cms@gatech.edu (09/17/90)
I have a copy of a Book of Mormon Critical Text, however, I am
hunting for a critical text of the Pearl of Great Price. Does anyone
know where I can obtain such a copy without (cough) encouraging
further mailings from the Mormon Church? Thanks in advance.
Just a note: I'm not virulently anti-Mormon like some I've seen on
the Net. I'm genuinely curious about the church. Although I've
posted much from Walter Martin, I don't consider him the last word on
Mormon beliefs :-) by a long shot. I think his scholarship deserves
more credit than he's been given, however. For example, I don't
discredit the scholarship of Martin Luther despite my disagreement
with many of his beliefs.
Also, someone earlier discredited the Spaulding theory saying that
his manuscript had been found and did not bear any relation to the
Book of Mormon. This is patently false. The most serious and
earliest proponents of the Spaulding theory never claimed that the
manuscript in their possession was the manuscript upon which the Book
of Mormon was based. Rather, it was their opinion that the manuscript
was a major revision of a since-lost earlier work and it is this
earlier work upon which the Book of Mormon is based. The theory is
_not_ discredited.
On the theory that it's possible for an individual to be a Christian
while still a member of an heretical church, I would propose that
Mormons are Christians who belong to a non-Christian church, since
they do seem to believe in Jesus Christ and His Redemptive work on the
Cross. On that basis, Arius may be in heaven right now, along with
Constantine, who was baptized by an Arian bishop.
I will say on a final note that, while I have many firm beliefs (no
one on this forum will dispute _that_ :-) ), I don't claim to have all
the answers. I look twice before I cry "heresy" but I don't think I'm
amiss in using the term in the case of Mormons; however, any Catholic
will tell you that being in heresy doesn't necessarily affect your
salvation.
--
Sincerely,
Cindy Smith
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