Interesting thing about personal testimonies... When I was reading the Book of Mormon, I got a burning sensation in the area around my heart. I would say that my heart seemed to burn within me as I read. However, as I prayed to God with a sincere heart and resisted Satan (Eph. 4:7), I discerned the burning sensation to be demonic. I believe this was born out of my relationship with God as well as experiences God has given me with spiritual warfare. As Hebrews 5:14 states, discerning between good and evil requires experience: “strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

When I read the introduction to the BofM, I discerned the angel of light that appeared to JS to be an evil spirit "transformed into an angel of light" (II Cor. 11:14). My personal revelation was further confirmed as I continued to “test the spirit” (I John 4:1) of the LDS movement, its teachings, and founder with the Bible, objective evidences, and historical facts. Jesus commends the church in Ephesus (described in Revelation) because they “tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars” (Rev. 2:2). He rebuked those churches that tolerated false doctrines (Rev. 2:14-15, 2:20).

So, once again, we see the glaring difference in personal testimonies. I have a testimony that the BofM is not true, JS was not a prophet of God, and the LDS church is not the true church but, rather, I believe LDS people are being deceived by demonic spirits disguised as angels of light. How can we even discuss our differences if we appeal to personal revelations since our personal revelations are diametrically opposed to one another?

PS Perhaps if it had been Aaron in that grove of trees we might have 1 consistent record of what actually happened there!

Ralph,

In verse 25 Paul says "Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful...I say, that it is good for a man so to be."

According to this passage, there was no commandment related to celestial marriage in the 1st century church, would you agree?

Ralph,

In the context, we see Paul appealing to his apostolic authority, indicating his advice is from God. At the very end of the chapter, after he says "after my judgment," he adds "and I think also that I have the Spirit of God." Paul believed He was writing this chapter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I Cor 7, written by the Holy Spirit-inspired apostle causes no contradiction with I Timothy 4:3 or any other scripture in the Bible. It only contradicts with the LDS doctrine of celestial marriage.

I don't see any contradiction here. The 1st century apostle obviously did not believe in the doctrine of celestial marriage which is why he advocated for being single. Later, in I Timothy 4:3 he said that some would depart from the faith and would teach heretical doctrines such as "forbidding to marry." He never forbade marriage in I Cor. 7 so I don't see what the contradiction is. He certainly did not teach the LDS doctrine on celestial marriage that Sharon cited in this post, which is another reason LDS doctrines do not resemble 1st century Christian teaching.

He might have been married before or after the writing of I Cor 7, but at the time of that writing he was single and advocating the position. "For I would that all men were even as I myself... But if they cannot contain, let them marry" (I Cor. 7:7-9).

And Paul himself wasn't married (that we know of) so does this mean (according to LDS) that Paul didn't make it into the CK?

Ralph, you said "there is no real discussion - you Evs have your mindset and we LDS have ours" - I would like to have a real discussion with you. What is the LDS take on I Cor. 7? If Mormonism is a restoration of original Christianity, why did the 1st century apostle teach it was better to remain single?

Jesus gave a very definitive answer on this topic in the Bible. No hints about it so as to avoid any possibility of confusion on the issue. Job did not have 2 wives waiting for him in heaven. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven" (Matthew 22:29-30).

This doctrine of plural marriages in the CK developed out of the perverted mind of one JS so as to justify his own wicked desires. A. W. Tozer (a great American preacher and theologian of the mid-1900's) once said, "A god begotten in the shadows of a fallen heart will quite naturally be no true likeness of the true God. 'Thou thoughtest,' said the Lord to the wicked man in the psalm, 'that I was altogether such as one as thyself.' Surely this must be a serious affront to the Most High God before whom cherubim and seraphim continually do cry, 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.' Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him" (A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, pp.3-4).

Excellent post, Sharon! This doctrine is one of the more damaging, in my opinion, in terms of preventing people from believing and receiving what God has said concerning their sin, the hopelessness of their human condition, and the real reason Christ died for them. God says we must receive His only begotten Son, the Word who was made flesh, in order to become His adopted children (not his begotten children - there is only One of those). It's the pattern of Satan to question what God has said (Gen. 3:1), to twist it, and to set forth doctrines that whitewash man's deplorable, wretched condition, exalt man, and teach a different means of reconciliation than what is set forth in Scripture.

Soy Yo!! Love your comments. Welcome back to the blogosphere! :) I read your post today on your blog and was glad to see you back at it.

Aaron, Congratulations on the adoption of your little girl - what a blessing!

Hmmm...this might take some getting used to...