Can One go to Heaven Obeying the Book of Mormon?

THE BOOK OF MORMON CANNOT BE TRUSTED

            Joseph Smith confidently contended, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Smith 461)  If Smith really was inspired while translating and God was the author of the English production, there would certainly be no changes needed.  But there were changes, in fact four thousand of them since the 1830 version!  The Book of Mormon has undergone quite a makeover through the years including doctrinal and grammatical modifications.  If deity truly inspired a prophet, why would there be a need to change anything?

The final chapter of the Book of Mormon contains a “test” to confirm inspiration.  It reads, “And when ye shall receive these things I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:4-5)  Mormons urge prospective converts to pray and ask God if it is true.  The problem is that it is a loaded approach.  Many have read and followed their formula, only to conclude that the Book of Mormon is false.  Those in defense of the Mormon faith will simply say that one does not have enough faith and to pray more.  But their judgment is only viable if it is assumed that the Book of Mormon is the authority.