Accept Book of Mormon?

Why do you or do you not accept the Book of Mormon?

One would think that reading the answers on this thread that LDSaints accept the Book of Mormon. Perhaps, but like all words flung around by LDSaints, even the word "accept" needs to be scrutinized as it fall from their lips.

“Accept” would mean that they would read the teachings of the Book of Mormon and believe them as written as true. Every word. Every teaching. But this is certainly not the case. An esteemed LDS Quora scholar and supposed believer in the Book of Mormon wrote:

"Much of what was recorded by those prophets was based on an Old Testament misunderstanding of God and his Son and ancient Israelite views of heaven, hell, and God’s plan of salvation".

"....the Book of Mormon prophets never had the fullness of the plan of salvation revealed to them. It wasn’t revealed to Old Testament prophets either and most of the Book of Mormon was recorded in Old Testament times".

Furthermore, this same LDSaint ignores the teachings of the Book of Mormon that contradicts his "Living Oracles” and claims that the Book of Mormon has nothing to say on the topics clearly presented in the Book! This would be like proclaiming that the New Testament has nothing to say about missionary work or the Holy Ghost! Says he,

"One concept that doesn’t seem to have been clarified is what is revealed in Doctrine and Covenants 76 and 88 regarding degrees of glory in heaven. The ancient Israelite/Jewish/Christian heaven-hell dichotomy still seems to be reflected in the Book of Mormon.

"Other similar teachings such as an understanding of the Spirit World, the pre-mortal existence of man, baptism by proxy for the dead, the unity of the Godhead, and many modern doctrines, are not discussed. Some see these as conflicting teachings, others see them as reflecting a more limited and incomplete view of the gospel in its fulness".

In other words, most LDSaints along these lines claim to "accept" the Book of Mormon and at the same time reject its teachings or, despite their claim that the Book contains "the fulness of the Gospel", must proclaim that it is incomplete or based on a misunderstanding or just full of errors.

Yet, we find in the Book of Mormon that it is God Himself that declared the words that the Book of Mormon prophets inscribed. This is from the Prophet Moroni:

Moroni 10:27 And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?

Nephi spoke this truth as well:

2 Nephi 33:11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

Oddly, these two prophets, along with all of the rest, prayed that the Gospel preached among them, recorded in the Book of Mormon, would come among the Lamanites and all those who lived on this land of the Americas. Why would they pray that such a flawed record so fraught with errors and misunderstandings, be preached among modern man? And if they were ill informed to pray thus, why would the Lord grant their prayers?

Book of Commandments (1833), Chapter 9, Page 25

10 And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi, is more particular concerning the things, which in my wisdom I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account....

Book of Commandments (1833), Chapter 9, Page 25

11 ....Behold there are many things engraven on the plates of Nephi, which do throw greater views upon my gospel.... this work, does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my disciples desired in their prayers, should come forth unto this people. And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers: yea, and this was their faith, that my gospel which I gave unto them, that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and also, all that had become Lamanites, because of their dissensions.

Book of Commandments (1833), Chapter 9, Page 26

12 Now this is not all, their faith in their prayers were, that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land; and thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this gospel, in this land, might have eternal life, yea, that it might be free unto all whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people, they may be.

And yet, the LDSaints and their leaders reject the very Book that they claim is the “keystone of their religion”! I know this may sound like a bold statement, a wild opinion. Let me give just a couple of examples from recent conferences.

D.Oaks taught, "....modern revelation reveals that the work of salvation goes forward in the spirit world (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:30–34, 58), and although we are urged not to procrastinate our repentance during mortality (see Alma 13:27), we are taught that some repentance is possible there (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:58)".

Observation: Beware of the word "although" in the above citation. It basically declares that the Book of Mormon commands (not "urges"!) all to repent during mortality (see Alma 13:27), BUT, instead, modern revelation rejects that and extends the day of probation up until the judgement.

Again, we read from this "prophet,seer and revelator, "The Book of Mormon teaches....But..."

The Book of Mormon teaches that “this life is the time for [us] to prepare to meet God.” But that challenging limitation to “this life” was given a hopeful context (at least to some extent for some persons) by what the Lord revealed to President Joseph F. Smith, now recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 138.

Observation: When one acknowledges the true teachings of the Book of Mormon and goes on in the same breath that it is incorrect (there are “buts”), we see a subtle rejection of the teachings of the Book of Mormon.

LDSaints must "accept" the Book of Mormon because to reject it would be to reject Joseph Smith and the Church he founded. They must, sadly, reject, like Oaks, the things taught therein or they would have to reject the teachings of the Living Oracles.

I believe every word of the Book of Mormon. I think most Christians, save Calvinists, would also accept every word. Universalists, such as LDSaints, who believe "God saves all the works of His hands" have to reject most of the Book of Mormon.

When they claim to "accept" the Book of Mormon as the Word of God, you must understand the above exposition. They are not teaching the Gospel had among the Nephites which the Lord promised to give to the inhabitants of this land. They are teaching "another gospel, which is not another".