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Texas LDS deal with confusion
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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.
(FYI-I am not LDS nor am I Catholic, I just don't like to see ANY group misunderstood!)
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
How can FLDS be associated with the LDS Church when they break the law by practicing polygamy.
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.
From an LDS SoCal girl life long member, I just want to say.......Thank you!!! :)
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?
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.
Your statement is very arrogant. Have you ever heard of hubris?
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.
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�
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.
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
On the other hand, if LDS individuals wish to help by becoming foster parents to these and other children, I will also sustain them.
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