Romney says he's religious, but won't discuss Mormon doctrine

I said IMO, which means in my opinion.

I do believe the Dead who have not had an oppurtunity to even hear the name Jesus Christ will get the chance. (think of the many people in nations of the earth in all of history which have not heard of Christ)

1 Peter 3:19-19

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison•;

Ezra Taft Benson was prophet during the time of Reagen. He was a strict consitutionalist. You would probably agree with some of what he said. He was always bashing Communism and Moral relativism.

Other current Apostles of the Church have given awesome talks about the evils of secularism.

Neal A Maxwell was a Political Scientist before he became an Apostle. His talks rip the church of liberalism to shred.

(Disclaimer the Church does not support any one candidate or political party.... But they rip Satan's liberal lies to shreds... he he heee.)

Wikipedia, Meal A. Maxwell

Neal Ash Maxwell (July 6, 1926–July 21, 2004) was ordained an apostle by N. Eldon Tanner on July 23, 1981.

Maxwell wrote approximately thirty books concerning religion and authored numerous articles on politics and government for local, professional and national publications. He is well known for his extensive vocabulary and elegant writing style. His highly alliterative talks have always presented a large challenge to translators. During one General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the translators had categorized each of the talks to be given into five levels of difficulty. All of the talks were assigned to levels one through four, except Maxwell’s. His talk was alone at level five 5. Of his writing style Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church, has described it as completely unique commenting that the Church will probably never see another with the intellectual power of Elder Maxwell.

Maxwell earned a bachelors and masters in political science from the University of Utah and also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Utah; an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Westminster College, Salt Lake City; an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Utah State University, Logan, Utah; an Honorary Degree from Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho; and an Honorary Degree from Salt Lake Community College.

The University of Utah established the Neal A. Maxwell Presidential Endowed Chair in Political Theory, Public Policy and Public Service in the fall of 1998.

I am not a Mormon, nor do I even attempt to understand, become an expert, pretend to be an expert, or attempt to explain their faith.

However, as I am a Catholic, the notion of saying someone can only hold office if they belong to a certain religion, or by being a certain religion someone shouldn't hold an office, my ears perk up. The Founding Fathers had to write it implicitly in the Constitution that there shall be no "religious test" to hold an office in this country. This was due primarily because of the discrimination Catholics were experiencing. And even then, this country dismissed a terrific candidate for President in 1928 because of his Catholicism.

These things make me a little queasy when people start that same talk with Romney, and dismiss him only due to his religion. Please oppose him on other grounds first, if that is not the only thing you disagree with him on, but if religion is your only problem with him, please keep your mouth shut.

Actually, one of the "brethren" here at FR did imply that "outer darkness" is where I'm headed....and acording to LDS doctrine he may be correct or have you not read:

Those in this life who gain a perfect knowledge of the divinity of the gospel cause, a knowledge that comes only by revelation from the Holy Ghost, and who then link themselves with Lucifer and come out in open rebellion, also become sons of perdition. Their destiny, following their resurrection, is to be cast out with the devil and his angels, to inherit the same kingdom in a state where "their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (D. & C. 76:32-49; 29:27-30; Heb. 6:4-8; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; 2 Ne. 9:14-16; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 47-49; vol. 2, pp. 218-225.)

Even though I may be in "open rebellion," perhaps there is an escape route since I have not gained "a perfect knowledge of the divinity of the gospel".... But too, I did receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands at age eight soooo.....I may have gained..."a knowledge that comes only by revelation from the Holy Ghost."

Only time will tell. < /sarcasm> ,-)

Christ is the judge of all. (Peter denied Christ 3 times, Saul was a lawyer who condemned saints to death and was holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death. I don't think there is anyting you have done that even would compare to these men of God let alone Judas, Cain and other actual sons of perdition.) Another thing that would invalidate the son of perdition thing is your conversion to Christ. You are not a "saved" Satanist or "Born again Lucifer follower". I would guess that the brother who implied that on FR was more frustrated at not being able to refute some of your debate points. He obviously did not understand the Son of Perdition thing or was just taking a jab.

My mother was the most Christlike person I know. She was also a little outspoken. She wasn't rebellious but she was extremely smart, spiritual and was just one of the types of people who was curious about everything. If she for example asked about some point of Doctrine or Policy of the church, some church members felt it was their job to try to refute some point she had made or question that she had even asked as if she was "doubting God". Some people can be very judgemental. Most people I have met who are ready to condemn others have personal issues themselves. (Unrighteous Dominion).

I think another qualification for being a son of perdition is to either be a personal witness of Christ as Judas was or to have your calling and election made sure. (An obscure doctrine most Saints don't really understand) There is a difference between having the gift of the Holy Ghost and leaving the Church versus committing the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost.

Stephen L. Robinson has written a very good book about conversion to Christ. "Believing Christ the Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News." In it he discusses how his wife was trying to be perfect and doing works instead of focusing on the grace of Christ. She came close to a nervous breakdown. He realized she had missed the point about Christ even though she was raised a Church member. One point you understand now about Christ is his Grace. As a Mormon you may have fell into the same pickle as Robinson's wife by getting lost in the details. And there are a lot of details to keep track of. It is easy to wrongly feel unworthy or that you are not doing enough as a Mormon. but these types of feelings are contrary to Christ's message (even to Mormons). He commands us to be perfect in the Bible. but of course he was the only one who is perfect. We become perfect by uniting with him. We still have faults and commit sin but by uniting with him since He suffered for our sins he has fulfillled Justice and grants us His mercy.

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