If we are baptized in this life, the ordinance is done. If we are not, it can be done for us by proxy.
This is one doctrine that has always seemed so logical to me, I never have quite understood the attention and debate it stirs. Christ came to save all men. What about all the people who have never even heard his name? There are still people today who do not know anything about Christ. They have not been baptized, but it's not because they rejected Christ. Are they just out of luck?
Instead, we believe that they can learn the gospel in the afterlife, and can accept it. We perform their baptism for them, and they can choose to accept it or not. But it means it is their choice, not something beyond their control because of circumstances.
I really like this part of your religion. Not that it would help me, but still. This is good.
But then- shouldn't this be an argument *against* missionaries? What if you fail to convince someone and that person rejects Christ in this life. It seems like you'd be able to be more convincing in the afterlife.
But a person must have a clear chance to accept it. There isn't any clear definition what that means, because it's different for every person. If the missionaries knock, and get a door slammed in their face, it likely doesn't mean the person's chance is up. They didn't know enough to reject it. So if the missionaries "fail to convince someone" like you said, it doesn't necessarily mean they're out of luck.
And though it does seem like it'd be impossible to not believe the gospel if you are actually in the afterlife, it will happen. Doesn't make much sense, but I don't think our mortal minds are that good at comprehending non-mortal existence.
And then, beside all that, living the gospel is the key to true joy. It's the difference of helping people find happiness now, as opposed to up to 100 years later on..
Those are really good answers. Both that telling someone now doesn't necessarily use up their chance, and that you want to tell them now because you want to and because you believe they will be happier and more fulfilled in this life as a result, regardless of the afterlife.
It might be a personal question, but why do you think this? I don't care what you've done. You're never too unworthy to pray to God. You can always be forgiven if you are sincere in asking. Please don't think you are beyond help.
Oh Gosh it's not about what I've done and my worth. It's almost funny, that's almost exactly backwards. I was christian for a fairly decent period of time and I made a choice to turn away from Christ, as you'd say it. Not a decision made lightly or suddenly.
My behavior didn't change, it's not like a story from a teen bible study group where the lapsed christian uses drugs and risky behavior to fill the void in his/her soul. Couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, I've never ever tried any recreational drugs. I have drank alcohol but not much and not very often. I almost never drank in high school and rarely in college and now I'm probably in the heyday of my drinking days but realistically I have alcohol an average of once a month.
Hahaha, I just googled what else mormons don't allow and guess what- I would have no problem with a coffee ban because I don't drink it anyway. I'm also not gay so I'd have no problem with not being gay. I have had premarital sex but I mean, I'm 25- if I hadn't at this point it would certainly be my new year's resolution to fix that. Oh! Also- I almost never curse and I don't like it when I'm around people that do. If I feel comfortable and I want to spend more time with someone who curses a lot I'll ask him or her to try to curse less. [And I dislike it for many reasons- for one thing people don't realize you're angry or upset unless you curse but that's a whole other topic]
Not that I think any of the above define a person's "worth"! I've only addressed those points because that's what came up with google. The point is, it's not about anything I've done that makes me unworthy or scared. The point is I simply don't believe. I just cannot be sincere in praying to God or asking for forgiveness/help. If it's real- if there is an all powerful God out there- I don't love him with any part of my heart.
Numerous edits because I tried to fix the quote thing and then I thought of the cursing thing.
This message last edited by Vivien on 06/10/2011 at 09:12:07 PM
Mormons
- 03/10/2011 05:46:10 AM
2652 Views
Questions.
- 03/10/2011 11:13:25 AM
1388 Views
Re: Questions.
- 03/10/2011 01:28:28 PM
1349 Views
I don't understand why they would be called drinks, if they were not meant to be drunk.
- 03/10/2011 03:28:48 PM
1263 Views
Why did I look up what Quorn is? I didn't need to know that. *NM*
- 03/10/2011 02:04:20 PM
741 Views
....did we just get door-to-door'd...ONLINE?!?! *NM*
- 03/10/2011 11:34:19 AM
687 Views
Nope.
- 04/10/2011 01:32:43 AM
1221 Views
there's no real point to it
- 04/10/2011 02:37:24 AM
2244 Views
- 04/10/2011 02:37:24 AM
2244 Views
We could use an evil cackling smilie, we do have some other evil ones




- 04/10/2011 02:49:12 AM
1188 Views




- 04/10/2011 02:49:12 AM
1188 Views
Do you ever giggle at the name "Moroni?"
- 03/10/2011 11:39:55 AM
1303 Views
There are Mormon literalists? Seriously? *NM*
- 03/10/2011 03:02:18 PM
678 Views
In fairness, I wonder the same about Christian literalists.
*NM*
- 03/10/2011 07:57:19 PM
746 Views
*NM*
- 03/10/2011 07:57:19 PM
746 Views
Yeah, but if you're gonna believe absurdities...
- 03/10/2011 09:02:32 PM
1286 Views
Are you trying to suggest that "Reformed" or some other brand of scientology is plausible?
- 04/10/2011 04:28:40 PM
1235 Views
- 04/10/2011 04:28:40 PM
1235 Views
Actually, no. It'd be like laughing at... Hosea. Or Nemeiah. It's just an old name.
- 04/10/2011 12:30:57 AM
1191 Views
I know they don't have multiple wives anymore, so no misconception there
- 03/10/2011 01:23:50 PM
1213 Views
Question: Why are you such a faggot? *NM*
- 03/10/2011 02:23:45 PM
586 Views
Answer: because it's the only way he could return your burning love for him.
- 03/10/2011 03:24:23 PM
812 Views
Better a faggot than a fuckwad. Cheers fuckwad!
*NM*
- 04/10/2011 01:27:20 AM
702 Views
Re: You embarrass yourself. *NM*
- 04/10/2011 01:56:02 AM
594 Views
I'll tell you whats embarresing...
- 04/10/2011 02:08:02 AM
918 Views
That is hilarious.
- 04/10/2011 03:10:50 AM
814 Views
Goodness..
- 04/10/2011 03:20:30 AM
757 Views
Re:
- 04/10/2011 03:28:25 AM
776 Views
OK, you need to delete the "Re:" You're using it incorrectly
- 04/10/2011 01:55:53 PM
731 Views
Re: Also.
- 04/10/2011 02:08:15 PM
777 Views
you are still using it incorrectly. *NM*
- 04/10/2011 02:09:48 PM
710 Views
He's doing it on purpose though.
- 04/10/2011 03:31:39 PM
842 Views
Considering that "CaptainHammer" is LDS, I'd rather doubt he's gay.
- 04/10/2011 02:32:56 AM
703 Views
Re: Considering that "CaptainHammer" is LDS, I'd rather doubt he's gay.
- 04/10/2011 02:37:41 AM
728 Views
*sigh* to all of you above....
- 04/10/2011 03:06:21 AM
756 Views
Please explain why you think we should consider you Christians.
- 03/10/2011 04:33:06 PM
1371 Views
you know, that does make me wonder though
- 03/10/2011 04:58:21 PM
1253 Views
We're not as immovable as we are sometimes portrayed.
- 03/10/2011 05:27:17 PM
1217 Views
That concept is alien to the Christian theological understanding, however.
- 03/10/2011 10:18:55 PM
1241 Views
I understand what both you and Danny are saying
- 04/10/2011 12:19:57 AM
1185 Views
The absolute best part about your post (plus the best thing about Mo's/LDS's)
- 03/10/2011 09:02:17 PM
1210 Views
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind, and the only way back to God.
- 04/10/2011 01:29:30 AM
1312 Views
If you think the Book of Mormon was well-written, there is really little left to discuss.
- 04/10/2011 03:57:08 AM
1472 Views
Re: If you think the Book of Mormon was well-written, there is really little left to discuss.
- 04/10/2011 07:24:27 AM
1457 Views
Woah nelly.
- 04/10/2011 10:04:33 AM
1251 Views
I have to "Wow" as well... racist much?
- 04/10/2011 01:52:48 PM
1174 Views
Re: I have to "Wow" as well... racist much?
- 04/10/2011 04:42:47 PM
1267 Views
oh well that makes it all better...
- 04/10/2011 04:54:14 PM
1268 Views
Yikes. Even for religion, that's more than a little crazy.
- 04/10/2011 03:47:56 PM
1247 Views
I don't think there's much of a difference in crazy as opposed to other more mainstream religions.
- 04/10/2011 07:08:06 PM
1216 Views
A difference exists if only in continued unabashed affirmation of a rather distasteful doctrine.
- 04/10/2011 11:06:51 PM
1207 Views
Then why can't women be priests? Or enter the altar? The curse on Eve is very much in place. *NM*
- 05/10/2011 12:27:04 AM
646 Views
Right now I am not making an absolute statement but a relative one.
- 05/10/2011 08:37:50 PM
1024 Views
Oh, you didn't know? Joe Smith said black people are cursed for following Satan.
- 05/10/2011 01:10:35 AM
1216 Views
I guess this is a variation on Hams punishment; Ghav, at least should know better than to be shocked
- 04/10/2011 04:13:59 PM
1150 Views
it's not that we're surprised because it's "novel"
- 04/10/2011 04:19:16 PM
1194 Views
It is not NECESSARILY racist.
- 04/10/2011 04:39:33 PM
1232 Views
Sure, except ...
- 04/10/2011 04:50:53 PM
1244 Views
Well, the funny thing is Christian doctrine presupposes everyone, along with their ancestors...
- 04/10/2011 06:31:13 PM
1148 Views
It it is nigh impossible to be a "non-Nicene Christian."
- 04/10/2011 03:12:06 PM
1266 Views
I think we've had this discussion before.
- 06/10/2011 05:54:39 PM
1256 Views
Arianism is a bad comparison for arguing LDS=Christian.
- 06/10/2011 11:45:36 PM
1147 Views
- 06/10/2011 11:45:36 PM
1147 Views
Wikipedia confirms what I already thought: you're off base with the monophysitism.
- 07/10/2011 12:06:40 AM
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I had not realized it was that late, but used it only as an example of multitudinous controversies.
- 07/10/2011 01:03:56 AM
1592 Views
Monophysites, miaphysites, monothelites, etc. certainly accept the consubstantiality of God/Christ
- 07/10/2011 11:58:05 AM
1179 Views
Virtually everyone has a more sound Christology than Mormons.
- 07/10/2011 06:45:45 PM
1205 Views
Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
- 08/10/2011 05:30:38 PM
1217 Views
I can see that with the Monothelites (can see their appeal, in fact,) but not Monophysites.
- 07/10/2011 09:43:27 PM
1142 Views
Tempting as it is to prove Joel wrong (since he so frequently is), I need to take issue with this.
- 07/10/2011 06:59:13 PM
1225 Views
I was just saying there were competing views.
- 07/10/2011 07:49:26 PM
1611 Views
Oh, there were definitely competing views, just not competing Christian views.
- 07/10/2011 09:26:22 PM
1123 Views
That sounds really nice.
- 04/10/2011 06:38:29 PM
1220 Views
Why wait though?
- 05/10/2011 12:12:21 AM
1380 Views
So that Vivien can avoid reading and thinking about the stuff that you just wrote. *NM*
- 05/10/2011 12:28:23 AM
621 Views
I really want an answer from a mormon.
- 05/10/2011 08:48:49 PM
1228 Views
Good luck with that; just because I can see no explanation save that I offered does not preclude one
- 06/10/2011 07:03:50 AM
1111 Views
Yeah, that's what I thought.
- 06/10/2011 05:43:57 PM
1149 Views
I'm satisfied by that explanation.
- 06/10/2011 08:51:15 PM
1392 Views
Oh no you idn't... *waves finger and weaves head*
- 04/10/2011 03:53:07 AM
1025 Views
....i don't know what you look like
- 04/10/2011 03:54:56 AM
1146 Views
Shoot, my Mick Jagger strut is way better than my angry hispanic girl head/finger bob and weave.
*NM*
- 05/10/2011 04:58:53 AM
750 Views
*NM*
- 05/10/2011 04:58:53 AM
750 Views
Off-Topic
- 05/10/2011 01:14:16 AM
1140 Views
Hmm
- 05/10/2011 02:03:13 AM
1335 Views
True
- 05/10/2011 02:13:00 AM
1133 Views
I think of Protestantism in terms similar to a Xerox copy.
- 05/10/2011 04:57:42 AM
1245 Views
Re: Off-Topic
- 05/10/2011 02:56:50 AM
1358 Views
Uhh...
- 05/10/2011 03:08:49 AM
1118 Views
The people at the Nicene Council and the other councils were not prophets.
- 05/10/2011 04:59:50 AM
1267 Views
Danny is right, it is a pretty tough crowd, but better tough than weak and whitewashed.
- 04/10/2011 04:02:16 AM
1196 Views


