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nonbcs, no offense taken by you in the lest bit. I was trying to respond to your question knowing full well from your previous posts that you haven't studied the subject in much depth.
My main point was to let you know that Mormons do not practice polygamy and have not since 1890. We consider it immoral and an abomination in God's eyes. However, we do acknowledge that polygamy is a doctrine that God has instituted at different times throughout history. We believe out of necessity that this doctrine was instituted to the eraly church for the reasons I mentioned earlier. So, to bring it full circle, if one is practicing polygamy, not only do they not have good standing with the church, they are also excommunicated from the church and can have no part in it, until they repent and forsake the sin.
One thing, I agree with you is that nobody really could know what was happening in the time between BC and AD, unless they were a prophet. We believe our prophets to be prophets in the literal sense. We believe that they are and were prophets in the exact same sense that we believe Moses or Abraham or Isiah from the bible to be prophets, with the same authority and charge to proclaim truth and reveal new truth from God for our day. If we do not have a prophet to lead, guide, interpret, etc, we are left as Paul states in Ephesians 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." If one doesn't know where to look for truth, we are all children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Not to get too preachy, (probably too late for that) but that is the beautiful message of Mormonism. That God does speak to man today in a literal sense, that the heavens are opened and that God reveals his truth to modern day prophets, just like in biblic times, that we do not need to be "children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. And what's even more beautiful about this message is that we don't ask you to take our word for it. The Book of Mormon comes with a promise that states: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of The Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni chapter 9 verse 4 & 5) We do not and never have asked anyone to just take our word for it, like many evangelical Christians would tell you to just take their word for it concerning Mormons.
Joseph Smith was once confronted by an Evangelical preacher, who was throwing down fire and brimstone his way and telling him that he was resigned to Hell, etc, kind of like Nev has said to me. He said to this preacher: (I'm quoting this to the best of my remembrance) "Do you know what the difference is between you and I? You and your Evangelical brethren have already confined me to an endless Hell, yet I believe even you can one day be saved in the kingdom of heaven" I kind of feel the same way when speaking with Evangelicals or Baptists etc, who have already confined us Mormons to hell. Yet we believe even they can be saved in the kingdom of heaven, and hope that they do eventually accept truth. Anyway nonbcs, what's new on the football front?
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