Confounding of False Doctrine

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different Christian churches? Have you ever wondered why they all teach so many different things? In the  Bible we read  that there is “ One Lord, One Faith, One baptism.” So the question that is left is which one is right? There is so many different  doctrines coming from one source—the Bible , how do we interpret the things it says to come to any sort of conclusion of what is right? These are question Joseph Smith had when he wanted to know the truth.

Yes there is prayer, and that is essential to know the truth, it is from God that we can find the source of all truth.  But God has given us two things that we may know his doctrine if we study them and pray about them—The Bible and The Book of Mormon.  These two books stop the confusion of doctrine that so many churches have.

If we have the Bible why do we need the Book of Mormon?

“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God”- Article of Faith #8

We believe that the Bible is the word of God, we can learn many valuable teachings, doctrines, and lessons from the Bible. However through human  errors in translation, important doctrines were changed, and there is conflicting things taught in the Bible. Things that when read don’t make sense because they seem like they are saying two different things, For example, consider these two scriptures, both found in the New Testament:

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” -James 2:24

                                                                                And

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9

These two verses come from the same book, yet they say two different things, so which one is correct? Are we saved by Grace or by Works?--are both scriptures correct?…Yes, both scriptures are correct…Sorry did I confuse you? please let me explain:

 “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

- 2 Nephi 25:23

The Book of Mormon

Do you see how in the Book of Mormon these two doctrines come together, and make sense? Through the Book of Mormon and the Bible we can know the doctrines of Christ, and the Will of God.  Likewise the Bible can help us understand the Book of Mormon as well, For example here is a scripture that talks about enduring to the end:

“Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.” – 3 Nephi 15:9

But what does enduring to the end, really mean? I think that a scripture from the Bible will help answer this:

“ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” -Matthew 10:22

I know that God has given us both The Bible and the Book of Mormon for our benefit, to help us understand the true teachings of God.In these two scriptures (both from The Bible and The Book of Mormon) they talk about the Book of Mormon and the Bible being "companions"and "shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines" :

“Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?

Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.

And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.”- Ezekiel 37:16-20

"Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord." 2 Nephi 3:12