How Biblically Literate are Mormons as a Whole?

[Everybody Wang Chung]

So no source? That’s okay MG. Most people here knew you were lying, but I still gave you the benefit of the doubt.

It still kills you that I was a Bishop.

For all the lurkers and fence sitters here that you doing missionary work for, how has the church made you a better person or more happy? All we see is an angry, bitter, sad and lonely person. What benefits has the church provided to you? It sure looks like it has made you bitter and miserable.

Prove me wrong, MG.

Bump for MG.

Nice dodge, MG. What do your grandchildren have to do with the above? You treat people like crap. We’ve all seen you rage, belittle, attack and tell lie after lie.

You are a self-proclaimed missionary here for the lurkers and fence sitters. You’re not leaving a good impression about the fruits of being a lifelong member of the church.

Tell us how the church has made you a better, more kind, patient, loving and Christlike individual. We are all seeing the exact opposite and this is based on 15 plus years of your public postings. Recently, Malkie, who you know personally, also said he sees the same.

The question the lurkers and fence sitters are asking themselves is, “why would I want to be a member of MG’s church when he is constantly angry, bitter, belittling and miserable?”

Show/tell us what the benefits of being a lifelong member have brought you. Prove everyone here wrong.

PS I’ve already publicly told you that I would have lunch. Just PM me.

[sock puppet]

Want to take a guess what information you’ll learn from Dan McClellan when it comes to homosexuality or abortion and the Bible? How about the ancient temple ceremony or if the Mormon interpretation of baptism for the dead is a correct interpretation?

Can’t wait for you to return and report your findings. You’re right, more information is better.

That's why I'm interested in purchasing the book. To see what 'nuts and bolts' make up the Bible. I don't think I received a full picture/rendition of that while attending Seminary and Institute. But I understand, now, why that is/was. And I don't have any problem with that...as apparently you do.

As I've mentioned many times now, you and others here seemingly grew up with a very narrow and constricted view of what 'truth' is. Truth is, it's wide and as broad as the heavens. All truth is part of Mormonism. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Although in your case you could not escape from those fears of your own making.

And so now, you have placed yourself in a position where you lie about having been a Bishop(?) and lie about knowing me as a person in real life. In order to elevate and secure your position as a worthy anti-apologist.

Apparently, here, you have succeeded. I haven't heard ONE PERSON call you out on being a liar in regards to your assertion that you know who I am because you were somehow acquainted with me enough that you could call me a _____________, and then get away with it.

You are a sad character, Wang. And no, I'm not trying to be a good 'missionary' to you. You seem to have fallen off the wagon.

Although, there is always room for repentance!!

Regards,
MG

When you use the word "truth" are you referring to (a) accurate descriptions, (b) interpretations of data, (d) notions or "teachings" detached from data, or (d) specific verbal descriptors of data or notions (specify which)? I suspect your flippant answer will be "all four." That's a cop out. So be specific.

Also, why has the LDS church never embraced evolution, that the earth is older than 6,000, that the earth was never covered by water despite the Noah story, or the Bing Bang Theory origin of the universe if Mormonism encompasses all truth?

[MG 2.0]

PS I’ve already publicly told you that I would have lunch. Just PM me.

You did? I guess I didn't catch that. That would be fun.

I'll PM you.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

PS I’ve already publicly told you that I would have lunch. Just PM me.

You did? I guess I didn't catch that. That would be fun.

I'll PM you.

Regards,
MG

*bump...done.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

You did? I guess I didn't catch that. That would be fun.

I'll PM you.

Regards,
MG

*bump...done.

Done.

On April 28th, I publicly posted I would have lunch with you. Instead, you just ignored my response and continued to belittle, rage and attack for the remainder of the thread. Typical MG.

Mr. Wang,

Waiting for that P.M. Let's talk. Free lunch!

Regards,
MG

You got it! PM me.

I’m worried about you. You seem wounded, hurt, angry and lonely. I think something must have happened in life for you to be this way. I have a lot of love and sympathy for you. Hang in there big guy.

viewtopic.php?p=2893055#p2893055

[MG 2.0]

That's why I'm interested in purchasing the book. To see what 'nuts and bolts' make up the Bible. I don't think I received a full picture/rendition of that while attending Seminary and Institute. But I understand, now, why that is/was. And I don't have any problem with that...as apparently you do.

As I've mentioned many times now, you and others here seemingly grew up with a very narrow and constricted view of what 'truth' is. Truth is, it's wide and as broad as the heavens. All truth is part of Mormonism. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Although in your case you could not escape from those fears of your own making.

And so now, you have placed yourself in a position where you lie about having been a Bishop(?) and lie about knowing me as a person in real life. In order to elevate and secure your position as a worthy anti-apologist.

Apparently, here, you have succeeded. I haven't heard ONE PERSON call you out on being a liar in regards to your assertion that you know who I am because you were somehow acquainted with me enough that you could call me a _____________, and then get away with it.

You are a sad character, Wang. And no, I'm not trying to be a good 'missionary' to you. You seem to have fallen off the wagon.

Although, there is always room for repentance!!

Regards,
MG

When you use the word "truth" are you referring to (a) accurate descriptions, (b) interpretations of data, (d) notions or "teachings" detached from data, or (d) specific verbal descriptors of data or notions (specify which)? I suspect your flippant answer will be "all four." That's a cop out. So be specific.

Also, why has the LDS church never embraced evolution, that the earth is older than 6,000, that the earth was never covered by water despite the Noah story, or the Bing Bang Theory origin of the universe if Mormonism encompasses all truth?

Truth, as in, whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, Redeemer, Creator, Savior, of mankind. These other indicators of truth that can be found and tested using the scientific method are 'add ons' the the all important truths. God is our Father and Jesus Christ is Savior and Redeemer and restored lost truths and authority to seal in heaven what is sealed on earth.

In other words, is there a creator God, does this God have a plan, and is this God able to reveal this plan in part or in whole to mankind throughout the ages? That is the important insight/truth. The other truths, as we find them, are interesting and in many cases extremely helpful.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

Bump for MG.

Nice dodge, MG. What do your grandchildren have to do with the above? You treat people like crap. We’ve all seen you rage, belittle, attack and tell lie after lie.

You are a self-proclaimed missionary here for the lurkers and fence sitters. You’re not leaving a good impression about the fruits of being a lifelong member of the church.

Tell us how the church has made you a better, more kind, patient, loving and Christlike individual. We are all seeing the exact opposite and this is based on 15 plus years of your public postings. Recently, Malkie, who you know personally, also said he sees the same.

The question the lurkers and fence sitters are asking themselves is, “why would I want to be a member of MG’s church when he is constantly angry, bitter, belittling and miserable?”

Show/tell us what the benefits of being a lifelong member have brought you. Prove everyone here wrong.

PS I’ve already publicly told you that I would have lunch. Just PM me.

Let's talk about these things as we meet for lunch. Face to face would be my preference. Reason? Much of what you're attributing to me has no basis in truth/fact.

Regards,
MG

[malkie]

Malkie, I am sure that there is a wide range in the amount of Bible study people in the US engage in. With Protestants considerably more study than you describe is fairly common though there are certainly people like you describe. In some churches the weekly sermon goes through a careful study of a book of the Bible over a number of weeks. There are midweek study and prayer groups. People are encouraged to study the Bible individually. There is of course a good deal of variety in actual study and kinds of understanding.

This comports with my experiences and observations, particularly with Presbyterians. Malkie's experience seems rather nonchalant as to Biblical study compared to what I've seen with attending Presbyterians in general.

It's quite possible that my small sample of Scottish Presbyterianism was the exception rather than the rule.

Likewise for my experience with Scottish Mormonism. As a Branch President, and later as a member of a District Presidency, I saw some strange things.

[sock puppet]

It would be great if Dan McClellan yet frequented this board and would give his perspective on the thread title question.

[msnobody]

Part of the explanation might be that most (all?) other self-professing Christian denominations don't have alternative sets of sect-specific scriptural canon, that they deem "more accurate" than The Bible. Mormons study the Bible once every four years, for everyone else it's all they study. Added to that, Joseph Smith put the notion out there that The Bible wasn't correct in it's translation, he started to re-word it himself, so is it any wonder that Mormon's treat The Bible as a poor relation?

Yea, the Bible is second-tier scripture for Mormons, even if Joseph Smith lifted entire chapters for insertion in his Jesus fan fiction, the Book of Mormon. One thing about Joseph Smith, while a cafeteria Christian, he was not lazy. He wrote his version of his own personal Jesus (1830) even if Smith later disregarded many of the "teachings" in his 1830 novel.

“Cafeteria Christian”