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Actually, it doesn't. I have no problem with people who take a different position than I do. I just have a problem with questionable sources. What, specifically, have I said that is either irrational or inaccurate?
Anybody who wants accurate information on Mormonism, that's who. You seem to believe that I am posting inaccurate information, half-truths or a white-washed version of LDS doctrine, culture and history, but you have not provided any evidence of that. I have given you no reason whatsoever to have pre-judged me as being dishonest, underhanded or deceitful in talking to people about Mormonism, and yet you are convinced that this is the case. I can't figure out why.
It may well be all that counts with you. I don't need to trot out anyone, but the sum total of all my 24,000 posts counts for a lot in the minds of many people who have read them. I know because they've told me so. Your opinion doesn't really matter to me, but I've really got to wonder why you are so antagonistic towards Mormonism. Obviously, I don't know your history (i.e. what experiences you've had with Mormons and Mormonism), but I just don't get the reason behind your seething bitterness. You are ablaze with ignorant aggressiveness. You presume to judge things and people of which you clearly know very little. As far as this particular topic is concerned, I'm through talking to you. Please be free to have the final word.
If ever I want to actually learn something about Mormonism, I know where to go on these forums. So do a lot of other people.
Hi, my name is Kara and I have been searching for the true church of Christ for about a year now. I do not affiliate myself with any church, but I do have faith in Christ, limiting my search to the Christian denominations. However I am open to hearing all opinions and beliefs, whether they be Christian or not.
In the New Testament Christ says in John 17:21, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Further, 1 Corinthians 1:10 states, "Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." It is clear that Christ and his apostles urged for their followers to be united. It is also clear that with the many Christian denominations that have appeared over the years, we are by no means united. We are divided, which can lead to the conclusion that many of these denominations have strayed from Christ's true church, as they each have differing opinions and beliefs pertaining to the interpretation of the bible. This is where my issue lies. Which church holds the doctrine that Christ himself taught as he was living on this Earth?
I have been interested in the LDS church and in its teachings, as I am fascinated by how people could believe in the outrageous claims made by Joseph Smith. But through much research, I have found that scripture strictly from the bible may support that this church is true. Now, I don't know for sure, which is why I've come to this site to express my opinions and to hear yours.
The bible speaks of a falling away from Christ's true church, known to the Mormons as the Apostasy.
Acts 4:26 says, "The Kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ." Many turned against the Lord and rebuked his doctrine. Christ told his apostles that they "shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake," that "false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" (Matthew 9-12). The truth in the apostles was hated, and false prophets lead many away from the truth. There are many other scriptures including John 16:1-4, Acts 20: 29-30, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, Jude 1:3-4, and many more that reveal the falling away from Christ's true gospel. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 even states that Christ will not return until "there come a falling away first..." From these scriptures, it seems very clear that Christ's true church had fallen due to the mistakes of men.
Now many may feel the need to quote Matt 16:18, which states "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the church]." And since Mormons believe that Christ's church had fallen, then they are directly calling Christ a liar, and therefore, their church cannot be true. However, Christ uses the word "prevail," which means to defeat or to conquer over. If Mormons believe that Christ's true church exists today in the form of the LDS church, then clearly satan did not "prevail" over it. Sure maybe satan knocked down the true church for a while, but did he prevail over it? Certainly not. And, according to scripture, it is perfectly reasonable to believe that Christ's church did get knocked down for a while in the Apostasy.
Matthew 16:18 .Does not refer to an earthly church in light of Jewish teaching and culture, Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience. Jehovah alone rules in the spirit world, according to the Jewish doctrine, and his angels stand guard over the wicked ones.
"The gates of hell," The gates of hell are the gates of Hades -- the "holding back" of those who are in the spirit world from attaining the object of their desire. The Jews believed in Hades, the underworld, the world of spirits.
the Savior Jesus Christ broke the band of death, gates of hell, gates of hades, when he died and visited the world of spirits, and then was resurrected breaking the sting of death.
It has no reference to the Lords earthly church. What is meant by the phrase, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"? It is also important to note that the word used for "hell" in Matt. 16 is Hades, which refers to the habitation of the dead.
The victory of the Church over Hades does not refer to victory in this life and on this earth, but victory after death: those who follow Christ and accept his Gospel will escape the bands of spiritual death, being freed from any claim Hades might have on them thanks to the atoning blood of Christ.
Now the LDS church also believes that they have the restored gospel that was lost during the Apostasy. Lets see if scripture supports the restoration of the church. Revelation 14:6 claims that an angel would have the "everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth." Acts 3:20-21 states that "the heaven must receive [Jesus Christ] until the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Ephesians 1:9-10 says "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ." These scriptures seem to be supporting that Christ's true church would eventually be restored.
The LDS church also believes in the importance of works, and that we will be judged by them, but we are saved by grace with the ability to repent of sins. Check out James 2:14-16, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 13:21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Revelation 20:12-13, Revelation 22:12.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Check out Ephesian 4:11-14. It says how Christ's goal was for the "perfecting of the saints... Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" The goal is for a unity of faith, and for man to eventually become perfect. Interestingly enough, Mormons believe in the ability of man to become perfect, just how the Father and the Son are perfect, that we may become like them, and exalt to godhood.
It also seems that a lot of scripture supports that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are separate beings. John 8:16-18, Matthew 3:16-17, John 20:17, Acts 7:55-56, and other scripure all seem to support this idea. It is interesting to note that the idea of the Trinity was decided at the Council of Nicea, when Constantine wanted to unite the Christians in doctrine and in beliefs. A majority vote ruled that the Trinity would be an accepted doctrine of the church. Nowhere in the scripture does it definitively state that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one being. God did not reveal the concept of the Trinity to a prophet, nor did Christ preach of it. It was simply a decision made by a group of men.
There are a few other things that I could mention but I'll stop here. If I have anything wrong, please feel free to let me know. Like I previously stated, I am open to all opinions and beliefs. I am sincerely searching for the true church of Christ, if it even exists on this Earth today. Much of what I am reading is actually pointing me in the direction of the LDS church. I do believe, like the Mormons, that many religions all have elements of truth to them. Anyone preaching to do good and not to do evil has some influence from God. But I do believe that truth is truth, that there can be only one fully true church, one fully true religion (if it even exists on the Earth today).
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look forward to your comments.
Sincerely,
Kara
[FONT="]Clear said:
Clear said:
. However, it may have been that they were trying to emphasis an accurate theological point by doing so.