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.
Were used to it. It happens a lot, Roger Porter, an LDS spokesman for the Southeast Idaho area, says about anti-LDS campaigns. Its 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 theyre subtle, the billboards are undoubtedly targeted toward LDS members, especially women.
Theyre not in-your-face, but if youre an LDS member, it will be hard not to know theyre 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 churchs 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 its unfortunate that groups such as the Nampa church feel the need to attack Mormon doctrine, but LDS members arent offended because theyre 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 dont want to do that, we just have to ... move on and do the things were trying to do to accomplish some good.
Were confident in the direction were 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 youre 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.
pretty much.
LOL. gotta go to bed Mrs. Reagan
Thing is; I prefer saccharin over sugar. But that’s how I roll.
Manana.
I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the otherThis is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 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 (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)and which I should join.
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.
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, Never mind, all is wellI am well enough off. I then said to my mother,
The article said:
“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.
I say:
When “true” Christians criticize Mormon, no matter how harshly and not matter how inflammatory the language, they do it out of love and are not attacking the Mormons. The love of God is with those “true” Christians and hostility in the name of Christ is not only permitted, but greatly encouraged.
When Mormons criticize “true” Christians’ interpretation of the Bible, then those insufferable Morons...errr...Mormons are attacking the Bible and have lost the love of God and they deserve to suffer severe and eternal flagellation and all “true” Christians should show their wrath by bringing their own horsewhip and letting it fly across the back of them dumb-butt Mormons until they can feel the true love of Christ seeping into their bones.
Yes, yes, yes, I know, we Mormons are so persecuted and we are just trying to make victims out of ourselves, but I find it rather humorous, and I really mean humorous, or is it ironic, that when the “true” Christians do X, it’s for the love they have for everybody, but when Mormons do X, they are evil and must be stopped at all costs.
I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the otherThis is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 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 (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)and which I should join.
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.
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, Never mind, all is wellI am well enough off. I then said to my mother,
Tremendous theological insight!
Keep it coming!
What is your church doing to help the male to stay true?
"All of this should be conveyed without having priesthood leaders focus upon intimate matters which are a part of husband and wife relationships. Skillful interviewing and counseling can occur without discussion of clinical details by placing firm responsibility on individual members of the Church to put their lives in order before exercising the privilege of entering a house of the Lord. The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice. If a person is engaged in a practice which troubles him enough to ask about it, he should discontinue it."
- Official Declaration of the First Presidency of the Church, January 5th, 1982
"Prophets anciently and today condemn masturbation. It induces feelings of guilt and shame. It is detrimental to spirituality. It indicates slavery to the flesh, not that mastery of it and the growth toward godhood which is the object of our mortal life. Our modern prophet has indicated that no young man should be called on a mission who is not free from this practice. What is more, it too often leads to grievous sin, even to that sin against nature, homosexuality. For, done in private, it evolves often into mutual masturbation-practiced with another person of the same sex and thence into total homosexuality...."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Pages 77-79, 81-82
"Among the most common sexual sins our young people commit are necking and petting. Not only do these improper relations often lead to fornication, [unwed] pregnancy, and abortions - all ugly sins - but in and of themselves they are pernicious evils, and it is often difficult for youth to distinguish where one ends and another begins. They awaken lust and stir evil thoughts and sex desires. They are but parts of the whole family of related sins and indiscretions. Almost like twins, 'petting' and fornication are alike."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, page 65
"Also far-reaching is the effect of the loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one's virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, page 196
"And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth." (Genesis 4:9-14.) That was true of murder. It is also true of illicit sex, which, of course, includes all petting, fornication, adultery, homosexual acts, and all other perversions. The Lord may say to offenders, as He did to Cain, "What hast thou done?" The children thus conceived make damning charges against you; the companions who have been frustrated and violated condemn you; the body that has been defiled cries out against you; the spirit which has been dwarfed convicts you. You will have difficulty throughout the ages in totally forgiving yourself."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, "Love Versus Lust", BYU Speech January 5, 1965. Often-used quote still used today in LDS seminary classes.
"I do not find in the Bible the modern terms "petting" nor "homosexuality," yet I found numerous scriptures which forbade such acts under by whatever names they might be called. I could not find the term "homosexuality," but I did find numerous places where the Lord condemned such a practice with such vigor that even the death penalty was assessed."
- Apostle Spencer W. Kimball, "Love Versus Lust", BYU Speech January 5, 1965
"If adultery or fornication justified the death penalty in the old days, and still in Christ's day, is the sin any less today because the laws of the land do not assess the death penalty for it? Is the act less grievous? There must be a washing, a purging, a changing of attitudes, a correcting of appraisals, a strengthening toward self-mastery. There must be many prayers, and volumes of tears. There must be an inner conviction giving to the sin its full diabolical weight. There must be increased devotion and much thought and study. And this takes energy and time and often is accompanied with sore embarrassment, heavy deprivations and deep trials, even if indeed one is not excommunicated from the Church, losing all spiritual blessings."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Page 155
"How like the mistletoe is immorality. The killer plant starts with a sticky sweet berry. Little indiscretions are the berries -- indiscretions like sex thoughts sex discussions, passionate kissing, pornography. The leaves and little twigs are masturbation and necking and such, growing with every exercise. The full-grown plant is petting and sex looseness. It confounds, frustrates, and destroys like the parasite if it is not cut out and destroyed, for, in time it robs the tree, bleeds its life, and leaves it barren and dry; and, strangely enough, the parasite dies with its host."
- Apostle Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference Address, April 1, 1967.
It's twitch my nose time; for it appears that we're all out of Pay-Lay-Ale!
“Get yer filthy hand off me, Joe, or this bottle goes UPSIDE yer pointy little HEAD!”
The TWO of us ain't ENOUGH fer ya?"
“You’re PREGNANT??
(Where’s my broom...?)”
ping to self
“No - really - you DON’t need a hat!
I can see them words down it HERE!”
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. 535541
Joseph Smith |
I love it!
Why does the PLAIN ENGLISH have to be INTERPRETTED??
Go ahead and do X.
Oh; be sure to PROVE your work; as my ex-math teacher used to tell me.
What was that organization you represent again?
Affirm something?
All I know is that you two look like a couple of crossdressers to me!
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