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Evangelicals Against Mitt
The American Spectator ^ | 1/3/2008 | Carrie Sheffield

Posted on 01/08/2008 4:09:13 PM PST by tantiboh

Mitt Romney is facing an unexpected challenge in Iowa from rival Mike Huckabee, who has enjoyed a groundswell of support from religious voters, particularly evangelical Christians wary of the clean-cut former Massachusetts governor because of his Mormon religion.

The common worry among evangelicals is that if Romney were to capture the White House, his presidency would give legitimacy to a religion they believe is a cult. Since the LDS church places heavy emphasis on proselytizing -- there are 53,000 LDS missionaries worldwide -- many mainstream Christians are afraid that Mormon recruiting efforts would increase and that LDS membership rolls would swell.

...

THE ONLY PROBLEM with those fears is that they don't add up. Evangelicals may be surprised to learn that the growth of church membership in Massachusetts slowed substantially during Romney's tenure as governor. In fact, one could make the absurdly simplistic argument that Romney was bad for Mormonism.

...

ONE WAY TO GAUGE what might happen under a President Romney would be to look at what happened during the period of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Held in Salt Lake City, they were dubbed the "Mormon Olympics."

...

Despite all the increased attention, worldwide the Church grew only slightly, and in fact in the year leading up to the games the total number of congregations fell. Overall, from 2000 to 2004, there was a 10.9 percent increase in memberships and a 3.6 percent increase in congregations.

...

The LDS church is likely to continue its current modest-but-impressive growth whether or not Romney wins the White House. Perhaps the only real worry for evangelicals is that, if elected, the former Massachusetts governor will demonstrate to Americans that Mormons don't have horns.

Carrie Sheffield, a member of the LDS Church, is a writer living in Washington, D.C.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: election; ia2008; lds; mormon; romney
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To: Elsie
Tell ME that the warning given here does NOT apply to the PERSONAGES that visited Joe.

No problem, it doesn't, happy?
761 posted on 01/24/2008 3:38:33 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: Elsie; DelphiUser

~”MY Jesus says what He hears His Father say.”~

Ah, so they -are- separate beings.

Thanks for clearing that up!


762 posted on 01/24/2008 3:40:04 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: tantiboh
I see that.

I tried searching for a post by MG and it said it didn't exist.

His answer doesn't exist either.

763 posted on 01/24/2008 3:42:01 PM PST by Dan(9698)
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To: MHGinTN

For once, we agree, at least on the first two-thirds or so.


764 posted on 01/24/2008 3:42:50 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: Dan(9698); sandude

I agree. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but by and large, we post reason, they say we’re Hell-bound cultists. We try to show why they’re wrong, and they call us liars and deceivers.

The irony being, if they weren’t constantly on the offensive, Mormonism wouldn’t be discussed around here a tenth as much as it is now. It is the anti-Mormons who generally pick the fights.

It’s fine my me, though; their displays of intolerance only convince the like-minded. In the meantime, we get a chance to learn about our faith and formulate reasoned defenses of it. It takes a hammer to forge a sword.


765 posted on 01/24/2008 3:47:25 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: rodeo-mamma

~”Being a Christian is about a Personal Relationship with Christ. If a person has access to a Bible, then they are fully capable of developing that personal relationship.”~

Amen to that, Mamma.


766 posted on 01/24/2008 3:48:53 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: DarthVader; DelphiUser

Wait... what is this?

Substantiation of an argument?

DU, you might be making inroads! Vader’s learning!


767 posted on 01/24/2008 3:50:43 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: DarthVader

That’s all well and good, Vader, but you didn’t answer my question.

Would you please give me a list of some denominations that are -not- cults? It doesn’t need to be exhaustive, but I’d appreciate at least 5 or 6 examples.


768 posted on 01/24/2008 3:53:18 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: DelphiUser

But outsiders often visit FreeRepublic and they would not understand this type of dialog. I don’t think it even the opposition to your beliefs that bothers me as much as the way that they are using that opposition to attack a political candidate. I could understand philosophical discussions, but that is not what this is about.


769 posted on 01/24/2008 3:53:40 PM PST by Eva
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To: Elsie
I Said: 2. Satan cannot stop (or even slow down) God.

U Said: Oh yeah??

'Splain THIS; Lucy!



Daniel 10:12-14
12. Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
14. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

Easy, God is omniscient, he knew what was going to happen and it became part of his plan.
770 posted on 01/24/2008 3:57:23 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: Elsie
The above is STILL in force by the LDS Organization®!

Just a question, do you post similar things on Catholic threads because they also think they are the only true church?

Get a sense of humor you'll live longer...

A guy dies, goes to Heaven, St. Peter gives him a tour. Through one door he hears this wonderful Gospel music, "Who's in there?" he asks, "Oh those are all the AME believers." A ways down the hall he hears shouting "AMENS" and "Hallelujahs!" "In there are the Pentecostals," Peter explains. As they pass another door he smells incense and hear sort of a droning of mumbles and chants. "who's that?" the man asks, "Greek Orthodox," replies Peter. A little further down the hall everything is silent, the man starts to ask St. Peter about it and Peter quickly puts his finger to his lips and whispers "Shhh- those are the Mormons, they think they're the only ones up here.

Like my Dad told me, "If you can't laugh at yourself, everyone else will."
771 posted on 01/24/2008 4:04:42 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: Elsie
I Said: I am not complaining because you are expelling me from a Church (Methodist, Catholic, or Pentecostal, etc.) you are telling me I don't believe in Jesus, (A faith) but there is no way for you to know what I actually believe.

U Said: Wrong again!

So OK, what am I thinking (besides that you can't read my mind...)

U Said: YOUR 'jesus' is different from mine. That is what I'm saying.

Well, if you don't believe in the Jesus of the Bible, why didn't you just say so!

U Said: YOUR 'jesus' is speechless when the Father, in human form, speaks.

I have no idea what you are talking about, Jesus and God can even have conversations. That said, Jesus and god share a oneness that is so complete that they know each others very thoughts.

U Said: MY Jesus says what He hears His Father say.

So they are separate beings then?

Just asking...
772 posted on 01/24/2008 4:11:13 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: Elsie
Um, Joseph Smith was not debating anyone, just reporting what Jesus had told him. It’s called “First Person” testimony...
773 posted on 01/24/2008 4:13:16 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: DarthVader
It is not an opinion but a fact. You are lost.

I'll file that opinion too, now where was tha fileing cabinet, oh, there it is.

Trash can
774 posted on 01/24/2008 4:18:37 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: DarthVader
I am having a totally fabulous day and am very blessed. Continue to live in the ignorant bliss of your cult. I and several others will be praying for your deliverance from the great deception that you are in. Mormon heresy will never be accepted. Get used to it.

I have already been accepted by the only one who matters, get used to it yourself.
775 posted on 01/24/2008 4:19:57 PM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: DelphiUser

That receptible is the place where you keep your brain and I am sending more brothers here who are going to have a field day with you all.


776 posted on 01/24/2008 5:01:29 PM PST by DarthVader (Liberal Democrats are the party of EVIL whose time of judgement has come.)
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To: DelphiUser

You have been accepted by your Mormon Jesus. Satan in disguise.


777 posted on 01/24/2008 5:02:24 PM PST by DarthVader (Liberal Democrats are the party of EVIL whose time of judgement has come.)
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To: DarthVader
~"I am sending more brothers here who are going to have a field day with you all."~


778 posted on 01/24/2008 5:05:26 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: DarthVader

I’m still waiting for your list of denominations that aren’t cults. Would you mind? Just 5 or 6 examples would be great. Thanks!


779 posted on 01/24/2008 5:07:38 PM PST by tantiboh
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To: tantiboh

Baptists, Southern Baptists, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Many non-denominational churches that are legitmately Biblically based.

Of course any Mormon refutation of this will be regarded as trash because you are heretics and no possible arguement you can make against legitimate Christianity will be regarded whatsoever.


780 posted on 01/24/2008 5:19:09 PM PST by DarthVader (Liberal Democrats are the party of EVIL whose time of judgement has come.)
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