Jefferson Tells the Truth

[_Buffalo]

Here's an interesting quote from Thomas Jefferson:

He stated that he looked forward to "the prospect of a restoration of primitive Christianity. I must leave it to younger athletes to encounter and lop off the false branches which have been engrafted into it by the mythologies of the middle and modern ages."

I've seen Mormon writers quote this before, as if Mormonism was the restortation of that "simple" faith. If anything, Mormonism took 19th century protestantism and made it even more convoluted, with babies reigning on thrones, multi-level marketing afterlives, masonic ritual, etc.

[_Tobin]

I think Jefferson was far too intelligent, intellectual and worldly wise to have been taken in by a charlatan such as Joseph Smith. Just an opinion.

Not to mention he died in 1826.

[_Tarski]

Jefferson Bible.

oh snap!

Besides, this is well known.

[_moksha]

It makes sense that Jefferson is sealed to both wives. He obviously had affection for both. I've heard these two women were half sisters, and Joseph had already set the precedent with sisters.

[_gdemetz]

Jefferson referred to primitive, and the theological use of this refers to the early Christianity, and early Christianity had the same "rituals" as the LDS church: baptism by immersion, baptism for the dead, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc. I definitely believed that Jefferson would have noticed this. However, of course, I can't say what he would have decided about it, but I think (?) that he was with the other "fathers" when they appeared inquiring about their temple work.

[_Buffalo]

Jefferson referred to primitive, and the theological use of this refers to the early Christianity, and early Christianity had the same "rituals" as the LDS church: baptism by immersion, baptism for the dead, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc. I definitely believed that Jefferson would have noticed this. However, of course, I can't say what he would have decided about it, but I think (?) that he was with the other "fathers" when they appeared inquiring about their temple work.

Where are the masonic handshakes in early Christianity? Plenty of christian churches baptize by immersion, etc.

[_Morley]

Jefferson referred to primitive, and the theological use of this refers to the early Christianity, and early Christianity had the same "rituals" as the LDS church: baptism by immersion, baptism for the dead, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc. I definitely believed that Jefferson would have noticed this. However, of course, I can't say what he would have decided about it, but I think (?) that he was with the other "fathers" when they appeared inquiring about their temple work.

You seem to be saying that these are your beliefs, even though they have no foundation in anything that Jefferson said or did during his life. Do I have that right?

[_Albion]

I'll grant baptism and the occasional use of the laying on of hands, but apart from a reference by Paul to a certain group ("they" in the scripture, not "us") within a sermon or writing about resurrection and not baptism, where do you get support for "baptism for the dead" as an extent early Christian ritual. Where was this carried out and by whom in the early church? References, please from the Bible.

[_gdemetz]

Albion, you ignorance is showing here consistently. The relevant statement in the Bible is found in 1 Corinthians 15:29. The well respected "The Interpreters Bible," (non Mormon) comments in reference to this verse are:

"Baptism for the dead, that rapture of the cosmos, Paul turns to an interesting item of church practice in Corinth and probably elsewhere too, and uses it to reinforce his main point..."

Baptism for the dead even continued after it was abolished by the Catholic church in 250 AD which led to the council of Carthage (6th canon) to forbid any further practice in 397 AD.

[_Tobin]

Albion, I don't think gdemetz likes you very much. How did you accomplish such a marvelous result?