Mormons have sub-par Easter services [testimony from a Mormon]

Wheat and Tares.org ^ | April 8, 2012 | Mormon Heretic

[Colofornian]

There were some interesting comments from the poll yesterday. I won’t say that our poll is representative of Mormons in general, but I do agree with the results. As of the time I wrote this, 75% of people who responded to our poll say that “Mormons have sub-par Easter services”. Why is that?

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. SteveS noted that there were “0 references to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, no shout outs to Palm Sunday festivities celebrating Christ as Lord and Son of God. No hosannas shouted that day. Hardly any references at all to the upcoming Easter holy day.”

Actually, I checked, and the word Easter was never mentioned.

Jared noted a 1994 talk from Dallin Oaks that “In too many of our classes, in too many of our worship services, we are not teaching of Christ and testifying of Christ in the way we should.”

So, I thought it would be interesting to see what Oaks spoke about in Conference. His talk was titled “Sacrifice”, and he does talk about the Atonement and sacrifice of Christ. But the word “Easter” is completely absent, as is “Palm Sunday.” Why? What is it about our leadership that seems to ignore Palm Sunday completely? And why was Easter (just one week away) never mentioned at General Conference? (I checked for the word “Easter” in every talk, and it was NEVER mentioned–I checked the Women’s meeting the week before and it wasn’t mentioned there either.)

I wish Mormons celebrated, rather than simply observed, the Easter holiday. It would be nice to have more of a celebration of Easter; I really like Easter gets the short shrift for celebrations, but I think that Christmas celebrations in our church are lacking as well. Four years ago, I posted the question, Why don’t Mormons celebrate Easter? It is my #2 post this month! I always receive a spike in hits for that post around Easter. If you do a Google search asking “do Mormons celebrate Easter”, my post comes up on the #8 position (In past years, it was as high as #2).

Is this one of those things we do to be a “peculiar people”? Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate Easter either. Are we trying to be more like them? No, because we love Easter Egg hunts, and candy. Why do we emphasize the wrong aspects of Easter?

Many of us read the Christmas story before Christmas. How many of you read the Easter story before Easter?

[svcw]

I may have misunderstood your posts.
These posts are primarily interested in exposing mormonISM.
Romney is a mormon, he is who he is because he is a mormon not in spite of it. To understand Romney you must understand mormonism.
And yes there is a clear alignment between islam and mormonism, dozens of references have been posted in the past to verify this.
There are few posters whom you have responded to are anti-Christian and describe their so called defense as a defense of mormons and against so called bigotry, it is not. I believe you will soon recognize them.

[NorthernCrunchyCon]

Okay, thanks for the explanation, and my apologies for being the cause of the misunderstanding. I agree with you concerning the need to expose Mormonism as non-Christian. What alerted me to the danger is the recent escalation across cyberspace of attacks against the three historic Christian creeds perpetuated by Mormon apologists.

[SoConPubbie]

Well, I have never expeienced “sub-par” Easter services in any LDS congregation I have attended in 42 years.

So Jeff, if all you have attended in 42 years are Mormon services on Easter, how would you know what a real Easter service in a real Christian church is like?

[MacMattico]

Really, on Easter, none of us should be arguing!

And I'll admit what is probably a sin but may stop some of the back and forth here if it makes one person laugh a little—

Saturday night I kind of wished our Catholic Easter Vigil was, well maybe not sub- par, but a little shorter. I had such a bad headache but the Priest went on and on. It was a beautiful service but the kids were exhausted, and the church was packed. The Priest went outside to light some candles and other things and it was so windy they wouldn't light. He still had a microphone on and at one point I thought he was going to swear at the flame that kept going out, but he didn't! We were hearing his whole conversation and kind of started to laugh. Finally we heard over the speakers, “Father, you may want to turn your microphone off until you come back in.” and then the Priest to us all, “Oh, ok, sorry everyone.” after that it was nice, my headache got better and I got teary eyed, which my kids know means it was a well done touching service but I still embarrass them!

[antceecee]

How does one identify as being “Christian” and not celebrate Easter?

[mlizzy]

“Father, you may want to turn your microphone off until you come back in.”
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-lol- Glad I stuck around to read all the comments. Here's a helpful link for those interested: Comparing Mormonism.

[Biggirl]

Also Holy Thursday, which honors the Lord’s Last Supper and the washing of the feet to make the Easter Tridium.

[Elsie]

DAD already HAS a body; so mine being raised is not a big deal...

[Elsie]

Poor magritte...

No one picks on Noahides; so he has to sympathize with SOME group!

[Elsie]

No one picks on Noahides; so he has to sympathize with SOME group!

Ya COULD help out us poor CHRISTIANS every now and then!!

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Questions put to Joseph Smith: "'Do you believe the Bible?' [Smith:]'If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do'. When asked 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons'? [Smith replied] 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).

Joseph Smith: "for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible" (from Pearl of Great Price 1:12). "What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).

 

 

 

Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: "When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness" (Journal of Discourses 5:73); "The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Journal of Discourses 8:171); "With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199); "And who is there that acknowledges [God's] hand? ...You may wander east, west, north, and south, and you cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.24); "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).

 

 

 

Orson Pratt proclaimed: "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).

 

 

 

Orson Pratt also said: "This great apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now" (Journal of Discourses

, vol.18, p.44) and: "But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be ...But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" (Journal of Discourses , 18:172).

 

 

President John Taylor stated: "Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses , 10:127).

 

 

 

James Talmage said: "A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).

 

 

 

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: "Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).

 

 

 

More recent statements by apostle Bruce McConkie are also very clear: "Apostasy was universal...And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); "Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general" (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); "a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom" (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); "virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); "Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to form the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era." (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).

 

 

 

President George Q. Cannon said: "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" (Gospel Truth, p.324).

 

 

President Wilford Woodruff stated: "the Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 2, p.196).

[Elsie]

In the following excerpts, President Monson shares his testimony of and gratitude for the Savior’s Resurrection and declares that because the Son conquered death, all of the Father’s children who come to earth will live again.

 

 

 

 In doing so, He gave us life beyond this mortal existence.

No; He didn't.  We alREADY have that 'life'.  Where we SPEND eternity is the difference HE made.

 

 We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. …

Arrogant little so-and-so!

 

...I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live.

The Church Lady says... "Well! Isn't THAT special!!"

 

 You could ask family members the following questions: “What does it mean to you that a living prophet has testified of these truths today?

Or you could ask, "What has Tommy 'prophesied' lately?

[Elsie]

Enjoy the religion that you’ve settled on in this diverse country we enjoy.

And then DIE, and await the Great White Throne Judgement.

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M; is YOUR name written in the Book of LIFE?

[Elsie]

Our Savior was emphasized after the completion of pour main services.

Gee Jeff; that is GREAT!

[Elsie]

Office of First President & Living Prophet®:

December 11st, 2011

 

URGENT!

Fellow MORMON Freeper Christians!!

I've been getting lots of feedback from those of you on Free Republic (spit) about a certain Colorfornicator (or something like that), who is REALLY giving us a hard time there.

 

Why not try to point out to the uninformed how OBSESSED he seems to be.

 

Let's see if we can tangle him up so much trying to defend his reputation that he'll no longer have as much time to post facts about MORMONism.

 

As always, Tommy M.

[Elsie]

Its an anger issue.

[Elsie]

I was noticing that we were focusing more on “prophets” and “principles” and silly discussions on questions of whether or not vegetarians were breaking the Word of Wisdom!

WHAT??

That's like wondering if Flds folks are breaking....

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The Doctrine and Covenants

Section 132

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded 12 July 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, and also the plurality of wives (see History of the Church, 5:501–7). Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831.

.

.

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58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

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58 Now, as touching the law of the ^apriesthood, there are many things pertaining thereunto.

59 Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was ^aAaron, by mine own voice, and by the voice of him that ^bsent me, and I have endowed him with the ^ckeys of the power of this priesthood, if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit ^dsin, and I will justify him.

60 Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph; for I will justify him; for he shall do the sacrifice which I require at his hands for his transgressions, saith the Lord your God.

61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse ^aanother, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.

62 And if he have ^aten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.

63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to ^amultiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be ^bglorified.

64 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law.

65 Therefore, it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord his God, will give unto him, because she did not believe and administer unto him according to my word; and she then becomes the transgressor; and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto Abraham according to the law when I commanded Abraham to take ^aHagar to wife.

66 And now, as pertaining to this law, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will reveal more unto you, hereafter; therefore, let this suffice for the present. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega. Amen.

[Elsie]

I was noticing that we were focusing more on “prophets” and “principles” and silly discussions on questions of whether or not vegetarians were breaking the Word of Wisdom!

WHAT??

MORMONs who eat MEAT in the SUMMER are the LAW-BREAKERS!!!

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[Elsie]

I know your posting history.

GOOD!!

Then "I didn't know that!" will not be an excuse later.

[Elsie]

Why not attack Islam, which does way more harm than being Mormon.

MUSLIMs do not LIE and claim to be CHRISTIANs.

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And if you are thinking about the head chopping off angle...

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I do not feel threatened by it because I don’t think that they will be attempting to convert by the sword.

 

The gruesome be headings of some 40 Ute corpses in 1850, heads stacked in boxes,

and hung by their long hair from the eves of buildings at Fort Utah,

 has long been ignored, “You didn’t see the Indians beheading the Mormons.”

 

-- Historian Robert Carter

[Elsie]

That is not a religion of peace.

Neither is CHRISTIANITY.

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Matthew 10:34

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.