The LDS church has fundamental flaws that prevent it from being the true church.

First, I would like to adress you saying that two of my arguments were "null" simply because YOU are an atheist...well then since this debate is about religous truth, i.e. the true Church, then your arguments about evidence are null because I am a believer. Sound illogical? Why start a debate that argues a Church is not the true Church, (meaning there is possibly a such thing as a true Church) and then just dodge your opponents arguments because the principle of Faith does not apply? That would be like if I wanted to debate what the best solution for global warming was, and when you presented your argument i simply desregard it because I think that global warming is bogus. Your lack of faith does not null my arguments, plenty of those reading this debate will agree with me on that one, eternal truth and the faith in its existence are central to this debate given its nature. Now you said several times that there is absolutely NO evidence, not one shred that the lamanites or nephites could have existed, not the way the Book of Mormon says they did. You then follow that up with the statement that your Book of Mormon is not that strong...? Since this is the case, I will give you some sources to educate yourself, because saying that there is not one shred of evidence is setting yourself up for failure, because it is so far from the truth it is rediculous, there is plenty of evidence that has been written about by plenty of scholars. http://www.fairlds.org... http://www.jefflindsay.com... http://www.the-book-of-mormon.com... I am sure that you have heard of Hugh Nibley and F.A.R.M.S. (Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) I would highly reccomend their writings. I would also reccomend that you read and study the Book of Mormon in its entirety. Clearly the claim that there is NO evidence is false. As far as your excommunicated friend, I know how the Church works, people are excommunicated only when they have commited some sin of a serious nature and are completely unwilling to repent. People do not get ex'd for asking questions, if they told you that they lied, simple as that. However, if a member teaches false doctrine or teaches against the Church and will not stop of course they will be excommunicated, why wouldn't they be, they are seeking to lead people away. They obviously don't want to be a part of the Church. As far as my Mission President ( I served in Harrisburg, Penn.) Your assumptions about him are wrong. He could have served, he was raised in the Church, he simply chose not to. He didn't have any desire to. He was never frowned upon by anyone, and neither have I been when I have made mistakes. About marrying in the Church...We strongly encourage marrying in the Church, obviously. What Church doesn't. Everything points to the fact that families are more stable when parents share the same faith. We also believe that families can be together forever, so yes we encourage that. We do not condemn or frown on people who do not. Your brother and sister are still welcome to Church and activities, as are their spouses. If there are individuals who have judged them, than I am sorry for that, they do not represent the Church, and you will find people like that in every congregation of every Church. But the Church and an overwhelming majority of it's members would acept them with open arms. I know MANY people who are married outside of the Church but are themselves still active members who serve with callings and full acceptence. They go to the Temple, give talks, and are active. To say the Church froens on them is simply not true, it is an overgeneralization of maybe a few individuals. And where did you get your idea that some love is created by the devil? That is not even relatively close to anything ever taught in the Church. We believe that lust outside of wedlock comes from the devil, but not love. I can refer you to www.lds.org or any Stake President for clarification on that one. As far as the Bishop thing, I think I already addressed this one enough. I don't think anyone is gonna buy that we encourage people to steal...that is rediculous and quite frankly I don't believe we are geting the full truth on that story...notice how I have sources and facts to back up what the Church actually believes, not just unverifiable stories and hearsay...again I refer you to lds.org or a local Stake President for clarification on the stealing issue. A Patriarchal Blessing is a guideling for living your life and a promise that if one remains faithful, they willbe blessed with all of the blessing promised to the faithful. Any "specific" promises are very personal and for the individual they are given to, not to be exploited for argument. It is not "fortune telling." I almost missed something...We do not teach that Jesus sailed across the sea. You clearly have not educated yourself on the doctrine. We believe after his ressurection he appeared to those in the Americas...(Other Sheep I have which are not of this fold, them too I must bring...) And for the record, I have read the Book of Mormon several times, and I have visited many of the ruins in the ancient mayan cities such as Talum. The cities and temples described in the Book of Mormon give no specifications on the size of the buildings, so to say that the buildings from the same exact time period that we have deicovered can not be the same as the ones from the Book of Mormon is an argument with no foundation. How do you know that they are not the same? Where does it say exactly what size they were?