Some of my friends of other faiths seem to think that prophets are perfect, or rather, that Mormon prophets should be perfect. They use an impossible standard to measure the prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against. Mormons claim that only one individual has ever been perfect on the earth and that individual was Jesus Christ. In this all Christian based faiths tend to agree:
American Catholic site calls Jesus "the perfect human".
The Oakwood United Methodist Church write on their missionary page "There is no one perfect here except the Lord Jesus Christ..."
Over at All About Jesus they describe Jesus as "the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life..."
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary had this in its original charter, "Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the Law"
Mormon Apostles have all testified to the perfection of Jesus including Spencer W. Kimball and as written in The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Perfect has the following among its definitions:
1. conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type
2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement
3. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings
4. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail
Mormons have never claimed their prophets or leaders are perfect. I suspect; however, that most Christian denominations believe that God only communicates with perfect individuals; you know, like Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul, and Jonah. Then again, I think an examination of these prophets will reveal their flaws, defects, and shortcomings.
A Mr. Neal Maxwell writes an interesting article titled "Out of Obscurity". In it he writes "Only Jesus was perfect in all things, including love and meekness. Even the greatest of mortal prophets fall short of Christ’s high and perfect standards." Mormons don't believe prophets are perfect.
Maxwell goes on "Throughout scriptural history, we see recurring efforts to demean prophets in order to dismiss them—to label them in order to diminish them. Mostly, however, they are simply ignored by their contemporaries and by secular history." Mr. Jeff Lindsey writes an interesting article titled "Rejecting Living Apostles and Prophets: A Deceptively Easy Path to Righteousness"
To conclude, Mormons have never claimed their prophets (whether from the Bible, Book of Mormon or living) are perfect. To quote Maxwell again, "At the perfect day, we will see that we have been a part of things too wonderful for us. Part of the marvel and the wonder of God’s "marvelous work and a wonder" will be how perfect Divinity mercifully used us - imperfect humanity." Man is free and imperfect man cannot frustrate the work of God.
Showing posts with label FAQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FAQ. Show all posts
Honoring Ancestors - Mormon Rituals, Jewish Heritage, and why no one should be offended
Mormons perform baptisms for those that have died.
Every so often in the news we see an article about how angry some religious individuals become by the Mormon practice of having adherents act as proxies for their ancestors. Specifically in being baptized for their predessor and granting them, according to Mormon doctrine, the opportunity to accept or reject Mormonism before the final judgement and receive the fullest reward Mormonism offers.
In sundry articles authors quote various religious leaders speaking out against Mormon baptisms for the dead. A sample follows:
Bernard Kouchel wrote an article titled Mormons Hijack Dead or Alive Jewish Souls. He writes -
"From the founding of their religion in 1830, Mormons have respected Judaism as a religion. Thus in 1994, Jews were outraged when it became known that members of [the] LDS [Church] were posthumously baptizing Holocaust victims and other Jewish dead. Many followers of Judaism find the practice highly offensive, something akin to the forced baptism of Jews practiced for centuries in Europe during the Middle Ages... The wrongful baptism of Jewish dead, which disparages the memory of a deceased person is a brazen act which will obscure the historical record for future generations."
I find it interesting that Mr. Kouchel implies that in 1994 Mormons stopped respecting Judaism? Such is not the case. The Church does in fact publish Jewish Family History Resources. The House of Israel, the Pentateuch, and other Jewish authors and scholars are regularly admired and spoken of in Mormon doctrine.
The practice of baptism for the dead has been around since the early organization of the LDS faith. The question I think Mr. Kouchel should answer is what happens to those not of his faith in the after life? Does it sound intolerant of him to categorically state that just because his religion doesn't make allowance for such that no other religion should make allowance for the deceased as well? I am not sure. The variety of world religious views may be a source of friction for a long time. But the difference will not cause a rift between Jews and Mormons.
I am not a Jewish scholar and I will simply write out the following questions in hopes someone with a Jewish perspective might answer them:
Mr. Kouchel goes on to describe one of his major issues is the obscuring of the historical record for future generations. In this he does err.
As a user of FamilySearch.org and other LDS family history libraries one can easily tell whether one was baptized during their lifetime or whether they were baptized by proxy. No, I do not believe posterity will be mixed up or confused by Mormon databases.
In fact, I think this particular issue may inspire more individuals to fill in the blanks by writing in their journals, publishing family history's, or finding out from where they came. Family Search only has birth date and location, christenings, deaths, marriages and location performed and other date information, there is nothing on religion or narrative family history to fill in the details of an individual's life. The narrative family history is the place to fill in all the details of the individual.
Do I reject my six ancestors because they were of a different religion when they arrived in America on the Mayflower? Of course not, however, I would have loved to read their personal history's to find out their beliefs, thoughts, and how they approached life using their religion. I suspect we might not be so different. The "Mormon databases" do not include those details. If you want them included, you'll have to write them down yourself.
In conclusion, Mr. Kouchel claims to know what the dead want. Specifically he states "We don't want to be saved, redeemed, forgiven, reincarnated, resurrected, or enraptured. We just want to be left alone." If Mr. Kouchel can tell what the dead want, why can't Mormons tell as well? But more importantly, the LDS Church has a different world view than Judaism and Mr. Kouchel nailed it on the head when he said, "[Family History databases with proxy baptism entries] do not reflect changes in religious choice or practice of our deceased ancestors."
Per LDS thought, the decision to accept proxy baptism is left to the agency of those deceased persons. However, Mormon doctrine specifies that baptism must occur in the flesh. Thus, baptisms for our ancestors performed by proxy in the flesh may be accepted (but as Mr. Kouchel points out, also rejected) by those for whom it was performed. Lorenzo Snow, a Mormon prophet, said, "When we go back into the other life and find our dead friends living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a very pleasant meeting." Mormons believe baptisms performed for their ancestors are a sacred integral part of their worship of a generous, merciful God that cares for all the generations of humankind, not only those born into their faith.
My final question: Should a religion that claims all are the children of God not have some provision for those not of their faith? What does your religion do for those that never had an opportunity to accept your faith?
Read more:
Religious Freedom Allows Both Mormons and Jews to Honor Their Ancestors, D. Todd Christofferson, Nov 10, 2008.
Every so often in the news we see an article about how angry some religious individuals become by the Mormon practice of having adherents act as proxies for their ancestors. Specifically in being baptized for their predessor and granting them, according to Mormon doctrine, the opportunity to accept or reject Mormonism before the final judgement and receive the fullest reward Mormonism offers.
In sundry articles authors quote various religious leaders speaking out against Mormon baptisms for the dead. A sample follows:
Bernard Kouchel wrote an article titled Mormons Hijack Dead or Alive Jewish Souls. He writes -
"From the founding of their religion in 1830, Mormons have respected Judaism as a religion. Thus in 1994, Jews were outraged when it became known that members of [the] LDS [Church] were posthumously baptizing Holocaust victims and other Jewish dead. Many followers of Judaism find the practice highly offensive, something akin to the forced baptism of Jews practiced for centuries in Europe during the Middle Ages... The wrongful baptism of Jewish dead, which disparages the memory of a deceased person is a brazen act which will obscure the historical record for future generations."
I find it interesting that Mr. Kouchel implies that in 1994 Mormons stopped respecting Judaism? Such is not the case. The Church does in fact publish Jewish Family History Resources. The House of Israel, the Pentateuch, and other Jewish authors and scholars are regularly admired and spoken of in Mormon doctrine.
The practice of baptism for the dead has been around since the early organization of the LDS faith. The question I think Mr. Kouchel should answer is what happens to those not of his faith in the after life? Does it sound intolerant of him to categorically state that just because his religion doesn't make allowance for such that no other religion should make allowance for the deceased as well? I am not sure. The variety of world religious views may be a source of friction for a long time. But the difference will not cause a rift between Jews and Mormons.
I am not a Jewish scholar and I will simply write out the following questions in hopes someone with a Jewish perspective might answer them:
- Is it true that birth has a lot to do with being Jewish? How much weight is placed on being born Jewish as opposed to converting to Judaism?
- I know people convert to Judaism that do not have Jewish roots. Are they adopted into the Jewish faith, and if so, what of their ancestors?
- What are the rites, procedures, or processes for one to convert to Judaism? Can these be performed, inherited, or spread to ones ancestors and/or desendants?
Mr. Kouchel goes on to describe one of his major issues is the obscuring of the historical record for future generations. In this he does err.
As a user of FamilySearch.org and other LDS family history libraries one can easily tell whether one was baptized during their lifetime or whether they were baptized by proxy. No, I do not believe posterity will be mixed up or confused by Mormon databases.
In fact, I think this particular issue may inspire more individuals to fill in the blanks by writing in their journals, publishing family history's, or finding out from where they came. Family Search only has birth date and location, christenings, deaths, marriages and location performed and other date information, there is nothing on religion or narrative family history to fill in the details of an individual's life. The narrative family history is the place to fill in all the details of the individual.
Do I reject my six ancestors because they were of a different religion when they arrived in America on the Mayflower? Of course not, however, I would have loved to read their personal history's to find out their beliefs, thoughts, and how they approached life using their religion. I suspect we might not be so different. The "Mormon databases" do not include those details. If you want them included, you'll have to write them down yourself.
In conclusion, Mr. Kouchel claims to know what the dead want. Specifically he states "We don't want to be saved, redeemed, forgiven, reincarnated, resurrected, or enraptured. We just want to be left alone." If Mr. Kouchel can tell what the dead want, why can't Mormons tell as well? But more importantly, the LDS Church has a different world view than Judaism and Mr. Kouchel nailed it on the head when he said, "[Family History databases with proxy baptism entries] do not reflect changes in religious choice or practice of our deceased ancestors."
Per LDS thought, the decision to accept proxy baptism is left to the agency of those deceased persons. However, Mormon doctrine specifies that baptism must occur in the flesh. Thus, baptisms for our ancestors performed by proxy in the flesh may be accepted (but as Mr. Kouchel points out, also rejected) by those for whom it was performed. Lorenzo Snow, a Mormon prophet, said, "When we go back into the other life and find our dead friends living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a very pleasant meeting." Mormons believe baptisms performed for their ancestors are a sacred integral part of their worship of a generous, merciful God that cares for all the generations of humankind, not only those born into their faith.My final question: Should a religion that claims all are the children of God not have some provision for those not of their faith? What does your religion do for those that never had an opportunity to accept your faith?
Read more:
Religious Freedom Allows Both Mormons and Jews to Honor Their Ancestors, D. Todd Christofferson, Nov 10, 2008.
Why do Mormons go out of their way to take care of their own and help others?
The CNN headline reads In Chinese town, quake shakes faith in school construction, 200 children were crushed to death in the collapse of a three story school. MSNBC.com reports that the U.S. Envoy to Myanmar is working to persuade them to allow aid in while fears are rising that thousands could starve to death. The Christian Science Monitor reports that the U.S. is On Track Toward Record Spring Tornadoes.With all of these disasters around the world, I thought I would tackle the question of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and welfare, or as I like to call it "Caring for the hungry, thirsty, and naked." For a few years I lived in Clearfield and served as the Elders Quorum President (basically that is the individual concerned with the welfare both of material and spiritual needs for everyone in the local congregation between the ages of 18 to 50). The Bishop heard President Gordon B. Hinckley speak about living within your means and the Bishop felt inspired that living within our means included the congregations donations to fast offerings (money used by Bishops to help local members of the congregation during times of need).
In preparation of announcing this message to the congregation I was asked to prepare a lesson about welfare and fast offerings. I provide all of my scriptural references and a brief discussion about the scriptures quoted.
Abstract: Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feel the need to follow the example of Jesus Christ by caring for the sick and needy and believe there are eternal blessings for those that give of their abundance for such noble purposes.
Jesus teaches caring for the needy and sick
We begin with the words of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew Chapter 25 versus 35 to 40. Christ has just talked about separating the goats from the sheep, it can be inferred that the sheep did what the King states:
“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, an dye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mormon scripture explains why we care for others
Mormons believe these words of the Savior and follow his words by offering fast offerings once a month. Mormons believe in helping those and have recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 104 versus 15 to 18 the following reason for caring.
“And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low. For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
“Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.
I thought those were some tough words. But upon further reflection I realized that as an American I have been amply blessed with more than many others around the world. The good Bishop in Clearfield felt the same desire, he mentioned something to the effect that we lived in one of the wealthiest nations of the earth and he no
longer wanted to take all of the welfare money, but his desire was to give welfare money to the worldwide Church to use in other countries. I feel I have been blessed and knowing what ten dollars a month will do in a third world country is amazing. Perhaps that is why in the afterlife an individual that doesn’t give to the poor and needy will be in torment, because of all the good that could have been done with their money while on earth.Mormons understand giving up things for the good of others
Giving to the poor and needy is a law of the gospel. For Mormons the ideas of caring for the needy as spoken of by Jesus Christ are further identified in Doctrine and Covenants Section 42 versus 29-34 and versus 39-55. This is a long quote, but I will include it all and just highlight some of the important words of Jesus Christ.
“If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments. And behold, thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy properties for their support that which thou hast to impart unto them with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken. And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me; and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church and his counselors, two of the elders, or high priests, such as he shall appoint or has appointed and set apart for that purpose.
“And it shall come to pass, that after they are laid before the bishop of my church, and after that he has received these testimonies concerning the consecration of the properties of my church, that they cannot be taken from the church, agreeable to my commandments, every man shall be made accountable unto me, a steward over his own property, or that which he has received by consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family. And again, if there shall be properties in the hands of the church, or any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their support after this first consecration, which is a residue to be consecrated unto the bishop, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not, from time to time, that every man who had need may be amply supplied and receive according to his wants.
“Therefore, the residue shall be kept in my storehouse, to administer to the poor and needy, as shall be appointed by the high council of the church, and the bishop and his council.
“For it shall come to pass, that which I spake by the mouths of my prophets shall be fulfilled; for I will consecrate of the riches of those who embrace my gospel among the Gentiles unto the poor of my people who are of the house of Israel. And again, thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands; And let all things be done in cleanliness before me.
“Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer. And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me.
“Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is bitter. And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed. He who hath faith to see shall see. He who hath faith to hear shall hear. The lame who hath faith to leap shall leap. And they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, have power to become my sons; and inasmuch as they break not my laws thou shalt bear their infirmities.
“Thou shalt stand in the place of thy stewardship. Thou shalt not take thy brother’s garment; thou shalt pay for that which thou shalt receive of thy brother. And if thou obtainest more than that which would be for they support, thou shalt give it into my storehouse, that all things may be done according to that which I have said.
Just two quick notes: I love the statements being idle and not wearing the garments of the laborer – Mormons believe people should be working. I also love the statement about that sick being nourished with all tenderness and not by the hand of an enemy.
Mormons donate time and money today
Currently Mormons do not give all of their property to the Church; members usually donate time or money. I’ve often thought I don’t have enough to give and I often think of a parable Jesus Christ taught, I use the words of Mark in chapter 12 versus 41 to 44.
“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
“And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Mormons understand that giving must be done in wisdom
The question that comes to mind after reading this is: “What can you and I give?” Mormons understand that you don’t have to give everything, but of our abundance we can certainly spare a little. Don’t eat out one month and donate it as a fast offering. The words written in Mosiah chapter 4 versus 26 to 28 apply here.
“And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you – that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God – I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
“And I would that ye should remember, that whosever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.
Sign of the true church of God – Caring for the poor
I like the idea that retaining a remission of your sins day to day that we should impart of our substance to the poor. There is something about gratitude when we take care of others. This service to the poor is a sign of the true church of God. In Matthew chapter 11 versus 2 to 6 we can read:
“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and she John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosever shall not be offended in me.
Who deserves care more than those at the bottom? I can’t think of anyone more deserving of care than those mentioned by Jesus. I also like that last comment blessed is he that is not offended.
I think about this because sometimes people have difficulty receiving help. I have come to believe that there are certain seasons of life. Sometimes we are in the position to contribute to the communal stew and other times we are in the position to accept the stew "in all tenderness... and not at the hand of an enemy". I don’t think people need feel guilty or bad about accepting help.Mormons believe work is central to the creation of humankind
I am not sure how I feel about idlers, but I think most members of the church recognize there are some that take advantage, and it is up to the bishops of the church to determine the correct course of action for each person requesting assistance. As Mormons, we believe that hard work is a central part of this life. In Genesis chapter 3 versus 17 to 19 we read:
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for they sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Commandment to rich and poor – Be Humble
Working for our own sustenance is a good thing. And caring for the poor and needy is a great thing. We can see the commandment to both the rich and the poor in Doctrine and Covenants section 56 versus 16 to 19. How strange that both those giving and those receiving need a commandment to be humble, to share, and to work.
“Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!
“Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!
“But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs. For behold, the Lord shall come and his recompense shall be with him, and he shall reward every man, and the poor shall rejoice;
I love the end statement here “the Lord shall come and his recompense shall be with him”.
Mormons believe joy is promised to those that share
In the end, while some of the scriptures have strong language about hell and not being saved. The majority of Mormons are motivated by more than fear of some future punishment. Instead, most Mormons are motivated today by a hope of joy. In Doctrine and Covenants section 11 versus 6 to 14 describe a view common to many Mormons.
“Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich. Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.
“Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed. Behold, thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee; For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee. And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good – yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy; And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.
In conclusion, the welfare of those in China, Myanmar, tornado alley and other locations around the world are receiving assistance from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For Mormons caring for the needy is part of their religious beliefs. For that reason, Mormons take care of their own and others.
Are Mormons Christian?
Are Mormons Christian?
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
There are multiple definitions of the word Christian in the Dictionary. Because there are multiple definitions of words, (and we have no way, while speaking, to indicate which definition we are using), people can argue on both sides of an issue about something and both be 100 percent correct.
For instance, the dictionary defines the word Christian in the following ways...
Christian
1-Pertaining to or derived from Jesus Christ or his teachings.
2-Of, pertaining to or adhering to a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
3-Of, or pertaining to Christians
4-Exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ, as in having a loving regard for other persons.
5-A person who believes in Jesus Christ; An adherent of Christianity.
6-A person who exemplifies in his life the teachings of Christ.
According to these definitions, someone may be correct when he says that one particular member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is not a Christian. (ie. Perhaps one specific Mormon they know, who seems to hate people and does not "have a loving regard for them." As required in definition number four.) On the other hand, a person might simply be confused if he makes the Statement that all Mormons are not Christians. Which definition is he using then?
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
There are multiple definitions of the word Christian in the Dictionary. Because there are multiple definitions of words, (and we have no way, while speaking, to indicate which definition we are using), people can argue on both sides of an issue about something and both be 100 percent correct.
For instance, the dictionary defines the word Christian in the following ways...
Christian
1-Pertaining to or derived from Jesus Christ or his teachings.
2-Of, pertaining to or adhering to a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
3-Of, or pertaining to Christians
4-Exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ, as in having a loving regard for other persons.
5-A person who believes in Jesus Christ; An adherent of Christianity.
6-A person who exemplifies in his life the teachings of Christ.
According to these definitions, someone may be correct when he says that one particular member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is not a Christian. (ie. Perhaps one specific Mormon they know, who seems to hate people and does not "have a loving regard for them." As required in definition number four.) On the other hand, a person might simply be confused if he makes the Statement that all Mormons are not Christians. Which definition is he using then?
Is Mormonism a Cult?
Is Mormonism a Cult?
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
There are multiple definitions of the word cult in the Dictionary. Because there are multiple definitions of words, (and we have no way, while speaking, to indicate which definition we are using), people can argue about something and both be 100 percent correct.
There are many people, who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus, that use the word "Cult" to describe religions that are different than their own.
Here is the definition of that word...
Cult
1-A particular system of religious worship, Esp. with reference to it's rites and ceremonies.
2-An instance of great veneration of a person, idea, or thing, Esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: A cult of Napoleon.
3-The object of such devotion.
4-A group or sect bound together by devotion to or veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5-A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centered around their sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6-A religion that is considered or held to be false or unorthox.
I have realized that as I talk with someone who uses this term to label me, I could say to him, "My friend, we belong to the same cult. The cult of Jesus." According to definition number two, I would be 100 percent correct. This would likely shock my friend and make him extremely angry however, because the only definition of the word cult that he may be aware of, is number six. (Though, if I were to say this, I would be referring to definition number 4.) If a person feels that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints fits definition number 6, I would like to let this person know that I respect the right and privilege that you have to believe that the Mormon Church is a false religion.
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
There are multiple definitions of the word cult in the Dictionary. Because there are multiple definitions of words, (and we have no way, while speaking, to indicate which definition we are using), people can argue about something and both be 100 percent correct.
There are many people, who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus, that use the word "Cult" to describe religions that are different than their own.
Here is the definition of that word...
Cult
1-A particular system of religious worship, Esp. with reference to it's rites and ceremonies.
2-An instance of great veneration of a person, idea, or thing, Esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: A cult of Napoleon.
3-The object of such devotion.
4-A group or sect bound together by devotion to or veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5-A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centered around their sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6-A religion that is considered or held to be false or unorthox.
I have realized that as I talk with someone who uses this term to label me, I could say to him, "My friend, we belong to the same cult. The cult of Jesus." According to definition number two, I would be 100 percent correct. This would likely shock my friend and make him extremely angry however, because the only definition of the word cult that he may be aware of, is number six. (Though, if I were to say this, I would be referring to definition number 4.) If a person feels that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints fits definition number 6, I would like to let this person know that I respect the right and privilege that you have to believe that the Mormon Church is a false religion.
Have Mormons been Decieved?
Have Mormons been Decieved?
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
The following comes from the book, History of Salt Lake City by Edward William Tullidge…
“When President Ulysses S. Grant, on his entrance to Salt Lake City (for the first time), in his carriage, passed the multitude of Sunday School children who, under their teachers, had gathered, arrayed in white to welcome him- in their simplicity of manner, emphasizing the greeting of Brigham Young, 'This is the first time I have had the honor of meeting a President of my nation' – he turned to Governor Emery and enquired, ‘Whose children are these?’ He was answered by the Governor, ‘Mormon children.’ For several moments the President was silent, and then he murmered, in a tone of self-reproach, ‘I have been deceived!’ It was in vain for any anti-Mormon, after that utterance, to tell him that those children had been arrayed to give him welcome, for the purpose of making a favorable impression on his mind in behalf of their Mormon parents. To a man of so strong a religious nature as that of Ulysses S. Grant… these Sunday School children, brought up in the fear of the Lord, were, on this Sabbath day of his entrance into our city, more powerful sermons than he had ever heard… (in his church) against the Mormons from his favorite pastor. And even the depreciatory expounding of the anti-Mormon – that this array of Sunday School children was “all gotten up for effect” – would have been entirely lost on a man of simple directness of mind, for Mormon parents, who could with so much natural sagacity conceive the plot of capturing the conqueror of southern rebeldom, by an army of their Sunday School children, were surely not wicked parents, nor unworthy of the regard of the representative ‘father of his Country.’ “
I am a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (a Mormon) and as such, like every other Mormon, I have been encouraged by the church to search for and accept the truth wherever I can find it. I have read the sixty-six books in the bible through (several times) I have read all of the Biblical Apocrypha, I have read the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Pearl of Great Price. I’ve been told, over the years, by several people (Who have not read all of these things) that I have been deceived. I find it interesting that many of the people who call me deceived are, in truth, the ones who are in a deceived state about what I believe and what the LDS Church teaches. Many videos and much written information have been produced by former members of the LDS church, which are intentionally dishonest. Many of these materials are circulated vigorously by some of our friends of other faiths in a seeming effort to bring fear into the hearts of their people so that they will not investigate the “More” that Mormonism offers. I have read books given to me by my friends of other faiths regarding their religion. I have had the experience of seeing fear in the eyes of someone as they tell me that they will never read the Book of Mormon. This fear is unnecessary for all those who believe that God can speak to our spirits through the Holy Ghost and help us discern the difference between truth and error. Faith is a much better approach to finding truth and goodness than fear. I believe that there are many who more closely fit the definition of being deceived if they blindly accept what they are told about the LDS Church and the people within this faith without personally questioning and investigating the validity of what they are being told.
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
The following comes from the book, History of Salt Lake City by Edward William Tullidge…
“When President Ulysses S. Grant, on his entrance to Salt Lake City (for the first time), in his carriage, passed the multitude of Sunday School children who, under their teachers, had gathered, arrayed in white to welcome him- in their simplicity of manner, emphasizing the greeting of Brigham Young, 'This is the first time I have had the honor of meeting a President of my nation' – he turned to Governor Emery and enquired, ‘Whose children are these?’ He was answered by the Governor, ‘Mormon children.’ For several moments the President was silent, and then he murmered, in a tone of self-reproach, ‘I have been deceived!’ It was in vain for any anti-Mormon, after that utterance, to tell him that those children had been arrayed to give him welcome, for the purpose of making a favorable impression on his mind in behalf of their Mormon parents. To a man of so strong a religious nature as that of Ulysses S. Grant… these Sunday School children, brought up in the fear of the Lord, were, on this Sabbath day of his entrance into our city, more powerful sermons than he had ever heard… (in his church) against the Mormons from his favorite pastor. And even the depreciatory expounding of the anti-Mormon – that this array of Sunday School children was “all gotten up for effect” – would have been entirely lost on a man of simple directness of mind, for Mormon parents, who could with so much natural sagacity conceive the plot of capturing the conqueror of southern rebeldom, by an army of their Sunday School children, were surely not wicked parents, nor unworthy of the regard of the representative ‘father of his Country.’ “
I am a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (a Mormon) and as such, like every other Mormon, I have been encouraged by the church to search for and accept the truth wherever I can find it. I have read the sixty-six books in the bible through (several times) I have read all of the Biblical Apocrypha, I have read the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Pearl of Great Price. I’ve been told, over the years, by several people (Who have not read all of these things) that I have been deceived. I find it interesting that many of the people who call me deceived are, in truth, the ones who are in a deceived state about what I believe and what the LDS Church teaches. Many videos and much written information have been produced by former members of the LDS church, which are intentionally dishonest. Many of these materials are circulated vigorously by some of our friends of other faiths in a seeming effort to bring fear into the hearts of their people so that they will not investigate the “More” that Mormonism offers. I have read books given to me by my friends of other faiths regarding their religion. I have had the experience of seeing fear in the eyes of someone as they tell me that they will never read the Book of Mormon. This fear is unnecessary for all those who believe that God can speak to our spirits through the Holy Ghost and help us discern the difference between truth and error. Faith is a much better approach to finding truth and goodness than fear. I believe that there are many who more closely fit the definition of being deceived if they blindly accept what they are told about the LDS Church and the people within this faith without personally questioning and investigating the validity of what they are being told.
Do Mormons Worship Joseph Smith?
In order to answer this question, I will now quote from a person named LDS Girl…
“Experiences that are out of the ordinary are common at the Referral Center, a call center for free items from the L.D.S. church, but one experience in particular has stuck in my mind. I spoke with a man who had many questions about the beliefs of church members and our stance on social issues, like abortion, stem cell research, etc (you can look on www.mormon.org for an official statement). Questions are no problem and we spent a long time talking.
“During the conversation the man kept bringing up how we worship Joseph Smith and I had to correct him three or four times, telling him that just is not true. It bothered me a little that he seemed not to believe me. He seemed to think he knew better than I did what I believe. I have been a member of this church for 17 years and I've never been taught to worship Joseph Smith nor have I.
“Through this experience I can see that there may be a misunderstanding about the role of Jesus Christ and the role of Joseph Smith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here is what we really believe: We believe Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. (We only worship Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.) We pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ. I have felt the love of God and the Savior in my life. I know they are aware of me and help me through life.
“Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. His role, just like the prophets of old (Moses, Abraham, etc.), was to reveal the will of Heavenly Father. Joseph was a great man like the prophets we read about in the Bible. He restored to the earth the truths that were lost after the death of Christ and His Apostles.
"Chirst is our Savior and is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith was a man called to be a prophet in our day.”
“Experiences that are out of the ordinary are common at the Referral Center, a call center for free items from the L.D.S. church, but one experience in particular has stuck in my mind. I spoke with a man who had many questions about the beliefs of church members and our stance on social issues, like abortion, stem cell research, etc (you can look on www.mormon.org for an official statement). Questions are no problem and we spent a long time talking.
“During the conversation the man kept bringing up how we worship Joseph Smith and I had to correct him three or four times, telling him that just is not true. It bothered me a little that he seemed not to believe me. He seemed to think he knew better than I did what I believe. I have been a member of this church for 17 years and I've never been taught to worship Joseph Smith nor have I.
“Through this experience I can see that there may be a misunderstanding about the role of Jesus Christ and the role of Joseph Smith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here is what we really believe: We believe Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. (We only worship Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.) We pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ. I have felt the love of God and the Savior in my life. I know they are aware of me and help me through life.
“Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. His role, just like the prophets of old (Moses, Abraham, etc.), was to reveal the will of Heavenly Father. Joseph was a great man like the prophets we read about in the Bible. He restored to the earth the truths that were lost after the death of Christ and His Apostles.
"Chirst is our Savior and is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith was a man called to be a prophet in our day.”
Why did the LDS Church withhold the priesthood from Black Men until 1978?
Why did the LDS Church withhold the Priesthood from black men until 1978?
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
I was sitting in church last Sunday next to one of my Black brothers. He mentioned that he had a discussion recently with some of our Friends of other Faiths about the blacks not being able to receive the priesthood until 1978. He asked for my thoughts (Which I offer here in an expanded version) on this subject and so I explained to him my belief that it was the Lord, Jesus Christ who directed that the priesthood not be given to black men up until 1978. It was also the Lord who, in 1978 directed the Church, through his Prophet, to allow every worthy Male to hold the priesthood. The reason I believe that the Lord directed the Church to withhold the priesthood from black men until 1978 is the very same reason that the whole world did not have the priesthood for around 1,200 years (From somewhere around 500 AD to the early 1800s, - as Mormons believe). The wickedness of the world was the reason that the priesthood has been withheld at any time during the history of this world. I believe that it was not the wickedness or righteousness of black men, but the wickedness of the world in which they lived that caused the need to withhold the priesthood for a time.
Our Father in Heaven wants all of his children to know the fullness of his gospel, for all worthy males to hold the priesthood, and for all of his children to have access to temples. Our Father in Heaven does not change, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The followers of God, however, change in their commitment level and willingness to follow Gods commandments. For this reason God must change the way that he interacts with his children. In the hopeless situation at the time of Noah the way our Heavenly Father chose to act was to Save only Noah and his extended family and destroy all of the other wicked people by the flood. After the death of Jesus and his Apostles the Authority to act in the name of God was taken from the earth because of wickedness.
The Book of Mormon contains an Allegory from a prophet named Zenos in which the restoration of the Gospel in the Latter days is described in the following terms, "And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard." As I contemplate the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it seems to me that those who led the church always wanted to give the priesthood to our black brothers sooner than the "strength of the good" would have justified it. As I understand it, the prophet Joseph Smith authorized a sealing to be performed for a black man in the early days of the Church. When he was the mayor of Nauvoo Joseph Smith gave one of his own horses to a Black man who had recieve a fine from the city. This black mand was a "freeman" who was trying to purchase the freedom of his son and without the gift of the prophet's horse he would not have been able to afford both the fine and the price of his son.
The sympathies of the prophets from Joseph Smith to Spencer W. Kimball seem to have been with their black brothers as when Spencer W. Kimball said, "Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God's eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance."
In the history of Israel we see that when Moses came down from the top of Mount Sinai the children of Israel had made bad choices and turned to Idolatry. Because of the wickedness of the people, the Lord only allowed the people to have only the lesser priesthood (Withholding the higher priesthood) and only allowed a small portion of the people (Those in the tribe of Levi) to hold the priesthood. In a similar way the United States of America allowed Slavery at the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This Christian Nation may have felt justified to some degree in holding slaves because of the words of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament regarding the Slavery that occurred in his day, "Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don't blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so - Their masters are really their beloved brothers."
It is interesting to note that there were two slaves who came (as slaves) to the west with the Mormon Pioneers. These two slaves, a Brother and Sister, had been presented as wedding gifts to one of the families who came west. These slaves were treated like a beloved Brother and Sister by their Mormon Christian masters. One of these slaves was driving the wagon of Brigham Young when Brigham Young said to him, "This is the right place, drive on." These two Slaves were amoung a very small number of Black People in Utah for a long time. These two slaves eventually gained their freedom and were members of the LDS Church all of their lives and died firm in the faith of the restored gospel. In Paul's day and in the days of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young “the good” did not yet have enough strength to abolish the evil of slavery. Even after Abraham Lincoln had signed the emancipation proclamation there were still virtual slave situations and only after the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. and others did Slavery truly begin to end without the violence and murder that accompanied earlier efforts to stop it completely.
Once the world had conquered the evil and wickedness that existed in the form of Slavery, the “good” was sufficiently strong to overcome the “bad” and our Heavenly Father was able to reveal through the Prophet Spencer W. Kimball that the time had come for all Worthy Males to be able to receive the priesthood. In the early days of the Church the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Saints were persecuted very badly and if they had come out and pushed at that time to abolish slavery and emancipate every slave in the United States of America, the persecution would have multiplied tenfold. In my opinion, the Lord had to wait, to "clear away" the evil of slavery, only then did his church have sufficient strength to provided the "good" of the priesthood to every worthy male. Through the wisdom of the Lord the tree has been preserved and now the priesthood is available to every worthy man who has ever lived upon this earth. The ordinances of the temple are also available for all of the children of God in any age, through the work that is done in the temples, for and in behalf of those who have passed on. God's wisdom is truly over all the earth and his purposes will roll on until all his words are fulfilled.
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet
I was sitting in church last Sunday next to one of my Black brothers. He mentioned that he had a discussion recently with some of our Friends of other Faiths about the blacks not being able to receive the priesthood until 1978. He asked for my thoughts (Which I offer here in an expanded version) on this subject and so I explained to him my belief that it was the Lord, Jesus Christ who directed that the priesthood not be given to black men up until 1978. It was also the Lord who, in 1978 directed the Church, through his Prophet, to allow every worthy Male to hold the priesthood. The reason I believe that the Lord directed the Church to withhold the priesthood from black men until 1978 is the very same reason that the whole world did not have the priesthood for around 1,200 years (From somewhere around 500 AD to the early 1800s, - as Mormons believe). The wickedness of the world was the reason that the priesthood has been withheld at any time during the history of this world. I believe that it was not the wickedness or righteousness of black men, but the wickedness of the world in which they lived that caused the need to withhold the priesthood for a time.
Our Father in Heaven wants all of his children to know the fullness of his gospel, for all worthy males to hold the priesthood, and for all of his children to have access to temples. Our Father in Heaven does not change, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The followers of God, however, change in their commitment level and willingness to follow Gods commandments. For this reason God must change the way that he interacts with his children. In the hopeless situation at the time of Noah the way our Heavenly Father chose to act was to Save only Noah and his extended family and destroy all of the other wicked people by the flood. After the death of Jesus and his Apostles the Authority to act in the name of God was taken from the earth because of wickedness.
The Book of Mormon contains an Allegory from a prophet named Zenos in which the restoration of the Gospel in the Latter days is described in the following terms, "And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard." As I contemplate the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it seems to me that those who led the church always wanted to give the priesthood to our black brothers sooner than the "strength of the good" would have justified it. As I understand it, the prophet Joseph Smith authorized a sealing to be performed for a black man in the early days of the Church. When he was the mayor of Nauvoo Joseph Smith gave one of his own horses to a Black man who had recieve a fine from the city. This black mand was a "freeman" who was trying to purchase the freedom of his son and without the gift of the prophet's horse he would not have been able to afford both the fine and the price of his son.
The sympathies of the prophets from Joseph Smith to Spencer W. Kimball seem to have been with their black brothers as when Spencer W. Kimball said, "Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God's eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance."
In the history of Israel we see that when Moses came down from the top of Mount Sinai the children of Israel had made bad choices and turned to Idolatry. Because of the wickedness of the people, the Lord only allowed the people to have only the lesser priesthood (Withholding the higher priesthood) and only allowed a small portion of the people (Those in the tribe of Levi) to hold the priesthood. In a similar way the United States of America allowed Slavery at the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This Christian Nation may have felt justified to some degree in holding slaves because of the words of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament regarding the Slavery that occurred in his day, "Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don't blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so - Their masters are really their beloved brothers."
It is interesting to note that there were two slaves who came (as slaves) to the west with the Mormon Pioneers. These two slaves, a Brother and Sister, had been presented as wedding gifts to one of the families who came west. These slaves were treated like a beloved Brother and Sister by their Mormon Christian masters. One of these slaves was driving the wagon of Brigham Young when Brigham Young said to him, "This is the right place, drive on." These two Slaves were amoung a very small number of Black People in Utah for a long time. These two slaves eventually gained their freedom and were members of the LDS Church all of their lives and died firm in the faith of the restored gospel. In Paul's day and in the days of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young “the good” did not yet have enough strength to abolish the evil of slavery. Even after Abraham Lincoln had signed the emancipation proclamation there were still virtual slave situations and only after the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. and others did Slavery truly begin to end without the violence and murder that accompanied earlier efforts to stop it completely.
Once the world had conquered the evil and wickedness that existed in the form of Slavery, the “good” was sufficiently strong to overcome the “bad” and our Heavenly Father was able to reveal through the Prophet Spencer W. Kimball that the time had come for all Worthy Males to be able to receive the priesthood. In the early days of the Church the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Saints were persecuted very badly and if they had come out and pushed at that time to abolish slavery and emancipate every slave in the United States of America, the persecution would have multiplied tenfold. In my opinion, the Lord had to wait, to "clear away" the evil of slavery, only then did his church have sufficient strength to provided the "good" of the priesthood to every worthy male. Through the wisdom of the Lord the tree has been preserved and now the priesthood is available to every worthy man who has ever lived upon this earth. The ordinances of the temple are also available for all of the children of God in any age, through the work that is done in the temples, for and in behalf of those who have passed on. God's wisdom is truly over all the earth and his purposes will roll on until all his words are fulfilled.
Political Neutrality: Are Mormons a voting bloc?
Are Mormons told to vote for a specific candidate?
Some claim Mormons are blind followers. They say, "Mormons are like sheep who obey their leaders without thinking or questioning." When it comes to politics, Mormon voters firmly follow the direction of their ecclesiastical leaders. They do not vote as a bloc and the Mormon Church maintains one of the strictest separations between politics and influencing member's votes. Mormons are free to vote for any platform they think best represents their personal views.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not:
One of Mormonism's Twelve Apostles explains, Mr. Ballard:
Some claim Mormons are blind followers. They say, "Mormons are like sheep who obey their leaders without thinking or questioning." When it comes to politics, Mormon voters firmly follow the direction of their ecclesiastical leaders. They do not vote as a bloc and the Mormon Church maintains one of the strictest separations between politics and influencing member's votes. Mormons are free to vote for any platform they think best represents their personal views.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not:
- Direct its members as to which candidate or party for which they should vote
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes (a strict rule)
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does:
- Encourage members to be responsible citizens, acquainted with issues and participating in voting
- Expect members to be civil and informed about partisan political matters
- Request that candidates do not imply their candidacy or platform is endorsed by the Church
- Reserve the right to speak in a nonpartisan way about issues of moral consequence
Elected officials who are Latter-day Saints make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with one another or even with a publicly stated Church position. While the Church may communicate its views to them, as it may to any other elected official, it recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment and with consideration of the constituencies whom they were elected to represent.
Source
One of Mormonism's Twelve Apostles explains, Mr. Ballard:
African Americans and the Mormon Church: 10 Brief Points
A Senior Political News Analyst at MSNBC went on a rant on December 7th, 2007 during the taping of the McLaughlin Group report. What makes his rant so interesting? It was about Mormons. He was borderline hysterical at times, interrupting others and shouting. Even as he angrily accused Mormons of being racist, his pejorative treatment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was similar to the vehemence of racism itself.
The following points are made concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:
1. In 1832, just two years after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized, Elijah Abel became the first black man baptized as a member. He served in the Quorum of Seventy the third highest governing body.
2. Jane Manning James, a wonderful black woman, and her eight family members were baptized into the Church. They crossed the plains in 1843 as pioneers to join the Mormons in the Salt Lake Valley. She is quoted as saying, "I am Mormon and I will always be Mormon."
3. Blacks joined the Church across the world and were baptized as members. It is true they were not allowed to hold the Priesthood until the marvelous revelation given to Spencer W. Kimball and announced June 8, 1978, a day celebrated by Mormons.
4. While other religions had segregated congregations (one for whites and another for blacks), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has always had combined meetings for which they were condemned by other religions.
5. Black members of the Church have held callings since 1832 including Relief Society President, Sunday School President and Instructors, to name a few.
6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was driven out of Missouri partially because the population knew the Mormons were against slavery. In fact, many of their neighbors thought the Mormons were abolitionists intent on starting a slave revolt.
7. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, ran for President of the United States because the government failed to protect freedom of religion. Part of his presidential platform was against slavery, and for the freedom of blacks.
8. Unlike most churches who only allow a few select individuals to hold the priesthood, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, today, allows every worthy male member, 12 years old and older, to hold the priesthood. How many in your church do?
9. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has always taught little children who die before the age of accountability are automatically saved by the grace of God and will live with him in heaven - race has nothing to do with it.
10. When Jesus came in the New Testament, he restricted his teaching, with some exceptions, to the Jews. It was not until Paul that the gospel was taught with authority to the gentiles. In Moses day as found in the Old Testament, the priesthood was restricted to the Levites and the High Priest was specifically a descendant of Aaron. I don't claim to know why the restrictions occurred, but just like every other religion in America the Mormons have had their struggle with race.
Interesting history, no matter how you look at it. Some claim blessings, others claim convenience - what else is new?
This is an interesting site.
The following points are made concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:
1. In 1832, just two years after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized, Elijah Abel became the first black man baptized as a member. He served in the Quorum of Seventy the third highest governing body.
2. Jane Manning James, a wonderful black woman, and her eight family members were baptized into the Church. They crossed the plains in 1843 as pioneers to join the Mormons in the Salt Lake Valley. She is quoted as saying, "I am Mormon and I will always be Mormon."
3. Blacks joined the Church across the world and were baptized as members. It is true they were not allowed to hold the Priesthood until the marvelous revelation given to Spencer W. Kimball and announced June 8, 1978, a day celebrated by Mormons.
4. While other religions had segregated congregations (one for whites and another for blacks), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has always had combined meetings for which they were condemned by other religions.
5. Black members of the Church have held callings since 1832 including Relief Society President, Sunday School President and Instructors, to name a few.
6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was driven out of Missouri partially because the population knew the Mormons were against slavery. In fact, many of their neighbors thought the Mormons were abolitionists intent on starting a slave revolt.
7. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, ran for President of the United States because the government failed to protect freedom of religion. Part of his presidential platform was against slavery, and for the freedom of blacks.
8. Unlike most churches who only allow a few select individuals to hold the priesthood, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, today, allows every worthy male member, 12 years old and older, to hold the priesthood. How many in your church do?
9. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has always taught little children who die before the age of accountability are automatically saved by the grace of God and will live with him in heaven - race has nothing to do with it.
10. When Jesus came in the New Testament, he restricted his teaching, with some exceptions, to the Jews. It was not until Paul that the gospel was taught with authority to the gentiles. In Moses day as found in the Old Testament, the priesthood was restricted to the Levites and the High Priest was specifically a descendant of Aaron. I don't claim to know why the restrictions occurred, but just like every other religion in America the Mormons have had their struggle with race.
Interesting history, no matter how you look at it. Some claim blessings, others claim convenience - what else is new?
This is an interesting site.
Why do Mormons wear "magic underwear"?
I can't help but laugh about this every time someone asks me about "magic underwear". I personally have never asked anyone about their under garments, even Hanes commercials have shown the awkwardness of discussing underwear, remember when Cuba Gooding Jr shouts to Michael Jordan "I'm wearing your underwear". Let's keep this discussion civil.
Anyway, let's clear up two things: First, Mormons do not believe their underwear is "magic". However, they do believe their under garments serve as a reminder of their personal commitment to God, and it should be noted that remembering the love of God has saved many a person from harm, danger, or error. Second, Mormons do not call them "underwear" but they call them "garments".
Is there any indication that clothing serves as a reminder of God?
Numbers 15: 37 - 41 gives an indication as to why the children of Israel wore some types of clothing.
The analogy I like to use is a watch. Every morning thousands of people awake in the morning and in their routine put on a wrist watch. For me, my watch provides me with a reminder of the time, although I admit I did have one of those cool calculator watches back in the day. With a simple glance at my watch I can tell whether I am late, early or on time for a meeting. I can see how much time I have before lunch or how many hours to go before I head home. The watch serves as a reminder of the movement of the sun, which we recognize as the time of day or night. The wrist watch is a useful part of my wardrobe.
Following this line of thought, the Mormon garment becomes a daily reminder of the promises a Mormon has made to follow Gods commandments. Both Mormon men and women wear the garment "that [they] remember, and do all [God's] commandments, and be holy unto your God" (Numbers 15:40). For a practicing Mormon, the garment serves as a useful part of their wardrobe.
Read another great explanation at The Beehive.
Anyway, let's clear up two things: First, Mormons do not believe their underwear is "magic". However, they do believe their under garments serve as a reminder of their personal commitment to God, and it should be noted that remembering the love of God has saved many a person from harm, danger, or error. Second, Mormons do not call them "underwear" but they call them "garments".
Is there any indication that clothing serves as a reminder of God?
Numbers 15: 37 - 41 gives an indication as to why the children of Israel wore some types of clothing.
Numbers 15:37-41
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,
and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments
throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.
The analogy I like to use is a watch. Every morning thousands of people awake in the morning and in their routine put on a wrist watch. For me, my watch provides me with a reminder of the time, although I admit I did have one of those cool calculator watches back in the day. With a simple glance at my watch I can tell whether I am late, early or on time for a meeting. I can see how much time I have before lunch or how many hours to go before I head home. The watch serves as a reminder of the movement of the sun, which we recognize as the time of day or night. The wrist watch is a useful part of my wardrobe.
Following this line of thought, the Mormon garment becomes a daily reminder of the promises a Mormon has made to follow Gods commandments. Both Mormon men and women wear the garment "that [they] remember, and do all [God's] commandments, and be holy unto your God" (Numbers 15:40). For a practicing Mormon, the garment serves as a useful part of their wardrobe.
Read another great explanation at The Beehive.
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