Posted on 09/09/2012 10:23:41 AM PDT by Mozilla
On Thursday night, Glenn Beck tackled an issue that has come up frequently throughout the 2012 presidential campaign — Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith. Prior to the show, the radio and television host invited TheBlaze readers and viewers to submit their questions, as he sought to address the myths that often surround The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Beck, who is also a Mormon, told viewers that his faith is inherent in all that he does. In fact, it is his personal relationship with God that guides his actions and sustains him.
“I do what I do, because of my faith,” Beck told viewers. “Because of my faith, I’m not afraid.”
He also went on to highlight some of the elements that people need to know about his personal faith and its central underpinnings. From a belief in Jesus Christ to the notion that helping one’s fellow man is essential, these values lay at the center of the Mormon experience.
“God lives. We survive. America flourishes,” he continued, listing off the other sentiments that Mormons embrace. “The Messiah came and he will come again. Be good to one another. Give until it hurts. Give to the poor, the hungry and the underprivileged. Obey God. Make a covenant with him. He keeps his word. But be on his side. Don’t try to get him on your side.”
The first issue — or myth, rather — that Beck tackled was polygamy, a marriage that includes more than two individuals. Since there is mass confusion surrounding Mormons and plural marriage, Beck provided in-depth background and historical analysis on the issue. While he explained that Mormons did, indeed, practice polygamy at one point in time, he notes that this dynamic ended 122 years ago and that the church takes a strong stance against it today.
GlennBeck.com has more about Beck’s statements surrounding historical constructs of the former practice:
He explained that in the 1800s, there was massive persecution of Mormons wer driven out of New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. In Missouri, the governor even issued Executive Order-44 which ordered that all Mormons be exterminated or driven out of the state, resulting in 10,000 Mormons who lived there either being killed or forced to flee. Executive Order-44 wasn’t overturned until 1976. As a result of this persecution, there weren’t many men left. The desire to repopulate played a role in the decision to practice polygamy, but only about 5% did it before the practice came to an end in 1890.
He called polygamy ”a perversion of everything we believe in.”
“The media would have nothing more to have Americans believe that anybody who believes what I believe is [Warren Jeffs],” Beck said, referring to a cult leader who is serving a life sentence for having relationships with underage girls.
Contemporary polygamists aren’t Mormons, Beck explained. Watch the host tackle the polygamy issue, below:
Next, he delved into the so-called “magic underwear” discussion. He was, of course, referring to the undergarments that Mormon adherents wear. Many times, this element of the faith is mocked and ridiculed, as non-believers don‘t understand the significance and haven’t necessarily been exposed to the reasoning behind wearing the clothing.
“It is to remind us of something very sacred,” Beck explained. “It’s a reminder of the promises we make at the Temple.”
Rather than serving as a secretive and elusive tool, the underwear represent the personal promises that Mormons make to be “faithful, modest, and temperate.”
While it’s not always easy to wear the undergarments, especially when it comes to finding clothing to wear over them, Beck said that the difficulty makes it more sacred and meaningful. Considering the importance of the underwear to the Mormon faith, it also become more painful, the host admitted, when others mock the practice:
Beck also tackled the purported “secretive” activities that unfold in the temple. While many critics have alleged that the church is elusive and that some of the activities are top-secret, Beck made it clear that there’s nothing surprising or startling going on behind closed doors.
“There’s no secret stuff,” Beck explained. “There‘s nothing you will find in the temple that you won’t find in the Old or New Testament.”
Marriage and baptism are two of the practices that take place inside Mormon houses of worship — elements that most other Christian denominations can relate to. Beck did delve into “baptism for the dead,” a practice that he said has roots in 1 Corinthians.
See him tackle these subjects, below:
There is also, of course, the question of Mormon missionaries. Beck described the fascinating, two-year trips that young believers make to help spread the faith, while simultaneously embarking on a journey to find themselves.
During this time, young Mormons find themselves “preaching the word and reading the scriptures,” as they go door-to-door to discuss their faith. While sharing an example of a friend’s son who just left for Finland for a mission, Beck encouraged others — regardless of their faiths — to engage in similar experiences.
“He will live the exact opposite of a trophy society. In a culture where ‘I’ve got to go find myself, while spending $50,000 a year and listen to a bunch of liberal Marxist professors at some liberal college…these guys do find themselves,” Beck proclaimed. “Please, do this in your faith. It changes your children…it’s one of the reasons that Mormons are so successful. They know why they are at an early age.”
“It’s not weird to be a Mormon. And it‘s not weird to be president if you’re Mormon,” Beck concluded.
This special episode comes as the nation prepares to potentially elect its first Mormon president. While some biases certainly continue to color Romney’s candidacy, the impact appears to be minimal. As we’ve previously reported, November 2011 Pew Research Center results found that, while Romney may have experienced some negative results due to his Mormon faith in the primary race, his general election chances likely won’t be impacted.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t stopped anti-Mormon attacks from unfolding in media. Beck’s goal, of course, was to dispel some of the myths that drive and fuel these incidents.
In both cases it was wrong and sinful. In both cases it lead to significant problems.
Well...I see that done often as well.
Have done it myself in fact.
So again, why don’t you condemn Islam?
Pointing out how Mormonism differs from traditional Christianity is not “hate.”
“And just like Mohammad he felt he was entiltled to lots of women”
Meanwhile, rational men look for ways to escape them. I cannot fathom the self hatred that would lead a man to want extra wives. What kind of special hell must that be to have 4 mothers in law, 19 sister in laws, etc.
does polygamy appear only in the Old Testament, or in the New Testament as well?
A lot of dishonest balderdash in what beck said.
Did he mention how the Mormons would vote in unison for anyone the ‘Prophet’ said to vote for, and their neighbors drove them out for that?
And the “Mormon War” in Missouri killed...22 people. Not exactly enough to cause a need for polygamy.
you need to acknowledge that prominent Christians also had multiple wives. In fact King Solomon
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Ah king Solomon was not a Christian...
King Solomon was alive about 1,000 years BEFORE the LORD Jesus Christ who is and has always been God left His Heaven and was born as a baby...
The difference is that just about everybody signed on to the Peace of Westphalia ~ even the Pope, serious Protestant leaders, kings, princes and folks who imagined themselves to be very important.
There were some standards set that would be good to adapt to ~ that (1) nations don't go to war over the religious beliefs of their neighbors, (2) nations are in charge of their own conduct regarding matters of religion
Implicit in those two points is the idea that OTHERS can criticize whatever your religion believes, and folks can propound on their religious beliefs without concern for the religious sensibilities of others.
What I"m leading up to is the fact that Eastern Orthodox, Moslem and Mormon groups didn't sign on to the Treaties that made up the Peace of Westphalia ~ which might well be part of the source of your discomfort.
You might look it up and study it someday. It replaced simple toleration with a different belief ~ (1) you can believe whatever you can get away with, and (2) others can criticize it and you got to stand there and take it.
When the Bill of Rights came along the principle was extended a bit to include speech, press, peaceable assembly, petition, and several other things.
No one gets a special exception carved out ~ as a citizen I can complain and kvetch about anybody's religion and there's nothing they can do about it, NOR should they expect anything to be done, or sympathy extended.
You will need to catch up and that might as well be now as some other time.
BTW, I find the Catholic discussions interesting ~ they extend my understanding of a part of that religious tradition not often seen outside of church. So, thanks Catholics ~ good job. Never mind me eh!
So again, post an article on Islam and PING me to it...
Meanwhile Joey Smith never condemned Islam so why are you as an enabler of Joey’s religion getting upset if I dont with every breathe ???
I like the Utah culture one hell of a lot better than I do that of Berkeley, West Hollywood, New York City, and Washington, DC.
Jesus spoke of many matters that involved violence ~ and advised people to protect themselves.
“How do you plan to convert any Mormons with the constant hate?”
Well don’t you remember? Thats right there in the Bible. Jesus said it, “Be abusive to your enemies”. Or something like that, i’ll hafta look it up.
But funny you mention that mentality. As i said, im no mormon and just caannot believe their theology, or their whole story. I see it as a merry tall tale scam that got out of hand. So i ask, why has it become so successful? How on earth do they get new members in this day and age?
And it is because they do not act like we often do. When they discuss their religion, they are unfailingly polite. they never belittle other faiths, and as a rule, they try to closely follow their rules. While rejecting their theology, we could learn a few things from their demeanor.
Christ cleared the temple. But it wasn’t the way he did things every damned day.
Back when I used to listen to Beck, he would go into one of his defensive, yelling tirades if a caller was less than complimentary of Mormonism; inevitably he would hang up on the person. So, what.....does he expect everyone is going to love it now?
I see he left out the part about God literally impregnating Mary.....wonder why?
Right. He won’t be doing a show on Mormon history.
The comment above encapsulates the faulty logic on many of these threads. Beck clearly does not expect anyone "to love [Mormonism] now," he simply hangs up on anyone who is "less than complimentary of Mormonism."
Provided what you say is true, of course. I don't listen to Beck, but I can see logical fallacies--especially ones that are large enough to pass a truck.
“King Solomon was alive about 1,000 years BEFORE the LORD Jesus Christ who is and has always been God left His Heaven and was born as a baby...”
So Moses wasn’t a Christian?
Here’s a hint, Jesus lived before he was born in that stable.
Ahh but “Pointing out how Mormonism differs from traditional Christianity” is not what is done.
Poor Glenn.
Has he counted the NUMBER of times that MORMONism claims this?
#1 was about 2012 years ago...
#2 was about 180 years ago...
and, #3, will be when He returns yet again.
Too bad that MORMONism's #2 does NOT line up with the BIBLE's #2!!!
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