Comments on: Do we really believe the Book of Mormon?

By: Zelophehad’s Daughters | My Nacle Notebook 2008: Funny comments

Zelophehad’s Daughters | My Nacle Notebook 2008: Funny comments — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:15:49 +0000

[...] Dave: The facts may not speak for themselves, but (modernly) most agree they should be given first place in the narrative and biases of the writer disclosed in the introduction. So a modern Deuternomist might write: “As a fervent Israelite, I affirm an ongoing covenant between a jealous and interventionist God and the Jews, a chosen people, which probably colors my narrative at certain points. [...]

By: The Book of Mormon and the Prosperity Gospel at Mormon Matters

The Book of Mormon and the Prosperity Gospel at Mormon Matters — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:42:51 +0000

[...] (so the Copelands and others seem to be right about that much at least) [Does this bother you? TT of Faith Promoting Rumor agreed a while back; even we kinda addressed it], but which also leads to complacency, pride, an unwillingness to [...]

By: Saul

Saul — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:02:49 +0000

Joseph Smith wrote the BoM, you know the guy with 33 wives, the youngest two being 14 years old? Stop believing a poorly written novel that has incredibly lingered/festered for so long. Try Christianity, it works.

By: BoM Lesson 6 « Feast upon the Word Blog

BoM Lesson 6 « Feast upon the Word Blog — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:34:04 +0000

[...] chapter in terms of the temple. v. 20 What does “prosper” mean? If it means wealth/health, do we really believe it: that the righteous will always be blessed with wealth and health? The sentence structure implies [...]

By: a random John

a random John — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:37:20 +0000

CE (#22),

I’m in agreement, though I think that when good things happen to “bad” people that many LDS assume it is because of the bad people’s materialism. Therefore anything that happens to a bad person is rooted in their sinful nature.

By: neslobladen

neslobladen — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:00:01 +0000

Here is the consideration I have considered.
I can’t distinquish with my supreme wisdom whether or not such a system, the pride (cometh before the fall) cycle, could or could not exist as a cultural framework but I have to consider that it is possible. Here we have a culture that has never existed on the face of the planet anywhere in know history. The good guys: who create a system of government not on the principles of religion but literally make their religion their system of government, and the bad guys: who create their entire identity in opposition to their brothers who stole their birthright.
Of course we cannot compare this cultural system to the present system of today. It is nothing like it.
The interesting thing though is that God has promised, if you believe revelations concerning the Second Coming, that He will be interacting personally with the physical realm again.
Where do you draw the line and say, “Such things are not possible to God?”
Do you or don’t you believe?

By: CE

CE — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:15:43 +0000

A Random John (#17)–

Just saw your response to my #10. I like what you say. I have previously stated similar thoughts, but phrased a little differently:

When good things happen to “good” people, it’s a blessing.
When bad things happen to “good” people, it’s a trial.
When good things happen to “bad” people, it’s luck.
When bad thinks happen to “bad” people, it’s justly deserved punishment.

By: Sterling

Sterling — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:00:33 +0000

Nobody here has mentioned Richard Bushman’s 1969 essay, “Faithful History.” In that article he outlines the ways that the Book of Mormon might serve as a model for the writing of history. He even probes the possibility of measuring or quantifying the prosperity of nations and linking it up with their righteousness. Is his essay a cultural artifact, reflective of the 1950s consensus history era when Bushman attended graduate school, or do Mormon historians still buy into the arguments he was making?

By: SmallAxe

SmallAxe — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:35:30 +0000

Easy question.

From what I’ve read you’re basically saying “God will prosper us in his own way, so don’t worry about it.” Is that your “easy answer”?

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:56:03 +0000

Why make this hard?

The Lord will prosper us in His way. The Lord makes promises and fulfills them within the context of His plan. If we make and keep covenants we will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost–the fulfillment of our baptismal covenant. That in my opinion is prospering. Look at what happen to the people in 4th Nephi–note how they prospered.

Prospering might also mean that He will try our faith so that we will be eligible for eternal life (lifted up at the last day).(see Mosiah 23:21-22).

The Lord’s work is what?

“To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” Moses 1:39– then we will receive all that the Father hath. Talk about prosper!

Does it mean to prosper financially? Sure, but how much to you need to be considered prosperous?

Easy question.