Original title: Is Jesus the Way - or an example of one who followed it?

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the eighteenth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (Apr. 24-30) is titled "I Am the Good Shepard", and covers John 7-10.

We invite you to worship with us on any Sunday - either at First Baptist Church of Provo or Christ Presbyterian Church in Magna. We welcome visitors!

Sources:

JSH 1; D&C 88; D&C 89; D&C 93; Moses 1.39; Articles of Faith

Seminary Manual: John 7, John 7.17, John 8 (JST 8:11), John 10

Gospel Principles, ch. 3; ch. 7; "Plain and Precious Things" (1 Ne 13)

New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges

King Follett Discourse (Joseph Smith)

The Light of Christ (Boyd K. Packer)

Thanks Be To God (Russell Nelson)

Learn of Me (Thomas Monson)

Is should be noted that James E. Talmage did take note of the textual critical issue in a footnote, though he dismisses the idea that the pericope is not authentic to John. (see footnote 5; here)

A Rational Theology by John Widtsoe

Gospel Trilogy by W. Cleon Skousen

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary by Bruce R. McConkie

Brigham Young: JD 1.93; JD 4. 218; JD 10.5; 10.355; JD 18.260

Heber C. Kimball: JD 1. 355-357; JD 3.108; JD 4.329

Wilford Woodruff: JD 6.120

It is worth including section from footnote 9 (in WPJS, p. 83-84 - though I have changed the format), discussing Joseph Smith's theology:

"This is the first mention by the Prophet Joseph Smith of the extremely important concept in Mormon theology that God the Father once had a mortal probation and was resurrected with a body of flesh and bones...The following syllogistic argument used today for Mormonism's concept that God the Father once lived on an earth was not used or understood by the early Saints. The basic reasoning used today is as follows:

• All men are raised with their physical bodies in the resurrection (Alma 40:23, printed in 1830)
• Jesus, the Son of God and the great prototype (John 14.6-9), was the express image of his Father (Hebrews 1:3) and was resurrected with his corporeal body.
• In the celestial resurrection men can become gods (D&C 76:58 [51-58], 1832 revelation)
• Therefore, God the Father must have a body of resurrected flesh and bones that he obtained following his own earth life."

The character at the veil through whom one seek admission beyond it is labelled "Lord" - though it should be noted it isn't specifically Elohim or Jehovah. (See here) Most interpret this character as Jesus and that should've been said in the episode. However, even assuming that fact - notice - this character is there to test how far the person has progressed, as he (the Lord) himself progressed before. In other words, he isn't really the door - but someone who has passed through the door (like all gods before him), and is there for when we progress to such a point, to test us - and then, based on our grade in that test, is then allowed to bring individuals through the veil who have themselves progressed to that point and pass the test. (also here, and here - if different format is preferred.)

Mormons and the Bible by Philip Barlow

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner

The Vanishing Lamanites; The Magical Mormon Scriptures; Was the Burning in Your Bosom From God? (Jason Wallace)

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner

The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race" by Jason Colavito

By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus by Charles Larson (also here and here)

Resources:

The Consequences of Ideas by R.C. Sproul

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Return of the God Hypothesis by Stephen Meyer

The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain

Father, Son and Spirit: The Trinity and John's Gospel by Scott Swain and Andreas Kostenberger

Testimony of the Beloved Disciple by Richard Bauckham

The Gospel According To John (PNTC) by D. A. Carson

The Gospel of John by F.F. Bruce

The Gospel According To John (I-XII) by Raymond Brown

The King James Only Controversy by James White

Scribes and Scriptures by John Meade and Peter Gurry

Jesus and the Manuscripts by Craig Evans

Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism, ed. by Elijah Hixson and Peter Gurry

The Text of the New Testament by Bruce Metzger (also here)

Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament, ed. by Dan Wallace

To Cast the First Stone by Jennifer Knust and Tommy Wasserman

Active and Passive Obedience of Christ ; Adiaphora (Simply Put)

Modern Spirituality and Your Mind; What Is the Gospel (Voddie Baucham)

TCI article; TGC article

The Gospel of Pragmatism; American Spirituality (WHI)

Robert Barron: Christ as "privileged path for salvation" (here)

Second Vatican Council; to cite a kind-of parallel to the ecumenism mentioned was in a First Presidency statement of February 15, 1978.

Revolution in Rome by David Wells

Note: Here is an extended quotation from scholar Scott Swain:

"As God's being and works are common to all three persons of the Trinity, so too is God's authority. As the Father is "Lord of heaven and earth" (Matt. 11:25), so he has granted the Son "all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18; so 11:27). Indeed, according to the author of Hebrews, 'the Holy Spirit is the selfsame Lord who utters the divine warning published in Psalm 95:7-11...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share one divine sovereignty, one divine authority over all creatures.

The point is further confirmed in John 10:22-30. This passage echoes many of the themes that appear in Psalm 95. The relationship between Jesus and his people is portrayed as a relationship between a shepherd and his 'sheep' (John 10:27; Psalm 95:7) who are in his 'hand' (John 10:28-29); see Ps. 95:7). The language of 'greatness' is used as well, with Jesus declaring, 'My Father...is greater than all' (John 10:29; see Ps. 95:3). Finally, John 10 emphasizes that Jesus' sheep will 'hear' his 'voice' and enter into eternal life (John 10:27-28; see Ps. 95:7,11). With respect to the present discussion, the important thing to note is that Jesus claims to be 'one' with his Father who is 'greater than all' (John 10:29-30), a clear echo of Deuteronomy 6:4 ('the Lord is one') and elicits the charge of blasphemy of Jesus' opponents (John 10:31-39).

Jesus, the Good Shepard, is 'one' with his Father, who is 'greater than all'. All that the Father has, Jesus has (John 16:14-15). One Lord with his Father (Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:6), he is a great God and great King above all gods (1 Cor. 8:5), the shepherd of his flock, the voice that gives eternal life to all who hear and follow his voice (Ps. 95)." (The Trinity: An Introduction, pp. 116-117)