Book of Mormon foolishness--Jaredite ships

[ParkerD]

God Is Gracious,
Thanks for your kindness. I wish you well. Your beliefs are fine with me. Have a wonderful day.

 

[Sunstone]

You know, ParkerD, the same can be said for you. When I read your posts, all I see is rationalization and justification for an insistence on believing what you believe rather than opening your heart and mind to what the truth is. It’s easier, I suppose. Being a Catholic is challenging, yet it is the most simplest, easiest, and fulfilling.

To say that God uses other people to “sift” for open hearts. That is a flaw with your belief. God doesn’t “sift” for those who are open to the Spirit, He wants us ALL to join in communion with Him. He sent His only begotten son so that we ALL may join in His eternal feast in heaven. He is not selective. Who is selective are people who are willing to stay away, people who are willing to believe what they want for their own convenience and justification for their lifestyle. Who is selective and sifting of those who are willing to hear his message is he who wishes to turn people away from God, for those willing to listen to his message are easier to grab.

Remember, or you may not even believe this since it appears that Mormons believe what they want about Jesus, that Jesus told us to be “fishers of men.” Not, “fishers of some men,” or “fishers of those men over there” or “fishers of those men who are willing to listen to you.” No, He said for us to be “fishers of men.” No restrictions, no exclusions. But then again, Mormonism started off with exclusions of black people anyway so I am not surprised of your rhetoric about God “sifting” for a select few.

BTW, I do have to thank you. When I read your posts and Finfrock’s, as well as other protestants’ justifications for staying asleep in their beliefs, I am so grateful that I am Catholic, that I have Truth, and that I don’t have to rationalize my beliefs along with trying to justify it to recruit. It is a special gift, and all we want for YOU is to have that gift, because we want it for ALL men, not just for those who are willing to listen.

I agree with your criticism of the “God sifting for open hearts.” As someone who is a “seeker” of sorts, I appreciate the power and beauty of your faith.

I’ll mention, though, that I think your assertion that “Mormonism started off with exclusions of black people” is inaccurate. Early on in the LDS Church there were black Mormons and even black priesthood holders (with Elijah Abel and Walker Lewis being two of the most prominent). Mormons opposition to slavery was one of the factors that contributed to the troubles in Missouri. In 1840, the Times and Seasons, the official Church newspaper, even declared the wonderful anticipation of people of every color worshipping in the Nauvoo temple once it had been built (and this same message was reprinted the following year in the Millenial Star).

In 1852, official Mormon racism was advocated by Brigham Young, and so began a dreadful, immoral, and unnecessary step backward for Mormons in terms of race relations. The seeds for Brigham Young’s and other’s thinking may have been sewn in the 1835 Book of Abraham, but that’s another discussion for another day. I should add the interesting historical fact that Elijah Abel and his progeny were exempted from the infamous ban.

For those who are interested, there’s a superb DVD on this topic that features interviews with Martin Luther King III, archival footage of former-Black Panther-turned-Mormon Eldridge Cleaver, and Dr. Cecil Murray of the First AME Church in Los Angeles:

untoldstoryofblackmormons.com/

I own a copy of this DVD and am having some people over on June 8th to watch it.

 

[mormonpro]

“Pro”,
If you get people to listen to you, then they deserve what they get and it is totally fine with me. You provide a welcome sifting process by whatever your tactics end up being. You help the Lord sift for the hearts of those who are “lukewarm”–a very important function.

It is a self-selection process: what do I want in a promised land; am I really willing to study and pray about the journey I need to make, and how do I find truth during that journey? You have evidently found what works for you, and I have certainly found the truths that are soul-satisfying to me which are so much deeper and more fulfilling to my whole soul than any words I have read of yours that your shallow talk (although meaningful to you) is like a kid in a playground to me. It just has no bearing whatsoever for me, though some may love it and applaud it.

So, keep up your efforts, as I know you will based on the consistency I have read in your posts. They provide an important function in God’s plan of sifting the hearts of His children and finding those who really understand the voice of the Spirit versus all the other conflicting and finger-pointing voices in the world. God needs many such heart-sifters taking many different approaches, as that is in keeping with His plan for this world.

Keep your reverse psychology flowing from your lips Parker maybe someday you will convince yourself. As for the true purpose in our pursuing mormons. God is looking for the honest of heart those who love God and are willing to hear his voice and follow when he calls. The mountain of evidence proving mormonism is a fraud is so obvious only those who could look at the rising sun and say they see no light (if admitting they see light disproved mormonism) could possibly remain mormons in the light of Christs revealing spirit.