DAVEH wrote: > "Inexplicably".......I don't think so! LOL! inexTRicably is what I meant. :-) But maybe that was a subconscious typo because it also appears the Mormon tie to Joseph Smith also appears to be inexplicable. :-)
David Miller wrote: >> If I considered Joseph Smith to have misrepresented the >> Book of Abraham and that he falsely claimed to be able >> to translate it, could I still become a member of your >> church? If I reject the Book of Mormon as not being >> Scripture, can I become a member of your church? If >> I consider several prophecies of Joseph Smith as recorded >> in the Doctrine & Covenants to be false, can I be a good >> Mormon? Surely you must recognize that the answer to all >> these questions is no. DAVEH wrote: > you are comparing JS who claimed (and is believed) to be > a prophet to guys who had no inclination to make that claim. > I think it would be better if you were to compare him to > Biblical prophets, such as Moses. Then your comparison > might be more significant. Ok, fair enough, but the point still remains that Mormons hold more tightly to their faith in Joseph Smith than Wesleyans hold to faith in John Wesley, despite the names by which you call yourselves. DAVEH wrote: > No, I would not agree. Jesus is the cornerstone > of our religion. JS was merely a tool in his hands. What did Jesus Christ bring to the world? He brought salvation through the sacrifice of himself, a teaching of repentance and love for our fellow man, and he left the legacy of a kingdom and spiritual temples made without hands, with the promise of returning to receive us unto himself. What did Joseph Smith bring to the world? He brought bloodshed and strife, a teaching that he was the true prophet and restorer while the rest of Christianity was apostate, he sought to establish religious communities and to add new Scripture, he brought a failed attempt to restore the American Indian Jews to the church, he brought rampant polygamy, and left us a promise that he and his church would be exalted while his wife would be rejected and destroyed because of her rejection of his secret polygamy. He also left us the legacy of an earthly priesthood, which he calls heavenly, but is really earthly, and he led his followers to look back to earthly temples rather than seeing the assembly of believers as the temple of God. I grant you that modern Mormonism has departed some from the Joseph Smith path in many ways. Modern Mormonism has rejected the path of bloodshed and strife that originally characterized Mormonism, and they have not been so prone to condemn the rest of Christianity as apostate. Modern Mormons have given up on the foolish notion that American Indians are Jews ready to be restored to their original heritage and covenant with God, and they have rejected polygamy and rejected the earlier racism that excluded blacks from ministry. About all they have retained are the restored priesthoods and building programs and empire building which all the other denominations engage in anyways. If Joseph Smith were alive today and held the same position in Christianity that he held when he was here before (a nobody), doubtless he would have condemned Mormonism along with the rest of Christianity as being apostate. So, why is it that you are Mormon? :-) Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
