wbrisett

GB: I just looked through all my older emails. Looks like in 2007 the very briefly closed up shop, but then returned just a couple of days later. The last email I have from them is dated 2009. I know the official Church office took over a lot of the material they licensed so the link Sicily510 provided has a lot of the material, but it doesn't have non-conference talks or scriptures. I suspect unless you have another backup copy of this material somewhere you're out of luck since LDSAUDIO doesn't look to be in business any longer. Wayne

The Gospel is simple, in fact, it can be summed up in one word; Love. Love your God with all your heart, Love your neighbor as yourself... Then there is always my personal favorite 1 John passage that God is love and to love is to know God. That is the essence of the Gospel. We as humans can muck around with the message and try to make it complicated, but deep down it's all about love, His love for us and our love for Him. Wayne

I just did a search of the forums and found a couple of threads discussing the importance of keeping a journal. I'm just wondering what should I put in a journal? How often do you actually go back and read old journal entries? Wayne

hmmm... this thread is turning a bit more in the direction I was hoping it wouldn't turn. But, I want to thank everybody on both sides, you've given me some wonderful material to study and pray about... Thanks, Wayne

That thought has crossed my mind and honestly I believe it will with anybody who see it. I think for me personally, I sometimes struggle with something very different than most. For most mainstream Christians I know, they think the whole Book of Mormon is untrue. I don't have that thought, I suspect because I think there are both logical arguments that the book is divinely inspired, but on a more personal level, I feel that the Holy Spirit has answered my questions about authenticity. However, I do have questions about some of the D&C that are written and when I see parts of the BoM that on the surface seem to contradict parts of the D&C, I question why. Questioning is good, you don't want to following blindly. Wayne

Thanks everybody! Tyler I found your last post useful in explaining how you see it. Livy's link to the FAIR site was spot on. I just found that part of Jacob interesting as I was reading through it, and the cross-reference to the TG wasn't all that helpful. Thanks again to everybody. Wayne

First, I don't post very often. I'm not a member of the Church, but I have on multiple occassions gone to sacrament meetings and two of my best neighbors are members of the Church. While reading Jacob this weekend, I found it interesting that Jacob warned and commanded the people not to be like Solomon and David and to only have one wife. So, my question as an outsider is, when did this change? D&C 132 seems a bit out of place in context with Jacob. I'm not trying to stir up any trouble, I'm just trying to grapple with how one part of scripture can say one thing, then have that changed, only to have it changed again. In the Commandments we are warned about adultery, yet Solomon and David had many wires, so they weren't committing adultery because they were married to all of them (well, except when David slept with leader of his Army's wife). Anyhow, as we move on throughout the Old Testament, we don't hear of multiple wives any longer. Makes me wonder when that changed in the Old Testament as well. But, the Old Testament (to my knowledge) doesn't say don't do "X" just to have another book say the opposite. Anyhow, if this is inappropriate, then please remove it. I do not want this to turn into a mud-slinging fest. Wayne

First off, I am not a member of the church. I consider myself a friend of the church. I am a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine). When I was in basic training, one of the members in my squad was attending the LDS services, I joined him. He was actually baptized while at basic training. It was wonderful seeing him get baptized in the pool at Camp Pendleton. Here are some pros to joining the Marines first: 1 - You can mature before your mission 2 - You can be that person that other members of your squad/platoon look to for guidance. Are there downsides? Absolutely. As shdwlkr mentioned, there are a great many things that go on in the Marines (and other services for that matter) that will test you daily, so you must remain vigilante and strong at all times (easier said than done at times). As previously mentioned, the Marines are always looking for a few good men. I would recommend you pray on this and see what guidance the Holy Spirit provides. Wayne

Hang in there, my brother who is professional engineer is going on 15 months of being unemployed. Although, I do wonder at times if he has tried as hard as he claims (my sister-in-law doesn't think so). My prayers are with you. Good luck.

I think this nails it for me as well. If there was a red flag I would have had that AH, HA moment, and I haven't. And as I mentioned in another thread somebody else started, reading the BoM has helped my personal relationship with God and Jesus. If it was wrong, I simply would have a hard time realizing that. Both in the physical sense and emotional sense. But, I have yet to have that burning feeling that I think the missionaries were expecting from me. Wayne

Mark: You may want to read this: Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon - Michael J. Preece - FARMS Review - Volume 3 - Issue 1 As a non-member of the Church, I have few answers. But I think the opening statement of this review of the book "Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon" pretty well sums up what others have stated here. "It seems basic to acknowledge at the outset of this review that any book which proposes to show where the events in the Book of Mormon story took place is on shaky ground by the very nature of its subject. " That said, if there is evidence of any type it's in the hearts, minds, and actions of those. Jesus warned of false prophets that would come, I know many in the mainstream Christian religions look towards the LDS church this way. However, It's also said that you will know from people's actions where they stand. On that record, I think anyone would find it hard to say members of the Church don't just talk the talk, they actually walk the walk as well. Their actions speak volumes of where their hearts are... I have challenged myself to read the Book of Mormon this year. I'm way ahead of schedule, and it's making me make that reconnection with our Holy Father, and ultimately isn't that what it's about. I seriously doubt that if the Book of Mormon, and the telling of Jesus here in the Americas wasn't true I would make that connection. I don't think you'll find hard evidence, but if you are earnest in asking I'm sure the Holy Spirit will reveal to you an understanding on the subject. Wayne

I've heard from my LDS neighbors and friends as well. That you're not suppose to watch TV on Sunday. But then I can get BYU TV on my satellite dish, which means somebody is not only broadcasting the signal, but there are people working even on Sunday to push the buttons (maybe they hire non-LDS folks for that, don't know). But it is an interesting issue, and as this poster also pointed out, why is it OK to use the computer and internet on Sundays if TV is off-limits? As a non-member of the Church, I look at things from the outside and think, how crazy it is that members have to worry about such things. Takes away from the spirit of the law, when you're focusing on the law. Similar to the Jews who can't turn on lights or walk more than 'x' number of blocks to the temple on the Sabbath. That was one of the things that Jesus taught against. He certainly did work on Sunday, cured the sick and performed miracles much to the Rabbi's distain. Seems some people get caught up in the law and not the spirit of the law. Wayne

I'm a bit naive on this topic, and have never fully understood the BoA. However, wouldn't this make us all gods? Or is the LDS theology that we would simply be the gardeners of the planets?

You do have to understand that I've studied or had a lot of influence from the LDS church in my life for quite some time. I was very close at one time to joining the church, but my wife was very much against it, and so I just continued to read and study. In the meantime, I've been able to add small things into our life that were borrowed from the LDS church, such as family night. We make Friday's our family night where we spend the time focusing on us as a family (hard to do when everybody seems to be pulling for your time). My wife and I were called to teach Sunday school and I find myself enjoying studying for the lesson plans each week. However, I don't enjoy having to share that with 12 year olds who would rather not be there, but that's another story. Oh, I'm really not all that analytical, at least not all the time. I can be emotional... just ask anybody who has read any of the poetry that I've written over the years.

In short no. I've never prayed specifically to know if the Bible was true. I've prayed for understanding about things in the Bible, but never about the truth of it. Probably because I was raised in the Catholic church and was an alter boy for many years. I never questioned it, because I've always trusted it's truth. Maybe I'm experiencing it, and not knowing it. For example, this morning I got up at 3 AM (my normal rising time) and spent nearly two hours reading both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I felt no different when I read either. Prior to reading, I asked for wisdom and understanding in prayer. Did I feel a burning sensation when I read? No. Did I feel at peace, yes. But then the rest of my family is still sleeping, the house is quiet and there are no distractions. It's my time to study His words and try to gain in my relationship with God. Now, maybe that peacefulness is what the Elders had really asked, but to me it wasn't different reading the BoM or the Bible. Thus, my answer to the Elder's question. And for the record, I do think the Book of Mormon is divinely inspired. I wouldn't read and study it, if I didn't think so. One of the interesting questions, and in fact mentioned in the introduction of the Book of Mormon (which is specifically mentioned from Moroni 10) is that you ask if the book is true, however nowhere is that question ever poised (at least that I can recall ever reading) in the Bible. So why is that question asked of one book, but not the other? I don't claim to know, but I do know both guide people's lives (including mine) daily and our world is a richer place because of it. Wayne Wayne