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?
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ANSWERS: 11
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For those of you who do accept the Bible as the word of God, then I would also point out the commandments that God gave to the Israelites as they entered Canaan. He commanded them to slay all of the inhabitants of that land and take for their own. In other words God commanded Israel to conduct a war of genocide against the Canaanites. He reiterated these instructions numerous times even up to the reign of King Saul. One of the reasons Saul was rejected of God was because he did not follow a commandment to utterly destroy the Amalekites. So, there are times when God does command that the wicked be slain. Fortunately, this has been a rare occurrence. I know of no such specific commandments to do such a thing since Laban nor do I anticipate Him issuing such a commandment any time soon. This is not the way He prefers to deal with us. That said, how many of you Christians would refuse to kill if you were commanded of God to do so and you knew without a doubt that the commandment had come from God?
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see: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/4 Im new to this faith but He took the the mans life because of his drunkeness & the Commandments of the Lord!
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Why don't you people arrange a convention somewhere and leave the rest of us in peace. I'm not a Jehovah's Witness - I have that in common with the vast majority of the population, but I get heartily sick of all the JW bashing that takes place on this site. Let me tell you something, the only people who care are the witnesses themselves and people like you who, for whatever reason, feel the need to attack them.
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science_geek Apr, 11 2007 at 04:44 PM Anecdotal evidence is what historians rely on. Tell me one fact about your beliefs that is not anecdotal. The testimony of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon is anecdotal. The story of the first vision is anecdotal. So therefore by your own statements then nothing in Mormonism is valid at all. Nice. In response to this, my testimony IS anecdotal to you, whom has not witnessed the testimony of the Holy Spirit. That is a physical thing, indisputable evidence. The only unforgivable sin is to deny the spirit of revelation, to feel and recognize the Holy Spirits witness and touch for what it truly is, then to go against it willfully. I can testify that the first vision is true, not because the missionaries told me so, but because the holy spirit of revelation did. The witness of the spirit is not anecdotal.
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IMO, yes. but, how is that different from any other christians?
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it's just a story.
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If a Latter-day Saint (or any Christian) were 100% positive the commandment came from God, they would obey. God has various people throughout history to do something contrary to the established Gospel. Abraham was asked to kill his son as a sacrifice. The Lord also had Abraham hide the fact that Sarah was his wife, telling different leaders that she was his sister. The children of Israel were commanded to kill the people who inhabited the Promised Land. Moses made a bronze serpent (an idol?) to cure the children of Israel from snake bites. Jesus had his disciples harvest grain on the Sabbath, even though that was considered work. It is imperative to verify that God gave the commandment if the order goes against what you've been taught is right.
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Life belongs to God. It is his to give or take. And he told Nephi the reason for doing what he commanded. Recall that God commanded Israel to slay entire nations according to the Bible, and it was not accounted murder. . Keep in mind also that Laban had already robbed Nephi and his brothers and attempted to have them murdered.
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First of all, Murder is defined as "shedding innocent blood". Laban was anything but innocent. 2. The plates in question did not belong to Laban. He was only the next in line to watch over them. They contained the Lords Law as well as a genealogy of a whole group of people, including Laban and Lehi and his family. And the Lord knew that Laban would send his army after Lehi and his family to try to recover the plates. So he had to be disposed of as commanded by God. As far as identity theft goes, you will notice it says..I Ne.4;20..And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury. Now Nephi did not say tried to sound like Laban, but that he command him "IN THE VOICE OF LABAN". This could only have happened if the Lord was with Nephi and gave Nephi the "voice of Laban." It is clear, you did not actually consider your question before you ask it. Had you done so you would not look like a fool now...whew4
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How does one determine what is or is not acceptable? By social standards? By national laws? By family tradition? By their our own inward moral compasses? - Social Standards: These constantly change due to location, time, and culture. What would popular opinion be in this situation. Was Nephi justified in killing the man who robbed him attacked him and currently had his gaurds searching for him to kill him. That would be an interesting debate. - National laws: In Ireland not long ago a judge ruled the murder of a protestant preacher justifiable homicide because he was preaching something other than Catholic doctrine. - Family tradition: Some families have a tradition of child or spousal abuse. That can't be the key. - Moral Compass: Where does that moral compass come from? - There is another way people determine what is and is not acceptable and that is by what God deems acceptable or unacceptable. If God commands someone to do something than He is saying it is acceptable.
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Did someone say "Blood Atonement"? . OR . Did someone say "Mountian Meadows Massacre"? . OR Did someone say "Danites"? . Nope, someone said all three. . (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) http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=78591&catid=526 http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=75028&catid=530#75028 http://www.realmormonhistory.com/blood_atonement.htm http://www.exmormon.org/violence http://www.mrm.org/topics/salvation/blood-atonement-if-it-was-never-taught-why-do-so-many-mormons-believe-it
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