Friday, June 16, 2006
Mormons on Wednesdays
So I said yesterday morning and eventually posted yesterday afternoon that I would have more to say about Wednesday night's visitors. Then I completely lost of track of time last night between work and the start of our college group and didn't get a chance to post or look for carpet and I almost didn't call Daddy. A couple of "elders" came by last Friday wanting to talk about what Jesus is doing today. As I was watching a movie and about to call my parents I told them it wasn't a good time. They said that was fine and asked if there would be a better time. I told them Wednesday night at 6. They said that was good. So on Wednesday I made sure to get to work a little earlier so I could leave in time to meet them. My 20 min. drive home took 50. They were at the door when I drove up. So I let them in and they told me about the restoration. It appears that after the apostles all the churches turned away from the true faith so God decided to bide his time until everything was copacetic and restore the true faith through Joseph Smith. They challenged me to study things for myself and to ask for wisdom to discern the truth. He will show me whether Joseph Smith is a genuine prophet or not. I asked a few questions but didn't press things very hard. I am intrigued that the elders' arguments for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon based on how a mere man of Joseph Smith's time and station in life could not have produced something like that and how it has stood the test of time sound so similar to Muslim arguements for the truth of the Quran. Eventually they had to leave as they had an appointment with someone else and they asked if they could come back sometime. I've got a lot going on in the next couple of weeks so I suggested Wednesday the 28th. We'll see. In the meantime I've read the pamphlet they left me and I've checked out a copy of the Book of Mormon from my library along with a couple of books about Mormonism by evangelical scholars. I don't initially find their assertions about church history convincing nor the history suggested by the Book of Mormon plausible but I would like to no more. It is one of those times when it would be handy to be Catholic because then we could have a magisterial arm wrestling match, my pope and tradition against their prophet and contemporary council of apostles. Oh well. Instead I've got to rely on the revealed word of God and His Holy Spirit.
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18 comments:
An arm wrestling match would be so unfair, though, as the Pope is usually pretty long in the tooth. And I don't see why they call themselves "elders" when most of the time, they're younger than me! But that's just my opinion, and I'll hush up now.
At least if Everett were Catholic, he could get one of those boxing nun puppets to bring in for back up in case his arm gets tired.
I mentioned in a previous comment that there's a large Mormon population in AZ and that I know a few. The origin of Mormonism is fascinating, almost more so than $cientology. The LDS acknowledges that Joseph Smith was a washed up con man who happened to find the golden tablets of Moroni of his farm, but the basis of their belief that he was a prophet is founded on the idea that the tablets are too intricate to fake. Then you have the renouncement of polygamy for purely political purposes (so Utah could gain statehood) and the offshoot of the FLDS, which still practices polygamy, mainly with underage girls, and is thriving in Arizona. The amount of tax, welfare, and education fraud the Colorado City, AZ, FLDS has committed against the State of Arizona is calculated to a level rarely seen from any organized mass, and the state legislature, filled with ancestors from the original Mormon AZ founders, is reluctant to take action. It's a fascinating subject.
I have quite a few good Web sources on the FLDS and Mormonism. If you're interested, send me an email. After I faint from shock, I'll send you some links about the FLDS from a three-year investigation by Phoenix New Times, including information on the schism in 1890.
If you have Mormons on Wednesdays, does that mean you have Catholics on Fridays? And what will you eat the rest of the week? LOL Couldn't resist!
I'm so proud - he posted three days in a row!
brother, that's interesting that they encouraged you to pray and see if the joseph smith is valid. (but i still like to call him john.) one of my friends who befriended the mormons was encouraged to do the same thing, and they were really suprised when she told them she got nothin. they said they had never heard of that happening before. so, if you do it, you can add another mark to our side. you can give a valid testimony.
also, here's a tip i once learned: pretty sure mormons proselitize in king james, so you might want to freshen up on that. some little mini courses i took on mormonism suggested that its teh only version they consider the true word of God. (you know, plus the extra book)
I thought you read the book of mormon when you were a teenager. i know you had one. did we get rid of that together? anyway, are you just trying to refresh your memory? (i didn't know yours worked like that. i thought it had a continuous flow.)
i'm looking forwards to Wednesdays With Bubby. i think it'd make a good sequel to that other book.
Am I the only one who has noticed that we have been posting such silly, random comments that Everett doesn't even bother replying to most of them? Poor Everett, surrounded by silly, silly (but absolutely FABULOUS) women! LOL
I hope you notice that some of these women seem to know what they are talking about! I'm pretty sure you had a book of Mormon at home. I used to think that was the one that gave you the heeby-jeebies when you were working at Mammoth Cave, but I believe you told me it was something else. If the hj's strike again, take that book back to the library. Love you.
The summer before I first left for college, I saw a commercial for the Book of Mormon on TV, called the number, and ordered it. I read some of it, but not all, and I have no idea where it is now.
Mom didn't know I did it, but after I left, she got very upset with me. Seems the Mormons were coming by every few weeks looking for me, wanting to know if I'd read the book and what I thought. Finally, she gave them my phone number at the dorm.
I guess riding their bicycles to Sadieville was one thing, but all the way to Tennessee was another. Apparently, they passed my information to a Mormon group in Greeneville, and I began to get calls and visits to my dorm! It's a good thing I was involved in theatre productions and working at Hardee's at the time; eventually, they tired of never finding me at my dorm and stopped coming (I found this out from my RA).
Poor, poor Mormons. I'm sure they were disappointed that they never found me.
Wow! Tenacious bunch, aren't they?
Pasta, rice, or pizza
Strictly speaking it was four days in a row.
I had a Book of Mormon at home. Presumably it's in a box in the basement somewhere. I never actually read it. I decided I wanted to read the whole Bible first. That took a while and by the time I acheived it I had moved on and didn't feel a great need to explore Mormonism. Now it's become a little more pressing. I think the book I read at Mammoth Cave was a Watchtower book. I forget which one. My memory needs refreshing just like any other memory if perhaps less often.
bntzit is an interesting image for verification.
Unless mom and dad never mentioned it I don't think the Mormons that visited with John Paul and I, who gave me my book of Mormon, ever came back after their second visit.
I don't blame them. After meeting John Paul, I wasn't eager for a second visit. :D
Listen here, there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with JP, except that he had the stupidity to have his TONGUE pierced. Otherwise, he was an ok kid.
"Pasta, rice or pizza"? Man, I thought you would round out the week with some other denominations. Darn! Of course, I'm thinking the Jehova's Witnesses could cause some serious indigestion, so maybe it's best you left them out of it.
(Actually, come to think of it, I think serious indigestion would be caused by eating ANY people. It isn't in the history books, but the remaining members of the Donner party all died from some major GERD!)
Oh, and sorry I miscounted!
Ah, the Omnivore's Dilemna. We could eat people, but eventually, that would kill us. SO instead, we eat a lot of corn.
I'm still trying to figure out how one bends a zit--trying to open the trunk with it?
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