Ray Street Church
What is the reason the LDS church does not refer to itself as the "Mormon" church anymore? Is this part of a re-branding campaign?
Ray Farmer
Almost fro the very beginning of the LDS Church, the Book of Mormon was set aside. Joseph Smith rarely quoted from it. When it was used by early church leaders, it was used to teach about the gathering of Israel. Therefore, as the years passed, doctrine was developed apart from the plain and precious parts provided in the Book of Mormon. Finally, it can be clearly seen that the Book of Mormon contradicts the developed/developing teachings of the Living Oracles.
What is to be done?
The best thing to do is to distance itself from the Book of Mormon. Abandoning the heretofore acceptable distinction is one of the steps.
This is a divine development! One can only wonder how many people refused to read the Book of Mormon because they were under the misconception that the “unique” LDS teachings are derived from the Book of Mormon! It is my hope that the LDSaints will be successful in disassociating itself from the Book of Mormon making the Book of Mormon more inviting to the world which badly needs it.
Russell McGregor
The best thing to do is to distance itself from the Book of Mormon. Abandoning the heretofore acceptable distinction is one of the steps.
I think your mind-reading is faulty, Ray.
Ray Farmer
Alma 12:7 ...he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy.
Knuckleheads in Ammonihah Alma 21:6 How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts?
Russell McGregor
But Ray, you’re simply highlighting the fact that Alma did know their thoughts; you are merely attributing motives without evidence.
Or should I say — contrary to the evidence.
Because the Church continues to emphasise The Book of Mormon. And encourages people, including or especially members and investigators, to study it.
Ray Farmer
The church has to cling to the Book of Mormon despite the conflict between its doctrines and the Doctrine of the Book of Mormon. We see one of the biggest bait and switches in religious history.
Ray Street Congregational Church
Suppose someone from the Ray Street Congregational Church decides to do some missionary work in the neighbor hood. Seeing the successful use the LDSaints have had with the Book of Mormon in missionary work, they adopt the strategy. They buy a bunch of New Testaments and head for the streets. Their goal is to get people to read the four gospels and then pray for God to tell them the gospels are true. Sincere seekers will do so and, of course, they will conclude that the Bible is true. The congregationalists now tell the seeker that this is proof that their church is true. “God has told you directly that this is the case. You need to come down to Ray Street and get involved, baptized (sprinkled) and pay tithing”. To the seeker this seems to make sense and so they join up.
Be it unknown that the Ray Street Church ignores the actual teachings of the Book. They may refer to it, but it is always backwards. That is, their “inspired” pastor comes up with woke doctrine and then scours the Bible to find something, anything, that will back up the inspired doctrine. The pastor is inspired that Jesus was gay, for example. Now they must find something that the book says that proves the point. It doesn’t matter how irrelevant the verse. If they can’t find any such verse, they will claim that some evil entity removed it from the Bible or, if the Bible were translated correctly, the teaching would be plain. Low and behold! They find that Jesus compares himself to a hen (gathering chicks under the wing). See! He was identifying as a female, not the rooster! The seeker bobs his head. If the Bible is true than the Ray Street Church is true. If the church is true, than the pastor is inspired.
Of course you see that this is illogical. Just because the Bible is true does not mean Ray Street Congregational Church is true. They pulled a devious bait and switch. Ray Street Congregational never teach out of the Bible. They like their woke doctrines. But they found that the use of the Bible in their outreach that, despite ignoring what it says, they simply have to, must, hang on to it and pretend they believe it.
And so the Ray Street Church experiences great success.
This explains why the LDSaints carry (hardly emphasize) the Book of Mormon. They do the Ray Street Church bait and switch. Of course the Holy Ghost will testify of the truth of the Book of Mormon, because it is true. This does not, however mean that the Church that claims it is true.
Read this carefully:
2 Nephi 27:12 ....three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.
When it says “the book and the things therein”, is that being redundant? Or can someone believe that the Book is true and not believe that things written in it. Yes they can. The LDSaints believe the Book is true, but reject the clear teaching written therein.
Look closely at the famous Moroni’s Promise.
Moroni 10:1. Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good;...
2. ....I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.
3. Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men....ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
One shouldn’t ask if the Book of Mormon is true. One must read the doctrine and teachings therein and ponder them and ask if those doctrines “these things” are true. That is the whole meaning of “the book and the things therein”.
Why is it that missionaries don’t encourage seekers to read the latest Conference issue and pray if those talks are true and meant for people today? Because the Holy Ghost cries in a loud voice that the Book of Mormon is true and not so much discourses that are so cliche and shallow that the Holy Ghost would not so testify. The LDSaint leadership knows this.
If the LDSaints thought they could dump that troubling Book of Mormon, I am convinced they would. They basically have dumped it in a real sense already.
It is all part of the plan that ends in the gathering of Israel. You’ll see.