Finished the video and must say I’m really pleased! :) Well done, great discussion and very cordial. Keep The Faith in Christ!

Saw this video in my KZread feed. Great convo, looking forward to more respectful content about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Book of Mormon was not brought forth into the world to correct the Bible but to affirm and support its teachings. Same gospel. Same teachings. Def a misunderstanding there. Overall love the conversation! If you want another LDS guest ever in the future let me know. Would love to join! Great job to you 3.

@dakgj

14 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching. Would love to talk. Shoot me an email and let’s make it happen! intolightpod@gmail.com

@therisingknighttruewarrior4551

13 күн бұрын

@@dakgjsomeone really good to talk to would be Travis Anderson or Robert Boylan they both have an extensive understanding of the Book Of Mormon and are familiar enough with the different branches of Christianity to make it worthwhile talking to

What a phenomenal discussion. Really appreciate all of you for having a calm, respectful conversation. Props to Steven for fielding some very difficult questions.

Great, respectful discussion and exploration of my faith's beliefs. I think you found a good choice in Steve, who did his best to accurately represent what our faith tradition believes as a whole as well as his personal views on certain, less-defined aspects.

(Post-edit: Heads-up: I've got ADHD, so I may have really condensed a lot of thoughts into fewer words than I should. I also think about everything all the time, so that's why I've said a lot here) 6:56 The Lord conveyed the thoughts to Joseph's mind and it was visualized textually in a contemporary language (basically, he saw-thought what the Lord was expressing in 19th century English) 9:20 Ether 12:25-26 addresses this: "And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;" [of language] 12:48 2 Nephi 33:10-11 fits on top of what Steve expressed. (Matthew 7:20 situation). 16:50 Alma 32:17-19 encapsulates the response to that very well: "Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe. 18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it. 19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?" 21:47 Yes. Ultimately, the goal is to have a "Living" Faith: to live in the way that God asks of us, so that way we are capable of living with Him. While there are universal principles to live by and things to do to accomplish this (Via Scripture), there still is expediency (appropriateness in regards to one's specific circumstances). So, even though the men called to this comission are imperfect, their words are imperfect, and perhaps some particulars of the process need to be brought up in a "stepping-stone" manner, we can have a sure knowledge that by doing so, we will be brought to Him through Christ. 24:40 “I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors.” The scriptures in the Bible, though not completely perfect without flaw in this current day-and-age, should still be given the Ether 12 consideration. 32:27 I'll try and find a conceptual equivalent: You've got legos, you've planned out in your mind just how to put them together to make a house. Does that house exist physically in the planning stages? No, despite all the materials to do so being there. Now, you've put the last piece into place. It now exists and has a beginning (and will have an end), yet, all the legos exist forever. 34:00 It's a balancing act: If you cross-examine everything in the light of your current understanding of the Bible (under the assumption that *if it does not match* it is anathema), then you fall into the same sin as the Pharisees of Christ's day. However, Ephesians 4:14 ("Winds of Doctrine") absolutely applies too. So, we do an Alma 32 spiritual test (whole chapter for the process), and etch into the fleshy tablets of our hearts the Truths we have learned (2 Cor 3:3) by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. 35:39 (I may have gotten ahead of the game here, so the last part of what I said about Alma 32 seems to be appropriate here). 38:55 Truth is objective, but we all perceive it from different angles. Imagine Truth as a diamond with many facets. Each of us sees at least one facet, but our unique perspectives make it difficult to see all the facets clearly. Viewing a 3D object from a 2D perspective means some aspects of Truth will appear dimmer or even hidden from our view. However, if the core of this diamond is Christ, then by Him, we can know the Truth of all things by the Power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:3-5) 42:13 D&C 29:7 "Mine elect hear my voice and hearden not their hearts", 1 Nephi 1:20 "the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith". If you have Faith in Christ, you are 'Elect' and the Lord will be over you to be lead to the Truth. Even if you're Hindu or something, the Lord will work with you in a "stepping-stone" manner to get there. Sidney Rigdon's story is like this (Check out "Revelations in Context: Go to the Ohio). 48:20 Absolutely, " there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:8) Only through His grace are we permitted to do so. Because Christ has purchased us with his own blood (Acts 20:28), we do as He asks us. John 13:15/3Nephi 27:27 both tell us that we need to do " the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do". That's why we follow His pattern of being baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. That is Salvation. (Now, the Lord offers Exaltation on top of that, but it's the Higher Law, just like how He taught the Jews to live the Higher Law in Matthew 5) 50:00 "The point of the Scriptures is God's Glory" Exactly the nail on the head. Consider that in the light of this scripture "For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

I’m half way through. So maybe this will be addressed but I have a question for the Christians. I don’t understand … it would seem that your belief of the infallibility of the Bible (and your distrust on things running through fallible men) would stop and start then with those that compiled the Bible no? If things were different and there were a few apocrypha books that had made it into the Bible and there were 72 books instead of 66. You would still hold the same position today. All 72 books are infallible. But how do we know for sure that all of the compiled writings were done through and according to the will and design of God? You say the Bible is infallible but doesn’t that only extend as far as those who said it is??? What about apocryphal writings? Similar to like you said “how do we know what came before us is true”? How do you know what came from the counsels who organized the Bible as It stands is true?

@jacobsamuelson3181

14 күн бұрын

Don't forget the Jewish literature and histories and legends. There are dozens of literature that one could say should be included but are not.

@wynnedwards94

14 күн бұрын

@@freedomfriday2.040 2 Tim 3 says that all scripture is God-breathed. While I might not know the process in which that Bible cannon was formed, I very much trust God to have left us with what he wanted us to know. But you believe in the same 66 book cannon too, but the difference is that you believe in the great apostasy. Don't forget that the corrupt church leaders that you believe in are the same folks who created the cannon of the bible that you follow. So you too must believe in the influence of God in creating the Bible cannon because then you wouldn't be the one true church of God.

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@wynnedwards94 the Irony is that you have to trust God in order to believe that just like LDS have to trust God in restoring his Church. Plus it sounds that you are admitting that the cannon was created by fallible Church leaders. This is odd for those who protesf the Orthodox and Catholic Church. We don't believe in corrupt Church leaders we believe in our Church leaders that gave us new cannon and scriptures and encouraged us to read the apocrypha gain more insight and accept an open cannon philosophy.

@RealCrawfish

13 күн бұрын

⁠@@jacobsamuelson3181The books of the Bible were inspired before they were “canonized” by the church. I haven’t done as much research into this topic as I would like, but it is my understanding that the development of the Bible was an organic process in the early church as local churches and leaders recognized what is from the Holy Spirit. But I don’t have to rely only on the church to determine that the Bible I have is what was sent by God. There is lots of internal evidence within the scriptures including fulfilled prophesy, references to other books as scripture, etc.

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@RealCrawfish Amazing comment. You don't have to rely on the Church to know the Bible is sent from God. There is lots of internal evidence. I absolutely respect that, because this is exactly my reaction when I read the Book of Mormon and how I determined it was from God.

Also when talking about infallibility of the scriptures, who would know most the meaning behind the verses in the scriptures? Probably it would be the men who wrote them, the apostles. The Book of Mormon is evidence of a modern day apostle who healed people through the power of the priesthood and translated scriptures by a urim and thummim. Joseph Smith is a modern Moses. But also the risen Lord called 12 apostles. There are many accounts of people the Savior appeared to in Kirtland Ohio in the beginnings of the latter day restoration. We have living apostles today that continue to help us understand scripture and speak to us. While not infallible (only Jesus Christ is infallible) they speak with Him and we can have faith in their words.

This has been INHO the best interfaith dialogue I've ever seen.

@26:30 Our whole legal system is based on imperfect witnesses, but yet we still acknowledge that when many imperfect witnesses provide evidence that concurs, the chance of getting to the truth is more likely(although never 100%) even if each witness may have a slightly different memory of events. The Book of Mormon is simply reported to be a second witness of Jesus Christ from another source and not a "corrective" to the Bible.

58:15 Dakota. You said it perfectly. You can only go so far reading and studying books. The Bible is a book. That is why personal conversation with God and believing that he will answer you just as Steve answered you in the flesh is such an important tool that many protestants are missing out on. Thanks for that admission in the end because it is true in all aspects.

@wynnedwards94

14 күн бұрын

@@jacobsamuelson3181 here is the thing, Moroni 10:4 tells you to pray if these things are NOT true, which requires a predetermined belief of it being true. It is a self fulfilling prophecy. If we can just pray to know these things, that takes away from the entirety of the Old Testament and the life that Jesus lived until the crucifixion.

@dakgj

14 күн бұрын

Wow. The amount of fallacies you’ve packed into a few sentences here is quite disturbing.

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@wynnedwards94 I'm not sure what youre getting at about the Old Testament. That verse is a manner of speech not a self fulfilling prophecy. You do not need a predetermined belief of the Book of Mormon being true rather a predetermined belief of God that answers prayers.

24:47 I'm confused as to how one thinks the Bible is infallible. How do you come to that conclusion when it was written by the hand of fallible men, translated by fallible men, even collected and selected by infallible men into the various volumes that there are?

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@DannyAGray Here's what most would answer to that. It's infallible because the Bible says it's infallible. If it was fallible then the Bible wouldn't be true and so because it is true, it must be infallible. It's truly an airtight answer don't you think?

@randoms7113

11 күн бұрын

Using LDS teachings, in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will be established. There are well over 20k manuscripts including fragments and quotations in other languages with literal millions of pages of the NT in meny countries. These were copies of copies of copies. There was no printing press, so it was either memorised or copied word for word. Scholars then and now use critical text, matching the text and for the most part, they line up with each other with minor differences. If things were changed, others would have known. We need to give scribes a lot more credit as they were heavily persecuted, they put their lives on the line. We have 27 books because that's what we have of the most of. It's not like you can't read the other books. The oldest text is papyri 52 (John 18:31-33 which date possibly 100 to 175AD. That's pretty solid testament that God word is everlasting. Early churches didn't change anything and historically, there is no evidence of that. If anything the early church, fought to keep the text unaltered and only read by authoritative figures in its original language, they felt a translation would mess things up.

Interesting to note in Deuteronomy, that this was the biggest justifier to put Jesus to death. If you look at Amos 3:7 where God cannot reveal without prophets and reject that saying Christ fulfilled that, then you must also need to reject Deuteronomy since Christ fulfilled that. I am not sure why one is highly used and the other one is disregarded.

There is an argument in the church between the seer stone and the Urim and Thummin. Joseph and Oliver said they used the Urim and Thummin. Later others around him describe the stone in the hat. I believe he used the Urim and Thummin, not that it matters.

@wynnedwards94

14 күн бұрын

@@NancyBrown-xw8hg The urim and thummim was never said to have been the interpreters of the Book of Mormon until after 1832. A close associate of Joseph Smith, W.W. Phelps speculated that the interpreters speculated in the Book of Mormon might be the Urim and Thummim of the Old Testament. Phelp’s speculation quickly became popular to the point the church rewrote passages in the Doctrine and Covenants (1835 Version) to make sure the seer stones were always referred to as the Urim and Thummim. No mention of the Urim and Thummim exists in the 1833 version of D&C.

@NancyBrown-xw8hg

13 күн бұрын

@@wynnedwards94 I remember hearing that once, I'd forgotten it. Don Bradley has a description of them which supposedly comes from Joseph Smith Sr only it's second hand so a little iffy. No one saw what was in the hat except Joseph and maybe Oliver so I'm sticking with their version. I also don't think it's magic. Miracles are just things we don't understand but there is science behind it. Our cell phones can translate almost everything, it's easier to believe in them today than it was in 1830.

41:55 It is so odd to me that the interviewer stresses infallible truth as the basis of KNOWING what he believes is true. This is a contradiction to itself. Faith (belief) and Knowledge are at odds with each other. The Bible clearly teaches, It is not for us or any humans to know most of Gods dealings. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he sent His only Begotten Son, that those who BELIEVE in His name will have eternal life. Paul teaches that things temporal are seen and things eternal are things not seen. What business does knowledge have in Faith? Sounds like a doctrine of Thomas, not a doctrine of Christ. BY FAITH YOU ARE SAVED. NOT BY KNOWLEDGE. Funny how they will say this and did say this, but don't fully accept it.

Jesus doesn't treat scripture as the interpretation of the author. He treats it as the word of God. Good stuff, as always, Dakota

@jacobsamuelson3181

14 күн бұрын

Look up LDS Article of Faith #8. LDS treat scripture (Bible and BOM) as the Word of God too. If someone talked to you in a different language would the interpretation be 100% perfect or would there be phrases that don't translate well into your language. We are subject to interpretation from both God and prophets because His ways are not our ways.

@wynnedwards94

14 күн бұрын

@@jacobsamuelson3181 The Book of Mormon does not treat itself as the word of God. The very first page admits it by saying that any mistake is the mistake of man and not God. It's admitting it's own fallibility. So how can we distinguish the truth from those mistakes? Also, 2 Tim 3. All scripture is God breathed. Like I said, Jesus did not treat scripture as the interpretation of the author, he treated it as the word of God.

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@wynnedwards94 Hopefully this helps. God breathed into Adam and that brought life to Adam, Because God breathed or inspired Adam to life did that also make him infallible. No. He had freedom to transgress. The Bible and Book of Mormon are breathed from God but that doesn't mean it was written by Him like the tablets at Mt. Sinai. He had scribes and prophets to channel the words on paper and papyri. Just like Adam the words and books of the prophets are fallible. They are translations of translations, unless you have the version written in the language before Babel.

@wynnedwards94

13 күн бұрын

@@jacobsamuelson3181 if that is the case, then we would literally be unable to pick out which verses are interpretations rather than what is actually true. I don't believe that what you say is the official church belief of the Bible, as they believe in the bible being the word of God for as long as it is translated correctly. That is what Joseph Smith tried to do with the JST, right? It's supposed to be the uncorrupted bible. But that raises even more problems which is why the church doesn't connonize it.

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@wynnedwards94 Do you believe that the English translation of the Bible is perfect? What about the italicized words that scholars aren't entirely sure about what the word is from the texts. Also we don't have the original documents. We only have copies of copies of a possible original. Do you believe the copies of the copies are perfect? If you do, I have no idea why you dispute Islam because they also believe that despite so many years of possible errancy.

@11:30 In regards to safeguards about whether someone is a true prophet. This is a logical fallacy. Just because someone or a prophet (whether from the Bible or otherwise) makes a correct prediction doesn't mean that all their other beliefs/predictions are true.

@dakgj

14 күн бұрын

Great callout - absolutely agree. While incorrect/false prophecy can certainly disqualify, getting one prophecy right does not guarantee true prophet status. There would need to be a lot more evidence, most importantly accurate prophecies that are in alignment with God’s word.

@jacobsamuelson3181

14 күн бұрын

​@@dakgjThere are prophecies that Jesus made that didn't happen yet and some in his lifetime that didn't happen until after He died. If you were a Jew living in Jesus's time and he claimed to be the Messiah or prophet, and you heard him talking about the temple being destroyed and having other sheep of his fold that he would bring and none of that happened. Wouldn't you use Deutoronomys prophet rule to kill him? Even if one prophecy didn't come to pass you should by all means kill Jesus right? Weren't the Jews just following the Word of God by killing Jesus? Is it possible that their judgement was wrong and so can yours too?

49:00 Timothy was warning us about the doctrine of the Trinity. Nowhere does it mention trinity in the Bible. This doctrine was added and scripture needs to be protected. There is no way about it.

Is it just me or maybe I don't see it. But I don't think the Bible teaches this form of worship/doctrine of soloscriptora.. like think about the way the dude on the left (evangelical type) live their faith. (In a general term) I don't see that form of Christianity reflect in the Bible. Or is there a chapter where Paul goes to a church and tells them "BELIEVE in the scriptures...PUT YOUR FAITH in the infallible words of men..." To me it shows a more personal faith IN CHRIST. ❤

@jacobsamuelson3181

14 күн бұрын

The early saints didn't have scriptures other than the old testament. They relied on experiences and acts of the apostles and Christ for their New Testament. It wasn't written down until later. So no, the early Christians didn't live by Sola scriptura, they lived by living apostles and prophets as their main earthly source of truth just like the LDS today.

@jope2123

14 күн бұрын

@@jacobsamuelson3181 very well said.

@39:00 There is no way to prove that your religious "truth" is objective. At some level everybody has to rely on faith. Belief in the Bible is based on faith. A scientist would obviously say that objective truth should be measured through repeated experimentation. The Bible or God cannot be tested in this manner.

@47:00 Just because some Christians believe they are saved by faith alone doesn't mean they all do. In fact, the great majority (Catholics/Orthodox) of Christians would disagree with your assertion.

@jacobsamuelson3181

14 күн бұрын

Not all who say Lord Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It all comes down to what belief is in the end and people don't believe Catholics are Christian either because of Faith and Works.

@wynnedwards94

14 күн бұрын

@@amurdo4539 while I don't believe is a works based salvation, I also do believe those that do are still saved. It's all about accepting God's grace. I just don't think that the Jesus that mormons believe can save them.

There are two judgements, the one when you die and then the Great White Throne judgement at the end of the millennium. When you die your spirit will enter the spirit world and you'll be asked about your relationship with Jesus. If your answer is, who? You will be taught and given a chance to accept his atonement upon you. If you rejected him in this life there will not be that chance and you will pay for your own sins, not a fun experience. The Great White Throne judgement comes after the last resurrection when hell is emptied. Then we are rewarded for the good which we did do. What we will really be judged by our love and service to others.

@dakgj

14 күн бұрын

Would you mind clarifying what you mean in your point about, “if you rejected him in this life…”? Are you saying that those who had a chance to receive the gospel but rejected it (in this life) will not have another chance once they die? Just wanna make sure I understand your perspective. Thank you!

@NancyBrown-xw8hg

14 күн бұрын

@@dakgj I'm so glad Jesus does the judging, only he knows what's in the heart. I think the Lord will judge by what kind of opportunity a person has to know and accept Jesus. I've seen several people online, both from Evangelical and LDS denominations, who are now atheists. They spend their time fighting against God. They have had every opportunity to accept Jesus and ask for forgiveness. They will pay for their own sins. Especially the LDS gentleman because he made a covenant with God to always remember him. Then there is Matt 7 where many will say Lord Lord didn't we do all these miracles in your name? Here is where Joseph makes a change in the wording. ,"...and then I will say, ye never knew me". James wrote, to him that knowth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin. Aren't we all glad Jesus does the judging.

@NancyBrown-xw8hg

14 күн бұрын

However forgiveness is not sanctification. Sanctification is a process of becoming one with God, as we draw closer to Jesus he will gradually fill us with his light until we comprehend his fulness and are one with him. I think John 17 and the Lord's Intercessory prayer explains the process more clearly than any other passage. God the Father glorifies the Son, he in turn glorifies us and asks the Father to "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth...That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" I think in our finite state we really cannot comprehend what that all means.

The problem we have between us are the early Christian Creeds. We obviously don't accept them as being from God. You may not even realize it but they dictates how you view reality. Example; is there really an immaterial substance? What is a spirit? Is God invisible? Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God the Father. I look at that as very real, he saw God the Father so God is not invisible or un-see-able. I've been told by other Christians that's wrong, Stephen was using a metaphor. And there is the difference.

35:26 my true North is Jesus Christ, not the Bible which is assembled by fallible man. If there are errors in the Bible (because there are) Christ knows my desire to get it right. If your true north is the Bible, you're setting yourself up for failure.

@dakgj

14 күн бұрын

I’m holding to the Bible as the very word of God, breathed out by Him (2 Tim. 3:16). Therefore, my compass and true north is God’s word, which points me to and exalts Him, not myself. It also shows me who Jesus is and what He’s done for me that I may receive the gift of salvation. I imagine you would agree with at least most of this sentiment. Here’s the issue with your statement, you reject the infallibility of scripture, but claim Jesus is your true north. Okay, which one? The Jesus of Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Bahai? I think you would agree we very quickly run into a major issue if we try to accept Jesus but cast doubt on His word. We then throw objective truth out the window and instead truth becomes “my truth”.

@DannyAGray

14 күн бұрын

@dakgj your reply has several flaws that I suspect you might take to be defenses by I think are just ignorant of other faiths. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL scripture is inspired of God (or God-breathed, or however you want to phrase it), but then you seem to claim some kind of authority or ability to personally distinguish what is acceptable for scripture and what is not. If ALL scripture is inspired of God, why do you push off and ignore the Book of Mormon and chalk it up to a fallible man, when the very same kind of humans penned the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the apocryphal texts, etc.? Wy do you deny these to be scripture and by what authority do you sustain that? If the Bible is directly the word of God, and this text indicates His inspiration saying ALL scripture is from Him, what right does any human - you or otherwise - have to say these other texts are not worth the paper they're printed on? This goes for your argument about "which Jesus." Saying there are different Jesuses is like saying two parentally biological siblings have a different mother simply because they each have different relationships with their mother and different experiences with her as a person. What we, as LDS members, believe about Jesus doesn't make him a different person. It just means our insight of him is not the same as yours. Again, by what authority and proof do you explicitly have to claim you have all the knowledge there is of Jesus? Let's not forget that the ancient jews thought they knew exactly how the messiah would be and behave when he came to them, but in their pride, they missed him right in front of them. It seems foolish to gatekeep the savior of the world as if your understanding of him is without flaw based on a book you think is without flaw due to your interpretation of a single verse therein (see the above paragraph). So your response to me - while I hope is done with love and an actual desire for discourse - looks like an attempt to piss on Christianity to mark your perceived territory. It's OK that we see things differently, but I would encourage you to not be so closed minded in how you define scripture and define Jesus (or, rather, how you respect others in their definitions thereof).

@dakgj

14 күн бұрын

@@DannyAGray Lots to unpack here, but rather than me responding to each point and us just going back and forth, I say we jump on a call and have a real (friendly, Christ-honoring) discussion, as you mentioned in your comment that you’re hopeful for. If interested shoot me an email intolightpod@gmail.com - if you’d like we can even do it completely offline and don’t have to record the conversation at all

@DannyAGray

14 күн бұрын

@@dakgj I'd be honored to have that conversation with you, and I don't mind it recorded. I'll shoot you an email in the morning.

@jacobsamuelson3181

13 күн бұрын

@@dakgj Acknowledging objective truth exists and actually possessing objective truth are very different things. Just because I can see the true north star doesn't mean that I can actually journey to the star itself and claim it as my own. LDS give grace to other people's faith in that we are ALL incomplete in the full objective truth of God. It says in the Bible that if we were to even see God in all his glory we would shrivel up and die. God's ways are not humans ways. That is what we acknowledge. If you have a different Jesus then all the rest of us, all you have done is claim ownership of something that was not yours to begin with, just like a parent claiming ownersip of their child or vice versa. I know you really want to be right like all the rest of us and pretend to posses the objective truth of God like everyone else would, but acknowledging our inadequacy and our imperfections and that of others is what Jesus teaches us to do in order for us to get closer to him. LDS believe we have the fulness of the Gospel but that doesn't mean we have obtained the fulness of God exclusively, it simply means we have the fullest access to Him directly in conjuction with faith prayer, baptism, the Holy Ghost, Books and Church.

Thanks for making this video. It was very informative. I mean no disrespect to Steve because its obvious he's a great guy, and I appreciate his willingness to come on this podcast and be vulnerable, but unfortunately, his responses demonstrate that he's not the best representation of what Mormon's believe. Perhaps he was just nervous or it was difficult to think clearly under pressure. I don't know, but his answers weren't very clear. I was a faithful Mormon for 46 years, and I had a difficult time understanding what he was talking about. For example, when you asked him how he could know whether or not he is right with God at the moment he takes his last breath, the simple answer is that it's hard for Mormons to ever know if they are truly right with God because they are required to obey God's commandments and Mormon teachings to the end of their lives, and if they ever stop obeying the commandments or if they ever fall away from the church, they will fall out of God's favor and lose blessings. Mormons believe that in the afterlife, they will one day appear before Christ to be judged according to their works and will then be sent to whichever level of Heaven they have qualified for depending on how faithful they were to Mormon teachings. Since they haven't been judged yet, they don't know where their final place in Heaven will be or whether they have done enough to qualify to live with God and Jesus in the highest level of Heaven. Therefore, if you ask a Mormon if they believe that they will go to the highest level of Heaven when they die, their answer will always be, "Well, I can only hope, but I really don't know." Mormonism is constantly changing, and it has changed a lot since I grew up in it in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. There are reasons why most Mormons today have a difficult time explaining their beliefs, so I don't fault Steve at all. The Mormonism he grew up in is not the same Mormonism I grew up in. I'm an evangelical Christian now and was saved in 2013 (Praise God)! I can give you simple, straight-forward answers about what Mormons used to believe and what they believe today if you'd be interested. I'd love to talk to you about it sometime. My email address is on my channel. Hope to hear from you!

@jacobsamuelson3181

14 күн бұрын

Dude Steve did a great job and you have no business judging since you are not a member anymore and didn't understand when you were one apparently. He actually articulated very well what I would say and of course the nerves do kick in when you have two critics and questioners of your faith asking the difficult but common questions. If they actually paid attention to his answers, it would be fairly easy to know what he was talking about.