because they follow their "modern day prophet" and not Jesus.
Lord Jesus said plainly : "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me." [John 14:6]
Because, prior to the coming of Jesus, no one knows how to conduct oneself in this world. Many people searched their hearts as to the proper way to live their lives, e.g. Buddha of India, Lo-Chi of China, ...
After Jesus, we know the way : kindness, mercy, pure in heart (pure as a child), humble as a child, love even those who hate us, serve others (wash the feet of other people), faithfulness, justice, patient endurance, do not take vengeance with one's own hand .... (those teachings found in Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospels of New Testament). i.e. we do the teachings of Jesus and live a life like him.
Why do we still need human teachers where the full teachings of LORD and of Jesus are already in the Bible ?
Jesus : "The Law and the prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of GOD is preached, and every one enters it violently." [Luke 16:16]
Therefore salvation is complete after Jesus came to teach us those godly precepts (all those precepts may be found in the Gospel), therefore what is left is that we do those precepts in our life.
Sermon on the mount, which is repeated almost identically in the Book of Mormon, contains 95% of those precepts, some other precepts may be found in the Gospels, e.g.
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Jesus : Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. [Mt 7:15-20] Jesus : Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [Mt 18:3-4] Jesus : You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. [Mt 20:25-28] Jesus : The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves. [Luke 22:25-27] Jesus : Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great. [Luke 9:48] Jesus : But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. [Mt 23:8-12] Jesus : When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at the right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. [Mt 25:31-46] Jesus : For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand. [Mt 24:24-25] Jesus : I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou has hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was they gracious will. [Luke 10:21] And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?' And he answered, "you shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." [Luke 10:25-28] But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half-dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii, and gave them to the inn-keeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." [Luke 10:29-37] |
(The words Lord Jesus spoke to his disciples the night he was to be betrayed are extremely valuable to Christians [John Chapters 14-17], here I only quote one)
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Jesus : "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." [John 14:23-24] |