ldsfaqs wrote:
While I can understand and appreciate your views in this issue, the fact is is that you are in error. Your judgment is flawed and omits key information and facts.
The LDS Church IS the "Only True AND Living Church on the face of the earth".
The Lord and the Prophets have always said so.
Hello Ldsfaqs!
Even if one was to read the 1st section of the D&C as meaning there was no other true church in whom the Lord was NOT well pleased, I would still hesitate to believe that it would only have been at the very time Joseph Smith received that particular revelation.
Throughout God's dealings with His children on our earth, regardless of whenever they strayed, there was ALWAYS a remnant of those who remained faithful. I do not believe that ever changed. So, even while the ancient church was straying into apostasy, I believe a remnant of believers were staying true to the "present truth" which Peter spoke about. Likewise, I believe they held the priesthood and passed it along. What they may not have had was the keys to the kingdom; but I am not convinced of that either. I am still studying, seeking, and praying about that.
John the Beloved remained on the earth to do a greater work than Peter. He continued:
Revelation 10:11 (KJV)
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.John has continued to hold the priesthood. Who can know how he used it; or how he may have bestowed it upon others. There are also the three Nephites who have kept those same powers and authority.
I believe that there were most likely several small groups that continued to teach the "present truth", who also held the priesthood. However, I do believe they were obsure for safety purposes; probably hiding in plain sight, so to speak.
Meanwhile, though, because they were hidden, the rest of the Christian world was made up of members of the body of Christ who were being taught as doctrine the commandments of men. Thus, they were being taught apostate doctrine; no longer being taught the "present truth". In order to rectify this situation, Joseph Smith was called upon to be the Prophet to Restore the present truth; and bring that present truth out of obscurity.
This as you stated does not mean there are not other "believers"..... It does not mean that there are not others that are also in Christ..... It does not mean that there are not Truths in other religions.
However, while there are truths in ALL religions..... they ALL only have a certain level and amount of "revealed" truths, and more importantly various degrees in "accuracy" as to the LORD'S TRUTHS.
No religion can be classified as "true" unless it is actually true.... both in doctrine and in authority. There isn't a single other religion that has the fullness of the Lords revealed truths, there isn't a single religion that is fully accurate in ALL of it's doctrines. But more importantly, there isn't a single religion that has God's Authority (His LIVING Word) than us.
Even small groups (remnants) are known as a "church". They are small enough, though, to not be known as an institution of religion like the LDS Church; but they are still churches.
The LDS Church does not have the fullness of the Lord's revealed truths. Parts of All Truth are still being revealed. Also, if the Church already had the fullness, it would not be necessary for us to seek Truth wherever we can find it. I believe the "fullness" spoken of was the fullness known as the present truth of the ancient church; and even that present truth was NOT all that had been revealed to the Apostles because the members of the ancient church were not yet able to bear more than the temporal milk understandings. As such, not everything the Apostles had been taught was written down; at least it does not show up in the Bible. Joseph was still receiving Truth when he was martyred; still learning precept upon precept. Not much has been revealed since his martyrdom. In fact, even all of the things he revealed are not being taught. He was taken before all that he knew had been made doctrine.
Even Buddhism contains Eternal Truths.... But it's not the "True Church".
Because of these facts, you cannot rightly claim ANY other religion, no matter that they are Christian or not as "True".
You are in error..... Political correctness is not a Gospel Principle, it is a Liberal one a perversion of the true principle.
My beliefs are not based upon political correctness; they are based upon Truth revealed to me by the Holy Ghost. Even the "higher" Truths which our latter-day Prophets claim can be learned only in the Temples, are not being revealed to most members of the Church. It is even difficult to find other members of the Church who will discuss anything beyond what the Prophets have taught to the whole world. What the Prophets teach to the whole world are still basic Truths; milk/temporal Truths.....just like the Apostles of old. Only a few additional doctrines are being taught; yet still not even things revealed in the D&C! The Church only teaches about three Heavenly Kingdoms even though the D&C teaches there are more. Why is that?
Why doesn't the Church teach about multiple probations when Joseph believed that we experience many on our journey to perfection?
Why do today's Prophets teach that the ordinance of receiving the Holy Ghost is the same thing as the "gift" of the Holy Ghost? The Apostles "received" the Holy Ghost from Christ in the evening of the same day He was Resurrected; some 40 plus days BEFORE His Ascension and before the day of Pentecost when the Gift of the Holy Ghost was being made manifest, thus fulfilling Joel's prophecy? What about the higher teachings of Kabbalah? Why aren't they being taught? Why must we go elsewhere to learn these teachings rather than inside of the LDS Church???
Blessings,
jo