Questions to Gospel Answers

Challenging questions and observations collected from my journey of faith that have played an important part in moving beyond being a life-long Mormon into full communion with the Body of Christ, which is His Church...

• Questions concerning God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost:

  • Is the central Christian doctrine of the Trinity found in the Book of Mormon?

  • Has Jesus Christ always been a God?

  • Did Jesus progress from Intelligence to Godhood?

  • Eternally Begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, Begotten not Made, One in Being with the Father?

  • Do we become the sons and daughters of God the Father or Jesus Christ?

  • Are we still living in the "Latter Days"?

  • Will Jesus ever return?

  • When will Jesus return?

  • Did Christ establish Baptism goals for his Apostles?

  • Comments on Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B.H. Roberts.

• Questions concerning the Virgin Mary:

  • Did the Virgin Mary have other children after Jesus?

  • Why is a formulaic version of the Jesus Prayer (dating back to the 5th century) included in the Book of Mormon?

• Questions concerning the Angels and Saints:

  • What happened to Guardian Angels?

  • Are the Pioneers becoming the "Saints" of Mormonism?

• Questions concerning the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper:

  • Why were Brigham Young's efforts to bring back the use of wine in the sacrament discontinued after 1897?

  • Was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper always just symbolic of the Body and Blood of Christ?

  • Did the Nephites have access to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer?

  • How did we overlook that we should all kneel as the sacrament is being blessed?

• Questions concerning the influence of the Bible on Joseph Smith:

  • Plagiarism?

  • Esaias or Isaiah?

  • Elias or Elijah?

  • Why is the phrase "The Children of Men" so over used in modern scripture?

• Questions concerning Joseph Smith:

  • Has anyone (other than Jesus) done more than Joseph Smith in less time?

  • Were Martin Luther and Joseph Smith kindred spirits?

  • Why was God the Father added to the "First Vision"?

  • Do you find the JST a disappointment?

  • Waters of Baptism in Isaiah - Commentary or Scripture?

  • Is Joseph Smith the mediator of yet another, even better covenant?

  • Comments and questions about plural marriage.

• Questions concerning the influence of contemporary Christian practices on Joseph Smith:

  

  • Are all their creeds an abomination in God's sight?

  • How did parts of the "Doxology" find their way into modern scriptures?

  • Was the Book of Mormon influenced by the Second Great Awakening in America?

  • Is Mormonism a break-away Baptist movement?

  • Where does the LDS practice of Naming and Blessing Children come from?

  • Why was it necessary to "restore" the innovative third century practice of Confirmation?

• Things that don't make sense in the Book of Mormon:

  • How did Lehi and his family escape the devastating Babylonian deportation of 597 BCE?

  • Synagogues in the Book of Mormon?

  • Murder, Too Literal, Abortive, Escape?

• Other Questions and Comments:

  • Was there a Great Apostasy?

  • Is Mormonism a Restoration of the Primitive Church or a Blending of Greek Philosophy and Western Christianity?

  • Why Physical Temples?

  • Is LDS theology based in part on old heresies?

  • Is a restoration necessary if the crop doesn't fail?

  • What is an Ordinance?

  • What is Mormon Doctrine?

  • Did the LDS Church ever teach a special "Lineage Lesson"?

  • Why is Sacrament Meeting so often irreverent?

  • Is Jesus Christ the focus of Mormon Worship?

  • Is Mormon Baptism Invalid?

  • Why do Mormons take Christian beliefs out of Christmas carols?

• And a little about me and some reflections...

  

  • My life changed in 1992.

  • Dad, why are you so happy?

  • What is the Purpose of Life?

  • What’s happening with your life?

  • My own personal statement of faith, my testimony.

  • Why have you written this web site?

  • Reflections on the relationship of Community, Culture, and Religion:
    A presentation and comparison of LDS and Catholic models.

  • Women and the Priesthood

  • Conclusions About Mormonism

  • My letter of resignation

    

    I have received the following answers to my questions of faith after ten years of study, meditation and prayer: If Jesus is God made flesh then Catholicism is true. If Jesus is flesh made God then Mormonism is true. If Jesus is not God made man nor man made God then Christianity is false. I believe that Jesus is God made flesh. He has lived among us and will return some day.

    Please email me your comments or questions:

    Owen D. West, III

    westow3@gmail.com