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Jerry Johnston on MormonTimes.com: Pride creeps into every community

A Man's Perspective | 11:16 a.m. July 8, 2009

Pres. Kimball gave a monumental talk called "The False Gods We Worship" in 1976, the 200-year anniversary of the USA. Every Latter-Day Saint should beaware of it. It is along the lines of what you are saying.

There is an attitude of a "sacredness to wealth", as Hugh Nibley put it, that exists in LDS cultures. It is easy to condemn the immoral sinner, but not our own prideful desires.

I live in a 50-year old home on the west side of SLC. I am kind of proud of that. Problem is, I live in one of the nicest homes in that community! Guess I better beware of pride also.

Anonymous | 11:43 a.m. July 8, 2009

What amazes me about the LDS people is how many of them are so PROUD of being HUMBLE! How many self-righteous, arrogant LDS people criticize and condemn all those "other" members of the Church who are not living the gospel as perfectly as THEY are!

Take "A Man's Perspective" as a perfect example! How proud he is of being so devout as to be able to quote President Kimball AND Hugh Nibley (who has absolutely NO ecclesiastical authority whatsoever!), and how PROUD he is of living in a 50-year old home on the west side of SLC - "I'm kind of proud of that."

The hypocrisy of LDS members is astounding!

I am so grateful that I saw through the lies and sales-pitches the LDS missionaries (and my wife) were giving me, and I have retained my freedom from such a messed up group!

Such a Messed Up Group? | 12:36 p.m. July 8, 2009

And what group do you now belong to? "Mainstream" Christianity? Muslim? Atheist? All this groups have their fair share of "messed up" people.

How about your own little group of one? Where your creed is to comb LDS themed websites and articles and write a negative comment about the Church and proclaim your "freedom" from us. You're not free!

Comments continue below

A Man's Perspective | 12:38 p.m. July 8, 2009

To Anonymous, 11:43

Thank you for your humble, sweet words. Care to post non-anonymously so that I might contact you? I have problems in life and need somebody wise and great to listen and help out my poor life which has been so messed up due to the messed up Church that I belong to.

Care to help me, O Great One?

Anonymous | 1:50 p.m. July 8, 2009

I also love how Mormons try to defend themselves by pointing at other groups who suffer from the same problems.

For instance, when you accuse Mormons of pride, they say "Well, Catholics also have proud people among their group!"

-- Oh, OK, I guess that makes it OK among the Mormons, then, right?!

Not quite sure where Mormons ever got the idea that pointing out the flaws of other groups is a DEFENSE of their own!

It is especially ironic when the LDS author of this article writes such a piece, entitled: "Pride creeps into every community" - the implication being that "even LDS" suffer from pride!

Ooooh, who would have guessed that such morally superior people as the LDS suffer from pride???!

LOL!

You fools and your blindness! How is the weather in the ditch?

Honesty | 4:34 p.m. July 8, 2009

WOW!, Anonymous, you are full of the spirit of contention, today, aren't we?

And we KNOW where that spirit comes from.

Just.... | 5:06 p.m. July 8, 2009

ignore him, he's doing it for attention.

Ugh | 7:21 p.m. July 8, 2009

Every time I have a moment of weakness and succumb to reading a mormontimes article I regret doing so. Are these people paid to write such drivel?

JC | 9:55 p.m. July 8, 2009

What some of you perceive as defense of your morals, values, and religion comes across as self-righteous, pridefull, and vain.

It's as simple as the age-old addage, "What would Christ do?"

Ask yourself that first, and I promise you, you will be happier, and so will the world around you.

RE: JC | 10:26 p.m. July 8, 2009

Jesus certainly defended himself agaisnt the sadduccees and pharisees, when they came asking him questions to trip him up.

And Christ spent the last three years of his life teaching publically at the ultimate risk of his life.

There is NO pride or vainity or self-righteousness in defending your faith, beliefs, morals, values.

In fact Christ condemns those who remain silent.

And commanded his apostles and disciples to go unto the world and teach.

So WE KNOW what Christ would do, we don't even have to guess or hypothesize.

Jason Turley | 1:55 p.m. July 9, 2009

to RE: JC | 10:26 p.m.,

"There is NO pride or vainity or self-righteousness in defending your faith, beliefs, morals, values."

So what exactly has ANY LDS member posted on here to defend their faith?

What have ANY of you said that addresses Anonymous' point?

Anonymous made a good point. There is a GREAT deal of hypocrisy among Latter-day Saints who set themselves up as examples of righteousness, prudence, and wisdom. The old guy living for 50 years in a cheap house and being "PROUD" of it is a classic example! Anonymous hit that nail right on the head!

And the point about trying to justify ourselves by pointing out the errors and weaknesses of other faiths is spot on, too! We were supposed to have learned this as kids: saying everybody else is doing it is NOT a justification for bad behavior!

So if you claim you are "like Jesus" in defending the faith, DO IT!

But so far nobody has said a single thing to defend the Church against the valid observations made by Anonymous!

RE: Jason Turley | 4:42 p.m. July 9, 2009

People defend the church ALL the time, YOU HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO LISTEN.

so, in your mind, ANY observation AGAINST the CHURCH is valid,

now THAT is pride and stiff-neckedness,

when you CHOOSE to listen to only one side becaue it appeals to your pride, your vanity, your values and morals.

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