Posted on 11/28/2012 6:00:38 PM PST by Colofornian
http://www.lds.org/church/news/mormonor ... c?lang=eng
How about being straight up and saying that Mormons put on costumes and chant rituals in secret buildings that only 10% of gross earnings paid as "tithes" allow entrance?
Mormonism wants people to think they are normal that they are just Christians like everyone else. Each year they get rid of more and more of their embarrassing doctrines - or doctrines that aren't politically correct anymore. Apologist attack dogs fight any critics on technicalities.
Mormonism has one thing that works for them - and that is the funneling of cash from members to the Cult coffers. This is done through mandatory tithe. And in order to make this tithe work - and make the member believe in the Cult enough to pay - they have to have the secret temple ceremonies. You have to put a ton of make believe in there.
Stephen R. Donaldson is one of my favorite authors. In one of his series of books he explained how a great and noble group of leaders were slowly corrupted through the centuries by simple infiltration of ideas. The ideas changed the group slowly until they went from helping people to human sacrifices. The new leaders of the group knew what was going on - but they surrounded themselves with those who only had faith - not knowledge. Those who had faith were much stronger because they were driven by the new cult. Those who held faith were much easier to control.
Pondering the story Donaldson had written I saw the same manifested in the Cult of Mormonism. If you have members who are so convinced you are the one and only true Cult, they will not hesitate to open their pocketbooks and hand over everything. Mormonism needs this kind of special, secret, garment wearing, new name, pay lay ale - in order to keep the tithes flowing. If the cat is out of the bag, the tithing will stop.
So the reality is there is a certain point where Mormonism must stop moving towards Christianity - it has to because money is ultimately the top priority of the Cult. Money - Power - Control.
Look at all the recovery boards right now - even the NOM boards. What is the #1 topic right now because of upcoming December? Tithing. Tithing. Tithing. Oh and don't forget tithing. Sign up for tithing settlement. And don't forget to sign up for tithing settlement.
“All of our messaging is focused on helping people understand that Mormons are Christian,”
Naw, Mormonism isn't a Christian church. It's a secretive Cult with very cultish practices and it has to stay that way - or go broke.
You are assuming I want I want to stop discussions, not true. Are you a seer also?
What would I have to respond to, if discussions were stopped?
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,and if anyone wants to read 3 Nephi Chapter 8 and 3 Nephi Chapter 9, here's the links.
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
15 And it came to pass that Nephi—having been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations;So, right before all this destruction (Chapters 8 and 9) you have a prophet of God working miracles and preaching the Gospel. The people will not hear and are angry... Sounds like they are ripe for destruction to me.
16 Therefore, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds—went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
17 And he did minister many things unto them; and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.
18 And it came to pass that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily.
19 And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.
20 And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.It's not a tragedy for the righteous to die, they die unto the lord, and are saved. For the wicked who die unto damnation... it's another story.
“keep you safe from those who will attack you for being polite to a Mormon.”
What a load of tripe. Get a grip, man.
also? who's the "seer", again? Perhaps we can later get around to talking about whether or not Joseph Smith was in actuality a prophet or not (thus arguably a false teacher) including but not limited to comparing him to Mohammed.
Putting aside for the moment that possibly multifaceted, complex question;
Which is why anti’s of all stripes quote carefully excerpted texts and don't link to original sources.
“Mormonic”
Seriously? Demagogue much?
Your grasp of Mormon doctrine, is nonexistent.
You might want to read my page here http://www.freerepublic.com/~delphiuser/ to see how many of your assertions here were refuted years ago.
Have a nice life...
Delph
Yeh right. You actions speak louder that your backtrack above.
Nope, that would be luke: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/22.44?lang=eng#43
Delph
A 'god' DU, not THE God. very distinctive point. Or have you become a trinitarian? Otherwise, you are mistating mormon teaching -
“I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods… [Father, Son and Holy Ghost] constitute three distinct personages and three Gods.” (History of the Church 6:474).
Smith specifically makes it plural - thus Jesus would be "a" god not THE God, you are misrepresenting mormon doctrine on the subject.
"Have you truly repented DU?" Not that it's any of your business, yes, I believe I have.
What? You don't know if you have truly repented?
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 58:43: “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.”
I mean you are either living a completely sin free life or you havn't repented DU. So have you truly repented?
I really don’t care about Joseph Smith and, not being a Mormon, I also don’t care about the chart you speak of.
How can you even know what my actions are?...it’s the internet.
Have I said stop or anything like that? If so, please refer me to that response #.
Show me where you have even addressed the lead article on this thread - no you show up accusing people of being ‘haters’. As I pointed out earlier - classical tactic liberals use to try to shut down discussions. Don’t need to cite any over ‘intentions’, your use of the tactic is evidence enough.
“Joseph Smith said that all other churches had been corrupted (I think all churches have said this at some point) and that without the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, there was no salvation.”
Alright, now if the Jesus who Mormons believe in is the same Jesus that all the other Christians believe in, then why do we require the Mormon gospel for salvation? What requirements are laid out in the Mormon gospel which you believe, I suppose, have been removed or altered from the gospel that was given to the rest of us? In other words, is Christ sufficient to save us, or do the Mormons teach that we need “Christ plus”? (Christ plus baptism, Christ plus works, what have you)
You remember incorrectly.
I had a disagreement with Jim about how religion should be handled on the forum, but publicly stated that I supported FR, and it's stated goals, I never said I despised FR. here is the post, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2724560/posts?page=868#868 I never said that I despised FR, you said I did to get me banned, my point as always was that Mitt should be disqualified because he's not a true conservative, not because of his religion.
The GOPe got what it wanted, and we got four more years of obamanation of desolation.
Jim, I love this forum, but if I have to knuckle under to everyone who will call me names, or complain to you when I refute them then I guess you should just ban me, or them for good, I won't change, I am a conservative, we don't change much.
For the record, I hope FR will be around for my children to gather on and continue the fight for constitutional government (a fight that will never end, IMHO)
Godzilla, attempts to make Jim mad at someone you disagree with will make FR look bad. If you have a point, make it. If all you can do is try to stir up bad feelings... Please stop it.
Jim, pinging you only because Godzilla did, and I'm responding to him, have a nice day.
Godzilla, well, you have a nice day too.
Delph
DelphiUser: Nope, that would be luke [Luke 22:44 link at LDS website]
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his sweatband daily and follow me."
-- Luke 9:23, JST...but we preach Christ diaphoretic, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles...
-- 1 Corinthians 1:23, JST
I didn’t. Do you think these threads are started just so no one will respond? That’s what this is all about.
I’ve been doing this for years and nothing has ever even been close to shutting down because of me. Get a grip.
The Gospel is not the Bible and the Bible is not the Gospel.
The Bible contains the Gospel.
I believe the Book of Mormon also contains the Gospel
Your mileage apparently differs, and that's OK.
As for another Gospel, I believe the Gospel as preached by Orthodox Christianity is no longer what was preached by Jesus, and has become “another Gospel”.
It's a simple honest disagreement in interpretation.
I believe that it should only be approached by prayer and supplication to God.
Some believe that it should be approached with ridicule.
I prefer prayer...
Delph
Jesus commanded us to preach the Gospel, NOT the Book of Mormon. He commanded us to preach against those, like yourself, who would preach another gospel, even if they were angels from Heaven. So, you are free to stop preaching the Book of Mormon anytime, and you can be assured that Jesus will not count it against you, but to your credit.
Personally you know how I feel about it...and I take the Son of God's Word as the True Gospel..Not so much J. Smith, and B. Young....
FWIW-
From something OTHER than mormon sources.
No one questions Jesus' travail in the Garden, but to Christians the Atonement is on the Cross. Just more of mormon doctrine being claimed as Christian doctrine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
