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Prayers: Request baffles LDS official
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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.
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