So, if the BoM contains the "fullness of the Gospel", why do they need ongoing revelation?

the deity changes its mind a lot (or succumbs to political correctness) or it is all a lie.

I'll go with the lie.....

The LDS Church has changed over the years from it's inception, and it will continue to change, particularly with policies, and programs.

Their belief and teaching is that only the living prophets, seers and revelators govern the church. Dead ones do not.

The basic doctrines won't change that involve the Plan of Salvation, the Ordinances etc., as a Restoration Church.
How those teachings are carried out and practiced change some over the years, some more dramatically than others.

The BOM is only one of their Four Standard Works: canonized sacred scriptures.

I'm a convert from a long line of Christian ministers (contemplated going into the ministry myself out of high school, but converted instead.)

So, as such, my perspective and experience will always be based on that solid Christian life background with believers that go to their graves believers. There was never any suggestion or hint that anyone would change their mind or leave those beliefs. It just was not done. Not believe in God? Not possible! :-)

From my experience and observations over my life time, I have described Mormonism as being best understood as a generational, cultural, societal, famalial, traditional religion.

I expect changes in policies, and programs will continue from time to time as it has in the past.

My comments are always going to be based on how I understood them, how I was taught, and how I taught them, and how I internalized them in nearly four decades of living the religion.
I used to believe all of the teachings and claims, but not anymore.:-)

But doesn't that show Joseph Smith as a liar from the very beginning? He repeatedly stated that the BoM was the fullness of the Gospel. If we still need ongoing revelation- he was a liar and a fraud.

While I know the whole thing is a sham, how do TBM's deal with that question?

And yes, I think he told a "Whopper" and that ain't no hamburger.:-) And he was believed. He is still believed. It goes back to the power of the spiritual witness and faith which does not need or require concrete evidence, in fact, it's discouraged.

But, it's not unlike how God Myths are created and have been created throughout the history of humanity, and how they are sustained for hundreds and thousands of years.

Those were very different times than today.

Human beings are often willing to believe in visions, and the word of someone who said they saw God and Jesus and created a new church out of the cloth of older ones and other ideas.

Religion is about faith, not facts. It will always be the core of religious claims. Just as it always has been.

My view from what I can gather is that Joseph Smith Jr was a smart, clever, intelligent, charismatic religious leader that could convince people to believe almost anything he said. Initially, I think he was a bit surprised by that. He had his distractors that didn't agree with him, and those that saw him as a threat. But, interesting, he has survived all of that.
It's a bit of a mystery to me. His life, in my reading, only makes sense in the times he lived.

I am one who believes that he may not have believed his own claims initially, but the whole thing took on a life of it's own, like a snowball going downhill, and he had to wrap his head around his claims and keep feeding his believers with anything he could think of. And he did. And it worked.
And, it's still working, thanks to Modern Day Revelation! :-)

The LDS Church seems to be able to adapt and change it's policies and programs very smoothly. My observation is that the members adapt more smoothly than other religions that make major changes.

It's a solid, in house, strong traditional religion,carried on my tight generational ties, not unlike many I observe around the world today some that have lasted much, much longer.

Mormons have explained to me that "fulness" only means "all the basics," not "everything there is."

And the BoM does say that the fulness of the gospel (Jesus' doctrine) is faith, repentance and baptism. 3 Nephi 11:31-40.

Hmmm.... that passage also quotes Jesus as saying that anyone who says that there is more to Jesus' doctrine than that is of the devil....

I have always thought that verse to be one of the most damning of the church in Mormon scriptures.

or what I would define as canonized in scripture and as understood and defined and taught as part of the Plan of Salvation (in a nut shell) and what are policies and programs and events, dress,Ward,Stake boundaries,etc., that are part of how the Doctrine is lived.

I don't have a problem with changes . Every church, organization, group, family, etc. has changes.

Susie- I have respectfully asked you to stay out of my threads before. Perphaps you have forgotten. Perhaps you think a new board means new requests. Regardless, I was willing to ignore your first post. This one, however, shows your sympathies toward TSCC "I don't have a problem with changes..."

So, for the record, I'm asking you to refrain from posting in my threads. I can handle trolls defending the church, but it makes me sick hearing it from regular posters.

"There are new evils in the world to warn about such as: sleepovers, tatoos, flip flops at church, immodest shorts, internet porn, earrings, and caffinated sodas."

Unfortunately, in a Mormon Gospel Doctrine or Institute class that would constitute a serious answer to your question.

Also, didn't know it was the same lily that was never LDS. I see it is.
Thousand apologies --- You forgot to read the rest of that comment that clarifies.
I'll make a BIG NOTE to remind me NOT to contribute to your posts. :-)

Baptism for the dead
Sealings and endowments
Every member a missionary
Not to drink coffee or use tobacco

And . . . .

Polygamy (in fact, it condemned it).


So THAT's why we needed modern revelation.

RPackham...I've heard the same things from the Mormons when I attended Seminary in my TBM days. The fulness of the Gospel is found in the fourth article of faith.