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Texas LDS deal with confusion

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what-else? | 11:09 p.m. April 21, 2008
Isn't there a massive lawsuit out of Dallas, against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, involving the wrongful adoption of a newborn child,..... geeeees, what else?
LDS Mom | 11:13 p.m. April 21, 2008
Its a matter of opinion as to whether or not poligamy was a mistake. If you belive as I do, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, who recived direct revelation that poligamy was to be practiced by certian church members of the church, then polygamy was not a mistake. It is never a mistake to follow a TRUE prophet of God. The church is not trying to hide from its past, they are simply saying that this is not part of the doctrine we currently practice.
Mohan | 11:25 p.m. April 21, 2008
Mormons, true Mormons, the ones who know, know that we care about, or are taught to care about all of humanity, including the FLDS, including the less informed Mormon haters, including all races and colors. Do we do that? "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you" were the words of the Savior Jesus Christ. I accept Him as my Savior. I choose to follow Him. I am a Christian and a Mormon, and I care.

And guess what? We still have to build a chapel a day to accommodate church growth. Unfortunately not all stay active, but many do. Our buildings seem to be quite full while many other faiths are dwindling much faster. Today is a difficult time for faith. May we ever guard against the fiery darts of the adversary, as Paul and Helaman taught.
Comments continue below
Vermontguy27 | 11:37 p.m. April 21, 2008
In response to Catholic sects "all following the pope," this is not true. I'm surprised nobody else has responded to that ill-informed comment. Roman Catholics follow the pope--Orthodox Catholics (Green Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, and so on) do NOT follow the pope. Might I also point out that Orthodox Catholic churches have different dates for Easter than Roman Catholic Churches.

Mandy | 11:39 p.m. April 21, 2008
I have been thinking of leaving the church ever since these posts started. I am a convert and didn't join for polygamy. I never knew about these people.
Vermontguy27 | 11:42 p.m. April 21, 2008
One major difference between LDS and FLDS is education. One report I saw showed a girl who left the FLDS church at age 17 and tested at a 5th grade level. She testified that girls are taught things like sewing, cooking, etc but are not taught sufficient academics like reading, math, science, etc. If you listen to the women in media clips speaking, it is CLEAR that they have not been taught to think for themselves; they all sound the SAME and have "little girl voices". All the LDS members I have ever known (growing up in Washington state) have valued education strongly amongst women AND men, with college education expected and encouraged.

(FYI-I am not LDS nor am I Catholic, I just don't like to see ANY group misunderstood!)
John Lambert | 11:51 p.m. April 21, 2008
Mohan I think you hit on a good point. Not all stay active. However not all stayed active in 1989 either, or 1996. I don't know for sure, but it may be that the number of people staying active is going up.
Also, for the nay sayers, the LDS church has much less of an aging population problem than most churches in the US.
Also, I think where people get the stats about the church shrinking is from the PEW study. There are issues with it. For one, it is not sure that people used the same yardstick to say they were Mormons as children as to say they are now Mormons. It also only covered the US. It did not say the church was shrinking, since its natural population growth could overcome what it reported. I am not sure the differences were statistically great enough to real mean anything.
Lastly the Mormon category included RLDS, FLDS and other such groups. It is hard to know what they full religious history of those who said they grew up Mormon really was.
John Lambert | 11:58 p.m. April 21, 2008
For all you naysayers, in 2005 there were 243,000 convert baptisms. In 2007 there were 279,000 convert baptisms. This is below the numbers in the late 1990s, but it is up from the immediate past.
However the church is not true because of how many people are baptized. Nor are numbers the goal. In my home ward there were four people baptized in 2007. However three of them were a husband, wife and child, and the husband and wife are currently in the temple prep class.
Yes, I and probably others need to open our mouths more. Still, God's work is moving forward.
Anonymous | 12:40 a.m. April 22, 2008
Jennifer very well said.Someone on here has a heart.
Freeman | 12:45 a.m. April 22, 2008
To Anonymous 10:48pm:

I would like to know what your church has done to reconcile the "evil" pasts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others in the Bible.

The bottom line is this: If you believe in the Bible, you believe that polygamy was an acceptable, and even COMMANDED practice. What made it OK then, and not at other times? I'd love to read your explanation...
Distinction | 12:56 a.m. April 22, 2008
OK, Let me put this in perspective. The Lutherans/Protestants broke off from the Catholic church centuries ago and yet still believed in the Bible, only with fundamentally different beliefs in the interpretation of the bible. Comparing the FLDS to the Church of Jesus Christ is just as ignorant as saying all Lutherans, Protestants/Baptists etc. are all essentially Catholics and any actions by those religions should directly reflect on the Catholic Church since they all came from the Catholic church originally! How moronic/crazy does that sound?

This is about as stupid as painting a broad stroke against various minority groups because of the actions of a few and saying they must all be ___ fill in the blank racist comment. You can not lump completely different groups together and say they are the same! Anyone still left thinking FLDS has any relation to the LDS church must suffer from mental retardation.
John | 12:50 a.m. April 22, 2008
As a Latter Day Saint I believe all members feel for the children and hope for the best for their future. For the remaining connection aspect. A lot of assumptions are being made. It has been explained on the news that the FLDS was started because we of the LDS has strayed. But, no where in the media or the FLDS has proven factual historical connection to the LDS religion. Other than a man (a wolf in sheeps clothing) utilizing the LDS history to have sex with mutiple women, and underage girls, along with any of his colleagues.
zoar | 2:22 a.m. April 22, 2008
If those of us who are LDS believe that we have Christ�s restored gospel, then we should act as he would act. Do you think Christ would shun the FLDS because they are living a sinful practice or separate himself from them because they had strayed from his gospel?

Many of these FLDS children will have to go into foster care because of the abuses they have suffered. How many LDS will volunteer to become foster families for these children and take them in or will we shun them because of who they are and send them into the homes of the gentiles. Like it or not both LDS and FLDS share many of the same religious beliefs.

If all the Church has to worry about it that we will mistakenly be associated with FLDS, we should be so lucky. Persecution is the heritage of the faithful.
To Zoar | 5:46 a.m. April 22, 2008
You brought tears to my eyes with your common sense approach to this situation. The FLDS as a community, willingly participated in crimes against children. They are now suffering the wrath of the legal system because of those choices as do other criminals that have been caught. Now it is time for us to act how we were taught..roll up the sleeves and get to work despite the confusion that others may have about us. By their works ye shall know them.
Boiseguy | 6:41 a.m. April 22, 2008
Problem is the FLDS are breaking laws if they are practicing polygamy and having sexual relations with kids under the age of 18. LDS do not conduct themselves this way.. anymore atleast.. so the distancing they are doing is no different than the distance they keep from all the other people who have "strayed". I would liken it to the LDS attitude and treament of gays and lesbians. They are close to them with their mouths, but when it comes down to true fellowship and caring they're miles away from those people as well. The LDS chuch is very careful to keep its name clean, and I just don't understand how some of you can be so surprised by the reaction of church members to the FLDS.. perhaps you haven't been on the other side of the coin to understand what I'm getting at.
Whatever happens.. the LDS church will keep far away from it... they've spent over a century trying to distance themselves from their polygamist past.. they aren't going to want to throw that effort down the drain by getting involved with the FLDS..
is it the "right" thing to do? you tell me?
David B. | 8:20 a.m. April 22, 2008
To Boiseguy | 6:41 a.m.,

Jesus ministered among the "bad" people of his day. Because of this, his "name" was not "clean". He did the will of his Father regardless of what people said about him and regardless of what they did to him.

Your comments clearly indicate you have no idea what being a true Christian is really about. You and your church are so concerned with "keeping your name clean" that you won't even help others in their time of need. That is shameful. That is certainly NOT Christian!
Anonymous | 9:27 a.m. April 22, 2008
DB and Jake.
I find it commendable and brave of both of you for standing up out of the mire.
Those are the exact reasons why "The World" outside believes there is a fundamental connection between FLDS and LDS. Both state their source of faith is the Book Of Mormon.
Based on that principle, it's a bit like saying "We Baptists are in now way connected to Pentecostals".
Fundamental beliefs and principles connect them both at the core.
The issue then is the separation.
While one clearly dissavows Polygamy and Child Brides, the other condones breaking the Laws of the Land.
I would be just as willing to 'monitor' LDS, FLDS, Baptist, Pentecostal, Jew, Seventh Day, Jehovah Witness, any and all other religions to the affect of making sure the children were not coerced nor the testimonies of the adult women and older children were not jeopordized.
Potential witnesses and testimony MUST be protected.
MP | 10:10 a.m. April 22, 2008
I've been a member of the LDS Church for 57 years and have never seen or heard of a member practicing polygamy. If the FLDS are true "Mormons" why don't they leave their compounds and assimilate into their communities like "TRUE" Latter Day Saints do. No way are the FLDS affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Our 12th Article of Faith states: �We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.� Polygamy is against the law!
How can FLDS be associated with the LDS Church when they break the law by practicing polygamy.
NOT Book of Mormon | 10:22 a.m. April 22, 2008
dear Anonymous | 9:27 a.m.

The "source of faith" of the LDS church is not the Book of Mormon. It is ongoing Priesthood authority and direction. If every Book of Mormon in the galaxy were destroyed the Church would continue on just fine under the direction of the Saviors representative on earth (Pres Monson). The Book of Mormon is a product of that Priesthood authority and guidance but don't confuse means and end. Many other sects believe the Bible is the source and authority of their faith, to put the Book of Mormon in a similar position for the Church would just be to fall into the same error, allbeit with a "more perfect" book of scripture.

There may be dozens of other sects that claim to follow the Book of Mormon but if they reject Priesthood Authority (as FLDS emphatically has) then they are not appreciably any closer to the truth, and in fact are no more closely related to LDS than any other sect.
WOW | 12:03 p.m. April 22, 2008
To Midwest Member

From an LDS SoCal girl life long member, I just want to say.......Thank you!!! :)
Utah Legislature | 12:57 p.m. April 22, 2008
Run by Ignorant People
They are in Violation of the Utah Constitution as well as the U.S. Constitiution
Every County, City in this State is Ignorant to the Constitution
The Judges are Ignorant, Lawyers and Prosecutors are Ignorant
This includes your Attorney General and the Office of Judicial Conduct that refuses to act
SusanHunt@utah.gov
So what do you expect?
Anonymous | 1:07 p.m. April 22, 2008
WE AS MEMBERS OF THE TRUE LDS CHURCH NEED TO PRAY AND ASK GOD TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE OBEY THE LAWS OF GOD AND THE LAW OF THE LAND, AND PRAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES, BY NOT OBEYING THE LAWS OF THE LAND.
I'm SICK of my comments NOT | 1:50 p.m. April 22, 2008
Being shown on DN.!
To Worried | 5:37 p.m. April 22, 2008
You almost have it........... The real point is this has nothing to do with religion. If a Catholic or Baptist is abusing their children, those children need to be protected as well. These people have rights yes, but, not at the expence of those who are being forced or brain washed into sexual abuse.
Bad news for LDS haters | 7:54 a.m. April 23, 2008
This dispensation of the Gospel will never end. The Church of Jesus Christ is the stone cut from the mountain without hands referred to in the book of Daniel, and it will roll forth to fill the whole earth. It will strike the statue of gold, silver, brass, iron, and clay, and break the whole thing into pieces.

You can look at all the turmoil in the world today and see that the statue is already starting to break. You can pick up a Church almanac, get an accurate report on Church growth, and you can see that the rolling stone is filling the earth.

No unhallowed hand will stop this work. Your impotent naysaying and wishful malice will amount to nothing. It already is nothing. We are not going anywhere but onward into the future and upward in numbers and strength. And when the Savior returns, we will give to Him the report on how His Priesthood was honored.

I shudder to think of the fate that awaits those who fight against God and The Lamb.
Bruce | 10:05 a.m. April 23, 2008
As a former Mormon Missionary in Texas shame on the "real" mormon church for not wanting to tarnish its carefully crafted mainstream image and helping in the courts the FLDS. Instead these children are now being placed in homes where they will be taught that Joseph Smith was a false prophet and the Book or Mormon is a lie. Nice going. Going to bet that at least a few kids will see the B of M torn up in front of them. For a church that wants to live "in the world" but not "of the world" they sure care about what people think of them. One call from President Monson to the U.S. Attorney General and a lot of the shoot from the hip legal actions in Texas would have stopped. He did not. Very little out cry from within the church itself. I guess most Mormons have long forgotten their history and what brought them to Salt Lake in the first place. Like everyone the church will harvets what it sows and if there was ever a group that should espouse religious freedoms it is us.
I agree with David B | 1:49 p.m. April 23, 2008
It is so sad that some people will honor the same prophet use the same books and hesitantly admit that they all had the same practices, but want to distance themselves from each other in a great time of need. These people are the result of teachings that your people used to respect (and still do in your temples). It is not Christian to behave this way. You need to help them understand the error of their ways and also understand the error of your past (and somewhat your current) ways.
Bad news for all "haters" | 1:54 p.m. April 23, 2008
Hate is not good in any form. But I also have some news for those that think that their religion is above everybody else. Religion is shrinking. You may have numbers that show growth, but this is just in membership. You do not have the alarming numbers of people that are leaving because of the hypocrisy and lack of common sense. We all hope for a world of love, but you need to realize that we are not ever all going to join (or believe) your religious beliefs.
In Texas | 8:51 p.m. April 23, 2008
I am LDS professional with ties to one of the Organizations that the children of the FLDS will be sent to. This location is a good place for children without their parents. Yet, it does not replace the children' parents. I have worked extensively with this organization previously to know that the issues these children face are tremendous. This situation will have ramifications, for years, on the lives of these children. I have knowledge of some of the inner practices of the FLDS. Their worship services do not reflect LDS services and are more of a protestant practice of a "pastor-like" lecture with control by him alone. Women in the congregation are not treated or taught that they are equal in responsiblity or respect. They are the wife and mother. "They can be seen but, are rarely heard." As you have noticed: The men on the compound are not speaking simply because a "line of authority" is not present nor any spokes person that can clearly articulate the FLDS mission or position on any issue. Lawyers are usually the ones that come forward to "defend" issues for the FLDS. They have NO ties to the LDS members here at all.
Anonymous | 9:58 p.m. April 23, 2008
To Bad news for LDS haters | 7:54 a.m.,

Your statement is very arrogant. Have you ever heard of hubris?
Tubal | 10:44 p.m. April 23, 2008
All I have to say is... what is happening to the FLDS today MIRRORS what happened to the LDS 150 years ago in Missouri. Only back then, Govenor Boggs signed an order to exterminate the LDS people, and the LDS people took up arms (rightfully so).

If you study anything besides "church approved writings" you'll find that back then, the church leaders appointed husbands and wives, and married young women 20-30 years their juniors.

So for all you members saying that the FLDS are "renegade" or "twisted".... take a look where you come from.

I'm not defending the FLDS people, I'm just trying to understand all these "rose colored glasses" that you people look through. You say you have a right to study and find the truth? For God's sake do some studying. Then decide if you're so much better than someone else.

k thanks.
Paul Thomson | 7:06 a.m. April 24, 2008
If you practice polygamy then you are not a Mormon.
Bruce | 7:59 a.m. April 24, 2008
Funny how most of my Mormon friends are not too disturbed by the events in Texas but the Jewish friends are. They were taught to remember their past and not to consider it a closed chapter. How sad.
More bad news for LDS haters | 8:32 a.m. April 24, 2008
Yes, I have heard of and seen abundant examples of arrogance and hubris. They are thrown at me and other LDS on a daily basis by LDS haters and sanctimonious, self righteous "more Christian than thou" types.

Anyone is likely to give what they get when they get sick enough of it. My post was addressed to antagonists and bigots. If you don't like the shoe, don't try it on.

The core of my post was to address the bizarre fallacy that somehow this dispensation of the Gospel, contrary to the word of God Himself, is going to go away. I specifically direct my words to those who revel in their hope that this is true. I am not ashamed to call such an attitude bigotry. And I am not ashamed to admit that I feel sorry for anyone with enough venom in their soul to glory in their false perceptions that the Church of Jesus Christ is fading away.

I maintain my assertion that you�re primarily hurting yourselves. Also, what I�m saying is a response to arrogant and factually bankrupt posts designed to offend. If my response offends you, maybe you should ask yourself why. If the shoe fits�
Anonymous | 12:10 p.m. April 24, 2008
To More bad news for LDS haters | 8:32 a.m.,

I am more sorry for your hypocrisy than for your arrogance. Pride cometh before the fall, my friend, and judging from your posts, a major fall is imminent for you! You have demonstrated that you are hardened in your attitude and bigotry toward those you condemn as "Mormon Haters". Your closed mind can only be the harbinger of woes for yourself and your Church. I pray God is gentle on you when he brings about your inevitable humility.
boiseguy | 4:05 p.m. April 24, 2008
To David B:

re-read my post mate, I am not mormon, nor a christian ANYMORE. I actually use to be mormon and am no longer associated with it. I am referencing the actions of the mormon church in regards to anyone that tarnishes their name and image..and how their notion to do so trumps caring for other people. The LDS church is all about charity and service, but I've found through my own experience that they seek to service and provide assistance to people who are considered candidates for conversion, and becoming a tithe payer. It is not a church it is a business, and it's very clear to many of us who have "strayed" just where their priorities are. It certainly is not for people, but more certain people in certain situations... As for pointing fingers at who's christian and who isn't, I don't know what church you go to but I would bet they do the same thing so get off your high horse and realize you conduct yourselves in the same manner, just different motives drive your churches.. Pffft
EX-mo | 6:57 a.m. April 25, 2008
I am ex-mo and many consider me anti-mo, but I agree that the LDS should not be involved in monitoring prayers. Many seem to be confused and have elevated the task from the monitoring of prayers to leading prayers. That was indeed NOT the request. Instead the request was to spy. Again, I am considered anti-mormon and I can sustain the church authorities with this decision.

On the other hand, if LDS individuals wish to help by becoming foster parents to these and other children, I will also sustain them.
Uhm | 5:54 p.m. April 25, 2008
The FLDS church has rejected what the living prophet at the time said. They are no longer LDS, they denied the LDS. Why? I wasn't there, but what could we assume. They branched off because the LDS prophet at the time said that they should no longer practice polygamy. It was no longer necessary. There were enough men now to be able to have every woman to have a husband. So I guess who ever led the rejection of the prophet maybe liked having more than one wife ?? He enjoyed it? Maybe. I wasn't there, I don't know. He believed in the church except for he no longer believed that the prophet recieved revelation from God ? So, now its a different church. Similar, to a sense, to when Martin Luther decided he didn't like what the Catholic church was saying. The catholic church didn't claim to have revalation from God, so this situation is different, but similar. That branch off just called there church different. What if, instead of Lutheran, maybe Fundamentalist Roman Catholic Church? hmmm... He was trying to get the bible to not be corrupt. Go back to what is was I guess.
Dawn | 4:08 a.m. April 26, 2008
I am of the Mennonite faith and I have Mormon cousins and they are not the FLDS at all to many people have the LDS And the FLDS church mixed up my Mormon cousin are not at all these, and are very nice people. I also have Methodist, Baptist, Nazarene, First Christian and Jehovah's Witness as far as I know none of my family above are just married to one spouse. My Mormom family only have one spouse. Not at all this group. I will speak up for my cousins of the LDS Church here.

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Moises Andrade watches as Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries talk with church members on Sunday at the San Angelo Spanish-speaking branch in the Abilene, Texas, stake.

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