Climax: A Poetic Form Found in the Book of Mormon

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/booksmain.php?bookid=8
<–is this an online version of the book?

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If it was a true genuine searching Atheist (rather then those who simply want to start trouble) I would show them the historical reliability of what we have now as far as the Bible is concerned. This would be through the archaeological evidence of New Testament manuscripts, the tradition of the early church fathers that had been taught by the apostles, and challenge them to seek it out themselves. However, there are two kinds of faiths(Martin Luther put it this way), the faith that the events did happen the way they are described, and the faith in the person in which they describe. In other words, I may have faith that Jesus was the “Messiah,” I may have faith that the events portrayed in the Gospels did happen, however I still need to have the faith in the actual person of Jesus,(as in his salvation plan, and his revealing of the Father). If it was a non-genuine Atheist, I’d pray that the Lord open his heart up for the message, and I’d attempt to answer questions in hope of planting a seed.

“how do you know Jesus is the Christ?”
Many years ago, this question would have perhaps made me more uncomfortable, depending on who the asker was. My knowledge of the gospels or even the Bible was lacking then. I would have depended simply on faith and the tradition passed down to me from going to church. As I’ve matured, studied the Bible a bit more since then, and read outside studies concerning the Bible, my faith has expounded into not just simply a matter of a blind faith that these events happened, but to a reasonable faith in these events. Do not get me wrong, a personal testimony is important, what God has done for my family is unbelievable. However, it is important to step forward from the personal to the external. Can my faith be reasonably backed up? That answer is yes, if the events of the Bible that are supposed to have happened never took place, or that the gospels were a hoax and truly never took place, what good is my faith in a make believe person, who was sent to save me? These events can be affirmed through prophecies of the Old Testament, outside sources, those of which are from the Roman historian, Tacitus, or the Jewish Historian Josephus (to name a few). Many times the Bible has provided histories of ancient people that were suspected of not existing, until of course their ruins were found. So I believe the Bible to be a historically accurate source. I also go by the tradition. Jesus is held to be the Christ not just in the modern church but in the first church. This is evident from Paul’s letters in which a few of them were written before the gospels themselves were composed. This is affirmed through the gospels, and also later by the early church fathers who would have been apart of the first generation church, such as Polycarp and Ignatius. So my faith goes beyond the run of the mill, I believe cause I was told, to a reasonable faith. To that similar to the Berean’s, a faith that is reasonable, and not a blind leap. Are their still aspects that will remain blind, yes.

I can go into this in more detail, my email is spectrert1 at hotmail dot com

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The Holy Ghost is something that doesn’t posses so to speak. The inspiration of the prophets of the Old testament never took away their personality or their self. The Holy Spirit works in many different way’s, just depending on what your spiritual gifts are. For instance, when I profess the teachings of the Bible and my faith in my God Jesus Christ, if it is in the right context (verses me instigating a fight), I find myself saying the proper words at the right time. I feel myself saying things clearly and with a sort of authority, as if I’ve had years of professional experience in this manner. I also feel the Spirit during worship of my God. In which a sort of spiritual over taking over flows my body. The Holy Spirit gives me guide by providing me with the voice in the back of my mind that convicts me when I’m doing something wrong, and when I’m keeping up with my Bible reading and prayer time, it seems I’m aware of more oppurtunities to flee from temptation. So there are many various aspects in which the Spirit can work in ones life.

There is a difference between an emotional appeal and that of which comes from the Spirit. There maybe some confusion there, the Holy Spirit would never guide one to follow beliefs contrary to that which is of God. In other words, if one feels that they are being told a revelation from God, or an insight on scripture, but it isnt something that is Biblically sound, it may not be the Holy Spirit, but that of a false spirit appealing to the sinful decitful heart of man. When I read the Book of Mormon for instance (sorry if this sounds offensive), I do not get the inspiration I get from reading the Bible. Instead it seems, the Spirit reveals to me the various language structure issues, wording issues (such as Greek based words found), and theological issues that are contained inside this book. This is why the Bible is the guide that must be used to test various doctrines and idea’s that have come about through out the generations. If you’d like to get into a more indepth discussion on our two varying beliefs please email me. I’d hate to take up so much space on your entries.

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“If you stop focusing on why the Book could possibly not be true and focus on why it could be true”- The Spirit though will not lead you into false belief my friend. If the Book has no historical backing, no archaeological proof, a constant switching between language structure (old English and Victorian era English), words that should not be in there( words that are Greek and would not of been created during this time), and at least one false prophecy that I’ve come across while reading it so far, thus it cannot be true. Also as the book, Galatians boldly proclaims, not to accept another gospel even if an angle brings to you this gospel. God needs no other testament, the Bible is the most accurate book of any writing of antiquity, therefore there is no need to have extra affirmation. Before the BoM showed up onto the scene it still could be found across the globe. It is a book written by men under the inspiration of God, therefore God will preserve his book from those who wished to change it hundreds of years ago to fit their desires, as it was first being meticulously put together.

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