Anti-Mormons

[candyprpl]

Before I joined the LDS church I was a member in a very little Baptist church. The minister in that church was not supported by church funds because the congregation was just too small. He worked full time as a carpenter because he had a family and he worked full time as a minister. I know the Lord supported him and gave him the strength to do all this work. My father was a Deacon in that church who also did what he could to support the minister in his church work. I say he was more like a first counselor to a Bishop. When I married I joined another Baptist church because that was my husband's church. It was a bigger church and the minister did receive a small stipend for service. My husband was planning on being a minister and he would preach in Jr. church on Sundays. (kind of like our Primary). Not all denominations have paid clergy. The difference I've experienced in the LDS vs. other denominations is we know that service is a great blessing. We do it because the Lord has asked us to do what it takes to build the kingdom of God. I just didn't get that same feeling in the other churches. I'm not saying this right and some are going to take offense I'm afraid.

When I joined the LDS church I knew that I would at some point receive "a calling." At first I was quite afraid of what I might to be called to do. I didn't see myself as a very capable person. After a while through this conversion process I had a realization, a personal revelation that the Lord was preparing me. My prayers became thankful for this preparation and fear that I would be called to do something I didn't think I could do went away. I was soon called to teach in Primary (Sunday School) and 11 yr. olds were my students. I also have a calling as Assistant Activity Day Leader. I've had these callings for almost 2 years and I feeled blessed to be doing my part to build God's kingdom. I put in as many hours as I need to through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the blessings are too many to count! My testimony of this gospel has grown so much in such a short time. That's worth more than money.

Our testimony is the only thing we will take with us when we leave this mortal life.

[ktfords]

I have asked many LDS this question in the past for clarification of LDS beliefs, it appears the LDS community, doesn't want the general population to know this.

Regarding Eternal progression. Does the LDS church believe, after meeting --Requirements of Exaltation, you can become a God?

So, far it has been denied every time. I even asked a BYU professer, ( representative for fairlds.org) After about 8-10 emails, he finally admitted they do, but, it does depend on how the question is presented, the mood. This was after I brought to his attention Blessing of Exaltation, chap 47, number two, which says "They will become gods."


Why can't the LDS present what they believe when asked, instead of deception? If I get pulled over and the police asks me a question (do you have a gun in the car?) and I decide to lie because it wasn't asked properly or his heart wasn't in the right place, will I still go to jail for not being truthful when he finds it? The answer is yes.

Just curious why a person can be less than truthful and how it doesn't compromise that person's character. It does say in Requirements of Exaltation the following: Please look at what I have left in bold.



The time to fulfill the requirements for exaltation is now (see Alma 34:32–34). President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “In order to obtain the exaltation we must accept the gospel and all its covenants; and take upon us the obligations which the Lord has offered; and walk in the light and understanding of the truth; and ‘live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God’ ” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:43).

To be exalted, we first must place our faith in Jesus Christ and then endure in that faith to the end of our lives. Our faith in him must be such that we repent of our sins and obey his commandments.

He commands us all to receive certain ordinances:

1. We must be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

2. We must receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

3. We must receive the temple endowment.

4. We must be married for time and eternity.

In addition to receiving the required ordinances, the Lord commands all of us to—

1. Love and worship God.

2. Love our neighbor.

3. Repent of our wrongdoings.

4. Live the law of chastity.

5. Pay honest tithes and offerings.

6. Be honest in our dealings with others and with the Lord.

7. Speak the truth always.

8. Obey the Word of Wisdom.

9. Search out our kindred dead and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for them.

10. Keep the Sabbath day holy.

11. Attend our Church meetings as regularly as possible so we can renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.

12. Love our family members and strengthen them in the ways of the Lord.

13. Have family and individual prayers every day.

14. Honor our parents.


Appears black and white, I look forward to hearing your answers.

Thanks..

[bytor2112]

This is often a difficult doctrine for members of other Christian denominations to accept or understand and often a source of contention. I don't know why LDS members beat around the bush and not take the time to explain in detail what we believe. I have found very often in conversations with my non member friends, that they prefer to tell me what I believe rather than asking for some clarification. It is usually something like," Mormons believe that God was once a man and over time became God and has many wives and creates spirit children to populate worlds and Mormons believe that they will become Gods just the same way and do the same thing." I would much prefer if some one would just ask..... what do you believe about eternal life or whatever. It is obvious we believe differently than the rest of Christendom. Some answers take "Spiritual" discernment to gain understanding. We believe that in order to believe that ours is the Restored Gospel it must be revealed by the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are Sons and Daughters, literally, of God, our Heavenly Father. We also believe that as his children if we follow his guidance and live, as best as we are able, the example taught by the Savior, we can progress forever. Think about the life span of each of us. We enter this life as a helpless babe and are nurtured and taught how to live as an adult. As we age, hopefully, we become better people, we learn from our mistakes....some of us progress further that others. I am not sure what it means to be a God or when that may occur in the Eternities.

We do not believe that we can or will become equal to God. We believe that if we inherit Eternal life that we will return back to our Heavenly Father and can become like him. Salvation is in Christ. It is through his atoning sacrifice at Gethsemene and at Golgotha where he drank of the Father's bitter cup and took upon him the sins of all human kind, that all that will come unto him , believe in him and repent of their sins may have eternal life. It is really that simple.

[bytor2112]

Also, the Journal of Discourses, the Lectures on Faith, Mormon Doctrine,etc are not official Church publications explaining "official" church doctrine. . What some General Authority may have said as his opinion or in conversation is not doctrine. Just because Joseph Smith or Parley Pratt or Brigham Young or Bruce R McConkie or whomever may have been quoted as saying something does not make it doctrine. The Anti's love to quote these things, but again, they are not souces of "official" church doctrine. Doctrine can be found in the standard works. Namely, The KJV of the Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price as well as other sources as authorized by the Church.

Does Benny Hinn or Pat Robertson or Oral Roberts represent Christianity'r beliefs each time they speak. Are the Pastors or Preachers of different churches infallable? How mant times have I heard a Christian Pastor say that God spoke to him or he was given a revalation? To many times to count.

[OtterPop]

bytor,

Are you suggesting that the president of the LDS church cannot receive additional doctrine for the members? I was raised LDS, and was taught many times, and have seen it written in official LDS Church lesson manuals, that the conference issue of the Ensign stands beside the standard works in importance.

If your prophet can't receive revelation about new doctrine, why have a prophet?

Many mainstream Mormons disagree with your definition of doctrine and understanding of the role of current and past LDS Church leaders.

[bytor2112]

OtterPop,
I should have included other sources like the Conference Ensign and of course the President can recieve additional doctrine for the Church. I was trying to point out that not everything is "official" doctrine of the church just because a past GA is alleged to have said it. I use Mormon Doctrine for reference often, but it is not canonized scripture. The Adam-God theory or the King Follett Sermon is also not canonized scripture. Yet the Anti's will use any and all of these sources to describe "official" church doctrine. I am sorry if I wasn't more clear. I have edited the post to make myself a bit more clear.

[bytor2112]

Found this at FAIR.....

A vast number of anti-Mormon criticisms rely on the following straw man argument: LDS leader “L” said statement “X”. Since it has been shown that “X” is in error this proves that Mormonism is false. Is something “official” LDS doctrine because a General Authority or Prophet said it? What is and is not “official” LDS doctrine?

Not every utterance by every general authority constitutes “official” doctrine. “There are many subjects,” we read in the First Presidency-authorized Encyclopedia of Mormonism, “about which the scriptures are not clear and about which the Church has made no official pronouncements. In such matters, one can find differences of opinion among Church members and leaders. Until the truth of these matters is made known by revelation, there is room for different levels of understanding and interpretation of unsettled issues.”
Statements by leaders may be useful and true, but when they are “expressed outside the established, prophetic parameters,” they do “not represent the official doctrine or position of theChurch.” This includes statements given in General Conference. Conference talks—while certainly beneficial for the spiritual edification of the Saints—generally focus on revealed, official truths. They do not—by nature of being given in Conference—expound “official” doctrine. As Harold B. Lee said, “It is not to be thought that every word spoken by the General Authorities is inspired, or that they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in everything they write.” To claim that anything taught in general conference is “official” doctrine, notes J. F. McConkie, “makes the place where something is said rather than what is said the standard of truth. Nor is something doctrine simply because it was said by someone who holds a particular office or position. Truth is not an office or a position to which one is ordained.”

[bytor2112]

More insight into what constitutes official doctrine........

How do we know then, what is “doctrine”, and what is not? First it must generally conform to what has already been revealed. “It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said,” wrote J. Fielding Smith, “if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside.” The standard works, he explains, are the “measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man’s doctrine.”
Harold B. Lee expressed similar thoughts when he taught that any doctrine, advanced by anyone—regardless of position—that was not supported by the standard works, then “you may know that his statement is merely his private opinion.” He recognized that the Prophet could bring forth new doctrine, but “when he does, [he] will declare it as revelation from God,” after which it will be sustained by the body of Church.
The Prophet can add to the scriptures, but such new additions are presented by the First Presidency to the body of the Church and are accepted by common consent (by sustaining vote) as binding doctrine of the Church (See D&C 26:2; 107:27-31). Until such doctrines or opinions are sustained by vote in conference, however, they are “neither binding nor the official doctrine of the Church.”

[Vort]

Originally Posted by ktfords

I have asked many LDS this question in the past for clarification of LDS beliefs, it appears the LDS community, doesn't want the general population to know this.

Dang. He's onto us.

Anyone bring a neuralizer?

[prisonchaplain]

Originally Posted by candyprpl

Before I joined the LDS church I was a member in a very little Baptist church. The minister in that church was not supported by church funds because the congregation was just too small. He worked full time as a carpenter because he had a family and he worked full time as a minister. I know the Lord supported him and gave him the strength to do all this work. My father was a Deacon in that church who also did what he could to support the minister in his church work. I say he was more like a first counselor to a Bishop. When I married I joined another Baptist church because that was my husband's church. It was a bigger church and the minister did receive a small stipend for service. My husband was planning on being a minister and he would preach in Jr. church on Sundays. (kind of like our Primary). Not all denominations have paid clergy. The difference I've experienced in the LDS vs. other denominations is we know that service is a great blessing. We do it because the Lord has asked us to do what it takes to build the kingdom of God. I just didn't get that same feeling in the other churches. I'm not saying this right and some are going to take offense I'm afraid.

Our testimony is the only thing we will take with us when we leave this mortal life.

I suppose I could take offense, but I won't. After all, it's your testimony. You were able to see the spiritual labor and sincerity in the Baptist churches, but believe there was a greater fullness and understanding in your LDS experience. Your perspective is honest and generous.