LDS questions

Hey all, I'm new here, so go easy on the rookie

I have a TON of LDS friends and sometimes it's really difficult for us to understand one another's beliefs. One of my friends came to church with me today and right before we pulled into the parking lot, he said he had some questions to ask me afterwards. On our way home he asked me some questions that I KNOW I have gone over before (one, I haven't) but I wasn't truly prepared to answer. I told him that I would talk to my dad, get answers, etc.

Here are the questions, basically:

Why does God have rules if ‘good works’ don’t ‘count’ when considering salvation?

Are good works all for naught? (He asked me this saying, "So on judgment day, God won't look at anything I've done? ...this was after I said we are saved by grace ALONE)

If no sin is greater than another, why was Moses commanded, by the Lord, to stone the two adulterers?



Now, that last one caught me off guard- to be perfectly honest, I hadn't read over that and if I have, I've forgotten. I'm not even sure what book it is in. My guess (TOTAL guess) is that it has to do with the old law before Jesus came to die for our sins.



*sigh*
I have a heart for my LDS friends- my heart breaks for them. If you have answers to these questions or anything that would help- PLEASE write back ASAP. And please pray for my friends- they mean the world to me.

[greatkraw]

Ask them if they are wearing 'the garment' they are supposed to wear it all the time - I just wanna know if this stops them going surfing

ask them if there is a disproportianate number of mormons in the cia and fbi

ask them since they have the worlds biggest archeology depatment, if they have found ANY evidence of king noah and the other stuff in sth america

ask them what planet god lives on - they may not know depending on how junior they are - but the answer is colob

ask them how many wives god has

just ask the strategists here.....
when you are in a conflict never let your opponent choose the terrain
go on the attack;that is what Jesus did with the pharisees

He who asks the questions sets the agenda

ask them if they went into the mormon temple and had to stay there until they had a mystical experience

What is LDS?

[EnochxGenesis]

I'll be honest I read it "LSD" and i was intrigued, LDS is "ladder day saints" right?

Originally Posted by chickadee17

Hey all, I'm new here, so go easy on the rookie

I have a TON of LDS friends and sometimes it's really difficult for us to understand one another's beliefs. One of my friends came to church with me today and right before we pulled into the parking lot, he said he had some questions to ask me afterwards. On our way home he asked me some questions that I KNOW I have gone over before (one, I haven't) but I wasn't truly prepared to answer. I told him that I would talk to my dad, get answers, etc.

Here are the questions, basically:

Why does God have rules if ‘good works’ don’t ‘count’ when considering salvation?

Are good works all for naught? (He asked me this saying, "So on judgment day, God won't look at anything I've done? ...this was after I said we are saved by grace ALONE)

If no sin is greater than another, why was Moses commanded, by the Lord, to stone the two adulterers?



Now, that last one caught me off guard- to be perfectly honest, I hadn't read over that and if I have, I've forgotten. I'm not even sure what book it is in. My guess (TOTAL guess) is that it has to do with the old law before Jesus came to die for our sins.



*sigh*
I have a heart for my LDS friends- my heart breaks for them. If you have answers to these questions or anything that would help- PLEASE write back ASAP. And please pray for my friends- they mean the world to me.

Regarding works, we do not work toward salvation, we work from an attitude of being true adopted children of God. What we do flows from what we are and what we are becoming. And there are rewards, though I think that what they are is difficult to comprehend. Sin has two effects--first is separation from God. All sin without grace brings separation. Then there is the effect on the soul of the sinner. In that regard there appears to be some sin with more effect than others, things that are an abomination to God.

I totally thought it was LSD, too...I don't know anything about latter day saints, though.

[greatkraw]

Originally Posted by EnochxGenesis

I'll be honest I read it "LSD" and i was intrigued, LDS is "ladder day saints" right?

"Good day sir, we are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and we would like to come in and pray with the head of the house."

When hanging around these people remember......
2 John 10If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed;

[MahogonySnail]

Now that we've established that LDS is not a disease...

Oh my goodness, haha, yeah LDS not LSD.

Latter Day Saints, also known as Mormons

I often think that to argue theology and doctrine with someone unless you are WELL grounded in the theology and doctrine of the Bible yourself is often folly. I think to many times the devil will pick at any little theological tactic that you can not explain and it will grate at you because you can not explain it or do not understand it. I prefer to leave theological discussions to those much better educated in the faith then I am.

I prefer to listen and pray. If that makes me a servant or the follower, I am fine with that. I am smart enough to know that if someone needs biblical help, its best to listen and pray for them and then send them to someone who can help them. That goes for Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jewish believers, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and unbelievers. If I do not absolutely for sure know the answer and can back it up with scripture, then I listen and pray. Just listen and pray and point to the Bible and a good minister.

Debbie

But if we always do that then we never get the experience of giving someone answers. It helps us find out more of what we believe and gives us an opportunity to witness to our friends personally. Now, I'm not saying we can't have our friends talk with other believers we know and trust, certainly not! If they're willing to do that, then that's absolutely wonderful. But I believe that our non-Christian friends with questions should feel comfortable coming to us and knowing that they'll be able to talk to US about it.

Debbie, I believe you are absolutely right that we should listen and pray- 100%. But that should go hand in hand with finding answers. It helps us grow and it helps our friends have a better understanding of what we believe! If WE don't have the answers, then we can go to someone we trust and ask for their help in finding them, and, once we have them, be the medium between that person we trust and the friend asking the questions.

Hopefully that made sense...it's getting late

God bless you all for your input. Thank you <3

[kittykatt]

Originally Posted by EnochxGenesis

I'll be honest I read it "LSD" and i was intrigued, LDS is "ladder day saints" right?

Haha, I read it that way too. It's the reason I clicked on this thread.

Speaking of LSD, everyone should type "acid trip 1" into Google and go to the first result. It makes me laugh every time.

[Kakashi]

I found out I have family on my moms side that are Mormon, so I've studied up on it a bit. theres nothing wrong with discussing things of these sorts, so le'ts use the bible since it's supposed to be the initial reference point for those who claim it to be the main reference of their life. ( Even though the Mormon bible is a bit...changed, but anyway...)


To answer the 1st one, it's simple. We are saved by grace through our faith in that grace and that grace was not of our own doings. I'm sure you told them that. However After we have archived that grace we have to think about a couple of things. When we are saved, we've realised by that point that we are sinful creatures that need saving and when we are saved, there should be immense gratitude and love associated with that. "Works" in this case isn't what saved us, but it IS a by product of being saved. That's why James chapter 2 talks about how they are insuperable, " faith without works is dead' because if no works follow, then you msut not really have faith in what saved you. There was no real change of action that fits a changed mind.

Let's also look at Ephesians 2:8-10 "for by grace you are saved through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is God's gift- not from works, so that no one can boast, For we are His creation- created in Christ Jesus FOR good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them."

Mormons think 'for we know that it is by grace that we have been saved, after all we do" 2 Nephi 25:23 ( Mormon book) Stressed on "after all we do" Let your friend know that there is absolutely nothing we can do by our own strength to be saved, but rather our mindset must change first and from that stems action fueled by grace, not action to gain grace.

2nd question. Good works are merely a means to an end. it's less about focusing on the works and focusing on God's love, from which our sense of gratitude and love comes from that results in works. God sees us working, but we only work through him so there is no boasting. We gladly accept this because we were dead in our transgressions before he came along and saved us. So what's the point of focusing on whether or not God will " give us the credit" for our works? the important thing is to love and appreciate Him!


3rd question. This might seem like a write off, but yes all sins are considered the same in the way that each is just another transgression. each sin is just another thing that " misses the mark" HOWEVER, each sin does has different consequences. It' like breaking the law in the states. When you break the law, you've broken the law, period, but the consequences for each vary in severity because ' what you sow, so shall you reap."


I know what it's like to have friends like that, and I pray that they see the truth! I hope this helps.

[MaggieMye]

Why does God have rules if ‘good works’ don’t ‘count’ when considering salvation?
Obedience is not the 'good works' that that term refers to. Our heart's condition is revealed to those around us by our obedience to His written word...or lack thereof. "Good works" would be the doing of good/nice things to and for those around us, but has little, if anything to do with His written word. Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead...meaning that if your faith does not promote good works...if you are not doing good works BECAUSE of your faith and you're wanting to emulate the love of Christ towards others...then your faith is dead; You do not truly believe and are not a follower of Christ. (James 2) Verse 18 says our faith is shown BY our works. Our faith 'fuels' our works. But works alone, without faith....will not get one to heaven. Neither will any type or amount of faith that does not produce works.
Are good works all for naught? (He asked me this saying, "So on judgment day, God won't look at anything I've done? ...this was after I said we are saved by grace ALONE) He looks at the heart. He looks at what you have done for the kingdom of Heaven....obedience-wise. Have you been a 'do-er' of His word?
If no sin is greater than another, why was Moses commanded, by the Lord, to stone the two adulterers? Because sexual sin defiles more than just the tow people involved. It defiles families and brings disease...AND it breaks the marriage covenant...and God is VERY into keep covenants.
Maggie

[wattie]

good works.. no bearing on salvation.. but build a closer relationship with Jesus in your relationship to him and build rewards in heaven.

(1Co 3:12-15) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

(Rev 22:12-14) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.


(John 14:2-3) 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.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

So.. we serve Jesus our whole lives.. we gain rewards in heaven.. we don't.. we lose out on rewards .. miss out on what we could have by loving Jesus.. but our salvation remains, because that is a commitment by Jesus and His faithfulness keeps our salvation.

Originally Posted by MaggieMye

Why does God have rules if ‘good works’ don’t ‘count’ when considering salvation?
Obedience is not the 'good works' that that term refers to. Our heart's condition is revealed to those around us by our obedience to His written word...or lack thereof. "Good works" would be the doing of good/nice things to and for those around us, but has little, if anything to do with His written word. Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead...meaning that if your faith does not promote good works...if you are not doing good works BECAUSE of your faith and you're wanting to emulate the love of Christ towards others...then your faith is dead; You do not truly believe and are not a follower of Christ. (James 2) Verse 18 says our faith is shown BY our works. Our faith 'fuels' our works. But works alone, without faith....will not get one to heaven. Neither will any type or amount of faith that does not produce works.
Are good works all for naught? (He asked me this saying, "So on judgment day, God won't look at anything I've done? ...this was after I said we are saved by grace ALONE) He looks at the heart. He looks at what you have done for the kingdom of Heaven....obedience-wise. Have you been a 'do-er' of His word?
If no sin is greater than another, why was Moses commanded, by the Lord, to stone the two adulterers? Because sexual sin defiles more than just the tow people involved. It defiles families and brings disease...AND it breaks the marriage covenant...and God is VERY into keep covenants.
Maggie

For we are His workmanship, created in christ Jesus for good works which He has ordained beforehand that we should walk in them." His workmanship in us produces the good works.

[greatkraw]

Originally Posted by charisenexcelcis

For we are His workmanship, created in christ Jesus for good works which He has ordained beforehand that we should walk in them." His workmanship in us produces the good works.

Their strategy is to focus on the similarities. Once they have you you get introduced to the diabolical stuff.

Their statistics show that for every 1000 doors you knock on you get 1 baptism. Their idea of success.

Most of their converts come from nominal christians or practicing churchgoers.

They do not evangelise the lost.(tribes etc)

They prefer affluent people.

[superdave5221]

Originally Posted by chickadee17

Hey all, I'm new here, so go easy on the rookie

I have a TON of LDS friends and sometimes it's really difficult for us to understand one another's beliefs. One of my friends came to church with me today and right before we pulled into the parking lot, he said he had some questions to ask me afterwards. On our way home he asked me some questions that I KNOW I have gone over before (one, I haven't) but I wasn't truly prepared to answer. I told him that I would talk to my dad, get answers, etc.

Here are the questions, basically:

Why does God have rules if ‘good works’ don’t ‘count’ when considering salvation?

Are good works all for naught? (He asked me this saying, "So on judgment day, God won't look at anything I've done? ...this was after I said we are saved by grace ALONE)

If no sin is greater than another, why was Moses commanded, by the Lord, to stone the two adulterers?



Now, that last one caught me off guard- to be perfectly honest, I hadn't read over that and if I have, I've forgotten. I'm not even sure what book it is in. My guess (TOTAL guess) is that it has to do with the old law before Jesus came to die for our sins.



*sigh*
I have a heart for my LDS friends- my heart breaks for them. If you have answers to these questions or anything that would help- PLEASE write back ASAP. And please pray for my friends- they mean the world to me.

Hey Chickadee, most Mormons are unaware of some of the most grevious errors that are in the LDS religion. This is because they aren't found in the Book of Mormon, which is what they always give new converts to read from. Here is one example:

: "There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it . . . " (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, page 247; see also, Vol. 4, pp. 53-54, 219-220.)

This is clearly not what the Bible says. Mormons are not encouraged to ask questions, they are to believe what the Mormon prophets tell them. The Mormon prophets are believed to be inspired and cannot error. The missionaries will tell you their history, and how they were mistreated in Missouri and elsewhere, but what they don't tell you is why. They were anti-Christian in their actions and words.

Christianity is of Satan: "Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its [Christianity] pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (John Taylor, 3rd Prophet/President, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, page 167).




The also elevate Joseph Smith above Jesus.


"...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 289).

As you can see, this is a very dangerous religion! But God still loves the individual members of the church and we should try to help them and not turn our backs on them. I think that many members of the church who are truly seeking God might listen if confronted with many of he more grevious errors in doctrine.

Here is a couple more goodies:


The earth was born from parent earths: "Does the earth conceive? It does and it brings froth. If it did not, why do you go and put your wheat into the ground? Does it not conceive it?.... Where did the earth come from? From its parent earths. Well, some of you may call that foolish philosophy. But if it is, I will throw out foolish things that you may gather up wise things. The earth is alive. If it was not, it could not produce." (Heber C Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, page 36).




There are men living on the moon: Joseph Smith said that there are men living on the moon who dress like Quakers and live to be nearly 1000 years old. (The Young Woman's Journal, Vol. 3, pages 263-264.)




"As a result of his rebellion, Cain was cursed with a dark skin; he became the father of the Negroes, and those spirits who are not worthy to receive the priesthood are born through his lineage." (Mormon Doctrine, 1958, page 102.)



The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father. (Orson Pratt, The Seer, page 158, 1853.)

Sorry, it's taken me so long to get back to you guys. Again, thank you so much! Truly appreciate it.

Please keep praying for my friends as I do!