Comments on: Book of Mormon Challenge Update http://aboveyourself.com/blog/2008/12/book-of-mormon-challenge-update/ faith, personal improvement, and provident living Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:20:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Review: The Book of Mormon – Daisy Chain http://aboveyourself.com/blog/2008/12/book-of-mormon-challenge-update/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Review: The Book of Mormon – Daisy Chain Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:58:18 +0000 http://aboveyourself.com/blog/?p=68#comment-157 [...] latter third (or so) of 2008 (you can read his original post here and my follow-up post here).  He finished early (about a month ago now!), but I’m happy to report that I made it across the finish line, [...] [...] latter third (or so) of 2008 (you can read his original post here and my follow-up post here).  He finished early (about a month ago now!), but I’m happy to report that I made it across the finish line, [...]

]]> By: Alex http://aboveyourself.com/blog/2008/12/book-of-mormon-challenge-update/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Alex Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:50:39 +0000 http://aboveyourself.com/blog/?p=68#comment-152 Thanks for your comment, Ty. These are great scripture references, and I appreciate that you are trying to help me understand more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I believe that He is the source of all truth, and that I can learn truth directly from God by witness of the Holy Ghost. I am truly grateful for the grace of Christ. However, I cannot depend on it alone, I must also act for myself. Although I appreciate your interpretation of these scriptures, I do not believe that anyone can understand them fully without the help of the Holy Ghost. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and I'd be happy to discuss this further, but I don't wish to argue. I don't believe that my trying for perfection "cheapens Christ's Atonement, I believe it sanctifies it. Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). This is another example of a scripture that we would probably disagree on, so I don't believe that it would benefit us at all to debate these scriptures. Open your heart, seek with real intent, and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. It's a real promise with real results. That faith will lead you to works. Thanks for your comment, Ty. These are great scripture references, and I appreciate that you are trying to help me understand more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I believe that He is the source of all truth, and that I can learn truth directly from God by witness of the Holy Ghost.

I am truly grateful for the grace of Christ. However, I cannot depend on it alone, I must also act for myself. Although I appreciate your interpretation of these scriptures, I do not believe that anyone can understand them fully without the help of the Holy Ghost.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and I’d be happy to discuss this further, but I don’t wish to argue. I don’t believe that my trying for perfection “cheapens Christ’s Atonement, I believe it sanctifies it. Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). This is another example of a scripture that we would probably disagree on, so I don’t believe that it would benefit us at all to debate these scriptures. Open your heart, seek with real intent, and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. It’s a real promise with real results. That faith will lead you to works.

]]> By: Ty http://aboveyourself.com/blog/2008/12/book-of-mormon-challenge-update/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Ty Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:35:52 +0000 http://aboveyourself.com/blog/?p=68#comment-151 Here’s a million dollar question – If you were to die right now, would you qualify for the celestial kingdom? If you’re like most Mormons, you’re not sure. You try hard to be as good as possible, but you still don’t know if you’ve done enough. If the Book of Mormon is really scripture, this hope will always elude you. Alma 11:37 says God cannot save you in your sins. Are all of your sins forgiven? Moroni 10:32 says you must be perfected in Christ, which can only be done by denying yourself of “all ungodliness”. Have you done that? Do you repent on a regular basis? Is so, then it is clear that you sin on a regular basis, since only those who break the commandments need to repent. 1 Nephi 3:7 states that you are able to keep His commandments. In fact according to D&C 25:15, you are required to keep them continually! Since you haven’t done this so far, why assume you will in the future? Of course, we should all try to be holy; but if you think that sinning less will qualify you to live in God’s presence, you are mistaken (Gal 3:1-11). The assumption that good works are required for forgiveness only cheapens Christ’s atonement, making it nothing more than a partial payment. God chooses to justify us by faith. Jesus alone does the “perfecting” (Heb 10:14). God gives peace to those who trust in Him alone. If you don’t have this peace, it’s probably because at least a part of you trusts in yourself. Questions? Visit us at www.gotforgiveness.com Here’s a million dollar question – If you were to die right now, would you qualify for the celestial kingdom? If you’re like most Mormons, you’re not sure. You try hard to be as good as possible, but you still don’t know if you’ve done enough. If the Book of Mormon is really scripture, this hope will always elude you. Alma 11:37 says God cannot save you in your sins. Are all of your sins forgiven? Moroni 10:32 says you must be perfected in Christ, which can only be done by denying yourself of “all ungodliness”. Have you done that? Do you repent on a regular basis? Is so, then it is clear that you sin on a regular basis, since only those who break the commandments need to repent. 1 Nephi 3:7 states that you are able to keep His commandments. In fact according to D&C 25:15, you are required to keep them continually! Since you haven’t done this so far, why assume you will in the future? Of course, we should all try to be holy; but if you think that sinning less will qualify you to live in God’s presence, you are mistaken (Gal 3:1-11). The assumption that good works are required for forgiveness only cheapens Christ’s atonement, making it nothing more than a partial payment. God chooses to justify us by faith. Jesus alone does the “perfecting” (Heb 10:14). God gives peace to those who trust in Him alone. If you don’t have this peace, it’s probably because at least a part of you trusts in yourself. Questions? Visit us at http://www.gotforgiveness.com

]]> By: Beth http://aboveyourself.com/blog/2008/12/book-of-mormon-challenge-update/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Beth Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:15:46 +0000 http://aboveyourself.com/blog/?p=68#comment-150 Congratulations on finishing so early! I have worked my way up many times to be right back "on schedule" and set to read a great chapter tonight: 3 Nephi 11 (and 12 ... I usually read two chapters a day). Whenever I have a goal like this, I find myself paying more attention as I read and thus finding "new" stories that are so valuable to me. I've written about some of them on my blog and on our Facebook group. The latest story that I "read again for the first time" (to put it as one of the CES people did at a conference I went to) was the Nephites' fortification against the Gadianton robbers in the early part of 3 Nephi. They basically left their outlying cities and all gathered into one central place, and they brought with them enough provisions to last seven years. I think about what it would be like if I were a wife and mother in that time and the faith it would take to leave my home, prepare everything I needed, and follow the counsel of my leaders. The more I thought about it, the more in awe I was, especially when I considered the length of time they had to endure (it really did almost take those seven years to rid themselves of the robbers!) Anyway, hope those thoughts make sense and thanks for issuing this challenge; I have learned a lot and am hoping I can continue this habit of scripture "feasting" even after the challenge is over. Congratulations on finishing so early! I have worked my way up many times to be right back “on schedule” and set to read a great chapter tonight: 3 Nephi 11 (and 12 … I usually read two chapters a day).

Whenever I have a goal like this, I find myself paying more attention as I read and thus finding “new” stories that are so valuable to me. I’ve written about some of them on my blog and on our Facebook group. The latest story that I “read again for the first time” (to put it as one of the CES people did at a conference I went to) was the Nephites’ fortification against the Gadianton robbers in the early part of 3 Nephi. They basically left their outlying cities and all gathered into one central place, and they brought with them enough provisions to last seven years. I think about what it would be like if I were a wife and mother in that time and the faith it would take to leave my home, prepare everything I needed, and follow the counsel of my leaders. The more I thought about it, the more in awe I was, especially when I considered the length of time they had to endure (it really did almost take those seven years to rid themselves of the robbers!)

Anyway, hope those thoughts make sense and thanks for issuing this challenge; I have learned a lot and am hoping I can continue this habit of scripture “feasting” even after the challenge is over.

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