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All (140) Scripture Commentary (17) Mike Winger (123)

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-31

LDS apologist argument #4: we don't know enough about Egyptology yet — future discoveries might vindicate Smith

Fourth main LDS apologetic response

Joseph Smith Book of Abraham Egyptology

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

Harold Camping's 1994 prediction: when it failed, he claimed it was 'spiritual' — the Holy Spirit left all denominations

Camping's first major public end-times prediction was 1994. His response to failure set a pattern.

false prophecy Holy Spirit Harold Camping

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Joseph Smith is the founder and first prophet of Mormonism, and his revelations form the doctrinal basis of the faith.

Background on Joseph Smith before quoting him directly from the King Follett sermon.

Mormonism prophetic authority Joseph Smith

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

The King Follett Sermon: delivered April 7, 1844 at a funeral with ~20,000 present; Joseph Smith claimed to speak under inspiration to 'all ye ends of the earth.'

Mike introduces the King Follett Sermon as the primary documentary source for Mormon theology about the nature of God.

Joseph Smith King Follett Sermon prophetic inspiration

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

King Follett Sermon quote: 'God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man' — Joseph Smith teaches that God's pre-divine humanity is the 'great secret.'

Direct quotation from the King Follett Sermon establishing the Mormon doctrine that God was once a mortal man.

Joseph Smith God was once a man King Follett Sermon

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Joseph Smith teaches that God lived on another earth, was born, lived, died, and was resurrected — just like Jesus — before becoming God.

Continuation of the King Follett Sermon quote, extending the doctrine that God was once a man by drawing an explicit parallel with the life of Jesus.

Joseph Smith God was once a man King Follett Sermon

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Joseph Smith misuses a Jesus quote to argue that the Father 'laid down his body' just as Jesus did — Mike identifies this as 'bad Bible study.'

Mike critiques Smith's exegetical method in the King Follett Sermon, where Smith splices two separate Jesus quotes to derive the doctrine of the Father's mortality.

hermeneutics proof-texting Joseph Smith

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Book of Abraham (Pearl of Great Price), chapter 4: creation is described as 'the gods' organizing matter — explicitly polytheistic and not ex nihilo.

Mike reads from official Mormon scripture to demonstrate the polytheistic view of creation embedded in LDS canonical texts.

Joseph Smith Book of Abraham Pearl of Great Price

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

King Follett Sermon quote: Joseph Smith mocks orthodox scholars for teaching creation ex nihilo, claiming special knowledge via the Holy Ghost.

Direct quotation from the King Follett Sermon on creation, where Smith attacks the ex nihilo doctrine and claims superior knowledge.

Joseph Smith King Follett Sermon creation ex nihilo

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Joseph Smith's claim that 'bara' means 'organize' is inaccurate; traditional Jewish and Christian scholarship has consistently supported ex nihilo creation.

Mike briefly rebuts Smith's Hebrew argument, pointing to the scholarly consensus and encouraging viewers to research it themselves.

hermeneutics Joseph Smith creation ex nihilo

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

King Follett Sermon quote: 'you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves... from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation' — eternal life is progressive deification.

Joseph Smith's direct teaching on exaltation from the King Follett Sermon, framing godhood as the telos of Mormon salvation.

Joseph Smith King Follett Sermon eternal progression

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Mormon definition of the gospel: a complex set of new teachings restored by Joseph Smith that must be learned and performed — not 'good news' but a difficult path.

The Mormon gospel adds a body of doctrine and performance requirements that make it not 'good news' in any conventional sense.

Pharisaism Joseph Smith works-based salvation

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Q&A: Most Mormons are not convinced by intellectual arguments — they are committed emotionally through 'testimony,' an emotionally validated belief experience.

Viewer question: 'What would Mike suggest to say to a Mormon to convince them that Christianity is truth?'

epistemology Mormon testimony burning in the bosom

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Strategy for reaching Mormons: question the reliability of the 'burning in the bosom' as a source of truth, then lead them toward evidence-based epistemology.

Mike describes his personal approach to engaging Mormons who are emotionally committed to their 'testimony.'

Joseph Smith evidence-based faith epistemology

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-03

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LDS apologist argument #4: we don't know enough about Egyptology yet — future discoveries might vindicate Smith

Harold Camping's 1994 prediction: when it failed, he claimed it was 'spiritual' — the Holy Spirit left all denominations

Joseph Smith is the founder and first prophet of Mormonism, and his revelations form the doctrinal basis of the faith.

The King Follett Sermon: delivered April 7, 1844 at a funeral with ~20,000 present; Joseph Smith claimed to speak under inspiration to 'all ye ends of the earth.'

King Follett Sermon quote: 'God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man' — Joseph Smith teaches that God's pre-divine humanity is the 'great secret.'

Joseph Smith teaches that God lived on another earth, was born, lived, died, and was resurrected — just like Jesus — before becoming God.

Joseph Smith misuses a Jesus quote to argue that the Father 'laid down his body' just as Jesus did — Mike identifies this as 'bad Bible study.'

Book of Abraham (Pearl of Great Price), chapter 4: creation is described as 'the gods' organizing matter — explicitly polytheistic and not ex nihilo.

King Follett Sermon quote: Joseph Smith mocks orthodox scholars for teaching creation ex nihilo, claiming special knowledge via the Holy Ghost.

Joseph Smith's claim that 'bara' means 'organize' is inaccurate; traditional Jewish and Christian scholarship has consistently supported ex nihilo creation.

King Follett Sermon quote: 'you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves... from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation' — eternal life is progressive deification.

Mormon definition of the gospel: a complex set of new teachings restored by Joseph Smith that must be learned and performed — not 'good news' but a difficult path.

Q&A: Most Mormons are not convinced by intellectual arguments — they are committed emotionally through 'testimony,' an emotionally validated belief experience.

Strategy for reaching Mormons: question the reliability of the 'burning in the bosom' as a source of truth, then lead them toward evidence-based epistemology.

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