Why a Catholic might decline the invitation
Patrick Madrid says God’s public revelation is complete in Christ and has been handed down in Scripture and Apostolic Tradition. He invokes Galatians 1:8 and argues that a Christian has no need to pray for confirmation of a book that departs from that revelation. Jimmy Akin makes a related distinction in dialogue with Latter-day Saint scholar Robert Millet. He allows prayerful openness for someone who is still trying to identify God’s revelation. Once someone has accepted an authoritative revelation, Akin says to judge new claims in its light. Madrid’s essay · Akin–Millet dialogue
The Catholic Catechism teaches that Christ is the fullness of revelation and that no new public revelation is expected before his return. It recognizes a role for private revelations that help people live the faith already received. The Book of Mormon claims to be scripture for the Church and the world, so the Catholic objection concerns its public authority. Catholics receive the limits of public revelation through the teaching authority of their Church as well as their reading of Scripture. Akin expressly identifies Tradition as part of his basis for that limit. Catechism §§65–67 · Dei Verbum §§4, 7–10 · D&C 20:8–12
What does Paul say to test?
Galatians 1:6–9 makes the content of a message the test. Even an angel must be rejected if he teaches a gospel contrary to what the Galatians received. Latter-day Saints can agree to that test. The argument then needs a comparison between the apostolic teaching and the disputed teaching in the Book of Mormon. Paul’s warning applies to a different gospel. Ruling out every later public witness also requires a premise about when public revelation ended. Galatians 1:6–9 · What Paul taught about the gospel
Latter-day Saints believe the Book of Mormon bears another witness of the same Christ. In 3 Nephi 27, Jesus identifies his gospel with coming to do the Father’s will, being lifted up on the cross, and drawing people to himself. Compare Paul’s account of Christ’s death, burial, and Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. The shared message matters. A claim that some other teaching conflicts still deserves a direct comparison. Madrid, for example, also makes a separate argument about the Book of Mormon’s language about skin color. 3 Nephi 27:13–21 · 1 Corinthians 15:1–8 · Read the case on Madrid’s skin-color objection
Akin names a specific example. In 1 Nephi 13, Nephi sees precious parts of the gospel lost after the message goes forth and later records making those things known. Akin sees that as a claim to correct definitive revelation. The Latter-day Saint reading distinguishes Christ’s original gospel from how it was handed down. Restoring lost teachings would preserve what Christ revealed. That answer moves the dispute to a historical and theological question about the transmission of the faith. 1 Nephi 13:24–29, 39–41 · What would establish that teachings were lost?
What can prayer contribute?
Moroni invites readers to remember God’s mercy, ponder, and ask in Christ’s name with sincere intent. The Church’s missionary guide asks readers to study the book and seek their own witness through the Holy Ghost. A personal witness can matter to the person receiving it. In a conversation about two passages, both people can still read the texts and ask whether the alleged contradiction follows. Moroni 10:3–5 · Preach My Gospel, chapter 5
I understand why you would test any claimed revelation against the faith you’ve received. Which passage do you think conflicts with the apostolic gospel? Let’s read the two texts together. We can also discuss what would establish that God closed public revelation after the apostles. If you want to pray as you read, ask God for help understanding what’s true.