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Talking about Mormonism would help Mitt Romney
Published in Deseret News (originated Washington Post) ^ | Aug. 8, 2012 | Michael Gerson

Posted on 08/09/2012 5:40:19 PM PDT by Colofornian

WASHINGTON — Concerning Mormons and Republicans, history offers a large helping of irony. In 1843, an Army officer named John C. Fremont led a geographical expedition of 39 men more than 1,700 miles to the shores of the Great Salt Lake. His report on the journey inspired hounded Mormons to mount their wagons and resettle in the Great Basin.

Thirteen years later in Philadelphia, Fremont became the first presidential nominee of the Republican Party, which adopted a platform opposing the "twin relics of barbarism — Polygamy, and Slavery." The slogan, and the anti-Mormon sentiment behind it, caught on. A Republican rally in Indianapolis, reportedly attended by 60,000 people, included an ox-drawn parade wagon depicting Brigham Young along with six wives dressed in hoop skirts, each with a little Brigham in her arms.

...In the typology of sociologists Robert Putnam and David Campbell, Mormons remain a rejected "out-group," unlike accepted "in-groups" such as Catholics and Jews. Large majorities of Americans perceive Mormonism as "very different" from their own religious beliefs.

But in this case, the counsel of religious reticence is wrong. Romney should not be afraid to highlight his faith.

SNIP

Questions remain about the role of Mormonism in depressing evangelical political enthusiasm. Some religious conservatives are concerned that a Romney presidency would provide theological legitimacy for a rival, proselytizing faith. But it is unclear how silence from Romney on religion would mitigate this fear. And a portion of the evangelical enthusiasm gap is explainable for another reason entirely: the suspicions of social conservatives about the authenticity of Romney's social conservatism.

SNIP

This does not mean Romney should quote from the Book of Jarom in his convention speech...

(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012issues; evangelicals; fff; inman; lds; mittromney; mormonism; ntsa; romneyandgod; spamdogpackthread
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To: Godzilla

Maybe he’s on about the amount of posts about mormons and how the poster seems infatuated witht hem and wantint to put them down all the time.

I don’t know much about mormons or their teachings, what I do know is that they helped to fight the homo agenda and that in itself makes me wonder how the hell can Romney be more pro homo?
I find that strange considering he also gives millions to their church.


121 posted on 08/10/2012 8:19:37 AM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: manc; Colofornian
I don’t know much about mormons or their teachings,

If you really research the posts, you will see that by and large they are on mormon teachings. The very article cited for this thread is taken from an official mormon publication. He also cites mormon prophets and apostles too in regards to mormon teachings.

I do know is that they helped to fight the homo agenda and that in itself makes me wonder how the hell can Romney be more pro homo? If I understand you correctly, Romney is at great odds with the general position of mormonism on homosexuality, going as far as saying homosexuals should be Boy Scout leaders - didn't he learn anything from the Penn St / Sandoskie scandal?

I find that strange considering he also gives millions to their church.

Were you to read Colofornian's posts, he relates the requirement to be a temple mormon (elite) is to give 10% of ones income annually. It is a requirement for him to maintain his temple recommend (pass).

See, I one pushes aside the swarms of those who scream 'haters' and really READS the material, one learns mormon doctrine and compares it to Christian doctrine - education. Were it 'hate' as some here would bleat, his posts would be more like those who are calling him a hater.

122 posted on 08/10/2012 8:35:39 AM PDT by Godzilla (3/7/77)
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To: Lucas McCain

http://www.faithmouse.com/romney_pancake_stack.jpg

123 posted on 08/10/2012 8:42:20 AM PDT by OldEarlGray (The POTUS is FUBAR until the White Hut is sanitized with American Tea)
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To: MDspinboyredux

“Sounds like Opposition Research, to me.”

You do know this is posted on the internet for anyone who knows how to use The Google Machine? I’m betting they have some of those at the DNC - heck, if Zero wasn’t running, RINOmney might be their guy...


124 posted on 08/10/2012 12:23:16 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion ("I'm comfortable with a Romney win." - Pres. Jimmy Carter)
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To: RummyChick

The odds are that many ordinary people that do no such evil have the same Gematria.

It would be most interesting to see if those that commit such acts of evil have studied Gematria and convinced themselves of their destiny.


125 posted on 08/10/2012 12:48:39 PM PDT by Puckster
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To: mojitojoe
#64..great post. There are soooo many of them now, they have actually taken over.

What has happened to this once great site? Why doesn't JimRob clean up these haters?

126 posted on 08/10/2012 12:51:41 PM PDT by evad (It's a tax, it's a tax, it's a tax, It's a tax, it's a tax, it's a tax)
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To: BCW
Outside of an armed revolution - what else is there to do Mr High and Mighty!

Go take a nap, you exceeded your capacity.

127 posted on 08/10/2012 1:31:39 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: PapaNew

I don’t focus on barry’s facial expression - it not about him nor romney but AMERICA - the forgotten ONE!


128 posted on 08/10/2012 1:43:26 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: Colofornian
Talking about Mormonism would help Mitt Romney... do WHAT?
129 posted on 08/10/2012 2:43:59 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Colofornian
Hey Mitt!

Ty the bar-b-que ribs - they are DELICIOUS!!!

Can't. I'm a Temple® Worthy MORMON.

WOW prohibits it.

Get back to me this winter though...

130 posted on 08/10/2012 2:45:23 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MDspinboyredux
You seem pretty angry.

That's NOTHIN!!!



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).

131 posted on 08/10/2012 2:46:37 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: BCW
They believe in Christ - a different story...

Yeah a FALSE one!

QUITE a 'different' story!




"Now the way he translated was he put the urim and thummim into his hat and Darkned his Eyes than he would take a sentance and it would apper in Brite Roman Letters. Then he would tell the writer and he would write it. Then that would go away the next sentance would Come and so on. But if it was not Spelt rite it would not go away till it was rite, so we see it was marvelous. Thus was the hol [whole] translated."
---Joseph Knight's journal.


"In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us."
(History of the RLDS Church, 8 vols.
(Independence, Missouri: Herald House,1951),
"Last Testimony of Sister Emma [Smith Bidamon]," 3:356.

"I, as well as all of my father's family, Smith's wife, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, were present during the translation. . . . He [Joseph Smith] did not use the plates in translation."
---(David Whitmer,
as published in the "Kansas City Journal," June 5, 1881,
and reprinted in the RLDS "Journal of History", vol. 8, (1910), pp. 299-300.

In an 1885 interview, Zenas H. Gurley, then the editor of the RLDS Saints Herald, asked Whitmer if Joseph had used his "Peep stone" to do the translation. Whitmer replied:

"... he used a stone called a "Seers stone," the "Interpreters" having been taken away from him because of transgression. The "Interpreters" were taken from Joseph after he allowed Martin Harris to carry away the 116 pages of Ms [manuscript] of the Book of Mormon as a punishment, but he was allowed to go on and translate by use of a "Seers stone" which he had, and which he placed in a hat into which he buried his face, stating to me and others that the original character appeared upon parchment and under it the translation in English."


"Martin Harris related an incident that occurred during the time that he wrote that portion of the translation of the Book of Mormon which he was favored to write direct from the mouth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that the Prophet possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone, Martin explained the translation as follows: By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet and written by Martin and when finished he would say 'Written,' and if correctly written that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used."
(Edward Stevenson, "One of the Three Witnesses,"
reprinted from Deseret News, 30 Nov. 1881
in Millennial Star, 44 (6 Feb. 1882): 86-87.)

In 1879, Michael Morse, Emma Smith's brother-in-law, stated:
 
 "When Joseph was translating the Book of Mormon [I] had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged at his work of translation. The mode of procedure consisted in Joseph's placing the Seer Stone in the crown of a hat, then putting his face into the hat, so as to entirely cover his face, resting his elbows upon his knees, and then dictating word after word, while the scribes Emma, John Whitmer, O. Cowdery, or some other wrote it down."
(W.W. Blair interview with Michael Morse,
Saints Herald, vol. 26, no. 12
June 15, 1879,  pp. 190-91.)


Joseph Smith's brother William also testified to the "face in the hat" version:
 
"The manner in which this was done was by looking into the Urim and Thummim, which was placed in a hat to exclude the light, (the plates lying near by covered up), and reading off the translation, which appeared in the stone by the power of God"
("A New Witness for Christ in America,"
Francis W. Kirkham, 2:417.)


"The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret was the same manner as when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat, while the book of plates were at the same time hid in the woods."
---Isaac Hale (Emma Smith's father's) affidavit, 1834.




132 posted on 08/10/2012 2:48:29 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: laweeks
I'm not happy with Romney as my choice since he's a devout democrat running as a RINO, but I'd rather have a U.S. citizen who loves this country than a Kenyan-born, illegal alien imposter . . . and a devout muslim besides.




...the presidential campaign of Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith in 1844: “Challenging Democrat James Polk and Whig Henry Clay, Smith prophesied that if the U.S. Congress did not accede to his demands that ‘they shall be broken up as a government and God shall damn them.’

Smith viewed capturing the presidency as part of the mission of the church.

133 posted on 08/10/2012 2:50:18 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: 1035rep
MD is just pointing out the obvious.

Lots of that goin' 'round these days...




In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.


1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.

Ezra Taft Benson

(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)     http://www.lds.org/liahona/1981/06/fourteen-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet?lang=eng

134 posted on 08/10/2012 3:12:01 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: norwaypinesavage
All of the Mormons I’ve ever met are really really nice people.

My; what a select crowd you run with!


Your request for information has been processed.

They are NO Mormons inside of these walls.



135 posted on 08/10/2012 3:15:32 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: laweeks
Apparently you're quite comfortable with the illegal alien, muslim, socialist piece of garbage who lives in our White House. I am not.

What does your seminar handbook say about that?

Apparently you're quite comfortable with the Mexican descended, MORMON, deceived (or deceiving) piece of heresy who wants to live in our White House. I am not.

What does the BIBLE say about that?


2 John 1:10
  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.



I would assume, by extention, that we should NOT, then, turn around and elect him to be Leader of the Free World; either.

136 posted on 08/10/2012 3:21:00 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: laweeks
Apparently you're quite comfortable with the illegal alien, muslim, socialist piece of garbage who lives in our White House. I am not.

What does your seminar handbook say about that?

Apparently you're quite comfortable with the Mexican descended, MORMON, deceived (or deceiving) piece of heresy who wants to live in our White House. I am not.

What does the BIBLE say about that?


2 John 1:10
  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.



I would assume, by extention, that we should NOT, then, turn around and elect him to be Leader of the Free World; either.

137 posted on 08/10/2012 3:21:24 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MDspinboyredux
So tell me, what do Mormons feel about wealth redistribution, confiscatory taxes, a weakened military and class warfare??

Aof, TRq's, They want a STRONG militia [danites], they be doing RELIGIOUS 'warfare' now!

138 posted on 08/10/2012 3:24:13 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

Are you afraid he’s going to try and convert you, like he did to the people of Massachusetts when he was governor?


139 posted on 08/10/2012 3:25:23 PM PDT by MDspinboyredux
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To: PA Engineer
They were hanging out only in the religion threads, but now have begun spamming non-religion topics.

Gimme yer lunch money!

140 posted on 08/10/2012 3:25:40 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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