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LDS Church addresses FLDS confusion
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It's kinda like talking one way out of one side of the mouth and then speaking the other way from the other side of the mouth.
This is what is so damn confusing to the world at large about the Mormons concerning plural marriage. Now add the history and all and yes, it gets extremely confusing and convoluted.
I'm not so sure the LDS church's PR machine can get them out of this one. Just too much history and the consequences of history concerning this one.
Good luck!
Aloha from Hawaii
As a practicing Anglican when the LDS missionaries came to my door in 1969, I had never before that even heard of the LDS Church or the Book of Mormon.
Until this raid in Texas I had never heard of FLDS, nor had I any concept of the extent of the practice of Polygamy today... I had thought there were just one or two men, whose stories I had seen in the papers, who had entered into Polygamy because of wanting to have more than one wife, and that somehow a few women had been talked into going along with it.
I spent most of last year travelling America, visited all of the LDS Historic Sites, spending lots of time in each area. A fortnight in Nauvoo. A month at Far West/ Independence Missouri. Rented a home at Park City for three months. Explored Utah... so my lack of knowledge of this situation was not because of isolation in Australia :-))
Mormons ARE certainly Christians. Hence...The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Where do people get off on spewing this falsehood? Do you like to stir up trouble and spread false rumors about the Church?
I mean, Pastors and people who are ignorant about the Church spread and believe this nonsense.
Unless you are a member of the Church and unless you understand what you are saying...please refrain.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. We believe that He came to earth born of the Virgin Mary, that He grew and went forth spreading His Gospel. We believe he died on the cross for the sins of the world, that he rose on the third day.
What we believe is that we are Christians. We follow His teachings. We believe in the Great Commandment. We believe that we should treat others as we would like to be treated.
Other Churches, Pastors, and other so called Christians who go about spreading false rumors about The LDS church or any other Church should not call themselves Christians. This is NOT what Christ taught his disciples to do.
One's "Christianess" is best defined by how they treat their fellow man.
Perhaps you should go out and practice being a Christian rather than critizing others efforts?
It's going to be kind of confusing this year on Pioneer day to convince people of the differences. CNN will probably be here with cameras to document those differences.
Maybe another church video will help. Better run it by the PR department first though.
However, using the same justification as the FLDS (and other apostate groups) are using, I guess, as a Mormon, I could go around claiming that I am a Catholic since both Mormons and Catholics are Christians. Of course, that would be absurd. Mormons are not Catholics. On top of that, "Mormon" is a term that is registered and tradmarked to the LDS Church. For any other Church or people to use that name is IDENTITY THEFT.
What's really sad is the way the FLDS delude themselves in to believing that they are following Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith told the people to "stay with the main body of the Church. That is where the truth will be." He also understood the principle of ongoing revelation.
Unfortunately some men with big egos, out-of-control sex drive and need for power didn't have the humility to accept it when the Lord commanded the practice of polygamy should STOP. That's where "the work" now called the FLDS came from.
Very sad.
If you define Christians, as only those group of people that are "not affiliated" or belong to a specific group, that you have a point. By doing this, however, you do not include most of the traditional protestant churches, and the catholic church.
That is unfair.
If you define Christians, as anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ, you are completely wrong, and know it.
Funnily enough, one of the splinter groups has published the Book of Mormon as The Record of the Nephites, and another The Stick of Joseph.
My experience is that in the mind of people (at least in the Netherlands and South Africa) Mormon = Polygamy, so maybe the Polygamist Mormon groups should be left with the name.
Comparing the Church�s efforts to distinguish from the FLDS to the debate of Mormons being Christian is weak. The two religions are two defined groups with specific beliefs. Both openly agree on their differences. The issue is with the uninformed thinking they are the same because others (you) knowingly lie to promote your hate-filled agenda. The �Are Mormons Christian� debate is about how you define the general term. Even those in the debate agree that the term Christian is a big umbrella covering many religions regardless of whether you believe Mormons are covered or not.
Try harder next time.
You seen to have missed that Gilly's remarks were tongue in cheek - pointing out the inconsistancy and amusement while watching the LDS church making non-legitimacy claim for the FLDS, while complaining that some protestant churches make the same claim about the LDS church.
The LDS Church is, indeed, Christian. We are not, however, Protestant. We did not come out of the Protestant Reformation began in Europe. We are wholly, completely, entirely Christian.
We are followers of the ancient Church as our Heavenly Father established it. The Protestant Reformation did a very big disservice to "Christianity" when they fought to seperate themselves from Catholicism. the "refromed" ideas of the 3rd centuries, (Christmas, the Trinity, etc), seperated the main chruch from the ancient church. We seek to follow what our Heavenly Father intended. The GOSPEL is true.
The entire Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition inherits a religious history that includes polygamy.
Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this!
I also with "journalists" on tv, radio, and newpapers in my job. They are, by far, the laziest, most ignorant people I've ever known (sorry, Des. News). They want me to write all their articles for them, they can't get quotes right to save their little souls, and they can't understand the most basic principles.
So if you want to believe the crap put out by media, those with an ax to grind, or anyone but the actual source, go ahead. Moron.
aspects if the FLDS faith, they certainly believe in the Book if Mormon. You say the LDS are Christians because we believe in Christ; I agree. I also say the FLDS are Mormon because the believe in the Book of Mormon. I think it is extremely arrogant to tell a people what words they can and can't refer to themselves by.
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I think this is an honest statement and would appreciate any comments from LDS.
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I understand that lds has a modern day prophet- the same as flds. That's what FLDS was criticized for- if Jeffs said he received revelation; it became the gospel and the people did it. Isn't LDS the same?
.
That sounds a little dangerous to me if it's true..Hebrews 1:1,2
I am a "Mormon" but I would gladly stretch out my hand and offer it to any Christian, Jew, Muslim, Bhuddist, Agnostic, Atheist or any member of any belief system whether he called me a Christian or not. I believe I am a Christian because He taught us to LOVE on another, not hate, and you should all be ashamed at the hateful comments you write in derision and mocking of my Church and any other. I don't believe in any other churches, but that doesn't make their people less human. We are all members of the same race and should stop the bickering. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is simply trying to clear up a miscommunication. Is that so hard for us to understand? I will just say this...it shouldn't be ruining your day.
Yours in friendship.
This could be an opportunity for the Church to reach out to people, to make peace with its past, and show why many find the Mormon religion rewarding and satisfying.
Instead they're turning things over to the lawyers who are making veiled threats of legal action if media coverage doesn't improve. I doubt very seriously that media outlets will be impressed by this but they will be angered by it. Do you really want to get in an adversarial relationship with the press?
The other problem seems to stem from the concept of loving your neigbour also means seeking their incarceration if they bring the name of the church in disrepute. Do you really believe God really cares if his disobedient children defame the church. Let God be the judge. Its apparent church leaders are failing in being that example of Love your neighbour, even if they are FLDS. ..These days are much like the days of Alma, invite the Vice president and hail him as great as your prophet. Hypocrites we are that carry a name yet we defame
I think it's funny that you stereotype like that. Many non-mormons whom you claim already know the 'truth' have never even heard of mormons. Makes sense, "We've never heard about these people, but we sure know the TRUTH about them!" And many of the people in the 'entire state of Utah cult-ure' are not only nonmembers, but active anti-mormons.
I'm a member, and I'm HAPPY! =D I'm probably way more happy than most teenagers in America can say they are. Before I started living by what this church teaches, I was extremely suicidal and depressed. What you say doesn't really bother me, because you're clearly uninformed and biased. If you don't want this 'weirdo faith'... don't take it! We're not trying to rack up numbers, it's not a race to see who can become biggest. We're trying to spread the happiness that we've found.
Have a nice day. =)
I'm so sorry for your ill will towards Christian Mormons. I have lived the faith all of my adult life and have tried my best to live a good Christian life. Every belief and practice of the LDS, "Mormon" doctrine can be supported in the Old and New testament and of course the book of mormon. I know this because I have read all of the standard works. It's not a question of whether Pologamy is doctrine, we already know there were times God commanded his people to accept the practice. (Remember Father Abraham was commanded to take Hagar, a second wife.) However, this issue is about ABUSE of children,(therefore, we want to distance ourselves from FLDS) and 2nd, Mormons believe in obeying the laws of the land. Our doctrine can be supported and as Daniel saw in vision, the stone is rolling forth to fill the whole world!
something really important, such as Warren Jeffs
famous, red rocket powered underpants.
Golly gee folks,remember what's important!
The 12th Article of Faith says that we believe "in honoring and sustaining the law," which members have been carefully taught. But, like the FLDS and polygamy the LDS Church has chosen to ignore this principle when related illegal immigration. When asked in an interview, if they interviewee is honest with their fellow man, because of "don't ask don't tell," illegal aliens are permitted to answer "yes," even though almost all of them are committing ID theft or fraud, both felonies. Being guilty of a felony will normally bring on church discipline.
There seems to be a double standard here, one for those legally in the United States and one for those here illegally. Presently the LDS Church seems to be getting it both ways, not wanting to offend the illegal aliens (mostly of the Hispanic ethnic origin) and the faithful but confused members.
They all follow the same nonsense taught by Joseph Smith and all believe in his fairytale book, the Book of Mormon.
And for the LDS to say they don't practice polygamy (when they are the ones who started it in the first place) is truly disingenuous.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
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