tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post755379569285117708..comments2023-10-23T10:33:29.509-07:00Comments on More Than Just Adam's Rib: A Second Look at Mormonism: "Just Read the New Testament"Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01154350786925948762noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post-816093774106662042013-07-06T19:09:08.633-07:002013-07-06T19:09:08.633-07:00Brian, what Jennifer said is absolutely correct in...Brian, what Jennifer said is absolutely correct in her description of what mormons believe. She sites the articles of faith that the LDS Church officially issued as a declaration of what a faithful Mormon should believe in, as well as quotes official LDS Book of Mormon Scripture (the only slight discrepancy is that Jennifer refers to the Father as having lived on earth when in fact the mormons teach that he grew up on a different planet and went through his own cycle of progression similar to what they teach we are doing here on earth, but she understood the implication). I was a mormon for 20 years. I know what we were taught to believe and what was implied that we believe. Please as soon as you can get a copy, you should read the book "Unveiling Grace" by Lynn Wilder, and read the New Testament as a child would without the silkscreens of the LDS church telling you what to think and how to interpret from the words. Let the Word of God (aka the Bible) set you free as it has set me free to live in Jesus. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post-45188855169631281752013-07-06T19:00:14.400-07:002013-07-06T19:00:14.400-07:00Sure. I confirmed a few things with a man who was...Sure. I confirmed a few things with a man who was a Mormon but who left the faith, so I'm unsure which points are not congruent with your beliefs. I would appreciate you explaining where your beliefs differ from those points I put in the earlier response. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01154350786925948762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post-39380594450801953632013-07-03T17:49:27.381-07:002013-07-03T17:49:27.381-07:00No offense, but your post suggests you've been...No offense, but your post suggests you've been very misinformed about Mormonism. Your description of what we believe aligns more with "what evangelicals think Mormons believe" more than "what Mormons actually believe." <br /><br />If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll clarify anything I can.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389873647516120394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post-50955845881425014902013-07-01T00:47:11.373-07:002013-07-01T00:47:11.373-07:00Hi Brian. I'm sorry I didn't explain myse...Hi Brian. I'm sorry I didn't explain myself clearly--yes, he believed Jesus was God's son, but the Mormon God the Father and God the Son is different from the trinity of the New Testament where God the Father/Son/Holy Spirit are one God in three persons. From my reading of the LDS Articles, Mormons believe God the Father and Son were two separate physical people--God the Father and God the son both dwelling on earth, both physical persons who lived on earth and then died (Lucifer and Jesus being both equal brothers of a physical God the Father), not One divine being (who was always divine before the world's and humanity's creation). <br /><br />A chief difference I see between The Book of Mormon and The New Testament is the concept that grace only saves us "after" our works can get us into heaven. (2 Nephi 25:23) versus The New Testament's Ephesians 2:8, which says "By grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Also, Isaiah 64:6 says our works are nothing more than "filthy rags" to God. The New Testament shows we who love God trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross alone for our entrance into heaven. We work not to earn our salvation since we cannot but to show our love to God. And once we are dead, no prayers, post-death baptisms on a person's behalf, etc. can move us from hell to a first, second, third heaven.<br /><br />I know the key difference between my reading of The New Testament is I believe that text to be without error and that the LDS Article 8 believes only in the Bible's inerrancy only "as far as it is translated correctly." A few decades ago, I might have believed that, too, but there are so many new translations that have gone back to the original texts to compare hundreds of virtually identical copies of those original texts (minus typographical errors or other minor errors that don't affect meaning)--I believe the Bible is 100% trustworthy. It existed first and has been here much longer than The Book of Mormon. I know the Mormon doctrine implies any differences between the Book of Mormon and The New Testament mean the Bible was translated wrong and The Book of Mormon set it right. <br /><br />That is all it boils down to--believing the Bible is without error and that any other text or prophet that says something opposite of what The Bible says isn't "correcting" Scripture but is providing false teaching. <br /><br />I know that only the Spirit can show you truth in the New Testament as the only truth, and I know that's not me. Scripture tells us to test the prophets (Acts 17:10-12) not through prayer or visions but by looking at Scripture. <br /><br />Don't believe me or any other person. We are all flawed humans living out a short span on this earth. I challenge you to test The Book of Mormon against the truth that has withstood the test of close to two thousand years--The Bible, not the other way around. Test your prophet, Joseph Smith, against Scriptures as well. And I thank you for reading. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01154350786925948762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post-26402409526610063722013-06-29T10:19:36.431-07:002013-06-29T10:19:36.431-07:00You sound like a wonderful person, though I'm ...You sound like a wonderful person, though I'm confused about what you think Mormon beliefs actually are. Did this student tell you, or did you hear them from somewhere else?<br /><br />I say this because I am a Mormon (slang term for member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and we absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and that only through Him can we be saved (the Book of Mormon says this several times).<br /><br />Also of note, we Mormons love the New Testament! I try to read a chapter from it every day, and have read it in its entirety several times. It brings me closer to God, just like the Book of Mormon. I recommend that you give that book a read as well.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389873647516120394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144235032583435175.post-54482930428096558482013-06-27T06:21:02.510-07:002013-06-27T06:21:02.510-07:00I would love to borrow this book, if you don't...I would love to borrow this book, if you don't mind. My heart is burdened, too, (and frankly, a little confused) about Mormon friends and the real crux of differences in our faiths. Beautifully and lovingly written.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07411418616302007855noreply@blogger.com