Book of Mormon a Stolen Novel?

[_Quasimodo]

Well if you really want to do it, I have an old meat clever you can borrow.

That is not the offer of a friend. You should be talking me out of it.

[_son of Ishmael]

Well if you really want to do it, I have an old meat clever you can borrow.

That is not the offer of a friend. You should be talking me out of it.

No! don't do it! Stop!

[_MCB]

1. prohibition of self-castration WTF? They really had to make a law to stop people from doing that?

That was because of some of the gnostic heretics. The ascetic ones, not the libertine ones. They took Matthew 19:12 literally. They were high-fliers, who did not take the practicalities of living in this world very seriously. You ever heard the expression "Too spiritual to be of any earthly use?"

[_son of Ishmael]

1. prohibition of self-castration WTF? They really had to make a law to stop people from doing that?

That was because of some of the gnostic heretics. The ascetic ones, not the libertine ones. They took Matthew 19:12 literally. They were high-fliers, who did not take the practicalities of living in this world very seriously. You ever heard the expression "Too spiritual to be of any earthly use?"

I think it just goes to show what kind of crazy stuff is done in the name of religion. At least they only did that to themselves. Helping eliminate stupid people from the gene pool.

[Guest]

Actually Mark was the first Gospel written and the rest of them used that version to write theirs.

Actually, Mark's Gospel is believed to have been written approximately 70 AD by some, due to Mark 13:2 which has Jesus prophesy the destruction of the Temple, an event that occurred in 70 CE. If Jesus had really prophesied the destruction of the Temple, he would have been correct. Since non-believers cannot fathom that Jesus could predict anything, it is assumed that this prophecy must have originated with Mark, writing at a time when he would have known of the destruction or imminent destruction of the temple.
I believe Matthew was the first Gospel written. This is the traditional belief and I find it logical, safe and honest...

[_Franktalk]

I'm pretty sure you don't know what happens when you die, either. You're just hoping. As far as the past and the Bible, It's unknown who wrote most of it. We do know that the Council of Nicaea put it together in 325 AD or so. Who some of those guys were and how they felt authorized to do the editing is a bit of a mystery. They left a lot of books out for political reasons. If you don't believe that the holy church was based on politics, you should be watching the Borgias.

I can not convey why I am sure of the next existence. My faith and experience tells me somewhat what to expect. I do agree with you that what we have of scripture has been chopped up by man and major parts removed. But with seeking and the guiding of the Holy Spirit God's message comes through. If you read 1 John you find that the Word is not the witness on the earth but it is in heaven. So the Word is but a stepping stone to get a relationship with the Holy Ghost and Christ. With their help one can come to know enough to have a good sense for God.

[_LittleNipper]

I'm pretty sure you don't know what happens when you die, either. You're just hoping. As far as the past and the Bible, It's unknown who wrote most of it. We do know that the Council of Nicaea put it together in 325 AD or so. Who some of those guys were and how they felt authorized to do the editing is a bit of a mystery. They left a lot of books out for political reasons. If you don't believe that the holy church was based on politics, you should be watching the Borgias.

I can not convey why I am sure of the next existence. My faith and experience tells me somewhat what to expect. I do agree with you that what we have of scripture has been chopped up by man and major parts removed. But with seeking and the guiding of the Holy Spirit God's message comes through. If you read 1 John you find that the Word is not the witness on the earth but it is in heaven. So the Word is but a stepping stone to get a relationship with the Holy Ghost and Christ. With their help one can come to know enough to have a good sense for God.

I John 1:14 puts it this way:
And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle (dwell) among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.

I do not believe large portions of the Bible were lost. I do believe that there is much Jesus did which was never recorded; however, I feel that God authored & edited the Bible and perfectly provided for man exactly all he needed to know. Jesus is the living Word. I see no reason Jesus would hide any portion of himself for nearly 2000 years after His death, burial, resurrection, and assension into heaven ---------------- and be able to say, "It is finished." This is just another reason I cannot hold to the Book of Mormon. Revelations tells us what will happen and this revelation came within the generation Jesus lived.

[_Themis]

I suspect they wouldn't have kept it around as I suspect if the tooth fairy had wrote it - they would have put the tooth fairy in a box and dropped it in a river. Next you'll be accusing Joseph Smith and SR of fairy abuse I suppose.

And you wonder why no one takes you seriously, but yes they would have destroyed it.

Joseph Smith did and said a number of stupid things. Stupidty doesn't preclude the Lord from trying to work with mankind. He has a very good nature. I try to emulate it by talking with you in fact.

So another words Joseph was a major idiot. Sorry I don't think it fits what we know about him, and I doubt we can go the God is an idiot route as well as the catalyst theory demands. Joseph either had to make the explanations up for the facsimiles or God had to give them to him. Now God is involved in deception.

He works with imperfect sinful men despite our failings. Nobody said the seer stones worked. They were merely a crutch, an impure practice that Joseph Smith had and used, that he eventually got rid of as he became more familiar with the Lord.

He never did get rid of them, but I think he did see them as not being seen as legitimate in the eyes of others later on. Probably why he changed the D&C section where he has God telling Oliver he has the gift of the rod(diving rod) to the gift of Aaron.

Hi kettle calling the pot black. I'm merely behaving just like you to see how much you enjoy talking to yourself. Having fun yet?

Still waiting for you to provide your sources for what I asked. Funny that I am the one providing some sources. You have yet to provide any.

[_Tobin]

I suspect they wouldn't have kept it around as I suspect if the tooth fairy had wrote it - they would have put the tooth fairy in a box and dropped it in a river. Next you'll be accusing Joseph Smith and SR of fairy abuse I suppose.

And you wonder why no one takes you seriously, but yes they would have destroyed it.

And drowned the tooth fairy. Yes, we get you.

Joseph Smith did and said a number of stupid things. Stupidty doesn't preclude the Lord from trying to work with mankind. He has a very good nature. I try to emulate it by talking with you in fact.

So another words Joseph was a major idiot. Sorry I don't think it fits what we know about him, and I doubt we can go the God is an idiot route as well as the catalyst theory demands. Joseph either had to make the explanations up for the facsimiles or God had to give them to him. Now God is involved in deception.

You make me dizzy. You know Joseph Smith didn't know Egyptian Hieroglyphics, yet you claim he must of because God taught it to him. Just exactly how did you arrive at this amazing conclusion that God taught Joseph Smith Egyptian Hieroglyphics and what proof do you have that he did? I'd be fascinated to read about this experience.

He works with imperfect sinful men despite our failings. Nobody said the seer stones worked. They were merely a crutch, an impure practice that Joseph Smith had and used, that he eventually got rid of as he became more familiar with the Lord.

He never did get rid of them, but I think he did see them as not being seen as legitimate in the eyes of others later on. Probably why he changed the D&C section where he has God telling Oliver he has the gift of the rod(diving rod) to the gift of Aaron.

"There is no evidence that Smith used the stone to dictate any more of the Doctrine and Covenants revelations after November 1830; and during his work on his Bible translation, Smith told Orson Pratt he had stopped using the stone because he had become acquainted with "the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation" and no longer needed it." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seer_stone_(Latter_Day_Saints)

Hi kettle calling the pot black. I'm merely behaving just like you to see how much you enjoy talking to yourself. Having fun yet?

Still waiting for you to provide your sources for what I asked. Funny that I am the one providing some sources. You have yet to provide any.

I gave you a source on seerstones. I'm not your sock puppet. I don't have to do as you ask. by the way - I'm just being stubborn and disagreeable just like you always are.

Can't wait for your next post and for you to repeat the same non-sense again.

[_Themis]

You make me dizzy. You know Joseph Smith didn't know Egyptian Hieroglyphics, yet you claim he must of because God taught it to him. Just exactly how did you arrive at this amazing conclusion that God taught Joseph Smith Egyptian Hieroglyphics and what proof do you have that he did? I'd be fascinated to read about this experience.

Reading comprehension is a real problem for you, or are you just lying again? The issue I brought up is why God would give Joseph explanations for each part of the facsimiles knowing they have knowing to do with them. This would be deceptive and incredibly dumb. These explanations are inseparably connected to the facsimiles.

"There is no evidence that Smith used the stone to dictate any more of the Doctrine and Covenants revelations after November 1830; and during his work on his Bible translation, Smith told Orson Pratt he had stopped using the stone because he had become acquainted with "the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation" and no longer needed it." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seer_stone ... Day_Saints)

This does not say anything against what I said. It still doesn't deal with the problems of believing Joseph had revelations using them yet they were also uninspired. Was he making up those hidden objects he saw or text he got for the Book of Mormon.

I gave you a source on seerstones. I'm not your sock puppet. I don't have to do as you ask. by the way - I'm just being stubborn and disagreeable just like you always are.

Can't wait for your next post and for you to repeat the same non-sense again.

You mean just now. LOL It was not even relevant to the OP. You have given nothing about it even when asked. At least some of us are willing to do that.