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."

[Rameumptom]

>>>So...in order for Smith to correct - the rest of christianity has to be completely dead.

This is prety much what many Protestants believed about the Catholic church. To ding Mormons on it and not Protestants is a double standard. FWIW, Fred Thompson belonged to a restorationist Christian church that rejected teh post apostolic creeds as well. But no one seemed to have a problem with that.

[luvadavi]

Thank you for the info....but, you mean it took him that much time, that many years, until he was governor, to realize the travesty of abortion on demand?? He might not have marched with NOW but he & wife contributed to Planned Destruction-hood and attended their events, at least once. Pragmatic, for sure. Also, late in life to have a conversion, IMO. We know RR signed an abortion law here in CA in *67, but abortion was not a *hot* topic yet, only starting to be. In a short time he & especially his wife were very vocal about the wrongness of it. I don*t know if I*m being clear on this, but maybe you get my point.

[tortdog]

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

I’d suggest that Christ was thinking more of the saving of souls, than miracles of the blind seeing. One is temporal - the other spiritual. Christ always had HIS mind on the spiritual (while his followers seemed to get locked into the temporal over and over again).

[tortdog]

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

I’d suggest that Christ was thinking more of the saving of souls, than miracles of the blind seeing. One is temporal - the other spiritual. Christ always had HIS mind on the spiritual (while his followers seemed to get locked into the temporal over and over again).

[tortdog]

>Because the “foundations of [some people’s brand] of Christianity” is to focus on the verses of the Bible they agree with and ignore or come up with convoluted explanations for the verses that undercut their belief.

You nailed, for me, the definition of a cult by certain Christians - being any religion that does not agree with the interpretation that they have of certain verses of the Bible (by which even the Roman Catholic Church is viewed as a “cult,” a view that I find to be completely absurd).

[Rameumptom]

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

If you have a problem with what Jesus said why don't you take it up with him?

>>>Besides, increasing the bottom line for LD$, Inc.

You do realize there is no paid clergy in the LDS church. It's like another scripture where Jesus talked about "Purse or Scrip". But i'll let you google that one. Perhaps you want to argue that point with Jesus too?

[Scotswife]

“This is prety much what many Protestants believed about the Catholic church.”

A few, but not all.
Besides - that is not the criteria for determining who is a christian.
For ex: the catholic church recognizes the baptisms conducted in other churches as being valid as long as those churches believe in the trinity and in the christian view of Christ.
In other words ....if a baptist/presbyterian/methodist...etc...converts to catholicism - they don’t have to be re-baptised.

When mormons/Jehovah Witnesses/and unitatarians convert - they do have go through baptism.

It isn’t personal - it is due to a close scrutiny of the doctrine of other churches.

I am not well versed in which churches will accept the baptisms of others - but I do know the catholic church draws the line at the Trinity and the nature of Christ.

“To ding Mormons on it and not Protestants is a double standard.”

No...because protestants believe in the trinity, in the human/divine nature of Christ, and in the nature of his salvation to all.

[Osage Orange]

If you have a problem with what Jesus said why don't you take it up with him?

LOL...you know that wasn't the question. Why don't you answer it? You do realize there is no paid clergy in the LDS church. It's like another scripture where Jesus talked about "Purse or Scrip". But i'll let you google that one. Perhaps you want to argue that point with Jesus too?

Why don't you address my point? There are PAID people in LD$ Inc. That mantra is old...give it a rest.

Explain to me....what's LD$ Inc. doing buying BILLION $$$ hotels, ranches, and shopping malls?

[Scotswife]

Let me put it this way....

If you walked into a mosque and demanded that everyone there refer to you as a muslim, what do you think their response will be?
They may ask you if you believe Muhammed is a prophet.
They may ask you if you believe in their specific doctrine concerning Allah.
They may ask you if consider the Koran to be scripture.

If you answere “no” to those questions - you can call yourself a muslim all you want - they will never accept you as one.

There are people who call themselves “mormon” who the LDS refuses to recognize as such. I am sure you have your reasons.

Christians will never refer to someone as “christian” when they see the definition of “God” is much different, and the definition of “Jesus” is much different.

It just isn’t going to happen.

It isn’t personal - it’s that way with any group that messes with the doctrines of Christ and the trinity.

[Osage Orange]

If I recall correctly, Christ did not convert many souls.

Really? And here I thought Jesus converted me.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6.

Jesus Christ saves us ALL!!

You guy's are unreal.....

[Scotswife]

“Really? And here I thought Jesus converted me”

LOL!!

2000 years and He’s still going strong!

[Elsie]

Mitt, politics off-limits for Mormon missionaries

 

Good idea!

 

They got ENOUGH on their plate, trying to get over THIS bunch of bashing!!

 

 

 

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
  17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
  18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
  19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
  20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” 
 

 

 

 they were all ^awrong;

 

"How Firm a Foundation"

[Elsie]

 

 "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."

 

 

Ok...

 

August 2001, the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission began drafting amendments to legalize liquor advertising in print, in restaurants, and on billboards.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) thought that the Commission's proposed changes went too far and urged retention of the old rules.^[9]

 

 

 

From HERE -->  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City_Weekly

 

[Elsie]

You must be TWICE as glad! ;^)

[Elsie]

 

If this thread is like most others that have anything to do with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or as we are more often called, the Mormons, it will soon be taken over by those who, for reasons of their own, choose to put down my Church, and those of us who worship with it.

 

 

Boo effin' hoo!

 

You are now a prophet!!!

 

 

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
  17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
  18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
  19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
  20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” 
 

 

 

 they were all ^awrong;

 

"How Firm a Foundation"

[Elsie]

 

If this thread is like most others that have anything to do with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or as we are more often called, the Mormons, it will soon be taken over by those who, for reasons of their own, choose to put down my Church, and those of us who worship with it.

This thread will now produce LOTS OF QUOTES of your past and present leaders.

You may fire up your spin machine to explain them away.

[Saundra Duffy]

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. They are completely out of the loop when it comes to politics or current events. They focus on serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

[Elsie]

Abortion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions.

Mitt Romney has been Mormon from BEFORE his birth.

He should have had an anti-abortion stance from the get go.

He hasn't.

His problem.

[Scotswife]

From your post on LDS scripture....

“I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” “

So...they are all wrong AND they are an “abomination”.

And I’m left wondering - yet again - they want to be referred to as “Christian” because?.....why?

If I am correct - this is relatively new.
That mormons were happy being referred to as “mormon” and didn’t WANT to be called christian.

When did it become an issue for them that they now insist on being called christians?

[Elsie]

 

 

 

 

The FUNDAMENTALIST Church of

Jesus Christ

of Latter Day Saints