jinc1019

Very interesting to see this. Honestly, I was expecting a completely different answer. Having grown up Catholic, the passages just SOUNDED like something Evangelicals would point to and say "this is the Catholic Church." Shouldn't have jumped to that conclusion obviously.

Very good explanation. Thank you!

I will read the sermon...I have not yet read it. To me, it doesn't really matter how expansive the universe is...basic logic says there has to be a creator at the beginning of time

I have prayed for a LONG time about finding a church home...to no avail. I realize many have prayed longer...so I continue to pray...but I am not sure I will be blessed with an answer.

It was very interesting yes! However, I still don't quite understand the position. On the one hand, it sounds like Mormons definitively state God is the sole creator of the universe, but on the other hand, it seems Mormons think God was also once a man? I can't understand the position. Why do Mormons believe it?

Fair enough...Question answered.

Lol, very clever....If anyone has sources for the *other* miracles, I would appreciate it.

Other than the Book of Mormon? Healings, etc.?

But based on what? Was this revealed to Smith? That the priesthood was lost?

The title says it all. If this is true, could someone elaborate? Also, could the question be answered: If God was once a man, who made God?

Did Joseph Smith perform any miracles? If so, are there any good sources online about this?

As someone who grew up Catholic, one of the things that has really stood out to me was that the Book of Mormon is pretty anti-Catholic in the sense that it prophesizes about its going astray very early on and talks about how awful it will become (all in the first 14 chapters of Nephi). What I find very interesting is how much in common the Catholic Church and the LDS Church have. Both believe to be the one true Church established by Christ himself, both have leaders who claim that, in certain situations, the Holy Spirit watches over them and guides them to truth, and both have a priesthood. Obviously there are many differences...but the similarities are really striking because both ultimately claim to be Christ's true church. Although I am not Catholic any longer (I don't have a denominational home despite being a professing Christian), I do wonder...Why do Mormons believe that Catholic holy orders are invalid? If Christ established that priesthood, shouldn't they also have valid priests? From what I read, Mormons seem to think it's no longer valid but I can't figure out why. Any help on this would be great!

As I said before, the Tigris, Euphrates, and Assyria all clearly point to the Middle East, OR AT LEAST that part of the world! How does it point to Missouri? That is really the question.

I appreciate the responses. I honestly can't understand how anyone could believe it's true that Eden was in Missouri, but I certainly can respect the opinion.

That is not correct. The Bible clearly says the Garden is located near the Tigris and the Euphrates (rivers), even saying the Tigris flows east of Assyria.

I can certainly understand that position, but your faith is based on the idea that Joseph Smith was a prophet and a true prophet doesn't teach false things. So shouldn't this at least be an issue of importance? I am not saying there is no conceivable way it's true...only that it seems incredibly, incredibly unlikely.

Thanks for this Pam. I did read this already and while it was helpful in that it explained what Mormons officially believe, I was curious what everyday Mormons think of this. Obviously it seems essentially impossible, doesn't it?

I was saying it was speculation that you will be creating planets, etc. All your scriptures say is that you will be joint heirs with Christ, gods, etc. It doesn't say what you will be doing or why. You have opinions about that but it isn't doctrine. I know it isn't because I read it wasn't on the LDS website. Justin

Of all the claims anti-Mormons make about Joseph Smith, this one seems to me to be one of the most valid criticisms. I realize that no one really knows where the Garden of Eden is, thus any place could hypothetically be the Garden of Eden, it still seems very unlikely (to say the least) that it would be in Missouri of all places. I am not at all trying to trash Mormonism. I want to be as fair as I possibly can...As I said before, I am quite impressed by much of the evidence I have seen about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, but this one...this is hard to understand. How do Mormons generally understand this teaching? Do Mormons really accept that the Garden of Eden is in/near Missouri? If so, how do you explain all the other early events of the Bible occurring in locations much further away (Israel and Middle East)? I am very interested to hear what Mormons think about this. Justin

Thanks for sharing that. I can certainly understand and relate to those views!

This is speculation though, correct? I don't see any official passages of your scripture that say this (ALTHOUGH, I obviously don't know them very well).

I have spoken with missionaries before and yes they are quite helpful.

Just as a note though, the first study by Roper is about determining the editor of Times and Seasons, not the Book of Mormon or any other alleged scripture.

Thank you for these studies. I was aware of those that reject the Jocker's study but not the others.

Unlike many of you, I have yet to be blessed with the certainty of the Spirit. As such, I try to rely on whatever hard evidence I can find, even if it is, like all human things, fallible.