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No I did not miss your spam....

What that man was doing is what so many here do and like our constitution those who do not learn will reap outer darkness.

This is what I do know no matter what faith anyone is on earth the Lord loves all His children, He knows the hearts and minds of all of us.

All those who choose walk close to the light of the Lord striving according to the best of their knowledge and abilities that they are born with, will be saved.

I have been witness to many times by the power of the Holy Ghost of those of other faiths or independent believers that are striving to walk in the Lord light.

There was and are a few left on Free Republic that I have been touched by and they have express that the unchristian behavior that the anti’s continue to display daily not only towards the LDS, but the anti’s who also malign other faiths as well.

Once upon a time there were many more loving and gracious souls that dignified these corridors.

Yes, Resty, what that ex-Mormon was doing was expose to the light of day the lies deeply ingrained in Momronism! Did you happen to catch what he did for the ‘Church’ before he left the hive? ... His acess to the truth of Mormon History and his position in the heirarchy are important points to note. I realize you don’t want the truth exposed for the public to see, but that is no longer controllable and some of us—the Flying Inmans at FR—are particularly burdened to expose the demonic side of Mormonism. Live with it, Lady. We aren’t going away and the truth about Mormonism isn’t going to disappear and we will continue to post it on these threads and link to sources. As the X-Files used to say, ‘The truth is out there’ and you can bet we will be exposing it for readers to see. Thanks for the bump to the link, BTW. I just wish your posse would take advantage of the truth offered to them and re-evaluate their fidelity to such a deceit-filled religion which is far far from anything Christian.

There was and are a few left on Free Republic that I have been touched by and they have express that the unchristian behavior that the anti’s continue to display daily not only towards the LDS, but the anti’s who also malign other faiths as well.

Some of us feel moved to answer the call echoing down from history to be willing to do battle for Jesus.

ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

1.	Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, 
	with the cross of Jesus going on before. 
	Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; 
	forward into battle see his banners go! 
Refrain: 
	Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, 
	with the cross of Jesus going on before. 

2.	At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; 
	on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! 
	Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise; 
	brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. 
	(Refrain) 

3.	Like a mighty army moves the church of God; 
	brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. 
	We are not divided, all one body we, 
	one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. 
	(Refrain) 

4.	Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, 
	but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
	Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail; 
	we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail. 
	(Refrain) 

5.	Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, 
	blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.

STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS

1.	Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 
	ye soldiers of the cross;
	lift high his royal banner, 
	it must not suffer loss.
	From victory unto victory 
	his army shall he lead,
	till every foe is vanquished, 
	and Christ is Lord indeed.

2.	Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 
	the trumpet call obey;
	forth to the mighty conflict, 
	in this his glorious day.
	Ye that are brave now serve him 
	against unnumbered foes;
	let courage rise with danger, 
	and strength to strength oppose.

3.	Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 
	stand in his strength alone;
	the arm of flesh will fail you, 
	ye dare not trust your own.
	Put on the gospel armor, 
	each piece put on with prayer;
	where duty calls or danger, 
	be never wanting there.

4.	Stand up, stand up for Jesus, 
	the strife will not be long;
	this day the noise of battle, 
	the next the victor's song.
	To those who vanquish evil 
	a crown of life shall be;
	they with the King of Glory 
	shall reign eternally.

There aren't any "soldiers of the cross mentions in mormon hymnbooks,

however look at the last verse of this favorite mormon hymn:

PRAISE TO THE MAN

1844 version

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus annointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

Chorus:

Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,
Stain Illinois while the earth lauds his fame.

Chorus

Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true he will enter his kingdom,
Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

Chorus

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again.

Chorus

You can see, every day, that some FReepers feel called upon to "Wake up the world for the conflict of justice." for Joseph Smith....I'm awaiting the posting of the lyrics of a musical mormon call to do battle for Jesus.

Once upon a time there were many more loving and gracious souls that dignified these corridors.

Why did YOU leave PRESBYTERIANism?

Did the MORMONs have better dinners and get togethers?

(I know you what no clue as to what was supposedly wrong with their theology.)

He knows the hearts and minds of all of us.

I agree, Resty!

This is what I do know no matter what faith anyone is on earth the Lord loves all His children,

I agree with that sentiment, Resty. There's only one problem:

The Bible and the Book of Mormon agree that not all people on earth are God's children. (If that was the case, the Bible wouldn't talk about people being "adopted" as His children, or "becoming" His children -- John 1:12).

Notice that John 1:12-13 wreaks havoc with Mormon theology that you were all sons & daughters of Elohim in "the pre-existence." Haven't Mormons ever noticed that underlined word above "become" in John 1:12?

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to BECOME children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Greek word, "right" there is exousia...authority...right. Jesus, through John, indicates that this "childhood of God" doesn't arrive through "natural descent" -- like being born a Mormon. It's only through being "born of God." [And again, if this was talking about some pre-existence, Paul's verses about being "adopted" as His children would be ludicrous]

And that word ”become” isn't particular to the Bible, either:

...for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have BECOME his sons and his daughters. (Mosiah 5:7)

This passage talks about changed hearts through faith -- not through a pre-existence spirit-birth, which isn't even mentioned in the BoM.

And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, BECOMING his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 27:25-26)

The apostle Paul emphasized that we are to be adopted children
-- he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will (Eph. 1:5)
-- and not children of some pre-existence; hence, that’s why the Book of Mormon like passages from Mosiah talks about Mormons becoming children -- NOT that they always have been children).
In fact, Paul describes this adoption as future tense: we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:23)

The downside of all this, Resty, is that some religious legalists are NOT children of the Father. Jesus talked about that in John 8:41-44:

41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Resty: The Pharisees can barely compare with the legalism of Mormonism.

You cannot even cite every Mormon-made law you are supposed to obey! (No Mormon has ever even tried to take up that challenge from me)

This year, I scanned almost every article that references "laws" on Lds.org...it's a sad undertaking. 'Cause even your general authorities don't organize for grassroot Mormons a comprehensive listing of what "laws" you are supposed to obey.

James 2:10 says if you break one law, you are guilty of breaking ALL of it. The Law is not the way to salvation or exaltation. It only reveals my shortcomings and yours.

Resty: May you and other Mormons re-discover the gift of grace this Christmas. May you realize all the gifts given to you by those who love you is something you could never earn, or become worthy of. It's done out of pure love for you.

All those who choose walk close to the light of the Lord striving according to the best of their knowledge and abilities that they are born with, will be saved.

Where is the hope in this phrase? (There really is none. It's a vague, "I hope I get the greatest of all gifts" under the Christmas tree this month).

Upon what is the "striver" you're talking about depending upon for salvation? (You've already answered this Q: They are "striving" via their "abilities" -- often upon more man-made knowledge than divine light.

Is that really a Gospel of Hope, Resty? To put your faith in your "abilities" and your "striving?"

Jesus covered and defeated our sin on the cross. (He took our place not only for Adam's sin, but for our personal sins as well). He is the Hope.

Jesus defeated the forces of darkness on the cross. (Whatever striving we do vs. them, they are a defeated foe, like dogs on a chain)

Jesus defeated death.

Too many conversations about after-life deal w/ abstracts...Kind of like Martha's response to Jesus in John 11:23-24 when "Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha answered, 'I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.'"

Jesus wasn't interested in discussing the resurrection impersonally and abstractly with Mary.

Beloved Mormons, neither am I in this post. If your hope is a vague, abstract hope that you'll have "done enough" -- whatever "enough" is -- Jesus says the same thing:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Jesus doesn't extend to Martha a religious laundry list of being in the...
...Mormon church...
...Having temple access & performing rituals there...
...Performing all the laws & commandments perfectly...
...Etc.

Nor does He automatically say, "Hey, you're all automatically resurrected because I'm going to atone for you." (Remember, He also said there IS a "resurrection unto damnation" in John 5:29)

He invites us to personally believe in the Jesus of the Bible, the One who IS the resurrection Himself. The One who says we ALREADY HAVE eternal life (John 3:36; 5:24).

If you think eternal life is ONLY the future (and obviously it includes the future), then you have disbelieved Jesus and His words in John 3:36; 5:24. Believing Him includes believing His Words.

* Jesus Himself is eternal life (John 17:3).
* A relationship with Jesus and the ONE TRUE GOD IS eternal life (John 17:3).
* If you're waiting til the afterlife to solidify that relationship with Him, it'll be too late.
* And if you think that striving and ability-posturing trumps believing Him as the way to advance yourself, then you've dissed Him as "the Way" (John 14:6) and as the Door (John 10).

Striving and ability-posturing is not "the Way." It's a doomed attempt to climb something significantly higher than Mt. Everest without the oxygen masks of life.

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!