Comments about ‘The new face of global Mormonism’

I don't think I have ever read an article from an out-of-Utah source that does a better job highlighting the beliefs of the church. The author didn't attack or take things out of context. Thank you.

Thank you for an excellent article. I so hope that
those good souls in other countries can continue to
be uplifted and their lives become better and happier. I wish this on anyone, anywhere. But for
many people in certain countries, their situations
can be especially difficult.

Finally an article that says joseph restored the original church of christ because other christians had strayed and not an article talking about gold bibles and seer stones. good article and great message, finally an article that made me feel good.

People need to read the Blood of the Prohets quite the history of Joe Smith and Brig Young -- to bad they don't reveal the truth in full.

Good article, but what is it with the mythical no caffeine rule that permeates church culture. If it was the rule, chocolate would be in the same category as coffee and tea (and I would suspect it would instigate a riot by chocolate lovers--note the chocolate festival thing here recently).

Sure. Let's read a book from an anti-mormon. That'll provide all the truth.*rolls eyes* The funny thing about these books is that not all the "facts" can be substantiated. Furthermore, a lot of things that happen are blown way out of context. The church does good in the world. It always has and it always will.

I wish everywhere in the world was just like Utah!

I guess it's ok for you go read from the book of anti-Catholic as you believe that the Catholic church is an abomination? What's the difference.
Hopefully this will be posted but I doubt it.

It is the spirit of God which quickens the pace of the work on a global scale. There is simply no secular substitute for eternal truth. Never has been and never will be.

. . . and you'll get what you deserve.

Like all the MLM scams coming from Utah, the LDS Church churns up impressive original numbers, but then the majority of converts fall away into "inactivity" - which means they really drop out. The Church just keeps them on the membership lists to give the Home and Visiting teachers something to do each month. It is a numbers game. The Church is more concerned with growth than with anything else.

The "Spirit of God" is quickening the pace of the work faster in the Evangelical congregations in Africa than in the LDS congregations. Did any of you Mormons even pay attention to that?

And according to your founder, Joseph Smith, all these other Churches are the "Church of the devil" - so the "devil's work" is growing faster than yours!

To sure | 4:01 p.m.

It can be said of almost every organization of any kind that it "does good in the world." Even organized crime, and pyramid schemes (MLM), and Walmart, and Microsoft, and whatever else. Heck, even maggots "do some good" in the world!

This isn't about whether or not the LDS Church "does some good"; this is about whether or not the LDS Church TRULY IS what it claims to be! If it IS what it claims to be - (how do you put it?) "the ONLY TRUE AND LIVING CHURCH on the FACE OF THE EARTH' that God is happy with?! IF it truly is that, then your founder and the Church's history would not be filled with the distortions, mistakes, lies, coverups, and frauds that it is!

Those are the facts.

I have studied this church and others for decades. I don't find any distortions or lies in the LDS church. I find human beings who make mistakes, and even some who would rather those mistakes don't get out, but that is human nature. Most are honest and open about their mistakes.

As for "Blood of the Prophets", I read that too but found the treatment of its subjects too facile and a caricaturization.

Christ was killed for going against the organized religion of his day. Paul was pilloried for bringing God into a hellenistic society that couldn't tolerate spiritual matter. I see strong parallels with both today. There are those who champion reason above spirit, conventional religion and those who advocate following the Holy Ghost. Which are you??

This article was the first I've seen that just reported, and did not bring its own biases. It questioned but used questioning as a way to interview and find answers. Bravo!

That last paragraph was really powerful. This was so wonderful to hear, thanks for writing this topic.

One thing though, I think there were a few times where the word "Priest" was improperly used. Was priest confused with an LDS Elder? A higher progression in the Church?

I would classify myself as one of those who have been baptised and then became inactive and probably shouldn't be on the church records now. I am fairly open though and hold no grudges. I just like to snowboard to much on sunday (not sure far this year grrr). Anyway, I take equal offense to extremists on both sides of the argument. Those with the strongest opinions in my experience are usually the ones who get further and further away from the truth. By the way, "just the facts, man," I read your post looking for the facts and saw only opinionated statements. The facts I got were that maggots and microsoft, etc all do good. I would agree about the maggots, not quite sure about the rest of them (lol).

...just the facts, Man?

You failed to state a single "fact". Rather you paint the world with a broad and cleary biased brush. There's an old saying "all generalizations are false". You clearly have nothing to say that's substantive let alone factual. If the LDS church is not what it claims to be, why do you care?!

Save your breath, your time, your energy and your resources or is their something about Mormons that you can save us all from? Perhaps you could tell us the truth and why you really don't like the Mormon Church! Is it that obnoxious Mormon neighbor that has more stuff than you do? Are there a few Mormons that you think are hypocrites (and many are)? The Osmonds have bigger smiles than you and yours?

Do you think Africa would be better off if all the Churches would simply pick-up and leave? OR should only the Mormons fold their tent?

Why does every article printed in this paper turn into a religious bashing opportunity. Granted I know this is an article on religion but still. I know the des news in owned by the church but all to often they over look all of the wonderful things that other religions contribute to society. Does the church do amazing things around the world? Yes, but are we the only ones? Not by a long shot!! I am so grateful for my membership in the church but I realize that there are millions of people that feel that way about their own personal religion, where is the respect? Are we not all children of God? Are we not all told to "love thy neighbors"? I know that we are very enthused about our beliefs but maybe we can take a minute and realize what could be accomplished if everybody worked together instead of against eachother and respect that we all have something to contribute?

I appreciate the sentiments expressed by the previous poster, but I think there is another message here. Mormonism for much of its existence has been criticized as being an "upper middle class church" that did little for those at the lower end of the economic spectrum. I think what this article is showing is that as the Church truly becomes global they are in fact beginning to deal with the problems of people such as those mentioned in this article and are doing so in a positive way.

I also see that same trend in this country as mature couples are called on missions to the inner city to live among those who are economically disadvantaged and help them improve their own lives. I have personally seen the difference they can make.

I am not a religious person, nor do I put much stock in much of what the Church teaches, but certainly this type of work should be recognized and applauded. I don't think it takes away from what other people or religions are doing.

I am a "practiciing" member of the LDS church. It's true that the church doesn't take the people off their records that are no longer "practicing". I also know the church admits that only about 50% of people listed on the records are active (practicing). However, when do you determine that someone is no longer "practicing"? What if a person that hasn't been practicing decides to return? I have personally seen that happen multiple times.
I have also personally visited many of those people that are no longer active in my ward (congregation). The majority of those people that I have visited still claim to be LDS and are not attending any other church. So I think those people would still be counted as members. I also have visited a few people that claim that they no longer consider themselves members of the LDS church and ask to be removed from the records. I don't know the exact process, but there is a way for those members to remove their names from the records. How can the LDS church know to remove a name, unless someone requests it? They can't assume people are no longer LDS.