From: agr00@ccc.amdahl.com (Anthony G Rose)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Honest Question For Any LDS
Date: 8 Oct 92 05:04:10 GMT
Reply-To: agr00@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Anthony G Rose)
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <7OCT199200441575@acad3.alaska.edu> ksjwr@acad3.alaska.edu (REDELSS JOHN W) writes:
>In article <d0Wl02wm24jy01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>, agr00@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Anthony G Rose) writes...
>>In article <16774@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>>>In article <51bc025P24NJ01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> agr00@juts.ccc.amdahl.com (TONY ROSE) writes:
>>>>Could an LDS please explain a question that I have had concerning the
>>>>Scriptures you accept?  My question is this:
>>>>
>>>>In the Doctrine and Coventents, Section 135 Verse 3, I read that the
>>>>Book Of Mormon "contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel".  This is
>>>>also stated in Section 27:5 and a few other places throughout the D&C.
>>>>
>>>>The definition for "fullness", according to Webster, is: "complete".
>>>>The definition for "everlasting", according to Webster, is: "Eternity;
>>>>lasting through all time".
>
>There is a spirit of wrangling, of contention on this thread that is not of the
>Lord.  The so-called "Honest Question for LDS" is not an honest question.  It
>is a question designed to shoot down anothers faith.  There is no profit in
>asking or answering such a question.

Why are you attacking the person instead of facing the issue?  I have
brought up a point that bothers you because you don't have an answer for
it.  Instead of venting your frustration at me as a person, why don't you
vent it a the issue.  If I am wrong in what I am saying, then point that
out.  If not, please don't attack me personally.  I am sorry this
bothers you, but I care for you and your eternity.  I have a problem when
I see people placing the eternity of their souls in something that is
going to cause them to be separated from God for all eternity.

I no you see the problem that I have pointed out with the BoM.  However,
I am not glad that you mad, but I am glad that it disturbs you.  I pray
that you will take that an look at it honestly instead of reacting the
way you are.  PLEASE LOOK AT THE FACTS!  YOUR ETERNITY COUNTS ON IT!

>What did the Lord mean when he wrote the word "fullness" in the above quote. 
>To suppose you can figure out anything by looking in the dictionary shows your
>lack of scholarship.  Which dictionary?  Which definition?  How many
>definitions were there?  Do you know which definition the Lord was using?  How
>can you be sure that the Lord wasn't using a definition not included?

Any dictionary!  Can you come up with another meaning?  The reason I know
that he didn't mean something else, is because if he did, he would have
used a different word.

You don't use fullness, unless you mean complete, and you don't use
eternity unless you mean forever.  It is that simple.

>Jesus Christ spoke to the young Joseph Smith when he was only fourteen years
>old.  All the wrangling, scripture quoting, and dictionary quoting in the world
>can't change that.  It happened.  If you don't think it happened, then too bad
>for you.  Not everybody is ready for the truth.  Mormons may not be the only
>Christians in the world, but they have far greater knowledge of Christ than
>other Christians because he has visited us.  We have a prophet sent by Christ.  
>He's not a false prophet.  WE have access to a lot more information about
>Christ than can be found in the Bible only.             ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Information about Christ isn't what saves!  Put Joseph to the Biblical
test and see the results!  (Deut 18:20 and Deut 13).

The Bible instucts us to test all things (1 THESS 5:21).  The Bereans were
considered to be "more noble" because the "searched the Scriptures daily
to see if the things Paul said were true"  (Acts 17:11).  We have to do
the same with Joseph and anyone else who claims to be a prophet.  It is
required of us!

>Furthermore, I know what I'm talking about.  I have prayed to know about these
>things, and God has answered my prayers.  Also I understand reason and logic. 
>Reason and logic declare that the LDS faith is true....given the fundamental
>premise that the Savior visited the boy, Joseph.

What reason and logic proves that the LDS faith is true?  The Bible does
not tell us to pray to see if a prophet is true.  It tells us  to test
ALL things by Scripture!  Have you tested Joseph Smith by scripture?

>Jesus Christ is the center of the Mormon faith.  Joseph Smith was sent by Jesus
>Christ.  If we reject Joseph, we are rejecting Jesus.  The Book of Mormon is
>another testament of Jesus Christ.  These things are true.  If you don't
                                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
How do you know they are true?  Just because you prayed about it?  Or
because you have done as you have been instructed by Scripture to test
ALL things?  If you haven't tested it, you don't know if it passes or
fails.  If it doesn't pass the Biblical test, then there is no reason to
pray about it because God has already revealed his word on the subject.

>Let's not fight over religion.  Jesus doesn't like it.  I'll tell you what I
>believe.  You tell me what you believe.  Let's not attack each other.  Let's
>not try to "prove" that we are right.  Let's love each other.

Okay, I like it better that way too.  Please tell me the things that I
have asked, and don't attack me personally please.  Lets face the issues
as evidence presents them.  How do you know those things you mentioned
above are true?