Why does Mormonism want to be Associated with Christianity?

[abysmul]

You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble

 

[Ran77]

I hadn't realized that God made you the authorized spokesman for what all of Mormonism believes. With dozens of Latter Day Saint Sects, which all believe something at least slightly different, maybe you can whip that situation into shape and get everyone believing a single set of beliefs which don't contradict one another.

I see that you left out the second part of my post. The part, of course, that has the most bearing on what I offered and what I represented in behalf of the LDS church. (Kind of like how the sites that oppose the LDS church post partial quotes in order to give a skewed view of our doctrines.)

"The definition of a Christian is not a person who believes <insert the subset of beliefs that the person who is arguing thinks is necessary to be a Christian>. It is simply a person who believes Jesus Christ is the Savior. Period."

I don't have to be the authorized spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to know that we believe in Christ. It is in our name. It is in our first article of faith: 1.We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. The LDS website is flooded with messages about how we believe in Christ.

Your post is epically flawed.

 

[drstevej]

And you avoid what I did include.

So you gonna shove the other LDS sects to the side? Are they not Restored gospel Christians.

 

[TheBarrd]

One thing that all Christians believe is that God created the universe, and everything in it...up to and including mankind.
Christians believe that God created man. Man did not exist before God created him.
That being so, how can Christians believe that God is a man?

I think this is a legitimate question...and yes, it does go to whether or not Mormonism is a Christian belief.
Just because you use the same names in your worship as Christians use, does not mean you are worshiping the same God.
Think about it.

 

[drstevej]

And there is Heavenly Mother. Is she a God? or are exalted women something less? Why is she rarely mentioned by LDS. Is there a male bias in Mormonism?

 

[TheBarrd]

Actually, He is the same Jesus. We just understand certain details of His nature and character to be different than is believed by Nicene Christians.

No, he is not the same Jesus. The Jesus we know never had to be "exalted" because He was always God.

Our beliefs are harmonious with this. Where have you gotten the idea that God, as we understand Him, is the God of only one planet?

Let me get this straight. The god of Kolob exalted the god you believe in to be the god of this earth, or is it this solar system? And your god, in turn, promises to exalt those who meet his criteria to be gods of their own planets?
So, which of these many gods is God of the whole shebang?
Or are you trying to have it both ways?

You are attempting to hold LDS accountable for a misinterpretation of our doctrine. We also trust God's word that there is no other God beside Him.

You also trust that he is an "exalted man" who was raised to his lofty position by his father, yes? And you trust that he will exalt other men to also be gods in their own right, with their own realms.
Does anyone else see the contradiction here, or is it just me?

Ran's sins are his own, as are mine. No need to judge the Restored Gospel because those who espouse it reveal their fallen nature in varying degrees and frequencies. That is, unless you want to dismiss Christianity outright as false on account of the wickedness which has flowed from its adherents throughout history. You can't have it both ways, you know.

If Ran, or you, choose to inspect the fruit of others, don't be surprised if you get inspected right back.
Could be why we're told not to judge others, hmmmm??????

 

[Ran77]

And you avoid what I did include.

So you gonna shove the other LDS sects to the side? Are they not Restored gospel Christians.

I do not belong to these other denominations. Unlike our critics, I have no intention of trying to present what they believe or pretend that I can represent them on this forum. They can speak for themselves. If I had to take a guess, I would say that they identify themselves as Christians which means they believe in Christ.

 

[drstevej]

I do not belong to these other denominations. Unlike our critics, I have no intention of trying to present what they believe or pretend that I can represent them on this forum. They can speak for themselves. If I had to take a guess, I would say that they identify themselves as Christians which means they believe in Christ.

Are they not Restored gospel Christians?

 

[Ran77]

Are they not Restored gospel Christians?

How does that effect my statement in any way?

 

[TasteForTruth]

No, he is not the same Jesus. The Jesus we know never had to be "exalted" because He was always God.

We're not going to agree that they are the same Jesus. I know where you stand; you know where I stand. Perhaps we can each be satisfied with that, and refrain from reminding the other of what is now obvious?

Let me get this straight. The god of Kolob exalted the god you believe in to be the god of this earth, or is it this solar system? And your god, in turn, promises to exalt those who meet his criteria to be gods of their own planets?
So, which of these many gods is God of the whole shebang?
Or are you trying to have it both ways?

There is one God. God the Father. He is the Creator of all creation. If there is another god out there somewhere with some creation of his own, I know nothing about that and have no opinion on it.

You also trust that he is an "exalted man" who was raised to his lofty position by his father, yes?

No. I trust God because He is God. I don't trust Him for any other reason.

And you trust that he will exalt other men to also be gods in their own right, with their own realms.

I trust that He can and will uphold His word, which includes a promise of "all that He hath."

Does anyone else see the contradiction here, or is it just me?

I can only speak for myself, and I see no contradiction.

If Ran, or you, choose to inspect the fruit of others, don't be surprised if you get inspected right back.

I wasn't talking about inspecting fruit, but about condemning the Gospel because of the actions of imperfect people who claim to believe it.

Could be why we're told not to judge others, hmmmm??????

We're told to make righteous judgments (John 7:24) and that the same judgment we mete out will be measured unto us again (Matt. 7:1-2). It is left to us to choose to judge, or not.

 

[abysmul]

Wow, nice dancing away from the Kolob topic.

 

[TasteForTruth]

Wow, nice dancing away from the Kolob topic.

If you want to talk about Kolob, you could start a thread.

 

[katerinah1947]

One thing that all Christians believe is that God created the universe, and everything in it...up to and including mankind.
Christians believe that God created man. Man did not exist before God created him.
That being so, how can Christians believe that God is a man?

I think this is a legitimate question...and yes, it does go to whether or not Mormonism is a Christian belief.
Just because you use the same names in your worship as Christians use, does not mean you are worshiping the same God.
Think about it.

Hi,
Although I know the LDS, in other ways, this book way, is interesting to me. Are you saying the LDS, taught at one time that the God of the Christians and the Jews, was once a man?
LOVE,
...Kate., .... .

 

[TasteForTruth]

Hi,
Although I know the LDS, in other ways, this book way, is interesting to me. Are you saying the LDS, taught at one time that the God of the Christians and the Jews, was once a man?
LOVE,
...Kate., .... .

Yes, LDS doctrine indicates that God the Father lived as a mortal prior to being God.

 

[Albion]

Why does Mormonism want to be associated with Christianity?

Well, considering that there just about as many ideas of
what constitutes "Christianity" as there are Christians,
why not?

The more, the merrier!


-

It is true that there are many other varieties of Christianity, but they have much more in common with each other than any of them has with Mormonism. In other words, the question of the thread seems reasonable enough.

 

[abysmul]

It is true that there are many other varieties of Christianity, but they have much more in common with each other than any of them has with Mormonism. In other words, the question of the thread seems reasonable enough.

Indeed....

Yes, LDS doctrine indicates that God the Father lived as a mortal prior to being God.

...

 

[katerinah1947]

Yes, LDS doctrine indicates that God the Father lived as a mortal prior to being God.

Hi,
I looked at your public profile. I see you are of the LDS faith. So that is out of the way now.
Thanks for your answer.
I take it that you feel a little maligned by other Chriatians. I imagine that is hurful to you.
LOVE,
...Katherina., .... .

 

[TasteForTruth]

Hi,
I looked at your public profile. I see you are of the LDS faith. So that is out of the way now.
Thanks for your answer.
I take it that you feel a little maligned by other Chriatians. I imagine that is hurful to you.
LOVE,
...Katherina., .... .

Our differences are clear, for sure. And some are not insignificant. But I feel that it is pointless to ignore the multitude of similarities which, in my opinion, point to a shared Christianity in real, meaningful ways. And what stings, if anything, is the extent to which some Christians and Mormons go to prove to one another that we can't all be "Christians." That's what bothers. For, I feel like saying what you've said: "OK... we have differences... 'So that is out of the way now.'" God knows what our differences of belief are. God knows that it is not easy for us to sort these things out while we all "see through a glass, darkly." I can't help but think that He smiles when we try to get passed all that, and that He frowns when we abuse each other on its account.

BTW, I see that we are fellow Oregonians. Nice day out there today, isn't it!

 

[katerinah1947]

Our differences are clear, for sure. And some are not insignificant. But I feel that it is pointless to ignore the multitude of similarities which, in my opinion, point to a shared Christianity in real, meaningful ways. And what stings, if anything, is the extent to which some Christians and Mormons go to prove to one another that we can't all be "Christians." That's what bothers. For, I feel like saying what you've said: "OK... we have differences... 'So that is out of the way now.'" God knows what our differences of belief are. God knows that it is not easy for us to sort these things out while we all "see through a glass, darkly." I can't help but think that He smiles when we try to get passed all that, and that He frowns when we abuse each other on its account.

Hi,
I can't remember where all the places are (Corintians maybe), that cautions all Christians to not get too upset over even Pagans with God. The point Paul and therefore God was making to us, through him, Paul, is that if you are working for God as a Christian, not everyone is supposed to be doing that, And. Everyone after this eartly life, even Pagans, meet the exact same fate, as Christians. They see Jesus, and the talk begins.
Thats a pretty important point.
I stated somewhere the most astounding and earth shaking experience for me then. I was researching God and the Bible in those days. One day, everyone I worked with gathered around me, to ask me a single question. It was: "Do you think all of us know if our religion is right or wrong?" My answer then was Yes. Yes I do think you all know. One by one, including the Mormon which also starteled me, shook their heads. This is what you are saying, is true for all religioins. Most peope just don't know.
In fact very few people, but there are some, do know. Yet, if they know, then those you don't hear from, for they are like this, to you. Yes, he/she is right, no one had to know God perfectly. None of us, typically do. We don't.

As far as for similarities, I think that does and should scare you and the others. It does me. I see similarities and differences in all religions, even philosphies. And when faced with them, they shock my fact system. Yet, it survives intact, as long as none of those facts are wrong. Yet, even this year, I have been given two items, I thought were true, so they weren't really facts. I knew that ahead of time. Before though, that I knew they were not true, I treated those two items as true.
There are many similarities. I would say to your last point, that many of us talk about what we have been told as truth. So, we are using hearsay, in legal terms. These are not first hand accounts. Maybe that is where all the fights begin.
Before I leave you, I sense caring in your words, and I am sorry for your pain. If you struggle enough, you will find truth, where ever it is, and I am not telling you where it is. But, remember, you are right about not getting things totally right with God. Other things are more important to Him. One of those is your heart, meaning what you think of others and how you treat them and what you wish for them.
LOVE and love,
...Katherina., .... .

 

[katerinah1947]

Our differences are clear, for sure. And some are not insignificant. But I feel that it is pointless to ignore the multitude of similarities which, in my opinion, point to a shared Christianity in real, meaningful ways. And what stings, if anything, is the extent to which some Christians and Mormons go to prove to one another that we can't all be "Christians." That's what bothers. For, I feel like saying what you've said: "OK... we have differences... 'So that is out of the way now.'" God knows what our differences of belief are. God knows that it is not easy for us to sort these things out while we all "see through a glass, darkly." I can't help but think that He smiles when we try to get passed all that, and that He frowns when we abuse each other on its account.

BTW, I see that we are fellow Oregonians. Nice day out there today, isn't it!

Hi and Oops!
Yes it is a nice day, here is Oregon. It is also Spring Break, so our town seems deserted.
LOVE and love,
...Katie., .... .