LDS

[Quinn]

It is a long story which requires the recipient to attempt to understand.

Translation: It probably won't make sense, and when it doesn't, it will be your own fault that it didn't. Naked evasion plus victim blaming, one of religion's cornerstones for centuries. The classics never get old.

 

[Janadele]

I love long stories, if the subject manages to catch and hold my interest. Thus far you have not convinced me that it's actually worthwhile to spend time and energy on this subject (salvation).

If you are genuine in asking the question then follow this link...

http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36950_eng.pdf?lang=eng

 

[pakeha]

Unfortunately for Mormons, being that the papyrus was a sacred funeral text the papyrus was a fairly common document. There are many copies. ...

Very true.
It makes skyrider44's refusal to discuss the fraudulent nature of the BoA even more puzzling.

...Another fiction--a piece of twaddle worthy of a carnival barker.

Curiously enough, Smith obtained his copies of those Egyptian funerary texts from a carnie, didn't he?

 

[Pixel42]

If you are genuine in asking the question then follow this link...

http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36950_eng.pdf?lang=eng

Most of us already have a pretty good understanding of what LDS doctrine asserts. What we're lacking is a good reason to believe any of it is true. What we're not lacking is plenty of good reasons to believe it's mostly made up by a fantasist.

 

[Amazer]

If you are genuine in asking the question then follow this link...

http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36950_eng.pdf?lang=eng

Followed that link, started reading and then came across this

WHERE DID I COME FROM?
Your life did not begin at birth, nor will it end at death. You
are made up of a spirit body (sometimes called the soul) and
a physical body. Your Heavenly Father created your spirit, and
you lived with Him as a spirit before
you were born on earth. You knew
and loved Him, and He knew and
loved you. This period is called
pre-earth life.

And then I think 'Where's evidence for all of that?'. Stopped reading shortly after that.

 

[Janadele]

Within you.

 

[joobz]

When you pass from this world you will know why.

You comfort yourself in this feigned secret knowledge. Unfortunately, Mormons have been following ethical/moral trends, and not leading them.

With polygamy and racism, Mormons have adapted to fit society. Not the other way arround. This suggests that their moral insight/source is fundamentally flawed. Why wouldn't Mormons be leading the moral charge? Why are they so wrong so often?

We see this again with gay rights. Mormons are on the wrong side again. One must wonder why this is?

 

[Pixel42]

Within you.

If by that you're referring to burnings in the bosom etc, that is not a good reason to believe anything. We know that such subjective experiences can be self-induced. We know they can be caused by minor malfunctions in the operation of the brain. We know that people of many different and contradictory beliefs have them. We know that some of the LDS beliefs which have supposedly been confirmed by them are provably false. So even if I did have some kind of religious experience I still would not consider it evidence for any particular religious belief.

 

[MIKILLINI]

Followed that link, started reading and then came across this



And then I think 'Where's evidence for all of that?'. Stopped reading shortly after that.

WHERE DID I COME FROM?
Your life did not begin at birth, nor will it end at death. You
are made up of a spirit body (sometimes called the soul) and
a physical body. Your Heavenly Father created your spirit, and
you lived with Him as a spirit before
you were born on earth. You knew
and loved Him, and He knew and
loved you. This period is called
pre-earth life.

I'm surprised they're not mad at God for making them live with suffering by having an Earth life.
They must celebrate at funerals; talking about their pre-earth knowledge.

 

[Empress]

I'm surprised they're not mad at God for making them live with suffering by having an Earth life.

Oh no, no, no. You see, we chose this! The spirits that chose another path in the spirit world (ie to follow Satan) didn't come here to earth. We suffering souls are lucky!!

There was a musical called My Turn on Earth that I grew up listening to. One of the songs puts it in good context for you if you're interested in listening to it. It's like six-minutes long, but just the first couple minutes are enough to get the jist:



That one really confused me when I was a kid, b/c I knew I had chosen Jesus' plan since I was here on earth, not one of Satan's minions, but Satan's plan seemed pretty good to me when you look at all the suffering and dying in the world. I knew I was supposed to like Jesus' plan, but secretly I thought Satan was pretty much on the mark. Why not lose the suffering if we have to worship someone anyway; why not Satan instead of God? We're still worshiping and this way everyone is happy. Jesus' seemed like a dick plan.

They just throw the "freedom" card around a lot to make you want to choose Jesus. Of course, our understanding of the brain makes ideas of "free will" rather preposterous.

 

[Amazer]

Within you.

That's a novel approach. Really, why didn't I think of that before...

 

[elbe]

When you pass from this world you will know why.

But what if you're wrong? And I mean colossally wrong. What if god(s) exist but you've been down the completely wrong track this entire time but you didn't know it because you've been too focused on your own (wrong) beliefs? I'm thinking that maybe the best afterlife available is for those who die a noble, warriors death; Valhalla awaits those worthy of it.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

If you are genuine in asking the question then follow this link...

http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36950_eng.pdf?lang=eng

What silly childish nonsense. I much prefer the Truth of Peter Rabbit. It explains everything about Life Itself. As long as you can believe that rabbits wear jackets.

 

[abaddon]

Further to the above, from The Pearl of Great Price, the following outlines the LDS belief ( and consequently also my belief) regarding Adam and Eve:
21 And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and I took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof;

22 And the rib which I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said: This I know now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/3?lang=eng

Thank you for copypasting what James E. Talmage believed about "Adam and Eve"...his views on evolution are also illustrative.

On the other hand, I wonder if you realize that you have not actually answered the question about what you beleive.

If you would not mind, I, for one, would appreciate it if you would explain whether you believe that "Adam" and "Eve" were actual people, and, if you would not mind, if you would explain when you believe they existed. If you were of a mind, you might also explain when you believe the noachian flood happened.

Thanks!

ETA: Janadele, when I quoted your post, and asked my question, iyour post still said, simply, "Of course".
You later edited it to read, "Of course I believe in "a literal Adam and Eve", as it reads now.

I appreciate you actually addressing one of my questions, and I apologize that it seemed as if I had ignored what your post became.

Would you mind, now, addressing the question of when you believe Adam and Eve lived?

Thanks!

Bit of dishonest editting there Janadele.

 

[halleyscomet]

When you pass from this world you will know why.

Kinda late then, isn't it?

Within you.

Does the LDS Temple in your area offer a remedial evangelism course? Perhaps a "Beginner's Guide to Witnessing" or something similar?

If I were a Mormon I'd be accusing you of trying to discredit the faith by making Mormons look inept. I'm not trying to mock you. I'm trying to offer you honest feedback on your evangelism technique. I can understand skyrider44's poor showing, as he appears to be going through a crisis of Faith. This site is something of a crucible for him, where his faith is being challenged. You however appear to be here for the purpose of lording your faith over us, as if we should care about your smug belief in something for which you have no proof.

Preening yourself with pride when asked serious questions is shoddy, inept evangelism Janadele.

Why am I even bothering? The odds are good you've blocked me anyway.

 

[tsig]

When you pass from this world you will know why.

Then that's when I'll decide.

 

[tsig]

Followed that link, started reading and then came across this



And then I think 'Where's evidence for all of that?'. Stopped reading shortly after that.

When you realize that all those people talking about life before and after death can't know any more about it than you do a lot of scales fall from the eyes.

 

[tsig]

Salvation from what? And why would I need salvation?

You have to be saved from the wrath of god. it's really just a celestial protection racket.

 

[tsig]

If by that you're referring to burnings in the bosom etc, that is not a good reason to believe anything. We know that such subjective experiences can be self-induced. We know they can be caused by minor malfunctions in the operation of the brain. We know that people of many different and contradictory beliefs have them. We know that some of the LDS beliefs which have supposedly been confirmed by them are provably false. So even if I did have some kind of religious experience I still would not consider it evidence for any particular religious belief.

I read the book of Mormon but instead of a burning in the bosom I got a conflagration in the caboose.

 

[tsig]

Within you.

I thought it all came from within the hat.