AboutDavid Gross Expertise If you are truly seeking answers or information I will do my best to answer questions related to any aspect of the LDS Church.
Experience I have been a member of the church for 27+ years after being raised as a not very active Reform Jew.
Question QUESTION: Do you believe that Jesus was GOD as the Bible teaches? I thought that Mormonism teaches that Jesus was the son of GOD, but you don't rely on him alone for salvation. Can you explain?
ANSWER: I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was the Son of God.
Acts 7 55-56 reads:
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
I believe that Stephen actually saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God and that they are 2 separate beings.
I believe that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.
The following quote is from the Book of Mormon. Mosiah 3:17
And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
I also believe that there is more than one "salvation."
John 14:2 reads:
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
The "place" that we go is determined by our faith, works and obedience to God.
I started my religious life as a Jew and had no interest in Christianity. Once I became interested in Christianity and specifically the Mormon Church I could not understand how other Christians accept all the doctrine that is presently taught in the various denominations.
For example, if Jesus is God, how could he be on the right hand of himself?
When Jesus was baptized, was he talking to himself? Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Write again if you have any more questions.
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QUESTION: So by your own admission, you believe in "works" salvation, which is anti-christian because Jesus taught that he was the ONLY way to heaven. Not by works or deeds do we obtain salvation. If you don't believe in Jesus's divinity, you cannot be a "Christian". Why is it that you identify yourself as a "christian"?
You pose the question, "if Jesus is God, how could he be on the right hand of himself?". Well H2O is water, ice and vapor and they can all exist at the same time, all having three distinct characteristics. That's why you can see ice inside of a glass of water. Even though they are the same thing (H20), they can be seen separately.
John 1:1 says "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" and John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
These are only two reference to Jesus's divinity and the bible is full of references to Jesus's divinity, so I don't understand how you Mormons have attempted to identify yourselves as Christians, when you don't believe the very thing that separates us Christians from all other religions, that is Jesus's divinity and faith in him alone for salvation.
ANSWER: I believe that you want to argue rather than ask a question and receive an answer. Most of what you wrote does not respond to my reply to your question. There are many scriptures that support both your doctrine/interpretation and also mine. The water example is interesting but I still see the ice, liquid and water vapor as three separate entities. A water molecule is only one of then at any given time. However, I will not argue any of your points. I believe that each person has the agency to live their life as they think they should and that exercising this agency is one of the primary purposes of our life on earth.
There is no empirical test for religion. I have read the Book of Mormon, sincerely wanting to know if it is the Word of God, prayed about it and received an undeniable spiritual witness that it is. Have you put the Book of Mormon to the test?
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QUESTION: "There is no empirical test for religion. I have read the Book of Mormon, sincerely wanting to know if it is the Word of God, prayed about it and received an undeniable spiritual witness that it is. Have you put the Book of Mormon to the test?"
To answer your question, I have read the book of Mormon; and taught that it is NOT the word of God. It is simply a book written by a man who supposedly "interpreted" what was written on gold tablets that nobody actually saw! It follows closely with a book that was published a few years before it was written entitled "View of the Hebrews". There are many other reasons to believe that the book of mormon is not the true word of God. I encourage you to do some reasearch and pray. The bible is the ONLY inspired word of God and belief in Jesus as Emmanuel "God with us" is the only way to heaven and everlasting life. I do not wish to argue with you; I only wanted to know why it is that mormons are now claiming to be Christians when in fact you do not believe the foundation of what it means to be a Christian. Why don't you just call yourselves Mormons and let it be that?
Answer You must have skipped the page at the very beginning of the book that has "The Testimony of Three Witnesses" and "The Testimony of Eight Witnesses." It is the page after the introduction. I will quote it:
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris
THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
Christian Whitmer
Jacob Whitmer
Peter Whitmer, Jun
John Whitmer
Hiram Page
Joseph Smith, Sen
Hyrum Smith
Samuel H. Smith
I already quoted one verse from the Book of Mormon about salvation only coming through Christ. There are many others.
Specifically, to answer your question. We have called ourselves Christians from the start. Hence, the name of our church from the beginning has been The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ therefore we are are Christians even if we disagree on the nature of Christ. We do not claim that others are not Christians nor do we attack other churches or groups but for some reason, others do that to us and our Church.
By the way, have you studied how your view of the Godhead came to be, how the Nicene Creed came about and the history of the Christian Church in the period from about 100 AD to about 400-500 AD?
Also, Do you ever think about the need for priesthood authority or a prophet like in the Bible?
