Rev, as to the statistics that you quoted about the problems that Utah faces, who says that this is being done by LDS members, especially what said this was
said that this is being done by Temple going members. I'm not saying we're perfect but I don't think we're causing people to commit rape
because we teach that you shouldn't have sex till your married. I don't think we're teaching people they can't be sad so they should take
anti-depressants. As for the history stuff, it stated that iron was found pre-Colombian, which M Fnord said there was no evidence. I was just trying to say
that you can't say something didn't happen because we have no solid evidence of it. Archaeologists are consistently digging up more information,
who's to say that tomorrow that they won't find some horse bones, any of those other animals, or a cistern. Will that automatically make me right and
the Book of Mormon true? No, because some other unproven historical fact will be focused on or the find will be disputed and people will keep saying the record
can not be true. That's what happens when dealing with a history that is thousands of years old. In the end it has to come down to a matter of faith.
As a missionary I would meet plenty of people that would tell us we were wrong and perpetuating a false religion and I would ask, "Do you believe in God?
Do you believe that he loves us just as much as in the time of the Bible? Do you believe that he could call prophets and apostles just as he did in the time
of the Bible? That's the main message after all, that God is still revealing knowledge and guidance to us. If you don't believe it then why do you
try to prove it wrong? The only real purpose for that is to validate your own choices as being right and those who went down the other path as being
hopelessly lost delusional cowards who can't face reality."
I follow the 11th Article of Faith in my church, We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the d ictates of our own conscience, and allow
all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. As for the hedging my bets, what can I say I am a little bit silly. I've even
been saved by the Baptists, maybe by the Methodists as well, I'm a little unsure of their requirements for salvation. If other religions had such an
absentee method, I wouldn't mind. They can not steal my soul and force it to go somewhere else. Where I go is completely between me and my God. I just
think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is my best bet with the biggest pay off. This way I get to be a Joint-heir with Christ(Romans 8:16) and
have the chance to become like my Heavenly Father.
As to skin color affecting how we vote, anyone who does that is a racist. I don't vote a certain way because I'm white, but because of certain values I
have.
said that this is being done by Temple going members. I'm not saying we're perfect but I don't think we're causing people to commit rape
because we teach that you shouldn't have sex till your married. I don't think we're teaching people they can't be sad so they should take
anti-depressants. As for the history stuff, it stated that iron was found pre-Colombian, which M Fnord said there was no evidence. I was just trying to say
that you can't say something didn't happen because we have no solid evidence of it. Archaeologists are consistently digging up more information,
who's to say that tomorrow that they won't find some horse bones, any of those other animals, or a cistern. Will that automatically make me right and
the Book of Mormon true? No, because some other unproven historical fact will be focused on or the find will be disputed and people will keep saying the record
can not be true. That's what happens when dealing with a history that is thousands of years old. In the end it has to come down to a matter of faith.
As a missionary I would meet plenty of people that would tell us we were wrong and perpetuating a false religion and I would ask, "Do you believe in God?
Do you believe that he loves us just as much as in the time of the Bible? Do you believe that he could call prophets and apostles just as he did in the time
of the Bible? That's the main message after all, that God is still revealing knowledge and guidance to us. If you don't believe it then why do you
try to prove it wrong? The only real purpose for that is to validate your own choices as being right and those who went down the other path as being
hopelessly lost delusional cowards who can't face reality."
I follow the 11th Article of Faith in my church, We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the d ictates of our own conscience, and allow
all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. As for the hedging my bets, what can I say I am a little bit silly. I've even
been saved by the Baptists, maybe by the Methodists as well, I'm a little unsure of their requirements for salvation. If other religions had such an
absentee method, I wouldn't mind. They can not steal my soul and force it to go somewhere else. Where I go is completely between me and my God. I just
think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is my best bet with the biggest pay off. This way I get to be a Joint-heir with Christ(Romans 8:16) and
have the chance to become like my Heavenly Father.
As to skin color affecting how we vote, anyone who does that is a racist. I don't vote a certain way because I'm white, but because of certain values I
have.