[Reaganesque]

This bickering does point out one thing. Since so many traditional Christians have made the point that they view Mormonism as wholly incompatible with traditional Christianity, there exists only two options in the debate: either we are what you say we are, quasi-Christian cultists who have perverted Christ’s doctrines or we are, in fact, a restoration of what was corrupted by the precepts of man over the centuries. Question is: how do you know which is which?

[Revelation 911]

Since so many traditional Christians have made the point that they view Mormonism as wholly incompatible with traditional Christianity, there exists only two options in the debate:

yet you perpetuate the same - why not break the cycle?

Question is: how do you know which is which?

well, the Bible is quite clear for one about seeking discernment from the Holy Spirit.....that works for boths sides of the conversation

even if we disagree with the BOM as a source - can we at least agree on the authority of the Bible, and use that as a source ?

[greyfoxx39]

there exists only two options in the debate: either we are what you say we are, quasi-Christian cultists who have perverted Christ’s doctrines or we are, in fact, a restoration of what was corrupted by the precepts of man over the centuries.

Since one MUST accept that Joseph Smith actually WAS visited by two divine personages in bodily form appearing to him, whom he identified as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in order to accept the theory of "restoration of what was corrupted by the precepts of man over the centuries", I fail to see the problem.

[FatherofFive]

there exists only two options in the debate: either we are what you say we are, quasi-Christian cultists who have perverted Christ’s doctrines or we are, in fact, a restoration of what was corrupted by the precepts of man over the centuries. Question is: how do you know which is which?

We know it is the former from the Bible itself.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. " (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive, guided by the Holy Spirit, until he returns.

Mormons apparently believe that the Church first established by Christ lasted, what, a few years? It took a ‘restoration’ to rebuild that which could not be destroyed.

Make no sense whatsoever.