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Then I wonder what the Father thought of Jesus' use of wine, of his creation of wine at the Wedding of Cana, and his subsequent use of wine in the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. If alcohol use is indeed a sin, then Jesus is a sinner.
However, you'll notice that I never called drinking alcohol a sin. I term "sin" as being something that is eternally and morally wrong. Something that was as wrong at the time of Adam as it is today. I believe God has laws that are for certain people at a certain time. For example, the Law of Moses. It was God's law for a long time. But is eating pork a sin?
In the same way, the Word of Wisdom applies to us today, and not to all the people who lived before it was given.
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I think the Nicene, Apostolic, and Athanasian Creeds do a pretty good job of it. Other than that, I'd have to say I've seen plenty of misinterpretations of Scripture that seem to cause a great deal of the confusion you speak of. I, like Luther before me, do not believe the Scriptures themselves are so obscure as to be beyond understanding, only that there are some people who, not knowing them as well as they should, or who, instead of submitting to its truth, twist what it says to suit their agendas or ideals. The solution: study the text. The whole text. Consult original languages to clarify ambiguities. I find that helps tremendously.
I tend to agree with you here. As a church, we have been studying the Old Testament this year and it does help to read the entire text, as you say. I'm just saying that your interpretation of what a verse means may be very different from what a Catholic thinks it means.
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In that case, why doesn't the LDS simply accept the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds?
Simply put, because we believe these creeds were the products of men and not the result of revelation from God. I'm not even sure that the councils who developed these creeds claimed to be inspired. The creeds were constructed more as a result of political expediency, if I understand correctly.
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So basically, you're saying that the church during the 1800 years prior to Joseph Smith was not authorized to baptize? And if that is not the case, then why should we orthodox Christians trust that this Joseph Smith and the LDS Church's authority now supersedes the authority once given to us?
We believe that the authority to act in God's name is given by the laying on of hands from one who already has this authority. We also believe that with this chain was broken by the death of the apostles chosen by Christ, and that the true church of God was lost from the earth. We call this time the Apostasy.
Joseph Smith, in translating the Book of Mormon, came across a verse that stressed being baptized by someone with the authority. He knew that none of the churches on earth had that authority, so as he usually did, he inquired of the Lord through prayer. In response to this question, John the Baptist, as a resurrected being, appeared and gave him, through the laying on of hands, the authority to baptize. We call this the Aaronic Priesthood, after Aaron, Moses' brother.
Wikipedia wrote:
At the time when the tribe of Levi was set apart for the priestly service, Aaron was anointed and consecrated to the priesthood, arrayed in the robes of his office, and instructed in its manifold duties (Exodus 28 and 29)
Since this time, the chain has not been broken, and every priesthood holder in the church can trace their authority back to John the Baptist.
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I have been baptized in the name of the Triune God, and not into the LDS. Are you claiming that my baptism is not valid, even though it is the same baptism that our Lord gave to the Apostles?
Again, I do not mean to offend, Didymus. But we believe that "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:14) While mode of baptism is important, even more important is the authority with which someone is baptized. Living a righteous life or just asking for this authority is not enough.
For anyone who's still reading at this point, the Mormon faith boils down to this. Was Joseph Smith a prophet of God? If yes, then you must accept all he taught. If no, then you can ignore everything he taught. And the easiest way to find out if Joseph Smith was a prophet?
Read the Book of Mormon. Read it, and pray to know if it is true. Ask God to tell you if the book contains His words. Ask Him if Joseph Smith was chosen to be a prophet.
The Book of Mormon wrote:
3. Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
The entire Book of Mormon is found
here. I can also arrange to have a free copy sent to you (this goes for anyone) if you'd like. If you'd like two missionaries to come answer any questions you might have, I can arrange that, too. If not, we can just send the book, no strings attached.
To finish off this altogether too long post, I'm going to quote part of the testimony of Joseph Smith regarding his confusion as a young boy about religion.
Joseph Smith wrote:
Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester (New York), there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, “Lo, here!” and others, “Lo, there!” Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist.
For, notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions.
I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father’s family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.
During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was bright and who was wrong.
My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.
In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be aright, which is it, and how shall I know it?
While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.
At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear 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 (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—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; 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.”
He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?
I know Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer and Savior of all mankind. I know the Bible is the word of God and contains the words of prophets, men called of God to teach His people the truth. I also know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains the words of prophets just as the Bible does. I know Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the fullness of the gospel of Christ to God's children today. I know that everyone who asks God through prayer whether this is all true will receive an answer. The answer may not come immediately, but it will come.
And I know it's up to each and every one of to ask.
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