1. What is the Doctrine of The Book of Mormon?

a. You cannot claim to be the only true church (2 Nephi 28:3).

b. The Dark Ages were not a result of "priesthood" being taken from the earth. Lack of faith IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST is the cause of a lack of angels, miracles, and power of the Holy Ghost. (Moroni 7:33-38)

c. The definition of "Church" was different. It was defined as anyone who believed in Jesus Christ (Mosiah 26:21-22) or who was baptized in his name (3 Nephi 26:21).

d. Requirements for salvation were simple: confess Christ; repent if you need to; and be baptized for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon did not say anything else was required for salvation (3 Nephi 11:33).

e. Church order was based upon Elders, Priest, and Teachers. There were also Disciples and Prophets, but they were not offices in the Church.

f. Meetings were conducted by the Holy Spirit, therefore each meeting was different.

g. Baptisms were performed by a Teacher, Priest, or Elder and were strictly forbidden to children or those who needed no repentance.

h. Confirmation was not mentioned, therefore it was not a requirement of salvation.

i. The "gift" of the Holy Ghost is available to all, thus it is referred to in The Book of Mormon as a "gift." On occasion, the Holy Ghost and not the gift of it (Which is a free offering to all.) was bestowed on others, the bestower being full of the Holy Spirit first, was able to impart of it to others as did Saul, Peter, and Jesus. At other times it was poured out on groups like on the day of Pentecost; or to individuals straight from God.

j. The Book of Mormon does not say that the Holy Ghost is a person, but rather is a power, and there are many fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit including speaking with the tongue of angels; interpreting languages; healing; prophesying; bearing one another's burdens, etc. The modern day phenomenon of being "slain in the Spirit" is also mentioned in The Book of Mormon more than once (Alma 18:42, 19:8, 22:18; Jacob 7:21).

k. The Godhead is made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself is often referred to directly as God and not always as the Son of God, therefore The Book of Mormon leaves room for interpretation as to the true nature of the Godhead. Jesus was seen as a pre-mortal spirit being by one prophet during Old Testament times, and The Book of Mormon is clear that Jesus was born of a virgin, died, rose again and is in heaven as a resurrected being.

l. Other than a prophet seeing the spirit of the pre-mortal Jesus, there is no further information on the nature of a "pre-mortal existence" for God's other children.

m. The Book of Mormon is clear that we are to pray to God in the name of Jesus, however Jesus did allow the people to pray directly to him on one occasion (3 Nephi 19:18, 26).