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.
http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol5/iss1/art9/figure13.jpg
Oh so downtown Salt Lake. I’ve seen that eagle many times. Well, what are they so afraid of now? I think they have a few protesters sometimes but big deal.
Where did I ever say that the conservatives who where arrested were Mormon?
I said conservatives are being targeted. Apparently some of us see it and some don’t.
If you are not seeing it, and not preparing for it, that’s your right. But I sure am.
Then writing a letter demanding no contact won’t be a problem. If he doesn’t want contact either then have him sign it as well.
Basically state you and your husband are DEMANDING no contact, that means...and list all contact you get (fast offerings, HTs etc).
Tell them you are no longer a member and you will persue legal action if they continue to harass you. tell them this is effective immediately and there will be no discussion.
Be firm, give them an inch they will take a mile.
I am making the assumption that you are a mormon. As such, have they revoked the statement from the "official" version of the first vision stating that everything outside of mormonism is apostate? Has there been another re-write of the book of mormon changing 1 Nephi 14:10 to cease refering to non-mormon churches as "church of the devil"? Have mormons changed the script that the missionaries bring - calling all other beliefs outside of mormonism as apostate?
If not, then why are you complaining of the factual presentations regarding mormonism presented here? Or can't mormonism withstand examination against Biblical Christianity.
Oh, Nana I am so sorry that you are to stupid to see that Christians are being targeted. You gentile. ,-)
The LDS Church is a cult and cults wield a great amount of control over their subjects.
I've been blessed to attend a Christian Church that actually "taught" the Word of God.
It always amazes me...the folks that don't understand Scripture.
Actually, I did. From the Article itself:
“All translations contain errors. And that includes the KJV.”
The article itself says that the Bible can and IS mistranslated, so I was referring to the comment about “Translation.” You brought other texts into the argument, which I expounded upon. The fact is that when people (like always happens with this crowd), morph a topic from one to another to another, one of two things happen:
1) The respondent isn’t knowledgable or articulate enough to present the other side.
2) The respondent does know enough to have an effective argument, and the “Shell game” continues roving onto other attacks rather than resolving the initial one. That way, the respondent gets occupied, and the original “arguer” (though not technically), never has to concede the other person made a valid argument.
I honestly know that nothing I say will resolve these people’s sad situation, I only counter the arguments because I’m tired of one lying side be presented. If someone were to read what they write, they may initially be repulsed by their vitriol, but over time become desensitized to it. No other religion is attacked thusly on FreeRepublic, and not critic more vehement than an apostate.
But that’s not what the article is about. It’s not about protecting political conservatism, it’s about protecting the LDS church.
>>I am beginning to doubt they are.<<
You can doubt it, but understanding that the Mormons and Catholics worked together in CA to defeat gay marriage, I see things differently.
I’d much rather have an LDS person standing next to me in a secular fight than many of the members of other mainstream religions.
LOL
Sad...
:(
The Bible isn’t false, and you’re no where remotely as skilled a sophist as you believe.
You mean like Romney and Reid?
That’s not what I’m reading.
“It will be about choices — about the advent of a bolder, more self-indulgent popular culture.”
Your dislike of them is clouding your view.
Take LDS out, put Baptist in and then read it.
>>You mean like Romney and Reid? <<
Is every member of your religious organization righteous?
I know mine isn’t.
The article also stressed that the translation errors between the versions are minor and NEVER bring doctrine into dispute.
...unlike LDS “scripture” which was translated by a magic seer stone dropped in the crown of a ratty hat. It is WILDLY divergent from Christian doctrine.
Too bad the stone was a dud at finding buried treasure. If JS had struck it rich, the whole false religion might have never been started.
Sorry you’re sad. Read the Bible! I like Ecclesiastes 3 myself, and 1 Samuel 17. James 4. You may not care, but I don’t dislike you, I don’t look down on you, I don’t think you’re bad. I just think you’re different. But I do recognize tools and tactics and strategies. You’re using ones that work when someone doesn’t know better.
The problem is that no one here is arguing. They’re not presenting fact, and making arguments, they’re expressing opinion. And when people do that, there’ll never be concensus. It’s ok to disagree, I just don’t support the disparaging of ANY religion that does not adovocate violent subjugation of others.
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