What Do Mormons Believe About Non-Mormon Christians?

[Meerkat]

11 hours ago, Navidad said:

Hi: I simply quoted from the Book of Gospel Principles verbatim. It was pretty rugged in its terminology. It also presented a very different perspective on eternity from what a number here have said in reply to me. At least, that is my understanding. 

You quoted Gospel Principles verbatim, but missed the part that pertained to you.  Re-read the Telestial Kingdom definition and you will see what I mean.  People like you would not likely end up in the Telestial Kingdom, according to those verses.

[RevTestament]

On 9/3/2017 at 10:24 AM, Navidad said:

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I only use the word Mormon because the Church website authorizes it to be used as a valid descriptive word for members of the LDS Church. I mean nothing negative by its use.  I also don't want to debate what Peter meant by this, or what Paul meant by that, or about the Pearl of Great Price. I don't think any of that is helpful. I am here to listen and to learn. Part of that is reflecting back what I don't understand. I may have a blind spot (as in the Johari window), but I don't believe I have said in any of my zillions of words in posts here, that I believe any one specific Mormon doctrine is "wrong." That would not be productive to a conversation. I will clearly state that the LDS doctrines with which I personally have the greatest struggle is the priesthood authority/baptism/ordinance belief, and the Great Apostasy belief. It seems that Saints have moderated their view on the latter, but the former is a biggie to me. I struggle, and I think I am beyond the point of frustrating some of you (so I am going to abandon my quest for more knowledge after today) with how you can say "I am not their judge" when you so clearly (to me, at least) judge our eternal destiny through the lens of your singular priesthood authority. One of you have labelled that a "plain fact!: That is offensive, it is saying "How can you be so stupid, so ignorant that you don't see plain facts!" It is judgmental. I can not and will not debate what someone will do in the spirit world or in eternity. We have no "facts" about any of that. We have faith. I am happy and content in and with my faith. 

I think one issue you are running up against is that none of us have a crystal clear view of our next estate, the "afterlife." You are finding LDS views on the afterlife to be exclusionary and judgmental.  I am merely trying to point out that it is not LDS who are relegating any individual to any degree of glory. In our view the Lord is doing that. To the extent you are having trouble seeing our POV and may be asked to comment on it, I wish to respond a little more with the proviso that my views may not exactly correspond with the views of other LDS, and I am not speaking as an official representative of the Church. I don't view our reward as all the same. In His ministry, our Savior did not seem to address this much at all. However, He did allude to varying degrees of punishment, saying it would be more tolerable to the unbelieving gentiles than the Israelites who rejected Him after He performed miracles among them. I believe he also alludes to varying glory in his parables saying that some who hear the word bring forth 30 fold, some 60 fold and some 100 fold. Then we are told in Revelation and other scripture that we shall receive according to our works. I believe this is not speaking of salvation but of our inheritance with Him. He also tells us that the Father shall openly reward those who do His works in secret. He told His disciples that those who followed Him will judge the 12 tribes with Him in the regeneration. So does that mean they have a different place in HIs kingdom than the 12 tribes? How does one escape that conclusion? Evangelism merely pictures salvation as meaning we all live as complete equals in authority in His kingdom, when the gospel just doesn't reflect that. 

1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

LDS believe His kingdom has an order. Not all are called as prophets. 

Matt 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my ^aFather.

Is Yeshua just spouting stuff, or are there others prepared (ie. preexistent, foreordained) to act as leaders? To date evangelical Christianity seems to just ignore such scriptures, but LDS don't. If you want to know the difference, this is why. So when you are asked about why the LDS believe differently, hopefully you will now be able to respond with biblical scriptures from which we derive our beliefs. Admittedly, we also believe we have additional scripture which I provided a link to, ie sec 76, and others. 

Quote

Perhaps one point that I haven't made clear in my plethora of words is that I am trying to understand Mormonism better, not because I have a desire to convert or any dissatisfaction with my own faith. The reason I am trying to learn is twofold: 1. I have a strong need in my life to learn and to understand; 2. I defend and advocate for Mormonism quite a bit in my speaking and sphere of influence. In so doing, I want to make sure I represent Mormonism well. You are obviously a good man, but you may not be invited to speak where I speak; folks may not read your books who will read mine. I want to make sure I understand as well as I can so I don't misrepresent you or your beliefs. I have found out through these discussions that I have been wrong about some things. Take care and have a blessed Sabbath. 

I certainly identify with you brother Navidad as I too have a strong desire to learn and understand. I would say that is what led me to the Church. Otherwise I would have been content in my Baptist upbringing. But the Bible prodded my mind to address those points I bring up with you. The LDS Church provided actual belief and practice which corresponded to my questions, so I continued to investigate, and here I am. I continue to investigate God's word, Navidad, and I continue to find it congruent with the Church. I am not saying I find the Church perfect. I am not saying that I believe everything every Church apostle has said. Not every belief of an apostle is inspired. Apostles have personal opinions which work their way into the record. Nevertheless, I received an answer to my prayer regarding the Book of Mormon, and I also received a direct answer about whether the LDS Church is His Church, so I defend her, and He has continued to show me more. I am glad you defend us to the extent you are able as well. But, although I feel I am even more Christian/scriptural in my belief than Evangelicals,  in the end I do not care whether they consider me Christian or not. I prefer that they do, and I hope they will not consider me their enemy. I do not consider them my enemy. 

I want to share my testimony I gave yesterday. I want to point back to the days of Yeshua in Caesarea Phillipi, when Yeshua stood before the cave of the large spring there called by the Greek/Romans the gate of Hades and said:

Matt 16:

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

What was the rock He was going to build His church upon? I testify that it was the revelation given to Peter by the Father that Yeshua is the Messiah prophesied to come in Daniel 9. That He is the Son of the living God. This is the foundation of His church. His gospel has three simple attributes - this belief, repentance, and belief in the resurrection. Those who believe are His followers, and therefore to some extent His Church. Therefore, I consider them brothers and sisters in Christ without regard to ordinances or creeds. To the extent that you believe these things I will also defend you as a Christian no matter the stage of your growth in Christ. By your very presence here, your comportment and your sincere demeanor, I consider you to be a fine man, and a wonderful Christian. I would also state that Anabaptist sects hold a special place in my heart even if the feeling is not always mutual. The emphasis on the simple life is quite appealing really. Thank you for conversing with me.

Edited September 4, 2017 by RevTestament