Melo, I know this is an emotional subject, but can you try posting your thoughts again without the controversial adjectives? Let's try to stay within the parameters of 1 Peter 3:15. Thanks!

There is nothing unethical about it, Jim. This is not your blog site. You've made some brash statements and I am giving you an opportunity to make your positions clear. You obviously don't want to answer some simple yes/no questions I have provided. If the circumstances were reversed I am confident that no LDS blog site would have been as patient with you as we have.

Abuse of power? Why Jim, I'm just giving you a dose of Mormon grace. You obey the commands and I give you the grace to stay. You of all people should understand that. So please, don't waste my time. Answer the questions I've posed. Since I'll be away from Internet connection for a few days, take your time.

Jim, it is not that I have a problem with Mormon verses that speak of grace and include the word "then." My problem is I believe words have meaning. I can cite numerous LDS leaders who make it very clear that there is a condition and a result of meeting the condition. When you say you are justified by Christ only AS you repent, forsake sin, and obey, then it makes sense that you are not justified when you fail to repent, forsake sin, or obey. This is not at all the definition of grace, since grace, by its very essence, must be unmerited.

Am I bothered by the word "then" as you say? As a person who is genuinely concerned for Mormons, yes I am, but I would think it should bother you even more because you really have no faith or assurance that the atonement is working for you at a given moment. You may be cognizant of your sins of commission, but what about sins of omission? They are still sins nonetheless. This explains perfectly why you can't give me a definite yes when I ask you "if you were to die right now, do you have the assurance if your sins are forgiven?" Now, without giving me a long run-around,

1) "How many works must a Mormon like you do to receive the grace that purifies?

2) Have you personally done enough to receive it or are you still classified as "unclean" according to the above quote? IOW, are you justified right now? "

BTW, as I explained, right now this is between you and me. I am giving you a chance to explain yourself and I will do my best to reply in a timely manner. Do not post anywhere else on Mormon Coffee until I am satisfied that you have answered my questions completely and honestly. If you do post elsewhere, they will be deleted. If you persist, you will be blocked.

Jim, you're not listening very carefully, Many Christians have attempted to answer your questions. I included. But you still maintain that no one understands Mormonism. I am giving you a platform to clarify the issues for us. This means I ask the questions and you get to answer them.

As for grace being "limited" to universal resurrection, I don't believe I said that, and if I did, I most certainly misspoke. I have often stated that salvation by grace ALONE has been described by LDS leaders as universal resurrection. I have always understood that in a Mormon context grace is coupled with an individual's works.

You said you are justified by the atonement of Christ, yet page 77 of True to the Faith, states,“Through grace, made available by the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, all people will be resurrected and receive immortality (see 2 Nephi 9:6-13). But resurrection alone does not qualify us for eternal life in the presence of God. Our sins make us unclean and unfit to dwell in God’s presence, and we need His grace to purify and perfect us ‘after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23)."

You say you are a sinner. I am too. But Alma 11:37 says God cannot save us in our sins. We both admit we need grace, but Mormons here have stated that works come before grace. How many works must a Mormon like you do to receive the grace that purifies? Have you personally done enough to receive it or are you still classified as "unclean" according to the above quote? IOW, are you justified right now?

No Jim, for the time being it's not going to work that way. You've already demonstrated your distain for what many of us here believe and hold sacred and you are certainly allowed your opinion. However, many of the posters here have served many years as former members of the LDS Church, as well as others having spent years of extensive study on the subject, and still you constantly insist none of us know what Mormonism teaches. So this is going to be your moment to clarify what you, as a Mormon, claim to believe. The rules will be very simple. Answer my questions or find a better way to spend your time. Understood?

Let's begin with the questions I've sent you before. I don't think anyone would argue that repentance is more than a "one time deal." What I'm trying to understand from you is what justifies you before God. You said that my "beliefs remove responsibility from the individual and the cost of personal disobedience." I then asked you, ""how will you be judged for your personal disobedience, I mean, you do sin, don't you? Or have you denied yourself of all ungodliness?" Since Moroni 10:32 makes it clear that denying ALL ungodliness is required before you receive the grace that is sufficient, I ask again, have you denied yourself of all ungodliness?

Not so fast, Jim. IF YOU REPENT? Are you telling all of us that you have not yet repented of your sins? Make it clear to us, Jim. Have you repented of your sins? If you were to die right now, do you have the assurance that all of your sins are forgiven?

WyomingWilly is right to question Olsenjim's assumption that evangelicals don't believe in repentance. Olsenjim's comment has no basis in fact and is intended only to inflame. My observations tell me that many of the Mormons who post here don't seem to take repentance seriously.

Guys like Iamse7en,Geoffw77, and Olsenjim come into conversations, accuse everyone they diagree with of being liars and ignorant, but when their assumptions are refuted with evidence they too often respond with more personal innuendo or scurry back into the darkness. Part of the repentance process is making amends with those you've transgressed. I don't see a lot of that from Mormons who continue to make outlandish comments here are Mormon Coffee.

For instance, Iamse7en called me a liar for one of the questions I raised for Glenn Beck and then made the unfounded conclusion that the United Order was voluntary. Myself and f_melo responded with quotes from Mormon scripture showing this was not at all true. Does Iamse7en begin his repentance process with an apology to me? No.

Geoffw77 accuses Sharon of lying in her article on the alleged expulsion of Mormons from Iceland. He announces that "HUNDREDS died fleeing their persecutors during the Missouri War. Even HUNDREDS more Mormons perished from exposure fleeing their persecutors after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyram Smith." I respond by showing that Mormon historians like Turley, Walker, and Leonard admit that the LDS Church never "made a full accounting of their casualties" and estimated deaths in the "dozens." Still a horrible atrocity, but not the exaggerated HUNDREDS mentioned by Geoffw77. On that same subject B.H. Roberts said "careful estimates" put the number at people killed at about 50. Did Geoffw77 ever have the decency to begin his repentance process by apologizing to Sharon? No. All we get are crickets chirping.

After I posted my third challenge for Olsenjim to demonstrate if he is really a forgiven commandment keeper, I wondered if I was too strong to imply that he might just be a big-talking hypocrite. In retrospect I don't think I was too strong with that implication. It seems to me that these guys are nothing more than M. Russell Ballard's trolls and I admit I am growing very weary of them.

Jim, this is no gimmick. Answer my question. You come on here always talking a good game about obedience and works. I want to know if I am communicating to an obedient, forgiven Mormon or just another big-talking hypocrite. Now, "how will you be judged for your personal disobedience, I mean, you do sin, don't you? Or have you denied yourself of all ungodliness?"

Answer my question, Jim. You made an issue about the cost of disobedience. I asked, "how will you be judged for your personal disobedience, I mean, you do sin, don't you? Or have you denied yourself of all ungodliness?"