Question for my Mormon Friends
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:36 pm
A question for my Mormon friends. I am working on a story about a man on a search for answers to the perenial questions of life. On this quest for knowledge, he speaks with many religious leaders. Among them is a Mormon Bishop. My question is, does this dialog seem authentic and are the bishop's answers reasonable and likely?
Here's the dialog:
In his quest for answers, Marty found himself in conversation with a Mormon bishop, a man of steadfast faith and unwavering conviction. As they sat together in the quiet of the church, Marty voiced his doubts and concerns, seeking clarity amidst the theological complexities.
Marty: "Bishop, I've been pondering some aspects of the Christian faith, and I have some questions that I hope you can help me with."
Bishop: "Of course, Marty. I'm here to help. What's on your mind?"
Marty: "Well, I understand the teachings of charity, unconditional love, and treating others as you would want to be treated. Those are noble and lofty ideals. But I struggle to understand the need for a savior. It seems to me like a mechanism in Christian faiths to play a guilt trip on their believers to keep them in the fold and, more importantly, donating money to promote the faith."
Bishop: "I understand your concerns, Marty. The concept of a savior is central to Christian beliefs, but it's important to remember that it's not just about guilt or donations. The idea is that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to atone for the sins of humanity, offering a path to salvation and eternal life."
Marty: "But why do Christian faiths teach that man lives but one mortal life and thus requires a Savior? What if man lives multiple mortal lives and can gain knowledge and wisdom in each life, as some Eastern religions suggest?"
Bishop Frazer listened patiently, his expression thoughtful as he considered Marty's questions. "I understand your concerns, my friend," he said kindly. "In our faith, we believe in the concept of agency—the ability to choose between right and wrong. While we acknowledge the reality of sin and its consequences, we also believe in the power of redemption and the opportunity for growth and change."
Marty: Yes, exactly. It seems to me that if man lived multiple lives gaining knowledge and wisdom with each life on a journey to exaltation then there would be no need for redemption, no need for a savior. Over the course of countless lifetimes the soul can progress to exaltation.
Bishop: "That's an interesting perspective, Marty. The belief in multiple mortal lives, or reincarnation, is not a part of traditional Christian doctrine. However, I can see how it might offer a different understanding of the human experience and the need for a savior."
Marty: "One other question, for you, Bishop. Tell me about your faith's teachings about "intelligences" in the spirit world."
Bishop: "Ah, the concept of intelligences is a fundamental part of our beliefs. We believe that before we were born, we existed as intelligences in the spirit world. These intelligences were organized and given the opportunity to progress and become like our Heavenly Father. This progression involves learning, growing, and developing our divine potential."
Marty: "So, you believe in a form of pre-existence, where our spirits existed before we were born?"
Bishop: "Yes, exactly. We believe that our spirits are eternal and that our mortal lives are just one part of our eternal journey. Our time on Earth is a crucial opportunity for growth and learning, but it's not the beginning or the end of our existence."
Marty: "That's fascinating. It's a different perspective from what I've heard in other Christian faiths."
Bishop: "Yes, our beliefs about the pre-existence and the eternal nature of our spirits set us apart from some other Christian denominations. But it's a core part of our faith and helps us understand the purpose and meaning of our mortal lives."
Marty: “Bishop, forgive my thousand questions, but I am on a quest for understanding. What is the difference between intelligences and souls, spirits and angels?
Bishop: "In our faith, we believe that intelligences are the basic building blocks of creation. They are eternal and un-created, and they have the potential to become spirits, souls, or angels. Spirits are the essence of who we are, and they are housed within physical bodies during our mortal lives. Souls are the combination of our spirits and our physical bodies, and they are the entities that progress and grow throughout eternity. Angels are beings who have progressed beyond the mortal realm and have been given specific assignments to help guide and protect God's children. So, while intelligences are the basic building blocks, spirits, souls, and angels are the more advanced forms that intelligences can take on as they progress and grow."
Marty: "So angels are souls that have been given a special mission, they are not part of the mortal realm but at times can visit the mortal realm. Do I understand your belief correctly?"
Bishop: "Yes, that's correct. Angels are souls who have progressed beyond the mortal realm and have been given specific assignments by God to help guide and protect His children. They are not part of the mortal realm, but they can visit the mortal realm to fulfill their assignments. They are beings of light and love, and they are always ready to assist those who call upon them for help."
Marty: "Thank you, Bishop. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me."
Bishop: "You're welcome, Marty. It's always a pleasure to discuss our beliefs and answer questions. If you have any more, don't hesitate to ask."
Marty: "So, intelligences existed before the creation of the universe. What if there was no singular god, but instead the intelligences organized and worked together to create the universe and setup a plan to gain in knowledge and wisdom?"
Bishop: "That's an interesting perspective, Marty. In our faith, we believe in a singular god who created the universe and has a plan for our eternal progression. However, the idea of intelligences working together to create the universe is not entirely incompatible with our beliefs. We believe that God works through His children, and that we are co-creators with Him in a sense. So, while we believe in a singular god, we also believe in the power of collaboration and cooperation among His children."
Marty: "That's an intriguing way to look at it. I am intrigued with the way souls might work together to create and progress."
Bishop: "Yes, there are certainly similarities between our beliefs and the faith that your question suggests. It's always interesting to explore different perspectives and see where they intersect."
Marty: "Thank you, Bishop. I appreciate your openness to discussing these ideas with me."
Bishop: "You're welcome, Marty. It's important to have these conversations and explore different perspectives. If you have any more questions or want to continue the discussion, feel free to reach out."
Here's the dialog:
In his quest for answers, Marty found himself in conversation with a Mormon bishop, a man of steadfast faith and unwavering conviction. As they sat together in the quiet of the church, Marty voiced his doubts and concerns, seeking clarity amidst the theological complexities.
Marty: "Bishop, I've been pondering some aspects of the Christian faith, and I have some questions that I hope you can help me with."
Bishop: "Of course, Marty. I'm here to help. What's on your mind?"
Marty: "Well, I understand the teachings of charity, unconditional love, and treating others as you would want to be treated. Those are noble and lofty ideals. But I struggle to understand the need for a savior. It seems to me like a mechanism in Christian faiths to play a guilt trip on their believers to keep them in the fold and, more importantly, donating money to promote the faith."
Bishop: "I understand your concerns, Marty. The concept of a savior is central to Christian beliefs, but it's important to remember that it's not just about guilt or donations. The idea is that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to atone for the sins of humanity, offering a path to salvation and eternal life."
Marty: "But why do Christian faiths teach that man lives but one mortal life and thus requires a Savior? What if man lives multiple mortal lives and can gain knowledge and wisdom in each life, as some Eastern religions suggest?"
Bishop Frazer listened patiently, his expression thoughtful as he considered Marty's questions. "I understand your concerns, my friend," he said kindly. "In our faith, we believe in the concept of agency—the ability to choose between right and wrong. While we acknowledge the reality of sin and its consequences, we also believe in the power of redemption and the opportunity for growth and change."
Marty: Yes, exactly. It seems to me that if man lived multiple lives gaining knowledge and wisdom with each life on a journey to exaltation then there would be no need for redemption, no need for a savior. Over the course of countless lifetimes the soul can progress to exaltation.
Bishop: "That's an interesting perspective, Marty. The belief in multiple mortal lives, or reincarnation, is not a part of traditional Christian doctrine. However, I can see how it might offer a different understanding of the human experience and the need for a savior."
Marty: "One other question, for you, Bishop. Tell me about your faith's teachings about "intelligences" in the spirit world."
Bishop: "Ah, the concept of intelligences is a fundamental part of our beliefs. We believe that before we were born, we existed as intelligences in the spirit world. These intelligences were organized and given the opportunity to progress and become like our Heavenly Father. This progression involves learning, growing, and developing our divine potential."
Marty: "So, you believe in a form of pre-existence, where our spirits existed before we were born?"
Bishop: "Yes, exactly. We believe that our spirits are eternal and that our mortal lives are just one part of our eternal journey. Our time on Earth is a crucial opportunity for growth and learning, but it's not the beginning or the end of our existence."
Marty: "That's fascinating. It's a different perspective from what I've heard in other Christian faiths."
Bishop: "Yes, our beliefs about the pre-existence and the eternal nature of our spirits set us apart from some other Christian denominations. But it's a core part of our faith and helps us understand the purpose and meaning of our mortal lives."
Marty: “Bishop, forgive my thousand questions, but I am on a quest for understanding. What is the difference between intelligences and souls, spirits and angels?
Bishop: "In our faith, we believe that intelligences are the basic building blocks of creation. They are eternal and un-created, and they have the potential to become spirits, souls, or angels. Spirits are the essence of who we are, and they are housed within physical bodies during our mortal lives. Souls are the combination of our spirits and our physical bodies, and they are the entities that progress and grow throughout eternity. Angels are beings who have progressed beyond the mortal realm and have been given specific assignments to help guide and protect God's children. So, while intelligences are the basic building blocks, spirits, souls, and angels are the more advanced forms that intelligences can take on as they progress and grow."
Marty: "So angels are souls that have been given a special mission, they are not part of the mortal realm but at times can visit the mortal realm. Do I understand your belief correctly?"
Bishop: "Yes, that's correct. Angels are souls who have progressed beyond the mortal realm and have been given specific assignments by God to help guide and protect His children. They are not part of the mortal realm, but they can visit the mortal realm to fulfill their assignments. They are beings of light and love, and they are always ready to assist those who call upon them for help."
Marty: "Thank you, Bishop. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me."
Bishop: "You're welcome, Marty. It's always a pleasure to discuss our beliefs and answer questions. If you have any more, don't hesitate to ask."
Marty: "So, intelligences existed before the creation of the universe. What if there was no singular god, but instead the intelligences organized and worked together to create the universe and setup a plan to gain in knowledge and wisdom?"
Bishop: "That's an interesting perspective, Marty. In our faith, we believe in a singular god who created the universe and has a plan for our eternal progression. However, the idea of intelligences working together to create the universe is not entirely incompatible with our beliefs. We believe that God works through His children, and that we are co-creators with Him in a sense. So, while we believe in a singular god, we also believe in the power of collaboration and cooperation among His children."
Marty: "That's an intriguing way to look at it. I am intrigued with the way souls might work together to create and progress."
Bishop: "Yes, there are certainly similarities between our beliefs and the faith that your question suggests. It's always interesting to explore different perspectives and see where they intersect."
Marty: "Thank you, Bishop. I appreciate your openness to discussing these ideas with me."
Bishop: "You're welcome, Marty. It's important to have these conversations and explore different perspectives. If you have any more questions or want to continue the discussion, feel free to reach out."
