Drilldown #3: TBMs, how do you deal with contra evidence?

[_Scottie]

But isn't that what we are doing when we ask potential converts to accept Joseph Smith Jr as a prophet? Aren't we asking these people to evaluate his spiritual experiences? To paraphrase the other thread "it all boils down to whether or not Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith."

In fact our church asks up to convince other people that these spiritual experiences are true and lets them know that unless their spiritual experiences conforms to ours that it isn't really a spiritual experience.

Not quite. The missionaries challenge the investigator to have some (ANY) kind of good feeling. Then proceed to tell them that this feeling is the Holy Ghost confirming that the Book of Mormon is true!

[_Yahoo Bot]

This particular "real, credentialed person" seems oddly incapable of distinguishing an act of vandalism from an internet post.

And, they're not much different, are they, [Mod Scottie: Deleted personal attack]

[_Buffalo]

This particular "real, credentialed person" seems oddly incapable of distinguishing an act of vandalism from an internet post.

And, they're not much different, are they, [Mod Scottie: Deleted personal attack]

More anonymous cowards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... _Covenants

Code names for people

Ahashdah: Newel K. Whitney
Alam: Edward Partridge
Baneemy: originally Lyman Wight, reinterpreted by Orson Pratt as "mine elders" in 1876, perhaps corrupt Hebrew for “my sons”; also claimed as a title by Charles B. Thompson
Baurak Ale: Joseph Smith, Jr.. This is a very clear Hebrew for barakh 'el (ברך אל) “blessed [of] El,” i.e., God.
Enoch: Joseph Smith, Jr.
Gazelam: Joseph Smith, Jr. (cf. Gazelem)
Horah: John Whitmer
Mahalaleel: A. Sidney Gilbert
Mehemson: Martin Harris
Olihah: Oliver Cowdery (see -ihah)
Pelagoram: Sidney Rigdon
Shalemanasseh: William Wines Phelps (cf. Shalmaneser, Manasseh)
Shederlaomach: Frederick G. Williams (cf. Chedorlaomer, Shedolamak)
Zombre: John Johnson

[_malkie]

This particular "real, credentialed person" seems oddly incapable of distinguishing an act of vandalism from an internet post.

And, they're not much different, are they, you [personal attack deleted].

More anonymous cowards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... _Covenants

Code names for people

Ahashdah: Newel K. Whitney
Alam: Edward Partridge
Baneemy: originally Lyman Wight, reinterpreted by Orson Pratt as "mine elders" in 1876, perhaps corrupt Hebrew for “my sons”; also claimed as a title by Charles B. Thompson
Baurak Ale: Joseph Smith, Jr.. This is a very clear Hebrew for barakh 'el (ברך אל) “blessed [of] El,” i.e., God.
Enoch: Joseph Smith, Jr.
Gazelam: Joseph Smith, Jr. (cf. Gazelem)
Horah: John Whitmer
Mahalaleel: A. Sidney Gilbert
Mehemson: Martin Harris
Olihah: Oliver Cowdery (see -ihah)
Pelagoram: Sidney Rigdon
Shalemanasseh: William Wines Phelps (cf. Shalmaneser, Manasseh)
Shederlaomach: Frederick G. Williams (cf. Chedorlaomer, Shedolamak)
Zombre: John Johnson

Ah, but these people are not posting on an internet message board, so perhaps it doesn't count.

by the way, has anyone noticed if the anonymous defenders on the board have felt sufficiently chastened by Yahoo Bot that they have now identified themselves, so as to be "qualified for evangelism"?

[_mentalgymnast]

...when we ask potential converts to accept Joseph Smith Jr as a prophet...aren't we asking these people to evaluate his spiritual experiences?

In fact our church asks up to convince other people that these spiritual experiences are true and lets them know that unless their spiritual experiences conforms to ours that it isn't really a spiritual experience.

I know I didn't approach it that way years ago when I was on my mission. I recollect that we did encourage people to pray on their own concerning Joseph Smith's prophetic calling. Maybe we did follow up and ask them later whether or not they received an answer, but I honestly don't recall (I think that gaining a testimony is a private matter and not something that missionaries can sell. But I'm sure that there are those that go this route.). I also don't even remotely remember saying anything to others in regards to insinuating that their spiritual experiences were invalid or untrustworthy, etc.

But then again, I don't remember this particular issue coming up. But it's been a long time ago and memories do fade.

Practices may vary from mission to mission and missionary to missionary. And it may be different now than it was back in the early to mid seventies when I was out pounding on doors.

Regards,
MG

[_Corpsegrinder]

[Mod Scottie: Personal insults deleted.]