Mormons are Christians - Apologetic Setup [01]

Professors - Con has stated that he thinks this refers to all Christians. I have stated it refers to the preachers. Joseph Smith was intrigued by religion and spent much time talking with the local church leaders, but he was always left more confused than he started. He asked God which church to join, and was told that they had been corrupted, and that the professors were corrupt. I believe this is in regards to those men of whom Joseph was seeking guidance.Christian Intent - Con didn't refute my statement. Con asserted that Mormons didn't intend to be Christians, which I refuted, and Con has now conceded this point by referencing Proverbs and not addressing my point.God is Eternal - Eternal is capitalized. It is a title of God. It comes from the Hebrew 'owlam', meaning 'long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient'.[1] The concept of God being as old as the universe fulfills all of these possible translations of the word, as time began with the creation of the universe. Everlasting in Psalm 90:1-4 is the same 'owlam', meaning that specific interpretation of the meaning of the word can be understood in slightly different contexts. John can also be interpreted to mean many different things. Christ is referring to Exodus 3:14 when the Lord told Moses 'I am that I am'. However, this isn't proof that supports Con's point.Important to God - I don't know if there is an 'official' Mormon standpoint on what is most important to God, but as they believe in the Bible, I suppose it would be the following: (Matthew 22:36-40)" Master, which is the great commandment in the law?Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." So it would seem God cares most that we love Him and our neighbours.Omnipresent - God's Sprit and presence is everywhere. So what does that mean? Mormons believe that the Spirit is the Holy Spirit, a personage of spirit that isn't constrained by a physical body. So, that fits. What about presence? God's love is everywhere. His guidance is everywhere(your hand shall lead me doesn't refer to an actual hand, it is clear this is figurative speech). Mormons believe that God is omnipresent through the Holy Spirit, his guidance, and love, not that the Father is actually everywhere at once, physically.Omnipotent - Is this meant to be taken literally? Nothing is impossible, meaning that God can come up with a math question so difficult that He can't answer it, except that He can answer it, because He can do anything, meaning that He can't come up with a question so difficult that He can't answer it. Instead, God is almighty, from the Hebrew 'shadday' which means 'most powerful'. What this means, is that God can do anything that can be done. Mormons believe this.Omniscient - Mormons believe that God knows all things.[2]Details of Creation - Genesis talks about the creation. It doesn't go into the mechanics of how it happened.Character of God - Jesus created the world. Mormons believe this. God is love, Mormons believe this. Same with the others. The point that Con missed is that the scriptures don't go into detail about every characteristic of God. What is God made of? What kinds of particles and energies. God has been seen in the scriptures, so what does God look like? The scriptures aren't all-inclusive of every truth, we are left to discover for ourselves. Con would have to show how scripture contradicts Mormon teachings, but can't do this by saying 'X isn't taught in the Bible'.God is Spirit - The article 'a' is all-important. If I say 'This object is a car', then we know it is a car. The article allows the word car to be a noun. If I say 'This object is red', then red is an adjective. Red doesn't tell us everything about the object, just one of its characteristics. In this way, God is Spirit, but that isn't all that God is.Book of Mormon - The Bible doesn't state that it is all the word of God and that there can be no other scripture.Baptism - Mormons believe that authority to act in God's name comes from the priesthood. The priesthood was given to the apostles, and they oversaw the Church. When the apostles died, the priesthood authority was lost with them, so everything done since then wasn't done with God's authoritative seal.Grace and Works - Mormons teach salvation by grace and works, together. We don't boast of our works, but works are required. If works weren't required, God wouldnt' give us commandments. Faith without works is dead.Again, I have clearly shown these topics to be in line with Biblical teachings. While Con may not agree with specific interpretations, the biblical basis exists. Mormons are indeed Christians.[1]http://www.biblestudytools.com...[2]http://www.lds.org...