Isonto Likamormon—Ukubuyiselwa Kwazo Zonke Izinto?

KUMA-LDS (Latter-day Saints), iThempeli LikaMormon eSalt Lake City, e-Utah, liwuphawu oluvelele lokholo lwawo. Inkuthalo, ukubaluleka komkhaya, nokwaneliseka ngokwezimali kuyiziqubulo zamaMormon. Izithunywa zevangeli zamaMormon, ezifaka amabheji anamagama azo, zijwayelekile kuwo wonke umhlaba. Kodwa ezinye izindaba zangaphakathi ezingcwele kumaMormon zifihlekile kwabangaphandle. Ngakho leli sonto liseyisisulu samahlebezi ayihaba. Nokho, ukuhlaziya okuphelele akufanele kusekelwe ekulandiseni okubi, kodwa emaqinisweni. Yini esingayifunda ngalenkolo enyundelwa kangaka?

Isonto LikaJoseph Smith Namuhla

AmaMormon akholelwa ukuthi inkolo yawo iwukubuyiselwa kwesonto leqiniso nobupristi kanye nezimiso zalo. Yingakho linegama lalo elingokomthetho, i-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ESontweni LikaMormon, awukho umehluko phakathi kwabefundisi nabantu abavamile. Kunalokho, kusukela lapho beneminyaka engu-12 ubudala, bonke abesilisa abafanelekayo bangase bahileleke emisebenzini ehlukahlukene yesonto, babe abapristi lapho beneminyaka engu-16 ubudala.

Izikhundla eziningi kuleli sonto azikhokhelwa, futhi imikhaya yama-LDS ihlanganyela ezinhlelweni eziningi ezixhaswa ibandla lendawo. Ebandleni, abadala, ababhishobhi, nomongameli bezifunda bengamela izindaba zesonto ezihlelwe kahle. Umkhandlu wabaphostoli abangu-12 eSalt Lake City wengamele umhlaba wonke. Ekugcineni, kunomongameli wesonto—ohlonishwa njengomprofethi, umboni, nomambuli—nabeluleki ababili besigungu sesonto esengamele, ababizwa ngokuthi i-Quorum of the Presidency, noma i-First Presidency.

Kunezimiso ezimbalwa ezithinta ukuphila kwamaMormon azinikele. Umuntu angase angenele ubhapathizo, olubonisa ukuphenduka nokulalela, lapho eneminyaka engu-8 ubudala. Ukugeza nokugcotshwa kuhlanza futhi kungcwelise okholwayo. Umkhosi weziphiwo zasethempelini uhlanganisa uchungechunge lwezivumelwano, noma izithembiso, nengubo yangaphansi yasethempelini ekhethekile egqokwa njalo ngemva kwalokho, njengesivikelo ebubini futhi eyisikhumbuzo sezifungo zokugcina imfihlo azenzile. Futhi, umbhangqwana wamaMormon ungaqinisa umshado wawo ethempelini “phakade naphakade” ukuze umkhaya wawo uhlale uhlangene ezulwini, lapho lombhangqwana ungaqhubeka khona uzala abantwana.

ISonto LikaMormon laziwa ngesimiso salo sokuxhasa ezenhlalakahle, esamiswa ukuze “kuqedwe isiqalekiso sobuvila.” Sixhaswa amalungu ebandla adela ukudla kabili ngenyanga futhi anikele imali yako esontweni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kufuneka okweshumi okumisiwe kweholo lawo. Umkhaya nabangane banikela ngezimali zokusekela izithunywa zevangeli ezingamaMormon. Ngokuvamile lezi izinsizwa nezintombi, ezichitha iminyaka engaba mibili enkonzweni.

Ukuzidela, imikhaya esondelene, nokusiza umphakathi kuyizici zokuphila kwamaMormon. Kodwa kuthiwani ngezinkolelo zamaMormon?

AmaMormon NeBhayibheli

“Sikholelwa ukuthi iBhayibheli liyizwi likaNkulunkulu uma lihunyushwe ngendlela efanele,” kusho isimiso sesi-8 se-Mormon Articles of Faith. Kodwa siyanezela: “Sikholelwa futhi ukuthi iNcwadi kaMormon iyizwi likaNkulunkulu.” Nokho, abaningi bayazibuza ukuthi kungani kudingeka eminye imibhalo?

Umdala uBruce R. McConkie wagomela: “Abekho abantu emhlabeni abazisa iBhayibheli kakhulu [njengamaMormon]. . . . Kodwa asikholelwa ukuthi . . . iBhayibheli liqukethe zonke izinto ezidingekayo ukuze sisindiswe.” UMongamel’ uGordon B. Hinckley wabhala epheshaneni elithi What of the Mormons? ukuthi amahlelo namasonto amaningi ahlukahlukene “afakazela ukuntula kweBhayibheli.”

Abalobi bama-LDS basola ukuthembeka kweBhayibheli ngenxa yokukhishwa kwamazwi athile namaphutha okuhumusha okuthiwa kukhona. Umphostoli wamaMormon uJames E. Talmage, encwadini yakhe ethi A Study of the Articles of Faith, uyanxusa: “Khona-ke iBhayibheli malifundwe ngokwesaba nangokucophelela ngokomthandazo, umfundi aqhubeke efuna ukukhanya koMoya ukuze aqonde phakathi kweqiniso namaphutha abantu.” U-Orson Pratt, umphostoli wamaMormon wakudala, waqhubeka ethi: “Ubani owaziyo ukuthi likhona yini ngisho nevesi elilodwa leBhayibheli eliye lasinda ekungcolisweni?”

Nokho, kulendaba kubonakala amaMormon engawaqapheli wonke amaqiniso. Yiqiniso, umbhalo weBhayibheli uye wakopishwa futhi wahunyushwa ngokuphindaphindiwe eminyakeni edlule. Nokho, ubufakazi bokuhlanzeka kwawo ngokuyinhloko buqand’ ikhanda. Kuye kwaqhathaniswa izinkulungwane zemibhalo yakudala yesiHeberu neyesiGreki namakhophi amuva eBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, uMqulu Ka-Isaya WasoLwandle Olufile, wangekhulu lesibili B.C.E., waqhathaniswa nombhalo waseminyakeni engaphezu kweyinkulungwane kamuva. Ingabe kwangenela ukonakala okungathi sína? Ngokuphambene nalokho, ukuhlaziya kwesazi esithile kwathi amaphutha ambalwa atholakala “ngokuyinhloko kwakungamaphushana okuloba asobala nokuhluka kwendlela yokubhalwa kwamagama.”a

Ngemva kokuchitha ukuphila konke ehlolisisa, owayengumqondisi weBritish Museum uSir Frederic Kenyon wavuma: “UmKristu angathatha iBhayibheli futhi asho ngaphandle kokwesaba noma kokungabaza ukuthi uphethe iZwi likaNkulunkulu leqiniso, eliye ladluliswa ngaphandle kokulahlekelwa okukhulu ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane phakathi namakhulu eminyaka.” Ngakho, amazwi omhubi aseyiqiniso nanamuhla: “Amazwi kaJehova angamazwi ahlanzekileyo, anjengesiliva elihlanjululwé esithandweni emhlabathini, lihlanjululwé kasikhombisa.” (IHubo 12:6) Ingabe sidinga okwengeziwe ngempela?

I-Book of Mormon kweyesi-2 Nephi 29:6, iyahlambalaza: “Uyisiwula oyothi: IBhayibheli, sinalo iBhayibheli, futhi asilidingi elinye.” Nokho, amaMormon amaningi aye azindla ngamazwi omphostoli uPawulu aqatha eBhayibhelini kweyabaseGalathiya 1:8 (King James Version): “Noma kungaba-yithina noma ingelosi evela ezulwini enishumayeza ivangeli eliphambene nalelo esanishumayeza lona, makabe-ngoqalekisiweyo.”

Izazi zama-LDS zichaza ukuthi umbhalo omusha awukhona okungaphezu kwalokho okushiwo eBhayibhelini kodwa umane uyakucacisa noma ukuphelelise. “Awukho umbango phakathi kwalokhu okubili,” kubhala uRex E. Lee, umongameli waseBrigham Young University. “Kokubili iBhayibheli neNcwadi kaMormon kufundisa icebo elifanayo lensindiso.” Ingabe lezi zincwadi ezimbili ziyavumelana? Cabangela icebo lamaMormon lensindiso.

“Lokho UNkulunkulu Ayikho Manje, Umuntu Angase Abe Yikho”

“Nakuba singakhumbuli,” kuchaza uLee, “sasiyimimoya ngaphambi kwalokhu kuphila.” Ngokwalenkolelo yama-LDS yokuphila phakade, ngokulalelisisa umuntu angase abe unkulunkulu—umdali onjengoNkulunkulu. “UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe wake waba yilokho esiyikho manje, futhi unguMuntu ophakanyisiwe, futhi usesihlalweni sobukhosi emazulwini phezulu,” kusho uJoseph Smith. “Kumelwe nina ngokwenu nifunde ukuba ngoNkulunkulu, . . . njengoba kuye kwenza bonke oNkulunkulu ngaphambi kwenu.” Umprofethi wamaMormon uLorenzo Snow wathi: “Lokho umuntu ayikho manje, uNkulunkulu wake waba yikho; lokho uNkulunkulu ayikho manje, umuntu angase abe yikho.”

Ingabe ikusasa elinjalo likhona eBhayibhelini? Okuwukuphela kwesithembiso sobunkulunkulu esilotshwe lapho kwakuyisithembiso esiyize sikaSathane uDeveli ensimini yase-Edene. (Genesise 3:5) IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wadala u-Adamu no-Eva ukuba baphile emhlabeni futhi wabayala ukuba bakhiqize umkhaya wesintu owawuyophila lapha ngenjabulo phakade. (Genesise 1:28; 3:22; IHubo 37:29; Isaya 65:21-25) Ukungalaleli kuka-Adamu ngamabomu kwaletha isono nokufa ezweni.—Roma 5:12.

I-Book of Mormon ithi ukuba u-Adamu no-Eva ababeyimimoya bahlala bengenasono, babengeke babe nabantwana futhi babengeke bajabule, babeyohlala bodwa ePharadesi. Ngakho incazelo yayo yesono sombhangqwana wokuqala oshadile yayihilela ukuba nobuhlobo bobulili nokuzala abantwana. “U-Adamu wona ukuze abantu babe khona; futhi abantu bakhona, ukuze babe nenjabulo.” (2 Nephi 2:22, 23, 25) Ngakho kuthiwa imimoya esezulwini ilindele ithuba lokuphila emhlabeni onesono—isinyathelo esidingekile ukuze iphelele futhi ibe onkulunkulu. Umagazini wama-LDS i-Ensign uthi: “Sibheka lokho u-Adamu no-Eva abakwenza ngokwazisa okukhulu kunangokunengeka.”

UJoseph Fielding Smith, umshana kaJoseph Smith, uthi: “Lemfundiso [yokuthi umuntu wayeyindalo ewumoya] eBhayibhelini ayiqondakali kahle . . . ngenxa yokuthi izinto eziningi ezisobala neziyigugu ziye zakhishwa eBhayibhelini.” Eqhubeka uthi: “Lenkolelo isekelwe esambulweni esanikezwa iSonto, ngo-May 6, 1833.” Ngakho-ke, nakuba ilamukela igunya leBhayibheli, lapho kunokungqubuzana imfundiso yama-LDS inikeza ukubaluleka okukhulu amazwi abaprofethi bawo.

I-Book of Mormon—Isisekelo Sokholo

UJoseph Smith wadumisa i-Book of Mormon ngokuthi “incwadi enembe kunazo zonke emhlabeni, nesisekelo senkolo yethu.” Kuthiwa izingcwecwe ezithile zegolide zaziwumthombo wemibhalo yakhe. AmaMormon angu-11 avuma ukuthi azibona lezi zingcwecwe. Nokho, lapho eqeda lencwadi, uSmith wathi lezi zingcwecwe zathathwa zayiswa ezulwini. Ngakho, azitholakali ukuze kuhlaziywe umbhalo.

I-Pearl of Great Price (bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 20) ilandisa ngoProfesa Charles Anthon owaboniswa ikhophi yeminye yalemibhalo futhi wathi ithembekile futhi ihunyushwe ngokunembile. Kodwa lapho etshelwa ngomsuka walezi zingcwecwe, ukulandisa kuthi wasihoxisa isinqumo sakhe. Nokho, lokhu kulandisa kubonakala kungavumelani nokusho kukaSmith ukuthi nguye kuphela owayenesiphiwo sokuhumusha ulimi lwalezi zingcwecwe, “ulwazi izwe elingazange liluthole.” Ingabe uProfesa Anthon wayengathi unembile umbhalo ayengenakuwufunda futhi kanjalo engenakuwuhumusha?

I-Book of Mormon icaphuna kakhulu iKing James Version yeBhayibheli, enesiNgisi sikaShakespeare, kakade esase sibhekwa njengolimi lwakudala osukwini lukaJoseph Smith. Kuye kwaxaka abafundi abathile ukuthi i-Book of Mormon, incwadi “enembe kunazo zonke,” icaphuna okungenani amagama angu-27 000 ngokuqondile enguqulweni yeBhayibheli okuthiwa igcwele amaphutha naleyo uSmith ayibukeza kamuva.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 20.

Ukuqhathanisa uhlelo lokuqala lwe-Book of Mormon nohlelo lwamanje kwembulela amaMormon amaningi iqiniso elimangalisayo—ukuthi incwadi okuthiwa “yahunyushwa . . . ngesiphiwo nangamandla kaNkulunkulu” yona ngokwayo iye yashintshwa ulimi, indlela yokubhalwa kwamagama, nalokho ekuqukethe kaningi kangaka. Ngokwesibonelo, kunokudideka okusobala ngokuthi ungubani “uYise ongunaphakade.” Ngokohlelo lokuqala kweyoku-1 Nephi 13:40, “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu linguYise Ongunaphakade.” Kodwa izinhlelo zakamuva zithi “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu liyiNdodana kaYise Ongunaphakade.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) Imibhalo emibili yokuqala ka-1830 ye-Book of Mormon isekhona. Omunye walemibhalo emibili yokuqala, ogcinwe i-Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, unegama elithi “iNdodana” elinezelwe phakathi kwemigqa.

Ngokuphathelene nombhalo wamaMormon i-Doctrine and Covenants, incwadi ethi Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, yesazi sama-LDS uLyndon W. Cook, iyachaza esanduleleni: “Njengoba ezinye izambulo ziye zabukezwa yilawo makomiti ayemiselwe ukuba azihlele ukuze zinyatheliswe, kuye kwaphawulwa ukunezelwa nokukhishwa kombhalo okuphawulekayo.” Olunye ushintsho olunjalo lutholakala kuyi-Book of Commandments 4:2, eyathi ngoSmith: “Unesiphiwo sokuhumusha lencwadi . . . Anginakumnikeza esinye isiphiwo.” Kodwa lapho lesi sambulo sinyatheliswa futhi ngo-1835 kwethi Doctrine and Covenants, sasifundeka kanje: “Ngoba angiyikukunikeza esinye isiphiwo ize iphele.”—5:4.

Izimpicabadala Ezingokomlando

Abanye bakuthola kunzima ukuvuma ukuthi kuthiwa amaJuda angaba ngu-20 ashiya iJerusalema aya eMelika ngo-600 B.C.E. kodwa eminyakeni engaphansi kwengu-30, ayezale futhi ahlukana aba izizwe ezimbili! (2 Nephi 5:28) Phakathi neminyaka engu-19 lifikile, leli qembu elincane kuthiwa lakha ithempeli “elifana nethempeli likaSolomoni . . . , futhi ubuciko elakhiwa ngabo babuphambili ngempela”—umsebenzi omkhulu ngempela! Ukwakhiwa kwethempeli likaSolomoni eJerusalema iminyaka engu-7 kwakudinga izisebenzi, izingcweti, nababonisi abangaba ngu-200 000.—2 Nephi 5:16; qhathanisa neyoku-1 AmaKhosi 5, 6.

Abafundi abacophelelayo be-Book of Mormon baye badidwa izenzakalo ezithile ezibonakala zingahambisani nokulandelana kwezinto ngokwesikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo, izEnzo 11:26 zithi: “Kwaqala eAntiyokiya ukuba abafundi bathiwe amaKristu.” (KJ) Kodwa u-Alma 46:15, okuthiwa uchaza izenzakalo zango-73 B.C.E., ukhuluma ngamaKristu eMelika ngaphambi kokuba uKristu eze ngisho nasemhlabeni.

I-Book of Mormon ibonakala iwukulandisa okungokomlando kunokuba umbhalo wezimfundiso. Amazwi athi “futhi kwagcwaliseka” avela cishe izikhathi ezingu-1 200 ohlelweni lwamanje—cishe izikhathi ezingu-2 000 ohlelweni lwango-1830. Izindawo eziningi okukhulunywa ngazo eBhayibhelini zisekhona, kodwa cishe zonke izindawo ezithintwa kuyi-Book of Mormon, njengeGimgimno neZeezrom, azaziwa.

Ukulandisa kwamaMormon kukhuluma ngezindawo ezinkulu ezazakhiwe ezwekazini laseNyakatho Melika. UHelaman 3:8 ufundeka kanje: “Futhi kwagcwaliseka ukuthi bande futhi basakazeke . . . ukuze bemboze ubuso bawo wonke umhlaba.” NgokukaMormon 1:7, izwe “laligcwele izakhiwo.” Abantu abaningi bayazibuza ukuthi akuphi amanxiwa alemiklamo esabalele. Ikuphi imisebenzi yobuciko yamaNephite, njengemali yegolide, izinkemba, amahawu, nezivikelo zesifuba?—Alma 11:4; 43:18-20.

Ecabangela imibuzo enjalo, amalungu enkolo yamaMormon kufanele azindle ngokungathi sína ngamazwi kaRex E. Lee ongumMormon: “Ukuthembeka kobuMormon kuqiniswa noma kuchithwe incwadi iSonto elithathé kuyo igama lalo.” Ukholo olusekelwe olwazini oluqinile olungokomBhalo, kunokuba lusekelwe emthandazweni ongokomzwelo, luwabekela inselele amaMormon aqotho—kanye nabo bonke abathi bangamaKristu.

Isisekelo Sokubuyiselwa

Kwakuyisiyaluyalu esingokomoya esasimzungezile esabangela ukuba uJoseph Smith azonde amahlelo alwayo osuku lwakhe. Amanye amadoda anokholo angaphambili, angesikhathi sakhe, nalandela kusukela ngaleso sikhathi aye afuna ukubuyela okholweni lweqiniso.

Siyini isibonelo sobuKristu beqiniso? Akuyena yini uKristu owabeka “isibonelo sokuba nilandele ezinyathelweni zakhe”? (1 Petru 2:21, KJ) Ukuphila kukaJesu Kristu kuphambene ngokuphelele nemfundiso yenkolo yama-LDS. Nakuba uJesu ayengazincishi injabulo, ukuphila kwakhe okulula kwakungenaso isifiso sokuqongelela ingcebo, udumo, noma amandla ezombangazwe. Washushiswa ngoba ‘wayengeyena owezwe.’ (Johane 17:16, KJ) Injongo eyinhloko yenkonzo kaKristu kwakuwukukhazimulisa uYise, uJehova, nokungcwelisa igama laKhe. Kungokufanayo nangabafundi bakaJesu beqiniso. Babheka insindiso yabo njengento eza kamuva.

UJesu wafundisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu, wacaphuna kulo ngokukhululekile, futhi waphila ngalo. UBrigham Young wathi ngeBhayibheli: “Sithatha lencwadi njengesiqondiso sethu, esibusa izenzo zethu; siyithatha njengesisekelo sokholo lwethu. Isibonisa indlela eya ensindisweni.” (Journal of Discourses, uMqulu XIII, ikhasi 236) Ngakho wanxusa: “Thatha iBhayibheli, uliqhathanise nenkolo yama-Latter-day Saints, futhi ubone ukuthi izophumelela yini.” (Discourses of Brigham Young) Akuwona amaMormon kuphela kodwa zonke izinkolo ezithi zingezobuKristu kumelwe zikwamukele lokhu kuvivinywa, ngoba uJesu wathi: ‘Abakhulekayo abaqinisileyo bayakukhuleka kuBaba ngomoya nangeqiniso.’—Johane 4:23, KJ.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 20]

Imibhalo Engcwele Yamamormon

NGAPHANDLE kweBhayibheli ne-Book of Mormon, ama-Latter-day Saints asebenzisa eminye imibhalo eminingana.

I-Doctrine and Covenants: Lena ngokuyinhloko iqoqo lalokho uJoseph Smith akubiza ngokuthi izambulo ezivela kuNkulunkulu. Ngezinye izikhathi lezi zambulo ziye zabukezwa kuye ngokwezenzakalo zezimfundiso nezingokomlando.

I-Pearl of Great Price: Lencwadi iqukethe ukubukeza kukaJoseph Smith incwadi yeBhayibheli kaGenesise, isahluko 24 sikaMathewu, nomlando kaSmith. Iqukethe nenguqulo kaSmith ye-papyrus ayithenga ngo-1835. Wathi iwumbhalo ka-Abrahama ngokwakhe owawulandisa indlela asindiswa ngayo ingelosi lapho umpristi othile ezama ukumenza umhlatshelo e-altare. Le-papyrus yatholakala futhi ngo-1967 futhi yahlolwa idlanzana lezazi zezinto zaseGibithe. Umbiko othile uthi lathola ukuthi “alikho negama elilodwa lenguqulo okuthiwa ekaJoseph Smith elalifana nokuqukethwe yilencwadi.” Kwatholakala ukuthi yi-Book of Breathings, incwadi yomngcwabo yaseGibithe egqitshwa nabafileyo. Umbhalo wokuqala kaSmith ubonisa ukuthi wasebenzisa amagama esiNgisi angu-136 ekuhumusheni umfanekiso waseGibithe omelela “ichibi.”

Inguqulo yeBhayibheli kaJoseph Smith: Ngo-1830, uSmith waqala ukubukeza iNguqulo kaKing James yeBhayibheli, angazange ayiqede. Wabukeza amavesi angaba ngu-3 400 futhi wanezela ukwaziswa okuningi, kuhlanganise nesiprofetho ekuphetheni kukaGenesise esiphathelene nokuza kwakhe ‘njengomboni okhethiwe.’ Njengoba lombhalo wasala kumfelokazi kaSmith, ongazange abe umlandeli kaBrigham Young, isonto laseSalt Lake alivamile ukucaphuna kuwo, nakuba wamukeleka njengonembile.

Ezinye izimfundiso “eziphefumulelwe”: Lezi zingadluliswa umprofethi wesonto osaphila nganoma isiphi isikhathi futhi zinegunya elilingana neleBhayibheli Elingcwele. Inkulumo yeNkos’ uFollett eyanikezwa ngo-1844 iyisibonelo. USmith wanikeza lenkulumo yomngcwabo woMdala iNkos’ uFollett achaza kuyo imfundiso yomuntu oba unkulunkulu noNkulunkulu oba umuntu. Itholakala kuyi-Journal of Discourses, iqoqo lezinkulumo zikaSmith, uYoung, nezinye izikhulu zamaMormon zekhulu le-19.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 21]

Umkhaya Wonkulunkulu Bamamormon

UNkulunkulu: UYise wabo bonke oNkulunkulu, unomzimba wenyama negazi.—Doctrine and Covenants 130:22.

U-Elohim: Ngezinye izikhathi kubhekiselwa kuye njengomuntu oyedwa. Uchazwa futhi njengomkhandlu woNkulunkulu abahlela umhlaba.—Doctrine and Covenants 121:32; The Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 4:1; Journal of Discourses, uMqulu I, ikhasi 51.

UJesu: UNkulunkulu noMdali womhlaba wonke, uMsindisi.—3 Nephi 9:15; 11:14.

UJehova: Igama likaJesu laseTestamenteni Elidala.—Qhathanisa noMormon 3:22; Moroni 10:34; ne-index ye-Book of Mormon.

UZiqu-zintathu: UNkulunkulu oyinhloko yabantu bomoya abathathu abahlukene, abangafani, uYise neNdodana, begazi nenyama, noMoya Ongcwele.—Alma 11:44; 3 Nephi 11:27.

U-Adamu: Umsizi kaJesu ekudaleni. UBrigham Young wathi: “Ubaba wethu u-Adamu weza ensimini yase-Edene . . . kanye no-Eva, omunye wabafazi bakhe. . . . UnguBaba wethu noNkulunkulu wethu.” (Journal of Discourses, uMqulu I, ikhasi 50, uHlelo luka-1854) Ngemva kokona kwakhe, u-Adamu waba umKristu wokuqala emhlabeni. (The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 6:64-66; Ensign, ka-January 1994, ikhasi 11) ‘UngoMdala wezinsuku’ (Doctrine and Covenants 116) futhi unguYise kaJesu ongokwenyama.—Journal of Discourses, uMqulu I, ikhasi 51.

UMikayeli: Elinye igama lika-Adamu, ingelosi enkulu.—Doctrine and Covenants 107:54.

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Amamormon, Ubuzwe, Nezombangazwe

UJOSEPH SMITH—umprofethi, umboni, nomambuli, ngokwenkolelo yamaMormon—wayebuye futhi abe umphathi-dolobha, umgcini-zimali, umkhuzi wamabutho, nomuntu oqokelwe ukhetho lobumongameli e-United States. Elandela ukuhola kwakhe, amaMormon amaningi angabashisekeli bezombangazwe. Leli sonto liyazigqaja ngefa lalo lobuMelika futhi ligomela ngokuthi uNkulunkulu waqondisa ukubhalwa koMthetho-sisekelo wase-United States. UBrigham Young wathi: “Lapho . . . uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uqala ukubusa, ifulege lase-United States liyophephezela ngeqholo othini lweNkululeko namalungelo alinganayo, ngaphandle kwesici.”

Isimiso se-12 se-Articles of Faith sithi: “Sikholelwa ekuzithobeni emakhosini, komongameli, kubabusi, nasezimantshini, ekulaleleni, ekudumiseni, nasekusekeleni umthetho.” Ukuzithoba kwawo kufinyelelaphi? Lapho i-United States ingenela iMpi Yezwe I, uMdala uStephen L. Richards waqinisekisa: “Abekho abantu abaqotho kuhulumeni wase-United States njenge-Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.” Omunye umdala wathi: “Lapho silwa siyonqoba ngamandla kaNkulunkulu.”

Isimiso 12 sasisebenza futhi ngakolunye uhlangothi lwempi. UProfesa Christine E. King waseStaffordshire University wabhala: “AmaMormon aseJalimane akhuthazwa ukuba alwele izwe lawo futhi athandazele ukuba linqobe.” Isonto lathi ayengalwi nabafowabo abangamaMormon baseBrithani naseMelika, kodwa ayelwa nabameleli bakahulumeni. “Umehluko onjalo, nakuba usobala, waqeda ukungabaza kokuziphatha nokungokwenkolo kwamaMormon aseJalimane.”

Lapho uHitler eqala ukubusa, inkambiso yamaMormon yokumsekela ngenhliziyo ephelele yaqhubeka. UDkt. King wabhala: “AmaNazi awazange abhekane nokumelana noma ubufakazi bokugxeka obuvela esontweni lamaMormon.” Ukugcizelela kwamaMormon ukuhlanzeka kobuhlanga nokushisekela izwe kwakwemukeleka esontweni, futhi kumaMormon amaningi, “ukuxhumana kokholo lwawo nezombangazwe zeThird Reich kwakusobala.” Lapho amaMormon amaningana eba nesibindi sokumelana noHitler, awazange asekelwe izikhulu zamaMormon. “Isonto lalishisekela izwe futhi liqotho futhi lalahla noma ikuphi ukuhlaselwa kukahulumeni wamaNazi.” Leli sonto laze laxosha ebandleni elinye imbuka ngemva kokufa lapho amaNazi eselibulele.b

Yeka indlela okuhluke ngayo kulabo abadunyiswa kuyi-Book of Mormon ku-Alma 26:32: “Babengadela ukuphila kwabo kunokuba baze babulale isitha sabo; futhi baye bagqiba izikhali zabo zempi ekujuleni komhlaba, ngenxa yokuthanda abafowabo.”

UJesu wachazela uPilatu: “Uma umbuso wami ubungowalelizwe, izikhonzi zami zaziyakulwa ukuba nginganikezelwa kubaJuda.” (Johane 18:36, King James Version) Abafundi bakhe kwakungafanele bathathe izikhali bavikele iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, kungasakhulunywa ngempi phakathi kohulumeni. Kwakufanele bathande ngisho nezitha zabo.—Mathewu 5:44; 2 Korinte 10:3, 4.

KunamaKristu eqiniso namuhla aye alondoloza ukungathathi-hlangothi okuqinile njengabantu ngabanye nanjengeqembu. Incwadi ethi Mothers in the Fatherland yathi: “Selokhu baba khona oFakazi BakaJehova baye bama beqinile behlukene nanoma imuphi umbuso.” Ngakho-ke, phakathi nokubusa kukaHitler ngonya, “benqaba ngokusobala ngokomuntu ngamunye, ukulalela umbuso wamaNazi nganoma iyiphi indlela.”

Nakuba izinkulungwane zabo zabulawelwa ukholo, oFakazi BakaJehova balalela amazwi kaJesu: “Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.”—Johane 13:35, KJ.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Ibhayibheli Nemibhalo Yamamormon—izimfundiso Eziphambene

IBhayibheli: Nakuba indawo ingaziwa ngokuqondile, ngokunokwenzeka insimu yase-Edene yayisendaweni yaseMesopotamiya ngaseMfuleni i-Ewufrathe.—Genesise 2:11-14.

I-Doctrine and Covenants: Insimu yase-Edene yayiseJackson County, eMissouri, e-U.S.A.—Doctrine and Covenants 57, njengoba kwachaza uMongamel’ uJ. F. Smith.

IBhayibheli: Umphefumulo uyafa.—Hezekeli 18:4; IzEnzo 3:23.

I-Book of Mormon: “Umphefumulo awunakulokotha ufe.”—Alma 42:9.

IBhayibheli: UJesu wazalelwa eBetlehema.—Mathewu 2:1-6.

I-Book of Mormon: UJesu wayezozalelwa eJerusalema.—Alma 7:10.

IBhayibheli: UJesu wazalwa ngomoya ongcwele.—Mathewu 1:20.

I-Journal of Discourses: UJesu akazange azalwe ngomoya ongcwele. Wazalwa ngenyama ngokuthi u-Adamu abe nobuhlobo bobulili noMariya.—Journal of Discourses, uMqulu I, amakhasi 50-1.

IBhayibheli: IJerusalema Elisha lalizoba sezulwini.—IsAmbulo 21:2.

I-Book of Mormon: IJerusalema Elisha, lasemhlabeni, lalizokwakhiwa abantu eMissouri, e-U.S.A.—3 Nephi 21:23, 24; Doctrine and Covenants 84:3, 4.

IBhayibheli: Abalobi beBhayibheli baphefumulelwa ukuba babhale imiqondo kaNkulunkulu.—2 Petru 1:20, 21.

I-Book of Mormon: Kuthiwa abaprofethi bayo babhala ngokolwazi lwabo siqu.—1 Nephi 1:2, 3; Jacob 7:26.

IBhayibheli: UMthetho kaMose, kuhlanganise nokungenisa okweshumi, kwaqedwa ngokufa kukaJesu. Iminikelo kufanele yenziwe ngokuzithandela, hhayi ngokucindezelwa.—2 Korinte 9:7; Galathiya 3:10-13, 24, 25; Efesu 2:15.

I-Doctrine and Covenants: “Ngempela . . . usuku lokuba abantu bami bangenise okweshumi; ngoba lowo ongenisa okweshumi akayikushiswa (ekufikeni kwayo [kweNkosi]).”—Doctrine and Covenants 64:23.

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Isithombe sikaMoroni phezu kweThempeli likaMormon eSalt Lake City