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Prayers: Request baffles LDS official

So, if FLDS are fundamentalist Mormons, arn't Baptists really fundamentalist Catholics? Idiot ignorant Texans.

Why in the world would they ask such a thing? The LDS are not connected with them (the polygamous sect) in anyway. Also why do their prayers need to be monitored? What a wacko judge..

The judge acknowledged that the churches are not the same. I think the correct response is, "Absolutely, we will serve our community anyway possible. We assume the judge is asking for our help because we are a people of service, not because of any supposed affiliation or connection to this fundamentalist group. But just so there is no confusion, let us explain who we are...."

Greetings:

What difference does it make what religion, denomination, or sect these folks belong to?

As I understand it, representatives or members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints are only being requested to SUPERVISE the FLDS prayer meetings, not participate in them.

Latter-day Saint chaplains in the Armed Forces (as do all chaplains, of all faiths) regularly coordinate with other faiths during their normal course of duty, with no problem.

So, what's the big deal?

I would think my Latter-day Saint brethren would be happy to assist in any way they could.

I know I would, without even questioning or doubting.

And why is it necessary to seek permission before doing something good, or helping a neighbor in need?

Our scriptures repeatedly counsel us to be anxiously engaged in good works, and to not wait to be commanded to do so.

Thank you.

John Robert Mallernee
Bard of Clan Henderson
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400

A pretty dumb request but I can see why they considered this. Since when do non lds study lds history to know the differnce between FLDS and LDS. The church has been dealing with this stigma for how long now? Unless you live in Utah or deal with the church, why would you bother learning the difference. Maybe she assumed it was like the baptists(southern, national...).

To the first post: What is ignorant and stupid is you associating the judge's request with all Texans. Turn the mirror on yourself eye dee ten tee.

I also don't blame the judge for wanting to monitor their prayers. I seen the interviews of the FLDS women on the news and warning bells went off. If the women are unsupervised who knows what they will do to try to manipulate these kids. They can't be trusted.

Why wouldn't she find another member of FLDS? Because this is an attack on FLDS. She believes that all of them, as members of this church, a church that espouses polygamy, are guilty.

I think this situation gives the LDS church members an opportunity to let the local Texans and the media know that there is a separation of church and church. Every chance we get should be a teaching moment. Let's move towards 'informed knowledgable Texans'.

Just goes to show the extent of the misunderstanding in this case. The FLDS have a long and complicated history, and if the Texas authorities had a better grip on it, they would have taken a different course in dealing with these people and in resolving the problem of underage marriage. I wish the stake president in the area all the best in working to straighten things out. I hope he can instill a better understanding in the judge and all the others involved.

If this whole charade is not about religion, why are the FLDS people constantly referred to as a "polygamous sect"? Why not refer to them as "FLDS Church members" or "alledged child abusers" or even some other acceptable non-religious term?

The reasoning is simple for this action. Since both groups share the Book of Mormon, it is logical that someone LDS would have a greater degree of compassion and understanding. The example of the Baptist and the Catholics is indeed a good one. Pretend we are in Saudi Arabia, to that culture, asking a Catholic to pray with the Baptist would seem logical since they both share a Christian Bible even if there are differences. Other Christians do not use the Book of Mormon, so this is logical deduction. The Judge made a point of saying that she understood they were different. It is called compromise.
I suspect that the Church will gladly allow those LDS to pray with these women. Heck, I find it offensive that there are people suggesting we not just because of their religion. If they were Catholic would we be willing to pray with them? Yes. If they were Baptist would we be willing to pray with them? Yes. If they were ANY OTHER religion would we be willing to pray with them? Yes. SO why the exclusion? WWJD

the moms have been lying about which kid belongs to whom, and have been taking orders from merril jessop like a bunch of brainless sheep. Their prayers need to be monitored to make sure they dont try to coach the kids to lie during their prayer times.

This is a very clever judge, who helped her community rid themselves of the annoying and weird FLDS bunch and now sees a way to tarnish the LDS by getting them embroiled in the same controversy, further linking the two separate churches in the minds of the media. The last thing the LDS church should do is serve as a buffer between the state and the FLDS. The judge clearly hopes to paint the LDS church with the same brush and stir up the locals against them as well.

This judge has already demonstrated a woeful ignorance of the standards for probable cause necessary for issuing search warrants, and now further displays her ignorance of the religious groups within her own jurisdictional area. I am sure the LDS church will advise this stake president to do nothing more than provide humanitarian aid if requested.

The judge's request is totally reasonable. From an authentic Christian perspective, there isn't much difference between LDS and FLDS.

From an organizational perspective, the FLDS spring from the LDS, but from a doctrinal perspective, the LDS spring from the FLDS since the FLDS continue to abide by Joseph Smith's teachings.

Most Texans are Christians, although many are Catholic, and so they naturally tend to see LDS as just a more moderate form of FLDS.

I don't understand why a judge would think a prayer would have to be monitored. And also the LDS have absolultely nothing to do with the FLDS at all. How would a LDS Authority know anything about the way the FLDS prayer cirlces are?? DUH to the Texas judge! I think this mess is totally out of control!

I think this would be a great thing for the LDS to do. It is an act of Christian service. Will it happen? No the LDS want to stay as far away from these women with funny hairdos as they can.

Having LDS people help out with this would be perceived as "watching over our own". The LDS people do not condone polygamy - in fact we despise current polygamy and all of the corrupt behavior and dysfunctions that go along with it.

It would be nice if someone would help out with them, but hopefully,not the LDS. They want to lump us together with the polygamists.

Is Texas really that scared that the rest of the nation might find out about the conditions they have put these people in? Why else would they take away cell phones? I can't even start to believe the horrendous abuses of these people's rights. By the way, if I make a prank call to Texas authorities about a Baptist preacher abusing his kids can they take away all the Baptist kids and place them in state custody?

Regarding prayer supervision which yje Judge seems to see as necessary, it would seem to me to get the LDS Church involved would only serve to confuse the public that there is a current relationship between the two groups.

I think the invitation should be respectfully denied and a suggestion made that if this supervision is deemed necessary by the court that someone like Chaplins for the Army (in plain clothers at least) who are used to and trained to deal with individuals of different faiths be the ones assigned to the task.

I don't have any first hand knowledge, but it seems that I remember that the suspected WAR detainees in Cuba were even given time and rights to prayer.

To ask the LDS Church to supervise the prayers seems to me almost like when Christ found the woman in adultry and was asked what he would do thinking it was a question that would cause him problems either way he answered. He really surprised them with the answer of whoever was without sin should throw the first stone.

Since LDS people are not considered "Christians" by the mainstream Protestant Churches, why not ask one of the "Christian Clergy" to conduct prayer meetings? That should prove to be interesting.

Odd request. Perhaps the judge knows that LDS is the parent and the FLDS is the spin off cousin? Judge is smarter than I thought.