What Mormons Believe--according to a Former BYU Professor

[Prayer Warrior]

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

Sounds like Star Trek, lol. Or shape shifters, appearing in different physical forms.

Jesus is God incarnate--in physical form.

 

[Grailhunter]

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.


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.

Scriptures are a wonderful thing....they still cannot "contain"....the magnificence of God. Nor can they bind and suppress God.

 

[Grailhunter]

Sounds like Star Trek, lol.

What's wrong with Star Trek....

 

[Prayer Warrior]

Scriptures are a wonderful thing....they still cannot "contain"....the magnificence of God. Nor can they bind and suppress God.

The Bible was not meant to bind or suppress God. He wrote the book!

 

[Prayer Warrior]

What's wrong with Star Trek....

I've always rather liked the idea of a "prime directive."

 

[Grailhunter]

The Bible was not meant to bind or suppress God. He wrote the book!

You mean God at a desk?

 

[Grailhunter]

I've always rather liked the idea of a "prime directive."

agreed.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

You mean God at a desk?

Of course. Don't you know that He has a big desk in the sky?

 

[Grailhunter]

Of course. Don't you know that He has a big desk in the sky?

ok

 

[Giuliano]

Scriptures are a wonderful thing....they still cannot "contain"....the magnificence of God. Nor can they bind and suppress God.

The Scriptures are more valuable for telling us what cannot be true than for informing us of everything about God that is true. The mind can be compared to a mirror with dirt on it. Erase the spots of dirt, and it reflects reality correctly. Erase the defects of the human heart, and lo, the pure in heart shall "see" God.

 

[Giuliano]

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

Perhaps "man" plays a role in all this? What is the proper Temple of God?

 

[Grailhunter]

The Scriptures are more valuable for telling us what cannot be true than for informing us of everything about God that is true. The mind can be compared to a mirror with dirt on it. Erase the spots of dirt, and it reflects reality correctly. Erase the defects of the human heart, and lo, the pure in heart shall "see" God.

Agreed....and a very close study can lead to unique perspective....what "I think" you are talking about is what I believe....that you have to look at the spirit of the Bible.....to close a perspective and you cannot see the forest for the trees.

 

[Grailhunter]

Perhaps "man" plays a role in all this? What is the proper Temple of God?

Interesting concept because Christ never said to build a Temple to Him.

 

[Giuliano]

Interesting concept because Christ never said to build a Temple to Him.

And if we go back and check, Israel was not told to have either the Tabernacle or the Temple until after they said they did not want to hear the Voice of God. I think God was denied His proper Temple. Hence the need for a temporary substitute.

What is fascinating about the designs of both the Tabernacle and the Temple is how they resemble a human body. . . .

 

[Grailhunter]

And if we go back and check, Israel was not told to have either the Tabernacle or the Temple until after they said they did not want to hear the Voice of God. I think God was denied His proper Temple. Hence the need for a temporary substitute.

What is fascinating about the designs of both the Tabernacle and the Temple is how they resemble a human body. . . .

I have read that correlation. Sir Issac Newton did a little arithmetic on the dimensions of the Temple.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

Glad to see you guys reached a consensus. ;)

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I understand what you're saying, but considering that Mormons have done their share of killing and bullying, I think it's a moot point.

Two wrongs never justify a right. We ALL are sinners and need to strive to be better (empowered by Christ).

When you say "Christ-centered dialogue," I kind of get the feeling that you mean consensus, meaning a general agreement.

No, I mean dialogue that is centered on Christ, the most important subject in the world. And preferably conducted in a manner that reflects Him.

But for me to come to a general agreement with you about doctrine would mean that I have to give up biblical truth. IOW, I cannot agree with your Mormon beliefs that are based on Mormon scriptures other than the Bible without giving up my Bible-based beliefs.

No one is asking you to agree with anything.

And I'm talking about doctrines central to Mormonism, like the belief that God the Father was once as man (as human men are).

That speculation isn't even an official LDS Christian doctrine, nor dwelt upon in LDS church, you'll find folks with all sorts of opinions on the manner, and none of them are what a Creedal Christian would think.

I get very tired with "anti cultists" wasting my time with speculations that have nothing to do with Christ or anything remotely essential to salvation. If your concern is salvation, then let's talk about salvation and what is ACTUALLY believed.

 

[Giuliano]

That speculation isn't even an official LDS Christian doctrine, nor dwelt upon in LDS church, you'll find folks with all sorts of opinions on the manner, and none of them are what a Creedal Christian would think.

I think the question is how to understand this from:

Doctrine and Covenants 130

22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I think the question is how to understand this from:

Doctrine and Covenants 130

22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

That is
1) A different subject than Prayer Warrior's concern "And I'm talking about doctrines central to Mormonism, like the belief that God the Father was once as man (as human men are).".
2) Also not a subject essential to salvation.

If salvation is your concern, let's talk about things concerning salvation.

 

[Giuliano]

That is
1) A different subject than Prayer Warrior's concern "And I'm talking about doctrines central to Mormonism, like the belief that God the Father was once as man (as human men are).".
2) Also not a subject essential to salvation.

If salvation is your concern, let's talk about things concerning salvation.

Doctrines and Covenants aren't considered important? I don't understand. Why have that book then? What are the doctrines people must believe to be a Latter Day Saint in good standing?

If salvation is the concern, then the question may be why Smith saw fit to start a new church. I think he said he was told that every church had gone wrong. Did that mean people in those churches could not be saved? Were their doctrines so bad that salvation was impossible for people who belonged to them?