Religious freedom restrictions thaw at Snow College [Highest % Lds student enrollment anywhere]

Alliance Defending Freedom ^ | April 18, 2013

[Colofornian]

College changes policies to settle Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit

Attorney sound bite: Travis Barham

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Snow College has changed several policies to restore greater religious freedom to its campus and settle an Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit filed in October of last year on behalf of a Christian student group. In light of the settlement and corrected policies, the group has voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit.

College officials banned the Solid Rock Christian Club from including religious speech as part of a homecoming event. The college, located in the town of Ephraim, also denied the club benefits that it extended to other groups.

“Colleges are supposed to be the marketplace of ideas,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Litigation Staff Counsel Travis Barham. “Snow College has done the right thing in recognizing that the First Amendment protects the freedom of all students to gather with those of like mind and to express their ideas, and that includes students of faith and religious ideas.”

Snow College policies treated student organizations “associated with religious institutions” very differently than other student groups. While most groups could meet in campus facilities without charge, advertise their events without fees, and seek funding for their activities, Snow College prohibited religious student groups--including Solid Rock Christian Club--from doing the same.

In addition, Snow College officials prohibited Solid Rock from displaying a Christian message and cross as part of the school’s “Paint the Town” homecoming event, in which student groups decorated the front windows of participating local businesses.

When Solid Rock began decorating its assigned window with a cross and a message that incorporated the homecoming theme with the group’s Christian message, school officials instructed the club to stop, claiming the group was not allowed to “paint any religious symbols or anything related to religion.” Later, college officials removed the students’ message from another building, telling the students in an e-mail that their Christian message “is in poor taste.”

According to the settlement, the college has agreed “not to adopt or enforce the provisions of the old policies…that deny student organizations ‘associated with religious institutions’ the privileges afforded other student organizations.” The settlement states that college officials “have already implemented [the] revised policies…and have published them to Snow College students on April 1, 2013.”

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed its voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit Solid Rock Christian Club v. Wyatt in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah on April 10. Frank D. Mylar, one of more than 2,200 allied attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom, served as local counsel in the suit.

“Speak Up” University website

Pronunciation guide: Barham (BAYR’-um)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.

[Colofornian]

From the news release on this legal settlement: SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Snow College has changed several policies to restore greater religious freedom to its campus and settle an Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit filed in October of last year on behalf of a Christian student group...College officials banned the Solid Rock Christian Club from including religious speech as part of a homecoming event. The college, located in the town of Ephraim, also denied the club benefits that it extended to other groups...

Now Snow College is a public college. But what makes it interesting what Snow College itself was boasting about in its latest alumni newsletter:
Per the March 20, 2013 Snow College Alumni News: 'Snow College Prepares for Enrollment Change, p.7, "Snow College has a larger percentage of LDS students...than any other public college or university in America...More than 90% of Snow College's students are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

Also, per this same publication -- page 9 -- it boasts an ad featuring the pictures and signatures of Snow College namesakes Erastus Snow and Lorenzo Snow. Lorenzo Snow was an Lds "prophet" who coined the infamous Mormon couplet: Erastus Snow was an Lds "apostle."

On these same pages are brief bios of the 11 Snow College alumni board members: Holly Dyreng Penrod and Gary Parnell are BYU grads; Rachel Walker is listed as an ex-Lds missionary in San Diego; and Kathy Wyatt was listed as having been involved in the "LD [Latter-day] Singers."

On page 6 of the Settlement, we see three specific Snow College reps listed as the defendants. One of the signatures is from Craig Mathie (R. Craig Mathie) is Vice President for Student Success;
Per this source, Mathie has a B.A. and M.Ed from Lds university Brigham Young University: Snow College staff (per catalog)

Snow College had to pay out $800 to this Christian club (& $thousands more to their attorneys) as part of the settlement...(see page 2 of settlement link above)

[Colofornian]

From the news release: Snow College officials prohibited Solid Rock from displaying a Christian message and cross as part of the school’s “Paint the Town” homecoming event, in which student groups decorated the front windows of participating local businesses. When Solid Rock began decorating its assigned window with a cross and a message that incorporated the homecoming theme with the group’s Christian message, school officials instructed the club to stop, claiming the group was not allowed to “paint any religious symbols or anything related to religion.” Later, college officials removed the students’ message from another building, telling the students in an e-mail that their Christian message “is in poor taste.”

Now why would these college leaders -- some/many of who are Lds (Mormons) [see post #1 for documentation of that] -- consider the cross and an accompanying message to be "in poor taste?" Well, you've got to understand Mormon culture as it pertains to being anti-cross of Jesus Christ:
* No-Cross Protocol ["New" Mormon tradition]
* Sunstone speaker attempts to explain LDS 'aversion' to cross [published by Mormon church owned Mormon Times]

[Colofornian]

What is so religiously hypocritical here is that in the Winter 2011 Snow College Alumni newsletter, it boasted of a "dedicatory prayer" on campus from an Lds "general authority" (Jon Huntsman, Sr.)... While a descendant of the college's namesake gave a presentation talking about that namesake being an Lds "apostle" -- yet within a year Snow College was denying religious freedom to The Solid Rock Christian Club. (See page 3 of Karen H. Huntsman Library Dedicated

What's even additionally hypocritical is how Lds "apostle" Dallin H. Oaks was lamenting less than four years ago about "religious freedom" being curbed, especially by government officials (and these Snow College officials, even if Lds, are government officials @ a PUBLIC school!):

"Unpopular minority religions are especially dependent upon a constitutional guarantee of free exercise of religion. We are fortunate to have such a guarantee in the United States, but many nations do not. The importance of that guarantee in the United States should make us ever diligent to defend it. And it is in need of being defended. During my lifetime I have seen a significant deterioration in the respect accorded to religion in our public life, and I believe that the vitality of religious freedom is in danger of being weakened accordingly. Religious belief is obviously protected against government action. The practice of that belief must have some limits, as I suggested earlier. But unless the guarantee of free exercise of religion gives a religious actor greater protection against government prohibitions than are already guaranteed to all actors by other provisions of the constitution (like freedom of speech), what is the special value of religious freedom?...The greatest infringements of religious freedom occur when the exercise of religion collides with other powerful forces in society. Among the most threatening collisions in the United States today are (1) the rising strength of those who seek to silence religious voices in public debates...Silencing Religious Voices in the Public Square A writer for The Christian Science Monitor predicts that the coming century will be “very secular and religiously antagonistic,” with intolerance of Christianity “ris[ing] to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes.” Source: Lds "apostle" Dallin H. Oaks, Oct. 13, 2009, speech given at BYU-Idaho (see: Religious Freedom (LDS Apostle Says Prop 8 Intimidation Not Anti-Religious but Anti-Democratic))

Yup. High intolerance of Christians occurring at a college where students are over 90% Lds -- and the college admin is highly represented by Mormons as well.

[Tennessee Nana]

Mormons are like Obama

They dont like The Cross...

[BobL]

“Religious freedom restrictions thaw at Snow College [Highest % Lds student enrollment anywhere]”

Not that it will matter to the IDIOTS on this site that STILL send their kids to public school, but there are some things to consider here...especially as you try (again) to rationalize away your decision.

This college, at least based on the headline, has the HIGHEST CONCENTRATION of LDS students in the country, yet Christians STILL have to file a lawsuit to have equal rights.

There are NO LAWS excluding Christians in a university setting, even if it were a public university, yet the LEFT is SO ENTRENCHED that it takes a lawsuit to open up the place. Given this example, one can only IMAGINE the damage the public schools are quietly doing to their charges, day-in and day-out. But when your public-school ‘educated’ kid graduates and no longer gives you the time of day, don’t say you weren’t warned.

[Colofornian]

For just-up thread CLEARLY showing "religious freedom" for a majority religion in Utah -- where over 90% of students are LDS...and where it's A-OK for Snow College to have...
...brought an Lds general authority on campus in 2011 for a "dedicatory prayer" and where a past Lds "apostle" could be discussed...
...but by 2012, they were frowning upon a Christian Club's cross and accompany message...
...see...
Karen H. Huntsman Library Dedicated [Religious liberty hypocrisy @ 90+% Lds student-enrolled campus]

[Colofornian]

This college, at least based on the headline, has the HIGHEST CONCENTRATION of LDS students in the country, yet Christians STILL have to file a lawsuit to have equal rights.

Look at link on post #6...You'll see that this college had no qualms about bringing an Lds general authority on to campus for a "dedicatory prayer." (And I'm sure that's just the tip of Snow College-Mormon connection iceberg)

[Utah Binger]

Ephraim

Package Agency #152
Address: 698 North Main St
Ephraim, UT 84627
Phone: (435) 283-4223
Manager: Donna Pritchard
Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Closed: All stores and most package agencies are closed Sundays and Holidays. (Please call for hours)

___________________________________________________________

I judged an art show in Ephraim last year. What a relief to find a proper source for vodka on a Saturday afternoon.

[BobL]

I was wondering that (after I posted)...but my point about public schools stands.

[Utah Binger]

And then I went down to the bowling alley for a half way decent steak. I think the bowling alley in Ephraim is where all of the apostates hang out. Drove up to Manti the next day and actually found a place for coffee. Tried to find Jim Harmston(Dee), my high school classmate, but he was most likely up behind the temple having another polygamy vision. Don’t know where Elaine might have been.

[KittenClaws]

Is it too simplistic to say that Christian youth should research and find a college that already accepts their Christian faith?

I know, different colleges offer different paths to degrees in chosen fields, but, if Christian students are not allowed to express their faith in open ways on campus, then use the campus for education and other venues for expressing faith.

Please don't misunderstand me. I think it's rotten for any school to deny Christians their right to e press faith in the way others are allowed, but Christian faith trumps adversity. That which is in Gods Will....will triumph, no matter the venue.

[Colofornian]

Is it too simplistic to say that Christian youth should research and find a college that already accepts their Christian faith?

Ya know a LOT Of these college admin people @ Snow College ARE Lds. Lds SAY they believe & adhere to the Bible -- at least the pick & choose portions they nibble at cafeteria-style.

Is it too much to expect that Christian youth, who HAVE researched Lds and know that they supposedly adhere to the Bible, would expect their Biblical message to not be censored?

[Elsie]

Yup. High intolerance of Christians occurring at a college where students are over 90% Lds -- and the college admin is highly represented by Mormons as well.

The fruit seems to fall quite near the tree...

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Questions put to Joseph Smith: "'Do you believe the Bible?' [Smith:]'If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do'. When asked 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons'? [Smith replied] 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).

Joseph Smith: "for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible" (from Pearl of Great Price 1:12). "What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).

 

 

 

Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: "When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness" (Journal of Discourses 5:73); "The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Journal of Discourses 8:171); "With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199); "And who is there that acknowledges [God's] hand? ...You may wander east, west, north, and south, and you cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.24); "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).

 

 

 

Orson Pratt proclaimed: "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).

 

 

 

Orson Pratt also said: "This great apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now" (Journal of Discourses

, vol.18, p.44) and: "But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be ...But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" (Journal of Discourses , 18:172).

 

 

President John Taylor stated: "Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses , 10:127).

 

 

 

James Talmage said: "A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).

 

 

 

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: "Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).

 

 

 

More recent statements by apostle Bruce McConkie are also very clear: "Apostasy was universal...And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); "Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general" (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); "a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom" (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); "virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); "Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to form the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era." (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).

 

 

 

President George Q. Cannon said: "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" (Gospel Truth, p.324).

 

 

President Wilford Woodruff stated: "the Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 2, p.196).

[Elsie]

This college, at least based on the headline, has the HIGHEST CONCENTRATION of LDS students in the country, yet Christians STILL have to file a lawsuit to have equal rights.

Millet could learn a thing or two...

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Professor Robert Millet        teaching at the Mission Prep Club in 2004  http://newsnet.byu.edu/video/18773/  <-- Complete and uneditted

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Timeline...    Subject...

 

0:59           "Anti-Mormons..."

1:16           "ATTACK the faith you have..."

2:02           "We really aren't obligated to answer everyone's questions..."

3:57           "You already know MORE about God and Christ and the plan of salvation than any who would ATTACK you."

[Elsie]

And then I went down to the bowling alley for a half way decent steak.

Do the TBM's become VEGAN in warm weather??

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THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 89

 

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.

 

1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.

 

  1 A ^aWord OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

  2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the ^aword of wisdom, showing forth the order and ^bwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

  3 Given for a principle with ^apromise, adapted to the capacity of the ^bweak and the weakest of all ^csaints, who are or can be called saints.

  4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of ^aevils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of ^bconspiring men in the last days, I have ^cwarned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

  5 That inasmuch as any man ^adrinketh ^bwine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

  6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, ^apure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

  7 And, again, ^astrong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

  8 And again, tobacco is not for the ^abody, 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.

  9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

  10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome ^aherbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

  11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with ^aprudence and ^bthanksgiving.

  12 Yea, ^aflesh also of ^bbeasts 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 ^csparingly;

  13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be ^aused, only in times of winter, or of cold, or ^bfamine.

  14 All ^agrain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

  15 And ^athese hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

  16 All grain is good for the ^afood of man; as also the ^bfruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

  17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

  18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ^ashall receive ^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;

  19 And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

  20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

  21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the ^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

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The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Rights and use information. Privacy policy.

[Elsie]

Is it too simplistic to say that Christian youth should research and find a college that already accepts their Christian faith?

Why??

"Go ye into ALL the world..."

[svcw]

You win the prize......what are you talking about?

[Zakeet]

According to this, Snow College was named in honor of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) leaders Lorenzo Snow and Erastus Snow. The school was definitely not named in honor of sister Eliza Roxcy Snow.

You may recall that Eliza was one of Joseph Smith's polygamous wives. She was pregnant with Joseph's baby when his only legitimate wife, Emma Smith, knocked her down a flight of stairs causing Eliza to miscarry. Eliza would later marry Brigham Young and would die childless.

For some mysterious reason, the Saints tend to erase this poor woman from their history much like Stalin purged all mention of people he murdered from records and photographs.

[BobL]

Liberal domination of higher ed...that’s all.

[KittenClaws]

Go ye into all the world?

Right. Go ye into all the world and file a lawsuit in my name.......because God needs lawsuits to prevail.