Apostles Or Professional Guessers?

[Gadianton]

Not a few

Let me guess, you can't name any of them but the lurkers can.

[MG 2.0]

Not a few

Let me guess, you can't name any of them but the lurkers can.

You might be right. We'll never know, will we?

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

Most of the time it appears you're teaching false doctrine...

I think you're just plain wrong on this point.

Regards,
MG

[Limnor]

I’m not claiming private interpretive infallibility. I’m appealing to an interpretive tradition that stretches back centuries through the Church Fathers and ecumenical councils. That doesn’t make it beyond critique, but it’s not simply my own exegesis either.

An appeal to modern prophets only works if the founding prophetic claim is reliable. Since the original authority claim is unreliable, appealing to its successors doesn’t resolve the instability.

[MG 2.0]

An appeal to modern prophets only works if the founding prophetic claim is reliable.

I wholeheartedly agree on this point. This is the crux.

Regards,
MG

[malkie]

I’m not claiming private interpretive infallibility. I’m appealing to an interpretive tradition that stretches back centuries through the Church Fathers and ecumenical councils. That doesn’t make it beyond critique, but it’s not simply my own exegesis either.

An appeal to modern prophets only works if the founding prophetic claim is reliable. Since the original authority claim is unreliable, appealing to its successors doesn’t resolve the instability.

And not just the founder: any break in the chain from then till now is just as bad.

[MG 2.0]

I’m not claiming private interpretive infallibility. I’m appealing to an interpretive tradition that stretches back centuries through the Church Fathers and ecumenical councils. That doesn’t make it beyond critique, but it’s not simply my own exegesis either.

An appeal to modern prophets only works if the founding prophetic claim is reliable. Since the original authority claim is unreliable, appealing to its successors doesn’t resolve the instability.

And not just the founder: any break in the chain from then till now is just as bad.

Depends. By the way, the chain going from original home gatherings at the time of Jesus and His disciples in the ancient world going on and through medieval times, etc., is quite a long one.

A lot of stuff happened along the way. You want to go with that?

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

...An appeal to modern prophets only works if the founding prophetic claim is reliable. Since the original authority claim is unreliable, appealing to its successors doesn’t resolve the instability...

This is key. The 'founding prophetic claim' of Mormonism was made by a conman who slept with multiple women and girls. Appealing now to prophets who can't maintain any consistency, who lie and cheat in financial matters, and who use tithing money to protect abusers among many, many other issues, only perpetuates the unreliable nature of the claim.

[I Have Questions]

And not just the founder: any break in the chain from then till now is just as bad.

Depends. By the way, the chain going from original home gatherings at the time of Jesus and His disciples in the ancient world going on and through medieval times, etc., is quite a long one.

A lot of stuff happened along the way. You want to go with that?

Regards,
MG

Line upon line, precept upon precept. Right?

[Dr. Shades]

The one where he saw an angel, the one where he saw Christ, the one where he saw many angels, or the one where he saw God & Christ?

The ones that weren't good enough to stand as they were written in the Book of Commandments?

The 1830 version, the 1837 version, the 1840 version, or the 1981 version?

Like the revelation from God to implement the 2015 baptismal exclusion policy for children of gay parents? You know, the one the church follows today?

Except when it comes to making sure Joseph Smith sleeps with women other than his wife. In that case, it's crystal clear. (Funny how the angel didn't command Joseph to spread the word to boil one's water before drinking it, or to wash one's hands before performing surgical operations, or that slavery is bad, but hey, Joseph God has His priorities, right?)

But I'm sure you never do that, do you?

But that accusation is entirely untrue when it applies to you, right?

For believing members of the church with a testimony there are certain certainties that come into play which add to the core testimony and belief in the restoration. Those that I've mentioned would be right up there on the top. Understandably, you and other critics of the restoration would look for and find insurmountable (your reasoning) holes in those certainties. [SNIP!] It's not like anything said or brought up here is going to change the trajectory of the church and its success in bringing souls to Christ.

Regards,
MG

Is there any particular reason you refrained from answering a single one of my questions? If God has spoken with clarity regarding them, as you say He has, why not just post the answers?