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

[DisneyMan]

Originally Posted by fire

Maybe I didn't make my point clear. No LDS prophets have ever impressed anyone other then the Mormons that they are prophets of God! It follows then, that Joseph Smith made it all up. They may be good and dedicated leaders, but they just are not prophets of God in any fashion that would convince a clear thinking person. Listen for yourself the testimonies of the LDS prophets and apostles, they are all weak at best, and with out substance. That is not saying anything bad about them. There are millions of people around the world with testimonies as powerful as theirs without any more substance then a feeling to go on. Real prophets of God have more to go on then just feelings. The Lord is not restricted from inspireing anyone. most people who have had spiritual experiences do not conclude themselves to be Apostles. But their testimonies are just as powerful, or more so then the LDS prophets.
Does that make things more clear from a non-Mormon point of view?

As with a great many things, it sounds like it just comes down to personal belief.

[BalanceFx]

Originally Posted by Mestemia

There isn't one.
It all boils down to what each individual accepts and denies.

Fact Vrs Fiction?

[Mestemia]

Originally Posted by BalanceFx

Fact Vrs Fiction?

Even the most likely possibilities have problems.
Interestingly enough it still boils down to each individuals beliefs.
Take Starfish for example, she is using her beliefs of how the BoM was written as the standard in which to apply all the other possibilities.

Once one takes one possibility and uses it as the standard, they lose the ability to objectively assess any other possibility.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by fire

Maybe I didn't make my point clear. No LDS prophets have ever impressed anyone other then the Mormons that they are prophets of God! It follows then, that Joseph Smith made it all up.

The logic in this statement is absolutely stunning! Did you have to take classes in college to think like this? Amazing.



/sarcasm

[DeepShadow]

Originally Posted by fire

Maybe I didn't make my point clear. No LDS prophets have ever impressed anyone other then the Mormons that they are prophets of God! It follows then, that Joseph Smith made it all up.

Your clarification contains the same non-sequitur, this time compounded with a category fallacy. Anyone who believes said person is a prophet becomes a Mormon, therefore, saying non-Mormons aren't convinced is a moot statement.

For example, Parley P. Pratt wasn't a Mormon when he was impressed that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but he later joined the church. He changed categories, and therefor by your logic he shouldn't count, when the conversion of a Christian minister ought to count for something.

It's like the old saw about treasons being unable to succeed, because if it succeeds, it's no longer treason.

[fire]

I have my own God given right to judge as you do. This is not something you need to learn in college.

[fire]

Mt point is still missed. Are you, impressed with the testimony of the LDS prophet? does his testimony contain anything out of the ordinary? Or is he believed to be a prophet because he has been ordained by others for the past 50 years or so?

[DeepShadow]

I haven't missed your point. I am impressed with his testimony. I believe in the Book of Mormon. The latter does not follow from the former. Hence the non-sequitur.

You cannot derive whether the Book of Mormon is the word of God from the testimony of a modern prophet.

[Starfish]

Originally Posted by Mestemia

There isn't one.
It all boils down to what each individual accepts and denies.

But doesn't it strike you odd that after all these years, there isn't one? The book exists, and no one can explain it?