There has been taboo surrounding Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The Massachusetts governor has been gathering a great deal of support, yet his identity as a Mormon has brought up a great deal of questions. What is Mormonism? Does it’s beliefs affect the out look of the president of the U.S.A.
Many Evangelical leaders have denied this to be an issue claiming religion doesn’t matter. This opposite of what they said when Evangelical George Bush was campaigning. But bad religion can be just as effective as good religion.
Deception/secrecy: Mormons practice a great deal of secrecy and Lying. When one looks at their commercials they offer a Bible and the book of Mormon yet the majority of their doctrine they derive from books which they hold as high which are “Doctrine and Covenants” and “Pearl of Great Price”. Many Mormons have been instructed that it is okay to lie to non-believers because they wouldn’t understand. Therefore the Mormons will deny their own beliefs and act shocked when a claim is made. This has been their most powerful smoke screen. The book of Mormon itself has been proven repeated to be purely unsubstantiated by any historical records. Even more substantial than that the book of Mormon has been known to plagiarize the King James Bible verbatim as well as borrow the majority of stories from writings of the late ex-minister Solomon Spaulding. (Mormonism: It’s Origin, characteristics and Doctrines Rev. R.G. Mcniece [1800’s Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church Salt Lake City Utah])
Racism: One secret is that Mormonism traditionally taught White supremacy. Black people were thought to be the offspring of a group of people who would neither follow Jesus nor Lucifer. The Native Americans had been titled the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon. They were cursed with dark skin because of their sin. “… wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.” (2Nephi 5:21) Any one with interracial ancestry is also cursed. “And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it and it was done.” (2Nephi 5:23)
Polygamy: “and again as pertaining to the Law of the Priesthood, if any man espouse a virgin and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent; and if he espouse the second and they are virgins and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified; for he cannot commit adultery with that belong unto him; and they are given unto him; therefore he is justified.” (Doctrine and Covenants,” chap. 132.)
Fanatics: When a religion has extremist views it is nearly impossible to tame them. While the mainstream LDS has decided to put it’s followers on a leash. The fact remains that their fundamental doctrines are still the same and still enticing people to extremism. For instance in Utah and throughout the rest of the Western U.S. there are polygamist cults who grew out of Mormonism. They also practice the Mormon doctrine of Blood atonement by which any apostate or sinner is only cleansed from sin by their murder. Last year U.S. official captured Mormon cult leader William Jeffries. Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt taught theocracy “Any people attempting to govern themselves by laws of their own making, and by officers of their own appointment, are indirect rebellion against the Kingdom of God.”(Orson Pratt’s Works, pg.41)
Mitt Romney is either going to be a theological liberal (which puts on the left) or he is going to be affected by these fanatical ideas. Either way should we really trust him with the welfare of our whole nation? Should we trust him to approve an amendment for traditional marriage? Don’t get me wrong Mitt Romney has every legal right to run for office. But we have the right vote for whoever we want regardless of popularity or political correctness.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Matt,
I believe you are falling into the trap created on the left, whose agenda is to discredit all religeous sects based on belief in miracles. I refer you to the recent newspaper editorial by talk radio personality Hugh Hewitt, in which he describes the lefts' love of religion only when the miraculous turns from "myth to metaphor"--this includes the evangelicals as well as all other Christian denominations.
I respect that you don't like or understand Mormonisms' influence on an individual like Mitt Romney along with about 13 million others around the world. But you are chasing the wrong boogey man on this issue and you are doing it with a marked tone of your own brand of religious bigotry. Your real enemies are those wanting to tear down ALL Faiths based on faith--(you know, that thing which is not to have a perfect knowledge of--belief in things that are not seen that are true, etc.)
Your description of Mormonism is like reading an anti-mormon book from the 1940's--parsing words and quotes out of context, referring to polygamy as if it was still in practice when it has not been part of the church doctrine or practice for over 100 years. Your attempt of association of radical breakoffs from the Mormon Church to todays church just to unfairly and inaccurately make your point is a false witness to the truth.
You refer to "William" Jeffs (it's Warren Jeffs, actually) as part of a "Mormon" sect; in fact, he is not and never has been a member of the LDS church (so he's not even an ex-communicated non-member!). His church is as much connected to the original church as Methodists are to Catholics. The same with your implication of blood atonement being practiced in some Mormon sects--these are offshoots!...Wow, I suppose there have not been any whacko branches off the evangelical or protestant family trees!? This is not practiced or taught as doctrine in the church.
As for your characterization of The Book of Mormon, I would challenge you to use your own criteria in validating the authenticity of the Bible in historical terms...as with the Bible you can find artifacts, geological monuments and legends to allude to its accuracy, but find me the PROOF of the miracles and the characters roles as found in the Bible. You can't do it, it was never God's intent to have scientific verification because it takes FAITH to believe in the Bible. The same with the Book of Mormon--there is similar type of evidence out there, i.e. the story of the white beared "feathered serpant", Quetsoquatl, who promised to return (aka. the ready acceptance of Cortez by the Incas). Interesting coincidence, but hardly solid proof that Christ once visited their ancient ancestors after his resurrection with a promise to return, as the story goes in the Book of Mormon! Scripture of any kind is only proven by the Spirit so stop with the antiquated comparisons to the Spalding manuscrips--that argument was debunked decades ago by scholars both in and out of Mormon academia--the similarities are few and far between. In the context of your description of so-called racism in the Book of Mormon, I would submit a precedence for a "marking" of a people to temporally (and I emphasize "temporally" from an historical context perspective) prevent a mixing of the peoples would be the story of the mark of Cain and upon his posterity--unless you are one of those myth-to-metaphor guys (which I don't believe you are) you must believe this fit into God's plan for His people at that time--the same was true for the Lamanite and the Nephite nations in the Book of Mormon. By the way, the urban legend of the Black skin being symbolic of lukewarm "fence-sitters" in the pre-earth life has been renounced time and time again by several recent prophets as a propigation of early opinions, but NEVER was it ever taught as official doctrine of the church.
Also, your assertion that "many" members of the Mormon Church are taught to intentionally lie about our scriptures and our use of revealed truth other than the Bible is interesting at the least, libelous at worst! I've never been told to lie or hide from our scriptures (but maybe I'm not one of the chosen "many"!). We make no secret of our use of other scriptures, but our belief in the Bible is solid--our entire Sunday School curriculum for 2006 was the study of the Old Testament and the 2007 courses are only on the New Testament. Do we use other scriptures to clarify the word--yes. I wasn't aware of the total and complete scriptural harmony among the 1200 or so known sects of the Christian world when it comes to Biblical interpretation. To allude to Mormons marginalizing the Bible because we claim other scripture is to put limits on God's ability to continue to reveal His word. And don't give me the line from Revelations (22:18) about not "adding to this book" because that's also mentioned in Deuteronomy 4:2--aren't you glad the revealed word of God didn't stop there?
Finally, your last quote from Orsen Pratt was a dandy--and once again out of context in its entirety. Our own Doctrine and Covenants declares the belief in the Constitution of the United States was and is a Divinely inspired document (is that also a definition of "scripture"--words inspired from God?). At last look, it promotes a representative form of government. I imagine with your keen intellect you could take snippetts of words from John Wesley, Luther, Knox, Calvin, et.al. and attempt to disparage the faith of millions of people through your sophestry. I belive the Bible refers to preachers like you as "ever learning, but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth"--because you are learned, you think you are wise.
Reverend, I don't write this to try to convince you or convert you to Mormonism, but to warn you of the evil designs of those among us that would seek to destroy faith of any kind until all miracles are reduced to nothing more than nice sounding metaphorical stories. I have not made any decision about my vote for Mitt Romney, but for Christians like you to be so unaware as to how your religous bigotry and intolerence can blind you and your followers to the real threat to our faith-based society is truly alarming. Don't you wonder why the left has not made any issue of Senator Reid's (Senate Majority Leader) membership in the Mormon Church, yet declare intolerence and fear-mongering for Romney's association with the same church (as you have so eloquently, and unwittingly done). Forget about your feud with Mormon doctrine--WAKE UP TO THE PERIL OF YOUR OWN BELIEF SYSTEM THAT OTHERS SEEK TO DESTROY!!! This is a battle we must fight TOGETHER as believers in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Dear Bryce,
First of all let me say that it is an honor to get a response from you. Knowing that you took the time to read the article and write a very articulate response, it is truly a blessing and to that I say thank you.
Now when we focus on these topics I need to come with me and focus on the specific topic. Maybe I did not create a clear enough thesis. But I will try that now.
“Is the Mormon faith a negative factor for a presidential candidate?”
For starters, I want you to notice that in my article I never state the LDS organization as the source of the problem but the Mormon faith. I even, in a way, complemented the LDS on keeping their group away from the extremes. However, there are many thousands of people in the United States who under the name of Mormonism have killed and committed polygamy and gone to other extremes. You can see evidence of their continued existence all over shows like “Oprah!” And in the polygamy Lawsuit which is in play in Mitt Romney’s state of Massachusetts. You can not stop them from claiming your name and quoting from your scriptures. Just as much as I cannot stop you from calling yourself a Christian and quoting form the Bible.
The LDS stays away from these extremes with loose interpretations and new prophets and apostles. However, this makes All prophetic words like the Ten Commandments to be temporary and not the final word.
Herein, is the problem as it relates to American social conservatism. Our ethics are based off of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Our values are therefore based off of the Ten Commandments and such. We believe in absolute truth (not saying that we have obtained it, but in the fact that it is there.) We must therefore have assurance that our basic understanding of right and wrong is correct.
How can an LDS member provide that when they have prophets and apostles that could always provide a new revelation? If they can have revelation which teaches that dark skin is a curse, but then have a “new revelation” which changes it’s position; why then could they not change their position on traditional marriage? How can I trust a Mormon extremist or LDS to help in a national traditional marriage amendment? Mormonism can prove to either be extremist or liberal and unreliable like Harry Reid!
We need a document that will not change with the changing of the wind.
You claimed earlier that since God put a mark on Cain he must have been racist, like in the book of Mormon. However, I don’t need to get a new revelation, I can simply go back to the Bible itself!
Gen 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Cain’s mark was not a curse, but a protection from murder! The “mark” is never described as skin color. It is never said to be upon anyone else either. Therefore this has absolutely nothing to do with racial separation.
Now, first of all we have to understand some things the same way when we debate otherwise there will be confusion. I am not a defender of nominal Christianity. God will judge us all. I don’t care if you call yourself Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, Mormon or Baptist. Only those who believe in the real God of the Bible alone and accept salvation from Jesus alone by his grace alone through faith alone giving Glory to God alone and proving this fact with genuine repentance are real Christians. (My title would be a fundamental Baptist) I believe multitudes of Non-Mormons will be judged just as harshly if not harsher in Condemnation. I also want you to know that if it were not for the gift of salvation from Christ I would also be headed straight for hell, and I truly am no more righteous than you. But I am using the righteousness that comes from Christ for my judgement, while Jesus took my sins on himself in the cross.
Therefore when you point out Christian errors I agree, but could care less as far as our debate. My focus is not the groups because I do not live according to people. If Billy Graham told me to change what I believe based on his word, I would call him an idiot and tell him that he needs to repent! But if, I am shown that the Bible disagrees with me, then I feel that I need to change my ways.
When you speak of inspiration you confuse it with man-made writings (Constitution ?!?) instead of the actual word of God. When I say the Bible is the Word of God. I mean that God knows everything. That God put every word of scripture onto the prophet’s heart. Those if interpreted plainly and properly that the Bible is without error and absolutely true.
2Pe 1:16-17 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
You have to understand that Biblical faith stands on eternal promises.
1Pe 1:18-25 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The true Christian faith can never die, nor will God’s word ever be destroyed.
You have a different understanding of faith than me. You seem to understand faith like Soren Kierkegaard who separated facts from faith. However, my Bible tells me to have faith in Jesus, but regards the Bible as plain and simple fact. The spirit inspired the Bible, yet I only need to read the Bible the spirit will move ears to listen but I have always been able to hear the message. Can you find a single shred of a manuscript prior to the 1800’s of the book of Mormon? I can show that there are over 5,600 ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament as well as 19,000 manuscripts in other translations during the age of antiquity.
Secularism, is an enemy of the faith. Yet ultimately the Battle is against the real Devil. The Devil attacks us with more lies than just secularism. I approach politics not as a goal for my group to win. I approach politics as a way to witness God’s will to my culture. Therefore I try to vote my conscience most of the time. As oppose to just following a party line or agenda. If I wanted to take over I probably would, but My God will set up the Kingdom here on earth when he feels like it whether I want Him to or not. I need to use the opportunity of democracy to testify of Him. If you agree with me on an issue we may be allies but we are not on the same team. Once we disagree we need to admit we disagree.
I don’t believe Mormonism should be the only reason not to vote for a candidate for president. But religion is a major factor we should all critically analyze of the most powerful position in the free world.
Bryce, I am saddened that you did not want to convert me! If your gospel is true then try to take me there with you! Don’t just try to get my coffin wet! Let’s get into it now! I bet you’re a better man than me and you ought to get the chance to get to heaven so I’ll tell you what… if you let me, I’ll try to convert you!
If you want to go further e-mail me at mslv4gd@yahoo.com also feel free to keep commenting on my Blog!
“You see, you think we’re fighting! I say we’re finally talkin’!” Rod Tidwell/Cuba Gooding Jr. from Jerry Maguire
Post a Comment