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To: Normandy
I'm not LDS, but I work with LDS. I'm also friends with LDS who understand what all the fuss is about. I support the right of LDS to believe as they choose.

I read LDS members who say they believe in Jesus Christ; I read others who talk about LDS polytheism, and exaltation to gods; and how God was a man who was exalted; and how Jesus and Lucifer are two of God's many children; and how works are necessary for salvation; and more. And I read people like Bill McKeever. How would you respond to him, as a LDS member? Are his points valid? He seems to target LDS prophets' statements that run contrary to your of similar values, ideals and hopes.

Bill McKeever, the founder of the Mormonism Research Ministry, had this response to the two claims that: (1) it's ridiculous to suggest that the LDS faith is in some important sense outside of the Christian fold, and (2) Latter-day Saints never level harsh criticism at other faiths or at their adherents.

But let me see if I understand this correctly, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Let's see. You say my church is "wrong"1, you say my creeds are an "abomination""2, my pastor is "corrupt""3, my Heavenly Father is 'invented'"4, my Jesus is "mythical""5, my Trinity is a "monster""6, my justification is "pernicious""7, my grace is a "fallacious doctrine originated by Satan""8, and my Bible is not trustworthy. "9 Then when I attempt to offer any sort of disagreement or rebuttal, you accuse me of hatred and bigotry, or even of being 'un-Christlike'. And if that isn't enough, to add insult to injury, you want to steal my name [of 'Christian']! Let me just say, folks: not on my watch. I am not going to be manipulated by people that try to use these type of measures to coerce me into embracing an organization that teaches things that are blatantly unbiblical, just so that we might have peace.


11 Joseph Smith History 1:19
2 Joseph Smith History 1:19; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1979), 440-441; Hyrum M. Smith, "Discourse by Elder Hyrum M. Smith", Liahona The Elders' Journal 14/27 (2 January 1917): 419.
3 Joseph Smith History 1:19; Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology (Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855), 167; Hyrum M. Smith, "Discourse by Elder Hyrum M. Smith", Liahona The Elders' Journal 14/27 (2 January 1917): 418-419.
4 Edward L. Kimball, ed., Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1995), 426.
5 Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1979), 269.
6 Joseph Smith, "Sermon in the Grove", 16 June 1844, quoted in History of the Church 6:476, and reprinted in Joseph F. Smith, comp., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1977), 372. The word "monster" was added in the reconstruction of the sermon, and does not appear in Thomas Bullock's original notes, though these themselves make clear that Joseph Smith leveled a great deal of hostile mockery at this sacred and central Christian teaching, and certainly whoever introduced that particular word was also LDS.
7 James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News, 1899), 120; Joseph Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News, 1945), 192.
8 Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1969), 206.
9 Articles of Faith 8; Orson Pratt, Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon (1850), reprinted in A Series of Pamphlets on the Doctrines of the Gospel (Salt Lake City, UT: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1884), 218-220; Neal A. Maxwell, "The Wondrous Restoration", Ensign (April 2003), 35.
48 posted on 01/13/2012 5:51:39 PM PST by Scoutmaster (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it)
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To: Scoutmaster

It is AMAZING the silence of MORMONs in these threads!

“Do you agree or disagree with what your leaders have taught?
SILENCE

“Have you read THESE things that ARE evidently TAUGHT by your chosen church?”
SILENCE

And then, if an answer IS forthcoming, it’s to a question that was not asked!

If mere MORMON minions, sent to FR to do battle with Evil ANTIs, are THIS reluctant to defend their chosen religious organization; SILENCE on most things, disembling on others; if they are this way in the trenches, how much MORE embedded is the behaviour at higher levels?


It ain’t gonna be pretty when Mitt starts getting bombarded with the same treatment from the MSM.

The video clips of his actions and REactions will be DAMNING!


61 posted on 01/14/2012 4:54:57 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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To: Scoutmaster
I support the right of LDS to believe as they choose.

As do I.

BUT...

Their reastions to questioning from outsiders is NOT something that the outsiders control.

If LDS members choose to remain so elusive (what's that phrase - Nailing Jello® to a tree), how can they possibly complain when their chosen church gets labeled a CULT?

62 posted on 01/14/2012 4:58:58 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
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