A Treasured Testament (The Book of Mormon) (OPEN)

Ensign Magazine ^ | July, 1993 | Russell M. Nelson

[Elsie]

The Church is perfect but the people are not.

So...

Imperfect people came up with a perfect church.

O...

K...

[Elsie]

It is a fact that there was an extermination order.

It is a FACT that MANY MORMONs stayed behind when the big bunch left, and NOTHING was done to them.

Must have been a mighty weak ORDER.

[Godzilla]

Mormons are Christians on steroids.

Steroids destroy the body Sandra and provide only a temporary feeling of superiority that doesn't stand the test of time.

[Elsie]

 

I am proud of my Church’s history and I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

WHICH 'church'??

 

They ALL claim to be RIGHT!

 

 

(Very unifying that BoM!)

 

 

 

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"We do not indorse the teachings of any so-called Mormons or Latter Day Saints, which are in conflict with the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as taught in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. They have departed in a great measure from the faith of the Church of Christ as it was first established, by heeding revelations given through Joseph Smith, who, after being called of God to translate his sacred word--the Book of Mormon--drifted into many errors and gave many revelations to introduce doctrines, ordinances and offices in the church, which are in conflict with Christ's teachings."

-- David Whitmer (an elder in the Church of Christ), 1887

 

Today, there are as many as 100 organizations claiming to be a part of the Latter Day Saint movement, most centered in Utah or Missouri. Most regard their own group, however small, to be the only legitimate Christian church. Most of these organizations are very small, but overall, but the second largest denomination, the Community of Christ, reports over 200,000 members.

Just a sampling...........

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. The Church of Jesus Christ, and the LDS) is by far the largest Mormon denomination. It is a continuation of the "Rocky Mountain Saint" branch of Mormonism.
• The more liberal Community of Christ (formerly called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is second in size. It is a continuation of the "Prairie Saint" movement. Although generally referred to as "Mormons," they do not use the term themselves, because of its association with polygamy and because they believe the name was not part of the original church.
• Many additional small Mormon faith groups, including:
  • Aaronic Order: unknown membership; 6 centers; 20 ministers
  • Apostolic United Brethren: about 7,000 members. They disagree with the LDS' decision to allow ordination of African-Americans and allowing women to assume leadership positions.
  • Church of Christ (Fetting/Bronson): about 2000 members
  • Church of Christ (Temple Lot): about 2400 members
  • The Church of Christ "With The Elijah Message," established anew in 1929 12,500 members worldwide
  • Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite): about 2700 members
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: about 11 million members
  • The Community of Christ: about 250,000 members. This denomination was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- the "RLDS Church". It was formed in 1860 by remnants of the original church who did not make the trek to Utah. They reject certain beliefs and practices of the LDS church, including marriage sealing for eternity; they allow both men and women into the priesthood; their services are open to the public. They have about 250,000 members.
  • United Order Effort: a polygamy practicing group, excommunicated by the main LDS church,  of perhaps 10,000 members
  • The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It split from the Reorganized Church in 1991 because of the latter's liberal theology. It is centered in Independence, Missouri, and had an estimated membership of 2,500 in mid-1996. They publish a periodical "The Restoration Advocate" six times a year.

 

And the LATEST in the news: FUNDAMENTALIST Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[Elsie]

I actually took a U.S. History II college class ...

Where and who taught it?

[Elsie]

There have been many false prophets, but they have not achieved the success of the LDS church because of the bad fruit that they produce.

People living in DUBAI may have a bit different veiw.

[Godzilla]

I am proud of my Church’s history and I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So you are proud of the thousands of women forced into plural marriages and squalor, who were considered by your prophets to be nothing more than cattle and personal property?

[Elsie]

For example, where is the search for Nephi this year?

http://www.allentoursandcruises.com/july_tour_11.html

Take your pick!

[Elsie]

Do you ever just pause and think about that.

You ANTI's know full well that when the Prophet® speaks; the thinking has been done."!

[Elsie]

You left out ignorance and sophistry.

[Elsie]

You left out ignorance and sophistry.

[Elsie]

I don't recall the screen name of the one mormon man who saw the light as a result of being educated by the Christians who post here but one person coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is worth it all.

Was it Sentinel?

[Elsie]

An example of one prophecy that Joseph Smith got right can be found in Joseph Smith history 1:33.

You consider THAT to be PROPHECY??

Plain ol' common sense is all that's needed here!

[Elsie]

An example of one prophecy that Joseph Smith got right can be found in Joseph Smith history 1:33.

You consider THAT to be PROPHECY??

Plain ol' common sense is all that's needed here!

[Elsie]

 

 He knew that the prophecies of his true prophet Joseph Smith would be misinterpreted by his enemies.

 

Let's see if we can MIS-INTERPRET this one:

 

THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 132

 

  51–57, Emma Smith is counseled (commanded) to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

 

 

  51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to ^aprove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.

  52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, ^areceive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.

  53 For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been ^afaithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him.

  54 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and ^acleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be ^bdestroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law.

  55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an ^ahundredfold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of ^beternal lives in the eternal worlds.

  56 And again, verily I say, let mine handmaid ^aforgive my servant Joseph his trespasses; and then shall she be forgiven her trespasses, wherein she has trespassed against me; and I, the Lord thy God, will bless her, and multiply her, and make her heart to ^brejoice. 

 

 

 

 

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Whatever HAPPENED to Emma???

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Eliza was a devout Mormon. At age 38, she became Joseph Smith's 14th plural wife (in addition to Smith's lawful wife, Emma). In 1842, after learning Eliza was pregnant, Emma Smith beat Eliza with a broomstick and knocked her down a flight of stairs, causing Eliza to miscarry Smith's baby.

 

 

Wow!!

 

 

I guess ol' Emma got VAPORIZED by GOD!!!

 

 

We know that multiply him thing sure didn't work out!

[Elsie]

He did not say, By their prophecies ye shall know them.

 

Sorry; but yes, HE did!

KJV Deuteronomy 18:15-22
 15.  The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
 16.  According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
 17.  And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
 18.  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
 19.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
 20.  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
 21.  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
 22.  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

 

 

[Elsie]

Therefore Jesus has given us a new standard to use to judge between a true and false prophet.

Oh?

Just what IS that standard?

Got a verse or two?

Even one from the BoM will do...

[Graybeard58]

God bless him, yes, it was SENTINEL that I was trying to remember. Thanks.

[Godzilla]

The test of God’s Prophets comes from Jesus himself as quoted by Matthew 7:15-20 By their fruits ye shall know them.

Jesus is saying that these false prophets are known by false doctrine and evil living. Examples in the life of Joseph Smith -

1. Practiced polygamy and forced some women not bigamy in violation of the laws of Illinois, the United State, stated lds articles of faith and Doctrines and Covenants. Perjured himself in court claiming to only have one wife while being married to at least 11 other women. The fruit today is the FLDS.

2. Set up a phony banking scheme at Kirkland, defrauding many of their money and savings.

3. Ordered the destruction of a newspaper in Nauvoo when it published stories unfavorable to the "General" Smith.

4. Declared monotheism to be false (in-spite of preaching that false doctrine for many years) and began to teach in a polytheistic pantheon.

If you have the time Alan2, these are only scratching the surface.

[Colofornian]

God does not prosper the cause of a false prophet.

By this line of argument, the growing Jehovah's Witnesses must be an "adjunct" "true church" eh?