Mormons

Originally posted by ~dorkerina~
they are called the urim and thummim (yer-um and thumb-um is kinda how you pronounce it), he used them to see and translate the book of mormon from it's original figures (a form of hyroglyphics) to english. They are seer stones. they where once touched by the finger of god to give light to an ancient prophet of the americas. they where found with the book of mormon in the hill cumorah. (i'm pretty sure that's their history, but that is for sure how they where used) So yes and no. They gave a power from god to joseph smith, not really messages, but translation.

the one you are asking about is Jared I think...or the brother of Jared.

There were a few, but I think that's the one you wanted to know about. Sorry...I've never been good about this kind of thing. I'll go look it up to be sure.

and yeah...the prophets who wrote the book of mormon in ancient times were from Jerusalem. The book of mormon is just a history of these prophets and their families history and experiences...kinda like a journal. It's really cool to read though. I love the war chapters. I find my greatest inspiration and strength when I read Alma and Helaman.

There were some mormons at my campus a while back...the had some mormon Bibles there, I wanted to pick one up and check it out but was a lil afraid to....😬

Can't say I have ever met a Mormon....Don't they believe that after death they become like gods?

Oh and another way to look at the urim and thumimm is like the staff off moses, the real power came from god, not from the staff, or in this case the stones, at all.

To add to what kella said, The Book of Mormon is another testament of the works of Christ among his people. It is the history of a group of people who left Jerusalem before it was attacked in about 600 b.c., and travled across the sea to the Americas, and also about their decendants. It is an extension of the bible, or a companion so to say.

I can understand why you would be a little scared a1hsauce, there are some wierd misconseptions about us out there. I hope after this you can feel a little more comfortable about going to talk to a mormon, we're just normal people like you. I would encourage you to go to www.lds.org and send for a free copy of the book of mormon if your still interested. no strings attached, they'll send it to your home.

Our belief about life after death, is that if we make it to the highest degree of glory, by being the best followers of christ we can, we can become as god, living forever in happieness. That is our whole purpose in coming here, to further gods plan for us, his spirit children, which is to become as he is, and gain happiness. the happiness that everyone will have the opportunity to.

Oh, and it was a form of hyroglyphics because of the hebrew background of the people, and thus contact with egyptian learning.

Joseph smith actually had a copy of one of the figures taken to a professer of languages to be examined, and the guy said it was real. He gave a certificate of authenticity, but when he herd Josephs story about how he got the book, he said it was impossible and destroyed the certificate.

*shrug*

See. dorkerina....you're better at the gospel explanations than I am. I just know what I know...and being inactive for as long as I have been...I don't know much anymore about that part.

I didn't read the Book of Mormon until I was 23. I'd always had it and knew the stories from Primary (Sunday School for children), but never actually sat down and read it. Events in my life left me with plenty of time to sit and read it and I did and I was amazed. I never knew what I was missing!

As for Gods after this life...dorkerina explained that best. It's a reward for our choices here. God's plan for us is to return home to Him and become like Him. Not everyone will become like Him, but it's not a bad goal to strive for I think.

🙂

exactly 😄

So some become like gods and others just spirits children?.......But we all return to the source we've come from anyway...No religion denomination required.

Nope...no religious denomination required. Just be a good person...and accept the gospel into your heart (and we believe that those people in this world who did not have the opportunity to accept the gospel or did not choose to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ will have that opportunity after death, but that's a whole other discussion).

Our church, despite what may be seen on South Park from time to time is not all about us. I don't know anyone in my church that believes that only Mormon people go to heaven. There are countless people in the world past, present, and future who are genuinely good people and are not LDS. I don't see why they shouldn't get the same glory that we strive for...they've earned it too right?

As for what happens to those that don't become like Gods...if I'm not mistaken...we all have duties to perform. Everyone will have some purpose in "heaven" just as we have here on earth...only there we'll know what that purpose is. Here on Earth we gain knowledge to perform that task in the next life (heaven). As you know there are many "versions" of heaven. In ours...we have similar things that we have now. For example...my grandmother knows that when she dies that she will work in the libraries there. My grandfather teaches the gospel to those who haven't had the chance to know it. I will likely watch over the animals as my passion in this life is to work with animals either in the zoo or in the wild. Whatever your talents are is what you will spend eternity doing...or pretty close to it I think. So if your talent is a couch potato...I think you'll have to develop some other talents. lol. It's not easy to explain...and not all LDS believe exactly the same things about what's coming. We all have a different picture in our heads based on what we know and have learned about our eternal plan.

We all do have the same basis for it though, the same structure and the same knowlege of rewards for our actions here on Earth. And also...not every suicide goes to hell. This was something that plagued my late teenage years. My cousin, a very wonderful young man and LDS, commited suicide when he was 15. It shocked everyone as he was an outstanding person. I did some research and learned that he will have to lose points for the suicide, but he will be judged on his life, not his death. He was a good person. His family is an eternal one. They live the teachings and commandments of the gospel and they will remain a family for eternity because they have earned it. So blah to all the people who told me he is burning in hell. He was too good of a person for me to ever believe that a moment of weakness that he couldn't turn back from was the rule all-end all of his fate. So yeah...just had to get that off my chest.

Originally posted by Psycho Ninja
Mormon = Christians ?? I dont think soo !!

Okay okay i am new to this thread, and i have read it and found that nobody on this site knows what the definition of christian is, because if they did, there would be no arguement as to say that mormons are not christians,

Chris·tian ( P ) Pronunciation Key (krschn)
adj.
Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

n.
One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

Mormons believe in Christ, therefore, by the definition of Chritian, Mormons are Christian

Believing that we can be saved just by God's grace is a contradiction of the Bible, but of course the Bible has many contradictions unless you study it, pray about it, and recieve inspiration about it, then and only then can you know the full teachings of the Bible

As stated in James 2:17-18
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

This proves that in order to recieve grace, we must demonstrate our faith, the only way to do that is through our works, therefore, we must do all that we can, and then through God's grace we are saved in him

Also that the Godhead is one being is also a contradiction of the Bible
as stated in

Matt. 3: 16
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
this shows that christ cannot be the holy spirit, because it descended upon him in the form of a dove,

also as stated in
Acts 7: 55
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus estanding on the right hand of God,
This shows that they are seperate, as stephen looked up into heaven, he saw both God, and Jesus christ, because he was full of the Holy Spirit.

also as stated in
John 3: 16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This shows that Christ is the son of God, and therefore not one and the same person.

If anybody has any questions feel free to PM me

Uhm...I love you.

THANKS FOR THAT! You know your stuff! Don't know if you're LDS or not, but thanks for adding your comments about it. You'd be amazed how many people tell me that I'm not Christian when I KNOW that I am.

i know! gosh! it's usually the haters that say that though. don't be hatin!

oh and if you want to know what we think of the premortal life it's pretty cool, just ask. i love the story.

and i wanted to share a nice scripture about the season, told to the nephites about christs birth
Alma chapter 5, verse 50:

yea, thus saith the spirit: repent all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power and dominion. Yea my beloved brethren, i say unto you, that the spirit saith: behold the glory of the king of all the earth: and also the king of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men.

any other scriptres you guys like about the holiday? oh and are any of you going to finish gordon b. hinkley's challenge?

Uhm...weep

Well...I kinda stopped reading when we came home. There isn't any excuse for it, but you know how it is when things prevent you from reading...and then when you have the chance again...you just...don't? Yeah...that's why I'm not gonna make the deadline. I'm in Alma though...and I've been having this nagging to read...so who knows.

book

I'm attempting it... but not doing very well. I am trying though. Are you dorkerina?

This is the LSD OR LDS'S little world here isn't it?..........We're so nice, we haven't distroyed it.. 😇 😈

See, non christians can be nice.

L-D-S...Latter Day Saints.

I appreciate your restraint. I don't see the reason why you would want to destroy anything, but I guess I'm just different.

I am also aware that non-Christians are nice people too. I have several friends who aren't Christian. And I never said that you weren't nice.

blow

dido! and really, thanks for not ripping it to shreds. we like bubbles. haha, kinda. oh i'm gonna finish, i'm in ether, but i've had to do some serious cram time(last month). I've enjoyed it though. i'm jsut glad you guys are reading. Pres hinkley said more people are reading the book of mormon now then ever, pretty sweet huh?

Sweeeet.

Actually, when I found my BoM last night...I opened it and read two chapters. I thought I was in Alma, but no...I'm in Helaman Ch.13! YEAH! I can do it...if I read a lot in the next two weeks.

Chapter 11 & 12 really explained why my life was going so awesome and then suddenly turned really crappy. I love the BoM...it keeps me in the right place.

😄

Oh...here's a pic I love! The first time I saw the Salt Lake temple in person was at night. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. I knew in my heart that it was a truly holy place that I really wanted to go to someday.