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Prayers: Request baffles LDS official

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what was that request? | 9:06 p.m. April 22, 2008
I would be very happy to lend support.

However, being identified as a potential "good spy" to aid the local authorities in violating these people's rights to exercise of religion doesn't exactly make me want to jump.

Look, Your Honor, if you have to ask third parties to violate the law of the land to help in what you're doing, maybe you should be doing something different.
no editing please | 9:13 p.m. April 22, 2008
"...They also share the Bible... with the Catholics, Baptists, and others..."

Yes, but Baptists actually believe what the Bible says. All of it. Nor do they have other scriptures in addition to the Bible.
wrz | 9:25 p.m. April 22, 2008
>>Does the FLDS worship a certain Prophet? >And how does warren jeffs tie in to all this?<<

Jeffs is their prophet... not unlike Moses being the prophet of the Jews in the Old Testament. That's how they believe, and they have every right to do so. The catholics believe the Pope is "the Vicar of Christ upon earth" (similar to a prophet, I'd guess). The LDS of Salt Lake City has a prophet, Thomas Monson. Just installed.
Comments continue below
Expensive Joke | 11:03 p.m. April 22, 2008
Texans will pay dearly with their pocketbooks when the Fundamentalist sue them into the 14th Century and they should pay dearly for denying these people their due process.

I don't agree with the teaching of the FLDS Church but I can't stand to see any American's right to due process trampled
stop the game | 12:10 a.m. April 23, 2008
We might have the same letter's in our name.....and both use the Book of Mormon....but that's where it ends.
Catholic's use the Bible and so do we....


The BIG DIFFERENCE IS THIS...........
WE CAN MARRY WHO WE WANT TO.......
AND IF YOU LISTENED TO ELDER SCOTTS TALK IN CONFERENCE, YOU WOULD KNOW, SEXUAL ABUSE IS A TERRIBLE SIN......
These men who had sex with a minor child, are Pediphile's and this needs to stop....it can't go on and on.....
Those are the big differences between LDS and FLDS
how annoying! | 12:22 a.m. April 23, 2008
I don't recall people in Waco making comparisons with the Branch Dividians to Baptits or Seventh Day Adventists, both of the religions that their leader grew up with. They also used the bible just like both of these groups, does that make them so similar??
willy steele | 3:02 a.m. April 23, 2008
Are we human beings or just cattle herded into a holding pen to be micro inspected for potential wrongdoings by government thugs continuing to destroy what little remains of our tattered and abused constitutional rights? Who are the FLDS people? They are are all of us citizens calling ourselves God fearing people. They are the Amish, Jews, Islamists, Catholics, Baptists, Atheists and other religious group wanting to practice their brand of God worshiping without the tyranny of the state over them. The FLDS have every right guaranteed to them the same as you or me whether you like them or not, yet, they are taking the brunt of an armed and brutal government storm aimed at their hearts, ripping their children from their mothers arms and destroying their families. Where is the honor in that? Every freedom loving American should be threatened at the actions taken by Texas government officials and demand, yes, demand they stop. Indeed, we should be up in arms over this atrocity because if the State of Texas gets away with this abuse, our Constitution will become a worthless, meaningless piece of paper.
P.B HIDDING NAME LOL | 3:47 a.m. April 23, 2008
I REALLY THINK THIS JUDGE NEEDS TO BE DISBARRED FOR THE BENCH, SHE IS NOT BEING FAIR AT ALL SHE MUST HAVE BEEN A FROMER CPS WORKER, BOY I WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK TO THOSE KIDS ATTONEY. I MAY HAVE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE CASE?
On Baptists | 6:26 a.m. April 23, 2008
Baptists do not believe "all of the Bible" as you say or they would not allow divorce, save for adultery, and then remarriage as prescribed by Jesus. Instead the pastor is more then willing to allow a second marriage in church and without hesitation. Sorry, but it appears all churches belong in the cafeteria picking this and that to abide and this and that to ignore.
just a mom | 7:13 a.m. April 23, 2008
This is not about religion. Its about child abuse. The children have clearly been coached to withhold information and to fear outsiders in order to protect the perps who systematically molest and control them. The mothers continue to protect the abusers and will use every opportunity to coach the children ...including "prayer timne". I work with abused children in another state and it is common practise to not allow unsupervised contact between children and possible abusers or those who attempt to coach the kids.
wbm5 | 10:48 a.m. April 23, 2008
I am LDS and we do enough already. From service projects to donating to teaching. I don't want to seem as if I mind all I do but when I know other religions don't have their congregations do as much volunteer work it bugs me. And I do know about other religions since I did belong to one and I also don't keep my head buried in the sand.

But when asked to do something the LDS people will do it and nicely too with no hidden agenda. Were know to be reliable and friendly. So, of course where else could they turn to?
Keri in TF ID | 1:06 p.m. April 23, 2008
to RE: Keri in TF ID 2:53 pm-

I did know about the churches response in stating that we do not have anything to do with the FLDS. I was strictly referring the the issue of monitoring the prayers of the mothers and children. I am sure that the leadership of the Church was discussing that issue. I don't know where you got the idea I was talking about anything else.
Keri in TF ID | 1:13 p.m. April 23, 2008
also to RE: Keri in TF ID
I'm not going to mark your words because I fail to see how predicting what the Phrophet and General Authorities will do helps this situation. I guess we should keep our "opinions" about what they think to ourselves because all this quesswork doesn't serve any real purpose.
Ricki | 4:22 p.m. April 23, 2008
I find it most disturbing yet quite typical that so many Mormons (including church leaders) do not see that this is exactly the type of persecution that the early church went through, yet are doing nothing to try to correct the situation now.

I find it interesting too | 9:33 p.m. April 23, 2008
Perhaps both of the groups have types of "conditioning" in them that do not allow them to see the realities of the world.
actually we do | 10:19 a.m. April 24, 2008
"...
On Baptists | 6:26 a.m. April 23, 2008
Baptists do not believe "all of the Bible" as you say or they would not allow divorce, save for adultery, and then remarriage as prescribed by Jesus. Instead the pastor is more then willing to allow a second marriage in church and without hesitation. Sorry, but it appears all churches belong in the cafeteria picking this and that to abide and this and that to ignore..."

Actually, Baptists do believe what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage. Not all of them practice it; some folks come to that realization after the fact and ask forgiveness. Some folks (Baptists) have different ideas about what it actually means, but you'll find that most Baptists agree on what it clearly says. Like all of the Lord's commands, members, being 'not yet perfected' execute these commands to various degrees.
Anon | 11:15 a.m. April 24, 2008
Isnt the bottom line the fact that:

A member of the judicial branch of governmnet is proposing a soulution of one religion montoring another.

This not a an opportunity for missionary work or pure christian service. It is a scary scary move away from founding constitutional priciples and would be a dangeorus precendent of the LDS Church were to assist in the manner requested.

If the State of Texas would have requested assitance to help feed these people that would have been different.


Sahra | 2:41 p.m. April 24, 2008
Why can't the mormons just shut up and go away they are making a mockery of themselves and utah.
joe | 6:51 p.m. April 24, 2008
It is a tough call, risking public confusion that we are of the same beliefs as the FLDS. As a member of the LDS church, it is sad, perhaps the saddest thing i've seen in a long time. if you read the news articles, the similarties are errie, but in a twilight zone like manner, it's like all the beauty of the latter day saints has been twisted to the most perverse extreme. I wish there was some way we could help them, i don't know how but we should find a way to reach out to them.
Jesus would.
Ilegitimate Children of LDS | 10:27 a.m. April 26, 2008
Look, I think the LDS church needs to take care of their pioneering illegitimate children.

These FLDS are from the very same group of people who were persecuted, suffered, and sacrificed for their beliefs. They honored, they worshipped, and they are willing to die for Joseph Smith, so, their beliefs are only just a little different, because the LDS church has since changed a lot of policies that the FLDS had not, and which they had perverted the original teachings.

But it all originally came from the same source. And a lot of LDS members have some sort of ancestry relations to the FLDS, or other polygamist sects.

What do you expect when you are taught to obey God by practicing polygamy, a commandment of God, and then suddenly God changes His mind, that it's now regarded as evil under the LDS doctrines?

The LDS church should help them, because those FLDS are people too, and the mantra of the church is to help, love, and accept those even though they are not of their faith.

Here is their perfect chance.

But the LDS church does not want to do that, because of the doctrines of GUILTY by ASSOCIATIONS.

Sad, but true | 9:28 p.m. April 26, 2008
I agree. You know it would be hard, but fairly simple to admit that there had been an error made in the past and to try and help them move ahead. In order to do this, the LDS church would need to face their past...unfortunately that doesn't seem like it's coming any time soon.
Simple Service | 12:04 a.m. May 10, 2008
Help them. Who do you think they are? Are you prepared to say "Sorry Lord - I didn't recognize you in your need, your pain"? Did Christ worry about what others might think of Him? Did he try to "look good" and "disassociate" Himself from others who might prove embarassing? These women and children are innocent victims no matter what the particulars of their faith
Help them in whatever way you can. Its simple.
Daniel | 4:22 p.m. May 21, 2008
It is moral cowardice that prevents the LDS from helping the FLDS with prayer. Does the LDS use the Christian Bible? We have a parable of the good Samaritan who helps another when no one else would. I never imagined that the LDS would shy away from such a call in need. Frankly, I'm sure many non-LDS Christians are dumbstruck by the LDS and its harsh dealings with those in dire need. All I can do is shake my head in disbelief.

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Attorney Julie Balovich, representing FLDS mothers whose children were taken from the YFZ compound, speaks to the media after a hearing at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo. She wants to reunite children and mothers.

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