The Book of Mormon is not Mormonism

The Book of Mormon teaches against the notions of 'Mormonism'

The Book of Mormon does Not Teach Mormonism

Not all people who believe the Book of Mormon are 'Mormons.'

Many have found the words to be true and everything it claims to be: an inspired record of Israelites with a profound and relevant testimony of Jesus Christ. These people have found the record to be true, yet have no association with the strange theologies many have come to know as 'Mormonism.' But because many have formed biases against the Book of Mormon before ever opening its cover, assurances are required, chiefly: The Book of Mormon is Not Mormonism.

Mormonism is associated with strange practices—strange to the Christian walk—like polygamy, celestial marriage, plurality of Gods, etc.

But the Book of Mormon teaches none of these doctrines, and many who believe The Book of Mormon's authenticity have no association with these practices. It simply does not teach them.

Assuming that all Book of Mormon believers espouse strange doctrines (polygamy, etc.) or that the Book of Mormon teaches these ideas is like assuming that historically all Americans were slave holders and advocated slavery because the constitution encouraged it. Slavery was not practiced by all Americans; some espoused it, most despised it, yet the constitution taught none of it. In the American civil war, some fought for slavery, and many fought against slavery, yet both would go home and read the same bible at night. Yet the U.S. constitution never advocated slavery. Slavery was a historical practice adopted by some outside the country's written constitution. Similarly, practices of 'Mormonism' have no association with the Book of Mormon.

To assume anyone who believes the Book of Mormon must advocate 'Mormonism' is akin to assuming any American citizen must have advocated slavery in its day, or abortion in our day, just because they are US citizens. Because some practiced these crimes, does not mean every citizen advocated, and more importantly the crimes were not advocated by the original 'doctrine.'

Such is also true of the Book of Mormon. Strange doctrines of polygamy, celestial marriage, plurality of Gods, temple ordinances—none of these ideas come from the Book of Mormon. They were all ideas instituted and practiced by men separate from the Book of Mormon's teachings.

Does the Book of Mormon teach of 'a different Jesus' than the Bible?

No. The Book of Mormon teaches of only one Jesus, he is the same who was born of Mary at Jerusalem.

For there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets,

And that Messiah is He which should be rejected of the Jews,

…And according to the words of the prophets

and also the word of the angel of God,

His name should be Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 Nephi 11:34-36

Does the Book of Mormon teach there is more than one God?

While some Book of Mormon believing Gentiles have distorted understandings regarding this, the Book of Mormon teaches and advocates this Jesus of the Book of Mormon is the only savior.

And He shall be called Jesus Christ,

the Son of God,

the Father of heaven and of earth,

the Creator of all things from the beginning;

And His mother shall be called Mary;

Mosiah 1:102

For there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth;

1 Nephi 3:197

Behold, I Am Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

I created the heavens and the earth and all things that in them is;

3 Nephi 4:44

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them, saying

Arise and come forth unto Me

That ye may thrust your hands into My side,

And also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in My hands and in My feet,

That ye may know that I Am the God of Israel and the God of the whole earth

and have been slain for the sins of the world

3 Nephi 5:14

Principle	Mormonism Concept	Book of Mormon Teaches??		Book of Mormon Principle	Book of Mormon Teaches??
Principle	Mormonism Concept	Yes	No	Book of Mormon Principle	Yes	No
Salvation	Multiple Levels of Salvation		X	One Salvation: sin is completely removed or be cast out 1 Nephi 4:61 Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken (LDS: 1 Nephi 15:31)	X
God	God had previous mortal existence		X	God has been God from all eternity to all Eternity Mosiah 1:97 'For behold, the time cometh and is not far distant, that with power the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, which was and is from all eternity to all eternity, Shall come down from heaven among the children of men, And shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, (LDS: Mosiah 3:5)	X
Adam	Adam/God Theory		X	Man Returns to God only if Sin is removed. Alma 3:40 Yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain through the blood of Him of whom it hath been spoken by our fathers which should come to redeem His people from their sins. (LDS: Alma 5:21)	X
Polygamy	Polygamy as Holy Matrimony		X	Monogamy only condoned by God; Polygamy Condemned Jacob 2:55 For they have not forgotten the commandments of the Lord which were given unto our father that they should have save it were one wife and concubines they should have none, And there should not be whoredoms committed among them;(LDS: Jacob 3:5)	X
Rituals	Secret Temple Rituals		X	No Rituals of any kind. 2 Nephi 11:112 And He doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; (LDS: 2 Nephi 26:33)	X
Marriage	Celestial Marriage		X	Marriage is a type and shadow, only given for this life. Eternal Marriage is never mentioned.	X
Mysteries	Secret 'Mysteries' regarding Salvation		X	The plan of Salvation is plain, has been fully revealed 3 Nephi 5:42 "And whoso shall declare more or less than this [repentance and contrite spirit] and establish it for My doctrine, The same cometh of evil and is not built upon My rock; (LDS: 3 Nephi 11:40)	X
Satan	Satan/Jesus Brothers		X	Jesus was God in the flesh; Satan was an angel who fell Mosiah 1:97 'For behold, the time cometh and is not far distant, that with power the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, which was and is from all eternity to all eternity, Shall come down from heaven among the children of men, And shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, (LDS: Mosiah 3:5) 2 Nephi 1:101 "And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; (LDS: 2 Nephi 2:17)	X
Baptism	The Dead proxy baptism		X	Only the living, capable of repentance, were baptized. The atonement covers those who did not know the law (of God) Moroni 8:11 "Behold, I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach: Repentance and baptism unto they which are accountable and capable of committing sin; (LDS: Moroni 8:11) 2 Nephi 6:54 For they are delivered by the power of Him; For the atonement satisfieth the demands of His justice upon all those who hath not the law given to them, (LDS: 2 Nephi 9:26)	X
Grace	Partly grace but Extra works like tithing/celestial marriage required to be with God		X	Our sin has to be completely removed to return to God. Grace applied AFTER our will is reconciled to Him. Alma 16:213 ...Therefore, there is nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world,(LDS: Alma 34:13) 2 Nephi 7:42 And remember, that after ye are reconciled unto God, That it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved; (LDS: 2 Nephi 10:24)	X
Jesus	God, Jesus, Holy Spirit Separate Conscious Beings		X	Jesus was fully God in the Flesh; the human Body of His Spirit. Ether 1:81 Behold, this body which ye now behold is the body of My Spirit; And man have I created after the body of My Spirit; And even as I appear unto thee to be in the Spirit, will I appear unto My people in the flesh." (LDS: Ether 3:16) Mosiah 1:102 'And He shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; And His mother shall be called Mary.(LDS: Mosiah 3:8)	X