Thursday, January 31, 2008

 

President Gordon B. Hinckley

The passing of a great man -- the anticipation of his worthy successor:

The appointment of a new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints happens in an orderly way that — remarkably in today’s world — avoids any trace of internal lobbying for position or rank. Viewed by members as a divinely revealed process, it is devoid of electioneering whether behind the scenes or in public.
http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/080128presidenthinckleypassesaway4.html

Monday, January 07, 2008

 

Problems in those "mormon" scriptures

www.mormanity.blogspot.com has this, and more -- allegedly from mormoncult.com -- comparing excepts from the mormon scriptures with mainstream beliefs:

Mormonism vs. Acceptable Christianity:
Mormon Confusion about the Nature of God
Teachings from LDS Scriptures
Like Joseph Smith, witnesses in the Mormon scriptures claim to have seen God and Christ as two separate beings: "But he . . . looked up steadfastly unto heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." 1

Mainstream Christian Belief
True Christians know that God and Christ are one (John 10:30), namely one spiritual, indivisible Being of one substance without a visible body and certainly without a "right hand." And no man can see God (John 6:46), so the Mormon scripture is clearly false.


All of the comparisons are as good as this one. I have deliberately left out the footnote -- if you know your "mormon" scriptures, you don't need the reference.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

 

Amalickiah Studied His Joab

As I continue to study history and to study the scriptures, I find many happenings in the Book of Mormon that are mirrored in other scripture, or in historical events. This is the most recent of such:

It seems that Amalickiah also knew his history and recognized tactic likely to bring success. Joab had previously used in the trick the service of his king (actually killing the guy that took his old job), Amalickiah used it as part of his plan to become king. The comparison is interesting

2 Samuel 20:8-11
8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

Alma 47:22-27
22 But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness.

23 And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.

24 And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.

25 Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:

26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see.

27 And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain.

Of course, it's entirely possible that Amalickiah had no knowledge of Joab's leger de main, but Joab could have been the inspiration.

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