Of course. And what's wrong with being a Fringe Mormon? Or a Cafeteria Mormon? There are lots of us around. We're what holds the church together.
Vegas, no one, absolutely no one from the FP/GA's down, believes all of Mormonism. Why? Heck, even the prophet is clueless about some of this stuff. We are all ala carte Mormons. Heck, most of us don't even know all the doctrine, let alone how to obey all the commandments.
Trying to pin down Mormon doctrine is like nailing Jello to the wall: impossible. It changes all the time.
We all choose what we believe and leave the rest. I'm not bound by your concept of what I'm supposed to believe, or Moksha's, or Pres Hinckley's. I will not be told what to believe by Pres Hinckley, or you, or anyone else. My relationship with God is mine, not yours, not Pres Hinckley's, and no one gets in the middle of that, not even the man designated as prophet.
It might help if you stop thinking like a Mormon. (you know: black/white, all/nothing, against us/for us, etc)
And Jersey Girl just told me you're an active Mormon (which is a textbook indication of what all faithful Mormons already know: that activity, in and of itself, is not necessarily serious spirituality). This is soooooo sixties Harmony, and very, very difficult to pin down, just like most liberal New Age doubletalk.
LDS doctine doesn't change, and has never changed; only the practices change and doctrines are emphasized or deemphasized as the conditions of we great unwashed masses here on earth so determine.
Loran
So, you can't be spiritual unless you toe the line from Salt Lake exactly? And about changing doctrines, just keep repeating that if it makes you feel better.
A couple of questions relating to who is in the drivers seat:
1. Where does God PHYSICALLY live? Kolob? 2. You give X percent of your money to the LDS church? 10? 3. In order to go to heaven you have to do what? Know secret handshakes?
it goes on and on. The point being that your faith is not in your control. If it was in your control then MormonCorp would have no reason to exist.
If Faith was in your hands there would BE no organized religion.
Faith, at its core is another way to say "believe in this unbelieveable principal because they say so". They being...drumroll please...THE LDS CHURCH.
Saying you have control over your faith as a Mormon (or Raelian/scientologist/j-dub/etc) is like saying you control your dogs thoughts.
Loran:
This is fun, and Saturday nights should be fun, shouldn't they?
Question 1. No scripture I'm aware of mentions God living on either Kolob or in Detroit.
Question 2. Yes, ten percent.
Question 3. You also have to keep the commandments of God and endure to the end. That's where the fat lady hits the high 'C' and you can't tell whether its the fat lady or Memorex.
The rest of the post descends into the shoddiest kind of anti-intellectual dodgeball imaginable ("Saying you have control over your faith as a Mormon (or Raelian/scientologist/j-dub/etc) is like saying you control your dogs thoughts") so I'll avoid it and go get a Klondike Bar (CoffeeCat forgot that one).
What was that about can't again? Seriously, have you never met anyone who followed Moroni's promise and didn't get the "right" answer?
Loran:
At this point, it would probably be a good idea to run and get a dictionary and look up the term "can't". You clearly have little idea of its meaning.
I've met people, and only met people, who claim to have "gone through it" and received no answer. You see, anyone who actually follows either Moroni's or James' counsels in the scriptures will receive the answer promised. This, I'm afraid, all hinges on the meaning of the phrase "go throught it". Note the conditions specified in both Moroni's and James' promises.
So, you can't be spiritual unless you toe the line from Salt Lake exactly? And about changing doctrines, just keep repeating that if it makes you feel better.
What was that about can't again? Seriously, have you never met anyone who followed Moroni's promise and didn't get the "right" answer?
Loran:
At this point, it would probably be a good idea to run and get a dictionary and look up the term "can't". You clearly have little idea of its meaning.
Here's the definition I was thinking of: "the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments; especially: the insincere use of pious words." Seems an apt description of your posts. Maybe you are the one with little idea of its meaning.
I've met people, and only met people, who claim to have "gone through it" and received no answer. You see, anyone who actually follows either Moroni's or James' counsels in the scriptures will receive the answer promised. This, I'm afraid, all hinges on the meaning of the phrase "go throught it". Note the conditions specified in both Moroni's and James' promises.
Loran
Ah, so those who do "go throught it" (sic) and never get an answer are liars. Lovely. See the definition of can't above.
So, you can't be spiritual unless you toe the line from Salt Lake exactly? And about changing doctrines, just keep repeating that if it makes you feel better.
Loran:
I've got a better idea: name one.
Here are some lovely doctrines that have changed:
The law of spiritual attraction
The law of adoption
Blood atonement
The necessity of polygyny for exaltation, which is denied officially but is still in the canon.
The curse of Cain and its effect on priesthood, which again is dismissed as folklore and opinion but resides in the canon.
The identify of Jehovah and the nature of the Godhead.
So, you can't be spiritual unless you toe the line from Salt Lake exactly? And about changing doctrines, just keep repeating that if it makes you feel better.
Loran:
I've got a better idea: name one.
The Word of Wisdom started out as a suggestion to keep the tobacco spit, ashes, cracker crumbs and whiskey bottles off the floor of the Red Brick Store after their late night meetings. Along the way it got voted on as a commandment, was elevated to a revelation and eventually became the foremost commandment in the minds of some LDS. Seems like a quite a change.
I believe in: Sunshine Coffee Alcohol Cats Dogs My loving Spouse My children the smell of rain in the air Free Choice Good Drugs Feminism A good night;s sleep Hot sex Good Porn Freedom Education Law Peace
Loran:
I understand its fruitless, but I just can't help pointing out the very obvious incompatability, in some cases severely so, of some of these values with other values in the same list. All intellectually, psychologically, and morally mature adults here will understand to what I refer (and, of course, there's no inherant inconsistency between, say, cats and sunshine (however, on occasion, cats and a good night's sleep can be problematic.)).
Loran
everything is compatible LORAN
Shame you can't see that.
I also believe in
clean water
catnip
free love
committed relationships
Dixie Chicks....
money
rock and roll
rum
whiskey
no god
warm days
leaves that change color in the fall
smiles
Mr. Scratch
my friends
my sons.....my gay son
backing though Europe
More to come
When I wake up I will be hungry....but this feels so good right now aaahhhhhh........
I also believe in clean water catnip free love committed relationships Dixie Chicks.... money rock and roll rum whiskey no god warm days leaves that change color in the fall smiles Mr. Scratch my friends my sons.....my gay son backing though Europe More to come
Loran:
What is the answer to God, the universe, and everything?
Let's put CoffeCat's list in the order in which it is most likey to occur in actual practice...
no god
Mr. Scratch
rock and roll
rum
whiskey
free love
catnip
money
Dixie Chicks....
clean water
warm days
leaves that change color in the fall
smiles
my friends
my sons.....my gay son
backing though Europe
committed relationships
More to come