Fraxinus

Thanks for the recommendation, Sean. I see that Amazon.com has the book in question. I plan to order it soon.

Thanks for the reply, Justice. What you say about the Catholic church agrees with what Callister writes. My question was about the fact that it seems as though those listening to Christ were horrified at what he was saying - which would support that he was not speaking metaphorically about the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood. But I think that I am seeing other ways in which these verses can be read. Thanks to everyone who has replied and to everyone who might reply later. Callister's book is really opening my eyes to many things and showing me a depth to LDS theology which I hadn't known about.

Looking at it that way, and looking at the rest of the chapter, it seems as though this verse: Could be taken to mean that coming to Christ is eating his flesh, and believing in him is drinking his blood?

Greetings. I am a Catholic, but have been having some troubles with some Catholic doctrines, which has caused me to research other Christian denominations. Although I have been able to locate plausible rebuttals of many Catholic positions, there is one which I am having some trouble finding thorough opposition to. Please accept my questions at face value as I am seeking truth and understanding, not seeking argument. I am presently reading the book The Inevitable Apostasy by Tad R. Callister, and am finding it quite enlightening and helpful. In the book, he points out that LDS theology is opposed to the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. I was hoping for him to discuss within his book one of the main proof-texts for what Catholics call The Real Presence: John 6:48-69, but he does not. In these verses, Christ tells those listening that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. His statement is met with shocked disbelief. Even many of his disciples said to themselves, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” – John 6:60. At this point, many turn away from Christ and no longer follow him. (John 6:66) At other points, we see Christ teach using parables, and we see him explain the parable afterwards. Yet in this instance, Christ simply watches many disciples walk away from him after hearing him say this. He does not call them back to explain, nor does he chastise them for mistakenly believing that he meant his words literally. He simply allows them to walk away. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” – John 6:66. This seems to indicate to me that those who went away did indeed understand Christ correctly – that he was putting forth the teaching that they needed to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood – abhorrent practices to the Jews of the time. Can you help me to understand what was going on here if not the plain meanings of the words? And why Christ would seemingly allow many to lose their salvation over a seeming misunderstanding of his words? Please share with me the official LDS teachings on these verses and this topic. Thank you for helping me to understand.

Thanks Dr. T!

Thank you Pam - your help is appreciated!

Greetings, everyone. I've been lurking for a little while and finding all the conversation interesting and the atmosphere welcoming, so I decided to sign up. I joined the Church a very, very long time ago, but my sponsors moved away and I fell away very soon thereafter. I ended up becoming a Catholic after a years-long intensive search. Despite this, I never turned away any missionaries who came to my door and have always had interesting talks when they visit. Just had some missionaries drop by the other day and I got to talking to them about how I didn't believe in the Great Apostasy. After they left, I decided to try to understand how Mormons could believe in the Great Apostasy, so I checked out a book entitled The Inevitable Apostasy by Tad R. Callister from the library and am finding myself amazed at how little I knew about Mormon theology - and how not crazy it is. So, I'm here for fellowship and to ask a bunch of silly questions to get my facts straight. I'm here as an earnest seeker.