Hi Dave,
I un-subscribed from TT, mainly to see if I could do so without
a hassle. But since, it has been like a breath of fresh air not having
to deal with all those posts, so I have just stayed off. I will
probably re-subscribe after I get a chance to breathe freely.
Regards the current controversy over what I might have intended
when I kept "hanging my hat" on the church's growth, I need to clarify
somewhat. Actually, you have done it for me pretty much, as what you
have presumed I meant is about what I did mean . . . I was just showing
that the church was coming out of obscurity and into the light of day.
I recall a post from Kevin or Perry once, challenging me to show ONE
prophecy Joseph Smith had made that had come true. I went to the FIRST
section of the D&C, verse 30 and quoted the following:
"... (the leaders of the church) might have power to lay the
foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and
out of darkness, . . . "
That has definitely happened, and is even more a reality today
than before. As you indicated, the total numbers and the growth rate
are good signs, but definitely not any indication by themselves that
the church is the one true church. Kevin, as usual, tried to make what
I said appear to mean something he could then easily attack, and Perry
did the same, I believe, with most of the rest of TT'rs happily lining
up with these two of their foremost GURUS. These people don't seem to
want to just discuss a topic, they want to set up little straw men
which can be toppled with ease. As with you, I feel I never get into a
genuine discussion--I just spend my time trying to clarify issues that
have been muddled around beyond recognition. I use the word
"presumptuous" a lot. :>)
I will forward this to JD as well, and if you want you can post
it. I will probably be back shortly--I can't let Kevin and Perry get
the upper hand, can I? LOL
Blaine
In a message dated 8/1/2005 11:50:22 P.M. Mountain Standard
Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
deegan and I are
clearly not in the same boat BUT. I do think you are missing the point
he is making on this, DH. blaine has hung his hat (not entirely,
of course) on Mormorn growth
rate
DAVEH: I didn't quite see it that way. If Blaine believes that
growth rate alone reflects truth, I'd say he is using some pretty
screwed up logic as well. Perhaps he can clarify what he was saying.
Looking at the posts below in this thread, I was correcting what I
perceived to be outdated material you submitted, and Blaine was
updating the information even more. Relative to these posts, Blaine
made no comment about the relationship between the growth rate and its
trueness. Kevin pulled some quotes from other posts that made it seem
like (and Kevin implied that) Blaine was saying that the LDS Church is
true because of its rapid growth. I don't think that is what Blaine
said or implied at all. But....let's let him respond, as we (you,
Kevin and me) have our biases that affect our thinking processes.
