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.
“We do believe that God did not stop his revelations with the Bible — we don’t hold that the Bible is the only scripture.”
And you would be wrong.
“We believe that he has provided more light and knowledge to the world through additional scripture revealed to prophets ancient and modern.”
And this isn’t Christian.
Why would it be wrong and not Christian to believe that God can provide additional revelation to the Bible, and call prophets and apostles in times other than Bible times?
If God is unchangeable, why could he not operate in our day as He did in the past? He certainly has the power and authority to do so if He so desired.
Lol...proof is for Mathematics, not Religion...magritte
You left out "after all you can do", and some out of context screed about works from James.
The Mormons have be shown on these very pages arguing for works, so you quoting Paul that Grace is sufficient is not in line with your own doctrine.
“If God is unchangeable, why could he not operate in our day as He did in the past? He certainly has the power and authority to do so if He so desired.”
Normandy, you are overlooking the Curelom in the room when
you ask this.
If God is unchangeable - and He is - how could He have not been God in the past, as mormons teach?
If God is unchangeable - and He is - how could people today become a god?
If God is unchangeable - and He is - how could a “modern revelation” contradict what HE has already said?
The answer to all these questions is they could not be true.
ergo, mormonism is false.
ampu
PS- good question!
You got it.
What point are you trying make? Really it would be nice for once to see an lds that actually knows Bible rather than willy nilly spouting words which have no meaning to them.
When you reveal who you really are rather than spouting the LOL and no reason it might be easier to take you seriously.
Doctrine is also concrete, if a faith says it believes in something then contradicting it is proof one is not following the doctrine, or it is being obfuscated for various reasons.
AMPU stated known LDS beliefs, BM said he was wrong. Show where the doctrine says otherwise, prove AMPU is wrong.
Very simple.
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every aknee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 for meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself In that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
BM,
Thank you for posting verses from the Bible.
Yet you did not answer my single question. Perhaps you
overlooked it.
Here it is again...
BlueMoose, as a mormon, how many gods do you think exist - ballpark?
ampu
If God is unchangeable - and He is - how could He have not been God in the past, as mormons teach?
If God is unchangeable - and He is - how could people today become a god?
If God is unchangeable - and He is - how could a “modern revelation” contradict what HE has already said?
1. I know very little about the origin of God — and really it doesn’t concern me much at all. Because to me and you and everyone on earth, God is God, unchangeable and everlasting, perfect in every way.
2. Through His bountiful love and mercy God, through Jesus Christ, has made it possible for use to become heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Those that love Him and obey His gospel will inherit all things.
3. I am not sure what contradictions you are referring to here between ancient and modern scripture. I find the Bible to be in harmony with the additional scriptures we have. I know that you interpret parts of the Bible differently from Latter-day Saints, so your ideas of contradictions might just be differing opinions about what is meant by various Bible passages.
Best,
Normandy
Reveal who I am ? I’ve had several different anti-Mormons ask me that...Are all you this paranoid? Who could I possibly be that bothers you? Oh, and I’ll lol any idjit that actual believes there’s “proof” in a religion’s dogma...that’s the kind of person who can’t be taken seriously...magritte
The balls in your court.
This backwards/lack of logic of yours explains why you are LDS...
No I didn’t
The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith
Oops, no Unicorns, guess I just proved myself wrong on a matter of stated dogma.
Words games are fun and have their place, but really, is this lame path one you really one to follow?
LOL...well, based on that I can safely say you are delusional as well as paranoid...I’ve got one screenname, which is plenty to handle the likes of you..and you don’t get to decide what I define as Anti-Mormon, bucko...
Blue? You there?
Here is the accusation I don’t think it was me. “I find the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be very much in harmony with the Bible.” You would be completely wrong.” Post #34
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