God Exists, and He's Mormon

The American Spectator ^ | 3/16/2009 | Jeremy Lott

[Alex Murphy]

"God exists, and he's American" is the judgment of Dr. Milton Glass, fictional nuclear physicist from the acclaimed Alan Moore-Dave Gibbons comic Watchmen, when he learns that Jon Osterman, has come back from the dead. Osterman disputes Glass's judgment, but the new deity's protest rings as hollow as his promise of fealty to his first girlfriend.

In the story, Osterman dies in a freak lab accident that is the stuff of countless superhero origin stories. It utterly obliterates his body but leaves his mind intact and powerful. Osterman then re-creates himself from scratch. He is not just reborn but transfigured and renamed, as the world's oddest crime fighter: Dr. Manhattan. By the end of the tale, Manhattan even talks of Osterman as a different person.

Obviously, Dr. Manhattan looks different. He has the skin of a Smurf, the body of a Greek god. He crackles with energy and can manipulate other matter with the same ease that he reconstructed himself. Less obviously: His changed perceptions bracket him off from the rest of mankind. He can see things at the molecular level but is puzzled by basic human emotions and conventions. His women complain that they can't connect with him and he often walks around in his rebirthday suit. He perceives time differently as well -- the future and the past run together.

Dr. Manhattan is clearly a sort of god. After the mystery at the heart of Watchmen is resolved, he professes a newfound fondness for human life and muses, "perhaps I'll create some" -- elsewhere in the universe. But what sort of a god is he?

Enter: irony. One group that is not likely to come out in great numbers to see the new film Watchmen is members in good standing of the

[Weatherman Bill]

Scripture is an interpretation. It is a man’s view of what God said.

If you believe men are perfect, there will be a shock later.

[Godzilla]

I wish I could get through to you. God wants you as a friend!

In what way do you know Bill? Do you have some other source of the word of God - you've already thrown the bible away earlier - how am I suppose to know that God wants me to be a friend

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"The Lord once told us how what we should do if we love Him:

 

Actually, Reaganesque, He told this to Peter. You and I are not Peter.

"Should a servant of the Lord therefore feed His sheep or mock them for wandering away?

You are assuming anyone is one of His sheep. Not a good assumption. Some are goats.

You are assuming that this command is the only command in scripture. Not a good assumption.

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. I Thess 5:14 - different strokes for different folks.

You should also look at Jesus' own words about those who distort God's Word, the Bible...

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” — Matthew 23:27, 28

 

[Terabitten]

Weatherman Bill
Since Dec 31, 2008

William Ayers, is that you?

[Weatherman Bill]

I am sorry. I do not belong here. God bless you “Christians”.

[MHGinTN]

You are turning reality on its head to suit your cultish insistence. If We Who Are Called By His Name see sheep trying to feed their souls on poisonous meal, we are first called to separate the sheep from the poison, THEN feed them good food. Your faux prophet, Joseph Smith, did the same thing you are trying to do, not surprisingly. Mormonism is based upon the poisoning of minds then feeding rancid meal to the manipulated masses.

[Reaganesque]

Skipped over it? Hardly. It just that the overwhelming majority of what you post centers on why I am wrong with little to no mention of why you are right. The Lord never taught that way and no where in the scriptures does he condone such behavior from those who profess to believe in Him.

[greyfoxx39]

spamlds

Since Mar 13, 2009

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S.P.A.M. is the Society for the Prevention of Anti-Mormonism. Our goal is to highlight anti-Mormon activity and expose it for what it is: hate. We do this by posting accurate information to counter anti-Mormon lies and disinformation, with good humor and charity. Our motto is “Truth is not a tactic.” We wholeheartedly believe that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate arbiter of truth and that he bears witness of it to those who sincerely seek it. All we have to do is tell the truth and leave the rest to the Spirit of God.

Spamlds, is represented on Free Republic by Greg West, a former freeper going back to 2002. In 2007, I quit FR in protest of the growing anti-Mormon activity related to Mitt Romney’s campaign. I have since reconsidered my position and taken a stand for the Church online at www.spamlds.org. I have continued to visit FR for news and current events, though I have not had an active account with which to post. Seeing that the anti-Mormon activity persists, I have decided to step into the fray once again.

I am a politically conservative libertarian. However, my views are that both Republicans and Democrats represent two facets of a political “Babylon” that must ultimately collapse from corruption. When that system fails, the world will discover that God has prepared a place of safety and refuge from the storm via the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is because the Church possesses this power and authority that it faces opposition from sectarians and secularists.

Personal info: I’m an author, blogger, activist, and computer geek, husband of 26 years, and father of five great kids. My books are available at www.fyrnewood.com. I’m also an avid guitarist and manage the site at www.12stringguitarist.com.

****************************************************************************************************************************************************

Well, at LEAST you are honest about where you are coming from!

To quote your post, Bigotry takes on a lot of forms.

The LDS church has a wellspring of bigotry to account for, starting with Joseph Smith and continuing on to the present. Your missionaries and members are STILL claiming as Smith claims, "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.”

History of the Church, Vol. 1, Chapter 1-19

To quote you again, Bigotry takes on a lot of forms. Smug disrespect is one of them.

We are looking forward to "good humor and charity" from your posts. The "smug disrespect is already evident in them.

[colorcountry]

There is one major difference between you and me and our respective worship of God. I believe I can do nothing - You think you must live in covenant.

You present your side. I will present mine, here it is:

God is all-powerful (we have none)

God is Just (our sins demand Justice)

God has provided Justice (Christ’s atonement)

If you think you can earn God’s complete Grace by partaking of secret oaths, covenants, handshakes, obedience etc. You are mistaken.

Please live in Christ alone. That is my message. It isn’t hatred, and I am called by God to give you this message...

... in Love,

CC

[Reaganesque]

So, the scriptures don’t apply to me if they don’t specifically mention me? What about the woman caught in adultery to whom the Lord said “Go and sin no more?” There’s no message there for those who read the Bible? When the Lord gave His Sermon on the Mount, he was addressing the people of His time and not us? Or the youth who asked what he had to do to follow the Lord and the Lord told him to sell all he had and give the money to the poor, that has no meaning for anyone other than that specific person?

[Colofornian]

“God needs us” [WB]

No, we need Him. [HITHL]

Pre-existent dialog in heaven, or Kolob?:
Lucifer: "Elohim, you NEED me."
Jesus, eeons later, speaking before men: "I saw Satan fall like lightning." (Luke 10:18)

Fast-forward to the year 2009:
Weatherman Bill: "God, you NEED us."
Us, eeons later, speaking before men (and women): "Uh, Weatherman...uh, how do we put this...uh, have you ever checked the weather forecast Jesus gave in Luke 10:18 cross-referenced with Isaiah 14:12-14)?"

[Reaganesque]

So we are the poisoners and the poison, not lost sheep. So the Lord’s love doesn’t apply to us. Its OK to hate us. Can any hateful thing enter into the presence of God?

[Marysecretary]

Anyone tell God that He’s Mormon? Maybe their God, but not mine.

[Reaganesque]

So, baptism is not required?

[colorcountry]

Do you understand what baptism is?

If you do, you certainly would have understood this statement:

“Please live in Christ alone. That is my message.”

[greyfoxx39]

I am not concerned about basphemy. God is my friend!
Joe Smith! Is that you?

[Reaganesque]

No. I don’t understand. Please explain so that we ALL may be enlightened.

[Colofornian]

To quote your post, Bigotry takes on a lot of forms.

The LDS church has a wellspring of bigotry to account for, starting with Joseph Smith and continuing on to the present. Your missionaries and members are STILL claiming as Smith claims, "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

To quote you again, Bigotry takes on a lot of forms. Smug disrespect is one of them.

It's not only smug disrespect but...
...world-wide bashing initiatives...
...stereotypical labels of libel...
...mass contentiousness -- as in 60,000+ as the latest wave of a million LDs missionaries running around the planet and saying with a white-shirted smile, "you're an apostate."

(I guess since LDs are so smily nice when they call us worldwide Christians ALL apostates, ALL corrupt, ALL embracing 100% abominable creeds--with Hebrew meaning of that word "putrid," we may want to politely respond, "Well, I'm glad you're enlightening us with your Joseph Smith - History 1 'tolerance, acceptance, inclusiveness, and open-armed embracement' of who we are as the 'Flying Inman Infidels!'")

[colorcountry]

I will answer your question, but first, since you brought up the issue of the importance of baptism - what does baptism mean to YOU? And where did you receive your understanding?

[Elsie]

 

 

Here is the creed of the LDS Organization; based in Salt Lake City:

 

---

 

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

 

 

 

Definitions of creed:

• From the Latin word "credere" -- to believe. A short statement of religious belief, usually motivated by a desire to emphasize church teaching as opposed to a heresy.
• A formal summary of religious belief; an authoritative statement of doctrine
• Any system of principles or beliefs
• Religious doctrine: the written body of teachings of a religious group that are generally accepted by that group
• A creed is a statement or confession of belief — usually religious belief — or faith.
• A statement of religious beliefs agreed by the church to be true.
• A system of religious beliefs, including moral or ethical beliefs about right and wrong, that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views.
• A statement of faith binding upon a given religious body.
• A statement of faith. 
• A formal statement of religious belief/proclamation of faith