Posted on 07/10/2011 3:56:37 PM PDT by delacoert
Mormons often say that Christians that write or speak about the Mormon Church and Mormonism as being contrary to the gospel that Christ and His apostles taught are Anti-Mormon. But the Mormon Church and Mormon Church leaders have a long history of declaring Christianity to be false, fallen and contrary to true doctrine. By the Mormon standard of Anti-Mormon, is the reverse scenario that Mormons are Anti-Christian? The Anti-Mormon Label: Mormons and the Mormon Church often and freely throw around the term “Anti-Mormon”. The Mormon Church often labels anyone who speaks anything about Mormonism or the LDS Church that does not promote faith in it or that does not portray it a positive light as Anti-Mormon. But the term Anti-Mormon really is far too broad a brush and is used far too frequently where it’s not warranted. Certainly, there are some that may certainly qualify as Anti-Mormon in the sense that they hate the Mormon Church (most of those are individuals who have belonged to it at one point). However, just because one seeks to get the message out to the Mormon people that there are credibility problems with the Mormon Church and/or that Mormon Beliefs are in conflict with the Word of God does not mean that there is hate or attack in the message. But the term Anti-Mormon indeed carries an inference of hate and/or religious bigotry. However, kindly proclaiming truth in love and with real concern for the spiritual welfare of a people is not hateful - it is not Anti. I think most Christians would not condone any behavior that is truly disrespectful to the Mormon people, such as defiling Mormon Temple Garments in public or chanting Secret Temple phrases on the streets. Those who do engage in such conduct, should examine the Word of God and re-think their approach. If the truth cannot be proclaimed in love, it probably should not be proclaimed, unless and until it can be proclaimed in such manner. Proclaiming the Truth in Love: It is a legitimate for bible-believing Christians to bring to light doctrines that truly are contrary to the Word of God - the bible. Neither Jesus nor His apostles would hold back in calling out false doctrines and practices and giving a warning. Here is an example of some of their warnings: "[B]ut there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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." Galatians 1:1-8 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER JESUS, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive ANOTHER SPIRIT, which ye have not received, or ANOTHER GOSPEL, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11: 3-4 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 In fact, past LDS Church Leaders in the past have proclaimed that if the Mormon Church or its scriptures be proven false that it should be exposed to the world as a fraud. Here's an oft-quoted example: Orson Pratt made this statement concerning The Book of Mormon: "This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God... If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions... The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; If false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it... If, after a rigid examination, it be found an imposition, it should be extensively published to the world as such; the evidences and arguments on which the imposture was detected, should be clearly and logically stated, that those who have been sincerely yet unfortunately deceived, may perceive the nature of deception, and to be reclaimed, and that those who continue to publish the delusion may be exposed and silenced, not by physical force, neither by persecutions, bare assertions, nor ridicule, but by strong and powerful arguments - by evidences adduced from scripture and reason..." (Orson Pratt's Works, Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, Liverpool, 1851, pp. 1-2). There are in fact many evidences that show that the veracity Mormon Church, the Book of Mormon and other Mormon Scriptures and teachings are, at worst, false - or, at best, seriously in question. Although it may make some uncomfortable, there should be no harm in letting the facts be illuminated so that they can be seen for what they are (in fact, that should be encouraged): "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:20-21 What is truth will not mind being examined for what it is. After all, it is the truth that shall make us free. Are Mormons Anti-Christian? For the reverse scenario, consider some of Mormonism's many statements against Christianity:
"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, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 270) (Emphasis added)
"We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense.... Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century," (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, 1858, p. 167) (Emphasis added)
"The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:171)
"With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:199)
"And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God [Mormon Church] belongeth to that great church which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth" (1 Nephi 14:10)
"And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth [all churches other than the LDS Church], whose foundation is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence. . ." (1 Nephi. 14:17)
[There is] "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God" Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190
"You call us fools; but the day will be, gentlemen and ladies, whether you belong to this Church or not, when you will prize brother Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Living God, and look upon him as a God, and also upon Brigham Young, our Governor” Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 88
"One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation," (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206)
"This is the only true church ...This is not a church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. There are churches of men all over the land and they have great cathedrals, synagogues, and other houses of worship running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. They are churches of men. They teach the doctrines of men, combined with the philosophies and ethics and other ideas and ideals that men have partly developed and partly found in sacred places and interpreted for themselves" (Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.421)
"[H]e that confesseth not that Jesus has come in the flesh and sent Joseph Smith with the fullness of the Gospel to this generation, is not of God, but is anti-christ" (Brigham Young , Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p.312)
"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" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 10:230) (Emphasis added)
"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" (Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 255) (Emphasis added)
With declarations such as these from the Mormon Church and Mormon Leadership, should we then refer to Mormons as "Anti-Christians"?
Now don't be pickin' on Spiff. For all we know his dog may have died.
WHY!?? do you torment me so??
You KNOW I can't eat meat 'til the weather turns cold!
--MormonDude(HMMmm... how 'cold' does it have to be? I think I'll ask headquarters)
SCISSORS
—MormonDude(HMMmm... how ‘cold’ does it have to be? I think I’ll ask headquarters)
________________________________________
How many times must you be told
DONT BOTHER US !!!
Never met a Mormon in real life, read their philosophy. it’s not Christian, but I don’t see them as anti-Christian today.
Amen. They wouldn’t cross the street to piss on a burning man so long as the man on fire is a “gentile.” I’ll give them the same treatment in a voting booth. Mormons talk a nice game, but in reality they are clannish and shun those not of their same tribe. And they are unreasonably inflexible in any kind of business or legal negotiation.
More likely committed suicide.
Never met a Mormon in real life, read their philosophy. it’s not Christian, but I don’t see them as anti-Christian today.
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They deliberately do not appear that way to ‘gentiles’ but to each other and in their own circles they are very much ‘anti christian’.
A couple of years ago, a couple of LDS missionaries were caught (they took the pictures themselves) desecrating a Catholic shrine and chapel.
When I was LDS we used to constantly make fun of ‘gracers’ or ‘reborns’. We would even have mock “Christian” services and ‘baptisms’ in the swimming pool at our apartment complex.
In short, every Mormon I knew thought Christians (esp Evangelicals) were stupid while we (the LDS) were the smart ones who had a monopoly on ‘truth’.
Of course, we would never do this (or rarely) in front of the Christian or other gentiles since it might make ‘the Church’ look bad and that was the unforgivable sin.
And then there are the quotes (some of them not that old) about how Christians are apostates and of the devil and blind and dumb.
We visited good friends (mormons) in Rexburg, Idaho a few years ago. (Their brand new temple was just about to open up.)
The local Protestant church was small but nice. As visitors and on the young side with kids I felt like a rock star. It was sad - no doubt the population was shrinking. There were perhaps 20 folks there, all over 60. The preacher even asked of it would be okay for our kids to come up so he could do a “children’s sermon”. Even though our kids were borderline age-wise they went up. And the whole congregation loved the “children’s sermon” which I suppose they haven’t heard in a long time.
I commented on the beautiful front doors the church had. The preacher said “Yes - it was worth the trouble to finally get them in.” I asked him what the trouble was and he said “It’s a long story”.
I asked another gentleman and he said they ordered the doors from some door place in Utah that also supplied a list of installers throughout the areas. When the doors arrived to the church, they called the local installer and he said he would be out on Monday. Well, Monday afternoon came and he never showed up so they called him. He just got a big job and wouldn’t be able to install them.
They called all of the other places and no one would come install them. I’m not sure why they needed a special installer, but they finally found some guy from far away to come out to install them. That guy was not a mormon. Seems the mormon door company had mormon employees in most of their service areas, and they would not intall the doors on a Christian church.
The guy said it was pretty much impossible to get a job at any decent local company in town if you weren’t a mormon. He said it was good that a Walmart opened in town as they weren’t as bad on the discrimination.
It was weird spending so much time in a town where you were an “outsider”.
I did not know this -- I just googled it and found here
The men have also been accused of breaking the head off of a statue of saint at the Shrine of the Mexican Martyrs in San Luis, Colorado.In 2006, three missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) visited a Catholic shrine in the San Luis Valley in Colorado. While at the shrine, the Mormon missionaries photographed themselves in poses that demeaned the Catholic Church.
The pictures, which were posted last week on the photo-sharing site Photobucket, show the men preaching from the Book of Mormon behind the altar; holding the head from a statue of St. Manuel Morales, a young Mexican who died opposing anti-religious laws; and one of the missionaries pretending to sacrifice a fellow missionary on the altar.
Thanks for explaining
I don't want to get into the details of the Mormon fight. I don't have expert knowledge of the subject.
I do know that anyone who thinks that either the Pilgrims of Plymouth or the Puritans of Massachusetts came to New England for freedom of religion has failed to understand some of the most basic principles of the English Separatist and Puritan movements.
I'm well aware that the Founding Fathers wrote a Constitution that was deliberately designed to tolerate not just a variety of Protestant viewpoints but also the Roman Catholics of Maryland and even the Jewish population, which had personal ties with Alexander Hamilton. Both groups included a number of American patriots who were very interested in supporting the American Revolution, and the ardent support of religious minority groups for American independence was a key factor in framing the federal Constitution to preserve their freedoms.
I support the Founding Fathers’ views on religious tolerating, while noting that three states still had formally established tax-supported state churches at that time, one of them into the 1830s.
To read that view of the Constitution back into the Pilgrims and Puritans, however, simply does not agree with the facts.
Those who hold office or serve in the military swear allegience to the Constitution of the United States, not the Mayflower Compact. There are important differences.
Sorry. Maybe you guys have just sucked all the energy out of me. Or maybe all the 100 degree weather is getting to me.
Hard to pick on my group. It’s the Truth.
The local Protestant church was small but nice. As visitors and on the young side with kids I felt like a rock star. It was sad - no doubt the population was shrinking.
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that is sad, and surprising.
The Mormon church has been hemorrhaging members for the last 15 years or so and all of the evangelical churches I know in Utah are growing, many faster than they can integrate. I heard from a friend that the Calvary chapel in SLC tripled in size last year alone - I would expect similar things in Rexburg (which has a great pizza buffet btw).
The story about the door does not surprise me at all. A common phrase you used to hear about UT/Idaho as ‘behind the Zion curtain’, and in some ways it is, if you are not LDS you don’t matter, if you are EX-LDS you either keep it quiet or expect serious harassment.
I would go for job interviews and people would ask what ward( Mormon congregation)I was in. Mormons hire Mormons, rent to Mormons, buy from Mormons...they don’t trust or like ‘gentiles’ (outsiders).
The article itself is very telling. Notice the Mormon plays the victim card and the church spokesman doesn’t apologize for what they did, just the destruction of the property.
“I realize that my companions and I have made a mockery of that which is most sacred to many of the residents of San Luis and the rest of the world. I should have known better because I have seen many of the same types of blasphemies made against my own church and I have been appalled,” the statement read.
A statement from the LDS church went further to address the vandalism: “We are deeply saddened to hear that the actions of three missionaries have resulted in the destruction of property.”
Be careful when running
Then you are amoung the millions who have accepted their PR campaign as gospel.
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