They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious Bigotry, alive and well today

“I wouldn’t vote for a Mormon for dogcatcher, much less President of the United States!” There’s 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 America’s 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 JFK’s 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, you’re a pretender. You do not know the Lord. You’re 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 Romney’s 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 who’s 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 don’t 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 year’s 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 (Bishop’s 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, what’s 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 Hewitt’s 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):

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.” It’s 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, I’m no Hugh Hewitt, not even close; he’s an icon on the conservative radio talk show circuit. Hewitt could talk circles around me (I’ve seen him in action in Sacramento); he’s brilliant; he’s well educated, well read, no doubt a genius, plus he’s kind of cute. I’m 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 Romney’s religion of choice: It’s all about money, power and control (in that order). I think they’re (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 he’d 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, there’s big money to be had by sale of books, tapes, CD’s, videos, and other anti-Mormon propaganda, not to mention speaking engagements and world-wide religious crusades. We’re 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.)

It’s nothing new. Severe harassment and persecution has been the lot of the LDS Church since it’s 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, let’s 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-1840’s 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 Haun’s 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 Bond’s 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 King’s 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 he’s stuck in jail and can’t 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 today’s 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)

There’s 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 aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Jesus is my co-pilot”. Yet, apparently, these same bumper-sticker Christians are the ones waging war against Mitt Romney’s 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.

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

“Tell us how you really came to feel the way you feel or shall I enlighten the crowd?”

Go ahead and make up whatever you want about me in whatever order, you obviously have a big coprolite you want to give birth to, so be my guest.

But, from the sound of it you want to pin me with the “FastCoyote the fornicator” story (which is odd, because you worship Joseph Smith who was so incapable of ‘keeping it in his pants’ that he needed 40 women”). But I digress.

I worked in the University system, one of my bosses was a married Mormon women who was doing a PhD thesis and required my expertise to build a database as part of her dissertation. She flirted with me to get her way, and when I asked if we were about to have an affair, all hell broke loose. I was almost fired, I was forbidden to talk with her, though she was in part my boss and responsible for the flirtation anyway.

So, now you will say, oh FastCoyote, you horrible man you, taking advantage of a pure driven snow Mormon wife. Except HR informed me in no uncertain terms that she had pulled a similar stunt the year previously, so you have to question the moral stability of a woman so desperate for a PhD that she would try to ruin me. A simple “no” would have worked fine, but her Mormon upbringing had her so tied in knots that she was incapable of a normal response.

Then there was the university website contract given to the blind Mormon son-in-law of someone in accounting over my objections. I paid for opposing that corrupt little scam as well.

But, that was hardly the only Mormon experience I’ve had. I dated for a short period a Mormon divorcee who had been ostracized from the church and was at that time quite shattered by the actions of the saintly Mormons. She introduced me to how kind Mormons are to those they cull from the herd.

Then there was the Temple Mormon business partner who kept no books, showed no profits, cheated on his taxes, physically threatened me and tried to cheat my mother out of $300,000. He lives in a million dollar house across from the Temple. I learned a lot there.

Then there was the lawyer who represented the hydroponics farm (down the road from the Cherry Patch in Pahrump), who first enlightened me about becoming a God with my own planet. The hydroponics farm’s secret to success was “magic water”, or some of the usual superstitious crapola.

Then there is my inside knowledge of Harry Reid and his Mormon convert, Dario Herrera (now doing time in the slammer for taking money and lapdances from titty bar owner Mike Galardi in the GSting scandal). There is way to much to go into here.

Then there is my accountant friend who was falsely charged with rape, so the false accuser’s buddy could embezzle from the business.

Then there is my Jack Mormon atheist boss who tells me no, I am not imagining things. He claims he will never do a deal with a Mormon.

So I had plenty of reason to believe Mormons were a risk to my health and prosperity before, but now that I’ve more thoroughly researched “the Cube”, I realize I need to actively oppose being assimilated. And that includes opposing Mitt as my president.

There’s some stuff I left out, but you get the idea.

By the way, I was just chatting with Joseph Smith in a revelation and he says to tell everyone “FastCoyote never lies”.

The author can never be accused of plagiarism, god is listed as the author of both, what’s the problem again? [DU]

Of course, that's why on the title page of the original BoM we find: "...by Joseph Smith, jr.,author and proprietor." [Of course, the contemporary BoM has been conveniently changed to "translator"] [CF]

I am telling you, you do not know what I believe... [DU]

Comprehensively, no. Directionally, it's not like I'm your personal holy spirit. Doctrinally, well, LDS do vary like any folk. But generically, based upon doctrinal professions, COUPLED with the very heavy emphasis that LDS are to be subject to their general authorities (heavier emphasis, I believe, than most religions), somebody CAN come fairly close to pinning down what certain LDS folk believe. It may not be 100% accurate; some LDS are closer to Biblical truth, whereas other LDS lean more toward "restoration recitations." [CF]

I do not know how long you have been “Studying” Mormonism; I do not know if you were even ever a member, I do know that your statements of what we believe are not specifically or doctrinally true. You lack the perspective to accurately describe what our perspective is, and thus you should not be trying.

My comparison would be that if all LDS were pharmacists, they'd all dispense their own customized generic dosages--in fact, I don't know if we could really find a full genuine "brand" item of the "product." But it's only because the brand item exists that the generics also exist. [CF]

Of course, the same could be said of any belief, since so much is based on perspective.

and you do not have the right to Tell me what I believe, or to tell others what I believe [DU]

Well, who could argue with that? Unfortunately, the fact is that once you subscribe to Joseph Smith as a "prophet," you cannot easily be choosy when you go thru his produce section. Your grower is basically farmer Joe Smith. Whatever he grows, if you want to eat, it goes in your basket, whether or not you'd prefer something else. [CF]

What a lousy analogy, so Mormonism that I choose and am under no compulsion to stay in is being force down my throat? I like what the church teaches, it makes me happy to know who I am and where I am going. My purpose in life is so much clearer than most people could ever hope to imagine. I have the answers that philosophers and theologians from generations gone by tried to find and I have it all, I know who I am, where I come from , where I am going and why I am here. My future is bright and I am happier than I have a right to be. I think the non believers on this thread are actually jealous of the believers, and that makes me sad, you can have what we have and not diminish, but actually increase our happiness.

And, if you come out of Farmer Joe's produce section in the Farmer Joe Supermarket having lots of items in the Farmer Joe basket, you don't blame me if I assume you bought those items from Farmer Joe's, do you? [Even if you ecletically got them from elsewhere]

Why yes, if you are going to tell me Tomatoes are eggplant and they mean I like eggplant, but do go on with your analogy.

So if Joe said it, and I repeat it, I guess I'm guilty of telling others what LDS "believe." (Now that does that mean LDS "believe," no...see above for my pharmacists' analogy) [CF]

(I will be using the word “You” quite a bit here, please do not take it in the singular for I mean all the non Mormons who post about us in a supposedly knowledgeable way be they former members or not.)
The problem isn’t what you know that Joseph Smith said said, but what you know he meant that just isn’t so. You don’t stick with just quoting him or we’d have no trouble, you state interpretations which were never intended, you cherry pick sentences from several talks and string them together in a most ungracious manner to make him seem mean or boorish. You ask questions designed to get a horrific answer, even if it’s the wrong one. You project your own weaknesses and foibles upon an innocent religion. You who carry a grudge because of a slight real or imagined by one of its members whom you refuse to forgive, and now in the name of Christianity you do us violence to get your revenge. You will not hurt us, for you are aiming at a target that does not exist, an evil Mormon Church just does not exist.

You know Christians go through the same thing.[CF]

I don’t think so. No one in thousands of years has misrepresented your beliefs with any degree of success.

We don't stand and fall with whoever headed up a particular denomination; we stand or fall first on the relationship with the true Jesus and true Father as well as on the character of Jesus Christ and how that character has--or hasn't--saturated our lives. [CF]

I just hope you are not to be measured solely by the Christianity you “Christians” have shown on this thread, or the Hell you condemn us to will be crowded indeed.

Unfortunately, Jesus is not the "Main filter" of Mormonism; Joe Smith is...Jesus is what I'd call a "primary secondary" figure. Anyway, if somebody deems some comments made by Jesus are "excess baggage," so be it. Tag me with them. [CF]

Now here you go telling me what I believe, even though it is obvious you have no idea the Jesus is my lord, My God, Joseph smith is one of his prophets, not my God. And what in the name of all that is illogical is a “primary secondary”? If this is an example of your “Logical” analysis of my religion, then I understand now how you come to some of your conclusions about it.

you cannot tell if I am a Christian [DU]

As long as you're a straight shooter on this & grant me the same privilege: If I redefine LDSism, you cannot tell me I am not a Latter-day Saint. (I mean "Saint" isn't exactly a word particular to LDS, now is it?) Agreed? [CF]

I have always been a straight shooter.

In a word, No, you are not a member of my church.

I believe in Jesus Christ, that is a faith like Buddhism, or Islam or Zoroastrianism or Scientology. I hold the basic tenets of my faith a belief in Jesus Christ, therefore I am a Christian. Your protests otherwise are both deceitful and misleading. Where membership in a specific Church on the other hand is much simpler, we say you are not one of us.

In short I believe in Jesus Christ because I say I do, and you are not Jesus and cannot read my heart, so you don’t know. That makes ma a Christian whether you like it or not.

You on the other hand are not a member of my church, because the Church has to admit you in through a specific set of ordinances and rites, you have not qualified and therefore are not and I can say that because it is a church and we can exclude who ever we want.

You cannot prove my faith wrong for I have received a witness from he who never lies... [DU]

Who appointed me prosecuting witness of your faith? (I don't take over the Holy Spirit's role...see John 16). I am here to bear witness to true prophets (Heb 1:1-2) and to false ones (Deut. 18:20). [CF]

You did when you judged my whole church and found it wanting. With no special authority claimed or even admitted necessary other than a belief in Christ you proceed to usurp the authority given to the twelve apostles of Jesus, claiming their power as your own (and indeed given to all Christians), to judge when specifically forbidden to, to judge me for I am a Mormon and by judging my church, you judge me.

As for the "witness" you rec'd, Scripture says, "Test ALL things"...including a Mormon's faith & witness & calling & election made sure--"hold fast to that which is true." So I encourage folks, LDS & historic Christian alike to read 1 John 5:

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and thee three are one...If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth [present tense] on the Son of God hath the witness in himself [present tense]...And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life [PRESENT TENSE...eternal life is present tense...it's not simply a future reality!!!!!] , and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life [present tense], and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe o the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW [not guess, not surmise, not "hope"] that ye HAVE [present tense] eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:7, 9-13)

Do you presently have the Son? Do you have the inner witness of God that you presently have eternal life--a life with (John 17:3) and IN His Son (1 John 5:11)?[CF]

Yes, actually I do, I have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost for that is the Gift thereof, unless I defile that presence that it can have no part in me and remain unrepentant. I do notice you ask the questions without giving us your current status.

This passage, along w/all the Jesus passages in John passages that talk about eternal life as present tense (John 3:36; John 5:26; John 6:47, etc.) show that "eternal life" is not as McConkie & other LDS general authorities defined it ("Salvation in its true and full sense is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom."--McConkie, MD, p. 669). They define it as the celestial kingdom & becoming gods. But that would mean that if eternal life is present-tense, that we have an awful lot of gods walking around and that the celestial kingdom is here. {To use Joe's language, "that would be a strange and curious godhood, anyhow!"] [CF]

Again you show a complete lack of understanding of the doctrines you claim to judge us by.

Let's just go with Jesus' simple definition of eternal life, shall we? "And this is eternal life, that you know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent." (John 17:3) [CF]

Are you mashuggana?

You went to John for this? And Chapter 17? First of all You do know that this whole chapter is called “the great intercessory prayer”, Right? And Jesus is what, faking out the apostles the whole time by praying to himself in the third person?

Well, let’s just read a bit more form the good book, shall we?

Lets read Verses 20 through 22.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

So, Eternal life is getting to know God, Yet Jesus Christ him self draws a simile between the oneness the apostles are to have and the oneness he and God share, moreover, he says the apostles should be one with the same oneness.

And there you have it, God and Christ are separate, in just the same way the apostles remained separate beings. Although the apostles became as commanded one in heart might mind and spirit.

Knowing is a relationship. It's a present-tense relationship. It's not like we're not going to "know" and trust him only upon death. And it's not like only a select few will know him as "fellow gods."[CF]

LOL! Yep know your self, or Know God within your self.

Attacking is not explaining. There are OBVEOUS evidences of apostleship in Joseph Smiths life, yet, all you can do is attack with your eyes shut hoping that no testimony will penetrate, too bad. I testify to you that I know with every fiber of my being that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he restored the church as he was commanded by God to do. I know this because God answers prayers and he has told me that it is true in a way that I dare not deny. I testify to you that though your sins be as scarlet they can be white as snow and that you too may know the truthfulness of the Gospel of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

CF, go with God, may he teach you his way and heal the obvious pain in your soul.

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