Posted on 08/23/2010 3:19:13 AM PDT by markomalley
The ads are catchy. Upbeat music plays as the surfer, the artist or the skateboarder states his or her beliefs about life.
They all end with, "And I'm a Mormon."
On July 26, Pittsburgh became one of nine test markets for the advertising campaign that cheerfully counters stereotypes of Mormons as straight-laced, white, humorless and sexist. The campaign from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes a revamped website at www.mormon.org.
The ads arrived on the heels of an anti-Mormon backlash by some gay rights activists on the West Coast. But the campaign's designers said it responds only to numerous survey findings that half of Americans don't know a Mormon.
"It's time to reintroduce ourselves," said Scott Swofford, the director of mormon.org.
"We hope the spots portray Mormons as diverse people who are united in their belief in Jesus Christ. ... We hope [Americans] see that Mormons are friendly, charitable, giving to others. We aren't perfect, but our behavior ought to reflect our beliefs."
(snip)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that it is the true church, which God restored in the 19th century, long after other churches had lost the complete message of Jesus. The Book of Mormon, considered by the church to be an equal companion to the Bible, says that ancient Israelites came to the Americas around 600 BC and that the resurrected Jesus visited their descendents in America.
The Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches don't recognize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Christian because it rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. It teaches that God is the father of the spirits of all people born on the earth. Jesus is considered the first of God's spirit children and also God's physical son.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
“I recently accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior and there has been some adjustment required within our household because of that.”
... The sweetest sound on earth. Say it as often on FR as you like. I will enjoy it every single time!
‘I think it goes deeper than just religion, but what Ive found is that many mormons now view me as the enemy.’
... Your choice invalidates their experience, since you knew and rejected their cultic teachings. No wonder they don’t like that!
“I am someone to be avoided because I may poison their thoughts and get them to question their faith.
... As you know, the MORG has to exert total control over the lives of every member. There is no free thought once the leaders have spoken.
“Even my wife has said that we dont have any common ground to work from.”
... Ironic, since they want to claim they have the same Jesus, etc.
... Of course, you have a common life, son, etc.
“I think they also draw strength or a sense of belonging by claiming persecution and victimhood.”
... A common enemy is REQUIRED by all cultic movements - just take a look at Eric Hoffer’s book, True Believer, that examines all kinds of movements - form communism to cults.
“The church also sends the missionaries around to visit with these folks. They came by for me once. Tried to remind me of the covnenants and oaths I had made and the subsequent consequences of not abiding by them.”
... Jesus addresses them, Matthew 23:13 - “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
... 15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.”
... all you can do is love your wife unconditionally - and your son - since you are the only place they will receive unconditional love and acceptance. They certainly won’t get it through the mormonite legal system. People appreciate and value being loved. It may take time. Still, your path is known and you “...can enjoy life with the wife of your youth.
best,
ampu
There are those who receive benefit if the Body of Christ looks foolish in some way or appears at odds with each other and will frame efforts at defending the faith or pointing out heresies as something they aren't...
Huh?
OMG. It sounds like Scientology. Its absolutely none of my business, but how can you love and stay married to someone with this hanging over you both? It sounds unresolvable (is that a word?). You poor life sounds like complete turmoil.
You don’t sound “bitter” at all, at least not in the posts to me. Exactly the opposite...whatever that is. You sound like someone caught in a situation that only provides pain or silence. I can’t imagine how, but I so hope you can find your way into some happiness. Yikes.
Beats me. This one confuses the crap outta me.
Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner. ejonesie22, you are annie sullivan to Deb's helen keller.
It's BIBLICAL:
1 Corinthians 7:12-14
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
Penny -
You have friends here, there are several who are in a very similar situation with the spouse an active mormon. Perhaps you can look / ask discretely around for a Christian Church in your area and may be see if you and your wife just ‘drop in’ to see that there IS a life outside of mormonism. I don’t know if you are in mormon country or not, but there may be a group of exmormon Christians who’ve formed a support group to ease the transition. I could recommend some websites that you could contact and perhaps get local information.
We’ll keep you in our prayers and feel free to Freepmail with any questions or prayer requests or anything else we may be able to do for your and your family.
I would love to talk with you. I am in Utah, and know plenty of support groups in most areas of the State. I will freepmail you.
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