“Crazy Mormon Belief: More Scripture” Excerpt from realmormonism.com

Ok, so what’s the deal with Mormons having more scripture than the Bible? Haven’t they ever read Revelation 22:18:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

That seems pretty clear to me! But wait a second, let’s think through this for a minute. John wrote the book of Revelation that is quoted above. Many mainstream Christian scholars now acknowledge that Revelation was likely not the last book of the Bible that was written. Actually, it was probably the first one John wrote, even before the Gospel of John. Does that mean that John will have the plagues of God added to him?

I guess I should also mention that the Bible wasn’t compiled at the time John wrote that in Revelation and wouldn’t be for a long time. Does that mean that John was just writing that for the Book of Revelation and not for the entire Bible then?

Ok, so maybe this isn’t a crazy belief that the Mormons have. Of course John won’t have any plagues added to him, because YES, John was just referring to the Book of Revelation when he wrote that and not the entire Bible. Therefore, this scripture does not rule out further scripture.

Still not convinced, huh? What if we take a look at Deuteronomy 4:2:

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

When you compare that scripture with the one in Revelation, there are a lot of similarities. In fact, it sounds like the same warning. But it’s obvious to all Biblical readers that the one in Deuteronomy is referring only to that book of scripture and not the Bible up to that point (or else the rest of the Bible would be null and void).

In the Book of Mormon, in 2 Nephi Chapter 29, the Lord reveals:

Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles
of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

So, what are the key takeaways then? First, nothing in the Bible precludes there being additional scripture if the Lord so commands. Second, the Lord loves and has guided His children in all parts of the world, not just Jerusalem. As a result, this “crazy Mormon belief” of having additional scripture isn’t so crazy after all!