What Mormons Believe--according to a Former BYU Professor

Prayer Warrior said:

Last time I checked, Muslims don't accept the Bible as their scriptures; Mormons do. So, your comparison is really not legitimate.

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You are advocating for the use as an ex-member converted to a different faith of as your authority.
SO yes, you are advocating that all Christian seekers ask ex-Protestant Muslims what Christians "really" believe.

Prayer Warrior said:

Yes, a different faith who claims the Christian Bible as (some of) their scriptures.

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Prayer Warrior, it would be downright hypocritical and horrible scholarship to use a duel standard.

Now: how does a person best learn about what another person believes?
Should they go to an ex faith member?
Or should they just ask that person?

Prayer Warrior said:

JD, I'm going to say this as gently as I can. I'm not so interested in what you believe specifically as I am in knowing what LDS actually teaches. You have presented your understanding of LDS doctrine quite a bit on this forum, and I have read much of what you have said. Lynn presents her understanding in her book. The 2 accounts clearly do not agree, but the only reason you're asking me to believe yours over hers is because she is no longer LDS. That just doesn't cut it in my mind.

You're making a judgment against Lynn, saying that she just has an ax to grind. You don't know her heart, and just as you don't want to be misjudged, you need to afford her the same courtesy.

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When a person walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

Prayer Warrior said:

LOL, then stop quacking!

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I am happy that Lynn has come closer to Christ (as it obiviously didn't happen before). I've stated multiple times I try to avoid peronsally attacking her or anyone else. May she have a good faith journey.

But when a person publishes a book with a bunch of information that doesn't remotely fact check and goes for senstaionalism, I got a problem with that. Doesn't matter the faith of the person publishing it or the faith that the book is about.

Willie T said:

Anyone should be ashamed and embarrassed of going to a disgruntled ex-member of ANY organization to get "supposedly" accurate, unbiased information about that group.

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We lived in christian community for many years sometime with as many as 80 , sometimes with as few as twenty five. God taught us so much about ourselves as He did on how to live leaning on nothing , owning nothing , and He Himself being our all....as David said " You are my portion and my inheritance "
Sometime testing and trying years, sometimes glorious years..but all, good or bad , very good for building us up in our most holy faith. But wow...you should see the anti- postings...bitter , twisted, angry , spiteful and condemning blogs.

The thing is , once I said to one of the Leadership of the movement .." Those elders are dominating , abusing and taking advantage of the people." ( we always fought for the underdog) ..the answer came back quickly.. - " I see no ball or chain around their ankles...they came freely they can leave just as freely."
Yet when they finally did leave, instead of taking that which was good, and throwing out the bad or hurtful...the wrote all kinds of poisoned stuff about the movement. It always happens, and always will.
We left after about 20 years...no regrets...
Did I agree with it all...NO... but I have not found such life and dedication to the things of God since leaving them...not in any church group we have tried.
Never found as much love, fellowship , or giving hearts as that group.
Off the rails in some areas yes, but, good days... He led us in and He led us out.

There is a mixture in all of us. ..and blind spots, thats why we need each other.

Prayer Warrior said:

Like I said, it's your word against hers.

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If you want to know anything, you're free to ask, including for sources. Just ask.

If you don't want to know / don't care, then that's your choice too.

Jane_Doe22 said:

My apologies, I misunderstood you here.

My apologies again if I was too sharp.

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No apologies necessary, but I thank you. I know this hits us all in our heart, which is with Jesus ultimately.

Jane_Doe22 said:

It is my experience that a lot of folks mistake Joseph Smith's role in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Thinking that LDS Christians worship him, think he was perfect, or had automatic infallibility. That is not remotely the case.

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I don't doubt some do make those claims, or idolize him, but I wasn't here, cause I don't think those things (worshipped, idolized, his "perfection" and "infalliability") nor have enough information to conclude. Is he considered a prophet, or at least a leader, sure, I believe that.

In fact, I actually defended Smith. At this point in time, I believe he was a victim of deception, in which he propogated in honesty. So I don't even think he's a liar.

That's not to say I have disagreements, but again, that's just my opinion, which doesn't make my view right nor wrong. It's subject to either still.

Jane_Doe22 said:

LDS Christians believe that God lives and still speaks: that He continues to lead and teach His people. Christ Himself is put first as the ultimate authority, not men's interpretation of any book, including scripture. So the Bible and the Book of Mormon are not on top.

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Now that's where I have a differentiation in belief, and again, this is just from my view. I could be wrong in my belief.

Christ Himself is put first as the ultimate authority. I agree 100%. He is the Word, the Logos. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.".

Do we agree that "the Word" is Jesus Christ?

Then, the Holy Bible is God's Word? Do we agree here?

Therefore, God's Word is the Word of God, agree? And "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.". The scriptures are therefore as the Word is...

That is why Jesus Christ, the Word, is synonymous with the Bible. To me at least. And this is why no other book can be claimed to be of the Word. There is only one, there is no parallel, and there isn't any subordinate to the Word.

Again, to me and my belief. I guess this is how I differ.

Jane_Doe22 said:

Sola Biblia can also lead to false ideas (such as the many conflicting ideas in Protestantism).

The key is discernment: asking God Himself to help guide a person in what is His Truth.

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To me, not being of "sola the Word"(lack of a better term)/sola Biblia/sola scripturia, is what leads to the false ideas, no matter which denomination. That is why I am non-denomination, and am sola biblia/sola scripturia - I am "sola the Word" for lack of a better term; solely for Jesus Christ.

Additionally, the information I was looking for to further my opinion on LDS/Mormonism/Book of Mormon, was what brakelite posted, and which I have to research more. This appears to be the information that I was asking you for in the "Freemasonry" thread but you didn't post after I asked you for it, possibly as part of the "reformed Egyptian language" teachings. - either way, this is what I have "homework" on, so I'll withhold a conclusion until I've researched it more.

Prayer Warrior said:

Whom do I ask--you or Lynn??

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Who do I ask you about your beliefs and what your teaches?

Shall I ask you?
Or shall I ask my friend Mike that grew up Protestant and then converted to an LDS Christian?

4Jesus said:

Now that's where I have a differentiation in belief, and again, this is just from my view. I could be wrong in my belief.

Christ Himself is put first as the ultimate authority. I agree 100%. He is the Word, the Logos. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.".

Do we agree that "the Word" is Jesus Christ?

Then, the Holy Bible is God's Word? Do we agree here?

Therefore, God's Word is the Word of God, agree? And "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.". The scriptures are therefore as the Word is...

That is why Jesus Christ, the Word, is synonymous with the Bible. To me at least. And this is why no other book can be claimed to be of the Word. There is only one, there is no parallel, and there isn't any subordinate to the Word.

Again, to me and my belief. I guess this is how I differ.

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I majority appreciate you posts (this one and many previous).

On this particular subject, we do disagree, as I believe Christ >> the Bible. Which isn't to diss the Bible at all, but to remember the supremacy of God.

4Jesus said:

To me, not being of "sola the Word"(lack of a better term)/sola Biblia/sola scripturia, is what leads to the false ideas, no matter which denomination. That is why I am non-denomination, and am sola biblia/sola scripturia - I am "sola the Word" for lack of a better term; solely for Jesus Christ.

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Yeah, we disagree on this too for many sub-points. I see man's ideas trying to constant infiltrate understanding of scripture, hence the need for Christ himself on top.

Prayer Warrior said:

Again, you have sort of deflected my question, but that's okay. No worries.

I'm assuming you're saying that I should ask you even though you've implied that you can be very wrong about LDS doctrine.

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I'm the hypocrisy and fallacy in your approach.

You want to seek ex folks when learning about other people's faiths, but reject such a mythology being applied to your own faith.

I could easily learn about Protestantism from an ex-Protestant. And they will tell me how they were taught cheap grace, modulism, root-less discipleship, just to recite the creed, most of all burn Harry Potter books, and how they were fornicating with other youths in the congregation.