Posted on 03/05/2011 1:44:43 PM PST by greyfoxx39
Stay on message
When the young men and young women of one stake donated many hours of community service to beautify public areas, a leader responded to a reporter’s query: "As members of the Mormon church we believe in serving others."
Though accurate, the response wasted an opportunity to promote our central message: We do what we do because we love Jesus. Because we love Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we love our neighbors and serve our fellowman.
Said one Book of Mormon prophet, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17).
Whether sharing the gospel online or across the street, the scriptures and “Preach My Gospel” are foundational. With purity, prayer and practice, we can share the simple truths of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Lord promises to "go before your face" and send "angels round about you, to bear you up" (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88).
-SNIP-
Keep it simple
Suppose a friend expresses concern about polygamy. You launch into a 10-minute dissertation about the 1890 Manifesto. Wrong! Your neighbor may be asking something else, like, "Won’t I feel ostracized if I join a church that teaches controversial things?"
By identifying the real concern, you can emphasize simple truths such as our love for Jesus Christ, eternal families and the plan of happiness. Keep it simple. Love and simplicity trump the scriptorian every time.
Avoid contention
It is human nature to defend oneself. But as seasoned missionaries know, debating theology is fruitless, especially when contention is afoot. The harder we defend insults, the easier it is to chase the Spirit from the conversation.
We needn’t get sucked into anti-LDS debate, whether chatting with neighbors or sharing online. Well-meaning members sometimes charge into contentious chat rooms, then stray from the central message about Jesus Christ, eternal families, the Restoration and the plan of happiness.
The Lord counseled, "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).
Avoid the knee-jerk contentions so prevalent in this instant-messaging, respond-without-reflecting world.
A word of caution
The open and unregulated nature of the Internet doesn’t always promote fact-checking, attribution or accuracy. Like the child’s game of whispering a phrase in succession to a long line of kids, the message can be unrecognizable at the end of the blogosphere line. Blog debate may be reported in mainstream media as fact when it is not.
Individual members of the church should avoid purporting to speak for the church as an "official" spokesperson.
The church welcomes honest debate. Elder Quentin L. Cook said, "In our increasingly unrighteous world, it is essential that values based on religious belief be part of the public discourse. Moral positions informed by a religious conscience must be accorded equal access to the public square" (Quentin L. Cook, "Let There Be Light!," Ensign, November, 2010)
In any public debate affecting the church as a whole, there is an order of things. The Lord governs his church through keys and councils. Area and General Public Affairs Councils are responsible for responding to media requests about proposed legislation affecting religious freedoms or attempts to erode core religious values.
By accessing keys through authorized priesthood councils, we assure clarity and unity of response, and we honor the Lord.
Preach the gospel
Elder Marion D. Hanks used to say, "Preach the gospel always. Use words only when necessary." Righteousness is our best sermon, but never discount the power of inspired words. By staying on message, keeping it simple and avoiding contention, our words will be thoughtful and our influence unlimited.
In this there is no debate.
I have established that Zilla is correct in this very thread.
“Sorry PD, it has already been established beyond a shadow of doubt to the contrary.
“That is completely false. Shame on you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Denial.
Every single time you imply or state I have not viewed
your cultic links, it is bearing false witness. I have
viewed the cultic links a number of times.
I’ve seen you do this MULTIPLE times.
It is well established.
So which part is your favorite? The part where the article says “don’t answer any questions” or the part that says “open debate”.
And many are learning that for themselves, thanks to the internet and groups like the Flying Inmans.
Scanning words and reading with real intent are two different things. This much is obvious.
I have not lied on here. Not once.
The truth is provided. The rest is up to you.
--SaltLakeSam(I GIVE the blasted LINKS! What MORE can you expect? Me to do the WORK for you?)
Distorting the truth, which you just did, is a form of bearing false witness.
Distorting the truth, which you just did, is a form of bearing false witness.
Nope. Never did that. You are either lying or just plain confused. Sorry to disappoint you.
I told you in at least two previous posts that I went through your bilge IN DETAIL, well before you came along. Even if I had not told you such you would still be mind reading.
The rest was up to me, well before you came along, and I came to the same conclusion that anyone with an once of reason and sanity would reach, the same that millions have before me, Mormonism is a fraud. Only the spiritually weak and lost or those personally invested socially or finically would argue otherwise.
Stop mind reading and stop your misleading posts implying people have not read your links in an attempt to fortify your very weak position. You will be called on it EVERY time...
Again, and again... (and again) you repeat the same blabber over and over. It is a habit and a tactic of the brainwashed anti-Mormon.
The answers are there for you. If you sincerely seek the truth you will find it out for yourself. Why haven’t you found out? My best guess (not mind reading it’s only my guess)is that you don’t want to. But perhaps you are not ready yet. We all have our own path to the truth. Perhaps going through your own blinder-wearing anti phase will help you to help others down the road, that are misled as you are.
A good start for you would be to sincerely seek the truth about all of the “issues” you think you have discovered about the LDS Church. The links I have given you are a good start if you seek online as your course.
The rest of your comments are all insulting, obnoxious blabber and nothing more. Your use of words such as bilge, reason (only YOUR way is the reasonable way), sanity (all Mormons are insane?), fraud, spiritually weak, lost etc all just make you look bad. You should re-think this strategy.
Since it is I you lied about when you claim I only “scanned” your links, AMPU has you dead to rights.
Only in your anti-Mormon fantasyland. This is such a silly waste of time. Interesting misdirection.
Desperation on display for all.
By the testimony of three witnesses, you have been observed lying.
For someone to pass a temple recommend... Well, aren’t they supposed to have high moral character?
Or can you ignore the lying and just say whatever it takes to pass?
Three witnesses saw it and testify-and it wasn’t the first time. There is a pattern in your posts.
Ampu
Prove your charge or retract.
Those are your only choices if you are indeed honest and “interested in the truth”.
Otherwise you are the dishonest spammer you appear to be.
By the testimony of three witnesses, you have been observed lying.
False. Only someone blinded by their obsession seeing what they want to see could twist anything I have said as a lie.
Sorry but no.
Those are your only choices
umm... no. You don’t get to set the choices or rules or make up your own definitions.
I have not lied. Your desperation is showing. The truth is still waiting. When will you come down from your soapbox and truly seek it?
I know the truth, I have read in depth the material at your links, there is nothing else to be gained except using them for reference, reading them 100 times still shows Mormonism to be a lie to any sane mind.
You accuse me of “scanning” them only.
And that is after you accuse me of not reading them at all, despite being told multiple times otherwise.
Prove or retract.
No other choice.
End the games and stand up for a change.
Or is that not possible for you because you know you are caught...
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