To Avatar, and any other Mormons on this thread
Please don't get offended by what I am going to say.
Some of us refuse to read the book of Mormons out of fear that we might get brain washed. Yes, I think it is very potent Brain wash!
You seem like good decent people. But the fact remains that there is something quirky about the history of your religion, some of its claims--and prophet Joseph Smith!!
Especially, Joseph Smith.
Is that his real name?
See how suspicious I am of Mormonism?
My instincts are screaming "No" to reading it.
I am not going to be offended by that.
There is a reason we are good decent people. It's because of the Book of Mormon. But there is no reason to be afraid of it. People have read it and not been converted. Mark Twain to name one. Here on the board i think Jake probably has read it and it hasn't brain washed him to be a Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is unique among books. I don't know any other book that contains the promise it has:
"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truthof it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:3-5)
I dont know any other book that exists that invites people to ask God and see if it's really from Him. That is why it converts people. Not because they read it. But because they exercise enough faith to ask God if it's true and His Spirit bears witness that it is. Not because of brainwashing of any sort.
I've asked the Lord if the Book of Mormon is true. The Spirit revealed to me that it was. That's why I believe in the Book of Mormon. Because of the Book of Mormon I've had gained a much greater understanding about Christ, the Atonement and why it was necessary. I've learned about the Plan of Happiness God has for us. I've learned about myself and my relationship with God and others. It's filled me with light, and love for my fellow man. When I learned this I realized I had a choice to make. I could continue the life i was living and just ignore everything I just learned. Or I could follow it the best I could, exercising faith that Christ would help me.
I can understand the hesitation. One of the Presidents of the Church John Taylor had reservations about it:
“When I first heard the gospel, I was compelled to admit there was something reasonable about it. I almost hoped it was not true. ‘If it is true,’ said I, ‘as an honest man I shall be obliged to obey it, or else I cannot have any confidence in myself.’”
Don't let fear keep you from learning things. LIfe is to short to be afraid. especially of knowledge
