If that's the case then why doesn't Psalms or Isaiah spell out the name J-e-s-u-s C-h-r-i-s-t in its translation?? The answer is because the translators of the Bible took special care in not imposing their own thoughts upon the original writers. An accurate translator will convey the meaning of the word in context.
But we all know that Joseph Smith could not do a literal TRANSLATION of egyptian. In fact, we have proof in the Book of Abraham, and the Anthon manuscript, now don't we?
Come on nowandlater....ya gotta use your brain. That's why God gave it to you...You know, "the glory of God is intellegence?" The ONLY reason I brought it up was because sevenbak did. Frankly I think it is a little too deep for the FR reading public. But if you want to maintain the discussion, I could start a thread over in the Religion section. Would you like to join me?
For myself, I'll pass... Been there...
No thanks. I am not interested in going the rounds back and forth about my faith--I have been doing it for years and I have gained little value from it. Both sides always start out with either the most optimistic or most negative assumptions possible and I think neither cases are legitimate.
Let me give you example:
The Mountain Meadow Massacre--
Extreme Anti-Mormon sentiment:
Brigham Young conspired and coordinated to kill the Fancher Party emigrating from Arkansas to California.
Extreme Pro Mormon Sentiment:
The Indians did it and the Mormons only got involved because the Arkansas Mericats poisoned wells and killed Mormons.
Likely Middle Ground:
No coordination by Brigham Young because the 4 wagons that went north from Salt Lake City was never harmed at all even though they traveled weeks through Mormon communities. This destroys the thesis that Brigham Young coordinating if he decided to wipe out only half of the Fancher party.
James Buchanan declaring war against the Mormons and the Fancher party making threats of recruiting a mercenary army to kill the Mormons, and the local leaders erronously thinking that the party was spying for the United States Army were more likely reasons why the local Mormons overacted and killed the second half of the Fancher party which went through Southern Utah.
These circumstances are the biggest reasons for the attack, because the Mormons had never attacked any before that or anyone after and that was the conditions that were in play.
I acknowledge that both the extreme positions are wrong but the anti's are like most issues very unreasonable and ascribe the worst motives and the worst possible conclusion. I can't have discussions with that kind of mindset and maybe you don't think this way and are more reasonable but I am not willing to find out.