Posted on 12/08/2007 11:30:00 AM PST by sevenbak
After Thursdays speech by Romney on 'Faith in America', I thought I would share what he did not, nor should he have. This is what he believes about Jesus Christ. It's the statement by the leaders proclaimed to the world at the turn of the millennium, in January 2000.
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The Living Christ: The testimony of the Apostles of the LDS Church.
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.
We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.
He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).
Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).
Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).
We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).
We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.
We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
I'm only asking about your statement about the U.S. Supreme Court.
I believe that the Mormons believe all that, and so much more but I won’t hold that “more” against Mitt as I vote for him.
Oh, I agree it was aimed at Mormons openly practicing polygamy. However, I'm looking for something that supports your contention that the U.S. Supreme court ruled that "polygamy is un-Christian".
I believe that the SCOTUS ruling was a LEGAL opinion, not a RELIGIOUS opinion. You seem to believe otherwise. I'm only asking for something official that supports your contention.
Mitt Romney’s church may think the bible was ‘flawed’ and foolishly rely on the babbling of some long-dead charlatan (Joseph Smith) for their ‘spiritual’ direction but I fail to see how that impacts his candidacy in any meaningful way, short of sheer prejudice. Romney’s Mormon religion is a small point and making it a major one, as some seem to be doing, is ridiculous. Next November, we’re electing a president, not a church Elder or Minister.
Not picking a fight here, just curious about your self-description. Saying you're a non-Christian is broad and ambiguous, to say the least. Why not identify what you are instead of that which you are not?
Thanks for the post. I read it recently and think it is a wonderful statement to share with our FRiends.
Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878), was a Supreme Court of the United States case that held that religious duty was not a suitable defense to a criminal indictment.
In a nutshell, Reynolds, a polygamist and personal secretary to Brigham Young, argued that as a Mormon, it was his religious duty as a male member of the church to practice polygamy.
A unanimous court rejected this defense, instead holding that Congress has a right to enact a law for the general benefit of society (such as prohibiting "plural marriage") providing it is applied to all persons equally without regard to religious affiliation.
It is my understanding the Reynolds case has not been overturned; is frequently cited when someone tries to use religion as a defense for violating statutes (e.g. taking drugs, torturing animals, abusing children, etc.); and is one of the cases the ACLU most wants to see overturned.
You can read the opinion of the court here.
Merry Christmas nmh!
What leftist leanings? Romney is seen as the most rightward leanging Republican candidate in several polls I’ve seen.
I’m sorry, I don’t buy into this garbage that he’s leftist. I listen to the man talk about the border, and about our economy, and I utterly laugh at such a characteriazation.
Romney knows his stuff. And he’s brought nothing but A-game in accomplishing what he sets out to do once he’s in a position of power. I like the results.
And I’m sorry, but Mormons are included under John 3:16. Heaven may one day be a bit crowded for you, methinks.
Does that make it so because people think it is? If so, man made global warming is true also. What the poll really means is that Romney's snow job is working.
When you don’t know what you are talking about, shut up and read it for yourself, quit listening to haters and your preacher about what we believe. Doing what you are doing makes you look silly.
Nobody is sliding anything under your tent, you, as usual, are bloviating in ours.
I must have touched a nerve seeing your childish outburst.
It’s not about “haters” nor is it about a “preacher”. It’s all about secular history and U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.
You don’t know your SECULAR history nor anything about the “religion” of Mormonism. I don’t feel the need to be rude or have tantrums about it - as you seem to require.
Believe whatever you wish!
I’ll continue to acknowledge un-rewritten history and understand what Mormonism IS. You can sling to feelings. I'll stand on objective FACTS about the Mormon "religion" and how polygamy was deemed unconstitutional as determined by the United States Supreme Court. Christians didn't want Mormon polygamy or any other kind of polygamy in their Christian rooted country.
Well, I’m a Mormon, I don’t practice plural marriage, I don’t know anyone who does since the practice is illegal as well as prohibited by the Church. You should either withdraw your statement or somebody will successfully sue you into bankruptcy for slander since you can’t prove a word of your accusation.
“Does that make it so because people think it is?”
What are you talking about?
A man who
*Supports the Marriage Amendment
*Wants biometric data cards issued to immigrants
*Opposes the citizenship of those born here to illegal parents
*Wishes to cap spending at inflation minus 1%
*Wishes to cut capital gains taxes to the middle class
*Wants to decrease rates of corporate taxation
*Isn’t afraid to wiretap a mosque
*Isn’t afraid to call a Jihadi a Jihadi
*Isn’t afraid to tell an Islamist leader to defend himself when he comes here.
Isn’t a leftist by any stretch of the imagination, unless I’ve popped up in some parallel universe where left is right and right is left.
And further, the poster I responded to said Romney was hated because he of this “leftist” (Yeah, freakin’ right) views. Clearly, those polls reveal the exact opposite of what that poster said.
I’m sorry, but Romney and Thompson are our best two candidates. Those who can’t recognize that are just wrong. Period. I’m not backing away from that statement. Giuliani could also win (and I think he would), but he’s not our best.
Since you ignore facts, once again I will state that plural marriage is illegal as well as banned by the Church. What is your problem with the facts?
Read the article on this phenomena (in the context of the present campaign and Mormonism) in the latest NRO. The article is called “Rational Questions” by Jason Lee Steorts. It is an excellent article.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDEwMTRjZTgzOGZmNWE3ZjY3Y2FmN2UxZDUwY2EyYmY=
If the GOP is going to be a big tent, I think we will all have to show a little of this kind of perspective on these matters.
I once had a Quantum Mechanics professor who, in order to prepare the students for a bizarre description of the world that nevertheless seemed to make sense of it, said, “We don’t really learn anything. We just get used to it.” QM didn’t make sense, but it was incredibly successful. I think sometimes religion is that way. We get used to our own, but the other person’s seems bizarre. So we would do well not to be too quick to judge others.
What were his positions on those issues yesterday? He has flip flopped so much he’s starting to sound like that worthless POS Kerry.
Not that he’s as liberal as Kerry, the flip flopping is similar though.
If you want to learn about the Mormon faith try reading their books. You will find that what they teach about who Jesus is, is very different from what the Bible Teaches.
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