LDS defend the faith as Christian

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 10/07/07 | By Peggy Fletcher Stack

[colorcountry]

Not only is Mormonism a Christian faith, it is the truest form of Christianity, said speaker after speaker on the first day of the 177th Semiannual LDS General Conference. LDS authorities were responding to the allegation that Mormonism isn't part of Christianity. Made by different mainline Protestant and Catholic churches and repeated constantly during coverage of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, the claim is based on Mormonism's beliefs about God, its rejection of ancient ideas about the Trinity still widely accepted, and the LDS Church's extra-biblical scriptures. "It is not our purpose to demean any person's belief nor the doctrine of any religion," said Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland in the afternoon session. "But if one says we are not Christians because we do not hold a fourth- or fifth-century view of the Godhead, then what of those first [Christians], many of whom were eye-witnesses of the living Christ, who did not hold such a view either?"

{snip}

The day's sermons included many familiar themes, including the importance of faith, the need for pure thoughts and actions, avoiding pornography reaching out to neighbors and eliminating spiritual procrastination. Hinckley talked about the destructive nature of anger in marriages, on the road, and in life, urging Mormons to "control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak with words of love and peace, appreciation and respect."

[Degaston]

So basically either the Book of Mormon is wrong and/or the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible is wrong. They both can’t be right. This is most certainly a big problem for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of which I’m a member and High Priest. The best thing for us to do is to repent and apologize for Joseph Smith and his lunacies.

[greyfoxx39]

I saw this post at exmormon.org...perhaps you will find it interesting: “In the Introduction to the Book of Mormon the second paragraph reads:“The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of the two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.”

This was included in the first printing runs of the Doubleday Edition.

In the latest printing of the Doubleday Edition of the Book of Mormon, the last sentence was changed to read:

“After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.”

The interesting thing is this change is not published anywhere. Additionally, the new Doubleday Edition still lists itself as a first edition. I am no publisher, but my understanding was when you made changes, you listed it as a second, third, etc. edition. The second edition also indicates that it is still first printing, which would be impossible since the change was made.”

If this is true, one would wonder why the change was made?

[MHGinTN]

It takes the Holy Spirit to reveal to your spiritual ‘ears/eyes’ what is error in a spiritual sense. You may already be a Christian and God wants to use you for the benefit of ‘your brethren’.

Maranatha, Jesus!

[Elsie]

If this is true, one would wonder why the change was made?

You're kidding; right??

[Elsie]

Here is some interesting data I just found:  --->  http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d10511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD

 

 

Membership 12,868,606
Missions 344
Missionaries 53,000
Missionary Training Centers 17
Temples 124
Congregations 27,475
Universities & Schools 4
Seminary Students Enrollment 362,756
Institute Students Enrollment 358,516
Family History Centers over 4,500
Number of Countries with Family History Centers 70
Countries Receiving Humanitarian Aid 163
Humanitarian Cash Donations Since 1985 $201 million
Value of Humanitarian Material Assistance Since 1985 $705 million
Welfare Service Missionaries
(Including Humanitarian Service Missionaries) 3,552
Languages Church Curriculum Available 178
201	22	$9,136,363.64	$0.71

 

So, in 22 years, 12+ million members gave $201 million or a bit over 9 million a year.

 

That works out to less than 3 quarters for each member; less than $0.75!

 

Oh how generous we are to outsiders!

[colorcountry]

Great links Degaston - thanks.

[colorcountry]

Ooooh that is valuable information and a poke right in their eye with a stick.

I doubt if most members ever work out the figures. The heirarchy tell them they do charitable work - the members show up at the cannery to can food supposedly going to outsiders, and in reality it’s .075 per member, per year. Classic!

[Degaston]

Here's a specific example.

  King James Version
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/6/13#13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

  Nephite Version
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/13/12#12
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

  Joseph Smith Translation to fix the Bible
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/jst/41
And suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil

  It looks like the Nephites got it wrong too. So much for the Book of Mormon being the most correct book on earth. This issue is simply indefensible for the TBM(s). They know that because they'd be defending themselves strongly if they had a case on this issue.

  My Sunday School teacher once told me to stay away from anti-Mormon literature. I guess that means I shouldn't be reading the LDS scriptures anymore.

[Missey_Lucy_Goosey]

Here are a few not far from Ogden.

New Song Presbyterian Church
Mailing Address:
PO Box 58568
Salt Lake City, UT 84158

Meeting Address:
859 S. 800 E.
Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Phone: 80-326-4239

Hidden Valley Presbyterian Church
Mailing Address:
12883 South 1300 East
Draper, UT 84020

Meeting Address:
Same Phone: 801-553-7144

Jordan Presbyterian Mission
Mailing Address:
9579 Kilmuir Circle
South Jordan, UT 84095

Meeting Address:
9000 South, 2125 West
West Jordan, UT

Phone: 801-280-6778
Fax: 801-282-6772

If you need further assistance, please feel free to ask.

[Missey_Lucy_Goosey]

picked on, but never a victim.

Challenging the doctrines of Mormonism or any other false religion is not "picking on". Joseph Smith, and all of Mormonism condemned all of Christianity and made it perfectly clear that they did not want to be associated with Christian churches, until recent decades when the Mormonism has made an effort to appear to be "mainstream Christian" and to improve it's image.

Would you call that "picking on" Christianity?

[Elsie]

I wonder if these folks ever get fresh faced missionaries, sitting in on their services, making notes of ALL the error they find there!

After all, ol’ Joe just KNEW that Presbytarianism was WRONG!

[Elsie]

Would you call that "picking on" Christianity?

I'd call it Wannabeism in action!

[greyfoxx39]

Joseph Smith, and all of Mormonism condemned all of Christianity and made it perfectly clear that they did not want to be associated with Christian churches, until recent decades when the Mormonism has made an effort to appear to be "mainstream Christian" and to improve it's image.

When I was mormon, there were continual references from the podium to mormonism being the "One True Church"...sounds like picking on all the OTHER churches to me. I'd still like to know how SLC is justifying THAT claim with demanding to be known as mainstream Christian.

"Oh, we REALLY don't mean that LITERALLY! We're just like you 'cause Jesus Christ is in our NAME and we use HIS name in prayers and songs." Convincing....NOT!

[MHGinTN]

Incredulous placemarkerFIP

[Missey_Lucy_Goosey]

I wonder if these folks ever get fresh faced missionaries, sitting in on their services, making notes of ALL the error they find there!

I doubt it. I've had Mormon missionaries literally run away when I've invited them to join me in an indepth study of the Bible.

You know as well as I that Mormon missionaries are taught by rote and not trained very well, and are told to flee from Christians who truly know the Bible.

[Elsie]

We’ve had the missionary guys come to our church (Wesleyan) before.

They sit in the back and are very polite and they will engage in conversation with people as they leave after the services.

---

Close to my house was a public grade school building that had become obsolete and sat empty for many years. I had even thought about buying it myself to convert into a BIG house, but the work would have been more than I could do myself.

Finally, the wreckers moved in and tore it down.

A new building started soon on the location and it’s turned out to be a large LDS church.

Situated on a busy street with a McDonald’s on the west of it, and, get this, a PRESBYTERIAN church on the east!

[Old Mountain man]

The Presbyterian Church is there for future expansion room.

[Elsie]

;^)

[Missey_Lucy_Goosey]

A new building started soon on the location and it’s turned out to be a large LDS church.

Situated on a busy street with a McDonald’s on the west of it, and, get this, a PRESBYTERIAN church on the east!

God ordained those Presbyterians to be exactly where they are, knowing the Mormons were on the way. :-)

[Old Mountain man]

Of course. He knew that the True Church would require additional parking at some point in the future and that a presbyterian church is well suited as a parking lot.

8-)