[Colofornian]

Last, yes we do say The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus restored to the earth in the latter days. But unlike all of the other sects I know of, we do not say or imply pejorative judgements of other religions. For example, we don't say or imply you are going to hell if you are a Baptist, Catholic or Muslim. Quite the contrary.

Hmmm...

Me thinks -- as MHGinTN has pointed out re: a # of other former FREEPER (Lds) posters...that you're either...
...dissimilating...
...or somehow missed a few seminary and Sunday School classes in your supposed "steeped" Mormonism.

What do I mean? (Keep reading) In light of what you said above, do you wish to "explain" the plain meaning of what's charted below? [Seems to me you only conceded the D&C 1:30 row below...and totally avoided dealing with the other obvious refs]

Or will you do the "typical" Mormon FREEPER thing...which is to make either a baseless or false claim, and then we never hear you address that subject again on this or any future thread? (Unless you, of course, just go around intentionally dissimilating on various threads).

Charting Mormon Foundational Intolerance: Smithesque Slander of the Christian Church

MEMO: ‘Wake-up call’ to allies of Mormon founder Joseph Smith and those operating as current disciples of Smith: Those who 'preach' against intolerance need to take note of Mormonism's intolerant roots

Title: A Primer of How Lds founder Joseph Smith Launched His Campaign of Open Bigotry vs. Worldwide Christianity, Engaging in Scorched-Earth Religious Politics

Mitt Romney, Dec, 2007, speaking @ the George Bush Presidential Library: "I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs."

Snapshot of Joseph Smith’s Slanderous Invectives vs. Christian Sects	Mormon Source [Note: Most of these are Mormon ‘scriptures'. In fact, First three rows below are Lds 'scripture' & therefore cannot be rug-swept any more than a Jew might try to take three commandments off of the very tablets of stone Moses brought down from the mountain]
“...which of all the sects was right… must join NONE of them, for they were ALL WRONG… those professors were ALL CORRUPT…”	Joseph Smith – History vv. 18-19. – Lds "scripture" Pearl of Great Price
...“which of all the sects was right…ALL their CREEDS were an ABOMINATION in his sight…they teach for doctrines the commandments of MEN…”	Joseph Smith – History vv. 18-19. – Lds "scripture" Pearl of Great Price
Mormon church the only ‘Christ-sanctioned’ church on earth: “…the foundation of this [Mormon] church…the ONLY true and living church on the face of the whole earth” [Obvious ‘scorched earth’ implication: All other churches are false and dead]	Lds “scripture” Doctrines & Covenants 1:30
Direct question asked of Joseph Smith: 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?" Answer from Lds "prophet" Joseph Smith: 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness."	Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119 [Not “scripture” – but still publicly spoken by the Mormon ‘living prophet’ and published by a later Mormon ‘living prophet,’ Joseph Fielding Smith – via a publisher owned by the Mormon church – Deseret News Press, 1938]
“In 1952…the first official proselyting plan was sent to missionaries throughout the world…It included seven missionary discussions that emphasized…[four topics, one of them being]…THE APOSTASY and Restoration…” [This makes it almost 60 years that Mormon church missionaries, now numbering 52,000, have formally emphasized in its training & door to door saturation a priority in bashing the worldwide Christian church as “apostates” (100% AWOL)]	Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints p. 116, 1996

[LukeSW]

Hmmm... Me thinks -- as MHGinTN has pointed out re: a # of other former FREEPER (Lds) posters...that you're either... ...dissimilating... ...or somehow missed a few seminary and Sunday School classes in your supposed "steeped" Mormonism. What do I mean? (Keep reading) In light of what you said above, do you wish to "explain" the plain meaning of what's charted below? [Seems to me you only conceded the D&C 1:30 row below...and totally avoided dealing with the other obvious refs] Or will you do the "typical" Mormon FREEPER thing...which is to make either a baseless or false claim, and then we never hear you address that subject again on this or any future thread? (Unless you, of course, just go around intentionally dissimilating on various threads).

I would be happy to have a civil discourse on all of this. Not sure that is possible here, but I will address a bit of your post.

First of all, your insult is noted. No I am not dissembling, and most consider me pretty well informed about the gospel of Jesus Christ and Church history. So if you wish to have a civil discussion devoid of insults and ad hominem attacks, I will post a few reasoned comments to see how you and the others here respond.

I started my comments on this thread to be helpful and reasonable and will attempt to continue in that vein.

First, I note in passing that the title of the quotes in your post is a bit over the top, basically "pot calling the kettle black" hyperbole designed to get people riled up. A fair analysis of press stories from that era would prove quite the opposite of what your title implies. But that isn't the substance of my response, only an observation.

Second, the first three quotes you cite are the words of the Savior to the young prophet. If you read the first two quotes carefully, you will note that the comments were focused on the Creeds and the professors or ministers, not on those who belonged to the churches of the day.

If you know anything about history, you will know that the Creeds originated with Constantine, a fairly notoriously wicked emperor. At the time, the remaining elements of the Christian Church were trying to resolve key disagreements. Emperor Constantine brought them together, pushed for his views and then destroyed all records of the perspective that lost, and sought to kill or banish those that pushed for those views. Not exactly a scriptural way to seek the will of God. Moreover, many internecine fights among religions continued down through the Middle Ages to the time of Joseph Smith. And they continue today, as you must realize.

As for the claims of the "true and living" Church, I believe you will find that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only religion today that claims that Jesus came back to earth to start it, and sent heavenly messengers to bring back Priesthood power that had been lost. You are free to disagree, and even make fun of such claims. You would certainly be in company with many in the media and show business.

Nevertheless, you will look long and hard to find any condemnation of members of any other faiths, either in the historical record or in current talks and essays by current General Authorities. In fact, the 11th Article of Faith stipulates "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." That is exactly what I was suggesting in my prior post.

Next, the quote of Joseph you cite I have always taken to be somewhat mirthful, full of truth --- and humor, but requiring a fuller understanding of what was behind the statement. The word "damn" means the stopping of progress. It is quite clear from scripture that without duly authorized Priesthood ordinances, all of us are stopped from eternal progress. What Joseph Smith restored to the world was the means by which all who have lived on the earth can receive the necessary ordinances, if they so choose. Again, you are free to mock, but the scope of concern within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the effort of its leaders and members for the people of all faiths and of all times in the earth history, for which records still exist, cannot be denied. Most members of The Church have spent hours researching records of ancestors, and additional time and sacrifice performing proxy ordinances. Such efforts are are labors of love for people of all faiths. At root of these practices is the heartfelt belief that our Father in Heaven loves ALL of His children, of all faiths, and wants all to have the same opportunity to return to Him, whether or not they died as a child, or lived in times and places without the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing could be more fair and loving.

Finally, your quote about the apostasy is a bit dated but is completely consistent with Peter's prophecy about a "falling away" in 2 Thessalonians 2. And Peter's prophecy about a "restitution of all things" might just be referring to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to bring back what was lost in anticipation of the Lord's Second Coming.

Again, mock and flame if you will. In the meantime, if you or any readers want to continue a reasoned discussion, let me know.

Kind regards...
Luke (my handle when I flew USAF F-4s to protect your freedoms)