What Mormons Believe--according to a Former BYU Professor

[Prayer Warrior]

You are assuming I do not know scripture.

No, I'm not at all! I know that you are well-versed in the Bible. That's one reason your beliefs don't make sense to me. It's like you're fighting against what you know to be true--kicking against the goad!

 

[Giuliano]

Speculation....If you tell of a spiritual event that has happened to you....it is open to criticism.

I admit it is speculation on my part to think pride was behind it since I don't know the motive for sure; but surely something seems wrong if Smith thought God Himself could be seen or has a physical body.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

when scripture says we were made in the image and likeness of God, I tend to think that in appearance, we have some similarities.

Right, in appearance, but not in substance.

 

[Grailhunter]

Yes, let us realize God can manifest in many ways. Consider the lilies of the field, for example. We can learn much about God by His almost infinite manifestations. It is impossible however for the human being to "see" what is nonphysical and beyond our comprehension. What we can see are manifestations -- if you see an angel, for example, you have not seen God Himself; but you have "seen" that God is a reality since you saw a manifestation of Him in one of His ministers.

Many of the prophets are careful when describing their visions since they know what they are seeing is not how things truly are. They frequently use expressions like "as it were" and "like unto."

This goes round and round. God must conform to what people think. God must conform to what People think He does or does not do. God must conform to what people think He can or can not do. Cardboard cut-out religion.

 

[Giuliano]

when scripture says we were made in the image and likeness of God, I tend to think that in appearance, we have some similarities.

You may reach a different conclusion if you think about that some more. Maimonides said that man was created in a way that he could come to understand God. The mind of man was given to him to be able to come to know about God.

The word "image" in Hebrew is fascinating since it is related to the word for "shadow." It could be said that man was created in the shadow of God. Now you can see a shadow; and it tells you that "something" is there -- even if you can't see the thing itself.

 

[Grailhunter]

I admit it is speculation on my part to think pride was behind it since I don't know the motive for sure; but surely something seems wrong if Smith thought God Himself could be seen or has a physical body.

I do not understand that line of thinking. God can appear in any form He wishes....that does not mean that His true form could appear on earth....could earth contain it? Still any form He desires.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

This goes round and round. God must conform to what people think. God must conform to what People think He does or does not do. God must conform to what people think He can or can not do. Cardboard cut-out religion.

God has revealed what he wants us to know and think about Him in the Bible. Agree? And He has revealed His existence and greatness in His creation.

 

[Grailhunter]

God has revealed what he wants us to know and think about Him in the Bible. Agree?

God revealed in the Bible what He wanted us to know....2000 years ago.....There are many things I have to tell you, but you cannot bear them now.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

God revealed in the Bible what He wanted us to know....2000 years ago.....There are many things I have to tell you, but you cannot bear them now.

God hasn't changed in the last 2000 years. Do you think He missed some essentials that we need to know about Him?

 

[Giuliano]

This goes round and round. God must conform to what people think. God must conform to what People think He does or does not do. God must conform to what people think He can or can not do. Cardboard cut-out religion.

I don't think it's a matter of expecting God to conform to my ideas at all. Can't see it. Jesus said the Jews had it right -- God is a Spirit.

I also think it a rather large error to confuse spirit and matter. There is the Creator and the created. To me, spirit is cause and matter is effect.

 

[Grailhunter]

I don't think it's a matter of expecting God to conform to my ideas at all. Can't see it. Jesus said the Jews had it right -- God is a Spirit.

I also think it a rather large error to confuse spirit and matter. There is the Creator and the created. To me, spirit is cause and matter is effect.

Define spirit....you think you can comprehend it?

 

[Grailhunter]

He hasn't changed in 2000 years. Do you think He missed some essentials that we need to know about Him?

A group of men took the texts and bound them together....depending on your perspective....the book of Revelation was called Revelation because it was revelation to the biblical era.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

A group of men took the texts and bound them together....depending on your perspective....the book of Revelation was called Revelation because it was revelation to the biblical era.

Are you a preterist?

 

[Grailhunter]

Are you a preterist?

Not really. I would imagine that the Jews have some views on that.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

Not really. I would imagine that the Jews have some views on that.

Oh, I thought you meant that the events of Revelation were confined to the biblical era.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

Define spirit....you think you can comprehend it?

Spirit doesn't have to be defined in order to differentiate between matter and spirit.

 

[Grailhunter]

Oh, I thought you meant that the events of Revelation were confined to the biblical era.

Ya...no. What I believe is that, the last book of the Bible did not end God's interaction with people. The last thing the Bible is, is an owner's manual.

 

[Giuliano]

I do not understand that line of thinking. God can appear in any form He wishes....that does not mean that His true form could appear on earth....could earth contain it? Still any form He desires.

A prophet should know that what he sees is not the totality of what God is. It is foolish to suppose that a body of flesh could contain God, as foolish as thinking a building could. What is possible however is that God can "fill" a body or a building with His Glory.

2 Chronicles 6:18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

Define spirit....you think you can comprehend it?

You are a spirit. The "real you" -- is a spirit. That is something people have to experience for themselves. I cannot define it for you since it's something you have to experience in order to know. As long as spirit is trapped in the physical flesh, spirit may identify with the flesh, not discerning the difference. That confusion also involved confusing soul and mind with the various parts of man being tangled. The Living Word of God separates them.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

Ya...no. What I believe is that, the last book of the Bible did not end God's interaction with people. The last thing the Bible is, is an owner's manual.

No one ever said the last book of the Bible ended God's interaction with people! Another straw man!

 

[Grailhunter]

Spirit doesn't have to be defined in order to differentiate between matter and spirit.

Just that they are different....And God can materialize as matter...physical form.