Are Mormons "Weird"?

Mormon Defense League ^ | August 12, 2011 | Mormon Defense League

[Saundra Duffy]

The LDS Church is politically neutral, as is MDL. Mormons hold elected office and positions of responsibility in both US political parties and various parties worldwide. When we respond to any issue regarding politics, we do so only to correct misinformation and misperceptions about the Church, not in an effort to promote a particular candidate or party.

Recently, Politico reported that part of President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign strategy will be to portray Mitt Romney, a Mormon and possible Republican presidential nominee, as “weird.” The Politico report did not specifically tie the “weird” charge to Romney’s Mormon faith, but many commentators have speculated that is the logical application of such a strategy.

Commentators from various political perspectives have also condemned any such strategy. Blogger Jane Hamsher wrote: “To preach religious tolerance as Obama does, and then engage in this kind of appeal to religious bigotry, is both hypocritical and pernicious, not to mention self-defeating…As the economy gets worse, people better be really careful about stoking tribalist rage against any minority.” Researcher and author Glenn Stanton agreed: “Yes, you can be pretty sure that it will be his Mormon faith where most of the ‘weirdness’ innuendos will land. And this from a president who had to finally and reluctantly distance himself from his own faith heritage.” Former presidential speechwriter David Frum noted: “The attacks will tiptoe up to the line of outright anti-Mormon bigotry.” In Time, political reporter Michael Crowley summed it up: “You’d like to think that the people who work for a man who has been slurred countless times because of his race would take a higher road.”

[Saundra Duffy]

The word “backstabber” is being bantied about here. Let me remind you that we Mormons stand with conservatives almost 100% on virtually every issue. We are your friends; we vote your way and support your causes and issues. Behind our backs, though, we are scum and ridiculed, pilloried and condemned to hell.

I know a little about backstabbing.

[Elsie]

To me Mormons are odd but not really an issue for me.

I take it then that you do not accept what JESUS said about the broad and narrow ways?

[arderkrag]

Are Mormons "Weird"?

Yep. Next question.

[DMG2FUN]

Perverted homosexuals attacking the LDS for one thing. Prop 8!

[Elsie]

Not permitted on this site.

I'm SURE that DU would let you try to do it.

[Elsie]

Nail on the head and the FReeper anti Mormons are right on board.

HA!

We are LEADERs in posting MORMONism facts and figures!

[Saundra Duffy]

“Stated simply, we would like to be known and recognized for whom we are and what we believe, and not be inaccurately associated with beliefs and practices that we condemn in the strongest terms. We would be grateful if you could circulate or copy this letter to your editorial staff and to your legal counsel.”

Makes sense. So what’s your point?

[fishtank]

This post is just awful.

If you think Mitt Rmoney is the best candidate, then talk about his ISSUES that he supports.

Or now he DOESN’T support.....

He’s pro-homosexual.

He’s pro-abortion.

He authored a commie health care bill, and then tutored 000bama on how to pass his own version of it.

WE ARE SICK OF MITT RMONEY on FreeRepublic!!!!

The main reason his Mromonism comes up here on this site, is we are wondering if his counterfeit religion is THE CAUSE OR THE EFFECT of his liberal ways.

Most of us see ALMOST no difference between him and 000bama. We also see WAY too much identicality (new word here) between Rmoney and 000bama.

[Elsie]

Why don’t you follow the rules of decorum that the rest of us do?

 

MORMON

ATTITUDES OF SUPERIORITY

 

  1. I’m Superior; I have a special gift of the holy Ghost -- you don’t!
  2. I’m Superior; I have God’s true priesthood power -- you don’t!
  3. I’m Superior; I can go in God’s secret Temple -- you can’t!
  4. I’m Superior; I’ve been Endowed with special Gifts and Knowledge -- you’re just normal!
  5. I’m Superior; I’ll have my family with me in heaven -- you’ll be with strangers!
  6. I’m Superior; I’m becoming a God -- you aren’t!
  7. I’m Superior; My women know their place as servants of man and yours don’t.
  8. I’m Superior; YOUR creeds are wrong because they come from man - mine comes from God (you can find each one printed in our Scriptures).
  9. I’m Superior; I don’t HAVE a creed - I’ve got 13 Articles of Faith.
10. I'm Superior; I have 4 "Bibles"-- the standard works (5 if you count the JST) -- you've only got one: in as far as it is translated correctly.
11. I’m Superior; I can lie with impunity about such things as church membership, church growth, church doctrine, church history, church influence, etc. —                           -- You can’t.
12. I’m Superior; I am right (everybody knows) when I say 'evangelical' Christians are lunatics -- 

                           -- You’re a hideous narrow-minded bigot, who is persecuting me by practicing discrimination by saying I'm not a Christian.
13. I'm Superior; I have a testimony about a prophet -- you don't.
14. I'm Superior; I have a Scripture-producing Amos 3:7 prophet -- you don't
15. I’m Superior; I have a Living Prophet who talks to god every day -- you have a dim-witted hireling of Satan who only talks to himself.
16. I'm Superior; I have my calling & election made sure -- you don't.
17. I’m Superior; I have magic underwear to protect me from the bogey man -- you don’t.
18. I’m Superior; I have secret clasps and grips to give the angel so I get admitted to the celestial kingdom -- you don’t ;so you can’t.
19. I'm Superior; I know secret handshake codes for afterlife entrances-- you don't.
20. I’m Superior; I will see Joseph Smith setting on the right hand of GOD, when I get to Mormon heaven, and he will recognize me and judge me favorably                              -- You’re on your own; when you get to wherever you’re going!
21. I’m Superior; I’m going to hie to Kolob -- you’re going to who knows where.
22. I’m Superior; I get to have a harem and act like a celestial stud for time and all eternity -- you don’t.
23. I’m Superior; I have sun stones, moon stones, sky stones, cloud stones, Saturn stones, and the evil eye of Osirus guarding my temple

                            -- You have nothing but a stupid cross.
24. I’m Superior; My church has billions in assets stashed away -- yours has taken a stupid vow of poverty.
25. I'm Superior; Last - we have the power to keep a whole race out of our priesthood if we wanted to reinsert our 148-year legacy  (we ARE still keeping an entire GENDER at bay!)

26.  I'm superior; I have the "higher law" -- everyone else "lives under the "lesser law' because I say so...(over and over).

 

 

Revision 46.5

Semi-Official creed of the EXclusive club of Freeper Flying Inmans.

All rights liable to be abused.

[cripplecreek]

I’m responsible for my own soul and that others had better worry about their own.

[Tennessee Nana]

Don’t you remember Rick Perry’s pastor friend calling Mormons a “cult” and saying we’re not Christians
_______________________________________________

Dont you remember your Mormon savior Joey Smith, and Briggie Young and all the mormon paid clegy including Tommy Monson calling Christians a “cult” and saying we’re not Christians ???

Don’t you remember you yourself saying that the LORD Jesus Christ of the Christian Bible was puny and weak and not able to save anyone and not the Mormon jesus ???

[Elsie]

Mittens needs to fight back, Obama knows all about weird, Mit needs not point out differences, only point out all the similarities between mormonism and Islamism, and how together they can take over the world.

 

“I Will Be a Second Mohammed”

In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim, “I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’ ”[1]

It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking—and troubling—parallels. Consider the following.

• Mohammed and Joseph Smith both had humble beginnings. Neither had formal religious connections or upbringing, and both were relatively uneducated. Both founded new religions by creating their own scriptures. In fact, followers of both prophets claim these scriptures are miracles since their authors were the most simple and uneducated of men.[2]

• Both prophets claim of having angel visitations, and of receiving divine revelation to restore pure religion to the earth again. Mohammed was told that both Jews and Christians had long since corrupted their scriptures and religion. In like manner, Joseph Smith was told that all of Christianity had become corrupt, and that consequently the Bible itself was no longer reliable. In both cases, this corruption required a complete restoration of both scripture and religion. Nothing which preceded either prophet could be relied upon any longer. Both prophets claim they were used of God to restore eternal truths which once existed on earth, but had been lost due to human corruption.

• Both prophets created new scripture which borrowed heavily from the Bible, but with a substantially new “spin.” In his Koran, Mohammed appropriates a number of Biblical themes and characters—but he changes the complete sense of many passages, claiming to “correct” the Bible. In so doing he changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place. In like manner, Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon, much of which is plagiarized directly from the King James Bible. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon claims that this same Bible has been substantially corrupted and is therefore unreliable. In addition, Joseph Smith went so far as to actually create his own version of the Bible itself, the “Inspired Version,” in which he both adds and deletes significant portions of text, claiming he is “correcting” it. In so doing he also changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place.

• As a part of their new scriptural “spin,” both prophets saw themselves as prophesied in scripture, and both saw themselves as a continuation of a long line of Biblical prophets. Mohammed saw himself as a continuation of the ministry of Moses and Jesus. Joseph Smith saw himself as a successor to Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph and Moses. Joseph Smith actually wrote himself into his own version of the Bible—by name.

• Both prophets held up their own scripture as superior to the Bible. Mohammed claimed that the Koran was a perfect copy of the original which was in heaven. The Koran is therefore held to be absolutely perfect, far superior to the Bible and superceding it. In like manner, Joseph Smith also made the following claim. “I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book.”[3]

• Despite their claim that the Bible was corrupt, both prophets admonished their followers to adhere to its teachings. An obvious contradiction, this led to selective acceptance of some portions and wholesale rejection of others. As a result, the Bible is accepted by both groups of followers only to the extent that it agrees with their prophet’s own superior revelation.

• Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith taught that true salvation was to be found only in their respective religions. Those who would not accept their message were considered “infidels,” pagans or Gentiles. In so doing, both prophets became the enemy of genuine Christianity, and have led many people away from the Christ of the Bible.

• Both prophets encountered fierce opposition to their new religions and had to flee from town to town because of threats on their lives. Both retaliated to this opposition by forming their own militias. Both ultimately set up their own towns as model societies.

• Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith left unclear instructions about their successors. The majority of Mohammed’s followers, Sunni Muslims, believe they were to elect their new leader, whereas the minority, Shiite Muslims, believe Mohammed’s son was to be their next leader. Similarly, the majority of Joseph Smith's followers, Mormons, believed their next prophet should have been the existing leader of their quorum of twelve apostles, whereas the minority, RLDS, believed Joseph Smith's own son should have been their next prophet. Differences on this issue, and many others, have created substantial tension between these rival groups of each prophet.

• Mohammed taught that Jesus was just another of a long line of human prophets, of which he was the last. He taught that he was superior to Christ and superceded Him. In comparison, Joseph Smith also made the following claim.

“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”[4] In light of these parallels, perhaps Joseph Smith's claim to be a second Mohammed unwittingly became his most genuine prophecy of all.

---

[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”

[2] John Ankerberg & John Weldon, The Facts on Islam, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998), pp.8–9. Eric Johnson, Joseph Smith & Muhammed, (El Cajon, CA: Mormonism Research Ministry, 1998), pp. 6–7.

[3] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.4, pp.461.

[4] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.6, pp.408–409.

[Coldwater Creek]

By believing Satan's lies you are condemning yourself to Hell.

Read the Book of John.

[Tennessee Nana]

The article is actually addressing the issue of political maneuvering and dirty tricks.
__________________________________________

Then why doesnt it mention Williard Mitt Romney and Harry Reid ???

[Elsie]

I’ve been getting two missionary teams a week on average for a while now.

Oh?

Are there OTHER folks working our territory, too???

[Spktyr]

Tried that, no luck. On the advice of another Mormon FReeper, I even tried calling their local ‘Bishop’ and politely asked that they stop coming by. No luck.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Inside Romney controversy at conservative forum (It was about Bryan Fischer not Jeffress)

[Ann Archy]

I know next to nothing about Mormons, but what is incorrect at reply #41?? Are they correct assertions or aren’t they? If some are wrong, which ones and why.....thanks for your reply in advance.....I’m looking to be educated on this subject.

[Saundra Duffy]

“much as one would use a crucifix to repel a vampire”

Thank you for making my point. Is there no limit to the insults? You have called our Missionaries a horrible name. All you have to do is say “no thank you” and they will humbly leave or don’t even open the door. Do you do the same to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. There is no need to be rude. On the other hand, our Missionaries wear it as a badge of honor when they are persecuted for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s still a free country after all.

This article is about political dirty tricks, however, not an opportunity to support Obama’s campaign to label Mormons as “weird” but as I said it’s still a free country.