Mormonism and the Free State of Jones

[durangodawood]

That is a VERY dangerous game. Political parties / institutions / churches etc are made up of individuals. You can't slap a stereotyping label on one without doing it to the other.

Perhaps it is a dangerous game. But it must be played.

We cannot let religious and political movements remain above criticism. Think of the horrors we would have had to abide through history if that were that were the case.

 

[Jane_Doe]

Perhaps it is a dangerous game. But it must be played.

We cannot let religious and political movements remain above criticism. Think of the horrors we would have had to abide through history if that were that were the case.

Fair and honest review (acknowledging the good and bad) is fine for individuals and groups. Blind stereotypes are just destructive.

 

[light upon light]

But its fine to judge religious and political institutions, movements, sects, etc.

As a general rule, I believe that we each have our own row to hoe, and if we spend very much of our time thinking, much less talking about how someone else's religion is wrong, we lose sight of implementing our own beliefs in our lives and take our eyes off the goal.

Worse yet, a significant part of the motivation for making derogatory analyses of other's beliefs is in order to inflate our own self-regard and reduce our regard for others, which is pretty much the opposite of what any genuine spiritual path towards God is all about.

 

[light upon light]

I would have to say that it appears to me that the greatest problem in the world right now is that most all these different groups, political parties, ideologies and religions see themselves as monopoly holders of the truth, and that those crappy people over there are either ignorant, bad-intentioned, or misled by Satan.

 

[Rescued One]

I'm not here to judge others. God takes care of that.

Galatians 1:8
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Acts 17:11
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 

[durangodawood]

As a general rule, I believe that we each have our own row to hoe, and if we spend very much of our time thinking, much less talking about how someone else's religion is wrong, we lose sight of implementing our own beliefs in our lives and take our eyes off the goal.

Worse yet, a significant part of the motivation for making derogatory analyses of other's beliefs is in order to inflate our own self-regard and reduce our regard for others, which is pretty much the opposite of what any genuine spiritual path towards God is all about.

Yes, you both are right. Its a dangerous game. But if we dont play it, we abandon discrimination in choosing a course for our nation or state. Most of these private decisions have very public effects. Sometimes for good. Sometimes for disaster.

Hey, lets try state-communism again! I mean, whos to judge?

 

[devin553344]

I would have to say that it appears to me that the greatest problem in the world right now is that most all these different groups, political parties, ideologies and religions see themselves as monopoly holders of the truth, and that those crappy people over there are either ignorant, bad-intentioned, or misled by Satan.

Well said, that appears to be true light in these days, if we all were more open to correction the world would be a better place.

 

[Rescued One]

Well said, that appears to be true light in these days, if we all were more open to correction the world would be a better place.

Who isn't open to correction and who should do the correcting --- God?

 

[devin553344]

Who isn't open to correction and who should do the correcting --- God?

Interesting, God seems to witness and leave the deciding of beliefs to the person. So people are often steered in their beliefs by others, and often counter to the bible. I read and believe the bible and that determines my beliefs. Is that what you were asking? Hopefully I answered it.

 

[fatboys]

Interesting, God seems to witness and leave the deciding of beliefs to the person. So people are often steered in their beliefs by others, and often counter to the bible. I read and believe the bible and that determines my beliefs. Is that what you were asking? Hopefully I answered it.

I am glad that you read the Bible but how do you know that it is right?

 

[devin553344]

I am glad that you read the Bible but how do you know that it is right?

I get filled with the Holy Spirit when I read the Holy Bible. Which is Peace and Comfort.

 

[fatboys]

I get filled with the Holy Spirit when I read the Holy Bible. Which is Peace and Comfort.

Wonderful. That is the Holy Ghost. Finally someone has answered a question that I thought was just to hard. Thank you. I get the same feeling when I read the Bible as well. But I also get the same feeling when I read the Book of Mormon. A sense of peace and comfort. Thank you thank you

 

[Rescued One]

Wonderful. That is the Holy Ghost. Finally someone has answered a question that I thought was just to hard. Thank you. I get the same feeling when I read the Bible as well. But I also get the same feeling when I read the Book of Mormon. A sense of peace and comfort. Thank you thank you

The Book of Mormon claims that the Bible was corrupted.
Read this from the Book of Mormon:

24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.

25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.

26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.

29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.
Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 13: 24-29

Joseph Smith declared, "I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Deseret Book, 1938, p. 327).

 

[fatboys]

The Book of Mormon claims that the Bible was corrupted.
Read this from the Book of Mormon:

24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.

25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.

26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.

29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.
Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 13: 24-29

Joseph Smith declared, "I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Deseret Book, 1938, p. 327).

So

 

[Rescued One]

Interesting, God seems to witness and leave the deciding of beliefs to the person. So people are often steered in their beliefs by others, and often counter to the bible. I read and believe the bible and that determines my beliefs. Is that what you were asking? Hopefully I answered it.

No, the Holy Spirit does the steering for those who received the new birth --- a supernatural act by God that brings the person dead in sins to life in Christ. Yes, the Bible contains the word of God but those who are dead in sins don't see the truth in those words.