Elder Ballard responds to evangelical criticism

Deseret Morning News ^ | Dec. 6, 2007 | Jennifer Dobner

[fallingwater]

SALT LAKE CITY — When it comes to the big theological questions about God, Mormons and evangelical Christians will have to agree to disagree, a Mormon church authority said Wednesday.

"They're locked into the Nicene Creed . . . We're locked into the restoration and the experiences of Joseph Smith," said Elder M. Russell Ballard, a senior leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "And that will undoubtedly be an issue until God himself comes."

[Elsie]

I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well then; I guess you are quite assured that you have the truth.

Why do you hang around here then?

Merely to give a little support to your fellow Mormons who DO try to reeason with folks?

[Elsie]

I would appreciate it if you could address just a few of these in detail.

You just.. don't.. get.. it; do you?

We don't CARE about your silly arguments; we HAVE the TRUTH!!!

--MormonDude(Sheesh!)

[Elsie]

Show me the archeological evidence for Moses.

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[Old Mountain man]

Comment and commentor do not rate reply.

[Old Mountain man]

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[Old Mountain man]

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[tracer]

I didn't spell that word at all. "Peace on earth?"

Elevate your thoughts, such as they occur...

[tracer]

Glee over the assault of two missionaries and the pointless posting (what do they have to do with Moses?) of vile and horrific photos of the ultimate persecution of yet another faith is diagnostic of a sick and twisted mind.

Let's all dust our shoes on this doorstep and leave the haters here to swim in their own sewage.....

[tracer]

Of course, but coloNcountry didn’t write it. She only claims that it describes her piety.....

[DelphiUser]

You can't reduce it this matter to just voters opting for "someone sharing my faith..." 'cause even voters recognize the big difference 'tween a Southern-Baptist backgrounder like Bill Clinton & a say, a Mike Huckabee.

It's not as simple as that.

For some people it may be, for some people it may not be...

[DelphiUser]

1. No Book of Mormon cities have been located.

We have found many "old" cities here,especially in South america (south of the "narrow neck of land where most of the Book of Mormon takes place.) Have they been identified as BOM cities, yes by some IMHO overzealous Momrons, I think they are just guessing, again, that's my opinion without looking at the specific evidence.

2. No Book of Mormon names have been found in New World Inscriptions.

Un translatable inscriptions abound, so? Recently the names of Nephi and Alma were found in the dead sea scrolls, and some inscriptions have been found in the Americas in proto Hebrew.

3. No genuine inscriptions have been found in Hebrew in America.

This is not true, some inscriptions have been found on cliffs and in caves.

4. No genuine inscriptions have been found in America in Egyptian or anything similar to Egyptian, which could correspond to Joseph Smith's "reformed Egyptian."

I don't know, ahven't looked into this, did you know that no evidence has ever been found of Chariots in Israel? This in no way invalidates the Bible in my view.

5. No ancient copies of Book of Mormon scriptures have been found.

If you read the Book of Mormon and understand that the Plates were one set handed down from one prophet to another, you would not expect to see "Copies". To Mormons this is a silly complaint by someone who has not read a book critiquing.

6. No ancient inscriptions of any kind in America which indicate that the ancient inhabitants had Hebrew or Christian beliefs have been found.

There have been many inscriptions in South America that can be interpreted as " Christian".?

You seem to be focusing on The United States as "America when most of the Book of Mormon probably happened in South America?
7. No mention of Book of Mormon persons, nations, or places has been found.

The have in the dead sea scrolls, many prophets preached, one left, why note that?

8. No artifact of any kind which demonstrates the Book of Mormon is true has been found.

The church has many artifacts in it's archives, they have displays from time to time, no one outside the church seems interested.
9. Rather than finding supportive evidence, Mormon scholars have been forced to retreat from traditional interpretations of Book of Mormon statements.

Traditional interpretations on something new? Yeah, i'd hope we'd retreat from that, I also retreat from traditional interpretations of modern speech and American interpretation of some "English" speech as spoken by the British.

There, I have answered all of your questions, and off of the top of my head too. maybe, Mormons have not answered you before because they thought the questions rehtorical.

[Little Bill]

I am 4C Congregational myself, mixed marriage, the original Puritan Church, I can understand your search, I have some problems with LDS theology myself but I also recognize that there is good in it and that should not be discounted.

Luther said that every Man (Woman) is his own priest, the Pastor is mainly a first among equals. This leads to some interesting arguements with my Catholic and Anglican Relatives, LOL.

[Old Mountain man]

There’s enough here to float the Mighty Mo!

[tracer]

"Just don't expect to be protected by your underwear while you are one vacation to one of the wonderful Mormon archeological excavation sites!"

You shouldn't make such statements until you actual begin to wear underwear of any sort and actually take a vacation beyond your local waterpark.

You're still amusing, so I'll drop by every now and then for a good laugh. Until then, try to find a paying job so you won't have to spend several hours each day making an ass out of yourself in a chat room....

[greyfoxx39]

Let's all dust our shoes on this doorstep

[Old Mountain man]

You sure do like posting little pictures.

Let us know when you graduate from kindergarten.

[Colofornian]

Does this also translate into a mass LDS missionary recall from our neighborhoods, too?

[greyfoxx39]

Does this also translate into a mass LDS missionary recall from our neighborhoods, too?

Nah, those sweet mormon boys are on the front lines, while others sit behind their keyboards and rant.

If the mishies even dreamed of saying some of the things that we have seen from the ranters, they could possibly be in danger of a bloody nose.

[Old Mountain man]

Yeah, and if you came to my house saying some of the stuff you say, you had better pack an army.