Where? I don't see them anywhere in this reply.
What does this even mean?
It being 'scripture' is of no bearing, since that's not exactly a subjective standard. It's scripture for
your religion, but not anyone else, so that can't possibly be a criterion. I thought this was going to be reasons why it
must be scripture (since that's the word you used), but as usual you're just claiming that it is because your religion says so. That's not how things work. If it
must be scripture, then everyone else
must accept it too, and yet no non-Mormon religion does. I'm looking for something that cannot be controverted, not more "Mormonism says so, so it is". There is no authority in Mormonism. In Christianity terms, you guys showed up like last Tuesday and now you're trying to tell everyone who's been around since the beginning what they should be doing. It's insufferable, not to mention just plain stupid. Do you show up to movies five minutes before they're over and start telling everyone in the theater how they should go, too?
I don't think you need to be of any particular age to author poorly-written Bible fan fiction.
Again, this is another Mormon-specific faith claim that has no weight at all outside of that context. You're going to have to do much better than that if you're going to claim that something must be scripture.
I don't have time to go through these right now, but based on the many hours I have essentially wasted in the past dealing with BOM linguistic and cultural claims alone (the aspects of the BOM narrative/apologetics I can actually address with some degree of confidence, since I have a master's degree in Linguistics, and did my master's work on Coptic, the last stage of the Egyptian language), I don't have high hopes for what Mormons present as 'evidence' for their book or religion. Places like "FairMormon" or "LDS Living" don't cut it, in terms of sources for peer-reviewed, scientifically-rigorous evidence (which is the only kind that matters, if you're going to suggest that there is
real world evidence -- i.e., not purely faith claims -- for anything).
If anyone else in this thread has looked at the links and wants to summarize their contents while I'm away, I'd be interested. I don't assume that there is anything in any of them that hasn't been debunked about a zillion times, but who knows.
What does it mean that Satan is not divided against himself:
(New Testament | Luke 11:17 - 18)
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
The Book of Mormon states:
(Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:5 - 19)
5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
12
Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14
Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18
And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
A math book, or a novel, or a geography book is much different than a book of scripture. Any book claiming to be the word of God would be much more difficult to write than these other books. The Quran took many years to dictate and is about one third the size of the Book of Mormon which was dictated in 65 days by a 24 year old. That being said those looking for flaws will find them whether they are real or just perceived. The Jews perceived Christ to be full of flaws. Eventually Joseph Smith will be exonerated, as will the Book of Mormon.
