Posted on 08/15/2010 2:44:17 PM PDT by greyfoxx39
One of the noteworthy examples of the Latter-day Saint commitment to treasure up true principles and cultivate affirmative gratitude is the admiration that Church leaders have expressed over the years for the spiritual contributions of Muhammad.
As early as 1855, at a time when Christian literature generally ridiculed Muhammad as the Antichrist and the archenemy of Western civilization, Elders George A. Smith (1817–75) and Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered lengthy sermons demonstrating an accurate and balanced understanding of Islamic history and speaking highly of Muhammad’s leadership. Elder Smith observed that Muhammad was “descended from Abraham and was no doubt raised up by God on purpose” to preach against idolatry. He sympathized with the plight of Muslims, who, like Latter-day Saints, found it difficult “to get an honest history” written about them. Speaking next, Elder Pratt went on to express his admiration for Muhammad’s teachings, asserting that “upon the whole, … [Muslims] have better morals and better institutions than many Christian nations.” 9
Latter-day Saint appreciation of Muhammad’s role in history can also be found in the 1978 First Presidency statement regarding God’s love for all mankind. This declaration specifically mentions Muhammad as one of “the great religious leaders of the world” who received “a portion of God’s light” and affirms that “moral truths were given to [these leaders] by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.” 10
In recent years, respect for the spiritual legacy of Muhammad and for the religious values of the Islamic community has led to increasing contact and cooperation between Latter-day Saints and Muslims around the world. This is due in part to the presence of Latter-day Saint congregations in areas such as the Levant, North Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Southeast Asia. The Church has sought to respect Islamic laws and traditions that prohibit conversion of Muslims to other faiths by adopting a policy of nonproselyting in Islamic countries of the Middle East. Yet examples of dialogue and cooperation abound, including visits of Muslim dignitaries at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City; Muslim use of Church canning facilities to produce halal (ritually clean) food products; Church humanitarian aid and disaster relief sent to predominantly Muslim areas including Jordan, Kosovo, and Turkey; academic agreements between Brigham Young University and various educational and governmental institutions in the Islamic world; the existence of the Muslim Student Association at BYU; and expanding collaboration between the Church and Islamic organizations to safeguard traditional family values worldwide. 11 The recent initiation of the Islamic Translation Series, cosponsored by BYU and the Church, has resulted in several significant exchanges between Muslim officials and Latter-day Saint Church leaders. A Muslim ambassador to the United Nations predicted that this translation series “will play a positive role in the West’s quest for a better understanding of Islam.” 12
A cabinet minister in Egypt, aware of the common ground shared by Muslims and Latter-day Saints, once remarked to Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that “if a bridge is ever built between Christianity and Islam it must be built by the Mormon Church.” 13 The examples of Latter-day Saint–Muslim interaction mentioned above, together with the Church’s establishment in 1989 of two major centers for educational and cultural exchange in the Middle East (Jerusalem and Amman), reflect the traditional attitude of respect for Islam that Church leaders have exhibited from earliest times. These activities represent tangible evidence of Latter-day Saint commitment to promote greater understanding of the Muslim world and witness an emerging role for the Church in helping to bridge the gap that has existed historically between Muslims and Christians.
I’m thinking you won’t get many defenders of that. ;)
Hi ampu,
I find the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be very much in harmony with the Bible. I have come back from Church today where I have learned about the love of God and the mercy of Jesus Christ, about service, kindness, baptism, healing, chastity and prayer, to name some of the topics brought up in meetings and lessons.
We do believe that God did not stop his revelations with the Bible — we don’t hold that the Bible is the only scripture. We believe that he has provided more light and knowledge to the world through additional scripture revealed to prophets ancient and modern.
Best,
Normandy
Joseph Smith and Mohammed had a lot in common.they hated Christian religions and believed they were of satan, both men were liars and frauds and both liked the idea of multiple wives and saw women as property
Luke 6:27,28
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
6:37 Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condem not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Then there are those outside the body. We extend love to those who seek and are lost and expose those who misrepresent the message and purpose of Christ and attack his Church. We are fully allowed to judge false religions, otherwise why go into the world and spread the word if all paths are valid.
A unchristian cult hiding behind Christians scripture s laughable at best, despicable at worse...
Indeed I will give the Muslims credit, they are often upfront about their motives and certainly don't try and pass themselves off as something they are most assuredly not.
Same cannot be said about the LDS when they play “Christian” and use his name whilst slandering in their very doctrine.
Do we consider this to speak under the auspices of the GA, or is it just another 'opinion' (a la the other 'mormon' website)?
Another 'opinion' or a statement understood at the highest levels of mormonism.
So are you saying you believe the Koran to be inspired by God through another prophet?
A link to LDS.org why -
Why I'm shocked!! Why they are espousing the same thing as this Cumorah.com website! Are all the morg apologists out of tune with their church?
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
-Jesus (John 7:24)
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”
-Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)
“I find the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be very much in harmony with the Bible.”
You would be completely wrong.
“I have come back from Church today where I have learned about the love of God and the mercy of Jesus Christ, about service, kindness, baptism, healing, chastity and prayer, to name some of the topics brought up in meetings and lessons.”
Did you also study the mormon teachings about:
God starting as a man and becoming a god later?
The Heavenly Mother god?
Trillions of mormon gods?
Becoming a god?
- none of which is Biblical.
“We do believe that God did not stop his revelations with the Bible — we don’t hold that the Bible is the only scripture.”
And you would be wrong.
“We believe that he has provided more light and knowledge to the world through additional scripture revealed to prophets ancient and modern.”
And this isn’t Christian.
ampu
You would be wrong
No, I was referring to the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
We also believe that God has guided the affairs of his Kingdom through prophets and apostles (as He did in Bible times) from the time of Joseph Smith to the present day.
While you are here, attempting to show mormonism
is Biblical (and failing), please answer just one
question for all lurkers:
BlueMoose, as a mormon, how many gods do you think exist - ballpark?
ampu
Prove it.
Good luck with that.
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