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LDS defend the faith as Christian
The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 10/07/07 | By Peggy Fletcher Stack

Posted on 10/08/2007 7:49:32 AM PDT by 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."


TOPICS: Current Events; Other Christian
KEYWORDS: boggsforgovernor; christians; denialofthetrinity; hatemongering; heresy; joinarealchurch; ldschurch; mormonbashing; notrinitynochristian; sorrynotickynowashy; trinty; unchristianbahavior
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To: Osage Orange
?? I aassume you are referring to Baptism for the dead?

Here is the reference to that for those following:

1 Corinthians 15:29
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

First, why were they baptising for the dead back then? We know that Christ preached unto the spirits in prison between his death and his resurrection (1 Peter 3:19)
Secondly, we know God to be just. The Church of Christ was baptizing for the dead back then because it is a required ordinance. We do the same today, and when Christ reigns presponally upon the earth for a thousand years during the millennium, the work will be done for all mankind, who has ever lived, who accepts Jesus as the Messiah, the Lord, the Savior. 1000 years! It makes perfect sense to me that it will take that long for all this to be accomplished. Billions have lived and live not knowing of Chirst. They are all God's children. He will give all men an equal chance.

761 posted on 10/17/2007 10:25:41 PM PDT by sevenbak (Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. ~Psalms 85:11)
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To: Osage Orange
Why are you even here...if you can't answer two questions?

Yes and No are two replys we usually don't give as answers to questions.

If we can't expound gobs of words on a subject (we call it 'explaining in full'), some of which will fall on BOTH sides of the aisle (which you Gentiles call 'spam') as well as containing a whole bunch of unrelated stuff about which then we'll ask YOU questions; then you'll find that we will just ignore what you've asked and go on to something else.

--MormonDude(Proud to have such a complete [restored] knowledge of all things Scriptural)

762 posted on 10/18/2007 1:23:32 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MHGinTN
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [King James Version]

Ah!

I see your problem!

Are you so SURE that verse is TRANSLATED correctly???

You see, JS was in the process of 'correcting' the KJV, that's why we have the JST.

--MormonDude(Although I still can't figger why GOD hasn't seen fit to have one of our past or present Living Prophets® finish the work...)

763 posted on 10/18/2007 1:27:53 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

(Although I still can’t figger why GOD hasn’t seen fit to have one of our past or present Living Prophets® finish the work...)

Hey Dude!!!

Maybe some things are more urgent!!

http://starbulletin.com/2007/10/16/business/story01.html


764 posted on 10/18/2007 1:29:54 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Osage Orange
I'm at a giant loss to understand the veil, the shadow that shields those that cannot see it.

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:14-17
14. But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

765 posted on 10/18/2007 1:34:10 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
They already know what is true because of their feelings.

Actually, from what I've read in these threads; because they prayed about it and got an answer that agreed with their feelings.

They do NOT go just on 'feeling', for that would be a man based orientation, but on actual answers to very specific prayers.


It's hard for me to understand, for it seems to me that would have the effect of doing away with faith.

If you've got ANSWERS, where is faith in the unknown?

766 posted on 10/18/2007 1:39:44 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Reno232
I’ll take your attempted slight as sheer ignorance. Not necessarily stupidity, just ignorance.

Ok then, do THESE verses apply today??

KJV Galatians 1:8-9
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

767 posted on 10/18/2007 1:41:43 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Reno232
But is there a difference between adding & restoring?

The LDS organization has NEVER shown anything to be GONE from Revelations, so the problem falls on them to PROVE that their 'additions' are TRULY restorations.

Some EX-LDS members HAVE 'prayed' about these things and gotten an answer of 'FALSE': That's why they are now EX'es.

768 posted on 10/18/2007 1:44:52 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Porterville
Many Catholics consider all other branches of Christianity cults.

And then, many Catholics are excepting and do not condemn other religions like some of the Southern Baptist folks I have met.

"Some" and "Many" can be applied to ANY group.

They are basically meaningless in trying to mold opinion, however.

769 posted on 10/18/2007 1:46:41 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Reno232
You are right to assert that Moses had no authority to change the commandments on his own but he did have the authority to change them under the direction of the Lord & this he did.

Oh?? Acutally...

You are right to assert that Moses had no authority to change the commandments on his own but he did have the authority to change them under the direction of the Lord & this he SAID HE did.

It boils down to TRUSTING JOSEPH SMITH!

770 posted on 10/18/2007 1:50:01 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Reno232
Have you not read the accounts of the miracles that Joseph Smith wrought?

Have you not read these verses??

NIV 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
9. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
10. and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

KJV 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

771 posted on 10/18/2007 1:53:03 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: sevenbak
I guess you can't comprehend too well:

See, this is exactly why I don't spend as much time here as I used to.

Oh my!

I've offended you!

I guess MY being shown that I do not comprehend how you look at Scripture should offend me; but it doesn't.

I choose to accept, that because of what we believe, we interpret Scripture to fit our beliefs - not the other way around.

772 posted on 10/18/2007 1:58:29 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: sevenbak
It has turned into nothing more than a hostile, contentious, name calling arena that lacks the spirit of the Lord.

I'm sorry you feel this way...

KJV Matthew 23:13-34
 13.  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
 14.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
 
 15.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
 16.  Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
 17.  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
 18.  And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
 19.  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
 20.  Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
 21.  And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
 22.  And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
 23.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
 24.  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
 25.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
 26.  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
 27.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
 28.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
 29.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
 30.  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
 31.  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
 32.  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
 33.  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
 
I would guess that even Christ would get admonished for HIS name calling!

 

773 posted on 10/18/2007 2:04:11 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: sevenbak
Since we accept the Biblical teaching of salvation, we accept the atonement of Christ.

Oh?  There seems to be some official disagreement on this point.

 
 


What Mormons Believe About Jesus Christ

We believe that He was born of a virgin, Mary, in Bethlehem of Judea in what has come to be known as the meridian of time, the central point in salvation history. We believe that while human works are necessary— including exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, receiving the sacraments or ordinances of salvation and rendering Christian service to our neighbors — they are not sufficient for salvation (2 Nephi 25:23; Moroni 10:32).

http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.062a5ea6a5e8d8661b622015f1e543a0?vgnextoid=84010fd41d93b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&hideNav=1&bucket=AllChurchContent&query=what+is+salvation&submit=Search


Grace

It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

(http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-salvation/the-atonement-of-jesus-christ)


Building a Bridge of Faith

Charles Didier

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of the plan of salvation, the promised reunion with our Heavenly Father, as we read in the book of Moses: “This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time” Salvation comes only by Jesus Christ and by our divine exercise of faith in Him, allowing us to repent of our sins and to receive the ordinances of salvation, the railings of the bridge.

Gospel Library > Magazines > Liahona > January 2002

http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.062a5ea6a5e8d8661b622015f1e543a0?vgnextoid=84010fd41d93b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&hideNav=1&bucket=AllChurchContent&query=what+is+salvation&submit=Search

 

774 posted on 10/18/2007 2:22:12 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: sevenbak
Faith and works, is like a man and wife... neither is one whole without the other, in the Lord.

The m&w thing is a bad comparison:

KJV Matthew 19:10-12
10. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

and...

St. Paul seems to have a differing opinion, too:

NIV 1 Corinthians 7:27
Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.

NIV 1 Corinthians 7:38
So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.

NIV 1 Corinthians 7:40
In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

775 posted on 10/18/2007 2:29:07 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: sevenbak
...and Jesus Christ takes up the slack.

Not for me: HE's done it ALL!


The Father requires perfection, and Jesus's blood washes me clean so that I can hopefully someday dwell with Him.

KJV John 6:28-30
28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.


NIV John 6:28-30
28. Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

776 posted on 10/18/2007 2:34:25 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Grig
He needed Mary to bring Christ into the world, he created Adam and Eve as male and female, married them and commanded them to have kids before the Fall happened.

Therefore it's ok to say He needs a Queen of Heaven Goddess type in order to make spirits, in your mind?

777 posted on 10/18/2007 5:05:38 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?)
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To: sevenbak; MHGinTN

Yeah, that abstinence from coffee and tea thing (works) is really a toughy isn’t it. LOL

Too bad you cannot take part of the ‘saving’ ordinances in the Temple if you’ve let the vile stuff pass your lips. Coffee and tea will keep you from the Celestial Kingdom.


778 posted on 10/18/2007 5:25:21 AM PDT by colorcountry (If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense, lest you get nonsense! ~ J. Vernon McGee)
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To: colorcountry

779 posted on 10/18/2007 6:54:41 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Sanctimony: Feigned piety or righteousness; hypocritical devoutness.)
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To: Utah Binger

Ah, but Binger....They TRY to prove their worthiness of the “Lard’s” blessings by abstaining from coffee.

What I don’t understand is these Marmons keep spouting “we believe in the atonement of our sins....We believe in grace.” Yet they don’t believe the atonement of Christ’s blood is powerful enough to absolve them of the sin of drinking coffee or tea or smoking a cig...or even not paying a 10% tithe. If a Mormon does any of these things they cannot take part in “saving ordinances” in the Temple. period.

It seems these apologists are trying to separate themselves from the meat of Mormonism and are trying to appear more like mainstream Christians. My grandmother would be appalled at their mambly-pambly pandering. I guess we know where Romney gets it. They are not only “in the World, but OF the World.” Haven’t they attended priesthood meeting lately?


780 posted on 10/18/2007 7:10:07 AM PDT by colorcountry (If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense, lest you get nonsense! ~ J. Vernon McGee)
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