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.

[ansel12]

“If those showing up to expose were as gifted as they think they are they might have concinced someone by now. But they haven’t. Have you noticed THAT? lol.”

---

LOL, I have noticed that they have convinced people, they have had a great effect on me and I have read many posts by other freepers that say the same thing.

It also seems to be having a positive effect on some Mormons, at least one has become a Christian because of their efforts and at least another one has said that he is finding strength from their Christian efforts in his personal struggle with his own doubts of his Mormonism.

[FastCoyote]

[If FastCoyote starts having some of his revelatory visions again of the same “nature” he had last year...
...& he pulls a “Joseph Smith” on us & redefines “eternal” or “everlasting” the way Joseph did...as “temporary” and the exact opposite of endless
...only, mind you, instead of applying it to hell like Smith...FastCoyote applied this new definition to heaven...
...would we all mindlessly say, “Well, I guess all those passages in the Bible & Book of Mormon about eternal, everlasting heaven need to be filtered through FastCoyote II, chapter 19, verses 4-12” ??? ]

Trust me, the visions have been tingling and beckoning most perversely.

Here’s the thing, the only way to break the back of politically correct censorship is to claim the privilege for oneself.

festus was, for example, quite prescient in his call for Muslim Freepers to join in a “no-bashing-allowed” thread.

I also tried to point out in a thread whose main article stated that the author would describe Temple ceremonies, but only to the point of where holy secrecy begins, that that opens a door big enough for a Mack truck. If I postulate a “secret Temple Bunny Hop Ritual”, who is to prove me wrong? Those who tried would either be unknowing Gentiles, or True Believers who had just broken the secrecy of the inner sanctum and thus could not be believed.

Hence I postulate that censorship and “no-bashing” rules can only lead to the most grim parody of the “protected” faith. Where logic is held in poor esteem, only the insane may wander.

Indeed, by claiming I have Smithian Powers and am a God In Embryo (which I am by the way), it immediately inoculates me (in the present milieu) from all the inevitably nasty remarks against the Religion of Fast Coyoteism. This is a point of logic obvious to any but the most dense.

For Example, I now swear never to reveal under pain of utter damnation the most high secret of the holey garments of Fast Coyoteism, which are rumored to be a pair of Speedos with color coordinated pink tank top. If this rumor were true, I would be divulging a religious secret, making me guilty of bashing my own religion (perhaps I can be banned for revealing religious secrets of my own religion?).

[ansel12]

“One what?
“Do you mean that if a Mormon wants to become Catholic he has to be baptized Christian or do you mean protestants as well?”

I read it and I asked for clarification and you continue to evade, but of course the insults are thorough.

[SkyPilot]

Post #695 was wonderful.

Grig - are you listening?

In my opinion, you (probably) will not get way with your (supposed) censorship attempt on Free Republic of Christians who you (allegedly) alluded to as dirty pigs who need to be hosed down.

[netmilsmom]

Oh for heaven’s sake.

This is from the Vatican. The first guy at the bottom is our Pope.

RESPONSE TO A ‘DUBIUM’
on the validity of baptism conferred by
«The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints»,
called «Mormons»
Question: Wheter the baptism conferred by the community «The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints», called «Mormons» in the vernacular, is valid.

Response: Negative.

The Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, in the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved the present Response, decided in the Sessione Ordinaria of this Congregation, and ordered it published.

From the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 5 June 2001.

+ Joseph Cardinal RATZINGER
Prefect

+ Tarcisio BERTONE, S.D.B.
Archbishop emeritus of Vercelli
Secretary

Does that answer your question? The Pope believes that those who were Baptized Mormon need to be re-Baptized to become Catholic.

My Hubby, the former Presbyterian, did not.

[MizSterious]

You wrote:

Kept in the Religion forum where they belong, y'all can obviously post all the 50,000 word nonsense the Robinsons and/or your ISP will tolerate.

But the deluge of this stuff in the 'News/Activism' forums seems to me not only to be a flagrant disregard for the very same forum guidelines the rest of us are supposed to operate under, but also diminishes the credibility and integrity of FreeRepublic as one of the few legitimate forums for the conservative political thoughts/views of the average joe.

And much more, all very well said. I don't understand what's going on with the LDS/fLDS issue either. I have been following the fLDS/Texas matter since the story broke. I was shocked at the blatant child abuse, sexual slavery, and the treatment of the young boys--as I would be if, say, this had happened in some hippie commune. I have followed it as I do any interesting crime story.

Even so, I have been called every name in the book, a Mormon-hater (I didn't start out that way, but if the name-calling continues, I can't guarantee that it won't ultimately be true), a Communist and worse. Just from where I sit, it seems all kinds of latitude is given the people who support the cult in Texas--latitude I would never dream of asking for, let alone expect. (Some of the name calling--and not just to me--was atrocious.)

Yup, Tomkat, I would say this is not the same place it was when I joined in 1998. Frankly, I've never seen anything like it.

[svcw]

To your comments below - bravo BRAVO!!!!

Helps to have the Religion Mod in your pocket, evidently.
Legitimate questions, framed within forum guidelines, were recently deleted from one of your threads, questions as to the inordinate numbers of doctrinal harangues appearing under the News/Activism banner.

Kept in the Religion forum where they belong, y’all can obviously post all the 50,000 word nonsense the Robinsons and/or your ISP will tolerate.

But the deluge of this stuff in the ‘News/Activism’ forums seems to me not only to be a flagrant disregard for the very same forum guidelines the rest of us are supposed to operate under, but also diminishes the credibility and integrity of FreeRepublic as one of the few legitimate forums for the conservative political thoughts/views of the average joe.

If this post gets me banned from the site, so be it.

I’ve been around this site since ‘98 under a long forgotten login, and since ‘00 under this one.

I’ve logged a couple thousand miles and a couple dozen hours helping man the barricades against the marxist scum in DC.

I’ve also contributed financially to this site over the years.

I’ve never aspired to be one of prolific pens of FR because frankly my other interests and work keep my time too limited to allow it, but this is where I’ve chosen to get my NEWS for some time, posting random thoughts as they struck me, most often in a (hopefully) humorous vein, as God knows we’ve needed some smiles the past couple decades for sanity maintenance.

Having been a loyal and supportive FReeper for a long time, it’s my considered opinion that the tacit policy decision to allow so much religion spamming in the News/Activism section works to the detriment of this site in particular, and conservatism in general.

If I had any inclination to find out more about LDS, there’s a whole Internet out there and I can do my own damned research.

But if I’d had no previous exposure to FR and got here by whatever circuitous route and saw 14 threads about mormon stuff on my first visit, it’d be a real good bet I’d think I’d stumbled into a big mistake and would NOT be back.

If the Robinsons have chosen to take a different tack re the religious/secular, it is of course their site and their right; I do however find oddly ‘coincidental’ the timing of this apparent policy shift in the midst of Jim’s recent hospitalization/recovery.
(which I hope is quickly better, Jim :)

This wasn’t/isn’t intended to be an opus, but if that’s the way it plays out, life will go on and I’ll find something else to take it’s place and/or just burrow deeper into the ol’ bunker.

Cuz in the end I’m just one old guy who works with his hands out here in flyover; and folks like me have gotten kinda used to being ignored, and I’ve never been under any delusion that FR or the RightFight in this country can’t manage without me.

And not that it’s anybody’s business, but I do believe in a God, but certainly not the one represented by these LDS threads/adherents.

/10yrs ?

[netmilsmom]

So I have to ask, and I’m not being snippy, I’m just asking, who puts the LDS threads up and who leaves them outside of the religion forum?

Cause the Catholic ones, if put in news are moved.

[SkyPilot]

Yup, Tomkat, I would say this is not the same place it was when I joined in 1998.

Me three tomkat and MizSterious.

SkyPilot
Since Dec 21, 1998

Frankly, I've never seen anything like it.

Behold! The Power of the LDS on Free Republic!

[MizSterious]

I do not know. I have been following the Texas case, and have for the most part not participated in the LDS threads—because frankly I know diddly about the LDS. One thing I do know: for a time, the moderators were moving the LDS threads OUT of the Religion forums and into the news/activism forum. Why, I do not know, you’d have to ask them.

[greyfoxx39]

Greyfoxx39
Since Nov. 24, 2000

Sorry to be such a n00b. But I was lurking in '99, does that count?

[netmilsmom]

Thanks! I was just wondering.

Honestly, I could see where the FLDS would not be considered a religious thread but rather a legal one. I’m not sure they have much to do with religion as much as breaking the law.

[JRochelle]

There is something strange going on. I suspect that the recent news of the FLDS and how it shone the light on the origins of todays’ Mormon faith have been painful to them.

Sometimes the airing of all the dirty secrets can open the eyes of many.

Another thing is that recently a Freeper has come out and stated how he has come to see that the religion that he was born into is a big lie.

He has been told that the blood of the prophets are on his hands and other terrible names. All this from his former fellow Mormons.

All this has come together to create a storm that the mods are trying to deal with. They are most likely receiving all kinds of complaints about religious persecution. In fact there have been threats posted against this very website. By a freeper no less.

[MizSterious]

Yes, but some have come onto the threads and whined and yelled about what they call insults to Mormonism—to me, fLDS is not the same as LDS, and no insult to Mormons was ever intended. I’ve said so, but it made no difference. Some of these threads can get pretty ugly, and I see NO reason for it.

[MizSterious]

And from what I’ve heard, threats against some freepers, too. I’ve only seen one of those personally, but I’ve heard about others.

[Graybeard58]

Helps to have the Religion Mod in your pocket, evidently.

Legitimate questions, framed within forum guidelines, were recently deleted from one of your threads, questions as to the inordinate numbers of doctrinal harangues appearing under the News/Activism banner.

Kept in the Religion forum where they belong, y'all can obviously post all the 50,000 word nonsense the Robinsons and/or your ISP will tolerate.

But the deluge of this stuff in the 'News/Activism' forums seems to me not only to be a flagrant disregard for the very same forum guidelines the rest of us are supposed to operate under, but also diminishes the credibility and integrity of FreeRepublic as one of the few legitimate forums for the conservative political thoughts/views of the average joe.

If this post gets me banned from the site, so be it.

I've been around this site since '98 under a long forgotten login, and since '00 under this one.

I've logged a couple thousand miles and a couple dozen hours helping man the barricades against the marxist scum in DC.

I've also contributed financially to this site over the years.

I've never aspired to be one of prolific pens of FR because frankly my other interests and work keep my time too limited to allow it, but this is where I've chosen to get my NEWS for some time, posting random thoughts as they struck me, most often in a (hopefully) humorous vein, as God knows we've needed some smiles the past couple decades for sanity maintenance.

Having been a loyal and supportive FReeper for a long time, it's my considered opinion that the tacit policy decision to allow so much religion spamming in the News/Activism section works to the detriment of this site in particular, and conservatism in general.

If I had any inclination to find out more about LDS, there's a whole Internet out there and I can do my own damned research.

But if I'd had no previous exposure to FR and got here by whatever circuitous route and saw 14 threads about mormon stuff on my first visit, it'd be a real good bet I'd think I'd stumbled into a big mistake and would NOT be back.

If the Robinsons have chosen to take a different tack re the religious/secular, it is of course their site and their right; I do however find oddly 'coincidental' the timing of this apparent policy shift in the midst of Jim's recent hospitalization/recovery. (which I hope is quickly better, Jim :)

This wasn't/isn't intended to be an opus, but if that's the way it plays out, life will go on and I'll find something else to take it's place and/or just burrow deeper into the ol' bunker.

Cuz in the end I'm just one old guy who works with his hands out here in flyover; and folks like me have gotten kinda used to being ignored, and I've never been under any delusion that FR or the RightFight in this country can't manage without me.

And not that it's anybody's business, but I do believe in a God, but certainly not the one represented by these LDS threads/adherents.

/10yrs ?

Bears repeating.

[netmilsmom]

>>fLDS is not the same as LDS<<

I agree.
I guess I know what the Catholics go through with the Priest sex scandals. I wouldn’t want to go through the hate that spewed at our church because of the stupidity of the hierarchy. (and please to anyone that wants to argue that here, it’s not for this thread)

Maybe it’s reactionary.

But we need to understand that all of us have bigger enemy than each other. In the end, Jewish, Mormon or Christian, there are people who want to enslave or murder us.

Infighting doesn’t help.

[SkyPilot]

You bet. Post date isn't a statement of "worthiness" to me unless the person just joined that week or day and intended to distrupt a thread.

Everyone here has the same right to speak on a forum that is privately funded, and privately maintained, but the Robinson family. God bless Jim - and may he heal now.

God bless John too.

I have to agree with tomkat and miz sterious that this isn't what we signed up for ten years ago.

Tomkat has been on the front lines of FR and Conservatism. I was at the "March For Justice" Impeachment Rally on the Washington Mall in Oct 1998 with Jim Robinson, Allen Keyes, and Ann Coulter.

I was also at the Impeachment Managers Dinner at the Washington Hilton with all my fellow Freepers.

That matters here because we are really about Conservativism - and have proven it.

These LDS threads tell us that many Freepers are about.....well.....LDS.

What is most important to me? Jesus Christ.

They tell me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I believe in is an (in the words of Joseph Smith) and "abomination."

And I cannot respond to this?

GIVE ME A BREAK.

[SkyPilot]

Joseph Smith said this. That is FACT. In my opinion, he is a false prophet:

"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 — and which I should join. 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 . . ." (Joseph Smith, "History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 5-6.)

[andysandmikesmom]

I have noticed a lot of things...

I dont have any problem at all, with any poster telling why they believe this or that religion is incorrect or wrong, based on their own readings and their studies....that goes on all the time on the religious threads...many on the religious threads are very well read and well versed in Scriptures, and in other readings...and they present their arguments for why they believe as they do, backed up with Scriptures...and do so in a civil and enlightening way...

And then there are those, who indulge themselves in name calling, buzz words, and the like...those kinds of posts are neither civil, nor enlightening, and appear to me, to be nothing more than mere taunts at the opposing side..

But hey, to each their own...as for me, I appreciate those posts full of information, correct and true information...

So yes, I do notice what goes on, on all sides...being as I do not have a dog in this hunt, but am searching for answers, factual and true answers to questions I have, I appreciate it when posters do provide that factual and true information and answers...