Posted on 08/15/2010 2:44:17 PM PDT by greyfoxx39
One of the noteworthy examples of the Latter-day Saint commitment to treasure up true principles and cultivate affirmative gratitude is the admiration that Church leaders have expressed over the years for the spiritual contributions of Muhammad.
As early as 1855, at a time when Christian literature generally ridiculed Muhammad as the Antichrist and the archenemy of Western civilization, Elders George A. Smith (1817–75) and Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered lengthy sermons demonstrating an accurate and balanced understanding of Islamic history and speaking highly of Muhammad’s leadership. Elder Smith observed that Muhammad was “descended from Abraham and was no doubt raised up by God on purpose” to preach against idolatry. He sympathized with the plight of Muslims, who, like Latter-day Saints, found it difficult “to get an honest history” written about them. Speaking next, Elder Pratt went on to express his admiration for Muhammad’s teachings, asserting that “upon the whole, … [Muslims] have better morals and better institutions than many Christian nations.” 9
Latter-day Saint appreciation of Muhammad’s role in history can also be found in the 1978 First Presidency statement regarding God’s love for all mankind. This declaration specifically mentions Muhammad as one of “the great religious leaders of the world” who received “a portion of God’s light” and affirms that “moral truths were given to [these leaders] by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.” 10
In recent years, respect for the spiritual legacy of Muhammad and for the religious values of the Islamic community has led to increasing contact and cooperation between Latter-day Saints and Muslims around the world. This is due in part to the presence of Latter-day Saint congregations in areas such as the Levant, North Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Southeast Asia. The Church has sought to respect Islamic laws and traditions that prohibit conversion of Muslims to other faiths by adopting a policy of nonproselyting in Islamic countries of the Middle East. Yet examples of dialogue and cooperation abound, including visits of Muslim dignitaries at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City; Muslim use of Church canning facilities to produce halal (ritually clean) food products; Church humanitarian aid and disaster relief sent to predominantly Muslim areas including Jordan, Kosovo, and Turkey; academic agreements between Brigham Young University and various educational and governmental institutions in the Islamic world; the existence of the Muslim Student Association at BYU; and expanding collaboration between the Church and Islamic organizations to safeguard traditional family values worldwide. 11 The recent initiation of the Islamic Translation Series, cosponsored by BYU and the Church, has resulted in several significant exchanges between Muslim officials and Latter-day Saint Church leaders. A Muslim ambassador to the United Nations predicted that this translation series “will play a positive role in the West’s quest for a better understanding of Islam.” 12
A cabinet minister in Egypt, aware of the common ground shared by Muslims and Latter-day Saints, once remarked to Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that “if a bridge is ever built between Christianity and Islam it must be built by the Mormon Church.” 13 The examples of Latter-day Saint–Muslim interaction mentioned above, together with the Church’s establishment in 1989 of two major centers for educational and cultural exchange in the Middle East (Jerusalem and Amman), reflect the traditional attitude of respect for Islam that Church leaders have exhibited from earliest times. These activities represent tangible evidence of Latter-day Saint commitment to promote greater understanding of the Muslim world and witness an emerging role for the Church in helping to bridge the gap that has existed historically between Muslims and Christians.
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."
Nope; again!
ANYONE can "take on the authority to act in GOD's name".
It does not PROVE that GOD actually GAVE the 'authority'.
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Galatians 1:7-10
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. Revelation 13:13-15
13. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
It appears that EXPERIENCES can be deceiving...
If one believes the Bible is correct, then, by that Standard, Mormonism fails the test.
If, however, you are convinced that the Bible is either in error, been corrupted or mis-interpreted, then you are free to believe whatever you wish.
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Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
In politics, the answer is usually no.
Most elected officials cling to their ideological biases, despite the real-world facts that disprove their theories time and again.
Most have no common sense, and most never acknowledge that they were wrong.
NEVER is the Father described as having a PHYSICAL body.
My dear sister, you have a black swan problem of the first order.
Joseph Smith's First Vision establishes two facts about the nature of God the Father: 1. He is separate from Jesus Christ, His Son. 2. He has a physical body.
Stephen's vision establishes the same thing:
Acts 7:55-56 (New International Version)
55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56”Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:55-56 (New American Standard Bible)
55But being (A)full of the Holy Spirit, he (B)gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing (C)at the right hand of God;
56and he said, “Behold, I see the (D)heavens opened up and (E)the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:55-56 (The Message)
54-56At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!”
The Bible is clear. You don't have to believe it, but the words mean seeing,gazing and using your eyes to view something.
Is Jesus standing next to someone? Yes, God the Father. He's no longer invisible to Stephen as Stephen is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Now, I am not going to keep reiterating the Biblically obvious.
You don't have to believe it, but you shouldn't lie about it any more.
One verse does not the New Testament make.
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Here we have recognition of degrees in Heaven by Jesus himself.
Furthermore Jesus states that we must be “converted” (works) and “become” (more works) “as little children” or you “shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Parsing the Bible and picking nuanced scripture to prove your point doesn’t work. You must take the volume as a whole. That is the entire Bible, not just parts that please you.
In the end you may believe as you wish. I respect your conscience. What you may not do as a Christian is lie about the LDS.
The LDS are Christians and their views, although not mainstream, are Biblical and strongly so.
Lurkers and others please note.
The Eastern Orthodox concept of Theosis has nothing to do with becoming a god ones self. There is a reason the Orthodox like all Historic Christian faiths follows the doctine of the Trinity. There is one true God, in three persons, with Jesus being Fully God and Fully Man. This precludes becoming a God yourself. In simple terms(very simple) in Orthodox Theosis is participating in the life of God. It is in the Orthodox viewpoint, and is pretty much in all Christian tradition the point of Salvation.
http://www.antiochian.org/node/16916
These off shoot cults, especially the LDS and to a great extend the JWs as well as some others I am sure, make great hay out of becoming a god. It is a great sales pitch, I mean sure I would love to tinker with my own planet and followers (not really, but I am sane).
However to do so you have to make it possible DESPITE what the Bible clearly says. You have to reduce god down in power, make him and what he is achievable. Make him a man like us. It is easier to dunk the ball when you cut the basketball hoop down to 7 feet from the regulation 10. You also have to have a world where there are already multiple gods. Jesus and the Holy Spirit separate etc.
Of course this introduces polytheism, despite the “no we are not because we only worship one god” arguemnt since it is both the worship of OR belief in more than one god, and you have to kick to the curb some very clear and distinct Bible verses.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else — Deuteronomy 4:39
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:10-11.
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:6
You have to do some pretty interesting verbal gymnastics to get around those.
Anyways, just want to offer up a little insight into these folks and where they coming from. Always look to motivation when one is trying to contradict what is known and good and true. With these folks there are two basic avenues.
For the true believers it is knowing one will be a god, pretty headey stuff.
For most of them though it is the perpetuation of their cult. Many of these, the "fancy ones" as I’’ll call them, the ones with “all the answers” are for lack of a better term, operatives, enablers with a vested interest in the success of the cult, either financially or socially. Don't confuse their arrogance with expertise, they know what they are doing and why they are doing it and feed from the same bag of tricks, something they have rehearsed over and over again.
Why do you fear my query?
You have answered Elsie, twice, and she posted after me?
Why is there an issue?
John 6:28-29
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."
The Greek is "ergazōmetha" which means: "we may work". So Jesus is being asked, "How do we begin to do the works of God?"
So to commence God's work you have to believe in Jesus Christ. No LDS would deny this, correct BlueMoose or restornu?
Secondly, the verse confirms the need for works from by Jesus himself, faith or belief being only a starting point.
Was multitasking...
And again you post, but not to my question from almost two hours ago?
Hum...
By what authority is a valid question. How do you prove that God gave someone the authority to speak or act in His Name?
Do we look toward tradition, popularity, the powers of Mammon or to the Bible?
What does the Bible say?
Hebrews 5:4 is profoundly accurate:
Only God can grant authority to speak or act for God.
I give it a 8.5, too bad this isn’t gymnastics...
Elsie, what is the gospel of Christ spoken of below?
Galatians 1:7-10
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
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.
Is it what we read plainly in the Bible or what some man taught us? Where is the perversion?
Is it the same perversion the Pharisees attacked Jesus over? That he came to change their traditions? To fulfill the promise of the Old Testament?
It is all a matter of perspective. The LDS perspective is Biblical. You may believe what you wish and interpret the Bible as you see best, but you will be lying if you persist in stating that LDS beliefs are not Biblically founded and strongly so.
You’ll need to be looking in a mirror while reading 2 Kings 17:40-41.
How are lds beliefs Biblical when lds teaches the Bible is not translated correctly? Are you saying that lds beliefs are built and founded in something that is not correct?
My apologies my dear lady, I’ve been covering so much ground I overlooked you and moved on.
Try Romans 12:2. It makes a great breakfast for the soul.
Why so much effort to avoid my question.
And I am not a woman.
Sorry FRiend, I’d thought you were a woman. Your handle sounds feminine and it seemed like most of them are women.
My apologies and I won’t make that mistake again.
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