Mitt, politics off-limits for Mormon missionaries

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 01/19/2008 | Peggy Fletcher Stack

[Alex Murphy]

With their dark suits, white shirts and name tags, Mormon missionaries are the most identifiable representatives of the LDS Church in America. Yet as they knock on doors or ride their bikes through South Carolina and Nevada neighborhoods during this weekend's presidential primaries, they have been forbidden to talk about Mitt Romney.

The LDS Church's mission is "to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ," LDS spokesman Scott Trotter said Friday. "As a church we are politically neutral and have instructed our missionaries to focus on that mission and to respectfully decline any invitations to discuss politics."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bans all political discussion from its pulpits and young missionaries are not allowed to read newspapers or watch television, so they may not even know of the intense political debates swirling about them. They likely know little about Romney's candidacy or positions on issues.

But curious people probably ask them about it every day, says Ron Scott, a Boston-based journalist who has followed Romney's campaign closely. "I'm sure it's in their face everywhere they go."

Scott served a two-year LDS mission to New England from 1965-1967, while Romney's father, George Romney, made his abortive attempt to win the White House.

"I talked about his dad when I was on my mission," Scott said. "I was quite proud to talk about his dad. He was my personal hero. He was everything I wanted to be."

Scott and his missionary colleagues set up a street display in college towns, asking people what they knew about famous Mormons.

The King Sisters was a Mormon singing group touring the country at the time, and Lorraine Day was a well-known actress.

George Romney was on the list.

Today's missionaries cannot mention Romney, arguably the most visible Mormon in the country.

"If I was a missionary now, I'd talk about Mitt," Scott said. "It will not hurt the church's tax status unless some silly mission president instructs his charges to talk up Mitt's candidacy."

[Saundra Duffy]

I want to be referred to as a Christian because Jesus Christ died for me to save me from my sins and I love Him with all my heart. Heavenly Father instituted this plan of salvation and the Holy Ghost witnesses to my heart that this is True.

[Scotswife]

“They are completely out of the loop when it comes to politics or current events.”

And I’ve noticed they are out of the loop concerning history, and knowledge concerning the religions they are attempting to discredit.

[Elsie]

You might not be aware of this but when on a mission they are not allowed watch TV or read papers listen to any media or go to movies, date or other kinds of entertainment.

 

Two hundred graduating students at Brigham Young University-Hawaii have been urged to use the Internet...

 

 

Professor Robert Millet teaching at the Mission Prep Club in 2004  http://newsnet.byu.edu/video/18773/

 

 

Timeline...    Subject...

 

0:59            "Anti-Mormons..."

1:16            "ATTACK the faith you have..."

2:02           "We really aren't obligated to answer everyone's questions..."

3:57           "You already know MORE about God and Christ and the plan of salvation than any who would ATTACK you."

[Saundra Duffy]

I have so much respect and love for LDS Missionaries. No matter how much abuse thrown at them, they continue to love and serve the Savior of the world.

[Osage Orange]

LDS Missionaries do not watch TV or go to movies. They do not read newspapers or secular magazines. They don’t date. They serve people. They love people.

You are so deceived......and you don't seem to even know it.

[Elsie]

Let me state unequivocally that Latter-day Saints believe and accept the ultimate authority of and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh, and the only Being through whom we can be saved:

Yup!

After you do all YOU can do first!

---

 

 

 

 

Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor, in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed. They were subsequently published in Church periodicals. They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price.

 

 

 

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

 

 

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
   
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
   
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
   
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
   
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
   
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
   
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
   
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
   
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
    
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.
    
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith

 

 

[Scotswife]

That is fine. You can call yourself a christian all you want.

What I don’t understand is why you would insist that christians also refer to you as christians.

You are asking christians to overlook that mormons do not believe in the same God, or the same Jesus.
This is not going to happen.

Christians are not going to recognize a different version of God and of Christ.

[Elsie]

 

Note very carefully Brigham’s language in this statement.

 Does he teach that Joseph Smith is at least as important as Jesus Christ is?

No, nor does even imply it.

 

---

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"If I ever pass into heavenly courts, it will be by the consent of Prophet Joseph"
--Brigham Young --JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol. 8, p. 224

 

---

---

They succeeded in killing Joseph, but he had finished his work.

He was a servant of God, and gave us the Book of Mormon.

He said the Bible was right in the main, but, through the translators and others, many precious portions were suppressed, and several other portions were wrongly translated; and now his testimony is in force, for he has sealed it with his blood.

As I have frequently told them, no man in this dispensation will enter the courts of heaven, without the approbation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jun.

Who has made this so?

Have I?

Have this people?

Have the world?

No; but the Lord Jehovah has decreed it.

If I ever pass into the heavenly courts, it will be by the consent of the Prophet Joseph.

If you ever pass through the gates into the Holy City, you will do so upon his certificate that you are worthy to pass.

Can you pass without his inspection?

No; neither can any person in this dispensation, which is the dispensation of the fulness of times.

In this generation, and in all the generations that are to come, everyone will have to undergo the scrutiny of this Prophet.

They say that they killed Joseph, and they will yet come with their hats under their arms and bend to him; but what good will it do them, unless they repent?

They can come in a certain way and find favor, but will they?

---

---

 

Dear Reader: what does it sound like to YOU?

[Saundra Duffy]

I love Jesus. He died for me. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He did not just die for you; He suffered and died for me, too.

[1000 silverlings]

What does it sound like to you

Sounds like

Jesus =died for me

Joseph Smith = died for me

Jesus = Joseph

[restornu]

What does students have to do with Missionaries?

[Alex Murphy]

They are completely out of the loop when it comes to politics or current events.

And not having received their first Temple Recommend or Sacred Undergarments, they're also often (if not completely) out of the loop when it comes to knowing or believing the more controversial doctrines and histories of the LDS church. I imagine some of these young men are startled later in life, when they match up their present learning with things passed off as "anti-Mormon" claims they heard back when they were missionaries.

[tortdog]

>Really? And here I thought Jesus converted me.

I was talking about the people who did the baptizing, not the Spirit that converts all to Christ. But I think that you know that and are just engaging in word games.

Tell me if I err.

[tortdog]

What is the issue, Elsie?

Ready to pony up which church you belong to yet, or still hiding?

[tortdog]

You feel offended because the LDS faith is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church. Right?

But what do we believe about the other churches (including other Christian sects)?

* In general, we believe that if you DON’T become baptized by those holding the priesthood recognized by the LDS Church and live a good life, following the basic principles taught by all Christian sects, that you will receive exactly what your own preachers tell you.

* We believe that if you DO become baptized and continue to live a good life, keeping the covenants you make with God, that you will receive MORE than what the other Christian sects teach.

So basically, we believe that those who DON’T accept the LDS faith will get everything that they want anyway. And what we DO believe we will get you guys don’t believe in anyway.

Meanwhile, several Christian sects teach that Mormons are going to Hell.

Which is more Christ-like? And why do you care about receiving what the LDS teach is possible, when you don’t believe in it anyway? I’m not offended that another church fails to recognize my baptism. Why should YOU be offended that the LDS Church does not recognize yours?

[tortdog]

No. Let’s redescribe it. How would YOU feel if someone claimed that YOU were not Christian when YOU personally believed that Christ was your Savior, the Redeemer of Israel, the Promised Messiah, and the Only Begotten Son of God. That Christ has paid for the sins of the entire earth?

If you DIDN’T believe in Christ, who cares if someone claims you aren’t Christian. But BECAUSE you believe in Christ, it’s extremely offensive that someone denigrates your belief.

I don’t tear down your faith, and claim that your belief in Christ is false. So why tear down mine?

[Scotswife]

“I love Jesus. He died for me. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He did not just die for you; He suffered and died for me, too.”

That doesn’t change the fact that you and I believe in two very different “Jesuses”.

The christian Jesus is not the same as the mormon Jesus no matter how much you sugarcoat it.

[Elsie]

Joseph Smith was referencing this scripture.

Just how do you know this?

[Osage Orange]

Okay...follow along...

Here's what I originally replied to:

"You do realize that Jesus said in the NT that the men who came after him would do greater works than he? Joseph Smith was referencing this scripture. You should read your Bible more often. Lots of interesting stuff in there.

And here's my reply:

"Please point out some of these "greater works"...by mormon prophets."

You then popped in...and typed this

If I recall correctly, Christ did not convert many souls. The conversions ramped up and became widespread long after Christ had left us.

I took that (....among other things...) to mean you implying that Jesus was lacking. ( Which...is NOT uncommon among mormons...)

Thus my post.......

I was talking about the people who did the baptizing........

People?....Baptizing? Is that how you view the SON of GOD?

[1000 silverlings]

A Christian holds fastto the Truth that is the Bible, and therefore believes

Hebrews 9:15

And for this cause hethey which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Jesus tore the veil from bottom to top with His death on the cross, you Smithians by claiming that Joseph Smith stands between men and Jesus,put it back up. Unless of course, you believe Smith is Jesus, which Christians do not believe.