Possible Modern Source for the Book of Mormon

[Guest]

Why are you reading the theories of men? Remember our apostle said, "Excessive reliance on personal teachings or speculations may even draw us aside from concentrating on learning and efforts that will further our understanding and help us go forward on the covenant path.""

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

I agree with "our apostle".

Balance is key. Attending and being actively engaged in the church is important also...as I'm sure you know.

Regards,
MG

What balance? It takes hours to read and study all that crap! How much time do you spend reading the Book of Mormon? Five minutes?

[_mentalgymnast]

I was looking into this stuff back before Matthew Roper (heard of him?) published his stuff:

https://scholarsarchive.BYU.edu/cgi/vie ... ontext=msr

wow dude you really don't care about what the apostles say.

I surely do. Did you listen to all of the sessions of last conference? I did. The one before that? I did.

Prophets, seers, and revelators. Agree?

Have you read or listened to Blake Ostler's stuff? Worth your time. Highly recommended. But keep balanced. Read the words of the prophets published in the Conference Talks also. Don't become unbalanced or you may become unhinged.

Dude.

Regards,
MG

[_DoubtingThomas]

Have you read or listened to Blake Ostler's stuff? Worth your time.

I did. Not impressed.

[_mentalgymnast]

What balance? It takes hours to read and study all that crap! How much time do you spend reading the Book of Mormon per day? Five minutes?

Years, in fact.

Right now I'm reading through David Ridges The Book of Mormon Made Easier three book series.

Before that I read Grant Hardy's The Book of Mormon-Reader's Edition


And I regularly use the Gospel Study app on my phone to study talks and scriptures on the go and at church.

But I'm guessing you may spend more time with the Book of Mormon per day than I do. Kudos for you.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

Have you read or listened to Blake Ostler's stuff? Worth your time.

I did. Not impressed.

That's OK.

To each his own, right?

Regards,
MG

[_DoubtingThomas]

Years, in fact.

Exactly! So you need to stop doing apologetics. Don't forget, "Excessive reliance on personal teachings or speculations may even draw us aside from concentrating on learning and efforts that will further our understanding and help us go forward on the covenant path.""

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

[_mentalgymnast]

Years, in fact.

Exactly! So you need to stop doing apologetics. Don't forget, "Excessive reliance on personal teachings or speculations may even draw us aside from concentrating on learning and efforts that will further our understanding and help us go forward on the covenant path.""

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

Believe it or not, periodic participation on this board (then jumping off for a while) actually increases my faith and testimony in the truth claims and mission of the CofJCofLDS.

But alas, again it is time to take the off ramp again here pretty soon. Otherwise I'm taking up my scripture study time.

It's important, wouldn't you agree, to follow the Brethren's advice to share our thoughts and testimonies of Christ and His church online?

I guess some, such as yourself, would call that apologetics.

Regards,
MG

[_Dr Moore]

Ostler is a smart dude, but unfortunately his theories require us to ignore the voice of Joseph Smith far too often. He is the tail wagging the dog. Expansion theory as a case study. I am confident Joseph would have excommunicated Blake long ago.

And, meaning this with respect, if we need Blake Ostler to make Mormonism work, then God help us all.

[_mentalgymnast]

Ostler is a smart dude, but unfortunately his theories require us to ignore the voice of Joseph Smith far too often. He is the tail wagging the dog. Expansion theory as a case study. I am confident Joseph would have excommunicated Blake long ago.

And, meaning this with respect, if we need Blake Ostler to make Mormonism work, then God help us all.

The church will carry out its mission with or without Blake Ostler. No worries there.

Thank God that His purposes are not dependent on any one man as the church continues on its path of teaching salvation through Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Unfortunately, there are those that place too much of their faith/belief in and/or on man without relying on God for understanding/faith. If we are relying on any man...without looking to God...we will ultimately fall.

Basic principles of the Gospel. Important.

Arm of the flesh will getcha every time. Example: Brigham Young and Adam-God. How many people have gone by the wayside because of some of his views? Arm of the flesh. Conflicted man at times.

Ostler, Brigham Young, and any other man of flesh is not going to have a complete understanding of the divine. I think that this knowledge is actually beyond our grasp.

For some, Blake Ostler's musings about God and Book of Mormon translation have the ring of truth and it clicks. If it results in the ability to move forward in faith, then that's a net benefit in my book.

Regards,
MG

[_Themis]

I could go on. I've read both sides and in between. You can't come to grips with that. That's your issue.

I tend to look at a person's posts to indicate how well they understand an issue. That and your own admissions of ignorance on some of the issues like Book of Abraham. For someone who claims to be so well read I find it very surprising they would avoid probably the biggest one.

For some, Blake Ostler's musings about God and Book of Mormon translation have the ring of truth and it clicks. If it results in the ability to move forward in faith, then that's a net benefit in my book.

Unless that faith is the wrong one. Everyone has the ring of truth experience, which explains why the world only has one religion.