If you found out that the Golden Plates never existed, would you still be a Mormon? - Page 2 - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Flystripper · 09-14-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I think this is an interesting question. How literal does Joseph Smith's story have to be for you to believe that the Church is true, or that being part of the Church is still worth it?

If there were no plates it is a bunch of lies.

SoonerCoug · 09-14-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

I've posted about this many times...

I just think it's interesting that some Mormons would cease to be Mormon if the Golden Plates didn't exist, yet they don't cease to be Mormon because the Pearl of Great Price wasn't a literal translation.

The entire phenomenon fascinates me.

SoonerCoug · 09-14-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flystripper

If there were no plates it is a bunch of lies.

I totally disagree.

I'm convinced that Joseph Smith believed that his teachings were true and inspired by God.

He could have been simultaneously mentally ill/genius/inspired or a combination of two of the three.

Flystripper · 09-14-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I totally disagree.

I'm convinced that Joseph Smith believed that his teachings were true and inspired by God.

Then why lie about plates that did not exist? Why rope 11 other people into his lies?

SoonerCoug · 09-14-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flystripper

Then why lie about plates that did not exist? Why rope 11 other people into your lies?

It's not a lie if you believe it's really happening.

MikeWaters · 09-14-2007, 07:30 PM

The Anthon Transcript argues against the plates being just present in a temporary vision, or being non-literal in conception to JS and his followers.

Flystripper · 09-14-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

The Anthon Transcript argues against the plates being just present in a temporary vision, or being non-literal in conception to JS and his followers.

interesting....why perpetuate the lie then? Why pretend to have actual plates when translating. (At least according to Emma and Oliver.)

myboynoah · 09-14-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I just think it's interesting that some Mormons would cease to be Mormon if the Golden Plates didn't exist, yet they don't cease to be Mormon because the Pearl of Great Price wasn't a literal translation.

I think you're talking two differnt things there.

Chapel-Hill-Coug · 09-14-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

The Anthon Transcript argues against the plates being just present in a temporary vision, or being non-literal in conception to JS and his followers.

This is news to me. I'm being genuine here. How does it argue against it?

Sleeping in EQ · 09-14-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I just think it's interesting that some Mormons would cease to be Mormon if the Golden Plates didn't exist, yet they don't cease to be Mormon because the Pearl of Great Price wasn't a literal translation.

The entire phenomenon fascinates me.

Indeed.

I am clearly in the "I would still be a Mormon" camp, as I am still Mormon and am glad to be. If you ask me to address the issues of the Golden Plates with reason and evidence, I'll tell you that the odds are long against them being what most Mormons have taken them to be. If you ask whether the BoM both emblemizes and teaches things that are invaluable to me in my search for truth, I can answer that the BoM has only bolstered my faith in the divine.

View Poll Results: If you found out that the Golden Plates never existed, would you still be a Mormon?
Yes, the literalness of Joseph Smith's claims don't matter to me.	4	14.29%
Yes, but it would change the way I view the Church.	9	32.14%
No, I couldn't accept the Church as true in such a scenario.	10	35.71%
I'm not a Mormon.	5	17.86%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

09-14-2007, 07:30 PM	#16
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	The Anthon Transcript argues against the plates being just present in a temporary vision, or being non-literal in conception to JS and his followers.