They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious Bigotry, alive and well today

Saundra Duffy

[Saundra Duffy]

They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious bigotry, alive and well today

May 4, 2007 - by Saundra Duffy-Hawkins

“I wouldn’t vote for a Mormon for dogcatcher, much less President of the United States!” There’s a lot of that kind of hateful rhetoric going around since Mitt Romney decided to throw his hat in the ring – as if Mormons are some kind of hideous evil monsters. The loudest anti-Mormon shouts, sad to say, are coming from America’s so-called “Christian right”. How can Mitt Romney hope to get a fair shake in this spiritually polluted atmosphere?

There was another man running for President who faced the same dilemma – John F. Kennedy – only he was the target of anti-CATHOLIC bigotry. In his 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, JFK said the following: “. . .I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end - where all men and all churches are treated as equal - where man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice - where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind - and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their words in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood.” John F. Kennedy Library & Museum (Speeches, 1960). By the way, if you listen to the audio version of JFK’s speech, you will hear the hurt and frustration in his voice and the unfair treatment surely must have caused many a sleepless night.

Fast forward to 2007 where JFK might as well have been “whistlin’ Dixie”. The hostility toward Mormons today, in my opinion, is even worse than that suffered by JFK. Although it is said that JFK lost about a million votes to religious intolerance, Romney stands to lose even more if the anti-Mormon evangelicals hang together.

According to Media Matters for America - “. . . a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media” - FOX News is not reporting accurately on the level of evangelical hostility to the Romney run. Media Matters for America points out that among evangelical leaders rejecting Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson (National Day of Prayer and Focus on the Family, respectively), the Southern Baptist Convention (collectively), Pat Robertson (Christian Broadcasting Network), and Dr. D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida). “Among many conservative evangelicals – who comprise a significant part of the Republican base – Mormonism is considered an un-Christian cult.” Media Matters for America (2007)

While stumping in Florida, a man in the audience stood up during the Q&A portion and said the following to Romney: “You, sir, you’re a pretender. You do not know the Lord. You’re a Mormon.” Media Matters for America (2007). This is the kind of un-American, disrespectful treatment Mitt Romney will apparently have to endure throughout the entire campaign – as if just being a Mormon is reason enough to open the floodgates for free flow of pent-up hatred and vindictiveness.

For the record, the Mormon bashers know full well that the official name of Romney’s church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” and the members should rightfully be called “members of the LDS Church” but the words “Mormon” and “Mormonism” have an aura of negativity so they prefer to use the “M” word as if it were dirty.

Less than five minutes cruising around the official LDS website (LDS.org) will show anyone who’s interested that the Church is a Christian organization, with Jesus Christ at the Head. There are no paid clergy – all are volunteers. Humanitarian aid is legendary. Members of the LDS Church believe in strong family values; they are patriotic, they are law-abiding upstanding citizens of their community. Many LDS young men right out of high school go on two-year missions – you know, the guys on bikes – and during their mission they don’t date, read newspapers, go to movies or watch TV; but rather they dedicate two years of their lives to serving others. Many women go on missions as well, and couples, only theirs is 18 months in length but the obligations are basically the same. Most members do not shop or go out to eat on Sundays – reminiscent of the good old days when shops and stores were closed in obedience to the Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. If they can help it, LDS Church members do not work on Sundays, either, preferring to spend the day at church and with their families. Church members are encouraged to store up a year’s supply of food and water so they will be able to care for their families in the event of an emergency. The LDS Church believes in self-sufficiency and self-reliance but in the event of a financial hardship the Church distributes food and supplies through their welfare (Bishop’s Storehouse) program. Members of the LDS Church do not drink alcohol nor do they use illicit drugs; they do not drink coffee and tea. A Mormon in good standing, therefore, will not be found in a drunken stupor puking her guts out at 3 a.m. anywhere in the world. Furthermore, members of the church are encouraged to dress modestly, be polite and courteous. And members of the LDS Church are faithful tithe payers. Come on, people, what’s not to love?

So what on earth is their beef, the anti-Mormon zealots? Why is there such disdain for the LDS Church and its members? In Hugh Hewitt’s book, “Mormon in the White House?” he states his thesis that the fierce anti-Mormon sentiment among main-stream Christians stems from one or two or all three of the following factors (in order of importance):

1) “It is just too weird.

2) “A Mormon president will supercharge Mormons’ missionary work.

3) “If there is a Mormon in the White House, Salt Lake City will call the shots, at least on the biggest issues.” Hewitt (2007, p. 221-227)

Hugh Hewitt has written an exquisite book about the Romney campaign and overcoming the “Mormon problem.” It’s a good read and I highly recommend it. Of the three problem points listed in the previous paragraph, Hewitt believes – unless some unforeseen blunder destroys his chances – none of the three is insurmountable for Mitt Romney. (Plus, he has the best hair.)

Well, I’m no Hugh Hewitt, not even close; he’s an icon on the conservative radio talk show circuit. Hewitt could talk circles around me (I’ve seen him in action in Sacramento); he’s brilliant; he’s well educated, well read, no doubt a genius, plus he’s kind of cute. I’m basically a “nobody” – an overweight grandma – but after having researched for this paper, I have come to a totally different conclusion as to why there is such in-your-face angst over Romney’s religion of choice: It’s all about money, power and control (in that order). I think they’re (the evangelical religious bigots, that is) scared half to death and are revving up their attacks, not to save souls, but to save their reputations (which if tarnished would lead to financial ruin).

As I said, all one must do is browse around the LDS official web site to see what the LDS Church believes and stands for. Any reasonable person would conclude that Mormons are not evil monsters at all. In fact, they are God fearing, Christ believing, Holy Ghost following people going about doing good. “You will know them by their fruit” and the LDS has plenty of fruit and they are willing to share.

Earlier, I stated that some high-powered ministries have publicly condemned Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson, the Southern Baptist Convention, Pat Robertson, and Dr. D. James Kennedy – just to name a few. There are hoards of others. Sunday after Sunday, preachers, evangelists, reverends and ministers from all Christian denominations pound the pulpit with anti-Mormon rhetoric. I heard the message loud clear when I was a Baptist and when I tiptoed through evangelical/Pentecostal territories. Was I ever miffed when I later learned for myself the Gospel truth about the LDS Church.

Just think about it, please. If Dr. D. James Kennedy, for example, who wrote the book, The Wolves Among Us, were to admit he’d been wrong in labeling the LDS Church a “cult” that leads unwary ignorant people astray (to hell), what would become of his multi-million-dollar ministry? Suffice it to say, there’s big money to be had by sale of books, tapes, CD’s, videos, and other anti-Mormon propaganda, not to mention speaking engagements and world-wide religious crusades. We’re talking trillions, all told. I realize the anti-Mormon aspect of these ministries is but a small portion of the business, but if the truth came out, that they had been using falsehoods about the LDS Church as a cash cow, their entire empires could tumble.

The ABC News program 20/20 aired on March 23, 2007, exposed the lavish lifestyles of some of the top evangelical preachers – million dollar mansions and personal jets. ABC News - 20/20 (2007) (Again, the LDS Church has no paid clergy.)

It’s nothing new. Severe harassment and persecution has been the lot of the LDS Church since it’s inception in 1820 when a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw visions and communed with heavenly beings. Rather than discuss the spiritual aspects of the LDS Church, however, let’s stick to facts of history. Taken from a college-level early American history textbook, Joseph Smith, upon experiencing the visions and visitations, believed “that God had work for me to do, and that my name should be for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 292). The textbook continues, “They were met with hostility virtually everywhere they went . . . . As the movement gathered momentum, hundreds of people joined the church; entire congregations of churches of other faiths joined . . .” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 293)

During the dark time of American history when slavery was flourishing and when Native Americans were forced from their lands, the pioneers of the LDS Church also suffered at the hands of unscrupulous politicians, governmental leaders, and angry hate-filled mobs. “In the face of relentless persecution, Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, had led his flock to Illinois. There they had established the town of Nauvoo, which by the mid-1840’s had become the largest city in Illinois with over 15,000 people. . . In June 1844, a mob of non-Mormons broke into the jail where Smith was being held and killed both him and his brother. . .The Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in the spring of 1846 as anti-Mormons pounded the town with cannon, destroying the Great Temple. In a well-coordinated migration, 15,000 Mormons moved in stages to the Great Salt Lake.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 334-335) Many walked all the way and many died along the way, including innocent babes.

Joseph Smith at one time was tarred and feathered by a mob. No jury, no trial, no judge – and they had planned to castrate him, too. On October 27, 1838, the then governor of Missouri issued an “extermination order”: “The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary . . .” Far West History (n.d.) Please note that the order called for exterminating “Mormons” making no distinction between men, women and children, and indeed women and children were subject to the extermination order.

In an event known in LDS history as “the Haun’s Mill Massacre”, precipitated by the extermination order, 30 to 40 LDS families were surprised by some 200 to 250 militia. After the smoke cleared, seventeen LDS people lay dead including a ten-year-old boy. Thirteen LDS members were wounded including a woman and a seven-year-old boy. “A few Missourians returned the next day and took plunder.” LDS FAQ (n.d.) No Missouri militiamen were killed but three were wounded. Just a few years earlier, the LDS folk who died that day had been members of other churches - Congregational or Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian.

In l976, Governor Bond of Missouri officially rescinded the extermination order and presented apologies for the “unfortunate developments” it caused. Quoting from Governor Bond’s Executive Order: “WHEREAS, Governor Boggs’ order clearly contravened the rights to life, liberty, property and religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State of Missouri; and . . . Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering rescind Executive Order Number 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor W. Boggs. . .” Far West History (n.d.) The individuals who harassed, abused, and even murdered Mormons in cold blood were never tried for their crimes.

I read Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and it really touched my heart. There he was, suffering for the Lord in jail, and these religious leaders with highfalutin titles on the outside wrote an open letter (“A Call for Unity”) in which they criticize King’s tactics and basically blame King for the racial turmoil of the time. Though you can tell King is upset and hurt by the attack – made worse because he’s stuck in jail and can’t confront the religious leaders face-to-face – his response is gentle genius. “I wish you had commended the Negro sit-inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 881)

King has a few choice words for the Church, too: “If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 880)

King signs off with “Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood”.

There’s an eerie commonality between what JFK and MLK endured at the hands of the religious bigots of their day and what Mitt Romney is facing today. I hope and pray that Romney will be able to fend off these undeserved attacks from the religious hypocrites with the same grace, dignity and God-inspired resolve displayed by the other two.

A few popular bumper stickers read: “Honk if you love Jesus” and “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Jesus is my co-pilot”. Yet, apparently, these same bumper-sticker Christians are the ones waging war against Mitt Romney’s run for the Presidency solely on the basis of his chosen faith in a Church that bears the name of the Savior of the world.

References

ABC News - 20/20 (2007). Philanthropic donations come from your heart, but where do they end up? Ex-money manager says "enough!" to secretive Christian Ministry spending. Glenn Ruppel & John Stossel. United States: ABC News.

Ayers, E. L., Gould, L. L., Oshinsky, D. M., & Soderlund, J. R. (2004). American Passages - a history of the United States - Volume I: to 1877 (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Barnet, S., & Bedau, H. (2005). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Current Issues and Enduring Questions - a guide to critical thinking and argument, with readings (7th ed., pp. 867-882). Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Far West History. (n.d.). The Extermination Order and how it was rescinded. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from http://www.jwha.info/mmff/exorder.htm

Hewitt, H. (2007). A Mormon in the White House? 10 things every American should know about Mitt Romney. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. (1960, September 12). Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://www.jfklibrary.org

Lds Faq. (n.d.). What was the Haun's Mill Massacre? Retrieved April 28-2007, 2004, from Brigham Young University Web Site: http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=57

Media Matters for America. (2007). Fox News whitewashes evangelical hostility to Romney's faith. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200702280002

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Jesus Christ was murdered on the cross by politicians, lawyers and religious leaders who thought killing him would destroy his religion, the were wrong. would you follow such a weak person?

To call Jesus weak, and to lable him as a person, shows how far you have fallen from the mark. I really have nothing else to say to you, now.

[colorcountry]

I do however find it sad that you take a personal tragedy and make it our fault.

Please do not ascribe motive to me. I left the Church because it is deceptive and anti-christian. What you have done is in violation of the policies of FreeRepublic. Don't do it again.

[DelphiUser]

Any religion that teaches that Jesus was a created being, the brother of Satan, and that the members of that religion themselves will become gods who control their own universe someday is definitely not Christian no matter what’s in their “title” and can’t be compared with Catholicism, which isn’t a cult.

LOL technically any organized religion is a cult.

Did you know that up until the First council at Nice these views were common in the catholic church?

When Constantine (the emperor of Rome) called council of Bishops, he was not even a Christian, but a pagan politician who wanted to use Christianity to unite his empire. He needed the Christians to cease fighting and called a council (with the implied threat of death for non attendees) He offered the carrot of lifting the ban on Christians and making it the state religion. The Roman Catholic Church and the Nicene Creed is what you got from that. A creed designed to appeal to the masses of pagans Constantine wanted to become “Catholics”. It’s a matter of history, here, go look it up at the catholic web site The First Council at Nicaea

Jesus Christ and Satan and us being brothers and created spiritually by God before time, look up Arius, and the Arian Controversy (just Google it) Hippolytus, the great grandson of John the beloved wrote a series of books called “Refutation of All Heresies” I love the summation of book X (ten), here is the quote:

you shall escape the worm that ceaselessly coils for food around the body whose scum6 has bred it. Now such (torments) as these shall you avoid by being instructed in a knowledge of the true God. And you shall possess an immortal body, even one placed beyond the possibility of corruption, just like the soul. And you shall receive the kingdom of heaven, you who, while you sojourned in this life, knew the Celestial King. And you shall be a companion of the Deity, and a co-heir with Christ, no longer enslaved by lusts or passions, and never again wasted by disease. For you have become God:7 for whatever sufferings you underwent while being a man, these He gave to you, because you were of mortal mould, but whatever it is consistent with God to impart, these God has promised to bestow upon you, because you have been deified, and begotten unto immortality.7 This constitutes the import of the proverb, "Know yourself; "i.e., discover God within yourself, for He has formed you after His own image. For with the knowledge of self is conjoined the being an object of God's knowledge, for you are called by the Deity Himself. Be not therefore inflamed, O you men, with enmity one towards another, nor hesitate to retrace7 with all speed your steps. For Christ is the God above all, and He has arranged to wash away sin from human beings,7 rendering regenerate the old man. And God called man His likeness from the beginning, and has evinced in a figure His love towards you. And provided you obey His solemn injunctions, and becomest a faithful follower of Him who is good, you shall resemble Him, inasmuch as you shall have honour conferred upon you by Him. For the Deity, (by condescension,) does not diminish anything of the divinity of His divine7 perfection; having made you even God unto His glory!7

There is actually quite a lot of support for Mormon Doctrine that does not come from the Mormon church.

I am glad you would be willing to Vote for Romney, I am glad you seem to have something of an open mind, her is information, go learn and you will never have to quote what you were told again.

MHO only knowing what we have been told makes us sound like a liberal, and I for one hate sounding like that!

P.S. you might want to check out Fred Thompson, that’s who I am pulling for.

[DelphiUser]

I see many Christians wearing magical crucifixes. Magical?

I think you just shot yourself in the foot.

I think that was satire on the "Magical Underwear" comment.

Maybe a /humor tag was in order.

[DelphiUser]

A certain type of undergarment is supposed to protect from demonic spirits."

No, I'm not joking.

No cloth will protect you, covenants with God on the other hand which Garments are to remind you of will protect you. No, I’m not joking either.

[andysandmikesmom]

I do not really know any Mormons, nor had any experiences with them...but my parents had an experience with them, that I wish to relate...

Before I begin, I will say, that many on this thread today, probably have disagreed with me quite strenuously on other matters such as the Terri Shiavo case, and in the evolution/creation/ID debates...

That being said, I will still present my story of my parents encounter with some fine Mormons, and please, take my story for its face value, and not with any other baggage one might see attatched to me, for disagreements in the past, that I have had with other posters...

Almost 20 years ago is when this occurred...my dad was not feeling well, and had not been well for some time...my mom, was at the time in early state Alzheimers...we did not know this at the time...dad tho, sensed something was wrong with her...now he felt something was wrong with him...mom did not drive and so my dads sister took dad, and mom to the doctor...after some tests and whatever, dad was diagnosed with cancer...

My dads sister brought my parents home, and then she left...my parents were now left to ponder their future, and how dads treatment would affect their lives...it was a sobering and sad moment...they lived in one state, I lived in another...they had just gotten home from the doctors and were getting ready to call me, to let me know what had happened...

About that time, two young Mormon gentlement, in their evangelizing rounds stopped at mom and dads house and introducted themselves...mom, a life long Methodist, said, no thanks, we are Methodist, we dont intend to change to being Mormons, and she was ready for them to leave, distraught as she was...but these two fellas noticed something not right with my parents, and asked if they could help...so mom invited them in,and I suppose since they were the ones there at the time, mom just broke down crying and poured out her heart to these two young men...dad I guess was also crying...to be sure, this was a sad sight...

These two Mormon gentlemen, then proceeded to tell mom and dad, that they would help my parents until I arrived to help care for them...mom told these men she was going to call me, and she was sure, I would be arriving in a few days...these two fine Mormons, set about making life easier for my parents, until I got there...they checked in each day, several times a day with my parents...

They mowed my parents lawn...they watered the flowers....they watered the grass...they went to the store, they helped with some of the household chores, they did anything and everything they could to help mom and dad hold on until I got there...

Once I arrived, these two fine Mormon fellas just went on their way...now, they knew from the outset, witnessing to my parents about the Mormon faith, would not produce any results...mom told them so upfront, and I suspect they believed her..they could have gone on their way, going to other homes, preaching their faith, and could have just forgotten all about my mom and dad..

But the point of this long story, is that these two fine Mormons did not forget about my mom and dad...they took it upon themselves, without being asked, to be my parents special guardian angels, until I arrived...they had no hope of converting my parents, they surely sacrified their time helping these two elderly people, that they barely knew..yet they seemed to believe that helping my parents was something God called them to do, regardless of the sacrifice needed on their part, and so they did provide my parents with much needed help...

They did not seek to convert my parents, they did not seek to pass out any literature, they did not seek to tell my parents the history of the Mormon church..what they did seek out to do, was to help two scared, frightened, elderly people at a time in their lives, when they so very badly needed someone to help them over the hump, until I arrived to deal with the situation...

Isn’t it possible, that should Mitt Romney become President, that he could act as these two Mormon gentlemen who helped my parents?...had anyone not known that these two fellas were Mormons, they would have thought instead, here were just two fine fellas doing what was right for two old people who needed their help...they never brought their religious beliefs per se, into the mix...in other words, they ‘lived’ their religious beliefs, rather than just ‘talking’ about their religious beliefs...

Cant Mitt Romney do the same thing?....couldnt he live up to the expectations of being a fine president, not because he choses to bring his religious beliefs as a Mormon to the White House, but rather because his Mormon beliefs have made him the man that he is today?

Personally I think that Mitt Romney is completely capable of being a fine president, and that those who wont even discuss the possibility of Miss Romney being President, merely because he happens to be a Mormon, are doing him a great disservice...

Sorry for such a long post, but I just felt it was necessary to show where my thinking is coming from...

[DelphiUser]

>What class was it in, “How to use hyper-emotional hyperbolic rhetoric to play the victim’s role”????

Why, are you teaching one?

Welcome to the thread NNN.

[Degaston]

I am proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I too am a member of the LDS church. In fact I'm technically a High Priest. I was ordained such on my 28th birthday in 1999. But I do see that the Mitt's membership in the LDS church is causing him some problems in his presidential bid. He's been a Bishop and Stake President so he's definitely deep in it. And frankly I think he'd be a great U.S. President. But he's hampered by the mistrust that people have towards the church. Why this mistrust? Because the church's history is so new/recent and full of problems. Look how Brigham Young covered up the Mountain Meadow Massacre. Today the church still won't admit the obvious facts in this incident. As a boy I was misled in Seminary on the facts. Look how they cover up their involvement in polygamy. How many church members know that Wilford Woodruff and his son Owen Woodruff (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve) took additional plural wives after 1890? How many know that Spencer W. Kimball's father-in-law took additional wives after 1890? So did Mitt Romney's great-grandfather Miles. The gospel says that if you make a mistake that you must repent. Well I agree and it starts with church historians doing this.

[greyfoxx39]

Regardless, without Utah, there would be no Bush administration in the White House.

You gotta be kidding.

Even discounting Utah, it would be difficult to believe that the Mormon voters of Florida did not provide far more than the margin of 500 votes for our victory in 2000.

Oh, I see! You ARE kidding.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Saundra, did you know that your fellow Mormon sevenbak does not pray the same way that you do?

[colorcountry]

I agree with you. Mormon missionaries are trained to convert people with loving acts. If you don’t believe me watch the PBS documentary (second night).

I was taught as a young LDS girl to “always be a missionary.” In fact it is the calling of every single LDS individual. Mormons are castigated when their lack of righteous living leads someone astray (away from mormonism).

Here are some links from the official LDS website, to back my observations. http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=dfe9e2270ed6c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=c9c46169b62fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

A gospel-sharing (proselyting) home is one in which neighborhood children love to play, making it natural to invite them and their family to attend church, a family home evening, or some other activity. Teenagers visiting a gospel-sharing home feel comfortable asking questions or participating with the family in prayer.

A sister in France was asked about the secret of her success. She said, “I simply share my joy. I treat everyone as if they were already a member of the Church. If I’m standing by someone in line and strike up a conversation, I share with them how much I enjoyed my Church meetings on Sunday. When co-workers ask, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ I do not skip from Saturday night to Monday morning. I share with them that I went to church, what was said, and my experiences with the Saints. I talk about how I live, think, and feel.”

andyandmikesmom, Mormonism teaches that every member should use any oportunity and any means necessary to convert people. So do Christians. But don’t assume there was no ulterior motive in the actions of these young men. They are sent on Mission precisely to do what they did for your parents. This is one of their “methods of operation.” They were doing their job, and doing it very well.

One of the prime motivators might be that they will not achieve the Celestial glory (to live with the Father) without performing these works. Much of Mormonism is composed of perfect obedience to laws....one of which is missionary work.

[andysandmikesmom]

I appreciate your reply..whatever their motivations, these two men provided a fine service to my parents and to me...they alleviated the worry that I had about not being to be there immediately with my parents..as I said, I lived in one state, my parents in another, I had to make travel plans, I had to make plans for my family to operate smoothly without my being there, and that all took a couple of days...

My mom would call me and tell me not to worry...they had their ‘gentlemen’ helpers, who were there to assist them until I got there...that certainly alleviated any fears and worries I had...

Whatever their motivations, they were two of the finest men in this world, as far as I am concerned...and if what they did was a part of their missionary work, then I say, job well done...

[colorcountry]

I would say there job was well done also.

Look at how you view Mormons in response to their acts. They garnered precisely the result they set out to achieve. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you call the Church and request additional information on the LDS religion.

If so, then we Christians have failed in our duty toward you and your parents. We should be very aware of our own failings.

[George W. Bush]

Look for the Mormons to propagate the Religious Bigotry card as the Kennedy's did in the 1960 election. Let's all see how it works for them.

Other than Mormons here at FR using Romney as their personal soapbox for grievances, I've seen nothing of the sort. The first big downside I see in nominating Romney is that FreeRepublic would become all-Mormonism-all-the-time. It would be a Mormonorama extravaganza. Well, I suppose management could deal with it.

Romney does not appear to be especially religious. He has said, when asked, that every church has its own peculiar beliefs and said it in such a way as to indicate that he knows Mormonism is a little odd and that he might not agree with entirely. He almost, but didn't quite, blush.

To tell the truth, I think Romney is much more drawn to it for the Scouting and the focus on family life and community. I don't perceive him as being very theological. For one thing, that would be highly unusual in any corporate CEO type. That just doesn't fit their mold and the culture of corporate America. Corporate America genuinely dislikes profound religious convictions.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Did you know that there is a standing admonition against personal attacks?

[George W. Bush]

I think that was satire on the "Magical Underwear" comment.

So do the Mormons have something like a Mormonia's Secrets lingerie catalog? Is it worth getting a copy?

[DelphiUser]

It has happened. Clinton was elected because he wore briefs. Evidently not nearly as often as he should have. :)

You are Bad my FRiend, but bad in a good way. LOL!

[colorcountry]

You were told to stop needling each other. Were you not?

This following other posters to other threads to harrass them needs to stop Delphi.

[DelphiUser]

"You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.

Are you certain that if Romney took the presidential oath of office it would supersede this oath?

Are you seriously saying that if a member of the Mormon Church gets into office that they will subvert the constitution and give the U.S. Treasury to the church? (Not that it has much but IOUs to the SS program in it now anyway.) If not please explain exactly what you mean by this.

What exactly is it you think a Mormon president would do wrong because of his oaths?

[colorcountry]

Romney does not appear to be especially religious. He has said, when asked, that every church has its own peculiar beliefs and said it in such a way as to indicate that he knows Mormonism is a little odd and that he might not agree with entirely. He almost, but didn't quite, blush.

To tell the truth, I think Romney is much more drawn to it for the Scouting and the focus on family life and community. I don't perceive him as being very theological. For one thing, that would be highly unusual in any corporate CEO type. That just doesn't fit their mold and the culture of corporate America. Corporate America genuinely dislikes profound religious convictions.

Then perhaps he has you fooled. Romney has been a Bishop, Stake President, and is currently a High Priest in the order of Melchezedek. He is a very high ecclesiastical leader in the LDS Church. His office of Stake President is higher than that of Priest in a Catholic Church or Pastor in a Protestant Church. He was over many different Church Wards. Don't be fooled by his "almost" blush. He is very well steeped in Mormon doctrine, and abides by it's tenets to the "T."