Mormon church-owned company buys huge swath of Florida land

Orlando Sentinel ^ | November 7, 2013 | Kevin Spear

[greyfoxx39]

The Mormon church stands to own nearly 2 percent of Florida by completing a deal to buy most of the real estate of the St. Joe Co. for more than a half-billion dollars.

The megapurchase was announced jointly Thursday by a corporate representative of church, which owns the nearly 295,000-acre Deseret Ranches in Central Florida, and by the real-estate and timber business, which has built several communities along the Panhandle coast.

[saminfl]

People of every religion are in prisons. You appear to be a mean-spirited person.

[Anton.Rutter]

I don't think Morons to be Christians. I think their religion is pretty close to pagan. That said, I have long observed that Mormons strive to live by Christian values rather more than most of the more formally Christian population. They are a repository of those values in an era when most of the rest of the country is losing them. I suspect God may be maintaining those values among them so there is an example remaining when the rest of the country comes to its senses.

These statistics were collected in 2009:

Divorces per 1,000 Population    Utah-4.60   MA-2.40  NY -3.20  NJ-3.0

Murder per 100,000 Pop.  Utah-3.90  NH-1.70  IO-1.70   ND-0.90

Rape per 100,000 Pop.  Utah-42.70  NY -23.70  CA-33.40  VA-27.20

*Source US Census Bureau

Antidepressant drugs are prescribed in Utah more often than in any other state, at a rate nearly twice the national average. Happyland.

#1 state in internet porn consumption. Sorry. True. Sunday is the busiest day for online porn subscriptions in Utah. Sorry again. Also true.

[AppyPappy]

Could be or you could be anti-Christian or anti-speech or whatever.

[AppyPappy]

I don’t think you can make a blanket statement that Mormons are not Christians because you don’t know what they believe individually. You can argue that the LDS Church beliefs are not Christian.

[Anton.Rutter]

Speaking as a former mormon, you can be a mormon and be 100% convinced you’re the only true Christian, and never know Christ or even entertain the idea you need to know Christ. As a mormon your approach to Christ is as what a perfect man is, an example, blueprints of what you can attain if you are perfect.

As a young man Billy Graham was in the area and on TV and my father, who normally didn’t allow us to watch TV, let our family hear him preach, and I heard the “born again” phrase repeated often. When we went to church, I went to a respected older man in the Melchizedek priesthood and asked what being “born again” meant, his response was “all that ‘born again’ nonsense is just a cult. Don’t pay any attention to it.”

After I became an “ex” I troubled myself to make it clear, when mormonism is the topic, that it is a cult. And there are very nice people inside it that are being squeezed for everything they are and have in life. Like oranges at Sunkist.

Believe what you want to believe. For the innocent, the truth matters.

[mountainfolk]

I will go with WHATEVER.

[VeniVidiVici]

You are so very right! I for one, and pleased to hear that Mormons are buying Florida land.

They've been buying huge chunks since at least the '50s that I know of.

[Elsie]

Do you get paid by the post or by the word?

By the number of Mormons who finally ADMIT they were duped and actually find the Lord.

[Elsie]

Do you get paid by the post or by the word?

Not priceless...

[Elsie]

You appear to be a mean-spirited person.

Maybe so; but I am NOT deceived by the heresy that calls itself Mormonism.

[flaglady47]

“MORMONs lop your soul off.”

Mormons do nothing to you. Nothing at all. But you verbally do a lot to them, none of it nice, which is sad.

[Elsie]

But you verbally do a lot to them, none of it nice, which is sad.

I sure do!

I post their CHOSEN religions teachings, writings, beliefs and quotes.

If that can't stand the scrutiny of a of a Christian who is fed up with their religious organization's tactics; well; too bad.

[Elsie]

“MORMONs lop your soul off.”

Mormons do nothing to you. Nothing at all.

You are correct; THEY do nothing to ME.

I should have typed,

“MORMONism will lop a persons soul off.”

[Elsie]

But you verbally do a lot to them, none of it nice, which is sad.

For a person on their way to GODHOOD; just how can examples of their chosen religion be harmful to them?

---

The Doctrine and Covenants

 

Section 132

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded 12 July 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, and also the plurality of wives (see History of the Church, 5:501–7). Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831.

1–6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7–14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15–20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21–25, The strait and narrow way leads to eternal lives; 26–27, The law is given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28–39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation are made to prophets and Saints in all ages; 40–47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48–50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51–57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

 

---

 

 16Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in ^amarriage; but are appointed angels in ^bheaven, which angels are ministering ^cservants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

 17For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are ^aangels of God forever and ever.

 18And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that ^acovenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.

 19And again, verily I say unto you, if a man ^amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ^beverlasting covenant, and it is ^csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of ^dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the ^ekeys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit ^fthrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s ^gBook of Life, that he shall commit no ^hmurder whereby to shed innocent ⁱblood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their ^jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the ^kseeds forever and ever.

 20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from ^aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be ^bgods, because they have ^call power, and the angels are subject unto them.

 21Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my ^alaw ye cannot attain to this glory.

 22For ^astrait is the gate, and narrow the ^bway that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the ^clives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.

 23But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that ^awhere I am ye shall be also.

 24This is ^aeternal lives—to ^bknow the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath ^csent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.

 25^aBroad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the ^bdeaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they ^creceive me not, neither do they abide in my law.

[Elsie]

Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods;

For a person on their way to GODHOOD; just how can examples of their chosen religion be harmful to them?

I think I see your point.

Since only about 15% or so of all Mormons have a Temple Recommend® they are not 'hurt' by what they read about their destiny.

It's the OTHER 85% of them that are getting a cooling in their busom that is scaring the hell out of them.

[Elsie]

The megapurchase was announced jointly Thursday by a corporate representative of church, which owns the nearly 295,000-acre Deseret Ranches in Central Florida, and by the real-estate and timber business, which has built several communities along the Panhandle coast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIfu2A0ezq0

[Elsie]

This ranch, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spreads over the three central Florida counties of Osceola, Orange, and Brevard. Covering almost 300,000 acres (1200 km²) of land,^[3][5] 90 ranchers and their families live on the ranch. The ranch maintains 44,000 head of beef cattle.^[3][6] It is a for profit operation and is not a normal part of the humanitarian efforts of the LDS Church. Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the church has said, "We have felt that good farms, over a long period, represent a safe investment where the assets of the Church may be preserved and enhanced, while at the same time they are available as an agricultural resource to feed people should there come a time of need."^[7]

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret_Ranches

 

 

 

 

HMMMmmm... I wonder just where the 'profit' goes, since...

 

 

 

 

The care of the poor is in the hands of bishops of wards—those Church officers who are nearest to the members and most intimately aware of their needs. As you well know, the funds to administer such aid come through a simple, divinely inspired program—what we call fast day and fast offerings. The millions of dollars which are needed for this purpose each year really cost no one anything. It is not a sacrifice for anyone to go without two meals a month and give the equivalent cost, and even more, to his or her bishop for the care of the needy. 

 

--G.B.Hinckley http://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/05/the-state-of-the-church?lang=eng

 

 

 

 

 

 

I repeat what I have said before—when all is said and done, the only real wealth of the Church is in the faith of its people.

 

 

 

 

 

[Elsie]

But you verbally do a lot to them, none of it nice, which is sad.

Gosh; this would make me their ENEMY; right??

---

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: 238–239. 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.

1–4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5–11, 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 you—there 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.

 

The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
© 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rights and use information. Privacy policy.

[Elsie]

Gosh; this would make me their ENEMY; right??

---

So; I'll say it again: Don't just whine and moan and let OTHERS stand up for you; do it yourself; according to your scriptures.

Bring it on!

[PoloSec]

What a disgusting thread...

All religions have everything to do with god...but “GOD” has nothing to do with religion...even a casual reader of the bible should be able to see that, but alas one must first remove the religious blinders.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;