Posted on 01/08/2008 8:16:22 AM PST by jdm
Bloggers had speculated on the actual subject of a series of e-mails from a publicist breathlessly informing us of a "Swift-boating" on a major presidential candidate, complete with documentation and hard evidence. Some thought it might target Hillary Clinton, some John Edwards, but the plurality went with Mitt Romney -- and that turned out to be the correct answer. Revelation Press apparently wants to conduct the Klan's 1928 anti-Catholic campaign against Al Smith, updated for eight decades later, at least according to the e-mail I received:
"Should Romney become U.S. President," Moody explained, "his oaths create an inevitable conflict of interest. Just as an Army private is not free to question his General's orders &-- and does so only at the risk of a dishonorable discharge -- Mormons such as Mitt Romney question their Living Prophet's revelations and edicts only at risk of excommunication. This penalty is unthinkable to any faithful Mormon -- and in Romney's December 6th speech, he swore to remain faithful to his religion.
"As Noah Feldman pointed out," Moody pointed out, "since the days of founding Prophet Joseph Smith, Mormons have held their secrets close -- including their 'White Horse Prophecy:' one day a Mormon leader will literally ride in to save the U.S. Constitution -- and to transform America into the base for the institution of a world-wide Mormon theocracy. Since his college days, when I was Mitt's fraternity brother at Brigham Young University," Moody said, "Mitt's made it clear to his intimates that he was pre-ordained to fulfill this prophecy, to become the Mormon President who would save our Constitution and transform America as Joseph Smith prophesied.
We've seen this crap before, especially those Roman Catholics among us. As I noted above, it played right out of the Ku Klux Klan's playbook in the 1928 presidential election, and even came up during John Kennedy's campaign in 1960. The argument goes that a man who professes allegiance to a church, especially one with a hierarchy, cannot "serve two masters" and therefore cannot serve the Constitution. America heard a lot of nonsense about Papal infallibility and how the Pope cannot be defied on any matter -- all of which was nonsense then, and is still today.
I had to laugh at this press release, though, as it is so badly written. Take for example this passage: "As Noah Feldman pointed out," Moody pointed out, ... That's a lot of pointing in a short space of time. Did someone lose their Roget's Thesaurus, or can we presume that this is indicative of the literary quality of Revelation's stable of authors?
For the record, Mormons, Catholics, and Anglicans have no trouble separating the spiritual from the temporal. If Noah Feldmans' hypothesis was true, then we couldn't be trusted in the military, either. Who knows when the Pope or the Mormon's leader would issue contravening orders, preferably through secret handshakes or subliminal broadcast from the Temple? We also couldn't be trusted as governors -- never mind Mitt's failure to turn Massachusetts into East Utah, or his father's failure to convert Michigan residents into good Mormons.
Catholic and Mormon politicians have given this nation splendid public service, and given no hint of disloyalty or even confused priorities between their public responsibilities and their religious beliefs. People like Feldman want to create the kinds of sectarian animosities that have riven other democracies. They should be rejected, and then aggressively ignored.
Which is extremely sad....because IMO, the mormon church is more focused on symbolism than substance.
god, according to Smith in 132 verse 4, stated that not to abide by that covenant they would be damned. Clearly that was practiced by Smith in earnestness with god's direction contrary to the law of the land. Polygamy was a (if not the) major force driving their rejection and forcing their move to Utah. So the safety, well being and progress didn't apply to his people then, but suddenly 47 years later it did? Why would god change his mind in that short of period?
Did God do that...or J. Smith and/or B. Young?
Could it be that Hinckley knows Mormon detractors are correct?
>Mormonism began when Joseph Smith declared all Christian denominations to have gone astray from the faith, the Bible to have become perverted over time.
Not really. It began when God the Father pointed to the man on His left, identified Him as Jesus Christ and instructed Joseph Smith to listen up. Once Christ told Joseph Smith that His gospel was no longer on the earth but would be restored later, Smith decided that he’d obey.
It’s that simple.
>Could it be that Hinckley knows Mormon detractors are correct?
I’d suggest it is more likely because that’s not what Christ did when He taught His gospel. You teach and those who have ears to hear do so.
If they don’t, then fine. Move on.
Article of Faith #12
We believe in being asubject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
The Doctrine and Covenants Section 134
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/134
Basically, righteous governments are instituded by God and men should uphold those governments.
Inasmuch as Romney is subject to his God, and his God has said that Romney must uphold the law of the land (the U.S.), Romney is bound by God to follow the Constitution.
Also, there is this, as revealed by the Lord to the prophet Joseph Smith:
Doctrine and Covenants, Section 98
4 And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.
5 And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
OK, This is all we need to know concerning Mitt's religion.
Can we now discuss his record??
>stated that not to abide by that covenant they would be damned.
Right. Because it is an everlasting covenant. You can’t make the covenant and then break it.
>god’s direction contrary to the law of the land. Polygamy was a (if not the) major force driving their rejection and forcing their move to Utah.
It appears that the Church took the law of God above the law of man. I’m not sure that you could argue it was the “major driving” of their rejection, though. Polygamy was not widely practiced among the members of the Church.
>So the safety, well being and progress didn’t apply to his people then, but suddenly 47 years later it did? Why would god change his mind in that short of period?
Why would God tell Moses to settle the land of Israel and then tell him later that he couldn’t go in?
Same God?
Evidence is to the contrary. Joseph Smith was a very clever story-teller. Nothing else.
The United Methodist Church at its 2000 General Conference held a service of repentance and reconciliation, during which it formally apologized for racist acts in the past that caused African-American Methodists to leave and establish their own churches.
Apologizing for Slavery and Racism
http://archives.umc.org/umns/news_archive2003.asp?ptid=2&story=%7BBC2C9B17-2C27-42E2-961F-235E165E76F4%7D&mid=2406
Every Protestant denomination has done this as far as I know.
>OK, This is all we need to know concerning Mitt’s religion.
Vinnie gets it.
>Every Protestant denomination has done this as far as I know.
You found one cite to the Methodist Church and now view that you have confirmation of all of them?
How about the Methodist Church apologizing for the Old Testament prohibition on the ordination of blacks to the priesthood?
Mormons believe that the U.S. Constitution is precious and God inspired.
Its called dialogue, if you can't figure that out. The polygamy issue is a subset of the this thread (that of having a prophetic voice). The question format is to allow you to say what mormon doctrine is within the historical context. The historical context question that I ask is not doctrinal at the face value. Its connection to the point at hand is. Are you honestly telling me that the events leading up to the 1890 declaration did not influence in any way Wilson's 'revelation'. Would such a revelation been provided anyway if the US law permitted it?
Really?
Are you saying that God wants the mormon church to own Maui hotels, million acre cattle ranches, and giant shopping malls?
Let me answer your question with one of my own.
When Jesus paid the required tribute money to Caesar, did he submit himself to Caesar's authority? (See Matt 17:25-27)
Who is Wilson and what does he have to do with an LDS revelation?
What OT prohibition is that? I’ve never seen one.
I don’t have time to go to every site. I know the PCUSA has done it.
>Are you saying that God wants the mormon church to own Maui hotels, million acre cattle ranches, and giant shopping malls?
Absolutely. And hire particularly obnoxious SBC anti-Mormon preachers as the waiters and maids.
The Old Testament restricts the priesthood to members of the tribe of Levi. That excludes all Asians, Blacks, Hispanics and a whole lot of white people.
If God found it just to limit the priesthood to members of a certain tribe (of a certain race) in the Old Testament, who are we to argue that he was wrong to open it up to a wider audience later but still impose a restriction (albeit smaller)?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.