Posted on 11/21/2011 4:16:37 AM PST by 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 Obamas 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 Romneys 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: Youd 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at mdl.org ...
You might ask the kids to let it be known that you don’t want a visit. Our next-door neighbors were VERY good friends with us but moved away. They are Mormon, and after they moved they had a couple of guys come over based on their request. We told the guys thanks but no thanks - and tell your church (Ward?) not to bother us again.
They visit with some of the other neighbors on a regular basis - but don’t bother us any more.
I thought magic underpants were protection against such things.
Obama wants Romney to win the nomination. So do you. Now who's on Obama's side again?
You mean Obama went conservative last night?
Or is he still the daddy of Romneycare?
I mean Obamacare....
Same thing so I get them confused.
You really want to keep this up?
I just HATE when that happens!!!
Media Letter26 June 2008 Salt Lake City (http://newsroom.lds.org/additional-resource/media-letter)*The following is a letter from Elder Lance B. Wickman, General Counsel of the Church to publishers of major newspapers, TV stations and magazines. It was sent out on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
Recent events have focused the media spotlight on a polygamous sect near San Angelo, Texas, calling itself the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As you probably know, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has absolutely no affiliation with this polygamous sect. Decades ago, the founders of that sect rejected the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were excommunicated, and then started their own religion. To the best of our knowledge, no one at the Texas compound has ever been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Unfortunately, however, some of the media coverage of the recent events in Texas has caused members of the public to confuse the doctrines and members of that group and our church. We have received numerous inquiries from confused members of the public who, by listening to less than careful media reports, have come to a grave misunderstanding about our respective doctrines and faith. Based on these media reports many have erroneously concluded that there is some affiliation between the two or even worse, that they are one and the same.
Over the years, in a careful effort to distinguish itself, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gone to significant lengths to protect its rights in the name of the church and related matters. Specifically, we have obtained registrations for the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon, Book of Mormon and related trade and service marks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and corresponding agencies in a significant number of foreign countries.
We are confident that you are committed to avoiding misleading statements that cause unwarranted confusion and that may disparage or infringe the intellectual property rights discussed above. Accordingly, we respectfully request the following:
- As reflected in the AP Style Guide, we ask that you and your organization refrain from referring to members of that polygamous sect as fundamentalist Mormons or fundamentalist members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- We ask that, when reporting about this Texas-based polygamous sect or any other polygamous group, you avoid either explicitly or implicitly any inference that these groups are affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- On those occasions when it may be necessary in your reporting to refer to the historical practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that you make very clear that the Church does not condone the practice of polygamy and that it has been forbidden in the Church for over one hundred years. Moreover, we absolutely condemn arranged or forced marriages of underage girls to anyone under any circumstances.
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.
We thank you for your consideration of these important matters.
Sincerely,
Lance B. Wickman
General Counsel
Millions of individual Mormons deserve better than to have their religion caricatured for political gain.
________________________________________________
Why ???
For 130 years “Millions of individual Christians have had their religion caricatured for political and monetary gain. in the Mormon temple rituals...
and it continues today...only slightly watered down...
Where’s your apology for that ???
Mormons are overwhelmingly conservative and vote conservative.
When we Mormons were marching side-by-side with other Christians to pass Prop 8 I didn’t hear one word about our being a “cult” and not Christians. Only after the victory did some of them turn on us. When we are standing with you on the most crucial issues of the day, we are your friends, but - talk about backstabbing! You guys have a lot of nerve.
Ouch....
AGAIN?! What is with you?
And one can SHOW that MORMONism is a HERESY without mentioning politics at all.
Tiny Tim is dead. R.I.P.
Your obsession with Romney is blinding you. The article points to the lengths Obama will go to win reelection.
Why should we tolerate religious bigotry from the tolerant One? Obama’s hypocrisy should be the focus of this thread.
Obama and Michelle are both 1 percenters and became such because of crony capitalism. Michelle, the model independent woman, is another Hillary - someone you’d never have heard of but for her husband’s ‘achievements’. Obama and Michelle are radical, anti-American, racists as far from Christian as you can get.
Let’s not take our eye off the target. If Romney is the nominee, as most Dems expect, then you need do nothing more than elect the most conservative House and Senate you can. Gifting the WH back to Obama & Co. doesn’t do us any good, does it?
Throughout history, majorities have been unfair to minorities and have misrepresented their beliefs and motives.
________________________________________________
In Utah Territory Mormons used to murder Christians...
“Wheres your apology for that ???”
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Stop pressing Romney on us and well talk at least politically.
But that you claim Mormon conservatism and pimp Romney with the same keyboard is a sick joke. The nerve is yours for keeping that up...
Do not give voice to bigotry. Do not give voice to bigotry. I would say to Pastor Jeffress: You stepped on and obscured the words of Perry and Santorum and Cain and Bachmann and everyone else who has spoken here. You did Rick Perry no good, sir, in what you had to say.
Then it was Romney's turn to speak. In a speech that did not touch specifically on religious issues, Romney offered another condemnation. Saying Americans "must continue to welcome faith into the public square and allow it to flourish," Romney added:
Our values ennoble the citizen and strengthen the nation. We should remember that decency and civility are values, too. One of the speakers who will follow me today has crossed that line. Poisonous language does not advance our cause. It has never softened a single heart nor changed a single mind. The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate. The task before us is to focus on the conservative beliefs and the values that unite us -- let no agenda narrow our vision or drive us apart.
Romney's remarks left many in the crowd confused. Who was the speaker who would follow Romney? Some in the crowd didn't know about the Jeffress matter, so they were totally bewildered. Others knew about Jeffress and wondered whether Jeffress would be speaking again. Only a few knew that Romney was talking about Bryan Fischer. And none knew that Romney would have included that line even if Robert Jeffress had never said a word about Mormonism.
[snip]
No, Ma'am; we are NOT responding, but taking OUR message directly into people's homes.
There are ONLY about 50,000 of us and we ONLY do this 6 days a week and ONLY for about 1 year or so of our lives.
“To preach religious tolerance as Sandy does, and then engage in this kind of appeal to religious bigotry, is both hypocritical and pernicious, not to mention self-defeating ”
The
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 71
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. HC 1: 238239. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of some newspaper articles by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.
14, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 511, Enemies of the saints shall be confounded.
1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.
2 Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.
3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.
4 Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.
5 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;
6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.
7 Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.
8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.
9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto youthere is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;
10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.
11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.
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