Breaking Down the 5 New LDS Church Essays [HONEST REACTION]

[@joellavergne2001]

Great work man, I love the non-hostile tone. One of the most perplexing reasonings to me within Mormonism is the suggestion that if God doesn't speak through prophets like he did in the Old Testament then his identity has changed. This doesn't make sense on the surface; if I move far away and start communicating with you over text rather than face to face my identity has not changed (rather my mode of communication). But on a deeper level the DOCTRINE OF ETERNAL PROGRESSION ABSOLUTELY DISMANTLES ANY POSSIBILITY OF GOD BEING THE SAME YESTERDAY TODAY AND FORVER. Sorry haha that inconsistency is so overwhelming to me.

[@coinsmith]

My quick summary of the LDS response to the BoA issue: We are to take everything at face value that Joseph Smith wrote WITHIN the Book of Abraham, but we are to totally disregard whatever Joseph Smith said or wrote ABOUT how he produced it. Charles M. Larson, author By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus, (1993 Institute for Religious Research, Grand Rapids, MI)

[@michaelparks5669]

Larson is not a scholar He is not an Egyptologist. He is tabloid author and easily controverted.

[@GeorgeDemetz]

That is one of many of my fellow LDS in Utah, dumb as heck!

[@bradensorensen966]

How about No

[@GeorgeDemetz]

@@coinsmith They always have these ignorant theologically challenged people who Satan leads to attack the church, and their MO is almost always the same, tell part of the truth, but not the complete story!

[@AllTheseCreatures]

I presented my teenagers the following hypothetical just now: Let's imagine I acquired an old book written in a language we can't read. I told you I would work hard and translate this book. After a little time, I present to you a set of instructions on how to get to Las Vegas as told through the experience of people who'd gone there before. We rejoice and begin planning our trip to Las Vegas. *my children are already looking at me dubiously* Before we can leave on this journey, you're cousin wants to see the original book and recognizes right away this language is Chinese. Your cousin can read Chinese and explains this book is a collection of recipes. What would you think? One said, "I'd think you were crazy." My other said, "I would think you'd been lying." Now what if I explained that while I couldn't read the characters, I was just using them as inspiration to reveal the meaning? One started laughing and said, "Shut up, mom." The other asked, "Why would you do that?"

[@trilithon108]

One teen might say, "Mom, where's your hat and stone?" 🎉

[@personofinterest8731]

How did the kids get smarter than us? My grandkids had to bring me Robert Ritner's book before I began to look at the insanities of the BOA stuff.

[@jackcarter4088]

​@personofinterest8731 At least you became willing to see it. Don't be too hard on yourself. The LDS church was pretty effective at suppressing information they didn't want getting out. It was only because of the internet that they lost control of the dissemination of information. Without the internet, your grandchildren would likely be just as uninformed as you were.

[@mcable217]

What if someone followed your instructions and ended up in Las Vegas? Although the Chinese Recipe inspiration hypothesis seems strange, if the instructions work where they came from doesn’t matter.

[@AllTheseCreatures]

@@mcable217 What if someone followed my instructions and ended up like the Death Valley Germans? How do you determine if a source is reliable? I am not a reliable source, I have never been to Las Vegas. If someone follows my instructions they got lucky or had extra help that didn't come from me. The German family who died in Death Valley were following a map they thought was accurate for their purposes. They also thought they could walk for help at China Lake when the map betrayed them. None of their assumptions were correct and they all died. But the map was accurate a little bit and it encouraged them to trust it further and further away from the main roads where they might have found help.

[@BrendonKing]

I love these essays. The best advocates against the Mormon faith are those employed by the faith to defend it. It's brilliant.

[@TheSaintelias]

So true. Reading fairmormons “explanation” of the BoA is what made me realize looking for faithful answers wasn’t possible.

[@paulgregersen3570]

The scribes and Joseph were obviously trying to make a Rosetta Stone on their own trying to match Josephs English translation with the characters on the scroll. Couldn't work because hyroglyphs don't condense to er English

[@paulgregersen3570]

Reason Joseph's writings were in the papyri shows that Joseph in Egypt most likely prepared these encrypted writings of Abraham preservation having Egyptian authority to do so. Encrypting it so Egyptian priests couldn't destroy it. Link utube (BOA ep 16) type in exact title to get there

[@prayunceasingly2029]

​@paulgregersen3570 "most likely"? What's most likely is a creative con man used Egyptian documents to con people into believing his interpretation of them. No need for elaborate theories when a far simpler explanation exists that explains these documents.

[@paulgregersen3570]

Up until recently people thought so​@@prayunceasingly2029

[@JulioHendricks-r8n]

5 minutes into the video, I realized something. I have a Book of Mormon printed in 1979, and if you go to the Book of Abraham, it shows the drawing from the papyrus where the missing pieces were drawn in by Joseph Smith. So, they can't really use that as a valid argument. I wish I could show you guys pictures on here, but the version that I have was sort of given to me by the people that I rent from. This particular Book of Mormon has all the books, including the version of the King James which was altered by Joseph Smith. If you turn to the book of Abraham which is inside the Pearl of Great Price, you will see the drawings in there that are from the papyrus that is still in existence. The Mormon church is flat out lying. If the fragments they do have have nothing to do with the translation of the book of Abraham, why are the drawings from the papyria that still exists, in the book of Abraham?

[@cartercordingley6062]

I had one from the 90s, and it had a similar drawing. Plus, it was taught that Joseph translated them using the scrolls.

[@JulioHendricks-r8n]

@@cartercordingley6062 so that means the supposed official Mormon position on the original Scrolls that they say translated the book of Abraham being lost, is just as believable as the book of Abraham itself.... which is nil

[@Jewkester]

Thank you for going through these essays. I've only begun deconstructing my mormon beliefs this year, and I'm so sick of the cognitive dissonance and gaslighting from this organization. It's so distressing.

[@brettpinion4233]

D&C Section 9:8-9 - tells us that if something is true it will make our "bosom burn" and we will FEEL that it is right. Maroni 10:4 says: "he will manifest the truth of it unto you" The BIBLE WARNS us against this SUBJECTIVE type of truth test. The LDS test for truth violates the Biblical test. Why? Because we have a SINFUL NATURE that can be DECEIVED. Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusts in his OWN (bosom) heart is a FOOL." The BIBLICAL TEST begins first with PRIOR Scriptural revelation and to TEST all things by IT (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:12-2:3; 1 Thes. 5:19-21). 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV "STUDY ...RIGHTLY dividing the word of TRUTH." Acts 17:11 "EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES to see if what said is TRUE". 1John 4:1 says: "BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, ... because MANY FALSE PROPHETS (J.S.) have gone out into the world." The BIBLE repeatedly WARNS us about false teachers, FALSE PROPHETS, false Jesuses, false gospels and counterfeit Christianity (Matt 7:15, 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15; Gal. 1:6-9). Bible explicitly warns us against demonic spiritual DECEPTION (1 Tim. 4:1). "And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14 Even when Paul and Silas delivered the truths of the gospel to the people of Berea, the Bereans were commended for EXAMINING the SCRIPTURES to validate the claims of the apostles. There are NO Biblical directives to pray for new revelation based on a warm feeling for verification because feelings change, can be manipulated and are NOT reliable. Would you pray about the validity of the Koran, the WatchTower of Jehovah's Witnesses, or about whether or not Muhammad is a true prophet? If no, why not? Are the Muslims not sincere? They pray 5 times per day. Don’t they feel good or right about their faith? Don't Jehovah's Witnesses feel the WatchTower is the word of God? I have sincerely prayed with real faith in Christ and He has shown me Mormonism is false! Who cares? Don't believe me. BELIEVE the words of the Bible that Jesus affirmed. "Before me NO god was formed, nor shall there be ANY after me.” (Isaiah 43:10) If Mormonism is true, then God could not make this claim, for he was just a man at one point; nor could he claim that no gods would come after him, for that is the goal of J.S. and LDS members. Isaiah 44:6 says, "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is NO God." & "Is there any God besides me?.. I know not one". God is saying there is NOT an infinite amount of Gods, and there is none like Him. LDS teaches that there is. He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did" (King Follett Sermon) Either the BIBLE or LDS is FALSE. LDS FALSE Apostle: "The law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." Brigham Young Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p. 110

[@TheSaintelias]

It’s a crazy frustrating path. The other side is awakening and freeing. Good luck.

[@personofinterest8731]

Welcome to sanity. It took me years to recover mine. 🎶💃

[@prayunceasingly2029]

​@@TheSainteliasfalsehood can feel like truth and freedom. And the mind may believe that because it's easier than looking at facts and doubting one's own mental conditioning

[@TheSaintelias]

@@prayunceasingly2029 yes. If only the historical facts were in favor of the church then your statement would be 100% correct. And feelings have nothing to do with it. Feelings is how you know the church is true, and the spirit is listening to you. Unless those feelings and answers to prayer contradict the brethren. Then it wasn’t the spirit. Facts about how, when and why thing happened and happen in the church will let one decide one’s path. Feelings have nothing to do with it.

[@fredelliott6985]

LOVE IT!!! Thank you!! I am always learning from you!!

[@AyeAyeAyeCaptain]

Excellent comments and observations. You do a wonderful job researching and presenting facts, making every reasonable attempt to be accurate and polite, and your commentary lends a good dose of perspective -- truth-loving, and Christian. It is so valuable that you are putting the truth out there in a digestible way for those seeking Biblical truth. Praying for your ministry and for the families of those involved. 🙏

[@CuriousThinker1776]

I recently had a member say to me, "Isn’t it good that we have living prophets to correct any mistakes made by earlier prophets?!" I can't believe anyone would think that way, but I know there are many others that do too. The mental hoops some jump through to feel good about what is wrong in the church are amazing.

[@thereloaderscloset9096]

That screams so loud of self proclaimed prophets or false prophets.

[@michaelgrey7854]

If thats the case, Gods a dick for giving Prophets the wrong info!

[@GeorgeDemetz]

Yea, but I am not from Utah, but I lived there for a few years, and even though I am LDS, I have to say that there are many dumb ignorant LDS there! And this comment was made by one! The fact that Utah supports an evil lying cheating traitor like Trump is strong evidence of this!!!

[@GeorgeDemetz]

That was just another ignorant Mormon who does not understand the true official LDS doctrine!!!

[@CharlesLarson-t7h]

I'm going to have to remember that one!

[@ZelphBallard-bg9mt]

basically the church has been so baaadddly outed by the internet that are in damage control

[@brucegillingham2793]

IT is estimated that 60% of the LDS church leave when they become an adult and its an option for them. The internet is the death of the LDS church.

[@dereksyota]

They have been since the invention of the internet. But they will continue to tapdance around the true problems.

[@brotherinchrist72]

I have stopped trying to reason with those in the LDS faith on these points of interest, and focus on the core theology, and asserting that Joseph Smith Jr and all the other LDS prophets, fail the test of a prophet as given to us in Deuteronomy. I know the deeper theologies of Mormonism, because I use to be part of that religious faith many years ago. We also prided ourselves on being known as "Mormons" so I do not understand why so many of these LDS folk are suddenly getting all twisted up with hearing the word "Mormon" when it is written on their very book they proclaim that comes from 2 people groups that we can not find one shred of evidence of ever existing. It's mind boggling how quick LDS members will condemn the Bible and declare it was corrupted (yet still use select passages all through out the Bible), and yet God has preserved his word, who promised his word would never fade away and promised his Church would never fail. This is were I go full stop with LDS folk when they try to go further, because they have to proclaim that God is a liar and that he can fail to keep his promises if they truly believe this "Bible corruption" none sense. We have thousands of manuscripts from solid sourcing of the NT alone (around 6000 in all) not to count the 10's of thousands of the OT. Yet when we ask the LDS church to provide just one ancient manuscript from any of their writers in the Book of Mormon, they cannot do it. When we ask to produce just one ancient coin that was listed in their Book of Mormon as currency, for a population that was in the 10's of millions supposedly, there is not once ancient coin found to this day. How is it we can find all manner of ancient manuscripts, carvings, dirt archeology going as far as as 800-1000+ B.C., (if not further), along with countless artifacts and hard proof / evidence for the people that lived in those times that align with what the Bible tells us, but we cannot find anything of the sort for these fabled Nephites and Lamanites of the Book of Mormon? A lot of "theories" and a very broad imagination, with many LDS apologists attempting to show "proof" of things that the archeological / scientific community cannot support, and certainly not their LDS leadership (First Presidency) has been willing or able to provide any true evidence either, but we find many speculations, and the leaders trying to declare things that only those following a cult and want to believe in those things will believe.

[@brucegillingham2793]

That's a fight between the Elders in Utah The church spent millions on AD campaigns saying "we are Mormon" Now the current church leader says the word Mormon is an insult that has always been a derogatory term used against the church and its members. But that lines up with all the other revelations they go back and forth on.

[@HaleStorm49]

Have they stopped trying to reason with you also?

[@BNichols021]

So if church doctrine can never be established apart from unanimous agreement of the leaders, and if a prophet can't be discounted based on his personal opinions, then in what realistic sense could a prophet ever be accused of being a false prophet? If he issues an utterly crazy and ungodly statement, then the other leaders will not uphold it... but then because it isn't "doctrine", it's readily dismissed because "it's just his opinion." It leaves virtually no possible situation for an individual prophet to actually be tested. Compare this to the Bible where prophets often operated apart from any sort of collective group. They were held accountable for their own words, not merely the subset of their words that carried the approval of others. It really is quite simple: if a man disregards God's Word enough to fling around his own fringe thoughts in the name of the Lord, then that man is a false prophet.

[@enochbrown]

Except there are times when all of the brethren supported something and taught it as doctrine, and then it wasn't. The curse of cain being the reason that blacks could not have priesthood and saving ordanances was universally taught as doctrine by the first presidency and quorum of the twelve at one point. The obserdness of the difficulty in establishing doctrine does not make it impossible to prove the prophets false.

[@BNichols021]

@@enochbrownyou should be able to evaluate a man by his own words, not only those words that everyone else agrees with.

[@enochbrown]

@@BNichols021 I completely agree with you. I will not argue that they are right, because they aren't. I am just stating that you can also prove them false prophets with the silly limitations they set.

[@beautifulHHI]

Zero possibility of any kind of accountability to anyone.

[@MykArd]

Any “prophet” that preaches racism is using God’s name in vain. That alone proves the prophet to be false.

[@dl1130]

The corporation rules the membership as a frog being boiled in water. It's sad when one loves a church more than God.

[@spencersessions]

Who are you talking about? It’s the church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-Day Saints, not the Church of Joseph Smith. Individuals rarely are against the teachings but much more interested in the history, as if people are as perfect as Jesus. Dude, you can find fault in any person on earth. Jesus was judged because of what Judas did. It’s our purpose on earth that this Church resolves and encourages us, not following people.

[@dl1130]

@spencersessions I stand by my statement. If the Mormon, LDS, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, truly loved God more than the church itself. It would repent for teachings contrary to the true gospel of Jesus Christ and confess to the members who have had to play mind games to justify its truthfulness. The vast majority of those who leave the church find themselves alone, labeled as apostates and isolation. Thus being lured into athiesim. The church doesn't care and has no safety net as long as it, the church is looked upon in positive light! This also holds true of any church that does not follow the Word of God as contained in the bible.

[@spencersessions]

​@@dl1130 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows the teachings contained in the bible and further helps individuals come unto Christ by witnessing that Christ rose on the third day and visited "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring" (John 10:16). All of God's children deserve to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ not only those on earth who are in proximity to it. Only this church teaches that those who have not had this opportunity in this life to hear the good news has an opportunity in the next. That is grace and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This wasn't fully explained in the Bible but is further clarified in the Book of Mormon and in modern day revelation. Why would God stop speaking to us? The dark ages are behind us and we have moved into an age of enlightenment where God and His gospel are being revealed and His gospel is being shared with "all nations" Matthew 24:14. Yes, this is a messy process since there are so many dissenting voices. No one is encouraged or lured into atheism by following Christ and His teachings, only those who fall away from His word. Yes the church cares about it's image, all organizations who carry Christ's name should make sure they are transparent as feasibly possible while holding the standard of Christ. You may feel some elements have been unfairly handled - which might be clarified if you look deeper into official statements and listen with a level of humility and understanding. No one needs to apologize for following the Savior and there are no mind games being played - only individuals who are mingling the teachings of men with scripture. We work to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ as closely as possible as we prepare for His coming.

[@prayunceasingly2029]

​@@spencersessionsyou can't separate the church of latter day saints from Joseph Smith. They're totally intertwined together. You wouldn't have the church without its first prophet, not in the way it has existed. Smith is one of the cornerstones of his own church.

[@spencersessions]

Hey neat, my replies are being deleted by either KZbin or by GLM. This is a constant uphill battle I face when I try to reply here to anything. Regarding Joseph Smith, yes we honor and sustain him to be a modern day prophet. Yes you’ll find fault with Him because he was a mortal man who lived in our era where history and “history” abounds. I’m sure Israelites saw Moses as less than a prophet because he delegated Aaron to be his mouthpiece. I’m sure Jesus was seen as a liar and was crucified because they saw one of His own disciples betray Him. Being a prophet does not mean you are free from being a mortal, all need the Savior. We can act in humility and truly ask if God restored His church in these last days through prophets - just as He has always done. The world needs God more than ever. We’ve lived through the dark ages and now we live in an age of enlightenment. Why is God excluded from speaking to us through modern day prophets when we need clarity on His word the most?

[@karenl7791]

Thank you for helping us to engage in critical thinking in your videos.

[@daniallemmon5453]

Brigham Young also taught the Adam God Doctrine in general conference. In other instances he makes it a belief that affects your salvation.

[@karenl7791]

Adam-God was taught by BY and other church prophets and GAs for something like 50 years ! Yet, it is totally denied that this was ever a doctrine by faithful members today.

[@MapleBoarder78]

Thanks for updating us on the new essays! Trying to be as charitable as possible, in the end Joseph mistakenly believed the papyri purchased from Michael Chandler were the actual writings of Abraham and Joseph (which we now know they were not). Why he would come to this outlandish conclusion is beyond me and seems to be the outworking of his very vivid imagination coupled with wishful thinking. As he describes in his own personal diary… ”On the 3rd. of July, Michael H. Chandler came to Kirtland to exhibit some Egyptian Mummies. There were four human figures, together with some two or more rolls of papyrus, covered with hierogliphic, figures and devices. As Mr Chandler had been told that I could translate them, he brought me some of the characters, and I gave him the interpretation. Soon after this, some of the Saints at Kirtland, purchased the Mummies and Papyrus and I, with William W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery, as scribes, commenced translation of some of the characters and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham; another the writings of Joseph of Egypt…” -Joseph Smith 1835 Which is also prefaced in the actual book of Abraham… “Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt. The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.” -Book of Abraham Preface Wilford Woodruff the 4th President of the Mormon Church believed they were the actual writings of Abraham and Joseph as well in his personal diary… “Joseph the Seer has presented us some of the Book of Abraham which was written by his own hand but hid from the knowledge of man for the last four thousand years but has now come to light through the mercy of God." -Diary of Wilford Woodruff, entry of February 19, 1842 The “catalyst” view seems to be the only remaining option on the table other than admitting Joseph made up the story altogether. As pop Mormon apologist Brad Witbeck stated on a recent podcast… “The Book of Abraham as a scripture and story was written by the hand of Abraham, the paper Joseph Smith translated from doesn’t have to be…He could literally make Joseph translate a Ramen Noodle packet and get a new scripture from it.” -Brad Witbeck, Midnight Mormons Podcast

[@rmac9177]

I was going to listen to this episode on MM but I can never make it through too far. Their take is rarely good, and this one doesn’t fall far from the tree.

[@saa8488]

Total mental gymnastics to explain BoA translation. They’re having to pivot and retreat on JS’ claims when it hasn’t aged well. This is another case where the simplest answer is the correct answer. It’s just uncomfortable for believers to think JS faked it.

[@TheBackyardProfessor]

Good job. I enjoyed this very much.

[@lcwalker2920]

Joseph Smith wasn't as uneducated as the stories present. His wife was well-educated and his parents and grandmother were as well.

[@KendraAndTheLaw]

And his brother

[@cactusblob1688]

AND HE WAS STILL A MORON.

[@caseylarsen3856]

Interestingly, Joseph Smith claims the BoA was translated directly from the papyrus. This is a direct copy from the header of the BoA: A Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt. The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. I started having some serious questions a few months ago, and the essays only solidified my doubts and justified my questions. The essays directly contradict written statements by previous general authorities, prophets, and Joseph Smith himself.

[@lukewayne2953]

I'm astonished that they drew attention to all the material that JS added to the Book of Genesis while claiming to translate the Bible as if that HELPS his claims regarding the Book of Abraham. And the claim that the physical texts were just foci for divination has also always stuck me as one that makes JS look worse rather than better.

[@SRayn2012]

I loved this. Thank you!!

[@personofinterest8731]

Thank you for this sober analysis.

[@polyglot6542]

The Church was forced to have the papyri studied because the papyre was found by the Metropolitan Museum and published the content and the fact that it included Joseph Smith's translation. The church only discloses what they know is already public knowledge.

[@AyeAyeAyeCaptain]

You would want to deal with things upfront because you have received a love of the truth. People who value truth don't withhold information and call that concealment "milk before meat" or justify it by the rationalisation "let's not shake the new converts before they're ready to receive deep doctrine or understand ugly, confusing history." The love of truth is something found in those who receive the unadulterated gospel of grace and believe in Jesus, who is the truth, because there is nothing to fear about being completely honest and open about that truth, because it is all good. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Jesus' words are recorded in the Bible, and it requires men disbelieving those words and disbelieving that the Almighty God would be capable of preserving His word for men to know Him, for them to discount Jesus' words in favour of another's. Jeremiah 32:27 - "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Numbers 23:19 - "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" John 18:20, “Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.” Malachi 3:6 - “For I am the LORD, I change not; [...]" John 5:43, “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” Those who continue to deny the pure witness of the true Biblical Christ and continue to instead believe another Jesus as preached by Joseph Smith are doing the above. They are denying the true Christ who came in His Father's name, and receiving Joseph Smith who came in his own name 1800 years later, instead. 1 Cor 11:3-4, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." Gal 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Eph 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

[@brucegillingham2793]

According to the LDS leadership secret and sacred are the same thing to them. That's why they dont divulge attendance and financial records because they are sacred. Almost every LDS leader is an attorney I believe so, that makes all this stuff make more sense when you know who is in charge and making decisions for the church.

[@kittiemarie1235]

Wow. I have had A LOT of discussions with Mormons online about these topics in the last couple of months. So I am floored that these topics have become so prevalent for the church to cover.

[@isaiahbhudson]

I’m confused, are these essays materially different from the essays that came out 10 years ago? I don’t really have the time or desire to compare the two.

[@brucegillingham2793]

The essay release then and now is merely an attempt to limit there exposure to a lawsuit. They can now point to the essays and say we didnt mislead you the answers are right here on our website. I think I heard that a class action suit for fraud against the LDS church by former members is moving foward finally after years of stalling. Which would probably be related to this recent release.

[@patriciafinn5717]

Its more than proof now..its their love of money and sending very young adults out to be sales people and often put them in awful places with no or little money and yes many missionaries have died or suffered trauma..some abuse has been covered up and they dont care.i find this very concerning....but the mormon bubble keeps on growing..sad.😢

[@brucegillingham2793]

I like how at 18 your an elder but they cannot answer any questions.

[@dannylarsen4290]

Excellent!

[@spencerclark399]

This is a great video just so long as you don’t know anything about the decades of research that has already taken place. But coming in cold, I would think this was well done.

[@adamt995]

This is great!

[@daniallemmon5453]

The Jerusalem Council is the First Ecumenical Council of the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. I love using this to show the LDS church structure is nothing like the ancient church structure still found in Orthodoxy.

[@briandavis6898]

By that time the church was already in apostasy.

[@daniallemmon5453]

@ By Acts 15 the church was already in Apostasy? When the apostles were still alive?

[@briandavis6898]

@daniallemmon5453 funky the Bible doesn't say anything about Catholic councils.

[@bipolarrambling242]

I remember one time I met Beyonce, but then I remembered a few years later it was actually the queen of england. I must have got it mixed up. But then a few years after that I remembered that it was actually the queen of england AND princess diana. Don't ask me what year. It definitely happened though, I swear it on a Book of Mormon.

[@CraigarMatheny]

I laughed out loud! Excellent!!!

[@brettpinion4233]

Friend. That "testimony" test is of LDS not biblical. I don't disagree that you get a feeling just as Jehovah's witnesses and Muslims and Hindus. The terms set forth in Moroni 10:4 are manipulative and use circular reasoning. D&C Section 9:8-9 - tells us that if something is true it will make our "bosom burn" and we will FEEL that it is right. Maroni 10:4 says: "he will manifest the truth of it unto you" The BIBLE WARNS us against this SUBJECTIVE type of truth test. The LDS test for truth violates the Biblical test. Why? Because we have a SINFUL NATURE that can be DECEIVED. Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusts in his OWN (bosom) heart is a FOOL." The BIBLICAL TEST begins first with PRIOR Scriptural revelation and to TEST all things by IT (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:12-2:3; 1 Thes. 5:19-21). 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV "STUDY ...RIGHTLY dividing the word of TRUTH." Acts 17:11 "EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES to see if what said is TRUE". 1John 4:1 says: "BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, ... because MANY FALSE PROPHETS (J.S.) have gone out into the world." The BIBLE repeatedly WARNS us about false teachers, FALSE PROPHETS, false Jesuses, false gospels and counterfeit Christianity (Matt 7:15, 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15; Gal. 1:6-9). Bible explicitly warns us against demonic spiritual DECEPTION (1 Tim. 4:1). "And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14 Even when Paul and Silas delivered the truths of the gospel to the people of Berea, the Bereans were commended for EXAMINING the SCRIPTURES to validate the claims of the apostles. There are NO Biblical directives to pray for new revelation based on a warm feeling for verification because feelings change, can be manipulated and are NOT reliable. Would you pray about the validity of the Koran, the WatchTower of Jehovah's Witnesses, or about whether or not Muhammad is a true prophet? If no, why not? Are the Muslims not sincere? They pray 5 times per day. Don’t they feel good or right about their faith? Don't Jehovah's Witnesses feel the WatchTower is the word of God? I have sincerely prayed with real faith in Christ and He has shown me Mormonism is false! Who cares? Don't believe me. BELIEVE the words of the Bible that Jesus affirmed. "Before me NO god was formed, nor shall there be ANY after me.” (Isaiah 43:10) If Mormonism is true, then God could not make this claim, for he was just a man at one point; nor could he claim that no gods would come after him, for that is the goal of J.S. and LDS members. Isaiah 44:6 says, "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is NO God." & "Is there any God besides me?.. I know not one". God is saying there is NOT an infinite amount of Gods, and there is none like Him. LDS teaches that there is. He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did" (King Follett Sermon) Either the BIBLE or LDS is FALSE. LDS FALSE Apostle: "The law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." Brigham Young Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p. 110

[@coinsmith]

So true, your evaluation of Moroni 10:4-5. It is basically a psychological trap, a fallacy known as "circular reasoning". In order for someone to accept the invitation to test the validity of the BoM by praying to God about it for a testimony, you have to first accept the idea that it is God offering the instruction -- thus, you have already accepted the idea that the BoM is what it claims to be and that only the "insincere" will not persuade themself that it is true.

[@brettpinion4233]

@@coinsmith ❤️

[@michaelparks5669]

you are dishonest.

[@moronibaloney6888]

@@michaelparks5669 Disposition Burglary in the Second Degree 164.215 Felony Class C 04/20/2005 PARKS, MICHAEL EDWARD Burglary in the Second Degree Convicted. “The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.” - RWE

[@moronibaloney6888]

@@michaelparks5669 What about your criminal convictions in Oregon?

[@lanigame8629]

Well done.

[@catherinemcdavid1533]

They act as if the supposed “translation” was 2,000 years ago when it is less than 200 years ago.

[@CraigarMatheny]

Very well said!!

[@AustinD1646]

💯

[@j.d.westphal6949]

I love these videos. As an active member of the True church of Christ, I appreciate all forms of information and inspection. All of it has only strengthened my views. The more research I’ve done the stronger my testimony becomes. Thank you for your work 🙏🏼

[@gretamoney8017]

​@@charlescoley6289- I suspect he is trolling

[@AyeAyeAyeCaptain]

15:55 for anyone who takes issue with using the former LDS Quorum of the Twelve apostle McConkie (whose writings and teachings were a staple in LDS households until public sentiments changed with society changing...) The Joseph Smith History in LDS canon says the same thing as McConkie's quote does, as do all the LDS lesson manuals talking about the "Great Apostasy" (and cherry-picking verses to use out of correct context, verses which in context are warning about a departure from sound doctrine within the church in the last days, but not a 100% one, nor the need for a "Restoration", as that would contradict God's promises in scripture: that his words will not pass away [Matthew 24:35] & the gates of hell will not prevail against his church [Matt 16:18]). Joseph Smith History 1: 18-20: "My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)-and which I should join. 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” 20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time."

[@boysrus61]

Have you ever made a really big purchase like a car or home and at the moment you do it you have that feeling like this is wrong and you are making a mistake? That is a natural, human feeling and there actually is a psychological name for it that I can't recall from my University days. This is how finding out falsehoods about dearly held beliefs feels like. The church tells us to doubt our doubts and recognize negative feelings as from the devil. Well I think when seeking truth you have to follow the advice of a country song; If you're going through hell keep on going, Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it, You might get out before the devil even knows you're there. What I am trying to say is feel your natural feelings of fear as you learn new truths, keep studying and when you get out on the other side of actually knowing the truth it is a very good thing and you will know what actual freedom of the mind is. Then you will be able to find real truth and understand what it means to come unto Christ or a higher being. God is not in an institution. God is within you waiting to come out through your actions.

[@enochbrown]

As an ex Mormon, I would like to add one piece of Mormon scripture that supports your argument against the falability of prophets. Doctrine and Covenants - Official Decloration 1 says, "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty."

[@karenl7791]

Yet Brigham was in error teaching Adam-God according to Spencer W. Kimball and other church leaders. Also, why would all the prophets til Nelson not address the word Mormon being used by others or even calling yourself Mormon? This looks especially bad in light of the I Am A Mormon campaign of a few short years ago which would have had to have had approval from the top 3 church leaders.

[@brucegillingham2793]

I wonder how long after he said that he suffered from lead poisoning?

[@user-mn447]

This is why “the continuing restoration” trumps all the new things spewed from their mouths. I would like you to do a video on the Godhead being 3 beings, or if Jesus IS God.

[@DarrylDriggs-co8bx]

See First Vision by Milton R. Blackman. Answers a lot of questions. 3 Different versions of Paul's experience. See M.D. Harris, especially comments section where differences are pointed out.

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

At 8:55. The multiple accounts of the First Vision include at least eight versions. Recently one author claimed it was ten. There was a church video a few years back that attempted to incorporate eight versions in the account of the First Vision.

[@preacher1138]

Do you have a link to the essays?

[@GLM]

www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics?lang=eng This is the main page - all of the essays are linked on the side panel. I can post the individual links later if it'd be helpful.

[@preacher1138]

@@GLMThank You

[@michaelgrey7854]

The way that the church rewites its own history and beliefs is very 1984 Orwell. I have a copy of the Pearl of Great Price that says in the intro that the Book of Abraham was translated from the scrolls. Not revealed, not inspired. Translated.

[@hopeinHim5160]

Agreed. Joseph wrote that he was able to translate the characters. 🧐😕

[@Originaldoctrine]

Was Peter’s denial of Christ unofficial fruit? Was Jonah’s fleeing on a boat to avoid going to Nineveh unofficial fruit? Was Abraham taking a concubine unofficial fruit? Was Moses’ doubting unofficial or official fruit?

[@GeorgeDemetz]

Remember, the essays are NOT official church doctrine, and some are pretty good, but the Race and the Priesthood essay is full of false doctrine, but would be good for toilet paper if only it were softer!!

[@honder1866]

Thank you for this video. It is overall excellent, in my opinion. I am an ex-Mormon who maintains discipleship in Jesus Christ through a mainline Protestant church. You do engage here in some Evangelical apologetics. I personally have no interest in apologetics, be they Mormon, Christian, or otherwise. 🙏

[@idwtgymn]

"Almost nothing is doctrinal" (because of the requirement of all apostles sustaining doctrine) - what about the like 2000 pages or whatever of scripture?

[@Originaldoctrine]

God Loves Mormons says we don’t need prophets today proving he certainly isn’t on God’s errand; Ephesians 4:11-12.

[@DavidJJames]

Was Ephesians written today then?

[@Originaldoctrine]

@ None of the Bible was written today. But are not the writings of the apostles still relevant? If they are, where are the prophets and apostles in God Loves Mormons ministry?

[@trilithon108]

The Jehovah's Witnesses say they have 'The Truth', and no one else has The Truth. Someone somewhere must be wrong. 😮

[@DavidJJames]

The ones most likely to be right is where different denominations are able to find they have like 95% in common and therefore come together in conferences, in missions like the Gideons and open doors. This is the case with a broad band of Evangelical churches each of which is perfectly comfortable with the others. When I was first called that caused me irritation, I thought surely we should have more unity. Only later I understood how corroborative this is.

[@billc9363]

The gospels in the bible were written as late as 30 years after Jesus’ resurrection. Some books in the new testament were written as late as 70 years after Jesus’ resurrection.

[@tamicox990]

The question is- why were they lost? The church hangs on to everything- they even have the rock Joseph used to translate- losing something that cost members so much money makes no sense.

[@jaredvaughan1665]

There are 4 Gospels and 4 First Vision accounts. It does not shock me that each one relates different things that another one admits.

[@StillThinkingAboutIt]

You should get together will Bill Reel and "Radio Free Mormon" and do a video together, I would like to see that 🙂

[@roberthone9769]

I think there is a disconnect in that Egyptian characters are also representative and not phonetic, kind of like Chinese. Interestingly, our primary translation is based on the Rosetta Stone which was from about 187 BC. Abraham's writing is claimed to be at least a thousand years before that. I challenge you to read English from the time of William the Conquerer and get it's meaning correct based on your understand of English today.

[@mykljamz]

The Bible says that if a man *claims * to be a prophet… Jonah didn’t claim to be a prophet…

[@hectorruiz1944]

Professional lawyers using euphemisms to cover their lies.

[@NMLife22]

He was translating by the power of God. Ok so God lied to him about what the scroll contained.

[@matthewmiller9303]

Hmmmmm "seems that almost everybody agrees that Joseph Smith was not translating Egyptian" well no I have to point you to the prominent scholar Dan Vogel who definitely refutes that assertion with a fair bit of evidence.......

[@andrewreed4216]

Please do something on the nemenhah records. They have proven to be a great read and are sure to make the church nervous

[@paulinebenjamin613]

Brother, you have access to all of Smoot's research. You can read as well as I that those characters on Joseph's manuscript were added after the writings themselves. You know as well as I that Abrahamic documents with similar themes to the ones in Joseph's Book of Abraham have been found, and that they stray from each other the same that the different versions of Enoch stray from each other. You should just read Smoots book if you really care that much.

[@GLM]

Whether Smith worked on the characters before or after is inconclusive - but it's ultimately irrelevant. The point is that he's attaching meaning to the characters present on the little Sensen fragment. By doing this, he indicated that the source document for the Book of Abraham is in our possession today (JSP XI). THAT'S the *most* critical point (in my opinion). I haven't heard about the Abrahamic documents - you're talking ancient manuscripts of the Book of Abraham? Do you have a link to that?

[@paulinebenjamin613]

@@GLM why are you assuming Joseph did that? It could have been a number of people. I speak of the Apocalypse of Abraham. Hugh Nibley has written a great deal on other Abrahamic literature from the Near East, but I warn you, he is a Latter-day Saint.

[@paulinebenjamin613]

@GLM one of Nibley's books is "Abraham in Egypt," and it goes over what I'm talking about. Also, I would figure it's safe to assume Joseph didn't write in those characters on his manuscript because Joseph didn't really ever write anything at all ever. He hated the pen. He had a scribe keep his personal journal after his first few entries.

[@daniallemmon5453]

It looks like you’re wearing garments lol

[@GLM]

Ha - didn't think about that

[@johncunningham739]

If they had any of the materials from the Graves would make them grave robbers.

[@loum111]

If these are new, I wonder how they differ that the other essays based on almost similar gospel topics. Are you familiar with those works?

[@GLM]

The Gospel Topics Essays? Yeah - lots of crossover, especially with the BoA & First Vision...but technically a different section of their site, and different essays.

[@loum111]

@@GLM Thanks. What site are these new essays located?

[@GLM]

@@loum111 www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics?lang=eng

[@bradensorensen966]

Joseph himself said he could translate Egyptian, bro!

[@Originaldoctrine]

Why have God Loves Mormons made such a career out of criticising Mormons rather than preaching Christ? Hmmm?

[@priorityrecords1]

The way to know is the same very high standard that Jesus taught in John 7:17. I struggle to meet that standard as i move to do good in my world. Are you Christians making the big sacrifices to make our world better (as did Abraham)? That is how Jesus said to know...

[@priorityrecords1]

Cross reference John 7 17 with Moroni 10:3-5. I see similarities there. It is a wicked world that seeks for signs.

[@jimkaski4570]

M Russ Ballard vs Tim Ballard

[@Apostolinen]

1:40 and the errors start coming in... oh boy.

[@Originaldoctrine]

What biblical teaching is saying you saw God violating?

[@Dukers2300]

Joey Smith violated that 14 year old poon tang

[@michaelparks5669]

We notice that when people ask me to provide evidence this guy even deletes their requests.

[@GLM]

I have deleted no comments.

[@michaelparks5669]

@@GLM Even the notice from a person asking for evidence which I received was deleted. You are not fooling anyone.

[@charleygappmayer8496]

Regarding the First Vision narrative….From years of interviewing witnesses in criminal cases, one’s credibility would be greatly diminished if there were significantly different versions of events witnessed. If an initial statement was provided that indicates, “ I saw one person and they said hi” then another statement given cites, “I saw two people and they gave me explicit directions” I would question their credibility. Then you add versions provided by people other than the person that actually witnessed it….it becomes heresy.

[@Christopherianmatt]

Every indication we have is consistent with the theory that Joseph believed the results produced by revelation would eventually align with those of traditions translations by experts. His attempt to backform a methodology, show his work so that it might be understood by others and the absence of any effort to hide work or prevent it from being later checked, proved or disproved by experts, are consistent with this expectation and not consistent with any effort to be deceived. However - Joseph was not an expert with languages, and so whatever method was employed by ancient writers to record or encode The Book of Abraham in the materials Joseph had cannot automatically be inferred to be information known to Joseph Smith, whose translations by a spiritual gift are known to also require the use of his own faith. The exact methodology by which the power of God enables mortal mankind to obtain a revelatory translation has always been a matter of speculation, including with the Book of Mormon and the revelations of Joseph Smith, and was never published as to create a formal and official means to put this information into the public consciousness, and this could logically be for the reason that it is not useful to anyone who is not given this gift, and it is not necessary for anyone who is given this gift as God may be presumed to bestow the means to do it. Because this forms a footnote in a larger context of people taking things on faith and being tested on faith, we have no rational basis to insist that it be any other way, or justification to view the facts not conforming to our convenience or expectations as proof of some kind. What is published on the translation process in D&C 8 and 9 suggests that the ideas come to the translator, but then the translator is in a position to test if what they received is correct. (This information comes in the words of God and not any translator, so the absence of any statement regarding accompanying experiences cannot be used to infer anything). This uncertainty as much requires the faith of the translator as those who read his results and must discern it the same way, and it rather suggests that the exact methodologies by which the information was recorded are not known to the translator, who is incapable of deducing a correct translation outside of the participation of the Holy Spirit. It required that he be vulnerable, present his work on good faith, and hope his work would be vindicated at some point, and those who obtain their own confirmation by God that his translation is genuine have the expectation that it will be, if not immediately by humans with academic knowledge of languages, then later by the God who finally reveals all things and puts all such human efforts to shame. The learned will then see how it was done, realize how they were tricked because of their reliance on themselves, and they will also realize why it was necessary to place these tests before us, since the experts also had at their disposal the same access to the Holy Spirit as anyone, notwithstanding the marginal informational advantage over other human beings that their education is when compared to the knowledge and intellect of the Creator. Those who declined to accept the invitation to engage God for His help in discerning truth for themselves, who did not even wish to experiment with a means of having independence from other human beings who claim superior knowledge of things by relying on the one personality who can claim all knowledge and is known to be consistently good and selfless, will see how they let fear keep them in subjection, presumably also learning a valuable lesson. This perspective is based on observation and considers possible explanations based on what is known and what is not known leaves us in the space of ambiguity as to mortal means and still exactly where we were before with the ultimate answer subject to individual discernment, as is the right of every individual, while those who discount possibilities on criteria of their own determination and proclaim certainty merely place their own faith in a foredrawn conclusion and seek to infringe on others by asserting dominance and influence. This perspective cannot be criticized as a convenient defense specifically because this intent was forestated two millennia ago when Paul preached to a congregation of Jews and Gentiles their free access to forgiveness for sins for which the law of Moses kept them prisons to authorized officiators, when he quoted Habukuk as follows: “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ The God of this religious legacy routinely sets things up this way so that those who choose to put their faith in men will have all the evidence they need feel certainty in doing so, safe and self-assured, only to be startled and amazed when the answers are revealed, with possible resentment at their pretenses being overthrown if perishing is its result. To each his own, but nothing speaks louder to me than these facts.

[@Originaldoctrine]

Applying the test expounded in 1 John 4 proves Joseph Smith is a true prophet.

[@relaxtherapy697]

Mormon Church has estimated 100 billion in net worth. There are many attached to this faith and they are successful in continuing the faith. If it's people truly believe or enjoy the relationships and connections it doesn't really matter they will keep on growing

[@brucegillingham2793]

They are not growing that is the biggest lie being told by the church. Like China they are throwing up buildings but nobody to go inside.

[@hopeinHim5160]

It matters because it is a false gospel and false gods that cannot save them. It matters because we love them . God Loves them...the real Jesus who is being blasphemed. 💔

[@michaelparks5669]

We notice that we never get censored on channels. only on anti Mormon channels.

[@BNichols021]

@michaelparks5669 if he was really censoring you, then why would he keep allowing your comments saying that you’re being censored?

[@michaelparks5669]

@@BNichols021 because it does not contain any info that controvert this channel.

[@gregcroon6768]

Great discussion but the Gentile concept of immersion (baptism) is distorted. Immersion or mikva is something that Jews did innumerable times in their life. Christ was a Torah adherent, orthodox Jew, as was his disciples, as was Saul-Paul. In Matthew 28, Christ was telling His disciples to do what John was doing in Matthew 3 - proclaim the arrival of the Kingdom of G-d, turn away from sin (disobedience to Torah) and turn to G-d by performing the laws in Torah. This is actually the whole message throughout the entire Bible. John essentially said, if you turn to G-d, then prove it - perform one of the laws by doing a mikva (immersion). You don't need an authorized priest to officiate an immersion. You could do an immersion all by yourself. As such, Christ isn't "authorizing" his disciples in Matthew 28 to perform immersions. He's simply telling them to do what John was doing. Proclaim the message and have people perform immersions. For Gentiles,, before Acts 15, to follow Christ meant to convert to Judaism. A conversion to Judaism requires an immersion. We Gentile Christian have been purged of the Jewishness of our Savior and as such, we don't comprehend the purpose and practice of immersion.. We are under the false impression that a baptism has to be done by some authorized person and it is a one time deal. This continued misunderstanding shows that G-d wasn't speaking to Joseph Smith for if G-d and Christ were, they would have corrected this, and many other errors in Gentile Christian practice.

[@natedawg2020]

Why do you think the funerary texts were “stitched” to the same scroll as the Book of Abraham? There is no evidence or claim that those funerary texts are from the same scroll as the Book of Abraham. Those funerary texts don’t have anything to do with the Book of Abraham other than Joseph bought them from Michael Chandler. He also bought mummies from Michael Chandler which also had nothing to do with the Book of Abraham.

[@blmarcom87]

First time viewer - I really appreciate your perspective. While I appreciate your biblical references, it would seem you are a literalist when it comes to the Bible. The way you quote scripture as authoritative suggests you believe, at least when it comes to debunking or deconstructing Mormonism, that the Bible is the ultimate source of all knowledge about God, and other documents/revelation/scripture/opinions which differ from the literality of the teachings of the Bible cannot be correct. Is that accurate? If it is accurate, as a scholar of the Bible I would expect you know of the origins of what we call the Bible, and how there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of works similar in nature and origin to the books of the Bible not counted as scripture. This is despite sharing the same author, in some instances. Finally, I’d like to know your thoughts on the supernatural parts of the Bible, which cannot be explained beyond the description of “miracle”. For instance, the loaves and fishes, if literally believed, claims 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish fed multitudes of people. It defies logic that such a thing was to practically happen in such a way, but instead there was some alternate information not included that would explain what happened, such as more food was brought in. The parting of the Red Sea, Jesus literally walking on water, the movements of Jesus between venues after the resurrection (some have used derisive terms like he “teleported” between the tomb and meeting the apostles), the literal turning of a staff into a snake, and the dozens of other anecdotes that, if taken literally, would require great supernatural power not explained by the Bible itself. Again, I appreciate your perspective, but if one is to deride the Mormon church’s literality claims while appealing to the Bible as the authority of all things seems to be a juxtaposition too far. I’m not saying either is the source of truth or either is a false narrative, but I feel we have to transcend the anecdotes of men dead thousands of years who wrote down others accounts of their interactions with the Lord Jesus Christ as the only authority on what Jesus was about, and what He would want for us now. Is it Mormonism? Perhaps, in some fashion, but the Bible is a collection of books made by a conference of men hundreds of years after Jesus that blatantly discounts and ignores other contemporary, arguably more reliable accounts of the ministry.

[@BNichols021]

With reference to your claim about the absurdity of the miracles in the Bible… if God exists (as the Bible suggests), then there is absolutely nothing absurd about miracles at all.

[@nomis4136]

Contrary to the Mormon scriptures, there is a lot of evidence for the bible being God's word: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5vRqJ-anNaBbsU

[@blmarcom87]

@@BNichols021 go back and read the part about the miracles. “Absurdity” is not used. My genuine interest is in how these miracles would have taken place when they were happening. Were these allegorical stories about the amount of bread somehow multiplying hundreds of times, or did the apostles literally break bread and it reappeared as though it hadn’t been broken? I don’t believe that a literal reading of the scriptures is the only way to read the scriptures. At the time these books were written, they were written by men who wrote in the prose of the time, which was highly allegorical, not necessarily literal. To borrow from the testimony of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, sometimes spiritual events are “seen” with spiritual eyes, but not literally seen with physical eyes. Do miracles exist? Yes. Did the she bears come down out of the forest and kill 42 children because they called Elijah bald? Maybe, but it’s more likely an allegory.

[@michaelparks5669]

tell us why this guy refuses to debate LDS scholars where he cannot delete facts.

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

There is nothing surprising or new in these five essays.

[@Originaldoctrine]

The Bible is blasphemous based on God Loves Mormons reasoning. If God is from all eternity to all eternity how could there be a beginning of his way? Proverbs 8:22.

[@briandavis6898]

Prophets are not scientists.

[@sandramasoe5257]

They don’t teach about Jesus Christ

[@Originaldoctrine]

But what about the discrepancies in the New Testament about who the women saw at the tomb when they went to visit Jesus? Why are the accounts different? They can’t all be true but the Bible is supposedly inerrant. God Loves Mormons are so anti Mormon they’ll split as many hairs as they possibly can.

[@Dukers2300]

Not sure if Christ was a serial child rapist

[@spenceredford4403]

The universe created Mormons to show Christians the mechanics of how a religion is born. The way Mormonism developed in the 19th century is very similar to how Christianity developed in the 1st century.

[@nightman6349]

I always find it funny that religious people can scrutinize other religions and say "well they are clearly wrong because of this or that evidence." But once someone does the same to their fairy tales all of a sudden its "oh well you dont understand the doctrine or thats out of context." Like yeah its all dumb why defend one clearly made up set of beliefs over another?

[@Imtryingtobelikejesus-m1m]

I get that you have no desire to hear from me, a Mormon. But I will tell you this. I have listened to what Evangelicals feed me. All the criticism. If they are right, then what of it. It does not make me a better person. It does not show love to mankind. It just promotes criticism and contention, dissecting and belittling as seen in this comment section. My cousin died a couple of weeks ago. She was a Mormon. A beautiful young Mother. She died strong in her Mormon faith. She loved her Savior with all her heart! Not only that, she followed him. She spent her time in service of her fellow man. She loved everyone. She read the scriptures- Book of Mormon and Bible. I want to be like my cousin, firm in my faith, forever trying to follow the example of the Savior. I do not want to be like the critics on this channel and in this comment section. They are digging their own graves. I see their eternity of criticism and dissection, and I see emptiness and damnation (the inability to move forward). I feel for you Evangelicals. I truly do.

[@Qwertyabcdefghijk]

My family has a long LDS lineage. This gives me an advantage of contrasting evangelicalism and the LDS church. I think the outcome evangelicals would desire (not the ones offended by a challenge of their identity and we apologize on their behalf) is for you to see that the LDS church has a works based gospel and by adding to the gospel you take away from it. Then hopefully get into a personal relationship with Jesus, a friend and savior It’s hard to communicate as an LDS member and evangelicals say similar things, but with different meanings I’d consider reading the New Testament with no preconceived notions like a child and see what you find

[@Imtryingtobelikejesus-m1m]

​@@QwertyabcdefghijkBut I do have a personal relationship with my lord and Savior as an LDS member. Do you believe my Cousin is saved?

[@Qwertyabcdefghijk]

@@Imtryingtobelikejesus-m1m God will know who is saved by his grace and I hope your cousin is in heaven now. I believe judgment is for God, so I leave it to God. My job is to love God with all my heart and love my neighbor as myself I’m trying to articulate where the heart of these videos are coming from Galatians 5 4 says “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” The interpretation from the New Testament (key word interpretation as you’d interpret the New Testament differently I’d guess), is there’s risk to adding to the gospel in falling from grace and there’s a belief the LDS church does add to the gospel. So, from their perspective, it’s the obligation for evangelicals to attempt to correct in order to connect you with the “true Jesus” If they’re right, they’re doing a good thing. If they’re wrong, it’s moot. Similar to how I’d guess you believe “creedal Christianity” is missing out. There’s just a difference in view of consequences when someone gets it wrong I’m not going to sugar coat evangelicals who go about this in the wrong way and think they’re better and that’s wrong. Every church (Catholic, Protestant, LDS, etc) has its short comings (which is why we try to point to Jesus not a church) and so does every person I think RC sproul said it best when he said “we’re just beggars letting other beggars know where to get bread”

[@Imtryingtobelikejesus-m1m]

​@@Qwertyabcdefghijkmy comment got deleted but I just want you to know that GLM has damaged my life. When I try to believe like an Evangelical, I am devastated. Because they believe that most of mankind are not saved. Who cares if I am saved, when most people go to an awful Hell for having incorrect theology? Why would one worship such a God? I just dont understand.

[@Qwertyabcdefghijk]

@@Imtryingtobelikejesus-m1m the big question is what’s true over what’s believed Someone’s opinion of God doesn’t change who God is. We are not His judge Revelation says we will praise His judgement; we probably don’t understand it yet In the Bible, God is gracious to people and slow to anger. He seems to punish countries when they get to the point of child sacrifice Ultimately, we believe we all fall short and deserve separation based on God’s justice. It would be unjust to not punish sin. But, we don’t have to pay that price. How many people are not saved is tough to know. God is good and He indicates it, but Jesus does seem to indicate via narrow and wide ways that more will not choose salvation than will. A prayer to consider would be to ask God to show you who he is, preconceptions aside, and let you see His goodness in His plan Happy to talk about it if helpful Sorry that you have experienced devastation and damage

[@michaelparks5669]

STOP DELETING LDS RESPONSES IT IS NOT HONEST.

[@a.ihistory5879]

Your entire religion is dishonest lol

[@GLM]

I've not deleted any responses

[@BNichols021]

KZbin often doesn’t retain the mobile comments. It’s happened to me several times.

[@michaelparks5669]

@@BNichols021 My comments are not mobile. THIS GUY DELETES COMMENTS ON EVERY ONE OF HIS CHANNELS TO HIDE THE TRUTH.

[@BNichols021]

@@michaelparks5669I don’t think so. Not sure why he would delete my comments as they usually agree with his position.

[@DannyAGray]

You put A LOT of modernist claims on what you THINK critics should have said or done. Your assessments don't mean anything at all.

[@RASECROD]

I’ll break them all down in one word “Bullshit” 😂