Are there any more blog stories by Sahar or others in Turkey? I realize it has been a while.
Do Latter-day Saints believe we are saved by faith or works? Is this the contemporary LDS Church answer? Because it dwarfs the power of Christ’s atonement and robs the promise of glorification freely given. Does Geoff over here, speaking of “Amazing Grace,” differ with this answer? Speaking of Geoff, I need to catch up with this guy.
As Christopher Bigelow writes on Mormon supernaturalism and Harry Potter, I am wondering how many others find much of LDS corporate hollow? But maybe some don’t want to dig too far into the historical detail of the 19th century.
Shouldn’t Africa start sending more missionaries to American Zion? ProvoPulse.com can’t stand the get rich schemes in Utah. But maybe American prosperity is in danger of corrupting Africa. See the front cover of Christianity Today (July 2007).
Blake Ostler’s social trinitarianism – I have never read this before. Are there any other links along this same line?
The Misfit Mormon community shares about note taking with LDS speakers. Hmmm. I wonder what my notebook would say If I were to go with the author to his church this past Sunday?
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
re: Misfit Mormons
Your notebook would likely be filled with games of tic-tac-toe and dots. Mine always was.
Curious. What do you see in this community?
re: Faith vs. Works
While I feel the LDS church would have the world and their people believe that they advocate and teach the concept of grace as much as any other Christian religion… it simply isn’t so. One only need to spend a day in an LDS church house to realize works usurp grace quite easily, and that faith is merely another form of works.
Bruce McConkie in Mormon Doctrine, p. 408:
What then is the law of justification? It is simply this: ‘All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations (132:7), in which men must abide to be saved and exalted, must be entered into and performed in righteousness so that the Holy Spirit can justify the candidate for salvation in what has been done. (1 Ne. 16:2; <a href=”http://scriptures.lds.org/en/jacob/2″<Jac. 2:13-14; <a href=”http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/41″<Alma 41:15; D&C 98; D&C 132:1,62)
An act that is justified by the Spirit is one that is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, or in other words, ratified and approved by the Holy Ghost. This law of justification is the provision the Lord has placed in the gospel to assure that no unrighteous performance will be binding on earth and in heaven, and that no person will add to his position or glory in the hereafter by gaining an unearned blessing.
If I recall correctly, D&C 132:6-8 are required mastery verses for the youth…
(my apologies if I wrote in any hyperlinks incorrectly)
Tate, to your question in #1 . . .
frustration with their religion vented via internet
Todd,
Where would you suggest they vent their frustration?
To question “the Church” in any way, in a “real” open forum, to a bishop, teacher, parent, friend… is not entirely well received. And even if one is provided the opportunity to “vent” their frustration/concern/questions/doubt/etc. the response is invariably the same…”Well, that sounds tough. Pray about it.”
While I do not question the value of prayer… physical discussion and feedback, I believe, is incredibly essential to growth and understanding in one’s faith, whatever it may be…
Do you not feel that this is natural, for people of all religions/sects?
Tate, I think there are people within “the Church” who stay there only because of social connections. They disagree with the leadership and LDS orthopraxy but they don’t want to lose the network or community benefits.
I think this is a cowardly way to live. Miserable way, too.
But it comes natural for the sinful, fearful tendencies in us all.
I constantly challenge church tradition and authority. But I don’t challenge Christ or the inerrancy of Scripture. I bowed my knee years ago. And I continually need to bow my heart in broken humility to the one perfect Prophet, Priest, and King.
Frist offthe only person you need to bow to and ask for forgivenness is Jesus Christ , no prophet or priest can give you that graces.
joseph Smith is no true prophet nor a priest or king the only one that holds all of that is Jesus Christ alone