Posted on 04/15/2010 8:56:50 AM PDT by T Minus Four
Think of the Salt Lake Temple as a designer bottle holding a one-of-a-kind fragrance.
Think of the gardens and buildings of Temple Square as bubble wrap around that container.
Think of the City Creek Center to the south, the Church Plaza to the east, the Conference Center to the north, and the Family History Library and Church History Museum to the west as a firm, sturdy box around all of it.
When something merits that much protection, you have to figure rough bumps and bounces are coming down the road.
I get a feeling the LDS Church sees turbulence ahead -- nasty weather -- and it is making preparations.
It's not about being defensive and keeping things out.
It's about being protective and keeping precious things safe.
When the chilly winds blow, forest creatures gather all that's life-sustaining about them.
Horses in the fields cluster together to stand against the hail.
I feel the LDS Church battening down the hatches for bad weather.
The Tabernacle Choir, which was performing musical versions of Robert Frost poetry and other secular works, now releases CDs filled with songs of faith, assurance and the need to rely on the Divine.
I feel protection is the point behind the long row of sentries -- those Mormon temples -- that stand along the Wasatch -- the new Brigham City temple, new Payson temple, the new remade Ogden temple and all the others.
I feel protect precious things is the point of the new mission statements of LDS businesses, the point for books that are picked for publication and the lessons selected for manuals.
Part of the world would divide and conquer.
The church would gather and protect.
Something uneasy this way comes. Not a vilent clash as in Jerusalem -- where cultures fight openly. We won't be seeing stone throwers in the streets of Salt Lake City.
The battle here won't be about territory.
It will be about choices -- about the advent of a bolder, more self-indulgent popular culture.
The church can see the writing on the wall -- often literally.
And graffiti on the temple will never do.
It's time -- as the old hymn has it -- to "safely gather in, ere the winter storms begin."
The plan is not to force people away.
The plan is to keep what's on the inside safe from harm.
And if that means putting up ramparts and watchtowers, so be it.
Even heaven, if you believe the stories, is a gated community -- not to keep people away, but to safeguard the gentle hearts of those who dwell there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com Jerry Earl Johnston chronicles his take on the Mormon experience in his column “New Harmony,” which appears on MormonTimes.com on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Hi, Godzilla,
Here’s my position, which is shared by all the faithful Latter-day Saints that I know.
Latter-day Saints are not polytheists. We worship God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ.
We believe in salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Our church is led by servants of God who are inspired by the Holy Ghost.
Best regards,
Normandy
Latter-day Saints are not polytheists. We worship God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Let's see how honest you truly are. Did God have a father?
Ty
They would say that based upon their definition of "heaven", non-lds Christians would obtain the lowest 'heaven' or possibly the middle heaven, but will not reach the 'celestial' heaven where men become gods. Jesus' death only granted this 'general' salvation. All the rest depend upon being lds and works.
Latter-day Saints are not polytheists.
______________________________________
So who are God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost to a mormon ???
Christians believe that God is One...
God is a Triune God...the Trinity...
God the Father is God..
Jesus, the Word of God is God..
The Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) is God...
(The holy Ghost is just as much God as Jesus is)
ONE God...Three Persons...
What doo you believe ???
“When something merits that much protection, you have to figure” theres a lot of money involved...
“This is the kind of control over its members that REALLY REALLY ticks me off about the LDS.”
I guess you don’t like Catholics, either. They had strict divorce rules long before LDS.
Not to mention some Baptist churches. A relative of mine got divorced from her husband who ran off with a nurse. She’s a Baptist. Well, she met a man an fell in love. Went to her pastor and wanted to get married in the church. Pastor said “NO” due to divorce status. She left that baptist church and found another baptist church that wasn’t so harsh.
You people need to get over yourselves. If we wanted to, we could pick all the churches apart - plenty of ammo - but you seem to want to pick pick pick at the LDS Church for some unknown strange evil reason.
Fundamental definition Norman - and btw thanks for having the guts at least to provide an answer - polytheism by definition is the belief that there are more than one true god - whether or not you worship them doesn't matter. LDS doctrine teaches that heavenly father has a god, and that god has a god too, ad infinitum, and that the 'gods' created the earth (boa). You recognize heavenly father as one god, you recognize Jesus as another god and the Holy Ghost/Spirit as a third god - three separate gods.
We believe in salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Again, truth in advertizing norman. Mormon definition of salvation #1 is that Jesus' death only purchased a general resurrection of the body, nothing more. Mormon definition #2 refers to exultation - progression to godhood - and that comes through works and grace owed to works. Clearly, mormon 'salvation' does not equal the same definition in Christianity.
Our church is led by servants of God who are inspired by the Holy Ghost.
Follow the prophet, he will never lead you wrong - is that not the saying? why did the prophet lead you wrong about Adam-God doctrine? Blacks in the Priesthood? Polygamy? Too numerous to count other false prophecies? Why doesn't the book of abraham 'translate' correctly as we now know the papyrus reads? Total absence of archaeological support for the lands of the bom.
may seem like shot-gunning, but it is only the tip of the iceberg norman - there is no evidence of inspiration of the Holy Ghost by any of them - and most certainly joseph smith.
My sd, mindreading so early in the thread? Cue weird background music.
I believe he did.
But I worship my God who is my Father.
Would you please stop stating what you THINK we believe. This is what we believe and it is NOT what you THINK we believe:
The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith
Now, please post what YOUR CHURCH believes. Thanks.
So you see, the LDS Church has now tried to redefine the definition of polytheist.
Can you give me a definition of a word defining someone who believes in many Gods but only worships one God?
Do you worship Christ?
Sounds like a man-made creed to me.
Definition of creed:
n.
1. A formal statement of religious belief; a confession of faith.
2. A system of belief, principles, or opinions
And I thought you Mormons hated creeds.
Saundra - words mean things and the definitions of those words provide the context of the statements of faiths. Show me where I have stated that something was lds doctrine or teaching that wasn't the case, hmmmmmm, rather than waste my time with a regurgitation of the lsd statement of faith. I could, time permitting, easily go line by line and expand the definitions to show the 'meat' of those statements. Yep, gotta watch out for that protestant minister hopping around helping the devil dontchaknow.
There’s a perfect unity in the Godhead — Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
I don’t see a belief in these three being separate individuals as constituting more than one true God. They are in perfect harmony.
This is a statement issued by the members of the body where I attend services:
# We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
# We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
# We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate.
# We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
# We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
# We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God.
# We believe that the Lord’s Supper and Water Baptism are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
# We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head.
# We believe that only those who are thus members of the true and invisible Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
# We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs.
# We believe in the personal, and pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
# We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of the unbeliever to judgment and ever lasting conscious punishment.
But Norman, you already posted that you believe God had a Father. Is the Grandfather God and his God also in perfect unity? Did your God the Father belong to two Godheads? One of which included Jesus Christ, but the other included God and his Father God.... ....down the path we go into polytheism, which is a practice you just denied.
I just don’t sit idly always while they lie. I have thanks several of the very people on this thread for their zeal, but asked to stop disparaging one religion because they can’t get over it.
- - - -
Who is lying? I see these accusations often on here against us, but never any proof.
Cant get over it? If you were abused or taken advantage of would you not warn others or seek justice? Really? Would you just ‘walk away’ and not even try?
My agenda is to see people saved from Mormonism and by faith alone is Jesus Christ, not faith in a church.
placemarker
You are redefining the word Polytheism norman, and that is not uncommon among mormons. So if you say you worship 'God' you would have to - by my reading of your statement - be worshiping Jesus and the Holy Ghost/Spirit too. Now this will be news to me - do mormons worship Jesus and the Holy Sprit/Ghost now?
From your own statement of faith "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, . . " the term 'god' is assigned to heavenly father. And the god's don't stop there - according to mormon doctrine and teachings the universe is full of gods ruling over their own planet(s). So please, unity or not between heavenly father, jesus and the holy spirit - they are still three separate gods - with an S - and the acknowledgement of additional gods - by definition (look the definition up some day - it might do your soul good) is polytheism.
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