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Answer to:Does the Iroquois legend of "The Great Peacemaker" validate the Book of Mormon account of Christ visiting America recorded in 3 Nephi 11-26?
FULL VERSION OF TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION ABOVE. I WILL BE MARKING THIS AS "ASKER'S PICK" SOLELY TO GET THIS INFORMATION PINNED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
(once AnswerBag eliminates their ridiculous character limitation on Question descriptions we can stop doing this ridiculous work-around)
Christ in America
By Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Council of the Twelve (1979)
(source =...
Answer to:Hypothetical: Your "Adult Child" tells you they were raped by their cousin when they were a child, how do you handle the situation?
Love them where they're at and see how things develop over time.
Somethings these "revelations" are legitimate and other times they are a result of a coping mechanism called, "recontextualization" in which memories get edited based on a new life context.
I know because I have been on both sides of this one as a adult survivor of several childhood traumas. Some of my memories were...
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Answer to:I really want to convert but I think my husband will get mad and my father will disown me. I pray about it all the time. Any suggestions?
So it's been 4-years, what did you do?
Answer to:Why is the Theology of Alexander Campbell, Sidney Rigdon's Mentor, sprinkled throughout The Book of Mormon?
A FULLER LIST OF CAMPBELLITE RESTORATIONIST THEOLOGY THAT APPEARS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON THAT WAS TRUNCATED IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ORIGINAL QUESTION ABOVE.
I WILL PIN THIS AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP IT PINNED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION - AND THAT IS THE *ONLY* REASON IT IS BEING SO DESIGNATED. WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS UNTIL AB RESOLVES THEIR RIDICULOUSLY SHORT...
Answer to:Poll: Tootsie or Mrs Doubtfire?
While both are great, I thought that the social commentary - especially on how destructive and heart breaking divorce is for everyone in the family unit is - gives Mrs. Doubtfire a slight edge.
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Answer to:I like this guy who's Mormon and I'm pretty sure he likes me too. Could he still ask me out since Mormons aren't supposed to date non-Mormons?
He has free agency - he can ask anyone out that he wants to. As can you or anyone else.
However, he'll also reap the consequences of getting involved with someone from another faith - which tends to end up being overly complex and ill advised.
Answer to:Is it a sin to be assosiated with a gay? My best friend is gay, n even tho I know it is wrong deep down... I have no quarms with it. I see him has a person not his sexuality. Surely the bible teaches us to except people, and not to disciminate and judge..
Well thank you for your editorial. However, I'll ignore the editorial commentary and focus solely on the key question:
Q: Is it a sin to be associated with a gay?
A: If so, I'm in big trouble since I have many gay friends who are dear to me.
Rather the example of Christ demonstrates that we are to hate the sin (homosexuality) but love the sinner (the person). Consider this:
Matthew 11...
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Answer to:Where in the Bible does it say that we must not judge a priest Not even when they are in the wrong? Where does it say that? We are to judge!
It doesn't say this ANYWHERE in the Bible. In fact, please consider these judgments - which were delivered by HUMAN prophets against priests who had transgressed God's Law and were under judgment:
Hosea 4
4 "But let no man bring a charge,
let no man accuse another,
for your people are like those
who bring charges against a priest.
5 You stumble day and night, ...
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Answer to:Who took the bite out of the apple computer logo?
Hmmm . . . .
. . . let's see here . . .
( please refer to http://oit.utk.edu/macvolplace/graphics/computer_mkt_2007.png )
. . . and since Apple's market share has consistently hovered right around 5% for years and years and years I'm going to say that the "bite" in the Apple Computer Logo represents THEIR market share.
Thank you for asking.
Answer to:Why are Mormons so offended by the historical FACT that J. Smith and the Early Mormons were classic "unknown tongue" speaking Pentecostals?
FULL DESCRIPTION THAT WAS TRUNCATED ABOVE. I WILL PIN THIS AS "ASKER'S PICK" SIMPLY TO KEEP IT PINNED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
And PLEASE spare us the unsupportable spin doctored, "our missionaries speak in unknown tongues whenever they speak in a language other than their native tongue" apologetic. Thank you.
The extensive references to Angelic, Adamic, and "unknown" tongues...
Answer to:describe the perfect lap dance. why do you like it??
Well I've decided against the Lap Dance - I don't really need to lose that much weight. Plus I've heard that procedure is dangerous!
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Answer to:Did you know there are plans for a new Star Trek movie? Rumor has it that Mike Vogel will play Captain Kirk. Who would you like to see play Captain Kirk?
Gary Coleman except he's dead now.
Bummer.
Still, it would have been a great new catch phrase . . .
"What you talkin' about Scottie?"
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Answer to:in our hands do we have total 10 fingers or 11?
I only have 10 fingers - but my Bass Amp goes to 11!
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Answer to:MORMONS: After listening to an interview with Jeff Lindsay my attitude toward him changed. Are you willing give Sandra Tanner a chance?
Well I thank the anonymous person who had the courage and integrity to vote so far.
What about the rest of you?
And please consider this from some ExMormons commenting on meeting Sandra for the first time after coming out of Mormonism:
Subject: Sandra Tanner...
Date: Oct 07 16:58
Author: Frank
Mail Address:
Sandra Tanner is certainly one of the nicest ladies my wife and I have ever met...
Answer to:Do you think this world is beautiful?
Our planet is absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous!
I can't imagine living anywhere else.
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Answer to:Between 1843 and 1894 the LDS Church, practiced the Law of Adoption - sealing living men to other men in the Temple. Why hasn't this rite been restored to the modern SLC LDS Church?
Well since no one seems to be willing to tackle this one, let me at least provide some original source citations that describe this interesting and usual (at least by today's standards) practice:
* "No consensus exists with regard to the date when the first adoptions were performed…It is certainly possible, perhaps probable, that Joseph Smith did initiate certain trusted leaders into the...
Answer to:Fill in the blank: I am an___(SDA, Christian, Latter Day Saint, Catholic, Mormon, ETC.). As such, I believe that salvation is attained through____(God's free gift of Jesus and his work on the cross OR my own good works, sacraments and adherence to rules).
I am a Christian.
As such, I believe that salvation is attained through God's free gift of Jesus and his work on the cross ALONE - just as the Bible says.
Answer to:Which of Latter-day Saint author Jana Riess' explanations for 'Why Are Mormon Church Meetings So Dull?' makes the most sense to you?
HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE WHICH GOT TRUNCATED IN THE QUESTION DESCRIPTION ABOVE. I WILL MARKING THIS 'ASKER'S CHOICE' SIMPLY TO PIN IT DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR EASY REFERENCE.
(which I wouldn't have to do if AB would give us enough space in the description field for thorough, thoughtful, well researched and articulate descriptions rather than cryptic, nonsensical,...
Answer to:If Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon who is out in the field with the camera shooting the footage?
Easy: The remote control camera that was mounted on the leg of the Lunar Module and operated from the inside control console.
They explained this to us as we were watching him descend the latter back on that eventful day.
No mystery. No conspiracy. Just boring old 20th Century technology.
Answer to:Should ID Checks Be Required for Gun Sales?
To me, this is just common sense and has NOTHING whatsoever to do with privacy rights.
The Privacy Rights argument just baffles me - I don't see it at all.
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Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: Emma Smith never joined the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka "RLDS Church").
FYI, here's the answer that I received John Hamer, President Elect of the John Whitmer History Association - which is the RLDS/CoC equivalent of The Mormon History Association:
"On Emma Hale Smith Bidamon, yes she joined the Community of Christ on April 6, 1860. The main reason why there's confusion is that what she did was affiliate with the new organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of...
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Answer to:CHRISTIANS and ExCHRISTIANS: Given the following categories, which do you MOST identify with?
Let me put it this way: My fundamentalist friends think that I'm a liberal and my liberal friends think that I'm a fundamentalist. That, I suppose, makes me a Moderate BUT . . .
I am Bible Believing but my Theological positions are skewed more to the Conservative side than the Liberal side.
If there were a category called, "Conservative-Moderate" I would go with that but since there isn't...
Answer to:Does the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints still exist? I’ve heard that a portion of the Community of Christ’s membership broke off in 2001 and retained the old name, but I’ve never found any confirmation of this.
Yes indeed! They're alive and well and thriving!
In fact, Otter, I've been having a wonderfully productive on-line conversation with John Hamer who is RLDS/CoC and the President Elect of the John Whitmer Historical Association (the RLDS/CoC version of the Mormon History Association here:...
Answer to:If you could choose either of these two options, which would you choose and why?
Clearly this is the ideal but I don't think that it's practical now that the Genie is out of the bottle - sadly.
Answer to:LDS claims to be the "one true church", the only true "Christian church". Why do you need a prophet? Why can you not talk to God personally?
Indeed here is my "bare" Mormon Testimony:
I would like to bear my testimony . . .
I have diligently sought God regarding whether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true or not. To that end, I have read the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon and I have prayed consistently for over 30-years. I have felt an intense "burning in my bosom" many, many, many times in my life --...
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Answer to:LdS Guard to an evangelizing Christian on Temple Square: "You are not allowed to talk about Jesus on Church property" Thoughts?
FULL ARTICLE FROM ORIGINAL SOURCE. THIS WAS TRUNCATED IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE. I AM MARKING IT "ASKER'S CHOICE" SIMPLY TO PIN IT UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR EASY REFERENCE.
Full article from source:
(see http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=425:qyou-are-not-allowed-to-talk-about-jesus-on-church-propertyq-&catid=31:fp-scroller )...
Answer to:The award for biggest celebrity moron for 2010 goes to:
Hey this is fun! Can I vote again? Please!
I want to vote for Kayne West!!!!
You guys have sold me that he beats even Flavor Flav in the "moron for brains" department.
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Answer to:The award for biggest celebrity moron for 2010 goes to:
I know he's an easy target but . . .
Flavor Flav
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor_Flav
(WARNING: this video contains profanity)
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Answer to:Is it ME, or do all the questions on here just SUCK right now..???? :(
It's you.
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Answer to:Should Christians ever identify themselves by secular psychological personality profiles such as Myers-Briggs? If not, on what basis should Christians define or describe their personalities?
You're joking right?
I was unaware that Christians were no longer members of the human race and, therefore, natural law no longer applies to them.
Apparently the Mormons are right - my Bible really IS corrupt!
Answer to:what is everyone's opinion on mel gibson overall
Simple: Stark frakin' nuts!
Answer to:CHRISTIANS and CHRISTIANS: Given the following categories, which do you MOST identify with?
SYSADMIN THIS QUESTION CONTAINS A BLATANT TYPO AND SHOULD BE DELETED.
Thank you.
Answer to:How would you describe your financial situation?
Unemployed.
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Answer to:Is evolution proven?
Adaption YES. Evolution No.
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Answer to:Christians: How do you define the Trinity?
The short version is Three Persons comprising One God just like the hymn . . .
"God in three persons, blessed Trinity"
. . . and Sh'ma Israel . . .
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God — the LORD alone."
-- Deuteronomy 6:4
Or transliterated:
In English: "hear-you Israel Yahweh Elohim-of·us Yahweh one"
In Hebrew: "shmo ishral ieue alei·nu ieue achd"
(And the last word "achd" (aka...
Answer to:Christians: What is your favorite worship music? Any group or artist in particular?
Straight ahead Rock 'n' Roll, Jazz, and Classical.
I'm particularly fond of Tommy Walker, Robin Mark, and Hillsongs Australia but I also like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Graham Kendrick - but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I play bass and if I could spend the rest of my life playing good - and I mean REALLY well written and inspiring worship music - I would die happy.
Answer to:Does the evidence in the classic, award winning book "Guns Germs & Steel" completely discredit the claims of the Book of Mormon?
HERE IS THE FULL DESCRIPTION THAT WAS TRUNCATED ABOVE. I WILL PIN THIS ANSWER USING THE 'ASKER'S PICK' OPTION MERELY TO KEEP THIS REFERENCE MATERIAL DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
From Wikipedia:
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel )
SYNOPSIS
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies is a 1997 book by Jared Diamond, professor of geography and...
Answer to:why can't they have a cup of coffee when a chocolate bar has the same amount of caffeine?
Actually ALL Mormons just pick and choose what they want to consume. D&C 89 (aka "The Word of Wisdom") is the poster boy for meaningless, confusing, arbitrary and most subjective religious dietary laws.
Doubt me? Let's let a panel of Mormons explain it:
Episode 27: The Word of Wisdom for Dummies
The panel meets to try to explain the Word of Wisdom.
AUDIO DOWNLOAD...
Answer to:Which team will win the 2010 World Cup?
They look TOUGH and hungry.
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Answer to:I have a testimony of the historicity & veracity of J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. Why are people telling me that I'm psychotic?
ACCIDENTAL POST.
SysAdmin please delete.
Answer to:Will the world end on December 21, 2012?
No, for us.
Yes, for all Mayans.
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Answer to:An ideal critical thinker would hold no opinions...true or false
False: Only a corpse holds no opinions.
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Answer to:What is the most creative method of making sure mormons no longer knock on your door?
Speak in tongues when after you open the door and start renouncing the lying deceiving spirits that have overtaken them.
They'll make a note in their "Area Book" that you're either nuts or demon-possessed and the Stake Mission President will make sure that future missionaries are warned about you.
That should do it.
If not, go into Mormon Studies - after a visit or two of discussing TRUE...
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Answer to:Would a U.S. without nuclear weapons be as safe?
There are some very evil people out there with nukes and they would LOVE to take us down.
Decommission our nukes and they will.
Answer to:Why does it seem the Christianity is just a rip off of pre christ pagan religions? I can cite an example from a pre christ religion for almost every aspect of Jesus's life story. How can Christians believe in something thats not even an original idea?
Was that a question or an editorial - more of the latter I think.
And if one accepts metaphysics couldn't it be that pagan religions are a rip off of the Judeo/Christian (as C.S. Lewis put it) redemptive "deep magic" plan of salvation?
(BTW, the fact that you didn't mention Judaism in your editorial demonstrates a full formed of understanding of the Christian narrative thus eroding the...
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Answer to:Should Joseph Smiths First Vision be accepted and believed over all the nearly identical visions of the time that were rejected? Why?
HERE IS THE FULL AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION THAT WAS TRUNCATED ABOVE. I WILL PIN IT BY MARKING IT AS 'ASKER'S PICK' TO KEEP IT DIRECTLY UNDER THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR EASY REFERENCE.
In fact, the historical record demonstrates that there were so many of these visions during and after the Second Great Awakening (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening ), Cane Ridge Revival (see...
Answer to:Is the concept of spirit sons and daughters one that is only found in LDS theology or are there other churches that believe in it too?
Sorry to be late to the party on this one K . . . I just hope that I can be of some help on this question.
SHORT VERSION:
No, mainstream, fully orthodox Christian churches believe in or require the doctrine of "pre-existence" as a core doctrine. Generally if taught at all it is a kind of speculative theory than a strongly adhered to belief. Only heretics and fringe groups have taken the...
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Answer to:MORMONS: Is it true that no young person who admits to ever having masturbated and/or having premarital sex can go on a LdS Mission?
For what it's worth I found the following in the 1999 edition of the "Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics"
"Worthiness
Repentance of Serious Transgressions
A prospective missionary who has been guilty of adultery, fornication, heavy petting, homosexual activity, other sexual perversions, drug misuse, serious violation of civil law, or other serious...
Answer to:What is the penalty, officially and unofficially, in mormonism for a young man who does not serve a mission?
Say No to the Mission Call and the Pressure Builds
Salt Lake Tribune/March 10, 2001
By Peggy Fletcher Stack
source = http://www.rickross.com/reference/mormon/mormon38.html
For most of his life, David tried to be a perfect Mormon.
He didn't smoke or drink, attended church regularly, read scriptures and prayed nightly. He set aside savings he planned to use to join the church's missionary...
Answer to:Mormons believe that all Mormons are Christian, so that must make all Christians Mormon, correct?
No.
Even LdS Theologian David Paulsen acknowledges the differences:
Are Christians Mormon?
Reassessing Joseph Smith’s Theology in His Bicentennial
by David L. Paulsen
http://byustudies.byu.edu/PDFLibrary/45.1Paulsen%2035d5e35e-b405-4f5f-aa53-9ba299d87eb3.pdf
Here's the abstract for this paper:
Author: David L. Paulsen
Categories: LDS Religion and Doctrine, Joseph Smith
Journal: 45:1
...
Answer to:Christians: Are you a dispensationalist? Why or why not? Please use Biblical support for your stance.
Definitely NOT!
I am convinced that dispensationalism is heretical.
Why? Well doesn't that Bible say:
Malachi 3:6
For I am the LORD, I change not
Numbers 23:19
He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."
Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind...
Dispensationalism is an unBiblical construct...
Answer to:Welch author of in the land of the believers comes out of the experience realizing that Falwells people arent all crazy idiots. Thoughts?
AB SysAdmin DUPLICATE question of http://www.answerbag.com/polls/welch-author-in-land-believers-experience-realizing-falwells-people-crazy-idiots-thoughts_2162886 please merge this polls with the original poll.
Thank you.
Answer to:My bf of 2y is an artist. He says that if he had to choose between art & me, he'd choose art b/c without 'her' he'd be miserable and that wouldn't do me any good. He says the best thing he can do for me is to satisfy himself first. Are these warning bells
Ding! Ding! Ding!
(that's what warning bells sound like BTW)
Answer to:Did you like Jerry Falwell? Here's one of his idiotic quotes: "Good Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions." I do hope you aren't going to ask questions now.
Is that a question or an editorial?
Actually, no need to answer, it was obviously an editorial - and a manipulative one at that. So if the answer responds, "Yes, I like Jerry Falwell!" that makes them idiotic too (like that Falwell guy who is CLEARLY an idiot) - right?
And, personally I think that it's important to always provide the full quote in context in the interest of personal,...
Answer to:If Jesus was born in the middle-east why is he white?
He wasn't he was a Middle Eastern Jew - meaning He was olive skinned to black.
IMAGE: http://www.knowledgerush.com/wiki_image/b/bf/RFJesus.jpg
TEXT: http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Images_of_Jesus/
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Answer to:The producers of 'Proposition 8: The Mormon Proposition' argue that the the barrier between LdS Church and the state was breached. Thoughts?
SysAdmin this was meant to be a comment not an answer. Please delete.
Answer to:MORMONS: Does the doctrine of Blood Atonement apply equally to both Mormons and Gentiles or Mormons only?
Hello? Is anyone out there?
Tell you what - I'll accept answers from ExMormons too.
Again, some clarification here would be GREATLY appreciated!
Answer to:Did President Obama do the right thing with General McChrystal?
McChrystal "screwed the pooch" and he knew it. That's why he offered his resignation.
And Obama did the right thing by accepting it.
If you read the content of the article this was inevitable. It was clear that Chrystal and his staff were divided from the President - to the point of scornful disdain. No leader can accept that from those he has to trust in order to meet the common...
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Answer to:Why is the Mormon church being singled out for proposition 8?
I live in California. I think if you lived here during the election that has Proposition 8 on the ballot you might not be asking the question.
The Mormon Church - in the guise of the Pro-Proposition 8 organization which was heavily funded and heavily lead by Mormons and Mormon money - was "in your face" and over the top in their advocacy. In my town they were LITERALLY on every corner,...
Answer to:The producers of 'Proposition 8: The Mormon Proposition' argue that the the barrier between LdS Church and the state was breached. Thoughts?
Correction to the original Question:
The CORRECT title of the documentary is: "8: The Mormon Proposition"
(The LA Times got it wrong in their article and I followed suit)
And here's what the trailer looks like:
Answer to:Has the oil spill caused you to lose faith in America?
It's made me lose faith in the concept that human beings are generally respectful of the environment and take care to protect it.
Apparently greed tends to trump the survival of the planet - and thus the survival of the planet's "passengers" - and THAT is really sad.
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Answer to:Is their any reliable, independent evidence for the existence of Jesus of the new testament as a historical figure?
I believe that there is enough credible historical evidence available to substantiate that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed a historical figure. However, the theological question of whether he was the true Messiah ("Christ" in Greek) or not remains a matter of faith that can not be proven via empirical methods.
And here is a good article with a sampling of historical documents that substantiate...
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Answer to:What does "Kal-El", Superman's given name, mean?
It clearly means, "Wazza Matta You?"
Or in sometime dialects, "You God Da Two Mush Tima You Hans!"
Answer to:Does R.L. Gardner's choice of death by firing squad prove that the LdS doctrine of Blood Atonement is still Mormon doctrine?
Well it's over and done . . .
NPR BREAKING NEWS:
Firing squad executes convicted killer
Firing squad executes convicted killer Ronnie Lee Gardner at the Utah State Prison.
More at NPR.org:
http://n.npr.org/NPRI/jN109058637_484001_484000_Z.htm
. . . does anyone have any further, and or final, thoughts on this matter?
Answer to:Should a female teacher be fired from her job at a religious school for conceiving out of wedlock?
It would have been nice if the editorial comments had been left off of the poll choices!
My answer is "No", by choosing to have premarital sex while a teacher at a religious school and violating both Biblical Law and the school's code of conduct she did in FACT make this a public issue.
However, there are better, more redemptive, more Biblical ways of resolving this matter than a...
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Answer to:MORMONS: The most recent DNA research discredits the remaining LdS Apologist arguments. Now what?
Here is the referenced article that's in the description in it's entirety:
source = http://signaturebooks.com/?p=2784
"New Science Impacts Book of Mormon DNA Studies
Ten years ago, population geneticists could study only relatively simple genetic configurations from the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA. Since then, there has been a revolution in the methodology available for this kind of...
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Answer to:6-story Jesus statue in Ohio struck by lightning. What's your opinion?
It's God judgment for putting such an UGLY statue in front of such an UGLY building!
God hates bad art!
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100615/capt.cded2dff11fa4a96a1cbe9cf0c51d664-4d3393dbfb36415fbb259184b3a8d6e2-0.jpg?x=400&y=285&q=85&sig=JPXs2PFbUih9N5CI8R3xwg--
Answer to:Do i have to pay my tithing to the church? or can I donate it to charities in my city? like the homeless or animal shelters.
Because neither dogs or cats can receive the endowments at the moment. So until Thomas S. Monson - or whoever the current "Living Prophet" is when this is being read - issues an Official Declaration giving dogs and cats the priesthood there's no need to build temples for them.
After all, tithes build temples (as well as $1-Billion malls and other redevelopment in downtown Salt Lake City of...
Answer to:MORMONS: If Jewish and Christian scribes added to the plain and precious truths in the Bible, why are the extant manuscripts so consistent?
ADDENDUM TO QUESTION DESCRIPTION:
This was too long for the description so I will add it as an addendum to the description rather than an answer per se. I think that you will agree that this information is indeed relevant to the topic:
"The Scribe
The scribe was considered a professional person in antiquity. No printing presses existed, so people were trained to copy documents. The task was...
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Answer to:Mormons: How does your religion make you feel?
I'm not Mormon so I'm not going to vote but I will point out that every single Mind Control Cult claims that their group makes them feel, "Happy, Loved, Peaceful, Hopeful".
This is actually a mark of a cult - negative emotions are NOT allowed. Honest feelings must be pushed down and ignored.
Which is probably why Utah (which is 70% Mormon) leads the nation per capita in anti-depressant...
Answer to:Elder Holland claims that after 179-years the veracity of the Book of Mormon still stands since it has withstood every test. Do you agree?
Here's another well crafted response to this assertion:
"Failed Theories. Stunningly, Elder Holland labels four naturalistic theories of Book of Mormon authorship as 'failed theories.' One wonders if observers with no vested interest would consider them failed. Since he does not analyze them in his address, one wonders by what criteria Elder Holland judged each of these theories to be failed....
Answer to:Elder Holland claims that after 179-years the veracity of the Book of Mormon still stands since it has withstood every test. Do you agree?
This commentary sums it it up nicely IMO:
"He really cannot be serious. Only in the bizarre bubble world in which this Baron of Bluster lives could someone really think that the Book of Mormon has been more assiduously criticized than the Bible or the Qu'ran. Elder Holland has a Ph.D. from Yale University. He knows better than this. And what does he mean, exactly, by the phrase "And still it...
Answer to:AGREE or DISAGREE: Jeffrey Holland's April 2009 GC Talk is recent history's clearest case of how LdS Leaders use Mind Control techniques.
Well since no one seems to answer this one I guess the onus on me. So here we go . . .
The BITE Model defines Mind Control like this:
Mind Control - The BITE Model
(From chapter two of Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves)
Destructive mind control can be understood in terms of four basic components, which form the acronym BITE:
I. Behavior Control
II....
Answer to:Elder Holland claims that after 179-years the veracity of the Book of Mormon still stands since it has withstood every test. Do you agree?
Here's a link to a YouTube play list that includes a full examination of Jefferey R. Holland's address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O57HTriXrIY&feature=PlayList&p=49F9B9EB968F55B0&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1
It is quite good and highly recommended.
However if you prefer to listen to each of these examination videos separately I will include them below so you may do so.
...
Answer to:The crazier - Hugh Nibley or THIS guy (Wayne N. May)?
To my way of thinking, May is CLEARLY the crazier of the two!
Nibley was often irrational and functioning in a borderline-psychotic space but he limited BOTH behaviors to at least a remnant, or a sliver of real evidence to support his frunk crazy ideas. He may have wandered off the trail but at least there was a trail! Here's an example:
Answer to:Does R.L. Gardner's choice of death by firing squad prove that the LdS doctrine of Blood Atonement is still Mormon doctrine?
FULL ARTICLE THAT WAS TRUNCATED IN THE DESCRIPTION. AND I WILL MARK AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP THIS INFORMATION DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
Gardner's date with firing squad revives talk of Mormon blood atonement
By Peggy Fletcher Stack
Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:05/21/2010 04:41:01 PM MDT
http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_15126927
After convicted killer Ronnie Lee Gardner...
Answer to:MORMONS: Why is it that Joseph Smith, Jr's First Vision account is nearly identical to others in and around Palmyra during the same period
This is from a closeted unbelieving Mormon friend who wanted to give his 2p on the subject but isn't an AnswerBagger:
"If you look at the timeline of Joseph Smith starting in 1820 onward you can see how he made it up as he went along. There are signposts in the second and later editions of the book that show how his thinking was evolving. This is why he did not come out with the now canonized...
Answer to:What are your thoughts on people that hunt for sport?
I think that we should send them after Osama Bin-Laden.
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Answer to:MORMONS: Why does the Book of Mormon declare that there is only one God yet the Doctrine and Covenants teaches there are many gods?
FULL CITATIONS THAT WERE TRUNCATED IN THE DESCRIPTION. I AM MARKING THIS 'ASKER'S PICK' SIMPLY TO KEEP IT PINNED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR THE READER'S EASY REFERENCE.
THE BOOK OF MORMON:
Alma 11
27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
29 And he answered, No.
30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest...
Answer to:Do Today's Divorce Laws Make It Too Easy for Couples to Split?
A huge priority for this country needs to be a complete review and overhaul of Family Law - divorce laws in particular.
And in my opinion, "No Fault" needs to be the first to go!
Next the entire system of spousal support needs to be reconsidered and architected.
Answer to:MORMONS: Why is it that Joseph Smith, Jr's First Vision account is nearly identical to others in and around Palmyra during the same period
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IS THE FULL DESCRIPTION IN IT'S ENTIRETY. I WILL MARK IT AS "ASKER'S PICK" SIMPLY TO GET IT PINNED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR EASY ACCESS AND REFERENCE TO FUTURE READERS OF THIS THREAD. THANK YOU.
Richard Bushman recounted the vision of Norris Stearns whose 1815 story sounds very much like Joseph Smith's account:
"One was God, my Maker, almost in...
Answer to:T/F: "The radicals and extremists tend to speak up first - and most loudly."
Since I'm sure given the question, no one wants to be the first or the loudest I will vote for myself.
Yes, I tend to be both opinionated, loud, and often extreme. AND I tend to be the first one to speak up and tend to give my opinion freely even when NOT asked.
And when I was younger and even louder, more outspoken, and more extreme this was even MORE the case than it is today!
So, at...
Answer to:MORMONS: Why does D&C128:5;17-18 contradict the rest of LdS Scripture regarding baptism as a requirement for salvation?
AND FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE HERE ARE THOSE PASSAGES IN THEIR ENTIRETY:
(AND I WILL MARK THIS AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP THIS REFERENCE MATERIAL PERMANENTLY PINNED RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION)
Doctrine & Covenants says baptism is a requirement for salvation:
D&C 128: 5
5 You may think this order of things to be very particular; but let me tell you that it is only to answer the...
Answer to:T/F: Since the Book of Mormon is the story of Gods plan of salvation for mankind it doesn't matter if its historicity is proven or true.
A friend from Facebook offers this answer to both the Bible and Book of Mormon versions of this question - and I agree with him:
A: FALSE
"... I'd love to add my 2 cents, but Answerbag wants too much of my facebook info - which is the current going-on in issue. So let it be known that if historicity is out the window, God is out the window. And if historicity is unvalidated, what is a "plan?"."
Answer to:T/F: Since the Bible is the story of God's plan of salvation for mankind it doesn't matter if its historicity is true and/or validated.
A friend from Facebook offers this answer to both the Bible and Book of Mormon versions of this question - and I agree with him:
"... I'd love to add my 2 cents, but Answerbag wants too much of my facebook info - which is the current going-on in issue. So let it be known that if historicity is out the window, God is out the window. And if historicity is unvalidated, what is a "plan?"."
Answer to:Which Mormon-centric Podcast is your favorite?
Mormon Stories used to be my favorite but now I'm finding Mormon Expression to be far more balanced, provocative, enlightening, interesting and practical in my Mormon Studies research.
Plus I just love these guys - even TBM Mike who makes me CRAZY with his irrational dogma spewing.
I love it and always recommend it to others. http://mormonexpressions.com/
Answer to:If God came to Earth tomorrow, what do you think he'd bring with him?
Duct tape.
Lots and lots of duct tape!
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Answer to:Hey Answerbag staff, why don`t you take a vow of not typing anything for several years?...please!
Or posting any more of these annoying "Professionally Researched Answer" posts either!
(As if "non-Professionally Researched" Answers are suddenly second-class citizens on AB. Geez!)
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Answer to:Why do people on Answerbag assume that when I ask a question, I agree with its premise?
I have no frakin' clue but it drives me crazy!
Thanks for letting me share.
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: The answer to theological diversity within Christianity is a top down, authority-driven, hierarchical ecclesiastical model.
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION - THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! HERE IS THE REFERENCED ARTICLE IN IT'S ENTIRETY. AND I WILL MARKED THIS POST "ASKER'S CHOICE" SIMPLY TO KEEP IT PINNED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR EASY REFERENCE:
Leadership, authority and hierarchy March 8, 2010
Posted by Hampton Morgan in Leadership.
(see...
Answer to:T or F: A religion does NOT need to validate against objective reality as long as her/his subjective reality is "working" for the believer.
SINCE THE DESCRIPTION TRUNCATED HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE.
AND I HAVE PINNED IT AS 'ASKER'S PICK' SIMPLY TO KEEP IT PINNED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR REFERENCE
"The Problem of The Mormon Tank"
by Fred W. Anson
(see http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=82448&catid=10 )
Here's the problem
If I'm in an Army Tank and I pull out a...
Answer to:How many different sources do you need to examine before you feel comfortable with your knowledge regarding a certain historical subject?
It depends on the quality of the source and the content being analyzed.
If the quality of the source is high enough only one may be required.
However, corroboration with at least one other source is often required to establish validation of the first source account.
Ideally, a third source will both validate and "level set" factual details. However, in the case of both secondary and...
Answer to:Who do you think was in the casket on the finale of Lost?
ABC's ratings now that the series is over.
Answer to:Scientists discovering how to create life: Good or bad?
The question asks for a "Good or Bad?" response but the choices are "Yes", "No", and "I'm not sure"
So there's an incongruity between the question and answers so I must respond - "I'm not sure" how to respond!
Answer to:Is it a sin for Catholic men to see women in bikinis at the beach?
No.
But it's definitely a sin for a Catholic man to be IN a bikini at the beach!
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Answer to:Does God change his mind? A yes (1 Samuel 15:10) or B No (1 Samuel 15:29) or C Yes ( 1 Samuel 15:35) A, B or C? LOL
Yes, the Bible is clear that God DOES repent (change one's actions).
The passages that you refer to are as follows in the New Living Translation:
1 Samuel 15:10-11
10 Then the Lord said to Samuel, 11 “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all...
Answer to:'He who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind' Doesn't this discredit Continuing Revelation & Lying for the Lord?
AB SYSADMIN THIS IS A DUPLICATE POST THAT SHOULD BE DELETED!
Answer to:'He who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind' Doesn't this discredit Continuing Revelation & Lying for the Lord?
YET ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IS THE FULL DESCRIPTION - WHICH I WILL MARK AS "ASKER'S CHOICE" SIMPLY TO PIN IT UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION AT THE TOP.
The Bible passage cited is I Samuel 15:29 (NLT):
1 Samuel 15:29 (New Living Translation)
And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”
...
Answer to:Mormon Scholars have identified over 400 splinter groups over Mormonism's 180-yr history. If the LdS Church is true why all the schisming?
WHY THIS QUESTION MATTERS:
Proponents of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as LDS or Mormons) boast of the alleged “unity” of their 12 million membership. Pointing to multiple denominations of Christian churches, Mormons attribute their "unity" (i.e., uniform church structure and belief) to latter-day revelation and to additional books they...
Answer to:Should we teach the Bible in public schools?
Sure.
But if we do we should also teach the Koran, The Book of Mormon, and other religious works that have influenced American society and culture.
Or we can teach none of them. However, to avoid the appearance of preference such instruction must be fair and even handed in order to maintain a clear separation of Church and State.
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Answer to:Elder Holland claims that after 179-years the veracity of the Book of Mormon still stands since it has withstood every test. Do you agree?
This thread is dwindling so I'm going to cast my vote and add my 2p.
ANSWER:
I think that Elder Holland means well - and is DEFINITELY preaching "choir" to the choir - but he's STILL absolutely full of beans.
The evidence simply does NOT support his ridiculous assertion.
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
The Book of Mormon was consistently discredited before . . .
...
Answer to:What is a Jupiter talisman and why did Joseph Smith carry one?
Q: What is a Jupiter talisman ...
A: Answer from http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/josephsmithjupitertalisman.html
Sterling Silver
JOSEPH SMITH JUPITER TALISMANS FOR
Wealth & Good Fortune
FRONT IMAGE = http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/jupiter-josephsmithfront.jpg
BACK IMAGE = http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/jupiter-josephsmithback.jpg
"Agrippa says of the table of...
Answer to:A question for Mormons. I am Christian, and I have heard many times from the Christian side the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. But now I am curious... Would a Mormon care to explain to me the differences as you see it?
This is a big subject but the following MormonWiki.org article does a superb job - enjoy!
http://www.mormonwiki.org/Comparison_between_Mormonism_and_Christianity
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Answer to:Do you think less of Mormons?
This question has been asked in various forms many times on AnswerBag so I'll just recycle the same answer that I have given in the past:
"Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mormons are our family members, our friends, our colleagues and our neighbors we do NOT dislike them. In fact I love Mormons.
However, I take great umbrage at the Church of Jesus...
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Answer to:Do you support the Request for Financial Transparency in the LDS Church Petition?
I have already signed the petition. And I had already discussed this issue in this question http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1467809 when I provided the following evidence for WHY this is important.
If nothing else, if the Mormon Church would follow the ECFA's Best Practices and Standards it would silence Mormon Critics like myself - that is, of course, unless it uncovered improprieties,...
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: The onus is on the Mormon Church to support the claims of the realities of Mormonism.
If you make a claim you MUST back it up - period. And for Biblical believing Christians we are told to do this - it's NOT optional:
"Test everything. Hold on to the good."
I Thessalonians 5:21 (NIV)
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD
Isaiah 1:18
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets...
Answer to:Is Apple Macintosh compatible with Microsoft Office 2003, or other Microsoft products?
To some degree in most, but not all, cases.
Here you go: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.mspx
Answer to:What do you prefer, Apple products or Microsoft?
Truly Open Systems, a broad choice of hardware and software to choose from, a treasure trove of good documentation, and broad industry support.
Oh and it costs anywhere from 30-50 less for any given component.
Not a hard decision.
Apple may win the Marketing battle but they lose everything else - which is why their OS market share has never been higher than 15%, has shrunk to around 10% and...
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Answer to:As far as Im concerned, if youre unhappy in the LdS church its because youre doing it wrong. LdS Apologist, M. Tannehill
AB SYSADMIN THIS IS A DUPE OF THIS QUESTION http://www.answerbag.com/polls/as-concerned,-unhappy-lds-church-wrong-lds-apologist,-m-tannehill_2034879 AND NEEDS TO BE DELETED.
BTW, YOUR REDIRECTION ALGORITHIMN ISN'T WORKING THUS CREATING THE NEED TO POST THE SAME QUESTION MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL IT 'STICKS'.
Answer to:As far as Im concerned, if youre unhappy in the LdS church its because youre doing it wrong. LdS Apologist, M. Tannehill
Share your answer...
Answer to:Which South Park episode do you find to be dead-on with the satirism?
All About Mormons
Episode 712 (Original Air Date: Nov 19, 2003)
A Mormon kid moves to South Park and Stan has to kick his ass. But when Stan and his dad meet their new Mormon neighbors, they become fascinated with how genuinely nice they are. Meanwhile the other boys mock Stan relentlessly for wimping out.
http://www.iamboredr.com/media/8466/South_Park_S07E12_-_All_About_the_Mormons/
Answer to:Women, Do you think like to wear thong underwear? If not would you wear one for you BF if he likes them on you?
Fight the power men - vote!
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Answer to:Do you see LDS gays and sympathizers mass-migrating to the RLDS/CoC as a result of that Mormon Church granting GBLTs full participation?
HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE THAT WAS TRUNCATED IN THE DESCRIPTION. I WILL MARK THIS AS "ASKER'S CHOICE" SO IT GETS PINNED AND STAYS UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Gay Rights Revelation added to the Community of Christ D&C
(World Conference Part 2: April 12–15)
April 15, 2010 — John Hamer...
Answer to:Is it true the mormon church only ceased requiring its converts to make the "oath of Vengeance" against the United States because they lost a lawsuit with the government over it?
Lawsuit? What lawsuit?
Answer to:Please elaborate on the things you see in the Mormon Church that it does well. Thank you.
Here's my list of things that I feel that the Mormon Church does well:
1) Highly organized, structured, and efficient operationally and institutionally.
2) Places a high value on personal, family, and organizational history and legacy - thus Mormons are, as Mike Quinn says, "Demon record keepers".
3) Places a high value on making family a top - if not THE top - priority in one's life.
...
Answer to:TRUE or FALSE: "Mormons are taught to shun people who do not share their beliefs, including other family members"
Well I would have to add that the 2009 documentary "In The Shadow of The Temple" seems to provide compelling evidence in regard to this question: http://www.intheshadowofthetemple.com/
Answer to:My boyfriend is mormon. I'm not. Does this mean we have no future together?
Oh Lord how many times are we going to have to ask this same question? Here we go again:
source = http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=79971&catid=10
Being Unequally Yoked with a Latter-day Saint
By Bill McKeever
Probably no other emotion is as important to God as is the emotion of love. The Bible tells us that God Himself is love and that...
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Answer to:Many Christians argue that since one cannot disprove god and the bible then one should believe in them. By that reasoning - do those Christians also believe in The Celestial Teapot and the Flying Spaghetti Monster? If not, can you disprove either one?
Please present your evidence for the The Celestial Teapot and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Thanks.
Answer to:Do you agree with the Reformed LDS Church/Community of Christ's revelation/policy change that new members no longer must be rebaptized?
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION. BELOW IS THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE. AS USUAL, I WILL MARK THIS AS "ASKER'S CHOICE" *ONLY SO THAT IT'S PINNED PERMANENTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION* FOR FUTURE REFERENCE AND THE CONVENIENCE OF NEW ANSWERERS.
http://www.cofchrist.org/wc2010/041410newScripture.asp
14 April, 2010
Community of Christ World Conference Affirms New Scripture
Independence, MO—A...
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Do you agree with Mary, Mother of Christ, having being sealed to the Mormon god in Celestial Marriage via proxy baptism in 2009?
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IS THE REFERENCED ARTICLE IN IT'S ENTIRETY. I WILL ALSO MARK IT "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP THIS ARTICLE PINNED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION. AND HERE'S THE SOURCE LINK AGAIN: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/notes/utah-lighthouse-ministry/mary-sealed-to-heavenly-father-by-lds-proxy-temple-rites/431099314988
The Mormon Baptism of Mary,...
Answer to:TRUE or FALSE: "Man is the measure of all things" (Protagoras)
If you're an atheist the universe - of which man is but a speck - would (anthropomorphically) echo back, "Think again!"
If you're a Theist, God would echo back the same.
I am a Christian so I agree with the Psalmist who agreed with BOTH stances when he wrote:
Psalm 8 (NIV)
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you...
Answer to:'...it never ceases to amaze me how gullible some of our Church members are...' Harold B. Lee (11th President of the LdS Church) Thoughts?
How dare you take things out of context for the sake of fun and humor!
You are clearly an Anti-Mormon enemy of the only true Church and I, for one, will NOT be coming to your birthday party - so there, you big meanie!
And another thing you are clearly demon possessed because you contend with people and we ALL know that contention is of the devil! So stop asking your stupid questions...
Answer to:Is Gestalt Closure - combined with and reinforced by subliminal implants - the basis for Mormon Testimony bearing?
YET ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION. HERE IS THE REFERENCED WHITE PAPER IN IT'S ENTIRETY. AS USUAL, I WILL MARK THIS AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP IT NEAR THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD NEAR THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=75526&catid=10
Deconstructing Mormon Testimony Bearing
by Fred Anson
September 26, 2008
Mormon...
Answer to:Am I supposed to believe that when Mormons had polygamous marriages there were no lesbian orgies going on?
Well in the case of Joseph Smith since 11 of his 34-known wives were also married to other men I seriously, seriously, seriously doubt it.
(see http://www2.ldsfreedom.org/node/7)
Also since "Sister Wives" tend to compete against each other for their husband's time and the family resources I doubt that they're too inclined that way.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3178041...
Answer to:LDS: "...there is room for increased respect and tolerance among LDS ranks for those who have left us and even rail against us." TRUE/FALSE?
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IS THE ARTICLE IN IT'S ENTIRETY. AS USUAL I WILL MARK IT AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO PIN IT UNDERNEATH THE QUESTION AT THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD.
This quote was pulled from the following article by LdS Apologist, Jeff Lindsay.
http://mormanity.blogspot.com/2006/11/cutting-little-slack-for-ex-mormons.html
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Cutting a Little Slack...
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Answer to:Mormons: How does one identify a "false Apostle"? (see 2 Corinthians 11:13)
Actually the Bible answers this answer:
Corinthians 11
1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that.
2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray...
Answer to:In the Creation sequence, which is correct, ""The Bible" version or "LDS Endowment Ceremony" Version? They can't both be correct
The Biblical account is correct since it wasn't pulled out of Joseph Smith's . . . . "evil genius" imagination.
(the reader may, of course, feel free to replace '"evil genius" imagination' with another word - that starts with "a" and ends with "s" - if you wish to. Both forms of the answer are accurate.)
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Which of the two contradicting Biblical creation accounts is the true and correct one?
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IT IS AGAIN IN IT'S ENTIRETY. AND I WILL PIN IT AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP IT RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
FROM A MORMON COMMENTATOR
(the Biblical accounts are only one of 5 or 6 Mormon creation accounts - and you thought Christians had it tough on this one!)
The Creation Accounts — Unharmonized
by Bored in Vernal
January 13, 2010
Several...
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Answer to:MORMONS: Since they all contradict, which of the five (5) known contradicting LdS creation stories which is the true and correct one?
YET ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION. HERE IS THE FULL DESCRIPTION THAT I WILL, AS USUAL, MARK AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO KEEP IT PINNED UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
The Creation Accounts — Unharmonized
by Bored in Vernal
January 13, 2010
Several years ago I did a study of Joseph Smith’s different accounts of the First Vision. It was fascinating to see how the accounts changed over time and...
Answer to:Does the Mormon "Parable of the Cupcakes" that's used in Male & Female LdS Youth Groups reinforce institutionalized sexism against women?
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IT IS AGAIN IN IT'S ENTIRETY. AS USUAL I WILL MARK THIS POST AS 'ASKER'S PICK' SIMPLY TO KEEP IT PINNED TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD SO IT'S READILY AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE:
KimberlyAnn seems to think so and so did the other Mormon Women on the panel on this Mormon Expression podcast http://mormonexpression.com/?p=180
The Licked Cupcakes
Posted By...
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Answer to:Please elaborate on the things you see in the Christian Church that it does well. Thank you.
SYSADMIN THIS IS A DUPLICATE QUESTION - PLEASE DELETE!
Answer to:Is it true that Anonymous has left Answerbag for good?
Oh Anonymous, Anonymous it's as if you were unknown to us!
It's as if you were never here and yet always here!
It's as if you were anonymous!
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Answer to:At what point in time did Ad Hominem fallacies become legitimate forms of argument and debate?
They didn't so the answer is "Never".
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Answer to:YOU'RE THE JURY: Is the defendant, Brigham Young, guilty or innocent of compliancy of murder in the matter of the Mountain Meadows Massacre?
THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION:
"There is consensus among historians that Brigham Young played a role in provoking the massacre, at least unwittingly, and in concealing its evidence after the fact;[70] however, they debate whether or not Young knew about the planned massacre ahead of time and whether or not he initially condoned it before later taking a strong public stand against it. Young's...
Answer to:Mormons are under a significant amount of stress because of all the commandments [& duties] they need to uphold. True or False?
I think that the empirical evidence is rather telling. This is from another comment here on Answerbag:
"* Every 11 days a Utah teen commits suicide
* Utah leads the nation in suicide among men 15-24
* Utah has the 11th highest overall suicide rate in the nation
* The Utah youth suicide rate has tripled over the last few years
* Suicide is the #1 cause of death among Utah teens"
(John Dehlin,...
Answer to:True or False: People believe what they want to believe? Generally.
True.
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Answer to:"The good is the enemy of the best." (Anonymous proverb) True or False?
Thank you for your answer.
Answer to:Anyone heard from Osama Bin Laden recently? I heard he was going to host a late night chat show from a cave in Pakistan. Any truth in it?
Yes and it's going to be hosted by Operaman.
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Answer to:MORMONS: Since the Reformation WAS in fact a Restoration why was Joseph Smith's LDS Restoration needed?
HERE IS THE ENTIRE CONTENT OF THE TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION FIELD. I WILL MARK THIS AS "ASKER'S PICK" TO GET IT PINNED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
SHORT SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
The Reformation was not a "progressive" movement in the modern sense, but one which sought to "regress," renewing the example of Christ and His apostles.
(Mark Durie, "Beware progress: Unlike medieval...
Answer to:A Czech proverb: "Hunger is the best spice." What are your thoughts on this proverb?
Nothing makes a meal takes better than a good appetite!
Answer to:I want to get a new phone, but don't know which to get... (Verizon)... i was thinking either the Lg Env2 or the voyager... does anyone have these phones, and if so which is the better phone? Pro's and Con's please!!
I love my LG enV® TOUCH.
Answer to:What is a good, durable QWERTY-key phone for Verizon Wireless? I'm a frequently guilty of phone abuse (my env2 has survived numerous throws, drops, falls down flights of stairs, even runs in the rain) and want a phone that I won't reasonably destroy.
I love my LG enV® TOUCH.
Answer to:I'm getting a new phone soon and I was wondering which verizon phone to get. I want a full QWERTY keyboard with buttons (not touch screen letters). I'm currently looking at the LG Env2 and the Samsung Alias, but I'm open to other ideas.
I love my LG enV® TOUCH.
Answer to:Http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/ - Does the content of this website offend you?
Yes it does. AND I'm a devout Christian.
I think this person's intentions are right but their approach is ALL WRONG. I don't see much Jesus on that site, just one fanatic's dogmatic opinions.
In other words it glorifies the web-creator more than than The Master.
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Answer to:"A block of solid gold the size of the golden plates would weigh about 200 pounds" (New Era Feb 2006, pp.34–37) How did Smith lift them?
I AM PINNING THIS ANSWER AS "GREAT ANSWER" SIMPLY TO GET IT RIGHT BELOW THE ORIGINAL QUESTION SINCE IT CONTAINS RELEVANT SUPPORTING EVIDENCE.
For your reference, here are original source quotes regarding Joseph Smith running with the plates:
"After removing the plates from the stone box, Joseph hid them in a birch log until preparations could be made at home for the plates. then he went to...
Answer to:Why does God say a burn for a burn, eye for eye, but Jesus says turn the other cheek? Isn't that contradicting?
Not if God's desire for mercy & grace trumps God's desire for justice.
I think that's something that every parent will readily understand.
Answer to:How can I become Truly Converted?
But having a transformative Born Again experience and entering into a life changing personal relationship with your Creator and Savior.
Religion - which is what Mormonism encapsulates - can't convert a quarter into 5-nickels, let alone 25-pennies. In fact all it really does is convert you to guilt and perpetual "unworthiness".
Doubt me? Consider the testimony of ExMormon Shawn McCraney as...
Answer to:Why do so many Christians use the NIV,look at waht it says,in Luke 2:33 it states Joseph as Jesus Father.That is out right heresy,it also says Jesus had a beginning.John 1:1 states Jesus has always been,and is GOD.
Luke 2:33 in the NIV says:
" 33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him."
And since Joseph was Jesus's adopted father so there's no heresy and no mistranslation there.
And you can compare several translations of this passage to see that SEVERAL other translators are in agreement with the NIV translators:...
Answer to:Why do people always say that God is a guy? What if God is a girl?
I can only answer from the vantage point of my particular tradition and faith - which is Judeo-Christian. So with that qualifier here goes:
1) The Bible tells us that God is a spirit.
2) In the Bible God uses both male and female imagery to describe Himself.
3) Therefore it is reasonable to conclusion that God is generic less - He is neither male nor female.
4) However, God choose to...
Answer to:Why do so many people have some many problems with Christians?
Because so many Christians value religion more than relationship - both vertically (God to man) and horizontally (man to man).
And I am saying this AS a former Atheist who is now a Christian. I've been on both sides of the divide and seen bad behavior regardless of which bank I was standing on.
This is a people problem not a "Christian" v. "Non-Christian" problem.
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Answer to:why do people always push religion onto you
Probably for the same reason why people push EVERYTHING onto you - just because we have an opinion we assume it's right in general and right for everyone else in particular.
See? I've just done it myself!
Answer to:Do Mormons believe that women are less than men in the eyes of God?
Well Mormons may not believe that but that's consistent with orthodox LdS Theology and is what at least one BYU religion professors teaches:
"Women are queens and priestesses but not gods.
The Godhead, the 'Presidency of Heaven,' is a presidency of three male deities, similar to a stake presidency whose members each have wives who are responsible for domestic religious education but not...
Answer to:How does this Babylon the Great sit on these seven mountains as mentioned at Revelation 17 to 18? What does it all mean?
When you're done with your sermon please feel free to ask a question.
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Answer to:Can anyone who KNOWS the contents of the Bible DOUBT its accuracy?
Sure. If the integrity of the Bible is compromised then citing a string of passages from the Bible to prove it's accuracy is circular logic and, therefore, fallacious.
For the accuracy of something to be VALIDATED it must be done so by evidence external to itself.
And since the Bible can be studied as literature just like any book there's no need or requirement to believe in the story of...
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Answer to:MORMONS: How would you lower the cost of exiting the LdS Church (to increase diversity) without compromising it's cultural distinctives?
AND SINCE THE REFERENCED ARTICLE WAS BADLY TRUNCATED LET ME REPOST IT AS AN ANSWER AND MARK IT 'GREAT ANSWER' TO KEEP IT NEAR THE TOP CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Exit, Voice, and Change
March 1, 2010 — J. Nelson-Seawright
(http://bycommonconsent.com/2010/03/01/exit-voice-and-change)
One sometimes hears calls among Mormons of a certain stripe for faithful believers to extend more love...
Answer to:Is it just me, or have you noticed that a lot of the new questions don't end with a question mark and are really statements ?
Yes indeed.
A while back I proposed that the site name be changed to "OpinionBag".
I rest my case.
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Answer to:Why does the catholic church teach old faulse traditions instead of teaching only from The Bible? The Bible is The Living Word of God.
Thank you for the editorial.
So do you have a genuine interest in understanding or do you just want to air your own opinion publicly?
"Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions."
-- Proverbs 18:2
Answer to:Is paid ministry part of the Lord's plan? Were the Apostles paid to preach?
Yes and yes.
1 Timothy 5:17-18, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker deserves his wages.'”
1 Corinthians 9:14 declares, “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the...
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Answer to:ATHEISTS: Was Gina Welch unethical by going undercover to write her book (In the Land of Believers) on Evangelical Christianity?
AND SINCE THE BOOK REVIEW GOT TRUNCATED, HERE IT IS IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND PINNED AS "ASKER'S PICK" IN ORDER TO KEEP IT NEAR THE TOP UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-book2-2010mar02,0,3637943.story
latimes.com
BOOK REVIEW
'In the Land of Believers' by Gina Welch
A writer goes undercover as a 'church lady' to write an account of being a member of an...
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Was Gina Welch unethical by going undercover to write her book (In the Land of Believers) on Evangelical Christianity?
AND, OF COURSE, THE FULL BOOK REVIEW GOT TRUNCATED SO HERE IT IS IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND MARKED AS A "GREAT ANSWER" TO KEEP IT NEAR THE TOP NEXT TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-book2-2010mar02,0,3637943.story
latimes.com
BOOK REVIEW
'In the Land of Believers' by Gina Welch
A writer goes undercover as a 'church lady' to write an account of being a member of an...
Answer to:MORMONS: From the outside looking in, the science of the Jaredite submarines seems highly implausible. What are we missing?
source = http://packham.n4m.org/ships.htm
JAREDITE SHIP-BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
by Kent Ponder, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2006 Kent Ponder
Many say that religious faith and reason are essentially incompatible -- that theological faith and sensible reason function as largely separate modes of mental and emotional behavior. LDS people, though, very often say that the Mormon faith is unusually...
Answer to:If a petition were started to discipline LdS Apostle Boyd K. Packer due to his long history of ecclesiastical abuse would you sign it?
YET ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IS IT IS AGAIN IN IT'S ENTIRETY. AND I WILL MARK IT AS A "GREAT ANSWER" TO PIN THE DESCRIPTION AT THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD UNDERNEATH THE POLL.
Please consider the question in light of this article from the Mormon Alliance web site (see http://mormonalliance.org/casereports/volume1/part1/v1prolog.htm)
Although the terms "ecclesiastical abuse"...
Answer to:What's your favorite Mormon joke?
Gordon B Hinckley, Thomas Monson and Boyd K Packer die and arrive at the Pearly Gates to be met by St Peter who tells them that he's going to need to take them on to one side to explain one or two things to them.
First up is Gordon B Hinckley who emerges from the little side room afetr 15 minutes saying "Oh Boy was I wrong" before he disappears off to hell.
Next up is Thomas Monson who after...
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Answer to:MORMONS: Why isn't the 1916 Presidential Statement canonized given it's importance and pervasive influence in modern LdS Theology & History?
AND, OF COURSE, THE DESCRIPTION TRUNCATED SO I WILL REPOST THE 1916 PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND MARK IT AS A 'GREAT ANSWER' TO PIN IT TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION NEAR THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
THE FATHER AND THE SON
A Doctrinal Exposition by The First Presidency and The Twelve
The scriptures plainly and repeatedly affirm that God is the Creator of the earth and the heavens and...
Answer to:Who is the author of the original Book of Mormon?
A: Mainly Sidney Rigdon with assistance from Oliver Cowdrey, Joseph Smith and Parley Pratt. It was largely plagiarized from 19th Century sources:
WEB CLIP: Craig Criddle "Authorship – Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?"
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=82123&catid=520
Answer to:Do you ever look at the older members of your family and think "man, I am doomed." In regards to genetics and predisposition to certain illnesses and such.
Yes.
Answer to:Do leaders in the LDS church teach that sincere, practicing Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and/or Evangelical persons are Christians?
Yes but, to use a common analogy, non-LdS Christians are thought to only be watching a "12" Black & White TV" compared to the glorious "60" High Definition Technicolor TV" that those enlightened through Prophetic revelation and Priesthood Authority (that is, Latter-day Saints) watch.
Answer to:I'm trying to plan a fun and tasteful Bachelorette Party for my sister, who is Mormon. Any suggestions?
Six words: Temple Garment and Adult Toy Party
(naturally the Adult Toys are for the married couple to use on the honeymoon)
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Answer to:Don't you think atheists have a great sense of humor? lol i never heard of a boring atheist, have you?
Yes. I've meet several painfully boring Atheists - and apparently I'm not alone in this.
Answer to:What bothers you the most about atheism as a worldview (and why)?
What bothers me the most is how angry, hostile, aggressive, blame shifting, arrogant and self-righteous the Atheist world view seems to make the majority of it's adherents.
All belief systems seem to have this effect to some degree but in Atheism it appears to be extreme.
And the WHY it bothers me is that I find it offensive, abrasive and tedious relationally and corrosive spiritually.
Answer to:Is the Mormon religion considered a Protestant religion?
No. It's a non-Christian Mind Control Cult as this Mormon Studies Scholar has articulated so well:
"The Bible is not the real source of authority for LDS teaching, since they also have a number of other documents which contradict it and which they follow above the Bible teachings. The "Christ" which Mormons mention is most definitely not the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the Bible.
While...
Answer to:Why do Mormon Woman belive that they should stay at home with kids, that its part of their belive?
Oh absolutely Mormon Woman do be live!
They walk, they sit, they stand, they eat, sleep and do all the things that prove that they live! So they are indeed be live!
And, of course, like so many of us they believe that staying at home occassionally is part of parcel of what it means to be live! Therefore it is indeed fair to say that staying home is part of what it means to be live!
...
Answer to:MORMONS: Could you explain to me how/why the the 1916 LDS First Presidency statement is 'inspired' but the Nicean Creed is 'a corruption'?
ANOTHER TRUNCATED DESCRIPTION! HERE IS IS THE FULL VERSION. AND I WILL MARK IT AS A "GREAT ANSWER" SIMPLY TO PIN IT TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD.
Frankly I and others - such as the author below - see few differences between the two in method, outcome or ultimate application. What am I missing?
"The vote in Mormonism to affirm the 1916 First Presidency statement...
Answer to:True or False: Non-LDS scholars reject LDS Apologist scholarship.
WELL SINCE NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO GO FIRST, I WILL. HOWEVER, FOR SUPPORTING EVIDENCE I WON'T USE MYSELF AS AN AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE - RATHER I WILL POINT TO . . .
New Perspectives on the Mormon Past:
Reflections of a Non-Mormon Historian
Lawrence Foster
Until the past thirty-five years the very idea of Mormon history was viewed as something of a joke by most professional historians. Despite...
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Was the spirit of Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) the spirit of Antichrist spoken of in the Bible?
CLARIFICATION: So far every person who has answered has been under the impression that 1 John 4:2&3 is referring specifically to THE Antichrist of the Book of Revelation. That's not the case.
If you go back a couple of verses the Apostle John CLEAR that there will MANY Antichrists in addition to THE Antichrist- all of whom will be driven by the SPIRIT of Antichrist:
1 John 2
18Dear...
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Was the spirit of Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) the spirit of Antichrist spoken of in the Bible?
AH ANOTHER TRUNCATED QUESTION DESCRIPTION! HERE IT IS IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND MARKED AS "GREAT ANSWER" SIMPLY TO MOVE IT TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR EASY REFERENCE:
"[Another Christian Mormon Studies Scholar stated]
'Looking from the outside, it is easy to see the satanic roots of Mormonism'
[I responded]
Absolutely it's what's referred to as "The Spirit of Anti-Christ" in the...
Answer to:WHY DO PPL BELIEVE IN MORMONISM? (john smith was known for his tall tails)
While I'm sure that some of the employees at PPL (http://www.pplweb.com/) believe in Mormonism I'm quite confident that Joseph Smith did NOT have a tail - tall or otherwise.
Answer to:Latayne Scott: "I have found that a True Blue Mormon would argue with a sack of turnips if it fell off a Mormon truck." What does she mean by this? Does this match anyone's experience dialoging with, or attempting to reason with True Blue Mormons?
I AM MARKING THIS AS A "GREAT ANSWER" SIMPLY TO GET IT PINNED NEAR THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD AND UNDERNEATH THE ORIGINAL QUESTION TO PROVIDE AN EASY POINT OF REFERENCE.
For the record - and as a common point of reference - here's how a Mormon Studies Scholar (Shawn Landis) has defined "True Believing Mormon" (aka "TBM"):
"The True Believing Mormon
TBMs believe that the church is true...
Answer to:Why do non-believers discredit the (hard evidence) eyewitness rercordings, as the "facts" of the power of God?
I AM a believer however I find your question fallacious.
Please explain to me how THIS could be an "eyewitness account":
Genesis 1 (New International Version)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be...
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Answer to:MORMONS True or False: ExMormons left the LdS Church either because of hidden sin in their life or because of a secret desire to sin.
SysAdmin this question is a duplicate - please delete.
Answer to:Lydon Lamborn on Mormon Epistemology: "Trusting emotions over reason has a somewhat dubious track record in history..." Thoughts?
WELL THE QUESTION DESCRIPTION GOT TRUNCATED - AS USUAL! SO HERE IS THE FULL DESCRIPTION. I WILL MARK THIS AS A "GREAT ANSWER" SIMPLY TO GET IT TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD UNDERNEATH THE QUESTION - NOTHING MORE.
Full quote in context:
"...the "burning in the bosom" is a NOT a reliable way to determine truth, at least not for me. Perhaps for some people it is an accurate indicator,...
Answer to:THOUGHTS: 'Most LDS literature on archaeology and The Book of Mormon ranges from factually and logically unreliable to kooky.' John Sorenson
Lydon Lamborn commented extensively on this problem in the article from which this quote was pulled. Personally, I find it hard to argue with his evidence or conclusions:
" 13. The Mayas of Central America were an amazing civilization, that has only been recently (last 30 years) well understood and documented. Experts have deciphered their 800 hieroglyphic signs, including an amazingly...
Answer to:MORMONS: Why didn't divinely called translator Joseph Smith silence his skeptics by translating something from a KNOWN 19th Century tongue?
SysAdmin this was meant to be a comment on an thread. Please delete.
Thank you.
Answer to:Do the Mormon Church's teachings make you feel uncomfortable?
No, I find them quite interesting. And the more ridiculous they are, the more interesting they are.
This is my favorite quote on this subject - it sums up why I love Mormon Studies so much rather nicely:
"Superficially, one thinks of revealed religions as providing answers, and Smith provides as many questions as he does answers.
Nobody is exempt from struggling with who he is. Whether...
Answer to:Does the Bible instruct believers to tell nonbelievers to go to Hell? If so, what book, chapter, and verse?
No.
Answer to:MORMONS: How could the Book of Mormon Jaredites and Nephites have glass items when the first glass-making came 2000 years later?
Lyndon Lamborn:
"The account of the Jaredite submarines presents a horde of extreme difficulties. I shall single out one. The discussion of glass windows which could be "dashed to pieces" ignores the fact that the Romans would not invent glass-making for another 2000 years. The phrase "The thought make reason stare" comes to mind."
source = http://www.mormonthink.com/lamborn.htm
NOTE:
The...
Answer to:Which is the REAL Emma Smith (wife of Mormon founder and prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.)?
I think it's no secret to AnswerBaggers by now that I am a HUGE Emma Smith fan. However, she was extremely complex and STRONG so I can understand how 19th Century Male Chauvinistic Pigs like Brigham Young (probably the greatest MCP since . . . uh . . . maybe . . . Joseph Smith, Jr. Yeah, since Joseph Smith, Jr. I'm thinkin') would take issue with her strong willed ways.
And, of course,...
Answer to:True or False: Most critics and "anti-Mormons" are motivated by close family members who are in fact mormon.
I don't know if anyone has actually done any polling on this but based on moving through most (though I'm sure I've missed a few) demographic groups within the Anti-Mormonism and Mormon Criticism camps my intuitive, totally non-scientific assessment is that the ranking goes like this:
1) ExMormons
(this is BY FAR the largest and loudest demographic from my experience)
2) Closeted...
Answer to:Have any fiction books been written about Mormonism and feature Mormon characters and/or practices?
Here you go:
Latter-Day Cipher: A Novel by Latayne Colvett Scott (Paperback - Apr. 1, 2009)
http://www.amazon.com/Latter-Day-Cipher-Novel-Latayne-Scott/dp/B002SB8NQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265859987&sr=8-1
Destroying Angel by Charles M. Larson (Hardcover - Sept. 1, 2008)...
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Answer to:LdS Apologist Hugh Nibley: Crazy Hack Scholar or Eccentric Scholastic Genius? Please cast your vote
I expressed my true feelings on Dr. Nibley's methods elsewhere on the Internet this way:
RE: Mormons who see through the Hugh Nibley smoke & mirrors mirage...
>He was a man who began at the end and worked his way back to the beginning. He started most of his research with preconceived ideas and set out to prove them correct<
That's it in a nutshell - and the tradition continues in today's...
Answer to:Those who don't follow the Word of Wisdom aren't allowed to enter the Temple, but wouldn't Jesus allow someone into his home who smokes or drinks coffee? Jesus invites the sinner in.
You are very astute.
We have free access to even the Holy of Holies through Christ's atonement as the scripture says:
Hebrews 4:15-16 (King James Version)
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain...
Answer to:What is an Elder in the Mormon religion? How do you become one and what does it signify?
Any 19-year old male who can fog a mirror and endure the Temple Endowment ceremony.
(snark answer - well not so much, that's pretty much the way it is)
Answer to:MORMONS: From the outside looking in, the science of the Jaredite submarines seems highly implausible. What are we missing?
SINCE MY DESCRIPTION GOT TRUNCATED, HERE IS MR. MCKEEVER'S ARTICLE IN IT'S ENTIRETY - INCLUDING THE SECTION THAT I CLIPPED FROM IN THE DESCRIPTION. I WILL TAG THIS ANSWER AS A "GREAT ANSWER" SOLELY TO GET THIS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE AT THE TOP NEAR THE QUESTION:
Link to source article = http://www.mrm.org/mahonri-moriancumr
Did Mahonri Moriancumr Discover America?
By Bill McKeever
Who was...
Answer to:Why is LdS Priesthood conspicuously absent from the 1833 Book of Commandments?
WELL, AS SEEMS TO BE THE CASE SO OFTEN WITH THE NEW ANSWERBAG, MY DESCRIPTION GOT TRUNCATED. HERE IT IS IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND I WILL MARK IT AS A "GREAT ANSWER" SIMPLY TO BRING IT TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR QUICK AND EASY REFERENCE.
Please refer to this link http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/boc/boc28.shtml
You will see the 1833 Book of Commandments chapter 28 contrasted against...
Answer to:D&C 129 gives a test by which you can know whether someone claiming to be an angel from God is telling you the truth: you offer to shake his hand, and if you can feel his hand, that proves he is an angel. How does this prove they're a true angel from God?
"A revelation given in D&C 129 in 1843 regarding the determination if someone was a worldly messenger from God or Satan was related to occultism.
Smith said a person who wanted to ascertain the difference should try to shake hands with the messenger. Feeling air would mean this was a representative of the devil. The occultic world used a similar test. According to the 1856 Transcendental...
Answer to:Does the King James Version of the Holy Bible indicate that Jesus is the High Priest, Prophet and King, and that he would never pass on His Kingdom to another person?
Why would a living King pass His Kingdom onto another person?
The only reason I can think of would be if He were defeated and Christ was and is victorious.
Answer to:In relation to Kolob, where is the planet Oliblish?
Right between the planets Tihsllub and Citohcysp.
Those are the two planets that the Mormon god gave Joseph Smith after he was exalted.
(snark answer)
Answer to:Where exactly did the Book of Mormon come from?
Here you go . . .
CRAIG CRIDDLE – “Authorship – Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?”
Streaming Audio = http://exmormonfoundation.org/files/media/2009Conference/low/2009Exmo_Saturday_Morning_CraigCriddle_low.m3u
Download Audio = http://exmormonfoundation.org/files/media/2009Conference/low/2009Exmo_Saturday_Morning_CraigCriddle_low.mp3
Presentation Slides =...
Answer to:CHRISTIANS & JEWS: Was using the 'Urim and Thummim' mentioned in the Bible divination?
SINCE MY DESCRIPTION GOT TRUNCATED I'M GOING REPOST IT IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND MARK IT AS A "GREAT ANSWER" TO MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD RIGHT UNDER THE QUESTION:
From WikiPedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim#Form_and_function
A passage — 1 Samuel 14:41 — in the Books of Samuel is regarded by biblical scholars as key to understanding the Urim and...
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Does Pat Robertson speak for you?
This article sums up my stance on Mr. Robertson nicely:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/idolchatter/2010/01/shame-on-you-pat-robertson.html?source=NEWSLETTER&nlsource=11&ppc=&utm_campaign=Bible&utm_source=NL&utm_medium=newsletter
Shame on You Pat Robertson
Wednesday January 27, 2010
He called Haiti's earthquake a "blessing in disguise." He calls it some sort of retribution for the Haitian...
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Answer to:Why has LdS Apostle Dallin Oaks' 8/16/85 address "Reading Church History" been removed from both the LdS Church and BYU web sites?
SINCE THE FULL DESCRIPTION FOR THE QUESTION GOT "CHOPPED OFF" I AM REPORTING IT HERE AND MARKING AS A "GREAT ANSWER" TO MOVE IT TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE SAKE OF POSTERITY.
The link on the LdS Church web site was http://ldsces.org/general%20authority%20talks/dho.reading%20church%20history.1985.pdf and I didn't capture the URL to this address from the BYU web site before...
Answer to:Was Jesus a Christian or a Jew?
Christ was a Jew.
The word "Christian" means, "Belonging to Christ" or "Little Christian".
Therefore, the word does not apply to Christ Himself.
Christ is a Jew and anyone who has been adopted into His family is too:
Romans 11 (KJV)
13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14If by any means I may provoke to...
Answer to:Are new members told of temple ritual before becoming Mormons?
A: No. Neither are brides about to be married, new LdS Missionaries being endowed for the first time, nor is anyone else briefed or prepared for what they are about to be confronted with.
Rather the initiate is confronted with these strange rituals and ceremonies without any mental, or emotional preparation at all. As a result many first time Temple Endowment initiates find the...
Answer to:Why do you think of New Order Mormons?
And once again I got "bit" by not catching my typos prior to the "Edit" button disappearing.
For example the question should clearly be "WHAT do you think . . . "
Answer to:Are you a latter-day Saint? Is it just me or are there a lot of brothers and sisters on Answerbag?
No. I'm a Mormon Studies Scholar who is generally critical of the LdS Church and Mormon Culture while seeking to influence both to come into compliance with Biblical orthodoxy and the teachings of Christ.
However, many "Gentiles" on AB are persuaded that I'm actually and secretly LdS.
Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Bob Betts of Concerned Christians in Mesa, Arizona would ask:
"LDS typically claim that prophets aren't perfect, insinuating that prophets can prophesy falsely and still be true prophets.
The Bible is clear about the differences between true and false prophets, providing details on what to watch out for (Deut. 13, Deut. 18:20-22, Exe 13:1-5, Matt. 7:15-20, 2 Peter 2, 1 Joh 4:1-6).
...
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Answer to:Is anyone else enjoying the 2010 PBS Masterpiece Theatre production of Jane Austen's "Emma" as much as I am?
I think that they have balanced the narrative of the book with the demands of the screen beautifully!
Nicely done.
Answer to:Do support the LdS Temple Wedding petition?
And I do apologize to the readers for not catching the typos in both my question and my answer before the "Edit" option on each disappeared.
Thank you for your kind indulgence and understanding.
Answer to:Do support the LdS Temple Wedding petition?
I have 7 Mormon nieces and nephews whose weddings I have not been able to attend since I'm not Mormon. I'm mad and I'm offending at the LdS Church continues in a tradition that was designed by Joseph Smith to produce a "Us versus Them" and "Worthy versus Unworthy" schism in families.
ExMormon Arza Evans - whose father was the President of the LdS Temple System in the 1960's - articulated...
Answer to:Who can judge God?
Share your answer...
Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Q: Why aren't the known original handwritten manuscripts of the Book of Mormon (known in scholarly circles as "O" [for "Original"] and "P" [for "Publisher's Proof"]) available to ALL interested Mormon Studies Scholars and/or the public?
On this note, here's a letter that I've been working on for some time now in this regard . . .
...
Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Q: If the Lord will remove a Prophet before he can lead the LdS Church astray then why have so many been incapacitated by senility?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
And there are reports about senile "figure head" LdS Presidents dating back to David O. McKay. As one Mormon Studies Scholar noted:
QUOTE:
Because the Mormon church emphasizes longevity as the prerequisite for becoming a new...
Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Q: Current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Boyd K. Packer's history and recurring pattern of ecclesiastical abuse is well known and well documented - why hasn't he been publicly disciplined?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
QUOTE:
In an on-the-record interview with a newspaper reporter, [Oaks] blatantly misrepresented the...
Answer to:How come it's called a David star?
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
A popular folk tale etymology has it that the Star of David is literally modeled after the shield of the young Israelite warrior David, who would later become King David. In order to save metal, the shield was not made of metal but of leather spanned across the simplest metal frame that would hold the round shield: two interlocking triangles. No reliable historical evidence...
Answer to:What is an elder?
The word "Elder" in the original languages that the Bible was means (you might want to write this down) . . .
Drum roll puh-lease . . .
"old dudes"
In Biblical Hebrew:
zqni
old-ones
In Biblical Greek:
presbuteroi
seniors
Now WHY the LdS Church ordains and calls 19-year old men who have NO real adult life experience, who usually haven't been married, had kids, or done...
Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Q: Why do the General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue to hold to the dogma of unpaid clergy when it runs contrary to LdS Scripture, Mormon History, and practical reality?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Doctrine & Covenants 42
70 The priests and teachers shall have their stewardships, even as the members.
71 And the elders or high priests who are appointed to...
Answer to:“What’s liberating about Islam is that one is spared from having to think... It’s liberating.” Thoughts?
Since the source article got truncated, here it is in it's entirety:
What’s Liberating about Islam?
by Rita Karlsen
“What’s liberating about Islam is that one is spared from having to think.” This, essentially, is how a woman explained to me the change that had taken place in her life since her conversion to Islam. Since then, I’ve thought about her many times, especially...
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Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Q: Why doesn't the General Authorities silence the skepticism, intrigue, and conspiracy theories that swirl around issues concerning the acquisition and use of LdS Church funds by following established best practices for charitable/non-profit organizations?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
Ironically an LdS Apologist site summarized and articulated the arguments that critics of the LdS Church have...
Answer to:The Codex Sinaiticus, the world's oldest known Bible manuscript, has gone online today. This will be a great boon to scholars. But what will those who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible as we know it today make of its differences?
Not much actually.
The manuscript variants have been known for years so it's old news.
And the belief in "inerrancy" means inerrancy in the ORIGINAL manuscripts so manuscript variants have no effect on that particular stance.
One would expect to see manuscripts variants between copies done by hand by imperfect human beings. They're par for the course.
Answer to:If a LdS Church General Authority actually came to this Forum to address our questions, what would you ask him?
Q: Since shunning and/or villianizing former members is a mark of an Abusive Church (or a Mind Control Cult), what is the GA doing to insure that former members are no longer shunned and/or villianized?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Only pathological churches shun their former members - healthy churches don't.
In fact, as Mind Control Cult expert Steven Hassan notes the shunning of former member...
Answer to:What do LDS believe was Almighty God's first creation? What existed before this first creation?
Kolob, God's home town planet. However He didn't create it - His (unknown) god did.
Answer to:I'm mingling an adopted feral cat with our existing cat. How long should I wait before I remove the second kitty litter and have them share?
It took about 1-week to make this happen.
I used the method recommended in "Adopting a Pet for Dummies" where you move the kitty litter that you want to remove from the house 36" closer to the other kitty litter each day finally placing that's kitty litter's cat in the other cat's litter (after it had been cleaned of course) and it worked like a charm.
I also did the optional step of...
Answer to:Christian evangelist Pat Robertson said that the reason Haiti was hit with an earthquake is because they made a pact with the Devil. Agree?
Pat Robertson, as usual, entered the room mouth first and spoke in arrogant, unaccountable ignorance. In doing so he spoke unbiblically. Ben Witherington, however, spoke wisely in this article:
Haiti-- Where Was God?
Wednesday January 13, 2010
Hard on the heels of devastating tropical storms in 2008 which reaked havoc on the shores of Haiti comes now a 7.0 earthquake followed by a 5.9...
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Answer to:How do you distinguish a person who knows God versus a person who practices religion and/or only knows ABOUT God?
Share your answer...
Answer to:Why did Jehova have to mark Cain "so that others might know him" if the only "others" that existed were his family (specifically his parents)? Had they suddenly forgotten what he looked like?
It was clearly a mark of shame.
Personally I think that it was a New York Yankees cap - I can't think of a mark more shameful than that!
After why do you think that they called it "Murderer's Row"?
Think about it!
;-)
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Answer to:Christian evangelist Pat Robertson said that the reason Haiti was hit with an earthquake is because they made a pact with the Devil. Agree?
I'm a Charismatic Evangelical Christian and here's what I think:
1) Pat Robertson doesn't speak for God.
2) Pat Robertson doesn't speak for me.
3) Pat Robertson needs to shut up because he seems to get used by the Devil far more than he gets used by God when he says unkind, insensitive, and arrogant things like this . . .
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Answer to:Who can judge God?
Here's how the Bible addresses this question:
Job 9 (New Living Translation)
"3 If someone wanted to take God to court,
would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?
4 For God is so wise and so mighty.
Who has ever challenged him successfully?
5 “Without warning, he moves the mountains,
overturning them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth...
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Answer to:Which of these celebs would you most like to see replace Simon Cowell as a judge on "American Idol"?
If Gene Simmons could behave himself (not likely) I think that he would be hilarious!
Answer to:Why did Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (the authors of the "Left Behind" series) say on the news on that show that only 142 million people disappeared? I thought there were over 1 billion Catholics alone, and more Christians than that.
Apparently they only counted the members of their denomination!
;-)
Answer to:When I listen to a friend's CD of my favorite worship songs, a rush of euphoria flows through me. Yet when I listen to the exact same music downloaded from Kazaa, onto my PC, I don't feel the same feelings at all. Why is this?
Because you have an emotional connection with your friend and his music that you don't have with the original artists who you have never met and invested your life in.
That rush of euphoria is most likely serotonin which is the hormone that gets released when we reconnect with someone we're emotionally invested in after a period of disconnection.
Answer to:How do you help someone close to you, to escape a strong codependent religious organization?
Joe, you read this book and apply the appropriate methods to the situation:
"Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves"
by Steven Hassan
http://books.google.com/books?id=QHPsAAAAMAAJ&dq=isbn:0967068800&ei=z2RNS9gvnc40iIzBjA0&cd=1
Or if you want the quick version - and the version that's specific to Mormonism - you watch Mr. Hassan's superb presentation of this...
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: Joseph Smith's and Sidney Rigdon's tarring in 1832 was done by an "anti-Mormon mob".
"To the contrary, they were tarred not by an "anti-Mormon mob," but by their own followers, for two primary reasons.
First was their plan to have all of their church members sign over all of their assets and properties to the "United Order" communal experiment. Some members saw this as Smith and
Rigdon's scheme to fleece them, and rightly so; the financial disaster that was the United...
Answer to:Any thoughts on Madalyn Murray O'Hair?
I will defer to William J. Murray, Ms. Murry-O'Hair's son who said the following of his famous mother in 1999:
"Madalyn Murray O'Hair Murder
Religious Freedom Coalition
March 1, 1999 10:12AM EST
(Statement of William J. Murray first release in 1999)
My mother, brother and daughter were murdered
There is no getting around the evidence. For almost three years the national atheist...
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Answer to:Why are atheists harassed by x`tians about our legitimacy to celebrate Christmas?Its just a mix of traditional pagan festivals from Europe
Could you show us so examples of Christians harassing Atheists on this point?
I'm unaware that such harassment exists.
Thanks.
Answer to:Please help me to locate this word in the Bible "an idle mind is the devil's workshop"
It's not in the Bible.
I believe this was an old Puritan proverb but I could be wrong.
Answer to:What was the most exciting sermon you have ever listened to at church?
Answer to:If Mormon are not Christians because they don't believe the Nicean Creeds, does that also mean the earliest pre-Nicean-Council believers were also not "Christians" by this definition?
>If Mormon are not Christians because they don't believe the Nicean Creeds<
Wrong! Mormonism isn't a Christian Religion because it deviates WILDLY from Biblical Orthodoxy both contradicting and expanding on the Bible without any legitimate authority to do so.
>...does that also mean the earliest pre-Nicean-Council believers were also not "Christians" by this definition?<
Not because...
Answer to:Where are the 'Urim and Thummim' seerstones mentioned in the Bible?
Your question is fallacious.
The Bible does NOT say that they were seer stones - that's LdS dogma and a perfect example of how the LdS Church bends the facts to fit a predetermined conclusion.
Rather the Bible simply describes them like this:
Exodus 28:29-31 (English Standard Version)
29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his...
Answer to:How do Cults work so well?
Exit cult member and survivor here . . .
It's complex. I would recommend that you either read Ronald M. Enroth's classic book "Churches That Abuse" (see http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8588977) or refer to Steven Hassan's BITE model which is as follows:
From chapter two of Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves*
*© 2000 by Steven Hassan; published by...
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Answer to:Every been asked to join a cult? Did you?
Yes and yes.
Answer to:Since Mormons insist the Church must be led by a Living Prophet why do they reject the Pope?
And here's that full blog that got truncated in the Question description field:
http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=666
Main Street Plaza
A Community for Anyone Interested in Mormonism.
Prophet v. Pope
July 4th, 2009 by profxm
My Mormon mother-in-law is staying with us for a week to help with newborn care. My wife, mother-in-law, and I decided to watch Angels and Demons last night...
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: The 1830s LdS Church in Missouri was persecuted due to it's Abolitionist sentiments.
Here is a fuller excerpt from the Official LdS Church training curriculum cited in the Question description:
' The conflict between the Saints and the old settlers came to a head over the slavery issue. Missouri had come into the Union as a slave state under the famous Compromise of 1820. Slaveholding was limited, however. The old settlers prized their right to hold slaves and despised...
Answer to:Was Joseph Smith arrested for "money digging"?
Yes, AND he was found guilty but given "foot bail" (allowed to escape) by the presiding Judge due to his age. The Judge apparently that by being lenient with the errant young boy he would reform.
Here you go here's the full story with supporting documentation: http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no95.htm
Answer to:Do Mormons believe that it was necessary for Adam and Eve to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?
SHORT ANSWER: Yes.
LONG ANSWER:
'Basics of Mormonism: Falling Upward'
by Timothy Oliver
In his book, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, (NWAF) one of Mormonism's foremost modern apostles, Bruce R. McConkie, expends three chapters explaining the meaning of the Mormon church's second Article of Faith: "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's...
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Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: Joseph Smith's and Sidney Rigdon's tarring in 1832 was done by an "anti-Mormon mob".
And finally here's how the incident has been deconstructed using the full body of Historical evidence available to us today by a Mormon Studies Scholar:
"Most Mormons believe that Joseph Smith's and Sidney Rigdon's tarring in February 1832 was done by an "anti-Mormon mob" inspired by the devil.
To the contrary, they were tarred not by an "anti-Mormon mob," but by their own followers, for...
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: Joseph Smith's and Sidney Rigdon's tarring in 1832 was done by an "anti-Mormon mob".
Here's how this incident was documented by Joseph Smith in "The History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints":
“On the 24th of March, the twins [whom he and Emma had adopted] before mentioned, which had been sick of the measles for some time, caused us to be broken of our rest in taking care of them, especially my wife. In the evening I told her she had better retire to rest...
Answer to:As of 2009/01/03 I'm not getting alerted when others respond to my comments of other people's answers. Am I alone?
LOL! Now I'm getting a vote button on this question with no choices to pick from.
This is hilarious!
Answer to:WOW; how long does it take to become completely, debilitatingly addicted to this site?
2-minutes.
Answer to:What son of Joesph Simth joined the LDS faction?
Is Joesph Simth any relation to Joseph Smith, Jr. founder of the LDS Movement (aka "Mormonism")?
;-)
Answer to:Does the Mormon church count as members those members who have long exited LDS?"
Here you go: http://packham.n4m.org/morexmos.htm
HOW MANY EXMORMONS ARE THERE?
OR, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE MORMON CHURCH?
By Richard Packham
Of course there is no precise way of knowing how many ex-Mormons there are in the world, or in the US. But I have been playing around with the numbers published here by the US government related to the census, especially...
Answer to:What are you mostly confused about?
How Mormons - especially otherwise smart and rational Mormons - can continue to not only adhere to, let alone defend, a religion which is obviously and can empirically be proven to be false.
It's not only confusing it's stunning!
Answer to:What is the belief of insanity?
I believe your question is insane.
Answer to:Now that we have vilolated ever economic rule in the play book how long will it be before we recover or will will just collaspe as a Nation?
Before we can give an intelligent answer we need to know: Which "economic rules" in which "play book" are you referring to?
If the "play book" was The Keynesian Economics then what both Bush and Obama have done was more a "variation on the theme" than a rule violation.
And based on the history of how Japan, England, Germany and other countries applied similar variations on the theme...
Answer to:Do you miss your Friends Questions List? I used to work from mine a lot. Now I cannot even find their questions, It is limiting my activity.
Yes. And I've just found out that I'm not getting alerted when others respond to my comments of other people's comments, questions, and answers.
So the conversation is getting cut short due to AB glitches!
Further one of my good friends just reported this to me on another board:
"I'm done at AnswerBag. Two of my last three posts were cut off, and my last post was deleted altogether....
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Answer to:What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Anything done by Abba.
Answer to:Based on your research, how did Joseph Smith, Jr. accomplish his famous 'seer stone in the hat' dictation of the Book of Mormon?
AND THIS QUESTION WAS ERRANTLY PUT INTO THE 'BRIGHAM YOUNG' RATHER THAN JOSEPH SMITH SECTION - AB SYSADMIN PLEASE RECTIFY. THANK YOU.
AND HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE EXCERPT - WHICH WAS TRUNCATED IN THE QUESTION'S DESCRIPTION:
From Craig Criddle's watershed white paper, "SIDNEY RIGDON: CREATING THE BOOK OF MORMON" http://www.i4m.com/think/history/Book-of-Mormon.pdf
Theory 1: Smith had...
Answer to:What purpose does speaking in tongues serve?
1) To edify (that is, to build up or strengthen) the one speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:4
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself
2) For prayer
1 Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3) As a sign to the unbeliever
1...
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Answer to:why am I lettin schizophrenia and bipolar rule me?
Are you under professional care and taking your meds?
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Syndrome can typically be easily managed if those two conditions are met.
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Answer to:Non-LDS CHRISTIAN DISPENSATIONALISTS: How do you reconcile Dispensationalism with Malachi 3:6 which says "I the Lord do not change"
ALERT: Answerbag SysAdmin this question should be in the CHRISTIAN section of AB not the Mormon section.
AND the reference link should be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalist_theology
I can't edit and I can't repost a corrected question.
Your assistance is appreciated in advance.
Answer to:Why do hard working people go to America rather than work hard to make where they live better?
If the political system is corrupt you can work yourself into the grave and things still won't get better.
Case in point: Mexico
As the ancient proverb says so well:
"When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,but when the wicked rule, the people groan."
(Proverbs 29:2)
Answer to:Which of the following clearly indicates that as of 12/31/2009 the end of Western Civilization is upon us?
Actually when I listen to Sports Talk Radio I'm quite sure if it's an indicator of the end of Western Civilization or a lack of intelligent life on the planet.
Maybe it's both . . .
Answer to:My Grandmother thinks I should start reading the Bible to 'restore my faith in Christ'. I firmly don't believe in God, but she is constantly trying to get me in church. How can I tell her that my beliefs are my own without hurting her feeli
Set a boundary.
Tell her that you while you appreciate the concern she has for your eternal state it is indeed YOUR eternal state to choose. After all if she believes the Bible she will understand that even God Himself won't violate your free agency and power to choose.
Then tell her that you won't try to evangelize her to Atheism and that you would appreciate it if she wouldn't try...
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Answer to:What is the meaning of life?
I don't know the meaning of life but the answer is "42".
Thank you for letting me share.
Answer to:Does everyone go through a kelpto phase?
Yes, it was my favorite ride at Disneyland - Kleptopia! And I just loved the Klepto Phase with the spinning lights and dancing waters!
Woo hoo! Good times!
Answer to:What distinguishes scientific explanations from casual explanations?
Verifiable evidence that can be examined, cross checked, and validated by dispassionate and objective third parties.
Answer to:Why does GOD lets some of the most horrible people who have done some aweful things or have horrible habits like drugging or drinking or self-destructive habits live longer lives at times but then some of the most caring, loving good people die early?
I don't know but it fills me with awe.
So I guess that makes me "aweful" too doesn't it?
Answer to:What's the best religion?
To answer that question you must first define what you mean by "best"?
Since it's a qualitative term the definition is prone to vary from person to person.
Answer to:J. Goldberg: "We live in an age in which it's the norm to speak glowingly of spirituality but derisively of traditional religion." Thoughts?
And the full article got truncated in the "description" field so here it is in it's entirety:
latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg29-2009dec29,0,4550777.column
latimes.com
'Avatar' and the faith instinct
Humans are hard-wired to believe in the transcendent; the faith instinct manifests itself across the ideological spectrum.
Jonah Goldberg
December 29, 2009
You probably...
Answer to:What is ur opinion regarding whether god is there or not
Why should I care about Ur's opinion on anything?
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Answer to:What one Christmas tradition would you never want to give up?
Watching "A Christmas Story" - it never gets old!
Answer to:What's your outlook heading into the new year?
Looks BAD - REAL bad!
Apparently we've lost the ability to communicate in English and have digressed to communicating in emoticons and/or texting.
The end of Western Civilization is upon us! So to quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
"Run away! Run away! Run away!"
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Answer to:Why have some swear-words become more offensive than others?
Frak me! I don't know!
Answer to:Are generic brands just as good as name brands?
I used to be in the Pharmaceutical industry and since the composition of the molecule has to be disclosed in order to receive FDA approval the only way that it couldn't be as effective is if the generics company somehow messed up in the manufacturing phase.
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Answer to:Why do most Mormons adhere strictly to the beginning of the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89:5-9) but pay little or no attention to the rest of it (D&C 89:12-13)?
Because the history of Mormonism demonstrates that "truth" is relative and not absolute.
Therefore, "truth" is whatever the current LdS Church decides what it is.
As the saying goes:
"Yesterday's doctrine is today's heresy; tomorrow's heresy is today's doctrine."
And there is no better of this than how the Word of Wisdom has been presented, applied and practiced throughout Mormon...
Answer to:Why is the book of mormon translated into a king james old style english when nobody talked or wrote like that in the early 1800s? Was it to sound more biblical therfore more true?
SHORT ANSWER:
Because King James English was the "Holy" language of 19th Century Christian America.
LONG ANSWER:
I. TO GIVE THE MORMON OF BOOK IMPLIED CREDIBILITY
If you wanted someone to take your words as "Holy" you gave them in that dialect. It was almost as if God's "native tongue" was King James English in the mind of 19th Century Christians.
Preaching was done in King...
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Answer to:What is a R. M.?
Returned
Missionary
Answer to:MORMONS: Are you an "Internet" or "Chapel" Mormon? What about (generally speaking of course) the rest of your ward?
And here is the full article (which is considered a watershed within Mormon Studies):
(please note that the author has updated and appended his research several times. The reader is encouraged to use the provided link and consider the full data set.)
http://www.mormoninformation.com/imvscm.htm
Internet Mormonism vs. Chapel Mormonism
Has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
...
Answer to:Which has the primary loyalty of an Endowed Mormon, their nation or their church?
SHORT ANSWER:
Here is the evidence that CLEARLY a Temple Endowed Mormon is clearly loyal to the LdS Church above all other earthy institutions as the following text from a transcript of the Temple Endowment ceremony indicates:
"You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in this,...
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Answer to:MORMONS: Of the five (5) types of Mormons identified by well known, practicing LdS Salt Lake City columnist Robert Kirby which one are you?
HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE THAT THIS POLL WAS BASED ON:
NOTE: The best research that I've seen regarding Mormon Cultural types was done by Robert Kirby who is in fact a practicing Mormon and a columnist for Utah's Salt Lake Tribune. I found his work to be very enlightening and hope that you will too.
(plus, because he's also a humorist and a lampoonist it's laced with humor while it makes it's...
Answer to:In relation to Kolob, where is the planet Oliblish?
I think that they're both on either side of the the planet Tihs-Llub in the constellation Tehporp-Eslaf which, I believe, is in the Htims-Hpesoj galaxy housed in the universe designated Yrutnec-HT19 by knowledgeable scholars.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that I got all this right (which such unusual names it's easy to transpose a letter or two) - double check me though!
Answer to:Should Religious Symbols be Displayed on Public Property?
As long as there's no obvious bias, such why not?
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Answer to:If Joseph Smith said that temple ordinances were in force before time and cannot be changed, why have these ordinances been changed over the years?
Excellent question.
Just a slight clarification, I believe that Joseph Smith said that they had been in effect for "time and eternity" and thus ever shall be.
http://mi.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=13&num=2&id=390
Which of course raising the question of why and how they can change over time - and by implication over eternity.
Thus the "they never changed" apologetic is likely...
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: The truth is the enemy of the Mormon religion.
And this article may be of some value regarding one of the points raised in Mr. Betts's article. And the concluding statement is so poignant that it merits being pulled out and emphasized:
"...when the Brethren announce the membership figures in General Conference, they really should say something like: "The church now has over thirteen million names on the membership rolls, the great...
Answer to:Are Mormons allowed to use sex toys?
Yes! AND they can consume use pleasure enhancing drugs too to increase their climax. . . you know, things like Green Tea and Coffee!
(snark answer - I'm not a Mormon)
Answer to:TRUE OR FALSE: The truth is the enemy of the Mormon religion.
Well, as usual, the New Answerbag truncated, the article in the "description" field so here it is in it's entirety. (or use this link to read it from the original source http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=371:they-can-leave-the-church-but-they-cant-leave-it-alone&catid=9:frontpage)
“They can leave the church, but they can’t leave it...
Answer to:According to a Mormon Scholar (see below) the symbols of Christmas point us to Joseph Smith, Jr. founder of Mormonism. Is he right?
HERE'S THE FULL ARTICLE
(it got truncated in the question)
The Christmas Story and Joseph Smith, Restorer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
by Lynn Ridenhour
http://www.greaterthings.com/Ridenhour/me_in_restoration/Christmas_story.htm
It's that time of year again. A time to love. A time to be a child again. A time to accept everyone & everything. It's time for the Christmas Story.
...
Answer to:Who is a better actress, Ashlee Simpson or Jessica Simpson?
Neither.
My vote goes to Lisa Simpson.
Answer to:Christian: Is rationality and the ability to reason the enemy of having faith and believing? Why?
Absolutely NOT!
If that were so then God Himself wouldn't have said: "Come let us reason together" (Isaiah Isaiah 1:18)
Not reasoning and thinking is a symptom that you're a Mind Control Cultist -- it is NOT a mark of a Christian.
Answer to:Provo, UT is 98% Mormon. Still, there were 5 murders in the last 10 years. Why would murders happen in a nearly-completely Mormon town?
A: That frakin' 2% Gentile population will bite you every time!
When you see 'em moving in it's "there goes the neighborhood".
(snark answer - I'm not Mormon)
Next one . . .
A: BYU students murdering their Professor because that 'B' kept 'em out of Medical School.
(for the uninitiated Provo is where BYU is located)
Next one . . .
A: Did someone say "Blood Atonement"?
...
Answer to:Atheists: I'm not being snide or pushing buttons, but do you have an anthem? Because spiritual people connect through song, so if there was a strongly atheist song, would you celebrate it? Thought inspired by 'It's All Nice on Ice' by Modest Mouse ...
I vote for In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly:
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, honey,
don't you know that I love you?
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, baby,
don't you know that I'll always be true?
Oh, won't you come with me
and take my hand?
Oh, won't you come with me
and walk this land?
Please take my hand!
Answer to:Has anyone on here seen the video of mormon Glen Beck using "vicks" under his eyes, so he can "cry" on camera shoots?
I wonder if he uses that trick on "Fast & Testimony" Sunday too . . .
;-)
Answer to:Mr IT seems to be obsessed with the LDS church which is not a believer in http://www.answerbag.com/profile/839637/questions/
Thanks for the date point TAPrice. You're slowly validating all the research and evidence about how many Mormons are psychologically snapped members of a Mind Control Cult who are unwilling to engage in meaningful and respectful dialog regarding the claims of Mormonism.
This is an excellent example of how Mormonism breed . . .
"The thin-skinned and image-conscious Mormon can display...
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Answer to:Why do some people consider Mormonism a cult?
REASONS WHY MORMONISM IS A DOCTRINAL CULT:
The Bible is not the real source of authority for LDS teaching, since they also have a number of other documents which contradict it and which they follow above the Bible teachings. The "Christ" which Mormons mention is most definitely not the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the Bible.
While Mormons certainly use Jesus' name, they do not follow the...
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Answer to:Why can't different christain denominations just get along and not persecute one another? Can't they just accept that the other believes or interprets things differently?
I didn't know that they were.
Which denominations are you referring to?
Answer to:MORMONS: Who speaks for you and/or the LdS Church?
Well the full article got chopped off so here it is in it's entirety:
Who Speaks for Mormons?
By Blair Dee Hodges - June 22, 2009
Respectful religious dialogue is becoming increasingly important as the world becomes a global village. Dialogue is critical in helping societies negotiate how to run the neighborhood in the face of inevitable conflict over politics, economics, religion, and...
Answer to:How do I differentiate between the Holy Spirit and the Antichrist's spirit?
I John 4
2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
ANSWER: The Spirit of God acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the...
Answer to:Christian: Has God ever used an unbeliever to chasten you for your own bad behavior?
Yes. All the time.
As the Apostle noted in this regard:
1 Peter 2
" 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish...
Answer to:Do you find that you are getting less feedback now than under the old regime?
I think that the quick, radical, surprise changes to AB have scared quite a few away.
It's really sad.
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Answer to:There are no stupid questions, just stupid people!
Let me demonstrate: "i jez kizd a gy ystrday n now im lat m i pregnut?"
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Answer to:How come there is no chatroom in AB so we can talk and not spam around?
LOL. I thought that's what those novel length, back-and-forth comment threads were!
Answer to:Will users receive any prize for having asked the most questions?
Yes, they'll be rewarded with an extra special private email from the AB Staff asking you if you like the board.
;-)
Answer to:I was in my G/F wedding and got wasted and left before the reception started(so sorry, she was pissed) she just got re-married to another man and didn't ask me to be in it, should I be offended?
Dude, I don't know that sounds like a totally fraked up relationship and situation.
So I would say, "No!" getting offended in dysfunctional relationships and situation is par for the course BUT it only makes things worse.
Answer to:Is it true that no hotel in America has the number 666 on the door?
I thought that was the room in the Lonely Heart Hotel that Elvis stayed in!
Answer to:Why did the AB staff not inform us about this huge overhaul first and ask our opinion? Why did they try to suprise us?
THAT is the $64,000 question isn't it?
Answer to:I'm Mormon, but my fiance isn't. We rotate going to each others respective churches. How do you think this will effect our relationship if one never accepts the other's faith? How should we raise our future children?
Since this was posted 2007 I would love to hear how this turned out!
Anonymous I see that you haven't been seen since January 10th, 2008 - however if you ever do rematerialize please share!
Answer to:Is There a "War on Christmas"?
Actually there appears to be a war on Theism in general.
And some of the posts by Atheists on AnswerBag has been an eye opener as to how much Theists are hated and disrespected by some Atheists.
If you're a Theist it can be a bit unsettling.
Answer to:Name your favourite jeans brand?
I HATE the change pocket on Wranglers but I love the fit, the cut, and the fabric.
Actually I'm partial to Dickies Blue Jeans too.
Answer to:So if mormonism was founded after Jesus died, do they just disreguard the fact that he said, "All religeons that come after me are false."?
>"All religeons that come after me are false."<
Please show us where Jesus said this in the Bible.
Answer to:Will you move to fluther now that answerbag has changed?
I tried it and I hated it.
For what I do on AB it's not an appropriate alternative.
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Answer to:Did Joseph Smith really boast of doing a greater work than the Lord Jesus?
Here you go...
"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from...
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Answer to:How many people did Joseph Smith excommunicate in his lifetime?
Here's the link that I was looking for but it only covers the period from 1831-1838: http://saintswithouthalos.com/n/discipline.phtml
And from 1831-1838 I count a total of 19 over that 7-year period - an average of 2.7 per year.
And, of course, things only got worse after 1838 with the famous excommunications of John C. Bennett in 1842 and William Law in 1844.
If I recall in the...
Answer to:I would like to thank AB for chasing away alot of the hateful people that were on AB. Would you?
LOL. While I understand the sentiment I'm afraid to say anything because I think that it's going to be short lived once all the bugs are fixed.
Now I wish I had listened to Hasn'tBeen and not gotten so upset when the new board was launched.
Now it seems to be coming along nicely - and will end up being much nicer than the Old Answerbag.
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Answer to:What do you most resemble? Yuppie, Hippie, Preppie?
Eternal child of the '70's - what can I say?
(other than, "It's been a long strange trip!" of course)
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Answer to:Is it true non-tithe payers are excluded from Mormon temples?
Yes.
Per Temple Recommend Question #9 (see below) if the answer is, "No" then you must get current in your tithes before your Bishop will approve a Temple Recommend.
Interview Questions for Recommends to Enter a Temple
1. Do you believe in God, the Eternal Father, in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; and do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?
2. Do you...
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Answer to:What steps should a Mormon take to be fully prepared to enter a temple for the first time?
Join the local Masonic Lodge.
http://www.lds-mormon.com/masonry.shtml
http://www.irr.org/MIT/masonry.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry_and_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement
Answer to:Which is more true the book of mormon or the holy bible(nonmormon version)?
Stepping outside of BOTH belief systems and looking the evidence from the outside looking in . . .
Given the fact the Bible has ample Archaeological and Historical evidence external to Judaism and Christianity to support it's historicity AND the Book of Mormon not only has NO such evidence but has been discredited by the available Archaeological, Historical, Anthropological, Biblical (it...
Answer to:What will most likely happen to Miley Cyrus in the long run?
I'm just playin' the averages here!
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Answer to:MORMONS: How is it that in the Book of Mormon Christ quotes from New Testament books, before the books themselves were written?
The New Answerbag cut off two more of my examples. Here are some more:
- In III Nephi 18:29, Jesus quotes a line that Paul had not yet written, in I Corinthians 11:29, with regard to the Eucharist.
THE BIBLE:
1 Corinthians 11:29
29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
THE BOOK OF MORMON:
3 Ne. 18: 29...
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Answer to:I have been an excommunicated member for nearly 9 years. I recently decided I was ready to put my life in order and started going back to church. How long can I expect to wait before the Bishop feels I am ready to be rebaptized.
How big is your tithe check?
(sorry I just could NOT resist a snark answer!)
Answer to:My wife is a size 16. Where can I find a thong or g-string bathing suit? Large women can look good in sexy clothes too.
My fiance says Lane Bryant or (believe it or not) Hot Topic.
Answer to:Women, Do you think like to wear thong underwear? If not would you wear one for you BF if he likes them on you?
Actually this poll is a bit sexist too - they do thong underwear for men too you know.
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Answer to:Women, Do you think like to wear thong underwear? If not would you wear one for you BF if he likes them on you?
Share your answer...
Answer to:Why can't all Churches be right?
Because their often teachings conflict. That was easy.
However, true Christians don't look to Churches for absolute truth they look to God's revelation to mankind: The Bible.
Only cultists look for truth via a group.
Further, "being right" isn't the issue being faithful TO the truth is the issue as far as God is concerned. And God fixates on salvation not staining over trite...
Answer to:LdS like to point to the competition between Christian groups as signs of a Great Apostacy. But what about this from a secular journalist: "...competition, I think, keeps American religion enduringly fresh." Thoughts?
Since the New Answerbag has "lost" the original Reference URL for this question let me now provide it: http://www.worldmag.com/articles/15473
And here is the entire article:
World Magazine "Is Christianity in the U.S. doomed?" June 20, 2009
Ready to compete
Q&A: God Is Back authors say Christianity is poised to do well—and better than Islam—in the 21st century
by Marvin Olasky...
Answer to:Been in the Information Technology field for over 25 years. I have an MS, working on an MBA. I've had various jobs in the field in Mgmt and lead. I worked in county govenment for 8 years. Stagnant but stable. Looking with no luck. Suggestions?
I am in EXACTLY the same boat (less the MBA). It is a BRUTAL job market.
The Wall Street Journal just reported that the average Job Search is 6-months, 12-months if you're over 50-years old.
I wish that I had some wisdom here but I'm in need of some myself.
Answer to:Does anyone know any comforting/reassuring verses in the bible about God's love for us and that he will never leave us. I need it desperately!!
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5
And I needed it today too. This brutal job market often leaves me feeling left and forsaken.
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Answer to:What are the common ways the Hebrew word "Elohim" has been translated in English Bibles?
Typically it's translated "God".
Answer to:Im suicidal again; im not sure why but when i get bouts of severe depression i feel this way...why shouldnt i kill myself?
The ripple effects of a suicide are devastating - often reverberating over a number of generations.
And I'm not just talking about Family - since you told us to factor that out - it also has a negative impact on friends, co-workers, etc.
And I know that we've all mentioned this before but have you sought out a professional to help you with this yet? Depression is actually quite easily...
Answer to:What is more accurate when compared to older manuscripts, the NWT or the KJV?
Tex, you know I love ya man but you didn't broaden the field enough and the question is a bit rigged. Well more than a BIT rigged I'm afraid actually.
First, the KJV couldn't be rely on the older manuscripts - like the Dead Sea Scrolls - because they hadn't been found yet since the KJV was translated in the 17th Century and the Dead Sea Scrolls (to stick with just one of many examples)...
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Answer to:Do you think that the first thing that answerbag should fix is the ability to find comments replying to your comments in other threads?
And adding back editing right on it's heels!
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Answer to:"The [Conservative Book Project's 'translation' of the Bible] project is getting criticism from all sides and it should." Do you . . . ?
Since the New Answerbag lopped off the end of the article here it is again in it's entirety:
From World Magazine, November 7, 2009, p.68:
"Every so often ideologues decide the Bible has to be brought into conformity to some purportedly higher truth. In 1997 some translators wanted to "mute the patriarchalism" of the text by introducing gender-neutral language. Now the Conservative Book...
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Answer to:What is Gnosticism?
FROM WIKIPEDIA
Gnosticism (Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge) refers to diverse, syncretistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god, the demiurge; this being is frequently identified with the Abrahamic god, (as opposed to the Gospel...
Answer to:Do the Ancient Mysteries really exist? Are the Freemasons really responsible for guarding them?
Of course, as any Occultist will (NOT) tell you.
And no, the Freemasons aren't responsible for guarding them.
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Jesus is the literal son of God both in his spirit body and in his earthly body.
Since some clarification appears to be in order on this question . . .
"Literal" in this context means "procreated" or "created".
In other words, prior to his birth (be it spiritual, physical or BOTH) Jesus didn't exist and God the Father did. Thus the implication is that God the Father either had intercourse with someone to produce Jesus (again the Mother being physical, spirit, or...
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Answer to:I think that ab should have the option of sending individual messages to members..who agrees?
And now it does!
It is without a doubt one of the new site's best feature. Now we can bicker and spat in private instead of in front of a world wide audience.
;-)
Answer to:CHRISTIANS: Jesus was not conceived of the Holy Spirit.
AB SysAdmin this was supposed to be a Poll. Please delete this and leave the Poll that I'm about to post. Thank you.
Answer to:why did they have to change this site anyway? It was perfectly fine before, I think. What do you think?
The user interface was perfectly fine and didn't need to be changed.
There were some glitches and the database seemed to straining under it's own weigh but, no, overall the old site was fine - the best thing on the market in fact.
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Answer to:Do you think Mormons are not Christians? Why?
SHORT ANSWER:
Regardless of one's feelings, objectively speaking Mormons - if they truly adhere to LdS Theology - can not be considered Christian.
So the short answer is "No!"
LONG ANSWER:
The Bible is not the real source of authority for LDS teaching, since they also have a number of other documents which contradict it and which they follow above the Bible teachings. The "Christ"...
Answer to:Do you think Mormons are not Christians? Why?
From former Mormon and well known author Latayne Scott:
"The Bottom Line: Elements of Disparity
(between Mormonism and Christianity)
by Latayne C. Scott
. . . It can be quite simply stated: Mormonism is not Biblical Christianity.
LDS apologists such as Robert Millet say those who critique Mormonism usually use a straw-man approach: characterizing Mormonism in terms of obscure...
Answer to:Can we please stop classifying Golf as a sport?
As Tiger Woods has demonstrated it's actually a way to pick up chicks.
Answer to:I for one welcome our new AB overlords. You?
I welcome them on behalf of the people of Earth and hope that they come in peace!
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Answer to:If Mormons believe that only a set number of people get into heaven, why do they come to your door to try to convert you and bring one more person in to potentially take thier spot?
Wrong religion mate - you're thinking of the Jehovah's Witnesses not the Mormons.
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Answer to:An attractive man/woman comes up to you in a bar and asks if they can buy you a drink. What do you say?
. . . so piss off!
Answer to:can a girl impersonte the 80s boy george on stage?
Sure, in fact she'll probably be more masculine than Boy George ever was.
Answer to:Does Islam really promote violence? Or is this just a misconception?
We have, sadly, seen examples of the type of irrational hatred that Islam breeds here on AB with radical Muslims putting up deliberately insulting and provocative posts.
I was inclined to discount the proposition presented in this question until I saw those posts.
Now I'm not.
Answer to:With Answerbag's own debates and questions, I've noticed that there are many topics applicable only to Americans. Is this a good idea?
What? There are countries in the world other than America?
;-)
(tongue VERY much in cheek)
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Answer to:if you chose a gender to do a 80s boy george impersontion who will it be
Anyone but Boy George and my own gender.
(I'm a man)
Answer to:how should you talk when asking a question?
Actually none of the above. You should talk like someone who is sincerely seeking an answer to an question - that's it.
No preaching.
No pontificating.
No lecturing.
No bias.
No agenda.
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Answer to:Greatest comedy television series?
Where's "none of the above"? The greatest Comedy Television Series is a toss up between The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Fawlty Towers:
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Answer to:where is there a good site for questions and answers? A site like... well like... well the way answerbag was 1 1/2 days ago?
Joe, I have tried both Yahoo Answers and Flutch (or whatever's called) and neither are good options for me.
For better or worse, the OLD Answerbag was the best game in town and now they're nuked it all to hell!
| 2 people like this
Answer to:Isn't all the drama that was made with the AB layout change the most interesting thing that happened here since a long time? Pure sociology.
Definitely.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:Is anyone else finding the process of posting a question extremely tedious?
Is there an adjective beyond "tedious"? That's the one I want to use.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:Don't you just love the AB staff? ;-)
I did until 12/10/2009.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:how are you doing with the new answerbag?
I'm happy to see some of the Old Answerbag features slowly reappearing - that's comforting.
Answer to:Should sports players who used steroids, be allowed in the Hall of Fame?
This forcing a TEXT answer in addition to the vote is SO annoying!
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Answer to:Should sports players who used steroids, be allowed in the Hall of Fame?
Share your answer...
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Answer to:Getting used to a website doesn't make it a good website. Agree? Yeah I'm talking about this horror show called the new AB.
Regardless of the contest a User Interface should be a intuitive as possible.
The New Answerbag UI is not intuitive.
Answer to:what does it mean, when your ex tells you. ( I still love you, but its not working out , how about we keep it as friends with benefits ?/ )
It means that your Ex doesn't know he/she wants.
This is a TOTALLY incongruous and mixed message.
Answer to:Are there ANY AB REGULARS LEFT SINCE THE 'NEW MAKEOVER' And what was your last known AB Level?
I was at Level 50 (and just about to crest 51) and despite all odds I am still here only because Yahoo Answers and Fluth (or whatever it's called) aren't good alternatives.
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Answer to:Is anyone surprised that AB has gone to this? Did you see it coming when they added the Facebook link?
Never in my deepest, darkest nightmares did I expect THIS!
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:Do the whiners on here remind you of the old people who think everything should go their way just because they are old?
Aw to be young and stupid again!
| 4 people like this
Answer to:Do you like polls?
Love 'em to bits!
This and the new internal email system rock.
As for the rest of the changes to AB . . .
Please excuse me while I puke.
Answer to:Have You noticed that images and movies ARE actually working on the new AB?
Sure HTML was always an option (apparently) good of them to tell us.
(NOT!)
But there are no instructions or tools that make this easy for those who don't know HTML.
Answer to:If AB doesn't go back to the other format is it dead? I think so.
I like Warrior's answer - it may be dead to me but I don't think that's it's dead in general.
I tried Yahoo Answers over the change and, frankly, it 'bites' even worse than the new Answerbag.
The new Answerbag appears to be the lesser of the evils.
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Answer to:The new AnswerBag is missing embedded video - do you see this as a problem? Why or why not?
I felt like the embedded video and attached graphics features of the old AnswerBag were Unique Selling Points that no other site on the Web could match.
I used them heavily as I felt that those who were more inclined to watch or look at evidence rather than read could benefit from it as readily as the readers do.
This is disappointing.
Answer to:The 'New' tag is missing for Activity related to your past AB Q&A's. How do feel about that?
I forgot to vote myself!
I was HEAVILY, HEAVILY, HEAVILY dependent on this feature and I really, really, really want it back.
Answer to:Should there always be a Basic Minimum Income for everyone?
"If a man will not work neither shall he eat"
- Paul the Apostle and Carl Marx (who stole it from Paul for "The Communist Manifesto")
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Answer to:Hi Answerbaggers. I found that many ABers have gone to Fluther. I'm on my way too. What about you?
Just set up my account - thanks for the tip mate!
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Answer to:New answerbag truly sucks. Yes or No?
Yep.
Answer to:Is AnswerBag, now just a Plain Brown Paper Bag?
Used to be great but now it's integrity has been compromised.
Sad.
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Answer to:Isn't it hilarious how some people are completely incapable of adapting to a new interface and can't find obvious options on the page?
These weren't minor UI (user interface) changes!
They did a massive overall of the basic code offering AND, worst of all, they tool features that the majority of users were highly dependent on (like the "New" tag for example.
So, not hilarious at all.
It's bad Customer Service and the type of arrogant, insensitive tactics that makes End Users hate IT people.
I know, I AM an IT...
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Answer to:Is God dead?
Need I said more?
Answer to:Can the AB Staff show us some screenshots of AB 3.0, the version that was skipped?
They probably flushed it down the toilet along with all the old Questions and Answers.
Answer to:I feel the community spirit of AB has gone now. Who feels the same way? Wont they change it back?
It's gone. The AB Staff killed it. The about the only thing that seems to bind us together at the moment is our hatred of The New Answerbag.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:Who did answerbag get to advise it on it's "all new" design?
A "brilliant" consortium of former Facebook who got nuked for all the bad changes that they made to that site earlier this year.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:Does anyone actually like the new answerbag layout?
Two Words: It sucks. And two more: I'm pissed!
| 7 people like this
Answer to:If everyone protested against this new shitty website would they change it back?
They've destroyed a classic - like keying a '57 Corvette.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:According to a poll, English girls make the best lovers as they are straight forward, not selfish, come in all shapes and sizes, know what a guy wants and are simply perfect. What's your experience of English girls?
I was married to one for nearly 18-years. She was sexually repressed and frigid.
Answer to:Do you feel like you are displaced with the new AB? I feel like I am being forced to move on. Searching, yet again.
Yes. I've just done my first Yahoo Answers Question and I'm probably going to land there.
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Answer to:Who else is upset that the Answerbag upgrade has mangled their old answers into an incomprehensible, illegible mess?
I spent countless hours researching, fussing over, and polishing those answers until they were "just so". And with one "little" upgrade they "nuked" all my hard work with the click of a mouse. I feel like Katrina just swept through and destroyed my home town. And all I have to say to the AB Staff is this: "You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!" AND I'm now so...
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:When was the first question on AB?
We love change! Change! Change! Change! And more change! How about you?
(snark answer after the 12/10/2009 upgrade disaster)
Answer to:Fill in the blank: Answerbag's change is ______.
Frak'd
Answer to:What can you say or do that will be new and exciting for AB? Like, anything at all. Like, bats - made of fire - just...bouncing off the walls all the time. What do you say?
"I want my OLD AnswerBag back - only with polls like the NEW AnswerBag." That's VERY exciting indeed!
Answer to:I say we go on strike till they give us the old AB back. Who is with me?
I'm going to see how it goes tomorrow. However, I am NOT optimistic.
.
I think that Yahoo Answers is lookin' pretty darn good right about now!
| 9 people like this
Answer to:Do you find the new AB user friendly and easier to navigate ?
It's a mess and it's FAR less intuitive than the old board.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:Where will you go if you don't come back here?
Yahoo Answers. I'd already resolved back in the days of the really bad glitches that would be my fall back.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:Going for something goofy, here... Is this the LAST question of the OLD Answerbag? (Dec 8, 2009, 11:00PST)
Is making a plethora of radical changes to your website the best way to lose your end users and create a mass exodus to competing sites?
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:What's your favorite color?
I'm blue over what they've done to my favorite website. I feel Black & Blue over all the changes.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:Please answer the poll. Like of dislike new AB?
You maniacs, you've . . . oh what the heck I've made my point!
| 4 people like this
Answer to:What in the heck is this "Database not available"?
You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
| 3 people like this
Answer to:This place looks funny, do you agree?
You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
| 3 people like this
Answer to:Do you think AB should extend the question lengths?
The insanity needs to stop and it needs to stop now!
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:I came to Answerbag for...
This USED to be a great place to have interesting discussion but now, all I have to say to the AB Staff is: You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
| 2 people like this
Answer to:What are your thoughts on Anonymous users?
"You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"
That pretty much sums it up for me!
Answer to:How much is Lex paying you to say ' like the changes'?
Let's count up the "Reasons why I hate the new Answerbag" so far:
1) Line breaks/paragraphing gone.
(see what I mean?)
2) You can't edit Questions after they post.
3) You caint' Answers after they post.
(I rest my case)
4) Comments don't appear.
5) Comments that DO appear can't be edited after they post.
6) Where the FRAK did the page on my profile with my Questions...
| 8 people like this
Answer to:You can't edit your answers on the new AnswerBag? What 'genius' came up with that masterpiece?
And guys you can't edit your answers OR your comments either!
.
You have ONE shot to get it right or you're FRAKED!
.
The new AB bites!
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Answer to:Is the God of mormonism really Zeus, the Greek father God? I did a search on the web and there were some fascinating similarities.
The correlation to Zeus is really interesting since Joseph Smith carried a Jupiter Talisman and Jupiter was the Roman name for Zeus.
I'm not sure if there's anything there but it is an interesting little trivia point.
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
http://www.gnosis.org/ahp.htm
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/270184
http://www.luciferlink.org/mmagick.htm
...
Answer to:What is your #1 complaint about the new AB?
I can't find anything!
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Answer to:What do YOU think of the new AB?
This absolutely SUCKS!
What tribe of monkeys did they get to design this awful User Interface.
Despite it's problems I'll take the legacy AB over this piece of doo-doo any time!
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Answer to:What other religion has a belief in 3 heavens? http://www.templestudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/hebrew-cosmology.jpg
SHORT ANSWER:
I know of three:
1) Bible believing Christians and Jews
2) Swedenborgians
3) Latter Day Saints (aka "Mormons)
LONG ANSWER:
Well I don't know if I know ALL the religions that believe in 3 Heavens but I would point out that the Bible speaks of three heavens.
And rather than reinventing the wheel I'm going to clip from Les Turvey's well crafted...
| 2 people like this
Answer to:Is it possible for Christians to be friends with atheists?
Absolutely!
Many of my best friends are Atheists. We have a lot of fun teasing each other about how irrational and unreasonable our respective belief systems and world views are.
And if it hits a nerve we apologize and back off.
After all it's better to be in relationship than be right.
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Answer to:CHRISTIANS True or False: "The Bible obviously isn't complete since it quotes from 'lost books' (see Jos 10:13 & 2 Sam 1:18 - link provided) that aren't in the Bible." Please start your answer with either "True" or "False" and then explain your answer.
Well, since the AB form database doesn't like the link referenced in my question here it is:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jos%2010:13;%202%20Sam%201:18&version=NIV
And here are the passages for your consideration:
Joshua 10:13
So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
as it is written...
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:Dr. Ted Lyon, a believing, influential Mormon intellectual asserts that LdS Church Correlation guidelines are often interpreted as "Cultural Imperialism" in Latin America and elsewhere. What steps can be taken to improve this situation outside of the U.S.
Since no one seems willing to touch this one I'm going to merely echo what Elder Lyon suggests (implicitly) in his address:
Allow each nation to develop their own non-doctrinal correlation guidelines and rules.
That way each nation can develop an expression of Mormonism that is unique to their cultural context.
I know that this is already happening to some small degree however...
Answer to:Who remembers the corked-(baseball)bat episode of George Brett?
.
I do.
.
Does anyone remember the corked baseball bat episode of Albert Belle while he was with the White Sox?
.
Now THAT one is hilarious!
.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-030603bellestory1,0,5937490,print.story
Answer to:Christians: Do you believe in the Inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture?
In the original manuscripts yes I do believe in inerrancy. However, I feel that the existing manuscript body has enough integrity to be considered reasonably reliable.
.
And yes, I do feel that the current canon of Scripture is sufficient. For support of this assertion I would point out that every Christian Leader and group that has attempted to append to or add on to our canon has...
| 2 people like this
Answer to:When do Seventh Day Adventists celebrate the sabbath?
The last thing that I heard it was on Saturday at 6PM local time.
Answer to:In your opinion can a good Christian girl be a slut? (2009-12-06)
SHORT ANSWER: No.
LONG ANSWER:
Well everyone's a sinner - Christian and non-Christian alike:
1 John 1:8
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
However, I would have really misgivings about someone who claims to be a Christian but is sexually immoral to the point where they could be called a "slut". In fact were such behavior true...
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Answer to:CHRISTIANS True or False: "There must be a prophet at the head of the Church." And please explain your answer.
PLEASE DON'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION! ANSWER THIS ONE INSTEAD http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1852775.
SysAdmin this question was accidentally posted twice - please delete this copy.
Thank you.
Answer to:CHRISTIANS True or False: 'There MUST be a prophet at the head of Christ's church on earth.' And please explain your answer.
I ACCIDENTALLY POSTED THIS QUESTION TWICE BUT I LIKE THE WAY THAT THIS VERSION READS BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE. PLEASE ANSWER THIS ONE AND IGNORE THE FIRST ONE.
Answer to:Why do some Christians not believe in the Trinity?
Because they reject the Creeds and mistakenly believe that the Trinity isn't in the Bible.
.
However, a non-Trinitarian Church can no longer be considered orthodox.
.
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Answer to:Can someone tell me the logic/philosophy about/with mormons having more than one wife? thanks
Sure no problem. Here is the naturalistic answer for your consideration . . .
.
SHORT ANSWER:
Joseph Smith was secretly having affairs with both married and unmarried woman - this was a pattern that dates back to when he was single.
http://www.ralphmag.org/CN/mormon.html
So to justify the behavior - and to create a means of having yet more affairs - he did what he always did and...
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Answer to:What constitutes an "Anti-Mormon" or "Mormon-Hater"? What, really, is the criteria for labeling some as either?
Q: What, really, is the criteria for labeling some as either ['Anti-Mormon' or 'Mormon-Hater']?
A: Pissing off a Mormon.
Remember "Uncle Leo" from Seinfeld calling everyone who pissed him off an "Anti-Semite"?
Same dynamic only Mormon.
And this certainly isn't limited to thin-skinned Jews and Mormons - every people group has those who...
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Answer to:There is this Mormon girl I like in school and she is 15 almost 16 and I am a catholic boy whose 15 but in the same grade as her could she turn me down because of her age and my religion and could she say yes
SHORT ANSWER:
Inter-faith romance is rarely advisable. Inter-faith romance between Christians and Mormons is especially ill-advised.
I know that Mormon girls seem especially nice and they're surely beautiful. However, if you value your heart and faith . . .
I would move on.
LONG ANSWER:
Being Unequally Yoked with a Latter-day Saint
By Bill McKeever
Probably no other...
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Answer to:Should the Red Sox spend big on recruiting players for 2010?
If they want to stay competitive with the frakin' Yankees they have no choice.
Answer to:I asked a mormon one day "How far will they go for a chosen Lamb?" He said, with absolutely no hesitation, and no hint at it being humorous "AS FAR AS THE DOG WILL TAKE THEM". Anyone have any idea what he meant?
No clue. It sounds like this Mormon either needs to get out more often or grow a heart.
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Answer to:'Conservatives' are rewriting the Bible. Do Christians support this abomination?
Can I assume that this is the Stephen Colbert Version of the Bible?
(I keed! I keed!)
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And your question was in error they are reTRANSLATING not rewriting the Bible. And the article is reflective of standard, and generally accepted translation techniques. I find nothing to criticize there.
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But of course I hope that everyone understands that the word "liberal" in this...
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Answer to:Why do Mormon's ask poeple to pray about the B of M to see if it's true, they don't ask people to pray about the Bible? Mormon's use James 1:5 for this. James was written to Christains not those questioning faith, the Bible says test a
>...Mormon's use James 1:5 for this. James was written to Christains not those questioning faith...<
Actually, and more specifically, this passage was written addressing gaining wisdom in the midst of trials and temptations. Here it is in full context:
James 1 (NIV)
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing...
Answer to:In the Book of Mormon it describes how God told Nephi to slay Laban. (1 NE 4: 1-38) Does that indicate that Murder, Robbery, Identity Theft and Kidnapping are acceptable to Mormons if they believe that God told them to do it?
Did someone say "Blood Atonement"?
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OR
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Did someone say "Mountian Meadows Massacre"?
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OR
Did someone say "Danites"?
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Nope, someone said all three.
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(my point is that LdS Theology leaves AMPLE room for all four - as Mormon History, even recent Mormon History, demonstrates. Please refer to these links)
...
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Answer to:Many teachings in the 'restored' LDS Church have changed over time. But how could there be a 'restoration' of these teachings if God comes along and changes them whenever he wants?
This question is so rich that I feel like I need add this thought . . .
Richard, you correct asked:
"But how could there be a 'restoration' of these teachings if God comes along and changes them whenever he wants?"
I would add that the idea of a "Restoration" implies the there's a set of truths that are static and unchanging. To "restore"...
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Answer to:Many teachings in the 'restored' LDS Church have changed over time. But how could there be a 'restoration' of these teachings if God comes along and changes them whenever he wants?
Good question Richard! And anyone who is of the opinion that even the most basic LdS Theology hasn't changed over time needs to read BYU Professor Thomas G. Alexander's watershed paper, 'The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine: From Joseph Smith to Progressive Theology' which you can find many places but here is a link to the portal page I created for this amazing White Paper:...
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Answer to:If Mormons believe in the same god, and they just have different rules. Why do parents make a big deal about mormons and why are they concidered so different then christians? i mean whats wrong with them?
Of the series of questions that you asked I'm going to limit myself to this one:
>why are they concidered so different then christians?<
The Bible is not the real source of authority for LDS teaching, since they also have a number of other documents which contradict it and which they follow above the Bible teachings. The "Christ" which Mormons mention is most...
Answer to:Who would you say is the best preacher you have ever heard?
Hard to choose. Here are a few:
- Billy Graham
- E.V. Hill
- Chuck Smith
- Derek Prince
- Francis Schaeffer
- John Piper
- Charles Simpson
- Bob Mumford
And the one who affected my life the most profoundly was Francis Schaeffer.
Answer to:Do Mormons believe that we are sinners from birth?
No.
As the second article of the LdS Articles of Faith states:
"2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression."
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,106-1-2-1,FF.html
Therefore the doctrine of original sin is NOT in LdS Theology.
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Answer to:Do Mormons actually have the Priesthood?
SHORT ANSWER: The clear Biblical answer is NO!
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LONG ANSWER:
Rather than reinventing the wheel I'm going to point you to this AB discussion thread http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1825237 where you will find several fine answers. I will clip the one (from "PinkyLee" that I felt was the best):
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this passage [1 Peter 2: 9] deals with the priesthood of all believers. It is...
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Answer to:Why is it important to find the true Church?
I would think that logically and rationally it's more important to find and worship the True God if one is a Theist.
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Answer to:When Jesus returns, will he accept one particular Church, or will he accept all Christian Churches, as his Church?
SHORT ANSWER:
Christ is coming back and will accept those those who worship Him - not a church or any other idol. What church you belong to is irrelevant WHO you belong to is the issue.
He's coming back for His PEOPLE not a church.
LONG ANSWER:
Your question is fallacious. The issue isn't which Church you belong to, the issue is WHO you belong to.
Revelation 20
...
Answer to:What christian religion does not allow (or highly discourages)the females to wear pants?
A: Those churches that are legalistic, imposing extra-Biblical rules on their members. And those rigid, inflexible churches that are out of touch socially and culturally.
Answer to:Name a couple of good books Joseph Smiths 1st Vision variations. I would like historically accurate information. Showing the shift from Moroni, a light, Angelic beings to God and Jesus. Including original newsprint and LDS documentation. suggestions?
Joe, perhaps others know of other, better sources but this is the best here's the best original manuscript transcription source that I've found:
http://www.irr.org/mit/first-vision/fvision-accounts.html
And I think that you're looking for this summation:
Early testimony that the name of the angel who appeared to Joseph was Nephi, not Moroni.
* "He called me...
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Answer to:Non-LdS/Mormon Christians: How many times have you read the Bible all the way through? (that is, cover to cover, Genesis 1:1 through The Book of Revelation 22:21)
I have read the Bible cove-to-cover at least 3-times - possibly more but I can definitely remember three times: Once in the King James, once in the Amplified, and once in the New American Standard.
I now use a "One Year" Bible that's a New Living Translation and I love it. However, I do the 2-year program because the 1-year program is just too much for me given all I have...
Answer to:Did Joseph Smith serve the devil?
I think that the historical record clearly shows that he was originally serving himself and his family and then caught up in the adulation and "calling" that his followers saw in him (through idealized eyes of course) and starting believing in and emulating his own lies.
This is the classic pattern of a pathological liar. We see this in L. Ron Hubbard, David Koresh, Jim Jones and...
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Answer to:Why is monk ending with this season
"USA has renewed the series for an eighth season of 16 episodes but those will end the series. With the show’s viewership still growing, why finish it now? The decision to end the series is said to be a mutual one between all parties involved. Though they maintain that they want to end Monk while the show is still on top creatively, the reason for the cancellation comes down to...
Answer to:Christ spoke of His church in the future tense: "upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt 16:18) referring to Pentecost (Acts 2:47) approx. 33BC. But the Book of Mormon claims the Christian church was established approx. 147BC (Mosiah 18:17). Why?
SysAdmin please delete. This was meant to be a comment and was entered into the wrong field.
Answer to:What is the Word of Wisdom?
SHORT 'OFFICIAL LDS CHURCH SPIN DOCTORED' ANSWER:
The Word of Wisdom is a law of health revealed by the Lord for the physical and spiritual benefit of His children. On February 27, 1833, as recorded in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed which foods are good for us to eat and which substances are not good for the human body. He also promised health,...
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Answer to:Why, when you ask a religious person to proove there is a god, do they say, "proove there isn't"? Why can't they just answer the question?
Actually they ARE answering the question - just not in the way that you had hoped.
The existence of God can neither be proven nor disproven.
The best that we can hope for is for a reasonable degree of plausibility.
The problem is that the evidence tends to get filtered through our presumptions - thus no is truly considering the available evidence in a completely objective and...
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Answer to:Does the Holy Spirit inspire all ministers in all Churches, if they claim to be Christian?
Clearly NOT since many ministers who claim to be Christians teach things that contradict the Bible.
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And since the Holy Spirit is God and "God breathed" the Bible, to contradict it is to contradict Himself.
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2 Timothy 3
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly...
Answer to:Doesn't the recent theft of DVD documentaries comparing Mormonism and Christianity distributed in Gilbert, AZ negate the common LdS refrain: "We do not try to force our beliefs on anyone. We also don't go around attacking the beliefs of other religions."
UPDATE:
MORMON MOM ADMITS SHE HAD HER SONS REMOVE DVDs FROM HER NEIGHBOR'S FRONT DOORS
(clipped from the Concerned Christians Website)
"confessions of a lds mom
Another DVD distribution, more DVD thefts. Every distribution we've done, Mormons have followed up with stealing some. On the morning of Nov. 7, concerned Christians met again to place the Jesus Christ/Joseph...
Answer to:Non-LdS/Mormon Christians: How many times have you read the Bible all the way through? (that is, cover to cover, Genesis 1:1 through The Book of Revelation 22:21)
SysAdmin - please DELETE this answer. It was meant to be a comment and I put it in the wrong box.
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Answer to:Will I be darned to heck if I don't believe in gosh?
Cheese 'n' rice! Garhl durn it and darn it all to heck!
You gall darned people gis' make me wanna frak it all!
How freakin' lame can one get while yer headin' for H-E-Double Hockey Sticks?
Frak! Frak! Frak it all!
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Answer to:Another ’bagger just told me that God cannot look upon our sins, but the Holy Spirit hides our sins from God. This person also says that God and the Holy Spirit are the same Being. Honest question: how can God hide our sins from Himself?
SHORT ANSWER: The AnswerBagger that you're referring to got this somewhat right and mostly wrong. OR, they didn't articulate well.
The truth is that we are HIDDEN in Christ by dying to ourselves and being resurrected INTO Christ and thus our sins are no longer REMEMBERED because we are (metaphorically/spiritually/mysteriously of course, not literally/physically) dead.
God can...
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Answer to:ANTI Mormon, I am so tired of this ignorant phrase. It appears to me that if any one is Pro Mormon, they are by definition, anti-everything else. Do you agree or dis agree?
Well Joe you sure kicked up a tempest in a tea cup with this question!
SHORT ANSWER:
The "Anti-Mormon" label is incendiary, disrespectful and belittling of those that who have legitimate criticisms and concerns regarding Mormonism.
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It is a 19th Century label based on 19th Century rhetoric that IMO, needs to be left behind so we can all move on.
The term "Mormon...
Answer to:Non-Latter-day Saint Christians: 1 Peter 2: 9 says that Christians are "a royal priesthood". Mormons have "restored Priesthood Endowment" Temple rites & rituals so from where and how do you all get your Christian Priesthood Endowments and Authority?
SHORT ANSWER:
WHAT THE CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD IS:
"The intelligent reader does not need to be told that all believers are priests, and, further, that there is no such thing as a priest upon earth save in the sense in which all true Christians are priests. The idea of a certain set of men, calling themselves priests in contrast with the people - a certain caste distinguished by title and...
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Answer to:Non-Latter-day Saint Christians: 1 Peter 2: 9 says that Christians are "a royal priesthood". Mormons have "restored Priesthood Endowment" Temple rites & rituals so from where and how do you all get your Christian Priesthood Endowments and Authority?
One of my friends - a former Mormon and now a Pastor in the Midwest offered this answer to this question - it is only lighted edited to correct any grammatical/spelling issues:
"Authority for the true follower of Jesus Christ is given by God through the Holy Spirit at the moment of rebirth. That is the easy answer, perhaps a bit simplistic, but nonetheless true.
But for me the LDS...
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Answer to:Why do Mormons like Green Jello with carrot strips in it?
Because it is a form of "reckoning" Reformed Egyptian on aged Copper Plates.
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;-)
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Answer to:Was Jesus born of a virgin birth?
If He wasn't then the simple fact is that He was literally a "bastard".
Obviously - by virtue of the fact that I refer to Him in caps - I am NOT of that persuasion. I merely make this distinction as those who deny the virgin birth tend to ignore it.
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Answer to:What are the qualities or characteristics of a tolerant person
Respect and patience with and deference to those one disagrees with.
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It IS possible to disagree and still like and respect each other.
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Answer to:Why do Christians feel the need to convince everyone that they are right? Are we not all entitled to our own opinions? Is their opinion better than anyone else's opinion?
And how is this different than any other people group?
My point is what you have identified here is a "people problem" not a Christian Problem.
However, it doesn't help matter when those who claim to have "THE truth" are unwilling to listen to and consider the opinions of others.
That can lead to arrogant intolerance which we see from ALL groups who claim to...
Answer to:Has any recent study been made of the Book of Mormon charactors that were apparently copied from the original record? What did the scholars discover?
Yes.
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Christian Researcher, Richard B. Stout, has done extensive research correlating the alleged "Reformed Egyptian" characters on the plates that the Book of Mormon were "translated" from to Ancient Irish.
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His work is lengthy and detailed but fascinating.
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I synthesized and did a brief summation of his work and entitled it, "Why was the Book of Mormon...
Answer to:Did Jesus create everything in heaven and on earth... everything visible and invisible?
Yes. Next question . . .
Answer to:How do you know your Church is teaching correct doctrines?
By "plumb lining" what is taught against the Bible.
Which, of course, is why Mormonism is known to be teaching heretical, errant doctrine.
BTW, Whew you DO know that there are other sections of AB other than the Mormonism section - right?
Many of your questions are too broad and general to be limited to the Mormonism section. Perhaps you should consider posting them...
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Answer to:Who do you think will win the World Series is 2015?
Yes I think that "2015" is indeed 2015.
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As for who I think will win the World Series in 2015 I'm going to go with Tampa Bay.
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They're doing the type of things that need to be done to build a winning team over time and given the 6-year Free Agent cycle their young guys should be hitting prime as a team just about then.
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Tampa Bay and that's my final answer.
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Answer to:If Jewish Kosher laws are based on Scriptures Christians also read, why don't Christians observe Kosher laws?
Mark 7:18-20 (English Standard Version)
18And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
Again: "Thus he...
Answer to:Are missionaires allowed to vote on mission?
Sure since they can vote online for who's going to make the MLB All-Star game they just need to get to an online computer and they're all set!
In fact they can vote once a day until the All-Star game if they wish to.
(That was easy!)
Answer to:Are LDS Christians? Why or Why not?
No.
The Bible is not the real source of authority for LDS teaching, since they also have a number of other documents which contradict it and which they follow above the Bible teachings.
The "Christ" which Mormons mention is most definitely not the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the Bible.
While Mormons certainly use Jesus' name, they do not follow the Jesus which...
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Answer to:Los Angeles Dodgers owners are divorcing. The husbands first move against his soon-to-be-ex was to fire her from her job as the Dodgers' chief executive. Do you think that is right?
If the charges that Frank McCourt included in his court papers are correct it's a wonder that Jamie McCourt wasn't terminated a LONG time ago.
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Actually we Dodger fans wish that they'd stay together and divorce the city instead.
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Boston - they're all yours. We never wanted them to begin with!
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Answer to:Where do 'feminist' Mormons get their authority from to say that women once held the priesthood in the LDS Church?
SHORT ANSWER:
From the evidence of True Mormon History.
LONG ANSWER:
DATE: SATURDAY, January 23, 1993
SECTION: EXTRA, PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: VERN ANDERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: SALT LAKE CITY
Historian says Mormon leader OK'd Priesthood for women
Women aren't considered eligible for the priesthood by modern leaders of the Mormon Church, but a historian...
Answer to:Joseph Smith omitted the Song of Solomon from his translation of the Bible and inserted his own "new revelations"into several books. But why didn't he also add anything from the extent apocryphal books that the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches use?
Smith (through 'revelation') said EXACTLY the same things about the Apocrypha that he said about the Bible:
"There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly"
(Doctrine & Covenants 91:2a)
and
"Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; And whoso is enlightened by the...
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Answer to:Do you think you should get baptized in water, the Holy Spirit, or both?
Both.
The Biblical model is that they should ideally occur at the same time.
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Answer to:Why did 'the Lord' give the Word of Wisdom as found in D&C 89 as a commandment to Joseph Smith but later it was decided that it wasn't actually a commandment just advice? It is now a commandment again.
Mormon Sociologist Armand Mauss (one of my Mormon heroes BTW) points out that the Word of Wisdom wasn't all that relevant until Mormonism began it's drift toward first mainstream American Culture and then toward mainstream Christian culture.
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At that point it became a unique social "distinctive" and got elevated to the level of a "Commandment" which is where...
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Answer to:Why do anti-mormons make such abundant use of fallacies (i.e., the strawman, adhominim attacks, appeal to ridicule, appeal to tradition, etc.)
"The thin-skinned and image-conscious Mormon can display immature, isolationist, and defensive reactions to outsiders, perhaps because there is no substantive debate and no "loyal opposition" within their kingdom. With some, it almost seems that the wilderness is still untamed, the federal "polyg" police are on the prowl, and the Illinois lynch mob is still oiling...
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Answer to:Opponents to mormonism, how do you feel about this quote "first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" Mahatma Gandhi
Yes indeed this sounds EXACTLY like a good quote to describe the LdS Church's stance toward Christianity throughout Mormon History.
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After all it's Mormons who are slowly moving toward mainstream Christian orthodoxy not vice versa.
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And when you consider the dramatic movement that the RLDS/CoC has made in that direction (see...
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Answer to:Thru my conversion I became close to a Missionary he's 22 I'm 36. As close as we could be without breaking rules. Just transferred, 6 months left. Left his contact info. We love each other (not said just mutually known) unsure his family will approve.
Sorry but I just don't see this working regardless of Mormon Culture and Social Norms.
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I think that you might find that his feelings change once he's back in his "native" culture.
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A 14-year gap is significant - REALLY significant. This is especially true when the woman is the older partner.
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The "6 months left" may be a positive or a negative. A...
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Answer to:Should the antitrust exemption for Major League Baseball be eliminated?
Yes.
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Answer to:I'm in Salt Lake right now, and I just noticed a lot of different symbols on the outside of the Temple such as the big dipper and like two hands shaking. What do they represent?
SHORT ANSWER:
Here you go: http://www.mazeministry.com/mormonism/whited/eastweb/index.htm
LONG ANSWER:
They are Masonic Symbols.
Both Joseph Smith and Joseph Smith were Freemasons and the LdS Temple Ceremony and system is rooted in Freemasonry. Therefore, you will find a smattering of symbols from from Freemasonry on the temples built under their direction from the Nauvoo period...
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Answer to:What is the foundation of the Mormon belief in additional scripture?
SHORT ANSWER: A corruption of the Pentecostal Doctrine of Prophetic Utterance. The LdS Church wasn't the first or the last doctrinal cult to corrupt this doctrine.
[This is in addition to the fact that Joseph Smith was attempting to consolidate power unto himself within the 19th Century Restorationist Movement - which I addressed in my first answer to this question]
LONG ANSWER:
...
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Answer to:How come the Atheists only attack Christians but not Muslims?
I'm thinking that they know that they won't have their throat slit from ear-to-ear by Christians simply because someone doesn't agree with their beliefs or worship their God.
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Answer to:Is oral sex considered "sexual immorality" within a Christian marriage?
Because it's not explicitly defined in the Bible as sin the answer is, "No."
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(thank goodness I might add!)
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Answer to:Anyone else find it ironic that atheist use many similar arguments against christianity as anti mormons use against mormons?
I wasn't aware that Atheists claim that Christ was:
1) A purveyor and practitioner of Occult practices like scrying and Shamanism.
2) A known, con-artist who was convicted of frauding others via #1 prior to inventing his new religion.
3) A married adulterer/polygamist who had sex with his disciple's wives and daughters under the auspices of it being a "new...
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Answer to:Joseph Smith was a prophet, speaking God's words.
But wasn't he also a student, learning from the scriptures, making mistakes and learning from them, guided by God, not just given all the answers?
Isn't this true of each of the prophets since then?
SHORT ANSWER:
ASSERTION: "Joseph Smith was a prophet, speaking God's words."
RESPONSE: No.
Applying the Biblical standards for a prophet he was clearly a false prophet speaking words that originated from a source other than God.
ASSERTION: "But wasn't he also a student, learning from the scriptures, making mistakes and learning from them, guided by God, not...
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Answer to:Are all Christians hypocrites?
Sure just like every other human being on the planet is.
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We're all hypocrites, it's just a matter of "degree" not "if".
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Answer to:Can anybody give me their view why they believe Jehovah's Witnesses to be a cult (Im looking for present and up to date reasons and beliefs) Im aware of how they were formed and who by.....I want some up to date reasons. Thank you to all who respond. x
SHORT ANSWER:
Ignoring Doctrine and other Theological issues - as well as History - The Jehovah's Witnesses have been identified by Secular Cult Studies Experts and former members (the best source of information in this regard) as a Mind Control Cult using the BITE model.
And these assessments meet your criteria as they are all fairly recent analysis's.
LONG ANSWER:
Here is...
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Answer to:Alex Rodriguez, hot or not? I say hot ;)
Well I don't know about that but I know that Operaman would let Derek Jeter get to "second base".
Answer to:Is there anyone else out there who believes "the biggest lie" in the world may be that there are only 10 million or so mormons on the planet?
I'm confused. Is the "lie" that the number is too big or too small?
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Now if you're referring to ACTIVE Mormons, you're correct, that is a lie as the number is far too large.
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A more accurate number for ACTIVE Mormons would be in the 3-5-Million range.
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...
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Answer to:Has Sammy Sosa bleached his skin?
Yes. He's warming up for his second career as a Michael Jackson impersonator.
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;-)
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Answer to:Could the Antichrist be the Pope?
Sure. However my vote is for Georg Steinbrenner.
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Answer to:What is your opinion on Joel Osteen?
Theologically unsound though occassionally carrying some truth or insight of note that's worthy of consideration.
In general I find him more concerning than inspiring.
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Answer to:Evangelical Christians on answerbag: Do you feel others misunderstand you, or stereotype you unfairly? Please see my answer below for more about this question. (NO *attacking* evangelical christians please.)
SHORT ANSWER: Yes.
LONG ANSWER: In particular I often feel like many of the Atheists on AnswerBag paint with brush strokes that are far too broad. Further, I often feel like many AB Atheists prejudge, and are unwilling to listen to reason, or consider evidence that doesn't support their world view. In fact, even attempting to do so with them will result in a torrent of insulting or...
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Answer to:If we're asked to believe that Jesus is God then we're entitled to ask, did he ever say "I am God"? If "yes" where, and if "no" why not?
SHORT ANSWER: Yes. Several times in fact.
LONG ANSWER:
The clearest case is when Jesus said this:
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
-- John 8:57
He was glossing this:
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
-- Exodus...
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Answer to:Am I supposed to believe that when Mormons had polygamous marriages there were no lesbian orgies going on?
Given the type of power struggles and competition that occur among today's FLDS polygamous "Sister Wives" I seriously doubt it.
However if you want to work your way through D. Michael Quinn's classic work, "Same-Sex Dynamics Among Nineteenth-Century Americans: A Mormon Example" perhaps he addresses this question in there.
...
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Answer to:Are the accepted creeds (Nicean Creed, Athenasian creed, Apostles Creed) considered scripture equal to the Bible in Protestant Christianity? Why or why not?
You're mistaken: The creeds aren't equal in authority to the Bible, they're subordinated to it.
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Laie_Techie was correct in stating that they guide interpretation of the Bible, thus defining the "essentials" of the faith and "Biblical Orthodoxy".
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In other words, they do the same thing that "Articles of Faith" and "17 Points of the...
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Answer to:Why do you think Mormonism has more questions asked abou it than any other Christian denomination, and Christianity has more questions asked about it than any other religion on AnswerBag?
I think you know MY answer.
I find Mormonism fascinating. It's a passion and a joy to study it!
I didn't realized that overall Christianity was #1 in the religion section of AB. That's interesting.
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Answer to:Is the Mormon campaign to ban other people from marrying each other just a form of revenge for the federal government requiring Utah to ban polygamy before admitting Utah into the Union?
No.
The LdS Church has clearly taken an Anti-Polygamy, Pro-America stance and I can't sense any hard feelings toward the U.S. Federal Government.
In fact, if the LdS Church was secretly planning to reinstate polygamy a good strategic move would be to support lifting any type of restriction on any type of marriage - including gay marriage.
So I just don't see any part of...
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Answer to:My Pastor is requiring all folks that are on the platform (I am a musician) to sign an agreement to uphold the holiness standards of the Pastor/Church. The agreement is not as unto God but unto the Pastor/Church. Is signing such an ag
I'm an volunteer at Mariner's Church in Irvine, CA and we are required to sign such an agreement annually.
Given the moral problems that we've seen in the American Church this is hardly a surprising practice and Biblically speaking it's a nothing more than a reaffirmation of a moral covenant so there's nothing wrong with it.
Answer to:What historical record/evidence do we have of the oath of vengeance that was in the LdS Temple Endowment Ceremony up to 1927? And please provide citations with your answer so we can confirm/validate the evidence you present in your answer. Thanks.
While there are other validating sources, probably the best evidence for the Mormon Oath of Vengeance is the 1906 Government Publication, "Proceedings Before the Committee on Privileges and Elections of the United States Senate in the Matter of the Protests Against the Right of Hon. Reed Smoot, a Senator from the State of Utah, to Hold His Seat" which is the transcript of the 1904...
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Answer to:What is behind the obsessive need for the mormons to document everyone's genealogy?
The Mormon doctrine of Baptism for the Dead.
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&catid=512&id=&id=75389&catid=512
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Answer to:If I sin and feel truly sorry about it and I repent, but then I go back and do it again does that mean I'm not saved?
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
.
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Answer to:Does it make a difference if there is or isn't a God?
As Pascal articulated in his famous "wager" the answer is clearly, "Yes!"
"Pascal's Wager (or Pascal's Gambit) is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal that even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because so living has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. It...
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Answer to:When will Chrisitans realize that Islam is the only true religion?
Whoa wait a second!
I thought that it was Mormonism!
Well, you can imagine MY surprise!!!
Islam huh . . . . ?
Well THAT's good to know. Thanks!
(But could someone tell why there are so many similarities and parallels between Islam and Mormonism? It's really intriguing and kinda creepy!
...
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Answer to:If God is so forgiving and loving why did He feel it necessary to create Hell?
The Bible doesn't tell us who created hell, it only tells us WHY it was created:
Matthew 25:41
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Further, God doesn't send anyone to hell. As one expositor said well:
" The choice is ours. God will not more "send anyone to hell" than he will "send anyone to...
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Answer to:Why do mormons act they are better than everyone else when people try to discuss their life choice? I mean is it written somewhere that they should be elitists? Does their bible tell them to be egotistical?
Well I don't like the way that the question is worded because it's judgmental and preachy . . .
However, it's a valid question since it's a known phenomenon.
I think that what you're referred to is known as "Mormon Arrogance" in Mormon Studies circles - not to be mistaken with "Fundamentalist Arrogance", "Catholic Arrogance",...
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Answer to:Why don't mormons just admit that their faith is a corporation with a religious belief structure? No offense to mormons. But if your out there, why don't you? Are you brainwashed into believing the corporate rhetoric is reality? Use your integrity.
Yeah . . . I think that this question is a bit harsh - as well as extremely "preachy".
If you study Mormon History the Church came first and the corporate entities followed. And you see this pattern in other organizations as well.
For example, I use to work for a company called PacifiCare that began as a Lutheran Medical Insurance Company. Thrivent Insurance for Lutherans is...
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Answer to:Should I feel bad about trying to point out how Mormons are a cult?
The other answers that have pointed out that your feelings are your responsibility are correct.
However, the problem here (as Moongrim as correctly pointed out) is that these days you have to define "cult". Technically most institutions and organizations are a "cult" by the dictionary definition.
I find it helpful to make a distinction between a "Doctrinal...
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Answer to:As Christians do you yourself have a hard time believing when you look at all the tragedy in your own life?
When I was younger and when it was occurring I would be angry and offended at God that He - since He's, after all supposed to be loving and caring - would send me through such pain and trauma.
However, afterward - often several years later - I could see that it really did serve a purpose and I marveled at the wisdom.
After many years of seeing this pattern I no longer get AS angry...
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Answer to:What do you have to say to people who believe that being Mormon is a good way of life with a positive outcome but don't believe in a supernatural God? There are many people who truly have the Christmas Spirit but don't believe in Santa.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you're referring to either one of the two types of Mormons:
1) "Social Mormons"
Mormons who think that the religion is "bunk", or don't care about the doctrine, but stay in the LdS Church for the social benefits.
2) "Shadow Mormons"
Mormons who think that the religion is "bunk" but due...
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Answer to:Lyndon Lamborn accused the Bretheren of bearing testimony "in such a way that they are not calling upon, in general, an acurate, historocity of the Book of Mormon." In light of Elder Hollands recent testimony do you find his statement accurate?
John, thank you for the video and the question. I watched the former in it's entirety.
SHORT ANSWER: Lyndon Lamborn spoke with true authority and Elder Holland did not.
Lyndon Lamborn spoke from a bedrock of objective reality and Elder Holland spoke from the shifting sand of subjective fantasy.
LONG ANSWER:
Let's consider the five types of epistemology:
1) Empiricism...
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Answer to:I like a guy that's going on a mission soon, and I think he likes me back, but he denied it to his younger sister. I don't know whether to tell him I like him or not. He's going on a mission no matter what and I'm glad. What should I do?
Two Years is a long time.
I would encourage you to move on with your life and see if you still feel the same way in two years.
If you do, pursue it then. If not, don't.
BTW, I'm not LdS, I'm a Mormon Studies Scholar, however I have studied the culture of LdS Missions and a common pattern is "Dear John" letters to Missionaries because of pre-Mission...
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Answer to:Are you happy, sad or indifferent about the Yankees winning the 2009 World Series?
Disappointed!
This is a dark day in Baseball History.
Evil has triumphed over good.
Bummer!
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Answer to:Could you imagine Mr IT cruisin around in this bad boy? / Did it ever seem like your family needed a vehicle this big growing up?
One? Are you kidding!
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I'll take a DOZEN!!!
(Chevy Brighams that is - not wives)
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;-)
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Nicely done John. +5
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Answer to:Why do many Mormons vehemently deny and/or evade the historical reality of the oath of vengeance that was in the Temple Endowment Ceremony from 1836 (approx) to 1927 (confirmed)? (NOTE: the Reference URL is to a Mormon Friendly validating source)
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FROM OBJECTIVE SOURCES:
.
THE OATH OF VENGEANCE
The oath of vengeance was an addition made to the Nauvoo Endowment under the direction of Brigham Young by 1845 in the Nauvoo Temple, soon after the 1844 death of Joseph Smith, Jr..[1] Participants agreed to be bound by the following oath, or something substantially similar:
"You and each of you do covenant and...
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Answer to:The bible says that being gay is wrong. But surely if you can't help being gay then thats just the way god made you so it's not your fault? thoughts
The presupposition that your question is based on is a myth.
The latest research indicates that homosexuality is caused by dysfunctional gentrification during childhood development that become sexualized during adolescence.
The studies that concluded that it's inborn are now being challenged because the science was questionable as was the objectivity of the researchers.
In...
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Answer to:How great is Chase Utley?
Simply amazing - especially when you consider that he was a below average player in both College and the Minor Leagues.
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He's a stunning example of what hard work and dedication can do for you.
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Answer to:I do not believe in the "Rapture". Those of you that do, can you convince me with Bible scripture that I am wrong?
Nope. But I can convince you with the Bible that you're right.
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Thanks for asking.
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Answer to:ANTI Mormon, I am so tired of this ignorant phrase. It appears to me that if any one is Pro Mormon, they are by definition, anti-everything else. Do you agree or dis agree?
Joe, I think that Religious Journalist Richard Ostling addressed this well in his classic book, "Mormon America: The Power and the Promise"
(http://www.amazon.com/Mormon-America-Promise-Richard-Ostling/dp/0060663723)
"The thin-skinned and image-conscious Mormon can display immature, isolationist, and defensive reactions to outsiders, perhaps because there is no substantive...
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Answer to:Can i still be a mormon even though i'm an alcoholic and a homosexual who also tends to use viagra?
I'm going with "No!" on this one.
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;-)
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Answer to:I am Mormon, and at a friend's house I had some Red Bull (caffeinated), not knowing what it was. I am afraid to talk to my family about it. What should I do?
Oh dear! You'd better turn in your Temple Recommend, confess to your Bishop in and wait for the "Court of Love" hearing letter to arrive in the mail!
Just kidding.
Chill out man - if you read D&C 89 it was more of a suggestion that anything else. It says:
"2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the aword of wisdom,...
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Answer to:Why Christians think they are superior?
I would have preferred a more nuanced and qualified question like:
"Why do SOME Christians think that they're superior?"
That is, in my opinion, more precise, more balanced, and more true to the facts.
However, the answer is the same regardless:
"To hide their insecurities: Barring other factors displays of grandiosity are most often a compensating defense...
Answer to:Should Major League baseball have video reviews of umpire decisions?
Yes. Baseball needs to enter the 21st Century.
.
AND this includes called ball fours and strike threes IMHO.
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Answer to:Are there any mainstream Mormons that practice polygamy? If there is any evidence that would be great.
This one is extremely hard to prove either way.
The problem, of course, is that if discovered any member of the LdS Church practicing polygamy will be excommunicated.
However, if you lurk on the Pro-Polygamy you WILL find posters who claim to be in the LdS Church who ARE practicing polygamy.
However, if you start to "probe" they will retreat and disappear.
Of course...
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Answer to:How come Jews aren't allowed to eat pig meat but Christians can? Is there somewhere in the new testament where Jesus says "It's okay to eat pigs now"?
'[Christ speaking] Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")'
-- Mark 7:18&19 (NIV)
This was written by Mark who was a disciple of Peter. It echoes what God said to...
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Answer to:My bf and I are very sexual, and do role play etc. He knows I was sexually abused by my "dad" and he tried to do this same role play. I got totally upset and it turned him on more, he say's I need to do this to confront this & to heal. Is this healthy?
If your boyfriend thinks that reenacting an abnormal, dysfunctional sexual trauma is therapeutic or restorative then you need a new boyfriend.
It's like saying that a mugging victim needs to reenact the mugging to heal from it.
It's ridiculous.
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Answer to:God Bless America at the World Series 7th inning stretch? What did you think?
I think that it was moving after 9/11 but now it's played (pun intended) and it needs to be removed.
Answer to:Why do baseball players wear baggy pants now? As a woman I miss the tight pants that showed the shape of their legs and butts. I don't watch baseball anymore now. Nothing to look at!
My fiancee' is with you on this one!
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Answer to:How does the whole dinosaur era fit into the Christian view of history?
There is no known correlation.
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Any correlation is supposition and nothing more.
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Answer to:Will CC Sabathia be back to pitch for the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2009 World Series?
You can make book on the fact that Girardi is going to have his ace on the mound as often as possible - as is Charlie Manuel.
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Answer to:Why do Mormon missionaries start there conversations by immediately lying to the perspective convert? * "We are not here to convert you"
Having an LdS Missionary come to your front door and using that line is like a Fuller Brushman coming to your door and saying, "I'm not here to sell you brushes."
From the manual that the LdS Missionaries use entitled, "Preach My Gospel":
.
"Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to...
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Answer to:Is there any evidence that Joseph Smith had sexual intercourse with his polygamous wives? (and PLEASE provide supportable evidence that can be cross checked not just your opinions or the opinions of others - thanks. However, snarky jokes are always fun!)
THIS JUST IN!
(and, I was complete unaware of this prior to posting the question - I stumbled across this researching another answer to another question just this morning)
Joseph Smith Had "Conjugal Relations"
with Nine Plural Wives, Says FARMS
http://www.signaturebooks.com/pluralmarriage.htm
And for those of you unfamiliar with FARMS (the acronym stands for Foundation for...
Answer to:Are there any prophecies that Joseph Smith made that came true after his lifetime?
Only if you (like LdS Apologists are notorious for doing) bend the facts to the "fulfilled prophecy" conclusion as James Holding has noted:
http://www.tektonics.org/gk/josproph.html
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Answer to:Why do TV evangelists promote themselves more than than Jesus, the foundation of their religion?
Speaking as someone who lives in the heart land of some of the more notorious of these ministries (I live down the freeway from TBN. In fact, I used to drive by it everyday going to/from work) and having personally met some of these TV Evangelists, their friends, and their family members here's what I've observed:
They mean well - really - but they often get caught up in the...
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Answer to:Why is Halloween so bad for christian? my husband recently started going to a christian churh and he doesnt want our 2yr old son to go out trick or treating. What should i do i wanted to take my son tricker treating for his 1st time to have fun.
Well in these situations it's always important to remember that it's better to be in relationship than be right.
Practically speaking that usually means that both parties must compromise.
I despise Halloween - it's pagan with strong occultic undercurrents.
However, I love costuming and having fun with friends.
My kids never did Halloween however they did do...
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Answer to:Christian: What is your preferred hermeneutic (method of Biblical interpretation)?
Letting the Bible comment on itself. I usually find that the internal evidence is sufficient for most hermeneutics.
This has become increasingly easier with the advent of Bible software.
However, if I'm not satisfied with what I find in English I'll generally dig into the word meanings in the original tongue. However since I don't read Biblical Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic...
Answer to:Do the New York Yankees have Pedro Martinez's measure?
Yes, he's 40-regular with loose fit pants and it should ready for him on Monday.
Should we have that delivered to his Hotel room or shipped FedEx to his estate in the Dominican Republic?
And can we assume that you'll want that pleated and in pinstripes?
Thank you always for coming Mr. Martinez - see you again next year?
Answer to:Because the Bible exists in its complete form, is that a reason to believe God and Jesus exist?
I'm trying to figure out where the logic is in this question!
How would a complete Bible be reason to believe God and Jesus exist?
Moses didn't have a complete Bible - he didn't have ANY Bible! Ditto for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
So what am I missing here?
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Answer to:How much money do you have to pay when u become mormon?
None to become a Mormon.
However after that to remain a member in good standing you must tithe 10% of your income.
There is some debate within Mormonism whether that's 10% of the gross or the net. Ultimately it's a matter of your conscience and gaining consensus with your Bishop.
The later is important or you may get your Temple Recommend revoked.
And, I am NOT LdS I am...
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Answer to:Is it ok to believe your own Church is the one and only true Church?
Sure if you're convinced that you and your Church leadership are infallible, inerrant, are the only source of ultimate reality in the universe, and the absolute power and authority in the universe.
Otherwise, no.
So since we're really dealing with flawed, errant, limited, and limited human beings: No.
In fact I would go so far as to say that any person or institution that...
Answer to:Is it true that all the mormon converts, up to just a few years ago, had to swear to avenge the blood of Joseph Smith against the U.S. Government? Or is this just an "old wives tale"?
SHORT ANSWER: Yes. However you only had to take it if you went through the Temple. It was part of the Temple Endowment Ceremonies up to 1927 and then quietly eliminated.
So that means that BOTH converts and Born-in-Covenants had to take it prior to 1927.
LONG ANSWER:
The so-called "Oath of Vengeance" went as follows:
"You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will pray...
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Answer to:Why do mormons print books calles such as: How anti mormons play word games to attack latterday saints? When they are the ones who are always playing word games?
Because in Mormon Culture it's "Holy War" and anything goes - as the link to a video of Robert Millet training future LdS Missionaries on the "word game" tactics of . . .
"Milk before meat"
"Deflect, protect, and redirect"
-AND-
"Don't answer the question that they asked, answer the question that they SHOULD have...
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Answer to:Do Christians believe those in hell will be given another chance to accept the gospel?
Hell no!
(sorry I couldn't resist the setup for the punchline was just SO right!)
Answer to:How many people actually saw the plates uncovered? Can anyone provide a complete list of names?
Here's the only account outside of the Book of Mormon that I'm aware of. It's from the Affidavit of Isaac Hale, father-in-law of Joseph Smith, Jr. (March 20,1834), Emma Smith's father:
"Smith stated to me, that he had given up what he called "glass-looking," and that he expected to work hard for a living, and was willing to do so. He also made arrangements...
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Answer to:What's your favorite cult film?
My favorite Cult film (in all seriousness this time) is just about anything from Christopher Guest.
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Answer to:What's your favorite cult film?
Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration.
Finest film ever done by a Cult!
Or, wait, could it be . . .
Emma Smith My Story
Same cult, different film.
So hard to decide!
Obviously, my favorite CULT is Mormonism!
So maybe it's the South Park Mormonism episode - now THAT's a CLASSIC!
Answer to:Who helped with the translation of the Book of Mormon? Can anyone give a complete list of all the scribes?
Here are the known scribes for Joseph Smith - however I have NOT parsed out those who worked on the Book of Mormon. I have, however, asterisked those that I recognized from memory as being BoM scribes.
Please use this link and you can do the parsing yourself http://saintswithouthalos.com/n/scribes.phtml
Bullock, Thomas
Clayton, William
Coray, Howard
Cowdery, Warren A.
Gilbert, A....
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Answer to:Is being a furry a sin?
No, it's the "Mark of Cain".
;-)
Answer to:Who is the face of the LA Dodgers?
Right now it seems to be Jamie McCourt!
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We are SO screwed . . . and so is Frank.
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Answer to:I heard Mormons believe that God sent angels with swords to enforce polygamy. Is this true, and if so, why do they believe He did this?
SHORT ANSWER:
Q: Is it true that Joseph Smith claimed that an Angel with a flaming sword commanded him to commit polygamy?
A: Yes.
Q: Why do they believe He did this?
A: It was clearly done by Joseph Smith to manipulate the woman (Zina Huntington) into committing adultery (she was married at the time) with him via the act of polyandry (one woman married to more than one husband).
...
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Answer to:Sniellpg: Iropmtnat or Iveraenrlt? Srhae Yuor Oniipon?
i says u shud right en text!
K?
Answer to:Where does Phillies Nation start and end and where does Yankees Nation begin?
If there is indeed a "Yankees Nation" then I'm going to petition Congress to declare war on it!
.
;-)
Answer to:Christians, how do you explain dinosaurs when it is clearly in conflict with what is written in Genesis; the Bible being the word of God?
>it is clearly in conflict with what is written in Genesis<
.
This is fallacious. It's only "clearly in conflict" if you take a literal, "young earth" stance - which many Christians (author included) do not.
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http://www.godandscience.org/youngearth/youngearth.html#HhTGhxE67wXz
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My mentor, Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer...
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Answer to:Who will win the 2009 World Series - Yankees or Phillies?
Anyone but the Yankees! Please!
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Answer to:Sidney Rigdon was driven to compile and write the Book of Mormon by two things: 1) Money and 2) To eclipse Alexander Campbell's 1826 Restorationist Bible (which was never completed) with his "better" Restorationist Bible. Did he succeed? Why or why not?
Based on what has transpired in the ensuing years clearly Rigdon won.
The Book of Mormon is well known and Alexander Campbell's Restorationist Bible (more precisely - Restorationist New Testament since work on the Old Testament was never started) is nearly unknown even by members of The Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and other denominations that came out of the Stone-Campbell...
Answer to:Who here is as un-thrilled about the two World Series teams as I am?
I'm going to try Game 1 and see how it goes.
.
However, since I have ABSOLUTELY NO interesting the frakin' Phillies and the Yankees are pure evil (the best evil that money can buy actually) unless there's something compelling going on I probably won't last past the Third Inning.
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After that I'm done.
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Answer to:Who, if anyone, will Mets fans be cheering for in the 2009 World Series?
I'm a Mets fan too . . .
(they're the Dodgers of the East you know)
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Now you don't REALLY think that ANY self-respecting Mets fan could EVER root for the Yankees do you?
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So it's a begrudging, root for this frakin' Phillies for this Mets fan.
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Answer to:Who will you be cheering for in the 2009 World Series: the Phillies, the Yankees or neither?
My favorite two teams are the Dodgers and whoever is playing the Yankees!
Does that answer?
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Answer to:Antagonists of the LDS church often claim it is an evil mind-controling cult. What evil deeds does the church have it's members perform?
1) Villianizing those with legitimate criticisms of the LdS Church labeling them "Anti-Mormon", "Enemies of the only True Church", "Children of the Devil", and worse.
2) ExCommunicating Loyal Opposition from the LdS Church.
3) ExCommunicating legitimate Prophets who arise within the LdS Church because their message is negative toned and a challenge to the...
| 7 people like this
Answer to:Remember people used to say the antichrist would stamp us all with bar codes? Isn't that kind of antiquated technology? Why not use rfid in this day and age?
Not only do I want a bar code I want a blue generics stripe across my mid-section that says, "Human" - or "Hottie" that works too!
(now I AM dating myself!)
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Answer to:Should Mark McGwire be hired as the hitting coach of the St Louis Cardinals?
Why do they need advice on what steroids they can use without getting caught?
.
;-)
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Answer to:What explains A-Rod's 2009 postseason?
Hmmm . . . I can only think of 250 Million reasons . . .
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Answer to:In Fowler's Stage 5 "Conjunctive" faith (mid-life crisis) acknowledges paradox and transcendence relating reality behind the symbols of inherited systems. What religious symbols do you feel have reality even those you reject their supernatural origins?
I can readily think of one such symbol that, for me, fits James Fowler's Stage 5 model: The Worldwide Flood of Genesis 6-9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206-9&version=NIV).
Personally I don't believe that there was a worldwide flood because: a) The science behind such a flood is unsupportable and; b) The science behind a localized flood is supportable;...
Answer to:Did you know Glenn Beck is a Mormom? Are most Mormons like Glenn Beck?
Yes. I've always felt that it explained a lot of his "peculiar" behavior.
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After all Mormons like to boast that they're a "Peculiar People".
.
;-)
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And yes his behavior DOES reflect the behavior of some Mormons but not the majority in the same way that Paul and Jan Crouch (of TBN fame) don't reflect the behavior of the majority of Pentecostal...
Answer to:Why do SOME Christians say you MUST be baptized in order to be saved? How do you back this up?
What if you lived somewhere with NO water..?
SHORT ANSWER:
It a theological corruption that most recently came out of the 19th Century Restorationist movement.
.
The Stone-Campbellites believed this, developing an entire Theological System out of it called "Baptismal Regeneration" and many of the groups that spun out of the Stone-Campbell movement still dogmatically hold to this theology even though it is unBiblical and...
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Answer to:Hello! Can anyone tell me about songs played at Kaufman Stadium?I want any & every song played there,for batters,pitchers & especially their victory song.
Here's the (mock) victory song:
"It there were a four-A league there we're be!
We the A's, Nats, and Bucs - who we'd see!
Small Markets are a bad lot.
In the '80's who'd thought?
It's last we'd be?
Overmatched is what we be
So any 'W' is OK by me
Pitch us soft 'cause 'bigs' level stuff we can't hit...
Answer to:Hello!
Can anyone tell me what songs Manny uses to bat?
I don't know what it is but I do know what it SHOULD be . . . see embedded video.
Answer to:Should men be allowed to talk in church?
Only if they have some intelligent to say - which I guess eliminates most men AND most women too!
.
(sorry Antigone you set up the punch line beautifully I couldn't resist!)
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Answer to:How do the mormons feel about the JST being different from the scrolls we've found, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls?
As you know Coexist, I am not a Mormon but the JST has been a special area of study of mine for some time.
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And since the JST wasn't translated from the original languages (it was "translated" from the English King James Version of the Bible) I'm not sure that it really matters.
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And what's REALLY interesting is that the KJV wasn't translated from the...
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Answer to:I was told that the "Rapture" will happen 'once every human being hears the Gospel'. How will this happen if people keep getting born every second and won't understand the gospel until they're around 5 years old or so?
Since there won't be a "Rapture" (it's unBiblical) you have nothing to worry about.
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However, Christ will return to reign and rule when He returns.
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Answer to:Do Mormons have any specific type of music they listen to?
Yes. Music with notes, chords, melodies and lyrics. And very often they fore-go the lyrics.
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Answer to:How well is Joe Girardi handling his pitchers?
I was at tonight's game and even though I'm an Angel fan I have to say: Not very well.
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He's micromanaging and it's getting ridiculous.
.
Were I a Yankees fan I would be getting fed up by now.
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Answer to:Are mormon's christians?
SHORT ANSWER: No
LONG ANSWER:
"The Bible is not the real source of authority for LDS teaching, since they also have a number of other documents which contradict it and which they follow above the Bible teachings. The "Christ" which Mormons mention is most definitely not the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the Bible.
While Mormons certainly use Jesus' name, they do...
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Answer to:True or False? If true, where can it be found? - Rumor says that Brigham Young spoke in morning conference of resisting the US Army. Then in the afternoon session saying "That was Brigham Young. Now hear the Lord." And spoke of peace and reconciliation.
I've heard that story too but I can't find the original source (it's not in JoD - I've looked and looked for it).
.
So if someone could provide a citation that would be great.
Answer to:Who wants to congratulate the 2009 National League Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies for winning the pennant?
Reluctantly . . . OK . . . you bastards!
(Dodgers fan here)
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe that the Apostle John is still alive here on Earth?
SHORT ANSWER:
Yes.
LONG ANSWER:
I had lunch with him, Elvis and Amelia Earhart at Burger King last week.
But seriously folks . . .
How did the Apostle John DIE?
Q. How did the Apostle John die?
(Submitted by: L. A.)
A. There is no sure answer to this question because the Bible does not give us this information.
All other information concerning the apostle John comes...
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Answer to:I'm an out of work Computer Professional trying to decide between learning Java and .NET -- Which is easier to learn, and which is in greater demand?
They're both in demand and you would do great with either one.
However, I'm seeing far more ads in my area (Southern California) for Java than .NET at the moment.
However, you know how this industry is - in a year it will be the exact opposite.
Personally, I find Java much more intuitive, more due to the fact that I'm Window-centric I find myself doing far more in the...
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Answer to:How is LDS "Church discipline... designed to help Heavenly Father's children in their efforts to be purified from sin through the Atonement, return to full fellowship in the Church, and receive the full blessings of the Church."
Since it doesn't specifically mention the LdS Church I would take it to mean that it helps you to reassess the LdS Church in general and realize that any organization that treats it's members in such a heavy-handed fashion probably isn't worthy of your membership.
Since there ARE other, better, kinder Churches out there I would hope that LdS Church Discipline would help...
Answer to:Is a Christian girl still pure if she masturbates regularly?
Nick, the Bible doesn't condemn masturbation for men or women.
.
The Biblically based answers that were given for your question about masturbation for men applies equally for women.
.
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Answer to:Can the LDS God give contradictory commandments?
Obviously, the answer is "Yes!":
http://packham.n4m.org/contra.htm
http://ecclesia.org/truth/mormon-2.html
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/BOM/contra/by_name.html
http://www.4mormon.org/mormon-contradictions.php
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/ContradictionsInMormonDocuments.htm
http://www.godandscience.org/cults/mormcont.html#tDVqtCKC5Ogr
...
Answer to:LDS - When you testify and say 'I know' - I'm always a little frusrated because it's nice to say 'I know' but WHY do you know what you do and HOW do you know it?
Excellent question! +5
.
And I'm not LdS but I have written a paper on this that documents how the famous "Mormon Testimony" is most often nothing more than Gestalt Closure acting on subliminal implants that came from either the infamous "Moroni 10 Challenge" or other outside input such as LdS Family/Friends/Missionaries.
(link to white paper...
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Answer to:Elder Theodore M. Burton: "It is wicked to reject a child of God simply because he made an error." But isn't this what God and Christ do when they excommunicate someone from thir church? Isn't the person rejected and totally severed from the church?
SHORT ANSWER:
Elder Burton is correct, Biblical Church discipline should RESTORE rather than REJECT.
Unfortunately, LdS Church Excommunication/Church Discipline tends to REJECT rather than RESTORE.
Thus the LdS Church does indeed act wickedly rather than Biblically in regard to how it conducts Church discipline. Personally I find it ironic that an organization that has the doctrine of...
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Answer to:True or False: Your pillow cases match your bed sheets?
Always.
It's reflective of my Metrosexual instincts.
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Answer to:Have you ever wanted to live in a blimp?
Oh you betcha!
Those old blimps were known for their smooth ride and onboard luxury.
If they ever revive the old "travel by blimp" system - as they're talking about doing - you can sign me up and leave me on it!
http://media.photobucket.com/image/travel%20by%20blimp/zegarkus/whale_blimp1.jpg
...
Answer to:What is the LDS view on POLYANDRY?
Based on the behavior of Joseph Smith, Jr. it would appear that at least his view was the Golden Rule:
"He who has the gold makes the rules."
Answer to:I'm a member of the church and was recently told by members of another church that LDS are a "cult" and that I'm "sucked in." How do I deal with this ignorance?
You open your mind and objectively consider the evidence that has been presented by Cult Exit Counselors who, after examining the BEHAVIOR - not the doctrine, the behavior - of the LdS Church, have determined that it is a Mind Control Cult . . .
.
Links to general criteria on what defines a Mind Control Cult as well as how and it applies to Mormonism:
...
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Answer to:"...if the devoted Mormon actually considers all of the facts at his disposal, he or she may feel some pain and, if honest with him or herself, will reluctantly acknowledge that the Mormon church is not at all focused on Jesus." Thoughts?
THE QUOTE IN THIS QUESTION WAS CITED FROM AN INTERESTING AMAZON REVIEW OF GRANT PALMER'S CLASSIC BOOK, "THE INCOMPARABLE JESUS".
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE HERE IS THE FULL REVIEW:
"prophets, seers and revelators" - Follow this Example
June 6, 2006
In his second book, Grant Palmer sets another example to the Mormon "prophets, seers and revelators".
...
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Answer to:What kind of things does the Book of Mormon talk about? I'm curious as a Christian
Nick, I would encourage you to read it. And I am an Evangelical Christian and Mormon Studies Scholar who is critical of Mormonism.
However, I would encourage you to get a copy of the original 1830 edition as it lacks the extra baggage that was added later (like chapter and verse delineation) and reads more like a novel than a sacred text - and, you know mate, in that format it ain't...
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Answer to:What is your least favorite MLB team?
The lying, cheating, conniving, despicable, evil, Halloween Color outfitted demons commonly known as the San Francisco, Giants.
Thank you for letting me share!
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Answer to:For those mormons that know about the critics very reasonable claims ablout the Book of Abraham- How can you know the arguments/evidence and still believe it to be scripture? I'm not attacking- I just have doubts.
Why don't you just let the evidence speak for itself?
.
After all the RLDS/Community of Christ is slowly and quietly de-emphasizing Joseph Smith and LDS Scripture for a reason . . .
.
And BTW, the RLDS never canonized the Pearl of Great. In fact, very few of the other LDS Denominations have canonized it.
.
Frankly, the evidence (unless you let Hugh Nibley do an irrational...
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Answer to:Can any Christians out there seriously defend the logic of their faith?
Before I can answer the question: Please show me physical evidence for the existence of logic.
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Answer to:Mormons: Does God Dwell in the Heart of the Righteous? There seems to be a contradiction between Alma 34:36 and Doctrine and Covenants 130:3 on this one.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE HERE ARE THE CITED PASSAGES IN WHAT, AT LEAST BY MY JUDGMENT, IS A REASONABLE CONTEXT:
Alma 34
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath...
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Answer to:In the book of Mormon, Jesus Christ was clearly worshiped (see 2 Nephi 25:29, 1 Nephi 11:24, 3 Nephi 11:17) Then why has the historic stance of the LdS Church been, "Our Father in Heaven should be the object of our worship" And what is the stance today?
AS CONVENIENCE, HERE ARE THE PASSAGES CITED IN WHAT I CONSIDER ENOUGH SURROUNDING TEXT TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE CONTEXT:
2 Nephi 25
27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is...
Answer to:What's the general Christian view on masturbation? Is it wrong if you're young and unmarried?
No. Neither is it wrong if you're old and married.
This expositor said it well:
"...there is no place in scripture where masturbation is even mentioned, much less forbidden. This is a very odd situation since it is so common a human experience, and given that scripture speaks of other sexual sins (some fairly perverse and rare) without any shyness at all.
Since scripture...
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Answer to:Non-LdS Christians: Are you going to have eternal life, know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and dwell with Them forever?
If you're Mormon the courtesy your equivalent answer here http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1754456 would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Answer to:Mormons: Are you going to have eternal life, know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and dwell with Them forever?
If you're a non-LdS Christian the courtesy your equivalent answer here http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1754568 would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Answer to:Can Salvation be free if you have to do something to obtain it?
Clearly, no.
Paul was clear that it's a gift . . .
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
-- Ephesians 2:8
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
-- Romans 6:23
"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to...
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Answer to:What do Mormons and Freemasonry have in common?
1) Joseph Smith - 33st Degree Mason
2) Brigham Young - 32nd Degree Mason
3) The Temple Endowment Cermony - at least 70% Masonic.
4) Many Early Mormons - Freemasons
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
Please use this link (to a Mormon friendly site BTW) for a brief introduction to the parallels between Mormonism and Freemasonry.
http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/essays/mason.htm
Most...
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Answer to:Non-LdS Christians: How many Mormon Church services have you attended? How many Mormon family members do you have? How many Mormon friends do you have? Do you like Mormon people and culture? And do you feel at ease with Mormon people and culture?
I was going to wait but what the hey . . .
Q: How many Mormon Church services have you attended?
A: To my recollection I have attended the following LdS Church Services
- Sunday School
- Sunday Evening Service
(that was a LONG time ago in the 1970's)
- Sacrament Service
- Fast & Testimony
- Funeral
I have also participated in one or two Family Home Evenings
If I had...
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Answer to:Why did Joseph Smith have so many wives when the Bible expresses the importance of faithfulness in marriage and sexual morality?
The answer, as usual, is "42".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrases_from_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Answer_to_Life.2C_the_Universe.2C_and_Everything_.2842.29
Answer to:Dodgers or Angel i love MLB for me it DODGERS all the way baby
Go Blue! Take us to Blue Heaven on Earth!!!!
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Answer to:Why do the mormons believe the Apostle Paul is alive on earth today?
No, not Paul.
.
They believe that the Apostle John (aka "John the beloved") is still alive and wandering the planet.
.
They also believe that three Nephites are also alive and wandering the planet.
.
Of course this negates the whole concept of the COMPLETE Apostacy that required Joseph Smith restoring the only true Church since there are, in the LdS worldview, four...
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Answer to:How come there are so many warnings about the Mormon church?
Because it's a Mind Control Cult masquerading as a Christian Church.
Links to general criteria on what defines a Mind Control Cult as well as how and it applies to Mormonism:
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=75285&catid=532
...
Answer to:The great question of Mormon Studies Scholars everywhere (deliberately left open and broad): How much did Emma Hale Smith know?
Here's one LdS Scholar's "take" on the question:
(from The Deseret News - about as "Mormon Friendly" as you can get!)
Was Emma Smith an 'elect lady'?
By Tad Walch
Deseret News
Published: 2008-11-07 00:06:04
PROVO, Utah -- She lost five children in infancy and a sixth when he was 14 months old. Polygamy swirled around her. She was pregnant...
Answer to:Significance of ct on minnesotatwins baseball team hat
That would be "TC" for the dyslexic.
TC stands for "Twin Cities" (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Answer to:If soon-to-be-assassinated Joseph Smith was, "like a lamb led to the slaughter" then was he armed and why did he send written orders commanding the Nauvoo Legion to march on Carthage and break him out of jail?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR THIS QUESTION:
(note, only Mormon friendly citations from original sources have been used)
I. JOSEPH SMITH WAS ARMED
Elder John Taylor, who became the third President of the LDS church, wrote in the official History of the Church that:
"Elder Cyrus H. Wheelock came in to see us, and when he was about leaving drew a small pistol, a six-shooter, from his...
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Answer to:Why are Mormon people so nice?
SHORT ANSWER:
Nearly all Mind Control Cultists appear "nice" and "loving" to outsiders. This can often (but not always) be part of a recruiting technique called "Love Bombing" and Mormons are no different than the other cult groups that use it.
LONG ANSWER:
"Love Bombing" is described as follows:
"Love bombing is the deliberate show of...
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Answer to:Mormons: Why there are so many LDS Churches and so many versions of The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine & Covenants?
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS QUESTION:
LDS DENOMINATIIONS
There have been close to 200 LDS Denominations throughout history, 67 of them are currently active.
http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/denominations.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Latter_Day_Saint_denominations
THE BOOK OF MORMON
According to WikiPedia there are:
10...
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Answer to:My boyfriend is Mormon and Im agnostic. We want to be married one day, but I don't believe in organized religion. What is the best way for a non-believer like me to find faith in the church of LDS?
Well there are a lot of fish in the sea and only a few of them are Mormons!
>What is the best way for a non-believer like me to find faith in the church of LDS?<
I would ask yourself this question: "What's more important: The truth or compromising myself for the sake of getting married?"
Because if it's the truth you're looking for you won't find it...
Answer to:GOD the father, GOD the son, GOD the spirit. How many GODS are there?
Three in One.
.
Or another way:
.
There is One Being known as God comprised of Three Persons.
.
As the hymn says well: "God in three Persons, Blessed Trinity."
Answer to:Is A-Rod a choker?
Ask the Twins.
Answer to:Why did Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (the authors of the "Left Behind" series) say on the news on that show that only 142 million people disappeared? I thought there were over 1 billion Catholics alone, and more Christians than that.
Because THEY as the authors get to decide who's going to get raptured and who isn't and in their world view there are only 142 million people who made their arbitrary "cut".
I'm thinking that's the number of people who have bought their books!
;-)
However, since I don't believe in the rapture I don't have to worry or stress about such mindless...
Answer to:Angels or Yankees for the 2009 AL Championship?
Angels!
We own their sorry keesters!
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Answer to:Who would make a good Bond villain? A younger Jack Nicholson would have been good, and Christopher Walken should have had another chance. After that Joker, Heath could have done well. I'm not very up to date on the latest stars.
Why not an OLDER Jack Nicholson? He looks pretty scary sitting at Lakers games.
;-)
Here's my short list:
Cher in that "peeka-boo-see-my-arse" cat suit of hers.
(she totally freaks me out in that thing man!)
Britney Spears
(she doesn't have act nuts - she is!)
Mary Kate and Ashley
(twin hot chick villians - scary!)
Paris Hilton
(my vote for her Movie...
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Answer to:Who do you think deserves to win the NL Manager of the Year award?
I'm going with Joe Torre or Jim Tracy.
Answer to:What is a World Series between two Los Angeles teams called?
"The Freeway Series"
.
It's based on the New York "Subway Series" tag. And we've been waiting since 1961 for one.
.
Answer to:Excommunication for the LDS is understood as an ‘appropriate’ or as a ‘necessary step’. How is it appropriate and necessary? What are its benefits? And how does it help the disciplined individual?
ANSWER:
Given the low percentage of Ex'd and Disfellowshiped Mormons who get restored I think it's pretty clear that it doesn't help the "disciplined" individual at all. For example, only ONE of the September Six (Avraham Gileadi) has been fully restored as of 2009. Of the remaining five, four are no longer members of the LdS Church and one (Lynne Kanavel Whitesides)...
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Answer to:Why are there so many Churches and so many versions of the Bible?
>Why are there so many Churches...<
Because man is fallen and sinful. Were we perfect we would interpret the Bible and commune with God perfectly.
However, since we aren't there will always be legitimate different interpretations of the Bible and interpretations of our experience with God.
And the Bible addresses this phenomenon directly and honestly:
I Corinthians 11...
Answer to:My Christian flatmate tells me that I will go to hell because I don't believe in Jesus. She also said my relatives are burning and being tortured in hell as non-believers. Is this what Christians believe?
I think you need to upgrade to a better - and more Christ like - flatmate.
Answer to:Does Obama's Nobel Peace Prize prove he is the antichrist?
No it just proved that the Nobel Peace Prize has become politicized and compromised.
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Answer to:What is your soul? Do bacteria have one?
No, bacteria have two.
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe that God is capable of making mistakes (such as errors in writing the Bible which had to be later corrected by Joseph Smith)?
No of course not!
However apparently they do believe that Jesus was just joking when He said:
"...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
-- Matthew 16:18
Apparently the plain and simple truth that was lost during the Great Apostacy was that Jesus then winked at the the disciples, grinned mischievously and said. . .
"Just...
Answer to:Why do Mormons believe that God has a body without having seen Him?
Apparently there's been a mistake!
.
Both the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith tell us that God is a spirit!
.
THE BOOK OF MORMON:
“Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God...that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.”
—Alma 31:15, Book of Mormon
.
JOSEPH SMITH:
“...The Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power:...
Answer to:How do we know the Bible is complete? We know it contains God's word, but does it contain ALL of God's word? How do you know?
Well now that I'm done needling Whew and Glenn . . .
SHORT ANSWER:
As Francis Schaeffer said so well: "The Bible speaks to us completely but not comprehensively."
It is impossible to contain the infinite, personal God in within the pages of any book - including the Bible.
However, in terms of what we need in order to victoriously fulfill our mission/passage through...
Answer to:How do we know the Bible is complete? We know it contains God's word, but does it contain ALL of God's word? How do you know?
DUPLICATE ANSWER - SYSADMIN PLEASE DELETE!
Answer to:Why are the Pittsburgh Pirates frequently called the 'Bucs'?
It's short for "Buccaneers".
.
However these days they should be called "Poo" as in "Poo' Small Market Team with a Cheap Owner"
.
(of course it has another meaning too - but I won't go there!)
Answer to:Do Mormons believe that they can set a date for the second coming of Jesus?
The correct answer is "42"
.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Answer_to_the_Ultimate_Question_of_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything#Answer_to_Life.2C_the_Universe.2C_and_Everything_.2842.29
.
Thank you for asking.
Answer to:I have seen and heard of instances of usage of the inverted pentagram and beehives in and about Mormon practice. What meanings do these symbols hold in the Mormon tradition?
It means that they're Freemasons.
http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/symbolism/index.html
Answer to:Does the LDS Church release information (exact figures/estimates) to its members about how tithing money is spent?
Simply put: No
Answer to:How do we know the Bible is complete? We know it contains God's word, but does it contain ALL of God's word? How do you know?
Oh it can't be complete now can it Whew?
.
After all, Joseph Smith said that it wasn't!
.
And, of course, Joseph Smith was COMPLETELY trustworthy wasn't he?
Far more trustworthy than the Bible - right?
.
Or was he . . . ?
http://mccue.cc/bob/audio%20belief%20and%20reason%201.htm
http://mccue.cc/bob/audio%20belief%20and%20reason%202.htm
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Answer to:What is the origin of the term "Jack Mormon"?
Jack if I know!
But it's a great question - thank you for asking it!
Answer to:Do Mormons believe in "God the Mother"?
SHORT ANSWER: Yes.
But paradoxically they're told NOT to worship her - or even even dwell on her too much. Doing so has resulted in the excommunication of some Mormons.
(which oddly didn't stop the LdS "Backyard Professor" from doing a 4-part video series on her which I have embedded)
LONG ANSWER:
Since there have been some good answers provided already ("The...
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Answer to:Can any Christians out there seriously defend the logic of their faith?
Yes! Absolutely.
.
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Answer to:Dont be offended,but:why do christians hate athiests and gay/les people?
You're painting with a brush too broad!
I am a Christian and I don't hate Atheists or Homosexuals.
In fact some of my best friends are in both camps.
Answer to:If Sunday is the holy day of rest why do we have to get up early for church?
Because:
.
a) Sunday ISN'T the Sabbath - it never was. Rather you will notice that it's referred to as, "The Lord's Day" in the New Testament because . . .
.
b) Sunday was the day that Christ was resurrected.
.
c) Dawn was when He was resurrected.
.
In the Christian tradition Sunday is observed as the day of worship as a celebration of Christ's...
Answer to:Mister_IT. --- You ran from this as a question in a comment. Here it is as a PUBLIC question for you: --- Try this on for size: 1=3 --- Do you believe it? --- Why or why not? --- (Anyone is welcome to answer, but I really want to see if he will dare.)
Q: Do you believe it?
A: Yes, indeed I do have a tremendous belief in IT.
Q: Why or why not?
A: I have been in IT for 24-years now and I have seen IT be a both a tremendous force for good - and evil.
However, overall I truly believe that IT has been more a force for positive change in society than a problem.
Q: Try this on for size: 1=3
A: So on a scale where 1=3, yes indeed I...
Answer to:Bill McKeever: "...why do so many Mormons insist we throw the more controversial teachings of their past leaders onto the ash heap of mere opinion?" Mormons how would you answer Mr. McKeever's question if he were standing in front of you?
SUPPLEMENT TO QUESTION: SO WHAT'S ON THE 'ASH HEAP OF MERE OPINION'?
I've compiled the following list of "cast on the ash heap of mere opinion" (with a little help with some Ex-Mormons and colleagues):
LDS SACRED WRITINGS:
- The 1830 Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith
- The Book of Commandments by Joseph Smith
- The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible by...
Answer to:I wish I believed in god; Anyone else?
I believe in God.
.
But at one point I was a militant Atheist so I empathize.
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Answer to:Speaking from a Christian point of view: If you are meant to love thy neighbour, what if thy neighbour is homosexual?
I don't recall there being a "homosexual" out clause* in the Golden Rule AND God can redeem anyone or anything.
.
I am living proof of THAT.
.
.
And if Jesus could dine with Tax Collectors (the equivalent of modern pornographers according to one Bible Expositor) and prostitutes I think I can manage to be a friends to homosexuals.
.
Think about it: Jesus was known as...
Answer to:When Trinitarian Christians say "true God from true God, begotten, not made," do they mean begotten in the same way that Adam begat Able?
SHORT ANSWER: No.
Jesus could not have been procreated in the way that Abel was since John 1:1 is clear that Jesus was always God - a clear allusion to His role as "God the Son" the second person of the Trinity.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
LONG ANSWER:
Great question John - thank you for asking.
As the...
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Answer to:GOD the father, GOD the son, GOD the spirit. How many GODS are there?
One God.
The Trinity is THREE-in-ONE, not ONE-in-THREE.
That's THREE Persons in ONE Being. The Triune God is totally and completely unique in the Cosmos - which is why we can't comprehend the Trinity.
Here's an excellent resource on this:
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=75738&catid=515#75738
Answer to:When we go to live with God, will we look like Him?
SHORT ANSWER: No.
The Bible is clear that the Triune God is a totally and completely unique Being in the universe. There is NONE like Him (http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=there%20is%20none%20like&version1=9&searchtype=phrase)
Period.
The Biblical term "image of God" or "likeness of God" is referring to the Hebrew words, "selem" and...
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Answer to:What do you think you will do for Eternity, if you make it to live with God?
Since, as I answered so wisely in another question, that we will all look like Elvis (only with wings) in heaven I can only assume that we will work on our Elvis impersonations for all eternity until we get it right.
.
And, yes, Regis that is my final answer!
(snark)
Answer to:When we go to live with God, will we look like Him?
Yes we WILL all look like him: We will all look like Elvis Presley.
(snark answer)
.
Of course not.
(Biblical Answer)
Answer to:Do Mormons believe that Satan is the brother of Jesus?
Yes.
Answer to:If you were a billionaire and wanted to buy a 31st MLB team, What city would it represent and its team name?
I like the way things are now.
I would start a new league in Latin America.
So we'd have:
The National League
The American League
The . . .
The . . . .
The . . . . . ?
(a little help here!)
Answer to:I am a huge baseball fan but, how many of you think that the MLB season now goes too long? My argument is that the regular & the World Series was made to be played/enjoyed in the nice warm days of spring and summer. Not during a snow storm in NYC.
Agreed but how do you do it?
.
If you start the season any earlier then you're playing the chill of early spring.
.
If you play less games then the schedule gets even more unbalanced than it is now.
.
The only way I can see it working is if they BOTH add a Third League, eliminate inter-league play AND play less games.
.
And I LOVE inter-league game.
Answer to:Loosely based on something Bart Simpson said; the few things which separate all the different Christian faiths is nothing compared to the mountain of similar things which unites them. Thoughts?
Ah that great Theologian Bart Simpson! I know him well.
.
I'm sure that he was referring to that well known Christian axiom:
.
"In essentials unity.
In non-essentials liberty.
In all things charity."
.
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Answer to:Anyone want to help me congratulate the Minnisota Twins for winning their one game playoff with the Detroit Tigers 6-5 in 12 innings?
THAT was one of the greatest Baseball games I have ever seen! Unbelievable.
.
And big congrats Twins - job well done.
.
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Answer to:((For Mormons))If there are numerous Gods....and they don't seem to defined by names how do they know which to direct prayer to or which is Jesus' real father? And if God is/was a man who was Jesus' father how come we don't know his real name?
>if God is/was a man who was Jesus' father how come we don't know his real name?<
Because he forgot the secret name they gave him the first time he went through the Mormon Endowment Ceremony on Kolob.
Oops!
(I sure hope he still remembers the secret handshakes or it's "No veil for you! You shall NOT pass!")
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Answer to:What is your reaction when you hear about something like this woman (LINK) who was mauled to death by her pet bear?
It makes me wonder what she had against pet cats!
I've never been mauled to death by my pet cat!
However, I guess there's always a first time for everything . . .
Answer to:The term "Christian" does not come from "Bible", but from "Christ". Should not a true Christian rather follow the Christ than the Bible? Say, mainly follow Christ's reported sayings and acts and do not mind the rest very much?
Well there was a movement a few years ago called the "Jesus Only" movement that ONLY accepted the words of Christ in the Bible as inspired and rejected everything else.
And they ended up as a Mind Control Cult that got merged into another Mind Control Cult ("Oneness Pentecostalism")
And they were only the latest incarnation of such groups in Church History.
So,...
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Answer to:What do Mormons belive happens after we die?
SHORT ANSWER:
Only apostates - those who were presented with the Mormon Gospel in this life and rejected it - are sent to "outer darkness".
Those who weren't presented with the Mormon Gospel in this life are presented with it and given the chance to accept or reject it. Once they're baptized by a proxy in a LDS Temple they get into the lowest level of heaven.
Those...
Answer to:What do you think about Mormons?
Wonderful, genuine, authentic and sincere people deceived about true Mormon History and the pure LDS Theology taught by Joseph Smith.
As a result they must remain in "snapped" mental state (see http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&catid=532&id=80163#80163) and engage in Mind Control Cult practices and behaviors (see...
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Answer to:Mormonism..respecatable religion or crazy cult?
If I knew what a "respecatable religion" was I would tell you.
I'm assuming that a "respect-cat-table" religion is one that respects cats so much that they put them on tables and worship them.
And I would think that any religion that respects cats on tables is not only most certainly a cult but downright weird!
;-)
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Answer to:I am aware that Mormons are not sure whether God has a wife or not, but do Mormons think he does?
SHORT ANSWER:
The LDS Theology of pre-existence doesn't work if God doesn't have at least one wife.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-existence#Pre-mortal_existence_in_Mormonism_.28Latter-day_Saints.29
LONG ANSWER:
From the Mormon Hymn, "O My Father" by Eliza R. Snow (one of Joseph Smith's Polygamous wives):
"I had learned to call thee Father,
...
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Answer to:2009 AL Divisional Playoffs - Red Sox vs Angels - who will advance to the next round of the playoffs?
I'm predicting 5-games with the Angels ultimately triumphing.
.
Boston is strong but not as dominate as in past years.
.
It should be a tight, exciting series.
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Answer to:I've heard that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a voracious Bible reader and could recite long passages of the Bible from memory. However, I can't seem to find a first hand source for this. Can someone please provide an ORIGINAL source citation for this?
The first part is apparently true as evidenced by Joseph Smith, Jr's large library collected over a number of years:
Books Owned by Joseph Smith
The following is a list of books that were evidently owned by Joseph Smith.
New York Period
DeWolf and Brown, First Lines in Arithmetic, for the Use of Young Scholars. Hartford [Connecticut]: Printed and Published by William S. Marsh,...
Answer to:If evolution is contradictory to Christian beliefs, are Christians who support evolution sinners?
Well we're all sinners.
And we are all, no doubt, in error on points of doctrine and theology.
So, Christians who believe in evolution are simply, I believe, in error doctrinally and/or theologically.
However, since this is a NON-essential I would never deny anyone fellowship if they claimed to be a Christian but believed in evolution. In fact, I have several Christian friends...
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Answer to:How well do you think Windows 7 is going to do?
It's going to become the defacto standard within 2-years because it is easily the best Desktop Operating System they've ever written.
After the Vista debacle they got it right.
If the economy were better I would even go so far as to predict market dominance within 18-months.
And, yes, I was a Beta Tester so I have seen the production code and run it through it's paces....
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Answer to:Are there any Mormon bigamists?
Yes, and I'm not just talking about the FLDS men whose attitude toward taking yet another wife is . . .
.
"It's bigga you? It's bigga me!"
Groucho Marx
(as Captain Spaulding in "Animal Crackers")
.
Answer to:Who else is celebrating the Phillies' Division Championship?
Well I can tell you isn't:
.
1) Dodgers fans
2) Cardinals fans
3) Rockies fans
.
The Phillies look really tough this year!
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Answer to:The bible says that being gay is wrong. But surely if you can't help being gay then thats just the way god made you so it's not your fault? thoughts
>But surely if you can't help being gay then thats just the way god made you so it's not your fault?<
I'm sure that someone has already addressed this fallacious statement but what the hey . . .
The research that this popular presumption is based on was compromised and hardly conclusive. In fact, the science behind this research has been repeatedly challenged.
...
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Answer to:Christians: How does one identify a "false Apostle"? (see 2 Corinthians 11:13)
Let's look at the passage in question in it's full context:
2 Corinthians 11 (New International Version)
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different...
Answer to:Has anyone read Rex Hudler's new book "Splinters"?
I didn't think that 'Mad Dog' was smart enough to read let alone write!
;-)
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Answer to:What are some books to recommend on better understanding the Bible?
My personal favorites are these:
25 Basic Bible Studies by Francis Schaeffer
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Bible-Studies-Francis-Schaeffer/dp/0891078932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254087120&sr=8-1
The One Year Chronological Bible NLT
http://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Chronological-Bible-NLT/dp/1414314078/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254087374&sr=1-2
Self...
Answer to:Since the LdS Church rejects William Clayton's 1843 Kinderhook Plates translation entries in Joseph Smith's diary, why don't they also reject James Mulholland's 1838 First Vision (aka the Pearl of Great Price "official version") entry in Smith's diary?
As a convenience, here is the full article that the referring link takes you too:
Why it matters that Smith didn't write the First Vision story
Some have asked why it matters that Joseph Smith did not write the official version of the First Vision story. It's important because the church has a history of denying things because they were not written by Joseph Smith. For example,...
Answer to:How often did Occam shave?
Only when he could afford razors.
Answer to:Doesn't the recent theft of DVD documentaries comparing Mormonism and Christianity distributed in Gilbert, AZ negate the common LdS refrain: "We do not try to force our beliefs on anyone. We also don't go around attacking the beliefs of other religions."
UPDATE 9/25/2009
From Bob Betts, General Manager, Concerned Christians:
We crafted a kind, but firm letter to the Mission President, emphasizing the points of the illegality of the missionary's action and the violation of people's agency. We told him that in the spirit of Christian love and grace, we would not press charges, nor seek compensation for the stolen DVDs. We told him...
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Answer to:Do Christians of one denomination generally believe that Christians of other denominations are sinners?
Absolutely not:
.
"In essentials UNITY.
In non-essentials LIBERTY.
In all things CHARITY."
.
And others have already said it but I will echo it: We are ALL sinners, period.
.
Martin Luther said it well when he said that Christian evangelism is nothing more than, “One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
Answer to:Can you ever love the same person again?
Of course - if you're talking about emotions or feelings.
Emotions are like cats they wander in and out of the room as they please.
If you're talking about LIVING love by remaining committed to the relationship despite what you're feeling right now then that is a choice that one must make.
If you're talking about choosing to love even if you're been hurt or...
Answer to:For all Christians who think homosexuality is an abomination and have masturbated at least once, do you technically realize that you are having same sex with yourself? (and with someone you love btw.) How can you condemn others for what you do too?
Your argument is fallacious.
There's quite a difference between self satisfaction and having sex with someone of the same gender.
It's like arguing that masturbation is fornication because you're not married to yourself.
Therefore your underlying reasoning is flawed making your conclusion ridiculous.
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Answer to:My Gf said she would put pink streaks in her hair but she put blue in instead! What shoudl I do?
Put pink streaks in your hair.
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Answer to:If you heard a person say that they were a "Christian", but then said that they hated the bible, and wanted to get the whole thing banned, would you think that they were actually "Christians"? Granted the term is highly subjective, but how could that be?
I would have to think that person is actually an "Anti-Christian".
.
I don't think it's possible to be a true believing Christian and hate the Bible.
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Answer to:How would Mom feel if I married a Mormon?
Only YOUR Mother knows . . .
However, here's one daughter described how her Mormon Marriage impacted both she and her non-Mormon parents:
I still agonize over how much my wedding day must have deeply hurt my parents. I am their only daughter. I refused to drive to the temple with them for fear of smelling like my dad’s cigarette smoke. I have grieved many times since then...
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Answer to:I like a guy who is Mormon, and I am not. I'm Christian, but I was wondering the "rules" to a teenage Mormon relationship? I've liked him for a year now, and I dont think its going to go away..
Sigh . . .
.
How many times much we answer variations on this same question?
.
Here we go again:
Being Unequally Yoked with a Latter-day Saint
By Bill McKeever
(Source = http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=79971&catid=10)
Probably no other emotion is as important to God as is the emotion of love. The Bible...
Answer to:What is it, that the mormons call "Lamb's blood?
I'm going with what's left after a Utah Sheep Rancher has delivered that year's herd to the meat processing plant in Salt Lake City.
Yep, that's my final answer and I don't need to use a lifeline!
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Answer to:How can we be sure we have found the right Church?
Because it guides and leads one to worship the One true God of Israel as defined by the Bible without . . .
.
Adding additional "revelation", scripture, or special interpretative keys for/to the Bible.
.
Subtracting from the Divinity of Christ by redefining His nature from what the Bible says about Him.
.
Multipling your own works to Christ's all sufficient atonement...
Answer to:Do Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri?
CLIPPED FROM "MORMONISM FOR DUMMIES: GLAD YOU ASKED!" . . .
Glad You Asked! The Garden of Eden
(link to source = http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/peepstone/full_text/805)
“Glad You Asked!” is a feature designed to enlighten the curious about some of the various aspects of Mormonism that indeed makes them a “peculiar people.” This will be our...
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe that people can have sex in heaven?
Yes, but not on earth.
(snark answer)
Answer to:Why do some Christians have such a hate attitude toward Mormons?
Snark Answer: Because they spew dogma as an "authoritative" answer question after question after question after question (ad nauseum) , they don't paragraph their long winded answers making them illegible, and they can't seem to find their way out of the Mormonism section of AnswerBag.
(poke!)
Answer to:How close is your zodiac sign fitting your personality?
Eleven. The correct answer is 11.
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Answer to:What does it mean when someone is a "reserved" person?
It means that they don't share their thoughts or feelings freely. Rather they "reserve" them for only them-self and those that they trust.
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Answer to:How do Mormons explain no archeological evidence of the supposed big battle in New York?
They keep pointing to the future and claiming that a future archeological discovery will vindicate the Book of Mormon.
For example:
“And let me here say a word in relation to new discoveries in our knowledge of the Book of Mormon, and for matter of that in relation to all subjects connected with the work of the Lord in the earth. We need not follow our researches in any spirit of...
Answer to:Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley has been suspended for the rest of the season, and there is speculation he may leave. What is your view?
As a Dodger's fan who had to endure some of his worst behavior while he was with our team . . .
"Don't let the screen door hit ya on yer way out Milton!"
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe the Bible has stood the test of time without needing additional scripture?
No.
Answer to:Do Mormons believe the Bible is inspired by God?
SHORT ANSWER: Yes - but not the one that you hold in your hands.
LONG ANSWER:
In LdS Theology the Bible as it was originally inspired and written was inspired and inerrant. In order words it is both inspired AND inerrant in the original manuscripts. Ironically this is the stance that Conservative Christian Theologians hold to as well.
However, LdS Theology then goes on to explain that...
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Answer to:How exactly would you describe David Letterman's humor? Is there any formal word to describe it?
Acerbic.
Answer to:PETA has asked Pet Shop Boys to change their name to something more animal friendly. What do you think?
I think that these PETA members need to join us in the real world some time!
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Answer to:I'm seeing a 16 year-old LDS girl whom I love, and I am thinking of converting so we can wed in the temple later. She says she can't be as serious and won't think about marriage. Is it bad to consider future marriage at this point?
Thank you! You have given the world a gift with this question!
Your question poignantly demonstrates how many LdS youths practice "Missionary Dating". As former Mormon (and the son of the LdS Leader who administrated the LdS Temple System in the 1960's) noted:
"Early Mormon leaders were also quick to see the power of family ties. They did everything they could to...
Answer to:What do you think of Jennifer Anniston?
A nice authentic girl who's been sucked into the Hollywood system and is now having trouble maintaining her mental, emotional, and spiritual equilibrium.
Thankfully so far she's done better than many other notables have.
Answer to:Are Mormons allowed to use sex toys?
There's a great punchline here . . . somewhere . . . just waiting to bust loose!
Answer to:Are there different kinds of Mormons?
THE ASSUMPTION BEHIND THIS ANSWER:
I'm sure if by "different kinds" you're referring to Mormon Denominations - of which are currently close to 70 active and close to 200 throughout Mormon History (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement) - or if you were referring to Mormon Cultural types.
.
So I'm going to assume the latter:
.
THE FIVE...
Answer to:Is it true that Brigham Young believed that it was acceptable to kill people to atone for their sins?
SHORT ANSWER:
Yes.
LONG ANSWER:
And Brigham Young was NOT the only LdS Leader to teach the LdS Doctrine of "Blood Atonement" - which is what you're referring to.
Please note that the quotes that follow are all, without exception, either from neutral or Mormon friendly sources. No Anti-Mormon sources were used
JOSEPH SMITH
In a manuscript written in 1839, it was...
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Answer to:I lost my job in August 2009 and I have never seen a job market this bad before. It can be scary, depressing, and frustrating. Does anyone have any wisdom on how to get a job in this awful market? Or how to survive without a job if nothing changes?
I would like to thank those who DRd this question!
Next time why don't you just rub salt into an open wound followed by a healthy dose of lemon juice - that would be just about as pleasant as the rudeness, disrespect, and insensitivity that such crass behavior produces!
Talk about kicking someone while they're down . . .
Answer to:I've been Adventst all my life & my husband isn't. He says my not "following" his beliefs aren't biblical and uses Galatians as his defense why not to follow the Sabbath. How do I make him see the truth & Christ's directions over his always comes first?
Your husband is right. Please consider this excellent analysis from a former Adventist Pastor who did an exhaustive amount of research on the subject and came to the conclusion that Ellen G. White got this one wrong:
http://www.exadventist.com/audio/FoodLawsAndTheSabbath.mp3
http://www.exadventist.com/audio/TheLordOfTheSabbath.mp3
http://www.exadventist.com/audio/TheSabbathKeepsMe.mp3
...
Answer to:Did Adam sin, when he partook of the forbidden fruit?
According to the Bible: Yes.
.
According to LdS Scripture: No.
.
I'm going with the Bible since it came first and the authors are more credible and trustworthy than Joseph Smith.
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Answer to:What are some popular movies that star a Mormon character?
Yes. Just about anything from Richard Dutcher.
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe the Native Americans to be descendents of Jews?
Oy vey! You betcha sweet bippy!
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;-)
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Shalom!
Answer to:If Joseph Smith's First Vision was the most important historical event since the atonement, then why does the Historical Record clearly demonstrate that early LdS Church members and leaders didn't know about it?
SysAdmin this should have been a comment not an Answer - please delete.
Answer to:Does being in love make you koo koo?
Because romantic love temporarily changes your brain chemistry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/12/AR2007021201657_pf.html
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Answer to:Doesn't the recent theft of DVD documentaries comparing Mormonism and Christianity distributed in Gilbert, AZ negate the common LdS refrain: "We do not try to force our beliefs on anyone. We also don't go around attacking the beliefs of other religions."
HERE ARE THE PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THIS QUESTION:
mormon missionaries stoop to theft
Written by Bob Betts
http://www.concernedchristians.com/
On the Saturday morning of September 12th, 2009, volunteers from Concerned Christians went door to door in a neighborhood near to where a Mormon temple is soon to be built in Gilbert, Arizona, to distribute door hangers containing the DVD...
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Answer to:Mormonism..respecatable religion or crazy cult?
SECULAR Cult Exit Counselors have identified Mormonism as a Mind Control Cult based on the group's behavior ALONE. Given that, the "religion" part of the equation is largely irrelevant.
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=80003&catid=532
...
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Answer to:Does the King James Version of the Holy Bible indicate that Jesus is the High Priest, Prophet and King, and that he would never pass on His Kingdom to another person?
Apparently the words of the author of the book of Hebrews . . .
Hebrews 7 (KJV)
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
... regarding Melchizedek king of Salem and priest of God Most High gets missed by Latter-day Saints.
A common understanding is that...
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Answer to:Why is the LDS church pushing vampire pedophilia books on my children?
Esqueaze me? Baking powder?
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Answer to:Where is Heaven? Does anyone know if it is actually a place?
SHORT ANSWER: You're standing on it.
LONG ANSWER:
Earth's not our home...or is it?
By Randy Alcorn
The Bible teaches that our eternal home will be a place we've already been—earth. It will be a New Earth, a transformed earth. But just as I will be able to remember my friend Steve, who will be a resurrected Steve, so I will be able to remember my home world...
Answer to:What proof or evidence can LDS give about the origins of the Book of Mormon?
Not a scrap.
"Since the introduction of the Book of Mormon in 1830, both Mormon and non-Mormon archaeologists have studied its claims in reference to known archaeological evidence. Latter Day Saints generally believe that the Book of Mormon describes historical events; however, the existence of the civilizations and people described in the Book of Mormon is not accepted by mainstream...
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Answer to:Why do Mormons Practice Baptism for the Dead? Did any of the early church leaders teach this principal?
SHORT ANSWER:
1) Mormons practice Baptism for the Dead based on a corrupt interpretation of I Corinthians 15:9.
2) While it's indeterminate from the Historical Record whether the Corinthian church was performing Baptist for the Dead or not, Paul's sarcastic mockery of the rite in I Corinthians 15 clearly demonstrates that it was a pointless, unBiblical, and theologically absurd...
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Answer to:Can you explain the mormon religion to me?
Yes. Here it is in a nutshell:
"Mormonism is based on the subjective 'intuition' of the individual (you'll 'feel the truth' of it, and if you don't, you're not open to God...).
It is a remarkably irrational non-Christian religion born of a remarkable man in 19th-century New York. In fact, Mormonism is built on some of the wildest and most...
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Answer to:I want to rap about the LDS church using this beat. Do you have any ideas for the lyrics?
It's been done so I would do what every other Rap Artist does and steal.
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Answer to:What do Mormons think about Jehovah's Witnesses?
SHORT ANSWER:
While the members of the respective groups may have mutual respect and affection for each other (as several of the answers have noted in this thread) theologically they have little choice but to see the other group as in very deep, misguided error.
LONG ANSWER:
It's a very good question given the fact that both groups were a result of the 19th Century Restoration and...
Answer to:According to the Bible, how does God communicate with mankind?
A: Through the Bible and through the indwelling Holy Spirit within each believer.
However, the "words" of the Holy Spirit must always be "plumblined" against the Bible. If there's a contradiction it's NOT the Holy Spirit - it's something else.
2 Timothy 3 (New International Version)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,...
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Answer to:What does your Church say, God looks like? Can you describe Him?
SHORT ANSWER:
Bibically sound Theology rejects the idea that God's physical image can be - or SHOULD BE - described since the Bible is clear that "God is a spirit".
Even the physical appearance of incarnated God the Son is NOT described anywhere in the Bible, it is believed, for this reason.
LONG ANSWER AND EXPOSE' OF THE QUESTIONER'S INTENT:
THE ANSWER...
Answer to:What does your Church say, God looks like? Can you describe Him?
SHORT ANSWER:
According to Joseph Smith since God is a spirit we don't know what He looks like nor how to describe Him.
LONG ANSWER:
Well Whew since I know that you're a Latter-day Saint I'm sure that you must surely be looking for what Joseph Smith said to the School of the Prophets (and then later published in Doctrine & Covenants) on this matter so here it is:
...
Answer to:Who or what do Mormons believe created their God?
SHORT ANSWER: The "head one of the Gods".
LONG ANSWER:
According to Joseph Smith in The King Follett Discourse:
"The head one of the Gods brought forth the Gods"
So the answer would have to be: The head one of the Gods.
Joseph Smith didn't really indicate WHO that God was in this discourse - it's ambiguous. However, the very clear implication is that...
Answer to:Do Mormons believe in the Immaculate Conception?
SHORT ANSWER:
"Mormons insist that they do believe in the "virgin birth", yet many of them have described it in a way far removed from what Christians have believed for two millennia. While individual Mormons are divided over this issue, to this day the Mormon Church has no unequivocal official position on whether the immortal Heavenly Father had sexual intercourse with his...
Answer to:What is a "Mormon Stumper"?
Any objective, truthful, validated evidence from outside the Mormon system that disproves the claims of the LdS Church.
And there is much evidence of this type despite LdS protestations, apologetics, and spin-doctoring.
Answer to:I hear there are beleifs in the Mormon church that have been proven to be wrong. Can anybody give me examples?
Completely ignoring opinions and perspectives from outside the LdS Church, here's a list of the once sacred writings and Theologies from past Mormon leaders that the LdS Church has "cast on the ash heap of mere opinion".
Again, at the risk of appearing overly didactic, let me reiterate:
THESE ARE WITHOUT EXCEPTION "BELIEFS" THAT WERE ONCE CONSIDERED...
Answer to:Is the Book of Mormon worth anything as an allegory?
That's about all your left with since it's clearly NOT a Historical Document.
In fact, many LdS Scholars, aware of the major obstacles and problems regarding Book of Mormon Historicity, have suggested that's how it should be used.
And, you know, as a work of allegory it doesn't do too badly! As one ExMormon, now an Evangelical Christian has said well:
"[We]...
Answer to:A drug dealer is __________?
Starbucks
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Answer to:I am going to see the San Diego Padres take on the Colorado Rockies in Petco Park on Sunday. Who are you cheering for?
Padres. Right now my two favorite teams are the Dodgers and whoever's playing the Rockies.
.
Unless it's the frakin' Giants of course! Then I would even root FOR the frakin' Rockies.
.
(Dodgers fan here)
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Answer to:What is your favorite musical instrument?why?
Fretless Electric and Upright Bass.
Thank you for asking.
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Answer to:Is paid ministry part of the Lord's plan? Were the Apostles paid to preach?
Apparently NOT since Mormon Clergy has been compensated in various sundry ways throughout Mormon History:
"According to D. Michael Quinn in The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power . . .
Stake Patriarchs charged $1.00 per blessing. This increased to $2.00 by the end of the 19th century.
Strangely, Patriarchs encouraged the faithful to receive numerous blessings over the course...
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Answer to:OK, so the Heavenly Father has a physical body. Did He come down to Earth, get His body, then return to Heaven, or did He always have it? I've heard it both ways, and would like to know which is right.
Oh dear! Apparently a mistake's been made somewhere!
Heavenly Father doesn't have a body. He's a spirit.
The Lectures on Faith (which were prepared with the help of Joseph Smith and which was a part of Doctrine & Covenants until 1921) in Lecture 5 is quite clear that God is a Spirit:
"... the Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power, possessing all...
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Answer to:Should Jim Thome go to the LA Dodgers?
He did.
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Answer to:We (the Latter-day Saints) do all that other Christians say we must do to be saved.
Yet some claim we will be condemned because we believe God requires more than that of us.
That makes no sense.
How can more than enough be insufficient?
The very way the question is framed revealed how deeply entrenched the questioner is in Mormonism: The WHOLE question is about WORKS as in:
"WE (the Latter-day Saints) DO all..."
.
"...WE must DO to be saved."
"...WE will be condemned because we believe God REQUIRES more than that of us."
"How can MORE THAN ENOUGH be insufficient?"
Notice...
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Answer to:Do you think the New York Yankees will win the 2009 WS?
No.
.
They will eventually collapse under the weight of their own evil.
.
(Red Sox fan here)
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Answer to:We (the Latter-day Saints) do all that other Christians say we must do to be saved.
Yet some claim we will be condemned because we believe God requires more than that of us.
That makes no sense.
How can more than enough be insufficient?
A: Because the Mormon Christ is insufficient to save.
And this assertion isn't based on anything but LdS Thelogy and Scripture.
In the end the Mormon Gospel can be never be sufficient - it's impossible.
Please refer to embedded videos for full details.
Or if you prefer . . .
http://www.mormonwiki.org/Impossible_gospel
...
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Answer to:What quotes can you find that support the Church of Jesus Christ as a “Christian” religion? (Note: I will participate in answering this question.) ;-)
Using quotes from Mormon sources to support the stance that Mormonism is Christian is like using quotes from Scientologists to support the stance that they're Scientists.
Or Muslims that they're Christians.
Or Christians that they're Jews.
Only the established group has the authority to determine whether or not the group belongs or not.
And established, Orthodox...
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Answer to:Help! What would be a good food to make for a 50's theme dinner party?
Egg Creams.
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Answer to:Is the Mormon church and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints the same thing?
SHORT ANSWER: There is no such thing as "The Mormon Church".
LONG ANSWER:
From WikiPedia:
Latter Day Saint vs. Mormon
Latter Day Saints are commonly referred to as Mormons, a nickname derived from the title of The Book of Mormon. However, the size and prominence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have led to the terms Mormon and Mormonism being generally...
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe that Jesus is God?
SHORT ANSWER:
Now? Yes.
Always? No.
"As startling and offensive as it sounds, Mormon leaders have consistently taught that Jesus Christ was physically begotten by God the Father, who they teach possesses a physical body." [4] This stems from the Mormon teachings that all spirit is really a finer matter, that the Holy Spirit did not beget Jesus (contra the Bible), and that...
Answer to:I heard Mormons believe in Aliens, and that aliens tie into their religion. Is this true?
Yes. But they don't most certainly don't believe in ILLEGAL aliens!
.
;-)
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Answer to:Gordon B. Hinckley: "The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I [LdS President and Living Prophet] speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times'" Thoughts?
OK, I've waited long enough . . .
RESPONSE TO LDS APOLOGISTS:
The LdS response to this question - including the FAIR (Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR) which is an LdS Apologetics website) are fallacious. Here's why:
1) Hinckley NO WHERE IN THIS SAME ADDRESS made the claims that Mormons and LdS Apologists (like FAIR) state that he made.
You will...
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Answer to:I have jut returned to school, and got my class lists for the various classes I have this year - why do people insist on finding the most ridiculous spellings for their kids names?
I don't know but I'm hoping to ask Chone (pronounced "Shawn") Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels some day!
(BTW, we shout "Chone" as in how the name is spelled whenever he shows up on TV or at the plate at a game because we think that spelling is ridiculous!)
Then, of course, there's Joni (pronounced "Johnny") Eareckson Tada.
And I...
Answer to:For my next (LDS) temple trip, I am toying with the idea of taking secret photos of inside the temple (whereas photography officially isn't allowed.) If such surreptitious photos of the inside were leaked onto the Web, what could happen to me?
The Danites WILL find you!
(NOT!)
Oh stalwart Mormons will moan and wail about how "Gentiles" don't respect their religion and it's "sacred" things.
Anti's will slap you on the back and give an "Atta Boy!"
And Mormon Studies Scholars will yawn. It's nothing we haven't seen before - and it's BORING!
So we why...
Answer to:Do Mormons sing songs/hymns as part of their worship? what kind?
Here you go - the entire Mormon Hymnal is online: http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,4650-1,00.html
And attached are a few sample videos that include Mormon Hymns.
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Answer to:If I took secret pictures of the inside of an LDS temple, and posted them onto an album on Facebook, what would my fellow LDS friends say in the album's comments? What would they do?
Don't bother - it's been done with incredibly boring results.
And if you don't I'll buy you a Pale Lay Ale - or if you prefer a Pe Le Ale. It's your call mate!
;-)
Answer to:Is it true the church believes God the father has flesh and bone just as we do? Does this imply that God the father lived a life as a man?
Lorenzo Snow: "As man now is, God once was; As God is, man may be."
Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) was the fifth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from 1898 to 1901.
Next question . . .
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Answer to:D&C 124:89 commands the LDS Church to , "....publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the earth." And Joseph Smith said that it was completed in 1833 so why hasn't it ever been published by the LDS Church?
Clearly the Salt Lake City based LdS Church is disobedient to their Prophet's revelation.
Therefore, we have yet another evidence that the LdS Church is apostate relative to the teachings of Joseph Smith and restored LdS Theology.
On the other hand the RLDS (now "Community of Christ") DID, "...publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the...
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Answer to:Christians tells us that acceptance of “unconditional grace” requires "faith in Christ". But what constitutes “faith in Christ”?
This article on HOW we are justified by faith - from the 19th Century, no less - is stunning and very precise!
NOT FAITH, BUT CHRIST
by Horatius Bonar
(1808-1889)
OUR justification is the direct result of our believing the gospel; our knowledge of our own justification comes from believing God’s promise of justification to every one who believes these glad tidings. For there is...
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Answer to:“Mormons fear, with some justification, that their theology might be trivialized” (Mormon America, p.301). Thoughts?
And the reason why the Ostlers said that is very interesting.
On the same page the Ostler recount how Gordon B. Hinckley would dodge hard-to-accept LdS doctrines publicly (Larry King Live, The PBS Newshour, Time Magazine, etc.) while reaffirming them privately (Ensign Articles, General Conference Addresses, etc).
The Ostlers in Mormon America argue, just as Armnad Mauss did in "The...
Answer to:Christians tells us that acceptance of “unconditional grace” requires "faith in Christ". But what constitutes “faith in Christ”?
This article is excellent - but a wee bit long. This author argues that it's the Faith OF Christ that we actually perceive and express as Faith IN Christ. Very interesting!
By the Faith of Christ, or our faith in Christ?
by Tony Warren
The most common distortion in the Church today of 'the doctrine of Grace' is in Christians attempting to make faith an action on our...
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Answer to:Christians tells us that acceptance of “unconditional grace” requires "faith in Christ". But what constitutes “faith in Christ”?
I found this article to be excellent on the subject of conditional v. unconditional grace. The "faith in Christ" (or as one expositor observes, it's more accurate to refer to it as "faith of Christ" Biblical) question is also answered in this article:
IS GOD'S GRACE CONDITIONAL?
19 June, 2003
I came across something on the internet a few days ago that...
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Answer to:If your son married a Mormon, what would you do about him?
Love him just as much and pray for him all the more.
.
My son is an adult. He is free to build up or tear down his life any way that he pleases.
And HE is the one that must live with the consequences not me.
And, just as been the case since he became an adult, he is in the hand of God now.
However, if he asks I will honestly and directly express my opinion of the LdS Church and...
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Answer to:"4-days before Smith's Christmas revelation [D&C 87], Eber D. Howe's Painesville Telegraph, published just 12 miles from Kirtland, had editorialized that 'civil war' was at hand and that it was possible 'our national existence is at an end.'" Thoughts?
SHORT ANSWER:
This is conclusive proof that Joseph Smith’s prophecy was hardly a real prophecy to begin with. Simply REPEATING speculations circulating in newspapers and other forms of public discourse is NOT a “prophecy”.
LONG ANSWER:
A Little Background
by Brian H.
First of all, federalism was a contentious issue all the way back BEFORE the establishment of the...
Answer to:FLDS Church: Is it a cult? Are young girls really being married to older emn against thier will? Are they getting pregnant at 14 years old? What do you think?
Q: FLDS Church: Is it a cult?
A: Clearly it is. Point-by-Point it meets ALL the criteria both a Mind Control and a Doctrinal Cult.
http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=76264&catid=532
Q: Are young girls really being married to older men against their will?
A: Yes.
http://www.childbrides.org/carolyn.html
Q: Are...
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Answer to:Do Mormons believe they can become gods or goddesses? How do they believe this happens?
Yes. This is know as "Exaltation" and you can read about it here:
http://www.mrm.org/celestial-marriage
Answer to:Can the non-Mormon parents of an adult Mormon child attend a temple wedding when it's their child being married?
Simply put: No
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Answer to:"Jann Shipps, studying the evidence, believed the real reason [Brigham] Young quashed [Luck Mack Smith's Autobiography] was that the prophet's mother had emphasized the Smith family rather than simply Joseph, Jr. alone." Why was this a problem for Young?
Well since all the Mormon Stalwarts are avoiding answering this question like it's a dead raccoon here's some evidence for the readers to ponder and consider until we get an LdS Answer:
This is from a January 31, 1855 letter from Brigham Young to the Millennial Star:
'There are many mistakes in the work entitled “Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the...
Answer to:One of the reasons Mormons believe tattoos to be a sin becouse it defiles your temple(body). Why does it matter if you will be perfected after death? Does a man made thing have power above gods ability to make you perfect?
> Does a man made thing have power above gods ability to make you perfect? <
Apparently it does according to Gordon B. Hinckley - please see my FULL answer elsewhere in this thread.
Answer to:Do you think Mormons should be be given limits on how many children they can have?
No more than I think Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Evangelicals, or any other people group should be given a limit.
It's a freedom and a choice for each married couple to make and should ever remain so.
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Answer to:What dishes are unique to your area (state, city, etc) that other people may have not even heard of? Care to share some recipes?
Southern California is famous for a few culinary innovations that are pretty common elsewhere due to the high expatriate population from our fine (but currently troubled) state:
1) Chili on fries.
2) Chili on Hamburgers
3) Various Americanized Oriental dishes such as Orange Chicken and Egg Foo Young.
And, of course, Dodger Dogs - the first 12" frankfurter in a 10" bun.
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Answer to:Do you think the Jaredites were black?
Say what?
What you goin' on about honky foo'?
Well my nephew is Jared - thus making him, indeed, a Jaredite - and he's fair skinned with freckles, blond hair, and blue eyes.
So I'm going with, "No!" Regis - and that's my final answer!
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