Questing Beast Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 This is a red herring and is often an argument tossed out. This has to do with obedience and has nothing to do with the message. If the message changed everyone then there would never have been a Judas, there would be no need for free agency. The initial reason you give for walking away from the Church or the gospel of Jesus Christ would only be viable if Lucifer's plan had been accepted and each of us forced into strict obedience and then be saved. I also think your authority issue is off; in Catholicism the Catechism states: "The ordinary ministers of baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of baptism for salvation. (CCC 1256)" Granted they do not open all the sacraments to be valid when/if performed by those without the priesthood. Further, Protestants believe in a priesthood of all believers; that Jesus constructed the church such that each believer is a priest and can perform any ordinance. The LDS Church only recognizes ordinances performed by those they recognize as having authority by the laying on of hands. However, the LDS Church also teaches that all, everyone that has ever lived upon the earth, will have all ordinances of exaltation done for them either in this life or the next. Not a single person will be left out. We claim all truth as our own; that does not mean we possess all truth, it means that where truth is found, we will claim it and acknowledge it as our own. It is the process of gathering all truth into one whole.Most of your response is reasonable. But it still does not eradicate the LDS position of "authority", exclusive and required. That should be shown in some way that believers at least accept without difficulty. I think that you are making the comparison to what I said and "Lucifer's" plan too facile. There should be something more besides "fruit" and "feelings" to go by if authority is all that necessary. I maintain that "authority" is a construct of men and always has been. "God" is the only authority, and we each have our unique connection to "God" always.A quibble: not every person who ever lived will have the "saving ordinances" performed for them vicariously. All who died before the "age of accountability" are automatically saved in the CK, ergo they do not require any saving ordinances at all. They are in an entirely separated class of those touched by grace. My opinion is that such souls come into life as part of the opposition, to show those who lose them what Joy is not in that palpable way, for nothing attacks the heart like the death of a child, especially one that suffers first....
Questing Beast Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 If by superior you mean healthier, mentally as well as physically as well as contributing to others' well being....Suicides rates are lower...at least among teens, women rate themselves as happier and more satisfied with their lives in general, they volunteer and donate to charity at a higher rate as well (not including what they donate to the Church, add that in and the rate is much, much higher).That seems to be changing all the time, becoming more alike with the "rest of the world". I won't even ask for CFRs in this kind of comparing game. I believe my own eyes and ears....
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