Posted on 01/11/2010 3:54:09 PM PST by Colofornian
POCATELLO — One of the organizers of a media campaign that is using billboards in Pocatello and other cities seeking to convince Mormons of perceived errors in their faith says the group is not attacking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"The reason we do this is that we really do have a love for the Mormon people,” says Mark Cares, president of the group that is organizing the campaign. “Our ministry is to reach out to the LDS people.”
He says while the campaign does question LDS doctrine, it is not meant to attack Mormons. LDS members see the campaign differently.
“We’re used to it. It happens a lot,” Roger Porter, an LDS spokesman for the Southeast Idaho area, says about anti-LDS campaigns. “It’s too bad it happens in the name of Christianity.”
The campaign includes two billboards in Pocatello (on Pole Line Road and Highway 30), two in Idaho Falls and one in Rexburg. The campaign will also include mass mailings.
The billboards, which show a woman in obvious emotional distress holding her head, ask the question, “Feeling worthy?” and direct people to the Web site, www.hishealingnow.com.
Though they’re subtle, the billboards are undoubtedly targeted toward LDS members, especially women.
“They’re not in-your-face, but if you’re an LDS member, it will be hard not to know they’re directed toward you,” Cares says.
The “Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons” campaign is organized by the Truth in Love Ministry of Nampa.
Cares says the central message of the campaign is that Mormonism is a religion of works.
“In Mormonism, you have to ... pull yourself up by your own bootstraps,” he says. “The emphasis of Christianity is what God has done and not what you have to do.”
“Mormonism is grace-plus,” he adds. “In Christianity, the message is grace alone. There are (major) differences between the messages of Christianity and Mormonism. In our experience, we have found this is a message many people in the LDS church need to hear.”
In response to questions about the campaign, an LDS media relations manager in Salt Lake City released a statement explaining the church’s doctrine on salvation.
The statement says the church does not believe people can gain salvation through their own unaided efforts.
“We must work to our limit and then rely upon the merits, mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel to see us through the struggles of life and into life eternal,” the statement said, quoting from chapters of Nephi and Moroni in the Book of Mormon. “We believe that while human works are necessary — including exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, receiving the sacraments or ordinances of salvation and rendering Christian service to our neighbors — they are not sufficient for salvation.”
Porter says it’s unfortunate that groups such as the Nampa church feel the need to attack Mormon doctrine, but LDS members aren’t offended because they’re used to those campaigns.
“We live in a free country and society and people can speak their minds and do what they want,” he says. “Our intent and objective is to get along with all people and work with (them) to accomplish good things for the community. If some people don’t want to do that, we just have to ... move on and do the things we’re trying to do to accomplish some good.
“We’re confident in the direction we’re going.”
Cares, who is also a pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Nampa, says his group is accused of being anti-Mormon all the time and the recent billboard campaign has been a topic of discussion on talk radio shows in the Boise area.
“If you’re driving down the road and you discover that around the curve the bridge is out, the loving thing to do is sound the warning,” he says. “If I truly believe the bridge is out, the loving thing to do is warn people.”
I got no use for woman like that.
Don’t they want to have some fun? I do.
Let me chase her around forever, through meadows and woods.
Eat chocolate dipped strawberries and sipping champagne while walking along the River Sein, with the Eiffel all alight, on one side and the Acadamie of Arts with their fountains flowing.
Every once in a while we could even go to dinner and have some great conversation while I admire her charm, wit and intelligence.
But that’s just me.
To be fair, it really isn’t the “heavenly mothers” fault.
According to LDS teachings, the LDS priesthood is ETERNAL. That means God has it, his God had it, etc. It is the SAME POWER that current LDS men have.
It is this “Priesthood power” that makes God “God” and will make all other Gods “Gods” too. This power is only given to the men. Women share in it only through their husbands.
So women being “incubators” is how they “do their part” to make sure their husbands are good Gods. Since they do not have the “priesthood” power, they are Goddesses but not worshiped, cannot “organize” matter and tend to take a back seat to their God husbands.
No, I am no kidding...
“The doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in plainness by the First Presidency of the Church (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund) when, in speaking of pre-existence and the origin of man, they said that ‘man, as a spirit was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father.”
- Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1958, p. 516
“For as we have a Father in heaven, so also we have a Mother there, a glorified, exalted, ennobled Mother.”
- “Achieving a Celestial Marriage,” LDS Church Manual, 1976, p. 129
“We, the human family, literally the sons and daughters of Divine Parents, the literal progeny of God our Eternal Father, and of our God Mother, are away from home for a season.”
- Apostle James E. Talmage, The Philosophical Basis of “Mormonism,” 1928, p. 9
“The stupendous truth of the existence of a Heavenly Mother, as well as a Heavenly Father, became established facts in Mormon Theology.”
- Milton R. Hunter, First Council of the Seventy, Gospel Through the Ages, 1958, p. 98
“We don’t hear about Heavenly Mother because she is only one of many wives of god.”
- Sister Maxine Hanks, Women and Authority, Ch.11, p.251
“I consider it inappropriate for anyone in the church to pray to our Mother in Heaven.”
- Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, 1991 speech, quoted in Mormon America, by Richard and Joan Ostling, pp. 235
“Priesthood power” that makes God “God” and will make all other Gods “Gods” too. “This power is only given to the men?”
OMG! That is just to funny. I am sitting not 10 feet from one and he hasn’t used any hocus pocus, Abra-Cadraba stuff.
In fact, I know what, Uh let’s see, 14 High Priests. None of them has shown themselves more powerful than me.
How can get them to prove it or demonstrate their god like powers? I want a red Porsche, more money than god and a woman I can adore.
Don’t forget the part about not being able to go to Mormon heaven unless your husband calls your secret name (that only he know)when you die. I just can’t get over this - I learned about this recently. Poor Mormon women, they must be so afraid!
I also understand that even investigating other beliefs puts your salvation at severe risk. That’s why you can’t get your MO friends to even visit one of your services or bible studies.
OMG! That is just to funny. I am sitting not 10 feet from one and he hasn’t used any hocus pocus, Abra-Cadraba stuff.
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LOL. I wouldn’t even say Mormon men think of it that way. Since they have not progressed yet to godhood by finishing their “trial period” here on earth, then of course they wouldn’t have the full abilities yet.
Nevertheless, it is taught that it is the power of the Priesthood that gives God his abilities.
And I only know ONE high priest, Jesus Christ. I do know several who attempt to rob Him of it though.
Maybe he was “Floundering” for the perfect caricature that would illustrate his point and tacked a little to hard and ended up down wind with empty sails.
Hmmm.... gotta work on that. Not all that funny.
Well just damn! I had no intention of joining the gay life but if I ain’t gonna get nowhere, guess I will have to look into it? /s
Is there a GLDS? /s
Can I just call them Epstein?
So does this trial period come with a warranty? I would sure hate to see a rogue MoGod and shudder to think what one could do to mere mortals such as myself.
Can’t they get extra credit here on earth and ascend to their god status? You know, like passing go and collecting all the cash?
Who was the first MoGod?
Who are the other MoGods?
Why don’t they come telling us what a kick they are having so we will know by their experience what to expect?
Can I get a witness?
You drinking tonight?
reaganaut is one of those ex-mo women who left lds inc. So I’m sure she’s familiar with the process of separation. There are others here too. You relative should get in contact with groups like Witnesses for Jesus (http://www.4witness.org/index.php) who can fully relate having left lds too. I’ve pinged some others, they have other contacts that can help your relative.
Nope. Just feeling really upbeat for some reason.
Should I tone down a bit?
Should I tone down a bit?
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Nah, as long as you are having fun. :)
Wow! The Mormons around here drink Dr. Pepper and Pepsi now but they didn’t when I was growing up. I always heard that it was because they owned the companies...maybe they didn’t get the memo.
Thing is, I don’t think they are as comfortable being Mormon as I am being Christian.
When they are telling their stories they are guarded and when they are trying to educate me they don’t seem to be convinced of their position. They know it by wrote but I don’t feel they have it in their heart.
Guess they always feel like they under seige but then again, I say they are not in the minority. We all are.
love it, Monk.
LOL. Very Clever.
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