An Ugly Attack on Mormons

article.nationalreview.com ^ | December 3, 2008 | Jonah Goldberg

[Publius804]

An Ugly Attack on Mormons

The easiest targets for an organized campaign against religious freedom of conscience.

By Jonah Goldberg

Did you catch the political ad in which two Jews ring the doorbell of a nice working-class family? They barge in and rifle through the wife’s purse and then the man’s wallet for any cash. Cackling, they smash the daughter’s piggy bank and pinch every penny. “We need it for the Wall Street bailout!” they exclaim.

No? Maybe you saw the one with the two swarthy Muslims who knock on the door of a nice Jewish family and then blow themselves up?

No? Well, then surely you saw the TV ad in which two smarmy Mormon missionaries knock on the door of an attractive lesbian couple. “Hi, we’re from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!” says the blond one with a toothy smile. “We’re here to take away your rights.” The Mormon zealots yank the couple’s wedding rings from their fingers and then tear up their marriage license.

As the thugs leave, one says to the other, “That was too easy.” His smirking comrade replies, “Yeah, what should we ban next?” The voice-over implores viewers: “Say no to a church taking over your government.”

Obviously, the first two ads are fictional because no one would dare run such anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim attacks.

The third ad, however, was real. It was broadcast throughout California on Election Day as part of the effort to rally opposition to Proposition 8, the initiative that successfully repealed the right to same-sex marriage in the state.

What was the reaction to the ad? Widespread condemnation? Scorn? Rebuke? Tepid criticism?

Nope.

The Los Angeles Times, a principled opponent of Proposition 8, ran an editorial lamenting that the “hard-hitting commercial” was too little, too late.

[Elsie]

You sir are tragically mistaken, We believe most fervently in the divinity of Jesus Christ.

(Third times a charm...)

Just WHEN did Jesus become divine?

[Elsie]

3) I expect your apology

You expect TOO much, for MormonDude apologizes to NO one!

He is MORMON - therefore RIGHT!!

[Elsie]

As a Mormon, I only have a problem with the part in red, the rest is a bit old and stilted, but could be taught in a Mormon church without the batting of an eye.

So; you now admit that Joseph Smith was wrong?

[Elsie]

Before anything was created... (Jesus is the creator of all things.)

Ok... When did God, the FATHER become divine?

[Elsie]

Cough, um it's every one will get a chance, after death is only if you didn't have a chance to learn the truth here. By debating us, you kind of missed that boat. (just thought you ought to know.)

By ignoring the BIBLE, then I suppose that you MIGHT fall for this:

KJV Luke 16:19-31
 19.  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
 20.  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
 21.  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
 22.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
 23.  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
 24.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
 25.  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
 26.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
 27.  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
 28.  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
 29.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
 30.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
 31.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

 

[Elsie]

Point to some HATE that we can see!

There truly are none so blind...

So... you can't find any either. Thanks.

[Elsie]

Yes, and yes.

You seem to have it backward.

It's the BIBLE that warned about things like the BoM and fake Spirits.

[Elsie]

 

Hey, I didn’t write the rules, I just try to obey them. Perhaps you may wish to do the same.

 

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Romans 6:17
   But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.

 

 Romans 15:4
   For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 

 Romans 16:17
   I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

 

1 Corinthians 4:17
   For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

 

1 Corinthians 11:1-2
 1.  Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
 2.  I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,  just as I passed them on to you.

 

Ephesians 4:14
   Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15
   So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings  we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6
   In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching  you received from us.

 

1 Timothy 1:3-4
 3.  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
 4.  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

 

1 Timothy 2:7
   And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

 

1 Timothy 4:6
   If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

 

 2 Timothy 1:13
  What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

 

2 Timothy 2:2
  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Hebrews 13:8-9
 8.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
 9.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

 

2 John 1:10
   If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

 

Titus 2:1
  You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

[Elsie]

Slash and burn evangelism at it's very best.

There are no more empty Utah's to escape to, so you folks will just have to take a stand anywhere the fight is.

[Elsie]

She thinks because she is an X this gives her special privileges when in truth bigots come in all disguises.

 

Liars come trying to appear as GOD himself!!

 

Galatians 1:7-10
 7.  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
 8.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
 9.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

 

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
 14.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
 15.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Revelation 13:13-15
 13.  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
 14.  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

 

 

 

 

[Elsie]

The solution lies not within our government, schools, or symbols of popular culture, but rather within ourselves, our families, and our faith.

[Elsie]

(Blessed be the Peacemaker.)

I'm glad you've remembered your pledge from a few months back...

[Elsie]

It isn’t like mormons are the “only” ones who voted against prop 8, but they are an easy target because the media made them a scapegoat here.

Oh heck!!

We absolutely REVEL in scapegoatiness!

--MormonDude(Does this make us masochists?)

[Elsie]

We believe all will be saved through that atonement (save the sons of perdition), however, not all will receive all that he has.

WHOA!!

Who are these NEW players to arrive on the scene??

[Elsie]

Mormons use the King James version of the Bible.

And totally IGNORE the CORRECTIONS of it that their Beloved Leader and Founder, Joseph Smith, so carefully documented.

Those very words were STRAIGHT from God's mouth to Joe's ears (or eyes).

WHY doesn't the great LDS Organization, based in Salt Lake City, say that the JST is SCRIPTURE?

[Elsie]

You lost me on that comment. Right over my head.

DEFEND yourself against such BAD behavior!

[Elsie]

Those who insist on being that crass give FReepers a bad name and are as bad as the Palistinians.

Oh NO!

I've been called a NAME!

[greyfoxx39]

That may be, but there are Mormons in California. Their participation is as legitimate as the NRA, the AARP, or any other advocacy group.

The orders came from Salt Lake City, and the percentage of California mormons is negligible compared to the amount of money raised by the LDS.

This was interference in a state election by those who resided outside the state, no matter how you excuse it.

I'll repeat my comment...I can just hear the howls if California residents interfered in Utah elections in this manner.

[netmilsmom]

>>Oh NO!

I’ve been called a NAME!<<

Per the Religion Moderator, one may not personalize.
I never said “Elsie”

However if this is the role you admit to slipping into, recognizing one’s shortcomings is the road to recovery.

[netmilsmom]

>>This was interference in a state election by those who resided outside the state, no matter how you excuse it.<<

I donated to Marilyn Musgrave. I live in MI. I did not interfer with her state election, I supported my point of view.

Do you know how many non-California FReepers donated to the Yes on 8 campaign?