the temple and the sermon on the mount. Christ came not only into the world to make an atonement for the sins of mankind but to set an example before the world of the standard of perfection of gods. He is a former editor for christianity today and lifeway christian resources. Did the author of 3 nephi know the gospel of matthew.
One of the most beautiful sections of the gospels is the sermon delivered by jesus on a mountain beside the city of capernaum. The sermon on the mountnow passing its 65th birthdayremains a vital and provocative introduction to the ideas at the heart of christian science. The lord covenanted with enos to bring forth the book of mormon to the lamanites, enos 1. Frederick about new testament intertextuality in the book of mormon. The critics have been quick to condemn the book of mormon because of this fact. Illuminating the sermon at the temple and sermon on the mount. The sermon on the mount and the book of mormon the. The sermon on the mount is a text book i first read back in 2010. The sermon on the mount is a book that helps me gain spiritual perception, understand the nature of divine wisdome and the power of prayer. Here we see the kind of society that is produced from people truly living the gospel, seeking first the kingdom of god and his righteousness. Some have argued that the similarities between the sermon on the mount in the new testament and the sermon at the temple in bountiful in the book of mormon are.
The sweetest, most stirring words of the book of mormon are those of christs visit among these other christians. The definitive lds work on the sermon at the temple and its relationship to covenant making people, including temple covenants, is john w. The bible, the book of mormon, and the joseph smith translation of the bible. Updegraff, encyclopedia of mormonism this entry looks at the three texts in which the sermon on the mount can be found. Why did jesus deliver a version of the sermon on the mount at the temple in bountiful. Welch s book the sermon at the temple and the sermon on the mount presented a thorough latterday saint interpretation of the saviors greatest sermon, drawing on insights from jesus sermon at the temple in 3 nephi to shed light on his sermon on the mount in the gospel of matthew. It has become the basic text in the many emmet fox books i now study and use for meditations. Apr 05, 2015 one of the most famous of these discourses is the sermon on the mount. The sermon on the mount in the jst and the book of mormon robert a. Denying any interest in theology there is no theology in the bible, fox argues, the author instead suggests that what jesus was after was results.
The book of mormon and the bible mormons in transition. Ces letter mismatches verses here is how the sermon on the mount compares between the kjv bible and book of mormon. Welch s book the sermon at the temple and the sermon on the mount presented a thorough latterday saint interpretation of the saviors greatest sermon, drawing on insights from jesus sermon at the temple in 3 nephi to shed light on his sermon on the mount in the gospel of matthew illuminating the sermon at the temple and sermon on the mount. The sermon on the mount and the book of mormon the things. The sermon at the temple in the book of mormon internet archive. Noticing this, some book of mormon critics have accused joseph smith of merely and lazily slapped in portions of the bible into the book of mormon. The sermon at the temple in the book of mormon a critical examination of its authenticity through a comparison with the sermon on the mount in the gospel of matthew by robert m.
The sermon on the mount in the jst and the book of mormon. It includes some of the most beautiful and remarkable teachings for which christ is known. The sermon on the mount in the book of mormonpart 1 rational. The likelihood that the teachings upon which the sermon on the mount is based, and which are older than the matthew text, were taught in diverse places to different audiences. The fuller meaning of christs sermon on the mount teaching to seek first the kingdom of god is vividly illustrated in the book of mormon context of the sermon at the temple. This discovery would give amazing evidence for the ancient origin of the lds temple endowment. Apr 21, 2011 the sweetest, most stirring words of the book of mormon are those of christs visit among these other christians.
Included in the record of his visit, is another version of the sermon on the mount. Jesus delivered this message near the beginning of his ministry and it is the longest of. As readers study the epistle of james in the new testament, they may be surprised to learn that james, often called the just and the first bishop of jerusalem, references jesuss sermon on the mount no less than twelve times in his letter. The author relies especially on crucial information and details that only the book of mormon can supply. The sermon on the mount appears twice in the new testament, once in matthew and once in luke. A further type of difference consists of additions to the sermon on the mount text that often provide sensible clarifications. The sermon on the mount in the book of mormonpart 1. Some have argued that the similarities between the sermon on the mount and the sermon at the temple in bountiful are evidence that joseph smith simply plagiarized from the bible. Sermons in the book of mormon one of the things that i have most come to enjoy about the book of mormon are the various sermons throughout the book.
The book of mormon and the bible will grow together, 2 ne. For example, the sermon on the mount materials in the sermon at the temple appear immediately following jesus explanations of baptism, of the gift of the holy ghost, and of the rock upon which one should build, namely the covenantal relationship formed by repentance, baptism, and becoming as a little child see 3 nephi 11. One of the most famous of these discourses is the sermon on the mount. Intertextuality in the book of mormon with nick frederick. The book of mormon and the problem of the sermon on the. When christ visited the book of mormon peoples, he gave them the same sermon, which you can read and compare here. Rarely noticed by general readers, yet quite evident on closer inspection, are the parallels between the phraseology of the sermon on the mount in matthew 57 and the vocabulary of the epistle of james.
He wanted to discuss with other scholars what he was finding. The heart of the sermon of the mount is missing altogether from it. Cambridge ma as i was preparing this third reflection on the book of mormon you can still read one and two mdash it became clear to me that. The book of mormon, which has now reached into more than sixty languages and cultures, is viewed by faithful mormons as a divinely inspired supplement to. In his sermon on the mount, jesus teaches his disciples what it means to be a compassionate follower of his gospel. And yet, significantly, the parallel text in the sermon at the temple in the book of mormon agrees with those. Over twenty conspicuous similarities can be identified. This sermon is depicted in the gospel of matthew chapters 57.
But the book of mormon attests to the authenticity of the discourse recorded in chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the gospel according to st. The beatitudes the first part of christs sermon on the mount is called the beatitudes matthew 5. So important are the teaching set forth in this sermon that christ wanted and wants them taught to all. The lords words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 ne. The preceding information can help readers understand why a version of the sermon on the mount would appear in the book of mormon. The king james bible and the book of mormon its obvious even to the casual reader that the book of mormon, in its original 1830 translation, is written in the. In 3 nephi in the book of mormon the resurrected jesus christ repeats in large part the famous sermon on the mount, but this time before a new world audience. Sermon on the mt the book of mormon gives an account of the resurrected jesus appearing to a people here on the american continent shortly after his ascension in the old world.
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