Mormon — Theological Claims
21 theological claims.
atom_morm_01_008
But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people. And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.
The text links the prevalence of wickedness with the withdrawal of spiritual gifts; the disappearance of the disciples, the cessation of miracles and healing, and the absence of the Holy Ghost are all presented as direct consequences of corruption and unbelief.
- Themes: wickedness, spiritual withdrawal, gifts
atom_morm_01_010
And because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake. And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth
The text connects the hardness of hearts with the cursing of the land, and then adds the threat of the Gadianton robbers who compel the inhabitants to hide their treasures.
- Themes: curse, robbers, treasure
atom_morm_02_009
I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God
Mormon declares that the time of grace has ended for them both temporally and spiritually, as he sees thousands being slain in open rebellion against God.
- Themes: grace, judgment, rebellion
atom_morm_03_009
And when they had sworn by all that had been forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that they would go up unto their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren, behold the voice of the Lord came unto me saying: Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face o…
The divine response comes to prevent personal vengeance and declares that retribution belongs to God alone, along with a final judgment on the people for their lack of repentance.
- Themes: vengeance, judgment, divine justice
atom_morm_04_004
And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them. But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.
The narrator interprets the defeat as a result of the Nephites’ initiative to fight, then generalizes a moral/judicial principle: that God’s judgment overtakes the wicked, and that wickedness incites humans to bloodshed.
- Themes: judgment, wickedness, divine justice
atom_morm_04_007
And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty and sixth year had passed away, and the Lamanites came again upon the Nephites to battle; and yet the Nephites repented not of the evil they had done, but persisted in their wickedness continually. And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was a…
Violence escalates with the continuation of war and the Nephites’ refusal to repent, and the text describes the scene as beyond description, with general cruelty and unprecedented corruption among the descendants of Laman and the house of Israel.
- Themes: wickedness, hardness of heart, judgment
- Critical Questions: cq_hyperbolic_unwriteable_scene_001
atom_morm_05_002
for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions. But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them
The people see the narrator as a potential savior, but he declares himself without hope because he knows the judgments of the Lord that will come upon them.
- Themes: judgment, hope, deliverance
atom_morm_05_003
for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them.
The author interprets the impending defeat as a result of their lack of repentance, asserting that they struggle for survival without turning to their Creator.
- Themes: repentance, creation, judgment
atom_morm_05_010
they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose
The text declares the missionary purpose of the record: to persuade people that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Father accomplishes His eternal purpose through His beloved Son.
- Themes: christology, father, purpose
atom_morm_05_012
the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world … they are led about by Satan
The text describes a deteriorated spiritual state: the cessation of the Spirit’s efforts, living without Christ and God, and being led by Satan instead of divine guidance.
- Themes: spirit, apostasy, satan, christ
atom_morm_06_010
your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ to be judged according to your works
Mormon proclaims the doctrine of resurrection and judgment, where the mortal body transforms into an incorruptible one, and individuals must stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged according to their works.
- Themes: resurrection, judgment, works
atom_morm_07_005
believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again
The text calls for belief in Christ as the Son of God, presenting His death at the hands of the Jews and His resurrection by the power of the Father.
- Themes: christology, resurrection, atonement
atom_morm_07_006
he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.
The text asserts that Christ is the one who brings about the resurrection of the dead, and that humans will be raised to stand before the judgment seat.
- Themes: resurrection, judgment, afterlife
atom_morm_07_007
he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom
The text describes redemption as a ransom for the world, granting the privilege of dwelling in the presence of God to those found guiltless on the day of judgment.
- Themes: redemption, judgment, kingdom, presence_of_god
atom_morm_08_005
And behold, it is the hand of the Lord which hath done it. … there are none save it be the Lamanites and robbers that do exist upon the face of the land. And there are none that do know the true God save it be the disciples of Jesus
Moroni interprets the destruction as the work of the Lord’s hand, describing the land as being inhabited only by robbers and Lamanites, with the true God known only to the disciples of Jesus.
- Themes: judgment, knowledge of God, remnant
atom_morm_09_004
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever… then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not God of miracles.
The text affirms God’s immutability and unchanging nature, criticizing the conception of a capricious deity as a false notion inconsistent with the God who works miracles.
- Themes: immutability, miracles, god
atom_morm_09_005
the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth… by Adam came the fall of man… because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man.
The text connects the God of Israel with the act of creation and the chain of salvation: creation, then the fall through Adam, and finally redemption through Christ.
- Themes: creation, fall, redemption
atom_morm_09_006
the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection… and then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them
The text explains that the death of Christ initiates the resurrection, which leads to all standing before divine judgment where each person is confirmed in their final moral state.
- Themes: resurrection, judgment, death
atom_morm_09_007
God has not ceased to be a God of miracles… by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?
The text defends the continuity of miracles by citing creation and the works of Christ and the apostles, demonstrating that God has not changed nor lost His miraculous power.
- Themes: miracles, creation, apostles
atom_morm_09_008
the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief… whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing… it shall be granted him
The text interprets the absence of miracles as a result of dwindling faith, countering this with a promise of answered prayer for those who believe in Christ without doubt.
- Themes: belief, prayer, miracles
atom_morm_09_012
these things are written that we may rid our garments of the blood of our brethren… may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel
The text declares that the purpose of writing is to cleanse the conscience from the blood of the wayward brethren, concluding with a prayer for the restoration of the house of Israel to the knowledge of Christ and remembrance of the covenant.
- Themes: blood, israel, covenant