Posted on 08/31/2009 7:18:23 PM PDT by delacoert
On his own dime, Mark Paredes is headed to Europe to try and explain Jews and Judaism to Mormons and to reassure Jewish people that they have a friend in Mormonism.
Paredes, who currently is the president of the Los Angeles office of the Zionist Organization of America and a high councilor in the Santa Monica California LDS Stake, plans to speak in Holland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Slovenia and Austria starting on Aug. 29.
Earlier this year, he did a similar tour in Norway and Sweden.
Paredes believes he is being spiritually urged to visit Europe and speak in support of Jews and Judaism.
"I believe that Jews in Europe need to know who their friends are now more than ever," he said. "I will be delivering talks in six languages on the history on Jewish-Mormon relations to predominantly (but not exclusively) Mormon audiences at the invitation of local Mormon leaders who wish to remind their members of the long history of LDS support for the Jewish people."
Paredes told the JewishJournal.com that he thinks of himself as "yehudi b/nefesh" or "Jewish in soul."
"You don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist or to understand what's happening in the world," he said. He said he has a deep love for Jews, Israel and Judaism.
Paredes said the Bernie Madoff scandal has hurt Jews and given fresh fodder to anti-Semite groups.
Paredes hopes Mormons who learn about his plans will encourage their Jewish friends to attend the free lectures.
Information about the specific times and locations of the lectures in available by contacting Paredes at: mcparedesv@gmail.com.
Maybe while he's explaining things, he can explain to the Jews why everybody but mormons are gentiles, including Jewish people.
I really have to retch at this sentence: Paredes told the JewishJournal.com that he thinks of himself as "yehudi b/nefesh" or "Jewish in soul."
(chuckle)
What, couldn't find a Bahia who's also a voodoo priest?
Why not?
I wonder what tribe he considers himself a part of?
He did not say the LDS were MORE of a friend to Jews than were others!!!! He simply said NOW was a time, MORE THAN EVER, for people who believe they are friends of Jews to let them know that. Nothing he said implied he was making any advance of the LDS ahead of anyone else, in being friends of Jews.
You obviously have issues with the LDS; which is your right.
But putting words in their mouth does not advance such concerns of yours.
So Mark Paredes is going to Europe and explain to Israel and Jews what's what in the world and explain the they have a friend in lds as opposed to others or lds are more of a friend?
What plan?
Why are they (lds) more of a friend?
When did this friendship happen?
Is it just the way the mormon times writes their stories, or am I really missing something?
In cased you missed it, lots of ? marks. I was asking questions. Especially the last line.........it is your right to criticize me of course but please don't put thoughts or motives to my posts without first noticing the ? marks.
Oh yea, where did he say this?
Maybe the global "tribe" led by Yeshua, the 1st century Jewish teacher, born and raised in Israel by Jewish parents, known to most Christians as God's only begotten son, and referred to in Latin as Jesus and revered as Jesus Christ, and God Incarnate. Maybe that's the "Jewish" tribe he was referring to (just as many Christians sometimes refer to the body of Christianity as Israel).
Why is it that a metaphor is a common language element used to communicate ideas, throughout Judeo-Christian scripture, but when a religious person uses such a language element today in their own speech, it shoots right over some people's heads and is taken, by some, as a literal term, and not as the metaphor it was intended?
Full disclosure here. I am not LDS, nor is it my purpose to defend ANY element of LDS theology. Regardless, neither do I simply bash everything an LDS person says, just because they are LDS.
"I believe that Jews in Europe need to know who their friends are now more than ever," he said.
Oh snap!
Oh, I was looking for the exact quote, since we are working on being exact and all. But got your intent, I think.
My earlier post answered your question: "Why are are they (lds) more of a friend?". My response tried to make it clear that the LDS author did not say nor try to say they were "more" of a friend. Your very question implies a misreading of what the LDS author wrote.
The LDS author did not talk about a named "plan". But he did clearly state his objectives about his European visit.
"I will be delivering talks in six languages on the history on Jewish-Mormon relations to predominantly (but not exclusively) Mormon audiences at the invitation of local Mormon leaders who wish to remind their members of the long history of LDS support for the Jewish people."
As to your question: "When did this friendship happen?". I guess you'd have to ask the LDS author or some other LDS source, but clearly laying out that history was not the purpose of the article.
As to your question: "Is it just the way the mormon times writes their stories, or am I really missing something?"...Personally I think you are missing a reading lesson and looking for answers to questions that seem beyond the intended content and context of the article.
There fixed it for you.
Ping
Personally I would like it if he would spend a bit of time in the US explaining Harry Reid.
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