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Question for our Friends of Other faiths..


alter idem

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Posted
It seems that a few of these posters must spend a great deal of time and effort studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our history, teachings, doctrines etc.(though their sources are pretty limited) and a thought occurred to me.

Why do you wrongly ASSUME that their sources are pretty limited?

Posted
Why do you wrongly ASSUME that their sources are pretty limited?

Obviously because of the inept things they come up with. :P

Posted
Obviously because of the inept things they come up with.

Some of the things that "THEY" come up with are right, but you refuse to open your eyes to what they have to say.

Posted
I hope you won't take offense, but I bet your LDS family members wonder the same thing about you. I bet they wonder how you came to become a Catholic.

No, not offended. :P

When I think of religions that attract converts, Catholicism is not at the top of the list. Perhaps because it's had such a long and varied history (you guys have skeletons in your closet too) and they don't seem like a religion that proselytizes much to attract new members.

I have studied all these "skeletons".

The Catholic Church does not proselyte, it evangelizes. Our missions are mainly to non-Christians. Here in the little diocese of SLC, we have a few hundred people baptized into the Church every year. Many are former LDS, like myself. Like myself, we just show up. All us have very different ways in which God led us to the doors of His Church. But lead us, He did.

However, I will admit that without the belief in an apostasy and restoration, the Catholic Church seems to be the one with the best claim at calling itself the true church on earth, so I can understand why you would have determined to join it.

It is one of the reasons. The main reason is, this is where He led me, to His Church, and most importantly the Sacraments.

Posted
We have a number of posters on this board who belong to other faiths. It seems that a few of these posters must spend a great deal of time and effort studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our history, teachings, doctrines etc.(though their sources are pretty limited) and a thought occurred to me. Do these people spend as much time studying their own religion and going over it with a "fine tooth" comb as they do ours?

Most evangelicals (since that is the group that uses the finest fine tooth combs) know little about your church. We may have heard that you believe that you'll become gods some day, that your church is the only true one, and that you don't drink coffee. Perhaps some know that you believe God the Father has a body, and that you don't believe in the Trinity. Beyond that, not much attention given...truly. However, this site attracts those of us who've gained some interest in your faith, so we do study it more. Perhaps you should take it as a compliment? :P

Posted

Hey Hoops,

You wrote:

>>You are understanding correctly. I know much more about my faith than I do yours.>>

Me: EXACTLY, what is your faith (i.e. church, denomination, et al.)

The Beachbum

Posted
Hello Alter,

I am a member of the Community of Christ (RLDS) and much of your early history was also my early history. So I come here to learn how both churches "evolved" the way they did. So yes, I study my church, the scriptures, teachings, doctrines, and everything associated with it much deeper than I do the LDS.

Much that I wanted to learn about the LDS I have found "is that which is not spoken". But I still come because I enjoy the dialog and the thought process behind the LDS beliefs. I hope you have always found me respectful of your church, even in disagreement.

Hi thunderfire, great response. I'm wondering if there is a similar discussion board site for the CoC Church? The one I've found doesn't have many participants.

Posted

Hi alter idem,

You posted:

>> We have a number of posters on this board who belong to other faiths. It seems that a few of these posters must spend a great deal of time and effort studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our history, teachings, doctrines etc.(though their sources are pretty limited) and a thought occurred to me. Do these people spend as much time studying their own religion and going over it with a "fine tooth" comb as they do ours?>>

Me: I have spent, â??a great deal of time and effort studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [y]our history, teachings, doctrines etc.â?. I have been studying/investigating the CoJCoLDS since 1987 (and dare I say that my â??sourcesâ? are anything but limited). I think I can, in all good conscience, say that I have spent at least as much time studying pre-LDS â??historicalâ?? Christianity (plus Jehovahâ??s Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Islam and the Bahai faith) as I have Mormonism.

Any thoughtsâ?¦

Grace and peace,

David

Posted

As for their doctrines, I think they study those a lot. But I don't think many of them know the history of their own Churches, and stuff like the organization, like they do the Mormon Church.

Posted
We have a number of posters on this board who belong to other faiths. It seems that a few of these posters must spend a great deal of time and effort studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our history, teachings, doctrines etc.(though their sources are pretty limited) and a thought occurred to me. Do these people spend as much time studying their own religion and going over it with a "fine tooth" comb as they do ours?

I have studied LDS doctrine quite a bit. Like Blue, my relationship with my LDS wife and also her family is the main proponent for my interest in it. I have interests in a lot of Christian religions, what beliefs they have that make them similar vs. those beliefs that are not in common with each other is especially intriguing to me.

I don't know as much about LDS beliefs than I do my own, nor have I spent as much time studying the CoJCoLDS as my own beliefs. But if you were to take a snapshot of just the last few years of my life, its quite possible I have studied LDS dogma more than my own within that span of time and I suppose you could say I have used a fine tooth comb in my studies. So I don't think your statement, at least in regards to me, is inaccurate.

Posted
Hi thunderfire, great response. I'm wondering if there is a similar discussion board site for the CoC Church? The one I've found doesn't have many participants.

Hello Sevenbak,

Yes, there is a Community of Christ discussion board on the churches main website. I do not go there because it is a little too "liberal" for my taste. But let me qualify this more. One thing about the Community of Christ (which I find pretty astounding) is that it doesn't require a certain set of beliefs from the membership.

Go back to the account of Korihor and we find that NO law was ever made against what a person wants to believe. If God will not take away the agency of man regarding beliefs, neither should the church. Of course, as you would expect, this brings about some problems with members going in different directions and taking up certain causes that others do not want. Yes, the church does offer basic beliefs, but it also allows the membership to search out their own walk with God. On the website, I find that more of the liberal members post there and I choose not to engage them.

So I come here because while I do not understand all the LDS practices and beliefs, I am humbled by the devotion shown by the members. While the two churches have a similar history, I am amazed how the different theologies emerged. I do wish the day would come when I could engage someone in LDS temple practices and ceremonies. You see, with the Community of Christ we strive to be totally transparent with everything we do, and I am most happy to share (respectfully) in anyway possible while respecting being in someone elses "home".

Posted
Yes and the LDS on this board keep telling the EVs that they don't know what LDS believe.

Yeah which is the point.

Posted
How can the blind lead the sighted?

My TBM wife and I seem to disagree which one of us is 'blinded' and which one is 'sighted' in regards to faith.

But love IS blind.......right????

Posted
How can the blind lead the sighted?

Maybe we see things differently but that does not mean that I am blind to God. When you walk in my shoes for awhile and see the things that God shows me then you may call me blind or not. I know the sacred things of Mormonism I was one. I know what God reveals to me now. I see that God has a lot of compassion for the LDS people and he will honor the intents of their hearts. I am called to bring you to a relationship with Christ, that is all. No matter how much smarter than me you are.

This I know the scriptures are alive to me and I hear the voice of God often when I read them. The Holy Spirit gives me his richly of his gifts and the the Son has shown me many parts of Gods Kingdom. You probably have a lot going for you and are probably a very good person, And if I knew you, I would probably see you better than me. But I am here to serve and love and not make you feel blind to the open hand of love God is extending you. Love your Church, but love God more.

Heartleap...

Posted
Some of the things that "THEY" come up with are right, but you refuse to open your eyes to what they have to say.

Just because LDS don't agree with it, doesn't mean our eyes are not "open".

Posted
Most evangelicals (since that is the group that uses the finest fine tooth combs) know little about your church. We may have heard that you believe that you'll become gods some day, that your church is the only true one, and that you don't drink coffee. Perhaps some know that you believe God the Father has a body, and that you don't believe in the Trinity. Beyond that, not much attention given...truly. However, this site attracts those of us who've gained some interest in your faith, so we do study it more. Perhaps you should take it as a compliment? :P

I think it's great to have many differing views here--the more the merrier. And I find it useful to view ourselves through the lens of others.

I do believe though that there is a small minority who study the LDS faith to try and expose weaknesses--and use them against us.

However, they serve a purpose also--they keep us on our toes. ;)

Posted

I used to enjoy argumentation (let's call it debate). Once in awhile it's still interesting. However, the oneupmanship of it just does not sit well with me in the area of faith. I'm firmly committed to my Christian faith, and even to my church, the Assemblies of God. However, I can still listen and learn from others, and respect others truths. As I become comfortable and gain some cyber-comraderie, well-intentioned conversations about differences, similarities and understandings will come. And, I suspect and pray that they will be meaningful for all.

Posted
How can the blind lead the sighted?

By your comment you are stating that you are sighted and the EV's are blinded.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

What is the best proof that the Mormon church is true, in your opinion? Please don't say your testimony, because I have a testimony, and my testimony is in direct opposition to your testimony.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

I'm RLDS Restorationist (not Community of Christ), but there is some kinship with both CofC and LDS/Mormon given our early common history. I'm ever learning new things regarding my own church as well as certain areas of LDS/Mormon history that are of personal interest. I especially enjoy books/pamphlets published by both churches on the differences between them. I like original history sources written during or near events more than papers written by various scholars as I feel many seem to spend more time reading eachother's stuff than the original sources. I'm sure many will disagree.

I'm divorced/remarried to a wonderful wife who is LDS, however we are not currently active in any church. She is not well studied in church history and so any indepth discussion is too much for her to handle or have much interest in. In spite of this, my convictions in the Restoration are strong.

I don't do as much study or purchase church books as much as I use to and much of my library is in storage.

Posted
I assume other churches don't spend as much time in meetings as we do

Clearly, my western friend, you don't know much about other religions :P (Hey, I am a biased american too)

Posted
We have a number of posters on this board who belong to other faiths. It seems that a few of these posters must spend a great deal of time and effort studying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our history, teachings, doctrines etc.(though their sources are pretty limited) and a thought occurred to me. Do these people spend as much time studying their own religion and going over it with a "fine tooth" comb as they do ours?

I got my BA in Theology (mainstream Christian, from a Protestant bent), and I am (hopefully!) two weeks away from an MA in early Christian history. None of this has dealt at all with LDS beliefs or history, so I can safely say I spend the vast majority of my time on my own beliefs and history. LDS beliefs are more of a hobby, and since I grew up in majority LDS areas, they sorta come more naturally to me, as well.

I enjoy coming here because LDS tend to use a different comb than I do when examining my faith. LDS ask very interesting questions that wouldn't come up in mainstream Christian churches.

And as an aside, as far as time spent in meetings, I'm at church from 9am to 1pm every Sunday, with music practice for a few hours every Wednesday.

And as another aside, good luck with the Summa! It's fascinating, but I can't read it for more than half an hour at a time. It is ridiculously deep and intricate. It's like eating steak after a week-long fast.

Take care, everyone :P

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