That does indeed happen a lot in the Body of Christ where one Christian looks into the revelation of God in Scripture and truly sees something a bit differently than another Christian looking into the same revelation truly sees.
The Apostles themselves were quite different John was not like Peter who was not like Paul who was not like James who was not doubting Thomas. And they each had a different perspective, as if all were looking into the same diamond but from different facets. James was focused on the fruits of the Spirit, the works. Peter was focused on the body of Christ, the church. John was focused on the Person of Christ, loving Him. Paul was focused on the Faith, the doctrines. And so on. But it is the same diamond (Scripture) and the same Light, God.
Your subsequent post asks that there be no contention between LDS and non-LDS. Whereas love must be unconditional (Matt 5-7) and we are to be gentle with all men (2 Timothy 2:24-26) the contention will not end, because the difference between LDS and Christianity goes to Who Christ IS as I tried to explain in post 135.
The LDS extra-Scriptural revelations from latter day prophets declares that Christ is a creature from the spiritual realm, not the Creator of all that there is which includes both physical and spiritual. Indeed, it has the Father as a creature as well, self-contained individual identities in an infinite genealogy of spiritual creatures. Neither Father nor Son are the God or the Creator.
We Christians ask man and spirit Who is Christ? If the answer denies Him, the rejection is swift and severe. And understandably, hurtful.
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The Son] of David. - Matthew 22:42
Moreover, once we know Who HE IS, worshipping Him as a creature and not The Creator is perilous:
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 1:20-32
On one point though we do agree, i.e. that we Christians do not have the whole story. But that is according to Gods will for us.
Most importantly, I do not receive Enoch as Scripture. Scriptures the words of God are brought alive in me by the indwelling Spirit.
This and other ancient manuscripts are illuminating but they are not living.
And Enoch, whose true antiquity was only recently confirmed by its discovery in the Dead Sea Scrolls, offers a backstory mostly consistent with Scripture whereas LDS embraces a counter-Scriptural latter day revelation. Enoch of course is quoted directly in Jude and indirectly elsewhere in Scripture.
More specifically, it expounds on Genesis 6 the errant angels and their offspring, the demons, the purpose of the Flood, the Elect One (Jesus), the final judgments and that those errant angels are imprisoned by God until the end of days. It begins by speaking a blessing to the reader who will be here for that time, the end of days. Because it is written for them, some see it as the book referred to by Daniel.
The current status of the errant angels are confirmed in the words of God:
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; - 2 Peter 2:4
Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. - John 8:44
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. - 2 Th 2:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:7
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Luke 9:35
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:19
So be it Alamo-Girl
To Whom It May Concern.
Hear the prophecy of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. (HC, 4:540.)
Christian denominations the world over have prayed for centuries for the kingdom of God to come. We earnestly and publicly declare: that day is now here!
To Latter-day Saints the world over, we say: Let not your hearts be troubled. Keep the commandments of God. Follow the counsel of his living prophet, taking care not to exceed the counsel with your own private views. Teach your children to walk uprightly before the Lord. Pray in your homes morning and evening. Pray for civil magistrates and leaders even when you do not agree with them. Pray for the leaders of the Church. Pray, as you have been counseled, that the doors of nations of the world will be opened to the preaching of the gospel. Obey the laws of your country; rebel not against civil authority. Do your duty as citizens. Do not yield to the bad, but always oppose it with good. (Virgil.)
To all who have allegiance to the kingdom of God, we say: Seek ye first the kingdom of God. (Matt. 6:33.) Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth. (D&C 115:56.)
Yes, Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.
Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come. (D&C 65:56.)
I bear humble witness that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored kingdom of God on earth today. Its message and blessings are for all of our Fathers children. It is the truth, to which I bear grateful testimony in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ezra Taft Benson, May the Kingdom of God Go Forth, Ensign, May 1978, 32
excellent post. worth reading a couple of times.
Thank you so much for your excellent essay in post 357. Your words sing with truth.