Jeff, I'm sure you're a tithing Mormon.
How is that relevant to what you just posted?
Because with your keyboard you extend an olive branch...yet with your wallet and bank accounts you join in a Mormon league which slanders the worldwide Christian church!
By parallel...Let's say, Jeff...
...a new church sprung up in your neighborhood.
...and your same-street neighbors were -- to fit your line above -- Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Methodist or Lutheran)...
...and this new church added "Revelation 23" to their Bible.
Let's also say some unnamed entities appeared unto their leader, and he reported as part of "Revelation 23": My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were ALL WRONG; and the Personage who addressed me said that ALL their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were ALL corrupt; [Note to All: this in fact "Mormon scripture" -- Joseph Smith 1, vv. 18-19 in the Pearl of Great Price]
Furthermore, the leader of this "newbie church" claimed he was "lay[ing] the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" [Note to All: This is in fact "Mormon scripture" -- Doctrine & Covenants 1:30]
Furthermore, the leader of this "newbie church" claimed that this "Only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" was the "church of the Lamb of God" -- and he translated an ancient document which said: "Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth." [Note to All: This is in face "Mormon scripture" - 1 Nephi 14:10 from the Book of Mormon]
Now let's say that this church grew to 14 million around the world -- and that about 5-6 of million of them tithed to spread the above message into over 100 different languages.
Fact: Mormon "scriptures" bash Christians 24/7 as the "church of the devil" ... a false and dead church...full of "corrupt" professing apostate believers who embrace 100% putrid creeds...
...and they do this in all kinds of languages every hour of every day.
Yet, Jeff, even though your tithe undergirds this 24/7 slander (on Lds.org; in Lds pubs; in Lds curricula) not a concern from you, Jeff? If not, why not? You don't seemingly mind if the Christian church is slandered in such an ongoing way?
So, Jeff...your keyboard speaks one thing; your wallet YELLS another.
And here you come across as someone who values integrity...somebody who integrates values to practices. Why would you give 10% of your lifetime income to an organization that slanders us in such ways? And commits that to hundreds of languages?
Colo, the Church believes that a restoration was necessary because the doctrine had gone wrong. We teach that and believe it. we believe furthermore that that very thing, the Apostacy and falling away, and the Restoration were prophesied of in the New Testament.
Doctrine at an ecclesiastical llevel and at the orgnaizational level is not the same as what people feel in their hearts.
The Church also teaches that there are millions and milliomns of good christian people and people of other faiths all over the world, who are good and seeking the Lord Jesus Christ with their heart, mind, and soul. We respect that and believe that the Holy Ghost and Spirit of Christ can convict any person to Christ. And they do.
We are not seeking to slander anyone, Colo...we are seeking simply to share what we believe to be true...just as you are on all of these threads. So the statement you have made is a two edge sword if I choose to view it that way...that somehow you are the “enemy” and out to get me.
Do some in our Church take the teachings you quote and somehow try and think they are better than everyone else and that other Churches are evil? Yes...but that is not the Spirit of Christ.
I do not view it that way...in fact I seek God’s blessings on you for any and all good you do to bring anyone closer to Christ. Sooner or later, in our faith, any sincere believer in Christ, who seeks after Him and Him crucified will be brought to His full truth.
That is what Christ taught His followers to do.
I believe that...I think you probably believe it to, except of course we each believe that the “truth” lies on our side of the fence.
As I have said before, if Christ appeared on this earth today, I would not only recognize Him but would bow down at His feet and bathe them with my tears...tears of joy and gratitude, and if He lifted my up and said, “Jeff, you need to stop attending the temple, that was all wrong,”...I would do exactly as He says to do.
I would hope, that if, on the other hand, He told you that you should attend the Temple and that the truth had in fact been restored, that you would turn to it. If your faith in Him is sincere...of course you would.
We would both do whatever He indicated.
That time will come. In the mean time, I believe we can each do good and help people come closer to Jesus Christ...and that is not a bad thing, and is what I am committed to doing.