restoration

Strangite Q&A

July 13, 2010
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Strangite Q&A

As I mentioned previously, I really enjoyed the Strangite session of the Mormon History Association meetings a few weeks ago.  Vickie Speek, John Hamer, and Mike Karpowicz gave some fascinating presentations on this little known group.  Following the session, they answered additional questions, and I thought it would be interesting to provide a transcript of the Q&A session.  But before I get into the transcript, I should tell you a brief history of the Strangite Church. James Strang, prophet of the Strangite Church

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A Non-Historical View of the Book of Mormon

May 15, 2010
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A Non-Historical View of the Book of Mormon

Perhaps the time has come in the church to recognize that some members want to openly espouse a non historical view of the Book of Mormon?

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After Action Report: The Community of Christ Did WHAT?

April 21, 2010
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Headline in the Independence Examiner for Thursday, April 15, 2010: “Delegation Takes No Action on Human Sexuality Issues: Church Will Continue Dialogue.” Headline  by John Hamer on BCC on Thursday, April 15, 2010: “Gay Rights Revelation Added to The Community of Christ D&C” ———- The two headlines above generally cover the spectrum of opinion about what happened at the Community of Christ World Conference as it completed the process of canonization of a new Section 164 for its D&C. The spectrum of opinions about whether what happened was a good thing or bad thing, of course, runs even more...

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Squaring the Circle, balance and ideals

January 29, 2010
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Squaring the Circle, balance and ideals

A discussion of Squaring the Circle, a geometric puzzle.

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Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?

July 22, 2009
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Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?

David W. Bercot, a Texas attorney and Evangelical Christian, embarked on a quest to discover what Christians believed and practiced before the Nicene Creed. What he learned caused him to seriously re-evaluate his beliefs, to eventually change his religious affiliation, and to present his findings and analysis in his book Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up. Although the book represents a critique of mainstream Evangelical Christianity in light of the teachings of the Early Church Fathers, Bercot’s analysis has surprising and thought-provoking application to Mormonism as well. While some may see Will the Real Heretics Stand Up as...

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There is only one issue in the Bloggernacle and all other things are only appendages to it.

July 16, 2009
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There is only one issue in the Bloggernacle and all other things are only appendages to it.

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”  Joseph Smith —DHC 3:28-30

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Japanese: A Modern Case for Reformed Egyptian

June 27, 2009
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One of the common complaints about and arguments against the Book of Mormon is the claim that it was written in “Reformed Egyptian” – a unique and obsolete language that was peculiar to the Nephites and could not be read by anyone else.  There have been many things written about this issue over the years, some of which are merely skeptical and more of which are mocking.  One of the common themes has been, “Well, that’s convenient.  There’s no way to check any language for accuracy and veracity.  Great con scheme.”  What the people who wrote these things in the...

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Trying to Understand My Friends Who Didn’t Leave the Faith

June 9, 2009
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Here is a modified excerpt from a 60-page writing that I made for close friends and family members when I decided to leave the church a few months ago. It was my attempt at helping them understand my view. I think most of them didn’t bother reading it. I wasn’t looking forward to the conversations that I would be having with them, but I was surprised to find myself not having those conversations. Today’s guest post is by Michael. In the spirit of Mormon Stories, he was invited to share his experience.

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Faith vs. Doubt

April 9, 2009
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Faith vs. Doubt

“Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other.”

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The Untold Story of Black Mormons by Guest

April 2, 2009
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The Untold Story of Black Mormons by Guest

When I served a mission in eastern Canada in the early 90s, there were many things I was grateful for (warm boots, wool suits, fairly normal food). But above all, I was grateful that I was sent to a region with very few black people, as I was not looking forward to having to defend something in the Church’s past that had deeply troubled even a relatively immature teenager with a limited knowledge of Church history and doctrine.

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Faith and Logic: Finding and Navigating an Individual Balance

March 3, 2009
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NOTE: This is a guest post by David Stout, Disciples of Christ minister. I write from the perspective of a Disciples of Christ minister whose girlfriend is a devout Mormon. I am, therefore, very sympathetic and supportive of the LDS (I pray for your church daily) but embrace the theological position often known as Protestant Liberalism. In reading one of Mr. Nielson’s posts a while ago, two things jumped out at me. One is the issue of the relationship of Jesus and the Father and the other is the relationship of faith and logic. I will address the latter...

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Creeds of the Creedless

February 13, 2009
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Creeds of the Creedless

The restoration was essentially based on a rejection of the creeds of Christendom which were declared “an abomination” and “those professors were all corrupt; that: ‘they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”  So, are all creeds bad or just those specific creeds?  Are there creeds in Mormonism or is it a creedless religion?

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Temperance Movement and The Word of Wisdom

December 26, 2008
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Temperance Movement and The Word of Wisdom

For almost two centuries the Word of Wisdom is solid proven evidence to many members that the Church is true.

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Stopping Time for the Unconverted

October 9, 2008
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I had an interesting conversation with a woman today. Missionaries would call it a bash. I called it posing and answering meaningful questions. It prompted her to listen more than she would have.

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Virtual RS/PH #17: The Great Plan of Salvation

September 7, 2008
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Virtual RS/PH #17: The Great Plan of Salvation

A unique facet of Mormonism is our view of God’s plan for his children, or our purpose in life.  Today’s lesson focuses on what JS restored regarding this plan.

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How Active Are You? How Orthodox Are You? A Self-Assessment

September 4, 2008
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How Active Are You? How Orthodox Are You? A Self-Assessment

Take this assessment and find out: (Taken from D. Jeff Burton’s For Those Who Wonder : forthosewhowonder.com. Similar to a Correlation Department survey on Religion and Life conducted among LDS Church members in the mid-1980s)

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Common Scriptures in Review: JSH 1:19

August 27, 2008
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Perhaps the most reviled verse among non-Mormon Christians in the entire Mormon scriptural canon is Joseph Smith History 1:19 – the words of Jesus to Joseph Smith at the beginning of the First Vision regarding why he should not join any church. This single verse encapsulates the reason why many call Mormonism arrogant and offensive and blind...

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Is the Internet a Urim & Thummim?

August 20, 2008
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Is the Internet a Urim & Thummim?

What is a Urim & Thummim, and how will the earth become like one?

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Virtual RS/PH #16: Revelation & the Living Prophet

August 17, 2008
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Virtual RS/PH #16: Revelation & the Living Prophet

Finally, a lesson that really makes you think!  This is probably my favorite JS lesson this year (no one dies or has to move to Missouri).  For those who are teaching, you may also enjoy the excellent essay at Feast on the Word blog by joespencer.

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Common Scriptures in Review: The Only True and Living Church

August 12, 2008
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D&C 1:30 As the resident parser, here goes: First, here is verse 29: And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon. Now verse 30:

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