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Post by timothy on Jan 26, 2013 23:39:35 GMT -8
I feel that the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints is the only one on the face of the earth that teaches the correct principles. I believe that all the other so called christian faiths have a form of Godliness but lack the authority to act in God's name for the benefit of his Church. I realize this belief of mine will stir contentions so, in that light, I will not participate on your bulletin board system anymore. I'd give some other information but all that will do is create contention and Jesus is not about contention and I don't want to stir anyone up. christopherpdxI am glad to see that you've joined the group for discussion. Thanks for stating what you feel is the real church. Your belief will stir up contention for a few, but for many here we are happy to trade ideas and not take it as an attack on us as people. The Bible even has a scripture in Jude saying to "contend for the faith." I think it is right to contend for what you believe, but NOT in a negative tone. It's possible to cordially discuss opposing ideas and still come out respecting the other side. I think you might be long gone from these boards now but I wanted to take the chance to write anyway just to say that I recommend you find people on here who "think like you do" - that is, not always agree 100% with everything, but just seem to get what you mean when you talk and vice-versa. These few people can be engaged through the private messaging allowed on the boards - you could simply just exchange emails with these people. Discussions about your faith and opposing ideas are healthy but don't only need to be had here. Therefore I highly recommend finding someone you like to message off-board with. All the best, Timothy
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Post by timothy on Jan 26, 2013 23:44:57 GMT -8
The belief in the 'Great Apostasy' and the priesthood authority being lost is an interesting one. You had John the Baptist come to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, giving them the Aaronic Priesthood and then Peter, James and John gave them the Melchizedek Priesthood. Now, only men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can gain priesthood authority, right? It (Priesthood authority) was lost, but then there was the 'restoration' and the 'authority' was given to Joseph and Oliver; now it has been passed down to pretty much any man that joins the church. So... They are the only ones that have the authority to baptise. They will always give you this analogy of Mr. Whippy giving you a speeding ticket/parking fine and how it wouldn't be valid. Therefore, any other baptism (outside their church) isn't valid.. It's kind of arrogant, but they'll never see it that way.You think of the beautiful, God inspired pastors/ministers that you know. They can't baptise? They haven't got the authority to baptise? It's......... Yeah. Mormons will tell you that all churches teach some truth, but not the whole truth. The Book of Mormon is truer than any other book. The Book of Mormon holds more truth than the Holy Bible. Really? The Bible has its perfect harmony. The New Testament brings perfect fulfilment. Well, no.. More needed to be told. Jesus went to America and performed many more miracles. Do we have more evidence of Christ? A Mormon would say so. What do I think? You look at what Christ did in the New Testament. I think he did enough and I don't think he needed to visit America a few times. How do you explain this to a Latter-Day Saint? They'll straight out tell you (some of them) that they don't understand the Old Testament (and perhaps not the New Testament either) or that they don't like reading the Bible. I've even been told that it's boring. They absolutely love their Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.. How can you reason with that?There's obviously going to be people with incredible Biblical knowledge. Though with real, true Biblical knowledge, knowing what was fulfilled in the New Testament, what more needed to be done? It might seem like I'm repeating myself, but understand what Christ did when he died.I wonder if a defeater could be constructed ONLY from the New Testament and how it seems to portray a Jesus who REALLY left to go build a place for us and made no indication of coming back between now and the end times. To me it is instinctually odd that He would need to return to New York to tell some others some new stuff. What do you think? Could we construct a solid apologetic just from that point of view? It sure would be simple and elegant compared to the discussions I've had with LDS.
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