The New Jerusalem to be Built in Independence Missouri?

Recently, I preached a sermon out of Mark 13 about the signs of the second coming of Christ and had just completed some in-depth research. I wondered how the Mormon doctrine of the end times lined up with what the Bible taught by Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

I turned to the Mormon Gospel Principles to see what the official Mormon word was on this subject.

At first, I saw some places of agreement. Both the Bible and Mormon teachings warn of wickedness, war and turmoil: Matthew 24:6-7 – “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Daniel 12:1 – “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

The problem begins, as always, when the Book of Mormon and the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) begin to embellish, or add to the Bible.

The following is a brief list of signs foretelling Jesus Christ’s coming found in the Gospel Principles (GP) Chapter 41; pp 266-268 © 1997. With a brief newspaper article, I cannot address them all in detail, so I will simply list most of them and choose to focus on the last with more detail:

The Restoration of the Gospel. To Mormons, this means the “fullness of the Gospel” taught only by the LDS Church (D&C 45:28). The word “restored” implies fixing up something that is broken, yet Revelation 14:6-7 talks about the “everlasting gospel.” How can something that God has said is “eternal,” or “everlasting,” need to be restored?

The Book of Mormon Foretold. In the Gospel Principles they list 3 references – one from the Book of Mormon and two from the Bible: 3 Nephi 21; Isaiah 29:4-18; Ezekiel 37:16-20. Neither Isaiah, nor Ezekiel say anything about the Book of Mormon, and I personally have a problem with a book prophesying about its own discovery!

The Gospel Preached to All the World. This is clearly taught from the Bible in Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10; but we must keep in mind that from the LDS perspective, they are referring to the “fullness of the gospel,” or the “restored gospel.” Mormons recognize multiple so-called, “scriptures” as authoritative (The Book of Mormon, The Doctrines and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price along with any “current revelation” forthcoming from the living President of the LDS Church).

In Galatians 1, the Bible clearly warns in verse 8 against those who preach “another gospel” than that originally given directly by revelation of Jesus Christ (verse 12). The Bible, as always, is consistent then, when in Revelation 14 it speaks of this same Gospel being “everlasting,” or eternal. The Gospel as revealed in Romans 5:8-9 will be preached to all the world: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

The Coming of Elijah. Again, this is taught in Malachi 4:5-6, but Mormon D&C 2 takes it further than Malachi intended by adding the following taken from GP pp. 267-268: Elijah would restore the sealing powers so families could be sealed together (relating to the Mormon doctrine of eternal families); He would inspire people to be concerned about their ancestors and descendents. (The study of genealogy is a direct link to the Mormon doctrine of baptism for the dead.); Elijah came to Joseph Smith in April 1836 to re-establish these temple ordinances for both the living and the dead.

This is another example of developing theology outside the Bible, then looking into the Bible for a proof text. In other words, reading into Scripture what you need it to say, rather than reading out of Scripture what it truly says.

The Lamanites Will Become a Great Nation, D&C 49:24. American Indians are thought by the Mormon Church to be direct descendents of Abraham and are referred to in the Book of Mormon as Lamanites. (For more on this, please visit www.mormonchallenge.com and order the tape, DNA vs. the Book of Mormon.)

Building of the New Jerusalem. Let’s read what Mormon scriptures have to say: 3 Nephi 21:23-25 – “And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem. And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.”; D&C 84:2-4 – “Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.”

In addition, LDS teaching found in the Doctrines of Salvation, Volume III, Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith: compiled by Bruce R. McConkie chapter 4 pp. 67-79 says that there will be two Jerusalems – the “new Jerusalem,” or the “City of Zion” which will be in Missouri; and the “old Jerusalem” which will be the ancient city of Jerusalem rebuilt. They teach that during Christ’s Millennial reign, He will rule from both cities. They also teach; quoting from p. 74, “Garden of Eden and City of Zion Same Place. In accord with the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we teach that the Garden of Eden was on the American continent located where the City Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they eventually dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri.”

As I pondered how to refute this teaching, I was faced with a challenge – how to disprove something that cannot be proven. No one knows where the Garden of Eden was. The Bible makes no mention of the Americas. Furthermore, why would you refer to a “New Jerusalem” being built by the hands of men; when God’s Word talks about the New Jerusalem descending from the heavens?

Please read below, and tell me if the city referred to here can be built by human hands, or if anything man could build would even compare? Revelation 21:9-27 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal: And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Jesus is coming again! On this we agree. As His return draws near, let us not follow a “restored” gospel that was never lost, or damaged. Rather, let us put our faith in the everlasting Gospel Christ paid for with His own blood shed on the cross for the remission of our sin.

Witnessing point: Ask your Mormon friends to explain to you the signs of the end times. Take them to places like Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and Revelation 21. Then explain to them from Revelation 14:6-7 that the Gospel is “eternal” and God does not need a man to restore what He has called eternal. Once the door is open, take them to the simple Gospel of John.

Douglas K. Hollen attends Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and takes the Gospel of Christ to Mormons in an effort to bring them to Christ. He is available to speak at your church or small Bible study group about Mormonism by contacting him at (314) 691-5418.