@@rodneyjamesmcguireLatter-day Saints are not henotheists. Henotheism allows for the legitimate worship of other gods, whereas Latter-day Saints reserve true worship for "the only true God" (John 17:3). We believe in what I would call "kingship monotheism"-a monotheism that recognizes that no other divine beings (those who partake of the divine nature [2 Pet 1:3-4]) would exist without the Supreme Being-God the Father-ruling over them. They are subject to him and do only those things that God wills them to do.
What other issues would need to be overcome for Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints to merge??? Well... all EV's would have to admit what God the Father really is or... Hell would have to freeze over first. 😇
I will amend that only with 'as attested by the Holy Ghost'. For though an angel or even Christ himself were to appear before us, without the witness of the Holy Ghost to accompany the experience, we will not see or retain its reality..
@@BGCflyer He who suffered and was crucified for all mankind, that by him, and through him all mankind will be resurrected, and that by adhering to the Gospel, we may be redeemed and receive glory, even as Christ recieved glory from Father.
Ironically, they seem to be merged in committing the evils, in other words, they commit to uniting in opposing the fruits of the spirit, and the top commands of Christ.
Dear Jeff from Hello Saints. You started your channel 4 months before I met the missionaries. You helped guide me through my 'conversion . I was trusted for a year about being baptized because I was afraid of all the denominations actually not having the "full gospel" as the many churches I hop through, I can see that most of the congregations are not actually receiving the blessings that pastor promises. And its because most churches I have seen there is zero accountability and personal council. Everytime you read the book of Mormon it paced up with my reading. You were a study partner for me. And July 1st I will start my mission. I will be a missionary in reno nevada speaking Spanish. I get to go the Mexico mtc, I have been told there are way to many wild parrots that fly around
My favorite example of the coolest interfaith interaction (in my opinion) is the story of the first temple built in Las Vegas. A Baptist church in Las Vegas experienced a fire and burned almost completely down. A nearby LDS congregation spent years helping the Baptists clean up the rubble, fund raise and rebuild their church. When the first temple in Las Vegas was announced there were some zoning issues (I believe) and many people were NOT happy about a temple being built in their neighborhood. Well, the entire Baptist church showed up at the city meetings and basically told everyone “Yes, our Mormon brothers and sisters are getting their temple built!” That’s what true interfaith love and respect looks like, to me! If we are truly followers of Christ then we mourn with those whose church just burnt to the ground and help them rebuild it, and we advocate for other people’s righteous desire to build something that’s of worth to them and their faith. Love others and treat others the way you’d like to be treated. ❤ And yes, one day we will all come together. Christ has told us that we have to be unified to be HIS people, and we unite through love.
My parents helped with the tabernacle choir touring in Mexico and one of the locations they sang at was a Catholic church and the priest came out and basically said he was so happy to help build a relationship between the two faiths (I summed up what he actually said.) Really cool experience though that my parents got to be a part of.
Wow!. That was amazing. What a cool experience!!! The world would be a much more beautiful place if we could all treat each other that way. This is the the purpose of Christ's message and teachings.
I no longer worry whether people call me a Christian. I call myself a “follower of Christ”. Can’t tell me I’m not. And I have to choose each day to be a follower of Christ, regardless of what faith I was baptized into. Keep being a light for Him - both of you!
As a Latter-Day Saint, it hurts a little when those not of our faith say that we are not Christians. It's not because we want a "seat at the lunch table" with mainstream Christianity. It's because we actually love Jesus Christ more than anything else. Christ is at the center of ALL we do in the church. Jesus Christ is in the name of the church. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. I can go on and on. Everything we "do" in the church points to Jesus Christ and helps people develop a close and lasting relationship with Him.
Jesus Christ is God! Book of Mormon Title page: And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. Mosiah 5:44 (7:27 LDS) And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; Mosiah 8:13 (13:34 LDS) Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth? 3 Nephi 5:14 RLDS (11:14 LDS) And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them, saying, Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands, and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. 3 Nephi 9:19 RLDS (19:18 LDS) And behold they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
Joseph Smith said . . . (Regarding Joseph Smith’s alleged first vision where celestial personages appeared to him) . . . “My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right - and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt . . .” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 5-6). “What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world,” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 270). (In questions directed to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism . . . ). First-“Do you believe the Bible?” If we do, we are the only people under heaven that do, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do.” Third-“Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?” Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness.” (Teachings, page 119). Brigham Young said. . . “But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong,” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, 1855, p. 171). John Taylor said . . . “We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsens . . . Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, 1858, p. 167).
@@rodbrannon1647 There is only one God. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost is one God. LDS leaders teach contrary to the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Alma 8 79-82, 104 RLDS (11:26-29 LDS) And Zeezrom saith unto him: "Thou sayest there is a true and a living God?" And Amulek saith: "Yea, there is a true and a living God." Now Zeezrom saith: "Is there more than one God?" And he answered: "No." And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, To be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. 2 Nephi 13:32 (31:21 LDS) And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen. Mormon 3:29 And He hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, Whereby he that is found guiltless before Him at the judgment day hath it given unto them to dwell in the presence of God in His kingdom, To sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above unto the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Ghost, which is one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. D&C LDS 20:28, RLDS 17:5h Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen. Book of Mormon - Testimony of the Three Witnesses And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris. Luke 10:23 Inspired Version (Joseph Smith Translation) All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it. Mosiah 8:28-32 RLDS (15:1-5 LDS) And now Abinadi saith unto them: "I would that ye should understand that God Himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem His people; And because He dwelleth in flesh, He shall be called the Son of God; And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son - The Father, because He was conceived by the power of God, and the Son, because of the flesh, thus becoming the Father and Son, And They are one God, yea, the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth - And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to the temptation, But suffereth Himself to be mocked and scourged and cast out and disowned by His people.
@@joesimpson9230 So you misunderstand? Maybe 🤔. They are separate beings. One in purpose. Long B4 I joined the LDS Church, they appeared to me. I don't need other accounts when I have seen for, myself. If I had such an encounter, as a little child, I'm sure many others have. I am a nothing individual, unimportant in my mind. You can find out for yourself, and should, if you care to know. Knowledge I have gained comes through to me personally. Reading scriptures is a good way to open the windows of Heaven. At times I've read, but received different information than was written on the page. I was given knowledge of what Heaven wanted me to receive, not necessarily what I was looking for. It isn't about who is right or wrong. Truth, doesn't change because we experience or understand differently.
I really appreciate the way you model how to talk with people you don't necessarily agree with. I tend to think that the societal policies the last few decades of "dont talk about religion or politics!" has let to a society that no longer has the skills to respectfully do either. It is always so refreshing to see positive behavior modeled! Thank you!
Amen! It would be even better if @hellosaints were willing to accept that we’re NOT a cult and actually admit that we’re Christian too though it would probably kill him to do so. 😉 We love you Jeff! Eventually you’ll learn…
Great conversation and an admirable friendship. As a Latter-day Saint living in the Midwest, I am so thankful for my friends of other faiths. For me: It hard to hear that someone thinks I am not a Christian because I love and follow Christ. He is my Savior. I am redeemed through Him. I haven’t given up on the word Christianity in my life. But I also learning to not be bothered at all when someone disagrees with how I see myself and my religion. People disagree. Some are right and some are wrong. It’s between me and God to find His ways. I also don’t like to hear that others consider us a cult because that is a negative term. There is nothing negative about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am learning that it is His bride. I love it and accept it and all of us as we make our way through life doing our best. I adore our Church and it really stinks to have someone talk down or negatively towards something I love and admire. The Church is lead by a living prophet and full of the best people on earth that I have ever met. It just feels rude to speak down towards our Church. It is good to hear that a class on Mormonism in an Evangelical Church isn’t a bash because growing up I always heard that it was. For six months in math class every single day the boy that sat in front of me came and told me all sorts of ridiculous lies about myself and my family and my church, that his father was teaching from the pulpit on a weekly basis in a Mormonism class. He pulled my hair looking for my horns, he said vile things about my parents, and had a spirit of the devil about him as he spoke. For this reason I only speak in kindness about other churches. It’s hard as a child to attend your extended family’s children’s Sunday School class and hear your religion bashed. It is awful. I never let other churches be spoken down about at church in my presence.
12:15 - 13:01 "One of the misperceptions I've been able to jettison as a result of our friendship is this line that I'd been fed that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints don't know their scriptures, they don't read the Bible, they don't think about what they believe, they are told not to think about what they believe. Most of the Latter-Day Saints, though, that I've engaged (which is a lot of Latter-Day Saints) are very well informed about their scriptures, about the Bible, about why they believe different things. You guys have very strong convictions and rallying points of truth, and though it is different, I've grown to respect how informed Latter-Day Saints are about their own faith." -- Pastor Jeff Yes! This! Thank you!
Dear Jeff, I love how you think and how you articulate your thought processes. You and Joy would make such awesome members of our community!!! You would bring a very needed balance and moderation to our efforts. I love the sweet spirit of love and acceptance that I feel from most evangelicals. As a Latter Day Saint I try to emit that kind of love to others regardless of their faith tradition because Jesus Christ loves all of us and He wants us to love one another. I am amazed at how open you are about our doctrine even though you can't subscribe to it. But what puzzles me is your faith tradition's inability to accept continuing revelation, modern prophets and additional scriptures. I joined the church when I was 16. I was raised Methodist but my parents weren't church goers so we didn't have conversations about God, ever, til I wanted to become a member of the LDS faith. Then all hell broke loose in our family. Anyway...apart from the Spirit I felt, what I found so logical and natural about the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the LDS tradition is the doctrine of ongoing revelation. It makes so much sense to me that God would and does continue to speak to His children today just like He did in the past and that provides for the possibility and necessity of modern revelation, modern prophets, and additional scriptures today and in the future. God is not mute. He loves His children today as much as He loved them when He called Moses to lead the children of Israel. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He is unchanging. So He will continue to communicate with us today. It just makes so much sense to me and I just don't understand why you guys can't see that. Apart from that, I can see our two faith communities merging. I could happily link arms with my evangelical friends in the love and spirit of the Lord. For we love the same God and our God is my best friend and He loves you, so I love you! Be blessed, Jeff.
The Bible is the reason. Evangelicals must pin everything on it because it provides a comfortable static base. It is a standard which allows them to claim authority rather than the priesthood as given in the early church.
if everyone just focused on ONE thing only, and that is the knowledge of Jesus death, burial and resurrection and put our faith and trust in Him as our God and Savior, then we can set aside any other differences and ideas. That core should be the one thing that keeps us all together.
14:54 - the problem isn't acknowledging that we are different; the problem is that Evangelicals claiming they are Christian and Latter-day Saints are not. Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints are both Christian--Evangelicals do not get to own and gate-keep that identity. Their creeds to not create the boundaries of Christendom. Latter-day Saints are not Evangelicals, but Latter-day Saints are certainly Christians. Any attempt to avoid this acknowledgement or gate-keep Christianity is offensive and childish.
I always liked the duck analogy. Its like all "other Christian denominations" wont recognize us as a duck because we have different color feathers, even though we are a duck! However clearly, this is one of the instances where the Lord says, "blinded by the craftiness of men" and the adversary. And yet, they try to pin that on us!!
@@calblue95482 The table analogy they used bothered me. We don't want to sit at their table because it isn't their table. It is Jesus' table. It bothers me when they try to act like the gate-keepers when they don't have that authority.
If you had a friend that you knew really well and someone came up to you and said He’s my friend too and then you get to talking about this friend that you have in common and it doesn’t sound like the same person at all would it be fair to assume that you’re are not talking about the same person? Would I get mad at that person for saying I don’t think your friends with the guy I’m talking about.
@@annvanwest9822 that’s not what is happening here. We are talking about the same guy; we just know more stuff about him. You’re like, He never visited the Americas, and we are saying, yes He did; ask Him about it! It is offensive for you to claim to know the real Jesus and then say we know a false Jesus. It comes from recycled anti-Mormon tropes among evangelicals and is a way to scare evangelicals from taking the restored truth seriously. Any free thinking well informed evang will see past that framework given to you by your pastor. Plus it is just childish to hold someone’s Christianity hostage.
I’m happily an evangelical convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I bristle when I hear the Church referred to as a cult. I’ve lost evangelical friends because of their view of the Church. I’m glad that evangelicals are (some at least) becoming more open to dialogue and look for the heart of the matter in Saints-Jesus is the heart!
I believe some view the requirement to pay money and interview in order to qualify for going to fine sanctuaries to perform secret rituals in special garments to obtain promises of exaltation as cultish. Also direction to follow a man called the living prophet can be viewed as cultish. I understand from others that leaving can be quite a process, and certainly viewed as apostasy...breaking up eternal families, losing exaltation, etc.
A bible we have. That is all we need. Well, God is a living God. He teaches us line upon line. Precept upon precept. If we tried to teach the Bible to the Israelites out of Egypt, they would not be ready for that. The same goes today. Satan wants you to believe that a Bible is all you need.
@@montiraruba2831 the Bible is all you need. Where else can we get truth from besides the Bible? As Allison Nicole stated, the Bible is all we need, it contains everything we need to develop our faith with Jesus. We can read just Romans 10:9 and have everything we need in one verse. The rest is just there to help us cope with life. If you have some other way to get Jesus 2.0 from someone else, then that is what Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24:26
@@georgebauerschmidt5289 no need to throw scriptures at me. All I am saying is that we need a second witness testifying the teachings of Jesus Christ. Having only one witness, The Bible, you can see how people interprets scriptures differently resulting many different churches. A second witness will shed light unto the scriptures. The Book of Mormon stands as a second witness that testifies that Jesus is the Christ.
@@montiraruba2831 no need to throw scripture at you? Do you fear it? Does it bother you? If you read it instead of ignoring it, you'll see why you only need the Bible and not some fictional book masquerading as another scripture book. The b/M has no value to any Christian.
I haven’t watched yet, so I’m anxious to see. When Christ comes to reign, He will have His church. I would have to do more research on the topic, but will Christ’s church be set up like when he was on the earth? Or will it look different? All I know is I’m following Him. I imagine anyone who loves Him will do the same.
"To keep the conversation going, and allow the Lord to be in that space as we desire to see Him more clearly and walk in the path of truth." There’s your mission statement, Jeff. You ought to consider quoting yourself with that in every video you make. What a love and hope filled mission. God bless you and the rest of us in that pursuit.
Loved this 2-way conversation. I think many appreciate hearing honest opinions and differences said in respectful and kind ways. We have so much in common, and I love feeling a little more connected regardless of differences in our faiths. Wonderful. ❤️ thank you Pastor Jeff.
I came across Hello Saints channel last year when experiencing a faith crisis in the LDS church. I have been an active follower since. This poscast was phenomenal. You are both great examples and I love the WE attitude vs US and THEM.
It is hard for many Christians to come to the realization that God is bigger than 66 scrolls of the Bible. It is hard for many in the LDS denomination to come to the realization that God is bigger than their denomination. When growing up RLDS, I heard the "we are the one true church" often...although not as often I think as it is repeated in the LDS. One thing that I have gained from leaving that denomination (after they became CoC and way leftist and somewhat abandoned roots) was a realization that God was bigger than the box I had put Him in. He was present in the first congregation (Evangelical) that I started attending. He was also present in the next congregation (Evangelical) I went to also. They absolutely missed on the clarity of the scriptures of the Book of Mormon and they are far from perfect, but God still moves there regularly. One day (I believe soon) I know that God will bring His church together and I believe He is starting to bring down some man-made denominational walls even now. He is a big big God. He is a good good God. Looking forward to Zion!
I have been a member of the LDS faith since I was 1 (that's when my parents joined the church). After 67 years I can't even think about not being LDS. I have also watched many of the Helo Saints videos. If I am honest with my feelings, I (and probably many other LDS viewers) hope that the end result of all of this exploration ends in Pastor Jeffs conversion to our faith. As to a possible merge (before the return of the Savior) it would basically mean that the Evangelical church would have to change their beliefs and accept ours, or we would basically have to give up many of ours. Think of Temple ordinances, Prophets, the condition of heaven and most importantly the three separate personages of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. These (and many more) make up the basic foundation of our church, and something that I for one would not let go of. So until the Savior returns and explains to all people the truth and creates or expands His church - I could see a simpler church that follows the teachings of the living Christ - based on His teachings of love and repentance, there cannot be a merger, only conversion.
I believe there will be a merger just as Jesus Christ prayed for His church to be one. But both denominations will have to abandon falsehoods first. The Book of Mormon is true, and another witness of the same gospel of Jesus Christ as the Bible. Joseph Smith was a true prophet who worshipped Jesus Christ. The church was infiltrated by wicked men. When Joseph Smith was murdered, Brigham Young usurped control of the church and led some of the saints to SLC, Utah (many refused to follow him). Brigham Young introduced many false doctrines into that denomination including polygamy, men becoming Gods, Adam God, blood atonement of men, penal oath temple rituals, a Heavenly Mother, Lucifer being Jesus' brother, incorrect definition of Christ’s church, etc. None of that is in the Book of Mormon or teachings of Joseph Smith, but Brigham Young and the wicked leaders under and after him have pretended that it came from Joseph Smith in order to gain acceptance for their own evil and lustful desires. The LDS church of today is Brigham Young's denomination and is apostate from the teachings of the church under Joseph Smith.
This question was answered a long time ago. JSH 1: 18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)-and which I should join. 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” 20 He again forbade me to join with any of them… D&C 1:30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually
I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this format much better than some of the others on this channel. It was less preachy and more like friends of different faiths talking. Kurt is awesome and he was a great pick to have on the program. 😊 Lastly, I gotta say that my opinion of you went way up upon hearing that you wrote in Mitt Romney for president. ❤
but let's be honest, the group is a cult. ANY organization that identifies their religion as the "only true church" can be counted among the JW's, Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists, Unitarians, Worldwide/Restored Church of God and Family International. Church never means building or organization and the 'church' is the identity of the body of believers, not a congregation or denomination. Those that try to stake the claim they are the only one that God approves automatically reveals they are a cult.
@@HelloSaintsI don’t think Martin Luther would have enjoyed the connotation of being called a cult leader. If you respect Martin Luther, you accept that he wanted glory for God, not himself. If you don’t respect Martin Luther, you call him a cult leader who wanted glory for himself. People don’t generally tell their friends how excited they are about this new cult they have joined. The word ‘cult’ is used by people on the outside who worry about the excessive, misplaced, and harmful worshipping of the cultists. People who call Christianity a cult in general aren’t generally talking about it favorably. The word ‘cult’ is usually negative, rarely neutral, and never positive.
@@HelloSaintsAlso your exact words in the video were “Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult? I personally don’t think there is a yes or no answer.” You didn’t say “you won’t call it a cult.” You left it open as if you might call it a cult, but you are undecided because of the complexity.
I enjoyed the discussion. I'm wondering, Pastor Jeff, what you have learned about your own faith by studying the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
I myself learn so much about my faith when I review other religions like Mormons, JW's, Catholics and Seventh-day Adventists. It helps me understand the Bible more because I need to come up with answers to the questions they have about our differences.
14:49 this is exactly where I've come to with us being called "Christian" or not. I don't need to sit at the Christian lunch table to have my relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-4 The Supremacy of God’s Son [1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)
@@BrendonKing yes , God spoke through his son Jesus Christ when he was on the earth. When Jesus left, communication was through Peter the chief apostle (prophet) and the other apostles.
@@joesimpson9230 We believe the Priesthood was restored by God. It's His organization and Authority (Priesthood) . If one believes this and rejects it, that's rejecting God himself.
@@tracienielson7183 I don't believe that the way the LDS treat priesthood is aligned with the scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. LDS seem to me to treat it like an exclusion club of that 501c3 sect done through hand-me-down of men to all boys in the sect at a particular age. That isn't how God called His priesthood in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The even bigger issue is LDS "following the prophet" who doesn't even prophesy rather than only following Jesus Christ, who is God.
@@tracienielson7183In the New Testament, all believers, men, women, children, and even black people have been priests now for 2,000 years. It is not a position in a church. It is who we are in Christ. I Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10;
As a member of the Church, us and evangelicals and another faiths have a lot to learn from each other to be better worshipers of God. From my perspective the Church especially our general culture could use a lot of improving by being more accepting of Christ's Grace instead of being so anxious about our salvation or even exaltation. It's about a balance of Grace vs works. Being "anxiously engaged in a good cause" absolutely does not mean having anxiety about whether you're good or not. I had a brother commit suicide recently and I strongly believe that if he leaned/believed more on Christ's Grace, things could have been different.
No. There are too many differences. I know you want to say what do we have in common, but every lds belief that is the same as Christianity is twisted in some way. Nothing is exactly the same.
My husband and I served a mission in Jacksonville Florida. We had so many people see the name of Jesus Christ on our name badge and wanted to talk about how great Jesus was in our lives and we loved that. We would never say that other religions are Christians so I don’t know why other Christian’s feel it is right to pass judgement. That is for God and Christ to do.
Great conversation! I really appreciate Kurt’s approach. I completely agree with Jeff about all the doctrines of the LDS church cluttering up a relationship with Jesus. (Don’t come at me LDS members…I’m stating this is how it was for me.) Since leaving the LDS faith and joining mainstream Christianity I would say my understanding of who Christ is and my relationship with him have greatly improved. I don’t see any successful merging of LDS and EV because there would have to be way too many concessions made on one side or the other.
The Book of Mormon is true, and another witness of the same gospel of Jesus Christ as the Bible. Joseph Smith was a true prophet who worshipped Jesus Christ. The church was infiltrated by wicked men. When Joseph Smith was murdered, Brigham Young usurped control of the church and led some of the saints to SLC, Utah (many refused to follow him). Brigham Young introduced many false doctrines into that denomination including polygamy, men becoming Gods, Adam God, blood atonement of men, penal oath temple rituals, a Heavenly Mother, Lucifer being Jesus' brother, incorrect definition of Christ’s church, etc. None of that is in the Book of Mormon or teachings of Joseph Smith, but Brigham Young and the wicked leaders under and after him have pretended that it came from Joseph Smith in order to gain acceptance for their own evil and lustful desires. The LDS church of today is Brigham Young's denomination and is apostate from the teachings of the church under Joseph Smith.
An amazingly wise and intelligent interfaith discussion. Just respect, love and not accusatory. Kind of a rare thing. Very refreshing. Christlike. Wonderful.
Interesting chat, Jeff, but it is absolutely impossible for the two churches to merge. EV's seem to have a yuge problem admitting that since Adam to the second coming... prophets have always been in the plan. As well, the knowledge that Jesus Christ is a Spirit who is a perfect heavenly man ... just like His Father is. Together, they are one LORD. One church, one Godhead and one doctrine. :>) Ephesians 4 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,... ... 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, *PROPHETS* ; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the *knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man* , unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
@@BrendonKing ... Can you be more specific, Brendon? Surly you can't be referring to the part where it says Jesus, being a spirit who is an eternal heavenly man, is the spitt'in image of His Father. In fact it says Jesus is the EXPRESS image of His Father. Both perfect heavenly Beings. I am very aware of that in Hebrews 1 and how much it supports my original comment. Other than that you might have to help me out some. Thanks.
@@godsoffspring4195 Hebrews 1:1-4 The Supremacy of God’s Son [1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV) Very clearly there is a shift from prophetic instruction. "BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS".
@@godsoffspring4195 Hebrews 1:1-4 The Supremacy of God’s Son [1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)
@@godsoffspring4195Hebrew talks about how Jesus fulfilled all the OT commandments and ordinances and covenants necessary to be in full relationship with God. Because of this, there is no more need for a temple, or ongoing revelation, because Jesus has provided full access to the Father through his shed blood
I love you guys and what you are doing! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome conversation. It's a great example of what I'd like to see happen between folks with differing views, both in the religious and the political realm. Keep up the good work!
This is INCREDIBLE!!! I love what I gain from my evangelical friends and I am so comfortable in my place in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! The differences between us are important and the similarities are beautiful!
This is the second time I've watched this particular video. I made an earlier statement that I'm sticking to. But, I caught something that Kurt said toward the end of the conversation that helped me understand more clearly your question! And yes, I do believe there are areas of learning that each faith group could embrace, if we are willing to listen to both sides of understanding. Without changing doctrine but willing to understand and accept each other faiths teaching, why they believe in certain doctrines, and show respect for each others conviction without giving up on our faiths teaching. That kind of merging is possible! And I think that is what you are trying to accomplish with your podcast. Thank you for caring, Pastor Jeff. Keep your videos coming!
No, I don't think so unless they accept that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God - and that we have a revelation today through a LIVING PROPHET that talks to God… but we are all children of God.
Um CIRobite, even if people believed Joseph smith is a prophet that still doesn’t mean the Brighamite church is that church LOL Brigham young was a horrible evil man in some ways worse than Joseph smith
From what I know, people can become angels when they die in the LDS faith. So, it’s entirely bonkers for Noah to be Gabriel, though I don’t see anything biblically that would suggest people become angels.
Great Conversation. Thank you for sharing. I don't know if the question about a possible merger is even a serious question, or just a content creating talking point, but if it generates positive Christ affirming conversation, then its all good. Ultimately, there is only the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who submitted his will to Father's, and we in turn will eventually all submit our will as well. Not out of fear or forced subjugation, nor out of desire for recompense or reward. Ultimately we will all willingly and completely submit, simply out of love. Then, and only then, will we all "merge." Ephesians 4:12-13 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
I'm not so sure this is true, even. God doesn't force either moral or intellectual assent. But, praise God, I DO believe we will live closer to one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ. And it will be so with many other honorable people of many other faiths who are humble and willing to receive all the light God, in his wisdom, is willing to dispense to each of us.
Its true "for those WHO CHOOSE" to merge! Its correct The Lord "will not force anyone's hand or feet to move if they dont want to". But, If the Lord says, move your feet, will you be willingly obedient to do so??@@towardcivicliteracy
I like the Saints being called "Restorationists". Accurate. Jesus confirmed that to the survivors in His American visit in 3Nephi 27 (5-10) 9"Verily I say unto you, ...ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you; 10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it." Are we following His map, so we don't wander off course and get lost? If we follow God's spiritual GPS (Holy Ghost) we will. If we just don't turn off our signal!
Great conversation! We may not merge from an organizational or doctrinal perspective. But thinking of James' definition of how "true religion" is to care for those in need, wouldn't it be great if leaders of different denominations would call and ask each other to find help for those in need? For example, if a Baptist leader had a person in need in their congregation, they could call the Catholic leader and ask "is there a member of your congregation that lives nearby that could help and support this member of my congregation?" That would be a great way to unify our faith!
I can't get behind trump he has no morals or decency and thinks the ten commandments are a bucket list .......lies fraud adultery ......and he robbed a child's cancer charity WHO DOES THAT ????
Such a strange conversation. What I have learned about evangelicals from Pastor Jeff is that they don’t believe in ordinances, priesthood authority, or a physical Godhood. They don’t believe in the Book of Mormon as scripture or the importance of living prophets. These differences are real doctrinal differences and there is absolutely no way to “merge” the beliefs. We already have salvation by accepting Christ as the evangelicals require. Our belief reinforces the idea that each person has a right to choose what they want to believe. We already focus on commonality. But merging, diluting our doctrine? Absolutely NO. The restoration is not the same as the reformation. These podcasts tend to present The Church of Jesus Christ in the Evangelical light rather than its own light. The title of this podcast is designed to grab your attention and is rather tongue in cheek.
"Following the living prophet" is not scriptural. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon teach to follow Jesus Christ only. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon also teach that there is only one God. Much reconciliation could be made if denominations would take a look again at what the scriptures teach, and abandon the contrary doctrines of man that have been adopted.
In the New Testament, all believers, men, women, children and even black people have been priests now for 2,000 years. It is not a position in a church. It is who we are in Christ. The true and living God never banned anyone from the priesthood until 1978. I Peter 2:5, 9 Revelation 1:6; 5:10; The Aaronic priesthood belongs only to the descendants of Levi. No man from any other tribe ever had the Aaronic priesthood. Only men from the ages of 25-50 had the Aaronic priesthood. Twelve year old's were not slaughtering animals. Jesus Christ, his disciples, and the men in the BOM never had the Aaronic priesthood. They were not from the tribe of Levi. The Melchizedek priesthood belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ. Only Christ is without mother and father, King of Salem and King of righteousness. Hebrews 7
Evangelicals and Latter day Saints will never merge. We worship different God's. The true and living God the Father is invisible and a spirit. I Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Moses endured, as seeing him who is invisible.-Hebrews 11:27. Col. 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
I’m guessing that you believe in Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. So do we. There is no one else we worship. Prophets and apostles encourage us to follow Christ as our Savior and Exempler. And prophets and apostles are found in the scriptures. Abraham, Noah, and Moses were all prophets. Christ picked 12 apostles to lead the church and guide it after he was crucified.
We worship Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit and no one else. We believe in prophets and apostles. Abraham, Noah, and Moses were all prophets. Jesus chose apostles to lead the church after he died. Modern prophets encourage us to be diligent in following Christ.
Blending LDS with Christianity would be like blending two different fires, one being strange and one as divine. As Christians, we should not blend our Christian beliefs with New Age or Islam or anything else. In the Bible, God is represented by fire in many instances; even the Holy Spirit is represented by fire in the Book of Acts. In Leviticus Chapter 10, God destroys Aaron’s sons because they introduced a “strange fire” in God’s Holy Temple. We, as Christians, are not to replace our Holy Spirit (fire) with something else (strange fire). If we do this, then it becomes something entirely else. Plus, it matters how LDS defines Jesus. Sounds like historically they have the same Jesus, but not spiritually - that’s the part that matters most. If we are not worshiping Jesus as the Son of God and as God - then it’s a different Jesus.
There is only one Jesus, one redeemer, one savior the suffered for our sins, he heals the sick helps the poor and says above all to love thy neighbor as thyself and be in service to your fellow man John 3:16 is just as relevant to us as it is to Evangelicals ..... the problem comes the evangelicals think Jesus quit talking when he ascended to Heaven we know that is not true he speaks even today if you will only open your heart and listen.
Nothing, per D&C 10:67-68. We both work diligently to keep all of His commandments. And we both to come to Christ with all our hearts. Our approaches may differ some but we’re both doing these things. This is very comforting to me because it means there are many, many of us together. We never need feel alone.♥️
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect. God requires perfection to get into heaven. You need the righteousness of God. Have you kept the commandments perfectly?
@@Elizabeth-rk3do of course not, but that’s what repentance and coming to Christ are for: forgiveness and spiritual rebirth so that I am clean before the final judgment bar. I need this forgiveness over and over and over, but I can work at repenting every day.
@duane9166 Repentance won't be enough. Imagine someone guilty of serious crimes standing before a judge and saying, "I know that I broke the law, but I'm sorry, I won't do it again." The judge is still going to sentence him.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” To worship in Spirit means that we need to have been moved from spiritual death to spiritual life; done so by repentance of sins and confessed belief in God’s provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. To Worship in truth means that one must understand the truth of God’s revealed character and nature. If one’s understanding (theology) of God’s character and nature does not align with what has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in The Bible, one has not been Born Again and God’s truth is not in him; therefore worship of Him is not possible.
The deity of Christ is a fundamental belief in most churches is beyond dispute and non negotiable. I think everyone who has read the bible needs to read the Book of Mormon to know the differences.
I don't need to read the b/M or the q'ran or any other book to know the truth from the Bible that Jesus is God and our faith in Him is where we received our salvation.
@@georgebauerschmidt5289 I was directing that to those who might think Mormons could be right or considering the Book of Mormon is of God which if anyone reads it would know it's not and conflicts with the Bible
Joseph Smith had 50 men anoint him king of the earth during the Millennium, which they thought would soon take place. We are commanded to only worship God. Jesus Christ must be God then?
Great conversation. Although, I doubt there is any way both Evangelicals and Latter-Day Saints could merge. One side would have to compromise deeply held convictions. We would have to forgo prophets and priesthood authority or Evangelicals would have to abandon Sola Scriptura. Neither side will budge on these beliefs. The best way forward is to accept each other's differences and work together in charitable efforts.
Who do you say Jesus is? Assurance of salvation is only afforded to those who know Jesus as Yahweh (Rom 10:9-10). Reference Deut 6:4; Isa 45:23; Phil 2:10-11. That is what it means to be a Christian. You cannot be saved unless Jesus is Yahweh. A finite, created man can not appease the infinite wrath of the infinite God. This message of merging, while I am sure you are sincere, lacks accuracy. I want the LDS to be saved. I want them to know the assurance of salvation that is found in Christ alone. You do not do it by leading them to believe something that simply is not true. If you are LDS, search these Scriptures. Read the New Testament. Jesus has to be God. Jesus has to be Yahweh or we are all still in our sins.
How can two different faiths merge or join one into the other to become one church, when the God head of the two faiths are so very different. LDS believe God the father is one and Jesus Christ the son is two and the holy Ghost is three without body.The evangelical believe the father and the son and the holy spirit are one and the same.
But many Christian denominations teach that God is "3 persons" and a person is a being according to dictionary definitions. That is contrary to both the scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Mormon which teach that there is only one God, and that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is one God. I agree that the LDS don't teach that. 2 Nephi 13:32 (31:21 LDS) And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen. Mormon 3:29 And He hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, Whereby he that is found guiltless before Him at the judgment day hath it given unto them to dwell in the presence of God in His kingdom, To sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above unto the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Ghost, which is one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. D&C LDS 20:28, RLDS 17:5h Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen. Book of Mormon - Testimony of the Three Witnesses And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris.
I respectfully disagree if I'm right in understand the context you are referencing. do you believe or understand that LDS faith teaches that Jesus Christ because of his infinite atonement is the God of this universe. His father "Elohim" is the God of everything as far as we know in this estate or dispensation. We are taught that there will be many Gods throughout the eternities. @@joesimpson9230
@@patriot8087 Yes, the LDS are taught the falsehood of many Gods despite what the scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Mormon say. The scriptures teach that: 1. there is only one God, and will only ever be one God 2. the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one God 3. Jesus Christ is God 4. Jesus Christ is both the Father (because of His Spirit in Him) and the Son (because of His flesh). LDS don't teach that because the leaders are apostate from the truth.
@@patriot8087 The Son (humanness) of Jesus praying to the Father (Spirit and God). That same Spirit of God dwells in Jesus Christ. Luke 10:23 Inspired Version (Joseph Smith Translation) All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it. Mosiah 8:28-32 RLDS (15:1-5 LDS) And now Abinadi saith unto them: "I would that ye should understand that God Himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem His people; And because He dwelleth in flesh, He shall be called the Son of God; And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son - The Father, because He was conceived by the power of God, and the Son, because of the flesh, thus becoming the Father and Son, And They are one God, yea, the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth - And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to the temptation, But suffereth Himself to be mocked and scourged and cast out and disowned by His people. Mosiah 5:44 (7:27 LDS) And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; Mosiah 8:91 (16:15 LDS) Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, which is the Very Eternal Father. Amen. Alma 8 (11:38-39 LDS) 93 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: "Is the Son of God the Very Eternal Father?" 94 And Amulek saith unto him: "Yea, He is the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth and all things which in them is; 95 He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last; Alma 8 79-82, 104 RLDS (11:26-29 LDS) And Zeezrom saith unto him: "Thou sayest there is a true and a living God?" And Amulek saith: "Yea, there is a true and a living God." Now Zeezrom saith: "Is there more than one God?" And he answered: "No." And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, To be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. 3 Nephi 1 LDS 12 “And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: 13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. 14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son-of the Father because of me and of the son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.” Ether 1 (3 LDS) 72 And the Lord said unto him: "Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon Me flesh and blood; 77 Behold I Am He which was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem My people Behold I Am Jesus Christ I Am the Father and the Son. 80 "Seest thou that ye are created after Mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after Mine own image; 81 Behold, this body which ye now behold is the body of My Spirit; And man have I created after the body of My Spirit; And even as I appear unto thee to be in the Spirit, will I appear unto My people in the flesh." 101 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in Me, " saith the Lord, "even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in Me, Then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all My revelations, " saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth and all things that in them is. 107 And I Am the same that leadeth men to all good."He that will not believe My words will not believe Me, that I Am; And he that will not believe Me will not believe the Father which sent Me; 108 For behold, I Am the Father; I Am the light and the life and the truth of the world. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. John 14:8-11 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Urgent emergency please join me in prayer for all those affected people children animals suffering hurting all the world having all medical problems having difficult situations paying bills paying rent evictions homeless hungry prayers for the lost to get saved facing all difficult situations fighting to survive keep the faith God will show you the way in the end we will be victorious with the Lord praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you All...
"...'Till all come to a unity of the faith." When Christ reigns on Earth, I think we'll find that real ecumenism may be much easier than we had previously believed. I think your efforts, Pastor Jeff, will be a noteworthy part in pushing that along. Bless you for your efforts, compassion, and patience.
Pastor Jeff, I wonder if one of your friends from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has shared with you the Articles of Faith in Pearl of Great Price. If not, please read and understand Articles of Faith verse 13, every time I listen to your perspective about the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and see you being a great example of "seek and you shall find." In the Articles of Faith verse thirteen, and at this point, I am going to rephrase just the last sentence of this verse that says, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." The restored gospel which is the Book of Mormon is that virtuous and praiseworthy significance and of good report to seek after...
What I love regardless of a "merger" is that you two are demonstrating the first two great commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as themselves. When two or more are gathered in a righteous cause, that's where He will be. It's not our job to try and convince others that their faith needs to "look different." It's just our job to truly love each other. I enjoy listening to discussions between people of different faiths when they can be mature and kind without trying to prove something. Thanks for the great listen! ❤
@@hollayevladimiroff131 I assume the one who is God and the Son of God...who created all things and is the only name by which we can be saved. 3 Nephi 4:42-44 RLDS (9 LDS) Yea, verily I say unto you, If ye will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold I am Jesus Christ, the son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. Book of Mormon Title page: And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. 2 Nephi 11 RLDS (2 Nephi 25 LDS) "Yea, behold, I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven, save it be this Jesus Christ of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved."
@evladimiroff131 Well, I would point first to 13:00 of this video. And then I would add to it with the Jesus Christ who taught us to love one another, who taught us to do unto each other as we’d have done to ourselves, to always seek to do good & be a good Samaritan, and who we all owe our salvation to by which there’s no other way we can be saved & enter into Heaven. In watching a number of Hello Saints videos over the past several months, I’ve come to better realize there’s far more in common than not between “LDS” and other Christian sects. The topic of the nature of God and the Trinity is important & I respect that, but it also shouldn’t affect how we treat each other. I have a number of friends and co-workers of differing faiths within and outside of Christianity and we all get along extremely well and respect each other’s differences. If you’re asking which religion I’m a member of, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I grew up knowing Jesus Christ was the focus of the church.. it is odd to me that others think it is the ordinances that save you. The ordinances are important things to do to show our love for Jesus Christ, and are like an entrance gate to heaven, but it is Christ who saves us through repentance and following the Holy Spirit.
There is only one gate, and temple ordinances are not part of it. 2 Nephi 13:24-32 (2 Nephi 31 LDS) For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, And then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost, And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, Ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son, And ye have received the Holy Ghost which witnesses of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which He hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now my beloved brethren, after that ye have got into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done. Behold, I say unto you, Nay; For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in Him, Relying wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, Having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, "Behold, " thus saith the Father, "ye shall have eternal life." And now behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way, And there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
I think a good study of whether we could merge would be the Community of Christ. They started as the restored church, and over the years, they have softened many of their restorationist doctrines to the point that they are basically an evangelical church now.
If lds had to choose only one book, im 1,000% that they would choose the Book of Mormon instead of the Bible. I highly doubt that lds would choose the bible over the book of mormon.
@@stephtimms1776 In the Bible, it took over 183,000 men seven years to build Solomon's temple. In the Book of Mormon, a few men built a replica of Solomon's temple soon after they arrived. ****** According to the Bible, God commanded that only one temple was to be built. It must be in Jerusalem. There was only one high priest at a time. In the Book of Mormon, there are multiple temples and multiple high priests. ******** According to the Bible, God never cursed anyone with dark skin. Dark skin can not turn white. According to the Book of Mormon, God cursed people with dark skin. Dark skin can turn white. 3 Nephi 2:15
Quite unlikely, even with the best of intentions. The LDS congregation would need to abandon the Book of Mormon and Doctrines & Covenants completely and then start changing their minds about a number of basic doctrines. My brother was a member and pastor of the Worldwide Church of God (H W Armstrong). After the founder died, the church went through a major time of transformation, the other side of which involved half of the congregations becoming evangelical and half sticking with the erroneous teachings of their founder. My brother thankfully went with the changes. This is a very unique example of such a process and heretical as Armstrong was, it was mild compared to Joseph Smith. So all in all, by the grace of God it's not impossible, but there would be so much change, so much forsaking and renouncing involved, I think it would be improbable. Good to hear someone is trying though.
It is not possible for both churches to merge. There are principles you will not give up and we definitely will not give up ours. We believe in God and his son Jesus Christ Christ as you do. But our beliefs are different in that God wants you and I back to live with him again. He has given us the road map of how to do this through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Our church is the way he has set up. This is what we believe. This is the WAY!
LDS teach a "Covenant Path" that requires paying tithing to get temple recommends to perform rituals in fine sanctuaries in order to achieve exaltation. But Jesus Christ taught the Doctrine of Christ. The Doctrine of Christ is the way. 2 Nephi 13:24-32 (2 Nephi 31 LDS) For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, And then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost, And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, Ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son, And ye have received the Holy Ghost which witnesses of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which He hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now my beloved brethren, after that ye have got into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done. Behold, I say unto you, Nay; For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in Him, Relying wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, Having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, "Behold, " thus saith the Father, "ye shall have eternal life." And now behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way, And there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
I’m so confused. We worship different God’s. How could we merge? According to the LDS website for all to view, LDS worship a God that was once one of us regular people that became exalted. So he had a beginning. If he was like me he lied, he stole, has had lust in his heart (adultery according to Jesus). So the LDS church worships a liar, adulterous thief. Like me. I believe God never had a beginning, like OUR Bible says. I believe he has always been perfect. He is not now nor ever has been guilty of any sin. Ever. This is not a who’s right and who’s wrong. We worship a different God. Both Jeff and the LDS Church will attest to this. So what is the point in a talk of merging. And I didn’t even get into what Jeff said about the true mission of Christ. If Jesus is the one in only way to the father, and we worship a different father then why are we even talking about this?
As a Latter-Day Saint, I would love to see a day when there would be a mutual understanding and appreciation for the beliefs of both sides. Personally, I think most Latter-Day Saints are closer to that middle ground. In spite of any belief differences, I feel that the beliefs of Latter-Day Saints and Evangelicals are a lot closer aligned than most would think.
I love your points about what is important to the Lord, and how its the individual, qnd then how its important to keep a discussion open, rather than giving a definitive yes/no
Imagine thinking you could ever measure up to God's standard of perfection? Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect. The true and living God offers forgiveness of sins, salvation, eternal life, and exaltation for free if you are interested. That is how much God loves you. ❤️
@John-jh9ud One of the fruits would be that you would read your Bible through every year. John 17:17 Thy word is truth. I Peter 1 The word of the Lord endures forever. There will be no Book of Mormon in heaven. Another fruit would be that you wouldn't charge people 10% of their income to get to the 'celestial level ' of heaven. After all, there are no levels of heaven. Jesus Christ never required 10% of anyone's income. Remember the blind man, the lame, the lepers, the woman at the well, the demon possessed man, the thief on the cross .........? Do you recall Jesus charging them 10% of their income? You also would not require a worthiness interview. No one is worthy of heaven. Everyone is born spiritually dead in their sins, children of disobedience, children of wrath, and without hope in the world. Ephesians 2 Do you think Jesus Christ would ask questions of a s-xual nature to an eleven year old or stand at temple doors checking for valid temple recommends? Do you recall Jesus Christ promising men a harem of women on their own planet if they followed all the laws and ordinances of the LDS church? Christ has already told us that there will be no sex, marriages, or families in heaven. Furthermore, all liars will have their part in the lake, which burns with fire. 🔥 Revelation 21:8 Not lying to people would be one of the fruits. Not committing idolatry would be another fruit. When you worship a god that comes from another planet and lives near a star named Kolob instead of the Creator, the true and living God, you are an idolater. Not committing blasphemy would be another fruit. When you mock God and say that he is an exalted man who had to work his way to Godhood, practices polygamy, and damns people who deny the eternal principle of polygamy, you are mocking God. The true and living God is eternal. Psalm 90:2 God has always been God and never had to work his way to Godhood. God doesn't damn people who deny the eternal principle of polygamy. (D&C 132)
@John-jh9ud The word sanctification means set apart. It had several meanings. It is a lifelong process of becoming Christlike. "Without holiness, no man shall see God."
It’s interesting to hear about how evangelicals see the Latter-day Saints as having added so much because of their prophets and scriptures, when I often see evangelicals as having added so much outside of prophets and scriptures.
Please, do share. Pull out your king James Bible, and show me what has been added. I mean we have noon, since it was written, added words in the original 1600 writing in order to make the story readable. Go ahead I’ll wait. In fact, how about you take the time to learn Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic and translate them for us.
@@dfoster4234 ,For instance, I have heard dozens of evangelicals add to Revelations 22:19 the idea that God will not reveal any more scriptures. That’s a major change in a prophesy that warns you that you will be cursed if you change it… If that’s a universal addition to the Book of Revelation among Evangelicals it seems pretty serious.
LDS apostles have taught that Jesus came to earth to work out HIS OWN salvation , and that LDS church members should NOT have a personal relationship with Jesus . “ Now I know that some may be offended at the counsel that they should not strive for a special and personal relationship with Christ.“ “Our Relationship with the Lord “ by BRUCE R. MCCONKIE of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles March 2.1982
I’m just gonna throw this out there, because I’m sure someone is wondering. There are a lot of Latter Day Saints who DO NOT like Romney politically. We don’t hold water for him just because he’s a member of our faith. There are some cringy weirdo Latter Day Saints who call him the 13th apostle😖😖 I personally find him cringy, swampy, and he has a pole up his keister. He is a child of god, and I don’t wish him harm, but my goodness he annoys me. Sorry for bringing up politics. I suspect pastor Jeff likes him because of his hair style 😜 😂
Excellent conversation. I'd like to see Pastor Jeff and Bishop Francon visit together the Humanitarian Center and a Bishop storehouse and discuss (even on location) a merger at that level. That would result in an incredible blessing for all, especially those in need.
One of the fundamental components of true faith is a correct understanding of the attributes of God. This includes a correct understanding of His perfected, tangible body and the perfection of his omnipotence, omniscience, etc.
One of the best so far! I really like the way Pastor Jeff said sometimes there is no answer … the questions don’t mean the same thing, 🤔😳👍🙏. Awesome. Also you mention (I think) one of the guys who wrote ‘How Wide the Divide’ … excellent book although over 25 years old now … how’d that happen, lol 😂 😂😂Thanks again for what you are doing.
As far as understanding what one another's beliefs are, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not good at speaking about our beliefs in a way that other religions can understand them. If this problem could be overcame, i truly believe that it would be easier to work together in the love of Jesus Christ. Especially since there are, in actuality, a lot more things in common than different between us. Yes, there are definite differences that we most likely wont agree on, but overall, if we worked harder at having respectful discussions as Pastor Jeff and others do, we would have less contention. Contention is NOT the love of Christ. Is anyone truly following Jesus if we treat each other poorly? Jesus Christ never wanted us to be on our own. So He gave us each other to strengthen each other. If we were more willing to open our hearts and ears to listen to the truths that are being said and be better at understanding we would be happier. Listening to others' beliefs and understanding them does not mean you have to believe in the same!
Pastor Jeff, I am a convert to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I converted from Baptist when I was 38 years old. I never heard that there will never be any more prophets or more scriptures. Where did you learn that? I am not asking to start an argument, I am asking because I really do not know where that teaching came from.
@@Elizabeth-rk3do I just read both of the scriptures you referenced. Neither say there will never be any more prophets nor scriptures. I can kind of see how Luke 16:16 can reference the great apostasy that is described Amos 8:11-12.
@@ronaldblackwell Amos was written to the nation of Israel. I Timothy 4:1 Some will fall away. Jesus Christ said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. Matthew 16:18 I know what the true, original church taught and believed just by reading the epistles of Paul. It was nothing like what the LDS church teaches. God bless you.
Learning about the faith without a genuine desire to apply / test out the doctrine of Christ is SHALLOW. Genuine learning and awareness follows applying / receiving the doctrine of Christ with an honest heart.
What other issues would need to be overcome for Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints to merge?
Christian and Jewish churches all merge together when Jesus Christ comes down again. Or he creates a new church.
The truth must be revealed that's all. It can't be a merger as much as it just will be Christ continuing to reveal the truth
The anthropomorphic God of the LDS faith, and the henotheism of the LDS faith would seem to forever preclude any joining of the two faiths.
@@rodneyjamesmcguireLatter-day Saints are not henotheists. Henotheism allows for the legitimate worship of other gods, whereas Latter-day Saints reserve true worship for "the only true God" (John 17:3). We believe in what I would call "kingship monotheism"-a monotheism that recognizes that no other divine beings (those who partake of the divine nature [2 Pet 1:3-4]) would exist without the Supreme Being-God the Father-ruling over them. They are subject to him and do only those things that God wills them to do.
What other issues would need to be overcome for Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints to merge???
Well... all EV's would have to admit what God the Father really is or... Hell would have to freeze over first. 😇
In the end, Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.
Amen 🙏🏾
And, really, what else matters? Doctrines are developed by man, faith is from God🙏 better to bend the knee on this side of the veil…
I will amend that only with 'as attested by the Holy Ghost'. For though an angel or even Christ himself were to appear before us, without the witness of the Holy Ghost to accompany the experience, we will not see or retain its reality..
...what is the Christ? what is the "anointed one"?
@@BGCflyer He who suffered and was crucified for all mankind, that by him, and through him all mankind will be resurrected, and that by adhering to the Gospel, we may be redeemed and receive glory, even as Christ recieved glory from Father.
Not a merger in terms of theology, but perhaps in partnership against the obvious evils that we all face.
Soooooo True!
Ironically, they seem to be merged in committing the evils, in other words, they commit to uniting in opposing the fruits of the spirit, and the top commands of Christ.
Dear Jeff from Hello Saints. You started your channel 4 months before I met the missionaries. You helped guide me through my 'conversion . I was trusted for a year about being baptized because I was afraid of all the denominations actually not having the "full gospel" as the many churches I hop through, I can see that most of the congregations are not actually receiving the blessings that pastor promises. And its because most churches I have seen there is zero accountability and personal council.
Everytime you read the book of Mormon it paced up with my reading. You were a study partner for me. And July 1st I will start my mission. I will be a missionary in reno nevada speaking Spanish. I get to go the Mexico mtc, I have been told there are way to many wild parrots that fly around
What a cool story. You will have a great perspective on a mission because of your conversion. Thanks for sharing.
That is awesome, and welcome to the fold. I hope you’ve recognized Gods hand as he’s guided you. Thanks for sharing!
Jeff was an on-ramp for you. Awesome 🙏💟 share this with David Alexander 😅
Amazing story!
Yes let David know this!!!@@zionmama150
My favorite example of the coolest interfaith interaction (in my opinion) is the story of the first temple built in Las Vegas. A Baptist church in Las Vegas experienced a fire and burned almost completely down. A nearby LDS congregation spent years helping the Baptists clean up the rubble, fund raise and rebuild their church. When the first temple in Las Vegas was announced there were some zoning issues (I believe) and many people were NOT happy about a temple being built in their neighborhood. Well, the entire Baptist church showed up at the city meetings and basically told everyone “Yes, our Mormon brothers and sisters are getting their temple built!” That’s what true interfaith love and respect looks like, to me! If we are truly followers of Christ then we mourn with those whose church just burnt to the ground and help them rebuild it, and we advocate for other people’s righteous desire to build something that’s of worth to them and their faith. Love others and treat others the way you’d like to be treated. ❤ And yes, one day we will all come together. Christ has told us that we have to be unified to be HIS people, and we unite through love.
What a great story! I didn't know this. ❤
Beautiful story!
Yes; that is a perfect example.
My parents helped with the tabernacle choir touring in Mexico and one of the locations they sang at was a Catholic church and the priest came out and basically said he was so happy to help build a relationship between the two faiths (I summed up what he actually said.) Really cool experience though that my parents got to be a part of.
Wow!. That was amazing. What a cool experience!!! The world would be a much more beautiful place if we could all treat each other that way. This is the the purpose of Christ's message and teachings.
+
I no longer worry whether people call me a Christian. I call myself a “follower of Christ”. Can’t tell me I’m not. And I have to choose each day to be a follower of Christ, regardless of what faith I was baptized into. Keep being a light for Him - both of you!
Respect
I stop using that word years ago. I am just a child of God.
Christian literally means follower of Christ
As a Latter-Day Saint, it hurts a little when those not of our faith say that we are not Christians. It's not because we want a "seat at the lunch table" with mainstream Christianity. It's because we actually love Jesus Christ more than anything else. Christ is at the center of ALL we do in the church. Jesus Christ is in the name of the church. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. I can go on and on. Everything we "do" in the church points to Jesus Christ and helps people develop a close and lasting relationship with Him.
Jesus Christ is God!
Book of Mormon Title page:
And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations.
Mosiah 5:44 (7:27 LDS)
And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning;
Mosiah 8:13 (13:34 LDS)
Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?
3 Nephi 5:14 RLDS (11:14 LDS)
And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them, saying, Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands, and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
3 Nephi 9:19 RLDS (19:18 LDS)
And behold they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
Joseph Smith said . . .
(Regarding Joseph Smith’s alleged first vision where celestial personages appeared to him) . . . “My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right - and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt . . .” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 5-6).
“What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world,” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 270).
(In questions directed to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism . . . ).
First-“Do you believe the Bible?”
If we do, we are the only people under heaven that do, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do.”
Third-“Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?”
Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness.” (Teachings, page 119).
Brigham Young said. . .
“But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong,” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, 1855, p. 171).
John Taylor said . . .
“We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsens . . . Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, 1858, p. 167).
The son of GOD, still a GOD himself, as is the Holy Ghost. Three entities, one in purpose.@@joesimpson9230
@@rodbrannon1647 There is only one God. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost is one God. LDS leaders teach contrary to the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
Alma 8 79-82, 104 RLDS (11:26-29 LDS)
And Zeezrom saith unto him: "Thou sayest there is a true and a living God?"
And Amulek saith: "Yea, there is a true and a living God."
Now Zeezrom saith: "Is there more than one God?"
And he answered: "No."
And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, To be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
2 Nephi 13:32 (31:21 LDS)
And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
Mormon 3:29
And He hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, Whereby he that is found guiltless before Him at the judgment day hath it given unto them to dwell in the presence of God in His kingdom, To sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above unto the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Ghost, which is one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
D&C LDS 20:28, RLDS 17:5h
Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
Book of Mormon - Testimony of the Three Witnesses
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris.
Luke 10:23 Inspired Version (Joseph Smith Translation)
All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it.
Mosiah 8:28-32 RLDS (15:1-5 LDS)
And now Abinadi saith unto them: "I would that ye should understand that God Himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem His people; And because He dwelleth in flesh, He shall be called the Son of God; And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son - The Father, because He was conceived by the power of God, and the Son, because of the flesh, thus becoming the Father and Son, And They are one God, yea, the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth - And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to the temptation, But suffereth Himself to be mocked and scourged and cast out and disowned by His people.
@@joesimpson9230
So you misunderstand? Maybe 🤔.
They are separate beings.
One in purpose.
Long B4 I joined the LDS Church, they appeared to me. I don't need other accounts when I have seen for, myself. If I had such an encounter, as a little child, I'm sure many others have. I am a nothing individual, unimportant in my mind. You can find out for yourself, and should, if you care to know. Knowledge I have gained comes through to me personally. Reading scriptures is a good way to open the windows of Heaven. At times I've read, but received different information than was written on the page. I was given knowledge of what Heaven wanted me to receive, not necessarily what I was looking for. It isn't about who is right or wrong. Truth, doesn't change because we experience or understand differently.
I really appreciate the way you model how to talk with people you don't necessarily agree with.
I tend to think that the societal policies the last few decades of "dont talk about religion or politics!" has let to a society that no longer has the skills to respectfully do either. It is always so refreshing to see positive behavior modeled! Thank you!
Amen! It would be even better if @hellosaints were willing to accept that we’re NOT a cult and actually admit that we’re Christian too though it would probably kill him to do so. 😉 We love you Jeff! Eventually you’ll learn…
Great conversation and an admirable friendship. As a Latter-day Saint living in the Midwest, I am so thankful for my friends of other faiths.
For me: It hard to hear that someone thinks I am not a Christian because I love and follow Christ. He is my Savior. I am redeemed through Him. I haven’t given up on the word Christianity in my life. But I also learning to not be bothered at all when someone disagrees with how I see myself and my religion. People disagree. Some are right and some are wrong. It’s between me and God to find His ways.
I also don’t like to hear that others consider us a cult because that is a negative term. There is nothing negative about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am learning that it is His bride. I love it and accept it and all of us as we make our way through life doing our best. I adore our Church and it really stinks to have someone talk down or negatively towards something I love and admire. The Church is lead by a living prophet and full of the best people on earth that I have ever met. It just feels rude to speak down towards our Church.
It is good to hear that a class on Mormonism in an Evangelical Church isn’t a bash because growing up I always heard that it was. For six months in math class every single day the boy that sat in front of me came and told me all sorts of ridiculous lies about myself and my family and my church, that his father was teaching from the pulpit on a weekly basis in a Mormonism class. He pulled my hair looking for my horns, he said vile things about my parents, and had a spirit of the devil about him as he spoke. For this reason I only speak in kindness about other churches. It’s hard as a child to attend your extended family’s children’s Sunday School class and hear your religion bashed. It is awful. I never let other churches be spoken down about at church in my presence.
12:15 - 13:01 "One of the misperceptions I've been able to jettison as a result of our friendship is this line that I'd been fed that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints don't know their scriptures, they don't read the Bible, they don't think about what they believe, they are told not to think about what they believe. Most of the Latter-Day Saints, though, that I've engaged (which is a lot of Latter-Day Saints) are very well informed about their scriptures, about the Bible, about why they believe different things. You guys have very strong convictions and rallying points of truth, and though it is different, I've grown to respect how informed Latter-Day Saints are about their own faith." -- Pastor Jeff
Yes! This! Thank you!
Nope! We can merge in service to each other, but not in doctrines!
Agreed. There will always be a disconnect between the two because they offer polar opposites of truth.
Dear Jeff, I love how you think and how you articulate your thought processes. You and Joy would make such awesome members of our community!!! You would bring a very needed balance and moderation to our efforts. I love the sweet spirit of love and acceptance that I feel from most evangelicals. As a Latter Day Saint I try to emit that kind of love to others regardless of their faith tradition because Jesus Christ loves all of us and He wants us to love one another. I am amazed at how open you are about our doctrine even though you can't subscribe to it. But what puzzles me is your faith tradition's inability to accept continuing revelation, modern prophets and additional scriptures. I joined the church when I was 16. I was raised Methodist but my parents weren't church goers so we didn't have conversations about God, ever, til I wanted to become a member of the LDS faith. Then all hell broke loose in our family. Anyway...apart from the Spirit I felt, what I found so logical and natural about the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the LDS tradition is the doctrine of ongoing revelation. It makes so much sense to me that God would and does continue to speak to His children today just like He did in the past and that provides for the possibility and necessity of modern revelation, modern prophets, and additional scriptures today and in the future. God is not mute. He loves His children today as much as He loved them when He called Moses to lead the children of Israel. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He is unchanging. So He will continue to communicate with us today. It just makes so much sense to me and I just don't understand why you guys can't see that. Apart from that, I can see our two faith communities merging. I could happily link arms with my evangelical friends in the love and spirit of the Lord. For we love the same God and our God is my best friend and He loves you, so I love you! Be blessed, Jeff.
I was charismatic and we believe that God still speaks. I now attend the assemblies of God Church
The Bible is the reason. Evangelicals must pin everything on it because it provides a comfortable static base. It is a standard which allows them to claim authority rather than the priesthood as given in the early church.
if everyone just focused on ONE thing only, and that is the knowledge of Jesus death, burial and resurrection and put our faith and trust in Him as our God and Savior, then we can set aside any other differences and ideas. That core should be the one thing that keeps us all together.
14:54 - the problem isn't acknowledging that we are different; the problem is that Evangelicals claiming they are Christian and Latter-day Saints are not. Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints are both Christian--Evangelicals do not get to own and gate-keep that identity. Their creeds to not create the boundaries of Christendom.
Latter-day Saints are not Evangelicals, but Latter-day Saints are certainly Christians. Any attempt to avoid this acknowledgement or gate-keep Christianity is offensive and childish.
You rejected identity in this community when you called all churches abominable. Live with it.
I always liked the duck analogy. Its like all "other Christian denominations" wont recognize us as a duck because we have different color feathers, even though we are a duck! However clearly, this is one of the instances where the Lord says, "blinded by the craftiness of men" and the adversary. And yet, they try to pin that on us!!
@@calblue95482 The table analogy they used bothered me. We don't want to sit at their table because it isn't their table. It is Jesus' table. It bothers me when they try to act like the gate-keepers when they don't have that authority.
If you had a friend that you knew really well and someone came up to you and said He’s my friend too and then you get to talking about this friend that you have in common and it doesn’t sound like the same person at all would it be fair to assume that you’re are not talking about the same person? Would I get mad at that person for saying I don’t think your friends with the guy I’m talking about.
@@annvanwest9822 that’s not what is happening here. We are talking about the same guy; we just know more stuff about him. You’re like, He never visited the Americas, and we are saying, yes He did; ask Him about it!
It is offensive for you to claim to know the real Jesus and then say we know a false Jesus. It comes from recycled anti-Mormon tropes among evangelicals and is a way to scare evangelicals from taking the restored truth seriously. Any free thinking well informed evang will see past that framework given to you by your pastor. Plus it is just childish to hold someone’s Christianity hostage.
I’m happily an evangelical convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I bristle when I hear the Church referred to as a cult. I’ve lost evangelical friends because of their view of the Church. I’m glad that evangelicals are (some at least) becoming more open to dialogue and look for the heart of the matter in Saints-Jesus is the heart!
I believe some view the requirement to pay money and interview in order to qualify for going to fine sanctuaries to perform secret rituals in special garments to obtain promises of exaltation as cultish. Also direction to follow a man called the living prophet can be viewed as cultish. I understand from others that leaving can be quite a process, and certainly viewed as apostasy...breaking up eternal families, losing exaltation, etc.
Thinks keeps on adding because God is a living God and He is teaching us step by step. Line upon line.
A bible we have. That is all we need. Well, God is a living God. He teaches us line upon line. Precept upon precept. If we tried to teach the Bible to the Israelites out of Egypt, they would not be ready for that. The same goes today. Satan wants you to believe that a Bible is all you need.
@@montiraruba2831 the Bible is all you need. Where else can we get truth from besides the Bible? As Allison Nicole stated, the Bible is all we need, it contains everything we need to develop our faith with Jesus. We can read just Romans 10:9 and have everything we need in one verse. The rest is just there to help us cope with life. If you have some other way to get Jesus 2.0 from someone else, then that is what Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24:26
@@georgebauerschmidt5289 no need to throw scriptures at me. All I am saying is that we need a second witness testifying the teachings of Jesus Christ. Having only one witness, The Bible, you can see how people interprets scriptures differently resulting many different churches. A second witness will shed light unto the scriptures. The Book of Mormon stands as a second witness that testifies that Jesus is the Christ.
@@montiraruba2831 no need to throw scripture at you? Do you fear it? Does it bother you? If you read it instead of ignoring it, you'll see why you only need the Bible and not some fictional book masquerading as another scripture book. The b/M has no value to any Christian.
The love we have for each other will merge in fellowship but organizationally it cannot merge. These are two very different organizational structures.
This is probably the closest to reality
I haven’t watched yet, so I’m anxious to see. When Christ comes to reign, He will have His church. I would have to do more research on the topic, but will Christ’s church be set up like when he was on the earth? Or will it look different? All I know is I’m following Him. I imagine anyone who loves Him will do the same.
"To keep the conversation going, and allow the Lord to be in that space as we desire to see Him more clearly and walk in the path of truth." There’s your mission statement, Jeff. You ought to consider quoting yourself with that in every video you make. What a love and hope filled mission. God bless you and the rest of us in that pursuit.
Loved this 2-way conversation. I think many appreciate hearing honest opinions and differences said in respectful and kind ways. We have so much in common, and I love feeling a little more connected regardless of differences in our faiths. Wonderful. ❤️ thank you Pastor Jeff.
I came across Hello Saints channel last year when experiencing a faith crisis in the LDS church.
I have been an active follower since.
This poscast was phenomenal. You are both great examples and I love the WE attitude vs US and THEM.
It is hard for many Christians to come to the realization that God is bigger than 66 scrolls of the Bible. It is hard for many in the LDS denomination to come to the realization that God is bigger than their denomination. When growing up RLDS, I heard the "we are the one true church" often...although not as often I think as it is repeated in the LDS. One thing that I have gained from leaving that denomination (after they became CoC and way leftist and somewhat abandoned roots) was a realization that God was bigger than the box I had put Him in. He was present in the first congregation (Evangelical) that I started attending. He was also present in the next congregation (Evangelical) I went to also. They absolutely missed on the clarity of the scriptures of the Book of Mormon and they are far from perfect, but God still moves there regularly. One day (I believe soon) I know that God will bring His church together and I believe He is starting to bring down some man-made denominational walls even now. He is a big big God. He is a good good God. Looking forward to Zion!
This was such a great conversation. I enjoyed this episode quite a bit!
I have been a member of the LDS faith since I was 1 (that's when my parents joined the church). After 67 years I can't even think about not being LDS. I have also watched many of the Helo Saints videos. If I am honest with my feelings, I (and probably many other LDS viewers) hope that the end result of all of this exploration ends in Pastor Jeffs conversion to our faith.
As to a possible merge (before the return of the Savior) it would basically mean that the Evangelical church would have to change their beliefs and accept ours, or we would basically have to give up many of ours. Think of Temple ordinances, Prophets, the condition of heaven and most importantly the three separate personages of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. These (and many more) make up the basic foundation of our church, and something that I for one would not let go of. So until the Savior returns and explains to all people the truth and creates or expands His church - I could see a simpler church that follows the teachings of the living Christ - based on His teachings of love and repentance, there cannot be a merger, only conversion.
I believe there will be a merger just as Jesus Christ prayed for His church to be one. But both denominations will have to abandon falsehoods first. The Book of Mormon is true, and another witness of the same gospel of Jesus Christ as the Bible. Joseph Smith was a true prophet who worshipped Jesus Christ. The church was infiltrated by wicked men. When Joseph Smith was murdered, Brigham Young usurped control of the church and led some of the saints to SLC, Utah (many refused to follow him). Brigham Young introduced many false doctrines into that denomination including polygamy, men becoming Gods, Adam God, blood atonement of men, penal oath temple rituals, a Heavenly Mother, Lucifer being Jesus' brother, incorrect definition of Christ’s church, etc. None of that is in the Book of Mormon or teachings of Joseph Smith, but Brigham Young and the wicked leaders under and after him have pretended that it came from Joseph Smith in order to gain acceptance for their own evil and lustful desires. The LDS church of today is Brigham Young's denomination and is apostate from the teachings of the church under Joseph Smith.
I love Hello Saints and Leading Saints, so this was a great collaboration!
This question was answered a long time ago.
JSH 1: 18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)-and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them…
D&C 1:30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually
I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this format much better than some of the others on this channel. It was less preachy and more like friends of different faiths talking. Kurt is awesome and he was a great pick to have on the program. 😊
Lastly, I gotta say that my opinion of you went way up upon hearing that you wrote in Mitt Romney for president. ❤
Jeff says he won’t call the LDS church a cult because it will end the conversation and the guest completely ignores it.
I said I won’t call it a cult because everyone defines “cult” differently. At one time, some called Protestantism a cult of Martin Luther.
but let's be honest, the group is a cult. ANY organization that identifies their religion as the "only true church" can be counted among the JW's, Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists, Unitarians, Worldwide/Restored Church of God and Family International. Church never means building or organization and the 'church' is the identity of the body of believers, not a congregation or denomination. Those that try to stake the claim they are the only one that God approves automatically reveals they are a cult.
@@HelloSaintsI don’t think Martin Luther would have enjoyed the connotation of being called a cult leader. If you respect Martin Luther, you accept that he wanted glory for God, not himself. If you don’t respect Martin Luther, you call him a cult leader who wanted glory for himself. People don’t generally tell their friends how excited they are about this new cult they have joined. The word ‘cult’ is used by people on the outside who worry about the excessive, misplaced, and harmful worshipping of the cultists. People who call Christianity a cult in general aren’t generally talking about it favorably. The word ‘cult’ is usually negative, rarely neutral, and never positive.
@@HelloSaintsAlso your exact words in the video were “Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult? I personally don’t think there is a yes or no answer.”
You didn’t say “you won’t call it a cult.” You left it open as if you might call it a cult, but you are undecided because of the complexity.
I enjoyed the discussion. I'm wondering, Pastor Jeff, what you have learned about your own faith by studying the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
I myself learn so much about my faith when I review other religions like Mormons, JW's, Catholics and Seventh-day Adventists. It helps me understand the Bible more because I need to come up with answers to the questions they have about our differences.
14:49 this is exactly where I've come to with us being called "Christian" or not. I don't need to sit at the Christian lunch table to have my relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
When Jesus comes again, we will all come together! We all just need to follow God the best we know how for now.
Exactly. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday god called prophets so today and tomorrow he must call prophets.
Hebrews 1:1-4
The Supremacy of God’s Son
[1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)
@@BrendonKing yes , God spoke through his son Jesus Christ when he was on the earth. When Jesus left, communication was through Peter the chief apostle (prophet) and the other apostles.
@@justjamie7577 you miss the point of Hebrews then. Christ is the completion of all things.
@@BrendonKingpertaining to the Mosaic Law, yes, but not the prophetic tradition.
@@BrendonKing yes Christ did. And when he left the earth God still spoke to the apostles who then spoke to the people.
Encore! More of these open talks, please! God bless you both.
The real issue is one of Authority. The restoration of the Priesthood would have to be accepted.
Or current LDS Priesthood rejected
@@joesimpson9230 We believe the Priesthood was restored by God. It's His organization and Authority (Priesthood) . If one believes this and rejects it, that's rejecting God himself.
@@tracienielson7183 I don't believe that the way the LDS treat priesthood is aligned with the scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. LDS seem to me to treat it like an exclusion club of that 501c3 sect done through hand-me-down of men to all boys in the sect at a particular age. That isn't how God called His priesthood in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The even bigger issue is LDS "following the prophet" who doesn't even prophesy rather than only following Jesus Christ, who is God.
@@tracienielson7183In the New Testament, all believers, men, women, children, and even black people have been priests now for 2,000 years. It is not a position in a church. It is who we are in Christ.
I Peter 2:5, 9;
Revelation 1:6; 5:10;
As a member of the Church, us and evangelicals and another faiths have a lot to learn from each other to be better worshipers of God. From my perspective the Church especially our general culture could use a lot of improving by being more accepting of Christ's Grace instead of being so anxious about our salvation or even exaltation. It's about a balance of Grace vs works. Being "anxiously engaged in a good cause" absolutely does not mean having anxiety about whether you're good or not. I had a brother commit suicide recently and I strongly believe that if he leaned/believed more on Christ's Grace, things could have been different.
No. There are too many differences. I know you want to say what do we have in common, but every lds belief that is the same as Christianity is twisted in some way. Nothing is exactly the same.
the entirety of Mormonism is based on the assumption that all other evangelical churches are corrupt.
Twisted lol
My husband and I served a mission in Jacksonville Florida. We had so many people see the name of Jesus Christ on our name badge and wanted to talk about how great Jesus was in our lives and we loved that. We would never say that other religions are Christians so I don’t know why other Christian’s feel it is right to pass judgement. That is for God and Christ to do.
Great conversation! I really appreciate Kurt’s approach. I completely agree with Jeff about all the doctrines of the LDS church cluttering up a relationship with Jesus. (Don’t come at me LDS members…I’m stating this is how it was for me.) Since leaving the LDS faith and joining mainstream Christianity I would say my understanding of who Christ is and my relationship with him have greatly improved.
I don’t see any successful merging of LDS and EV because there would have to be way too many concessions made on one side or the other.
The Book of Mormon is true, and another witness of the same gospel of Jesus Christ as the Bible. Joseph Smith was a true prophet who worshipped Jesus Christ. The church was infiltrated by wicked men. When Joseph Smith was murdered, Brigham Young usurped control of the church and led some of the saints to SLC, Utah (many refused to follow him). Brigham Young introduced many false doctrines into that denomination including polygamy, men becoming Gods, Adam God, blood atonement of men, penal oath temple rituals, a Heavenly Mother, Lucifer being Jesus' brother, incorrect definition of Christ’s church, etc. None of that is in the Book of Mormon or teachings of Joseph Smith, but Brigham Young and the wicked leaders under and after him have pretended that it came from Joseph Smith in order to gain acceptance for their own evil and lustful desires. The LDS church of today is Brigham Young's denomination and is apostate from the teachings of the church under Joseph Smith.
And the corporate church once taught that Adam was God…but not anymore.
Wow! I just looked that up. that's amazing.
Thank you Jeff & Kurt for allowing me to listen into this great conversation. Like you, my hope is centred in Christ & him only ❤
An amazingly wise and intelligent interfaith discussion. Just respect, love and not accusatory. Kind of a rare thing. Very refreshing. Christlike. Wonderful.
Interesting chat, Jeff, but it is absolutely impossible for the two churches to merge. EV's seem to have a yuge problem admitting that since Adam to the second coming... prophets have always been in the plan. As well, the knowledge that Jesus Christ is a Spirit who is a perfect heavenly man ... just like His Father is. Together, they are one LORD.
One church, one Godhead and one doctrine. :>)
Ephesians 4
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,...
... 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, *PROPHETS* ; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the *knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man* , unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Way to miss Hebrews 1 there.
@@BrendonKing ... Can you be more specific, Brendon? Surly you can't be referring to the part where it says Jesus, being a spirit who is an eternal heavenly man, is the spitt'in image of His Father. In fact it says Jesus is the EXPRESS image of His Father. Both perfect heavenly Beings.
I am very aware of that in Hebrews 1 and how much it supports my original comment. Other than that you might have to help me out some.
Thanks.
@@godsoffspring4195
Hebrews 1:1-4
The Supremacy of God’s Son
[1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)
Very clearly there is a shift from prophetic instruction. "BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS".
@@godsoffspring4195
Hebrews 1:1-4
The Supremacy of God’s Son
[1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)
@@godsoffspring4195Hebrew talks about how Jesus fulfilled all the OT commandments and ordinances and covenants necessary to be in full relationship with God. Because of this, there is no more need for a temple, or ongoing revelation, because Jesus has provided full access to the Father through his shed blood
I love you guys and what you are doing! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome conversation. It's a great example of what I'd like to see happen between folks with differing views, both in the religious and the political realm. Keep up the good work!
Eternal Progression is The Issue
This is INCREDIBLE!!! I love what I gain from my evangelical friends and I am so comfortable in my place in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! The differences between us are important and the similarities are beautiful!
This is the second time I've watched this particular video. I made an earlier statement that I'm sticking to. But, I caught something that Kurt said toward the end of the conversation that helped me understand more clearly your question! And yes, I do believe there are areas of learning that each faith group could embrace, if we are willing to listen to both sides of understanding. Without changing doctrine but willing to understand and accept each other faiths teaching, why they believe in certain doctrines, and show respect for each others conviction without giving up on our faiths teaching. That kind of merging is possible! And I think that is what you are trying to accomplish with your podcast. Thank you for caring, Pastor Jeff. Keep your videos coming!
No, I don't think so unless they accept that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God - and that we have a revelation today through a LIVING PROPHET that talks to God… but we are all children of God.
Or if Evangelicals came to recognize that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and LDS came to recognize the Brigham Young and Russell Nelson are not.
Um CIRobite, even if people believed Joseph smith is a prophet that still doesn’t mean the Brighamite church is that church LOL Brigham young was a horrible evil man in some ways worse than Joseph smith
Great conversation. Keep em coming!
Gabriel is Noah? What?!?! Yea no...
I was wondering about that statement myself. Did some magic happen? LOL
Joseph Smith said people lived on the moon.
@@jlewis8145i thought that was brigham young?!
From what I know, people can become angels when they die in the LDS faith. So, it’s entirely bonkers for Noah to be Gabriel, though I don’t see anything biblically that would suggest people become angels.
@@Compulsive-Elk7103 Brigham Young said that people lived on the moon and the sun.
Great Conversation. Thank you for sharing. I don't know if the question about a possible merger is even a serious question, or just a content creating talking point, but if it generates positive Christ affirming conversation, then its all good. Ultimately, there is only the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who submitted his will to Father's, and we in turn will eventually all submit our will as well. Not out of fear or forced subjugation, nor out of desire for recompense or reward. Ultimately we will all willingly and completely submit, simply out of love. Then, and only then, will we all "merge."
Ephesians 4:12-13
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That idea made me smile. Hahaha! Yes. Brother. The Saints will love you.
Yes, we will merge at the Savior's second coming. 🙂
I'm not so sure this is true, even. God doesn't force either moral or intellectual assent. But, praise God, I DO believe we will live closer to one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ. And it will be so with many other honorable people of many other faiths who are humble and willing to receive all the light God, in his wisdom, is willing to dispense to each of us.
Its true "for those WHO CHOOSE" to merge! Its correct The Lord "will not force anyone's hand or feet to move if they dont want to". But, If the Lord says, move your feet, will you be willingly obedient to do so??@@towardcivicliteracy
I like the Saints being called "Restorationists". Accurate. Jesus confirmed that to the survivors in His American visit in 3Nephi 27 (5-10)
9"Verily I say unto you, ...ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you;
10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it."
Are we following His map, so we don't wander off course and get lost? If we follow God's spiritual GPS (Holy Ghost) we will. If we just don't turn off our signal!
Good conversation guys this was fun.
"You excused yourself from the lunch table". LOL absolutely clever and classic! Good one liner Jeff.
Great conversation! We may not merge from an organizational or doctrinal perspective. But thinking of James' definition of how "true religion" is to care for those in need, wouldn't it be great if leaders of different denominations would call and ask each other to find help for those in need? For example, if a Baptist leader had a person in need in their congregation, they could call the Catholic leader and ask "is there a member of your congregation that lives nearby that could help and support this member of my congregation?" That would be a great way to unify our faith!
You lost me with Mittens.
I never liked that politician.
Based
I can't get behind trump he has no morals or decency and thinks the ten commandments are a bucket list .......lies fraud adultery ......and he robbed a child's cancer charity WHO DOES THAT ????
Such a strange conversation. What I have learned about evangelicals from Pastor Jeff is that they don’t believe in ordinances, priesthood authority, or a physical Godhood. They don’t believe in the Book of Mormon as scripture or the importance of living prophets. These differences are real doctrinal differences and there is absolutely no way to “merge” the beliefs. We already have salvation by accepting Christ as the evangelicals require. Our belief reinforces the idea that each person has a right to choose what they want to believe. We already focus on commonality. But merging, diluting our doctrine? Absolutely NO. The restoration is not the same as the reformation. These podcasts tend to present The Church of Jesus Christ in the Evangelical light rather than its own light. The title of this podcast is designed to grab your attention and is rather tongue in cheek.
"Following the living prophet" is not scriptural. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon teach to follow Jesus Christ only. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon also teach that there is only one God. Much reconciliation could be made if denominations would take a look again at what the scriptures teach, and abandon the contrary doctrines of man that have been adopted.
In the New Testament, all believers, men, women, children and even black people have been priests now for 2,000 years. It is not a position in a church. It is who we are in Christ. The true and living God never banned anyone from the priesthood until 1978.
I Peter 2:5, 9
Revelation 1:6; 5:10;
The Aaronic priesthood belongs only to the descendants of Levi. No man from any other tribe ever had the Aaronic priesthood. Only men from the ages of 25-50 had the Aaronic priesthood. Twelve year old's were not slaughtering animals.
Jesus Christ, his disciples, and the men in the BOM never had the Aaronic priesthood. They were not from the tribe of Levi.
The Melchizedek priesthood belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ. Only Christ is without mother and father, King of Salem and King of righteousness. Hebrews 7
Evangelicals and Latter day Saints will never merge.
We worship different God's.
The true and living God the Father is invisible and a spirit.
I Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Moses endured, as seeing him who is invisible.-Hebrews 11:27.
Col. 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
I’m guessing that you believe in Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. So do we. There is no one else we worship. Prophets and apostles encourage us to follow Christ as our Savior and Exempler. And prophets and apostles are found in the scriptures. Abraham, Noah, and Moses were all prophets. Christ picked 12 apostles to lead the church and guide it after he was crucified.
We worship Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit and no one else. We believe in prophets and apostles. Abraham, Noah, and Moses were all prophets. Jesus chose apostles to lead the church after he died. Modern prophets encourage us to be diligent in following Christ.
Blending LDS with Christianity would be like blending two different fires, one being strange and one as divine. As Christians, we should not blend our Christian beliefs with New Age or Islam or anything else. In the Bible, God is represented by fire in many instances; even the Holy Spirit is represented by fire in the Book of Acts. In Leviticus Chapter 10, God destroys Aaron’s sons because they introduced a “strange fire” in God’s Holy Temple. We, as Christians, are not to replace our Holy Spirit (fire) with something else (strange fire). If we do this, then it becomes something entirely else. Plus, it matters how LDS defines Jesus. Sounds like historically they have the same Jesus, but not spiritually - that’s the part that matters most. If we are not worshiping Jesus as the Son of God and as God - then it’s a different Jesus.
There is only one Jesus, one redeemer, one savior the suffered for our sins, he heals the sick helps the poor and says above all to love thy neighbor as thyself and be in service to your fellow man John 3:16 is just as relevant to us as it is to Evangelicals ..... the problem comes the evangelicals think Jesus quit talking when he ascended to Heaven we know that is not true he speaks even today if you will only open your heart and listen.
Nothing, per D&C 10:67-68.
We both work diligently to keep all of His commandments.
And we both to come to Christ with all our hearts.
Our approaches may differ some but we’re both doing these things.
This is very comforting to me because it means there are many, many of us together. We never need feel alone.♥️
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect.
God requires perfection to get into heaven. You need the righteousness of God.
Have you kept the commandments perfectly?
@@Elizabeth-rk3do of course not, but that’s what repentance and coming to Christ are for: forgiveness and spiritual rebirth so that I am clean before the final judgment bar. I need this forgiveness over and over and over, but I can work at repenting every day.
@duane9166 Repentance won't be enough.
Imagine someone guilty of serious crimes standing before a judge and saying, "I know that I broke the law, but I'm sorry, I won't do it again."
The judge is still going to sentence him.
The answer is no.
Latter-day Saints don't believe we are a denomination of Christianity. We believe we are the nomination of Christianity.
Have him sit down with Elder David Bednar, would love to see that.♥
John 4:24
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
To worship in Spirit means that we need to have been moved from spiritual death to spiritual life; done so by repentance of sins and confessed belief in God’s provision of salvation through Jesus Christ.
To Worship in truth means that one must understand the truth of God’s revealed character and nature.
If one’s understanding (theology) of God’s character and nature does not align with what has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in The Bible, one has not been Born Again and God’s truth is not in him; therefore worship of Him is not possible.
The deity of Christ is a fundamental belief in most churches is beyond dispute and non negotiable. I think everyone who has read the bible needs to read the Book of Mormon to know the differences.
Nature of God, nature of man, scripture as an authority, how we are reconciled to God. All of these are non-negotiables.
I don't need to read the b/M or the q'ran or any other book to know the truth from the Bible that Jesus is God and our faith in Him is where we received our salvation.
@@georgebauerschmidt5289 I was directing that to those who might think Mormons could be right or considering the Book of Mormon is of God which if anyone reads it would know it's not and conflicts with the Bible
@@roughcollielover1784 anyone except for those in the cult that can't ever use critical thinking and logic anymore that is
Pastor Jeff, forgive me as an Lds member, you are real! I see it now...thank you for your journey....great for both religious faith groups.
When Jesus comes again as King of Kings to rule and reign for a thousand years, Jeff will be there, worshipping at His feet.
Joseph Smith had 50 men anoint him king of the earth during the Millennium, which they thought would soon take place.
We are commanded to only worship God. Jesus Christ must be God then?
Great conversation. Although, I doubt there is any way both Evangelicals and Latter-Day Saints could merge. One side would have to compromise deeply held convictions. We would have to forgo prophets and priesthood authority or Evangelicals would have to abandon Sola Scriptura. Neither side will budge on these beliefs. The best way forward is to accept each other's differences and work together in charitable efforts.
Well said, agreed.
36:16 This assessment was truly beautiful. I hope people from both sides can hear this and take it to heart.
Who do you say Jesus is? Assurance of salvation is only afforded to those who know Jesus as Yahweh (Rom 10:9-10). Reference Deut 6:4; Isa 45:23; Phil 2:10-11. That is what it means to be a Christian. You cannot be saved unless Jesus is Yahweh. A finite, created man can not appease the infinite wrath of the infinite God.
This message of merging, while I am sure you are sincere, lacks accuracy. I want the LDS to be saved. I want them to know the assurance of salvation that is found in Christ alone. You do not do it by leading them to believe something that simply is not true.
If you are LDS, search these Scriptures. Read the New Testament. Jesus has to be God. Jesus has to be Yahweh or we are all still in our sins.
Jesus Christ is Yahweh, GOD made flesh! Praise HIS Holy Name!❤️🔥🙏✝️🕊
God Bless you! Thank you for the courage to say the real gospel! ❤
How can two different faiths merge or join one into the other to become one church, when the God head of the two faiths are so very different. LDS believe God the father is one and Jesus Christ the son is two and the holy Ghost is three without body.The evangelical believe the father and the son and the holy spirit are one and the same.
But many Christian denominations teach that God is "3 persons" and a person is a being according to dictionary definitions. That is contrary to both the scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Mormon which teach that there is only one God, and that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is one God. I agree that the LDS don't teach that.
2 Nephi 13:32 (31:21 LDS)
And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
Mormon 3:29
And He hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, Whereby he that is found guiltless before Him at the judgment day hath it given unto them to dwell in the presence of God in His kingdom, To sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above unto the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Ghost, which is one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
D&C LDS 20:28, RLDS 17:5h
Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
Book of Mormon - Testimony of the Three Witnesses
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris.
I respectfully disagree if I'm right in understand the context you are referencing. do you believe or understand that LDS faith teaches that Jesus Christ because of his infinite atonement is the God of this universe. His father "Elohim" is the God of everything as far as we know in this estate or dispensation. We are taught that there will be many Gods throughout the eternities. @@joesimpson9230
@@patriot8087 Yes, the LDS are taught the falsehood of many Gods despite what the scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Mormon say. The scriptures teach that:
1. there is only one God, and will only ever be one God
2. the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one God
3. Jesus Christ is God
4. Jesus Christ is both the Father (because of His Spirit in Him) and the Son (because of His flesh).
LDS don't teach that because the leaders are apostate from the truth.
When Jesus was on the cross, and he said father forgive them they know what they do. who was he talking too? himself. @@joesimpson9230
@@patriot8087 The Son (humanness) of Jesus praying to the Father (Spirit and God). That same Spirit of God dwells in Jesus Christ.
Luke 10:23 Inspired Version (Joseph Smith Translation)
All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it.
Mosiah 8:28-32 RLDS (15:1-5 LDS)
And now Abinadi saith unto them: "I would that ye should understand that God Himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem His people; And because He dwelleth in flesh, He shall be called the Son of God; And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son - The Father, because He was conceived by the power of God, and the Son, because of the flesh, thus becoming the Father and Son, And They are one God, yea, the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth - And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to the temptation, But suffereth Himself to be mocked and scourged and cast out and disowned by His people.
Mosiah 5:44 (7:27 LDS)
And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning;
Mosiah 8:91 (16:15 LDS)
Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, which is the Very Eternal Father. Amen.
Alma 8 (11:38-39 LDS)
93 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: "Is the Son of God the Very Eternal Father?"
94 And Amulek saith unto him: "Yea, He is the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth and all things which in them is;
95 He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;
Alma 8 79-82, 104 RLDS (11:26-29 LDS)
And Zeezrom saith unto him: "Thou sayest there is a true and a living God?"
And Amulek saith: "Yea, there is a true and a living God."
Now Zeezrom saith: "Is there more than one God?"
And he answered: "No."
And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, To be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
3 Nephi 1 LDS
12 “And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son-of the Father because of me and of the son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.”
Ether 1 (3 LDS)
72 And the Lord said unto him: "Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon Me flesh and blood;
77 Behold I Am He which was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem My people Behold I Am Jesus Christ I Am the Father and the Son.
80 "Seest thou that ye are created after Mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after Mine own image;
81 Behold, this body which ye now behold is the body of My Spirit; And man have I created after the body of My Spirit; And even as I appear unto thee to be in the Spirit, will I appear unto My people in the flesh."
101 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in Me, " saith the Lord, "even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in Me, Then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all My revelations, " saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth and all things that in them is.
107 And I Am the same that leadeth men to all good."He that will not believe My words will not believe Me, that I Am; And he that will not believe Me will not believe the Father which sent Me;
108 For behold, I Am the Father; I Am the light and the life and the truth of the world.
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
John 14:8-11
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Urgent emergency please join me in prayer for all those affected people children animals suffering hurting all the world having all medical problems having difficult situations paying bills paying rent evictions homeless hungry prayers for the lost to get saved facing all difficult situations fighting to survive keep the faith God will show you the way in the end we will be victorious with the Lord praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you All...
"...'Till all come to a unity of the faith." When Christ reigns on Earth, I think we'll find that real ecumenism may be much easier than we had previously believed. I think your efforts, Pastor Jeff, will be a noteworthy part in pushing that along.
Bless you for your efforts, compassion, and patience.
Pastor Jeff, I wonder if one of your friends from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has shared with you the Articles of Faith in Pearl of Great Price. If not, please read and understand Articles of Faith verse 13, every time I listen to your perspective about the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and see you being a great example of "seek and you shall find." In the Articles of Faith verse thirteen, and at this point, I am going to rephrase just the last sentence of this verse that says, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." The restored gospel which is the Book of Mormon is that virtuous and praiseworthy significance and of good report to seek after...
What I love regardless of a "merger" is that you two are demonstrating the first two great commandments of Love God and love your neighbor as themselves. When two or more are gathered in a righteous cause, that's where He will be. It's not our job to try and convince others that their faith needs to "look different." It's just our job to truly love each other. I enjoy listening to discussions between people of different faiths when they can be mature and kind without trying to prove something. Thanks for the great listen! ❤
36:35 wow, very well said! "At the end of the day, all doctrine aside, your hope is in Christ and Christ alone."
Which Christ are you talking about?
@@hollayevladimiroff131 I assume the one who is God and the Son of God...who created all things and is the only name by which we can be saved.
3 Nephi 4:42-44 RLDS (9 LDS)
Yea, verily I say unto you, If ye will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold I am Jesus Christ, the son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
Book of Mormon Title page:
And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations.
2 Nephi 11 RLDS (2 Nephi 25 LDS)
"Yea, behold, I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven, save it be this Jesus Christ of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved."
@evladimiroff131 Well, I would point first to 13:00 of this video. And then I would add to it with the Jesus Christ who taught us to love one another, who taught us to do unto each other as we’d have done to ourselves, to always seek to do good & be a good Samaritan, and who we all owe our salvation to by which there’s no other way we can be saved & enter into Heaven. In watching a number of Hello Saints videos over the past several months, I’ve come to better realize there’s far more in common than not between “LDS” and other Christian sects. The topic of the nature of God and the Trinity is important & I respect that, but it also shouldn’t affect how we treat each other. I have a number of friends and co-workers of differing faiths within and outside of Christianity and we all get along extremely well and respect each other’s differences. If you’re asking which religion I’m a member of, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I would love to hear you two discuss Matthew chapter 25 verses 31-46. To hear similarities and differences of each understanding.
I grew up knowing Jesus Christ was the focus of the church.. it is odd to me that others think it is the ordinances that save you. The ordinances are important things to do to show our love for Jesus Christ, and are like an entrance gate to heaven, but it is Christ who saves us through repentance and following the Holy Spirit.
There is only one gate, and temple ordinances are not part of it.
2 Nephi 13:24-32 (2 Nephi 31 LDS)
For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, And then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost, And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, Ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son,
And ye have received the Holy Ghost which witnesses of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which He hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
And now my beloved brethren, after that ye have got into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done.
Behold, I say unto you, Nay; For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in Him, Relying wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, Having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men.
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, "Behold, " thus saith the Father, "ye shall have eternal life."
And now behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way, And there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.
And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
Brillant discussion!
I think a good study of whether we could merge would be the Community of Christ. They started as the restored church, and over the years, they have softened many of their restorationist doctrines to the point that they are basically an evangelical church now.
There's NO way we'd give up the Book of Mormon! Just like there's no way we'd give up the Holy Bible.
If lds had to choose only one book, im 1,000% that they would choose the Book of Mormon instead of the Bible.
I highly doubt that lds would choose the bible over the book of mormon.
@@Compulsive-Elk7103 Thankfully we don't have to choose. NT first 4 gospels are most important to me.
The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible. 😥
@@Elizabeth-rk3do I've studied both extensively and have found no contradictions.
@@stephtimms1776 In the Bible, it took over 183,000 men seven years to build Solomon's temple.
In the Book of Mormon, a few men built a replica of Solomon's temple soon after they arrived.
******
According to the Bible, God commanded that only one temple was to be built. It must be in Jerusalem. There was only one high priest at a time.
In the Book of Mormon, there are multiple temples and multiple high priests.
********
According to the Bible, God never cursed anyone with dark skin. Dark skin can not turn white.
According to the Book of Mormon, God cursed people with dark skin. Dark skin can turn white. 3 Nephi 2:15
Quite unlikely, even with the best of intentions. The LDS congregation would need to abandon the Book of Mormon and Doctrines & Covenants completely and then start changing their minds about a number of basic doctrines. My brother was a member and pastor of the Worldwide Church of God (H W Armstrong). After the founder died, the church went through a major time of transformation, the other side of which involved half of the congregations becoming evangelical and half sticking with the erroneous teachings of their founder. My brother thankfully went with the changes. This is a very unique example of such a process and heretical as Armstrong was, it was mild compared to Joseph Smith. So all in all, by the grace of God it's not impossible, but there would be so much change, so much forsaking and renouncing involved, I think it would be improbable. Good to hear someone is trying though.
It is not possible for both churches to merge. There are principles you will not give up and we definitely will not give up ours. We believe in God and his son Jesus Christ Christ as you do. But our beliefs are different in that God wants you and I back to live with him again. He has given us the road map of how to do this through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Our church is the way he has set up. This is what we believe. This is the WAY!
LDS teach a "Covenant Path" that requires paying tithing to get temple recommends to perform rituals in fine sanctuaries in order to achieve exaltation. But Jesus Christ taught the Doctrine of Christ. The Doctrine of Christ is the way.
2 Nephi 13:24-32 (2 Nephi 31 LDS)
For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, And then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost, And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, Ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son,
And ye have received the Holy Ghost which witnesses of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which He hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
And now my beloved brethren, after that ye have got into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done.
Behold, I say unto you, Nay; For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in Him, Relying wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, Having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men.
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, "Behold, " thus saith the Father, "ye shall have eternal life."
And now behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way, And there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.
And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, And the only and true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God without end. Amen.
No
I’m so confused. We worship different God’s. How could we merge? According to the LDS website for all to view, LDS worship a God that was once one of us regular people that became exalted. So he had a beginning. If he was like me he lied, he stole, has had lust in his heart (adultery according to Jesus). So the LDS church worships a liar, adulterous thief. Like me. I believe God never had a beginning, like OUR Bible says. I believe he has always been perfect. He is not now nor ever has been guilty of any sin. Ever. This is not a who’s right and who’s wrong. We worship a different God. Both Jeff and the LDS Church will attest to this. So what is the point in a talk of merging. And I didn’t even get into what Jeff said about the true mission of Christ. If Jesus is the one in only way to the father, and we worship a different father then why are we even talking about this?
Agreed!!!!❤
I am never afraid to open up about anything.
As a Latter-Day Saint, I would love to see a day when there would be a mutual understanding and appreciation for the beliefs of both sides. Personally, I think most Latter-Day Saints are closer to that middle ground. In spite of any belief differences, I feel that the beliefs of Latter-Day Saints and Evangelicals are a lot closer aligned than most would think.
The sets of beliefs are really not, because Jesus is God and there is only one God.
Christians do not believe in a created Jesus, not going to happen. Jesus always was, the Alpa and the Omega.
I love your points about what is important to the Lord, and how its the individual, qnd then how its important to keep a discussion open, rather than giving a definitive yes/no
Example of coming together in Christ. No need for discomfort
This is revealing, it shows you how important the Spirit is. Imagine being a pastor and still not seeing what is right in front of you ¿¿
Imagine thinking you could ever measure up to God's standard of perfection? Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect.
The true and living God offers forgiveness of sins, salvation, eternal life, and exaltation for free if you are interested. That is how much God loves you. ❤️
@@Elizabeth-rk3do So you believe the process of sanctification is all about "measuring up to God’s standard of perfection" ¿¿
@@Elizabeth-rk3do What are some of the intended fruits of the gospel my friend?
@John-jh9ud One of the fruits would be that you would read your Bible through every year.
John 17:17 Thy word is truth.
I Peter 1 The word of the Lord endures forever.
There will be no Book of Mormon in heaven.
Another fruit would be that you wouldn't charge people 10% of their income to get to the 'celestial level ' of heaven. After all, there are no levels of heaven. Jesus Christ never required 10% of anyone's income. Remember the blind man, the lame, the lepers, the woman at the well, the demon possessed man, the thief on the cross .........? Do you recall Jesus charging them 10% of their income?
You also would not require a worthiness interview. No one is worthy of heaven. Everyone is born spiritually dead in their sins, children of disobedience, children of wrath, and without hope in the world. Ephesians 2
Do you think Jesus Christ would ask questions of a s-xual nature to an eleven year old or stand at temple doors checking for valid temple recommends?
Do you recall Jesus Christ promising men a harem of women on their own planet if they followed all the laws and ordinances of the LDS church? Christ has already told us that there will be no sex, marriages, or families in heaven. Furthermore, all liars will have their part in the lake, which burns with fire. 🔥 Revelation 21:8
Not lying to people would be one of the fruits.
Not committing idolatry would be another fruit. When you worship a god that comes from another planet and lives near a star named Kolob instead of the Creator, the true and living God, you are an idolater.
Not committing blasphemy would be another fruit. When you mock God and say that he is an exalted man who had to work his way to Godhood, practices polygamy, and damns people who deny the eternal principle of polygamy, you are mocking God.
The true and living God is eternal. Psalm 90:2 God has always been God and never had to work his way to Godhood. God doesn't damn people who deny the eternal principle of polygamy. (D&C 132)
@John-jh9ud The word sanctification means set apart. It had several meanings. It is a lifelong process of becoming Christlike.
"Without holiness, no man shall see God."
Some Latter Day Saints are offended when they are told they are NOT Christians. It just shows the ignorance of others of our beliefs.
It’s interesting to hear about how evangelicals see the Latter-day Saints as having added so much because of their prophets and scriptures, when I often see evangelicals as having added so much outside of prophets and scriptures.
Please, do share. Pull out your king James Bible, and show me what has been added. I mean we have noon, since it was written, added words in the original 1600 writing in order to make the story readable. Go ahead I’ll wait. In fact, how about you take the time to learn Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic and translate them for us.
@@dfoster4234 ,For instance, I have heard dozens of evangelicals add to Revelations 22:19 the idea that God will not reveal any more scriptures.
That’s a major change in a prophesy that warns you that you will be cursed if you change it…
If that’s a universal addition to the Book of Revelation among Evangelicals it seems pretty serious.
LDS apostles have taught that Jesus came to earth to work out HIS OWN salvation , and that LDS church members should NOT have a personal relationship with Jesus . “ Now I know that some may be offended at the counsel that they should not strive for a special and personal relationship with Christ.“
“Our Relationship with the Lord “ by BRUCE R. MCCONKIE
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles March 2.1982
I’m just gonna throw this out there, because I’m sure someone is wondering. There are a lot of Latter Day Saints who DO NOT like Romney politically. We don’t hold water for him just because he’s a member of our faith. There are some cringy weirdo Latter Day Saints who call him the 13th apostle😖😖 I personally find him cringy, swampy, and he has a pole up his keister. He is a child of god, and I don’t wish him harm, but my goodness he annoys me.
Sorry for bringing up politics. I suspect pastor Jeff likes him because of his hair style 😜 😂
That’s gonna be a big “hell no”. A kingdom divided against itself can’t stand.
As we all come to Christ in earnest then we should all be able to move towards one another.
Excellent conversation. I'd like to see Pastor Jeff and Bishop Francon visit together the Humanitarian Center and a Bishop storehouse and discuss (even on location) a merger at that level. That would result in an incredible blessing for all, especially those in need.
One of the fundamental components of true faith is a correct understanding of the attributes of God. This includes a correct understanding of His perfected, tangible body and the perfection of his omnipotence, omniscience, etc.
If they try, I'm running, not walking, to the exit!
One of the best so far! I really like the way Pastor Jeff said sometimes there is no answer … the questions don’t mean the same thing, 🤔😳👍🙏. Awesome. Also you mention (I think) one of the guys who wrote ‘How Wide the Divide’ … excellent book although over 25 years old now … how’d that happen, lol 😂 😂😂Thanks again for what you are doing.
As far as understanding what one another's beliefs are, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not good at speaking about our beliefs in a way that other religions can understand them. If this problem could be overcame, i truly believe that it would be easier to work together in the love of Jesus Christ. Especially since there are, in actuality, a lot more things in common than different between us. Yes, there are definite differences that we most likely wont agree on, but overall, if we worked harder at having respectful discussions as Pastor Jeff and others do, we would have less contention.
Contention is NOT the love of Christ. Is anyone truly following Jesus if we treat each other poorly?
Jesus Christ never wanted us to be on our own. So He gave us each other to strengthen each other. If we were more willing to open our hearts and ears to listen to the truths that are being said and be better at understanding we would be happier.
Listening to others' beliefs and understanding them does not mean you have to believe in the same!
Pastor Jeff, I am a convert to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I converted from Baptist when I was 38 years old. I never heard that there will never be any more prophets or more scriptures. Where did you learn that? I am not asking to start an argument, I am asking because I really do not know where that teaching came from.
Luke 16:16 The prophets were until John.
Hebrews 1
Jesus Christ is our living Prophet, Priest, and King!
@@Elizabeth-rk3do I just read both of the scriptures you referenced. Neither say there will never be any more prophets nor scriptures. I can kind of see how Luke 16:16 can reference the great apostasy that is described Amos 8:11-12.
@@ronaldblackwell Amos was written to the nation of Israel.
I Timothy 4:1 Some will fall away.
Jesus Christ said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. Matthew 16:18
I know what the true, original church taught and believed just by reading the epistles of Paul. It was nothing like what the LDS church teaches.
God bless you.
Learning about the faith without a genuine desire to apply / test out the doctrine of Christ is SHALLOW. Genuine learning and awareness follows applying / receiving the doctrine of Christ with an honest heart.