Fernando Enrique Santos

I belong to Jesus

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@stackerco @T_M_Mystic https://t.co/Fjtkm71Ufl

[Kirk Rollins @nicoraytruth]

The standard attack on Mormonism runs through correspondence theory. Did golden plates exist? Did Moroni appear? Is the Book of Abraham a translation or a fabrication? Line up the propositions, check them against the historical record, deliver the verdict. The entire counter-cult industry — evangelical and secular alike — operates on this method. And on this method, Mormonism is vulnerable.

But William James would say you’ve already made the decisive error. You’ve assumed that religious truth works like scientific truth — that a belief is true if and only if it corresponds to some mind-independent state of affairs, and false otherwise.

James rejected this. Not because he was soft on truth, but because he thought correspondence theory was parasitic on a deeper question it could never answer: what difference does it make?

[JoshN @joshnaa2gez]

I am in favor of a church culture that is more open to debate.

The early church was the Wild West. It was a messy, exciting period of new ideas, bad ideas and profound revelation.

Something shifted in the 20th century. We became more dogmatic. The first presidency brought the auxiliaries more under their control. We started treating the prophets as infallible- which was never the case before- and raised a generation of Mormons who learned about polygamy, etc., on their missions.

Maybe SOME of that was necessary. It was a period of stability and sustained growth.

But, I feel like we started stagnating. And then declining when the internet revealed facts many were never taught. Many were blindsided with no defense.

But, I believe the faithful millennials and Gen-Z Saints will bring about a period of greater openness, honesty, and further light and knowledge.

God will bless us in our quest for truth.

We are ready for the next stage.

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@stackerco Every time I take a pragmatic approach, (which is every single time) I get dismissed as ignorant because I’m not focused on truth claims or “the church I grew up in.” I noticed that if you dont play the game the way exmos want you to at the time they want they dismiss your voice.

[LACOBRAAA @lautarodeIcampo]

Que horrible sensación es cuando jugas al fútbol y sabes que no te da, que no servís para esto, que te dedicas a mirar fútbol las 24hs por día pero vos no podes parar una sola pelota.
Mi lugar más cómodo en el mundo es en el banco de suplentes, hasta acá llegué muchachos.

Adiós.

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf @UchtdorfDF]

The Savior’s teachings about our relationship with our Heavenly Father and with one another are straightforward: Love God and serve Him, then love our neighbors and serve them.

Don’t make it too complicated. We have received a responsibility to love all of God’s children and invite all to come and see—to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Invite them to our sacrament meeting. Keep it simple. We love, share, and invite.

My recent visit with members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica and Colombia reminded me once again that the Lord’s work is a global work. I saw so many examples of individuals who have come to a knowledge of the Savior’s gospel thanks to the love of a friend or neighbor. It was a beautiful reminder that we are all in this together.

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan Where did I say that though?

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan I don't think it is that simple as you make it sound but even if I conceded that I don't think that would be an issue. May I ask why is it so relevant to you?

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan It's evident that the church insists on historicity though I believe that´s shifting, but It's a whole different discussion to say "no actual data to support LDS Truth claims" than to say therefore nobody who has studied early christianity should remain LDS. do we agree on that?

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan The church brought this conversation upon itself, but it, like individuals, can renegotiate and redefine the terms under which it decides to play as it sees fit.

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan Historicity did matter, it continues to matter to some people and it doesn´t matter to others, it's okay, in regards to the outsider imposing the standard I'm referring specifically about your tweet where you said:

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan point that, if they were measured by those terms and fall short, it becomes secondary to the spiritual and existential purposes they fulfill. To insist on historicity and attempting to impose arbitrarily an empirical standard on members of a faith is dismissive to the actual

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan 1/2 It's true that the Church has made historical claims, some of which it has already backtracked from, but I don't think the foundational basis of the church is historical accuracy. but I would argue that faith and religion should not be confined to empirical standards, to the

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan Insisting that historical accuracy is the only valid basis for belief is not just narrow minded, it ignores the reality that belief systems can be based on personal experience, meaning, and value beyond just empirical evidence.

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@SeasonedRealist @LukeFHan Is it impossible to remain in the church if you know the historical claims are not true? Why would that be so? Who determines that?

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@stackerco Beautiful

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@GhinnaSafitry my home is in heaven, i'm just traveling through this world

[Fernando Enrique Santos @fer7xcfc]

@MURPHSLIFE Thank you! You are a big inspiration for me. My best wishes to you and your family

[Matthew L. @ProdigalSonMatt]

The most amazing and miraculous thing just happened!! So, the missionaries asked me to join them for a lesson at 6. We get there and the person was still at work and had to work overtime. So we just walked down the road and ended up at an apartment complex. We knocked on one door and gave them a card and then out of no where we hear a voice that said y’all come in! We turned around and it was my childhood best friend that I haven’t seen in years. He just moved back to town. He had a life changing experience a few years ago after he was shot and nearly died. He said he had been having dreams about 2 people sharing a message with him that he needed. He’d been having that dream for two years!! Lo and behold he says that they were dressed just like the missionaries!! We caught up, I met his family, we exchanged numbers, and we told him about Jesus and the Book of Mormon. He gladly took a copy and we are meeting next week. The spirit is amazing we just have to follow the promptings. There’s no doubt of Earth that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored church of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon is the word of God and God still speaks and calls prophets.