A new Washington Post-Pew Research poll asked Americans to pick one word they associate with each of the GOP presidential candidates.
For Herman Cain, they picked “9-9-9,” his brilliantly named – and controversial -- plan for simplifying the nation’s tax code. For Rick Perry, Americans picked the word “Texas” – the state he has governed for the past 11 years.
The poll respondents didn’t pick “Massachusetts,” the state Romney served as governor. They did not associate Romney with “Health Care” or “Businessman” or even “Nice Hair.”
This poll came on the heels of another poll last week from Associated Press/Gfk which found 19 percent of Republicans say they are less likely to vote for a Mormon candidate. That is bigger hurdle for Republicans than voting for a black candidate. Only 4 percent of Republicans said they are less likely to vote for a candidate if he is black.
A CNN/ORC International poll this month found 36 percent of Americans don’t believe Mormonism to be a Christian religion –51 percent said yes – and 17 percent of all Americans say they are less likely to vote for a candidate who is Mormon.
...it is getting harder by the day to pretend that Romney’s Mormon faith is not an issue with American voters, particularly the Evangelical Christians.
[Some people might] “Prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion [and] say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction…” Romney said. “That -- I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it..."
People who pretend the issue does not exist are only fooling themselves.
I have referred to this behavior as "lies for Jesus." If the words said are not truth, then there are not many options available. One could be uneducated. But a reasonably person will acknowledge correction and stop stating the falsehood. Or one could be mistaken. Again, a reasonable person will acknowledge correction.
What remains is deceit or lies. Intentionally misleading, by saying things like "I heard that . . ." or by subtlety (or not so subtlety) changing the rules along the way, or intentionally leaving out key information are way this is done. When it is done in an attempt to prove another religion wrong it is disgraceful.
You state "The Mormons dont sing about the LORD Jesus Christ as their God and Savior who shed His Blood on the cross and died to save them..." That is not true. I provided a hymn that shows it. Instead of correcting your statement, you changed the rules. I guess a hymn praising the Lord and the Savior but not using the word Jesus was not good enough.
At the risk of spamming this thread, here are a small handful of the hymns in the LDS hymnal that praise Jesus (in various names used to distinguish Him).
If this is not enough, there are a couple hundred more.
102 - Jesus, Lover of My Soul
1. Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past.
Safe into the haven guide;
Oh, receive my soul at last.
2. Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on thee.
Leave, oh, leave me not alone;
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed;
All my help from thee I bring.
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
Text: Charles Wesley, 1707–1788
Music: Joseph P. Holbrook, 1822–1888
196 - Jesus, Once of Humble Birth
1. Jesus, once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth.
Once he suffered grief and pain;
Now he comes on earth to reign.
Now he comes on earth to reign.
2. Once a meek and lowly Lamb,
Now the Lord, the great I Am.
Once upon the cross he bowed;
Now his chariot is the cloud.
Now his chariot is the cloud.
3. Once he groaned in blood and tears;
Now in glory he appears.
Once rejected by his own,
Now their King he shall be known.
Now their King he shall be known.
4. Once forsaken, left alone,
Now exalted to a throne.
Once all things he meekly bore,
But he now will bear no more.
But he now will bear no more.
Text: Parley P. Pratt, 1807–1857
Music: Giacomo Meyerbeer, 1791–1864, adapted
136 - I Know That My Redeemer Lives
1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.
4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
Text: Samuel Medley, 1738–1799
Music: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858–1921
67 - Glory to God on High
1. Glory to God on high!
Let heav’n and earth reply.
Praise ye his name.
His love and grace adore,
Who all our sorrows bore.
Sing aloud evermore:
Worthy the Lamb!
2. Jesus, our Lord and God,
Bore sin’s tremendous load.
Praise ye his name.
Tell what his arm has done,
What spoils from death he won.
Sing his great name alone:
Worthy the Lamb!
3. Let all the hosts above
Join in one song of love,
Praising his name.
To him ascribed be
Honor and majesty
Thru all eternity:
Worthy the Lamb!
Text: James Allen, 1734–1804, alt.
Music: Felice de Giardini, 1716–1796
83 - Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah
1. Guide us, O thou great Jehovah,
Guide us to the promised land.
We are weak, but thou art able;
Hold us with thy pow’rful hand.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Feed us till the Savior comes,
Feed us till the Savior comes.
2. Open, Jesus, Zion’s fountains;
Let her richest blessings come.
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Guard us to this holy home.
Great Redeemer, Great Redeemer,
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day,
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day!
3. When the earth begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion’s hill,
Singing praises, Singing praises,
Songs of glory unto thee,
Songs of glory unto thee.
Text: William Williams, 1717–1791. First verse trans. by Peter Williams, 1722–1796.
Music: John Hughes, 1873–1932
(One of my favorites)
193 - I Stand All Amazed
1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
[Chorus]
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932
141 - Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
1. Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.
2. Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the mem’ry find
A sweeter sound than thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind!
3. O hope of ev’ry contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!
4. Jesus, our only joy be thou,
As thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now,
And thru eternity.
Text: Attr. to Bernard of Clairvaux, ca. 1091–1153; trans. by Edward Caswall, 1814–1878
Music: John B. Dykes, 1823–1876
258 - O Thou Rock of Our Salvation
1. O thou Rock of our salvation,
Jesus, Savior of the world,
In our poor and lowly station
We thy banner have unfurled.
[Chorus]
Gather round the standard bearer;
Gather round in strength of youth.
Ev’ry day the prospect’s fairer
While we’re battling for the truth.
2. We a war ’gainst sin are waging;
We’re contending for the right.
Ev’ry day the battle’s raging;
Help us, Lord, to win the fight.
3. Onward, onward, we’ll be singing
As we’re marching firm and true,
Each succeeding battle ringing,
Earnest of what we can do.
4. When for all that we’ve contended,
When the fight of faith we’ve won,
When the strife and battle’s ended,
And our labor here is done,
[Chorus after fourth verse]
Then, O Rock of our salvation,
Jesus, Savior of the world,
Take us from our lowly station;
Let our flag with thee be furled.
Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849–1942
Music: William Clayson, 1840–1887
65 - Come, All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth
1. Come, all ye Saints who dwell on earth,
Your cheerful voices raise,
Our great Redeemer’s love to sing,
And celebrate his praise,
Our great Redeemer’s love to sing,
And celebrate his praise.
2. His love is great; he died for us.
Shall we ungrateful be,
Since he has marked a road to bliss
And said, “Come, follow me,”
Since he has marked a road to bliss
And said, “Come, follow me”?
3. The straight and narrow way we’ve found!
Then let us travel on,
Till we, in the celestial world,
Shall meet where Christ is gone,
Till we, in the celestial world,
Shall meet where Christ is gone.
4. And there we’ll join the heav’nly choir
And sing his praise above,
While endless ages roll around,
Perfected by his love,
While endless ages roll around,
Perfected by his love.
Text: William W. Phelps, 1792–1872.
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816–1868
134 - I Believe in Christ
1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.
2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”
3. I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.
4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.
Text: Bruce R. McConkie, 1915–1985
Music: John Longhurst, b. 1940
89 - The Lord Is My Light
1. The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;
This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.
[Chorus]
The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night he leads,
He leads me along.
2. The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise,
Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.
Then how can I ever in darkness remain?
3. The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength.
I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r,
And, walking by faith, I am blest ev’ry hour.
4. The Lord is my light, my all and in all.
There is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.
With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.
Text: James Nicholson, 1828–1876
Music: John R. Sweney, 1837–1899
By the way, I still remember our discussion about Mormons not singing Christmas hymns or Easter hymns. We have had similar discussions before.
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