Latter Day Saints, The Mormons, my analysis so far!

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by DennisTate, Jun 30, 2018.

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Are Latter Days Saints, Mormons, Christians?

  1. Yes

    16 vote(s)
    61.5%
  2. No

    9 vote(s)
    34.6%
  3. Perhaps.... .I will research this further.

    1 vote(s)
    3.8%
  1. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I have been reading the following book for the past week or so and
    I have to admit that the wisdom contained therein has exceeded my
    expectations.

    I have heard Christians from other denominations teach that Mormons,
    are not Christians, but I am certain that a significantly higher percentage of
    Latter Day Saints are led quite powerfully by the Holy Spirit than is the case
    in most Christian denominations.

    Romans 8:9

    "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

    Gospel Principles

    I was really impressed by what the Latter Day Saints teach about the state of the dead...... and I was so glad to see them giving hope for the dead who died in an unsaved state!

    https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-41-the-postmortal-spirit-world?lang=eng

    The Postmortal Spirit World
    “Chapter 41: The Postmortal Spirit World,” Gospel Principles (2011), 240–44
    I personally consider that to be an exceptionally accurate and insightful explanation of what happens to us after we die.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2018
  2. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    (This is from the same article as in post #1)


    One of the advantages that Latter Day Saints have over many Christian denominations is that they tend
    to show respect toward modern near death experience accounts. Ms. Betty J. Eadie was not kicked out of
    the Mormon church for publishing her book......... my old denomination The Worldwide Church of God.... might
    not have been so patient with her for serving G-d to the best of her ability.......
    rather than the leadership of the church!

    https://www.near-death.com/experiences/notable/betty-eadie.html
    I was also so glad to find out that there is a major church that teaches about the pre-existence of the human spirit or soul.

     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2018
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  3. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Here is another exceptional insight that fits perfectly with what near death experiencers also report being shown.

    https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-2-our-heavenly-family?lang=eng
    https://www.near-death.com/science/research/pre-existence.html
     
  4. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I just watched the first two segments of this series on assisting a friend with suicidal tendencies......
    This is exceptionally well done:

    https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/arti...lund?cid=HP_MO-2-7-2018_dPTH_fCNWS_xLIDyL1-C_
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2018
  5. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I have definitely got to read this soon:
    https://signofjonas.blogspot.com/2010/07/jews-and-mormons-similarities-and.html
    Jews and Mormons: Similarities and Differences
     
  6. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    In order to answer the poll question you may wish to read:

    https://www.lds.org/topics/christians?lang=eng
    Are Mormons Christian?
     
  7. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This is an exceptionally interesting explanation for Mormonism.....
    and their connection with Kabbalistic thought.

    https://www.haaretz.com/how-kabbala-shaped-mormon-faith-1.5175120

    How Kabbala Shaped Mormon Faith
    In his effort to establish 'Zion on American soil,' the founder of Mormonism was deeply influenced by the seminal Jewish mystical work, not to mention the polygamy practiced by the Patriarchs.

    ....
    ....
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2018
  8. Crownline

    Crownline Banned at Members Request

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    My experience with Mormons is that they are good people that are really into family. If you ever work for a Mormon owned business as a non Mormon, don’t expect your career ladder to have many rungs. The higher, more desirable positions are reserved for Mormon brethren.
     
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  9. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    That would make sense.....
    Latter Day Saints have suffered some persecution and thus.....
    would tend to have something of an us vs the world attitude.....
    so they would feel the need to stick together.

    I got interested in the L.D.S. church again about a month or so ago when Mr. Mark Taylor
    mentioned in an interview that there was a lot of evidence that the 2012 USA election was
    stolen due to widespread voter fraud..........
    if that is true......
    then in the sight of G-d who knows all things...... Mr. Mitt Romney may have been elected POTUS in 2012.....????

    This possibility has great Artistic Value.... but also potential economic value.....
    and could be spun off into a whole new way of looking at the USA and even the world economy......

    https://askgramps.org/will-priesthood-save-constitution-urban-legend/
    ......
    I like this conclusion:


    Could a Utah State Dollar save the USA Dollar?

    Should Mr. Mitt Romney cooperate with President Trump?

    I think that it is more than merely interesting that a group of gifted
    Christians feel that President Trump's role in history fits with Isaiah chapter 45....
    and ancient King Cyrus..... .whereas back in 2012... another gifted Christian
    stated that Mitt Romney....... was a metaphorical Darius...... who worked with Cyrus
    over 2500 years ago.

    Edie Reno:
     
  10. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I have got to get into this again soon:

    https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=jbms

    1-31-1993 “Nigh unto Death”: NDE Research and the Book of Mormon Kevin Christensen San Jose State University
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2018
  11. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I am finding out some interesting information on why the Latter Day Saints take NDE accounts so seriously.

    http://www.ldsliving.com/Life-After-Death-6-Insights-into-the-Spirit-World/s/77329
    Life After Death: 6 Insights into the Spirit World
    byBrent L. Top

    and.....

    http://www.ldsliving.com/Brigham-Yo...-It-Taught-Him-About-the-Spirit-World/s/81924

    Brigham Young's Near-Death Experience and What It Taught Him About the Spirit World
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2018
  12. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Sunday21 said:
    I am one of those rather strange people who will read articles on String Theory or

    "Stephen Hawking's Universe".... just for fun?! (Life in Canada with our horrible climate can do terrible things to the human mind)?!

    In theory....... near death experiencer Rabbi Alon Anava...... may....... in an example of applied Multiverse Theory... .have actually died and been buried......

    as was shown to him during his NDE........... and in that time line....... He may NOT have became the amazing teacher that he is in our time line........

    If so.... then in our time line........ Ezekiel chapter 37 has in a major way been fulfilled for Rabbi Alon Anava.........

    and perhaps he has a massive "Cyrus|" calling on his life...... and maybe Messiah Yeshua - Jesus is leading him by the right hand.......

    much as (I assume) the Ancient of Days the Father and / or the Word / Logos led ancient King Cyrus.... who decreed the rebuilding of the Temple of King Solomon by Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Haggai and others?


    The Philosophical implications of Multiverse Theory?
     
  13. Spooky

    Spooky Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The problems with Mormons is that they preach and believe so much that isn't even in the Bible.

    Its like half of it is about how to live and the other half are actually Christian biblical teachings.

    Their biggest problem however is their belief in salvation.

    While technically they believe that salvation is through Christ they go about it in an entirely unbiblical way. They believe in a covenant between themselves in God (totally unsupported by anything in the Bible) similar to what Jews believe. While Christians believe in a relationship between the person and God (which is supported) and giving your life to God, being born again, the Mormons believe that through your works, by following their religious practices, that you will eventually become sin free.

    So that is why I would have to say no, they aren't Christians.

    Christians believe that salvation is there for everyone, you simply need to ask Jesus for it.

    Mormons believe that you have to earn salvation through your works.

    Now if you want to believe that lighting 3 candles, standing on your head, and reciting some obscure prayer not mentioned in the bible, every day at noon, is the way to get into Heaven then so be it.

    Myself, I will just talk to God and try to build a relationship with him, ask Him for guidance when I need it and make myself available for him.

    Sorry I haven't been baptized but unlike Mormons, I don't think God will deny me Heaven because of that.
     
  14. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This is certainly an intriguing article isn't it?

    https://mormonhub.com/blog/life/depression-suicide-utah/

    What is really going on with Utah’s Suicide Epidemic?
    [​IMG]

    I have one very simple idea on this:

    http://www.msm-info.com/#Stress
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2018
  15. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Intriguing.... .Latter Day Saints have a prophecy that they will be involved in the building of the
    Ezekiel 40 - 48 temple complex.

    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...-dollar-problem.531929/page-2#post-1069652460


    On 9/7/2018 at 11:43 PM, Just_A_Guy said:
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2018
  16. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I just got sent a link to their Articles of Faith.......
    now I know why their discussion forums are more friendly.....
    less dogmatic..... and more well informed than most other Christian forums.

    LDS really do believe in extending freedom of conscience to others......

    https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
     
  17. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    Mormonism fits the definition of a cult in that they believe the Bible + something else (Book of Mormon), which contradicts the Bible. The are similar to Gnostics in their watered-down view of the divinity of Jesus.
     
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  18. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I personally have termed myself a Gnostic Christian........
    and I suspect that my choice in favorite literature would tend to imply that
    I am a big fan of Judas Didymus Thomas, (Doubting Thomas)......

    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...ination-for-nobel-prize-in-literature.542590/

    Your nomination for Nobel Prize in Literature?

     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2018
  19. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    I'm really not sure why the heck this "are Mormons Christians" thing is an issue at all.

    What different action should some Christian take based on the answer to that question?

    Should Christians respect someone they find out is a Jew? Jews not only reject the religion of the new testament, but don't believe in large sections of the old testament!

    This whole topic sounds like it's strongly headed in the direction of religious discrimination - something that is in opposition to what America stands for.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2018
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  20. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Or...... it could have been began by somebody who saw Latter day Saints treated in a manner that he thought was very unfair....... on a Christian discussion forum.......
    and he might have figured that posters on a secular discussion forum would tend to have a more objective and honest opinion of whether or not Latter day Saints were Christians or not?

    You can tell my own answer to the poll by the *:


    Are Latter Days Saints, Mormons, Christians?
    1. *
      Yes
      5 vote(s)
      55.6%

    2. No
      4 vote(s)
      44.4%

    3. Perhaps.... .I will research this further.
      0 vote(s)
      0.0%
    Change Your Vote
     
  21. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    By those terms, Judaism and Islam are cults, too.

    The thing is, "cult" is just a pejorative. It gets used to refer to any group that doesn't share your own beliefs.
     
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  22. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I wholeheartedly agree with with your statement here...... Well said WillReadmore!
     
  23. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    One has to be careful with stats like this.

    For example, the 15 states with the worst suicide rates are red states (save Colorado).

    And, the 10 states with the lowest suicide rates are blue states. Plus, pure blue Washington DC has a lower suicide rate than any state.

    Is THAT meaningful?

    I would suggest caution before jumping to a religious reason for suicide.
     
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  24. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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  25. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Actually........... Red States may tend to have a higher rate of suicide due to
    strong religious convictions........... tending to cause people to have expectations of themselves that are somewhat too high...........

    Ecclesiastes 7:16 "Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?"



    Acts 23:12
    These Jews who so hated Paul........
    were forty of the most zealous followers of Rabbinic Judaism living in the province of Judaea at that time but........ their understanding of how to apply Judaism meant........ that Paul was somehow stealing Jewish souls........
    and needed to be killed.........
    .............

    Exaggerated religious convictions can also lead to hatred of self..... that can tend to drive people toward suicide........


    Romans 7:18
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2018

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