My two cents, plus a few dollars more:
After working in the wedding photo business for some time, I tired of the biblical quote wars and the my church v. your church wars. Consider the title of this thread that addresses restoration.
I see several versions of the bible in stores. Are these multiple “translations” restoration? It seems that religious factions are doing the same thing to the bible that liberals are doing to the constitution.
Once the Bible was printed, does anyone actually believe that communication between the Almighty and his children would have stopped?
Yes = no additions to the bible
No = additions to a continuing bible
One thing I learned was that religious businessmen protect their turf and income. They may appear kind-hearted and know how to use voice and physical gestures during their presentations to their adoring followers, but they are still just people like you and me. They may CLAIM to have a special connection with the almighty, but I will not agree to that claim.
If one wants true religion, take the money out of it; show that you are in it because of you will live your faith - not because you receive financial benefits. If you believe in the Commandments, live them! Do not live otherwise and rely on a tremendous belief in forgiveness. Hey, they are commandments, not suggestions!
Living life as a spiritual lawbreaker who relies on pardons is self-serving and makes no philosophical sense. Moreover, it hurts the works of those who truly toil to do God’s work.
If you got this far, I thank you for your time and consideration. If not, I “forgive” you!
Once the Bible was printed, does anyone actually believe that communication between the Almighty and his children would have stopped?
Yes = no additions to the bible
No = additions to a continuing bible
- - - - - - - -
You start out with a false premise. It is not an either/or God can (and does) speak to us through the Bible without the need for additions to it.
Just because they are not suggestions does not mean we have to work for our salvation. And being saved by Grace does not give us license to sin either.
The various Bible translations all say the same thing. So that is a non issue.
The LDS church is ALL about money, that is obvious. Their claim to a ‘restoration’ is because they think they are the ONLY ‘true’ Christians and the rest of us are ‘apostates’.
Are you LDS?
We are all spiritual lawbreakers and we all have to live on pardons. We don't earn forgiveness, it's given freely to us. Our works are not to earn our salvation, but are an expression of gratitude to God for what He has done for us.
God would not be known as a God of mercy if He did not pardon us but we had to earn our salvation. If we earned our salvation, it wouldn't be forgiveness and mercy. It would be what we were owed.
It does not denigrate our good deeds. On the contrary, God will reward them. But they do not earn our salvation any more than a child needs to earn his place in his family.