Thanks…I also read the BYU link…It greatly disturbed my peace…they will get hold of our ‘treasure trove of documents’ in attempt, according to their beliefs to get new members, even if they are dead.
But the Mormon Church, in response to calling our church an abomination and corrupt-- ignores all our treasure troves of documents going back to the beginning of Christianity that refute their stand against our Church.
There have been Mormons on here gleaning our language and thought. One was on our site…and finally showed us his link he made for the Mormons totally refuting the Eucharist. You feel used again.
I now counter with this document that records how Mass is said throughout the Christian world. It was written by the first great apologist of Christianity, St. Justin the Martyr. They won’t use these names on these documents…too close to the time of the alleged Great Apostasy…after the last apostle died.
I got this from Mike Aquilina’s work, ‘The Mass of the Early Christians’.
Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius requested of St. Justin who was residing in Rome now, to explain to him what the Mass is and what it means. At that time, Christians were meeting in secret, and to protect the integrity of the Eucharist, it was referred to as ‘The Secret’ in this time period. Before that, the Breaking of Bread.
Note as well that only those who were rich were encouraged – not forced or given a certain quota – in providing livelihood to the less fortunate.
We are never forced to give money or tithe. And yet we have most beautiful churches.
This was written about the year, 155 AD.
‘Sunday Mass in Rome’. 'On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or countryside gather in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits. Then, when the reader has finished, the president instructs and exhorts them to imitate these good things. Then we all rise together and pray…When our prayer is ended, bread and wine with water are brought forth, and the president offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability. The people assent, saying “Amen”; and there is a distribution to each of the eucharistic elements. The deacons carry a portion to those who are absent.
Those who are able give willingly whatever sum they each think appropriate. The money collected is deposited with the president. He gives it, then, to comfort orphans, widows, and those who are wanting, through sickness or any other cause; and those who are imprisoned, and strangers traveling among us. In a word, he takes care of all who are in need.
Sunday is when we hold our assembly because it is the first day, on which God brought forth the world from darkness and matter. On the same day, Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead. For he was crucified on the day before Saturn’s day (Saturday); and on the day after Saturn’s day, which is the day of the sun, he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them these things, which we have submitted to you for your consideration.’
He has written other ‘apologies’ that go into more detail about the Eucharist. What is remarkable is that this was the practice of worship throughout the Christian world by 100 AD…this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Like I demonstrated before, you can have kids come up and play the telephone game. They sit in a row, and one begins a line…it goes down person per person until it reaches the last one. Then that one gets up and replays what was heard…and it is interesting how the story changes with just a handful of people…person to person documentation if you want to call it that. And it comes up different.
So we have much documentation going back to Pentecost…but it is in various forms, including artifacts, historical references, references in later documents but all going back to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am sure the Vatican will be of much help to the Mormon church. I can read through the lingo and they have a full deck now on the situation. I keep the Mormon people in my prayers. I live two miles from their temple. I see people in it all hours of the day and night when I do night shifts…wondered what was going on. When I found out, it didn’t bother me…
But when I began to study Mormonism, etc., etc. etc…yes…as the Vatican said, this is a grave matter using records of our initiation into the life that bring us into the life of Jesus Christ.
