Why so many LDS threads?

08-May-2008 | Grig

[Grig]

I am posting this on behalf of many LDS freepers. They will post their own 'signature' to this in the comments below. --- Some of you have noticed lately a lot of LDS (ie: Mormon) threads here on FR. I'm going to tell you why.

For many years there have been several active LDS freepers here. We post to all the forums on relevant issues, and were happy to have a site where conservative values were so openly welcomed.

Those conservative values include faith in God, and freedom of religion. We fully respect the rights of all posters to express their opinions and views on religious matters, even when people choose to use those rights to express criticism of our own faith. We also support the ideas embodied in FR rules against religion bashing. There is no need for hostility and there should be no room for bigotry on FR. Every religion has it's miracles and mysteries. Every faith has things in it that are not or can not be proven, and things that run contrary to what secular science would have us believe. Someone mature and confident in their own faith generally doesn't feel the need to belittle the faith of others.

We have, to the best of our ability, conducted ourselves with civility and dignity. We do not feel that that respect has been returned by some posters (putting it mildly).

When Mormon missionaries were murdered, the moderators were kept busy pulling jubilant posts off the thread. When Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home, we contended for months with posters who appeared to be motivated by religious bigotry doing all they could to smear the family and accuse the father. Several posters openly admitted their religious motivation in opposing Mitt Romney and confessed that no matter how conservative any Mormon was, they would never vote for one for President of the USA. When the Pope died, I don't think any Mormon poster posted anything unkind, yet the thread about the passing of our President recently needed many comments removed.

Nearly every thread having any connection with Mormons, or Utah winds up being hijacked by anti-Mormon activists who copy and paste the same false accusations over and over even when it has been clearly and factually pointed out to them on multiple occasions that they are bearing false witness against our faith. Everything possible is done by these activists to make FR a hostile place for Mormons, and for at least some of them, bashing Mormonism is all they do here. Their most recent project is trying to blur the fact that the polygamous FLDS is a separate and distinct religion from ours, just as Lutherans are a separate and distinct religion from Catholicism.

In our opinion, such poster do a great disservice to FR and to their fellow freepers by spreading disinformation and promoting hostility towards a people known for walking the walk of conservative values.

Why the moderators here don't see the behavior of these anti-Mormon activists as religion bashing is a mystery to us, but it is the moderators call to make and we respect their right to do so. That doesn't mean we have to be passive however. We have all spent many hours refuting the accusations leveled at our faith, but these wind up buried deep in a flood of comments, effectively shouting us down.

Recently some of us have decided to take a more proactive approach. Rather than try to wrestle the pig into taking a bath, we are just going to hose it down. We will actively define our faith here rather than just respond to accusations.

So expect to see lots of Mormon threads, now and for as long as we see fit to keep posting them (although probably not as many as there are Catholic threads). They will be about our basic doctrines and responses to common accusations. If you want to know what our faith is about, read the articles we post. We will post them as open threads and I encourage you to compare the difference in tone and spirit between what we post and what our critics say.

[colorcountry]

What is the definition of “plural marraige?”

Why would fundamentalist Mormons consider that less offensive than polygamy (which also means plural marraige)

Plural = more than one

marraige = joining of man to woman (unless the gays get their way and change the definition)

[colorcountry]

marriage is the proper spelling. For some reason I get my fingers mixed up when I’m typing.

[Wuli]

"hostility towards a people known for walking the walk of conservative values." reffering to the secular, conservative, lives and values of most LDS members.

I agree there has been this kind of hostility, some of it from those claiming an "Evangelical" or "fundamentalist" Christian mantle.

I argue that, to the extent this is true, it is self-destructive to ALL conservatives.

Our elections do not elect the Messiah or his seconds in command; such features will never be part of the role or attributes of our secular government.

As such, we need to elect Conservatives whose point of view, policies and positions will provide GOVERNMENT secular actions that respect our secular and religious liberty and promote ALL secular conservative values. The rest - promotion of our religious traditions - is up to us, in our free relationships - and not our elected leaders.

I will take anyone from any "cult" that believes in and respects those positions over someone running on a theme that he better represents MY faith tradition. If you understand Marxist liberation theology, then you know that it is exactly that kind of irrational appeal to FAITH by which many are supporting BHO.

[colorcountry]

I will take anyone from any "cult" that believes in and respects those positions

What if the cult was actively teachings its members to lie and obsfucate its history and its teachings. Would you then trust that conservative is telling the truth about their political position? Would you promote an FLDS member? (Because most of them are ultra right-wing conservatives)

[Elsie]

I was POSITIVE I posted something from one of your past leaders hands?

[Elsie]

because you can't...

can - don't want to.

---

"I haven't had all of my questions answered.

"You probably haven't either."

[Elsie]

I don't blame you for not remembering, your continued stating that you don't is evidence enough for me.

As you keep trying to get ME to find something that was ALLEDGELY posted, we will take THAT as evidence that it doesn't exist.

[DelphiUser]

What is the definition of “plural marraige?”

Why would fundamentalist Mormons consider that less offensive than polygamy (which also means plural marraige)

Plural = more than one

marraige = joining of man to woman (unless the gays get their way and change the definition)

Hey, I didn't decide what they would like, I'm just reporting what they tell me. You live down in that area, ask one of them.

[DelphiUser]

I Said: because you can't...

U Said: can - don't want to.

Yeah, I'll remember that the next time you say we can't answer something...

****************************Book Mark*******************************************

U Said: "I haven't had all of my questions answered.

"You probably haven't either."

I have had all the questions that matter answered, all I have left is curiosity, not need.

Curiosity may have killed the Cat, but I got away with minor injuries...

[Reno232]

I did enjoy it very much. Isn't that really one of the problems here? This is a consrvative site. Can you imagine if some of these so called “Christians” spent as much time preaching here the evils of adultery, fornication, etc....., as they do on polygamy, something we haven't practiced or accepted for a long, long time?

Of course to many of them, all that matters is that they believe in the Lord & they're saved. Doesn't matter what doctrines they believe, what sins they commit, or what other Christians they trash. As long as they believed, that's all that matters regardless of what the scriptures say. I suspect many feel if they are wrong in their beliefs, as long as they say they believed but were duped by the cunning arts of man, all will be well.

They say doctrines don't matter, yet I would ask, what if some Christian churches continue in their current path? Some have now accepted gay clergy, others females in the priesthood, etc. What if the next step is to accept fornication, adultery, or maybe worse, along the lines of the crusades or inquisition as acceptable Christian theology for today? I fear that some here may say so what? With some of the comments here re: how we were treated in Mo. etc., I think they would be o.k. w/ the inquisition thing.

Fortunately my FRiend, I think these folks are very much in the minority. As to one of your other comments, there are far more people that follow these threads & read your posts as well as many others than these folks would believe. There are those that undoubtedly enjoy the attacks, but many more who consider it abhorrent behavior. “By their fruit ye shall know them” couldn't be more applicable here.

[Reno232]

Great post & I appreciate your sentiments. However, be prepared for the carpet bombing that will undoubtedly ensue. Pragmatic thinking like that is not accepted in certain circles here.

[DelphiUser]

I Said: I don't blame you for not remembering, your continued stating that you don't is evidence enough for me.

U Said: As you keep trying to get ME to find something that was ALLEDGELY posted, we will take THAT as evidence that it doesn't exist.

ROTFLOL!

Anti's always Go for the Appeal to Ignorance! It's like a tar baby!

Exposition:

An appeal to ignorance is an argument for or against a proposition on the basis of a lack of evidence against or for it. If there is positive evidence for the conclusion, then of course we have other reasons for accepting it, but a lack of evidence by itself is no evidence.

Anti's also engage in Wishful Thinking, by Ignoring the Counterevidence. It's actually funny to watch.

Reno, you'll love this one...

[Reno232]

It is funny to watch but at the same time, very sad. In my heart of hearts, I really believe that some, not all, of these folks really believe what their doing is for the Lord. I have associates & friends that feel the same way. They say that all that matters (mattereth, ha) is to believe in the Lord, & yet they turn around & thrash other Christians. Unconscionable to me.

[DelphiUser]

I did enjoy it very much. Isn't that really one of the problems here? This is a conservative site. Can you imagine if some of these so called “Christians” spent as much time preaching here the evils of adultery, fornication, etc....., as they do on polygamy, something we haven't practiced or accepted for a long, long time?

Conservatism could use the help with McLiberal as the R candidate...

Of course to many of them, all that matters is that they believe in the Lord & they're saved. Doesn't matter what doctrines they believe, what sins they commit, or what other Christians they trash. As long as they believed, that's all that matters regardless of what the scriptures say. I suspect many feel if they are wrong in their beliefs, as long as they say they believed but were duped by the cunning arts of man, all will be well.

My Mom and Dad joined the Church as adults with Children, some of our Methodist and Calvinist relatives once got together with them, and told them they were not "saved", My Mom replied, funny, you thought I was saved when we were in grade school together and I was Methodist, When did it become possible to become "unsaved" later? (according to their doctrine, either she was never saved in the first place which is downright funny as to how many doors that opens for none of them being saved, or she is still saved today). When challenged by one of them to join their church as a teen, I responded "It just wasn't meant to be, God doesn't want me to join..." Calvinists believe in predestination, and that Man lost free will with Adam, so they couldn't even argue with me, it was hysterical!

They say doctrines don't matter,

Yeah, We could destroy them with their own tenets easily enough, and at one point in my life I had a lot of fun doing just that, then I grew up a bit, went on my mission, etc. And discovered that my dad was way smarter than he used to be... One of the things he tried to teach me was "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." This saves me a lot of grief here, I only defend, I don't try to prove their religion wrong (I don't even want to know it'd tempt me). Sometimes in defending, I have to stave in a tenet or two of theirs, but it's their fault, they are the ones attacking. I won't feel bad about shooting someone who breaks into my house either.

Fortunately my FRiend, I think these folks are very much in the minority. As to one of your other comments, there are far more people that follow these threads & read your posts as well as many others than these folks would believe. There are those that undoubtedly enjoy the attacks, but many more who consider it abhorrent behavior. “By their fruit ye shall know them” couldn't be more applicable here.

Bears repeating, and well said.

And boy do the anti's have some "Fruits" to be known by... (I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist... Can't take the Punishment... Argh!)

[DelphiUser]

It is funny to watch but at the same time, very sad. In my heart of hearts, I really believe that some, not all, of these folks really believe what their doing is for the Lord. I have associates & friends that feel the same way. They say that all that matters (mattereth, ha) is to believe in the Lord, & yet they turn around & thrash other Christians. Unconscionable to me.

Not even Jesus can save every one, some just will not be saved... (anti's will undoubtedly argue this, whatever) who do we think we are that we can? We just need to do our best and let the Lord take care of the rest!

Keep the Faith Brother.

[colorcountry]

Like these “fruits?”

HONOLULU — The state of Hawaii is scheduled to hear arguments this week on whether three Oahu men, including a Mormon church bishop, should each be fined over $3,000 for allegedly stealing rocks from a Maui beach for an underground cooking pit at their church.

The men allegedly tried to haul 943 coconut-sized rocks in pickup trucks on board the Hawaii Superferry from Maui to the Kahaluu Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,378421,00.html

[colorcountry]

Not even Jesus can save every one, some just will not be saved

I certainly hope you don't think it is impossible for Jesus to do anything in His power.

Oh yes, I forgot. Your Jesus needs your help to "save."

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."

[colorcountry]

I certainly hope you don't think it is impossible for Jesus to do anything in His power.

Somewhere in that mess there is a double or triple negative, but I hope you can discern what I mean. If not, you can pray and ask for wisdom. :-)

[DelphiUser]

I Said: Not even Jesus can save every one, some just will not be saved

U Said: I certainly hope you don't think it is impossible for Jesus to do anything in His power.

Re-read your statement, "anything in his power..." God can do anything except break his word. God gave man his agency, he will not break that promise, and sadly many of us misuse it to our detriment.

U Said: Oh yes, I forgot. Your Jesus needs your help to "save."

LOL! Jesus does not need my help, but he commands me to help him, so I can learn to be like him.

U Said: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."

ROTFLOL!

Anti's have been telling us that we are not "Christian", and are Damned to Hell for our faith in Jesus and we are not allowed to say that "All men can be saved by obeying Jesus and keeping his laws"? -- This is funny!

The Cognitive dissonance is palpable...

[colorcountry]

I guess salvation through faith is simply a Biblical concept your mind can’t fathom.

Too bad, and I thought you had a brilliant mind (or so you often say.)