Posted on 01/28/2008 12:29:13 PM PST by Dr. Zzyzx
Statement from President George W. Bush:
Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our friend, Gordon B. Hinckley. While serving for over seven decades in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon demonstrated the heart of a servant and the wisdom of a leader. He was a tireless worker and a talented communicator who was respected in his community and beloved by his congregation. As President of his church, he traveled to more than 60 countries to spread a message of love and optimism to the millions of people around the world who shared his faith.
A Mayflower descendent and the grandson of Mormon pioneers, Gordon was a deeply patriotic man. His leadership and service strengthened the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young University, the Boy Scouts of America, and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. In 2004, I was honored to present him with the Medal of Freedom, our Nation's highest civil award, in recognition of his lifelong public service.
Laura and I will miss Gordon's friendship and wisdom. Our thoughts and prayers are with his five children and the rest of the Hinckley family.
Oh wow, I didn’t hear about that. When is the oldest of the quorum elected the next prophet?
I SHOCKED the President didn’t declare that Mormons and Christians all worship the same God, as he does regarding Allah and God every time he opens his mouth about Muslims.
(slaps forehead)
Awwwwww, that’s why I love GWB. Thanks Mr. President. Although I may differ from you at times, you will always have my deepest respect.
On a side note, and political one... It’s no secret that Jeb Bush supports Mitt, but if he says something nice tonight about president Hinckley, then he has effectively taken religion off the table toward the GOP electorate, without having to endorse, which he won’t do to anyone at this point. A direct Bush endorsement is a bad thing anyway.
You, sir, are one sorry excuse for a human being, but since I am a Christian and try to obey the Lord’s commandments, I forgive you. He will forgive who He will forgive.
My, but you’re a sad, sad little person.
Did they do a statement for the head of the Greek Orthodox Church also?
I know without a doubt he is roasting in hell right now
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The only way you would **KNOW** that is if you were either God or the Satan.
I**know** you’re not God.
Sure did:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/763184,xchrist012808.article
...‘The late Archbishop was well known as an articulate voice of the Orthodox faith, for his engagement in inter-religious dialogue, and for his promotion of social programs to help the vulnerable. Our prayers are with the people of Greece and all those who followed his spiritual guidance.’’
There was an article about some other presidential candidate who was also related to the same family, I don't recall who. Was it Obama?
I've posted this here before, but perhaps this is a good time to do it again. These are a few examples of our specific doctrine regarding our government, the relationship to the church, and specifically our wonderful constitution, to be held absolute for all men, regardless of specific faith.
Here are references to our God-given Constitution found right in Mormons scriptures:
D&C 109
54 Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.
55 Remember the kings, the princes, the nobles, and the great ones of the earth, and all people, and the churches, all the poor, the needy, and afflicted ones of the earth;
D&C 101:
77 According to the laws and Constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;
78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.
80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.
D&C 98:
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.
D&C 134:
1 WE believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.
3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.
4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
Further, in our own articles of faith, it's clear...
Articles of Faith 11 and 12.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Well I’m not sure if he is burning in hell. It would be a bit presumptious if any one of us decided the case for Him.
God doesn’t necessarily hold it against someone because they were born into another religion, but otherwise tried to live a life of grace. However, God may deem that someone had sufficient exposure to Christ’s true word but chose to ignore it.
All in all, he’s not the one who has tried to legalize sodomy, teach children to put condoms on cucumbers, or has glorified vanity.
***George W. Bush and Gordon B. Hinckley are distant cousins through Thomas Hinckley, one of the first governors of Plymouth Colony.***
So what. I’m kin to all of them through some dude named Noah.
***Well I’m not sure if he is burning in hell. It would be a bit presumptious if any one of us decided the case for Him.***
When it all comes down to it, the FINAL judge will be GOD himself, not us. As someone once observed that if God wanted to save Socrates or Aristotle it is his perogative.
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