[greyfoxx39]

For those of use who have been invoved in the debate here at FR, this is an opportunity to look at the LDS-approved answers and compare them to the answers we have found through our own research of LDS and other sources. It further is interesting that the LDS church is mobilizing a cadre of apologists for "internet duty" and incidentally to provide the "milk before meat" message.

[Revelation 911]

re - this mormon explanation: prov 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.

[RetSignman]

It seems that some people have looked to the past and learned from it. I remember when John Kennedy, a Catholic, was elected president and he and the Pope held power over the country and mandated that the only recognized religion in America was Catholicism.

Do we REALLY want to relive those days? I wouldn’t think so and I think it is preventable by making this crucial election all about the faith of the candidates. We need to stop looking at the qualification such as leadership ability and concentrate on which church he will install as the national religion.

(I’m sorry I have to insert a sarcasm tag but some people don’t recognize it when it should be obvious)

[FastCoyote]

There’s so much spinning going on in those answers that they could dig their way to China if they called it an earth-boring machine.

[SwankyC]

9. archeological...proof...that the peoples and places named in the Book of Mormon are true?

This question is based on the mistaken assumption that the Bible message that Jesus is Christ and Lord is somehow "proved" by archeology

What a total non-answer. The question asks for proof of the people and places mentioned in the book, not that there is a god. There is clearly archeological evidence of the peoples and places mentioned in the bible - so how about it Mormons.

[Revolting cat!]

Dude, you gotta take LSD before reading thses LDS apologetics. Whew!

[Freedom2specul8]

marked to read later

[gondramB]

Thank you for posting this.

It looks like many of the answers boil down to to:

1. Mormon prophets past and present are human and fallible.

2. Don’t apply standards to Mormons you don’t apply to other Christians.

[Revolting cat!]

For those who have just joined us here are representative excerpts from the answers provided by the LDS Church:
(Quotation marks omitted)

This was not a prophecy,

Prophets are entitled to their opinions

we don’t understand what Brigham meant.

Critics should be careful

Believing Christians should be careful.

Most “contradictions” are actually misunderstandings or misrepresentations of LDS doctrine and teachings by critics.

Critics of the Church have not been familiar with the data on this point.

This is a misunderstanding and caricature of LDS doctrine.

This question is based on the mistaken assumption

The critics need to read the next verses.

The critics have their history wrong.

[Domandred]

Back to the beginning

this site will provide the LDS-APPROVED ANSWERS

Your words not theirs. FAIR is not giving LDS Church-Approved answers.

From FAIR: "FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice."

That also covers your title "(LDS SITE FAIR)", which is misleading. FAIR are LDS members but they do not speak for church doctrine and only voice their own opinions.

Members are free to agree or disagree with FAIR's opinions on both non-doctrinal and doctrinal teachings.

[bubbacluck]

ping-a-roony

[matt1234]

"What's all this I hear about Mormons and macaroni?

Oh...nevermind."

[LiteKeeper]

A duck by any other name is still a duck, and the Church of LDS, by any apologetic is still the Church of LDS, and it is still a non-Christian religious cult.

[Elsie]

Two hundred graduating students at Brigham Young University-Hawaii have been urged to use the Internet - including blogs and other forms of "new media" - to contribute to a national conversation about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Official Meat of the LDS Organization based in Salt Lake City Utah.

"Use your Words of Wisdom Wisely!"

[Elsie]

Brigham and others were most likely repeating what had been told them by the science of the day.

So much for ASKING God for the TRUTH of a matter!!

Them 'scriptures' sure were useful!!

 

 

 

 

---

---

THE BOOK OF MORONI

CHAPTER 10

 

A testimony of the Book of Mormon comes by the power of the Holy Ghost—The gifts of the Spirit are dispensed to the faithful—Spiritual gifts always accompany faith—Moroni’s words speak from the dust—Come unto Christ, be perfected in him, and sanctify your souls. About A.D. 421

 

1 Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that *more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.

2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

 

---

 

THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 9

 

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. HC 1: 37–38. Oliver is admonished to be patient, and is urged to be content to write, for the time being, at the dictation of the translator, rather than to attempt to translate. 1–6, Other ancient records are yet to be translated; 7–14, The Book of Mormon is translated by study and by spiritual confirmation.

 

1 Behold, I say unto you, my son, that because you did not translate according to that which you desired of me, and did commence again to write for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record, which I have entrusted unto him.

2 And then, behold, other records have I, that I will give unto you power that you may assist to translate.

3 Be patient, my son, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.

4 Behold, the work which you are called to do is to write for my servant Joseph.

5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.

6 Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

10 Now, if you had known this you could have translated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now.

11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now;

12 For, do you not behold that I have given unto my servant Joseph sufficient strength, whereby it is made up? And neither of you have I condemned.

13 Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall prosper. Be faithful, and yield to no temptation.

14 Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day. Amen.

[Elsie]

 

15a. Why does the Book of Mormon state that POLYGAMY is an ABOMINATION, and then the founders and leaders of the LDS Organization do it anyway??

 

---

 

 

 

THE BOOK OF JACOB
THE BROTHER OF NEPHI

CHAPTER 2

 

  24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
  25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
  26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
  27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
  28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
  29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
  30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.
  31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
  32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.

[Elsie]

The critics need to read the next verses. The Book of Mormon says that God may command polygamy, just a few verses later. (Jac. 2:30).

Anyone with half a BRAIN can read those verse and NEVER get any reference to POLYGAMY from them at all!

  27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any ^aman among you have save it be ^bone ^cwife; and concubines he shall have none;

  28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the ^achastity of women. And ^bwhoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

  29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or ^acursed be the land for their sakes.

  30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up ^aseed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

[Elsie]

The shortest answer is that the Saints believe the First Vision not because of textual evidence, but because of personal revelation.

Let me translate this "Reformed Mormon Speak" for you:

SCREW evidence! We KNOW it's true!!

[JDoutrider]

mark

[hope]

OMG! LDS doctrine is so un-maintstream compared to Judeo-Christian doctrine.

If MR(not to mention the goal of every mormon to spread the LDS gospel(or nearly)and to make LDS mainstream) gets the nomination...Just wait and see all the stuff that comes out on this religion...

The kind of stuff that LDS members are not allowed to discuss with the world....It will be a shock to the mainstream for sure!

A hayday for the MSM...

[lasereye]

9. Can you show me archeological and historical proof from non-Mormon sources that prove that the peoples and places named in the Book of Mormon are true?

This question is based on the mistaken assumption that the Bible message that Jesus is Christ and Lord is somehow "proved" by archeology, which is not true.

This is a straw man. Nobody has said everything in the Bible is proved by archeology. The fact is NOTHING in the book of Mormon has been verified by archeology.

It also ignores differences between Old and New World archeology. For example, since we don't know how to pronounce the names of ANY Nephite-era city in the American archeological record, how would we know if we had found a Nephite city or not?

Huh?