Posted on 05/04/2007 5:46:36 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy
They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious bigotry, alive and well today
May 4, 2007 - by Saundra Duffy-Hawkins
I wouldnt vote for a Mormon for dogcatcher, much less President of the United States! Theres a lot of that kind of hateful rhetoric going around since Mitt Romney decided to throw his hat in the ring as if Mormons are some kind of hideous evil monsters. The loudest anti-Mormon shouts, sad to say, are coming from Americas so-called Christian right. How can Mitt Romney hope to get a fair shake in this spiritually polluted atmosphere?
There was another man running for President who faced the same dilemma John F. Kennedy only he was the target of anti-CATHOLIC bigotry. In his 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, JFK said the following: . . .I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end - where all men and all churches are treated as equal - where man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice - where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind - and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their words in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood. John F. Kennedy Library & Museum (Speeches, 1960). By the way, if you listen to the audio version of JFKs speech, you will hear the hurt and frustration in his voice and the unfair treatment surely must have caused many a sleepless night.
Fast forward to 2007 where JFK might as well have been whistlin Dixie. The hostility toward Mormons today, in my opinion, is even worse than that suffered by JFK. Although it is said that JFK lost about a million votes to religious intolerance, Romney stands to lose even more if the anti-Mormon evangelicals hang together.
According to Media Matters for America - . . . a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media - FOX News is not reporting accurately on the level of evangelical hostility to the Romney run. Media Matters for America points out that among evangelical leaders rejecting Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson (National Day of Prayer and Focus on the Family, respectively), the Southern Baptist Convention (collectively), Pat Robertson (Christian Broadcasting Network), and Dr. D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida). Among many conservative evangelicals who comprise a significant part of the Republican base Mormonism is considered an un-Christian cult. Media Matters for America (2007)
While stumping in Florida, a man in the audience stood up during the Q&A portion and said the following to Romney: You, sir, youre a pretender. You do not know the Lord. Youre a Mormon. Media Matters for America (2007). This is the kind of un-American, disrespectful treatment Mitt Romney will apparently have to endure throughout the entire campaign as if just being a Mormon is reason enough to open the floodgates for free flow of pent-up hatred and vindictiveness.
For the record, the Mormon bashers know full well that the official name of Romneys church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the members should rightfully be called members of the LDS Church but the words Mormon and Mormonism have an aura of negativity so they prefer to use the M word as if it were dirty.
Less than five minutes cruising around the official LDS website (LDS.org) will show anyone whos interested that the Church is a Christian organization, with Jesus Christ at the Head. There are no paid clergy all are volunteers. Humanitarian aid is legendary. Members of the LDS Church believe in strong family values; they are patriotic, they are law-abiding upstanding citizens of their community. Many LDS young men right out of high school go on two-year missions you know, the guys on bikes and during their mission they dont date, read newspapers, go to movies or watch TV; but rather they dedicate two years of their lives to serving others. Many women go on missions as well, and couples, only theirs is 18 months in length but the obligations are basically the same. Most members do not shop or go out to eat on Sundays reminiscent of the good old days when shops and stores were closed in obedience to the Commandment, Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. If they can help it, LDS Church members do not work on Sundays, either, preferring to spend the day at church and with their families. Church members are encouraged to store up a years supply of food and water so they will be able to care for their families in the event of an emergency. The LDS Church believes in self-sufficiency and self-reliance but in the event of a financial hardship the Church distributes food and supplies through their welfare (Bishops Storehouse) program. Members of the LDS Church do not drink alcohol nor do they use illicit drugs; they do not drink coffee and tea. A Mormon in good standing, therefore, will not be found in a drunken stupor puking her guts out at 3 a.m. anywhere in the world. Furthermore, members of the church are encouraged to dress modestly, be polite and courteous. And members of the LDS Church are faithful tithe payers. Come on, people, whats not to love?
So what on earth is their beef, the anti-Mormon zealots? Why is there such disdain for the LDS Church and its members? In Hugh Hewitts book, Mormon in the White House? he states his thesis that the fierce anti-Mormon sentiment among main-stream Christians stems from one or two or all three of the following factors (in order of importance):
1) It is just too weird.
2) A Mormon president will supercharge Mormons missionary work.
3) If there is a Mormon in the White House, Salt Lake City will call the shots, at least on the biggest issues. Hewitt (2007, p. 221-227)
Hugh Hewitt has written an exquisite book about the Romney campaign and overcoming the Mormon problem. Its a good read and I highly recommend it. Of the three problem points listed in the previous paragraph, Hewitt believes unless some unforeseen blunder destroys his chances none of the three is insurmountable for Mitt Romney. (Plus, he has the best hair.)
Well, Im no Hugh Hewitt, not even close; hes an icon on the conservative radio talk show circuit. Hewitt could talk circles around me (Ive seen him in action in Sacramento); hes brilliant; hes well educated, well read, no doubt a genius, plus hes kind of cute. Im basically a nobody an overweight grandma but after having researched for this paper, I have come to a totally different conclusion as to why there is such in-your-face angst over Romneys religion of choice: Its all about money, power and control (in that order). I think theyre (the evangelical religious bigots, that is) scared half to death and are revving up their attacks, not to save souls, but to save their reputations (which if tarnished would lead to financial ruin).
As I said, all one must do is browse around the LDS official web site to see what the LDS Church believes and stands for. Any reasonable person would conclude that Mormons are not evil monsters at all. In fact, they are God fearing, Christ believing, Holy Ghost following people going about doing good. You will know them by their fruit and the LDS has plenty of fruit and they are willing to share.
Earlier, I stated that some high-powered ministries have publicly condemned Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson, the Southern Baptist Convention, Pat Robertson, and Dr. D. James Kennedy just to name a few. There are hoards of others. Sunday after Sunday, preachers, evangelists, reverends and ministers from all Christian denominations pound the pulpit with anti-Mormon rhetoric. I heard the message loud clear when I was a Baptist and when I tiptoed through evangelical/Pentecostal territories. Was I ever miffed when I later learned for myself the Gospel truth about the LDS Church.
Just think about it, please. If Dr. D. James Kennedy, for example, who wrote the book, The Wolves Among Us, were to admit hed been wrong in labeling the LDS Church a cult that leads unwary ignorant people astray (to hell), what would become of his multi-million-dollar ministry? Suffice it to say, theres big money to be had by sale of books, tapes, CDs, videos, and other anti-Mormon propaganda, not to mention speaking engagements and world-wide religious crusades. Were talking trillions, all told. I realize the anti-Mormon aspect of these ministries is but a small portion of the business, but if the truth came out, that they had been using falsehoods about the LDS Church as a cash cow, their entire empires could tumble.
The ABC News program 20/20 aired on March 23, 2007, exposed the lavish lifestyles of some of the top evangelical preachers million dollar mansions and personal jets. ABC News - 20/20 (2007) (Again, the LDS Church has no paid clergy.)
Its nothing new. Severe harassment and persecution has been the lot of the LDS Church since its inception in 1820 when a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw visions and communed with heavenly beings. Rather than discuss the spiritual aspects of the LDS Church, however, lets stick to facts of history. Taken from a college-level early American history textbook, Joseph Smith, upon experiencing the visions and visitations, believed that God had work for me to do, and that my name should be for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues. Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 292). The textbook continues, They were met with hostility virtually everywhere they went . . . . As the movement gathered momentum, hundreds of people joined the church; entire congregations of churches of other faiths joined . . . Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 293)
During the dark time of American history when slavery was flourishing and when Native Americans were forced from their lands, the pioneers of the LDS Church also suffered at the hands of unscrupulous politicians, governmental leaders, and angry hate-filled mobs. In the face of relentless persecution, Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, had led his flock to Illinois. There they had established the town of Nauvoo, which by the mid-1840s had become the largest city in Illinois with over 15,000 people. . . In June 1844, a mob of non-Mormons broke into the jail where Smith was being held and killed both him and his brother. . .The Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in the spring of 1846 as anti-Mormons pounded the town with cannon, destroying the Great Temple. In a well-coordinated migration, 15,000 Mormons moved in stages to the Great Salt Lake. Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 334-335) Many walked all the way and many died along the way, including innocent babes.
Joseph Smith at one time was tarred and feathered by a mob. No jury, no trial, no judge and they had planned to castrate him, too. On October 27, 1838, the then governor of Missouri issued an extermination order: The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary . . . Far West History (n.d.) Please note that the order called for exterminating Mormons making no distinction between men, women and children, and indeed women and children were subject to the extermination order.
In an event known in LDS history as the Hauns Mill Massacre, precipitated by the extermination order, 30 to 40 LDS families were surprised by some 200 to 250 militia. After the smoke cleared, seventeen LDS people lay dead including a ten-year-old boy. Thirteen LDS members were wounded including a woman and a seven-year-old boy. A few Missourians returned the next day and took plunder. LDS FAQ (n.d.) No Missouri militiamen were killed but three were wounded. Just a few years earlier, the LDS folk who died that day had been members of other churches - Congregational or Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian.
In l976, Governor Bond of Missouri officially rescinded the extermination order and presented apologies for the unfortunate developments it caused. Quoting from Governor Bonds Executive Order: WHEREAS, Governor Boggs order clearly contravened the rights to life, liberty, property and religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State of Missouri; and . . . Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering rescind Executive Order Number 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor W. Boggs. . . Far West History (n.d.) The individuals who harassed, abused, and even murdered Mormons in cold blood were never tried for their crimes.
I read Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail and it really touched my heart. There he was, suffering for the Lord in jail, and these religious leaders with highfalutin titles on the outside wrote an open letter (A Call for Unity) in which they criticize Kings tactics and basically blame King for the racial turmoil of the time. Though you can tell King is upset and hurt by the attack made worse because hes stuck in jail and cant confront the religious leaders face-to-face his response is gentle genius. I wish you had commended the Negro sit-inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes. Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 881)
King has a few choice words for the Church, too: If todays church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust. Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 880)
King signs off with Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood.
Theres an eerie commonality between what JFK and MLK endured at the hands of the religious bigots of their day and what Mitt Romney is facing today. I hope and pray that Romney will be able to fend off these undeserved attacks from the religious hypocrites with the same grace, dignity and God-inspired resolve displayed by the other two.
A few popular bumper stickers read: Honk if you love Jesus and Christians arent perfect, just forgiven or Jesus is my co-pilot. Yet, apparently, these same bumper-sticker Christians are the ones waging war against Mitt Romneys run for the Presidency solely on the basis of his chosen faith in a Church that bears the name of the Savior of the world.
References
ABC News - 20/20 (2007). Philanthropic donations come from your heart, but where do they end up? Ex-money manager says "enough!" to secretive Christian Ministry spending. Glenn Ruppel & John Stossel. United States: ABC News.
Ayers, E. L., Gould, L. L., Oshinsky, D. M., & Soderlund, J. R. (2004). American Passages - a history of the United States - Volume I: to 1877 (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Barnet, S., & Bedau, H. (2005). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Current Issues and Enduring Questions - a guide to critical thinking and argument, with readings (7th ed., pp. 867-882). Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Far West History. (n.d.). The Extermination Order and how it was rescinded. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from http://www.jwha.info/mmff/exorder.htm
Hewitt, H. (2007). A Mormon in the White House? 10 things every American should know about Mitt Romney. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. (1960, September 12). Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://www.jfklibrary.org
Lds Faq. (n.d.). What was the Haun's Mill Massacre? Retrieved April 28-2007, 2004, from Brigham Young University Web Site: http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=57
Media Matters for America. (2007). Fox News whitewashes evangelical hostility to Romney's faith. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200702280002
My shoe size before or after the kids came?
I have very large feet. My dad says my grandma had very large hands and feet. I usually wear mens 12 before the kids and 13/14 wide after the kids. Heels, pumps Never! I’m tall enough as it is. So you never know ya might be able to wear my shoes after all.
I think this is why he’s waited so long, no need to spend that kind of dough, he’s just getting his name out there for VP.
What? You got a plan you'll enact so that our church will become Ground Zero for LDS missionary activity? :) [If we can convert C; anybody could converted. :)]
Let's just say "Evangelical Protestant" based upon 1 Cor. 3: "For whereas there is among you...divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man...Therefore let no man glory in men: for all things are yours...and ye are Christ's..." (vv. 3-5, 21, 23)
If Paul was writing to the church today, he would ask: "Who then is Calvin? Who then is Wesley? And who is Luther? Who is Knox? Who is the Pope?"
[And just as the historic church may need an adjustment as to how they see themselves, I would suggest LDS stop singing "Praise to the Man"--a hymn praising JoeSmith. God doesn't like competing with your "average Joe"]
I won't be defined by whatever minister men glory in. And those men never named churches after themselves, either.
Uh. Whatever happened to: "Then Peter and the other apostles answered [after being "commanded" that they not teach in Jesus' name] and said, We ought to obey God rather than men?" (Acts 5:29)
So the will of slaveowners trumps the will of God that the Gospel go to slaves? Is that what you're telling me with a straight face?
So what if the LDS favored freeing slaves back in its Mizzou days? What does it matter, REALLY, if you personally favored freeing slaves' bodies but disfavored freeing their souls? Repent of such nonsense!!!
What? Am I a God who issue edicts as to who goes to hell? (Did God die & vacate His throne?) ["Hey, you, yeah, you, the baby with the motormouth. Hell's flames are knocking on your door."]
Time for you to ask serious questions about your faith.
As for me, I did answer: 2 Sam. 12:23 shows that David expected to go where his infant son goes. As for you, you wouldn't then answer the implied question. If LDS believe that murderers aren't saved, then this whole thing is left open-ended for them. Hummmm...is David in hell? Here Luke says David was a "man after mine own heart" and was one who "shall fulfil ALL my will" (Acts 13:22) and Mormon theology places him and Moses smack dab in the middle of hell?
Does an individual who does not confess the name of Christ while in this life, though he has never heard or been taught about Jesus Christ, go to hell? Yes or no
You mean does an "ungodly" and "unrighteous" individual (Rom. 1:18) who suppresses the truth (Rom. 1:18) who rejects the evident natural revelation of God (Rom. 1:20) & therefore did not glorify Him (Rom. 1:21) nor give Him thanks (Rom. 1:21) but instead followed a foolish heart & empty fantasies (Rom. 1:21-22)...does such a person who over his entire lifetime rejects whatever light God has given him go to hell? Well, what does it mean then when Paul says that against an above person "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven...?" (A picnic?)
You know, I don't understand why LDS believe in a baptism by proxy (2nd chance) when folks have second and third and fourth and fifth, etc. chances throughout their entire lives. Every day is a new chance to receive God's mercy and grace! Why does the LDS baptism by proxy trump Christ's death on the cross by proxy?
What is so magical about
(A) a baptism by proxy & then the gospel offered to that person in spirit prison; versus
(B) Jesus dying on the cross by proxy & then the "narrow" gospel offered to that person in bondage?
It seems to me there are some parallels there--unnecessary duplication. And when you have unnecessary duplication, that is spiritual bureaucracy that needs to be eliminated.
(There. You got a sermon, anyway :) )
Hey, don't knock it til you've tried it. The Beatles made a lot of $ off of that line. :)
LDS prophets can't even agree with each other, let alone LDS scriptures agreeing with each other. So to act like there is one authoritative source for "LDS Belief Central" and that you're the "Captain" that steers the LDS ship away from all iceberg lies is just a little wee bit much authority you've given yourself.
Now, let's try again with the second set of questions:
Do you go to church?
If so, what is the name of your church?
Is it a part of any established Christian denomination?
If so, what is the name of that denomination?
I would like to know so I can do some research and better understand what your doctrines are that we might have a more cogent conversation. These are very simple questions. You are obviously familiar with the scriptures.
As our father, we have a patrarchal realtionship that goes back well for further than we can comprehend, bu that's ok because he is still our Father and needs on geneology sheet to have a father's authority over us.2.
As our creator he has direct and immediate authority over us his creation. For he has direct authority over all his creations for they are his.CF says:
We have on relationship that goes back "Generations" and that is where God's authority comes from and that we can "Appeal" any of his decisions endlessly up a "Cahin of Command"Would you guys do me the favor of voting, who is more in agreement with Mormn beliefs, DU, or CF.
I have two different sized feet because of polio at age two.
(He said, nailing words to my tongue and lips to fashion and shape as he pleases)
Yes and no. By your def, "yes." By my "def," no. In other words, we don't "go" to something we are.
The NT church, in case you have noticed, is people. It's not only an institution. If a fire took out our local facility, we'd still be the church. If we were all put in jail, we'd still be the church.
As for "cogent" conversations, you've already shown, by fashioning words in my mouth, that perhaps you're "on your way" to someday engaging in such convos. You're not yet there; so I'll respectfully decline your offer of cogency.
And no, I am not part of some "independent" church; nor is it a cult. I am part of the church-at-large. The church universal. The one body of Christ. Research away (it's quite large; it's diverse; it's gonna take you a "few" years to research it).
I agree with DelphiUser’s statements regarding our relationship with God, as I’ve been taught that God is the ultimate authority. I’ve never once been taught that I nor any man could “appeal” God’s decisions.
Who was the Unitarian president?
OK. You've never read Mt. 28:18-20 where Christ commissioned his disciples to go unto "ALL" the world? How about Romans 10 about folks being sent with the gospel?
Would you say we live in a "bigger" world than in Jesus' day, or have you actually been to DisneyWorld or DisneyLand and gone thru a certain ride that tells you how our world has actually shrunk...and traversing world-wide is a much more common actuality? (In other words, has not God been behind inventions that allow us to be so mobile?)
By what means comes their salvation?
Disciples (Mt 28). Preachers (Rom. 10) Missionaries. Books. Tapes. The Worldwide Internet. E-mails. Chat rooms.
You sound like you want to call all the LDS missionaries home and leave it up to the research genealogies & proxy folks to just "cover" them when they die.
You know, when I think of human-invented "back-up" methods of "salvation," I think of things like "abortion" as a "back-up" to "birth control."
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