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I am not at all familiar with Bunco… I was invited to play once by a lovely group of ladies, and couldn’t help but feel like I was just invited to go play Bridge. I’m not ready to make that step in my life, don’t want to feel too old. 
This post got me thinking a little bit.. What do I really need right now from the Church, to enhance my overall Spirituality? The only thing that kept coming to mind was on the side of a “Comparing Christianity” course, or something of the like. Where all who attend are able to understand other denominations of Christianity, their beliefs and how in fact, many are quite similar. A way to find connections with everyone… we can all learn from looking outside the box sometimes.. I too really like this post Sam. Its good to be able to sit back and reflect and your personal experiences and growth.
SamBee wrote:I’ve chickened out of “outing” myself as a Mormon, or someone connected to the church, a few times recently. I’ve yet to go there.
I’m in this same exact boat right along with you Sam, I wonder if it will ever happen.Thanks for the advice and references HiJolly… should be a fun couple of weeks for me! 
HiJolly wrote:PressingForward wrote:
I find things that at times seem to contradict each other.. and don’t know which is accurate.
Sometimes I see this, but often it is not a contradiction, but rather a paradox.
The paradox in scripture I am understanding more and more as I grow, and I love the reference on Pardes. Exegesis and meaning of scripture is different for everyone and I like learning about this Hebrew method that gives some method to my madness..
What I was meaning though when I said “at times seem to contradict each other” I was speaking on peoples observations on history, and the sources that are used. For example on speaking about King James and a possible alcohol issue… some historical scholars might say this is true, whilst others will disagree (not that I’ve researched this, just an example) How then do we learn which sources are accurate?
HiJolly wrote:The key is to accept the Holy Ghost as our instructor, and anyone through whom the HG teaches us.
Awesome, this is something I’m learning to do more and more. Thanks for your great reponse
In keeping with the original 1611 KJV… How are we to learn more about the history behind documents, and then trust that resource? I find things that at times seem to contradict each other.. and don’t know which is accurate.
HiJolly wrote:The key is to accept the Holy Ghost as our instructor, and anyone through whom the HG teaches us.
Awesome, this is something I’m learning to do more and more. Thanks for your great reponse
In keeping with the original 1611 KJV… How are we to learn more about the history behind documents, and then trust that resource? I find things that at times seem to contradict each other.. and don’t know which is accurate.
Bruce in Montana wrote:The 1st Chapter of John starts off with:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Yep….pretty confusing…..
Hows that for enlightenment! lol!
It’s all kind of frustrating to me… I have a strong desire to know and be 110% in the “loop” of Christianity and Mormonism.. If I chose to believe in these scriptures, should I not for the same reasons take in other gospels by other religions? I think I should.. I feel like I should learn and find God in everything.. but the more I delve into things… the more confusing it seems to become sometimes.
Do most Christians know this stuff?? lol… It seems like with knowledge comes a test of faith. The more you learn about the BoM and its origins, the more likely it is for your faith to be shaken. Can this not also be true for mainstream Christianity… the more you learn about the Bible, the more likely your faith to be shaken? The whole Nicene creed.. King James.. its enough to make you question what the heck you’re reading! I wish it was point blank out there for me, its tough to dig and study when I don’t know. One of the reasons I am really enjoying the forum, I’m learning a lot from everyone, and it gives me areas that I can research and learn for myself. It gives me a starting place.
Anyway.. enough of that… Why is the apocrypha so shunned amongst many religions if it can only continue to teach and enlighten? I’ve noticed all the books mentioned in the Bible (Book of Enoch, etc..) and I’m sure other preachers and pastors know that they are referenced, but don’t use it? I’m at a loss for this… Makes me want to thump someone on the head! Its so easy to see that the Bible (well, for me at least) is not a completely divine reference, as it has been handled so much by man. The same with the BoM.. just because it hasn’t been around for quite as long, or doesn’t have a lot of different versions.. doesn’t mean that man hasn’t to a certain extent ‘perverted’ (for lack of a better word at the moment) the document. Where are we to find truths?
I find it all fascinating to look into where we get our modern day Bible from. Why do you think this is so? I mean, I can’t help but think of a scripture… hmm. not sure where.. Isaiah maybe?? (my scriptures are 2 arms lengths away from me, thats one extra arm length i’m not willing to take at the moment lol) that speaks about the Word of God lasting forever. How can this be with so many different versions? Or it could not be referring to the Bible at all, but then, to what? I am not too familiar with other versions of the Bible. Mostly the NIV, NLV, and The Message… I take precautions in reading any version of the Bible because I always feel like MAYBE, just MAYBE, the person translating is unknowingly making biased statements. Like SamBee mentioned, one can read the same verse in different versions of the Bible, and they can mean different things. *shrug* I just wish I knew greek and hebrew, and a dash of aramaic… lol What versions do you guys recommend??
SamBee wrote:On the flipside, the KJV is said to be “diplomatic” about alcohol, since King James had a bit of a drink problem. So the verses about drunkards are watered down a bit, supposedly.
I’ve never heard this before!! I couldn’t help but laugh.. thats definitely interesting.Thanks for the reminder Ray. I really enjoy how you broke down the scripture reference. I will be using your thoughts in the future for myself. My3GirlsDad wrote:I have a problem with the word worthiness.
LOL… I’ve never used the word before until today! Gotta love the forum… haha
I agree with you in that we cannot claim any self-worth. This can definitely foster pride in a human being, and we all know pride is not something we necessarily want to have. Striving to be worthy in eyes of God through obedience of His teachings, and claiming self-worth are two different things. We must all remember that no matter what we do on this Earth, we fall short, and are ONLY justified through His grace which is in the atonement. Because of this, I will forever be unworthy… this does not mean that I cannot strive to find favor in His eyes by being obedient (Proverbs 3:1-4)
Brian Johnston wrote:If we aren’t getting nourishment in one place enough to fill us, we should be active in seeking it out from other sources.
Loved your response Brian! I constantly enjoy reading your responses… Amen to this one!BUT… to keep things on topic.. LOL I feel that being born again is also a very personal experience. To some it can be one magnificent event, to others a series of events.. to some, it is over a matter of time with God. I’m definitely a part of the latter. Bible mentions the term “born again” and it seems to me to reference being a “new creature” This amount of change within a person can happen overnight (my father quit cold turkey one day from smoking 2 packs a day…. not that I’m saying he was born again, haha… just an example) or it can take time (many people struggle with smoking for months, or years, until they have officially quit)
I definitely believe you can have a born again experience within the Church. I was actually not in the LDS church at all, when I feel I had a “born again” experience, that has brought me steps closer to the LDS. (did that make any sense??
The way this topic is going has personally struck a chord with me because I have been there, am there. I have attended a “charismatic” christian/”evangelical”/pentecostal type church (not sure what to call it, lol) for the past 3 years. I believe I understand what you are talking about, 3GirlsDad, when you speak about praise and worship and how it is non existent in the LDS church. I think one has to be very careful when talking about these things because its too easy to say which way is “right” and which way is “wrong”. When in all reality, neither is right or wrong. The difference comes in defining “worship” and “praise”. I
personallyam not comfortable in a sanctuary with people shouting their praises, jumping up and down, and dancing in the halls during a specified time for praise and worship. I have learned that my praise and worship of the Lord is not to praise and worship Him like we would man, but to praise and worship in my doing, my service, my obedience. I actually prefer a reverent sanctuary as it helps me connect spiritually. There’s that dirty word reverence… lol! Has the LDS church taken extra, and maybe even unnecessary measures to maintain reverence in the sanctuary…. to the point where church is downright boring?? Maybe.. I would love to be able to clap after a beautiful performance, I see nothing wrong with more instruments used in songs to sing with the congregation. This is all a personal matter, and of personal preference. To say My3GirlsDad wrote:praise and worship go- it is almost non-existent
I think is a statement you can’t make unless you are able to be in the minds of each and every one in the chapel. We have been given an amazing gift in free will/free agency and are able to praise and worship as works for us.
My3GirlsDad wrote:When you are Born Again, you see that Christ wants to be your Savior every day. He wants to lend you His perfection every day that you are broken and exercise faith in Him. He stand at the door…faith in Him alone unlocks it. When you acknowledge your complete dependence on Him for daily justification (in case our lives were to unexpectedly end) before the Father, you can’t help but feel immense gratitude and love for Him
Couldn’t agree more. It is an amazing thing to have Christ in our lives. Others may choose to dance like David danced in honor of this, and others choose to make sure their life is as perfectly aligned as possible with the Word as their sacrifice. To each his own (or both!)My3GirlsDad wrote:I will attend whatever Church I feel helps me grow in my desire to be a better Christian.
Awesome!My3GirlsDad wrote:I believe that the Gospel of grace and justification by faith found in the New Testament is far better at inspiring us to become better Christians than the gospel of personal worthiness emphasized in the LDS church.
The last lesson I attended at an LDS church discussed this very thing. It was actually emphasized how we are saved ONLY by grace. There is no amount of work that we can do that can save us. No amount of building up what we might feel is worthy behavior that will save us. Who are we to judge? We are saved by grace through faith… I feel like if I choose to have faith in Christ that it is my duty to be as obedient as I possibly can to his teachings, this in turn, I pray, will show Him whatever worthiness is in me to receive His blessings. It seems to me that a “gospel of personal worthiness” is there to aid us, but we are taught that it is Grace alone that saves us. This has been my personal experience with this topic in the Church.I think it is absolutely great that you have found something that works for you. Others have found things that work for them. The only thing we can do is turn to the Word and see where it leads us in our lives. To take measure and say what is right or wrong, we can only do from a personal standpoint, and not towards anybody else, or any other group of faith. This is a personal spiritual journey and we are not in a position to judge anyone elses.
SamBee wrote:In fact, to have many buddies at all here, you have to go to bars.
It seems like that here in the part of Europe where I live now. Beer is the social center, wine, and coffee and tea. I haven’t stepped foot inside an LDS church building while living here yet. But I do wonder how the members do it… I’m frequently looked at kind of crazy when I don’t want wine with my dinner, or coffee/tea after dinner. I do indulge in coffee more often than I should (I guess) I haven’t even thought to ask about decaf.. maybe they have that here? lol… I’m at home most of the time, so I don’t socially interact that much out here… but it has crossed my mind often exactly how the LDS church members out here interact with others in their culture. I’m sure its hard.
