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From: holly@hpfcly.UUCP (holly)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <7600009@hpfcly.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Apr-85 20:02:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfcly.7600009
Posted: Wed Apr 17 20:02:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Apr-85 09:47:57 EST
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Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO
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Nf-ID: #R:ucla-cs:-442300:hpfcly:7600009:37777777600:2543
Nf-From: hpfcly!holly    Apr 18 17:02:00 1985

Joseph Smith did make the statement that he did what Christ failed to do.
I do not have my references at hand, but I believe the statement appeared
in the History of the Mormon Church.  I will find this and quote it to you.

Things you said may make a lot of sense to you and others especially since
you don't consider the Bible to be the only true word of God.  In the Bible
God said that time and man could not change the true word.  He would see to
that.  

I don't understand how something can be part of your doctrine from the 
beginning but doesn't show up in your doctrine until a few years ago.  God
didn't do that with the Bible.   

I know what is in my heart is good.  I can't and never will agree with your
doctrines.  The resemblence between the Latter Day Saints and the Freemasonary
makes me very uncomfortable.  Maybe that's something you ought to read up
on.  One of your own church elders even admitted this at a conference at
BYU after which he was required to sign a document stating his loyalty to
the church.

I am not trying to condemn you, I am very concerned.  Read beyond the 
doctrines of the church.  Try some unbiased history books.  There are many
things I believe that many members of the Latter Day Saints are not aware
of.  Why was Joseph Smith the only one to see the angels and Christ?  Jesus
and God made Themselves visible to many people.  The Latter Day Saints have
based their religion on the "visions" of one man.  I don't remember anyone
in the Bible having revelations from God through a "seer-stone".  God,
Jesus or the Holy Spirit came to them in person or through an angel of the
Lord and they appeared to many.  Where is the justification in what you say
besides that Joseph Smith said it?

I just don't understand and I doubt that I ever will!  Your explanations
don't make it any clearer.  I feel more troubled than before - not with
my faith, but with the teachings of the Latter Day Saints.  I guess only
God will judge who is right.  That's why I have faith and trust in what
God and Christ said to us in the Bible.  They didn't give the answers
to all our questions.  That's where the trust and faith come in.  We just
have to entrust our lives to God and know that he'll take care of us.  He
promised us that.  I honestly believe that your God and my God are not the
same.  I do not believe that Christ and Satan are spiritual brothers.

Please do some reading beyond the boundaries of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints.  Many have and have found the true word of God.