The laws of God are not arbitrary. Prayers are to God the Father in the name of Jesus only. So says Jesus Christ, whom will condemn you and cast you out at the last day for praying to anyone but His and our Father in Heaven.Are you telling us that Stephen -- because He prayed DIRECTLY to Jesus and not God the Father -- is to "condemned" & "casted out" at the "last day"???
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen PRAYED, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
Or, since you buy into the Book of Mormon, were those Mormonite Nephite disciples who prayed directly unto the Mormon jesus likewise condemned?
They prayed to him in 3 Nephi 19:7...again in v. 18...again in v.24... Then they thought that wasn't enough direct prayer to Jesus. So "he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him." (3 Nephi 19:24)
And what? The Mormon Jesus condemned them for praying directly unto him? (No!) "And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him" (3 Nephi 19:25)
"And Jesus said unto them: Pray on; nevertheless they not cease to pray." (3 Nephi 19:26)
So what? You arbitrarily dismiss Acts 7:59 and 3 Nephi 19 just so you can claim what your Mormon leaders claim to be the "absolute" laws of God?
Are you telling us that Stephen -- because He prayed DIRECTLY to Jesus and not God the Father -- is to "condemned" & "casted out" at the "last day"???
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen PRAYED, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
I see your cherry picking and selective editing skills are as good as ever.
The real scripture:
59 And they stoned Stephen,
calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
This is not a transcription, the writer wrote this down years after the event had occurred. I only know that Stephen was being stoned to death, I doubt if he could utter a formal prayer while people where beating him in the head with large rocks...He was calling to Jesus whom he could see. I explain more below.
They prayed to him in 3 Nephi 19:7...again in v. 18
And let the selective editing continue...sheesh
Here's the real 3 Nephi 19:
6 And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth,
and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus.
7
And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus. And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people.
8 And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken—nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken—behold,
they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus.
Jesus Himself praying to the Father...
22
Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them.
Jesus is standing with them and they are communicating with Him. Communicating with deity is called a "prayer". This is why Stephen's cry to Jesus is called a "prayer". He's looking into heaven and seeing Jesus. However, as 3 Nephi 19 states, Jesus taught them that formal prayers are to go to their Father in Heaven.
can claim what your Mormon leaders claim
If anyone would like to see what I would consider the perfect instruction on prayer they can
go here