Ray A wrote: Entering the Church with the naïve idea that things like the Sermon on the Mount were really what mattered. Perhaps I was too idealistic..
Well for what it's worth, the sermon still matters and and you weren't too idealistic. You can still practice love and peace. Think about it. You recall the story of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah? Who was it that laughed them to scorn when they expressed a desire to administer Jesus' message to the Lamanites? It was the Mormons. They contended that any good Lamanite was a dead Lamanite.
It's unfortunate that unbelieving suits run something that has so much more potential for good instead of the facade that it has always been. But people have been saying the same thing about multilevel marketing for years too.
Inconceivable wrote:Well for what it's worth, the sermon still matters and and you weren't too idealistic. You can still practice love and peace. Think about it. You recall the story of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah?
I think there are some great stories in the Book of Mormon, and that's all they are to me, inspired stories, some of which are expansions on Biblical themes. I don't take it all literally, but there have been times in my life I've benefited a lot from the Book of Mormon. I'd say whoever wrote it was inspired, but like the Bible, I believe there are also uninspired portions. So I take the wheat, and leave the chaff.
Ray A wrote:I think there are some great stories in the Book of Mormon, and that's all they are to me, inspired stories, some of which are expansions on Biblical themes. I don't take it all literally, but there have been times in my life I've benefited a lot from the Book of Mormon. I'd say whoever wrote it was inspired, but like the Bible, I believe there are also uninspired portions. So I take the wheat, and leave the chaff.
It's a shame that most writers make less than cabbies, because you are a talented writer.
We have several talented writers here, but not much honesty. Not even many examples as to why, and when such are given, they typically are pathetic or doctrinally incorrect.
This is why you and I have problems getting along, BC.
Why do you have to attack the personal integrity of folks? Ray shares something very personal about his exit from the Church and you accuse him of lying. That's just not cool.
And your crap about rebuking in righteousness is BS. YOU are not the eternal judge. YOU have no right or standing to do that.
liz3564 wrote:This is why you and I have problems getting along, BC.
Why do you have to attack the personal integrity of folks? Ray shares something very personal about his exit from the Church and you accuse him of lying. That's just not cool.
And your crap about rebuking in righteousness is b***s***. YOU are not the eternal judge. YOU have no right or standing to do that.
As usual, Liz, I always appreciate your sincerity. But I frankly expected more criticism for this than what I got, and BC's comments were no surprise to me. What happened in 2001 is personal, but the only reason I shared it was in the hope it might help others. It was the worst time of my life, but it eventually blossomed into a freedom and happiness I will never forget, and cherish to this day. I suppose it was my sort of "personal testimony", but I hold no grudge against BC for trying to demean it. I even expected him to do so. But again, thank you for your thoughtfulness and kindness of heart.
