Please Explain how Joseph Smith could have possibly authored the Book of Mormon.

[fire]

Originally Posted by Starfish

It was impossible for Joseph to have come up with it out of his head.

It wasn't impossible since the evidence supports that he did come up with it. He was a great story teller from a very early age, if you research this you find that it is true. I have heard this challenge my whole life from the church leadership, and no one ever challenges the leaders which spew this stuff, so everyone just falls in line and never questions the validity of what is taught, "when the brethren have spoken all the thinking has been done". How handy for the brethren!

[Fish-Hunter]

Originally Posted by fire

It wasn't impossible since the evidence supports that he did come up with it. He was a great story teller from a very early age, if you research this you find that it is true. I have heard this challenge my whole life from the church leadership, and no one ever challenges the leaders which spew this stuff, so everyone just falls in line and never questions the validity of what is taught, "when the brethren have spoken all the thinking has been done". How handy for the brethren!

Good morning fire,

I'm trying to understand your posting from your perspective. Are you currently an LDS Christian? Or, are you an ex-LDS Christian converting to the historic Christian Faith?

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by fire

It wasn't impossible since the evidence supports that he did come up with it. He was a great story teller from a very early age, if you research this you find that it is true. I have heard this challenge my whole life from the church leadership, and no one ever challenges the leaders which spew this stuff, so everyone just falls in line and never questions the validity of what is taught, "when the brethren have spoken all the thinking has been done". How handy for the brethren!

You clearly haven't got a clue. I can't believe you managed to dig up that silly quote. I haven't heard that insult for years. I guess it's still floating around on a few anti-Mormon websites.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Fish-Hunter

Good morning fire,

I'm trying to understand your posting from your perspective. Are you currently an LDS Christian? Or, are you an ex-LDS Christian converting to the historic Christian Faith?

I can answer that one for you, fishguy. He's a "real Christian" like you! I can tell because his post was so "Christian."

[fire]

Originally Posted by Fish-Hunter

Good morning fire,

I'm trying to understand your posting from your perspective. Are you currently an LDS Christian? Or, are you an ex-LDS Christian converting to the historic Christian Faith?

Good question! I am not sure what I would be classified as. I was a devout convert Mormon for over 30yrs. I believe in there being a God. I read the Bible with the same desire to find the truth as I did the LDS scriptures, which is why I am no longer LDS. There is a lot of stuff in the bible which I thought was true when I was younger, but now I think a lot of it is just the ramblings of self-righteous people who claim to have a direct line the God. Again, how handy for those people!
So far, I find no problems with the teachings and person of Jesus Christ.
So, What am I?

[fire]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

You clearly haven't got a clue. I can't believe you managed to dig up that silly quote. I haven't heard that insult for years. I guess it's still floating around on a few anti-Mormon websites.

I didn't dig any part of what I said from the internet. I dug it out of my memory of many years in the Church. Are you calling quotes from your prophets, silly?
I don't regret my years in the church, it was fun, and I enjoyed the people, but I am searching for truth.

[ayani]

i actually had a conversation with two LDS young men this morning. we walked along, i shared my testimony with them, we talked about faith, Christ, and Christianity for a while. very nice young men.

i did mention one thing i really like about Christ- His life was His message. He did not come with a book to be copyrighted and published and distributed on printing presses, but with His living example of prayer, poverty, compassion, and a deep and marvelous love for God and for His brothers and sisters that transcended love of self.

Muhammad also came bearing a book, asking it to be recited, memorized, learnt, etc. Jesus, for me, is the Living Text- He gave us God's words, and asked us to be like Him, to follow Him, and if we loved Him, to love those among us who are poor and suffering, and care for them in His memory. these young men told me that God had sent another prophet to restore the truth- that they also take him on faith and trust.

of course, they're Latter-day Saints, so they would trust in Joseph Smith, and trust that God and Christ appeared to a 14-year-old boy. but for me, Christ is enough. i don't wish to disprove or rip apart the BoM- but i urged the LDS boys to focus on Christ, whom we share in common, and who really, if one is a Christian, taught us all we need to know, and simply asked us to follow Him- to love God with everything we have, and love our neighbors as ourselves, as He did.

[fire]

Originally Posted by ayani

i actually had a conversation with two LDS young men this morning. we walked along, i shared my testimony with them, we talked about faith, Christ, and Christianity for a while. very nice young men.

i did mention one thing i really like about Christ- His life was His message. He did not come with a book to be copyrighted and published and distributed on printing presses, but with His living example of prayer, poverty, compassion, and a deep and marvelous love for God and for His brothers and sisters that transcended love of self.

If it was really important for there to be a "book", wouldn't Christ have made one? On-the-other-hand, since he didn't make one up, it should be clear; books can be used as a resource, but think for yourself.

[Mestemia]

Originally Posted by ayani

i did mention one thing i really like about Christ- His life was His message. He did not come with a book to be copyrighted and published and distributed on printing presses, but with His living example of prayer, poverty, compassion, and a deep and marvelous love for God and for His brothers and sisters that transcended love of self.

Funny how people want to dis the BoM over a copyright.
Yet say NOTHING about the copyrights that so many Bible are under...

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Even the KJV had a copyright:
The K.J.V. Bible IS... a COPYRIGHTED Translation! @ Pilgrim

[ayani]

Originally Posted by Mestemia

Funny how people want to dis the BoM over a copyright.
Yet say NOTHING about the copyrights that so many Bible are under...

this is true, M. i don't agree with that, either. God's Word should not be owned and "sealed" in this way, imo. a translation or publication should be for the honour of God, not the interests of men.

i'm reminded of the disciples coming to Christ, letting Him know that there were others driving out evil spirits in His name, but who were not themselves disciples, and Jesus didn't take issue with it.

Mark 9:38-41