Are Romney's comments of who hears from God at odds with LDS faith?

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | December 22, 2007 | Thomas Burr

[Zakeet]

Pre-eminent Mormon scholar argues Romney's answer is not at all a contradiction

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney says in a videotaped interview that he doesn't know that God has spoken to anyone since the time of Moses.

The comment appears to conflict with his Mormon faith that believes God spoke to founder Joseph Smith and other church prophets subsequently.

In the interview with Boston's WCVB, a reporter asks Romney several questions about his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including how his faith would impact him if he is elected.

"Should God speak to you, and ask you to do something that might be in conflict with your duties as president, or should He speak to your prophet who would speak to you, how would you make that decision, how would you handle that?" reporter Natalie Jacobson asks.

Romney laughs and then replies, "Well, I don't recall God speaking to me. I, I don't recall God speaking to anyone since, uh, Moses and the [burning] bush, or perhaps some others, but, but I don't have that frequent of communication."

The interview aired on the Boston station on Dec. 9 and was offered to the 28 other stations nationwide owned by Hearst-Argyle company.

Mormons believe in modern revelation and that the church's prophet communicates with God, a belief at odds with other mainstream Christian faiths. The faith was founded by Smith, who said he had spoken to God and that an angel led him to gold plates that became the Book of Mormon.

The LDS Church, through a spokesman, declined comment.

[Zakeet]

Other Salt Lake City media picking up on Romney's statement conflicting with Mormon doctrine include: ABC 4 and KUTV.

Due to length limitations for excerpts, you will have to read the article to see how Mitt's comments are not really in conflict with LDS doctrine.

[Zakeet]

Ping

[xtinct]

Could be me... but enough of the Mormon * he said * * he said *

How's a body suppose to know what Mitt Romney's platform is if the Mormon nonsense is spewed daily by the media???

[damondonion]

I-slam and the LDS faith have the same basic problem, i.e. belief in prophets and prophecy in our age of the world. In real life, the last real prophet died somewhere around 2500 years ago. The first paragraph of the book of Hebrews describes prophets as a thing of the distant past at the time of Christ.

[fogofbobegabay]

Makes one wonder whom Mr. Romney thinks Jesus Christ was. Does he acknowledge the words spoken by Jesus, recorded in the Gospels as God’s? Just wondering.

[muawiyah]

Not surprising ~ there's a current of thought in the Christian Church movement (all three kinds) that the time of prophecy or of miracles is past ~ and another current that says it continues.

Given the rather intense addition of Christian Church theological questions to the original Mormon movement, wouldn't be surprising at all to have some Mormons still debating those points.

Or, maybe Mitt is a secret Morrisite or something. Might ask him.

[muawiyah]

You mean this one? Yes, I recall it. We even had fistfights over whether or not it was about our ancestors having heard God "through prophets", or that the only time you could "hear a prophet" was in the distant past. "Hebrews 1:1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors4 through the prophets,

1:2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world."

And your church? Who won the fights ~ those who said prophets were NOT PROHIBITED by this piece of Scripture, or that people were NO LONGER ALLOWED to listen to them?

There are, of course, other arguments about this clause.

Then there's the Apostolic Charismatic Church of the First Born and they take the 12th Chapter of Hebrews to demand that you not visit doctors!

[esarlls3]

If the LDS Church leadership was going to direct the politics of members, Mitt Romney and Harry Reid would have always voted pro-life.

[delacoert]

YOU: ...you will have to read the article to see how Mitt's comments are not really in conflict with LDS doctrine.

THE ARTICLE:"That gives him wiggle room," Shipps [the Mormon scholar that the author cites] says. "That's wiggle room all over the place."

ROTFLOL

"wiggle room"

...

[mtbopfuyn]

Big booming voice, “Kent, this is God.”

[Don Corleone]

Is this campaign about Politics or Religion? Pick one and stick to it please.

[KarenMarie]

I read that headline as LSD, not lds.

hahaha.

;)

[SkyPilot]

I-slam and the LDS faith have the same basic problem, i.e. belief in prophets and prophecy in our age of the world.

You posted a statement filled with more wisdom and truth than I have heard in several weeks.

[mcjordansc]

LDS is not strictly anti-abortion.

[humblegunner]

"Should God speak to you, and ask you to do something that might be in conflict with your duties as president, or should He speak to your prophet who would speak to you, how would you make that decision, how would you handle that?" reporter Natalie Jacobson asks.

Romney laughs and then replies, "I'll hitch up my magical underpants and do what Mr. Smith tells me, by gum!"

[Larry Lucido]

I’m not a Mormon, so count me as not giving a rat’s @ss.

[SkyPilot]

Is this campaign about Politics or Religion? Pick one and stick to it please.

My great grandfather once said there was a sign at the local barber shop that read:

"No Discussion of Religion or Politics permitted!"

The local pastor went for a haircut and saw it. He gave his sermon that week about how there wasn't any difference.

What you vote for, you believe. What you vote for is the essence of what you value - and what your heart tells you is truth.

Politics is the "religion" to the Democrats.

If you doubt that - you are not paying attention.

What Romney believes is essential to his candidacy. For what a man believes is without a doubt a window into how he will act.

Don't believe me?

I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that. I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors. First, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct. I was also very concerned about protecting my family. The fact that these questions were being asked in a politically inspired lawsuit, which has since been dismissed, was a consideration, too. In addition, I had real and serious concerns about an independent counsel investigation that began with private business dealings 20 years ago, dealings I might add about which an independent federal agency found no evidence of any wrongdoing by me or my wife over two years ago.

[kinoxi]

Some might say it takes one to understand the other. Not me of course :) Just sayin...

[Brilliant]

Who cares? He’s not a preacher.

[TNoldman]

Jesus was an enlightened soul that transended the EGO and walked the earth over 2000 years ago.

The Gospels were written 60+ years after Jesus walked the earth. Not likely that others were able to recall the “words spoken” at such a late date.

Just wondering.