From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Honest Question For Any LDS
Date: 5 Oct 92 16:31:57 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

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".
>
No one can answer for everyone, but I think most Mormons would probably
say that the BoM contains all the gospel necessary for salvation.
It doesn't mean that it contains everything of value.  Obviously,
the universe would be a simple place if everything of religious
value for all time could be contained in a small volume.

>So for something to contain "the fullness of the everlasting gospel", it
>must be "complete" and "final for Eternity".  I don't have a problem with

Any concept of completeness or final for Eternity is alien to
the spirit of Mormonism, which is contextual and believes in
eternal progress rather than static concepts such as "final" or
"complete".

>that, but I can't find things in the Book Of Mormon that the LDS people
>tell me are part of the Gospel.  Like:
>
>1. As man is God once was, as God is man may become.
>2. Each individual has the potential to progress to become a god of their
>   own world.
>3. God has a body of flesh and bones.
>4. God the father had a father who had a father, etc..
>5. God the father is maried to our eternal mother and has millions of
>   children.

These doctrines came later than the Book of Mormon, most of
them from the Nauvoo period, except for #3, which was quite early.

>6. Jesus Christ was begotten by an immortal father in the same way that
>   mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers.

This is something Brigham Young said that most Mormons don't
even know about.

>7. Jesus Christ blood is not sufficient for the forgiveness of all
>   (certain) sins.

This is something Brigham Young said that most Mormons neither
know about nor believe.

>8. Baptism for the dead.
>
This came probably around 1836 or so.  Of course, there is the
Biblical reference in II Corinth.  

>I can't get there.  Which is correct? Is the Book Of Mormon truely the
>fullness of the everlasting gospel?  Or are these other things not
>part of the gospel and not necessary for me to reach the Celestial
>Kingdom?
>

I would say that those who wish to be in the Celestial Kingdom
need to learn to love as God loves.  That is the most important
thing.  All of the other ordinances and requirements can be handled
(and will be) if a person develops that sort of love.  While books can
help show the way, which books make the difference may vary with the 
individual.  Worrying too much about "going to the Celestial Kingdom" 
and not enough about one's neighbor is counterproductive.  
Both Mormons and Evangelicals spend too much time contemplating
the hereafter and not enough helping out those in trouble here and
now.  u!

-- 
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Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
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