Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Q&A

Okay, since I have a few questions (see comments on previous blog entries) I thought perhaps the easiest way to address them all at once, and let other people read my answers as well, would be through a Q&A post. ;)

First my disclaimer - being part of the LDS church for only a couple weeks now (officially) - I make no claims of being able to knowledgeably answer every question. My answers I give here will be partly what I've researched through my books I've been given from the LDS church, and partly through the http://www.lds.org/ or http://www.mormon.org/ websites. If there is any opinion of mine given, that is not supported with facts, then I'll note that as well.
In addition, the website http://www.mormon.org/ is a great resource for those with questions. There is even a live "chat" feature that allows you to ask a missionary any questions you might have.

Okay so on to the questions I have so far...and I'm not sure if I can come back and edit these posts after I post them? But if I can, then I'll add any new questions to this post as well rather then starting a new Q&A thread for each new question.

The first question....

Q: Do you (being baptized LDS) believe in the Trinity? Do you believe in the 3-in-one. Do you believe that God is the Father,Son and Holy Spirit?

A: (Edited to fix my answer, I realize that I didn't answer it correctly!)
Not as three in one but instead three seperate individuals, which has been my belief all along in the church I was raised in. From lds.org: "The Church's first article of faith states, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." These three beings make up the Godhead. They preside over this world and all other creations of our Father in Heaven. "
Bible scriptures to support this, showing God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost as seperate entities:
Matthew 3: 13-17
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16And 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:
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Acts 7: 55-56
55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Q: ...what is the LDS stand on verse 22:18 in the book of Revelations as it pertains to the book of Mormon? Here is the verse: " For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plaques that are written in this book"

A: While I can't comment on that scripture verse directly, but that would be an interesting one to bring up to the missionaries when I see them again, I can say that the Book of Mormon isn't meant to be adding to the Bible really, it's supposed to be complimenting the bible.
From lds.org
"The Book of Mormon is a record of God's dealings with the people who lived in the ancient Americas. Prophets of the Lord engraved the original records on gold plates. On September 22, 1827, an angel named Moroni—the last Book of Mormon prophet—delivered these records to the Prophet Joseph Smith. By the gift and power of God, the Prophet Joseph translated the record into English. "

And it was practice back in the days of the apostles and prophets to write on scrolls of various parchment or even metal. In fact the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of them was on copper.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_Scroll
In addition, speaking of the Dead Sea Scrolls (and this is purely my opinion here, not based on fact) - I'm not sure what all is written in them, but wouldn't they be considered some sort of addition to the Bible? But yet they are actually lost Biblical text/documents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls
So I guess where I'm going with this is that it is possible for lost Biblical texts or other additional texts that compliment the Bible to have existed.

Also some scriptures from the Bible that speaks of God's message being given to other people then specified in the Bible alone, (these were listed in one of my books, a guide the missionaries use)
John 10:16
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Ezekiel 37:15-17
15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
16Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.


Isaiah 29:4
4And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Isaiah 29: 11-18
11And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.


I invite anyone else to ask questions that I will try to answer, as it has been beneficial to me as well researching these questions. I feel that it has only solidified my belief in this further; even erasing some doubts I've had before.
I am far from knowledgeable about the Bible or the Book of Mormon, but through research I can attempt to answer most questions. But the best advice I have to give, is to ask a missionary to come answer your questions or go seek them out yourself via the http://www.lds.org/ or http://www.mormon.org/ websites I gave.

Thank you!

6 comments:

Michelle said...

Beth,
One more thing. If you need a good scripture referance you can go to BibleGateway.com
Michelle

The Nicks Family said...

Bethany,
I love that you have had this chance to research and things. You are amazing and I am quite impressed with everything :)

Bethany
(forever_mommy)

Michelle said...

Beth,
Did you check on the scriptures? I nver did hear. Michelle

Kristen Ising Photography said...

Beth,
Reading all of the things you have researched is so amazing to me. It strengthens my testimony even more. I've read all of these things before in the scriptures, but its been a while. Thank you.
You are an example to me. And, i feel the spirit just reading the versus. The spirit really does teach and bears witness to truth. I wish everyone would just soften their heart and listen to Christ words. The truth is right their.
Your wonderful,
Kristen

Unknown said...

As a recently returned missionary, I would say about the Revelation 22:18 scripture, that anyone who has concerns about it first, really needs to read it, especially in the context AND HISTORY (because that's really important) of the Book of Revelation. In chapter one of Revelation, John is specifically told by an angel that he was to write his prophecy in a book, really very similar to the words used in verse eighteen of chapter twenty-two. Also, the Book of Revelation WAS NOT the last thing written in the Bible. How could John have said not to add to a book that wasn't complete at the time he gave the warning? I'm sure God knew the Bible would be compiled, but it would have made no sense for John to say that, seeing as he, John the Revelator, did not know that the Bible would be compiled, and it's even more less-likely that John would know that his book would be the last in the Bible, so how could he give such a warning as the one that so many people think to take it as. The other thing, ABOVE ALL, is that one must pray about these things, with a sincere heart and real intent and faith. Without a witness from the Spirit of God, nothing can be shown to be true to a person. He is the author of the truth, and so we must turn to him in prayer and plead with him for the answer, and he will give it to us if we do what he asks and are willing to act on what he will tell us.
I'm sure this is a long comment, but I feel very strongly about religion. It's an important matter to me.

CONVERTGIRL said...

I too was floored by the opposition i received from my decision to be baptised. Well I guess bombarded would be a better word. One of my best friends attacked me verbally for almost 2 months straight, one of his "weapons" was the quote from revelations. He was set in his views and not willing to accept my mine(so much for tolerance:) ) In a way , I'm actually grateful for that trial, because I never waivered no matter what he screamed at me. It helped strengthen my testimony----just don't tell him that! Bethany I am so inspired by stories of other converts, it warms my heart to hear about others who have felt the promptings and have found a way to "follow the rod of iron"