Why are you LDS / Mormon?

[nrajeff]

Yeah, I know ... I was just digging at the "greener grass" comment. The Christian life isn't all about comfort.

You ASS-umed that when I mentioned "better life" I meant COMFORT ?? Hugh Hefner might be living a life of comfort, but (at least the way I reason) that does not mean he has a better LIFE.

Allow me to clarify with some legalese disclaimer jargon: If, at some point in my mortal life, I decide that the CP system of theology and soteriology is more likely to bring me and my family closer to God and closer to compliance with His divine will, resulting in a better Christian walk and better ultimate destiny in the eternities, it would be illogical for me NOT to defect from my current beliefs and switch over to the CPSOTAS.


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Class transcript for student Cow Poke

Class title: Introduction to Mind Reading
Grade: D

----end of transcript-----

[Cow Poke]

You ASS-umed that when I mentioned "better life" I meant COMFORT ??

No, actually I didn't. You don't do so good when you assume what I assume.

Hugh Hefner might be living a life of comfort, but (at least the way I reason) that does not mean he has a better LIFE.

You probably know more about that than I do.

Allow me to clarify with some legalese disclaimer jargon: If, at some point in my mortal life, I decide that the CP system of theology and soteriology is more likely to bring me and my family closer to God and closer to compliance with His divine will, resulting in a better Christian walk and better ultimate destiny in the eternities, it would be illogical for me NOT to defect from my current beliefs and switch over to the CPSOTAS.

The PROBLEM is that, since you were born and raised Mormon, and that's your world view, the chances of you even seriously CONSIDERING an alternate system are pretty dim.

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Class transcript for student Cow Poke

Class title: Introduction to Mind Reading
Grade: D

----end of transcript-----

Well, I think you just scored an F, BESIDES being voted Class CLOWN.

[nrajeff]

Well, I think you just scored an F, BESIDES being voted Class CLOWN.

Well, at least I was good at SOMETHING!

[Cow Poke]

Well, at least I was good at SOMETHING!

I was once sent to the principal's office, accused of making "Cow noises", oddly enough. We had a substitute teacher, and several of the students near me decided to make barnyard noises. The principal asked me if I was, indeed, making "Cow noises", and I told him quite sincerely I was not. I know you find this hard to believe, Jeff, but I have IRL a pretty good reputation for being honest. The principal, believing me to be telling the truth, patted me on the back, and told me to go to my "next period" class. On the way out the door, I needed to clear my conscience, and I told the principal "I was making the PIG noises". He just laughed and told me to get to class.

[onefour1]

I was born in an inactive LDS family. But when I was 9 years old, they decided I should be baptized and I was baptized LDS. But like my family, I never went to church. When I was in the 1st or 2nd grade, my mother asked me to take my little sister to church. I took her over to the church to drop her off and then return home. As I started to leave, a old lady hollered at me and demanded that I get to sunday school class immediately. I was obedient to this strong willed old lady and attended sunday school. I remember going home and was filled with the spirit of love. I went home and cleaned my room and tried to be a good boy to my parents. Later I stopped going to church again. It wasn't until I was a softmore in high school that some boys my age invited me to come to the chapel to play basketball. Loving sports I went and played basketball. Afterwards, the bishop invited me into his office and asked me if I would be interested in attending seminary classes. I attended and found myself very interested in the gospel. Later I was asked to go on a youth conference and while on that youth conference I was expected to bear my testimony. I didn't bear my testimony because I didnt' have one. It bothered me that many of the youth could stand up and bear testimony that they knew that Jesus was the Christ and that the LDS church was true and I did not have this same knowledge. After returning from youth conference and not attending church because I was afraid to stand up in front of everyone and tell them about my experience, I was unhappy with my position in life. I didn't like that I was afraid to stand in front of people and talk. I also didn't like the fact that I didn't really know if God really existed or not. I always believed that God existed but I never believed I had ever had a personal encounter with him. As I read the scriptures in seminary I started to pray that God would forgive me of my sins. All alone in my bedroom, I knelt before God and asked him to forgive me. The most peaceful and joyous feeling overcame me and I knew at that moment, without a doubt that God had answered my prayer and forgave me. I was full of joy and love for God and did not want to stop praying at that moment. It felt so joyous. I asked God to give me strength to be able to stand before people and speak. It was only two weeks later that I again was asked to give a talk in church. I was scared but trusted in God because I knew that God answered prayers. I prayed every day up until I had to go to church and give a talk. I remember sitting on the stand and my heart was pounding inside and thoughts of being totally embarassed entered my mind. But I said another little prayer then got up to the pulpit to give my talk. At that moment, a strong feeling of comfort and peace came over me and I was able to give my talk without any fear or worry. The spirit of the Lord entered into me and I knew it. That was the beginning of my journey as a member of the LDS Church. Since that time, I have often felt the spirit of the Lord leading, guiding, and directing me in my life. God has blessed me greatly in my life and I can say without a doubt that God lives and loves his children. He has often bore witness to me through the gift of the Holy Ghost that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is his true church. As I look back on my life, I know that it was God who filled me with his spirit back when I took my little sister to church so long ago. He has been with me all the days of my life. He has taught me that if we seek we shall find. If we knock, his door will be opened unto us. The knowledge I have learned in the church is excellent, but it is the spirit of the Lord that has confirmed in my soul that the LDS church is true. That is why I am LDS.

[Cerebrum123]

I was born in an inactive LDS family. But when I was 9 years old, they decided I should be baptized and I was baptized LDS. But like my family, I never went to church. When I was in the 1st or 2nd grade, my mother asked me to take my little sister to church. I took her over to the church to drop her off and then return home. As I started to leave, a old lady hollered at me and demanded that I get to sunday school class immediately. I was obedient to this strong willed old lady and attended sunday school. I remember going home and was filled with the spirit of love. I went home and cleaned my room and tried to be a good boy to my parents. Later I stopped going to church again. It wasn't until I was a softmore in high school that some boys my age invited me to come to the chapel to play basketball. Loving sports I went and played basketball. Afterwards, the bishop invited me into his office and asked me if I would be interested in attending seminary classes. I attended and found myself very interested in the gospel. Later I was asked to go on a youth conference and while on that youth conference I was expected to bear my testimony. I didn't bear my testimony because I didnt' have one. It bothered me that many of the youth could stand up and bear testimony that they knew that Jesus was the Christ and that the LDS church was true and I did not have this same knowledge. After returning from youth conference and not attending church because I was afraid to stand up in front of everyone and tell them about my experience, I was unhappy with my position in life. I didn't like that I was afraid to stand in front of people and talk. I also didn't like the fact that I didn't really know if God really existed or not. I always believed that God existed but I never believed I had ever had a personal encounter with him. As I read the scriptures in seminary I started to pray that God would forgive me of my sins. All alone in my bedroom, I knelt before God and asked him to forgive me. The most peaceful and joyous feeling overcame me and I knew at that moment, without a doubt that God had answered my prayer and forgave me. I was full of joy and love for God and did not want to stop praying at that moment. It felt so joyous. I asked God to give me strength to be able to stand before people and speak. It was only two weeks later that I again was asked to give a talk in church. I was scared but trusted in God because I knew that God answered prayers. I prayed every day up until I had to go to church and give a talk. I remember sitting on the stand and my heart was pounding inside and thoughts of being totally embarassed entered my mind. But I said another little prayer then got up to the pulpit to give my talk. At that moment, a strong feeling of comfort and peace came over me and I was able to give my talk without any fear or worry. The spirit of the Lord entered into me and I knew it. That was the beginning of my journey as a member of the LDS Church. Since that time, I have often felt the spirit of the Lord leading, guiding, and directing me in my life. God has blessed me greatly in my life and I can say without a doubt that God lives and loves his children. He has often bore witness to me through the gift of the Holy Ghost that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is his true church. As I look back on my life, I know that it was God who filled me with his spirit back when I took my little sister to church so long ago. He has been with me all the days of my life. He has taught me that if we seek we shall find. If we knock, his door will be opened unto us. The knowledge I have learned in the church is excellent, but it is the spirit of the Lord that has confirmed in my soul that the LDS church is true. That is why I am LDS.

I'm going to give you a little advice that CP gave me when I first got here on TWeb "USE PARAGRAPHS", it's hard to read a giant block of text like that.

[nrajeff]

I'm going to give you a little advice that CP gave me when I first got here on TWeb "USE PARAGRAPHS", it's hard to read a giant block of text like that.

...but other than that, what did you think of what 141 shared with you, Mrs. Lincoln?

[Cerebrum123]

...but other than that, what did you think of what 141 shared with you, Mrs. Lincoln?

It still just seems all like it is based on emotions and feelings rather than any external evidence(which is something that is needed). LDS is basically works based, emotion driven, and fideism(blind faith) mixed in with pagan and polytheistic notions.

[humbled4444]

Thanks for all the comments so far folks.

[nrajeff]

It still just seems all like it is based on emotions and feelings rather than any external evidence(which is something that is needed).

Which Bible verses claim what you're claiming? Where can we find the external evidence that you have been saved? Where is the external evidence supporting the idea that God has selected YOU for a lifetime membership in heaven? Aren't external evidences of your beliefs something that is needed?

LDS is basically works based, emotion driven, and fideism(blind faith) mixed in with pagan and polytheistic notions. ]

Your blind, presumptuous, arrogant, shallow, prejudice-driven dismissiveness really hurts your credibility, and won't get you far in a real discussion.

[Cerebrum123]

Which Bible verses claim what you're claiming? Where can we find the external evidence that you have been saved? Where is the external evidence supporting the idea that God has selected YOU for a lifetime membership in heaven? Aren't external evidences of your beliefs something that is needed?


Your blind, presumptuous, arrogant, shallow, prejudice-driven dismissiveness really hurts your credibility, and won't get you far in a real discussion.

Christians have both the OT and NT, which are both historically reliable. We have the resurrection, we have the 500 witnesses, and numerous other verifying aspects to what we believe. LDS has NONE of this on it's own, and must borrow Christian history to try and support itself with. Also Jeff, I am just calling a spade a spade, nothing wrong with being blunt about what you believe.

[Cow Poke]

Your blind, presumptuous, arrogant, shallow, prejudice-driven dismissiveness really hurts your credibility, and won't get you far in a real discussion.

As opposed to your insightful, discerning, humble, deep, enlightened, kind, considerate, respectfulness.... which puts you on the fast track of becoming the next Mormon God?

[nrajeff]

Here is a challenge for you, CP: How many quotes can you find where I have characterized your faith, or Cerebrum's faith, in terms such as "It is basically works based, emotion driven, and fideism(blind faith) mixed in with pagan and polytheistic notions."

[Cerebrum123]

Here is a challenge for you, CP: How many quotes can you find where I have characterized your faith, or Cerebrum's faith, in terms such as "It is basically works based, emotion driven, and fideism(blind faith) mixed in with pagan and polytheistic notions."

The problem is Jeff, that I can back up my statement, and I have to look no further than LDS doctrine and history.

[nrajeff]

The problem is Jeff, that I can back up my statement, and I have to look no further than LDS doctrine and history.

I am skeptical. The rhetoric you use is very facile. It is what one might expect from an anti-Semite who is describing Judaism.