Posted on 05/04/2007 5:46:36 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy
But you don't pray directly to Jesus?
Has any Mormon in public office?
I wish you’d stop obsessing.
I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and I feel bad that I’m such a screw-up that He had to pay the price for me. I love Heavenly Father for instituting such a wonderful plan. And the Holy Ghost tells me it’s true.
I pray the way Jesus Christ taught us to pray: “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .”
What is wrong with that?
Has God sourced all of these churches?
No. For example, the Unitarian church.
Are all "traditional" Christian Churches the same to God in your opinion?
First of all, please specify if you are referring to "local churches" or denominational church bodies. Beyond that, ya gotta admit this is a fairly vague question. Finally, I kind always go to Scripture, but I can't always discern alone the mind of Christ as to how He evaluates each church.
If you look at Revelation 2 and Rev. 3, He had very specific commendations and encouragments, and very specific critiques and correctives for each local church.
I believe God evaluates each local church distinctly. And I base that conclusion on Rev. 2 and Rev. 3.
“Our Father which art in Heaven...”
But those that do pray to Jesus can do so all they want, I don’t think of them any less and am considerate and usually stringent by the faith they have.
As for me personally, I take this route:
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
No, it's not a vague question. You brought up the first vision and what God told Joseph Smith. I'm asking you the same question. Do you feel that all Churches are created equal and provide "one Lord, one faith and one baptism? Are they all preaching the same gospel of Jesus Christ?
Why don't you pray directly to Jesus? Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit did:
"Lord, Jesus, receive my Spirit" (or "Jesus, into your hands I commend my Spirit." (Acts 7:59).
After the Nephite disciples asked for the Holy Ghost in 3 Nephi 19:9, what did they do? "And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God...and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them...when Jesus...came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him...Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him..." (3 Nephi 19:18,22,24-25)
Isn't there something wrong with a church and with all general authorities when they tell you not to pray directly to Jesus, yet the evidence of someone who is full of the Holy Ghost, is to pray directly unto Jesus? And not just a phrase here or there, but "without ceasing."
Why don't you want to be blessed by the true Jesus--the One who created all things--by praying directly to Him?
The main thing is Jesus and Him crucified. Jesus Christ is my Savior. I am proud of Mitt Romney and I am proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I love my Church.
My Ward is the best Ward in the whole wide world. We are small and poor but we are rich in the Spirit and in love. You seem to make fun of our testimonies. I have a testimony of the truthfulness of my Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Missionaries came over today and helped my husband paint the garage. Those fine young men deserve our respect. I don’t like it when people put them down. I am grateful for their service, love and sacrifice.
Sheeeeeeeeeeshh already!!
You know how I think and feel about Mitt and about Mormon's who I have long been aware, have suffered tremendous bigotry throughout their history. I hate to see this bigotry again rearing it's ugly head in modern day America. You would think we would have gotten beyond it long ago!
You go get 'em girl! : )
Nope, not offended. This thread is pretty interesting.
You’re right, no one should ever say “all ministers do this or all pastors say that”. One should be more accurate and say the exact truth. Like maybe; not all, but every main stream denomination I have attended over 30 years of every Sunday attendance at one time or another the paid minister had something outrageous to say about the LDS church. Follow the money. Main stream “Christianity” in this country is a trillion dollar business. They cannot afford to tell the truth. Not all do it for the money. But, how do we know?
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times SOME will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Tim. 4:1)
We would agree on apostasy if we were both in unity with the Holy Spirit. Apostasy is prophesied by the Holy Spirit through Paul. Only it's partial apostasy: "SOME will abandon the faith." (You're not calling the Holy Spirit a liar are you? Especially when He could have just as easily said "all" or "total"?
"Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many.'" (Matt 24:4-5)
Slapping "Jesus Christ" on to a building doesn't necessarily make it sourced in Him, as both Matt 24 and the LDS church both show. I believe it was Fast Coyote who said this week: Creating a new group called, "Democrats of the United States and Jesus Christ" doesn't mean that the Democrats are "out" as the viable party and the new restoration group is "in."
Thanks, FReeper pal.
A belated ping!
Me too. I so agree with you.
Your bringing up the Nephite example is kind of weird, considering your initial assertion is that we wouldn't respect anyone who prayed to Jesus.
The Nephites were practicing the law of Moses, and prayed to God. Jesus was a fulfillment of that law, and his appearing unto them the way He did was indeed in Godlike form. He didn't walk among them as a man like he did in Jerusalem. Of course they would pray to him, he was their God. He is also my God.
Wanna explain how you calling folks paranoid is different from gays who label folks as homophobia? (More drive-by verbal taunts?)
Re: Other LDS office-holders and their track record vs. a potential LDS president, I've already explained that in detail on this thread. You'll have to go to posts #251, #280, and #290, where I do make distinctions between the two.
Since you quoted the D&C on this topic, let me give you one more to chew on...
D&C 123:2 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—
You said yourself that you didn't trust him to separate his religion from his politics. Is that not paranoid? What term would you use, and how would it mean any differently?
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