Cain

Introduction to Heart of the Matter

LIVE! From the “Mecca of Mormonism” Salt Lake City, Utah – THIS . . . is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. . . . “Where Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity Face to Face.” Show 12 Cain March 23rd 2010

And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host. If you have family or friends who cannot get Heart through television give them a call and tell them to go to www.hotm.tv and they can watch through streaming video from anywhere in the world!

Resources and Opportunities

Hey . . . “I was a Born-Again Mormon” The manuscript is available online through a downloadable PDF. Go to www.hotm.tv and you can have the book in your hands within minutes.

How about joining a weekly verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. never denominational Bible Study? We meet every Sunday at either Utah State in Logan or at the U of U in Salt Lake City. Go to www.calvarycampus.com for more information like times and directions.

Here is an exciting announcement. Beginning April 4th KUTR Radio – the Truth, AM 840 – is going to start airing replays of Heart of the Matter every Sunday afternoon from 1 to 2 pm. The Truth is an awesome Christian radio station with great programming. So start tuning into AM 820 – especially in Sundays from 1-2 for replays of Heart of the Matter.

Hey, we have an opportunity to take Heart of the Matter national. If you are a fan of the program and are not currently supporting us, we could use the support now. Again, no pressure and only under these two conditions – ready? That you are led of the Lord and if you support your own church first. Give it some thought and prayer. It is a wonderful opportunity to expose the truths of Mormonism more deeply to the nation. And with that let’s have a prayer.

Defining "Anti-Mormon"

My good friend Dave asked me a question the other day that I thought made a great point. Just exactly what is an “anti-Mormon?” Really? All over the internet and in day to day conversations I have been labeled an “anti-Mormon.” I mean the title was given to me within a week of airing this show.

The irony is I present Mormonism – and work very hard to present Mormonism as it is. If someone calls and says, “So Mormon’s don’t believe in Jesus,” I will go to great lengths to correct them. It is vitally important to our ministry to paint Mormonism as best we can for what it is. The point is, we are not presenting anti-Mormonism, we are presenting Mormonism.

And THEY don’t like to hear it! You see, they have a sales pitch. And there is a certain order to which they reveal their doctrine and practices. And if you expose the facts about their history and doctrine out of the accepted order, without the lilting tones and accepted word-smithing, you're considered an anti-Mormon. Because I say that a family-sized bag of Fritos contains 3200 calories and 300 grams of saturated fat does it make me “anti-Frito?”

Maybe to Frito-Lay who wants to sell their product with glossy photos of fun-filled parties and picnics, but to the searching public, we're just providing facts.

Scripture and Interpretation

Three weeks ago when we talked about the Bible I said that you can use the Bible to prove anything. We had a studio audience member come up unrehearsed and give a false premise he made up out of his head – that Jesus was married – and I said I could use the Bible to prove this falsehood true. So here goes.

Few people understand the importance of order and consistency in the Bible. What happens when is paramount to God and His awesome Good News. Paul called Adam the “first man,” and Jesus the “Last Adam.” The first Adam, accompanied by a woman taken from his side, Eve, introduced sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. into this world by virtue of rebellion. The Last Adam, who through obedience and His overcoming death, introduced salvation.

In the First Adam’s case, sin and death were introduced to the world by a couple; a couple who was one – Adam and Eve. Is there consistency here with the second Adam, who overcame sin and death? Certainly! For is there not significant symbolism and meaning in the fact that out of all the people who could welcome Jesus back from the grave, it would be His very own Eve – namely, Mary Magdalene? I mean it was Mary Magdalene who even ran and told even Peter that the Lord had risen!

Why? It was Mary Magdalene who reached out to touch Him, but whom He had to refuse because He had not yet ascended into heaven? Why? Because Jesus was married!

And in order

Scripture Twisting and Assumptions

to be called Rabbi, which He was, didn’t Jesus need to be married too? Finally, we have another interesting twist to the idea that Jesus was married. That is in all probability, Jesus was also a polygamist! Evidence for this is found in His own teaching of the Ten Virgins. Remember, in Matthew 25, there are ten virgins all coming to the wedding, and there is only one Bridegroom! Eh? Eh? Eh? Based on these oh-so-logical evidences, I think we can safely assume that Jesus was . . . .

You see how we can twist scripture? Summarize without facts. Hypothecate upon a few sayings? Could it be, instead, that Mary Magdalene was most grateful for the Lord – and therefore most distraught over His death – that she was up earliest that day wandering in hope and despair? Could it be that He had changed her life forever, casting out seven devils that had made their home in her person and she KNEW He would return? Could it have been she possessed more faith than them all? That she trusted in His promises or longed for His presence? Could it be that I simply made all that junk up just this morning? You know, that “first couple and the last couple” stuff which was a pure figment of my imagination?

Do we realize that while Jewish law states:

(R. Isserles on the Shulchan Arukh OH 581:1)

“. . . that only one who is married may lead the congregation in worship – but that the title of this Rabbi this is the Hazzan/Shaliah Tzibbur and it may not be the kind of non-married Rabbi whose only function would have been to teach?”

Anyone can take the Bible, and by using their own imagination, their ability to influence others, and the implementation of partial truths, give it meaning where there is none. Anyone including Joseph Smith. May God forgive me of this example.

Mormonism and Joseph Smith's Interpretations

And with that, let’s have a prayer.

FLASHING GRAPHIC:

This is not truth, it is an example of scripture twisting!

In one of the most insightful books on Mormonism, LDS author Grant Palmer points out that one of the things Joseph Smith did in presenting his version of the Gospel was to sort-of “out do” other faiths in areas of the miraculous as Book of Mormon miracles were often far more impressive and hyperbolic than those found in the Bible. I would suggest he applied this game of religious “one-up’s-manship” to many things LDS.

Think about it. In Mormonism, Joseph supplied answers – CERTAINTY – to things like where everyone came from – “a pre-existence;” and he answered what the faithful are going to be doing once life was over – “become gods;” and gave a name to what the planet closest to God’s throne was – “Kolob;” and he even, through his supposed “gift of seership” said a pile of bones found out in the wilderness actually belonged to a great Lamanite warrior named . . . “Zelph!”

“Zelph!” for goodness sake!

Examination of Biblical Narratives

Having the inside story on almost every biblical mystery you can imagine, Mormonism doesn’t hold back in providing information on any subject . . . including the person CAIN, whom we will discuss tonight. Let’s go to the primary Christian text – the Bible, Genesis chapter 4 – and read about Cain.

Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Now it seems that Cain and Abel were probably twins based on the Hebrew wording here. And Abel was a keeper of sheep–literally, "a feeder of a flock," which, in Oriental countries, always included goats as well as sheep. Now notice that Abel, though the younger, is mentioned first here, probably on account that he possessed some pre-eminence of a spiritual character.

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. In process of time most likely means "at the end of days," or in other words, “on the Sabbath.” Now We don’t know Cain’s heart here, but we do know he did bring an offering.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the…

God's Interaction with Cain and Abel

Fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: Now it is believed, because of the Hebrew text here again, that the Lord’s approval of Abel’s offering was shown by it being consumed by fire.

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

“Why are you angry, Cain? You act as if you were treated unfairly?”

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Consequences of Cain's Actions

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. So here Cain became a fugitive whose labor would not be prosperous. He was condemned to perpetual exile and became a degraded outcast.

13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Cain was upset with his punishment but it doesn’t seem that he was too upset with his sin. Anyway, he articulates his case to God. (verse 14)

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. Now, remember, this is only a story about the earth’s first murderer. It tells us all we need to know. And it reveals the fears Cain has for being cast out and for being guilty of murder as he says, “everyone who finds me will slay me,” which I think shows the population of the area had greatly increased at this point.

15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. Now hear this clearly – by a special act of forbearance, of love and mercy, the life of Cain was to be spared in the then small state of the human race. God said, If you slay Cain you will experience a sevenfold condemnation. And then it tells us that the LORD set a mark upon Cain.

The Mark of Cain

This does NOT mean it was any visible mark or brand on his darned forehead, or black skin, for goodness sake, but some sign or token of assurance that his life would be preserved. It may be that God only gave him some sign or mark that would assure him that he would not be slain. What we do know is God did NOT believe it necessary to tell Moses to tell us what the mark was. (verse 16)

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And so in the normal context of the story, Cain left Eden, severed from his relatives and in all probability casting off all relations with God.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

So Cain had a wife, and sons, and industry. And it seems, from scripture that his posterity distinguished themselves in the arts. We also know that polygamy was introduced to the human race by Cain’s son Lamech. Cain’s descendants in the Bible are listed out to the sixth generation, and then they seem, like other corrupted men’s seed, to have disappeared into oblivion.

SUPPORTIVE NOTE: (“had respect unto Abel, not unto Cain”) The words, "had respect to," signify in Hebrew,–"to look

Joseph Smith's Interpretations of the Story of Cain

"at any thing with a keen earnest glance," which has been translated, "kindle into a fire," so that the divine approval of Abel's offering was shown in its being consumed by fire (see Ge 15:17; Jg 13:20).

With the exception of a few references to Cain in the New Testament, the Bible says little about Cain. I mean, he is part of the story of the first murder and the punishment that follows. For what reason does more need to be said… unless a person or group is in the business of making myths and scriptural mountains out of mole-hills. Enter the Latter-day Saints, more specifically, Joseph Smith Jr. its founder, who, as he did in the case of Kolob, Zelph, Mohonri Moriancumer, and a host of other unprovable exaggerations, made up a very insensitive and destructive myth about Cain. Most of this information can be found in Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible, known as the Inspired Version.

These extra verses which Joseph produced straight out of his head, tell us that Cain, son of Adam and Eve, came under the influence of Satan, whom "he loved…more than God" (Moses 5:18), and that he thereafter became the founder of “secret societies whose purposes include to "murder and get gain." (Moses 5:31; cf. 5:49-51). The emphasis Joseph Smith put on “secret societies” was a direct result of the secret Masonic societies, which Joseph detested at one point and which flourished over most of settled early America. Joseph’s translation says that when Eve bore Cain, she rejoiced in the prospect of a child who would accept his parents' teaching concerning the true Son (Moses 5:7-8) saying, "I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject his words.” But later we read:

“But behold, Cain hearkened not, saying: Who is the Lord that I should know him?" (Moses 5:16).

Cain's Offering and Rejection

Joseph informs us in his retranslation of the Bible that it was Satan who commanded Cain to make an offering to the Lord. And once Cain followed Satan's instruction, his offering was rejected. Joseph Smith Moses 5:18,21 tells us that “Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him" Smith tells us that earlier instructions from an angel to Adam and Eve had emphasized that animal sacrifice "is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father…. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son" (Moses 5:7-8). Therefore, according to Smith, Cain already knew what was acceptable to God – animal sacrifice – but he refused to follow counsel (TPJS, pp. 58, 169). Because Cain had possession of a body – and Satan doesn’t – Joseph also lets us know "[Cain] would rule over him [Satan]; for from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his [Satan's] lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world. And it shall be said in time to come-That these abominations were had from Cain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God" (Moses 5:23-25; cf. TPJS, p. 190).

Cain also tells us why he killed Abel as Joseph writes: “And Cain said unto the Lord: Satan tempted me because of my brother's flocks. And I was wroth also; for his offering thou didst accept and not mine" (Moses 5:35-38). Joseph then tells us that Satan had convinced Cain that by committing murder he would acquire both power and wealth. To support this, Joseph actually ties Cain to Masonic rhetoric which originated no earlier than the late 1600’s in England or France, and actually has Cain say of himself: "Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain" (Moses 5:31).

The Foundation of Secret Combinations

Mormon’s believe that this became the foundation of the secret combinations instituted by Cain in collusion with Satan and perpetuated by Cain's descendant Lamech and other secret combinations found on earth today! (Moses 5:47-52). Even in the Book of Mormon, the theme of secret combinations is frequent and reoccurring. Referring to Cain, Book of Mormon character Moroni said that he does not write the manner of their oaths.

Claims of Cursing and Markings

“Whoso buildeth a secret combination seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar…who caused man (Cain) to commit murder from the beginning [Ether 8:20, 25].

But the scathing fictional and mythical blame for all things evil upon Cain do not end with his authoring dreaded “secret combinations,” but the LDS have long pinned black skin as the mark God placed upon him for murdering Abel. And this black skin is what black people today – African Americans – bear as his, CAIN’S, descendents. Again, another example of Joseph producing a myth to explain everything. You know, God is pretty simple in his love, and beauty and creative skill. To him, black is beautiful. So is brown and white and gray and yellow and red. These attributes God gave cannot be altered, anymore than a Zebra’s stripes are altered because he is naughty.

Listen to what God says in Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” This is the simple, beautiful, open way of God. Black skin came as a result of God and His creative providence. But needing to answer everything so as to be the sole authority on earth . . . on everything, Joseph was willing to speak for God, call it scripture, and sway millions toward some very ugly thinking. Listen to the result, for example, of Joseph’s teaching that Cain was cursed with a black skin.

Joseph's Teachings and Their Impact

LDS prophet Joseph Fielding Smith said:

"Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race." Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, p. 101

Brigham Young said in his Journal of Discourses,

"some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind" and then connected them to Cain and Joseph’s scriptures surround the teaching he said, "the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin."

A Controversial Perspective

LDS Apostle – APOSTLE – Mark E Peterson said in all seriousness from a pulpit at BYU when I was a youth,

“Think of the Negro, CURSED AS TO THE PRIESTHOOD…. This negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a BLACK SKIN, and possibly being born in darkest Africa—if that negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. IN SPITE OF ALL HE DID IN THE PRE-EXISTENT LIFE, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there AS A SERVANT, but he will get celestial glory.”

All because a man thought he had the right to change, altar, and add to the Word of God.

Let’s open up the phone lines:

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First time callers.
LDS callers if at all possible.
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While the operators clear your calls, let’s pay some bills.