(removal instructions at end)

Frank,

I have Bob's book and have read nearly 50 pages so far.

As with anyone who devotes so much energy to a subject, he has some valuable
things to say. Overall, I think I'm glad I got the book, though I don't
feel driven to get through it.

There are several very fundamental premises that he presents with which I
strongly disagree.

Let me site a few.

On page 8, he says, "They also think that because we have a living prophet,
we will be warned when the tribulation is about to come so all we need to do
is wait for him to give us the word. Again, the trouble with this rationale
is that the Lord has already told us all he intends and this is made clear
in Isaiah. We have been warned by the many scriptures we already have and
there will be no more, he says."

That has got to be one of the most absurd excuses for explaining why the man
the Mormons revere as a prophet doesn't need to prophecy. It is 180 degrees
opposite of what Isaiah says and what the scriptures say.

In fact, right after the famous, "wo to those who say all is well" prophecy
in II Nephi 28, the Lord goes on to say, "Wo be unto him that shall say: We
have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for
we have enough!. ...And from them that shall say, We have enough, from them
shall be taken away even that which they have." (29,30.) That is nearly
verbatim to what Bob said. Shame on you Bob. You really missed big on that
one.

Those verses are the very ones that clued me into the parallel between
Isaiah 28 and II Nephi 28,29. They correspond/match Isaiah's statements
about how the Lord gives precept upon precept, line upon, here a little and
there a little, and to those who receive he gives more, while those who say
"we have enough" from them is taken away.

For those of you who have not yet taken time to look at that parallel, I
would strongly urge you to do so.
http://www.greaterthings.com/Parallels/Hybrids/Isa28=2Ne28&29PAR.htm

My entire web site is based on that premise, hence the name "greater
things," meaning the greater light and knowledge that is given to those who
receive that which they have been given.

Next, on page 9, Bob says, "All people of a telestial order, which is most
of the population of the world, will have to leave before the Millennium."
"...the annihilation of most of mankind."

I am not so skeptical, but believe that while there are indeed many carnal
men and women of a telestial order, that there are also a great many
terrestrial and above; and if the servants of God can do a good job in
crying repentance, there will yet be many more.

To quote Nephi, "I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if
not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day." (2 Ne.
33:12.)

On page 11, Bob says, "The prophecies of Isaiah are strictly latter-day
events and will be fulfilled in our time."

All scripture can be applied to any individual, any civilization. The
Nephites certainly benefited from the words of Isaiah, for they, "did liken
all things unto [themselves]."

So yes, all of Isaiah applies to our time and will be fulfilled, but to say
it is strictly about us is absolutely wrong and belies a very warped and
exclusionary view of scripture.

The next barf statement is on page 12, where Bob says, "We do not have a
multitude of prophets going about among the people calling us to repentance
but we have the scriptures."

I don't know where Bob has been, but I personally know hundreds of people
who fit this description, valiant servants of the Lord who labor day and
night to awaken a sleepy and lethargic populous. Perhaps Bob is feeling
like there are none in our generation who match the caliber of the greats
whose writings are contained in the scripture. However, I would argue that
the reverence goes the other way around. Isn't it the prophets who were
anxious about this day and wish they could live to see it? They were amazed
at us and what we are accomplishing.

"Would to God that all were prophets" is the theme presented at the bottom
of each page at my web site.

Bob's next few pages on modern idolatry, injustices and breaking the Sabbath
are pretty good.

But then, on page 31, He erroneously concludes, "These three lapses then --
idolatry, injustices and breaking the Sabbath -- have set the stage for the
calamities which have been promised upon the Lord's people.

While I would agree that these three factors are major factors, they
certainly are not the only factors, nor are they the most significant ones.

The savior mentioned building up of secret combinations and sinning against
the fullness of the gospel as primary reasons for the treading down (3 Ne.
16); and he couched his prophecies in a "IF-then" way, not a "IRREVOCABLE"
way.

So, no, I am not highly impressed with Bob's book, though I do plan to
finish reading it -- if anything so I can counter the claims he makes.

That's my take so far.

Sincerely,

Sterling D. Allan



----- Original Message -----
From: <nephione@...>
To: <davids_outcasts@egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: [888] Thanks Frank...But...


In a message dated 08/10/2000 11:20:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jmaynard@... writes:

<< The only author that believes that the DS is John is R. Smith.. >>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please read the book before you tear it apart and critize it. None of you
have read the book that you tear apart How can you do this?

Frank

The Scriptures of the Last Days, by Robert Smith, PO Box 22376, Salt Lake
City, Utah, 84122-0376, $20.

Also available, The Twelve Prophets, $20.

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