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A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad Mormon-(OPEN)
Ensign Magazine ^ | August, 2000 | James A. Toronto,

Posted on 08/15/2010 2:44:17 PM PDT by greyfoxx39

Latter-day Saint Interest in Muhammad

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.



TOPICS: Apologetics; Current Events; General Discusssion; Other non-Christian
KEYWORDS: beck; glennbeck; inman; islam; lds; mormon; muslim
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To: ejonesie22

Back to you.


61 posted on 08/15/2010 7:57:44 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: BlueMoose; aMorePerfectUnion; Normandy
To: Normandy
“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

34 posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 8:48:45 PM by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
You would be wrong

36 posted on 08/15/2010 6:50:32 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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And I asked you to PROVE your statement in post 36 to AMPU. You accuse him of being wrong.

Words don't lie, it is right there in black and white.

Is this just a game or are you really that disconnected.

I guess I will take this as a “I cannot defend the accusation I made against AMPU so I will just play games, again” until I can sense otherwise.

62 posted on 08/15/2010 7:58:12 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (Christians: Stand for Christ or stand aside...)
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To: BlueMoose
Back with what, you have not given me anything yet.

Surprise me, be honest and straight forward and post some pertinent and susbataive.

Go for it, surprise me.

63 posted on 08/15/2010 8:01:25 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (Christians: Stand for Christ or stand aside...)
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To: Normandy

Normandy,
Your response is either devoid of logic or a failure
of honesty.

The FACT is that Mormonism teaches God used to be a man.
The FACT is that the Bible teaches God is unchangeable.
ERGO, Mormonism is false.

The FACT is that the Bible never teaches you can become a god.
ERGO, Mormonism is false.

“I know that you interpret parts of the Bible differently from Latter-day Saints, so your ideas of contradictions might just be differing opinions about what is meant by various Bible passages.”

No, Normandy. This has nothing to do with interpretations. It has everything to do with the clear statements of the Bible.

ampu


64 posted on 08/15/2010 8:01:44 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: ejonesie22

I’m waiting for Post # 34 to be proven.


65 posted on 08/15/2010 8:02:14 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: BlueMoose; greyfoxx39

Watch it Blue Goose...

You just used a source that is 2,000 years old...


66 posted on 08/15/2010 8:12:56 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: BlueMoose; aMorePerfectUnion; Paragon Defender
Here ya go, one of your own put it all together.

Experts have been posted all over FR, time and time again, pretending it is all a vacuum is cute, but not reality.

But if you want first sources, it is all laid out for you.

In fact let me fetch one, just to show who is being up front and who isn't.

AMPU stated:

Did you also study the Mormon teachings about:

God starting as a man and becoming a god later?

And here we have, from the “prophet” him self...

“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret... It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know...that he was once a man like us. Here, then, is eternal life—to know that only wise and true God, and you have got to learn how to become Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you. .. God himself, the father of us all dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ.”
- The Prophet Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 342-345, also quoted heavily by the church, see Gospel Principles, Chapter 47.

Like I said, it is all here, in this post from one of your peers. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2568726/posts?page=64#64

67 posted on 08/15/2010 8:13:16 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (Christians: Stand for Christ or stand aside...)
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To: Tennessee Nana

I wonder if its official.


68 posted on 08/15/2010 8:14:17 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (Christians: Stand for Christ or stand aside...)
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To: Tennessee Nana
I'm sorry that offends you. Should I have RM remove it ?

or do you want to have the RM remove it.

Sorry I used an undesirable source.

69 posted on 08/15/2010 8:17:11 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

I know that you think Mormonism’s false, ampu, but I think that conclusion is based on the way you interpret the Bible.

For example, it look like you and I see the phrase “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ” differently.

Best regards,

Normandy


70 posted on 08/15/2010 8:19:30 PM PDT by Normandy
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To: Tennessee Nana; Religion Moderator

Thanks. We need the source information to comply with copyright restrictions.
121 posted on Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:48:26 PM by Religion Moderator

Seems to be a question on this source. Can it be used.


71 posted on 08/15/2010 8:33:40 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: BlueMoose
If you are referring to the article, it is a good source.

If you are referring to post 35, the Bible requires no further sourcing. It is in the public domain.

72 posted on 08/15/2010 8:39:21 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Normandy

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE
ROMANS
CHAPTER 8

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.


73 posted on 08/15/2010 8:51:22 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: Normandy

That is the difference. Nothing in that phrase says you will become a god. You read it into the term. I am READING the passage and it doesn’t say that. No “interpretation” needed. It simply isn’t there!


74 posted on 08/15/2010 8:55:09 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

You see, we have different interpretations.

To me, an heir inherits all that belongs to a father. And a joint-heir with Christ, mean that what Christ has, the joint heirs have also.


75 posted on 08/15/2010 9:17:11 PM PDT by Normandy
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To: Normandy; BlueMoose

To me, an heir inherits all that belongs to a father. And a joint-heir with Christ, mean that what Christ has, the joint heirs have also.

***

Amazing how dense some are.

Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary understood the the meaning!
http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/search/word,god

GOD’LY, a. [god-like] Pious; reverencing God, and his character and laws.

1. Living in obedience to God’s commands, from a principle of love to him and reverence of his character and precepts; religious; righteous; as a godly person.

2. Pious; conformed to God’s law; as a godly life.
GOD’LY, adv. Piously; righteously.

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer

persecution. 2 Tim.3.


76 posted on 08/15/2010 9:48:50 PM PDT by restornu
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To: svcw
lds always defend muslims.

Not the ones I know. I can only go by personal experience. You do know that Mormans are over represented in the US military? Especially the Officer corps. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the guys at my AF ROTC field training were from BYU. Including my roomate for the first half of training. (Everyone switched at the half way point, my second roommate was our first flight commander, that job rotated too, and he was the only one with some experience at drill, and for that matter one of the few with leadership experience at something other than sports.)

So if they support Muslims, they've been killing them while doing so. Wholesale in the case of the AF, especially in the early days of OEF, when the BUFFs were walking bombs down the Taliban trench lines.

77 posted on 08/15/2010 10:40:55 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: restornu

I just don’t know what can be said.


78 posted on 08/15/2010 11:32:16 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: BlueMoose

some wonder if its official


79 posted on 08/15/2010 11:34:51 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: greyfoxx39
"God is the source of light in heaven and on earth."

Good grief, did this Mormon idiot really attempt to interpret the Ayat an-Nur to a group of Moslems? If so, he very probably gave serious offense - that is one of the most revered passages in the Koran.

[Sura 24, An-Nur, verse 35, to be precise]

80 posted on 08/16/2010 12:11:35 AM PDT by John Locke
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