Mitt Romney is a Mormon and I am a Baptist: Get Over It!

North Star Writers Group ^ | October 29, 2007 | Herman Cain

[Invisigoth]

The Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Mormons and a few other faiths have three things in common – they believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected for our sins.

So what’s the problem?

The political pundits continue to try and make Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs a big issue as he runs for the Republican presidential nomination. Different denominations of Christianity are just that – different denominations – which means different worship practices of the same fundamental Christian beliefs.

Some people have commented that they cannot support Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon. When they are pressed to explain why that is objectionable, they stutter. Still others are skeptical of Mitt Romney based solely on hearsay or lack of knowledge about Mormons.

[Colofornian]

And in 2005, Provo, Utah was ranked the most conservative city in the U.S. http://www.govpro.com/News/Article/31439/ But, as I have repeatedly seen from your posts, facts won’t get in the way of your repeated efforts to smear Mormons and any institution affiliated with them.

Hey, I knew beloved Mormons in Utah who committed suicide, and Utah is among the state leaders in suicide rate on a fairly regular basis (so all is not A-OK in Mormonville as you claim). And this suicide rate is just one indicator that all is not right spiritually underneath the surface no matter how much you deny that.

I know the pressures are great to always be conforming to living up to certain images, to being among the 20% of LDS who receive temple recommends (& thereby be deemed "worthy"), and to attain exaltation. When you have a BoM standard of being "saved by grace AFTER all you can do," folks then try to accomplish "all" they can do so that God will finally take the load off their spiritual feet.

As Paul said, we are offer to be TRANSFORMED, not just to buckle under daily CONformation, and in order to do that, we need to be born again. Even the Book of Mormon says we are to be born again (see Mosiah 5:7; 27:24-28; Alma 7:14).

The problem is people can never do enough spiritually, relationally, and ethically. We always fall short. This perpetuates the notion that "I've got to get well first, so I can go see the doctor." No! Jesus specifically said, "those who are well have no need of a doctor" but I need a spiritual doc and I know everyone else needs one, too. We all need unearned grace; mercy; God's favor. And we need Him--not just to be "driven" to do more--but just to "be" the way we can just "be" in our most intimate moments with our spouse. He craves for us to relate to Him without feeling guilty--to BE reconciled.

[Notary Sojac]

Your post documents a number of cases where the Mormon prophets held to a doctrine as long as it was not politically unpopular (slavery, polygamy, inferiority of blacks).

As these positions became untenable in the larger American society, coincidentally the Mormon prophets received revelations that resulted in their being modified or abandoned.

So the reason I reject the Mormon faith is that its God seems to be a careful observer of American public opinion polls, changing His laws in accordance.

Because I reject that faith does not mean I hold any animus against Mormons personally or as political candidates. I would vote for Mitt over a Democrat without a second's hesitation.

[Spiff]

That's the point - I HAVE looked at the Congressional Record. I've looked at every bit of information about the votes and amendments to H.R. 2020, 104th Congress, 1st Session (1995) that I could find - and DID NOT FIND what you describe. The information you claim exists does not, in fact, seem to exist. If it does, then you need to show the rest of us where it is that you are getting the specific information that page 76, lines 10-17 was abortion related, and that Fred voting to remove it was a pro-choice vote. Until you do this, I have to assume that either you, or the source which you cut-and-pasted the claim from, are blowing smoke.

A 'yea' vote for the amendment was to keep the House language out of the final passed bill. The House language prohibited expenditures to pay for abortions. A 'Nay' vote against the amendment was to keep the House language, prohibiting funds for abortions, in the final bill.

The debate can be found starting at page S11498 of the Congressional Record in 1995.

[greyfoxx39]

The creeds are an abomination (according to Mormons), because they are so often used to exclude one Christian from another. Just what you are doing.

And, just what are the mormons doing by excluding anyone from their "highest degree of glory" unless and until that soul has, either living or dead, been baptized and confirmed into the mormon church? One CANNOT attain mormon "exaltation" without taking part in their temple rituals, one cannot take part in those rituals without a temple recommend and one must answer these questions to obtain said recommend:

I encourage readers to see from this what control the LDS church exerts upon its members.

TEMPLE RECOMMEND QUESTIONS:

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?

Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

------------------------------------------------------------ Number 7 dictates who you may "affiliate" with. Nothing "exclusive" about that!

Number 11, keeping the word of wisdom dictates that you cannot drink coffee, tea, wine or any other alcoholic beverage.

Not at all exclusive? A mormon casting that particular stone should consider his own glass house.

[Utah Binger]

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

Are you a full-tithe payer?

It's only the money honey!

[Clemenza]

Hillary upholding the Constitution? Hillary not being a nannystatist? What are you smoking, Elsie Borden?

[greyfoxx39]

Excellent!

[greyfoxx39]

you make Forrest Gump look absolutely brilliant.
anti-Mormon bigot
in the way of your bigotry.

Just can't resist the name-calling, huh?

[greyfoxx39]

[fungoking]

I’m a deacon in a conservative fundamentalist Southern Baptist Church. My dad has been a SBC preacher for over 50 years. We have both been active in Convention politics on the state and local level. Sadly, I have met liberal Southern Baptist that not only don’t believe large section of the Bible, but have also bought into the “we are all going heaven” doctrine. I stand by my statement that there is a big difference in how some Southern Baptist think people are going to heaven.

[greyfoxx39]

The word “gospel” means “the good news.” It is the news that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. He died for our sins. He was resurrected and through him we too will live again. That is the good news. Nothing more or less. All else is an appendage. It is that simple, profound good news that you find in the Book of Mormon, not necessarily any of the things you list.

News (not necessarily "good") to me...don't remember hearing that when I was mormon...how about you guys, CC, UB?

[greyfoxx39]

Just to make it easier for you......

[colorcountry]

The "gospel" of Jesus Christ is defined like this: 1,001 (and more) topics about the gospel per LDS.org.

It talks about all the things that you must "DO" to live with him some day.

It's not "good news" - it's darned hard work! 10% of your income, perfect performance. Kinda more like hell if you ask me.

Here's a cute little primary song sung by the millions of cute little Mormon Children:

I am a child of God
and He has sent me here
has given me an earthly home
with parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me
help me find the way
teach me all that I must DO
to live with Him some day....

[greyfoxx39]

LOL! And FR is STILL here...imagine that!

[dixiechick2000]

My apologies for saying your post was a lie.
If Dr. Graham said that, I’m disappointed that he would say such a thing.

I have never, ever been told that Southern Baptists were the only ones to go to heaven.
We believe in the Bible as the word of God.
The Bible lays out a clear path to heaven, and I don’t believe it was meant only for Southern Baptists.

While there are Southern Baptists who don’t pass muster, there are those of other denominations who do.

[Ace's Dad]

Then they'd be in the Bible; right?

If I gave the impression that they, Jesus' words (In this instance on eternal life) were anywhere but the Bible, I'm sorry I for the false impression. As I said, I consult my late mother's KJV Bible.

[Ace's Dad]

I'm not pro or anti LDS, but your comment:

The "secret" ceremonies of the "higher priesthood" are almost completely copied from Masonic rituals -- it's not even well-disguised plagiarism -- and it's not really a secret.

is correct. And they didn't even get it right. Don't ask me how I know this, I'll get some folks in trouble.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

A 'yea' vote for the amendment was to keep the House language out of the final passed bill. The House language prohibited expenditures to pay for abortions. A 'Nay' vote against the amendment was to keep the House language, prohibiting funds for abortions, in the final bill.

The debate can be found starting at page S11498 of the Congressional Record in 1995.

THANK YOU! Was that so hard?

Looks like you were right, though I will note that several pages after the one you link to, there is a discussion about the opposition some Republicans might have based on the fact that amendment didn't include a provision for abortions due to rape or when the mother's life is in danger. FDT may very well have voted against the amendment on that basis, which would be consistent with the "soft" pro-life position he seems to have held during his earlier years in the Senate.

Still, even with a 99% pro-life record, FDT's record on abortion is still light years better and more consistent than Mitt Romney's.

[Hi Heels]

I’d ask you to clarify slash make sense, but I really don’t want to hear it at all. Ever. In this life. But thanks anyway! :)

[MHGinTN]

SELAH!