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.
Yes, I believe he is separate from the Father — not the same individual
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Norm thats at least TWO gods...
Thats polytheism ...
Mormons can believe what they want to...
Just dont call it Christianity...
Norm: Latter-day Saints are not polytheists. We worship God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ.
CC: Let’s see how honest you truly are. Did God have a father?
Norm: I believe he did.
But I worship my God who is my Father.
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No Norm...God did not have a father...
There are no gods berfore our ONE God ...
God Himself has told us so...
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me.” Isaiah 43:10, 11
Courtesy PING to 263
Yea, and thats the problem.
Think of the Salt Lake Temple as a designer bottle holding a one-of-a-kind fragrance
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Why wouild I think of a pagan building in those terms ???
I believe in God the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ. Two separate individuals that are in perfect harmony and unified in purpose. You may call that polytheism — I see it as Biblical truth.
Jesus prayed that his disciples would be one, just as he and the Father were one. (John 17:21) Clearly his disciples would not be merged into one person - Jesus wanted them to be unified in purpose, heart and mind.
Believing that the foul abomination called polygamy that is degrading to women will get a mormon male into the mormon after life is part of mormonism...
But its not part of Christianity...
Think of the Salt Lake Temple as a designer bottle holding a one-of-a-kind fragrance
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Anyway I go to New York City for my perfume...
http://churchandempire.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-split-evangelical-vote.html
I found a whole load of articles like this one just google it.
That is polytheism whether you like it or not, there is no ambiguity in that, no wiggle room to hide behind for the honest. It is not even close to Biblical truth.
I wish you could step back and see how they are muddying the waters with circular logic and vagaries.
God is very clear through out the bible. He is the only one.
Ironically if you will re read the BOM and really pay attention, the LDS were somewhat trinitarian in approach. That had to go away because if there is only one God, the idea of the LDS males becoming gods themselves goes away. That was and still is a powerful draw to many.
Self interests drives LDS dogma, not Biblical fact.
Would you please stop stating what you THINK we believe
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I always just say what the mormons believe...
Let’s atack mormomnism up against Chrsitianity...
Stop squealing Saundra...
Save your shouts for the roof top...
Mormonism is NOT Christianity
The foul practice of polygamy is not part of Christianity..
Idol worship of the pagan Joey Smith is not part of Christianity...
Multiple gods are not part of Christianity...
A non-virgin Mary is not part of Christianity...
Only males going to Heaven is not part of Christianity...
Males becoming gods is not part of Christianity...
Males ruling their own planet is not part of Christianity...
A priesthood system as practiced by the mormons is not part of Christianity
Women as sex slaves in a harem is not part of Christianity...
Women having babies forever is not part of Christianity...
Women being called from their graves by husbands who decide the woman’s fate is not part of Christianity...
Degradation of women through adultery and so called “celestial marriage” is not part of Christianity...
Three levels of Heaven is not part of Christianity
Sex in Heaven is not part of Christianity…
Men marrying their mother-in-law is not part of Christianity…
Men marrying their daughter-in-law is not part of Christianity..
Men marrying their wife’s sister is not part of Christianity
Joey Smith deciding who gets into Heaven is not part of Christianity...
Joey Smith as the savior is not part of Christianity...
Recognizing and worshipping the blasphemous Joey Smith is not part of Christianty...
Dead dunking is not part of Christianity...
The idol on top of the mormon temples is not part of Christianity...
The mormon temples are not part of Christianity...
Gathering in “zion” whether its in Missouri or Utah is not part of Christianity...
The return of the mormon jesus to Missouri is not part of Christianity...
The belief that the garden of Eden was in Missouri is not part of Christianity...
People living on the sun and the moon is not part of Christianity...
The belief that the mormon jesus visited Central America is not part of Christianity...
Freemasonry as practiced by the mormons is not part of Christianity...
Endowments are not part of Christianity...
The book of mormon is not part of Christianity
The tall tales of Joey Smith are not part of Christianity
Mythical ancient civilizations in Central America are not part of Christianity
The so called “visions” and false prophecies of Joey Smith are not part of Christianity
The mormon Mary having sex with one of the mormon gods is not part of Christianity...
The absence of a cross on a building is not part of Christianity
Pagan and Freemasonry symbols on a building are not part of Christianity
“Going through the temple” is not part of Christianity...
The denial that Jesus is God is not part of Christianity...
The denial that the Holy Ghost is God is not part of Christianity...
The denial of the Trinity is not part of Christianity...
The belief that the mormon god was once a man is not part of Christianity
The belief that the mormon god was a polygamist is not part of Christianity...
The belief that the mormon jesus was a polygamist is not part of Christianity...
The belief that monogamy...one man, one woman...is prostitution is not part of Christianity...
Paying tithes to be saved is not part of Christianity...
Being a member of the mormon corporation is not part of Christianity...
The mormon jesus sweating in the Garden of Gethsemane for “atonement” is not part of Christianity...
The insulting, degrading, blasphemous false religion of mormonism is not Christianity...
I have never stopped MORMONS from practicing their own religion..
They are free to do so...
I do however state once again for the record...
Mormonism is NOT Christianity...
And if that’s considered “nasty” I’m in good company...
Because I’m just agreeing with the God of the Christian Bible...
King James Version included...
That Jesus
Good afternoon resty.
Ok, now.........why did Joe Smith throw acid on Christians at the very foundation of lds?
I believe in God the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ. Two separate individuals that are in perfect harmony and unified in purpose. You may call that polytheism — I see it as Biblical truth
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However thats not found in the Christian Bible
Jesus prayed that his disciples would be one, just as he and the Father were one. (John 17:21) Clearly his disciples would not be merged into one person -
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AH no thats not what that means...
Two separate individuals....Jesus prayed that his disciples would be one, just as he and the Father were one. (John 17:21)
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So which is it ???
ONE God or TWO gods ???
Two separate individuals....Jesus prayed that his disciples would be one, just as he and the Father were one. (John 17:21)
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and what about the Holy Ghost ???
or doesnt He count ???
just a mormon mascot...
a little lap dog...
an annoying extra...
I think that the idea that Jesus Christ and God the Father are one and the same individual is not supported by the Biblical record. Some examples are below.
At the baptism of Christ while Christ was in the river Jordan a voice from heaven states “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. (Matt. 3:7)
On the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus transfigured in the presence of Peter, James and John, a bright cloud overshadowed them and from the cloud a voice spoke saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him”. (Matt 17:5)
Shortly before his crucifixion Jesus prayed, “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 12:28)
Before Stephen was put to death, “he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56)
These passages indicate to me that when Jesus was on earth, his Father was in heaven, and when Jesus returned to heaven, he was with his Father, on the Father’s right hand, but did not become his Father.
Good afternoon resty.
Ok, now.........why did Joe Smith throw acid on Christians at the very foundation of lds?
***
Hello svcw
Joseph Smith Jr the boy of 14 when at the time he received the revelation did not throw acid at Christians Joseph asked a question and received an answer and only related the answer he received from the Lord.
So now many want or try to move the line so it will fit their agenda but that would not be accurate.
One can choose not accept this story, but they cannot change the fact it was God who was displeased.
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