Posted on 10/10/2007 5:54:42 AM PDT by Utah Binger
PROVO — Some past prominent LDS Church leaders wrongly pressed conservatism on church members, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday during a press conference at Brigham Young University.
The Nevada senator attacked President Bush and evangelical Christians while saying members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need to worry less about abortion and gay marriage and more about health care, global warming, education and jobs.
Reid first spent 40 minutes delivering a well-received and sometimes tender BYU forum speech in the Marriott Center to 4,091 students, faculty, staff and visitors. He described a journey from an underprivileged, non-religious childhood in tiny Searchlight, Nev., to his position as the highest-ranking Mormon in American government.
"Democrats have not always been in the (church's) minority, and I believe we won't be for too long," he said.
He elaborated during a harder-hitting, 12-minute press conference. "The best missionary we have for that is George Bush," he said. "People are switching parties all over the country."
Reid said Ezra Taft Benson, active in very conservative politics before he became a president of the LDS Church, and Ernest L. Wilkinson, the president of BYU from 1951-71, were among past church leaders "who were very right-wing people politically."
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
Thanks for the correction...I'll have to assume now that Harry Reid (the topic of this discussion) fits right into yours and BYU's political sphere. Incidentally, he'll probably make my "dirtbag list" after his passing from the Senate--right along with dirtbag pedophile polygamists and false prophets Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
"Orthodox" used in what context?
Its phenomenal success is in and of itself a miracle...
This; also; could be said...
My faith in Mohammed (PBUH) and in the Imams of Islam remains quite strong, but I marvel at how the Jihad moves on -- growing and growing around the world -- despite the frequent cow pies, living and inanimate, that it must avoid stepping in each and every hour.
Its phenomenal success is in and of itself a miracle...
Indeed!!!
I’ve been wondering how well Nutjob’s entourage was searched before being allowed in this country.
Could THEY have brought WMDs in, scattered amoung their luggage??
Even when trying not to talk religion in a 'political' thread here on FR, somehow it appears and then the usual accusations begin: the non-LDS churches are incomplete and fail to have the fullness of the Gospel and they did bad things in the past.
somehow it appears and then the usual accusations begin: the non-LDS churches are incomplete and fail to have the fullness of the Gospel and they did bad things in the past.
Would you care to document this little tidbit of fiction. From the standpoint of one on the Mormon side of the issue, the only vindictive, negative, and accusatory posts have been by the usual suspects.
Small “o,” and orthodox with respect to Church doctrine. BYU-TV broadcasts a lot of religious and other educational content, along with BYU athletics...
I’m afraid that history class in the hereafter will have to be the source for the “truth”. If we can arrange to attend the same class, I’ll willingly admit to being wrong, if proven so, and if you are wrong, regards Joseph and Brigham, I get to say I told you so. Can’t argue with your other dirt bags including Dingy Harry Reid.
Agreed...no offense meant to Mormons but it seems, IMO, that Msrs. Smith and Young are regaled in the same way that RCs regale certain popes (as infallible). It is my belief that all men are mistake prone--especially so when it comes to religious tenents and proclamations of "true" churches. Sorry, but I'm somewhat of a universalist in believing that we ALL have a good chance of getting to Christly paradise (including the good among Jews, Mormons, Buddists, Shintos, and Hindus)
Indeed, Joseph found himself in the middle of a sectarian war without even a clear battle front and he was confused by what was going on and was seeking the truth.
It is my understanding -- through my years as a Sunday school student and teacher, a member of LDS congregations wherein spiritual "talks" are presented every Sunday and at other times by the leaders and members of the Church, a presenter of such "talks" in various roles in the capacity of a member of the leadership of a few "stakes" (consisting of six to eight "wards," or congregations) -- that the lord's admonishment to Joseph Smith was not a blanket condemnation of the very religious denominations that had kept the name of Jesus Christ "alive" since the original apostles left the earth.
The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have much to say on such matters: We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
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.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
There are other articles of faith, but I have selected those which seem most relevant to your question.
The Church, through its leadership and members, interact amicably and productively with those of other faiths through inter-faith councils, national organizations (approximatley 1/3 of the members of the Boy Scouts of America are sponsored by LDS congregations), and other bodies.
We render a considerable quantity of relief aid to victims of disasters, in the form of funds, food, clothing and blankets, medical supplies, etc. and, strange though it may seem, for decades we have done so via the good offices of Catholic Charities.
We often pitch in to re-build churches (e.g., in Florida after hurricanes) and synagogues damaged or destroyed by natural disasters of by arson and vandalism and indeed, have been defended -- by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brit -- against hateful and viciously false claims contained in a film produced and disseminated by anti-LDS group.
We reach out to Catholics, ProtestantsJews (e.g., BYU operates a religious studies institute on the Mount of Olives), Muslims, and others alike, and the Church, believe it or not, had and possibly still retains a New York public relations consulting firm owned by some of our Jewish brothers and sisters.
With respect to the FR, we try to address and teach in the face of the lies of those who admittedly have never even attended an LDS Sunday meeeting or watched our semi-annual General Conference on cable TV in the comfort of their own living rooms.
That said, the record will show that, although we are not always cheery and gentle our discussions in accordance with the teaching and example of the Savior, we virtually never have attacked the beliefs of individual FReepers and likewise have not assailed the doctrines and earthly embodiments of any religious body.
Indeed, I and others have defended Catholic FReepers against the venom spewed against their Church re: covert sexual abuse and other matters.
All we would like to do is get along, and we seek to avoid starting flamewars here, unless such occurs immediately after reference to our Church or its members, "prominent" or otherwise.
Again and finally, "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."
Thank you for your sincere and polite question....
Dirty Harry's flock of some 4,000 curious or liberal folks does not exactly constitute a ringing endorsement of him by the BYU family...
My post #90 should have been addressed to Elsie. New glasses are in my future...
His contention is arguable. Michael Leavitt serves a Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Bush administration. Several other "Mormons" have held cabinet-level positions in the past....
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself adelivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I bsaw two cPersonages, whose brightness and dglory defy all description, estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My fBeloved gSon. Hear Him!18 My object in going to ainquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all awrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those bprofessors were all ccorrupt; that: “they ddraw near to me with their lips, but their ehearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the fcommandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the gpower thereof.”20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself alying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, bmother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
I'll assume you mean LDS organization doctrine.
However, acting on one's homosexuality through sexual intimacy, giving expression to homosexual feelings and advocating for homosexual behavior are still violations of the code and grounds for expulsion at Brigham Young.
Matthew 5:27-28
27. "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.'
28. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Whew. My head was spinning.
As the article states it is a clarification. Nothing has changed as I see it and we had no lack of Homosexuals when I was attending in the late fifties and early sixties. Those who engaged in the physical expression of their tendencies were expelled from school. Those who desired to control those tendencies were retained. I personally knew (not in the biblical sense) both. The school mascot was one who got the boot. just happened to live two doors down from me in the same dorm. Who knew. I didn’t, until the expulsion.
Even when trying not to talk religion in a ‘political’ thread here on FR, somehow it appears and then the usual accusations begin:
I persist, What accusations? There have been none, and you cannot show me any. The only ones I’ve seen are as I said previously from the usual anti-mormon suspects whose screen names miraculously appear on any thread remotely about anything Mormon. Amazing isn’t it.
PS, 90 posted on 10/11/2007 10:08:57 AM MDT by tracer This response was for you.
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