Partnering with our Friends from Other Faiths (By LDS Apostle Quentin L. Cook)

Patheos ^ | Aug 29, 2010 | Quentin L. Cook

[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.

[Elsie]

 

Great video resource to understand the perversion of mormonism.

 

Great BIBLE resource to understand the perversion of mormonism!

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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.

[Elsie]

Don’t change the subject which is you, you ask a question and now you want to change the focus of your inquiry.

HA HA HA!

[Elsie]

you are so funny keep trying! LOL

You call others on what YOU perceive to be bad behavior, and laugh your own off.

What a HYPOCRIT!

[lady lawyer]

“As you know I am firm in my Latter-day Saint faith, and I believe in my Church so we are going to disagree on doctrinal matters, but there are many things people of different faiths have in common and by supporting one another in dealing with many of the problems we see in society we can do a lot of good together.”

I’ve worked on the World Congress of Families, where people of all conservative religions get together in defense of the family. Protestants of various denominations, Catholics, Mormons, Orthodox Jews, even Muslims. It scares the Left to death.

Only someone who wanted to defeat social conservatism would try to discourage people of different faiths from working together on important political/moral issues. That’s why I seriously wonder whether some of the anti’s who make a career out of attacking both Mormons and Catholics on FR aren’t actually Leftist plants.

[Elsie]

 

What ever tiny taste now and than the curmudgeon receive was the result of provoking the LDS.

 

 

Resty: throw away the OLD memo!

 

 

SLC Headquarters memo:        July 21 12:55

 

STOP! the Bleeding!! 

is the phrase for AUGUST.

[Elsie]

BI-POLAR!

[Elsie]

The ‘New & Everlasting’ covenant of POLYGAMY lasted all of 47 years!

[Elsie]

That’s why I seriously wonder whether some of the anti’s who make a career out of attacking both Mormons and Catholics on FR aren’t actually Leftist plants.

That's ALMOST as good as calling us NAZIs.

Almost...

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Only someone who wanted to defeat social conservatism would try to discourage people of different faiths from working together on important political/moral issues.”

Oh, really? Is this the only possible reason? Could you explain your thought process that led you to this conclusion, lady? Could you also include any evidence that would support your belief?

Thanks,
ampu

[Godzilla]

Only someone who wanted to defeat social conservatism would try to discourage people of different faiths from working together on important political/moral issues.

Remarkable statement when two very prominent mormons are actually in the forefront of defeating conservatism - Reed and Romney. Better get your facts straight councilor

[Normandy]

I’m fully aware of what Joseph Smith taught regarding the origin of God. I’m also fully aware of what he taught regarding the potential of man — that we can become like God. I believe both principles.

That doesn’t change my relationship to God. To me, you, the earth, the heavens, God is infinite, eternal, from everlasting to everlasting because we are created by him. He will always be God to me and you — therefore there he is and always will be the object of my worship.

[greyfoxx39]

I’m fully aware of what Joseph Smith taught regarding the origin of God. I’m also fully aware of what he taught regarding the potential of man — that we can become like God. I believe both principles.

Becoming a "god" of your own planet, is a little more than "becoming like God.

That doesn’t change my relationship to God. To me, you, the earth, the heavens, God is infinite, eternal, from everlasting to everlasting because we are created by him. He will always be God to me and you — therefore there he is and always will be the object of my worship.

Why not capitalize He and Him?

[Godzilla]

I’m fully aware of what Joseph Smith taught regarding the origin of God. I’m also fully aware of what he taught regarding the potential of man — that we can become like God. I believe both principles.

So you subscribe to a definition of a changing 'god' - not the eternal unchanging God of D&C. "Potential" of man, lets be precise about it norm, the teaching is that man and 'god' are of the same species or race.

To me, you, the earth, the heavens, God is infinite, eternal, from everlasting to everlasting because we are created by him.

Sorry, smith taught specifically that God was not eternal (refuted). The mormon 'God' cannot have eternally been 'God' by definition because he was once a man. By definition this 'god' cannot be unchanging since throughout his 'life' he has been changing and according to mormon teaching continues to change doesn't he norm.

See norm - your doctrine doesn't support your claim.

He will always be God to me and you — therefore there he is and always will be the object of my worship.

To which I have to ask once again - since you haven't supplied a answer yet - why don't you worship Jehovah as the true God (De 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.) I find your insistence that heavenly father is the only God to worship odd.

And that god had a god too didn't he, and that god a god, ad infinitum. Ever hear of Zeno, norm. To put the mathematics into a simple summary - it is an impossibility that the mormon universe, as you claim, had no beginning. If that was the case, then the infinite time prior to the present could never have been traversed so that the present is reached.

And these 'gods' as men were sinners too Norm? Sin was necessary to begin procreation we are told in the temple ceremony (as well as other places). Who was their saviors then norm?

According to third President John Taylor, - "There is not a principle associated with the gospel of the Son of God but what is eternal in its nature and consequences, and we cannot with impunity trample upon any principle that is correct without having to suffer the penalty thereof before God and the holy angels, and in many instances before men. The principles of the gospel being eternal, they were framed and originated with the Almighty in eternity before the world was according to certain eternal laws, and hence the gospel is called the everlasting gospel" (The Gospel Kingdom, p.90).

The eternal laws must be upheld - right norm? What god established these eternal laws? - none could have because no God according to mormonism has held the position of God eternally due to the eternal regression of Gods - there NEVER was a FIRST god to establish them.

Mormon teaching says a lot of things about 'god' norm, but when one pulls them together they terminally conflict with each other. A 'god' cannot have been eternally a god when that same 'god' was either a spirit child or human or some intermediate being working their way to godhood.

How does one have a relationship with a 'god' that misleads you? How can god tell you he has always been god, yet then tell you that he also was not a god during an undefined period of time. One of the two is a lie Norm, how does one have a relationship with a god that lies? How can one accept the demand to be righteous when the god demanding that righteousness has been a sinner? Sounds pretty ugly to me norm.

[Godzilla]

ping to

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2573121/posts?page=93#93

[Normandy]

“lets be precise about it norm, the teaching is that man and ‘god’ are of the same species or race”

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Exactly. That is why we call God Father, and we are his sons and daughters.

[Normandy]

Sometimes I do capitalize pronouns when referring to God. Other times I don’t. I think both practices are acceptable. I’m used to reading them not capitalized in the scriptures.

[Godzilla]

Exactly. That is why we call God Father, and we are his sons and daughters.

A little light on the response eh norm? Correctly from the bible we are his sons and daughters by adoption, not ontology. We are clay.

But how does it feel to have to avoid answering the tough questions norm? Why is it so hard to answer why you don't worship Jehovah as the Jews of the OT did. Why is it so hard to explain how a non-eternal god (smith's teaching) is an eternal god? I thought the man who saw god face to face would have the answer?

who was god's savior norm? and his god before him? which god established the eternal principles norm when no god has ever been god for eternity?

Why doesn't the bom provide these answers norm, smith said it was the most perfect book in existence.

Or perhaps norm, the reason why these conflicts are present is because smith never really had a clue to begin with - he made it up as he went because it provided him with the power and prestige he desired - to be held as a god on this planet.

Silence is a poor apologetic.

[The Theophilus]

Ampu, as a Latter-day Saint, I know very well whom I worship.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him”

I think you missed Ampu's point. The LDS redefines "God, "Father" and "Lord Jesus Christ", borrowing the language but applying an entirely different meaning. You might as well be talking about Jesus the gardener. So you can say that there is "one God" but your doctrine says that you can be a god (a doctrine derived from Genesis 3:5). With open contradictions when used with traditional definitions, you leave others to only conclude that your faith system wishes to deceive.

[Godzilla]

I think you missed Ampu's point.

No, quite honestly I think the point was fully understood. But the common apologetic tactic I've seen mormons here use is to obfuscate the point by leaving the definitions loose and fast. You clearly caught that aspect of it. It is deceiving to play that way with definitions - however it is necessary to prevent the unknowing from really discovering what they DO mean. I'm still waiting for norm to answer a very simple question:

Why do mormons reject the worship of Jehovah as the true God, as done by the Israelites in the OT. Definitions.

[The Theophilus]

If the REAL Jesus resided in you as your Savior you would not have to strive resty.

Amen. One of the multitude of differences. Mormons are still trying to earn their salvation, whereas the Elect in Christ rely on the work of Jesus Christ.

They strive for their god's approval, we mortify our earthly nature (Col 3:5) for we do not take credit for the sanctifying work of the Paraclete.