Idolatry and Salvation

Idolatry involves putting something that is not God in the place of God. An alternative god is whatever we value most. Since we tend to esteem most what we believe will satisfy us best, our idols are those non-God things we turn to most often for fulfillment. And our fulfillment requires not only getting more of what we need but also getting rid of what prevents us from wholeness. If we are unable to free ourselves from such obstacles, we need a savior. So idolaters will usually seek salvation apart from God. But salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon

I’m almost done reading the Book of Mormon. Is it “another testament of Jesus Christ”? I don’t think so. I’ve been listing reasons for my doubts: though it was allegedly composed by different people over hundreds of years, it has the same voice and style throughout; though most of the documents were purportedly written before Christ, they reflect the enlightenment ideals of democracy, liberty, and individual rights; though the gospel of Christ is hidden in the Old Testament, it is explicit in the Book of Mormon; and though it makes historical claims, there is no independent evidence they are true.