Posted on 08/18/2010 1:22:01 PM PDT by Normandy
By Elder Quentin L. Cook
Earlier this year, Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke to a crowd of 13,000 students at Brigham Young University about the importance of working together to preserve religious freedom. The cardinal's eloquent and poignant speech at the flagship university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was evidence of significant progress in the growing relationships between our faith and other faiths that share similar concerns regarding issues of tremendous importance.
Cardinal George said, "I'm personally grateful that after 180 years of living mostly apart from one another, Catholics and Latter-day Saints have begun to see one another as trustworthy partners in the defense of shared moral principles and in the promotion of the common good of our beloved country."
Becoming partners in the defense of shared moral principles starts with sincere efforts by religious faiths to understand and learn from each other. One of the sweetest experiences I've had is to accompany other faith leaders on tours of our newly built temples, our most sacred buildings, when they are open to the public. As a result, these religious leaders come to know and understand us better. Likewise, we gain a greater understanding and appreciation for their beliefs. It's heartwarming that those of other faiths would take the time to appreciate something that is deeply personal and meaningful to me and other Latter-day Saints.
With this newfound understanding, no faith has a desire to compromise on its doctrine or beliefs. These relationships are not ecumenical; that is, we are not trying to come to an agreement on principles of doctrinal practice, but instead there is a mutual respect for each other's beliefs and a desire to collaborate on important issues where we find common ground.
Finding common ground has translated into interfaith initiatives having lasting, positive effects throughout the world. For three decades, we've worked with other faiths and aid organizations to provide humanitarian aid in 178 countries to those in critical need. As we've partnered with Catholic Charities, Muslim organizations, the Red Cross, and many others, there is joy and excitement that comes from putting into action what we jointly view as good and needed for our fellow men and women.
These interfaith efforts are not limited to Church leadership. The most humbling experience for any ecclesiastical leader is seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ being lived through the membership of the Church. Recently, we sponsored a project where hundreds of thousands of volunteers from community and faith-based organizations worked together in an unprecedented single day of service across eleven Southern states to bring relief to those struggling because of the economic downturn. In one project, half a dozen religious leaders worked together to build a home for Habitat for Humanity.
Similarly, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, members of our Church and other faiths spontaneously rose to the occasion to help relieve the suffering. This was so fittingly illustrated when a United Methodist congregation in Slidell, Louisiana, graciously offered their church as a place to sleep to Mormon volunteers from Houston, Texas. When the congregation arrived for services on Sunday, they found that the Mormons had cleared trees and other debris from their churchyard. As a show of thanks, our members also mounted their hurricane-damaged flag as a keepsake and flew a new banner from the flagpole. During the shared worship service, the pastor voiced a feeling of unity shared by those of both denominations: "The Mormons are now our friends."
Whether it is helping the victims of disaster through humanitarian aid, providing relief to communities in economic need, or supporting religious liberty, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members often stand shoulder to shoulder with other faiths. The future of Mormonism in the public sphere will, in part, be a shared one as we work with other like-minded faiths to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ in reaching out to our fellow citizens.
Elder Quentin L. Cook has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since October 6, 2007. Prior to being called to full-time church service, he was a business lawyer, a managing partner of a law firm in the San Francisco Bay area, and a healthcare executive. He has also been a board member of several profit and not-for-profit corporations. He received a B.A. in political science from Utah State University, and a J.D. from Stanford University.
for non-Hebrew readers...
Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD: * 5 and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thine heart: 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
* Or, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Or, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.
God says that unlike every nation surrounding Israel - with their pantheons of gods, like modern mormonism - God was the only Lord. Israelites were to be MONOTHEISTIC and not polytheistic or henotheistic.
Mormonism has failed before it ever started at the most basic lesson.
Good day, ampu
In the New Testament, we learn more about Jesus’ relationship to his Father. We constantly read of Jesus praying to his Father (not talking to himself), and referring to the Father as being separate from himself.
On at least three occasions the Father’s voice is heard speaking from heaven while Jesus is on earth: at the baptism of Jesus, on the mount of Transfiguration, and at Bethany shortly before the crucifixion.
He prays to his Father that his disciples might be one, “Even as we are one” (John 17:22) He says my “Father is greater than I” (John 14:28)
He tells Mary Magdalene that he was going to ascend to “My Father and your Father, my God and your God” (John 20:17)indicating that there is a similarity between his own relationship with the Father and Mary’s.
I find the belief that the Father and the Son as being separate individuals, but completely united in purpose is entirely biblical.
Regards,
Normandy
“We constantly read of Jesus praying to his Father (not talking to himself), and referring to the Father as being separate from himself.”
... No. The Father is a separate Person - nowhere does it ever say a separate being.
“On at least three occasions the Father’s voice is heard speaking from heaven while Jesus is on earth: at the baptism of Jesus, on the mount of Transfiguration, and at Bethany shortly before the crucifixion.”
... Yes, but that is perfectly understandable, since Jesus had a physical body and chose to lay aside the usage of some of his divine attributes while on earth. That is no proof that He was not THE SAME GOD, but a different person.
“He prays to his Father that his disciples might be one, “Even as we are one” (John 17:22) He says my “Father is greater than I” (John 14:28)”
... Position. The entire context shows He was praying the disciples would share unity as He and the Father share unity.
“He tells Mary Magdalene that he was going to ascend to “My Father and your Father, my God and your God” (John 20:17)indicating that there is a similarity between his own relationship with the Father and Mary’s.”
... You mistake similarity with identical sameness. It never says what you imply.
“I find the belief that the Father and the Son as being separate individuals, but completely united in purpose is entirely biblical.”
... Nowhere have you shown any Biblical proof that your view is even =>possible<= ... let alone plausible or probable. Your mormon view is without Biblical evidence and stands in opposition to what the Bible reveals. In short, it is Biblically impossible.
... What you did was take your mormon idea, find passages you could copy that use similar words and then conclude the mormon idea was in the passage.
... Mormon see and say.
It is all you guys do on these threads BM.
ampu
HA HA HA!!.
This post alone contradicts your screenname in it's entirety.
Why don't you check my posting history "lady"? Then try to sling that muck at me and see if it sticks.
I wonder, are the active mormonism apologists at FR getting talking points memos now? ... We could almost make a list of phrases they repeat, and ... oh, never mind. I’m just an anti-mormonism poster don’tchaknow.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Roger.
The tactics are desperate.
They might as well start implementing Godwin’s Law for all the good it’s going to do them.
I note that the original poster of that garbage has not replied to any who replied or challenged her.
Amateur hour must have been reinstituted.
That's what the muslims say after terrosrits bombings. But they never denounce them.
Do you denounce the the "independed" thoughts of your church's early prophets, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young?
Then denounce them as false.
Hi LL, it's been a while!
Just wanted to point out that that's a nice thing, working on society's problems. Fine for LDS, they beleive non-LDS get another chance after death. Christians know the truth - that one must choose BEORE death, and then it's too late.
So we're a little less concerned about "doing good for society" here on earth. What good are treasures in heaven if you're not the to claim them?
Here's the crux indeed. And in all such matters, we are to hold it up the the only standard of truth we have on this earth: The bible.
Epic fail.
And since they are not, we should be fighting them with every weapon we have, without cease.
That's because they are used to seeing it that way in scripture (/gag)
“Hey, those are just OPINIONS!” (/sarc)
Norm, I’m really disappointed that you, who seem to have really put at least a minimal amount of thought and study into this, would just shut down and withdraw.
C’mon man, use the brain that God gave you!
Hi TM4,
I think I understand where you are coming from, you have formed your opinion about Mormonism, but I think fighting against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a waste of effort and counterproductive.
People have been trying to bring down this work from the very beginning. I know the church to be of God. It has a mission to to good in the world, to lead people to Christ, to uplift and strengthen to weak and the weary, to alleviate suffering, to promote religious freedom, to encourage people to repent of sin and follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.
I’m not sure why this is considered so evil.
But no matter what people do to try and stop its progress it will be ineffective.
I agree with this statement from Brigham Young:
“Every time you kick “Mormonism” you kick it upstairs; you never kick it downstairs. The Lord Almighty so orders it.”
I would suggest that if you don’t like Mormonism, you let it alone. If it were the work of man, or of the devil it would whither away or self-destruct. But if it is of God, you don’t want to be fighting against it. It is hard to kick against the pricks.
Best regards,
Normandy
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