Perhaps a different vocabulary was used, but the topics (which I can only guess) that were discussed at that time, such as, the Restoration, the Atonement, keeping the commandments, covenants, baptism, temple work, magnifying your calling, serving others, provident living, prayer, tithes and offerings, fasting, missionary work, the Priesthood, scripture study, the gathering of Israel, etc., are all about Grace.perhaps, but it wasn’t discussed in any of the meetings, firesides, etc ., when I was Mormon, and living in Provo for 15 years, we were always having talks by the GAs at devotionals, firesides, stake conference.
FYI…I think it best to refer to the Catechism on this one. It is CCC 460. It is below. “Making men gods” is certainly current Catholic teaching. No need to look to ancient sources. Occasionally you’ll get priest talking about it on a weekday mass or a holy day of obligation mass that is sparsely attended. Definitely not Catholicism 101… Also, this does not contradict anything about the Trinity. There is only one God.Catholicism actually teaches that there are different levels of Heaven, and that at the top level people experience a process called Deification (called Theosis in Eastern Orthodoxy). These are ancient Christian teachings, but Protestants had thrown them away. Thus they were unknown to Joseph Smith until he become friendly with some Catholics in Nauvoo. After he died, they discovered Catholic literature in his library.
460 The Word became flesh to make us " partakers of the divine nature ":“For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.” “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.” “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.”
Don’t know what their intent is, but yes, the use of the word grace does seem to have entered into their vocabulary. But are they talking about in their every day lives? In their Sunday meetings? In the temple, which is the summit and goal of their earthly lives?Mormons are trying to be more like Evangelicals, so they can become accepted. Thus, the word grace is now in their vocabulary.
Gazelam, you ignored my previous posts.I hope this helps…
If the burning in the heart actually meant anything then most if not all churches are true. Don’t most people feel that burning when they are moved? I had a burning in my heart when I saw Les Miserables. Did that make it true?Isn’t a ‘burning in the heart’ proof the Book of Mormon is true?
Try to think of Mary as the first Christian! The best example of a mother we have, the best example of a follower of Christ that we have.One of the things I’m having trouble with is doctrines concerning Mary and Marian devotions. I have found that I like saying the Rosary, but all of my life (I was raised Protestant so I heard it from them as well as from Mormons) I have been taught that the Catholic Mary is patterned after Isis, and Catholics are engaging in goddess worship. That the Saints are simply replacing old pagan gods and godesses. I know now that this is not true, but I still have fears that communicating with Mary and the Saints is wrong. I was happy to learn, however, that the Mass is focused on Jesus Christ. I saw that every time that I visited Mass.
Yesterday’s reading was the story of the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus. Your attitude reminds me of hers.Thank you. I am so glad to read this.