I won't post the myriad number of outright visceral posts by the mormons and their defenders to those who were engaged in debating your theology and doctrine in response to this bait.
I'll simply posit the following towards you and them...
A seeker of truth should never see gentle, truthful rebuke or rebuttal as anything other than concern and love.
“Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov.27:5-6).
"Whoso loveth instruction, loveth also knowledge: but he that HATETH REPROOF IS BRUTISH” – a mere brute – an animal! (Prov.12:1).
“A wise man heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke” (Prov.13:1).
“A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge” (Prov.14:6-7).
“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov.29:1).
What you and many others here on FR see as "hatred", those of us opposed to mormonism see as rebuke. Rebuke/refutation towards a theology that fired the first shot by declaring ALL of Christianity apostate and the practitioners of such, whores of Babylon and pawns of Satan.
And this theology continues this practice to this day.
"And for those of you anti-Mormons out there, I have some prediction for you too. And these apply even if Romney is not elected as POTUS:
- Your grandchildren will call Mormons Christians, and look at Mormonism as the third branch of Christianity alongside Catholicism and Protestantism"
Nope, I won't let them believe this. I will educate them on the Bible and then show them, point by point how mormonism is wrong. But answer me this; How is mormonism to be considered a "third branch of Christianity" when mormons claim and have claimed since its inception that it's a "complete restoration"?
"- All the attacks against Romney that stem from the anti-Mormon garbage you have bought into will result in the attacker either apologizing, or in their loss of credibility. The more anti-Mormon attacks are made in the mainstream media, the worse the attackers will look."
Again, what you see as "hatred" and "garbage", I see as rebuke.
" - Your grandchildren will likewise look at such attacks as being as bigoted and wrong, even when they come from you."
Pretty bold declaration of an emotional appeal to political correctness. I have not taught my children PC. They are being taught that logic and reasoning trump irrational fears and emotional appeals.
" - Some of your grandchildren or great-grandchildren will become Mormons, and after you are dead they will have temple ordinances performed for you, and you will be glad at the time that they do."
Maybe so, then again maybe yours will leave mormonism. But I will be able to stand before God and account for my efforts. I will not bow at the pagan altars in the mormon temples. I won't be "glad" of anything they may do as it is irrelevant to my salvation and completely without merit.
In closing, I am not an “anti-mormon”, no matter how many times it’s repeated. Instead of using more accurate terms or words like “church critic”, the word “anti-” is used as it relates to the mormons as a people, “anti-mormon”. That it is a personal prejudice. To draw parallels to many “anti-” [such as anti-semitism] pogroms from the past and currently.
It’s an incendiary word that is already loaded with negative connotations that arouses in people a reflexive response that is neither necessary nor relevant, almost feral in nature.
If I were an anti-mormon, meaning I don’t like mormons, or “hate” them as I’ve been so oft accused, why would I still be married to one? Why would I associate with them in the many venues that I do? Why would I care about them enough to endure the slurs, slander, lies etc. that I encounter not only on FR, but in my daily life because I dare to take a stand against the false teachings of mormonism?
No, I dare say that if I "hated" mormons, I would leave them to their fate, instead, I challenge them to challenge their beliefs and teachings. I challenge them to come to know this...
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.[KJV] John 6:29
///Signed///
An ex-mormon
“A seeker of truth should never see gentle, truthful rebuke or rebuttal as anything other than concern and love.”
Of course, but that isn’t what I’m talking about. Mockery, insults, the intellectual dishonesty of repeating in thread after thread accusation that have already been rebutted, the refusal to give honest consideration to anything said in reply, those are not the actions of somebody filled with concern and love. Look at the replies to this thread, a LOT of people see the hate fueled Mormon bashing for what it is.
“Nope, I won’t let them believe this”
Good luck with that, they’ll make up their own minds.
“But answer me this; How is mormonism to be considered a “third branch of Christianity” when mormons claim and have claimed since its inception that it’s a “complete restoration”?”
Same way we consider Catholicism and Protestantism to be part of Christianity, we are the branch that is correct :).
Catholics claim exclusive authority from Peter but that doesn’t seem to be an issue.
“Again, what you see as “hatred” and “garbage”, I see as rebuke. “
Well, if you are trying to rebuke somebody out of love and all they perceive is hatred then you are not doing a very good job, are you? Perhaps you could try to learn from your mistakes so you can be more effective.
Excellent Q, Szonian.
ALL: Szonian, an ex-Mormon still married to an active Mormon, has hit upon a key tension that just about EVERY contemporary true-believing Mormon is faced with...
Lds want to see themselves as tolerant -- and therefore, try to "carve out" new ground as some sort of "Third branch of Christianity."
But Joseph Smith didn't leave them this option; and neither does the formal Lds church, Inc.
If Christianity was still operative with authority -- and no universal apostasy as Lds church, Inc. claims...
...when Joseph Smith came on the scene (early 1800s),
...then there was no need for a "restoration"...
A reformation? Possibly...the church is always being reformed...but not a total-from-scratch "restoration" as Mormons claim...
Otherwise, Smith and his work was 100% superflous...redundant...100% unnecessary...
Therefore, in the Pearl of Great PRice - Joseph Smith, History, vv. 18-19...Smith tried to say ALL Christian sects professors of their faith were "corrupt" -- unjoinable...and their creeds were 100% an abomination.
So...Mormons like GRig are kind of stuck...
They want the brand name of Christian and Christianity--and lust after it...
But their very own made-up Smith "scriptures" won't allow them to be "Christians" like Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christianity. Because we are actually in their eyes "apostates"...just like the Muslims call us "infidels."
Wouldn't you know it that the Mormons came along to just happen to 100% reinforce Muhammad's messages about the worldwide Christian church!