tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post6816840616235444847..comments2023-11-02T07:25:45.884-05:00Comments on Mormanity - a blog for those interested in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Tasty Little Details in the Book of MormonJeff Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776493593387402607noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-59000394368342212582007-05-08T07:23:00.000-05:002007-05-08T07:23:00.000-05:00Excellent point, Jeff. Sometimes a coincidence is ...Excellent point, Jeff. Sometimes a coincidence is more than a coincidence... it is a connected event. The savior was crucified and there were volcanoes erupting in the New World, for instance. More than coincidence, more like cause and effect.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for pointing that out, ruadamu2.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04826309601023733396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-56726265098285094232007-05-07T22:36:00.000-05:002007-05-07T22:36:00.000-05:00Easy now. Ruadamu2 is absolutely on one point: "mu...Easy now. Ruadamu2 is absolutely on one point: "much has nothing to do with coincidence." (But perhaps that's not what he meant?)Jeff Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776493593387402607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-22739913007677195312007-05-07T19:06:00.000-05:002007-05-07T19:06:00.000-05:00But don't take too long a break, rua--may I call y...But don't take too long a break, rua--may I call you Rudy?--because I'd miss the comic relief. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-32354606829089649742007-05-07T07:57:00.000-05:002007-05-07T07:57:00.000-05:00Okay, ruadamu2, you have a break. Take five minute...Okay, ruadamu2, you have a break. Take five minutes to relax, calm down, and realize it is not your job to bring down the entire LDS Church. In fact, take a few days to realize it. Get some air to clear your head. It does wonders for the body and the spirit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-25668995976968825032007-05-07T02:16:00.000-05:002007-05-07T02:16:00.000-05:00Geez, I just read the "Dumb Luck" list. Much of it...Geez, I just read the "Dumb Luck" list. Much of it is laughable, much has nothing to do with coincidence, and the rest is inconsequential.<BR/><BR/>Give me a break.ruadamu2https://www.blogger.com/profile/10603384551521067481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-23220471692633324792007-05-06T01:51:00.000-05:002007-05-06T01:51:00.000-05:00How? How could Joseph Smith known that Jesus was b...How? How could Joseph Smith known that Jesus was born of a Virgin as depicted in the Book of Mormon?<BR/><BR/>The answer is simple. He got it from modern english translation of the bible.<BR/><BR/>Problem is that the prophetic text testifying of the Messiah being born of a Virgin, was mistranslated. It should have read "young girl".<BR/><BR/>Funny that Joseph Smith didn't know that but then again, How? How could Joseph Smith have known that?ruadamu2https://www.blogger.com/profile/10603384551521067481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-19325024179972914842007-05-04T20:57:00.000-05:002007-05-04T20:57:00.000-05:00My hair stood on end right at the same time as wel...My hair stood on end right at the same time as well - but that's partly because my wife had just given me a short haircut (seriously!). <BR/><BR/>There are so many evidences pointing to something other than fraud and dumb luck in the Restoration of the Gospel. It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder. Getrude Specht was right: most of us just don't appreciate what we have. <BR/><BR/>Sure, there are ghastly human mistakes and puzzling events in Churhc history. Let the critics have their fun ranting over these things - but the reality is that mortal error does not eliminate the reality of Divine action behind the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. <BR/><BR/>Folks, you need to read it with an open mind and dig. This book really is true - a powerful, divine witness for the reality of Jesus Christ. It's silly to the blind, but to those who will see, there is amazing light and joy in this work.Jeff Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776493593387402607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-336598690413161042007-05-04T08:58:00.000-05:002007-05-04T08:58:00.000-05:006intpc,I hear you, and I think Jeff would agree th...6intpc,<BR/><BR/>I hear you, and I think Jeff would agree that "evidence" is not the basis for his faith, either. They are certainly not the basis of mine, either, but they sure are fun to examine.<BR/><BR/>Jeff,<BR/><BR/>I started reading the "Sheer Dumb Luck" section on Ken's site, and I must say that reading that list one right after another almost makes my hair stand on end. Maybe Helen Whitney should've had Ken on just to sit and read that list as a voiceover in the background of the archaeologist saying "there is no evidence". In all seriousness, she should have at least given one person from FARMS the chance to respond to his rather bold comments.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04826309601023733396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-79790936537191674802007-05-04T08:32:00.000-05:002007-05-04T08:32:00.000-05:00Wow, Jeff, thanks for the kind words. Ken Kuykend...Wow, Jeff, thanks for the kind words. Ken Kuykendall here, and let me tell you how I have used these tasty tidbits. I agree with the first comment -- of course, it is the Spirit that gives real conviction of the truthfulness of the gospel. BUT ... to open-minded non-members of the Church, these facts have proved extremely interesting. I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting where I simply said: "How?" over and over. "How could Joseph Smith have known this -- unless he was really a prophet?" "How could the Book of Mormon contain this -- unless it was really of ancient origin?" In between those questions, I was explaining small details that have been brought forth by the FARMS team -- such as the Margaret Barker observation that the Book of Mormon making the fruit of the Tree of Life white is an astonishing bulls-eye.<BR/><BR/>From that ONE talk in Sacrament meeting, I have heard from 5 people in 4 different families who joined the Church and have been through the temple. Though not investigators at the time of my talk, they were attending the ward to see a Primary talk of a neighborhood friend, or had been invited to Church to see a musical number, etc. But my "FARMS" talk -- though again not the BASIS for a testimony -- began to break down some of the walls people keep up against Mormonism.<BR/><BR/>Also, I was a Seminary teacher in Atlanta and then the priest quorum advisor for 4 years -- the youth absolutely went CRAZY for stuff like this. It's not a testimony -- but it can inspire someone with enough confidence that they begin to want a testimony of their own.<BR/><BR/>So, indeed, please accept Jeff's advice -- and check out Sheer Dumb Luck? on my website!<BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/>Ken Kuykendall<BR/>MormonCentury.orgUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02243152376408402315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-23232251810802028572007-05-04T07:00:00.000-05:002007-05-04T07:00:00.000-05:00I believe there never will be any serious tangible...I believe there never will be any serious tangible proof for the truthfulness of the restored gospel. A testimony of the restored Gospel, of Joseph Smith as a prophet is only grown out of the seed of faith, period. Any visibly, physical proof can always be explained away, but the personal proof to every convert (both born outside and inside the Church) is something only oneself can explain away.<BR/><BR/>For me some of these stories and findings reaffirm my personal testimony and may be in a small manner help continue building it, but they certainly have never been the foundation of mine.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00270887165665231762noreply@blogger.com