Diego

PRISON CHAPLAIN, to be honest, probably more to our scholars. Having been raised Roman Catholic, I have also read the Intertestamental Books, and, from personal interest, many of the Apocryphal/Pseudopigraphical books. I have also read the Qur'an and parts of Talmud. Although I recommend the Intertestamental books (and the Triple) to anyone who has the time, I realise that most people do not. So I guess that kind of answers that. Most non-Mormons are not going to look at the Triple, but would be edified if they did, I think.

SUNDAY21, I am pleased to meet you.

Thank you, ZIP. It is most good to meet you.

Hello. I am a member of th Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. I have studied the LDS Church and find much of value therein. My experience of the Book of Mormon has been particularly fruitful. I actually read it often. But there are a few doctrines that I just cannot get behind, particularly the LDS argument of the Great Apostasy. But I AM glad to make your acquaintances.

I think that often, the biggest argument that a "traditional" (whatever exactly that means, as it will differ among even those who call themselves by that label) Christian will have with the LDS Church is the Great Apostasy. As a traditional Lutheran, (Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod), I reject the idea that any kind of apostasy occurred at all. Throughout the history of the Church, from the time of Jesus and His Holy Apostles, there have been Faithful Pastors (Presbyters) and Deacons who upheld the Faith. Bishops were just a higher degree of Presbyter. We of course depend, as do other parts of the Universal (Catholic, but not necessarily Roman) Church, on the Church Fathers for the Deposit of Faith handed down by the Apostles. Now, that having been said, there is ALWAYS another hand, is there not? I have read the Quad I own, every word of it. There is much of the Book of Mormon that I can appreciate. I even have my favourite passages. Is the text literally true, as the LDS Church teaches? I honestly do not know the answer to that question, or to the related one of whether the Nephites and Lamanites truly existed or not. But I do know that the Book of Mormon contains unique doctrines on the Fall of Adam and Eve, the Atonement, and many other topics of considerable interest to Christians. One cannot just take the text and toss it in the waste bin because one is not a Latter-day Saint! So, I encourage all Christians everywhere to consider the Quad and its contents very seriously. Although as a Lutheran I am hardly trying to missionise for the LDS Church, I think one cannot ignore that said Church has contributed something very unique and enduring to our literary culture. We risk ignoring it at our considerable peril, if you ask me.