Posted on 08/02/2011 7:11:00 PM PDT by Feline_AIDS
The following is the short version of how I recently discovered Mormonism is nothing like I thought it was.
A few weeks ago, ABC announced that former kidnapping and rape victim Elizabeth Smart would join them as a commenter on kidnapping cases around the country. With the memory of Casey Anthony lingering in my head, I thought, I'll youtube Elizabeth Smart and see what kind of smooth talker she is to be asked to do this. What I found was a beautiful, poised, graceful woman who would never stoop to entering a "hot body contest" like Casey Anthony, but certainly not one I would have guessed would become a news commenter. Those people are expected to repeat facts we've all already heard at least 2374828 times before, only in a more "impactful" way. She seems like the type not to speak unless she has something to say, which is a great and rare quality, however it's certainly not what we expect to see on TV.
So I started googling. I was 16 when Elizabeth Smart was abducted, too young to be scared or concerned because Utah was across the country and if my mother's constant warnings had reflected any shadow of reality, people were abducted left and right all the time anyway.
I read Elizabeth Smart's (ES) testimony in Brian David Mitchell's (BDM) competency hearing, BDM's first interview with police in Sandy, Utah, Wanda Barzee's testimony at BDM's trial, ES's testimony at BDM's trial, ES's statement at BDM's sentencing, the testimony of a head doctor at BDM's competency hearing, and a few articles written soon after ES was found.
As I read, I realized that I knew very little about Mormonism, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I knew they believed in odd things, Jesus visiting America after his resurrection for example, but that was the extent of my knowledge. (Oh, also a family story: When the Mormons came through South Carolina in the late 1800s, they told one of my relatives that he could have two or more wives if he became a Mormon and went to Utah. He tried to get his current wife to go with him, but she wasn't having it, and he went by himself. He returned a year or two later claiming that the new wives they had given him were combined not as pretty as the wife he already had in South Carolina. She took him back.)
After some more googling, I learned that Mormons believe the following (not exhaustive):
-God has a physical body
-God was once a man, and men on Earth can become equal to God
-God lives near the star Kolob
-God is accompanied by a goddess (or goddesses), who is too holy to talk about, and possibly more powerful/holy than God himself
-Jesus and Satan were brothers
-Jesus was married
-Good Mormons will be rewarded for their works by getting their own planet over which they'll have dominion just like God has over us
-The Bible is imperfectly translated and cannot be trusted
-A tribe of Jews came to North America and perpetuated a HUGE advanced civilization of millions of people (for which there is zero archeological evidence)
-The good tribe was annihilated by the bad tribe in one giant battle in New York state that killed 2+ million people
-The LDS church is controlled by a group of people who receive "revelations" about what to do
-The LDS church has a president whose revelations frequently alter or update church doctrine
(Here's where I'll say that not all Mormons believe these things, because they probably just don't know. Similarly, lots of people who attend my Presbyterian church probably know little about Calvin or what we disagree with other Christians about. Mormons have a policy that some on exmormon.org called "Milk before meat," meaning new members/converts are not told all these beliefs until they are very deeply involved in the church.)
This was quite surprising to me. Mormons are polytheists. Mormonism, I suppose, is actually closer to Islam than it is to Christianity. Islam is defined by the Koran, which is essentially the "final chapter" of the story begun in the Bible. The Book of Mormon is also a "final chapter" of the story begun in the Bible. Both of them radically alter Christianity to the point that it is nothing like it.
Now how does this relate to Elizabeth Smart? She and her Mormon family met her abductor when he was panhandling in SLC. Her mother gave him some money and IIRC, asked if he needed work. Little did she know he was scoping out candidates for the 14-year-old wives he had received a revelation to take. ES's family had him come work on their home. Perhaps you could call this Christian charity, and perhaps that's what it is. But part of me wonders if, since Mormonism is largely a works-based salvation model, their willingness to help BDM was bolstered by the need to do good works. I don't think this equates to blame--not even close. But it might help explain why they invited a drifter they didn't know to come work on a roof where skylights provided a view of the floorplan leading to their daughter's bedroom. I read some past posts on FR about the BDM trial, and the consensus among Freepers commenting was 1) the father, Ed Smart, is ultra creepy, and 2) it was his fault for inviting a bum to work on the house. The declarations of "creepiness" of the father are unfair, I think, because he was the police's #1 suspect at first, he was emotional, his daughter had been kidnapped from the seemingly safe home he had provided for her, and he knew she was probably going through hell. He deserves credit for keeping her story in the news while she was gone and for not giving up hope that she was alive. The fault here belongs to BDM and Wanda Barzee, his wife and accomplice.
To her credit, Elizabeth Smart testified she never believed that BDM was receiving revelations from God, and she never thought he was the prophet he claimed to be. (Lots of people wondered why she didn't run since she was out in public. She testified repeatedly that BDM told her that he would kill her, or if she escaped, her family. He knew people who could do it for him if he was taken to jail. And he was able to get in her house to take her, so why shouldn't she believe the rest?) But Mormonism leaves the door open to these people--these false prophets, one of whom was Joseph Smith himself. BDM was a rapist and a pedophile and deserves to die for his crimes, I think. (He won't--he got a life sentence in his federal trial. Fun BDM anecdote from Wanda Barzee's testimony: He killed his stepdaughter's pet rabbit and fed it to her, telling her it was chicken.) But he was also imitating the theological behavior that the LDS church was founded on. Reading what Wanda Barzee, BDM's wife, said as she testified only confirmed this. Barzee was mentally unstable, but she was also a devout LDS follower. She believed in this culture of latter-day saints and revelations, and it was that belief that enabled her to follow BDM and believe his revelations about plural wives, alcohol, drugs, and the rape of a 14-year-old girl.
The Latter-Day Saints model is a clever design, really. Christianity, "when it happened," physically benefitted no one. Mormonism benefitted Joseph Smith. Christians know that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that they are saved by grace; there is nothing they can do to earn their salvation. But the LDS Church informs members of "callings," which are works they must perform to remain in good standing. The LDS church has a steady supply of indentured workers laboring desperately for their salvation.
I'm not surprised that something like this exists; I'm surprised that so many people are hoodwinked by the story Joseph Smith made up. Sure, you could say that Christianity is just a story someone made up, too. But the Bible is a historical document that references real people, real people groups, and real places. The Book of Mormon is a fairytale.
Back to Elizabeth Smart: I hope she lives a full and happy life. I genuinely like her and her attitude. I want her to succeed as an ABC correspondent. It was evident from her testimony that she has put the past where it belongs and is moving on with her life, and that is something that I am thrilled to see. She is refusing to be a victim, and is instead claiming ownership over herself and her life. Good for her. I hope when she becomes a goddess, she gets a nice planet like earth to rule over, and not some frozen chunk of ice like Pluto.
-- Sites that I visited while considering these things:
Elizabeth Smart's testimony in BDM's competency hearing http://media.trb.com/media/acrobat/2009-10/49605279.pdf
BDM's sentencing hearing http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=15696692
Elizabeth Smart's testimony part 1 http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50632966-76/smart-viti-yes-elizabeth.html.csp
part 2 http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50639245-76/smart-viti-yes-cable.html.csp
part 3 http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50647494-76/elizabeth-mitchell-smart-viti.html.csp
Wanda Barzee's testimony in BDM trial http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50704089-76/steele-barzee-mcknight-mitchell.html.csp
http://exmormon.org/ and http://www.exmormon.org/phorum/
Lifting the Veil of Polygamy - Documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-iIOWOblW0
The Bible vs The Book of Mormon - Documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTtq62XQ4jw&feature=relmfu
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
PD in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...
I’m on the Mormon ping list and I believe PD was kicked off for calling people who disagreed with him “Nazis”. Well the last time he was on.
Do Mormons believe that killing non-Mormons will get them fast entry into heaven with 72 virgins awaiting them?
Do Mormons believe that all non-Mormons must be converted to Mormonism by force, and if they refuse to murder them?
Do Mormons believe in forcing their laws on every one else?
Do Mormons forbid women to show their faces in public, can’t go to school, can not drive cars, and can be raped so long as there are no 4 Mormon males in witness?
If none of above is true, then I am not in the least bit concerned about Mormons.
One of my professors pointed this out too. Mormonism follows the same model.
She’s hot...
Didn’t know ... he will be missed. NOT! ;-)
Does your Bible contain a part called the, "Sermon on the Mount?"
There’s no doubt that LDS preaches a different gospel and a different Jesus. However, I’m convinced that most people don’t know the Truth well enough to identify the counterfeit.
You missed the memo. Only Mormons would take a risk in trying to help a person they perceived as in need. Real Christians let the government do it. (/s)
Mormons are willingly led astray. They will say that they believe in Jesus, but they will fudge and squirm and try to change the subject when you try to pin them down.
All God’s children ...
Cool - will your next ‘expose’ be on the Catholics and thier ‘special’ priests?
Or maybe you could take on those snake-handlers, now there is a cult - yes?
I await your next killer post....
One of my professors pointed this out too. Mormonism follows the same model.
_______________________________________________________________
One of your professors was an idiot. Mormonism is not even close to having the slightest resemblance to Islam, unless both having a prophet makes them similar. Mormons are not monotheistic, They believe God The Father is God, they believe that Jesus Christ is God and they believe that The Holy Ghost is God. The three Gods are not one God but three individuals, each with their own body and own responsibilities.
This is about the most lame hit on Mormons I have ever seen. It is sick, irresponsible and written like a 5th grader. I hope some Mormon will sign on and refute it line for line. The Mormons are good people and this person has made them out to be deluded and evil.
A muslim was elected president. I hope we don’t elect a mormon to replace him ..Romney.
The LDS never officially condemned polygamy. As someone in the know said on another thread, to do so would be saying Joseph Smith was not a prophet.
JAKraig,
Careful parsing of mormonism on your part. You left out some stuff I can help you fill in...
.........................................................
“Mormons are not monotheistic”
... This was the one thing you got right! Mormons are Henotheistic.
They believe in millions or billions of gods, and mint more all the time.
In fact, mormon males who do all the right stuff can become gods.
“They believe God The Father is God”
... Who was a created being who later became a god.
“they believe that Jesus Christ is God”
... Who was a created spirit being who came to earth to get a body then later became a god. Not the eternal, unchangeable God of the New Testament, who was neither created, nor made.
“they believe that The Holy Ghost is God.”
... Again, a created being who didn’t get his body because he did something wrong, but still managed to become a mormon god.
...You left out the FOURTH MORMON EARTH GOD: Heavenly Mother!
...She is also a created being who is now eternally pregnant, breeds celestially with the Father to pop out billions of spirit children who are lined up in heaven waiting to come to earth and get bodies.
“The three Gods are not one God but three individuals, each with their own body and own responsibilities.”
... In other words, polytheism. Belief in many gods. Not Christian.
“One of your professors was an idiot. Mormonism is not even close to having the slightest resemblance to Islam”
Not so, even Joseph Smith said he’d be another Mohammed. Here are some similarities, since you didn’t realize
how many there are... [from wiki]
..............................................
Basic similarities between the Islamic and Mormon faiths include, but are not limited to:
A founding prophet who received visits from an angel, leading to revelation of a book of scripture;
An emphasis upon family, and the family unit as the foundation for religious life and the transmission of values;
Insistence that their religion is a complete way of life, meant to directly influence every facet of existence;
A belief that theirs constitutes the one and only completely true religion on the earth today;
Belief that good deeds are required for salvation just as much as faith;
Assertions that modern Christianity does not conform to the original religion taught by Jesus Christ;
Belief that the text of the Bible, as presently constituted, has been adulterated from its original form;
Rejection of the Christian doctrines of Original Sin and the Trinity;
Strong emphasis upon education, both in the secular and religious arenas;
Belief in fasting during specified periods of time;
Incorporation of a sacred ritual of ablution, though each religion’s rite differs in form, frequency and purpose;
Belief that their faith represents the genuine, original religion of Adam, and of all true prophets thereafter;
Prohibition of alcoholic beverages and gambling, as well as homosexuality and bisexuality;
Belief that one’s marriage can potentially continue into the next life, if one is faithful to the religion;
Belief in varying degrees of reward and punishment in the hereafter, depending upon one’s performance in this life;
Special reverence for, though not worship of, their founding prophet;
Emphasis upon charitable giving, and helping the downtrodden;
An active interest in proselytizing nonbelievers;
Strong emphasis upon chastity, including modesty in dress; and
A clergy drawn from the laity, without necessarily requiring collegiate or seminary training.
The author of the article isva liar. Not knowing anything about Mormonism and doing investigating, BS. He laid out the same old tired screed that we as members have seen thousands of times
It's not a hit piece. I was just fascinated by what I was finding, and there is information that the LDS church has intentionally obscured or sidestepped.
And I'm in 6th grade; don't act like you're not impressed.
I didn’t mean to imply that Mormons and Muslims pose similar threats to America or the West. They are productive Americans and champions of morality. I only meant the similarity is both Mormonism and Islam are a “continuation” of Christianity.
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