A Baptist Minister Testifies of the Book of Mormon

[unixknight]

I can see how someone could find truth in the Book of Mormon without necessarily having a testimony of its origin.

Truth is truth, and while the person who wrote that article may not acknowledge the BoM as Scripture, he may very well regard it as being useful in the way a transcript of a Preacher's sermon would be. Maybe to him, that's basically what it is.

As members of the Church we tie the BoM very closely with its origin because we DO regard it as Scripture and thus it MUST be the Word of God, but doesn't it make sense that the Word of God would resonate with any person who loves Jesus Christ?

[Dove]

Originally Posted by prisonchaplain

Island...don't be confused about what I'm doing here. I'm suggesting that it is plausible that someone...particular this Baptist minister...could believe the BoM, without accepting the rest of Joseph Smith's revelations.

Personally, I've not come upon a testimony that the BoM is true.

Hello, PC,
I've enjoyed reading your posts here~and so this is not meant at all to sound like I don't want you here. I'm just wondering, why would you spend so much time hanging out here when you are a chaplain of another religion? Also, what religion do you preach from?
Regardless, as I've said, I sure have appreciated the wisdom you have shown in your comments. Thank you.

[Islander]

Originally Posted by unixknight

I can see how someone could find truth in the Book of Mormon without necessarily having a testimony of its origin.

Truth is truth, and while the person who wrote that article may not acknowledge the BoM as Scripture, he may very well regard it as being useful in the way a transcript of a Preacher's sermon would be. Maybe to him, that's basically what it is.

As members of the Church we tie the BoM very closely with its origin because we DO regard it as Scripture and thus it MUST be the Word of God, but doesn't it make sense that the Word of God would resonate with any person who loves Jesus Christ?

I think the issue here is being able to make a clear distinction between a bona fide acceptance of something (whatever that is) and the testimony borne of the Spirit that something is indeed from God and not of man.

People will accept anything; that there are UFO roaming the planet, that Elvis is still walking around in Memphis or that Muhammad was a prophet. Such assertions do not require anything other than a person weighting in his/her mind the account of others and decide that he/she will adhere to such proposition. In short, that is not a testimony but the acceptance at face value of an idea. At issue is the definition of what is being presented (the BoM), its origin and reality.

Knowing with certainty that the BoM is indeed revelation from God and that Joseph was a prophet and that the priesthood power and authority of God were once again given by Him to act in His behalf can not be a reflective exercise. It has to be (the truth thereof) ascertained as well as revelation thru the Spirit or otherwise is meaningless.

It would be like me saying that "I recognize the constitution but I will still make a choice about what laws to obey and what acts of government to recognize as legitimate and disregard the rest." You will find yourself in prison sooner than the following weekend with that thinking. You may not agree, personally, with a certain doctrine and that is a different story. But the crux of the issue is whether what happened in that gove to Joseph took place or not.

[prisonchaplain]

Originally Posted by Dove

Hello, PC,
I've enjoyed reading your posts here~and so this is not meant at all to sound like I don't want you here. I'm just wondering, why would you spend so much time hanging out here when you are a chaplain of another religion? Also, what religion do you preach from?
Regardless, as I've said, I sure have appreciated the wisdom you have shown in your comments. Thank you.

Excellent questions, Dove. I came to LDStalk (which eventually became LDSnet) a little under three years ago, after an encounter with anti-LDS politics, aimed at a school board member. The incident spurred my interest in learning more about this religion--especially since I am a chaplain, and part of my work is to accommodate the religious practices of inmates, a few of whom belong to your church.

I lurked, posted a bit, and received a warm reception. Over the months I made friends, learned a good deal about the LDS faith, and shared some about my own, which happens to be Assemblies of God (a "classic pentecostal" church, with trinitarian beliefs about the nature of the Almighty). After nearly two years, the board administrator asked me to become a moderator, and, in response to prayer, I accepted. So...here I am.

[StallionMcBeastly]

Glad you're here PC.

I've always enjoyed reading your posts. :-)

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

Originally Posted by prisonchaplain

Excellent questions, Dove. I came to LDStalk (which eventually became LDSnet) a little under three years ago, after an encounter with anti-LDS politics, aimed at a school board member. The incident spurred my interest in learning more about this religion--especially since I am a chaplain, and part of my work is to accommodate the religious practices of inmates, a few of whom belong to your church.

I lurked, posted a bit, and received a warm reception. Over the months I made friends, learned a good deal about the LDS faith, and shared some about my own, which happens to be Assemblies of God (a "classic pentecostal" church, with trinitarian beliefs about the nature of the Almighty). After nearly two years, the board administrator asked me to become a moderator, and, in response to prayer, I accepted. So...here I am.

So when is your baptism date?


Haha I'm sorry, I couldn't resist! Nah, PC, you're great just the way you are. I wish more Mormons were as Christian as you've shown yourself to be.

[prisonchaplain]

Originally Posted by puf_the_majic_dragon

So when is your baptism date?


Haha I'm sorry, I couldn't resist! Nah, PC, you're great just the way you are. I wish more Mormons were as Christian as you've shown yourself to be.

Well...one good turn deserves another...it's . . .









May ...




1980 (I was 16 when I was baptized) . . .









Love ya bunches!

[FernRL]

I also found what he said to be rather interesting, and think this could do a lot to removing much of the prejudice that is against Mormons among other Christians.

Sometimes it is hard for us to understand how someone can accept the Book of Mormon without accepting the rest of the package, but it doesn't mean that doing what he is doing is not also good.