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The discussion in the thread Mormonism is not "Christianity" got me to thinking. So as not to derail that thread (further than it has already been derailed), I wonder what the current situation is with regard to abominable creeds etc.

Joseph said:

JSH 18, 19 wrote:18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

Is that still the view of the LDS church? Specifically, the reasons given in v19 for Joseph not to join any existing church: are other churches still considered to have abominable creeds, and corrupt professors whose hearts are far from the Lord?

If not, what happened to change the situation, and when did the change happen?

If so, is there any scope for softening these statements in JSH 19 to take some of the bad feeling out of the "we are Christian too" discussion?

Does any non-LDS "mainstream" church take as strict a stand as this with regard to the teachings and "professors" of other Christian denominations?

Yes, its still the view of the Church as far as I'm aware.

stemelbow wrote:Yes, its still the view of the Church as far as I'm aware.

It certainly is not the way that the missionaries present things now. They usually take the approach that other churches have part of the truth, but that the LDS church is the only one that has it all. That is a far cry from saying that all other churches are abominable and corrupt.

Dad of a Mormon wrote:It certainly is not the way that the missionaries present things now. They usually take the approach that other churches have part of the truth, but that the LDS church is the only one that has it all. That is a far cry from saying that all other churches are abominable and corrupt.

Saying all other churches are abominable and corrupt is a distance away from what Joseph Smith initially reported God told him too. So whateves.

For me, there is plenty of room to accept what Joseph Smith said God said and still hold to the notion that many churches, and other orgs for that matter, hold many truths, just not the whole enchilada. Indeed, it is heavily implied, at the very least, that the LDS Church itself, while holding much truth does not have it all. And since Joseph Smith' day perhaps some of the same things that were common in churches in Joseph's day, like the abominable creeds and the corrupts professors are also somewhat crept into the LORD's Church.

The LDS church has its own abomination.

harmony wrote:The LDS church has its own abomination.

Sadly you are correct, particularly if you are making a crack about me, but also if you are about others.

The church leaders and missionaries would never say such a thing nowadays. They're not that dumb. But you hear it in ward buildings all the time. I recently heard a guy bearing his testimony that said one day the Pope will join the church. He was joking, but church members do take a lot of shots at the catholic church.

stemelbow wrote:

Dad of a Mormon wrote:It certainly is not the way that the missionaries present things now. They usually take the approach that other churches have part of the truth, but that the LDS church is the only one that has it all. That is a far cry from saying that all other churches are abominable and corrupt.

Saying all other churches are abominable and corrupt is a distance away from what Joseph Smith initially reported God told him too. So whateves.

Who said "all other churches are abominable and corrupt"?

stemelbow wrote:For me, there is plenty of room to accept what Joseph Smith said God said and still hold to the notion that many churches, and other orgs for that matter, hold many truths, just not the whole enchilada. Indeed, it is heavily implied, at the very least, that the LDS Church itself, while holding much truth does not have it all. And since Joseph Smith' day perhaps some of the same things that were common in churches in Joseph's day, like the abominable creeds and the corrupts professors are also somewhat crept into the LORD's Church.

CFR
CFR

stemelbow wrote:Saying all other churches are abominable and corrupt is a distance away from what Joseph Smith initially reported God told him too. So whateves.

Would it nbe safe to say that Joseph was at least told that the creed and teachers of any religion available to him was abominable and corrupt? I think so. I also think that LDS teaching since make it clear that there is no other religion that contains what is needed to return to live with God (exaltation). Right? That's why the Church send out 50K missionaries. This isn't just about quality of life— it is about living with God again as an exalted being.

19
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their ehearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

20
He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time.

stemelbow wrote:For me, there is plenty of room to accept what Joseph Smith said God said and still hold to the notion that many churches, and other orgs for that matter, hold many truths, just not the whole enchilada. Indeed, it is heavily implied, at the very least, that the LDS Church itself, while holding much truth does not have it all. And since Joseph Smith' day perhaps some of the same things that were common in churches in Joseph's day, like the abominable creeds and the corrupts professors are also somewhat crept into the LORD's Church.

Right. Wouldn't you agree though that most if not all active LDS think the LDS Church will never fall far enough into apostasy
to not make it the only game in town as it were? Regardless of it's flaws it will always be the only place with the authority and doctrines to bring about exaltation.

Now if only people could figure out what the doctrines really were. =)

stemelbow wrote:

harmony wrote:The LDS church has its own abomination.

Sadly you are correct, particularly if you are making a crack about me, but also if you are about others.

I was referring to polygamy.