Anti-Mormons

[pam]

I've always wondered why on this board we feel the need to have people justify their personal decisions?

[candyprpl]

Originally Posted by omega0401

Some even start their own church after searching in vain.

With my testimony of the restored gospel, I am very happy where I am at. I would never leave it. And those who do, we still care about them and hope, even pray, that they will return back some day.

I couldn't agree with you more!! Just look at all the different churches out there today!!

[bytor2112]

Originally Posted by OtterPop

Yes, I know, and on that point I don't disagree that this is what Mormonism teaches and -- as far as I'm aware -- has always taught.

I'm not sure what your point in this current post is about, though.

Well, my point was just to reiterate why I believe that some leave the church. You initially questioned my assertion that the War in heaven continues. You later conceded the point, and now you don't understand the point of the post.

So here it tis....... I think that you have been decieved and that is why you have left the church. I am sure you disagree and that's ok, its just my opinion and mean no disrespect. Just trying to clarify my post.

[rameumptom]

Originally Posted by prisonchaplain

You probably just gave me the best description I've heard of the benefits of having a hierarchical, and yet nearly all-volunteer church.

Prison Chaplain,
I think this definition helps to define how the LDS are different in many aspects from others, a task I obviously failed at explaining earlier. While I recognize that most churches have volunteers that give much time and energy to their local or regional church; there is an expectation in the LDS Church that comes with the covenant of baptism, that each of us will receive and accept callings along the way.

It is one thing to personally volunteer to be a youth minister or a Sunday School teacher. It is quite a different thing to be called to something, which you may not even have an interest in.

Our hierarchy is such that when there is a disaster, we can and do organize quickly. When Terre Haute, Indiana was flooded last month, we had 3 days notice to gather a group to spend the weekend there. We had over 500 members from 4 stakes each day. And I've seen this happen several times before with hurricane Opal, flooding in Albany Georgia, hurricane Katrina, etc. For Katrina, we had our stakes organized for different weekends to go down, so that the Indianapolis stakes went down on a weekend with over 500 people - 5000 total helped that weekend alone.

And the expectation is both driven down by the leadership, but also is self-imposed. I just had a new member give his first priesthood lesson today. He was very unsure of himself, and asked us to consider someone else, but still stepped up and accomplished the task faithfully.

[OtterPop]

Originally Posted by bytor2112

I think that you have been decieved and that is why you have left the church. I am sure you disagree and that's ok, its just my opinion and mean no disrespect. Just trying to clarify my post.

I thought that's what you were getting at, but I didn't want to assume.

Tell me, how do you determine that one has been deceived, other than concluding that it must be so just because their experience doesn't match with your own testimony and experience?

[twbocci]

Christians (which I am) approach the issue in an offensive manner often times. Mostly due to the discrepancies that exist between the Mormon religion and what the bible teaches us. Exaltation for example. The fact that one can only enter the higher "levels" of heaven if they belong to the Mormon church. Jesus Christ is the savior and widely availableto those of different churches. I believe that Mormons can be saved by believing in Christ just as any Christian can, but worry they might be missing on the point that Jesus alone is the light of the world and he accepts Jew and Gentile alike. He examines the hearts and minds of all men and pays no attention to what church you belong to. Hope this didn't come across as anti-mormon.
Thanks

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by twbocci

Christians (which I am) approach the issue in an offensive manner often times. Mostly due to the discrepancies that exist between the Mormon religion and what the bible teaches us. Exaltation for example. The fact that one can only enter the higher "levels" of heaven if they belong to the Mormon church. Jesus Christ is the savior and widely availableto those of different churches. I believe that Mormons can be saved by believing in Christ just as any Christian can, but worry they might be missing on the point that Jesus alone is the light of the world and he accepts Jew and Gentile alike. He examines the hearts and minds of all men and pays no attention to what church you belong to. Hope this didn't come across as anti-mormon.
Thanks

Most LDS that I know (including myself) are not so concerned that many people find comfort in the Christian churches they attend and do not care to read the Book of Mormon or learn about the LDS church. What does concern me and others I know are basically two things:

First: those that feel it is more important to teach what they think is wrong with the "Mormons" more than they are willing to teach what is right with their beliefs. This is a major red flag to me about someone's faith in the “Good News” of Christ.

Second: Is when they feel that they know more about the "Mormons" than do the LDS people that live the faith. Even when they find that some misrepresent LDS teachings they are still willing to believe what others say we believe over what we say we believe. This gives me the impression that some is trying to play without a full deck.

Those the oppose the LDS without proper understanding of our doctrine (including those that claim to be return LDS missionaries and former Temple recommend holders) convince me that they most likely do not understand their present faith or intellectual status either. Let me give one example – I once conversed with a person that was adamant that Joseph Smith was a convicted fraud. Despite that Joseph has never been convicted of fraud in any court they still insisted he was a convicted fraud – quoting anything and everything but a court preceding where he was convicted (because there just is not one). The only possible conclusion I could draw is that this person had lost their rational marbles and that there is no sane reason to attempt to converse with someone so mentally handicapped.

The Traveler

[pam]

Could not have said it better Traveler. Thank you for your post.

[Palerider]

Originally Posted by Traveler

Most LDS that I know (including myself) are not so concerned that many people find comfort in the Christian churches they attend and do not care to read the Book of Mormon or learn about the LDS church. What does concern me and others I know are basically two things:

First: those that feel it is more important to teach what they think is wrong with the "Mormons" more than they are willing to teach what is right with their beliefs. This is a major red flag to me about someone's faith in the “Good News” of Christ.

Second: Is when they feel that they know more about the "Mormons" than do the LDS people that live the faith. Even when they find that some misrepresent LDS teachings they are still willing to believe what others say we believe over what we say we believe. This gives me the impression that some is trying to play without a full deck.

Those the oppose the LDS without proper understanding of our doctrine (including those that claim to be return LDS missionaries and former Temple recommend holders) convince me that they most likely do not understand their present faith or intellectual status either. Let me give one example – I once conversed with a person that was adamant that Joseph Smith was a convicted fraud. Despite that Joseph has never been convicted of fraud in any court they still insisted he was a convicted fraud – quoting anything and everything but a court preceding where he was convicted (because there just is not one). The only possible conclusion I could draw is that this person had lost their rational marbles and that there is no sane reason to attempt to converse with someone so mentally handicapped.

The Traveler

how true....and I have stated this many times on this board.....I live in a portion of the Bible Belt and we have alot of Baptists around here......I hear this kind of thing you speak of over and over..

[WANDERER]

One LDS blog introduced me to the term "theological porn" and I'm still trying to scrub the term out of my head. If only you could vomit up some ideas and feel better afterwards. Dealing with it is today's issue.