Alan Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 For some time now I have felt that what we call the Restoration was about much more than establishing a church, or even Zion. Perhaps it was just as much to do with distilling truth upon the human race.Does anyone else feel this way? Perhaps I could give an example.In Joseph's day most Christian professors and ministers of religion agreed that children who died before they were baptised were doomed to hell and were lost. Nowadays it is almost impossible to find a priest, minister, preacher or vicar who will say that, or who really believes it.Original sin has been a very prominent theme throughout much of the Christian era. However, I find it is hardly mentioned nowadays. The fall is often referred to (and our subsequent propensity to sin) but not that we are born sinful. I heard a preacher the other day declare that a new born child is both pure and sinless. In D&C 1:17-18 the Lord revealed "Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world........... A few years ago I attended an evangelical church service. It was very pentecostal is style. The preacher gave a sermon that was just pure Mormonism. I can't remember all the details now but I can remember how he taught that Jesus was our elder brother, that we should honour Adam and Eve etc. I was very surprised to hear this. Since then I have experienced similar occurances in non-LDS church services and it made me reflect upon the verse quoted above. I wondered if anyone else has similar thoughts or experiences. 1
JLHPROF Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 For some time now I have felt that what we call the Restoration was about much more than establishing a church, or even Zion. Perhaps it was just as much to do with distilling truth upon the human race.Does anyone else feel this way? I think that's almost exactly what the restoration was. It has little to do with a Church. It was about restoring the truth (gospel) AND the authority (priesthood) to perform the necessary ordinances of the gospel. The restoration didn't restore a Church (although we think restoring "Christ's Church" was the point). There have been many restorations (dispensations) that didn't feature a church. Restoration/Dispensation means bringing the truth of the gospel and authority of the priesthood to the earth.The restoration didn't bring Zion. Zion is the end result society if the restoration is completed correctly. And the restoration this time featured not just restored truth but some newly revealed truth, so revealing truth to mankind was definitely a main goal.
Kevin Christensen Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 See David Paulsen, "Are Christians Mormon?: Reassessing Joseph Smith's Theology at his Bicenntenial" https://byustudies.byu.edu/showtitle.aspx?title=7161 Now that Latter-day Saints and others have commemorated the two-hundredth birthday of Joseph Smith (1805–1844), founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is time to reassess how far Christian thinkers have come in appropriating theological insights once owned uniquely, or nearly so, by Smith and his followers. FWIW Kevin Christensen Pittsburgh, PA 3
saemo Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 For some time now I have felt that what we call the Restoration was about much more than establishing a church, or even Zion. Perhaps it was just as much to do with distilling truth upon the human race.Does anyone else feel this way? Perhaps I could give an example.In Joseph's day most Christian professors and ministers of religion agreed that children who died before they were baptised were doomed to hell and were lost. Nowadays it is almost impossible to find a priest, minister, preacher or vicar who will say that, or who really believes it.Original sin has been a very prominent theme throughout much of the Christian era. However, I find it is hardly mentioned nowadays. The fall is often referred to (and our subsequent propensity to sin) but not that we are born sinful. I heard a preacher the other day declare that a new born child is both pure and sinless. In D&C 1:17-18 the Lord revealed "Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world........... A few years ago I attended an evangelical church service. It was very pentecostal is style. The preacher gave a sermon that was just pure Mormonism. I can't remember all the details now but I can remember how he taught that Jesus was our elder brother, that we should honour Adam and Eve etc. I was very surprised to hear this. Since then I have experienced similar occurances in non-LDS church services and it made me reflect upon the verse quoted above. I wondered if anyone else has similar thoughts or experiences.Correlation is not causation.Beyond that, I can't say I agree with your correlations.
Hamba Tuhan Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 A few years back, my houseboy invited me to his home village for my mid-semester break. One day there he invited me to an evening worship service with a Pentecostal pastor. It was a brilliant meeting, and the sermon was straight 'Mormonism'. In the midst of it, the pastor stopped, addressed me, and told me that he'd been inspired to ask me to come forward and share my testimony of the Saviour, which I happily did. Then he finished his sermon. 1
Avatar4321 Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 The light and truth of the Gospel is going forth in and out of the Church. I seriously don't think we know what we have. 2
Alan Posted August 15, 2014 Author Posted August 15, 2014 See David Paulsen, "Are Christians Mormon?: Reassessing Joseph Smith's Theology at his Bicenntenial"https://byustudies.byu.edu/showtitle.aspx?title=7161FWIWKevin ChristensenPittsburgh, PA Can this be found somewhere where I don't have to pay for the article?
Alan Posted August 15, 2014 Author Posted August 15, 2014 I seriously don't think we know what we have. My sentiments exactly.
Alan Posted August 15, 2014 Author Posted August 15, 2014 A few years back, my houseboy invited me to his home village for my mid-semester break. One day there he invited me to an evening worship service with a Pentecostal pastor. It was a brilliant meeting, and the sermon was straight 'Mormonism'. In the midst of it, the pastor stopped, addressed me, and told me that he'd been inspired to ask me to come forward and share my testimony of the Saviour, which I happily did. Then he finished his sermon. Great experience.I remember reading about something similar happening to Ezra Taft Benson in the Soviet Union; you are in good company.
Kevin Christensen Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 Can this be found somewhere where I don't have to pay for the article?Probably in the bound periodicals of a library that has BYU Studies. But the essay is long, detailed, and worth it. Kevin Christensen Pittsburgh, PA
randy Posted August 17, 2014 Posted August 17, 2014 Hi Alan!!! I was just talking to one of my co-workers about you a few nights ago!! hahaha I have thought about you a lot lately...and just wanted to know how much I appreciate and value our friendship! You are a true "Mate"!! God bless and keep you my good friend!
Alan Posted August 18, 2014 Author Posted August 18, 2014 Hi Alan!!! I was just talking to one of my co-workers about you a few nights ago!! hahaha I have thought about you a lot lately...and just wanted to know how much I appreciate and value our friendship! You are a true "Mate"!! God bless and keep you my good friend! Hi Alan!!! I was just talking to one of my co-workers about you a few nights ago!! hahaha I have thought about you a lot lately...and just wanted to know how much I appreciate and value our friendship! You are a true "Mate"!! God bless and keep you my good friend! Hi Randy,I thought my ears were burning!Hope you are well. Planning on a trip to the colonies in the next couple of years. May swing by Independence.Take care mate.
cdowis Posted August 18, 2014 Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) A few years ago I attended an evangelical church service. It was very pentecostal is style. The preacher gave a sermon that was just pure Mormonism. I can't remember all the details now but I can remember how he taught that Jesus was our elder brother, that we should honour Adam and Eve etc. I was very surprised to hear this. Since then I have experienced similar occurances in non-LDS church services and it made me reflect upon the verse quoted above. I wondered if anyone else has similar thoughts or experiences. I herd a TV preacher say that there are many different rewards (mansions) in heaven, based on how we lived our lives. Sort of a back door to salvation by works, I suppose. Edited August 18, 2014 by cdowis
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