FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/Witnessing to Mormons"
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|L=Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/Witnessing to Mormons | |L=Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/Witnessing to Mormons | ||
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− | Despite the assertion to the contrary, cities existed throughout South and Central America during the Book of Mormon timeframe and these cities were in fact filled with people. Whether or not Book of Mormon people lived in a particular city is debatable and has been addressed [[ | + | Despite the assertion to the contrary, cities existed throughout South and Central America during the Book of Mormon timeframe and these cities were in fact filled with people. Whether or not Book of Mormon people lived in a particular city is debatable and has been addressed [[Search for the Truth DVD:Archaeology|here]]. |
Joseph Smith's conception of what pre-Columbian America was like was unusual for his era. When he discovered an 1842 book describing Central American ruins, he was surprised and pleased to have someone from the secular world confirm the Book of Mormon's portrait of pre-Columbian life. When the Book of Mormon was published, Amerindians were perceived as being generally without high culture, writing, cities, and other trappings of advanced civilization. | Joseph Smith's conception of what pre-Columbian America was like was unusual for his era. When he discovered an 1842 book describing Central American ruins, he was surprised and pleased to have someone from the secular world confirm the Book of Mormon's portrait of pre-Columbian life. When the Book of Mormon was published, Amerindians were perceived as being generally without high culture, writing, cities, and other trappings of advanced civilization. | ||
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'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:Prophecy and Revelation|Prophecy and revelation]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:First Vision|First Vision]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:Book of Abraham|Book of Abraham]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:DNA|DNA]] |
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'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:Prophecy and Revelation|Prophecy and revelation]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:First Vision|First Vision]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:Book of Abraham|Book of Abraham]] |
− | * [[ | + | * [[Search for the Truth DVD:DNA|DNA]] |
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Teachings should be compared with the Bible, but this is not the final step. How can we know if our interpretation of the Bible is the correct one? There are thousands of Christian sects, each with their own interpretation of certain scriptures. | Teachings should be compared with the Bible, but this is not the final step. How can we know if our interpretation of the Bible is the correct one? There are thousands of Christian sects, each with their own interpretation of certain scriptures. | ||
− | The only way in which we can be assured of following God's will is to have God Himself tell us. He has promised that He will. The DVD producers hope that you will not do this, and spend a great deal of time [[ | + | The only way in which we can be assured of following God's will is to have God Himself tell us. He has promised that He will. The DVD producers hope that you will not do this, and spend a great deal of time [[Search for the Truth DVD:Burning in the Bosom|here]] trying to convince you that revelation from God cannot be relied upon. |
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'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' | ||
* [[Biblical inerrancy]] | * [[Biblical inerrancy]] | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Open canon vs. closed canon]] |
* {{tg|topic=Biblical inerrancy|url=http://fairlds.org/apol/ai103.html}} | * {{tg|topic=Biblical inerrancy|url=http://fairlds.org/apol/ai103.html}} | ||
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The only additional belief is that Latter-day Saints insist that because they love Jesus and believe what He tells them, they should strive to obey the commandments He gives them. Critics try to portray this as a rejection of Christ's grace—it is not. It is an expression of our gratitude for it. | The only additional belief is that Latter-day Saints insist that because they love Jesus and believe what He tells them, they should strive to obey the commandments He gives them. Critics try to portray this as a rejection of Christ's grace—it is not. It is an expression of our gratitude for it. | ||
− | Distorted ideas about the Latter-day Saints' views on salvation have already been addressed [[ | + | Distorted ideas about the Latter-day Saints' views on salvation have already been addressed [[Search for the Truth DVD:Eternal Life|here]]. |
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Claim: "All you have to do is believe in Christ and be saved and confess it and then that's it." - Tim Howard (Former Mormon) </h2> | ! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Claim: "All you have to do is believe in Christ and be saved and confess it and then that's it." - Tim Howard (Former Mormon) </h2> | ||
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* Does the Church [[Neglect grace|neglect]] the doctrine of grace? | * Does the Church [[Neglect grace|neglect]] the doctrine of grace? | ||
* [[Salvation by faith alone]] | * [[Salvation by faith alone]] | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Born again translation|Born again]] |
* "Are We Saved by Grace Alone?" {{fairlink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Bible/Are_We_Saved_by_Grace_Alone.html}} | * "Are We Saved by Grace Alone?" {{fairlink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Bible/Are_We_Saved_by_Grace_Alone.html}} | ||
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*{{Ensign1|author=Dallin H. Oaks|article=Have You Been Saved?|date=May 1995|start=55}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/05/apostasy-and-restoration?lang=eng}} | *{{Ensign1|author=Dallin H. Oaks|article=Have You Been Saved?|date=May 1995|start=55}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/05/apostasy-and-restoration?lang=eng}} | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Deification of man|''Theosis''/human deification]] |
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Latter-day Saints do not consider the demands which a merciful Christ puts upon them to be impossible, or even onerous. As Jesus taught, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" ({{b||Matthew|11|30}}). | Latter-day Saints do not consider the demands which a merciful Christ puts upon them to be impossible, or even onerous. As Jesus taught, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" ({{b||Matthew|11|30}}). | ||
− | Distorted ideas about the Latter-day Saints' views on salvation have already been addressed [[ | + | Distorted ideas about the Latter-day Saints' views on salvation have already been addressed [[Search for the Truth DVD:Eternal Life|here]]. |
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* Christ loves us ({{s|3|Nephi|17|5-22}}, {{s||Moroni|7|48}}) | * Christ loves us ({{s|3|Nephi|17|5-22}}, {{s||Moroni|7|48}}) | ||
* Christ prays for us to the Father ({{s|3|Nephi|17|15-22}}, {{s|3|Nephi|18|23-25}}). | * Christ prays for us to the Father ({{s|3|Nephi|17|15-22}}, {{s|3|Nephi|18|23-25}}). | ||
− | * Christ makes intercession for us ({{s|2|Nephi|2|9-10}}, {{s||Mosiah|14|12}}, {{s||Mosiah|15|5}}, {{s|| | + | * Christ makes intercession for us ({{s|2|Nephi|2|9-10}}, {{s||Mosiah|14|12}}, {{s||Mosiah|15|5}}, {{s||D&C|45|3-5}}.) |
− | More attempts to dismiss LDS ideas about salvation through Jesus Christ—which are strikingly similar to the views advocated by the DVD—can be seen [[ | + | More attempts to dismiss LDS ideas about salvation through Jesus Christ—which are strikingly similar to the views advocated by the DVD—can be seen [[Search for the Truth DVD:Eternal Life|here]]. |
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Interested readers may wish to review the Church's teachings on family below. | Interested readers may wish to review the Church's teachings on family below. | ||
− | For those who might be unfamiliar with the | + | For those who might be unfamiliar with the Church and its lay ministry we clarify: a stake mission president is a part-time position held by assignment, for a period of time, in every stake (a geographical administrative area roughly equivalent to a Catholic diocese containing roughly ten congregations). The person in this position helps coordinate member-missionary efforts within the stake boundaries. Thus, in Salt Lake City alone there were dozens of stakes and hundreds of stake mission presidents. The position of stake mission president was done away with in approximately 2001, and missionary work focused within wards instead of stakes. |
'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' | ||
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Members of FAIR do have testimonies, but there are legitimate Biblical and historical answers to all the questions posed by the critics. No member can answer every objection from a hostile critic, especially one who is so convinced that their interpretation of the Bible is the only way in which an honest, Christian, God-fearing person could understand the text. But, an individual's inability to answer to the satisfaction of self-appointed "Christian" judges says nothing about the merits of any position. | Members of FAIR do have testimonies, but there are legitimate Biblical and historical answers to all the questions posed by the critics. No member can answer every objection from a hostile critic, especially one who is so convinced that their interpretation of the Bible is the only way in which an honest, Christian, God-fearing person could understand the text. But, an individual's inability to answer to the satisfaction of self-appointed "Christian" judges says nothing about the merits of any position. | ||
− | Above all else, the DVD producers want you to rely on them and their interpretations of scripture, history, and doctrine. They spend a lot of effort [[ | + | Above all else, the DVD producers want you to rely on them and their interpretations of scripture, history, and doctrine. They spend a lot of effort [[Search for the Truth DVD:Burning in the Bosom|here]] trying to convince you that getting answers directly from God is unreliable. |
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Note that the DVD intro text says: ''We pray that it will touch the hearts of all who watch through the grace and truth of Christ Jesus.'' | Note that the DVD intro text says: ''We pray that it will touch the hearts of all who watch through the grace and truth of Christ Jesus.'' | ||
− | The DVD spends much effort [[ | + | The DVD spends much effort [[Search for the Truth DVD:Burning in the Bosom|here]] trying to convince the Latter-day Saints not to trust their feelings. Why, then, do they hope their feelings are touched? |
Could it be that they realize that the Holy Ghost does work (in part) through the sentiments of the heart? | Could it be that they realize that the Holy Ghost does work (in part) through the sentiments of the heart? | ||
− | At any rate, basing one's eternal life on direct revelation from God is a thoroughly Biblical doctrine, as discussed at length [[ | + | At any rate, basing one's eternal life on direct revelation from God is a thoroughly Biblical doctrine, as discussed at length [[Search for the Truth DVD:Burning in the Bosom|here]]. |
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Latest revision as of 14:20, 13 April 2024
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