What's out of context? V. 18 of what I cited has a reference by Smith re: which of all the sects was right? Are you claiming that Protestants, Catholics or Orthodox don't apply to "the sects?" The verse after what I cited -- v. 20 -- shows Smith even being more more specific about one denomination in Protestantism: I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
Wanna tell us, Saundra, what "isn't true" about Presbyterianism? Or is it "OK" for Mormon bashers of Christianity to give vague, generic bashings minus specifics?
If I wanted to - which I don’t - I could dig up a lot of negative out-of-context stuff about Catholicism. But why? I have no axe to grind against Catholics.
Saundra, Scoutmaster didn't have dig deep into "obscureland" to find some hidden buried quote. He went to Lds.org, clicked on "menu," clicked on "scriptures," clicked on "Pearl of Great Price" -- one of the Mormon "scriptures" -- and then clicked on "Joseph Smith - History" -- also part of Mormon "scriptures."
Now that I think of it, there is an industry in place whose only purpose is to attempt to tear down and discredit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Big business. Raking it in hand over fist.
(There's $ in this? Hmmm...Why is it that this ministry has an "outflow" of expenses but zero coming in for me personally then? Could it be you are now guilty of judging my inner motives and falsely superimposing financial gain? Did you know that false accusations is a sin? Did you know that one of the names of the evil one is "accuser of the brethren?" Do you not believe that I am your brother from the pre-existence? And here you attribute false motives to me and judge my inward motivation? May I respectfully request an apology?)
I am perplexed as to why you continue to post over and over and over and over the same old anti Mormon stuff.
Because Lds who have come into Christ on this site -- posters like Szonian and Sentinel -- are worth it. Their souls -- and yours -- are loved by our Lord, Jesus. If your righteousness was enough, then we wouldn't have needed the perfect life of Jesus to have his righteousness take our place.
I was reading a Relief Society Personal Study Guide 4 published for Lds women in 1992 yesterday. I came across this sentence which shows how many Mormon women (& men) are still trying to "justify" themselves in the eyes of God/Jesus Christ:
In our efforts to BECOME JUSTIFIED and sanctified, we must not be discovered by our weaknesses. We must not give up or believe that THE GOAL is beyond our reach. As we continue to STRIVE, through faith in Christ and continued righteousness..." (p. 41)
* Yes, this life's sanctification is a process.
* Yes, we strive, seek to overcome, persevere, etc.
* And yes, we do that "through faith in the [true] Christ..."
* But, no Saundra, your leaders have led you astray if you think being "justified" is always the far-off future.
* Worse yet, your leaders have led you astray if you think that "striving" and "continued righteousness" on your part as anything to do with you becoming "justified."
The apostle Paul said: 9 Since we have NOW been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:9-11)
We have already been justified in Christ's blood, Saundra. We have already been reconciled to God!
You Mormons want to keep the world at bay from being reconciled to Heavenly Father unless we have some legalistic temple recommend! Because even though you say we can make it to heaven, you exclude us from that reconciliation Paul was talking about for legalistic reasons!
The blood of Christ justifies us! The blood of Christ acquits us -- even though we are guilty! The blood of Christ reconciles us to the Father! Stop the exclusiveness of our eternal relationship with Heavenly Father!
That's what her CHURCH has taught her; and her CHURCH's teaching is what she believes.