Got mine!
Posted on 07/09/2008 3:17:16 PM PDT by Alice in Wonderland
A coalition that represents fundamentalist Mormons has issued a statement objecting to the LDS Church's attempts to deny their claim to a shared Mormon heritage.
The Principle Voices Coalition, based in Salt Lake City, said that members "strenuously object to any efforts to deprive us and others of the freedom to name and describe ourselves by terms of our own choosing."
Two weeks ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched a media campaign aimed at distinguishing itself from the breakaway sects.
The church said its effort was primarily aimed at clarifying the difference between the LDS Church and the FLDS sect, necessary because of widespread coverage of Texas authorities' raid on the sect's west Texas ranch.
The LDS Church said a poll showed more than a third of those surveyed thought the sect was part of the Mormon Church based in Salt Lake City.
"It's obvious we need to do more to help people understand the enormous differences that exist between our Church, which is a global faith, and these small polygamous groups," said Quentin L. Cook, an LDS Church elder, in a statement issued June 26.
He also said that "Mormons have nothing whatsoever to do with this polygamous sect in Texas," reiterating comments made several years ago by former LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley that there is no such thing as fundamentalist Mormons.
But the coalition objects to any attempts to limit use of the term.
"Fundamentalist Mormons have been referred to by that name since the 1930s, often by the Church itself," the coalition said in its statement. "We are proud of our Mormon heritage. Plural marriage is only one of the tenets of our religion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through Joseph Smith."
The LDS Church has asked that media refer to those who follow the original beliefs set down by Joseph Smith as "polygamous sects," the group said, but "most of us are not (and do not refer to ourselves as) polygamists."
The coalition said the statement had been authorized by the Apostolic United Brethren, the Davis County Cooperative Society, The Work of Jesus Christ and numerous independent fundamentalist Mormons.
The statement was not signed by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days or several smaller groups.
The coalition said the LDS Church has experienced a similar problem with refusals of some Christian denominations to recognize Latter-day Saints as Christians.
"In many ways, we consider ourselves to be adherents to Mormonism (and Christianity) no less than were Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor," the coalition's statement said. "What distinguishes us from the modern, mainstream Church is that we have endeavored to observe the original, fundamental precepts of the restored Gospel, while the Church itself has, since the early 1900s, repudiated several of them.
Well, this is certainly interesting...!
Nuh-hunh, a bunch of Mormons on FR told me you weren't!
Hey, check this out!
Ooops...
Guess maybe the LDS should have at least kept the FLDS on the mailing list...
“FUNDAMENTALIST MORMON” IS THE CORRECT TERM CONTRARY TO LDS CHURCH CLAIMS
The Principle Voices Coalition has learned that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sent a letter to media outlets asking that the term “fundamentalist Mormon” not be used. In the recent past, the Church has insisted that we instead be defined as “polygamous sects”, even though most of us are not (and do not refer to ourselves as) polygamists.
We strenuously object to any efforts to deprive us and others of the freedom to name and describe ourselves by terms of our own choosing. Fundamentalist Mormons have been referred to by that name since the 1930s, often by the Church itself. We are proud of our Mormon heritage. Plural marriage is only one of the tenets of our religion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through Joseph Smith.
Ironically, the LDS Church has been justifiably uncomfortable with repeated assertions by members of some Christian denominations that Latter-day Saints are not Christians. In many ways, we consider ourselves to be adherents to Mormonism (and Christianity) no less than were Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor. What distinguishes us from the modern, mainstream Church is that we have endeavored to observe the original, fundamental precepts of the restored Gospel, while the Church itself has, since the early 1900s, repudiated several of them.
The LDS church with HQ in SLC is the apostate church that Joseph Smith warned of. The fundamentalists are actually practicing what Joseph Smith and Brigham Young taught.
This calls for caramel popcorn.... :p
They are the ones sticking by Smith’s original teachings. They didn’t change their views on plural marriage or blacks when it became politically convenient to do so.
Popcorn ping
Which is the exact reason I don't believe Mormon prophets speak for God and that Joseph Smith was a fraud.
Ironic?
OK then, I guess it should be "plural marrige sects" instead of "polygamous sects". Big whoop!
Got mine!
ITT: >9000 posts, epic flamewars, and several bans.
Here...or in heaven?
Or is there a difference?
You are totally allowed to believe what you will, it’s a free country.
I’m grateful to Joseph Smith and I believe he was a prophet of God. The LDS church answered many questions that I had, that no other church or organization was able to do. I believe the people living today, are loved by Heavenly Father as much as any other people who ever lived. I believe He cares for us, and loves us, and He reveals truth today. I’m grateful that Heavenly Father protects and guides us.
I believe God has revealed truth in the past, does so now, and will continue to do so into the future.
With Regards,
Yellow Roses
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