You chose to be tested here on Earth, and you completely failed by leaving Mormonism.

[drumdude]

I like BYP's idea of following along with the New Testament teachings of the church this year!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... n?lang=eng

Here's the very first page of the lesson manual, which frames one of the most important concepts in Mormonism. The pre-existence.

“We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth [see Acts 17:28–29; Abraham 3:22–26]. We were not, however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.

“God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings [see Moses 1:39]. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. …

“… In order to progress and become like God, each of us had to obtain a body and be tested during a time of probation on the earth” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 48–49).

First of all, this has a distinctly Scientology vibe to me. "You have a thetan in you that you don't even know you have to overcome." "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it."

It's also very important, I think, to understanding exactly why Mormons have such a huge problem with ex-Mormons. In their narrative, ex-Mormons have given up their inheritance. They've lost everything. You were the golden child, a beloved son or daughter, who has been lost in the most tragic way possible. You, the ex-Mormon, have broken up the eternal family by failing in this critical Earthly probation.

Thank Goodness that none of it is true. But the Mormon family member, for as long as they still believe, will always see you as a pathetic lost sheep.

[Meadowchik]

Nah, some do better and are aware that their position is risky and respect others who have chosen different positions.

[msnobody]

I like BYP's idea of following along with the New Testament teachings of the church this year!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... n?lang=eng

Here's the very first page of the lesson manual, which frames one of the most important concepts in Mormonism. The pre-existence.

“We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth [see Acts 17:28–29; Abraham 3:22–26]. We were not, however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.

“God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings [see Moses 1:39]. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. …

“… In order to progress and become like God, each of us had to obtain a body and be tested during a time of probation on the earth” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 48–49).

First of all, this has a distinctly Scientology vibe to me. "You have a thetan in you that you don't even know you have to overcome." "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it."

It's also very important, I think, to understanding exactly why Mormons have such a huge problem with ex-Mormons. In their narrative, ex-Mormons have given up their inheritance. They've lost everything. You were the golden child, a beloved son or daughter, who has been lost in the most tragic way possible. You, the ex-Mormon, have broken up the eternal family by failing in this critical Earthly probation.

Thank Goodness that none of it is true. But the Mormon family member, for as long as they still believe, will always see you as a pathetic lost sheep.

The LDS church really takes one of my favorite passages of scripture (Acts 17) out of context. Truth mixed with error.

[Philo Sofee]

I like BYP's idea of following along with the New Testament teachings of the church this year!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... n?lang=eng

Here's the very first page of the lesson manual, which frames one of the most important concepts in Mormonism. The pre-existence.



First of all, this has a distinctly Scientology vibe to me. "You have a thetan in you that you don't even know you have to overcome." "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it."

It's also very important, I think, to understanding exactly why Mormons have such a huge problem with ex-Mormons. In their narrative, ex-Mormons have given up their inheritance. They've lost everything. You were the golden child, a beloved son or daughter, who has been lost in the most tragic way possible. You, the ex-Mormon, have broken up the eternal family by failing in this critical Earthly probation.

Thank Goodness that none of it is true. But the Mormon family member, for as long as they still believe, will always see you as a pathetic lost sheep.

The LDS church really takes one of my favorite passages of scripture (Acts 17) out of context. Truth mixed with error.

I noticed that immediately... thanks msnobody, and I never did thank you for the lovely Christmas card. I apologize for being such a snoot...

[Dr Exiled]

More guessing from cojcolds ... my guess is that the illogical religion wanting of proof for its historical claims is the wrong path. I guess we'll see ....

While I'm waiting, however, I will have more free time and won't have to pay a tax to the almighty Fund. I'll be able to focus on the present without worrying about offending some hidden entity. Seems like Pascal is in my favor ...

[sock puppet]

“God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings [see Moses 1:39]. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. …"

God's whole purpose, huh? Looks like his batting average as a parent is going to be extremely low.

[drumdude]

“God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings [see Moses 1:39]. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. …"

God's whole purpose, huh? Looks like his batting average as a parent is going to be extremely low.

God isn’t the problem, you are!

[JohnW]

I like BYP's idea of following along with the New Testament teachings of the church this year!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... n?lang=eng

Here's the very first page of the lesson manual, which frames one of the most important concepts in Mormonism. The pre-existence.

“We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth [see Acts 17:28–29; Abraham 3:22–26]. We were not, however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.

“God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings [see Moses 1:39]. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. …

“… In order to progress and become like God, each of us had to obtain a body and be tested during a time of probation on the earth” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 48–49).

First of all, this has a distinctly Scientology vibe to me. "You have a thetan in you that you don't even know you have to overcome." "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it."

It's also very important, I think, to understanding exactly why Mormons have such a huge problem with ex-Mormons. In their narrative, ex-Mormons have given up their inheritance. They've lost everything. You were the golden child, a beloved son or daughter, who has been lost in the most tragic way possible. You, the ex-Mormon, have broken up the eternal family by failing in this critical Earthly probation.

Thank Goodness that none of it is true. But the Mormon family member, for as long as they still believe, will always see you as a pathetic lost sheep.

I think you may misunderstand this concept. If it is, as you say, "one of the most important concepts in Mormonism," then that may be an issue. When you say, "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it," do you mean to say that you believe we all have to be members of the church in this life to "pass" this test on Earth? Maybe you mean to say that you believe we all agreed to believe in the LDS version of God while alive. I don't think I've ever met a member of the church who thinks either of those things. When we agreed to come down here, we did just that, agreed to come down here. Sure maybe some were told they would be born into the church, but that has relatively little to do with the whole probation part. The probation was to test out what we would do when we no longer had all the information. We are all fine with following the plan when we can see the whole thing laid out before us. It is a completely different ball game when we can't see more than a step or two ahead of us. Seeing what we do when we face unanswered questions is far more important that which particular idea of God we ascribed to while we were breathing.

This isn't a test to see who collects the most correct information in this life, it is a test to see what we do when we have all sorts of confusing information in this life. That can be done in any religion or no religion.

[drumdude]

I like BYP's idea of following along with the New Testament teachings of the church this year!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... n?lang=eng

Here's the very first page of the lesson manual, which frames one of the most important concepts in Mormonism. The pre-existence.



First of all, this has a distinctly Scientology vibe to me. "You have a thetan in you that you don't even know you have to overcome." "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it."

It's also very important, I think, to understanding exactly why Mormons have such a huge problem with ex-Mormons. In their narrative, ex-Mormons have given up their inheritance. They've lost everything. You were the golden child, a beloved son or daughter, who has been lost in the most tragic way possible. You, the ex-Mormon, have broken up the eternal family by failing in this critical Earthly probation.

Thank Goodness that none of it is true. But the Mormon family member, for as long as they still believe, will always see you as a pathetic lost sheep.

I think you may misunderstand this concept. If it is, as you say, "one of the most important concepts in Mormonism," then that may be an issue. When you say, "You chose to be Mormon, you just don't remember it," do you mean to say that you believe we all have to be members of the church in this life to "pass" this test on Earth? Maybe you mean to say that you believe we all agreed to believe in the LDS version of God while alive. I don't think I've ever met a member of the church who thinks either of those things. When we agreed to come down here, we did just that, agreed to come down here. Sure maybe some were told they would be born into the church, but that has relatively little to do with the whole probation part. The probation was to test out what we would do when we no longer had all the information. We are all fine with following the plan when we can see the whole thing laid out before us. It is a completely different ball game when we can't see more than a step or two ahead of us. Seeing what we do when we face unanswered questions is far more important that which particular idea of God we ascribed to while we were breathing.

This isn't a test to see who collects the most correct information in this life, it is a test to see what we do when we have all sorts of confusing information in this life. That can be done in any religion or no religion.

I see Mormons hold two completely contradictory views about the test.

1)failing the test (leaving the church) in this life is a serious sin and breaks the eternal family ties

2)everything can be fixed in the spirit world after death, and nothing in mortality actually matters

Which one is it?

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I suppose the test is to see if you can ‘obey’ no matter how absurd, illogical, and damaging the LDS truth claims are to your life. Whew, lad.

- Doc