Do LDS Prophets Really Talk To God?

[Mormon_Cultist]

…and still waiting for an answer to my series of questions. Still - not one LDS member has actually even remotely attempted to answer the questions I just posted above on this thread and on others dealing with prophets.

I’d accept almost any answer, at least it would be something that would help the discussion move along.

I gave you my answer: there is no need whatsoever to make a response to each and every one of them, as the response is identical.

It’s all a matter of perspective and interpretation. But, when all is said and done, one of us is still wrong according to the true definition of those terms. The trick is in figuring out which one of us really understands the truth, that a ball is spherical and a cube is perfectly square on all sides.

The point being that there is still only one object, just two different opinions about it. Catholics keep pointing to a ‘different God’ and a ‘different Christ’ when this very concept is ludicrous. We both know that there is only one God to Whom we both refer, but that our beliefs about Him differ.

Christ’s Incarnation was a monumental change in His method of communication with men on Earth.

Garden of Eden: Adam walks & talks with God
Cast out into mortal existence: Adam prophecies and God speaks to him and his family through prophets for thousands of years.
Ancient Judah: Apostles walk & talk with Christ
33ad+: nothing.
Seems very strange to me.

Not quite the same thing. Lets change this to people, instead of cubes and balls.

If you and I are talking about Bill, I ask you, do you know Bill?
You respond, “Oh, yes, sure I know Bill. He lives over on Elm Street”
Then I say: “No he lives over on Cherry Drive and has two sons and two daughters”
Then you say: “No,he has three sons and is a computer programmer”
Then I say: “No he is a car salesman. Hmm, must be a different Bill”

This makes a lot more sense than cubes and balls.

But we both know that there is only one ‘Bill’: therefore one of us is wrong, not asking about someone else as there is nobody else.

Well if Mormons are calling cubes balls or vice versa…then what they are using is Absolute Relativism to determine the Truth, which is objective.

Not in the slightest: you seem to have got the entire wrong idea about what I said.
All I was pointing out is the flaw in Catholics labelling LDS as believing in a ‘different God’ or ‘different Christ’. We all know there is only one of each, just our beliefs about them differ. However different they may be, the fact that someone has a different view, does not alter he reality.

A true prophet never contradicts the former, but there is a continual revelation of truth from God …and a true prophet always is speaking for God in what is His will…to lead people back to Him…and former events all connecting to the present.

So if God’s word to people never changes, and the things He wants people to do are always the same, how is it that end Catholic Church do not teach against eating pork? Why is it that the Jews did not have a need for baptism, but we do? Why do you not circumcise your children? Why do you not have a temple where you can go to sacrifice firstborn lambs? Why is it that you don’t expect your women to go through a cleanliness ritual every month?
Clearly these questions are rhetorical, and the list could go on and on.
It is a point of fact that God’s requirements of His children here on Earth are not one constant (although some things are, of course). But being the loving father that He is, and wanting the best for each of us, He gives laws that help us, and sends His messengers (the prophets) not only to deliver these laws, but also to explain and expound their meaning to us, and how they relate to us in our lives. He has always done this, and will always do this until His return.

 

[pablope]

I gave you my answer: there is no need whatsoever to make a response to each and every one of them, as the response is identical.

The point being that there is still only one object, just two different opinions about it. Catholics keep pointing to a ‘different God’ and a ‘different Christ’ when this very concept is ludicrous. We both know that there is only one God to Whom we both refer, but that our beliefs about Him differ.

Not in the slightest: you seem to have got the entire wrong idea about what I said.
All I was pointing out is the flaw in Catholics labelling LDS as believing in a ‘different God’ or ‘different Christ’. However different they may be, the fact that someone has a different view, does not alter he reality.

.

Huh, How could that be?

Somebody must have gotten it wrong somewhere, somehow, right? Or is it, your concept of God is different than the traditinal concept as taught since the OT, the NT times?

If we believe differently, then they are not the same. But if they are indeed the same, how come they are not taught the same?

(from…comparing-views.com/#Mormonism%20teaches%20%22another%20Jesus%22)

The Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley said “we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity … our knowledge comes of the witness of a prophet” (LDS General Conference Apr 2002). Mormonism teaches Jesus is “a God” of many Gods (LDS Bible Dictionary God). The Bible reveals Jesus is “God” (John1:1) and that “God was manifest in the flesh” (1Tim.3:16). Jesus is “my God” (John.20:28), “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9). The Catholic Church teaches “We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons. The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire.” (CCC253).

Mormonism teaches Jesus was born of heavenly parents (LDS GP Chap 2). Jesus was not born of heavenly parents, Jesus was “the Word” in the beginning (John 1:1). The term “Word” (Greek logos) combines God’s dynamic, creative word (Genesis), and personified preexistent Wisdom as the instrument of God’s creative activity (Proverbs) (NAB for John 1:1). Jesus is called the “the firstborn of every creature” because he is “the beginning of the creation of God”, he is “the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Col 1:15; Rev.3:14; Rev.22:13). The word firstborn has different usages, David was made “my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27) and Jesus is called “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (Col 1:18). The early Christian bishop Irenaeus taught, “The Son … the eternal Word of God … coming into being in a manner like that of their own word” (Is Christ inferior to the Father? - CA). The early Christian bishops taught the following, Ignatius was a 1st century bishop who was appointed by the apostle Peter:

* "with him [the Father] were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit ... saying, ‘Let us make man in our image ... ’" (Irenaeus - God in Three Persons - CA)
* "there is one God, who manifested himself through his son, Jesus Christ, who is his Word" (Ignatius - One God or Many? - CA)
* "There is then one God and Father ... there is also one Son, God the Word" (Ignatius - The One True God - CA)
* "our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary in accord with God’s plan" (Ignatius - The Divinity of Christ - CA)
* "... received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, the Father Almighty . . . and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit" (Irenaeus - The Trinity - CA)
*

  "the Word of God—indeed, the great God himself, since he is the Word" (Irenaeus - The Eternal Sonship of Christ - CA)

Mormonism teaches that Jesus is one of “three Gods” in the Godhead (LDS Bible Dictionary Godhead). Three Gods do not form the Godhead as Mormonism teaches, it is “three persons in which subsists the one Godhead” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The Bible reveals in Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”, meaning the “fullness of the deity: the divine nature, not just attributes” (NAB Col 2:9). Joseph Smith’s teaching of “three Gods” is illogical because it is illogical to say that there is one God and three Gods. No matter how closely together three gods work, they remain three gods, not one. Jesus taught “the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he” (Mark.12:32). The apostle Paul taught “there is none other God but one … to us there is but one God, the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 8:4,6) and taught “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1Tim.2:5). The Athanasian Creed says “… the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One”.

Mormon scripture reveals that the Father has a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130, LDS GP Chap 1). Mormons worship a different God. Mormons worship a man who became God instead of a God who is God from “from everlasting to everlasting”. Mormons worship a Heavenly Father that has a body of flesh and bones instead of a Heavenly Father that is all spirit. Jesus tells us “God is a Spirit” (John.4:24) and that “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” (Luke.24:39), meaning that the Father is a spirit, not that the Father has a spirit (CA). "Mormons, have committed the error of saying that God the Father has a body … they profoundly misunderstand Scripture … such is metaphorical language concerning God’s power and knowledge …

 

[Nicea325]

Huh, How could that be?

Somebody must have gotten it wrong somewhere, somehow, right? Or is it, your concept of God is different than the traditinal concept as taught since the OT, the NT times?

If we believe differently, then they are not the same. But if they are indeed the same, how come they are not taught the same?

(from…comparing-views.com/#Mormonism%20teaches%20%22another%20Jesus%22)

The Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley said “we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity … our knowledge comes of the witness of a prophet” (LDS General Conference Apr 2002). Mormonism teaches Jesus is “a God” of many Gods (LDS Bible Dictionary God). The Bible reveals Jesus is “God” (John1:1) and that “God was manifest in the flesh” (1Tim.3:16). Jesus is “my God” (John.20:28), “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9). The Catholic Church teaches “We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons. The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire.” (CCC253).

Mormonism teaches Jesus was born of heavenly parents (LDS GP Chap 2). Jesus was not born of heavenly parents, Jesus was “the Word” in the beginning (John 1:1). The term “Word” (Greek logos) combines God’s dynamic, creative word (Genesis), and personified preexistent Wisdom as the instrument of God’s creative activity (Proverbs) (NAB for John 1:1). Jesus is called the “the firstborn of every creature” because he is “the beginning of the creation of God”, he is “the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Col 1:15; Rev.3:14; Rev.22:13). The word firstborn has different usages, David was made “my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27) and Jesus is called “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (Col 1:18). The early Christian bishop Irenaeus taught, “The Son … the eternal Word of God … coming into being in a manner like that of their own word” (Is Christ inferior to the Father? - CA). The early Christian bishops taught the following, Ignatius was a 1st century bishop who was appointed by the apostle Peter:

* "with him [the Father] were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit ... saying, ‘Let us make man in our image ... ’" (Irenaeus - God in Three Persons - CA)
* "there is one God, who manifested himself through his son, Jesus Christ, who is his Word" (Ignatius - One God or Many? - CA)
* "There is then one God and Father ... there is also one Son, God the Word" (Ignatius - The One True God - CA)
* "our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary in accord with God’s plan" (Ignatius - The Divinity of Christ - CA)
* "... received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, the Father Almighty . . . and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit" (Irenaeus - The Trinity - CA)
*

  "the Word of God—indeed, the great God himself, since he is the Word" (Irenaeus - The Eternal Sonship of Christ - CA)

Mormonism teaches that Jesus is one of “three Gods” in the Godhead (LDS Bible Dictionary Godhead). Three Gods do not form the Godhead as Mormonism teaches, it is “three persons in which subsists the one Godhead” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The Bible reveals in Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”, meaning the “fullness of the deity: the divine nature, not just attributes” (NAB Col 2:9). Joseph Smith’s teaching of “three Gods” is illogical because it is illogical to say that there is one God and three Gods. No matter how closely together three gods work, they remain three gods, not one. Jesus taught “the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he” (Mark.12:32). The apostle Paul taught “there is none other God but one … to us there is but one God, the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 8:4,6) and taught “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1Tim.2:5). The Athanasian Creed says “… the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One”.

Mormon scripture reveals that the Father has a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130, LDS GP Chap 1). Mormons worship a different God. Mormons worship a man who became God instead of a God who is God from “from everlasting to everlasting”. Mormons worship a Heavenly Father that has a body of flesh and bones instead of a Heavenly Father that is all spirit. Jesus tells us “God is a Spirit” (John.4:24) and that “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” (Luke.24:39), meaning that the Father is a spirit, not that the Father has a spirit (CA). "Mormons, have committed the error of saying that God the Father has a body … they profoundly misunderstand Scripture … such is metaphorical language concerning God’s power and knowledge …

Mormons like JW’s have and believe a different God and it is very apparent.

 

[Jerusha]

And this departure from belief in the Trinity is the reason why the Catholic Church has declared that Mormonism is not a Christian religion.

They do not see that God is of three parts; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, just as man is of three parts; mind, body, and spirit. God is like man, in being of three parts. God now has no physical body, although the Son was on this earth for a short period 2000 years ago. We, as Christians, through the Sacraments of the Church are representatives of Chrst on this earth. We must always remind ourselves to live our lives as such, submitted to Him.

Man must not think of himself as god. We must be submitted to the Creator, who is infinitely good, having no beginning or end, He is omniscient, and judge of all. God, being all-powerful, created the universe from nothing. We are not gods, although we have something in common with God.

This is the difference. We are Christians. They are Gnostic, claiming belief in some superficial aspects of Christianity, but denying the essence.

 

[ParkerD]

And this departure from belief in the Trinity is the reason why the Catholic Church has declared that Mormonism is not a Christian religion.

They do not see that God is of three parts; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, just as man is of three parts; mind, body, and spirit. God is like man, in being of three parts. God now has no physical body, although the Son was on this earth for a short period 2000 years ago. We, as Christians, through the Sacraments of the Church are representatives of Chrst on this earth. We must always remind ourselves to live our lives as such, submitted to Him.

…we have something in common with God.

…

Jerusha,

This is new to me about either Catholic beliefs or your personal belief.

Is the sentence “God now has no physical body” talking about Jesus Christ, who was resurrected from the dead? (I have been told differently by others, unless I misunderstood what they wrote.)

 

[Jerusha]

I am waiting for confirmation from fellow Catholics as to whether this statement on the Catholic doctrines in contrast to LDS teachings is correct.

 

[Telstar]

Jerusha,

This is new to me about either Catholic beliefs or your personal belief.

Is the sentence “God now has no physical body” talking about Jesus Christ, who was resurrected from the dead? (I have been told differently by others, unless I misunderstood what they wrote.)

I think he was trying to emphasize the fact that God, in the Person of the Father, has never had any body, at all. The only body that God (the Holy Trinity) has ever had, is when He became Incarnate in the body of the Son, Jesus (which is now glorified). The Holy Spirit is pure Spirit, just like the Father. So, since the Father has never had a body of flesh and bone at any time, He certainly doesn’t have one, “now”.

 

[zaffiroborant]

Just curious, what is the most recent case of an LDS prophet claiming a public revelation?

Nothing recent??

 

[zaffiroborant]

Garden of Eden: Adam walks & talks with God
Cast out into mortal existence: Adam prophecies and God speaks to him and his family through prophets for thousands of years.
Ancient Judah: Apostles walk & talk with Christ
33ad+: nothing.
Seems very strange to me.

Yes I’ve noticed that LDS are not impressed by the Incarnation.

 

[1voice]

Garden of Eden: Adam walks & talks with God
Cast out into mortal existence: Adam prophecies and God speaks to him and his family through prophets for thousands of years.
Ancient Judah: Apostles walk & talk with Christ
33ad+: nothing.
Seems very strange to me.

There is absolutely no proof that Joseph Smith saw Jesus, God the Father or any Angels.

 

[1voice]

He gives laws that help us, and sends His messengers (the prophets) not only to deliver these laws, but also to explain and expound their meaning to us,

There is absolutely no proof that Joseph Smith ever translated anything.

His so called translation of the Egyptian papyrus had absolutely nothing to do with what was actually written in the documents.

 

[1voice]

I find it odd when you talk about a ‘different God’ or ‘different Christ’ when all that is different is the beliefs and opinions we hold about Him.

If what you say is true… then why did John Taylor … a man mentored personally by Joseph Smith … and one of his closest associates (seriously wounded in the same attack where Joseph Smith was killed) … Who became theThird President of the LDS Church after Brigham Young say this about us…

“We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense… Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, 1858, p. 167).
…John Taylor

“Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, 1863, p. 127).
…John Taylor

 

[GaryTaylor]

Huh, How could that be?

Somebody must have gotten it wrong somewhere, somehow, right? Or is it, your concept of God is different than the traditinal concept as taught since the OT, the NT times?

If we believe differently, then they are not the same. But if they are indeed the same, how come they are not taught the same?

(from…comparing-views.com/#Mormonism%20teaches%20%22another%20Jesus%22)

The Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley said “we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity … our knowledge comes of the witness of a prophet” (LDS General Conference Apr 2002). Mormonism teaches Jesus is “a God” of many Gods (LDS Bible Dictionary God). The Bible reveals Jesus is “God” (John1:1) and that “God was manifest in the flesh” (1Tim.3:16). Jesus is “my God” (John.20:28), “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9). The Catholic Church teaches “We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons. The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire.” (CCC253).

Mormonism teaches Jesus was born of heavenly parents (LDS GP Chap 2). Jesus was not born of heavenly parents, Jesus was “the Word” in the beginning (John 1:1). The term “Word” (Greek logos) combines God’s dynamic, creative word (Genesis), and personified preexistent Wisdom as the instrument of God’s creative activity (Proverbs) (NAB for John 1:1). Jesus is called the “the firstborn of every creature” because he is “the beginning of the creation of God”, he is “the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Col 1:15; Rev.3:14; Rev.22:13). The word firstborn has different usages, David was made “my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27) and Jesus is called “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (Col 1:18). The early Christian bishop Irenaeus taught, “The Son … the eternal Word of God … coming into being in a manner like that of their own word” (Is Christ inferior to the Father? - CA). The early Christian bishops taught the following, Ignatius was a 1st century bishop who was appointed by the apostle Peter:

* "with him [the Father] were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit ... saying, ‘Let us make man in our image ... ’" (Irenaeus - God in Three Persons - CA)
* "there is one God, who manifested himself through his son, Jesus Christ, who is his Word" (Ignatius - One God or Many? - CA)
* "There is then one God and Father ... there is also one Son, God the Word" (Ignatius - The One True God - CA)
* "our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary in accord with God’s plan" (Ignatius - The Divinity of Christ - CA)
* "... received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, the Father Almighty . . . and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit" (Irenaeus - The Trinity - CA)
*

  "the Word of God—indeed, the great God himself, since he is the Word" (Irenaeus - The Eternal Sonship of Christ - CA)

Mormonism teaches that Jesus is one of “three Gods” in the Godhead (LDS Bible Dictionary Godhead). Three Gods do not form the Godhead as Mormonism teaches, it is “three persons in which subsists the one Godhead” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The Bible reveals in Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”, meaning the “fullness of the deity: the divine nature, not just attributes” (NAB Col 2:9). Joseph Smith’s teaching of “three Gods” is illogical because it is illogical to say that there is one God and three Gods. No matter how closely together three gods work, they remain three gods, not one. Jesus taught “the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he” (Mark.12:32). The apostle Paul taught “there is none other God but one … to us there is but one God, the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 8:4,6) and taught “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1Tim.2:5). The Athanasian Creed says “… the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One”.

Mormon scripture reveals that the Father has a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130, LDS GP Chap 1). Mormons worship a different God. Mormons worship a man who became God instead of a God who is God from “from everlasting to everlasting”. Mormons worship a Heavenly Father that has a body of flesh and bones instead of a Heavenly Father that is all spirit. Jesus tells us “God is a Spirit” (John.4:24) and that “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” (Luke.24:39), meaning that the Father is a spirit, not that the Father has a spirit (CA). "Mormons, have committed the error of saying that God the Father has a body … they profoundly misunderstand Scripture … such is metaphorical language concerning God’s power and knowledge …

And here resides the “issue” which we need to constantly clarify.

God was never in the flesh that is the fairy tale. You will not become a God with the false presumption God was once in the flesh and became God, that is a falacy.

In fact that is exactly how the War in Heaven started. For as Michael stated “Who is like GOD”? And the answer to that is NO-One.

Amen!

 

[Jerusha]

@Telstar thank you. BTW, 2 Kings 15:33

And this departure from belief in the Trinity is the reason why the Catholic Church has declared that Mormonism is not a Christian religion.

They do not see that God is of three parts; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, just as man is of three parts; mind, body, and spirit. God is like man, in being of three parts, however, this is only an analogy with limitations. God now has no physical body, although the Son was on this earth for a short period 2000 years ago. In two senses, Jesus has a body. 1. Since Jesus (Luke 24:51) was bodily transported into heaven, He has a glorified body, but will never again appear to humans, until the end. No-one can see God, and live. Because Jesus had a both human and Divine nature, God bent this rule for only a short time, at a critical juncture in human history. 2. We, as Christians, through the Sacraments of the Church are representatives of Christ on this earth. We must always remind ourselves to live our lives as such, submitted to Him.

Man must not think of himself as god. We must be submitted to the Creator, who is infinitely good, having no beginning or end, He is omniscient, and judge of all. God, being all-powerful, created the universe from nothing.

This is the difference. We are Christians. They are Gnostic, claiming belief in some superficial aspects of Christianity, but denying the essence.

Better?

 

[Jerusha]

Genesis 1:27. God is both male and female, thus, women are not inferior to men. Again, we see the analogy of three parts through the Christian lens.

 

[JHow]

Five pages of postings, but no one has really addressed the OP’s quotations, except to hint that they might be from “unofficial sources.”

Do Mormon posters affirm all these statements? Do they feel that some are in error? I would like to see more discussion of the details of these statements.

Perhaps we could start with Joseph Fielding Smith and his comments on travel to the moon. What was the context? Was this prophecy, or just personal opinion? Was there a theological reason why he was convinced men would never land on the moon, was he just ignorant of science, or did he just dislike Kennedy, but when speaking on other matters he remained a thoroughly accurate prophet?

 

[TexanKnight]

First…remember, LDS do not believe in the Bible.

Second, even Joseph taught that God was Spirit, not flash and bones

 

[Telstar]

@Telstar thank you. BTW, 2 Kings 15:33

You’re welcome.

But, I’m not really sure what you mean by that Bible quote.

And this departure from belief in the Trinity is the reason why the Catholic Church has declared that Mormonism is not a Christian religion.

They do not see that God is of three parts; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, just as man is of three parts; mind, body, and spirit. God is like man, in being of three parts, however, this is only an analogy with limitations. God now has no physical body, although the Son was on this earth for a short period 2000 years ago. In two senses, Jesus has a body.

1. Since Jesus (Luke 24:51) was bodily transported into heaven, He has a glorified body, but will never again appear to humans, until the end. No-one can see God, and live. Because Jesus had a both human and Divine nature, God bent this rule for only a short time, at a critical juncture in human history.

Actually, that’s true, but I think there are a couple of things that might still be confusing. The reference to no one being able to “see God and live”, refers to God the Father. In the Old Testament, God did not have any form that men could look upon without dieing of fright. That’s why He would take on other forms, such as a fire in the burning bush, or the pillar, or in the form of a whirlwind, etc., to protect men from being scared to death, and show them a form that would also convey His immense power. He really didn’t have a body or a ‘face’ that men could understand. That’s why He often sent angels to convey His messages to them. That’s also part of the reason that God lowered Himself to become Incarnate and born as a man, to give men an image of God that they could more easily relate to, and also give them a perfect example of how God wanted them to live so they could be reconciled to Him. Now, Jesus is the Face of God that all men can look at.

While Jesus might not appear to deliver any official proclamations to the Church, or make any changes in Her Doctrines that He left with us, He still can appear to anyone to give personal messages. In fact, He has appeared to many Saints in the past. Just because the Church says that there is no more public revelation necessary, and no need for prophets like in the Old Testament, that doesn’t mean that Catholics never have visions or direct communications from God. That belief of LDS, and others, is due to a complete misunderstanding of prayer and spirituality on the part of those who are unfamiliar with how it works.

1. We, as Christians, through the Sacraments of the Church are representatives of Christ on this earth. We must always remind ourselves to live our lives as such, submitted to Him.

Exactly. We are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ on earth when we become members of His Church through Baptism. We teach others by our example, so we need to remember to always live our lives as Jesus wants us to live them.

Man must not think of himself as god. We must be submitted to the Creator, who is infinitely good, having no beginning or end, He is omniscient, and judge of all. God, being all-powerful, created the universe from nothing.

We can never lose sight of the fact that we are and always will be creatures of God. We can never become like Him in power or glory, but He invites us to become one with Him, and share in His Divine life through the Sacraments.

This is the difference. We are Christians. They are Gnostic, claiming belief in some superficial aspects of Christianity, but denying the essence.

Better?

That pretty much sums it up. Joseph Smith took aspects from many of the early heresies, and chose whichever parts he wanted to believe and use. Many of them were based more in paganism than Christianity or Judaism, although, LDS don’t seem to recognize that fact. It seems that his goal was to create a religion that was loosely based on Christianity, but tried to make it more closely follow the Judaism of the Old Testament. With all of the other influences from those early Christian heresies, as well as freemasonry, it’s actually not really recognizable as any of them. He wanted to create something that was totally different from the structure and beliefs of most Christian churches at the time. He certainly accomplished that much.

 

[Jerusha]

Thanks. I am firming up my argument on the topic, and waiting for at least one Catholic work on the Trinity and original sin. I am a psychologist, not a theologian.

 

[KathleenGee]

The Holy Trinity is mystery…But God and His Spirit worked through the Old Testament, and the Old Testament prophesized the coming of the Messiah…along with the prefigurement of Christ…in the Tree of Life…in the Garden of Eden…the only permissible fruit God pointed out that was not only edible, but named.

The theophany of Christ’s baptism is a very clear example of God the Father speaking, 'This is My beloved Son for Whom I am well pleased, with the Holy Spirit as a dove.

The Holy Trinity is showing God’s essence…which is love…communion. We as Catholics enter into communion both spiritually and sacramentally…our teachings of God, of Scripture further bring us into communion with God and with all of creation.

Original Sin effected the entire universe. We cannot imagine how one sin grieves God and only God can forgive sin. From our parents, sin and its inclinations were passed down generation after generation…the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak…

It is through the flesh that we sin and the wages of sin are death.

Adam and Eve saw God face to face, and He walked along side them. He told them not to eat of forbidden fruit…but they did to become as gods…some Mormons say Eve wanted wisdom…Mormons follow Protestants in refusing the Book of Wisdom and others…that show, which we know…that God Himself is wisdom, and – the greatest and highest virtue or gift of the Holy Spirit…again this reflects the oneness of God but different purposes.

The foundation of Catholicism is essentially that Christ lived, died and resurrected for the atonement of sin, for our salvation and redemption and to restore us to friendship and communion with God.

God’s love for us through Jesus Christ is the answer to Original Sin and the presence of evil in this world…that Christ will overcome all things for those who believe in Him.