Reader comments
Prayers: Request baffles LDS official
273 comments | Read story
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
As for the confusion on the part of the judge, I'm not surprised. My daughter currently at BYU was well-known to be the only LDS student in her high school class, and my husband is a favorite teacher there. Still, her non-LDS friends from home who have known her and our family for a good part of their lives are sending her on-line messages questioning her relationship with the sect.
I find it something of a compliment that the judge would consider us as people able to fairly and honestly serve by assisting in this way. I am baffled that the local leaders are baffled by the request. Did they think the state would bring the men from YFZ to supervise prayers, or former members who might have strong emotional or family ties to the situation? Not likely!
Why submit this task on another religious group. So if someone talks to their children it can be pinned on the LDS church allowing such.
The judge is still living in the backcountry!
Plus, I can hardly wait until the allegations fly that the LDS are in cahoots against the DCFS. Judge Walther exacerbated this mess, should have recused herself from the custody hearing and continues to meddle in affairs of unconstitutional behavior on the part of the state of Texas. Everything is big in Texas, including its ego and screwups.
I do agree that some want to lump us together with polygamists, Many people in our nation still think we believe in plural marriage, and some believe that we have horns and worship Satan. None of the above is true, but people don't want to take time to learn what we believe. Some Christians of other faths do not believe that we are Christians, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Regarding Joseph Smith: We do now and always will follow his teachings; and we honor him as the Prophet of the Restoration. No one has to agree with our beliefs, but we have the right to practice them, including service to others.
I hope the FLDS will be treated with respect and dignity, but after a concerted effort to distinguish ourselves from the FLDS and to diminish misconceptions propagated by the media, why would we want to blur the line once again?! In this society of guilt by association, the safest tactic is to remain disassociated.
And for the person that previously posted that "many Texans are Christians, but some are Catholic", Catholics ARE indeed CHRISTIANS and your religion sprang forth from those Catholics.
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.
- Ex-Marine indicted in slayings 9:21 a.m.
- Critics bash Quinn on early release 9:16 a.m.
- 50 million blinds recalled 9:14 a.m.
- Dr. investigated in PED probe 9:11 a.m.
- New snow halts search for climbers 9:09 a.m.
- Biden: US wants Afghan stability 8:24 a.m.
- 8 killed in Kabul suicide bombing 8:23 a.m.
- 'Up in the Air' leads Golden Globes 8:21 a.m.
- US-China showdown over climate 8:19 a.m.
- Suicide blast kills 22 in Pakistan 8:18 a.m.
- Wet spot found in Powell's home
- Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
- Cougar seniors see a new Bronco
- Y. opponent nearly smelled roses
- Pace happy not to be noticed
- Storms dumped lots of snow in Utah
- Cougs brace for coaching changes
- High school football: All-region teams
- MWC looks better in basketball
- D-Will treats military families to party
- LDS to emphasize helping needy
126 - Unga might enter NFL draft
107 - BYU to wear royal blue uniforms
103 - Disappearance called 'suspicious'
97 - TV mom gives birth to 19th child
97 - Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
88 - Stay the course with our president
85 - Choir, guests unwrap musical magic
84 - Barkley says Boozer is big problem
81 - Letters: Explaining Palin
75
David Rankin, one of Utah's youngest and ablest astrophotographers has...
There was a time when free shipping was rare. This holiday season, you...
First of all, to "20/20," how can you read newspapers and not understand...
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
The best part of the game was the national anthem singer. After that is was...
I now you are but what am I? there now can we move past all this chidlish...
What is your problem? The statue was erected as a means of showing kids that...
How about a little fire when we play next week? If the guys can come out...
Are you appalled at all the postive coverage Woods has got over the years -...
Is this a staged press release facilitated by the Deseret News. This sounds...
Unfortunately almost every possible outcome must be super-painful for the...
Dwill will get an all star invite when he can keep rookies like Flynn from...
Mollee may have not been one of my favorites, but she did grow as a dancer as...



