No, not related to my knowledge. Yes, I’m a genuine LDS apologist with more than 80 debates under my belt. However, I’ve grown tired of apologetics - the arguments are always the same and it is rare for me to encounter opponents who are capable of reasonable discourse. I even conceded a tongue-in-cheek defeat to a recent opponent to make him happy since he desperately wanted it for his ego despite the utter foolishness of his claim the Isaiah exclusivity passages support the Traditional Trinity and not the LDS threeness of the Godhead.
As a Mormon, I only abide by one standard: “Whatever is true and whatever is right.” This does not mean I believe the LDS church is perfect or has not taught errors, or has leaders that are infallible. I can point to numerous examples showing these are definitely not so. Despite this, I firmly believe it’s the true church and if it isn’t, then there is no “true church” on the earth, and probably no God either.
Why? Because only Mormonism resolves the problem of evil (http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/bicycleroad/21/id78.htm). Only Mormonism’s multiversal cosmology resolves the problem of a theistic-based reality (http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/bicycleroad/21/id76.htm)
Only Mormonism’s core doctrine of accepting “whatever is true and right” allows perfect resolution of science and religion.
I’ve encountered hundreds of apostates and critics of the church over the years and most refuse to discuss LDS doctrines honestly. They usually dismiss serious discussions out of hand as if not worthy of examination. Such closed mindedness puts to lie their claim of wanting to know the truth. And yet, I’ve also encountered those who simply didn’t understand the Gospel properly or approached it using false assumptions.
In my experience, people who leave the LDS church never do so out of doctrinal issues. Despite claiming they left because they learned the church was false; not one could prove it. Further digging revealed the real reason they left was because they were unable to keep the commandments like the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, or Tithing, were offended by a member or leader, never had a testimony to begin with, or had a false belief that they stubbornly clung to.
Still, I’ll concede there may be cases where this is not the case since it certainly is plausible; but I personally have never encountered them.
I know the church is supposed to have the majority of its members fall away in the Last Days in accordance with the Book of Mormon narrative and it is only the “Righteous Remnant” who will be saved. I’ve resolved to emulate Joshua and stand firm in faithfulness. I hope you return to the body of Christ’s Bride before it’s too late.
You fill the bill of the standard LDS apologist. LOL
You're not worth arguing with. You have already passed judgement upon me. I am beneath you.
In my experience, people who leave the LDS church never do so out of doctrinal issues. Despite claiming they left because they learned the church was false; not one could prove it. Further digging revealed the real reason they left was because they were unable to keep the commandments like the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, or Tithing, were offended by a member or leader, never had a testimony to begin with, or had a false belief that they stubbornly clung to.....
it is rare for me to encounter opponents who are capable of reasonable discourse
...... Such closed mindedness puts to lie their claim of wanting to know the truth. And yet, I’ve also encountered those who simply didn’t understand the Gospel properly or approached it using false assumptions.
And now we see the biggest threat Mormonism poses to Christianity. One only has to visit sites like ex-mormon.org to see the truth of your following statement. Mormonism has robbed its members of even a potential belief in the true God of Abraham, and the true Christ and the viability of the Bible as the word of God.
Despite this, I firmly believe it’s the true church and if it isn’t, then there is no “true church” on the earth, and probably no God either.
I will put you on my prayer list, Ed. There is no essential reason for you to spend the rest of your life in such confusion unless you prefer it that way. The true Church is connected via the Spirit indwelling the spirtis of those confessing Christ crucified and raised from the dead as your redeemer. According to the first Church Council at Jerusalem, THAT Church needs no temple ordinances or rituals of doctrine to establish Itself because God's Holy Spirit accomplishes the Building as He has since Pentecost. THAT did not cease to be built during the 1400+ years following the death of the last Apostle nor does it require a 'restoration' of temple ordinances and slavery to the law. The Truth of Christ is not buried in some fable offered by an adulterous conman who lived in the ninteenth century. The Turth of Christ is exposed for any to see in the Bible, first in the Old Testament then lived before men as testified in the New Testament.
You both appear to be very enamored with yourselves...
I can't count the number of "I's" in both your posts and homepages...
Humble you both are not...
IMO, you both are deceived.
Before you get all "het up" in that comment...That's not much different than you telling me that Mormonism is the "True Church", and if it's not...there's no God.
Basically it appears in that statement you've proven many questioner's of the BOM/Mormon's...right.
FWIW-
>> Still, I’ll concede there may be cases where this
>> is not the case since it certainly is plausible;
>> but I personally have never encountered them.
Well now you have in meeting me on this thread and I know dozens of people in the same boat as me. I left simply because I came to discover that the church isn't true and that the doctrines are manmade, period. And after I came to this unfortunate conclusion it took me 2 years of testing this conclusion very thoroughly to finally get up the courage to walk away. It wasn't because I was offended. It wasn't because of the LDS commandments. It wasn't because I never had a testimony. It wasn't because I was stubbornly clinging to some ANTI belief. I gave the church every benefit of doubt; and still will do so to this day.
Only Mormonism’s multiversal cosmology resolves the problem of a theistic-based reality.
Well of COURSE!!
You use the BoM and other utterances of your leaders to 'resolve' these issues.
A better case of circular logic I can't find.
Long ago, some othber fellow had a similar attitude:
Romans 11:1-5
1. I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
2. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel:
3. "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" ?
4. And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5. So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.