Anti-Mormons

[omega0401]

Correct me if I’m wrong but in a nutshell, Otterpop left the church because of its teachings. I respect him for it. Everyone has their free agency to chose to accept the doctrine or not. People will continue to leave the Lord’s church because they don’t agree with what the Lord is teaching. They are on the road to apostasy. Hopefully, some of them will have a change of heart and realize that those teachings really did come for the Lord and repent and come back into the fold.

But, what if the restored church is truly the Lord’s church that he restored himself through His prophet Joseph Smith? I hope that question will always be in the minds of those who apostatize.

Then again, someone will ask me what if it is not true? And if that were the case and I left the church where would I go? I believe that all those other churches are man-made churches. Some of those people are very sincere in what they believe but they can’t all be right when they don’t agree on some or many points of doctrine. But my testimony is strong enough to know that this is the Lord’s church. I have that testimony spoken to me by the spirit.

But here is another thought. There will be those like Otterpop who leave the church because of it’s teachings and will look for another church. And if they don’t find a church that believes in all the interpretations of the scriptures the way they do they will continue to look for another church. They will find it hard to find a church that believes exactly the way they do in all points of doctrine. Remember that scripture, “...toss to and froth with every wind of doctrine.” That is still happening even today. Some even start their own church after searching in vain.

With my testimony of the restored gospel, I am very happy where I am at. I would never leave it. And those who do, we still care about them and hope, even pray, that they will return back some day.

[Snow]

Originally Posted by omega0401

Correct me if I’m wrong but in a nutshell, Otterpop left the church because of its teachings. I respect him for it. Everyone has their free agency to chose to accept the doctrine or not. People will continue to leave the Lord’s church because they don’t agree with what the Lord is teaching. Those people are on the road to apostasy. Hopefully, some of those people will have a change of heart and realize that those teachings really did come for the Lord and repent and come back into the fold.

Why do you respect someone for rejecting the Lord's teachings?

Seems a rather contrary reason to respect someone.

[Snow]

Originally Posted by Palerider

hey snow....I hope I don't sound rude....but I do remember that...

You rude?

Impossible. You're a sweetheart.

[SeattleTruthSeeker]

Originally Posted by Snow

Why do you respect someone for rejecting the Lord's teachings?

Seems a rather contrary reason to respect someone.

Respecting does not equal agreeing and supporting them. Respecting means that you respect them as a human being, a person whom God loves and an individual that lives their life. Parents respect their children, even when those children disappoint them. So in a sense, yes I respect the person for who they are. So, why would you ask if I respect someone who rejects the Lord's teaching? I respect them for who they are, not what they believe in.

How would you arrive to the conclusion that respect equates to agreeing with what someone believes that is in opposition to what you believe in?

[omega0401]

Originally Posted by Snow

Why do you respect someone for rejecting the Lord's teachings?

Seems a rather contrary reason to respect someone.

First, you can respect a person for being honest about what he believes because the alternative is that he would not be honest and instead be a hypocrite and I would not respect hypocrites. Second, he is entitled to his own opinions and beliefs as you and I are.

I can listen to others like Otterpop but it doesn't mean I have to agree that what they say is true. They respect what I believe and they, hopefully respect my beliefs.

[pam]

Ummmm..btw...Otterpop is a she not a he.

[omega0401]

Originally Posted by pam

Ummmm..btw...Otterpop is a she not a he.

Thank you Pam for correcting me and my humble apologies to Otterpop. As you can tell by now, I don't always go to a person's home page to read their profile to find out such things. But...this is a good reason to or I'll embarrass myself yet again. Yikes.

[OtterPop]

Originally Posted by bytor2112

. . . what I personally believe is true, the war that was fought in the pre-existence continues.

That's interesting, but not really in keeping with what Mormonism teaches. Feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong, but by Mormon teachings, I kept my first estate. I'm certainly not a daughter of perdition, as I never had a sure knowledge of the Mormon gospel. So, in the Mormon belief system, I will inherit the Telestial Kingdom and have salvation, though not exaltation.

But for others, those who find the "strait and narrow", he looks for other ways to lead them away. I think that one way is by drawing attention away from the sacred truths we learn by the power of the Holy Spirit and spreading lies mingled with truth about the early history of the Church. Trying to understand 19th century church history through 21st lenses is a real challenge, and people have been trying to tear down this work since the beginning. The doctrines of Salvation are what is important....... not so much past views or ideas or comments from early leaders.IMHO.......

I didn't leave because of church history. I left because the power because the spirit led me to a path different from Mormonism.

You likely do not believe that this is possible. I know that it is.

[OtterPop]

Originally Posted by omega0401

Correct me if I’m wrong but in a nutshell, Otterpop left the church because of its teachings. I respect him for it. Everyone has their free agency to chose to accept the doctrine or not. People will continue to leave the Lord’s church because they don’t agree with what the Lord is teaching.

No offense taken on the "he" thing. Now, if you'd seen me in person and called me "he," I would have been a little hurt . . .

I didn't leave the LDS church because of its teachings. I left for spiritual reasons. I didn't go looking for a church that I would agree with on every point. I am as sure that I have taken the right path for myself as you are that the LDS church is the one true church.

I believe that you do have a testimony, that you have had a spiritual witness. I also have had a spiritual witness. The difference between us appears to be that you believe that your witness somehow applies to me, and that I would be wise to substitute your testimony for my own witness. I don't believe that my guidance applies to you, or to anyone but myself.

[OtterPop]

Originally Posted by Snow

Why do you respect someone for rejecting the Lord's teachings?

I understand that you believe I rejected "the Lord's teachings." You and I disagree on that point, and you are not the authority on my spiritual experiences.