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REVERENCE FOR THE BIBLE -Mormon- (OPEN)
LDS Newsroom ^ | January, 2008

Posted on 02/23/2010 9:54:36 AM PST by greyfoxx39

During the past several years, scholars, religious leaders, journalists and the general public have steadily shown an increased interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Much of this attention has been focused on the question of whether it is a Christian faith. Central to this inquiry is the Church’s relationship with the Bible. Many have wondered whether Latter-day Saints believe in the Bible at all. Still others have supposed that the Church uses the Bible only when convenient, while shrugging it off as an inessential part of scriptural canon. With so many conflicting voices participating in this discussion, it may seem difficult to know where the Church stands on this issue.

The truth is that the Church reveres the Bible as a sacred volume of scripture. Latter-day Saints cherish its teachings and engage in a lifelong study of its divine wisdom. Moreover, during worship and instruction services the Bible and its teachings are pondered and discussed. To increase biblical understanding, the Church provides extensive resources and tools: lesson manuals, cross-reference materials, Bible maps, a Bible dictionary, and articles in various magazines. Thus, the Bible is much more than simply a collection of antiquated writings and revelations that have only scant relevance to the modern world. On the contrary, it stands in the center of the Latter-day Saints’ spiritual lives.

In a recent sermon, Church apostle Elder M. Russell Ballard characterized the Bible as the “bedrock of all Christianity” and one of the “pillars” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Furthermore, he described the Bible as a miracle: “It is a miracle that the Bible’s 4,000 years of sacred and secular history were recorded and preserved by the prophets, apostles, and inspired churchmen. … It is a miracle that the Bible literally contains within its pages the converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men’s hearts for centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find their Savior.” It instills real, tangible power in the lives of Latter-day Saints and offers practical solutions and spiritual guidance that inspire them to overcome challenges and trials.

There is a broad range of approaches within the vast mosaic of biblical interpretation. For example, biblical inerrancy maintains that the Bible is without error and contradiction; biblical infallibility holds that the Bible is free from errors regarding faith and practice but not necessarily science or history; biblical literalism requires a literal interpretation of events and teachings in the Bible and generally discounts allegory and metaphor; and the “Bible as literature” educational approach extols the literary qualities of the Bible but disregards its miraculous elements.

The Church does not strictly subscribe to any of these interpretive approaches. Rather, in the words of Joseph Smith, it regards the Bible to be the word of God, “as far as it is translated correctly” (8th Article of Faith). Accordingly, Church members believe that during the centuries-long process in which fallible human beings compiled, translated and transcribed the Bible, various errors entered the text. However, this does not override the overwhelming predominance of truth within the Bible. As Elder Ballard noted, “Without the Bible, we would not know of His Church then, nor would we have the fullness of His gospel now.” Part of that fullness is the Bible’s seminal instruction that God reveals Himself to those who seek Him. The Bible is a living invitation to know personally the sacred revelatory experience that fills its pages.

The scriptures, or “standard works,” of the Latter-day Saints comprise the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. According to Elder Ballard, these scriptures constitute a “great, indivisible whole” of God’s revealed word that help humankind understand the past, present and future. The great gospel plan contained in these works does not apply to one generation or one people alone but to all of God’s children throughout all time. Thus, in the words of Elder Ballard, “those who think that one part is more important or more true than the other parts are missing some of the beauty and completeness of the canon of ancient scripture.”

During previous periods of time when God organized His church, He added new revelations to pre-existing scripture, forming a connection between believers of the present and believers of the past. For example, the Old Testament book of Isaiah gives shape and meaning to the Gospel of Matthew. The two revelations need not be viewed as rivals competing with each other: the existence of one does not negate the relevance or legitimacy of the other. This ongoing revelation of scripture gives uniformity and continuity to an unfolding gospel narrative and unites people under one standard of doctrine.

Of all the standard works, the Bible remains the best source for an intimate understanding of the character and personality of Jesus Christ during His mortal mission. While the Old Testament offers a prophetic foretelling of that mission, the New Testament provides an unmatched account of the events, experiences, teachings and personal interactions of Christ. The Book of Mormon strengthens and reinforces His teachings through additional witnesses and provides moving accounts of the personal experiences many individuals had with Him. According to Elder Ballard, “The Book of Mormon does not dilute nor diminish nor de-emphasize the Bible. On the contrary, it expands, extends, and exalts it.”



TOPICS: Apologetics; General Discusssion; Other Christian; Other non-Christian
KEYWORDS: antimormonthread; bible; christian; cult; deception; lds; mormon; mormon1
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To: greyfoxx39
That must be in that alternate universe.
81 posted on 02/23/2010 12:17:37 PM PST by svcw (If you are going to quote the Bible know what you are quoting.)
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To: maine-iac7
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."?

As the Samaritan woman found out; Jesus was sent to the JEWS. The OTHER sheep are the Gentiles (That means non-JEW to you MORMONs).

82 posted on 02/23/2010 12:18:31 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: T Minus Four

ghimdgon-ti-kah-yahwee!


83 posted on 02/23/2010 12:18:42 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: greyfoxx39

Thanks for hopping right to it!

(Them goats don’t LIKE to be groomed! Show ‘em the brush and OFF they go!)


84 posted on 02/23/2010 12:19:50 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: svcw

The dog did it!


85 posted on 02/23/2010 12:20:14 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: svcw

But not NEARLY as eloquently!


86 posted on 02/23/2010 12:21:40 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Normandy
I know what I believe and I certainly believe in the Jesus Christ of the Bible.

Then WHY is your life so cluttered with all the extra things MORMONism requires of you?

87 posted on 02/23/2010 12:23:55 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger
5 Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.

Well; THERE's some guys we won't be seeing at the Great White Throne (judgement)!!



88 posted on 02/23/2010 12:26:38 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Vendome

May all of your curelom’s fleas infest your burnoose!


89 posted on 02/23/2010 12:27:46 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: greyfoxx39

Not so much knowledgeable I guess as a friend and business man.

Many of my friends are from each of the tribes I discussed and I have visited them all. My favorites being the Osage, the Pawnee and the Cherokee.

The Osage have the most beautiful lodge with their story depicted in mural or paintings on the walls.

The Pawnee have a fascinating history but I mostly like going to Pawnee Bills for Buffalo burgers.

The Cherokee, well they have song by Paul Revere and the raiders, LOL, but mostly my family part Cherokee though not enrolled.

I helped with the Cherokee agriculter project that Wilma Mankiller initiated as an independent and Cherokee Nation owned business that would provide a sustainable and even scalable business.

Her thought was to move the Cherokee’s to a conscious independence that would provide idle hands with work and a restorative work ethic that would result in greater personal pride and the collective pride of their nation.


90 posted on 02/23/2010 12:28:24 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: greyfoxx39

Gibber has an off axis moon called Jabber, I believe. Correct me if I am wrong, as I am so often on these threads.

Can I give a shout to Resty!!!


91 posted on 02/23/2010 12:30:45 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Vendome
ghimdgon-ti-kah-yahwee!

???
Is that reformed egyptian?

92 posted on 02/23/2010 12:32:20 PM PST by T Minus Four (I already have a Savior. It's a President I'm looking for.)
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To: greyfoxx39; T Minus Four; Tennessee Nana; svcw; Elsie; Godzilla

I will self correct my previous post as I see that was from the Redundant Galaxy and so the proper name should be Gibberish.

My apologies. ;-)


93 posted on 02/23/2010 12:32:21 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: svcw
the reply ‘no He was white”.

That's what ya get from looking at all of the artist's renditions of JESUS.

He's aMAZingly white and delightsome - quite unlike the word picture Isaiah paints of this JEWISH fellow; borne of Mary...


Isaiah 53

 1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

 2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

 3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

 9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

 10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

 11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

94 posted on 02/23/2010 12:32:57 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: T Minus Four

I have no idea. I am waiting for a revelation to learn what it is but it was inspired from on high of the celestial kingdom.


95 posted on 02/23/2010 12:33:16 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Vendome

mostly my family part Cherokee though not enrolled.
___________________________________________________

I have beautiful grandchildren who are Cherokee...


96 posted on 02/23/2010 12:33:25 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: Vendome

The Cherokee should have given me a spell checker and grammar checker for my work.


97 posted on 02/23/2010 12:33:51 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Well as you know parts of the Tribe did stop and settle in Tennessee.


98 posted on 02/23/2010 12:34:42 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Elsie

You’re to punny! LOL


99 posted on 02/23/2010 12:35:16 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Godzilla; svcw
Would I be correct in saying that you reverence the Bible inspite of all these well known errors?

thousands of errors over tens of thousands of ms resulting in <1% of the bible having any question as origional text

I'll take that as a yes. Perhaps we'll get a response from svcw at some point. :-)

100 posted on 02/23/2010 12:35:52 PM PST by TheDon
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