When They Come To Your Door, Remember Matthew 28:20 And These Words

Today, we will look at an interesting story.  A story that goes to the center of religion.  What is true and what is not?  This is a question that is as old as man and can be seen clearly in the Holy Bible. 

Matthew 28: 20

And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.

Here Jesus was telling his followers that he would not leave them or the Church until the end of time.  If what you are about to read was true then Matthew 28:20 would be a lie.  Therefore, if Matthew 28:20 the following first vision story could not be true.  Therefore, followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and their belief in their First Vision is not correct according to Matthew 28:20

There's a couple of things to consider before examining the Book of Mormon and what it says about the Catholic Church:

1. Starting with the First Vision, Mormonism teaches that all churches except the Mormon Church are an abomination in the sight of God.

Joseph Smith History 1:18-20:

"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong) and which I should join."

"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. He again forbade me to join with any of them;..."

If all Churches were an abomination to God, did Jesus lie in Matthew 28:20?  How could it be an abomination when it is clearly stated that He would not leave his followers?  Clearly, it could not. 

2. The Doctrine and Covenants also has Jesus Christ condemning ALL other churches, and especially the "great and abominable church".

D&C 1:30-31

"And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have the power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;"

Doctrine and Covenants was written as a direct conversation from God to Joseph Smith and it would take out Matthew 28:20.  Would God actually do this, taking out the Holy Bible?

Do look at this a little more deeply, we should look more closely at the First Vision. 

There are at least 4 different first vision accounts by Joseph Smith, which the Church admits in its November 2013 First Vision Accounts essay:

1832 Handwritten Account
Two 1835 Accounts
1838 Account (Official Version)
1842 Account
In the only handwritten account by Joseph Smith, penned in 1832, but not publicly published until much later, describes the first vision in this way:

...and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age a pillar of firelight above the brightness of the sun at noonday come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of God and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph my son thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life...

No mention of two beings.
12 years after the vision happened.
Age is 15-years-old (“16th year of my age”), not 14-years-old.
No reference to asking the question about which church he should join.
No description of being attacked by Satan.
The early Mormon Church believed in the Trinity and this First Version would support this exact idea. 

Major Problems With The Story

1. Who appears to him? Depending upon the account, a spirit, an angel, two angels, Jesus, many angels or the Father and the Son appear to him – are all over the place.
2. The dates/his ages: The 1832 account states Joseph was 15-years-old while the other accounts state he was 14-years-old when he had the vision.
3. The reason or motive for seeking divine help – Bible reading and conviction of sins, a revival, a desire to know if God exists, wanting to know which church to join – are not reported the same in each account.
4. Contrary to Joseph’s account, the historical record shows that there was no revival in Palmyra, New York in 1820. FairMormon concedes:
5. While these revivals did not occur in Palmyra itself, their mention in the local newspaper would have given Joseph Smith the sense that there was substantial revival activity in the region.
6. There was one in 1817 and there was another in 1824. There are records from his brother, William Smith, and his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, both stating that the family joined Presbyterianism after Alvin’s death 11 in November 1823 despite Joseph Smith claiming in the official 1838 account 12 that they joined in 1820 (3 years before Alvin Smith’s death).
7. Why did Joseph hold a Trinitarian view of the Godhead, as shown previously with the Book of Mormon, if he clearly saw that the Father and Son were separate embodied beings in the official first vision?

By looking at the historical record and taking the facts as we know them.  The First Vision story (1832) was completely different from what current LDS members have been taught.  Joseph Smith obviously came up with the idea that all Churches were an abomination. If this is the case then would not this include the Church that Joseph Smith started too?  Brother and sisters, the next time you go to your door and open it.  It may be missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Instead of letting them try to convert you, why not share this story with them?  Why not explain that the First Vision story not only changed (at least four times) it is against the Biblical Scriptures.  Can you be a Christian Church if you are supporting ideas that go against Biblical teachings?  The truth is simple- you can not.  Remember brother and sisters Matthew 28: 20  And I will be with you always, to the end of the age