Posted on 03/08/2012 5:57:03 AM PST by Colofornian
As the Republican establishment redoubles its efforts to anoint Mitt Romney the GOP presidential nominee (an outcome likely to ensure a second term for Barack Obama), the need to understand Mitt Romney increases.
What makes Mitt the kind of person he is — ruthlessly opportunistic, dishonest, insincere, willing to say anything for advantage, lacking in conscience, preoccupied with appearance, etc., on the one hand, yet squeaky clean, family-oriented, disciplined, boring, and predictable, on the other?
My new e-book, A Mormon Story, sheds light on the culture that produced Mitt Romney.
The book reveals a value system that ultimately has no absolutes, other than the need to conform to deep-seated, highly-controlling authoritarianism that pervades LDS culture.
That culture emphasizes a Mormon tradition known as "eternal progression" — undoctrinal spiritual evolution in which even God is changing. It also emphasizes the notion that the latest words of governing church leaders trump the Word of God found in the scriptures (including LDS scripture). As a result, Mormons have little incentive to inform themselves about what the scriptures call the "doctrine of Christ" (since they consider that doctrine subject to change); or to rely directly on God to know His will in applying that doctrine to their lives; or to sacrifice their security, comfort, or needs to do what is right, above all else.
In such a system, truth is relative, LDS leaders become the only reliable authority, and individual members are subservient.
Outwardly, as is well known, Mormons appear upright — but that is due largely to intense pressure to conform to the norms of Mormon society, and to uphold the Mormon church's nurtured image of conventionality. Inwardly, Mormons are less independently moral, principled, and informed than they may seem (something LDS scripture quotes God Himself as saying about them). They are trained to be dependent on church authorities to tell them what to think and do, in ways non-Mormons would have difficulty relating to. They behave much like a "cult" — one centered in obedience to powerful, dictatorial leaders.*
As a culture, Mormons therefore tend to lack moral courage — of the sort that would enable them to rise above such social pressure and truly lead out in solving the problems and paradoxes of real life. They are inclined to exemplify not firm leadership, but timidity masquerading as normalcy.
Watch Mitt in the debates. There's fear behind his practiced façade.
Sound intriguing? You bet (as Mormons would say). To read A Mormon Story, click here.
It's time for the culture of Mormonism — its relativistic, authoritarian values and traditions — to receive the kind of scrutiny often reserved for controversial elements of LDS doctrine. Americans deserve to know.
*To be fair, I should stress that my characterization of "Mormons" is just broad enough to create a clear picture of the traditions, values, and tendencies that do — in fact — permeate Mormon culture. I don't mean to imply there aren't exceptions among sincere LDS people. Indeed, I counted myself as an exception — before I was excommunicated for "disobeying" church leaders who illegally demanded I abandon my political livelihood. I know several LDS members who have fundamental integrity, and who therefore struggle with the undoctinal demands and contradictions placed on them by LDS culture.
Makes sense. I’ve heard sad personal stories that confirm this.
It’s the reason why I think Glenn Beck will eventually leave the LDS church. He values truth too much.
AFAIK, he and his wife converted when he was in the depths of alcoholism, prompted by his daughter’s conversion. He will have to overcome this emotional attachment to Mormonism, which I believe is his sticking point.
Wrong! The "Ultimate Authority in Mormonism"is.....$$$!
Note that only ONE of the current leaders has ANY theological background..all the rest have majored in "profit".
While the Church employs an independent auditing department which provides an annual report to the Church[1], it has not published full financial reports since 1959.
The Council was established by church founder Joseph Smith, Jr. on 8 July 1838.[2] As of April 2009, the members of the Council are:
That sounds a lot like Romney's ideas of Constitutionalism. One cannot know what the Constitution really says, except what judges tell you the Constitution says and the judges are not bound by law either and could change their minds at a moment’s notice.
With only small changes you get Romney's core notion of government as "whatever I saw".
“Why does Mitt get a pass?”
To help get him the nomination, then all hell will brake loose when the media and the left will go wild. The left is licking its chops waiting to pounce. It is too bad this can’t get traction now before it’s too late
You are being optimistic about Beck because you apparently see what mormoinsm is.
The draw of godhood is strong, and Beck has bought it hook line and sinker.
If Beck really valued truth, he would have never converted to mormonism.
” That sounds a lot like the god of Islam. One cannot know what Allah really wants, except what the Imam tells you Allah wants and Allah is not bound by law either and could change his mind at a moment’s notice. “
Islam vs Mormonism
by Kirk Grim
The Islamic faith is centered on the belief in one God and in Arabic he is called Allah. The Muslims, followers of Islam, believe that Muhammad was visited by an angel of light from whom he received God’s final revelation. Muhammad claimed that this angel of light was Gabriel, the same Gabriel as the one from the Old Testament of the Bible. It was several years before these visions were recorded in what is called the Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam. Some believe that the delay in recording the revelations was due to Muhammad’s illiteracy. Muhammad taught that some of the figures of the Bible, such as Moses and Jesus, were prophets but that Jesus was not the Son of God, crucified, or resurrected. And Muhammad’s revelations superceded previous revelations that were not in agreement with his. “God has revealed His will through the medium of the prophets, that Muhammad is the last of the line of prophets, that the message revealed through Muhammad, the Koran, is the literal word of God, containing the expression of His will for man”.
The Mormon faith is centered on the belief in one God (of this world). Mormons believe that Joseph Smith was visited by an angel of light from whom he received God’s revelation. The Prophet continued to pursue his common vocations until September 21, 1823, while “suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men,” in part as a result of his claims concerning his first vision. As he prayed that evening that he might know his standing before God, an angel appeared at his bedside, saying that he had been sent from the presence of God and that his name was Moroni. He explained “that God had a work for [Joseph] to do; and that [his] name should be had for good and evil among all nations”. He instructed Joseph concerning a book that was written on gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of the continent. The fullness of the everlasting gospel was contained in the record as delivered by the Savior to these people. Joseph was also shown a vision of a nearby hill and the place where the plates containing this record were deposited. Several years later he would translate these plates into what is known as the Book of Mormon. Joseph taught that the Bible was correct as much as it is translated correctly, but his revelations superceded previous revelations that were not in agreement with his. He also taught that Jesus Christ was the Son of God through physical relations between God and Mary, but that Jesus is not God and did not pay for our sins on the cross. Along with the Book of Mormon and the Bible, Joseph received revelations that later became the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The four books are considered the standard works of Mormonism.
It is clear that both religions must change the nature of God and/or Jesus to allow for the new revelations. Muslims claim that Allah is the same God that Jews and Christians worship. But the history of the name is quite different. The term Allah is a purely Arabic term used in reference to an Arabic deity. The tribe into which Mohammad was born was devoted to their Allah, which was the moon god. It was represented by the black stone they believed had come down from heaven. “In Arabia, the sun god was viewed as female and the moon was viewed as the male god. In pre-Islamic times Allah was married to the sun god and together they produced three goddesses called The Daughters of Allah”. In Mormonism, they profess that there is only one God but explain that it means one God of this world meaning that there are more. They teach that God ascended to his holy place and use the phrase, “As man is, god once was, as god is, man may become”. It is interesting what the Bible says about this, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:13-15).
Islam imposed its seventh century culture in its political expression, family affairs, dietary laws, clothing, and religious rites. Likewise, Mormonism imposes a set of laws about ones life that must be adhered to, it is known as The Word of Wisdom. “The Word of Wisdom put restrictions on members of the Church. To this day those regulations apply to every member and to everyone who seeks to join the Church. They are so compelling that no one is to be baptized into the Church without first agreeing to live by them. No one will be called to teach or to lead unless they accept them. When you want to go to the temple, you will be asked if you keep the Word of Wisdom. If you do not, you cannot go to the house of the Lord until you are fully worthy”. Some of the restrictions include, wine or strong drink, “tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill, hot drinks, Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine”. Other restrictions are applied to dress and particularly the dress of women. In Islam they are covered from head to toe and in Mormonism they are supposed to wear clothing the covers their arms and legs. Men and women are both to wear protecting under clothing known as garments.
Both religions have demeaning practices regarding the treatment of women. In the fundamental sects of Islam, women are considered to be property and Muslim men still have the right to have up to 4 wives. In Mormonism the man holds the keys to exaltation for the woman. The subservient role of women in the Mormon temple ceremony is evident when they come to the veil in the temple. A man representing Elohim (God the Father) brings the men through the veil into the Celestial Kingdom. The women, on the other hand, are brought through by their husbands. This part of the ceremony seems to be an attempt to demonstrate that man is the head and God of the woman. The official who performs the wedding ceremony tells the man that he must look to God but the woman must look to her husband as her God. It is not possible for a woman to go to Christ, except through her husband. Mormonism also taught polygamy as an acceptable practice until after they were forced to abandon it early in the twentieth century by the Edmonds-Tucker act. Although the physical marriage has been abandoned except for some isolated areas around the country, they still practice polygamy through spiritual marriage. In this practice, leaders of the church are often “sealed” to widowed or unmarried women of the church.
After the Koran, Muhammad continued to receive revelation. He received revelations that he was to loot and steal from caravans that were going through. There were many cases where Muhammad and his followers would loot and rob caravans and would kill the men. In one of his revelations, he was told to kill and drive out all of the Jews. On one occasion he had one thousand Jewish men brought together and beheaded. Islam became known as the religion of the sword. After being forced out of Kirtland, Ohio for money laundering, polygamy and various other crimes, Joseph Smith and the Mormons moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. At Nauvoo, the Mormons organized the Nauvoo Legion. Robert Bruce Flanders explains: “The crowning provision of the charter gave the city its own little army, the famous Nauvoo Legion....The Legion was therefore independent of and not subject to the military laws of Illinois. At that time the titles Colonel, Captain or General came to replace Brother, Elder, or President in the address of the Saints. Military spoils were for them a particular symbol of status, prestige, and reassurance. Joseph Smith preferred the full title of Lieutenant General. As the city grew, so did the Legion, causing apprehension among locals concerning the nature and intent of the Mormon kingdom. Mormon writer Hyrum L. Andrus recorded: Of the Prophet’s appearance as a Lieutenant General at the head of the Nauvoo Legion, Lyman L. Woods recalled, I have seen him on a white horse wearing the uniform of a general....He was leading a parade of the Legion and looked like a god. Joseph Smith seems to have desired to lead a large army, for he prepared a Petition to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, dated 26th March, asking the privilege of raising 100,000 men to extend protection to persons wishing to settle Oregon and other portions of the territory of the United States, and extend protection to the people in Texas.”
Joseph Smith’s military plans and maneuvers were very disturbing to the non-Mormons who lived around Nauvoo. On July 21, 1841, the anti-Mormon paper, Warsaw Signal reported: “How military these people are becoming! Everything they say or do seems to breathe the spirit of military tactics. Their prophet appears, on all occasions, in his splendid regimental dress signs his name Lieut. General, and more titles are to be found in the Nauvoo Legion, than any one book on military tactics can produce; ... Truly fighting must, be a part of the creed of these Saints!”. In 1853 it was revealed by William Marks, a member of the Council of Fifty, that Joseph ordained himself as king to reign over the house of Israel forever. Joseph Smith was eventually arrested in Carthage, Illinois for burning down the printing office of the Nauvoo Expositor for publishing articles that he found offensive. It was from this jail that Smith killed 2 individuals while trying to escape, before he himself was shot and killed. To this day the Mormons claim this act of violence made him a martyr.
Now these similarities may be mere coincidence if there is not a link that in some way ties them together. That link exists, and it is Freemasonry. Freemasonry or the Masonic Lodge is a secret society that goes back several centuries. Freemasonry derives many of its symbols and mysticism from Arabia and Islam. They also profess belief in a God that they call the great architect of the universe. There symbols include the Arabic sword and crescent moon. The Shriners come from the thirty third degree of Freemasonry and are known to dress in ancient Arabic attire including the Fez and swords. Folklore says that the hat known as the Fez was named for the city of Fez, Morocco, where thousands of Christians were slain at the sword of Islam. As a sign of honor, the Muslims dipped the top of their hats in the blood that flowed through the streets. Mormonism is also filled with secret rituals and ceremonies that have been derived from Joseph’s family’s membership in the Masonic Lodge. One example of this is the oath given by Mormons in a temple ceremony, “We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so; we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by their roots”. This is strikingly similar to the oath of the First Degree of Freemasonry, “... I will ... never reveal any part or parts, art or arts, point or points of the secret arts and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry ... binding myself under no less penalty than to have my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the roots....”. In both ceremonies the thumb is drawn across the throat to show the penalty. In Utah, Mormons cannot join their fraternity because of the things that happened in Nauvoo and they believe that Smith stole the Masonic rituals.
Yeah...I can see it now...
A local candidate is selling himself door to door...you answer...you invite him in to get to know him...
Thru an informal grilling process you finally extract these tidbits...that...
(a) He's earned a fair amount of $ from the porn industry;
(b) He's forced everybody in your community into govt-run healthcare;
(c) He says he's "pro-life" -- but that healthcare provides $50 abortions & has a Planned Parenthood employee as a permanent healthcare member...plus while running his last "pro-life" campaign he told a member of the local media that it's "OK" for parents to give up their offspring to "research"...
(d) He was a member of an openly racist org thru age 31 -- an org that still keeps racist teachings in its constitution but says policy-wise, they've changed.
(e) And, oh, btw, he'll be a grown-up god some day...but, hey, no worry about "idolatry" if you endorse him.
ALL: Paythefiddler's conclusion: "Well, you're a bit disappointing. You're not much of a candidate, let alone a candidate with an (R) attached, but I'll endorse you."
[To flesh out (a) & (c) above...(c) -- Romney told Katie Couric in Dec '07 'twas "OK" for parents to give their offspring to "research"...re: (a) Romney's been a board member for Marriott, which since at least 1989 has been selling porn inside its hotel rooms...something even they realize is problematic because they've announced they'll be stopping that practice...tell us the difference between a porn theater in bed with the porn industry & Marriott again? Aren't they all "porn theaters" & porn industry distributors?]
Hey, paythefiddler, with "fickle" "discerning" "conservative" voters like you, the GOP's in "great shape" long-term! /sarc
I will assert that Mitt is even more dangerous than Obama...everybody knows Obama is socialist, he’s not very subtle about it. Mitt is trickier, he will sugar-coat his socialism.
Yes, and I suspect that if he gets the nomination, by the time the 0bama campaign is done with him, huge numbers of people will be seeing LDS as a cult with bizarre teachings and beliefs.
I agree.
this morning Neal Boortz was talking about the left going after Rush and he said who would they be after next ???
Who would they try to “tie” to Rush ??? Romney ???
Would Rush bring Romney down ???
I was in my car and I yelled at my car radio...
“Not even being “tied” to Rush could improve Romney’s image”
“Mitt Romney-he ain’t much, but he’s better than a Marxist”
_______________________________________________
and hes still not good enough..
being non-Marxist doesnt make him a Conservative..
if exit pollsters asked more Qs re: common values — vs. doctrinal focus — there would be more “alignment” between us...
_______________________________________
Christians dont dead dunked...
Christians dont practice immorality like polygamy...
The Christian God always was...
The Christian Virgin Mary was...
and so on...
Well, I have to say, Paythefiddler...your comment is not an isolated one these past months on FR. Because of that, and some interesting comments by other posters like Ansel12 -- like how this would impact who we consider to be otherwise "conservative" stalwarts -- I was motivated to write a "modern-day parable" if you will.
I just posted it as a vanity: 'What good would it do to forfeit your convictions & not gain your political world?' [Vanity about GoP & its voters]
I don't even care if it initially draws much comment. What's "good" about some postings is the ability to link to them in future posts...And I have a great feeling that comments like yours -- paythefiddler -- will crop up again...and which point I will compare them also to "Joe the Republican."
I do encourage you to read it...and then tell me if you see yourself in the "Joe the Republican" character.
It indeed was a "composite character" -- based upon plenty of FREEPER comments I've heard.
“Mitt Romney-he ain’t much, but
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as a Conservative I want much more.....
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Bull hockey!
MORMONism has STOLEN things rightfully Christian and TWISTED them into it's own fiendish ways; and having the GALL to claim that THEY are the ONLY true CHRISTIANS!!
%^&%&#@& THEM!
Bull hockey!
MORMONism has STOLEN things rightfully Christian and TWISTED them into it's own fiendish ways; and having the GALL to claim that THEY are the ONLY true CHRISTIANS!!
%^&%&#@& THEM!
So is my local dogcatcher!
ANY fool off the street is better than O; and MOST of them are BETTER than Romney; too!
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