Dear Stourme,
Thanks for your reply. I sincerely appreciate your devotion to your religion. I’m not sure why some of the Mormon faith have a way of finding imaginary insult when indeed none exists. I do, however, understand the anger.
I would be angry knowing that I’ve been lied to and led to believe the impossible: that I could accept a “cultist” atmosphere as being sincerely tied to God, and thereafter, I could become as God Himself, or a god of my own choosing - on a planet of my own - assuming I’m male (which I’m not).
I assure that if you were to seek out the Truth, you would find its (Mormonism’s) foundations unacceptable to the Way.
As to your reply. You quoted so much of the Mormon “scripture” that put me to the task of reading not only Mormon sites but posts of what some Mormons call “anti” here on FR and elsewhere. I could devote a lot of time on this term (“anti”) alone as to the psychological effect so much so that it would need a thread of its own. I’ll leave that be for time’s sake.
The D&C, Book of Mormon, etc. , cited by you and others of your religion does little - actually nothing - to sway me. I am Christian. I have read loads of the Mormon history and way, and always walk away feeling dirty because of its having been produced by polygamists, criminals, etc., and having wasted dear time that could have been spent in the Holy Bible.
This, surely, comes as no surprise to you if you’ve indeed read the very basics of Mormon history.
Please do not mistake this as an insult, rather take it as a truth to those trying to mesh Mormonism with Christianity: The Koran is an equivalent.
It (the Koran), sides with “God” when necessary to convert others in the beginning. Then, lo and behold, and not known to the unsuspecting, the serpent slides in and seeks to destroy and take away the believer from God in such a sly way so subtle and so easily acceptable because its evil is enwrapped in the Word — added therein are the words of men who are nothing less than slayers of the soul.
Do you believe that Joseph Smith’s (founder) preaching of polygamy (later rejected by other church leaders) was right or wrong? Which is it in the mind of current Mormons?
Who was right? J. S. or the others following him? Or is that God said, “Hey, I was wrong. I was right when I said it was ok to have multiple wives, but now I realise I was wrong,” ?
The posts of most of your faith are filled with nothing but questions in response to sincere questions. That is unacceptable in adult conversation. Needless to say, it’s difficult to have a decent and intelligent conversation with those who only respond with questions. Always with the shifting.
I will defend my Lord, Jesus the Christ, and His Word as being right forever. I don’t need someone to tell me that God wavers; I believe that to be a personal damnation of the Word of God or, someone saying at heart that they need more, more, more, to prove God. No thanks. You keep it.
Understand, I cannot reject the Word of God. I cannot accept the words of someone who believes that God constantly changes the rules to suit the man writing at the time - no matter what hat he may wear.
I do appreciate your reply. I hope ALL people should come to know Jesus Christ as Lord, but to understand that no one will ever be as He. Perhaps, in short, that should be the test: “Does my religion teach me that I will be equal to my God?”
If so, please, get out of your “church”.
HE is Creator. HE is Savior. HE IS LORD AND EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW. Including yours and mine.
As you said you did with me, I’ve taken the time to read some of your posts. Perhaps I may be booted for saying so, but yours are hostile to Christians and yet you seem to take offense at those speaking (writing) to you in a meek and mild manner.
Stourme, I’ll do as another poster here and “shake the dust off. . . ”.
I wish you the best, however, and hope you read enough here or elsewhere to see the fallacy, lies, and damnation within the words of your Hope Ticket to Heaven, Joseph Smith.
BR
I found redemption though Jesus Christ when I was 19 (33 years ago), and I have stumbled more than a few times along the way. Only recently did I come to terms with a terrible need for approval that was inside me - a need that made me susceptible to being in a cult. Not only to be in one, but to be active and "successful" in it - a pattern of living that had helped make me "successful" in most areas of life.
30+ years ago I was a member of a non-denominational congregation that turned abusive. I had been a member of that congregation for about 4 years when the head pastor changed. The new pastor led the congregation toward a brand of charismatic chaos established by Hobart Freeman. By destructive, I mean a mean a rigid culture that: relegated women to servitude (including my wonderful wife who knew it was bondage from the beginning); demanded rejection of medical treatment (leading to the death of babies); incorporated outrageously false prophecy; sent out large numbers of freshly minted young pastors to travel and speak at meetings over a wide area; and much more. I hang my head in shame now as think of it, and of my part in it, however small.
My wife and I left that church before too long. However, I did not come to terms with how hurt I was for about 20 years. I could not face facts about how painful and destructive it was to me until about 4 years ago. The testimony of recovering Mormons helped me the most. Their testimonies helped me admit to myself that I had been in a cult (though not a Mormon one). Most importantly, their testimonies helped me to see the terrible need for approval that was inside me. Testimonies about the confusion, pain, anger and guilt were very similar to my own experience. Though the theology was quite different, I recognized the controlling and manipulating behavior of the leaders. The denial behavior of the congregation was also very similar (me included - or should I say especially).
By mentioning these things I hope to have partially explained why I choose to post the way I do. My weaknesses and failures allowed me to live in a cult. I lived in pain from it for a long time. I was helped by reading the testimonies of former Mormons. Cults are cults and they're destructive, so I will talk about it in hopes that it helps someone. The truth has set me free, and keeps setting me free.
I've already gone on too long, but there is something else I want to explain: My mother was Roman Catholic and my father converted to Catholicism, though raised Lutheran. I was raised Roman Catholic, and received Baptism at Our Lady of Grace Parish, Ballston Lake, NY. I received First Communion, and Confirmation at Holy Family Parish in Syracuse, NY. I was catechized and otherwise educated in Augustinian tradition through graduation from college at Villanova University. As a boy, I was strongly influenced by the charismatic renewal in the Roman Catholic Church. As I now think about it, I see that the charismatic renewal made it easy for me to look outside the Catholic Church, and I did so as a young man. I was baptized again in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost (as with Roman Catholicism), but this time by full immersion in a public swimming pool in 1978. In the the non-denominational, charismatic chaos of the late 70s, I met my wife-to-be, and we were married in 1982. Even though I would like to discuss returning to Roman Catholic Church, my wife won’t discuss it, period.
The last part may explain why I post in some Catholic threads. I hope that my desire to participate in both Protestant and Catholic threads does not offend anyone. I also hope that I have explained my confession ("denomination").
I’m not sure why some of the Mormon faith have a way of finding imaginary insult when indeed none exists. I do, however, understand the anger.
“cultist”Me too. I realize you're calling me a "cultist" in the most unoffensive manner. I really shouldn't take offense at that.
I assure that if you were to seek out the Truth, you would find its (Mormonism’s) foundations unacceptable to the Way.I cannot believe anyone could say something like this with a straight face.
I could become as God HimselfDo you deny these scriptures exists?
1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Romans 8:16 - 17 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:....notice the "joint-heirs with Christ" and the "glorified together" parts. Glorified together with Christ....that doesn't mean, below Him.
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Do you believe that Joseph Smith’s (founder) preaching of polygamy (later rejected by other church leaders) was right or wrong? Which is it in the mind of current Mormons?He was right.