Did Joseph Smith in his original pimply-faced "first vision" give us an eternal testimony "explaining why we differ...and why we were wrong" as to what makes ANY of our creeds so putrid to the Mormon god? (No!)
Did Smith in that vision give us an eternal testimony "explaining why we differ...and why" as to what makes our believers 100% corrupt -- and Mormons NOT corrupt? (No!)
Did Smith in that vision give us an eternal testimony "explaining" where & why Presbyterianism -- which he mentioned by name -- was not "true?" (No!)
So you hold me -- somebody Mormons regard as an open "apostate" -- tho I was never Lds...to a higher standard than your own founding "prophet?" (Really???)
I do not see Jesus as a Celestial Santa Claus, who gives his believers salvation, just becasue they believed, but because they believed enough to do something about it.
Well, then have a fit with Romans 6:23 (not me): For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Have a fit with Paul & Silas (not me): He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I DO to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be savedyou and your household." (Acts 16:30-31)
Have a fit with Jesus (not me): Then they asked him, "What must WE DO to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work OF GOD is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29)
(Jesus wouldn't even let the questioners take credit for their work -- He said even to believe goes ONLY to God's credit! Paul reiterated that in 1 Cor. 12:3-- giving the Holy Ghost 100% credit for believing in Him)
And if you don't think it's 100% God's grace and 100% God's gift, have a fit with Paul, not me (see Eph. 2:8-9).
And the next time you don't want to treat your earthly father as an earthly "Santa Claus," then just start paying him back for all the gifts he gives to you IN THE FUTURE -- in the present -- in the past. (Otherwise, you wouldn't want him to start resembling that "Celestial Santa Claus" you so despise).
Jesus Gave Commandments, God always has. Jesus did not give these commands because he liked to hear himself speak, but becasue he expected us to actually believe enough to keep his commands.
Well, you started to get on the right course at the end of that statement when you said "actually believe enough to keep his commands" -- Another way of saying that is "faith works."
(If we were to have a careful Bible study together, I could point out all the verses that show that we're not expected to carry out those commandments according to our own wisdom, our own skill, our own energy, our own anything -- That's what the Holy Ghost living in us as a temple is all about -- something that gets short-shrift among Mormons because their "temple focus" is almost all 100% building and 100% ritual)
Bottom line. When we obey, we don't get the credit or glory. I thought Jesus has already made that crystal clear: So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" (Luke 17:10)
DU...you and I are mere servants. Unglorified ones at that. Until He lifts us from this earth and GIVES the 100% gift of glory. Anything we did in this lifetime, as long as wasn't done to audition for godhood & self-glory or done to parade before men, was merely what unworthy servants do. Mormons are trained to focus exclusively on worthiness. Jesus wants repentant, self-acknowledge 'unworthy servants.'"
Won't you join me, a poor, sinful, unworthy servant?
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?Mormons believe you need Faith and Works. There are places in the Bible that concentrate on faith, places that concentrate on Works, but there are also places that say you need both. Play the Get out of Hell free card all you want, as for me, I'll just do what Jesus commands.
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.