I am hushed and quiet, meditating in the Holy of Holies of Isaiah 53, especially verses 4-6.

First, let me introduce my question with a few margin quotes from The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford University Press, 2004): (more…)

For the first time last, my wife and I popped on to the new Skyline 1988 website – wow, what a rush of memories in looking at all our classmates.

I married my high school Idaho Falls sweetheart.

We will try to fill you in our pictures of “then” and “now”.

The title of my future post will be, “How did that guy end up with that girl?”

Taken from Mormon Beliefs and Doctrines Made Easier (2007) by David J. Ridges:

BEGINNING  In a technical sense, there is no beginning, since we have always existed as intelligence or intelligences–we don’t know what quite what to call it (D&C 93:29).  However, “beginning” often refers to our premortal existence as spirit sons and daughters of our heavenly parents (Job 38:7; D&C 93:21, 23).  It also refers to the initial stages of the earth’s creation (Genesis 1:1).

ELOHIM  As used by members of the Church, this is a name for Heavenly Father.  It is a very sacred name and should be spoken of with reverent care.  The First Presidency taught:  “God the Eternal Father, whom we designate by the exalted-title ‘Elohim,’ is the literal Parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race (MFP 5:26).

GOD AS A SPIRIT  Because John 4:24, as given in the Bible, states that “God is a Spirit,” many Christian religions have developed false teachings about the nature of God.  Joseph Smith corrected this verse to read, “For unto such hath God promised his Spirit.  And they who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth” (JST, John 4:26). (more…)

Taken from The Christian World:  A Global History (2007):

Martin Marty writes on page 244 in the glossary,

Mormon  Another name for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, founded in the 1830s by Joseph Smith, who claimed direct divine revelation of a new covenant, one which most other Christians regard as a new tradition far from orthodox Christianity.  It grows rapidly in many parts of the world.

Here is a good question:  Does liberal scholar, Martin Marty, the man with some seventy-five honorary doctorates, think of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “as a new tradition far from orthodox Christianity”?

Joel Martin provides an interesting post, linking us right into Peter Leithart’s remarks on priestcraft.

Yes.  Absolutely.  I woke up with Isaiah 52:13 on my mind.

How else can one be faithful to those Isaianic Hebrew descriptions and the introduction of this fourth Servant song?

David Hesselgrave’s recent April paper evaluates heart issues among the world’s leading evangelical missiologists.

May all the Western missiologists please consider this.

HT:  BB

Scott emailed me this testimony that he wrote back in 2001.  It reveals the power and glory and love of our God:

I was born to unconverted parents and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Although I was natively religious, I grew up with no real knowledge of God or of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  At the age of twelve, I chose to join the Mormon church largely out of a desire to integrate with the culture of Utah as well as to get closer to God. 

(more…)

John gives us the scoop on Martin Luther’s notorious beliefs.

So if Martin Luther lived today in the LDS I-15 corridor he would be rebuking Todd Wood for his positions on biblical inerrancy, faith alone, polygamy, deification, etc., and he would actually be tuning in to LDS General Conference broadcasts and perhaps even grabbing the opportunity to be an adjuct professor at BYU? 🙂

Really.  Can you imagine if Martin Luther lived in the monolithic corridor – what kind of trouble he would be stirring up?

The so-called “believers” in Christ had this assumption in John 8. (more…)