Tag: Book of Mormon
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The Works
It can be successfully argued that the Christian Bible (as opposed to the Hebrew Bible) preaches a religion based on grace not works. Since at least the Reformation there has been a tension among Christians between faith and works. The Book of Mormon clearly teaches the importance of good works. Mormonism leaves me with little…
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Calling Myself a Mormon
I have been called a Christian several times in the past few days. I usually don’t argue about that because I am at the very least a “cultural Christian.” If I’m arguing with an atheist it’s not worth the trouble to correct him that I’m a Mormon not a Christian. But I make the distinction…
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Baptized Twice
When I was a few months old I was baptized as an Episcopalian. It’s pretty easy to be Christlike as a little kid. I was thirteen before I learned the Ten Commandments. That was right around the time that I was confirmed as a member of the Episcopal Church. The bishop had powder on his…
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The Bible is Sometimes Wrong
I reject infallibility and inerrancy. I reject it for the Bible and I reject it for the Quran. The Book of Mormon acknowledges the faults of men in it. That is how I can hold all three books in my head at one time. There is only one good, one pure, and one perfect and…
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Not so Sola Scriptura
Today I has been thinking about the Protestant concept that the Bible alone is the only source of divine truth. I was discussing it with a Catholic friend who rightly points out that the canon of the Bible we have comes from Catholicism and that the Catholic tradition is bigger than the Bible they gave…
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Knowing Scripture
I use the term scripture loosely. When I started reading one of the first things my parents got me were Bible comic books. I think the brand was called Arch. I have a distinct memory of the battle between David and Goliath in soft pastels. I’ve been studying the Bible ever since. Over the years…
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Idolatry of Books
At one point a few years back I expressed my love for the Quran to the bishop of the ward. He had me set up a private council between his first counselor (who knows almost as much about Islam as I do) and the elders quorum president (who was there to observe). The counselor and…
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Orange Cream Coca-Cola
I’m sitting in the easy chair drinking an Orange Cream Coca-Cola. I started several theological arguments today. But they are with two people I have never met in real life. The theology in my head is not the theology of my hands. I change diapers, I cook food, and I wash laundry. Sometimes I help…
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A Chapter from Alma
“7 Now there was no law against a man’s belief; for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds. 8 For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve.” Alma 30 (Book of Mormon) It would…
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Back to my Old Habits
Toady I have had sugar, coffee, and… dun dun dun THC. That makes me a sinner in the LDS Church. But I wonder sometimes if it doesn’t make me a better Mormon. Scriptures have always hit differently when I’m high. They say that if you read the whole Bible it’ll make you an atheist. But…
Latter Day Sinner 