Mormons 17 Points of True Church

  • Thread starter Thread starter TexanKnight
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
The Book of Mormon also clarifies two of what the Apostle Peter called “damnable heresies” and what the BoM calls “abominations” which have arisen from ambiguities in the New Testament text:
Can you show chapter & verse in the Bible where St. Peter says anything like this, please? I have never heard anything like it, nor can I find any place where he even used the word ‘heresy’ in any form.
  1. The heresy that an unbaptized child goes to hell. (This was commonly taught in most of the churches in the NY area when Joseph Smith first went to the Lord to ask which church was true). Moroni 8 speaks emphatically against this doctrine.
Based on what Jesus and the Apostles taught about the necessity of Baptism, it was thought that unbaptized infants would go to Limbo, along with others who had not had the opportunity to be Baptized, but had lived a good life (as opposed to an evil life) according to ‘natural law’. Limbo was not believed to be a place of torment, but a place of peace and happiness, although separated from the Beatific Vision (God). In recent years, the Church has studied this more closely and has come to a different understanding explained in more detail here.

I find it extremely interesting that the BoM (supposedly ‘translated’ by JS) would just so happen to address something that JS thought was an ‘abomination’. I find it very convenient. A little too convenient, if you ask me. :hmmm:
  1. The heresy that God’s plans for us preclude any kind of free will of our own, i.e. that most people are predestined to go to hell while an elect are predestined to heaven. Alma 31 addresses this doctrine. This too was a common, almost universal doctrine among Christians at the time of Joseph Smith. Many Catholics even believed it back then. Today, fortunately this doctrine is all but extinct, clung to by a few Calvinists and the Westboro Baptist Church. :mad:
The Catholic Church never taught predestination in any sense that it would preclude our ability to exercise our own free will to choose. That was Calvin’s position, and a big part of his heresy. If any Catholics of that time believed it, then they were woefully misinformed about true Catholic teaching. Personally, I don’t buy it.
 
I don’t have an obligation to argue against the Catholic church just so you can play defenders of the faith. I was asked what the LDS church teaches; I replied.
 
Then I guess civil discussion between us is impossible. Let me know if you change your mind and are willing to engage discussion without using me as a straw man.
Fortunately there was no straw man (and thank you for quoting me out of context, where I explained why).
You asked me about my beliefs and about what the LDS church teaches about certain things and I told you.
I really could not care less if you are convinced. I never set out to convince you. I was explaining my own point of view to you. I don’t need to prove my own personal experiences to you in order to justify continuing to believe what I believe.
This is very simple. You made an assertion about a matter that I and others questioned. I simply asked you for evidence of your assertion. You have no evidence to back up your claim, besides your personal experience. Further, you stated that something was done for centuries prior to the D&C, and you have yet to provide evidence of that assertion. Forgive me for thinking that you had actual substantiated evidence for your assertions. How could you know that something was for centuries prior to the D&C if you didn’t read something about the matter? Unless you’re making another assumption?
Thank you for acknowledging that it matters for something. As for “this argument”, we haven’t ever been on the same argument. You’re arguing as if I were trying to prove LDS doctrine whereas I’m simply explaining them.
I never claimed nor implied that it mattered for nothing.

Further, I’m not concerned with whether you’re proving or simply explaining LDS doctrine. My point is to demonstrate why these positions are untenable (indeed, the point of my posting in this thread was to demonstrate why the 17 Points are either found in the Catholic Church, based on a false premise, or based on a verse that doesn’t say what the writer is saying it says).
I’d love to see those century old sources you refer to.
Anyway the folks JS was preaching to were not on the whole Catholics, so the usefulness of those BoM teachings would not be precluded by agreeing Vatican documents, if indeed you can produce any.
I already stated that the Council of Trent addressed the issue of double predestination. Further, my point is that the Catholic Church, claiming to be the True Church established by Jesus Christ, with His authority, with the fulness of Truth, has already demonstrated that the belief in double predestination is a false doctrine. In our view, the Book of Mormon was not necessary to clarify anything, since it was already clarified by God before. Joseph Smith wasn’t necessary, since this plain and precious truth was never lost, and has always been taught by the true Church. That is my point on that matter.

If any one saith, that it is not in man’s power to make his ways evil, but that the works that are evil God worketh as well as those that are good, not permissively only, but properly, and of Himself, in such wise that the treason of Judas is no less His own proper work than the vocation of Paul; let him be anathema.

Council of Trent, Canon VI of the Decrees on Justification

If any one saith, that the grace of Justification is only attained to by those who are predestined unto life; but that all others who are called, are called indeed, but receive not grace, as being, by the divine power, predestined unto evil; let him be anathema.

Council of Trent, Canon XVII of the Decrees on Justification

history.hanover.edu/texts/trent.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent
ewtn.com/library/councils/trent6.htm
God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.*
**
Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1037**

Off to work, may be back tonight, maybe Sunday/Monday.
 
I’m so glad Telstar has rejoined us.
Can you show chapter & verse in the Bible where St. Peter says anything like this, please? I have never heard anything like it, nor can I find any place where he even used the word ‘heresy’ in any form…
With pleasure. 2 Peter 2:1, in the KJV. Does your bible use a different form?

I note that in tens of thousands of pages of LDS general conference talks the word “heresy” also only arises once.
Based on what Jesus and the Apostles taught about the necessity of Baptism, it was thought that unbaptized infants would go to Limbo, along with others who had not had the opportunity to be Baptized, but had lived a good life (as opposed to an evil life) according to ‘natural law’. Limbo was not believed to be a place of torment, but a place of peace and happiness, although separated from the Beatific Vision (God). In recent years, the Church has studied this more closely and has come to a different understanding explained in more detail here.
Yes. It was good Cardinal Ratzinger whose scholarship ended up updating the Catechism in 1994, stating the hope that unbaptized children would go to heaven. I don’t know if it’s coincidence but 1994 is also the year that the LDS church started announcing every year in General conference that a portion of monies from our tithes were going to Catholic Charities. That change in the Catechism very much changed the attitudes of many LDS towards the Catholic church.
I find it extremely interesting that the BoM (supposedly ‘translated’ by JS) would just so happen to address something that JS thought was an ‘abomination’.
I have never heard that JS ever had stated anything against infant baptism prior to translating the BoM. What is your source? Indeed, I can’t remember any teachings of JS on the infant baptism practice ever.
The Catholic Church never taught predestination in any sense that it would preclude our ability to exercise our own free will to choose. That was Calvin’s position, and a big part of his heresy. If any Catholics of that time believed it, then they were woefully misinformed about true Catholic teaching. Personally, I don’t buy it
I’ve seen at least one argument on this board, not by LDS persons, that predestination is a Catholic doctrine. I’ll try to find that post. It wasn’t in the “Other Religions” section.

I’m glad you agree with me that it’s an heresy.
 
I already stated that the Council of Trent addressed the issue of double predestination. Further, my point is that the Catholic Church, claiming to be the True Church established by Jesus Christ, with His authority, with the fulness of Truth, has already demonstrated that the belief in double predestination is a false doctrine. In our view, the Book of Mormon was not necessary to clarify anything, since it was already clarified by God before. Joseph Smith wasn’t necessary, since this plain and precious truth was never lost, and has always been taught by the true Church. That is my point on that matter.

If any one saith, that it is not in man’s power to make his ways evil, but that the works that are evil God worketh as well as those that are good, not permissively only, but properly, and of Himself, in such wise that the treason of Judas is no less His own proper work than the vocation of Paul; let him be anathema.

Council of Trent, Canon VI of the Decrees on Justification

If any one saith, that the grace of Justification is only attained to by those who are predestined unto life; but that all others who are called, are called indeed, but receive not grace, as being, by the divine power, predestined unto evil; let him be anathema.

Council of Trent, Canon XVII of the Decrees on Justification

history.hanover.edu/texts/trent.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent
ewtn.com/library/councils/trent6.htm
God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.*
**
Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1037**

Off to work, may be back tonight, maybe Sunday/Monday.
Thank you, LW! I’ll use that to refute Calvinists and Catholics that I meet that argue otherwise. I saw one horrific discussion where they said that it was heresy to tell people generally that God loved them, because they believe that God hates the vast majority of humankind. 😦
 
I don’t have an obligation to argue against the Catholic church just so you can play defenders of the faith. I was asked what the LDS church teaches; I replied.
no, you also made claims that, when asked to provide something that backed up your claims, you do the “LDS Shuck and Jive”
 
I hope you aren’t serious. LDS church leadership has no more interest and control in what mormons say on this site than the Catholic leadership has in what you or Tex says.
My comments were tongue-in-cheek, of course. 🙂
 
Would you rather he say that Mormons really enjoy playing dodge ball?
No; I’d rather have intelligent discussions with persons like Telstar here than people who hurl things at me and then blame me for “dodging” when they miss.
 
No; I’d rather have intelligent discussions with persons like Telstar here than people who hurl things at me and then blame me for “dodging” when they miss.
We try. Yet you run from most of the points then play victim when you are called on it.

Its ok. Do you think you are the first Mormon to do that here?

I have made many points that you refuse to address. others have asked you yo support you claims, you ignore.

Then you act like no one will discuss with you

Amazing
 
I don’t have an obligation to argue against the Catholic church just so you can play defenders of the faith. I was asked what the LDS church teaches; I replied.
The problem is you add to your explanation of LDS teaching by making false assertions about Catholic teaching.
 
I made points about Baptism for the dead that you ignored.

why?
 
So you proof-texted, rearranged the words, and argued that mormons think that apostasy is present in the Bible. When the original words actually argued that apostasy had caused key information (perhaps whole books and letters) to disappear?

Do you understand the difference between what was said and how you presented it?
There is no difference, and I didn’t proof text. Why pretend Mormons don’t view the Bible as having errors and Mormon scripture fixes the so-called errors?
 
There is no difference, and I didn’t proof text. Why pretend Mormons don’t view the Bible as having errors and Mormon scripture fixes the so-called errors?
As I repeatedly explained, the BoM doesn’t fix errors in the Bible but fills GAPS. I doubt you can find any Catholic scholar who opines that we’ve found all the documents that we could ever want from the early church.
Be proud of who you are.
Pride is a sin, Sister Rebecca. in both our churches.
 
The problem is you add to your explanation of LDS teaching by making false assertions about Catholic teaching.
I said what I believed in good faith. Now I’ve been informed that your baptisms don’t have that phrase about being commissioned by Jesus Christ. I was misinformed by a Catholic friend, but then perhaps she misunderstood my question. I’ve thanked LW for correcting my error. But if you think that means I’m required to convert to Catholicism, I beg to differ.
 
I’m so glad Telstar has rejoined us.
Thanks. 😊

I must say that I was a little surprised to see you’ve returned. But, it’s always good to have someone to debate about Mormon vs Catholic teaching. 😃
With pleasure. 2 Peter 2:1, in the KJV. Does your bible use a different form?

I note that in tens of thousands of pages of LDS general conference talks the word “heresy” also only arises once.
As a matter of fact, it is slightly different in the DR version:
2 Peter 2: [1] But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not.”
But, that quote doesn’t say anything about babies going to hell or predestination. So, I’m still wondering where he would have mentioned either of those things. Maybe I’m just confused as to what you mean by that.

BTW… “the way of truth” (or The Way) was what the Apostles called the early Church at that time, because it was ‘the way’ that Jesus had given to them, when He also promised to always be with them, and to “lead” them “into all truth”. St. Peter (our first Pope) was most certainly prophesying the coming of many “false prophets” in that chapter. Wasn’t he?
Yes. It was good Cardinal Ratzinger whose scholarship ended up updating the Catechism in 1994, stating the hope that unbaptized children would go to heaven. I don’t know if it’s coincidence but 1994 is also the year that the LDS church started announcing every year in General conference that a portion of monies from our tithes were going to Catholic Charities. That change in the Catechism very much changed the attitudes of many LDS towards the Catholic church.
I’m glad that changed Mormon attitudes toward the Church, but their misunderstanding (via JS’ claims) of what the Catholic Church actually taught on the subject, was what caused the problem in the first place. It’s a shame it took them so long to realize the real truth.
I have never heard that JS ever had stated anything against infant baptism prior to translating the BoM. What is your source? Indeed, I can’t remember any teachings of JS on the infant baptism practice ever.
I wish I could find where I read that, but I can’t. I’ve read so many things about him, from so many different sources, that I can’t recall where I found it. All I remember was that he had* heard* that the CC taught this, supposedly along with ‘many’ Protestants, when he was still very young. Sorry, if that’s not true, then I apologize. But, if anyone else knows what I mean, or can find it, I’d appreciate it.
I’ve seen at least one argument on this board, not by LDS persons, that predestination is a Catholic doctrine. I’ll try to find that post. It wasn’t in the “Other Religions” section.

I’m glad you agree with me that it’s an heresy.
I’m pretty sure the Bible has references to some people being ‘predestined’ in some way, but not to the degree that they don’t have free will to make their own choice. Since God knows every heart, and every action of every man before they’re even born, so it might be seen that they were somehow ‘predestined’. But, the Catholic Church teaches that we are fully responsible for our own actions, because we always have free will to make our own choices. This goes all the way back to Adam & Eve. They had free will to choose, so they were guilty of committing the sin of disobedience against God. That’s why the belief in predestination, as taught by Calvin, is heretical.
 
But, that quote doesn’t say anything about babies going to hell or predestination. So, I’m still wondering where he would have mentioned either of those things.
Of course he didn’t. If Peter had specified those things, then the BoM would not have needed to restore those plain and precious truths.

Peter didn’t specify all of the “damnable heresies” which he condemned, meaning teachings that lead to perdition. My point was that according to the BoM, predestiation and the teaching that God would send an unbaptized child to hell is a teaching which leads to perdition, aka a “damnable heresy.”

The Book of Mormon, in Moroni 8, says:
13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
It’s a very strong statement that a particular belief is so abominable that it leads one to hell. I associate that statement with the KJV translation phrase from Peter of “damnable heresies,” i.e. teachings so false that they lead their believer to perdition.

The root of both those heresies is the denial of God’s love, and a distortion of the meaning of grace.

The Westboro Baptist Church, for example, leads its followers to hell by teaching them that God hates most of the human race other than them. How could such a god be capable of salvation?

If I’m wrong about God the father having a body, then may Jesus in his mercy lead me to the truth. But it seems to me that kind of detail is dross and trivia compared to the critical nature of God’s love for all of the children of Eve
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top