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Special report -Mormonism besieged by the modern age [Lds church is hemorrhaging in member losses]
Reuters ^ | Jan. 29, 2012 | Peter Henderson and Kristina Cooke

Posted on 02/01/2012 4:50:21 AM PST by Colofornian

...A religious studies class late last year at Utah State University...was unusual for two reasons. The small group of students, faculty and faithful there to hear Mormon Elder Marlin Jensen were openly troubled about the future...asking hard questions. And Jensen was uncharacteristically frank...

Did the leaders...know that members are "leaving in droves?" a woman asked.

"We are aware," said Jensen, according to a tape recording of his unscripted remarks. "And I'm speaking of the 15 men that are above me in the hierarchy of the church."...

"My own daughter," he then added, "has come to me and said, 'Dad, why didn't you ever tell me that Joseph Smith was a polygamist?'..."Everything's out there for them to consume if they want to Google it."...

SNIP

...census data from some foreign countries...show that the retention rate for their converts is as low as 25 percent. In the U.S., only about half of Mormons are active members of the church...

SNIP

...the Web has intensified debate over...the history the church teaches.

Not since...the 1837 failure of a church bank in Kirtland, Ohio, have so many left the church, Jensen said.

"Maybe since Kirtland, we've never had a period of - I'll call it apostasy, like we're having now," he told the group in Logan.

SNIP

...a non-practicing Mormon...for years filed away on a mental "shelf" concerns about the historical veracity of the religion's central text..."It came to a point where the shelf was too heavy," he said. He quit attending ..."Ok, I'm done."

SNIP

"There have been discussions at LDS church headquarters about...Romney's presidential bid," a person briefed on the talks said. "One concern is that Romney's campaign could further energize evangelical antipathy toward the church..."

..."having a Mormon president could raise the church's profile and legitimize it in other countries."

(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Other Christian; Other non-Christian; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: abandonment; faith; inman; lds; mormon
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To: ejonesie22

The structure of the Mormon Church is very much like Ron Hubbard’s dianetics and the belief system is not much different either, in the way that it operates.

What I mean is that the members take what they need and want from the belief system and ignore the rest, while the ruling class of the group (I can’t even call it a religion) manages the money. In the LDS membership, that is only 10%, with Dianetics it’s 100% in some cases.

Both groups have some very good parts to them, you cannot deny that, but boy the bad sure out weighs the good.

Still Romney’s religion is not the focus of my objection to his candidacy, not at all.


61 posted on 02/01/2012 11:01:21 AM PST by Eva
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To: ansel12
Actually I don't see it....happening.

So...we disagree.

Hope I'm right...and you are wrong.

We shall see...what we shall see..........

62 posted on 02/01/2012 11:02:25 AM PST by Osage Orange ("The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.")
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To: Osage Orange
It will be an interesting situation one way or the other.
63 posted on 02/01/2012 11:04:30 AM PST by ejonesie22 (8/30/10, the day Truth won.)
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To: ansel12
The right will be sucked into becoming the foot soldiers of mainstreaming and rationalizing Mormonism.

There are so many who will not even consider the "religious", for want of a better word, aspect of this election. Just as they wouldn't consider obamas affilitation with Wright. But the "danger" is far worse with Romney for he and it's membership are very serious about what Romney's win would be to them..and they are all positioned to carry their agenda out worldwide.

I can hardly believe that the American people are so dense concerning the role that Romneys Mormonism plays in his run and his very clearly stated comments he is absolutely devoted to his church......unlike obama who attempted to distance himself...Romney has held the highest of Positions in Mormonism...and he is outright lieing when he says his religion will not be playing a role in his decision....

Romney IS Mormonism....his actions, flip flopping, lies and deceit all go hand in hand with moving the LDS political agenda.

64 posted on 02/01/2012 11:04:57 AM PST by caww
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To: Colofornian
...this from Reuters ?....

Looks like God has found a way to put Obama's brutal and filthy tactics to good use !

Romney's candidacy will destroy the evil deceptive cult of Mormonism.

65 posted on 02/01/2012 11:08:34 AM PST by SENTINEL (Romney is to Conservatism what Mormonism is to Christianity.)
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To: ansel12
Mormonism will be daily rationalized, ways to smooth over Christian concerns will be thought of and delivered on the air waves, just as Hugh Hewitt and Michael Medved already do.

Used to like listening to Hugh - had a good variety of items. But this year, between 'claiming' he is not declared for rommey and his over the top nonstop promotion of the guy - even justifying mitts liberal record in MA, I've stopped listening to him.

66 posted on 02/01/2012 11:15:37 AM PST by Godzilla (3/7/77)
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To: Doc Savage

Just wait until Obama and the rats get hold of the Mormon’s history of racism toward blacks.


67 posted on 02/01/2012 11:17:43 AM PST by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: Colofornian
If I'm not allowed to vote for a conservative for President, I'm going to sit back with popcorn and watch the MSM / Obama machine tear mormonism to pieces....and it will be a show ! Salt Lake the "gayest city in America" ?.... :)

"LDS support of Prop 8 became a lightning rod both inside and outside the Church. There were demonstrations in Salt Lake City, which is home to the Mormon tabernacle but was also just named the "the gayest city in America" by the Advocate magazine, crediting its numerous gay-friendly bars, book stores and neighbourhoods."

68 posted on 02/01/2012 11:21:13 AM PST by SENTINEL (Romney is to Conservatism what Mormonism is to Christianity.)
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To: ejonesie22

Totally agree..........


69 posted on 02/01/2012 11:29:04 AM PST by Osage Orange ("The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.")
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To: Osage Orange

It will happen, do you really think that a reaction from devout Christians knowledgeable of Mormonism will meet with what, ‘agreement in the public world and on talk radio’, or with the host challenging their view and falling into searching for common ground with Mormons.

The only way for a Christian to address Mormonism is in the biblical, fundamentalist type language that is not allowed in public.
Are Mormons Christians? Are Satan and Christ brothers? etc. public figures cannot, will not, answer those type questions already because they know that it makes them look like a bible believing hick to the media and general public, although they know the truth, already they find ways to finesse their response to escape confrontation, controversy, and permanently being branded and even ejected from the public arena., how do you think they will start responding if it means destroying the Republican presidential candidate that they dearly support?

If you want to hear it happening the listen to Hugh Hewitt, who portrays himself as a devout Christian host, yet wrote the book defending Romney, called ‘A Mormon in the White House?’, listen to Michael Medved, call their show and try to point out something Mormon about Romney.

EXAMPLE 1:
“According to author and radio personality Hewitt, Mitt Romney-billionaire venture capitalist, consummate family man, gifted and media-savvy politician-would be unstoppable in the coming presidential race were it not for one niggling line on his resumé: he’s a Mormon. In this unashamedly partisan volume, Hewitt attempts to refute the claim that no Mormon could get elected President (along with any other claim that might be made against Romney) while analyzing the former Massachusetts governor’s biography and burnishing his conservative and leadership credentials. Hewitt is an agreeable, if inelegant, writer, wise enough to take detours (such as an edifying primer on Mormon history and thought) that stave off tedium. He spends far more time extolling Romney than excoriating his Republican and Democratic opponents. This is an efficient and effective exercise in political hagiography.”


70 posted on 02/01/2012 11:29:28 AM PST by ansel12 (Romney is unquestionably the weakest party front-runner in contemporary political history.)
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To: ejonesie22; All
However given the investment by those in power and the fact that they themselves don't really buy all the “doctrine” and other fabrications, I suspect something is in the works. Look for a new “prophet” to lead the Church away for the Joe Smith way and towards a nice and wholesome mainstream Christian format. The “prophet” will assure the faithful the past 170+ years were all just a test....

I think they just started to test the waters with that idea last week, claiming that the Godhead is one in every way except one -- which one way is that He's NOT one...(yeah, figure this one out)...

Elder Holland Addresses New MTC Presidents and Visitors’ Center Directors Concerning the Doctrine of the Godhead (Jan. 27, 2012)

Here is what Holland said: He acknowledged that it must be unequivocally understood that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separate and distinct individuals physically. “However, having said that, my testimony is that They are united—They are ‘one’—in every other conceivable way,” he said.

I think what's happened is that the Lds "apostle" highlighted in the above news release -- Jeffery Holland --has been dealing with cognitive dissonance... Holland is a well-trained academic, who knows how to evaluate evidence. Every time I have seen him since he became a GA, I get the feeling his head is about to explode from the cognitive dissonance. In fact, an ex-Mormon put it this way Jan. 4, 2012: "Holland is a well-trained academic, who knows how to evaluate evidence. Every time I have seen him since he became a GA, I get the feeling his head is about to explode from the cognitive dissonance."
Source: ...Jeffery R. Holland is a fraud, too?

The focus of that ex-Mormon thread linked above, btw, was showing that Holland the Lds "apostle" is a fraud: Here's a picture of Holland lying thru his teeth:

BTW, for those Christians who might begin to rejoice that the Mormons are "starting to come around a bit" on the oneness of God...think again...when you click on a link @ the LdsNews site above ... a link that elaborated further on Holland's comments, you find a comment from Holland claiming that Lds don't worship Jesus Christ.

The last time that angle was tried was Lds "apostle" Bruce R. McConkie.

So...we have Holland's cognitive dissonance where he's beginning to respect the evidence that God is one, after all (except for the Mormon doctrine that's he not one)...yet we simultaneously have Holland ignore all the Book of Mormon, Lds leadership quotes, and the Bible that say Lds are suppose to worship Jesus Christ.

I even reviewed what 18 or so prominent FREEPER Mormons said about worshiping Jesus Christ...and it was about 18-for-18 claiming they did. (Of course, the Mormon jesus is a separate jesus)

71 posted on 02/01/2012 11:30:02 AM PST by Colofornian
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To: ansel12
No worries........

We disagree.

I don't think your scenario is going to happen.

No big deal........

72 posted on 02/01/2012 11:32:35 AM PST by Osage Orange ("The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.")
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To: Godzilla
When I lived in SoCal.....I listened to Hewitt some.

But not listened for over 14 yrs now........

Guessing I've not missed anything...........

73 posted on 02/01/2012 11:37:05 AM PST by Osage Orange (A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.)
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To: Osage Orange

It already is happening, tune into Medved and Hewitt, Rush and the others will follow after the primary, as they are flooded with calls from the the conservative Christian base, if you think they are simply going to agree with those callers, or lead the Mormon exposing conversation themselves, then think again.

EXAMPLE 1:
“According to author and radio personality Hewitt, Mitt Romney-billionaire venture capitalist, consummate family man, gifted and media-savvy politician-would be unstoppable in the coming presidential race were it not for one niggling line on his resumé: he’s a Mormon. In this unashamedly partisan volume, Hewitt attempts to refute the claim that no Mormon could get elected President (along with any other claim that might be made against Romney) while analyzing the former Massachusetts governor’s biography and burnishing his conservative and leadership credentials. Hewitt is an agreeable, if inelegant, writer, wise enough to take detours (such as an edifying primer on Mormon history and thought) that stave off tedium. He spends far more time extolling Romney than excoriating his Republican and Democratic opponents. This is an efficient and effective exercise in political hagiography.”


74 posted on 02/01/2012 11:38:24 AM PST by ansel12 (Romney is unquestionably the weakest party front-runner in contemporary political history.)
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To: SZonian; C19fan
C'mon you guys - it was really just deer/tapir pulling those chariots. Yeah that's the ticket.

After all, when Cortez and his horses arrived, the Aztecs simply called the unfamiliar horses "deer."

See

http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Anachronisms/Animals/Horses/Loanshifting:_deer_and_tapirst

So the use of the word "horse" in the BOM instead of the word "deer" makes perfect sense!

/pretzel

75 posted on 02/01/2012 11:39:46 AM PST by freedomlover (Make sure you're in love - before you move in the heavy stuff)
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To: Colofornian; ejonesie22; All
The link from my post to you re: Holland lying thru his teeth didn't come thru...let me try again:
lds mormon "apostle" jeffrey r holland lying at conference
76 posted on 02/01/2012 11:39:46 AM PST by Colofornian
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To: Colofornian

The lds-org denies that Jesus is the Creator, that everything was created THROUGH Him, BY Him and FOR Him.

77 posted on 02/01/2012 11:41:30 AM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: Godzilla
But this year, between 'claiming' he is not declared for rommey and his over the top nonstop promotion of the guy - even justifying mitts liberal record in MA,

Good point, and we are seeing that spread. It isn't just Mormonism that will be sold to us, they have to sell the whole "Mitt Romney" package to us, and that means defense of the previously, indefensible.

We will never be the same Christian right party, or nation, after 4 to 8 years of Romney.

78 posted on 02/01/2012 11:45:01 AM PST by ansel12 (Romney is unquestionably the weakest party front-runner in contemporary political history.)
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To: ansel12
Okay.........

Number one, I don't listen to Medved and Hewitt. Although it's been obvious from reports that both of them have been carrying Mitt's water.

That said...I don't agree with you.

Sorry.

79 posted on 02/01/2012 11:45:27 AM PST by Osage Orange (A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.)
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To: Osage Orange

Do you deny that it is already happening?


80 posted on 02/01/2012 11:46:33 AM PST by ansel12 (Romney is unquestionably the weakest party front-runner in contemporary political history.)
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