Silencing Christian Critics of Mormonism

Mormon Research Ministry ^ | Jan 5, 2012 | Sharon Lindbloom

[colorcountry]

A crusade (of sorts) is moving across Facebook. It is targeting pages that are critical of Mormonism. Who the crusaders are is unknown, but it seems reasonable to suggest that they may be Latter-day Saints.

The crusade is aimed at silencing those who disagree with Mormonism. In a broad sense (and from the perspective of many Mormons), this has some biblical support:

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15)

The Facebook crusader’s strategy, however, does not involve “doing good,” nor does it seek to expose what some Mormons would call “the ignorance of foolish people.” The Facebook crusade instead is employing oppressive tactics in order to have critical discussion shut down and/or removed from public view.

Though a bit more complicated than I’ll describe here, the program goes something like this: A site critical of Mormonism is identified by the crusaders; this group of people begin a flurry of reporting, flagging the page’s status updates, videos and comments as “hate speech”; Facebook’s automated response sends warnings to the page owners and Admins, removes flagged “offensive” content, and eventually disables (temporarily) the personal accounts of those who receive sufficient warnings.

Trying to look at things from a Mormon perspective, I can acknowledge how some things posted may be reasonably understood as offensive to a Mormon (e.g., a discussion about sex; namely, the physically sexual relationship between Heavenly Father and Mary. In fact, this Mormon teaching is offensive to me, too!). Due to “one or more reports,” Aaron received a Facebook warning at Christmastime related to his audio series on the Virgin Birth:

But most of the things that have been flagged in this crusade (that I am aware of) reflect mere disagreements between Christians and Mormons regarding spiritual issues. For example, this (subsequently flagged) Facebook comment was posted on December 9, 2011 as part of an ongoing conversation:

“God has provided these tools to validate His truth. While there is an element of faith, I’d say that faith is based on things that are unseen, BUT NOT PROVEN false. Science and history have definitively proved the Book of Mormon not to be [of] God. The Bible holds its own.”

Two more examples, these removed by Facebook:

“Which Jesus, Elizabeth? The created brother of satan or the Un-Creator of all things? God?”

“oh! but one last thing Bobbi…how did you check to make sure that the answer to your prayer was truth?”

According to Facebook policy, the use of a person’s name in comments, even in a response to a comment that person may have previously posted, can be construed as “harassment.” That explains Facebook deleting some of the comments, but it does not explain the initial reporting of these conversational comments. Only a crusade designed to itself harass and silence Mormonism’s critics makes sense.

On December 26th a Christian friend received a warning from Facebook for posting a link to Aaron’s video project, God Never Sinned – Do Mormons Agree? Facebook removed the entire post and threatened the owner of the page with possible loss of his Facebook account. Facebook stated that the video link had been reported, and anything that is “hateful, threatening, or obscene” is not allowed. Yet the God Never Sinned video consists entirely of Mormons responding to a question that clarifies their own individual beliefs. Why flag that as hateful?

All of this sounds a bit un-American, or at least unlike the America envisioned by her Founding Fathers, who placed a premium on freedom of speech and the lively, open exchange of ideas. In fact, as others have noted elsewhere, these crusaders on Facebook seem to be following in the footsteps of Mormonism’s founder. When Joseph Smith was confronted with dissident voices in Nauvoo, Illinois, rather than answer them, he did his best to silence them by destroying the newspaper and press that gave the critics a platform.

Yet another aspect of this crusade is equally troubling. Assuming that the crusaders are Mormons, it must be noted that Mormons expend a lot of energy trying to convince the world that they are Christians (that is, followers of Jesus Christ). But their disregard for biblical teaching regarding how to deal with critics demonstrates a different spirit.

The Bible, recognized by Christians to be the very Word of God, does not tell followers of Christ to silence critics by taking away their voices.

The Bible tells us of the benefits of a “soft answer.” It proclaims, “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” It teaches that the righteous think about how to answer, as opposed to the evil responses of the wicked (Proverbs 15:1, 23, 28)

The apostle Paul talks about “persuading” people of the truth while being “able to answer those” who are mistaken in their spiritual focus. He says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-12; Colossians 4:6)

And, of course, there are the familiar instructions for God’s people to “contend” for the faith, be ready to “give a defense” of that faith, while “patiently enduring evil, correcting [spiritual] opponents.” (Jude 3; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:24-26)

Christians are not supposed to bully those who disagree with them by forcing them into silence. Christians are supposed to answer the objections and persuade opponents by speaking the truth, hoping that the lost and deceived will “come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.”

This is what the Christians on Facebook (and here on Mormon Coffee) are endeavoring to do. What, then, is the aim of the crusaders?

[MHGinTN]

You would benefit from studying the story of Cornelius, to whose household and Angel told Cornelius to call Peter, to learn what he, Cornelius, must do. Cornelius was an exemplary man, yet he needed to hear The Gospel and receive new birth thereby.

[svcw]

Really? I totally missed it.
I realize it is the rule of the site, but I do sometimes wish that posts like this were left up, as I didn’t get a chance to see it.

[Colofornian]

...as far as i am concerned some one else can have the last word...I can plainly see my short comings so i am getting off of this bashing contest. and no i am not mad just realizing how stupid this is

Well, allow me to be even "plainer": You are "getting off this bashing contest" -- yet less than 10 words later, you ensure that a bash from you -- "realizing how stupid this is" is emitted as your "parting shot."

If you were to re-emerge for one more post on this thread, wanna 'xplain why you claimed you were "getting off" from "bashing" only to quickly turn to bashing once again...belittling others as being "stupid?"

Can't you start being consistent in your worldviews? (Or do they have to conflict even within the same sentence as you type away @ your keyboard?)

[Elsie]

... he and his wife don't have Temple Recommends).

But... what about that "Forever Family" thing that MORMONism crows about?

Oh; wait...

They'll be together forever; just NOT where GOD is going to dwell!

[Elsie]

Jesus said do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

And Paul said over and over to rebuke and avoid FALSE TEACHINGS and those who teach them!

---

I hope you REALLY are not recommending that we FAIL to do the latter!

[Elsie]

Hee hee!

You still on the books?

[Elsie]

What do you think the difference is between someone like yourself who was once LDS and now isn’t than a Catholic who also gave up on his faith?

Well; without knowing what these two "gave up their faith" for; it's hard to say.

But; I'd conclude that at least ONE of them has seen the Light!

(And it did NOT have ONE 'god' with TWO physical bodies standing in it!)

[Elsie]

Joseph Smith wrote, “In the beginning, the head of the gods called a council of the gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and (the) people in it.”

[Elsie]

(click)

Praise to the Man!

 

 

 

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus annointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assasins,
Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true he will enter his kingdom,
Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know 'Brother Joseph' again.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

[ravenwolf]

Jesus said do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

And Paul said over and over to rebuke and avoid FALSE TEACHINGS and those who teach them!

I hope you REALLY are not recommending that we FAIL to do the latter!

---

I am not recommending any thing, i just believe that the Gospel that Jesus preached should come first with me, and i think that will be a full time job.

[ravenwolf]

Can’t you start being consistent in your worldviews? (Or do they have to conflict even within the same sentence as you type away @ your keyboard?)

---

What i meant was that it was stupid of me.

[ravenwolf]

You said “how stupid this is.....” I guess this would be if you don’t believe in Jesus and don’t believe in God.

---

As i have said, what i meant was that it was stupid of me, i did not call any one else stupid.

---

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ

---

No, that is not likely.

[caww]

I am to the point where I feel very sad for the anti Mormons here; they know not what they do. I feel bad for the anti Mormons because their comments reflect hatred rather than logic and reason.

Your post does reveal concern that comments squarly showing Mormonism to be false is actually the cause of many Mormons stating they are 'sad'. ..and misdirect that emotion to appear concerned for the posters. Mis-direction is one of the Hallmarks of Mormonism......and goes back to Garden..."Has God not said"?

[Scoutmaster]

I assumed you were talking about Mormons as individuals?

***

Yes...

Exactly what I was speaking about....

**

Then TaraP, you and I are on the same page regarding that. Mormons are individuals. Those of us who post on thread like these are also individuals and we post for different reasons.

I support the religious freedom of FR members to believe as they choose (with some obvious exceptions - I wouldn't support a religious belief in human sacrifice or child abuse, and I hope you wouldn't either). So I don't post to convert anyone.

May I ask how familiar you are with the terms "faithful history" and "faith-promoting" history?

[pennyfarmer]

I agree, it depends what you left your childhood religion for. I was raised Catholic but I prefer my non-denominational church tons of people leave their childhood religions for atheism and that is too bad.

Atheism and Mormonism have so many similarities that it is easy to move in and out of the two.

[reaganaut]

No, but that doesn’t matter. I still have friends who could get me tickets to the Conference center.

[pennyfarmer]

The semi-serious side of me finds this statement interesting.

i just believe that the Gospel that Jesus preached should come first with me, and i think that will be a full time job.

Sounds like work(s) to me.

[Jeff Head]

Please, try and get over yourself.

All you have proved is that the people who are so enraged at, and against the LDS church on such threads as this are just like what they claim some LDS are doing in trying to silence others. I condemn it when the LDS do it...and I condemn it here.

As to me forever being disgraced and losing all credabbility at FR, given the emails and fremails I have received regarding this from the very small percentage of Freepers who have seen it...I would say again, that quite the opposite is true.

A small number of very vocal people who are against the LDS church succeeded in removing a post that called out an individual who compared the LDS Church to our nation’s enemies...the Islamics who want a world wide-calliphate and whose basic doctrine denies Jesus Christ as God’s Son and Savior, who want everyone to convert to Islam or die, or be ensllaved by them.

There is no comparison to that...and there was no qualification in the post doing so. I will call out such a comparison every time...and believe it to be an ochestrated attempt to marginalise and set up LDS people as the enmey, when any rational examination of the demogrpahics and beliefs shows that the very oppositie is true. I punctuate that the historical precedent for people doing this to others generally leads to worse things.

Shame on you, and thank goodness that most freepers who see it recognize it for what it is.

Again, beyond that, God bless you for your own belief in and faith in Jesus Christ. I share that faith and belief, irrespective of your saying and believeing that I do not. He is my Savior and judge and Redeemer...and I thank God in Heaven, His Father, everyday that He will aslo be my judge...which judgement I look forward to in His time.

Now, once again...I will strive to stay away from such a thread as this...the contention and anger are palatable and serve, IMHO, no good.

[MHGinTN]

Yes, Jeff, I am one who is angry. It really ticks me off when otherwise good folks defend the sort of teaching the following teaching quote from The LDS Journal of Discourses reveals, because it is the spirit of anti-Christ out in the open yet defended by folks claiming to have God's Holy Spirit Saving them. If not by The Blood of Christ, then how?...

"We may talk of men being redeemed by the efficacy of his [Christ's] blood; but the truth is that that blood has no efficacy to wash away our sins. That must depend upon our own action." [ LDS Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 299, 1859]

Given this mormonic teaching that is the very essence of Antichrist, it is still amazing folks claiming to be trusting in Jesus as their Savior will ignore such lies and defend such a false religion claiming to be 'restored Christianity'!

MormonISM is the very essence of slick anti-Christ inveigling, and the promoters of this anti-Christian religion will continue to be exposed and opposed so long as Christians are not squelched by the political correctness approach inherent in the lie that exposing mormonISM is hate or hatred of the people trapped in this demonic cult.

And just so there is no ambiguity, as a Christian in the immediate NOW I find there is now therefore no condemnation for I am in Christ Jesus, under His Blood, not struggling along waiting for some pie in the sky future weighing in, in order to be found worthy of His Blood.

ONLY the sinner calling out to Jesus is worthy. That worthiness is not based upon human effort, it is based upon the Promise of God to the sinner in fact who believes The Gospel.

Salvation is immediate because you only get the washing of regeneration ONCE. And no matter how good you behave without that washing, you still need to respond to the Gospel and be instantly, right then Saved, as we witness in the House of Cornelius when Peter brought the Gospel we now share with you and every other Mormon reading this angry post.

Yes, I'm angry, angry that a sneaky demonic lie will succeed in causing some to not trust in The Blood of Jesus The Christ and be immediately alive in Christ forever more. If you were a Christian in an active relationship with The Savior, you'd be angry about that lie from LDS Apostle Lyman too, FRiend.

And one final note to you my FRiend, Jeff:

Salvation cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I cannot say when each will hear that 'hearing' happening, but you may be assured that it is happening whenever you read someone sharing The Gospel of The Blood of Christ cleanseth us from ALL unrighteousness.

Once one hears that Gospel and receives His Salvation, His Holy Spirit earnest of our inheritance, the rest of a life lived is a process of regeneration in the here and now. As a Christian struggling with the Adamic Nature I still have, I can testify that only His Grace is sufficient for living The Christian life.

I cannot earn His Grace [see Mormon doctrine of salvation after all that we can do], I can only ask His forgiveness and cleansing on a daily basis, secure in the understanding that I am asking of my Adopting Father, not some future judge. I am now in The Family of Jesus because His Holy Spirit has made my dead human spirit alive. 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Apostle Lyman is a servant of the father of lies when he denies The Blood of Christ. I offer that not out of anger at you, but as fair warning to you that Mormonism is not Christianity restored, and the proof is such blasphemy coming from one titled an apostle in your religion of MormonISM.

[reaganaut]

Of course it is about knowing the Risen Christ and what it means to accept the gift of eternal salvation....

- - - - - - - -
I’m going to respond to this post in 3 separate posts because they cover a wide range.

Your statement is directly counter to what the LDS teaches. Not the words they use but how they mean the words. The LDS use Christian vocabulary but mean something entirely different which is why I gave you link to terminology differences. I can give you the link again if you want.

My issue is this deception. The LDS know they mean something different but say things that SOUND Christian in order to get people to put their guard down. Why would they do that? Because to them, it is not about Christ, it is about the LDS church. They cannot separate the two and it provides a way of getting people interested in Mormonism.

If what we believe about Christ is important, then a ‘christ’ who is the spirit brother of Lucifer, who didn’t pay for sin on the Cross, that we have to pay back with our ‘good works’, and that is ontologically the same as us just more advanced cannot save us. Would you agree with that?