I'm Jewish. I really don't know much about the Mormons except for the hospitality they showed me when I visited their place. I have a copy of their book, which I've only looked at a little. Just let's say that our book has a lot more witnesses and archeology. But since I thought they were nice people anyway I did try to learn a little bit about their history when I got back home. This is nearly 20 years ago so maybe my memory has faded a bit. My recollection thought is that these folks were persecuted from pillar to post, and sometimes they fought back. A quick look at the Wiki articles now reinforces this.
If it is Mormon doctrine to slit non-believers throats and someone can point out where I might find this in any of their writings I will certainly have a look. This started as some sort of comparison between Islam and Mormonism; and surely I can find the "smite them at their necks" stuff in the Koran. Until someone leads me to such passages in the Book of Mormon, I guess I'll remain shocked by the hatred some of my fellow FReepers show for this group.
ML/NJ
***If it is Mormon doctrine to slit non-believers throats and someone can point out where I might find this in any of their writings I will certainly have a look.****
Google the words — blood atonement — and you will get plenty. Please note I did not say for you to google MORMON BLOOD ATONEMENT, but only the words— blood atonement.
Your attributions of hatred, when we have done/said nothing hateful speaks more negatively about you than us.
Also, why do you care? You are Jewish, and they reject Jesus as Messiah, so you don’t have a dog in this fight.
You assume that all Mormon doctrine can/is found in the Book of Mormon, or even the D&C and that is simply NOT true. Mormons believe in ‘continuing revelation’ and blood atonement comes not from their scripture but from their ‘prophets’.
However, we would be more than willing to provide quotes from their prophets (also considered scripture) about the doctrine.
Start here...
http://www.ils.unc.edu/~unsworth/mormon/bloodatonement.html
Well, that is obvious. I (and other inmans) however DO know alot about Mormons and their doctrines. Many of us haven't just 'met' nice Mormons, we lived that religion, we taught those doctrines and we believed them. And then we found out the truth - that Mormonism is all a lie.
Thanks for your kind remarks about Mormons. Off the top of my head, I can think of one situation in the Book of Mormon in which the Lord commanded the prophet Nephi to slay a man. See 1 Nephi 4:7-18. Nephi did so by cutting off the man's head with his own sword.
In contrast, the Book of Mormon also gives an account of people who refused to take up arms, instead allowing themselves to be killed for their faith (See Alma 24.)
However, both of those are extreme and unusual cases. More generally, the Book of Mormon supports the right of self-defense. Indeed, it speaks of self-defense as a duty:
45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion. (Alma 43:45-47)
I take these words to heart. I believe in turning the other cheek, in not responding in kind to insults. However, I am no pacifist. I believe every person has the right to defend himself and his family and friends against those who would harm them.
I guess 'vapor between the ears' is acceptable.