DAVEH wrote: > In theory, if LDS theology is correct...... > their logic is not "ahead of the truth", it > is the truth.
Glenn wrote: > DavidM - I would like you to comment on this > statement that "logis IS truth". . Please. Logic is not truth. Logic is a pathway that leads to conclusions that may or may not be truth. Logic is always based upon established premises, and the conclusions, therefore, depend upon the reliability of the premises. For example, if I say all dogs have four legs, and Fido is a dog, then we can conclude by logic that Fido has four legs. The conclusion is based upon the premise that all dogs have four legs and it is perfectly logical. If Fido had lost a leg in an accident, then the conclusion is false even though the logic is correct. The logic is dependent upon the premise being correct, that all dogs have four legs. The problem about the Godhead is that we have little or no observations upon which to estabish premises. None of us have been to heaven. Therefore, logic is of very limited use in answering this question. This appears even more obvious if we understand that God has a desire that men believe in him by faith rather than logical proof. If God desires faith, then it seems clear that he will allow some things to be a mystery, which means that some things might be understood internally, but we are not able to explain it well with words. In other words, for this question about the Godhead, faith and the spirit become more important pathways to truth than logic. This is not to say that the Godhead is illogical, but only that logic alone as a pathway can't get to the understanding desired. I believe what Mormonism has done is invented certain premises which are accepted without question. For example, they teach that all humans had a premortal existence and that Jesus was the first spirit created in that premortal existence. If they readily accept this premise without question and develop a system of understanding from it using logic, they might construct a system of understanding that seems very logical and good for them. It might make them feel good, like they understand something, but if the premise is wrong, then the whole system is just imaginary and has no real use in the real world. They might feel that their system is more logical and clear, but they don't seem to realize that they are uncritically accepting the premises for their system based upon the word of a few polygamists that they accept as prophets telling the truth. If the prophets simply made up these premises, then their whole system, while logical, is completely false. That is why I think this book of Abraham information is important in showing how Joseph Smith lied about his ability to translate Egyptian. He lied about what these documents were that were with these mummies. They were not the books of Abraham and Joseph. They were standard funeral documents. If he lied about this, then he was a con man and not a prophet. I would like to know if the Mormons accept this latter logic of mine. If Joseph Smith lied about the book of Abraham, would you accept the conclusion then that he was a con man and not a prophet of the Lord? Yes or no? Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
