Posted on 08/18/2010 1:22:01 PM PDT by Normandy
By Elder Quentin L. Cook
Earlier this year, Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke to a crowd of 13,000 students at Brigham Young University about the importance of working together to preserve religious freedom. The cardinal's eloquent and poignant speech at the flagship university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was evidence of significant progress in the growing relationships between our faith and other faiths that share similar concerns regarding issues of tremendous importance.
Cardinal George said, "I'm personally grateful that after 180 years of living mostly apart from one another, Catholics and Latter-day Saints have begun to see one another as trustworthy partners in the defense of shared moral principles and in the promotion of the common good of our beloved country."
Becoming partners in the defense of shared moral principles starts with sincere efforts by religious faiths to understand and learn from each other. One of the sweetest experiences I've had is to accompany other faith leaders on tours of our newly built temples, our most sacred buildings, when they are open to the public. As a result, these religious leaders come to know and understand us better. Likewise, we gain a greater understanding and appreciation for their beliefs. It's heartwarming that those of other faiths would take the time to appreciate something that is deeply personal and meaningful to me and other Latter-day Saints.
With this newfound understanding, no faith has a desire to compromise on its doctrine or beliefs. These relationships are not ecumenical; that is, we are not trying to come to an agreement on principles of doctrinal practice, but instead there is a mutual respect for each other's beliefs and a desire to collaborate on important issues where we find common ground.
Finding common ground has translated into interfaith initiatives having lasting, positive effects throughout the world. For three decades, we've worked with other faiths and aid organizations to provide humanitarian aid in 178 countries to those in critical need. As we've partnered with Catholic Charities, Muslim organizations, the Red Cross, and many others, there is joy and excitement that comes from putting into action what we jointly view as good and needed for our fellow men and women.
These interfaith efforts are not limited to Church leadership. The most humbling experience for any ecclesiastical leader is seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ being lived through the membership of the Church. Recently, we sponsored a project where hundreds of thousands of volunteers from community and faith-based organizations worked together in an unprecedented single day of service across eleven Southern states to bring relief to those struggling because of the economic downturn. In one project, half a dozen religious leaders worked together to build a home for Habitat for Humanity.
Similarly, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, members of our Church and other faiths spontaneously rose to the occasion to help relieve the suffering. This was so fittingly illustrated when a United Methodist congregation in Slidell, Louisiana, graciously offered their church as a place to sleep to Mormon volunteers from Houston, Texas. When the congregation arrived for services on Sunday, they found that the Mormons had cleared trees and other debris from their churchyard. As a show of thanks, our members also mounted their hurricane-damaged flag as a keepsake and flew a new banner from the flagpole. During the shared worship service, the pastor voiced a feeling of unity shared by those of both denominations: "The Mormons are now our friends."
Whether it is helping the victims of disaster through humanitarian aid, providing relief to communities in economic need, or supporting religious liberty, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members often stand shoulder to shoulder with other faiths. The future of Mormonism in the public sphere will, in part, be a shared one as we work with other like-minded faiths to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ in reaching out to our fellow citizens.
Elder Quentin L. Cook has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since October 6, 2007. Prior to being called to full-time church service, he was a business lawyer, a managing partner of a law firm in the San Francisco Bay area, and a healthcare executive. He has also been a board member of several profit and not-for-profit corporations. He received a B.A. in political science from Utah State University, and a J.D. from Stanford University.
you are so funny keep trying! LOL
Not trying or intending to be funny.
Pointing out your hypocrisy. Your words speak for themselves.
Denial, it’s what’s for breakfast.
“I am sure you read the correction in post # 54”
No I did not.
“...but could not resist the opportunity of a mistype, this reveals that you harbor the spirit of vindictiveness and the Lord has warned about that....”
Oh, Resty, this seems to be judgmental on your part! Maybe even vindictive. Maybe even attributing motives. Maybe even mind reading...
Really.
I don’t harbor a grudge against you for that. :-)
Still friends,
ampu
Pointing out your hypocrisy. Your words speak for themselves.
Denial, it’s what’s for breakfast.
****
No you didn’t...
I never said I was perfect nor have I ever done any of the things that curmudgeons have been doing for years towards the LDS.
What ever tiny taste now and than the curmudgeon receive was the result of provoking the LDS.
Don’t change the subject which is you, you ask a question and now you want to change the focus of your inquiry.
Still waiting for you to answer the question resty - LOL - how obamaesque. The question still is:
Do you believe I follow the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the apostles?
Do you accept those statements by your apostles and prophets - embrace them - hold the to yourself?
My salvation is sure resty
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.…For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” —Hebrews 10:10, 14
I am continually perfected in Christ - can you say the same resty?
Have you completely abandoned sin resty or are you seeking forgiveness for the sames sins every week?
“Discontinuance of the sin must be permanent....the former transgressor must have reached a ‘point of no return’ to sin wherein there is not merely a renunciation but also a deep abhorrence of the sin — where the sin becomes most distasteful to him and where the desire or urge to sin is cleared out of his life.” — The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 176, 354-355
“And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.” —Doctrine and Covenants, Section 82:7
Have you denied ALL ungodliness from your life resty?
Have you cleared “all ungodliness” out of your life? “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.…” —Moroni 10:32
Can you honestly say to the image in the mirror that your life is completely sinless? Is all ungodliness out of your life? Can you say that if you were to die at this very moment you would receive God's grace? Moroni says that you won't receive that grace resty - furthermore
“And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven.…Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.” —Alma 11:37
You are still a sinner resty - and all those sins you've asked forgiveness for in the past - they've all been put back on your account again (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 82:7).
Keep working resty and let us know when you've attained the required level of perfection by your own works of righteousness - which reminds me resty
Isa 64:6* But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Remember resty - ALL works of righteousness done to exalt yourself are as rags resty - bloody menstrual cloths (literal hebrew translation).
I on the other hand am
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”—Romans 3:24, King James Bible
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”—2 Corinthians 5:21, King James Bible
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” —Colossians 2:14, King James Bible
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.…For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”—Hebrews 10:14, King James Bible
I can say that were I to die this very moment I would be with heavenly father forever - have you perfected yourself to say the same?
From Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:
17 By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;
You prophets say something entirely different. smith taught "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see" (Teachings, pg. 345).
Which is it norm - an eternal God or a non-eternal god.
18 And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them;
I thought the mormon god was a male - now you are saying bigendered?
Really norm - mormon doctrines are confused.
I was referring to your "true Christian" reference.
Your posts are laced with petty inuendos, ad hominems, vindictive statements, childish and boorish behavior.
And you even continue said behavior. If it weren't so funny, it would be pathetic."...nor have I ever done (REALLY? Wouldn't this be construed as "perfection"?) any of the things that curmudgeons have been doing...".
What might those "things" be? Posting "things" about the LdS you don't want posted? Too bad, they need to be.
Tell the whole truth, not part of it. I teach my son that is a lie of ommission. By deliberately ommitting key components of doctrine and beliefs when proseltyzing, it's lying.
And then you offer this little contradiction:
"What ever tiny taste now and than the curmudgeon receive was the result of provoking the LDS."
Do the ends justify the means? Is that Christlike and representative of what mormons are?
The mormons "provoked" Christianity from the beginning and continue to do so to this day.
Something you might want to discuss with your wife and son if the occasion arises.
Actions and words speak for themselves and need no mind reading or motive sense one has already stated many times in their post what their agenda and motive is!
Do you believe I follow the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the apostles?
***
I have no clue what you follow only how you behave here and your actions tell on you...
“Actions and words speak for themselves and need no mind reading or motive sense one has already stated many times in their post what their agenda and motive is!”
My agenda has always been:
Perfectly clear.
Forthrightly stated.
Biblically commanded.
Carried out with compassion for those who are pawns of the evil one.
... Oppose evil doctrines of demons
... expose heresy where it might be passed off as truth, if no one stood up to it.
... Prevent cultists on FR from having a free pass to influence those who don’t know the truth about what the Bible actually says.
... Influence those who have open hearts, but are trapped in mormonism, counting on a false hope that would send them to hell, if they do not learn the truth - by giving them hope through the Gospel of the Grace of God.
... Directly oppose evil workers who try to deceive.
Which part of my overt agenda bothers you the most? My compassion for those who have open hearts? Or my opposition to heresy and evil workers?
best,
ampu
Oh come on resty - you tell us what we believe all the time. Are you ashamed to say what your prophets say? It is really simple resty and your prophets and apostles have been very outspoken on the subject. Are you ashamed of your gospel?
In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.
1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.
I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.
Ezra Taft Benson
(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)
We tend to IGNORE any stuff that the leaders of the past said or wrote that make us look stupid and foolish today.)Not in PUBLIC SCHOOL!!
They want them as STUPID about money as POSSIBLE!
Intimate with Resty...
Sounds like a show on cable...
Late... REALLY late...
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