Posted on 02/19/2008 4:46:10 PM PST by Zakeet
In his pursuit of the presidency, Mitt Romney held fast to his Mormon faith, though his religion remains controversial with evangelicals and some other Christians. But his determined (and ultimately futile) wooing of evangelicals led him to make some statements that didn't quite square with Mormon beliefs and culture. And the effort itself may have deepened the impression of him as inauthentic—even to some fellow Mormons.
Early in his presidential bid, Romney was asked what he thought of polygamy. Prompted by what they considered a divine revelation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discontinued the practice more than a century ago, and the church distances itself from polygamist "fundamentalists." But Romney went one step further, saying he couldn't "imagine anything more awful than polygamy." Many Mormons were privately taken aback. Mormons believe that, in its time, "plural marriage" was a commandment from God, and they are, as a group, fiercely proud of their ancestors, hundreds of whom practiced polygamy. (Romney's own great-grandfather had five wives.) LDS church members loathe the polygamy stereotypes and jokes bandied by outsiders. But hearing Romney—the most recognizable face of their faith these days—disavow it in those terms was mildly unsettling to LDS insiders.
Others were puzzled to hear Romney say he reads the Gideon Bible—a version popular with evangelicals: Mormons uniformly study the King James version, in a Salt Lake edition that is cross-referenced to all other Mormon scripture. "Seems like he just figured he had to say the safest, most Protestant thing he could think of—that was kind of annoying," says Russell Arben Fox, a Mormon professor of political science at Friends University in Wichita, Kans.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Right, and they don’t get sued and haven’t published stories in the past that turn out not to be true. But you don’t care, you like what the article says.
Rejecting the trinity rejects the nature of the true God, who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Belief in separate entities would be it a polytheistic religion. And God is but ONE.
I am giving others the chance to ask about a religion without being accused of attacking it.
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In that case DU, when you are asked about certain items fo your beliefs, give a straight answer...
Dont hem and haw and give the answer to the question that should have been asked, etc
Dont answer a question with another question
Answer the question put to you to the best of your ability and knowledge and THEN ask questions back..
It’s the hedginng that gets the Christians riled up...
Avoiding the questions and just being flippant is like a red rag to a bull...
Most of the FReepers here have much of the goods on JS and BY...their own words in the D & C the BoM and the Pearl of Great Price etc..condemn them...
There’s no denying the obvious...
You are missing the difference. I am not trying to prove to you that Smith was a prophet or that the Mormon faith is true. You have to seek truth from God and his spirit. I am sorry that you misunderstand that important reality. The story Zakeet was posting has no evidential support, therefore proves nothing. Get it?
You are Star Power now! ;^)
Are you showing your IQ again?
As for Presbyterians being Abominable, Show me in the BoM where it says if you interpret the Bible to mean Trinity you are a heretic doomed to the lowest depths.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:You guys love to quote this to us all the Time about the Book of Mormon, if you are right, then it applies to the Trinity as well.
As for Presbyterians being Abominable, Show me in the BoM where it says if you interpret the Bible to mean Trinity you are a heretic doomed to the lowest depths.
This is a false statement. Mormons do not believe that, not even close. Where are you getting your material?
Why?
To find out that works ACCOMPANY Salvation?
I already know that.
What James does NOT say is that works are ESSENTIAL for Salvation.
Send ME some money and I’ll stroke your ego and tell you how smart you are!
Actually, not saying such a thing would have a more negative effect on our relationship. If you don't say what I know is on your mind, I will feel you are being disingenuous. I can deal with frank and honest provided there is a degree of courtesy and respect. You would receive the same in return.
I am happy to report that I have never had a theological discussion with a Mormon which has ended or even lessened our friendship. I said some awfully harsh things against their LDS Church but they realized that I wasn't personally criticizing them.
Um wrong. We aren’t “making up out of whole cloth” something that isn’t already in the Old and New Testament Scriptures about WHO God is: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit = God = Three = “tri” you know, latin and all that from which we, in English, base most of our language.
This is quite different from that which is taught in Mormonism which IS made up out of whole cloth.
WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME?
I try to provide annotations for all of my postings.
Would you please provide me with an example where I said something untrue and/or unsubstantiated about the Mormon faith?
I would like to learn from my mistake(s) and publicly issue the appropriate apologies and retraction(s).
Thanks.
I agree that having the conversation would be good, I was merely saying that spouting off conlcusions like you did “while I loath mormonism” isn’t helpful or constructive in any way. It doesn’t add to anyone’s understanding nor does it educate. Basically, no good could come from making such comments. That’s why I would not say such things about your faith. I would however, be interested in learning about your beliefs and also taking about mine.
No thanks. If you post some piece with no support, then try to over and over make a point with it, you should be called out on it. No reason to provide cites to everything. thanks for the hyberbole though.
“What James does NOT say is that works are ESSENTIAL for Salvation.”
Oh? James first asks, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and hav enot works? can faith save him?
He then gives a lengthy discourse, answering in the negative. James says that Abraham was “justified by works,” and that faith is “made perfect” by works, and that “by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” It also says that faith is “dead” without works.
Seems pretty plain to me.
As for Presbyterians being Abominable, Show me in the BoM where it says if you interpret the Bible to mean Trinity you are a heretic doomed to the lowest depths.
This is a false statement. Mormons do not believe that, not even close. Where are you getting your material?
Right here:
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.”
And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil. And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.
This passage sets up a division between the two churches, making it plain that one must belong to one or the other.
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