Malachi7

Southern Baptist statement in pdf format. Click here for html. Leadership University Lutheran Church statement Presbyterian Church (USA) statement Roman Catholic Church statement United Methodist Church statement

When religious discussion takes place both sides preach. Just like the LDS missionaries going door to door. If you want it to be one-sided preaching, I see no reason to hang around. Bye.

Oh, my apologies. I understand. LDS links aren't allowed on some Christian boards.

"Slip" it in? I'm not angry. Are you? We're just talking here.

You're right. Neither one will walk away convinced that the other is right. My purpose is to gather information and to compare the LDS religion to that of Christianity here and in the future with those I meet. I'm getting a free education! :-) Thanks. (Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? )

Snow, one cannot prove a negative. Yes, it's an informed assertion on my part. Do you know of one that does accept the LDS religion as Christian? Thus far even the Episcopal church doesn't. But it wouldn't surprise me if they started accepting just about anything and everything as they're headed for deep left field foul ball territory the way it is. P.S. I'm sorry I don't meet your standards of what's considered substance.

Oh, sorry. I thought it was common knowledge in LDS circles that the BoA was proven to be a funeral thingie and not written by Abraham himself. Are "anti" links okay here? I know of at least a dozen on the topic.

Have you ever considered the fact that not a single denomination of Christianity accepts the LDS religion as Christian? It is very different. P.S. The Book of Abraham. Proven incorrect. But you won't change your beliefs.

Of course. But one still must be Mormon, right? Let me see if I have this straight. If you go to the CK and I go to the telestial then you are more worthy than me.

And now from the Book of Mormon? When copy/pasting from LDS.org, if you first click "options" and then "Hide footnote indicators" you won't have words like bwe, aone, akeep and bestate

Where is the preexistence story clarified in the Book of Mormon? I'd like to read on that.

You imagine correctly, Snow. I read here at LDS.net for awhile before I posted. I saw that you're utterly convinced of the truthfulness of your beliefs. You're right. Nothing presented will "prove" anything to you. I'm not intending to be disrespectful to you in the least, but rather just making an observation. Is there anything at all that LDS critics have to say that disproves Mormonism? Anything? "Up till last night you were completely unaware of the pervasive teaching of divination in Christianity." No, not at all. I am indeed aware. I believe LDS theology takes the thoughts too far.

That's my point. Thanks. I'm unable to be exalted until I "change" a few things, i.e. become a Mormon, right? :-) Are you more worthy?

My statement looks fine to me. Christianity as a whole knows nothing of a heavenly Mother, i.e. "God's wife." It's more a uniquely LDS belief that God and Mother procreated Jesus and Satan and all of us as spirit-brothers in what's known as the preexistence. I'm aware that Mormons believe it. Can sincerity of belief create truth?

The Cat-lick Church (said affectionately) doesn't believe as you do. There's a saying in Catholicism: We know where the Church is, but we don't know where the Church is not. What they mean by that is that someone out there may not be Roman Catholic by label, but they still might be saved unto eternal life and they are therefore Roman Catholic because only Roman Catholics can be saved. (I'm Evangelical, by the way. I've just known a few Cat-licks friends.) P.S. Are you more Christian than I am? I mean, I can't be exalted, right?

Now THAT made me laugh! Thanks, I needed that. Snow, may I ask you to consider admitting that nothing I can ever say will change your mind one bit. Ah, gotcha. It just comes from being LDS and being faithful and studious. Thanks.

It makes sense that you would see things that way when viewed through LDS teachings. But without such teachings superimposed upon the text, however, the Bible speaks on its own. The spirit of adoption by which we call out to God is that of being "born again" unto eternal life and being saved from eternal separation from God. Heaven. Hell. That's all, folks. It's about being adopted into the family of God. Being saved. LDS theology, however, would have us believe that being sons and daughters of God means to be literally born of celestial offspring, i.e. God and Mother God. Christianity knows nothing of heavenly Mother. It's a uniquely LDS concept that Jesus, Satan and all of us were born in the "preexistence" as spirit-children who took on tabernacles of flesh and bone to learn of LDS ordinances so that we too might become Gods in our own right.

You're right about the Catholic Church believing that only its baptism is efficacious just as the LDS Church believes regarding its own baptism. The LDS Church, just as the Catholic Church, believes that only IT is the true church on the face of the earth. It therefore naturally follows that the reason the Pope doesn't hold LDS baptism as efficacious is because LDS theology is considered by the Pope to be other than Christian. It therefore naturally follows that the LDS Church doesn't consider the Catholic Church to have any authority whatsoever to baptize.

Actually, the Catholic Church does hold the view that the LDS religion isn't Christian: Response on the validity of baptism conferred by «Mormons»

Understood. Telestial, Terrestrial and Outer Darkness. On a lighter note, some Mormons have told me that my fate will most likely be the Terrestrial Kingdom as I'm an "okay guy" (for an "anti-Mormon," that is.) If that's the case then I think I'm in a better place than you are because I can enjoy coffee all my life if I want to and still go to the same place you might be going. <wink>

Based upon answers in this thread, and based upon what I've gleaned from a few websites which are critical of the LDS religon, and from what I've gleaned from the LDS manual Achieving a Celestial Marriage, the short story becomes men becoming exalted, physical Gods (gods, deity) occupying time and space where they'll procreate spirit-children with a celestial mate (or mates: D&C 132) where the spirit-children will follow the same path that their parents did in becoming deity themselves by obedience to the laws, ordinances and principles described by the LDS church for the governance of this Second Estate (or mortal probation.) How'd I do? Volumes can be (and have been written) and much could be added, but that sums it up, I guess. P.S. Oh, and only Mormons will achieve it, or as Spencer W. Kimball puts it in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness, earn it.

Do you believe the concept of Eternal Progression is a Christian belief?

Thanks. Are you non-LDS?

Yes, I will argue (but not fight) with you about what you consider to be Christian theology. As will you. Will you not provide an argument; a basis for defense of your faith? It appears you too will argue. Good. I think we should state our views and back them up. LDS defense thus far has been this: we believe by revelation of our prophets. My defense thus far has been this: I'll stick with my Bible on this one. LDS response: We believe the Bible. Me: Can't find Eternal Progression in the Bible nor the Book of Mormon. LDS: Revelation. Me: It contradicts the Bible. LDS: Nope. Me: Well, y'see, yeah it does. And so it goes.