Romney's "Faith of his Fathers" - His Church leaders speak out about Jesus Christ.

lds.org ^ | January, 2000 | LDS Church

[dayglored]

BTW, just so you don't misunderstand me, I'm not defending Romney (I'm a Fred fan), and I'm not defending Mormonism (I think it's pretty whacked-out, personally, and it certainly doesn't jibe with the Christian dogma I was raised with).

I'm only asking about your statement about the U.S. Supreme Court.

[Grunthor]

I believe that the Mormons believe all that, and so much more but I won’t hold that “more” against Mitt as I vote for him.

[dayglored]

> Check the U.S. Supreme Court decision on this. Clearly you don’t know what you are talking about. It was CLEARLY aimed at Mormons openly practicing polygamy. Christians didn’t want polygamy in the U.S.. That is WHY polygamy is against the law, however Mormons in Utah, wink at that and polygamy is still practiced by many Mormons.

Oh, I agree it was aimed at Mormons openly practicing polygamy. However, I'm looking for something that supports your contention that the U.S. Supreme court ruled that "polygamy is un-Christian".

I believe that the SCOTUS ruling was a LEGAL opinion, not a RELIGIOUS opinion. You seem to believe otherwise. I'm only asking for something official that supports your contention.

[Jim Scott]

As a baptized, fundamentalist Christian I reject ‘Mormonism’ as anti-biblical and thus, heretical. However, I admire Mitt Romney for his well-crafted speech centering on the long American history of embracing ‘religious’ values as a major part of our culture. I’m a Thompson supporter but should Romney end up winning the GOP presidential nomination, I could vote for him because I don’t believe that simply voting for a political candidate signals an endorsement of his religion. It may to some, but not to me. I separate politics from religion. I look at the candidate’s values, as reflected in their political positions, and make a judgment on that basis. I assumed most people did. Apparently, my assumption was erroneous.

Mitt Romney’s church may think the bible was ‘flawed’ and foolishly rely on the babbling of some long-dead charlatan (Joseph Smith) for their ‘spiritual’ direction but I fail to see how that impacts his candidacy in any meaningful way, short of sheer prejudice. Romney’s Mormon religion is a small point and making it a major one, as some seem to be doing, is ridiculous. Next November, we’re electing a president, not a church Elder or Minister.

[AHerald]

As a non-Christian,

Not picking a fight here, just curious about your self-description. Saying you're a non-Christian is broad and ambiguous, to say the least. Why not identify what you are instead of that which you are not?

[TheDon]

Thanks for the post. I read it recently and think it is a wonderful statement to share with our FRiends.

[Zakeet]

Can you provide a link, please, to an official source (e.g. a SCOTUS ruling) that describes how and when "the U.S. Supreme Court deemed polygamy UNCHRISTIAN and made it against the law"?

Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878), was a Supreme Court of the United States case that held that religious duty was not a suitable defense to a criminal indictment.

In a nutshell, Reynolds, a polygamist and personal secretary to Brigham Young, argued that as a Mormon, it was his religious duty as a male member of the church to practice polygamy.

A unanimous court rejected this defense, instead holding that Congress has a right to enact a law for the general benefit of society (such as prohibiting "plural marriage") providing it is applied to all persons equally without regard to religious affiliation.

It is my understanding the Reynolds case has not been overturned; is frequently cited when someone tries to use religion as a defense for violating statutes (e.g. taking drugs, torturing animals, abusing children, etc.); and is one of the cases the ACLU most wants to see overturned.

You can read the opinion of the court here.

[TheDon]

Merry Christmas nmh!

[VolFan008]

What leftist leanings? Romney is seen as the most rightward leanging Republican candidate in several polls I’ve seen.

I’m sorry, I don’t buy into this garbage that he’s leftist. I listen to the man talk about the border, and about our economy, and I utterly laugh at such a characteriazation.

Romney knows his stuff. And he’s brought nothing but A-game in accomplishing what he sets out to do once he’s in a position of power. I like the results.

And I’m sorry, but Mormons are included under John 3:16. Heaven may one day be a bit crowded for you, methinks.

[Graybeard58]

Romney is seen as the most rightward leanging Republican candidate in several polls I’ve seen.

Does that make it so because people think it is? If so, man made global warming is true also. What the poll really means is that Romney's snow job is working.

[Old Mountain man]

When you don’t know what you are talking about, shut up and read it for yourself, quit listening to haters and your preacher about what we believe. Doing what you are doing makes you look silly.

[Old Mountain man]

Nobody is sliding anything under your tent, you, as usual, are bloviating in ours.

[nmh]

“When you don’t know what you are talking about, shut up and read it for yourself, quit listening to haters and your preacher about what we believe. Doing what you are doing makes you look silly.”

I must have touched a nerve seeing your childish outburst.

It’s not about “haters” nor is it about a “preacher”. It’s all about secular history and U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.

You don’t know your SECULAR history nor anything about the “religion” of Mormonism. I don’t feel the need to be rude or have tantrums about it - as you seem to require.

Believe whatever you wish!

I’ll continue to acknowledge un-rewritten history and understand what Mormonism IS. You can sling to feelings. I'll stand on objective FACTS about the Mormon "religion" and how polygamy was deemed unconstitutional as determined by the United States Supreme Court. Christians didn't want Mormon polygamy or any other kind of polygamy in their Christian rooted country.

[Old Mountain man]

Well, I’m a Mormon, I don’t practice plural marriage, I don’t know anyone who does since the practice is illegal as well as prohibited by the Church. You should either withdraw your statement or somebody will successfully sue you into bankruptcy for slander since you can’t prove a word of your accusation.

[VolFan008]

“Does that make it so because people think it is?”

What are you talking about?

A man who

*Supports the Marriage Amendment
*Wants biometric data cards issued to immigrants
*Opposes the citizenship of those born here to illegal parents
*Wishes to cap spending at inflation minus 1%
*Wishes to cut capital gains taxes to the middle class
*Wants to decrease rates of corporate taxation
*Isn’t afraid to wiretap a mosque
*Isn’t afraid to call a Jihadi a Jihadi
*Isn’t afraid to tell an Islamist leader to defend himself when he comes here.

Isn’t a leftist by any stretch of the imagination, unless I’ve popped up in some parallel universe where left is right and right is left.

And further, the poster I responded to said Romney was hated because he of this “leftist” (Yeah, freakin’ right) views. Clearly, those polls reveal the exact opposite of what that poster said.

I’m sorry, but Romney and Thompson are our best two candidates. Those who can’t recognize that are just wrong. Period. I’m not backing away from that statement. Giuliani could also win (and I think he would), but he’s not our best.

[Old Mountain man]

Since you ignore facts, once again I will state that plural marriage is illegal as well as banned by the Church. What is your problem with the facts?

[broncobilly]

I know Mormonism is off the wall, but I like Mitt Romney compared to the other candidates

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Every religion has its oddities and is “off the wall.” But people get used to their own and only think the other person’s faith is odd.

Read the article on this phenomena (in the context of the present campaign and Mormonism) in the latest NRO. The article is called “Rational Questions” by Jason Lee Steorts. It is an excellent article.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDEwMTRjZTgzOGZmNWE3ZjY3Y2FmN2UxZDUwY2EyYmY=

If the GOP is going to be a big tent, I think we will all have to show a little of this kind of perspective on these matters.

I once had a Quantum Mechanics professor who, in order to prepare the students for a bizarre description of the world that nevertheless seemed to make sense of it, said, “We don’t really learn anything. We just get used to it.” QM didn’t make sense, but it was incredibly successful. I think sometimes religion is that way. We get used to our own, but the other person’s seems bizarre. So we would do well not to be too quick to judge others.

[Graybeard58]

What were his positions on those issues yesterday? He has flip flopped so much he’s starting to sound like that worthless POS Kerry.

Not that he’s as liberal as Kerry, the flip flopping is similar though.

[Graybeard58]

Romney/Rudy/Paul/any democrat

[ColdSteelTalon]

If you want to learn about the Mormon faith try reading their books. You will find that what they teach about who Jesus is, is very different from what the Bible Teaches.