Posted on 11/28/2007 12:34:38 AM PST by Zakeet
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said yesterday that he hopes to convince voters that his Mormon faith is mainstream.
"I think as people come to know my faith they'll recognize that the values of my faith are — they very much flow from the Judeo-Christian tradition of this country. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in the equality of all humankind," Mr. Romney said in an interview with The Washington Times.
[Snip]
It is Mr. Romney's Mormon faith that remains a question mark in his presidential quest. The governor is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith that says adherents are on a journey toward godhood, that God speaks to man today through living apostles and prophets, and that the Book of Mormon, published by Joseph Smith in 1830, is the word of God.
Mr. Romney has remained mostly mum on the topic; despite his desire to deliver a speech about his Mormon faith, he has accepted the advice of political aides who advise against the move. When he was asked last year whether he wears temple garments, white underwear similar to a mesh shirt and boxer shorts that signify purity, he said: "I'll just say those sorts of things I'll keep private."
The candidate's religion, however, threatens to become a very public campaign issue — and a dangerous one. In a recent Gallup survey, just two-thirds of conservatives said they could support a Mormon candidate.
Meanwhile, other candidates, while skirting around the edges, have also brought up the governor's faith.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
You: Exactly! He wanted his disciples to have unity, the same kind of unity that he and his Father had. I agree with you. So this is not a passage in support of the concept of trinitarianism.
I don't see the concept of the Holy Trinity addressed in this passage either. One of my earlier posts referred people to an explanation provided by the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. As you can see, they do not cite this scripture in their article. Thus, it appears we are in complete agreement.
Returning to an earlier post, you wrote:
I don’t want to be blasphemous, but (to use an example) it sounds like you are saying something like — a dog has four legs, but there is only one dog. In other words, the substance that is the dog is spread over all four legs. Is that what you are saying?
Lots of people have trouble understanding the concept of the Holy Trinity -- i.e. how can one be three and three be one?
The best analogy I have found came from a Lutheran pastor who explained it in terms of doing business.
Let us assume you decide to start an enterprise and operate it as a sole proprietorship. Next, assume that your business prospers and you decide it is wise to incorporate part of your venture in order to gain some of its inherent advantages (e.g. limited liability). Finally, assume that your venture participates as a partner in yet another enterprise.
You are doing business in three ways at the same time: as a sole proprietor, corporation and partner. But in each case, you own all of the business. Thus, you are one -- who is making yourself known in three ways. Each way is different with their unique attributes -- but each is you.
Hope this helps.
Since you fly the State of Utah flag, I'll take a shot that your are a member of the same church as Mitt and you are Mitt fan.
When Mitt fans are challenged as to Mitt's record, again Mitt's record not his religion, one of their continuous rebuttals is Hate, Hate.
I watched Mitt on the debate last night more than once evade answering questions. To me this means he is a fraud. Is that hate?
Interviewer: "Governor, I've heard that to get to some of the high positions in the LDS organization, that you have attained, a person has to make some very specific oaths to GOD, or to your organization.
It's been alledged by some that these could conflict with your Presidential powers.
Would you care to comment about this?"
Reply number 2 and alREADY the B word is flying about!
"Christian mythology"
HUH?
Reply #4 and alREADY the H word is being tossed about!
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
(Depends on who you ask ;^)
There are one's with really good info that the LDS members just HATE if you read and believe them.
You can get a glimpse of SOME of what they beleive on their official website: LDS.ORG
Your best bet is to hang in these threads and watch the exchange of facts and spin.
Amazing...
Owned by....
No; for this is debateable (and will be!)
Instaed ask:
Errr, what changed his mind concerning the fetuses of this world?
One who has been a LIFELONG LDS member should have been against ABORTION forEVER!!!
MINDREADING ALERT!!!
Like #2 and #4??
Even BEFORE anything 'negative' (true) was posted about their organization!
Apparently you don't differentiate between God and Christianity as itis currently practiced (far different from how it was historically practiced). Which honestly was exactly my point. If you don't understand that there is a difference, it will awful tough to explain. Chrsitianity has a the TRUTH as its basis, but the rest is a set of myths meant to explain how and why things are. The TRUTH part is about how to live, the myth part is just so there is a good story kind of like marketing. There is a creation myth, there is a pantheon of Angels, an incarnation of good and evil, a giver of laws, etc. Lots of other religions with all of these elements too. In fact, there was a popular religion around Jesus's time that had a son of a god born on Dec. 25 too. It pre-dated Christianity, but a lot of its believers converted. To believe in God and accept the contents of Jesus's message is one thing. To beleive in the magical events that supposedly occurred is another. Thus, I am pro-God and even pro-Jesus, but you probably wouldn't consider me a Christian because I don't believe the events actually occurred as described in the bible. That does not contradict the fundamentals of FR, because being a conservative is about living, acting and believing certain things with God's message on how to do these things as guidance; however that does not include literal interpretation of the bible.
Might your feelings be better affirmed at a site like Democratic Underground?
Actually if you don't want to have your beliefs questioned and cannot think about things beyond what you read, perhaps you actually ARE a RAT. I can't figure out why you would otherwise make this comment. It seems to me it is the lack of affirmation of your "feelings" that is your problem. There are plenty of fundamentalist purists at the DU who will not allow dissenting thought - quite similar to yourself.
Maybe you should Go find some evo-crevo thread and knock yourself out telling everyone there to go to the DU. By the way, I changed my tag line just for you.
Danite-lite
Not quite: it's more like this...
The most accurate thing to say is that Mormons are Christians, but that their Jesus is not the same Jesus that most individuals have in mind when they think of Jesus.
Good Luck! There's LOT's more coming your way!
How do you know his mind was changed? Do you have any quotes or actions from Romney indicating the he ever thought otherwise?
By the way, for you to make a judgment on what you think someone believes about other races based on what some people you say you know believe, that's prejudice in and of itself.
I'm not a Mitt fan, but lets point out his policy flaws, not make wild accusations about racism that are baseless.
Did he say anything about the rest of the congregation?
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
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