gina

LeGrand Richards completely misses it as is evidenced by his misunderstanding of the phrase "familiar spirit". What spirit is he talking about? The Holy Bible never gives the slightest indication that it means anything sentimental or nostalgic, or something fondly remembered. The phrase always refers to evil spirits. Richards takes a passage from Isaiah and attempts to show that it predicts the coming of the book of mormon. He then paraphrases it in his own words. Perhaps he did slip up and mean something totally different than the biblical definition. If so, its an interesting slip. The point is, if I want truth it would not be wise for me to go to a man and read his books. God alone is Truth and His word is where I will find it. The Holy Bible tells us ghosts are not the spirit of the dead who return while awaiting the Judgment. Rather it says the dead know nothing and therefore cannot communicate with us. If God says not to communicate with the dead, not to even attempt it, then we had better obey. DON'T DO IT! Otherwise you open the door to demonic activity and God's anger. Joseph Smith himself admitted when one of his revelations later proved false that sometimes it can come from satan. "(I Joseph) enquired of the Lord about it, and behold, the following revelation came through the stone: Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil." He was unable to discern whether his so-called revelations had come from God, his own imagination or the devil, One should be extremely cautious.

Hi jayanna, I am familiar with LeGrand Richards. One of the interesting things he wrote was this, referring to the BoM: "Truly, it has a familiar spirit.." Yet ”familiar” as in "familiar spirit", when used in Scripture never means something warm and cozy. Look at Isaiah. 8: 19 and 2 Ne. 18: 19: …unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter… It refers to witchcraft and necromancy which is forbidden by God. My search for Truth always leads me to one source, God's word, the Holy Bible. :)

Hi jayanna, well...unfortunately what you wrote doesn't say anything about ghosts. I would really have to stretch my imagination and really read something into the verses in order to even say it alludes to it. Not sure the Holy Bible is meant to be approached that way.

So everyone who dies either gets resurrected or roams the earth as a ghost? Can you give me any evidence to back this up? Where in the Bible does it say this?

Not being LDS why is the emphasis solely on the BOM and not all scripture. I read the Bible often and I have found that I have been able to draw very close to my Father in Heaven by reading the Bible. There are many things to be learned there as well.

Thanks everyone for making me feel like I'm part of the group. Hope to be able to have some good conversations with you all.

Could ya'll share some of the things taught by the missionaries?

So I guess the question is since I am not a member of the LDS faith is why do young men go on missions? And how do they get "called" to the mission field or is this something they just want to do? What do you do with your time in the mission field?

Hi, My name is Gina and I am new to the forums. I am a Christian and want to get involved in some good discussions.