There are times in a persons life when what they believe to be true - is put to the question.
During these times a choice must be made - what will one believe - has one been lied to, or is one currently being deceived?
In the CES Letter - an individual has asked some interesting questions concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many if not all of these concerns have been around for long periods of time, and many of the answers that I will give even include direct links to scanned documents of refutations of the same given in the early history of the Church. These are not new concerns nor are they original research by the CES Letter site. Rather in many cases it is the same concerns, the same issues, that have been brought up again and again by many different individuals.
This site is a point by point review and respons to every concern and issue brought up in the CES Letter site. But that is not all I have and will include other apologetic writings that answer many other questions and concerns that I have heard and responded to in the past. I hope that this is of value to the reader and may build testimony in Jesus Christ, in the Plan of Salvation, and in the Book of Mormon another Testiment of Jesus Christ
This is not a debunking site - for to debunk or expose the sham of an individuals concerns, and questions is not my desire. Rather it is to answer them. It is to provide answers to their concerns which to them are very valid indeed. For they believe that these concerns demonstrate the falseness and incorrectness of the gospel of Jesus Christ taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints.
Instead of debunking the concern my desire and goal is to provide information, resources, and another point of view that demonstrates the way in which the issue isn't a concern at all, is a misrepresentation of the true doctrine, or is in some way a misunderstanding of the beliefs and doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that people aren't stupid, that if they have questions and concerns it is because at present they do not have any evidence to discount or explain them. My goal for this site is thus to provide them that evidence so that they can decide for themselves the truth.
Crisises of faith are not without precedent in the scriptures even the disciples of Jesus Christ had them - whad did they do when confronted with such things?
Jesus Teaches that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood.
John 6:50-69
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
...
66 ¶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Are we to be like those disciples that walked no more with him? This was because they received a doctrine, or commandment that they could not understand or believe and thus lost their faith. Or are we to be like Peter and profess that Jesus has the words of eternal life even if we may not understand the command or doctrine that he has just revealed!! Note that Pride and arrogance - causes this loss of faith. This was new doctrine to them. This was difficult for them to accept!
Jesus Teaches the Higher Law: Math 5:17-48 Wherever you see the words "Ye have heard that it hath been said", what he means by that is your scriptures teach this! This is what is said in the law of Moses and it is the Law through which you believe you are saved. Then he says unto them "But I say unto you" meaning that he is giving them a different doctrine, a different commandment, a different law that they should lead their lives by. This was new doctrine to them. This was difficult and hard for them to accept... they revered the law of Moses even to the point of killing people who spoke against it! Yet here was this man that was telling them to not do what Moses said but rather what he said!
What then would you have done - would you have rejected the greater counsel from Jesus Christ and continued to live the Law of Moses?
Or would you have done as the Apostles of old and exercised great faith, and patience until the truth was known.
Thus reason, logic, hermeneutics, philosophy of men, science or any empirical methodology is not the means for the gaining of a testimony of Jesus Christ. Neither are they, nor should they be the reason for the loss of that testimony. Yet we do have logical plausible/reasonable reasons for what we do believe - thus the need for a site like this to demonstrate that evidence and as a defense to the faith of those who may be doubting that plausibility.
Moroni 10:3-7, James 1:1-8
If you feel I have not fully covered the issue - or believe that I am misrepresenting the truth feel free to contact me at the following email address: admin@cesletter.info
Modified Date: 1/12/2021