[colorcountry]

From the article:

"So, about a year ago, I decided to read the Book of Mormon one more time, and pray about it, just like an investigator would. ...

"What do I hate? When I share that story with a member (usually someone I trust) and they tell me that God didn't answer my prayers after years of questioning and studying and, yeah, pleading for guidance because 1) I wasn't sincere enough, 2) I wasn't worthy enough, 3) I wasn't listening hard enough, or 4) I'm a liar.

This is one of the things I dislike about Mormonism. I was born into a multi-generational Mormon family. I tried most of my life to believe it tenets - just could not do it. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed. Studied, fasted, attended endless meetings and testimonials, but could never gain the treasured "testimony" of Mormonism. All I could see in it was lies and deceptions.

The Mormons I know now suggest that I didn't try hard enough, wasn't "worthy," or I'm a liar. This has set me on a quest to tell my story of my genuine conversion to Christ at age 45.

[colorcountry]

Ping

Would any of you care to comment?

[stuartcr]

I have found that when someone doesn’t convert, or change their beliefs, it always seems to be because they just didn’t try hard enough.

[Vigilanteman]

Your posting history tells very little about your conversion to Christ and a lot about your hatred of Mormons. So I'm going to lean toward the "liar" option.

FWIW, I passed up an opportunity to join the Mormons once even though there was a lot I liked about them because I thought they were too expensive (tithing) and I was unwilling to give up my booze. But at least I'm honest enough to admit it and move on with my life. And not pretend one of the most conservative, pro-American demographics in America is more dangerous than thug socialism, Islamic terrorism, facist Marxism or one of the real threats facing us.

[Theo]

The faith of God is simple: Christ.

I’m encouraged by your story, colorcountry.

I hate Mormon doctrine — it’s one clever man’s perversion of the faith Christ professed. And I bristle with Mormons who defend Joseph Smith’s fictions, arrogantly insisting that the faith Christ established had become corrupted. But everyday Mormons — I just feel heartbroken for them, and pray that they would investigate the foundations of their faith as you have, and come to a pure faith in Christ.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

"Unfortunately, as with any new challenge to one's beliefs, if it doesn't reinforce the belief system of the established traditional congregation, they fear it.

"Americans must not be afraid of the change President Obama will bring". "Whites don't like Jesse Jackson because they fear blacks". "Straight people hate gays because they fear them".

Fits right in, doesn't it? If you object to something, it's automatically because of an irrational fear. It can't possibly be a thoughtful rejection.

[svcw]

For starters 'they' are taught to hate you.

That is interesting. In all the years I have been to church and there are many, I have never once even heard mormons mentioned. Where is this hatred taught? All I have heard at church is the Love of God and how He wants none to parish.

[SZonian]

""As a non-member, I can offer you a few thoughts concerning this subject. For starters 'they' are taught to hate you."

This one statement alone is proof enough to me that they are spinning into the tinfoil hat conspiracy mode. "Don't trust any evangelical or non-mormon because they've all been taught to hate you"???WTH!!??.

I'm sorry, what a steaming load of excrement. If that were the case, my wife (mormon) and me wouldn't be getting ready to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I wouldn't have even married her because I'm supposed to have been taught to "hate mormons".

Read my tagline, this is starting to become the norm with the lds. When you can't defend the indefensible attack the messenger, not the message.

[Grunthor]

I think that anyone that “hates” the Mormon church is being over-dramatic. I personally dislike that they insist on calling themselves “Christians.” When they most certainly are not. If they were “Christian” they would not need a separate “Book of Mormon” made up by a known con-man.

[Graybeard58]

Why do they hate us? The responses

The head line itself is typical mormonism.

I've never seen anyone on these threads that hates mormons. The writer is casting herself as a victim.

Why is mormonism hated? As Christians we hate the sin and love the sinner.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I don't appreciate having missionaries trying to strike up a conversation on the street that inevitably leads to debate. . . . I don't want to talk about it in a conversation that ends up in a mental battle over who got in the final word and who happens to be right. If I say 'no' I mean it. Don't try striking up the conversation from a different angle. Simply say 'OK,' say something nice like, 'Have a nice day,' smile and go about your business."

This just silly. If this person doesn't want to get into debates with Mormon missionaries on the street, why not take his/her own advice to them. Just smile or say "have a nice day", and KEEP WALKING if you don't want to talk to them. I've never heard of Mormon missionaries physically accosting anyone to try to prevent them from walking away (and if any were ever crazy enough to try it, they'd be arrested). If s/he chooses to stop and debate with them, it's for the same reason they're trying to talk to him/her -- a strong urge to convert others to their belief system -- so it's hypocritical to criticize them for that.

[trisham]

I don’t hate Mormons. I don’t know if I’ve ever met one, actually.

[the long march]

I find that if you wish to know the words of God it is usually best to read The Bible (Old and New Testaments).

Other outside sources may be useful but they are not The Source.

“I am the truth, the way, and the light....” pretty clear to me.

“Before Abraham was, I am....” again very clear

You may only see through a glass darkly at this point but on the other side we will all see clearly

[restornu]

CC how could you, even I, or anyone who is still in a middle of a storm which could be on what ever personal issue one is dealing with in their life that, that person wants to resolve.

Until one is at a place where they are neutral that would mean letting or allowing the Lord to evaporate the raw feelings or to heal than one is ready for the come what may.

I don’t think it has anything to do with “trying hard enough” except for desire and being in a place to receive come what may.

IMHO

[Elsie]

 

"If you want respect, respect others.

 

A little bit LATE for that!

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http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/17#17

  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 other—This 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 well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother,

“I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”

 

 

And, continuing thru the years, the high ranking leaders of that Organization have done the same!

 

Joseph Smith continues: "for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible" (from Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History 1:12). "What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).

 

Questions put to Joseph Smith: "'Do you believe the Bible?' [Smith:]'If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do'. When asked 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons'? [Smith replied] 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).

 

Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: "When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness" (Journal of Discourses 5:73); "The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Journal of Discourses 8:171); "With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199); "And who is there that acknowledges [God's] hand? ...You may wander east, west, north, and south, and you cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.24); "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).

 

Orson Pratt proclaimed: "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).

 

Pratt also said: "This great apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now" (Journal of Discourses, vol.18, p.44) and: "But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be ...But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" (Journal of Discourses, 18:172).

 

President John Taylor stated: "Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses, 10:127).

James Talmage said: "A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).

 

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: "Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).

 

More recent statements by apostle Bruce McConkie are also very clear: "Apostasy was universal...And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); "Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general" (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); "a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom" (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); "virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); "Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to form the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era." (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).

 

President George Q. Cannon said: "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" (Gospel Truth, p.324).

 

President Wilford Woodruff stated: "the Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.196).

 

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[Elsie]

 

All in all, the column -- in which I encouraged Mormon readers to genuinely ask aggressors why they so dislike the church and its members -- garnered hundreds of replies.

 

Other than MORMONism is roundly CONDEMNED by Scripture?

 

Let me think about it for a while...

---

KJV

 Galatians 1:6-9

 6.  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
 7.  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
 8.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
 9.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
 

 

 

 

ANYBODY???

 

Like this fine looking fellow???

 

 

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

 12.  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
 13.  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
 14.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
 15.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

 

Like THESE guys??

 

 

 

 

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19

 

 

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 other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

 

 

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Ephesians 2:1-2 

1.  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

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1 Corinthians 4:17
  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

 

1 Corinthians 11:2
   Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15
   Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

 

2 Timothy 1:13
   Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

2 Timothy 3:14-15
 14.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
 15.  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

[185JHP]

The “satan is a spirit brother of the Lord” thing is foul almost beyond belief...

[stuartcr]

Wow...since no one has used the word hate here, it sure is obvious that this is a thread full of love.

[metmom]

*sigh*

What martyrs.

Just because someone disagrees with something these days, they’re automatically labeled a * hater* and they *dislike* something.

Sheesh, you can point out error without *hating*. But it’s so much more rewarding to believe you’re persecuted.

The few Mormons I’ve met and worked with in my life have been really nice people. They were friendly and easy to get along with. They just also happen to be wrong about what they believe. I don’t hate them because of that and I don’t blame them for going out and trying to tell people about something that they really believe.

Of course, I’m not impressed with the deception they are ordered to engage in, but that’s a whole different issue. I can not like what someone is doing and still like the person.

[SZonian]

I realize I singled CC out in my post #929, but wanted to let you all know that at one time or another, all of you posted something that reached me, causing me to either reconsider a previous notion/belief or to research further. All of you had an impact, however large or small, it was important. So I thank you all.

If there is anyone on the “inmans” pinglist that I neglected to include, please let them know as well.

SZ

[Cronos]

I definitely do not hate Mormons — they’re nice Osmond family folks. I don’t hate Mormonism either — I can’t get so emotional about it. But I know that it’s books and history is fiction — factually proven wrong.