Why do Mormons hand out the Book of Mormon rather than the D&C?
Mormon missionaries freely hand out the Book of Mormon. But there isn't too much in there which disagrees with the Bible at a doctrinal level. The major LDS doctrines are from the Doctrine and Covenenants and Pearl of Great Price.
If Mormons want to show us what they believe, why not hand out the economy triple combination so we can see all of the LDS Scriptures rather than just the bit that sounds most Christian?
Some interesting answers already!
Just to clarify, I am aware there ARE doctrinal differences between the Bible and the Book of Mormon ("saved by grace AFTER all we can do" in 2 Nephi 25:23, the Fall is a good thing in 2 Nephi 2:22-25). Someone who isn't familiar with the Bible would miss these. What I mean is that the REALLY big differences (Temple marriage, plurality of gods, degrees of heaven etc) are not in the Book of Mormon.
Thanks for answers so far - some interesting comments... :-)
Mormonism isn't something that you can just tell to everybody straight as it is, they have secret ceremonies and whatever. If they were to tell someone what they really believe straight away, that person would run away. I've talked to Mormon missionaries before and they lied to my face when I asked them what they believed; and they wouldn't tell me the differences between Christianity and Mormonism, just the common points
The message of one of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. The Book of Mormon provides another testimony of the Christ and his mission to all of mankind.
The standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are available free for reading and study on-line at http://lds.org/scriptures?lang=eng, They are also available for downloading or for purchase through lads.org
Add: As the question suggests, the standard works (including the Doctrine and Covenants) establish the doctrines of the church. The Journal of Discourses and past publications like the Seer do not represent LDS doctrines or theology. There is a tremendous amount of false information contained in Micky's response. He attempts to define what our religion is about when he does not know the facts. For the actual teachings of the church and explanations where necessary, I've provided a series of links for those interested.
Add; No doctrinal differences (doctrines that exist in the Book of Mormon that are not found in the Bible). The Bible supports the saved by grace but only when the faith is supported by action. Read Matthew 25 sometime. All three parables have to do with performance and the judgment. The differences that are claimed are those of interpretation, not what is actually written in the Bible.
Paul's statement to the Corinthians about "as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive" isn't a negative to the fall of Adam. One has to wonder if the Book of Mormon doesn't really clarify a lot of misunderstood principles that are also in the Bible but suppressed, thanks to translational interpretation and traditional views expressed by various theologians that do not find much support in the scriptures.
The idea that Adam and Eve were commanded to have children raises the question, why didn't they have any while still in the Garden? There is no record that they had even an awareness of their sexuality (they were both naked until Satan told them). So, the interpretation is that they could have had children, but for some unexplained reason never did. The Book of Mormon explains they could not have children while still in the Garden. The fall was a necessary part of the plan of happiness (also called the plan of salvation), but it had to come through disobedience, otherwise, Adam and Even would have remained in the Garden forever, never experiencing those things necessary for our growth as children independent of our heavenly parent.
The challenge isn't to find all the doctrines expressed in the Bible (and actually practiced by Christianity) in the Book of Mormon, but to find one doctrine in the Book of Mormon that is not also in the Bible. The important part is about Jesus Christ and his message of salvation.
LDS Doctrine comes from not only the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, but the Book of Mormon and the Bible as well. They hand out the Book of Mormon because that is the keystone of their religion, and is the most correct book containing the Doctrine of Christ than any other book in the world. People will gain a testimony of the validity of Christ and His teachings by reading the Book of Mormon before reading any other book.
Mormons do a "bait and switch" with Christian sounding words, yet as you've pointed out, no major practices of Mormonism come from the BoM. When people start looking into Mormoism in detail however, they often leave the faith.
Beware though, even though the words sound the same, "God", "Jesus", "Salvation", the LDS have different meanings for them.
Hi, you said in your question: "But there isn't too much in there [the Book of Mormon] which disagrees with the Bible at a doctrinal level."
Actually, 2 Nephi 2:22-25 disagrees with the Bible at a doctrinal level regarding Adam's fall.
Consider:
Genesis 1:28 has information contradicting 2 Nephi 2:22-25 that is missing from the Joseph Smith Inspired Version.[1] Genesis 1:28 says: "Further, God blessed them and God said to them: ?Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it."[2]
Thus Adam and Eve were told to have children, yet 2 Nephi 2:23 says "they would have had no children."[3] This is a fatal flaw in Mormon scripture that alienates it from God.
@ Mikey. Hi there! You said: "It was a sin sure". Actually, Mormonism teaches it was a transgression, not a sin. "God knew he would do it and planned for it." How would you like it if I knew all the mistakes you would make and never helped you? Same thing with Adam and God. "To think somehow that this really messed things up is illogical." With all due respect, ever visit a hospital or a cemetery?
EDIT: OK now to address your actual question! They say the BoM is "another testament of Jesus Christ," but the D&C is a little more advanced for new people. The Triple or Quadruple Combination comes later as it's simply more advanced and reflects a higher level of indoctrination.
Yes why not the Pearl of Great Price as well, this is because you can't get a burning in the bosom fro mt he D & C or the Pearl of great Price or Mormon Doctrine or the JofD. makes you wonder what kind of spell was put on the book???? Ya think?
@Come on old Timer, only Mormons teach that they had to sin in order to have a sex drive!!! As a Christian we all know that Eve was fully capable of having children, and in due time, all would be revealed, that's is why they walked and talked in the cool of the day with God, they just chose to listen to Satan instead and eat the Apple, ya know man just wants their knowledge, and they want it know, kind of like Burger King!!! well the garden of Eden is not Burger king and you can;t have it your way!!!!
The point of proclaiming the gospel is to help people realize that Jesus IS the Christ and the Book of Mormon testifies of that along with the Bible. Once that is established then the Doctrine and Covenants can be introduced.
Why don't you feed your kid a hamburger at 1 month old? First the milk then the meat.
The Doctrine and Covenants is more particular to the current, modern church. It contains information on how to organize, and administer it's affairs.
The Book of Mormon talks about Christ, his personal ministry among the ancient people of America. It is another Testament of Jesus Christ... more information as to his life. They are completely different books, and although the D&C also testifies of Christ and His salvation. It is better for an investigator to read the Book of Mormon, and once a person understands it's truthfulness, they can then move on to the D&C.
The D&C would be seen as just another current edition of writings. The Book of Mormon however is much different, a translation of an ancient document. Written by prophets thousands of years ago. It's really quite cool if you think about it.
And your example is flawed, let me phrase it another way... No mater what we can do, or do do, it is by grace that we are saved.
I love it when people seem to think that the Fall of Adam thwarted Gods overall plan for humanity. As if Adam screwed it up or something, it's hilarious. It was a sin sure, but God knew he would do it and planned for it. To think somehow that this really messed things up is illogical.
And you may want to change the name on your Avatar, because it disgraces the name of Jesus Christ.
Lots of Christians would beg to differ about the Book of Mormon not disagreeing with the Bible.
The reason why we hand out the Book of Mormon is because it is the corner stone of our religion. If you read it and find it to be true, word of God, then you can easily accept Joseph Smith as a Prophet of God, who translated it. If you believe Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God then you believe that the LDS church is Christ's Church restored to the Earth. If you believe that then you'll want to be baptized into it, etc... on down the line. It's the first step on a journey of Eternity.
Mormon missionaries strive to help people accept the Book of Mormon because it holds the key to knowing by revelation that the church is true. Many people will not accept it and thus will never know that the church is true.
The D&C is a compilation of revelations (mostly to Joseph Smith) that reveals how the church is to be established and run in the last days.
Simply put, if one accepts the Book of Mormon than they are more than likely will be able to accept other scriptures along with it. Since both come from Joseph Smith.
If you can accept that the Book of Mormon is indeed a true account, then you should be able to follow the Doctrine and Covenants and accept that as being true. Since by then you accept that Joseph Smith is a prophet. It's well put that the BOM is the keystone of the LDS faith since acceptance of it generally guarantees acceptance of the other doctrinal set.
Why do Mormons hand out the Book of Mormon rather than the D&C?
