Is the Book of Mormon Divinely Inspired?

[MG 2.0]

I'd also suggest that, since yours is obviously a constructed reality, you could write out a timeline and a biographical sketch for your made-up crisis of faith. That way, you could always tell the same story with the same details.

It’s interesting that so much focus was on the timeline rather than the fact that at an early age I was exposed to Dialogue and Sunstone. In other words, I’ve been around the block more times than others. But what do we talk about?

A possibly mistaken chronology. Yay.

A snare/trap to lead away from the more important and interesting content that was being presented in the conversation.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

The only person setting traps for MG 2.0 is MG 2.0.

Not true.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

The next time you're tempted to inform everyone that JWs don't have testimonies, or something like that…

You lost me after that.

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

So you are dismissive of them for not bearing what you would classify as a sincere testimony, but you excuse yourself from doing the exact same thing by blaming God for not prompting you to do it. I think that’s called having a double standard.

Not at all. At the time I didn’t give it a second thought that they were not ‘witnessing’ to me. Later upon reflection I realized that neither one of us was proselytizing. We were simply seeing each other as interesting to talk to.

Really? Here's your first version of the story, before all your modifications:

...I’m happy to listen to the sincere face to face testimony of a Jehovah’s Witness. But I haven’t heard one. I was recently running along the Ventura State Beach promenade/boardwalk along the beautiful coastline. There were a couple of Jehovah’s Witness ladies with a display set up there. After I finished my run I came back and had a nice chat with them actually waiting for them to offer up their testimony.

Never happened. Maybe a ‘one off’.

Over the years, however, I’ve talked with a number of missionaries from their church. No testimonies.

Seems to be more common with missionaries from the LDS Church.

But that’s my limited experience...

[bolding to indicate the gymnast's 180.]
No one's laying traps for you except for yourself. And this is yet another example of your disingenuous approach.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

[MG 2.0]

Not at all. At the time I didn’t give it a second thought that they were not ‘witnessing’ to me. Later upon reflection I realized that neither one of us was proselytizing. We were simply seeing each other as interesting to talk to.

Really? Here's your first version of the story, before all your modifications:

...I’m happy to listen to the sincere face to face testimony of a Jehovah’s Witness. But I haven’t heard one. I was recently running along the Ventura State Beach promenade/boardwalk along the beautiful coastline. There were a couple of Jehovah’s Witness ladies with a display set up there. After I finished my run I came back and had a nice chat with them actually waiting for them to offer up their testimony.

Never happened. Maybe a ‘one off’.

Over the years, however, I’ve talked with a number of missionaries from their church. No testimonies.

Seems to be more common with missionaries from the LDS Church.

But that’s my limited experience...

[bolding to indicate the gymnast's 180.]
No one's laying traps for you except for yourself. And this is yet another example of your disingenuous approach.

As I said, I didn’t give it a second thought. I may have had a passing thought initially as we got into our conversation wondering if they would do their religious spiel. After we started talking I wasn’t as focused…if focused at all…on going down that route.

Nit picky.

And as I said, if they had brought up questions regarding the Book of Mormon or some other topic I would have responded. And as it was I didn’t have any particular question for them.

Being out running, as I was, I didn’t have a copy to give them anyways.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

I thought you died recently? Back from the dead?

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

If you are just finding and entering into this thread here are some of the links that have been referenced:

https://speeches.BYU.edu/talks/tad-r-ca ... god-given/

https://bookofmormoncentral.org/

https://www.youtube.com/live/9V_N0cRqzQ ... PLIHsMB1lA

https://www.youtube.com/@thoughtfulfaith2020/videos

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

For those that are not participating on this thread but are reading it, it is important to remember that the Book of Mormon came after Joseph’s vision in which he saw God and Jesus along with angels. So when we say, “Is the Book of Mormon Divinely Inspired?”, it is well to remember that Joseph already had a firm conviction that God had an important work for him to do.

Here is his testimony in regards to what transpired when he went to God in the Sacred Grove:

"I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

Joseph was told that he had important work to do. Part of that work was to act as translator of what we now have as the Book of Mormon. Another witness of Jesus Christ in addition to the Holy Bible.

The persecutions continue today.

Regards,
MG

[Marcus]

And when people point out that it doesn't:

...Nit picky...